Listen to Haruki Murakami

“Music is an indispensible part of my life. Whenever I write a novel, music just sort of naturally slips in…” Haruki Murakami

Haruki Murakami is celebrated the world over as one of Japan’s most renowned modern writers. Highly regarded for his works of magical realist fiction, his books go beyond excellent storytelling, to unveiling issues concerning humanity and society.

A jazz bar owner before becoming a writer, music also underlies the magnificence of Murakami’s works. Jazz standards, The Beatles and classical music are frequently cited and waft from the pages of his books, setting the moods lived by his characters. Reading Murakami has often been likened to “flipping through his legendarily expansive record collection”.

This unique concert experience melds text and music drawn from the pages of Murakami’s beloved novels, from Norwegian Wood to 1Q84. Bringing them to life are talented musicians from Japan – the Chihiro Yamanaka Trio and the 1966 Quartet – in collaboration with Singaporean pianist Lim Yan, actors Oon Shu Ann and Joshua Lim, directed by Kok Heng Leun.

Co-presented by The Japan Foundation and CultureLink Singapore