Author Murakami withdraws from consideration for alternative Nobel award

Even if he withdraws from consideration, he could still win. Look at what happened to Bob Dylan.

He isn't a very good writer at all.

He isn't a very good writer at all.

And yet, he's a top selling author. Hmm....

The other nominees for the alternative prize are British-born author Neil Gaiman, Guadeloupe-born Maryse Conde and Vietnam-born Kim Thuy.

A bit fixated on birthplace are we?

I don't understand the reason why he's considered for a Nobel every year. Yes, he writes popular books, and he is a clever, interesting man. But his work is faaaar from being Nobel worthy.

I don't understand the reason why he's considered for a Nobel every year.

Because he's nominated as Japan's representative for consideration for the prize every year. There's a useful explanation of how the nomination system works here:

https://www.nobelprize.org/nomination/literature/

People who come on this thread and wastes their time claiming to hate the man and his writing are just jealous that he’s successful. That’s all there is to it. Probably dabbled in writing a bit themselves and failed.

My gut feeling (based on no evidence) is that the Alternative Nobel Prize is somehow tainted and people at the top of their field, like Murakami, will just sit it out. There are plenty of stories of scientists who received the Crafoord prize (also presented by the King of Sweden) feeling disappointed that their dreams of getting a Nobel Prize had disappeared. It's too bad that we get so hung up on names.

As to the question of who in Japan deserves to be nominated for Literature this year, any suggestions?

There is now the Polar Prize which is awarded by Swedish officials to honor music + arts. Pink Floyd recently won the second music award. The first of course went to ABBA.

There also used to be the Lenin Peace Prize awarded by the USSR and the Khadafy Peace Prize awarded by Libya. I think Lionel Richie was awarded that honor once, maybe.

Nobel prize winner or not, I'm still a fan.

Honor and disonor, it doesn't concern to the person life, even a well known MVP, the attitude/behavior tell much more than the fame. Sexual misconduct scandal is one of them to remind.

1Q84 was a bit of a flop comparing to earlier works, but he is amazing writer.

English translations are actually really bad comparing to original Japanese and even Russian or Hebrew , the movie was absolutely horrible too.

but yea, the complainers here are most likely failed writers diminished to teaching nova english... its ok, they got nowhere else to vent except here or in from of conveni on cheap chuhis.

He wants to hang in there for the genuine Nobel prize at some point. Its all moot anyway - Nobel prizes (er, Su Kyi, Obama, Bob Dylan, anyone?) are much diminished in stature these days. Who cares who wins?

Oh, and speaking as someone who has not dabbled in writing and failed, I too cannot understand what the fuss and adulation for Murakami is all about. He certainly has his fan boys though.

The Nobel Prize in Literature should not be regarded as a gold medal win for a specific nationality. Great literature transcends nationalism. I am glad that Ishiguro won the prize, not because he is Japanese or British or whatever, but because he is a great writer. Ditto Hesse, Faulkner, Camus, Oe, etc.

nationality, that is

They should look at new authors too. Check out "Cyber War Aurelia" and "Cyber War II" on Amazon.

Murakami is a far more interesting person and writer than Kazuo Ishiguro. Both writers don’t get the amount of respect they deserve in their country of birth though, for some strange reason. Also, who really cares about the Nobel Prize, especially for literature??

"One of Japan's most successful literary exports, Murakami's Nobel prospects are the subject of intense annual scrutiny in his home country."

The only thing that bothers me about this subject is the -- once again -- sense of entitlement in this country, especially given how many people complain about his writing, and since no one knows who is ACTUALLY nominated. He may not even be on the list whatsoever, and yet every year people who normally don't even pay attention to either literature or awards are lined up to pat themselves on the back for Murakami's win, as though it is fact. The nominees' lists are not released for 50 years after the fact.

Japans' best writer is Junpei Gumikawa....two masterpiece trilogy, The Human Conditon and Men & War. Both 9 hours Epic Trilogy made into Masterpiece Cinema.

plasticmonkeySep. 17 06:47 pm JSTThe Nobel Prize in Literature should not be regarded as a gold medal win for a specific nationality. Great literature transcends nationalism. I am glad that Ishiguro won the prize, not because he is Japanese or British or whatever, but because he is a great writer. Ditto Hesse, Faulkner, Camus, Oe, etc.

When Alfred Nobel set up his Prizes in his will, he made it clear that the awards were for artistic distinction whether or not the person is of Scandinavian origin. That means that for all purposes that the awards can go to Abp. Desmond Tutu of South Africa for Peace (and he got it in 1984), and artistic and literature prizes the same way. It means specifically for all purposes that the award for say, great literature could even be this guy from Japan, or even somebody from Enceladus (a moon of the planet Saturn). If you're great at it, you get an award for your achievements no matter where you come from.

@strangerland, being a "top selling author" isn't much of a criteria to judge the value of an author's work.

I completely agree with the posters who think the Nobel prize these days has no credibility. They can give it to Dan Brown (another top selling author) for all I care.

Whoever it goes to (unless it's another pop singer or rapper) no one outide his/her fanbase is going to remember a month later.

Its like the academy awards - the prestige is long gone.