Joseph Thomas Milburn

This book provides interdisciplinary perspectives on the work of the Japanese writer Haruki Murakami, with a particular focus on the conceptual material of his work. It seeks to answer the following questions: Is there any philosophic material or concepts in the work of Haruki Murakami? If so, why are they important? Does philosophic engagement add anything to the Murakami research field? Equally, does Murakami’s fiction present us with anything valuable for the field of philosophy? The volume uniquely develops the field of Murakami studies through acting as a forum for interdisciplinary researchers to share their perspective on his work. Importantly, it furthers the conversation on Murakami’s philosophic value and through doing so, is a must-read not only for those interested in Japanese literature or culture, but also for those interested in the productive space existing at the intersection of philosophy, literature, and psychoanalysis.

A central existential image from Haruki Murakami’s fiction, the character of the Sheep Man, will be considered in connection to Gilles Deleuze and Félix Guattari’s notion of conceptual personae as well as Mikhail Epstein’s hyperauthorship; this will lead to a reflection on the imaginative, fuzzy and speculative ontology of philosophical thought. It is maintained that the essential philosophic value of Murakami’s work is that it provokes a conceptual response and, in terms of the Sheep Man, provides an image of thought which will be incorporated into discussion on the philosophy of literature.

Haruki Murakami and Philosophical Concepts provides an interdisciplinary perspective on the work of the Japanese writer Haruki Murakami, with a particular focus on the conceptual material of his work. This chapter introduces the collection which aims to clarify what the philosophical value in Murakami is. Part I is the reflective section with diverse perspectives shared by world-leading scholars on Murakami studies and experts on Philosophy, Psychoanalysis and Literature. Part II is the main articles section which includes pieces on aesthetics and ethics, Jungian Psychology and Existential Philosophy. The chapter concludes with a personal reflection on Murakami and Philosophy by the editor.