Sentaro’s life has taken a downward spiral—he has a criminal record, drinks excessively, and his dream of becoming a writer is now a distant memory. The only thing that marks the passage of time is the blossoming of the cherry trees as he spends his days in a small confectionery shop, selling dorayaki, a type of pancake filled with sweet bean paste.
But change is on the horizon.
Tokue, an elderly woman with disfigured hands and a troubled past, enters his life. She makes the best sweet bean paste Sentaro has ever tasted and begins to teach him her craft. As their friendship deepens, they find themselves facing overwhelming social pressures, and Tokue’s dark secret comes to light, leading to devastating consequences.
“Sweet Bean Paste” is a poignant novel about the weight of the past and the healing power of friendship. Durian Sukegawa’s beautiful prose, now available in English for the first time, is touching hearts around the world.
