“Youthful, slangy, political, and allegorical, Murakami is a writer who seems to be aware of every current American novel and popular song. Yet . . . [ A Wild Sheep Chase ] is clearly rooted in modern Japan.” — The New York Times “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 Jay Rubin, Richard Powers, Kim Choon Mie, Inuhiko Yomota, Roland Kelts, Shozo Fujii, Shinya Machida, Ivan Sergeevich Logatchov, Koichi Oi, Issey Ogata

With a special essay on translation by Haruki Murakami

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 Chase presents 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!