09/06/2021

In this collection of beguiling pieces novelist Murakami (1Q84) wrote for the Japanese fashion magazine Popeye, he reflects on his collection of T-shirts and the comfortable, quippy, and blithely consumerist aspects of life they represent. An “I Put Ketchup on My Ketchup” T-shirt prompts a fond tribute to American hamburger joints; a selection of car-brand shirts sparks a discussion of why Ferrari or Porsche T’s make one look like a rich jerk while Volkswagen T’s are tastefully middle-class; lizard T-shirt images remind Murakami of uneasily stroking the scaly creature at a zoo, while bird images remind him of getting attacked by crows while out running; and a T-shirt with a dog cartoon provokes a warning to men that they may feel “a little uncomfortable” wearing such adorable designs: “chances are very good that a girl or woman will tell you ‘Woah—that’s so cute!’ ” Seekers of deep cultural analysis should be advised that Murakami’s pensées resolutely avoid that. (“In crowded, noisy bars,” he observes in an essay on beer T-shirts, “you have to shout out your order to the bartender, and I’ve found through experience that the one brand I can pronounce so that it gets through to them is Heineken.”) Murakami’s many fans will eat up this charming ramble. Agent: Amanda Urban, ICM Partners. (Nov.)

"Mr. Murakami takes readers through a sartorial journey, sharing memories and musings through the lens of the clothes he has accumulated over the years."—Anna P. Kambhampaty, The New York Times

"Murakami T: The T-shirts I Love, is part ode, part exhibit that reads with restrained affection for his accidental accumulations...The diaristic entries have the simplicity of a show-and-tell, with Murakami’s spare prose offering a material history of his closet...Haruki Murakami’s understated love letters to his T-shirts convey how we give life to our things and vice versa."—Charlene K. Lau, The Atlantic

"This lively peek into his collection provides some surprising insights into the humble, real Murakami...A playful, witty, nostalgic journey with an acclaimed novelist." — Kirkus Reviews

"Murakami's charming, utterly self-effacing eccentricity—one of the hallmarks of his fiction—shines brightly here..." —Bill Ott, Booklist

"Murakami’s many fans will eat up this charming ramble." —Publishers Weekly

06/01/2021

Hugely popular Japanese author Murakami offers fans a peek into his closet, stacked high with his beloved T-shirts, from the one that inspired the short story "Tony Takitani" to those celebrating Springsteen on Broadway and the Beach Boys in Honolulu. With numerous brief, revealing essays; a decidedly different book.

2021-09-24
The popular writer dishes on one of his unusual hobbies.

Murakami admits he’s not really a serious collector, but he does have many vinyl records, books, dinky little pencils, and T-shirts “that just keep on piling up.” These short, witty, and conversational essays originally appeared in a Japanese men’s fashion magazine. No suspense here, as he immediately confesses his “Tony Takitani” shirt he bought in Maui for $1 is his favorite. It inspired Murakami to write a story about him, which later became a film—absolute, best investment I ever made, he tells us, tongue-in-cheek. The author’s personal interests and shirts often coalesce, like surfing and swimming shirts, sports he enjoyed; hamburgers (preferably American) and ketchup; whiskey, which he enjoys while listening to music, mostly jazz; and beers, especially Guinness, in Ireland—“Talk about tasty.” Murakami has a number of promotional shirts from his publishers that he doesn’t wear; it wouldn’t be right walking around “loudly proclaiming” himself. An avid, global visitor of record stores, he’s amassed a sizable number of their shirts. He also likes animal-design T’s—“they are pretty cute.” He is partial to shirts with just writing on them, and he likes to get shirts as souvenirs of music concerts he’s attended. For example, he proudly discussed a Bruce Springsteen T from the recent Broadway concert and a Beach BoysSmiletour T from a few years back. He wears his VW Beetle T because it doesn’t “seem like you’re putting on airs.” A committed long-distance runner, Murakami has many shirts that commemorate his races, including the Murakami (no relation) Triathlon. No surprise that he has some related to books, including one from Portland, Oregon’s Powell’s Books, a free gift for signing some books. This lively peek into his collection provides some surprising insights into the humble, real Murakami.

A playful, witty, nostalgic journey with an acclaimed novelist.