71 pages • 2 hours read
Kafka on the Shore
A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Book Brief
480
Novel • Fiction
Japan • Contemporary
2002
Vintage International
Adult
18+ years
Super Short Summary
Kafka on the Shore follows the journey of Kafka Tamura, a fifteen-year-old runaway who leaves Tokyo to escape a curse and finds refuge in a library in Takamatsu, where he encounters Oshima and Miss Saeki. Simultaneously, Nakata, an older man with unique abilities resulting from a childhood accident, embarks on a parallel quest that intersects with Kafka's fate, involving mystical events and introspective discoveries. Themes include violence and incest.
Mysterious
Contemplative
Melancholic
Fantastical
Reviews & Readership
510,634 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
Haruki Murakami's Kafka on the Shore melds surreal elements with a coming-of-age narrative, offering readers a rich, layered experience. Praised for its imaginative storytelling and profound themes, some find its ambiguity and complexity challenging. The novel's dreamlike quality captivates many, while a few readers feel disconnected from its abstract nature.
Who Should Read Kafka on the Shore?
A reader captivated by Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami likely enjoys surreal, thought-provoking narratives with rich, metaphysical undercurrents. Comparable to fans of One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez or The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle by Murakami himself, they appreciate complex characters and intertwining plotlines.
510,634 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
The Boy Named Crow
The Boy Named Crow
An enigmatic figure seen by Kafka as both a guardian and conscience, who advises him throughout his journey.
Satoru Nakata
Satoru Nakata
A kind and intuitive elderly man with a unique ability who is drawn into Kafka's story through a search for lost cats.
Sakura
Sakura
A young woman who befriends Kafka during his journey, offering him support and possibly having deeper familial connections.
Oshima
Oshima
A knowledgeable and caring transgender gay man who works at a library and provides Kafka with guidance and refuge.
Miss Saeki
Miss Saeki
The library director with a mysterious past who forms a symbolic and personal connection with Kafka.
Hoshino
Hoshino
A young truck driver who assists Nakata on his journey, developing a deeper understanding of himself in the process.
Johnnie Walker
Johnnie Walker
A sinister non-corporeal entity who captures cat souls and poses a threat to characters, particularly Nakata.
Colonel Sanders
Colonel Sanders
A non-corporeal being in the form of the fried chicken mascot who provides necessary assistance to Hoshino and Nakata.
Koichi Tamura
Koichi Tamura
Kafka's father, a famous sculptor known for creating labyrinthine themes in his work, with a profound impact on Kafka's life.
Kafka on the Shore was published in 2002, and Murakami wrote it simultaneously with another of his works, After Dark, showcasing his unique ability to craft multiple narratives at once.
The novel is renowned for its intricate blend of magical realism and metaphysical elements, a hallmark style of Haruki Murakami, who often features surreal worlds intermingled with reality.
Subscribe to discover more Fun Facts!
In 2006, Haruki Murakami was awarded the prestigious World Fantasy Award for Kafka on the Shore, highlighting its broad impact and acclaim within the literary community.
Subscribe to discover more Fun Facts!
480
Novel • Fiction
Japan • Contemporary
2002
Vintage International
Adult
18+ years
Continue your reading experience
Subscribe now to unlock the rest of this Study Guide plus our full library, which features expert-written summaries and analyses of 8,000+ additional titles.