Sweet Bean Paste

Sentaro is the protagonist of the novel. He is a dynamic and round character whose journey from cynical resignation to purposeful engagement forms the central narrative arc. Initially, Sentaro is a man imprisoned by his past and his present circumstances. He works at the Doraharu shop not out of passion but as a means to pay off a debt, a form of penance for a past crime that led to his incarceration. His disconnection from his work is symbolized by his use of mass-produced sweet bean paste; it is a mechanical, soulless process that mirrors his own emotional state. He dislikes sweets and rarely eats his own dorayaki, an irony that underscores his alienation. He is simply passing time, waiting for his release: As he confesses to Tokue, “I’m just a waster” (57). His existence is stagnant, marked only by the annual blooming of the cherry tree outside the shop, a natural cycle of renewal that he observes with weary detachment rather than hope.

Sentaro’s transformation begins with the arrival of Tokue Yoshii. His initial motivation for hiring her is pragmatic: He recognizes the superior quality of her bean paste and sees an opportunity to improve sales and hasten his freedom by employing her for a pittance.