Haruki Murakami Lost 17 Kilograms While Writing Latest Novel

Acclaimed Japanese author Haruki Murakami has disclosed a significant health struggle during the creation of his latest novel, revealing he lost 17 kilograms due to an unspecified illness. The writer shared that his condition left him barely able to walk and devoid of any creative impulse.

"I wondered if I would be able to do anything worthwhile, if I could ever write again," Murakami stated in an interview published by the Kyodo news agency. He described a period of deep uncertainty about his future as a writer.

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I wondered if I would be able to do anything worthwhile, if I could ever write again.

However, following his recovery and return to his usual weight, Murakami experienced a powerful resurgence of his desire to write. "I don't know how much longer I will live, but I want to keep writing. Since recovering from my illness, that desire has become even stronger," he expressed, finding immense happiness in this renewed creative drive.

Murakami hopes that this "feeling of joy and renewed optimism" permeates his new novel, 'The Story of Kaho,' which was released in Japan last week. This marks a departure for the author, as it is his first work featuring a female protagonist and, unlike his previous stories often characterized by open endings, it offers a definitive conclusion. The novel is slated for release in Spanish in the spring of 2027.

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I don't know how much longer I will live, but I want to keep writing. Since recovering from my illness, that desire has become even stronger.