Haruki Murakami Biography
Haruki Murakami is a popular Japanese author. His books, essays, and short stories have become best-sellers internationally and in Japan. He has sold millions of copies outside Japan and his work is interpreted into 50 languages. Haruki is recognized for his works including, Norwegian Wood, The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle, and Kafka on the Shore.
In 1979, he released his first novel, Hear the Wind Sing, following working as the owner of a small jazz bar named Peter Cat. Haruki’s work covers genres such as delusion, science fiction, and crime fiction, and has become recognized for using magical positivist elements. He became the sixth recipient of the Franz Kafka Prize in 2006. In October 2014, Haruki received the Welt-Literaturpreis. He was named one of the TIME 100’s most influential people in April 2015.
In November 2016, Haruki received the Danish Hans Christian Andersen Literature Award, an award formerly won by JK Rowling a British author. He was nominated in 2018 for the New Academy Prize in Literature. Haruki also requested that his nomination be withdrawn, claiming he needed to focus on writing, besides media attention. He received the Princess of Asturias Award for Literature in 2023.
Quick Facts
| Age | 75 years old (born January 12, 1949) |
| Wife | Yoko Murakami |
| Height | 5 ft 6 in (approx. 1.68 m) |
| Net Worth | $200 million. |
| Occupation | Author |
Haruki Murakami Age
Haruki was born on January 12, 1949, in Fushimi-ku, Kyoto, Japan. He is 75 years old. Haruki celebrates his birthday on January 12, every year.
Family Life And Education
Haruki was born in Kyoto, Japan, an only child to his parents Miyuki Murakami and Chiaki Murakami (1917 – 2008). He grew up in Nishinomiya, Ashiya, and Kobe. Haruki’s dad was a Buddhist priest’s son while his mom was an Osaka merchant’s daughter. He belongs to the Japanese ethnicity. His parents taught Japanese literature. In 1938, Haruki’s father also worked as a soldier in a transport battalion. Chiaki died in 2008. For his education, Haruki learned drama at Waseda University in Tokyo.
Haruki Murakami Wife
Haruki is married to his wife Yoko Murakami. He met his wife in 1968 at Tokyo’s Waseda University. They married in 1971 and decided not to have kids. From 1974 to 1981, Haruki and his wife ran a coffee house and jazz bar, Peter Cat, in Tokyo.
Haruki Murakami Author
When he was aged 29, Haruki started writing fiction. He was encouraged to write his first novel, Hear the Wind Sing, in 1979 while viewing a baseball game. Haruki described the time he realized he could author as a “warm sensation” he could still feel in his heart. Later on, he started writing that night. Haruki also worked on Hear the Wind Sing for ten months in very short stretches, during nights, following working days at the bar.
His former success with Hear the Wind Sing inspired him to proceed with writing. After one year, Haruki published a sequel, Pinball, 1973. In 1981, Haruki co-authored a short story collection, Yume de Aimashou alongside Shigesato Itoi. His first two books were not widely accessible in English translation outside Japan until 2015.
An English edition, interpreted by Alfred Birnbaum with extensive notes, had been released by Kodansha as part of a series intended for Japanese learners of English. In 1979, he received a Gunzo Award for Hear the Wind Sing which was the best first novel. Haruki also received a Noma Literary Prize for A Wild Sheep Chase in 1982.
Books
Haruki has authored many books which include:
- Hear the Wind Sing in 1979.
- Pinball, 1973 in 1980.
- A Wild Sheep Chase in 1982.
- Norwegian Wood in 1987.
- Dance Dance Dance in 1988.
- Sputnik Sweetheart in 1999.
- Kafka on the Shore in 2002.
- After Dark in 2004.
- 1Q84 in 2009.
- Killing Commendatore in 2017.
Hard Boiled Wonderland
In 1985, Haruki published his book Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World. The novel received the Tanizaki Prize in 1985. Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World has received critical acclaim both domestically and internationally.
A Wild Sheep Chase
Haruki’s third novel A Wild Sheep Chase was first released in 1982 in Japan. The book was interpreted into English in 1989. The novel was set in the 1970s. In this novel, Haruki blends elements of American and English literature with Japanese contexts.
After Dark
In 2004, Haruki published his novel After Dark. In this book, his trademark humor and psychological insight are distilled with an extraordinary, harmonious mastery. The book is a thrilling account of the magical hours separating midnight from dawn.
Quotes
Haruki has shared many quotes some of which include:
- “Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional.”
- “As time goes on, you will understand.”
- “Listen up because there’s no war that will end all wars.”
New Book
On April 13, 2023, Haruki published his new book, The City and Its Uncertain Walls. This book examines its title with an initial short story of the same title, which was released during the September 1980 issue of Bungakukai.
Stories
Haruki has written a collection of short stories which include:
- The Elephant Vanishes in 1993.
- After the Quake (2002).
- Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman (2006).
- Men Without Women (2017).
- First Person Singular (2021).
Kafka On The Shore
In 2002, Haruki published his novel Kafka on the Shore which tells the stories of the young Kafka Tamura who runs away from his Oedipal curse. Kafka on the Shore was generally well-received, with positive reviews from John Updike and The New York Times.
Norwegian Woods
Haruki’s novel Norwegian Wood was published in 1987. It is a nostalgic story of loss. Norwegian Wood is set in late 1960s Tokyo during a period when Japanese students, such as those of many other nations, were demonstrating against the established order.
Wind Up Bird
In 1994–1995, Haruki published his book The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle. Due to this book, he won the Yomiuri Literary Award, which was given to him by one of his harshest former critics, Kenzaburō Ōe. It has many major and minor characters.
Movies
– Acoustic.
– Norwegian Wood.
– Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman.
– Burning (2018 film).
– Drive My Car.
– The Polar Bear.
Net Worth
Haruki’s net worth is $200 million. He has achieved such wealth due to his work as a bestselling writer for over three decades.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where Does Haruki Murakami Live?
Haruki now resides in Oiso, Kanagawa.
Is Haruki Murakami Married?
Since 1971, Haruki has been married to Yoko Murakami who was his college sweetheart. The couple met at Waseda University.
Who Is Haruki Murakami?
Haruki is a bestselling author recognized for his works including Norwegian Wood, The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle, and Kafka on the Shore. He operated a Tokyo coffeehouse and jazz bar titled Peter Cat before working full-time as an author. In 1981, Haruki’s first book Hear the Wind Sing, was also made into a movie.
Social Media Accounts
Twitter – @_harukimurakami
Instagram – haruki_murakami_