South of the Border, West of the Sun (1992), a Japanese novel by Haruki Murakami, centers on a lonely man who begins a dangerous relationship with a mysterious woman, jeopardizing his marriage. The book received widespread critical praise upon publication, and many critics believe that it is Murakami’s best work. Murakami is a contemporary Japanese author best known for complex yet accessible writing. His books are heavily influenced by Western culture and surrealism. Alienation, loneliness, and melancholy feature strongly in his books. Before writing full-time, Murakami ran a popular coffeehouse in Tokyo with his wife. A middle-aged man, Hajime has a comfortable life. He has a wife and two daughters, and he runs two busy jazz clubs in Japan. He grew up in a wealthy neighborhood and he has never struggled for money. Hajime knows that he should be happy, but he feels that something is missing from his life. Most of all, he feels a lingering sense of disappointment, though he doesn’t understand why. Hajime reflects on his life so far. He wonders if his childhood explains his unhappiness. In Japan, it is normal for parents to have two children. Hajime was an only child, and his peers made fun of him for it. To make matters worse, adults believed that he was spoiled and selfish because his parents devoted themselves to him. Hajime worked hard to prove people wrong. Although he spent most of his time alone, he treated others kindly. He tried to make friends, but other children thought he was strange. No one wanted to befriend the “only child.” His parents didn’t know how to help him because they didn’t realize how badly he suffered. In early adulthood, Hajime attended university. He met a nice woman, Yukiko, and he married young. Although Hajime despised capitalism, his father-in-law insisted that he build an investment portfolio. Hajime didn’t want to run investments, but he wanted to give his wife a comfortable life, and so he bought some properties and shares. His father-in-law is exceptionally proud of him, and so is his wife. Yukiko is a typical Japanese wife. She is obedient and dedicated to Hajime’s happiness. Most importantly, Yukiko has an open heart and she loves everyone purely, even if they hurt her. She suspects that Hajime doesn’t love her anymore, especially since she is older than him, but she never stops loving him. All she wants is a happy married life. Hajime, on the other hand, has other plans. One day, Hajime remembers a past love, Shimamoto. She developed polio as a baby and felt like an outcast. They were twelve when they first met, and Hajime admired her instantly. She was the only person he trusted, and he told her everything. Like Hajime, Shimamoto was an only child, and they become like brother and sister until Hajime developed romantic feelings. He planned to marry Shimamoto one day, but her family moved away. They lost touch, until one night all these years later, they meet again. When Hajime sees Shimamoto, he can’t believe his eyes. He knows that, although he is married to Yukiko, he cannot let Shimamoto get away this time. They spend a passionate night together, sharing all their adult secrets. Hajime confesses how unhappy he is. Shimamoto admits that she is unhappy, too. After she lost her baby, years ago, her husband left her. Now she is single, unemployed, and childless, and she doesn’t know where her life is going. Hajime wishes he could take her pain away. When Hajime wakes up the next morning, he is alone. Shimamoto left him during the night. She didn’t leave a contact number or address details, and Hajime is bereft. He knows that he must forget about her and focus on his family, but Shimamoto consumes every waking moment. He wishes he could leave his family and build a new one with Shimamoto, but he doesn’t want to hurt anyone. What he doesn’t understand is that, by obsessing over Shimamoto, he’s neglecting Yukiko and hurting his family anyway. The more Hajime focuses on Shimamoto and the past, the harder it is to live in the present. He must make a choice between giving up his future for a past dream or forgetting the past and enjoying the rest of his life. He doesn’t know what to do; before long, his life falls apart around him. Yukiko knows that Hajime loves someone else. She spends time processing her feelings, and she decides that she still wants to be with him. One night, she is uncharacteristically honest with him. She tells him that he is a bad husband who only cares about himself; he will lose everyone if he isn’t careful. Yukiko shakes Hajime from his melancholy, and he decides to let Shimamoto go.

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Haruki Murakami

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South of the Border, West of the Sun

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