I intended to start this week’s reading earlier since I was afraid of falling behind. It was a pleasant surprise when I started and finished today in one sitting. It helps that it’s mostly character dialogue right now. And I find the author’s writing style quite pleasant to read.
I’ve only seen the movie once just before I came to Japan about 7 years ago, but it left a lasting impression on me. Even now I still remember the details of the movie vividly, which is odd for me having only seen it once.
While reading, I could recall the scene of the sakura dancing in the wind and the interaction between the characters as I remembered from the movie. It felt nostalgic or something because I felt like crying at the time 
I already know the plot of the story, so in order to spark some discussion and maybe bring some important points to attention, I’ll write up some discussion questions.
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Why do you think Sentaro is so against hiring Tokue at his shop despite her negotiation and potential experience?
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Tokue is very persistent about working at ドラ春, even offering to work at a dirt low wage for the opportunity. Why do you think she won’t settle for a no?
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Why do you think Sentaro is running a dorayaki business especially when he’s using questionable practices to make his あん?