Sweet Bean Paste
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- Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
- Create Date：2021-04-18 11:58:44
- Update Date：2025-09-06
- Status：finish
- Author：Durian Sukegawa
- ISBN：1786071959
- Environment：PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle
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Summary
Sentaro has failed。 He has a criminal record， drinks too much， and his dream of becoming a writer is just a distant memory。 With only the blossoming of the cherry trees to mark the passing of time， he spends his days in a tiny confectionery shop selling dorayaki， a type of pancake filled with sweet bean paste。
But everything is about to change。
Into his life comes Tokue， an elderly woman with disfigured hands and a troubled past。 Tokue makes the best sweet bean paste Sentaro has ever tasted。 She begins to teach him her craft， but as their friendship flourishes， social pressures become impossible to escape and Tokue's dark secret is revealed， with devastating consequences。
Sweet Bean Paste is a moving novel about the burden of the past and the redemptive power of friendship。 Translated into English for the first time， Durian Sukegawa's beautiful prose is capturing hearts all over the world。
But everything is about to change。
Into his life comes Tokue， an elderly woman with disfigured hands and a troubled past。 Tokue makes the best sweet bean paste Sentaro has ever tasted。 She begins to teach him her craft， but as their friendship flourishes， social pressures become impossible to escape and Tokue's dark secret is revealed， with devastating consequences。
Sweet Bean Paste is a moving novel about the burden of the past and the redemptive power of friendship。 Translated into English for the first time， Durian Sukegawa's beautiful prose is capturing hearts all over the world。
Reviews
James Pollux
，
Has potential， but what the story chose to focus on deterred my enjoyment。
Harrison
，
"I began to understand that we were born in order to see and listen to the world。 And that's all this world wants of us。" 4/5A very sweet and thoughtful book about unlikely connections made between people。 You wouldn't be able to figure out the directions the story goes by the way it begins， yet it's still a rather simple story。 It says what it needs to say， and then ends as quickly as it began。 I quite liked this one。 "I began to understand that we were born in order to see and listen to the world。 And that's all this world wants of us。" 4/5A very sweet and thoughtful book about unlikely connections made between people。 You wouldn't be able to figure out the directions the story goes by the way it begins， yet it's still a rather simple story。 It says what it needs to say， and then ends as quickly as it began。 I quite liked this one。 。。。more
Noor Shawabkeh
，
الرواية هاي من اجمل الروايات الي قرأتها وفيها كمية طاقة وشغف خياليين صراحة حبيتها كثير
Bonita Readers Advisory
，
Description:Sentaro has failed: he has a criminal record， drinks too much， and hasn’t managed to fulfill his dream of becoming a writer。 Instead， he works in a confectionery shop selling dorayaki， a type of pancake filled with a sweet paste made of red beans。 Until one day an elderly， handicapped woman enters the shop。Booklist:Sentaro Tsujii’s life runs pretty much on autopilot。 An ex-convict who served time for drug-related crime， he once wanted to be a writer。 Instead， Sentaro spends his days Description:Sentaro has failed: he has a criminal record， drinks too much， and hasn’t managed to fulfill his dream of becoming a writer。 Instead， he works in a confectionery shop selling dorayaki， a type of pancake filled with a sweet paste made of red beans。 Until one day an elderly， handicapped woman enters the shop。Booklist:Sentaro Tsujii’s life runs pretty much on autopilot。 An ex-convict who served time for drug-related crime， he once wanted to be a writer。 Instead， Sentaro spends his days making dorayaki， sweet pancakes filled with bean paste ， in a small Japanese shop and drowning his evenings in drink。 