TOKYO 鈥� Japanese author Haruki Murakami has a remedy for those who need relaxation from stress and worries in a pandemic 鈥� bossa nova.
鈥淎s we are going through a time of anxiety, I hope to help you relax even just a little bit,鈥� Murakami said as he hosted a live music event, 鈥淢urakami Jam 鈥� Blame it on the Bossa Nova,鈥� bringing together renowned Japanese performers of bossa nova, jazz and classical music.
Despite the pandemic, Murakami 鈥� known for bestsellers including 鈥淎 Wild Sheep Chase," 鈥淭he Wind-up Bird Chronicle" and 鈥�1Q84鈥� 鈥� said he still maintains a daily routine including running and writing, but the frequent world
Murakami, who on his radio show has expressed concern about prejudice and discrimination against coronavirus patients, said he finds that the rhythm of bossa nova has a healing effect.
鈥淚 think good music is something that heals people and fires up your kindness,鈥� he said.
During Sunday's approximately two-hour show, he recited his 1982 short story 鈥淭he1963/1982 Girl from Ipanema,鈥� in which a narrator details his memory of his meeting with a metaphysical girl from the song, with live guitar performed by his guest Kaori Muraji.
The show, also featuring bossa nova artist Ono Lisa, jazz pianists Junko Onishi and Yosuke Yamashita and singer Miu Sakamoto, was held at Tokyo FM hall with just 100 fans chosen by a lottery and is viewable online until Feb. 24.
Music is an important motif in Murakami鈥檚 stories. An avid listener and collector of music, he has also written books on the topic.
Murakami, 72, began writing while running a jazz bar in Tokyo after graduating from university. Following his 1979 debut novel, 鈥淗ear the Wind Sing,鈥� the 1987 romance 鈥淣orwegian Wood鈥� became his first bestseller, establishing him as a young literary star. His latest collection of short stories 鈥淔irst Person Singular鈥� came out in Japan last year.
A perennial contender for the Nobel Prize in literature, Murakami now appears as a DJ for his roughly bimonthly 鈥淢urakami Radio鈥� show, but he is known as a social recluse and public appearances are still rare.
鈥淪ome people doubt if I really exist, and others think I'm an imaginary figure," he said.
Mari Yamaguchi, The Associated Press
