Sweet Bean Paste by Durian Sukegawa

This uplifting novel is a story of the redemptive power of friendship between strangers and how food can be an intergenerational link. Paying a debt from the past, Sentaro runs a tiny confectioners stand specializing in dorayaki, a pancake filled with sweet bean paste, He meets Tokue, an elderly woman disfigured by Hansen's disease who asks to work for him and teaches him to make the most delicious sweet bean paste. The shop is frequented by students and Wakana begins stopping by daily. A friendship ensues between these three characters and the reader is given a glimpse into the history of the ostracism those suffering from Hansen’s disease faced in Japan. At its core, this is a story of how compassion opens new possibilities.

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