In debt to the shop’s owner， who granted him a new life， Sentaro finds little joy in his everyday life。 Only when an old woman， Tokue Yoshii， visits the shop and gives Sentaro a taste of her very special sweet bean paste ， does life take a more purposeful turn。 Tokue is aged， with weak， gnarled hands， and despite his better judgment， Sentaro employs her to make the filling that will turn his shop’s fortunes around。 Although Tokue’s past is a reflection of a dark chapter of Japanese history， her wisdom， patience， and kindness shape this touching and occasionally wistful novel。 Through Tokue’s story， Sukegawa eloquently explores the seeds of biases and challenges us to truly listen to the natural world and the messages it artfully hides。 -- Apte， Poornima （Reviewed 10/1/2017） （Booklist， vol 114， number 3， p29）PaceLeisurely-paced: Due to descriptive language， focus on detail， or careful development of character or setting， these books unfold slowly， allowing the reader to savor the narrative。Genre:Literary fiction; Translation from Japanese to English; Books to moviesStoryline:Character-Driven:>Interior growth and development of characters is important。Tone:Atmospheric: These books evoke the story’s setting， whether it’s a gothic mansion or a small Midwestern town。 The changing of the seasons and the seasonal life cycles of the cherry blossom trees evoke the tone for this book。Heartwarming: These uplifting stories ultimately leave readers feeling emotionallysatisfied。Moving: Emotionally resonant books that make readers feel invested in both the characters and the story。Reflective: Contemplative books featuring characters who think seriously about their lives and place in the world。Character:Ability diverse: These characters live with physical， mental， or emotional conditions that can often be challenging。Authentic: These characters behave in ways that accord with their age， nationality， and backgrounds。Writing Style:Dialect-filled: Regional lingo and colloquialisms bring the setting to life。Lyrical: Graceful， beautiful language， often with a rhythmic or poetic quality。Location:Tokyo， JapanJapanPlaces mentioned:National Hansen's Disease Museum （Japan）Tama Zenshoen Sanatorium; Aobacho， Higashimurayama， Tokyo， JapanSubject/Topics in book:#Cherry Blossoms #Sakura #Hanami#Dorayaki #Dorayaki Shop #Confectionery Shop#Former convicts#Senior women#Japan Leprosy #Hansen's disease #Japan-Leprosy Prevention Act 1996 #Japan Tama Zenshoen Sanatorium #Stigma#Intergenerational friendship#Social classes#Interclass friendship#Pastry chefsRelated Subjects:Friendship-- Fiction。People with disabilities-- Fiction。Japan-- Leprosy -- Fiction。Leprosy -- Japan -- Public opinion -- Psychology-- SocietyLeprosy -- PatientsDorayaki Shop -- Fiction。Context/List of Articles/Links:Sweet Bean 2017 Movie Sweet Bean Movie Trailer Information about DorayakiYoutube Video: Live Demonstration by a professional Japanese Confectionary Chef making Dorayaki。Symbolic meaning and cultural significance of Cherry Blossoms in Japanese culture and societySymbolic meaning of Sakura in Japanese CulturePlaces to see Cherry Blossoms in TokyoGoogle Earth Location of Tama Zenshoen SanatoriumGoogle Search for Cherry Blossom sceneriesReactions:The book evokes the sensations of taste， smell and sight。 Attention to detail; the characters talk about food ingredients as if they were sacred or alive。 。。。more
Ma Chi
，
Gấp sách lại vào nửa đêm điều đầu tiên làm là chạy ngay vào bếp làm bánh dorayaki sau khi loay hoay cũng tầm gần 2 tiêng thì mình có một mẻ macaron và một đĩa dorayaki hơi tiếc vì nhà không còn đậu đỏ nên mình thay bằng ít kem với một ít matcha mà thật ra nghe cách bà Tokue làm nhân đậu đỏ tự nhiên cũng mất tự tin hẳn 。Chia sẽ về mình năm 12 mọi người hay bạn bè thì đi học thêm môn chuyện để thì trường này trường nọ mình hồi ấy lại xin mẹ đi học làm bánh thắc mắc suy xét nên học gần điều kiện bì Gấp sách lại vào nửa đêm điều đầu tiên làm là chạy ngay vào bếp làm bánh dorayaki sau khi loay hoay cũng tầm gần 2 tiêng thì mình có một mẻ macaron và một đĩa dorayaki hơi tiếc vì nhà không còn đậu đỏ nên mình thay bằng ít kem với một ít matcha mà thật ra nghe cách bà Tokue làm nhân đậu đỏ tự nhiên cũng mất tự tin hẳn 。