A Wild Haruki Chase: Reading Murakami Around the World

“In every society, Murakami’s works are first accepted as texts that assuage the political disillusionment, romantic impulses, loneliness, and emptiness of readers. Only later do they fully realize that the author was born in Japan and that the books are actually translations.” —Inuhiko Yomota, Meiji Gakuen University

Japanese novelist Haruki Murakami’s best-selling books, including Norwegian Wood, The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle, and Kafka on the Shore, have been translated into over forty languages. His dreamlike prose delights readers across borders and datelines. What lies behind this phenomenal international appeal? The Japan Foundation asked novelists, translators, artists, and critics from around the world to answer this question. A Wild Haruki Chasepresents their intriguing findings. Neuroscience, revolution, a secret Chinese connection . . . you’ll never read Murakami the same way again.

Includes a full-color review of book covers from around the world!

Haruki Murakami is a Japanese novelist of international renown. His bestselling titles, including Norwegian Woodand Kafka on the Shore, have been translated into over thirty languages in over thirty-six countries. A Wild Haruki Chasecollects commentary by novelists, translators, and critics from Asia and the United States. Together, they explore the appeal of Murakami's work, and why it is important not just to a Japanese audience, but to a growing audience of readers around the world. A special photo review and a list of publications in worldwide translation are included.

The Japan Foundationpromotes an ongoing dialogue between Japanese and other peoples through the medium of culture.