Top 7 Japanese Novels (Notes from Under the Tatami Mats–41 … My Adventures in Japan)

“Murakami’s novels will have a staying power similar to that of the greatest Beatles albums.”

Along with the above seven novels, there are dozens of great novels written by Japanese writers, in various genres. But a quick glance at the above list (that is, a glance at #1, #2, #3, and #4) makes it clear who gets my vote for the finest Japanese author of his generation – if not of all time.  

A transnational cultural artist and icon

As Patti Smith once said, “We wait for Haruki Murakami novels the way Beatles fans used to await a new Beatles album in the 1960s.”   _{(slightly paraphrased by @majes.tytyty)}  

Adding to that, I’d dare say that his novels will have a staying power similar to that of even the greatest Beatles albums.    _{(Image source)}

Reality, and a bit beyond

Virtually all of Murakami's novels and short stories are eminently readable. They generally fall into 2 types, as follows:

The one type is magic realism, which verges on the surreal, in such novels as “Kafka On The Shore” and “The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle.”  The other type comprises existentialist tales of solitude, loss, loneliness, and alienation, such as his classic “Norwegian Wood” as well as “South of the Border, West of the Sun.”   

While his novels fall into those 2 types, they all feature quiet, isolated, characters who never seem to fit into their social milieu. It’s not as if they live on the edge of Japanese society; it’s more like they are just under the surface of everyday life.    

In some ways, it’s like his protagonists are living in a fishbowl. They can see everything that goes on around them, and even deal with those surrounding to a certain degree. But they cannot take an active part in all the goings-on outside the bowl. And they will never be able to get past the surface of the water or exist in that outer world.      _{(Image source)}

Read a Murakami novel

For the most part, they are quiet and unobtrusive characters who do not stand out. They are not strange or bizarre; they are simply unique, different. But you’d never know that … unless you read a Murakami novel.   

   Introduction to – “Notes from Under the Tatami Mats”  _{(right-click on title)}

Top 6 Novels by Westerners about Japan or Japanese Characters

Top 4 Foreign Writers Writing about Japanese Society or Culture

Top 3 Books on Japanese Government and Bureaucracy

... and more

Links to my Other Series …

      Introduction – "Intro to Vocab-ability"   _{(right-click on title)}
      Guide – "Guide to Entries"   _{(right-click on title)}
      Index– "Index" to all Chapters and Sections   _{(right-click on title)}

      Lou Reed – "Anthology of Memorable Lyrics, Part 1"   _{(right-click on title)}
      Lou Reed – "Anthology of Memorable Lyrics, Part 2"   _{(right-click on title)}

_{Images sourced from Google Images, unless otherwise indicated or unless my own.}