Chia sẽ về mình năm 12 mọi người hay bạn bè thì đi học thêm môn chuyện để thì trường này trường nọ mình hồi ấy lại xin mẹ đi học làm bánh thắc mắc suy xét nên học gần điều kiện bình thường hay học xa tí cho điều kiện tốt hơn， xin tiền nộp học phí lớp vẽ ，xin tiền mua guitar mới vì không cẩn thận so với bây giờ thì mình hồi ấy chết rồi thì phải。 mà dù chưa biết sắp tới làm nghề gì cũng tự hứa với bản thân tầm tứ tuần lục tuần gì đó phải mở tiệm bánh ngọt mê quá mà。An xoay quanh hai nhân vật Sentaro ấp ủ ước mơ trở thành nhà văn sau biến cố anh phải ngồi tù suốt 2 năm bây giờ anh đang quản lí tiệm bánh Doraharu， làm việc cho có để trả nợ và bà Tokue có dị tật ở tay đã ngoài 70 tuổi có 55 năm kinh nghiệm làm bánh kẹo ngọt và bất chấp tất cả chỉ để được làm việc ở DoraharuMình muốn nói về câu truyện của bà TokueCó thể tác giả cài cắm hay mình muốn hiểu câu truyện của bà Tokue nó đề cập tới vấn đề muốn thủa và có thể sẽ chẳng bao giờ mất đi đó chính là vấn đề kì thì hay đánh người khác qua những gì mình nghe về họ， hay biết về họ dù chỉ một ít và thế công kích họ đối sử với người đó không công bằng。 Mình không nghĩ khai thác góc nhìn nhân vật thấp cổ bé họng bị ruồng bỏ kì thị mới lạ với mình nhưng trong truyện nó chua xót phũ phàn và trần trụi quáNhưng mà cách bà nhìn nhận cuộc đời của bà chấp nhận nó với không một câu hỏi vì sao khiến cho người khác phải ngưỡng mộ thử liệu nếu bản thân mình trong trường hợp của bà mình sẽ phải làm gì？”Với một người từng chịu đau khổ vì không thể ra ngoài được như bà， bà cảm thấy không có lý do gì để nhốt một loài sinh vật có đôi cánh trong chiếc lồng chật hẹp cả。”（Tokue）“An”cho mình cái cảm giác ở những ngày đầu mùa xuân ngồi bên hiên nhà lá rơi uống ly cafe vừa đắng vừa ngọt thở dài với những gì đã qua bỗng chốc mỉm cười vì những điều mình thiếu sót。Một cuốn sách hợp để đọc vào mùa xuân nhưng mình lại muốn đọc em nó vào ngày mưa bên cửa sổ cùng ít dorayaki đậu đỏ chẳng hạnƯớc gì ngày mai có mưa nhỉ！！！ 。。。more
Richa
，
This book made me crave dorayaki and sweet bean paste so much。 I suggest you all to read this with a full stomach。 Laughs aside， the book was so touching， heartwarming and tugging。 The author has written a book that can be read by all ages and can be found uplifting especially during these bleak times。To leave with some inspiration， I'd like to quote the author's note: I began with the concept of a greater force that created human beings， rather than examining human society per se; the idea th This book made me crave dorayaki and sweet bean paste so much。 I suggest you all to read this with a full stomach。 Laughs aside， the book was so touching， heartwarming and tugging。 The author has written a book that can be read by all ages and can be found uplifting especially during these bleak times。To leave with some inspiration， I'd like to quote the author's note: I began with the concept of a greater force that created human beings， rather than examining human society per se; the idea that we have been nurtured by the universe to prove its existence。 If there is no single conscious mind capable of doing this， the existence of the universe itself becomes unverifiable。 It cannot exist。 Over the aeons the universe has nurtured life forms whose very awareness makes them involved in its continued existence。 Hence we are all alike in having materialized on this Earth because that was what the universe so desired。 The ill， the bed-ridden， and children whose lives are over before they’ve barely begun; all are equal in their relationship to the universe。 Anyone is capable of making a positive contribution to the world through simple observation， irrespective of circumstance。 。。。more
Book Reviews by Anita
，
