This Is Noriko (1981)

Fictionalized account of 20-year-old Noriko Tsuji, a real-life victim of a severe birth defect which afflicted 8,000 Japanese, children whose mothers took the sedative thalidomide during pregnancy. Tsuji has stunted flipper-like arms amputated at the behest of a father who deserted her soon after her birth. Nonetheless, the resourceful Noriko uses her feet to accomplish most of the tasks others would do with their hands.

• Release Date: 1981-09-12
• Runtime: 1h 57min
• Production Company: Shibata Film Promotion
• Production Country: Japan
• Director: Zenzō Matsuyama
• Writer: Zenzō Matsuyama