A review by moominquartz
Sweet Bean Paste by Durian Sukegawa

emotional informative sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

I was expecting the typical "cozy contemporary" fare, where nothing much happens but it's a heartwarming story with at most a bittersweet ending. Boy, was I wrong. This book went in ways I didn't expect. It might begin that way, but it very quickly becomes an exploration of a dark time in Japan's history, one I wasn't aware of,
in which those with Hansen's disease (or leprosy) were isolated from society and mistreated, long after they were cured, and even years after there was not a single case of the disease in the nation. These people were shunned, their families shamed; they were forced to give up their names and stricken from the national registry; they were forcibly sterilized; they were imprisoned in a quarantine facility and not allowed any contact with the outside world.
It's truly horrific. And it's through this history that Sukegawa explores the meaning of life. In Japan it's very common to believe that the only purpose in living is to be a contributing member of society. Sukegawa challenges this notion and says that
the only purpose of life is to observe the universe. The universe, he posits, needs people to observe it, and you are the only one who can observe it. In this lens, even the sick, the infirm, and those who die too young, all of them have a purpose and their life is worth living.


I found it surprisingly profound and very thought provoking. This book is going to sit with me.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings