重要的不是和時間競爭。而是能以多少充實感跑完42公里，自己能多愉快地享受，我相信以後這會擁有更大的意義。我可能將以數字所沒有表示出來的成就為樂，並肯定那價值。而且繼續摸索和以前有點不同的成就為榮。

Since 2000
Sputnik Sweetheart was first publiHaruki Murakamid in 1999 followed by Kafka on the Shore in 2002 with the English translation following in 2005. Murakami said "Each of us possesses a tangible living soul. It was chosen by the New York Times as a "notable book of the year".

He is considered an important figure in postmodern literature. Murakami's fiction often criticized by Japan's literary establishment is humorous and surreal focusing on themes of alienation and loneliness.