Haruki Murakami (Cun Shang  Chun Shu , Murakami Haruki, born January 12, 1949) is a Japanese writer. His books and stories have been bestsellers in Japan as well as internationally, with his work being translated into 50 languages and selling millions of copies outside his native country. The critical acclaim for his fiction and non-fiction has led to numerous awards, in Japan and internationally, including the World Fantasy Award (2006) and the Frank O'Connor International Short Story Award (2006). His oeuvre received, for example, the Franz Kafka Prize (2006) and the Jerusalem Prize (2009).
Personal life
After receiving the Gunzo Award for his 1979 literary work Hear the Wind Sing, Murakami did not aspire to meet other writers. Aside from Sarah Lawrence's Mary Morris, whom he briefly mentions in his memoir What I Talk About When I Talk About Running alongside Joyce Carol Oates and Toni Morrison, Murakami was never a part of a community of writers, his reason being that he was a loner and was never fond of groups, schools, and literary circles. When working on a book, Murakami states that he relies on his wife, who is always his first reader. While he never acquainted himself with many writers, Murakami enjoys the works of Ryu Murakami and Banana Yoshimoto.  Haruki Murakami is a fan of crime novels. During his high school days while living in Kobe, he would buy paperbacks from second hand book stores and learned to read English. The first book that he read in English was The Name is Archer, written by Ross Macdonald in 1955. Other writers he was interested in included Leo Tolstoy and Fyodor Dostoyevsky.  Murakami also has a passion for listening to music, especially classical and jazz. When he was around 15, he began to develop an interest in jazz after attending an Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers concert in Kobe. He later opened the Peter Cat, a coffeehouse and jazz bar. Murakami has said that music, like writing, is a mental journey. At one time he aspired to be a musician, but because he could not play instruments well he decided to become a writer instead.

Q: Is Haruki close to his family?
A: When working on a book, Murakami states that he relies on his wife,

Q: Are there any other interesting aspects about this article?
A: Murakami also has a passion for listening to music, especially classical and jazz.

Q: What other hobbies doe he have?
A: Haruki Murakami is a fan of crime novels.

Q: Who is his favorite author?
A: Murakami enjoys the works of Ryu Murakami and Banana Yoshimoto.

Q: Who are his favorite musical artists?
A: he began to develop an interest in jazz after attending an Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers concert

Q: Does he go to concerts often?
A: He later opened the Peter Cat, a coffeehouse and jazz bar.

Q: Was the Peter Cat successful?
A: unknown

Q: Did he open any other businesses?
A: unknown

Q: What were other noteworthy pieces of his personal life?
A: Murakami did not aspire to meet other writers.

Q: Why did he not want to meet other writers?
A: his reason being that he was a loner and was never fond of groups, schools, and literary circles.

Q: did he end up meeting any writers eventually?
A: Aside from Sarah Lawrence's Mary Morris,
Why did he meet Mary Morris?
whom he briefly mentions in his memoir
whom he briefly mentions in his memoir