8 Haruki Murakami Tropes And What They Really Mean

3. Plain Jane Names

What It Is: Though you'd be forgiven for not knowing (specifically if you're not a native Japanese speaker) the names of the characters in Murakami's novels are generally completely unremarkable. The use of the name Watanabe, for example, is a fairly regular occurrence, and one of the five most common surnames in Japan. What It Really Means: The use of simple names is completely intentional, emphasizing how ordinary the character is. Nearly every one of Murakami's protagonists believes themselves to be completely average, carving out a small space in a vast world they've barely experienced. The names of Murakami's characters nearly always reflect this, increasing relatability. It's also the case that Murakami has been described as an extremely "Western" Japanese writer €“ his work is still criticized by literary critics in Japan as being too American. This use of simple Japanese names, then, is unsurprising: it proves his work much more accessible to readers who live in the countries that birthed the writing he loves.