Japanese Novelist Ryu Murakami Dies at 74

23 October 2026

ISTANBUL — Japanese novelist Ryu Murakami has died at the age of 74, with his death occurring last Saturday, according to a report published by Jiji Press on Friday.

Born in Nagasaki Prefecture in southwestern Japan, Murakami gained recognition for his influential novels, including Almost Transparent Blue and Coin Locker Babies. His family held a private funeral ceremony following his death.

Murakami achieved major literary success in 1976 when his debut novel, Almost Transparent Blue, earned him the Gunzo Prize for New Writers and the prestigious Akutagawa Prize. He wrote the novel while studying at Musashino Art University, and it subsequently became a bestseller, selling approximately 3.5 million copies.

His writing frequently challenged conventional literary boundaries, addressing controversial and complex subjects such as violence, drug use, sexuality and social alienation.

Beyond his achievements as a novelist, Murakami also established himself as a filmmaker and screenwriter. He later worked with TV Tokyo Corporation as the chief interviewer and hosted the television programme Cambrian Palace for nearly two decades.

Murakami leaves behind a distinctive literary legacy, having explored difficult social themes through works that attracted widespread attention in Japan and beyond.