Haruki Murakami, the acclaimed Japanese author, delighted a select audience with a reading of his latest yet-to-be-published short story, “Kaho” in a rare and exclusive event, per washingtonpost.com.
The event, named “The Owl Reads in Spring,” served as a fundraiser for the Waseda International House of Literature library, situated at Murakami’s alma mater in Tokyo.
Addressing the fortunate attendees, Murakami revealed that “Kaho” was freshly crafted just 10 days prior to the event, emphasising the challenge of tailoring a story specifically for recitation. Dressed casually in jeans, sneakers and a dark jacket, the 75-year-old author admitted to the difficulty of condensing the narrative to suit the event’s format.
Accompanying Murakami was award-winning author Mieko Kawakami, who also treated the audience to her own new short story titled “Watashitachi no Doa (Our Doors).” The duo previously shared the stage in 2019, captivating audiences with Murakami’s “Confessions of a Shinagawa Monkey.”
Despite the secrecy surrounding the story’s content, anticipation swelled among attendees, as Murakami’s literary prowess continues to captivate audiences worldwide. His latest full-length novel, The City and its Uncertain Walls, released in Japan in 2023, eagerly awaits its English translation, adding to the anticipation surrounding his forthcoming short story collection.
