By By Leesa Oberholzer

Award-winning author, Haruki Murakami took the University on a fantasy-filled journey of Japan as part of the Second Annual Great Writers, Great Readings Series on Monday.

Murakami is a Noma Literary Award for News Writers recipient and his novel, Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World, won the Tanizaki Prize. Murakami’s books have been translated into 34 languages and his second collection of English-translated short stories is set to be published in 2006.

He is also known for his Japanese translations of literary works by F. Scott Fitzgerald, John Irving and several other famed American authors.

Murakami discussed his most recent novel, Kafka On The Shore, and described the prominent role of the Japanese culture found not only in this book, but in several of his other pieces.

He also mentioned that over time he did not notice the difference between Japanese and Western information.

David Thomson of The New York Observer, commented in a review of Murakami that while reading his novels he had to ask himself, “Is this a real Japan or is it simply the vision of a great novelist?”

Murakami brought up the dreamlike theme his novels usually follow, however Kafka On The Shore does not, due to the fact that he wanted to write a completely realistic book without relying on fantasy elements.

“Murakami conveys his message interestingly and articulately in person and in his books,” Rachel Bailian, a freshman, said. “I am looking forward to his next release.”

Murakami concluded with the topic of translation and how his favorite aspect of translating text to English is that often it does not resemble the original language and it takes on a whole new persona. Additionally, Murakami said that as an author he takes on an identity he was unaware he possessed.

He used a quote from Kafka On The Shore to further support his concept.

“There’s an omen contained in that. A mechanism buried inside of me. A mechanism buried inside of you.”

(Chris Lai/The Chronicle)