Harukists: What Murakami Fans Are Called, and Why

So, what are Haruki Murakami fans called? The most common answer is Harukists. You may also hear "Murakamians", and one of our notes even mentions "Murakami's children". Whatever the word, we think it points to something real: a worldwide community of readers who feel personally connected to one writer.

Where the name Harukist comes from

The word is simple. It takes his first name, Haruki, and adds the "-ist" ending, as in a follower of a way of thinking. We can't point to who first used it, so we won't claim that. But it caught on among fans online, and it is the name we use around here. Japanese readers often call him by his first name too, which says a lot about how close people feel to him.

What Harukists love about him

Murakami debuted in 1979 with Hear the Wind Sing, and more than forty years later he is still read all over the world. A few things keep drawing people in.

• The lifestyle. He is famous as a running novelist, and has said that running on the road every morning taught him a lot about how to write. He is also the man who ran a jazz bar, Peter Cat, in his twenties, and who owns an enormous record collection.
• The music. Music runs through his daily life and through his books. Many of his titles come from songs.
• The translating. He translated Raymond Carver, F. Scott Fitzgerald and J.D. Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye into Japanese, helping bring modern American literature to Japanese readers. See our post on Raymond Carver and Murakami.
• His stance. In speeches he has talked about history and responsibility. In his 2009 Jerusalem Prize speech he used the image of a high, hard wall and a broken egg, saying he would always stand on the side of the egg.

Why a name for the fans matters

We think a name like Harukist works because reading Murakami can feel solitary. You read late at night, alone, with a cat or a record. Then you find someone online who loved the same strange well scene or the same pasta recipe, and suddenly you belong to something. A shared label is a small way of saying "me too".

It is also a friendly word, not a rigid one. You do not have to have read everything. You do not even have to like every book. Many Harukists have a favourite they return to and one they have never finished, and that is fine.

Our opinion

Peter Cat exists because we are Harukists. We admire the novelist, but also the grandfatherly figure who keeps writing, running, listening to records and publishing new stories. His 2020 story collection First Person Singular brought eight stories about memory and the word "I", and it reminded us how much there still is to discover.

FAQ

What do you call a fan of Haruki Murakami?

Most often a Harukist. "Murakamian" is also used.

Do you need to read all his books to be a Harukist?

No. Anyone who loves his writing, music and way of life can use the word.

Where should a new reader start?

Many people start with Norwegian Wood, Kafka on the Shore or a short story collection.

Are you a Harukist? Tell us which book made you one.