Aomori Asahi Broadcasting Co., Ltd. (headquartered in Aomori City) will air a documentary titled 'I Want to Run — A 9-Year Record of Confronting the Rare Disease A-T,' chronicling the lives of 18-year-old Ryuya Koyamauchi, who suffers from the rare disease Ataxia-Telangiectasia (A-T), and his mother Miwako over approximately nine years. The broadcast will take place on Sunday, July 12, 2026, at 1:55 PM JST. The program will be simultaneously streamed for free in real time on the company's official YouTube channel. Narrated by actress Kumi Yuki, the documentary explores the unbreakable bond between mother and son as they face a disease with no known cure, aiming to deepen public understanding of rare diseases and reflect on societal values.

Program Overview

Ryuya Koyamauchi, 18, from Aomori City, lives with Ataxia-Telangiectasia (A-T), a rare disease affecting approximately 1 in 100,000 people. With an average life expectancy of 26 years and no available treatment, A-T is a nationally designated intractable disease. Due to the illness, Ryuya lost the ability to walk during elementary school and has since relied on a wheelchair. His mother, Miwako, founded the NPO 'Futatsu no Niji' (Two Rainbows) and has been actively raising awareness about the disease both within and beyond Aomori Prefecture. As Ryuya's condition progressed, Miwako found it increasingly difficult to ask him about his future dreams. Yet, Ryuya's dream remains... The documentary follows Ryuya from fourth grade through his transition into adulthood. Miwako's heartfelt wish: 'I want him to never give in to illness or limitations, and to laugh more than anyone else.' The film captures nearly nine years of a mother and son facing illness together.

◆ Program Title: ABA Documentary: I Want to Run — A 9-Year Record of Confronting the Rare Disease A-T (Special Program for Aomori Asahi Broadcasting's 35th Anniversary)

◆ Broadcast Date and Time: Sunday, July 12, 2026, from 1:55 PM JST

◆ Broadcast Area: Aomori Local (Aomori Asahi Broadcasting)

YouTube (ABA Aomori Asahi Broadcasting News Channel)

https://www.youtube.com/@aba-news/streams

◆ Director: Shuhei Nakajima

◆ Producers: Takayuki Kasai, Madoka Izumiyama

◆ Narration: Kumi Yuki

Narrator for both terrestrial and YouTube broadcasts: Actress Kumi Yuki

Ryuya Koyamauchi at age 10　　　　　　Miwako, Ryuya's mother

Ataxia-Telangiectasia (A-T)

A rare disease affecting approximately 1 in 100,000 people. It is a nationally designated intractable disease with no known cure. Caused by genetic abnormalities, the disease leads to eye redness and chronic fatigue. As it progresses, patients experience unsteadiness, difficulty writing, speaking, and walking.

Unsteadiness due to illness; forced into wheelchair use during elementary school

Ryuya propelling his wheelchair　　　　　　Ryuya and Miwako on his 18th birthday

Shuhei Nakajima, Director

'I deeply hope that a treatment for Ryuya's illness will be established. While I felt remorse for asking deeply personal questions, I did so because I want as many people as possible to understand and feel the emotions of this mother and son. After our previous program aired seven years ago, researchers reached out expressing interest in studying this disease. With this new documentary also being streamed simultaneously on YouTube, I hope it reaches not only people in Aomori Prefecture but as many viewers nationwide as possible.'

【Series: Past Awards】

2019: Telemonotary 2019, January Quarter Excellence Award

2019: Telemonotary 2018 Annual Excellence Award

2019: 26th PROGRESS Award, Encouragement Prize

More than seven years since the February 2019 broadcast of the Telemonotary 'I Want to Run — The Bond Between Mother and Son Facing a Rare Disease A-T.' This new program documents approximately nine years of Ryuya's student life. With significantly expanded new footage added since the previous work, it will be broadcast as a special 35th-anniversary program. Additionally, this time the documentary will be simulcast on YouTube.

Aomori Asahi Broadcasting Co., Ltd.

News Department, Izumiyama Nakajima

Inquiries: 017-762-1122

[email protected]

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  • Source: PR TIMES
  • Category: Event