Storied author Haruki Murakami to DJ bossa nova grooves on Valentine’s Day
“Music brings a warm glow to my vision, thawing mind & muscle from their endless wintering.”
Notoriously reclusive author and vinyl lover, Haruki Murakami, celebrates Tokyo FM’s 50th anniversary by throwing the Murakami Jam ~ Blame it on the Bossa Nova ~, a live show and livestream with subtitles in English on February 14.
Over the past few years, Murakami has hosted a radio show every once in a while on Tokyo FM where he plays some of his favourite music for listeners and even chats a bit. In May of 2020, to encourage people who were experiencing covid-related depression, he hosted a particularly well-received event, ‘Stay Home Special.’
For this year's Valentine’s Day, 100 lottery-selected guests will be able to attend a live show at Tokyo FM Hall, where four musicians will play love-themed bossa nova tracks. Murakami will then livestream a DJ set from his extensive home record collection and have a talk afterwards. While only 100 people can attend in person, anyone from around the world can join the livestream for US$20.
Even before he was a writer, Murakami focused on music. He ran a jazz bar, Peter Cat, with his wife until 1981. Norwegian Wood, his 1987 break out novel, was even named after a Beatles’ song. Murakami’s writing table is next to all his records and he has said that he puts them on and ‘writes to the beat.‘
Tokyo FM 50th anniversary party, Murakami Jam ~ Blame it on the Bossa Nova ~, happens on February 14 2pm to 4:30pm. Tickets to the livestream can be purchased here.
