As the announcement of the Nobel Prize in Literature approaches, interest is once again turning to Japanese author Haruki Murakami, 77, and whether he will receive the award. The winner will be announced on October 8 at 8 p.m. Korean time. With a global readership and a series of international literary awards, Murakami is once again being mentioned by Japanese media as a likely candidate. However, there is also a sense of fatigue regarding the 20 years of expectations and repeated reports of his failure to win.
On October 7, the Yomiuri Shimbun introduced various authors from around the world expected to win the Nobel Prize, placing Murakami at the forefront. The newspaper noted that while Murakami was initially regarded as a 'detached' writer exploring themes of love, loss, and urban loneliness in works like 'Norwegian Wood,' he has since strengthened his 'commitment' to society following events like the 1995 Great Hanshin Earthquake and the Tokyo subway sarin attack. His nonfiction work 'Underground,' which interviews victims of the sarin attack, exemplifies this shift. The article also highlighted that his works have been translated into over 50 languages, making him a globally recognized author.
Major Japanese broadcasters, including Fuji TV and TBS, have also spotlighted Murakami as a key figure during the Nobel Prize announcement week. Fuji TV described him as a 'popular author whose 1987 novel 'Norwegian Wood' became a bestseller and has been translated worldwide.' TBS echoed this sentiment, stating that Murakami's potential win is a focal point for the announcement on October 8. The Nihon Keizai Shimbun discussed the possibility of increased bookstore traffic if a Japanese author wins, predicting that stocks related to bookstores like Maruzen CHI Holdings, Sanyodo Holdings, and Bunkyo Group Holdings may see a surge.
Murakami's candidacy for the Nobel Prize gained traction after he won the Franz Kafka Prize in 2006. Following the 2004 win by Elfriede Jelinek and the 2005 win by Harold Pinter, there were speculations that Murakami, the first Asian to receive the Kafka Prize, could follow suit. Since then, his candidacy has become a topic of interest every autumn, with fans known as 'Harukists' gathering in cafes and restaurants to await the results.
However, there are also critical voices regarding this fervor. After last year's disappointment, some online comments expressed cynicism, questioning who continues to label Murakami as a Nobel contender and suggesting that the annual reports of his candidacy and the accompanying excitement have become tiresome.
It remains unclear how close Murakami is to winning. The selection process for the Nobel Prize nominees is kept confidential for 50 years, making it impossible to confirm whether he has made the final list of candidates chosen by the Swedish Academy.
His global popularity does not guarantee a win. The Yomiuri noted that there is a perception that the Nobel Prize has strict criteria for evaluating popular authors, which could hinder Murakami's chances. The newspaper also mentioned other Japanese authors, such as Yoko Tawada, who writes in both Japanese and German, as contenders who are expanding the possibilities of language beyond borders.
Additionally, the Yomiuri pointed out that since Olga Tokarczuk won in 2018, the Nobel Prize has alternated between male and female authors. With last year's award going to Hungarian male author László Krasznahorkai, there is speculation that a female author may win this year.
Bookstores that hold events coinciding with the Nobel Prize announcement are also taking a cautious approach to predictions. Kinokuniya, a major bookstore chain in Japan, will host an event on October 8 at 7:45 p.m. at its Shinjuku location to watch the announcement together. However, the event notice emphasizes that the nominees are not disclosed in advance, stating, 'While betting companies mention several authors' names each year, these are merely predictions,' and that the actual winner will only be known once announced by the Swedish Academy.
As of late last month, British betting company Ladbrokes had Murakami as the second favorite to win the Nobel Prize in Literature, with odds of 14 to 1, following Chinese author Can Xue at 10 to 1. As Kinokuniya noted, these figures are merely speculative.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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