Ryū Murakami, the Japanese novelist, artist and filmmaker best known for authoring the critically acclaimed counterculture novel "Almost Transparent Blue," has died. He was 74.
Murakami died Oct. 17 at his home in Tokyo, his longtime publisher, Gentosha, announced on its website Friday, Oct. 23. The publisher, in a statement written in Japanese, said his family had already held funeral services and that they "respectfully" decline "condolence money, floral tributes, condolence telegrams, and memorial offerings." The statement also requests privacy for the family.
Written while Murakami was in university, the semi-autobiographical 1976 debut novel "Almost Transparent Blue" follows Ryū, a 19-year-old substance abuser, over the course of seven days
in Japan on a nihilistic journey of sex, drug use and violence. The book's setting, an American military base, and its exploration of youth culture drew from Murakami's life and from people he knew.
Ryu Murakami books: 'Audition,' 'Piercing,' 'In the Miso Soup'
Murakami's postmodern works also included "Audition" and "In the Miso Soup" (1997) and "Coin Locker Babies" (1980). His dark novels explored humanity through themes of disillusionment, drugs, surrealism, sex, violence, murder and war.
Murakami directed films based on his own novels, including "Almost Transparent Blue" as well as "All Right, My Friend," "Raffles Hotel" and "Because of You." The 2018 psychological horror-thriller "Piercing," from American director Nicolas Pesce and starring Chris Abbott, was adapted from Murakami's 1994 novel of the same name.
Murakami "continued to publish shocking works aimed at younger generations" throughout his life and, "having received news of Mr. Murakami's passing, which came far too soon, we cannot contain our deep sorrow," Gentosha wrote in its statement. "We pray for the peaceful rest of a man who raced through his era as one of its leading trailblazers."
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ryū Murakami dies at 74. Who was the iconic author?
