Murakami returns: 'Kaho' becomes a bestseller in 24 hours

Haruki Murakami returns with a new, highly anticipated novel. 'Kaho' achieved bestseller status in just one day after its pre-order launch, rapidly climbing the charts in South Korea. This marks a historic moment for the author: it is the first time Murakami has featured a female protagonist as the sole lead in a full-length novel.

The story follows Kaho, a 26-year-old picture book writer who moves to the outskirts of Tokyo. There, the young woman finds herself involved in bizarre events involving surreal creatures, such as an anteater, while confronting a crisis affecting her family. 'Kaho' is Murakami's first new work in three years, following 'The City and Its Uncertain Walls.'

The book's immediate success confirms the special bond between Murakami and his Korean readers. According to data, 'Kaho' and 'Haruki Murakami' were the first and second most searched terms, respectively, on the Yes24 platform. The Japanese writer's novels have a long history of setting records on South Korean bestseller lists.