Sweet Bean Paste by Durian Sukegawa - Review
Recently, I've been reading more out of my usual genres (speculative fiction, science fiction, and dystopia) with a particular interest in modern Japanese literature from the Heisei period to current day.
I've had a vested interest in Japan for quite a while, and I am well read in terms of classic Japanese literature such as Dazai and Soseki. After having spent a good deal of time in the country, I wanted to round out my reading list with some of the more popular authors of current day, particularly books that touch on societal pressures, work life, and relationships. With a potential move to Japan on the table for me in the near future, I stacked my reading list with handful of books that looked to capture these themes.
Sweet Bean Paste is one of the more grounded books I picked. It follows the story of a Dorayaki shop owner named Sentaro. Jaded on his work and in-debt to the widow of an old friend, the book follows Sentaro's journey as he meets an old woman named Tokue that reignites his passion for life.
The most striking theme this book seeks to answer is "Why do we live?" A common sentimentality, beyond just Japan, is that we live to be of use. Productivity is ground into our heads, and it feels like we have to contribute in order to be worth something. Sukegawa rejects this theme with Sweet Bean Paste by exploring the lives of those who cannot contribute to the world in a traditional way.
Tokue, an early victim of Hansen's disease, is locked away in a sanitarium from a young age. 50 long years leave her stuck behind these walls, and she has had to come to terms with her life in a different way than most of us ever will. What meaning is there with a life lived behind the hedges of a sanitarium? So, too, what is the purpose of a life cut impossibly short?
Sweet Bean Paste presents an optimistic answer despite focusing on themes of depression, suicide, death, and imprisonment. Towards the end of the novel, Tokue presents Sentaro with a letter that says:
"If my view of the world disappears, then everything that I see disappears too... And then I thought, what if this didn't apply just to me, what if there were no other human beings in this world? What about all the different forms of life that have the ability to be aware of the presence of others - what would happen if none of them existed either? The answer is that this world in all its infinity would disappear."
Experiencing life is the answer, to see the sky and wind and life itself. For, we experience the world in a way that no one else can. With our life, we give to the world a perspective. To see, and listen, and feel is enough. There is no need to be productive, to live with any concrete meaning. For, what is the meaning of a child that dies of sickness? Many would say it was lost, meaningless to society. However, Sukegawa would posit that life itself and the experience we have is the meaning of life.
I know I struggle with meaning, as do most. So many of us want to leave a trace of our existence, of our lives lived. Some pursue this to the most extreme ends. But, sometimes, it is okay to be content with simply a life well lived. To be present and to open yourself to the world is difficult, especially in today's modern world of distraction and media.
While this book resonated with me deeply, I am sure that I will continue my struggles to shout above the noise. What about you? What drives your life and gives you meaning?
Beyond just the theme, the story is told beautifully. While I am reading through the warped lens of translation, the prose was plain without being boring. I struggled with Before the Coffee Gets Cold despite the interesting concept because the prose was incredibly direct and short. While Sweet Bean Paste is by no means flowery, it offers a relatable prose befitting the characters and story being told.
The story is short. This novel does not linger and provide clarity or a complete story for the main character Sentaro. While I can see some feeling satisfied with this, I felt the story went as far as it needed to. It was never really about Sentaro. It was about the age-spanning relationships he formed with Tokue & Wakana while finding a new purpose in a bleak life.
Overall, it was an excellent read. If you have a quiet afternoon, I recommend taking the time to read it through in a single sitting. If you have read it, what are your thoughts? I'd love to read them.
