10 Common Themes Of Murakami Novels - And What They Mean

2. Western Influences

As distinctly Japanese as Murakami's style is at times, a major part of his work that set him apart from his contemplates is the degree in which he draws upon Western influences. From baseball, Dunkin' Donuts, and numerous musical references, the influence of Western culture permeates throughout the author's entire collection.

Born in Kyoto in 1949 during the postwar baby boom, Murakami has spoken at length about growing up surrounded by American TV shows, reading European authors such as Kafka (his favourite), and listening to jazz. He would even travel to Europe and America later in his life, and even write The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle in America. With Western culture being such a big part of his life at the time (as it was with Japan as a whole), it's no surprise that it's found its way into his writing.

Though some Japanese critics have deemed his work as being "too Western", Culture Trip's Hazel Rowland has argued that his incorporation of Western culture in his work allows him to be more critical of Japanese culture as a result. His characters, she writes, try to find individuality within Japanese society, with their connection to Western art being how they negotiate this.