Sweet Bean Paste is a lovely novel by Durian Sukagawa. Sentaro works in a confectionary shop making and selling dorayaki, a pancake filled with sweet bean paste. He only works here to repay a debt to the owner, as his past criminal record keeps him from other jobs and his dream of becoming a writer. One day, an older woman with disfigured hands walks into his shop and his life changes. Tokue makes the best sweet bean paste he has ever tasted and an unlikely friendship blooms.

As both their pasts slowly come to light, their growing friendship means more to them than either could have imagined. Written with such elegance and grace, this is a novel to read slowly and savor with a good cup of tea; what I wouldn’t have given to have one of Tokue’s dorayaki to go with it. A great read, highly recommended.