"Życie nie pozostaje bez końca w jednym kolorze。 Są chwile， gdy jego barwa zmienia się całkowicie"。 Ta niepozorna książeczka podbiła moje serducho niemal od pierwszej strony。 Może nie jest to nic odkrywczego， ale tak przyjemnie napisanego， że po przewróceniu ostatniej strony， szczerze żałowałam， że to koniec。 Myślę， że będę ją wciskać każdemu :D Polecam！ "Życie nie pozostaje bez końca w jednym kolorze。 Są chwile， gdy jego barwa zmienia się całkowicie"。 Ta niepozorna książeczka podbiła moje serducho niemal od pierwszej strony。 Może nie jest to nic odkrywczego， ale tak przyjemnie napisanego， że po przewróceniu ostatniej strony， szczerze żałowałam， że to koniec。 Myślę， że będę ją wciskać każdemu :D Polecam！ 。。。more
sowapaczy
，
Proste， piękne， pouczające。
Francesca Forniti
，
I LOVED THIS BOOK！this book is literally everything you need; funny， entertaining but also very deep。 This book taught me many things on:- the Japanese culture- Yoshii tokue's secret （which I won't spoil）You will love this book so much it will become a literal addiction！seriously， get this book， you totally won't regret it。aaaand。。。。。。 if decided to get this book by reading this review please tell me if you liked it！GO BUY THIS BOOK！ NOW！ TRUST MEEEEE！ I LOVED THIS BOOK！this book is literally everything you need; funny， entertaining but also very deep。 This book taught me many things on:- the Japanese culture- Yoshii tokue's secret （which I won't spoil）You will love this book so much it will become a literal addiction！seriously， get this book， you totally won't regret it。aaaand。。。。。。 if decided to get this book by reading this review please tell me if you liked it！GO BUY THIS BOOK！ NOW！ TRUST MEEEEE！ 。。。more
Kinga
，
This book really left me with a melancholic feeling; I felt the struggles of just about all the characters， and yet they also motivated me to see the world in a different light。Sentaro grew up thanks to his meeting with Tokue， she taught him more about life in those days than anyone else before her。 And I think I learned a few things as well， especially how to appreciate our days in this life。
Sara Petrolini
，
Il romanzo “Le ricette della Signora Tokue” di Durian Sukegawa mi è piaciuto moltissimo。 L’ho trovato un libro completo， uno di quei libri che ti fa imparare cose e al contempo ti regala emozioni profonde。 Insomma è una lettura che arricchisce e perciò è da leggere。
Emilysm
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This book was really great， such a simple and accessible story but deeply meaningful。 From the first pages I understood that it could have been interesting; I have to say I was a bit afraid of becoming bored after the initial approach。 Fortunately I was completely wrong。 I read this book enjoying every moment of it。 It was sad， happy， and it made me empathize with all the characters， the three of them were extremely different but they had something in common: they wanted to escape from their pas This book was really great， such a simple and accessible story but deeply meaningful。 From the first pages I understood that it could have been interesting; I have to say I was a bit afraid of becoming bored after the initial approach。 Fortunately I was completely wrong。 I read this book enjoying every moment of it。 It was sad， happy， and it made me empathize with all the characters， the three of them were extremely different but they had something in common: they wanted to escape from their past， and hopefully be happy again。 This novel does not make the use of complicated words or arguments， there’s no hero or heroine， just three common people that suffered in different ways， and eventually they will find in each other what was missing to start to look at life differently。 。。。more
Khawla Sh
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انتهيت من قراءة "ملذات طوكيو"رواية من الأدب الياباني للكاتب دوريان سوكيغاواهادئة بسيطة سلسلة 。。جمالها ببساطتها وإنسانيتها عدد صفحاتها ٢٥٥صفحة。。。。تدور حول علاقة إنسانية بين شاب مع امرأة عجوز من خلال هذه العلاقة 。。يبين لنا الكاتب نبذ المجتمع لمرضى هانسن ذنبهم فقط ابتلائهم بهذا المرض الذي لا شأن لهم بذالك مع العلم انه قد شفو تمامااا 。。ويتخللها ايضاااا وصفه الجميل للطبيعة من خلال كلامه عن جمال ازهار الساكورا في اليابان ملاحظة وجهة نظر حبذا لو كان اسم الرواية （ فطائر الدوراياكي ）。。انصح بها لليافعين 。 انتهيت من قراءة "ملذات طوكيو"رواية من الأدب الياباني للكاتب دوريان سوكيغاواهادئة بسيطة سلسلة 。。