| Haruki Murakami (村上春樹, Murakami Haruki?, born January 12, 1949) is a Japanese writer and translator.[1] His works of fiction and non-fiction have garnered him critical acclaim and numerous awards. He is considered an important figure in postmodern literature. The Guardian praised him as "among the world's greatest living novelists" for his works and achievements.[2] Murakami was born in Japan during the post--World War II baby boom.[3] Although born in Kyoto, he spent his youth in Shukugawa (Nishinomiya), Ashiya and Kobe.[4][5] His father was the son of a Buddhist priest,[6] and his mother the daughter of an Osaka merchant.[7] Both taught Japanese literature.[8] Since childhood, Murakami has been heavily influenced by Western culture, particularly Western music and literature. He grew up reading a range of works by American writers, such as Kurt Vonnegut and Richard Brautigan, and he is often distinguished from other Japanese writers by his Western influences.[9] Murakami studied drama at Waseda University in Tokyo, where he met his wife, Yoko. His first job was at a record store, which is where one of his main characters, Toru Watanabe in Norwegian Wood, works. Shortly before finishing his studies, Murakami opened the coffeehouse (jazz bar, in the evening) "Peter Cat" in Kokubunji, Tokyo with his wife[10] (1974-1981).[11] Many of his novels have themes and titles that invoke classical music, such as the three books making up The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle: The Thieving ... |
