Ad indicates publishing of 3rd volume of Haruki Murakmi's '1Q84'

Monday 05th October, 12:51 PM JST

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Osakadaz at 04:06 PM JST - 5th October

um...thought I had read most of his novels but never heard of these ones..are they novels or short-story collections?
nandakandamanda at 04:12 PM JST - 5th October

"We will continue receiving invaluable things from the story." is a translation of this original Japanese: 「私たちはこの物語から　かけがえのないものを　受けとり続けるだろう」。

That could also be translated as for example: "This story will continue to supply its readers with an irreplaceable fix."
Altria at 04:15 PM JST - 5th October

He stole this idea from Harry Potter!
thepro at 05:00 PM JST - 5th October

invaluable things? who translates this stuff?
moonbeams at 06:22 PM JST - 5th October

I can read and understand the Japanese, but when it comes to Murakami, I'm sorry, but the English translations are better, in my opinion. So, I'm waiting for them to come out before reading this one (or three).

Wow, Smith, that's sad.

I doubt you can read and understand Japanese then.

I taught myself Japanese by reading his books. The guy is a master at his craft.
Osakadaz at 06:31 PM JST - 5th October

it should be said though,moonbeams,that Murakami has a very 'individual' style of writing that many Japanese native speakers actually find hard to get into.
seijichuudo9sha at 06:32 PM JST - 5th October

"I can read and understand the Japanese, but when it comes to Murakami, I'm sorry, but the English translations are better,"

I too have to call BS on that one.
hotachichi at 10:03 PM JST - 5th October

I read a couple of his books to understand the hype. I also think the English version, probably would be better. Try reading English translations of Japanese novels. There is a difference there, even though you are picturing the same scenes.
knews at 11:43 PM JST - 5th October

smithinjapan

What a very weird thing to write. Boasting about your own (lack of?) Japanese abilities as well! Unless Murakami is doing his own translations into English (which he isn't!), how on Earth could any other language be better than the original language the books were written? You're saying the translator is better than the writer?!
ersby at 12:23 AM JST - 6th October

That's an interesting question - can a translation be better han the original? A translation is there to be faithful to the original, but if it out-performs the original, is it a worse translation, even if it tells a better story?

Anyway, just thinking aloud. I know of some people who think the German translations of Shakespear are better.
moonbeams at 12:35 AM JST - 6th October

it should be said though,moonbeams,that Murakami has a very 'individual' style of writing that many Japanese native speakers actually find hard to get into.

Some people do, however is he not the best selling contemporary author in Japan?
morriconelover at 12:37 AM JST - 6th October

I am currently translating first chapter of first volume of "1Q84" and so far i feel its a pretty interesting piece of work. I will look forward to an english and danish translation as well. a translation will never be an accurate translation, but will in a way be like reading another book. the important goal for translators will be to make the atmosphere and style of the original writing understandable for the reader. The people who usually translates Murakami are usually deeply devoted to translating him, so you can be sure not so much of the original is lost.

I see that some posts here are angry at smithinjapan for saying he is waiting for a translation. Maybe he just wants to read the translation so that he can understand the story more deeply.
studebaker at 02:38 AM JST - 6th October

1Q84 is a play on words for 1'kyu'84 or 1984? Anyone who has read the Japanese versions care to comment?
Airion at 11:19 AM JST - 6th October

I went to a book reading by Murakami in Boston a few years ago. He said that it's uninteresting and a bit embarassing to read his own works in Japanese, but when he reads the English translations, he finds them to be a good read.
sctaber56 at 01:51 PM JST - 9th October

When Murakami spoke at UC Berkeley in Oct. 2008, he shared with the students that he often starts stories in English then switches to Japanese. His Wikipedia bio describes him as an author and translator so I suspect he collaborates closely with his translators. Remember,too, that Murakami spent several years living and teaching in New Jersey and Massachusetts before returning to Tokyo. His stories touch on such universal topics; like Shakespeare, he understands the male as well as female psyche equally and without prejudice.