MURAKAMI 2020 DIARY
In 1978,
HARUKI MURAKAMI was 29 and running
a jazz bar in downtown Tokyo. One April day, the impulse to write a novel came to him suddenly while watching a baseball game. That first novel, Hear the Wind Sing, was published in the same year and won a new writers’ award. More followed, including A Wild Sheep Chase and Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World, but it was Norwegian Wood, published in 1987, which turned Murakami from a writer into a phenomenon. His books became bestsellers, were translated into many languages, including English, and the door was thrown wide open to Murakami’s unique and addictive fictional universe. Murakami writes with admirable discipline, producing ten pages a day, after which he runs ten kilometres (he began long-distance running in 1982 and has participated in numerous marathons and races), works on translations, and then reads, listens to records and cooks. His passions colour his non-fiction output, from What I Talk About When I Talk About Running to Absolutely on Music, and they also seep into his novels and short stories, providing quotidian moments in his otherwise freewheeling flights of imaginative enquiry. In works such as The WindUp Bird Chronicle, 1Q84 and Men Without Women, his distinctive blend of the mysterious and the everyday, of melancholy and humour, continues to enchant readers, ensuring Murakami’s place as one of the world’s most acclaimed and well-loved writers.
PERSONAL DETAILS
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1 3 5 7 9 10 8 6 4 2 Harvill Secker, an imprint of Vintage, 20 Vauxhall Bridge Road, London SW1V 2SA Harvill Secker is part of the Penguin Random House group of companies whose addresses can be found at global.penguinrandomhouse.com
All quotations and extracts from works by Haruki Murakami © Haruki Murakami 2019 Layout and design © Vintage Design, Suzanne Dean and Rosie Palmer 2019 Haruki Murakami has asserted his right to be identified as the author of this Work in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 First published by Harvill Secker in 2019 Images from The Strange Library sourced in The London Library; hypnotic spiral © Getty Images; fish and fireworks from Illustrated Catalogue of Day and Night Bombshells, Masuda & Company, Japan, 1900 Every care has been taken with the compilation of this diary, but in some cases international and public holiday dates may change after printing. A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library penguin.co.uk/vintage ISBN 9781787301627 Printed and bound in China by C&C Offset Printing Co., LTD Penguin Random House is committed to a sustainable future for our business, our readers and our planet. This book is made from Forest Stewardship Council® certified paper.
MURAKAMI 2020 DIARY
2020
January
February
wk M T W T 1 1 2 2
6
7
8
F 3
S 4
S 5
9 10 11 12
wk M T W T 5 6
3
4
5
6
F
S 1
S 2
7
8
9
3 13 14 15 16 17 18 19
7 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
4 20 21 22 23 24 25 26
8 17 18 19 20 21 22 23
5 27 28 29 30 31
9 24 25 26 27 28 29
March
April
wk M T W T 9
F
S
S 1
wk M T W T 14 1 2
10 2
6
7
8
15 6
3
4
5
11 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
7
8
F 3
S 4
S 5
9 10 11 12
16 13 14 15 16 17 18 19
12 16 17 18 19 20 21 22
17 20 21 22 23 24 25 26
13 23 24 25 26 27 28 29
18 27 28 29 30
14 30 31
June
May wk M T W T 18
F 1
S 2
19 4
8
9 10
5
6
7
S 3
wk M T W T 23 1 2 3 4 24 8
F 5
S 6
S 7
9 10 11 12 13 14
20 11 12 13 14 15 16 17
25 15 16 17 18 19 20 21
21 18 19 20 21 22 23 24
26 22 23 24 25 26 27 28
22 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
27 29 30
July
August
wk M T W T 27 1 2 28 6
7
8
F 3
S 4
S 5
9 10 11 12
wk M T W T 31
F
S 1
S 2
32 3
7
8
9
4
5
6
29 13 14 15 16 17 18 19
33 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
30 20 21 22 23 24 25 26
34 17 18 19 20 21 22 23
31 27 28 29 30 31
35 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 36 31
October
September wk M T W T 36 1 2 3 37 7
8
F 4
S 5
S 6
9 10 11 12 13
38 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
wk M T W T 40 1
F 2
41 5
9 10 11
6
7
8
S 3
S 4
42 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
39 21 22 23 24 25 26 27
43 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
40 28 29 30
44 26 27 28 29 30 31
November
December
wk M T W T 44
F
S
S 1
wk M T W T 49 1 2 3
45 2
6
7
8
50 7
3
4
5
8
F 4
S 5
S 6
9 10 11 12 13
46 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
51 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
47 16 17 18 19 20 21 22
52 21 22 23 24 25 26 27
48 23 24 25 26 27 28 29
53 28 29 30 31
49 30
2021
February
January wk M T W T 1 2
4
5
6
7
F 1
S 2
S 3
8
9 10
wk M T W T 6 1 2 3 4 7
8
F 5
S 6
S 7
9 10 11 12 13 14
3 11 12 13 14 15 16 17
8 15 16 17 18 19 20 21
4 18 19 20 21 22 23 24
9 22 23 24 25 26 27 28
5 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
March
April
wk M T W T 10 1 2 3 4 11 8
F 5
S 6
S 7
9 10 11 12 13 14
12 15 16 17 18 19 20 21
wk M T W T 14 1
F 2
15 5
9 10 11
6
7
8
S 3
S 4
16 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
13 22 23 24 25 26 27 28
17 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
14 29 30 31
18 26 27 28 29 30
May
June
wk M T W T 18
F
S 1
S 2
wk M T W T 23 1 2 3
19 3
7
8
9
24 7
4
5
6
8
F 4
S 5
S 6
9 10 11 12 13
