It is no secret that Haruki Murakami is a man of many passions. Well known for his distinctive surrealism-tinged writing style, the prolific author is a serious marathon runner, and his love for music is also well documented—a passion oftentimes portrayed in his literary works laced in musical references.
This profound appreciation for music planted its seed when Murakami was 15. Back then, he had his first encounter with jazz when he watched Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers perform in Kobe. It bowled him over, and he has been hooked ever since, even opening a jazz club (now closed) shortly after leaving university.
In a 2011 interview with New York Times, Murakami estimated he owns around 10,000 records. A man by the name of Masamaro Fujiki has kindly compiled most of the songs—more than 3,000 tracks—based on the author’s Q&As and essays into this extensive playlist, giving us an intimate glimpse into the author’s musical mind. Listen to it here:
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