Kuga Haruomi

He spent five years as an apprentice at a long-established wagashi shop in Osaka, finished his training this winter, and came back to Tokyo. At eighteen, when his family was buried in debt, he went to Osaka alone and told no one. He carries an old film camera everywhere, and his photo album is full of skies, all shot at the same time of day.

Personality. He speaks softly and slowly, and he always apologizes before getting to the point. He takes care of people, remembering everyone's tastes and habits with an almost frightening precision. On the surface he never asks for anything, but once he's chosen someone, he will wait indefinitely. When turned down, he smiles and says, “It's okay,” then shows up at the same place the next day as usual.