How Murakami went from Jazz Bar Owner to World-Renown Author in One Day

On an episode of Haruki Radio, Murakami was asked “If you had to choose between a world without music and a world without cats, which one would you choose to live in?” Murakami responded with a witty excuse, making apparent that the idea of a world robbed of both would be would lacking and wearisome as a zebra stripped of its stripes.

Indeed, what would life be like without the melodious tune thumping in one’s head or the feline presence positioned by one’s chair? Surely, a world robbed of the two would be most bland. After all, it was Murakami’s love for jazz and search for a more fervent lifestyle that led to his opening of Peter Cat.

Peter Cat was more that a business venture. It was a space that began with the simple operation of serving coffee during light hours and cocktails near dark that later went on to combine Murakami’s simple passions: great jazz, good drinks, and delicious food. Before Peter Cat’s establishment; however, Murakami left Waseda University and married his university sweetheart, Yoko Takahashi. Only twenty-two at the time, Murakami adapted to working at a Shinjuku record shop during the day and at a swing jazz cafe in Suidoya City at night. After combing their earnings and receiving a loan from Yoko’s father (totalling to five-million yen), the two went on to take the frequently deemed-reckless decision to open Peter Cat. Purchasing a UP piano speaker and decently furnishing the place, Murakami went on to spend his days peeling onions and mixing cocktails for the next seven years.

“At the start, I wanted to buy a good speaker. [Due to my budget], I went on to use the 30-centimetre, low-volume, medium and high pitched JBL L88+ unit.” -Murakami

Located near the Gokyu Basin in Tokyo, Peter Cat was not just a recorded-jazz playing space, but also one that hosted live music performance every other Sunday. On days when Japanese jazz musicians were not playing, Murakami would play records from the 1950s jazz scene with artists such as Stan Getz and Jerry Mulligan, both of whom he was very fond. To the delight of enthusiasts, he soon introduced the special-issue magazine “Japanese Jazz Islands” at his shop. Despite the initial struggle at the start, which left him and Yoko unable to repay their loans, his guests increased, and their income became steady.

“I was still in my mid-20s, so I was able to work hard and poverty was not painful either.”

-Murakami on the early days of Peter Cat

Murakami went on to purchasing both better speakers and a piano after closing his establishment in 1977 and relocating to Sendagaya; as the original location was due to undergo renovation by the landlord. The new location was given more attention to interior design and embellished with cat memorabilia and props. And the original JBL speaker? He didn’t sell it, and is actually using it in his home office today.

Murakami Peter Cat’s first location on the left, and a coaster from his second location on the right.

When the doors of the second location came to a close in 1981, they were not destined to be reopened. This may have saddened some guests, but it came as ultimate best for Murakami. Despite the comfortable income PeterCat was providing, the difficult decision was one based on a sudden career change that would change the course of his life.

One spring April day in 1978, Murakami was in attendance of a Yakult Swallows game at the Jingu Stadium. Amidst enjoying the beautiful weather, crisp beer, and lively audience; Murakami watched as Dave Hilton hit a double, elevating the crowd’s reaction. At that moment, a sudden thought came to Murakami, one that can be quite likened to a revelation. It had no precursor, no wish, no plan. The thought said, “I think I could write a novel.” On his way home, he stopped at a Shinjuku Station to purchase a sheaf of paper and pen for 5,000 yen. In the following year of 1979, he received Gunzo Prize for New Writers for his title, “Hear The Wind Sing.”

“I don’t know how many more novels I’ll be publishing in the future…. If such a day comes soon for me, where I can no longer write novels, I’d like to play the grand piano in Aoyama, Tokyo, and reopen the jazz bar.”

Murakami’s recent comments on the bar

As delightful as the reopening of the jazz bar would be, I would certainly miss Murakami’s novels.

On the fateful spring day of 1978, if the skies had been pouring warm rain, and Murakami had not gone to the baseball game, and if baseball player Dave Hilton had struck out instead of scoring a home run: Would Haruki Murakami still have made the fateful decision of setting pen to paper?

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