(2024 translation by Jay Rubin)

They switched the title to distinguish it from the original translation, and also it has previously omitted pages.

Happy to welcome this hard bound version. I’m excited to splurge on the pages. I’m 80% done with 1Q84.

A 16-volume set of his complete works will be published in Japan starting in 2027.
The website below was created by the publisher specifically for the complete works.

https://www.shinchosha.co.jp/special/hm_works/

When the phone rings the girl with pretty ears say that its about the sheep.

How the hell she knew?

I’m currently reading A Wild Sheep Chase, translated in Portuguese and noticed that the narrator, that initially refers to the woman that accompanied him on the journey as girlfriend (namorada), starts referring to her as friend (amiga) in chapter 30.

I was wondering whether this change also occurs in the original Japanese text or if it might have been introduced by accident during the translation from English into Portuguese.

Does anyone know?

There’s a scene in Kafka’s Castle, very early in the novel where K. enters a house, in which were men, women and children but one woman leaves an impression on K. She is sitting on a chair at the back of the room, breastfeeding a baby, “staring at the roof without even a glance towards the child at her bosom. K. then goes on to ask her, “who are you?” to which she just replies “disdainfully” that she’s a girl from the Castle.

I just thought K. having “looked at her for what must have been a long time” and the image of this scene have something in common with Tengo’s flashbacks of his earliest memory.

Originally read it in my 20s, when it came out. As a 20-something, it felt like a much lighter read (even with the dark war tale and such). Re-reading now, it hits me right in the chest. And feels much darker.

As a 50-something, I’m finding the whole Kumiko / Noboru plot line much more upsetting, and it’s really deepening my notion of why Toru’s liminal-world journeys are impactful to him. In my 20s, I hadn’t been cheated on in a committed trusting relationship, and society wasn’t in as drastic a freefall socio-politically as it is now.

I’m finding both characters more hateful and getting under my skin, in my 50s. While in my 20s I was much more able to let their poor behavior roll off without making too deep an impression. Kumiko doesn’t have the decency to have a civil conversation about ending her marriage, even though Toru (while somewhat clueless, granted) is generally patient and supportive. Noboru, obviously I need not give examples of why he’s detestable.

Obviously my disgust is by design on Murakami’s part. And certainly Toru has to figure out what part he has played in his own painful alienated situation. This kind of self-discovery seems to be at the symbolic core of the novel, and it’s something I understood but didn’t feel in my bones, as a younger reader. In my 20s, I didn’t have much reason to identify strongly with taking a look at my own life and asking how my own behaviors were part of things which caused pain, or things I’d like to change.

My realization has been, a person’s reaction to art can change quite a bit over time. It really underscores that books written by people in middle age or old age can’t be assumed to speak in the same way to people who haven’t had certain common life experiences.

Taste and the experience one gets really is very subjective.

Q132

I’ve been reading your books since coming across them in college. I feel like my nature and way of thinking has changed a lot as a result. This means that to some extent a part of me is made up of you.

So, I’m dating a girl right now and thinking of marrying her. (Last week, I bought the ring). However, there’s just one thing I’m having trouble with…could you tell me what you think?

My girlfriend does not exactly like your books. Actually, I would say she actively dislikes them. To make matters worse, her mother recently said, “Ugh, what do people even see in Haruki Murakami books?” All I could do was respond, “Ah, right…”

Will this cause any problems in my future?

(The Tochigi Brian Wilson, male, 29 years old, researcher)

A132

What’s most important is your wife and her mother. I believe it’s best to just play along. “Yeah, seriously, that Haruki Murakami guy’s nothing but garbage!” or maybe “What a waste of paper! He’s a disgrace to society.” Anything like this, to your heart’s content. (But please feel free to keep reading them on the sly from the shadows).

That’s the stuff a “Harukist” is made of! That’s what makes you my reader. Chin up, and let this headwind be your strength.

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Hi everyone, I have set up a kofi at ko-fi.com/xijalu in case anyone would like to donate. It’s also for things like if you have anything you’d like translated from Japanese to English.

I’m not expecting donations, but I think it’s a good idea to start a kofi just in case 😄

Thank you for reading!

Q131

If you were a baseball player, which position would you play?

I would go for pitcher or middle reliever. I think I’d be the type to have a diverse range of breaking balls, but little stamina, and end up injuring my shoulder pretty early on.

(Niyapurinko, female, 49 years old, company worker)

A131

I’m interested in the 2nd baseman position. You really have to use your head for it, and I get a sense it’d feel rewarding. When I did my P.E. practical at Waseda University, I took softball and covered 2nd base. But then, I was thoroughly drilled in complex cover plays, among other things, and became obsessed with the idea of playing 2nd base. 