جمالها ببساطتها وإنسانيتها عدد صفحاتها ٢٥٥صفحة。。。。تدور حول علاقة إنسانية بين شاب مع امرأة عجوز من خلال هذه العلاقة 。。يبين لنا الكاتب نبذ المجتمع لمرضى هانسن ذنبهم فقط ابتلائهم بهذا المرض الذي لا شأن لهم بذالك مع العلم انه قد شفو تمامااا 。。ويتخللها ايضاااا وصفه الجميل للطبيعة من خلال كلامه عن جمال ازهار الساكورا في اليابان ملاحظة وجهة نظر حبذا لو كان اسم الرواية （ فطائر الدوراياكي ）。。انصح بها لليافعين 。。اقتباسات 。。1- سوف يأتي ذلك اليوم الذي تجد فيه نفسك تكون فيه انت نفسك。 2- أياً كانت أحلامنا سوف نعثر بالضرورة ذات يوم على ما كنّا نبحث عنه بفضل الصوت الذي يقودنا أنا على قناعة تامة بذلك3- دعنا لا نخاف التقدم للأمام。 في الحياة أيضاً هناك تغير للفصول 。。。more
Q
，
I read the book a while after I first saw the movie。 I fell in love with the movie。 It’s one of my favorites。 It’s a beautiful story about loneliness and friendship and those who transcend difficulties into a warmer， richer， and more meaningful life。 I watched it again in the midst of the pandemic and it shifted me again and inspired my time during the pandemic。 In the movie outside the dorayaki shop （pastries made with bean paste） it was ablaze with cherry blossoms in spring。 And this February I read the book a while after I first saw the movie。 I fell in love with the movie。 It’s one of my favorites。 It’s a beautiful story about loneliness and friendship and those who transcend difficulties into a warmer， richer， and more meaningful life。 I watched it again in the midst of the pandemic and it shifted me again and inspired my time during the pandemic。 In the movie outside the dorayaki shop （pastries made with bean paste） it was ablaze with cherry blossoms in spring。 And this February when the cherry blossoms were blooming where I live and I thought of the movie I decided to read the book。 What joy， our library had it as an ebook。 I had wondered if it was the same story in the book and if the book brought forth the same emotions that a subtle face expression can bestow or the turn of a head can tell of or the move of an eye can suggest。 The movie was very sensual - meaning here the 5 senses were brought to life as part of the story。 And I wondered how it described Sentaro’s （the owner of the shop） first taste of Tokue’s （an elder woman applying to his job posting） bean paste。 Or how Sentaro and Tokue interacted with Wakena （a school girl）？ She came into the shop daily for a treat。 Sentaro was kind to her。 And if she had a yellow bird she loved？ Sentaro had been in prison and started the shop when he came out。 He was lonely and posts the job opening because he wanted to have conversations with another during his day。 Tokue was a leper and healed。 Though when people saw her claw like hand they turned away。 There was still prejudice toward her。 Her whole life had been turned upside down。 She had never been able to work。 So here was a job she had much joy about and so she applied。 Tokue was that kind of person who delighted in life。 Wakena was also lonely and having mom problems。 And the three connected and changed each other’s lives。 The spoiler would be if I told you how。 I appreciated the subtleties in Japanese culture， the representational （example: a single flower holding a larger world）， along with the slow pace that enriched the story in both art forms。 There was much warmth in this story。 。。。more
Melanie Moore
，
Translated into English for the first time Sweet Bean Paste is a contemporary Japanese story about the power of friendship。 Sentaro has a past he's not proud of， works a job he hates and ends the day by drinking too much sake。 Then one day in walks Tokue an elderly woman who is also suffering from the secret of her past。 The unlikely pair begin a journey of self discovery and healing。 It's a little gem of a book that's packed with warmth and wisdom。 Translated into English for the first time Sweet Bean Paste is a contemporary Japanese story about the power of friendship。 Sentaro has a past he's not proud of， works a job he hates and ends the day by drinking too much sake。 Then one day in walks Tokue an elderly woman who is also suffering from the secret of her past。 The unlikely pair begin a journey of self discovery and healing。 It's a little gem of a book that's packed with warmth and wisdom。 。。。more
