Tokyo Blues (1987) is the fifth novel by the Japanese writer Haruki Murakami. At the time of its release, the Japanese author was not a stranger in the publishing world and had shown a different style in his previous publications. Moreover, he himself thought of this text as a kind of experiment whose purpose was to explore deep issues in a simple way.
The result was a story capable of connecting with people of all ages, especially with young audiences. In fact, to date more than four million copies of Tokyo Blues. Hence, it became a consecrating title for the Japanese writer, who has won numerous awards since then. In addition, his name is still a candidate for the Nobel Prize in Literature.
Summary of Tokyo Blues
Initial approach
The beginning of the book introduces Toru Watanabe, a 37-year-old man who is enraptured aboard a plane (which is landing) when listen to a special song. That piece - "Norwegian Wood", by the legendary English band The Beatles— evokes him muchos memories of his youth (from his time as a university student).
In that way, the story moves to the city of Tokyo during the 1960s. At that time, disturbing events occurred all over the world due to the cold war and various social struggles. Meanwhile, Watanabe tells the details of his stay in the capital Japanese with palpable feelings of restlessness and loneliness.
Friendship and tragedy
As the story progresses, the protagonist recalls details about their university experiences, what music he listened to and the strange personality of some colleagues. Likewise, Watanabe quickly alludes to her lovers and their sexual experiences. Next, he points out the affection he had for Kizuki, his best friend since adolescence, and Naoko, his girlfriend.
In such a way, an apparently normal daily life passes (a sensation induced by the simple and close language of the narrative ...). until tragedy breaks out in life and marks the psyche of the characters forever: Kizuki commits suicide. In your attempt to overcome the terrible loss, Toru decides to get away from Naoko for a year.
Reunion
Naoko and Toru met again at the university after the protagonist's period of isolation. A) Yes, a genuine friendship emerged that gave way to an inevitable mutual attraction. But, she still showed symptoms of mental fragility, therefore, she needed to face the traumas of the past. In this way, the young woman was admitted to a center for psychological assistance and rest.
Naoko's seclusion increased Watanabe's feeling of loneliness, for this reason, he began to show signs of a disorderly existence. Later, he thought he fell in love with Midori, another girl who served to temporarily alleviate her sorrows. Then, Toru was engulfed in a whirlwind of passion, sex, and instability emotional feeling trapped between two women.
Resolution?
The development of events inevitably pushes the protagonist to a kind of deep reflection through dreamlike dimensions. In this instance, it is not possible to clearly distinguish which facts or objects are true and which are imaginary. Eventually, the desired stability is only possible when the protagonist is able to mature from within.
Tokyo blues, in the words of Murakami
In an interview with El País (2007) from Spain, Murakami explained in relation to the "experiment" Tokyo Blues, the next: "I have no interest in writing long novels with a realistic style, but I decided that, if only once, I was going to write a realistic novel. " The Japanese writer added that he does not usually read his books after they are published, as he does not have an attachment to past issues.
Later, in an interview conducted by Xavier Ayén (2014), Murakami described his affinity for characters with psychological problems. In this regard, he said: “We all have our own kind of mental problems, which we can sometimes keep unconsciously, without appearing on the surface. But we are all strangers, we are all a little crazy "...
Ten phrases of Tokyo blues
- "When you are surrounded by darkness, the only alternative is to remain motionless until your eyes get used to the darkness."
- "What makes us normal people is knowing that we are not normal."
- "Don't feel sorry for yourself. That is only done by the mediocre ”.
- "If I read the same as the others, I would end up thinking like them."
- "Death is not opposed to life, death is included in our life."
- “Nobody likes loneliness. But I am not interested in making friends at any cost ”.
- "Is there not in my body a kind of memory limbo where all crucial memories accumulate and turn to mud?"
- "That happens to you because it gives the impression that you don't care about being liked by others."
- "A man who has read three times The Great Gatsby it may well be my friend ”.
- "The very miserable ones howled or whispered, depending on which way the wind blew."
About the author, Haruki Murakami
The most recognized Japanese writer on the planet today was born in Kyoto on January 12, 1949. He is the descendant of a Buddhist monk and an only child. Her parents, Miyuki and Chiaki Murakami, were Literature teachers. For this reason, little Haruki grew up surrounded by a cultural environment, with a lot of literature from different parts of the world (in combination with Japanese).
Similarly, Anglo-Saxon music was a common issue in the Murakami household. To such an extent that the musical and literary influence of western countries are a hallmark of Murakamian writing. Later, the young man Haruki chose to study theater and Greek at Waseda University, one of the most prestigious in Japan. There he met who today is his wife, Yoko.
The preamble of the future writer
During his time as a university student, Murakami worked in a music store (for vinyl records) and frequented jazz taverns "Genre of music he loves." From that taste it arose that in 1974 (until 1981) he decided to rent a place in order to establish a jazz bar together with his wife; they christened him "Peter Cat." The couple decided not to have children due to their mistrust of the next generation.
The rise of a bestselling author
In 1978, Haruki Murakami conceived the idea of become a writer during a baseball game. The next year He launched Hear the song of the wind (1979), his first novel. Since that five years, the Japanese writer has kept creating stories with surprising characters in somewhat disconcerting situations.
Murakami resided in the United States between 1986 and 1995. In the meantime, the launch of Norwegian Wood —The alternative title of Tokyo Blues— marked a takeoff in his literary career. Although his stories have been praised by millions of followers on five continents, he has not been exempt from staunch criticism.
Stylistic and conceptual features of Haruki Murakami's literature
Surrealism, magical realism, oneirism ... or a mixture of all of them?
The work of the writer from the land of the rising sun leaves no one indifferent. Whether they are literary critics, academic analysts or readers, the conception of the murakamian universe awakens a fervent admiration or an unusual animosity. That is, there do not seem to be any middle points when examining Murakami's work. Why is this (pre) judgment due?
First, Murakami conceives writing with an intention that defy logic, due to his undeniable commitment to dream worlds. Consequently, the rarefied settings created by the Japanese come quite close to a surreal narrative. In addition, aesthetics, some characters and literary resources keep lot similarity with the shapes of magical realism.
The Murakamian singularity
Fantasy, dreamlike atmospheres, and parallel universes are common elements within Murakami's narrative.. However, it is not easy to define it within a specific current, since in their stories the environment and time are frequently unfolded or distorted. This deformation of reality can occur in illusory contexts or within the minds of the characters.
Why does the Murakamian narrative generate so much animosity?
Murakami, like other best-selling personalities — Dan Brown or Paulo Coelho, for example—, he has been accused of "being repetitive with his characters and records." Additionally, detractors of the Asian literature point out that the repeated absence of limits between the imaginary and the real ends up confusing (unnecessarily?) The reader.
However, many of Murakami's flaws are seen as a great virtue by legions of fans and voices favorable to his original way of telling stories. All the characteristics mentioned with respect to a narrative loaded with surreal, dreamlike and fantasy elements are also observable in Tokyo Blues.
Murakami's 5 best-selling books
- Tokyo Blues (1987)
- Chronicle of the bird that winds the world (1997)
- Sputnik, my love (1999)
- Kafka on the shore (2002)
- 1Q84 (2009)