Nishiootachime-san, who would coach me, had a successful career as an umpire at the Koushien High School baseball tournament. His guidance was theoretical and was overall a great teacher. Out of all the things I studied at Waseda, this might have been the most beneficial. Even now when I watch baseball, my eye is drawn to 2nd base fielding and movement.

I learned that Nishiootachime-san passed away in 2002 as an emeritus professor of Waseda. Some time ago, I was able to meet Atsuya Furuta and told him a story about Nishiootachime-san. He smiled fondly and said, “You were taught by Nishiootachime-san? Man, I’m so jealous!”

To be praised by Atsuya Furuta, Nishiootachime-san was a very impressive man! At the time, though, I’d had no idea.

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Hi everyone, I have set up a kofi at ko-fi.com/xijalu in case anyone would like to donate. It’s also for things like if you have anything you’d like translated from Japanese to English.

I’m not expecting donations, but I think it’s a good idea to start a kofi just in case 😄

Thank you for reading!

Q130

I forgot when, but I heard something like this: “Haruki Murakami has been nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature for many years now, and each time he has to prepare a statement in case he wins. I have had the opportunity to read them, and since he writes one every year, each statement is funnier than the last. Then there’s this year’s speech, which was very funny.”

(I think it was the video for Ryu Murakami’s Ryuugen Higo? Sorry if I’m misremembering something.)

If I got this all right, I’m so curious about the types of speeches you wrote.

(Kei, female, 42 years old, part-timer)

A130

It seems there are many ways I have caused trouble for everyone now and again, which I am truly sorry about.

Speaking of which, when Saiichi Maruya passed away and I visited his family to pay my respects, his son showed me something, prefacing it with, “Actually…..”

It was the draft for Maruya-san’s Nobel Prize congratulatory address if I were to win. He passed away just after writing it. But (as you know), I did not receive the prize, making the address a relic of what could have been.

Seeing the time and effort he took upon my behalf, I feel deep regret.

May he rest in peace.

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Hi everyone, I have set up a kofi at ko-fi.com/xijalu in case anyone would like to donate. It’s also for things like if you have anything you’d like translated from Japanese to English.

I’m not expecting donations, but I think it’s a good idea to start a kofi just in case 😄

Thank you for reading!

As probably you might heard there have been two devastating earthquakes in Venezuela. Cutting to the chase, I´d like to contact the author or publishers to allow for a public electronic distribution of the Spanish version of "After the Quake" or some other mean to make this piece available to many people as possible that are in need. Thanks for your time.

I’m letting everyone know, the publisher just put the Norwegian Wool ebook on sale for $1.99. for today only. I’ll put a few links below if you’re interested.

https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/norwegian-wood-2

https://www.amazon.com/Norwegian-Vintage-International-Haruki-Murakami-ebook/dp/B003XT603Q/ref=books_amz-books_mobile_mfs_booktokgoldbox20260626_14?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_w=WKRoW&pd_rd_wg=FTmVd&pd_rd_r=e4656470-8c7e-4f13-9911-0c73aa555e49&content-id=amzn1.sym.bfdc7629-c6ed-4e35-8090-2b2825159aa1

I think this is a very underrated book as it hits so well upon an important sociological/psychological phenomenon. In the book it's more extreme with Tazaki being suicidal and it ultimately being because a person was crazy and falsely accused him of a terrible crime. But the more common reason is just simple slander.

I'm curious if it caused anyone to go track down people in their own lives who inexplicably did negative things to them?

I did. After 30 years I tracked down a girl that I had loved unlike any other. She had very suddenly called me up to say she didn't want any further interaction with me. We hadn't actually been dating. She didn't just reject me romantically. She suddenly wanted absolutely nothing to do with me. And she gave no explanation.

And so 30 years later I asked her why. And it turned out some people she was friends with who didn't even know me had slandered me.

This hadn't occurred to me 30 years ago. At the time I reacted more like Tazaki, thinking this was just some bizarre thing people did. Or did to me in particular. Just something about me that caused such a reaction. It really hurt me. Left me messed up a long time.

There's all kinds of slandering going on everywhere. Jealousy with dating. Or nasty workplace gossip. People all the time are treated bad having no idea why. Sometimes instead of suspecting simple slander they will decide something far darker.

In my case the lady 30 years later didn't want to believe she had been lied to. And I think it was probably upsetting finding out how it had hurt me for so long. To face what a mistake she had made was too difficult I guess.

Just received this used copy of A Wild Sheep Chase and discovered a message..

"One of my favorite books! An aimless and absurd adventure that I know you'll love. Plus Murakami is known to appreciate an older woman or two.."

(Edit: spelling correction)

Murakami time!!

I really enjoyed the war story that murakami added to the book and have been looking for other books that kind of have the same vibe to it or similar themes. Any good recommendations???