In Tokyo, a select group of 1,100 attendees had the unique opportunity to listen to Haruki Murakami, a renowned Japanese author, as he read his unpublished short story “Kaho” at a literary gathering on a Friday night. This event, titled “The Owl Reads in Spring,” served as a fundraising initiative for the Waseda International House of Literature library, associated with Murakami’s alma mater, and featured both Murakami and the acclaimed writer Mieko Kawakami.

Murakami shared with the audience that he had crafted the story specifically for this occasion just ten days prior. His most recent short story before this was “First Person Singular,” released over three years ago. Murakami’s extensive body of work spans essays, non-fiction, translations, and, of course, his fiction.

Dressed in a casual ensemble of sneakers, jeans, and a dark jacket, Murakami discussed the challenges of creating a story intended for oral presentation, noting the need for content and style suitable for recitation and brevity. Despite aiming for conciseness, the story extended long enough to necessitate reading in two segments during the event held at Waseda University.

While details of the story’s plot were not disclosed to the public, the event highlights Murakami’s enduring influence in the literary world. At 75, Murakami’s career, which began with “Hear the Wind Sing” in 1979, has seen him rise to global prominence, especially following the success of his 1987 romance novel “Norwegian Wood.” His most recent novel, “The City and its Uncertain Walls,” was released in 2023 in Japan, with an English version anticipated.

This event marked another collaboration between Murakami and Kawakami, with Kawakami expressing her admiration for Murakami’s work long before she embarked on her own literary career. Alongside Murakami, Kawakami also presented a new short story, “Watashitachi no Doa (Our Doors),” further showcasing the depth and diversity of contemporary Japanese literature, as reported by AP News.