Haruki Murakami is the most widely read Japanese contemporary novelist in Japan and internationally. I would like to show some places closely connected to him.
Theater Museum of Waseda University
Haruki Murakami enrolled for Theater and Film Arts Course of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences in Waseda University in 1968. He was absorbed in reading a lot of various kinds of scripts for movies at the museum in his school days. The Museum building was modeled after "Fortune Playhouse" in Britain.
Theater Museum commemmorates him.
His name is Syoyo Tsubouchi(1859-1935) who was a professor of the university and well known for his acadamic achivement, especially translation of all Shakespeare's plays. Theater Museum is officially named The Tsubouchi Memorial Theater Museum.
That is a complex of dormitories.
Haruki Murakami lived in a room of the dormitories for half a year, which is located 15 minute walk away from the Theater Museum.
Meiji Jingu Stadium in Tokyo
The stadium is a home ground of Tokyo Yakult Swallows. Haruki Murakami is one of honorary members of the team fun club. He watched the game between Swallows and Hiroshima Carp on April 1, 1978 at the stadium when the idea of writing a novel suddenly struck him. And then he started to write it.
The Haruki Murakami Library of Waseda University
The library building was opened to the public in Oct. 2021.
The audio room in the library
Haruki Murakami, before he started the full-scale career of writing novels, ran Jazz music cafe in Tokyo for seven years. We can relax in the room while listening to Jazz music and reading any books.
Book shelves on both sides of the staircase in the library
The Haruki Murakami Library waits for our visiting. I will lead the way for you.
