This competition is now closed. The winner is Ramses Cabello from Denmark!
It’s time for another giveaway competition!! I will send one lucky winner the oh-so-stylish MURAKAMI 2020 DIARY!
All you need to do for a chance to win is to leave a reply in the comments section below with the title of your favourite Haruki Murakami book and I’ll choose a winner on Tuesday, 28 January 2020!
If you’re reading this and thinking about entering this competition I guess you’re a fan of Haruki Murakami, Japanese culture or just gorgeous diaries. Whatever your motive, you’re going to love this Murakami diary designed by book designer Rosie Palmer and Suzanne Dean, the Creative Director at Vintage Publishing.
The highlight of this diary really is the design and artwork on the cover and throughout. I’m sure I’m not the only person who appreciates Murakami’s book covers (and his writing, of course). I’m always waiting impatiently for the book cover release whenever a new novel is announced. They’re always very modern and really clever in their approach. Well, this diary is a culmination of those superb book covers and so much more. Inside, the months are written in English and Japanese (e.g. January 一月) and the days of the week are on the left. The covers, book quotes, Japanese calligraphy, and unique artwork inspired by Murakami are mostly on the right and it’s all of this artwork that will have you flicking through the pages over and over again. For me, the seasonal colours and patterns on the pages seem reminiscent of the sumptuous Japanese textiles featured on kimonos from the Edo period.
This diary is not just beautifully crafted, it will fit easily into a large handbag and it’s slim enough not to take up too much room beside your textbooks in your backpack. The hardcover has a soft, velvety finish. The paper inside is the perfect thickness. There’s a long red ribbon bookmark so you can find your place easily and you’re never going to forget Japanese national holidays, seasonal days, and festivals like Golden Week or the hina-matsuri Doll’s Festival thanks to the reminders.
If you want to find out more about Haruki Murakami, the author and his books, head over to Books on Asia for top reviews and an interview with Lena Baibikov, a Murakami non-fiction translator.
22 Comments
My favourite is, without a doubt, “Dance Dance Dance” 🙂
Thank you so much for the opportunity and good luck to everyone who’s entering 🙂
Good luck Bruna! Thanks for entering!
Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World
Hi Stephen! Great choice!
Definitely Kafka on the Shore for me. I read it just before moving to Japan to teach English and it gave such a weird and wonderful perspective on the culture and country.
Nice reply! Good luck!
I only started reading Murakami recently, but I immediately fell for it. My favorite book so far is Norwegian Wood, I’ll start reading a small collection of stories tomorrow: Men without women.
Thanks for organizing this!
Good choice Ramsés! Norwegian Wood — the book that made Murakami so famous and very popular in Japan.
Norwegian Wood or A Wild Sheep Chase (such a hard tie for me). Regarding cherry blossoms, I saw the ones gifted by Japan in Washington DC, as a teen. Now in my early 50s, I truly appreciate the wabi-sabi. The irony of my life as a Sakura.
Thanks for entering Rita! It’s always nice to meet another sakura-bito.
Thank you so much for this giveaway! My favourite Murakami book is still Norwegian Wood. Although I’ve enjoyed a lot of his other works, too, I can’t forget this feeling I got as soon as finished reading Norwegian Wood a few years ago now.
You’re very welcome! I understand how you feel about Norwegian Wood. This book strikes a chord with a lot of people.
I love 1Q84. Such a strange book but it really grabbed me. Hoping to read it in Japanese one day.
I love 1Q84 as well! I have the hardback copies. Thanks for entering the competition and good luck Alex.
I would have to say my favorite Murakami book, although hard to decide, is the first of his work that I read and I will forever be grateful to the bookstore worker who referred it to me: The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle. I had no idea of the vast and magical world I would enter when I opened its pages. It was the first step of what would eventually become a long and beautiful journey spanning many books and years exploring the magnificent world of Mirakami.
Nice choice Adam! I read and reviewed The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle very recently (as part of the Vintage Japanese Classics Series) for The Japan Times and I thoroughly enjoyed this book as well. I think you’d also enjoy Murakami’s Killing Commendatore. It’s similar in nature and there are quite a few parallels between these two books.
I like reading Norwegian Wood. Just because I’m too poor to buy and that’s the one and only Murakami’s book in my campus library. And English isn’t my 1st language but bcos Murakami, I learn Japanese and 今日本語が話せるようになりました。
Thanks for your comment Rexy. Norwegian Wood is one of those books you’ll never forget. It’s a very emotional read. Thanks for entering the competition and best of luck 🙂
My favorite was ‘Kafka on the shore’. I loved the story and every character was interesting and unique.
Thanks for entering Migle! Kafka on the Shore is a great example of the way Murakami portrays magical realism.
My favourites are probably the first few I read, The Wild Sheep Chase and Dance, Dance, Dance but I’ve been really enjoying the short story and Murakami Asahido collections. Quick and easy to read and often very funny!
Thanks for entering George! Haruki Murakami certainly has a wonderful sense of humour.