Kathryn Terry
，
Well， that was brilliant。
Kaouther ϟ
，
A lovely little story about what gives life meaning and how the act of friendship can transform and change someone's viewpoint of life。Loved it ！ A lovely little story about what gives life meaning and how the act of friendship can transform and change someone's viewpoint of life。Loved it ！ 。。。more
Amelia
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An absolutely beautiful tale of how humankind is disappointing at times but nature is always with us and guides us if we just listen。 This book exposes what it's like to live through a 'life lesson' and is sprinkled with yumminess。 LOVE LOVE LOVE。 Tread with caution- this book WILL make you cry。 An absolutely beautiful tale of how humankind is disappointing at times but nature is always with us and guides us if we just listen。 This book exposes what it's like to live through a 'life lesson' and is sprinkled with yumminess。 LOVE LOVE LOVE。 Tread with caution- this book WILL make you cry。 。。。more
Ben Rogers
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This was an outstanding read。 A very deep book that I thoroughly enjoyed。 I will never see dorayaki， full moons， and cherry blossoms again the same again。Book SummaryA man running a slowly-declining confectionary shop hires an old woman to help make cookies。 Unsure of her motive， the man discovers her unbelievable talent - but also her dark history。 The WritingSukegawa was an unbelievably great writer。 Very gifted writing on personal issues and conversations。 Book ThemesThis book covers many top This was an outstanding read。 A very deep book that I thoroughly enjoyed。 I will never see dorayaki， full moons， and cherry blossoms again the same again。Book SummaryA man running a slowly-declining confectionary shop hires an old woman to help make cookies。 Unsure of her motive， the man discovers her unbelievable talent - but also her dark history。 The WritingSukegawa was an unbelievably great writer。 Very gifted writing on personal issues and conversations。 Book ThemesThis book covers many topics ranging from:- Adversity- Listening to the language of the world- Lessons- Learning- Integrity- Acceptance and learning about people with disabilities- Stigmas and human side behind people with disabilities- Really brought me more information about （view spoiler）[leprosy （hide spoiler）]- Symbolism behind the canary- Making sure your life has purpose and meaning- Powerful message about the sadness of loss- Treating elders with dignity， respect， and honorWhat I Didn't LikeNot a big fan about the constant contemplations of suicide in this bookFinal ThoughtsThis was a really excellent companion read to The Forest of Wool and Steel。 They both cover integrity， learning， and apprenticeship very well。 4。8/5 。。。more
Rola Awartani
，
Everything in each and every single one of us's life has a meaning， we sometimes don't realise the meaning of it instantly， but surely one day we will， and that surely applies to the presence of all the people in our life。。。 I loved this novel。。。 this was my first book for a Japanese writer and it surely will not be the last ❤ Everything in each and every single one of us's life has a meaning， we sometimes don't realise the meaning of it instantly， but surely one day we will， and that surely applies to the presence of all the people in our life。。。 I loved this novel。。。 this was my first book for a Japanese writer and it surely will not be the last ❤ 。。。more
Martha
，
