Ryū Murakami
Ryū Murakami
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Full Name and Common Aliases
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Ryū Murakami is a Japanese novelist and essayist, commonly known by his pen name Ryū Murakami.
Birth and Death Dates
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Born on February 19, 1952, in Tokyo, Japan. (Current as of writing)
Nationality and Profession(s)
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Japanese, Novelist, Essayist
Ryū Murakami is a prominent figure in Japanese literature, known for his unique blend of fiction and non-fiction works.
Early Life and Background
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Murakami was born into a traditional Japanese family. His father was an editor at a major publishing house, which exposed him to the world of literature from an early age. Growing up in post-war Japan, Murakami was heavily influenced by American culture, particularly through the media and popular music. He began writing his own stories as a child, inspired by the likes of J.D. Salinger and William S. Burroughs.
Major Accomplishments
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Murakami's breakthrough novel, Coin Locker Babies (, Konrīkka Bēbīzu), published in 1980, marked his debut in the literary world. The book's success led to him becoming one of Japan's most prominent young writers. His subsequent works, including Almost Transparent Blue (, Arasoi Burū), cemented his reputation as a bold and innovative storyteller.
Notable Works or Actions
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Murakami's writing often explores themes of alienation, consumerism, and the search for identity in modern Japan. Some notable works include:
In the Miso Soup (, Misoshiru), a darkly comedic novel that explores the intersection of food culture and human relationships.
A Confession (, Kokuhaku), a semi-autobiographical account of his own struggles with identity and belonging.
Impact and Legacy
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Ryū Murakami's impact on Japanese literature is undeniable. His bold, often provocative works have pushed the boundaries of what is acceptable in mainstream Japanese fiction. Through his writing, he has provided a unique window into Japan's post-war psyche, challenging readers to reevaluate their assumptions about the country and its people.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
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Murakami's work continues to resonate with audiences worldwide due to its thought-provoking themes and unflinching portrayal of modern life. His willingness to tackle sensitive subjects head-on has earned him a reputation as one of Japan's most fearless and innovative writers.
Quotes by Ryū Murakami
Ryū Murakami's insights on:
Malevolence is born of negative feelings like loneliness and sadness and anger. It comes from an emptiness inside you that feels as if it’s been carved out with a knife, an emptiness you’re left with when something very important has been taken away from you.
Sometimes you can remember everything about an old friend, down to minor details about his behaviour, but for the life of you you can’t picture his face.
But why is it that if you imagine a baby who stinks to high heaven. But why is it that if you imagine a baby smells of milk, for example, you can’t help smiling? Why is there such agreement about the world what is or isn’t foul smell? Who decided what smells bad? Is it impossible that somewhere in this world there are people who, if they sat next to a homeless fellow, they’d urge to snuggle up to him, but if they sat next to a baby they’s get an urge to kill it?
Everybody wants to talk about themselves, and everybody wants to hear everybody else’s story, so we take turns playing reporter and celebrity.
Everybody wants to talk about themselves, and everybody wants to hear everybody else's story, so we take turns playing reporter and celebrity.
She stepped towards the door beneath the sign, then stopped and looked back at him. ‘You’ll be right here, right?’‘I promise.’‘And you’ll stay with me tonight, won’t you?’‘Of course. I won’t leave you.’I’ve got to snuff her as soon as possible and get this over with, Kawashima thought as he watched her enter the building.
Such behaviours weren’t the reasons parents abused children but the results of abuse.
Children would struggle desperately to feel love for their parents. Rather than hate a parent, in fact, they’d choose to hate themselves.
But why is it that if you imagine a baby who smells of milk, for example, you can't help smiling? Why is there such an agreement around the world about what is or isn't a foul smell? Who decided what smells bad? Is it impossible that somewhere in this world there are people who, if they sat next to a homeless fellow they'd get the urge to snuggle up to him, but if they sat next to a baby they'd get an urge to kill it?
I never liked to just absorb something somebody else created. I’m too self-conscious, and too critical, I guess, and it always felt like I was wasting time. But after you went away... well, it started to feel like time was wasting me. Every tick of the second hand was like a needle in my skin. Tick, tick, tick...