Haruki Murakami is a renowned novelist, essayist, professional writer, and translator who represents Japan along with Ryu Murakami. He is well-known in the Western world and has been regarded as one of the most prominent Japanese writers in South Korea in the 21st century.
Debuting with the novel “Hear the Wind Sing,” which won the Gunzo Shinjin Literature Prize in 1979, Murakami gained popularity in South Korea with the publication of “Norwegian Wood” in 1987, which sold over 4.3 million copies and became a bestseller. In the 2010s, he gained further attention with the book “1Q84.”
“Haruki Murakami’s Essay Collection: The Feeling of Vegetables, The Kiss of a Leopard Seal”
From its title, “The Feeling of Vegetables, The Kiss of a Leopard Seal,” it’s apparent that this book is a collection of essays by Haruki Murakami. It contains several short writings, making it easy to read. The book isn’t thick, and the content consists of light, short pieces, making it accessible and not burdensome to read.
This book compiles a year’s worth of Murakami’s radio broadcasts titled “Murakami Radio,” which were serialized in the magazine “Anan.” Arranged in the order of serialization, the title of the book likely comes from the titles of the short essays included in it. You can find essays with subtitles like “The Feeling of Vegetables” and “The Kiss of a Leopard Seal” within the book.
“Essay: The Feeling of Vegetables”
The essay titled “The Feeling of Vegetables” is intriguing. It mentions a quote from Anthony Hopkins, who portrayed an elderly character in the movie “The World’s Fastest Indian,” saying, “Living a life without pursuing dreams is no different from vegetables.” Upon hearing this, the elderly character nods in agreement.
While this quote seems to conclude the story, it doesn’t end there. A boy who was listening to the conversation asks a sudden question.
- “But what kind of vegetable are we talking about?”
- Caught off guard by the unexpected question, the elderly man hesitates and says, “Well, what kind of vegetable would it be? Hmm. Maybe like cabbage?”
In this manner, the story takes a whimsical direction. Introduced as a conversation of trivial matters, it could be called a type of “foreshadowing” conversation, albeit more forcefully expressed.
“The Purpose of Writing”
Amidst various short stories, the author mentions the “purpose of writing” towards the end.
“Just as music carries people’s sadness and pain, providing a practical function to prevent myself from falling apart into pieces, writing serves a function in novels as well,” he says.
While anyone can write in this day and age, truly good writers who resonate with people’s hearts are still rare. Thus, I believe that properly written works possess significant power in modern society.
Despite the ongoing digitalization and advancement, classic works continue to prove their value over time, and I believe that masterpieces will continue to be loved by future generations.
“Concise Essays and Charming Illustrations”
Additionally, the book includes short, amusing stories that make readers chuckle and charming illustrations interspersed throughout, adding to the enjoyment of reading. The illustrations were drawn by Ayumi Ohashi.
A book compiled from Haruki Murakami’s concise essays, “The Feeling of Vegetables, The Kiss of a Leopard Seal,” is a unique and yet not burdensome book that stimulates the emotions.
“The Feeling of Vegetables, The Kiss of a Leopard Seal”
- Author: Haruki Murakami (Illustrations by Ayumi Ohashi)
- Publication Date: June 25, 2012
- ISBN13: 9788994343648
- Yes24: http://app.ac/dACGbx543