The ‘best Japanese work of fiction’ published in Japan’s Heisei era was ‘IQ84’

[Anonymous No.17425247]

The Asahi Shimbun, one of Japan’s most prestigious national newspapers, surveyed 120 experts, who had contributed book reviews to this important newspaper about their choice for the best book from the Heisei period.

https://www.redcircleauthors.com/factbook/the-best-japanese-work-of-fiction-published-in-japanese-during-japans-heisei-era-was-iq84-by-haruki-murakami/

[Anonymous No.17425275]

Much deserved, magical realism helps us to see the magical and the sublime in the ordinary and mundane and this is the best example of it.

[Anonymous No.17425288]

I didn't like Kafka on the Shore but I don't get where the hate for Murakami comes from
I heard a rumor that some of his books were written first in English which is weird, I doubt it could be true though

[Anonymous No.17425911]

Kangaroo notebook was published in 1991, even if they had to pick Murakami, why not Kafka on the shore? Or The wind up bird chronicle? Wind up bird is one of the best novels ever written and they pick this trash over it lel

[Anonymous No.17425933]

>Japanese "experts"
>the same hacks who pick absolute shit to win their literary awards
Worthless information.

[Anonymous No.17425990]

>>17425247
>IQ84
Good to see Murakami named a book after the intelligence of his readers.

[Anonymous No.17425994]

>>17425990
kek, based elitist

[Anonymous No.17426010]

>>17425933
Are you the guy who made a whole thread seething about a woman winning the Akutagawa award a couple days ago?

[Anonymous No.17426036]

>>17425288
He said so himself, I think I remember reading that he was inspired to do this when he heard Ágota Kristóf did it as well.

[Anonymous No.17426044]

>>17425911
>Kangaroo notebook
That's your favorite of Abe's work? Really? You're also gonna put Abe over Soseki, Tanizaki, Kawabata, and Oe? I mean I also like it but it isn't THAT good.

[Anonymous No.17426130]

>>17426010
Not at all. I'm fully aware the Jap pundits are hacks; why would I expect any different. The fact they picked one of the most sold novels of late times, fully available online and in print, by a famous writer who's well known abroad, published by one of the most important Japanese companies shouldn't surprise anyone.
>re: Akutagawa award
I couldn't care less if they picked a Japanese muslim or some chick, they will always pick something dumb, not only because the available options are shitty, but because those juries are also part of the problem.
The pretentious OP of that Akutagawa thread wasn't any better, expecting awards to represent the ideals or qualities of the writers they were named after is plain ridiculous. The fact his criticism was "it's a woman", "her book is not original", "she sounds uninteresting in interviews" was embarassing.

[Anonymous No.17426135]

>>17426044
I'm retarded never mind.

[Anonymous No.17426144]

1Q84 was so embarrassing, I actually felt bad for Murakami for writing it.

[Anonymous No.17426154]

>>17425275
>magical realism helps us to see the magical and the sublime in the ordinary and mundane

Except, it doesn't do that at all. By adding fake elements its only emphasizes how ordinary and mundane real life is. If you want literature that is life-affirming and propels daily life to heights, you'll read Joyce or Woolf.

[Anonymous No.17426167]

>>17426144
unfortunately for you he doesnt and will never know you exist

[Anonymous No.17426181]

>>17425275
>>17426154
this. it only further trivializes the whole thing, makes everything inconsequential.

>>17425911
>Wind up bird is one of the best novels ever written
cringe

[Anonymous No.17426194]

>>17426181
Not him but Wind up bird is really good

[Anonymous No.17426204]

>>17426167
On the contrary, I feel very fortunate about that.

[Anonymous No.17426222]

>>17426130
Wew, apologies then, you're alright m8.

[Anonymous No.17426739]

>>17425275
I agree. Magical realism is probably my favorite when done well.

[Anonymous No.17426745]

>>17425911
I don’t get why people always read Kafka on the shore or Norwegian wood first. Like eating shit in comparison

[Anonymous No.17426747]

>>17425990
This. His books are basically YA.

[Anonymous No.17426778]

1q84 is the only murukami book I’ve read. It was comfy and nothing really happened. I enjoyed it.

[Anonymous No.17427262]

>>17425911
>Wind up bird is one of the best novels ever written
I enjoyed the book until Cinnamon and Nutmeg appeared because they're just tools of the plot to give Toru Okada the house with the dry well. Boris in the gulag was dumb too, he was a cartoon villain there.

[Anonymous No.17427360]

I was absolutely seething until I seen it was from Heisei period (1989-2019)
I guess thats ok, I think Bird chronicles is better but w/e. I dont even know of any other Japanon writers from this era

[Anonymous No.17427557]

>>17426745
yeah, If I read Norwegian wood first I doubt that I'd pick some other works of his

[Anonymous No.17429196]

>>17425275
Unless it's religious or spiritual it's pretty gay

[Anonymous No.17429629]

Only worth reading to impress people by reading big thick books. As if length implies quality somehow

[Anonymous No.17431080]

>>17426745
Reading Norwegian wood first helps you ease into his style. I went from Norwegian wood to Kafka to Wind up bird to Wonderland to the rat trilogy, I think that's the best order to read him.

[Anonymous No.17431478]

>>17425247
>wrong Murakami

[Anonymous No.17431492]

>>17431478
Ryu is indeed underappreciated, but I still prefer Haruki.

[Anonymous No.17431496]

>>17425247
My favorite Murakami book is Hard Boiled Wonderland

[Anonymous No.17431512]

>Asahi Shinbun

[Anonymous No.17431518]

>>17431496
Imo The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle is his best novel, but my favorite book of his is The Elephant Vanishes.

[Anonymous No.17431573]

>>17426154
I don't think that Murakami's "fake elements" do that at all, I find that they create a somewhat dreamlike quality that carries over into my thoughts and daily life experiences, at least for a while. They give me a different appreciation for the strangeness of life.

[Anonymous No.17432207]

>>17431478
He's so meh, awful prose except almost transparent blue. That has pretty writing

[Anonymous No.17432295]

>>17432207
t. only read translations of his work

[Anonymous No.17432671]

>>17432295
Well yeah, but Mishima's writing is gorgeous even in translation.