Cynthia: Kaijoken Tanjou Monogatari

Based on the real-life story of Yoshitomo Kimura, who suffered a spinal cord injury in 1987, resulting in paralysis from the chest down. His wife works as a clinical lab technician and struggles to encourage his will to live. After attending a motivational workshop featuring a wheelchair-bound man, Kimura resolves to rehabilitate himself. He eventually regains enough mobility to work from home, but still faces daily challenges—especially if he falls alone at home. That’s when they decide they should adopt a dog to assist him. They welcome a rambunctious Labrador puppy named Cynthia (シンシア), hoping she might become a trained service dog.

Directed by —, Cynthia: Kaijoken Tanjou Monogatari leans on a strong ensemble — Yasuko Tomita, Kazuhiko Kanayama, Emiri Nakayama — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about tv movie titles of 2003.