A day has gone by, and Murakami still hasn’t won the Nobel Prize. I’ve got a small piece about Murakami and the Nobel over at Néojaponisme.

He really came out of no where in 2006 to contend, at least in the bookmakers, for the Nobel. There was a strong push for him that spring, although push might be too strong, as someone has to be pushing.  Supposedly the symposium I mention was to help increase his chances, but I think the other prizes he won were more important. That and the fact that he’s translated into a ridiculous number of languages.

I’m taking a Murakami vacation until his next book comes out. That vacation starts now.