Haruki Murakami’s new book has a title, though its content remains a mystery.
« Kishidancho Goroshi, » which means « Murder of a Knight Commander, » will hit Japanese bookstores on Feb. 24, the book’s publisher, Shinchosha Publishing Co. said Tuesday. Overseas availability isn’t yet known.
Shinchosha said the book will have two parts, subtitled « Emerging Ideas » and « Moving Metaphor. »
The esoteric titles suggest a contrast from the past works by the acclaimed best-selling writer.
« The titles perhaps give you an impression that is different from Murakami’s past works, don’t they? What is its content like? » Shinchosha said in an email.
The publisher would only say more hints would come later. Murakami has described it as a very strange story.
Murakami, 67, usually shies away from the limelight, although he has spoken out on issues such as world peace and nuclear energy. He began writing while running a jazz bar in Tokyo after finishing college. His 1987 romantic novel « Norwegian Wood » was his first best-seller, establishing him as a young literary star.
His most recent novel « Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage » was released in Japan in 2013, and a collection of short stories, « Men Without Women, » was published in 2014. His million-seller « 1Q84 » in 2009 was one of his longest novels, with the Japanese edition coming out in three volumes.