This was a beautiful， heartbreaking and poignant story with many important themes and lovable characters。 Minor spoilers ahead。 Sentaro believes that he has failed in everything。 With a criminal record and his dreams seeming impossible， the only proof that his life has not stalled is the changing cherry blossom trees outside the dorayaki store in which he works。 After some persuasion， he reluctantly hires Tokue to help him in the store， despite her old age and disfigured hands。 Tokue makes the b This was a beautiful， heartbreaking and poignant story with many important themes and lovable characters。 Minor spoilers ahead。 Sentaro believes that he has failed in everything。 With a criminal record and his dreams seeming impossible， the only proof that his life has not stalled is the changing cherry blossom trees outside the dorayaki store in which he works。 After some persuasion， he reluctantly hires Tokue to help him in the store， despite her old age and disfigured hands。 Tokue makes the best sweet bean paste that Sentaro has ever tasted。 With her cooking， the store's popularity booms。 Yet Tokue has a secret that many misunderstand。 I honestly had no idea what people with Hansen's disease/leprosy went through in Japan。 It was such a widely misunderstood disease。 People who were infected were taken away from their families and moved to sanatoriums in secluded areas with other patients。 They weren't allowed to leave and no one was allowed to visit them。 In the 1950s， cures were made readily available and patients were proven not to be infectious to others。 Yet these people still had to fight for their right to leave their confines。 A law was passed in 2001 that said segregating those with Hansen's disease was unconstitutional and should be stopped。 These patients had to wait so long for this law to be passed！ Many had lost their families by then and， once outside， they continued to face discrimination。 The character Tokue explains that by the time she was allowed to leave the sanatorium， she had already spent the majority of her life inside the confines she could not escape from。"We discovered that once we experienced the joy of being out in the world and free again， the greater the happiness， the more we felt the pain of lost times and lives that could never be returned。" Tokue was just about the sweetest character I have ever read about in literature。 Despite all the hardship in her life， she finds joy for herself and creates it for others。 She makes confectionary to make others in the sanatorium happy - some of those with Hanson's disease could lose feeling in their hands and feet but taste was always their last feeling to go。 She is caring of others and the bonds she forms with Sentaro， and later Wakana， are lovely。 In Japanese culture， a lot of value is placed on what you can do for society。 Tokue says， "I believed that a life has no value if a person is not a useful member of society。" However， this book breaks down that assumption。 Instead it gives us the message that life is not about what you contribute to society， rather it is about appreciating and respecting the world around you。"I began to understand that we were born in order to see and listen to the world。 And that's all this world wants of us。 It doesn't matter that I was never a teacher or a member of the workforce， my life had meaning。" The theme of found family and how your kindness can shape a person's life is woven beautifully throughout the pages of this book。 The overall tone is poignant and moving。 I know I will think about the messages in this book for a long time。 。。。more
Sandaru Ravihari
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 What a wonderful story。 I really enjoyed the Japanese setting of cherry blossoms and Japanese cooking: not just the dorayaki but the information about other dishes like manju， kishimen noodles， sake， kombu， soba noodles。。etc loved the characters and the realistic portrayal and the ending for not being all a "perfect ending。 The whole book made me hungry and emotional。 What a wonderful story。 I really enjoyed the Japanese setting of cherry blossoms and Japanese cooking: not just the dorayaki but the information about other dishes like manju， kishimen noodles， sake， kombu， soba noodles。。etc loved the characters and the realistic portrayal and the ending for not being all a "perfect ending。 The whole book made me hungry and emotional。 。。。more
eli
，
alors là，，，，，， after a good cry je peux vous annoncer que c’est un de mes nouveaux livres préférés， il était sublime j’en reviens pas。。 je recommande tellement :（