20 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
25 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
21 17 18 19 20 21 22 23
26 21 22 23 24 25 26 27
22 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
27 28 29 30
23 31
July
August
wk M T W T 27 1
F 2
28 5
9 10 11
6
7
8
S 3
S 4
wk M T W T 31
F
S
S 1
32 2
6
7
8
3
4
5
29 12 13 14 15 16 17 18
33 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
30 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
34 16 17 18 19 20 21 22
31 26 27 28 29 30 31
35 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 36 30 31
September
October
wk M T W T 36 1 2 37 6
7
8
F 3
S 4
S 5
9 10 11 12
wk M T W T 40
F 1
S 2
41 4
8
9 10
5
6
7
S 3
38 13 14 15 16 17 18 19
42 11 12 13 14 15 16 17
39 20 21 22 23 24 25 26
43 18 19 20 21 22 23 24
40 27 28 29 30
44 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
November
December
wk M T W T 45 1 2 3 4 46 8
F 5
S 6
S 7
9 10 11 12 13 14
wk M T W T 49 1 2 50 6
7
8
F 3
S 4
S 5
9 10 11 12
47 15 16 17 18 19 20 21
51 13 14 15 16 17 18 19
48 22 23 24 25 26 27 28
52 20 21 22 23 24 25 26
49 29 30
1 27 28 29 30 31
Included in this diary is a selection of Japanese national holidays, seasonal days and festivals. Monday 13th January 成人の日 (Seijin no hi) COMING OF AGE DAY. This national holiday is a celebration for young adults turning twenty, the age of majority in Japan, between 2nd April of the previous year and 1st April of the current year. Monday 3rd February 節分 (Setsubun) BEAN-THROWING FESTIVAL. The day before the beginning of spring. In ancient times it was believed that evil spirits appeared during the night of Setsubun and could be driven away by throwing ‘mame’ (roasted soybeans). This ancient festival and its customs are still celebrated today. Tuesday 11th February 建国記念の日 (Kenkoku kinen no hi) NATIONAL FOUNDATION DAY marks the date when, according to legend, Emperor Jimmu founded Japan in 660 bc. Sunday 23rd February 天皇誕生日 (Tennō tanjōbi) THE EMPEROR’S BIRTHDAY. During the reign of Emperor Akihito this national holiday was held on his birthday, 23rd December. After his abdication in 2019, the holiday is held on the birthday of his son, the new Emperor Naruhito. Tuesday 3rd March 雛祭り (Hina matsuri) DOLLSʹ FESTIVAL. A celebration of girls, when families pray for their future happiness and prosperity. Thursday 5th March 啓蟄 (Keichitsu) AWAKENING OF HIBERNATED INSECTS. A seasonal day celebrating the warmth of spring and the return of hibernating animals. Saturday 14th March ホワイトデー (Howaitodē) WHITE DAY. On Valentine’s Day in Japan it is traditional for women to give presents to men. Men return the favour on White Day, an unofficial festivity believed to have been introduced by a marshmallow manufacturing company in the 1960s. The white marshmallows gave the day its name, but men also give presents of flowers, sweets and cookies. Wednesday 29th April – Wednesday 6th May GOLDEN WEEK. A collection of four national holidays, beginning with Shōwa Day. Wednesday 29th April 昭和の日 (Shōwa no hi) SHŌWA DAY. The birthday of Emperor Hirohito, officially known as Emperor Shōwa, who reigned in Japan from 1926 until his death in 1989. Monday 4th May みどりの日 (Midori no hi) GREENERY DAY. A day to celebrate and commune with nature.
Tuesday 5th May こどもの日 (Kodomo no hi) CHILDREN’S DAY. A national holiday to celebrate and respect children. Families fly koinobori banners in the shape of a carp for each child in their household. Wednesday 6th May 憲法記念日 (Kenpō kinenbi) CONSTITUTION MEMORIAL DAY. This holiday commemorates Japan’s post-war constitution coming into effect on this day in 1947. Thursday 23rd July 海の日 (Umi no hi) MARINE DAY. Also known as Ocean Day, this was first observed in 1996 and commemorates the safe return of Emperor Meiji from a tour of Hokkaido in 1876. Friday 24th July – Sunday 9th August THE TOKYO 2020 SUMMER OLYMPIC GAMES. Friday 24th July スポーツの日 (Supōtsu no hi) SPORTS DAY. A holiday to celebrate a healthy mind and body, and commemorate the opening ceremony of the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. Monday 10th August 山の日 (Yama no hi) MOUNTAIN DAY. A new national holiday which falls during Obon, an ancient Japanese festival. Tuesday 25th August – Sunday 6th September THE TOKYO 2020 SUMMER PARALYMPIC GAMES. Monday 21st September 敬老の日 (Keirō no hi) RESPECT THE AGED DAY. Introduced in 1947, this holiday, which celebrates the wisdom and achievements of the over-seventies, upholds a much older tradition of honouring the elderly. Tuesday 3rd November 文化の日 (Bunka no hi) CULTURE DAY. A national holiday which promotes academia, the arts and all varieties of cultural activity. Sunday 15th November 七五三 (Shichi-go-san) ‘SEVEN-FIVETHREE’ FESTIVAL for three- and seven-year-old girls and three- and five-year-old boys. On this day, families pray their children will grow up happy and healthy. Monday 23rd November 勤労感謝の日 (Kinrō kansha no hi) LABOUR THANKSGIVING DAY. This is the modern version of the rice harvest festival believed to have been held as long ago as 678 ad.
DECEMBER/ JANUARY
30
31
WEEK ONE
一月
New Year´s Eve
1
2
正月 (Shōgatsu) New Year’s Day
Day after New Year’s Day, Scotland and NZ
3
4
5
You can hide memories, but you can´t erase the history. Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage