Japanese Literature discussion

This is the discussion thread for Sweet Bean Paste. Sweet Bean Paste was written by Durian Sukegawa and translated into English by Alison Watts.

I loved the book. It has to be enjoyed when you are in a certain mood. It leaves a bittersweet feeling. It makes you ponder about life -what it is about - and how to lead a good life amidst everything that makes it difficult to do so.

Really enjoyed this book, it starts of rather simple but has real messages on exclusion and stigma.

I just started this book less than a week ago, so how perfect it is that we are reading it for July!

This is one of my favorite book. I love the characters and their friendship portrayed in this book.

Ah I read this last year and really enjoyed it too :-)

I come to the book after first having watched the movie a couple of years ago. It's one of my favourite Japanese movies so I am hoping that I will enjoy the book as well.

I finished this yesterday and began rewatching the movie. The book goes into far greater detail with Sentaro and Tokue’s backstory, the ending is slightly different too from memory. The book's ending is more ambiguous with regard to Sentaro’s life, the movie gives you a more firmly resolved and standard resolution. I also appreciated the author's note at the end.

Just finished & posted my quick review of this book. It's a really lovely, easy read but so heartbreaking

I just finished this. I enjoyed it and found the history behind it interesting. Would be interested in seeing the movie, but I suppose it's in Japanese?

I found the movie, so thanks for mentioning it!

Patricia wrote: "I just finished this. I enjoyed it and found the history behind it interesting. Would be interested in seeing the movie, but I suppose it's in Japanese?"

No worries.

This was quite an interesting book, and I especially liked the treatment of the more serious subject matter (no spoilers here) - delicate as the sweet treat at times - I learned a lot and enjoyed it. I also learned fun things about sweet bean paste itself. And I did watch the film, which was, to me, true to my vision of how it would look. But the book was wonderful. I can see why this is a favorite for many.

Katharine wrote: "This was quite an interesting book, and I especially liked the treatment of the more serious subject matter (no spoilers here) - delicate as the sweet treat at times - I learned a lot and enjoyed i..."

The book and film do complement each other. The book certainly adds depth to those to characters. I wonder how much is being lost in the movie translation as well, cultural artefacts that are obvious to Japanese people.

I enjoyed the book. Very well said by Muhammad, it definitely gave me a bittersweet feeling as well. After reading the story, it made me think about life in a different way.

I really loved this quote from Tokue's letter: "From then on I began to see everything differently. If I were not here, this full moon would not be here. Neither would the trees. Or the wind. If my view of the world disappears, then everything that I see disappears too. It’s as simple as that."

S.B., I had no idea there was a movie. I will have to try and watch it sometime. I also appreciated the Author's note at the end too. It's nice to know he visited and interviewed Hansen's patients.

Monica wrote: "I enjoyed the book. Very well said by Muhammad, it definitely gave me a bittersweet feeling as well. After reading the story, it made me think about life in a different way.

I really loved this q..."

The was a DVD version called Sweet Bean and you can also find it called An on YouTube for purchase and download.

I believe the movie might be on amazon prime as well? Ive not double checked but I've been meaning to watch it

I liked this book very much and i learned many things from it. As a child when i used to see people on streets with Hansen's disease, i used to think why only poorest of poor get infected not the rich , but the age we are living in is advanced in medical science, the horror of the infliction in absence of treatment and its impact on immediate family and society never crossed my mind.