“(The old Building No. 4 of Waseda University was occupied by students for a while at the time of the major struggle). If I say ‘Occupied again,’ there may be some problems (laughs), but I would like to thank the school for allowing the entire Building No. 4 to be used at the time. What we dreamed of was to break the one-sided system of teachers teaching students and to create a more open university. The struggle didn't go as well as we thought, but I think the ideals of that time were not wrong now. We hope to freely exchange ideas and develop further."
Yesterday (22nd), a press conference was held at Waseda University in Tokyo, Japan ahead of the opening of the 'International Literature Museum' on the 1st of next month. The Waseda University International Literature Museum is collectively known as the 'Murakami Haruki Library'. As the name suggests, the Waseda University Museum of International Literature was created by donating the vast amount of books and records owned by the author Haruki Murakami (72). After Haruki announced in 2018 that he would donate 10,000 books, handwritten manuscripts, and records stored at his home in Odawara, Kanagawa Prefecture, etc. to his alma mater Waseda University, Waseda's International Literature Center has been supporting the storage of donated materials, research and writing activities. Established a plan. Waseda University commissioned the famous architect Kengo Kuma to remodel the building in Building No. 4 adjacent to the Theater Museum on campus, where Haruki often visited during his college days, and it is about to open.
Yesterday's press conference was attended by donor Haruki Murakami himself, architect Kengo Kuma (67), and entrepreneur Tadashi Yanai famous for 'Uniqlo'. From the entrance to the building, Kengo Kuma decorated the building with an arch woven into a net shape, and as soon as he entered the entrance, the ceiling was raised to the third floor to emphasize the sense of space. Regarding this, at a press conference yesterday (22nd), he also explained the purpose of the design, saying, "Haruki's literature suddenly enters a completely different world from the world of everyday life. We wanted to create such a space." Chairman Yanai, who is the same age as Haruki and an alumnus of Waseda University, donated a total of 1.2 billion yen, which cost 13 billion won in remodeling costs.
The quote at the outset is, of course, Haruki's own remarks from yesterday's press conference.
This is how I feel about having my name included in the name of the International Literature Center.
“Originally, I wanted them to build a facility like this after I died, but it’s completed while I’m still alive, so I’m quite nervous. I hope it will become a broad and flexible research facility by adding data.”
Waseda University International Literature Center, or Haruki Murakami Library, consists of one basement floor and five above-ground floors. On the first basement floor, there is a rest area, such as a cafe and "Murakami's Study," which is a reproduction of Haruki's home studio where he writes. Here, a grand piano that was used for live performances at the jazz cafe Haruki ran before he started working as a full-time writer is on display. The stairs connecting the basement and the first floor were placed large in the middle, and high bookshelves were placed on both sides to enclose the stairs. On the first floor, there is a 'Gallery Lounge' where Haruki's works, which have been translated into more than 50 languages, are displayed, and an 'audio' where you can listen to the albums donated by Haruki in 'almost the same' conditions as that in which he listens to music. There is also a 'room'. If you go up the stairs, there is a studio where you can record radio and an exhibition room where you can decorate special exhibitions on the second floor. Up to this point, when it opens on the 1st of next month, it will be open to the public as well. The 3rd to 5th floors are equipped with a library for storing vast collections and materials, as well as seminar rooms for literary researchers. The public can visit from the opening date of October 1, but as a measure to prevent corona infection, advance reservations must be made online at least by the end of this year.
Since yesterday, the website of the International Literature Museum (https://www.waseda.jp/culture/wihl/) has started accepting applications from the general public who wish to visit since its opening on October 1. You can visit us until the 23rd of October, and reservations have been completed in no time.
On this website, a short 3-minute video expressing the image of the International Literature Center was also released on the 17th.
This video made by playwright and film director Kei Shichiri gives you an idea of the concept behind the Murakami Library.
There are also images familiar to Haruki fans like 'The Sheep Man'.
Yesterday's press conference, Haruki announced that he would cooperate with the operation as much as possible.
'Reading Event Authors Alive!
It is an event called 'Let's Meet the Artist'.
This event, held six times from October 9th to December 18th, all on Saturday, includes Haruki, novelist Yoko Ogawa famous for "The Formula Loved by a Doctor", Sayaka Murata who wrote "Convenience Store Man", guitarist Kaori Muraj, and Japanese Literature. Researcher and famous broadcaster Robert Campbell, Distinguished Professor at Waseda University, etc. will take turns participating.
The university plans to develop the International Literature Center as a place for exchanges between Japanese and foreign literature researchers.