Haruki Murakami and Philosophical Concepts

“Haruki Murakami and Philosophical Concepts engages with the works of Murakami and philosophy in a way I believe will be useful in opening new interdisciplinary lines of discussion.  This collection provides an impressive array of philosophic concepts and thinkers that will appeal to general and academic readers alike.”
—Gary Rees, Associate Professor, Bemidji State University, Minnesota, USA

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.

Joseph Thomas Milburn is Director of Studies and Head of Philosophy at Rochester Independent College, UK. He lectures on Philosophy and Jungian Psychoanalysis at the University of Sofia. Joseph previously edited a special issue on the work of Haruki Murakami for In Statu Nascendi (2022), published by Ibidem Press.