45 pages • 1 hour read
Sweet Bean Paste
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Chapters 1-8Chapter Summaries & Analyses
Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of illness, death, ableism, and substance use.
Chapter 1 Summary
On the outskirts of Tokyo, Japan, Sentaro Tsujii is the manager of Doraharu, a small shop selling dorayaki—pancakes filled with sweet bean paste. Sentaro does not find the work fulfilling and relies on inferior commercial ingredients to lighten his labor.
During the spring cherry-blossom season, Sentaro is working at Doraharu when he notices an elderly woman observing him. The woman approaches the shop about the “Help Wanted” sign, asking if being 76 years old would post a problem. Sentaro tries to dissuade her by citing the low pay, but she offers to work for half the advertised wage.
Sentaro politely declines, noticing her bent fingers and stiff features. Before leaving, the woman introduces herself as Tokue Yoshii. She asks who planted the large cherry tree outside the shop and departs, promising to return.
Chapter 2 Summary
The next day, Sentaro mixes a new batch of commercial bean paste with leftovers from the day before—a corner cutting practice that is frowned on. During his lunch break, Tokue reappears and again offers to work, this time for an even lower wage. Sentaro refuses a second time.
Tokue critiques his store-bought bean paste, telling him that she has made her own for 50 years.
