STUDIO PRACTICE

About the Author - Haruki Murakami 

Quotes

"A sump of a city slushed with sunken souls." - Dance Dance Dance 

"The human heart is like a night bird. Silently waiting for something, and when the time comes, it flies straight towards it.” - Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki

"Some things in life are too complicated to explain in any language.” - Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki

"What happens when people open their hearts?' They get better.'" - Norwegian Wood

"Sometimes fate is like a small sandstorm that keeps changing directions" - Kafka on the Shore

His words are very descriptive and he had once mentioned that he does not like symbolisms as it is 'dangerous'. I wasn't particularly sure what he meant by that, though perhaps symbolisms could be rather vague and interpreted differently depending who/how the reader interprets them. 

Instead he uses similes and metaphors alike. In terms of visually depicting metaphors, it might be quite a challenge and try not to illustrate generic things, concepts. Since Murakami's writings is very surreal and unconventional. 

Motifs

•       Loneliness/Alienation

•       Running water (shishi-odoshi)

•       Human connection/Life journey 

•      Disappearing women (strange but this constantly appears in his books?)

•   Gender/Sexuality (mostly in Dance Dance Dance)

Kafka on the Shore - visual snippets

Murakami was born during one of the darkest times –in Kyoto, WWII 1948. Those times were when they were bombings and war from America. It was the age of destruction and utter bleakness. It is understandable if he often surrounds his writings on such dark themes, as it is a reflection of himself and his views.

In reference, I was brought up my whole life in an Asian culture, it is understandable that he prefers a life of solitude. We are constantly pressured by society to thrive to be successful through conventional means –become doctors, businessmen. Perhaps unlike Western society where they tend to have a more collective society, Asians are more individualists to some degree (survival of the fittest)

With these keywords, I could think of generic concepts of minimalism, simple monotones. However, Murakami’s book also covers a lot on music, as he personally was greatly inspired by jazz, baroque and classical music. I could picture a hint of abstract/surreal vibes.

Characters

These characters are all different, but very real. They convey every flaws of a human being. From insecurities of youth to ego –loneliness, self-doubt, arrogance, fear, lust, unrequited love, wanderlust etc.

- Toru Watanabe (+30 years old)

- Tsukuru Tazaki

- Satoru Nakata 

- Kei Akamatsu 

- Yuzuki Shirane

- Kafka (15 years) 

He personally stated that he sees himself as an outsider to his own country. Perhaps he isn’t the ‘ideal’ Japanese man –have a well paying job as a doctor or a businessman, a family and a house etc. Asians in general are also not taught to be outspoken or express themselves freely and greatly respects elders. We are taught to have class system: senior and junior. Especially know there are often conflicts between seniors and the younger generation.

Locations

- Urban city (Tokyo): Neon lights, bustling city, noise, fluorescent colors, light and dark, jazz-vibe minimalism!

- Suburbs (Nagoya): this and Meadow sanatarium are quite similar as they seem to set the author's intentions of escapism. Whenever I read scenes with the forests or leaves, there is this sense of utopia. 

- The Meadow (a sanatorium) from Norwegian Wood)

- Underground (very first non fiction novel. Discuses real world issues: Japanese quake and subway gas attack.) 

- Dolphin Hotel (like a hostel/motel): flickering lights, old yet comfortable. How I'd imagine Hotel would be like a typical, 70's motel

The locations on the other hand, is quite difficult to visualize despite the description from the book. Although he thoroughly describes the atmosphere and tone quite well. His writing is quite an imaginative. 

The juxtaposition of urban life and countryside. Despite being born in Kyoto, one of the biggest cities in Japan (now), he was raised in the countryside –Kobe. 

His descriptions of the countryside are often more dreamlike and imaginary in comparison to a more urban setting. His descriptions often hover around the busy streets, red neon lights, crowds, people minding their own business and things alike. However his depictions of the countryside seemed as if an escapist wrote it.

Pieces of information

• He is an avid vinyl collector and really enjoys music, particularly jazz and classical music. Though it explains quite a lot as to why the atmosphere of his books are dark, surreal and minimal (strange combination).

• Politics:  He believes that it is natural for China and N/S Korea to resent Japan as assailants. They have done things that are far worse than anyone can ever imagine (Comfort Women Korea, warring times). He believes that there can’t be anything done now, but he could only say that Japan needs to apologize though he sees that now slowly, the Japanese citizens began to realize it’s past mistakes and make amendments.

• He also wrote a book ‘Underground’ one of his first non-fiction books on the earthquake incident and the subway gas attack

• He often captures really simple, ordinary and mundane things, such as walking along the shore, reading, jazz cafes etc. They tend to have a 'quiet' and peaceful tone to it. 

further details: http://www.harukimurakami.com/