Jenel
，
4。5 stars， very heartwarming 🌸
Kat Heathcote
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Picked it up 2 hours ago。。。。 Did not stop till I finished。 Will take me some time to digest - beautiful！！
Youmna Fathy
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اعتقد أني سأعطيها 4 نجوم ونصف ، لا أعتقد ان العنوان مناسب لمحتوى الرواية！ فقد اعطاني إنطباع مختلف تماماً。 كان محتوى الرواية يتحدث عن مرضى الجذام و ما عانوه في الماضي، حبسهم في مصحة تنشوين كأنهم مجرمين بل إنهم لا يستطيعون الخروج للمجتمع مرة اخرى بسبب آثار جسيمة تركها المرض عليهم。 احببت السيدة توكي بشدة، لطيفة و هادئة كنت أتعلم منها كما يتعلم سينتارو منها و أحببت رسالتها الأخيرة بشدة كلماتها ظلت محفورة في قلبي。 اعتقد ان النجمة الناقصة بسبب أن لم تكن هناك نهاية مُرضية لقصة سينتارو！ لا أعلم ماذا سيف اعتقد أني سأعطيها 4 نجوم ونصف ، لا أعتقد ان العنوان مناسب لمحتوى الرواية！ فقد اعطاني إنطباع مختلف تماماً。 كان محتوى الرواية يتحدث عن مرضى الجذام و ما عانوه في الماضي، حبسهم في مصحة تنشوين كأنهم مجرمين بل إنهم لا يستطيعون الخروج للمجتمع مرة اخرى بسبب آثار جسيمة تركها المرض عليهم。 احببت السيدة توكي بشدة، لطيفة و هادئة كنت أتعلم منها كما يتعلم سينتارو منها و أحببت رسالتها الأخيرة بشدة كلماتها ظلت محفورة في قلبي。 اعتقد ان النجمة الناقصة بسبب أن لم تكن هناك نهاية مُرضية لقصة سينتارو！ لا أعلم ماذا سيفعل。 غير ذلك كانت رواية خفيفة و أحببتها، كانت قراءة جماعة مُوفقة。💗 。。。more
Sarah Al-Ajeel
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This is definitely one of those books where the experience of reading it will be with you for a long time。 It's both a heartwarming and poignant story。 The letters that Tokue wrote to Sentaro were heartwrenching and filled with wisdom。 I mean will you look at some of these lines: “All experience adds up to a life lived as only you could。 I feel sure the day will come when you can say: this is my life。”， “People’s lives never stay the same colour forever。 There are times when the colour of life c This is definitely one of those books where the experience of reading it will be with you for a long time。 It's both a heartwarming and poignant story。 The letters that Tokue wrote to Sentaro were heartwrenching and filled with wisdom。 I mean will you look at some of these lines: “All experience adds up to a life lived as only you could。 I feel sure the day will come when you can say: this is my life。”， “People’s lives never stay the same colour forever。 There are times when the colour of life changes completely。”， and “If all you ever see is reality， you just want to die。” This book does a good job shedding light on the situation of people who had leprosy （Hansen's disease） in Japan and the years of struggle and stigma following。 All in all， I would give this 3。5 stars。 If you like food， heartwarming stories， or just Japanese literature， then this is a must-read。 。。。more
Pluviostar ~ （Adriano）
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Pura poesia。Finale attendibile e ricco di fascino。Poi che consigliato。 È un racconto di una dolcezza infinita。
Darya Petrova
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Книгата е просто невероятна。 Начина， по който авторът разказва чрез заобикалящия свят героите е нещо， което за пръв път чета
Michael Sanderson-green
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I loved this existential book ， summed up by the quote “ we are here to see and listen to the world “ 。 This is also the ethos of the Australian First Nation people。 I loved that the book could find such depth through the main characters ， a ex criminal paying of a debt in a pancake shop and a 76 year old recovered Henson disease victim。
Reference
google book https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q=Sweet Bean Paste
hathitrust digital library https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/ls?q1=Sweet Bean Paste&field1=ocr&a=srchls&ft=ft&lmt=ft
The British Library https://bll01.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/search?query=any,contains,Sweet Bean Paste&tab=LibraryCatalog&search_scope=Not_BL_Suppress&vid=44BL_INST:BLL01&lang=en&offset=0