Japanese novelist Ryu Murakami dies aged 74
Ryu Murakami, the Japanese novelist whose debut Almost Transparent Blue won the Akutagawa Prize in 1976, died at his home on 17 October, aged 74. His publisher Gentosha announced the death on Friday; a private family funeral has already been held.
Japanese novelist Ryu Murakami has died aged 74, his publisher Gentosha announced on Friday. Murakami died at his home on 17 October, his office and Gentosha said in a joint obituary statement, and a private family funeral has already been held with only close relatives. (AFP, The Straits Times, The Japan Times, NHK via Herald Business)
The family has politely declined condolence visits, condolence money, funeral wreaths and telegrams, according to the statement.
Born Ryunosuke Murakami in Sasebo, Nagasaki, on 19 February 1952, he made his literary debut with Almost Transparent Blue, written while he was still a university student. It won the Akutagawa Prize in 1976 and became a bestseller, establishing him as a leading voice of postwar Japanese literature.
He went on to publish Coin Locker Babies in 1980 and, in 1997, both In the Miso Soup and Audition — the latter adapted by Takashi Miike into the 1999 horror film. Murakami also worked as a film director, including on Tokyo Decadence.
“We are deeply and unbearably saddened to learn of the premature death of Ryu Murakami,” Gentosha said. “We pray for the peace of Murakami, who raced his way through life as the frontrunner of an era.”
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