Murakami Wins Arab Literary Award

Japanese author Haruki Murakami takes prestigious prize.

Haruki Murakami was yesterday named Cultural Personality of the Year as part of the annual the Sheikh Zayed Book Awards. This is a prestigious literary award ceremony sometimes known as the “Arabic Nobel Prize.” It is organised by the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre.

A statement explained:

Murakami is one of the most prominent and popular contemporary novelists, with millions of copies of his novels printed every year and translated into numerous languages, including Arabic. His literature is characterised by its universality, expressing human concerns that transcend cultural boundaries, with a unique blend of Japanese literature and international influences. His writings are renowned for their ability to explore issues of identity, belonging, and individual freedom in a distinctive narrative style that combines realism and fantasy.

Indeed, Murakami is one of the most internationally appreciated authors, with his prose being oddly suited to translation and his magical realist style helping him appeal to people of numerous different cultural backgrounds.

Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Arabic Language Centre, Ali Bin Tamim, said this about Murakami:

I would also like to congratulate the Cultural Personality of the Year, renowned Japanese novelist Haruki Murakami. The celebrated author has truly merited this accolade for his body of literary work, characterised by its unique style: at one moment, full of fantasy and at another rooted in extreme realism. His literature and writings have made a profound influence far beyond Japan, and his selection this year reaffirms the award’s determination to connect various cultures and civilisations through dialogue, literature, and intellectual thought. It also highlights its commitment to celebrating creative minds from around the world, cementing its pioneering role in enriching the global cultural and literary scene.

Murakami has already responded:

Receiving the Sheikh Zayed Book Award from the United Arab Emirates comes as both a great surprise and an immense honour to me. Arabic is a language with a long and rich storytelling tradition and it is a great honour for me that my books have been translated and are being read in Arab countries. I believe that stories are a universal language. It is my sincere hope that by sharing good stories, people can connect with each other and that this can become a force, even if only a small one, that moves the world towards peace.

It is believed he will accept the award during the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair, with the award being given on April 28. Let’s hope Murakami gives an acceptance speech. He has done this in the past.

Note that some people are saying “Murakami won the Sheikh Zayed Book Award.” There are actually various categories, with Murakami winning the “Cultural Personality” award. The biggest prize is the “Literature” award, which went to Lebanese-French author, Hoda Barakat.