 | |
| Author | Haruki Murakami |
|---|---|
| Translator | Philip Gabriel |
| Language | Japanese |
| Publisher | Magazine House (Japanese) Knopf (English) |
| Publication date | June 4, 2020 (Japanese) November 23, 2021 (English) |
| ISBN | 978-4838731077 |
Murakami T: The T-Shirts I Love (村上T: 僕の愛したTシャツたち, Murakami T: boku no ai shita T-shatsutachi) is a book by Haruki Murakami that was originally serialized in Popeye from 2018 to 2020 before being published by Magazine House in 2020. It predominantly consists of pictures of T-shirts owned by Murakami with occasional personal essays. In 2021, an English translation by longtime collaborator Philip Gabriel was released by Knopf. The book's English release was accompanied by a collection of T-shirts and merchandise from Out of Print.
Contents
The book showcases some of Murakami's T-shirts—most of them acquired while thrifting in Tokyo or while traveling—which he collects in cardboard boxes and frequently wears. Some of the T-shirts featured in the book are accompanied by essays.
In The New Yorker, a few months before the book's English release, Murakami shared some highlights of his T-shirt collection including T-shirts with phrases like "I put ketchup on my ketchup" and T-shirts branded after Heineken, Sigillum Universitatis Islandiae, and the Ramones. For The New York Times, Murakami stated that he never intended to amass such a large collection of T-shirts, though he found that wearing T-shirts represented "freedom" for him as a writer. In Vanity Fair, Murakami stated that the book came about during writing sessions when he was not "in the mood to write fiction" but nonetheless wanted to write something.
Critical reception
Publishers Weekly called it a "collection of beguiling pieces" and a "charming ramble". Kirkus Reviews said the book "provides some surprising insights into the humble, real Murakami."
Vanity Fair noted that the book's writing possessed the "candid, unassuming tone that characterizes his nonfiction." The Atlantic wrote that the book was "part ode, part exhibit that reads with restrained affection for his accidental accumulations." The Japan Society said of the book: "As always, it's Murakami's mixture of casual friendliness paired with a kind of sagely wisdom that charms in the extreme."
References
- 村上, 春樹 (June 4, 2020). 村上T 僕の愛したTシャツたち. マガジンハウス. ISBN 978-4838731077.
- ^ Murakami, Haruki (November 23, 2021). Murakami T: The T-Shirts I Love. Translated by Gabriel, Philip. Knopf. ISBN 978-0593320426.
- ^ Kambhampaty, Anna P. (November 18, 2021). "Haruki Murakami Unpacks His T-Shirt Collection". The New York Times.
- Murakami, Haruki (2021-09-20). "An Accidental Collection". The New Yorker. ISSN 0028-792X. Retrieved 2024-11-09.
- ^ Landsbaum, Claire (2021-10-27). ""Even a Novelist Has to Wear Something": Haruki Murakami Puts His Massive T-shirt Collection on Display". Vanity Fair. Retrieved 2024-11-09.
- "Murakami T: The T-Shirts I Love by Haruki Murakami". www.publishersweekly.com. Retrieved 2024-11-09.
- MURAKAMI T | Kirkus Reviews.
- Lau, Charlene K. (2021-11-16). "The Personality Test in Your Closet". The Atlantic. Retrieved 2024-11-09.
- Green, Laurence. "Murakami T: The T-Shirts I Love". The Japan Society. Retrieved 2024-11-09.