---
product_id: 2646405
title: "The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle: A Novel (Vintage International)"
price: "¥4265"
currency: JPY
in_stock: true
reviews_count: 8
url: https://www.desertcart.jp/products/2646405-the-wind-up-bird-chronicle-a-novel-vintage-international
store_origin: JP
region: Japan
---

# Complex timeline & rhythm Rich cultural & historical context Masterful narrative depth The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle: A Novel (Vintage International)

**Price:** ¥4265
**Availability:** ✅ In Stock

## Summary

> 📖 Unlock the surreal — where history, mystery, and identity collide.

## Quick Answers

- **What is this?** The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle: A Novel (Vintage International)
- **How much does it cost?** ¥4265 with free shipping
- **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship
- **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.jp](https://www.desertcart.jp/products/2646405-the-wind-up-bird-chronicle-a-novel-vintage-international)

## Best For

- Customers looking for quality international products

## Why This Product

- Free international shipping included
- Worldwide delivery with tracking
- 15-day hassle-free returns

## Key Features

- • **Dive into a labyrinth of memory and identity:** Experience Murakami’s signature blend of surrealism and reality that keeps you hooked from page one.
- • **Join a cult following of literary adventurers:** With over 11,000 reviews and a 4.4-star rating, this novel is a must-have for anyone who wants to be part of the global Murakami conversation.
- • **A multi-layered narrative that defies convention:** Intertwined stories and shifting perspectives create a reading experience that’s as intellectually stimulating as it is immersive.
- • **Explore 1980s Japan through a vivid historical lens:** Richly researched backdrop offers a rare glimpse into Japan’s political and cultural tensions, perfect for the globally curious professional.
- • **Audiobook & Kindle versions for flexible consumption:** Seamlessly switch between formats to fit your busy lifestyle without missing a beat.

## Overview

The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle by Haruki Murakami is a critically acclaimed novel blending magical realism with deep historical and cultural insights into 1980s Japan. Featuring a complex, multi-voiced narrative and themes of memory, identity, and power, it’s a compelling read for those seeking a thought-provoking literary journey. Available in both Kindle and audiobook formats, it boasts a strong fanbase and high ratings, making it a standout choice for discerning readers.

## Description

The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle: A Novel (Vintage International) [Haruki Murakami, Jay Rubin] on desertcart.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle: A Novel (Vintage International)

Review: Gripping - Intertwined narratives weave together history, personal relationships, and existential questions of memory and identity into a gripping narrative with masterful variation in rhythm, time, tone, and voices. I loved how vivid this book is— grounded in research and rich detail capturing the politics and cultural life of Japan in the 1980s as well as the controversial historical questions about the nation’s role in the mainland during the 1930s-1940s. I was most captivated by the parts about the secret fortress in Hailar, the Battle of Nomonhan, and the interactions between the Russian, Japanese, and Chinese. I am not bothered by the way the end resists easy answers and resolutions - in fact I think that’s part of the power of the book. At times, the female characters come across as a bit stereotyped as they’re described by the narrator, who comes across as chauvinistic, especially early in the book. Some of them may be endowed with supernatural powers yet overall they seem to have less subjectivity and agency than the male characters. But after all this is Japan in the 1980s when there was a low glass ceiling and women were routinely sidelined in the workforce. Perhaps a more generous reading is possible as the book continues— that chauvinism is part of the setup, as the book is very much a self-portrait of the narrator and the characters emanate from his POV — which gradually breaks down as he undergoes an identity crisis. I switched between the kindle and audiobook version and enjoyed both. Oddly the Kindle is the American version, while the Audible version is the British version - it’s not a big deal, though it’s odd at times to hear an American narrator using “torch” instead of “flashlight” etc. Some Audible reviewers complain about the women’s voices such as May Kasahara’s - but if you continue reading, the voices do fit the backgrounds of the characters as Murakami describes them, and their diction as Murakami writes it. May, for example, is a teenager and her voice on the page is generally lighthearted and breathless, and the narrator communicates that. Overall I think the audiobook narrator effectively differentiates between the many characters’ voices, which could otherwise be difficult to follow in such a long novel. It kept me listening and reading to the end.
Review: A Dream-Like Read - I remember reading somewhere that Haruki Murakami’s books are among the most-stolen from bookstores. I’m not sure why that is, but there’s no denying that the Japanese author has very devoted fans. Reading The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle was my first experience with him, and left me both sort of getting it and sort of not. It’s a hard story to describe: there’s a guy, Toru Okada, who lives outside of Tokyo with his wife, Kumiko, and their cat (which they’ve named Noboru Wataya, after her disliked brother) has gone missing. Toru has recently left his longtime job in a lawyer’s office, but is unemployed while he tries to figure out what’s next. Kumiko wants him to find the cat, and his searches for it lead him to strike up an acquaintance with a strange teenage girl, May, who lives down the block. That’s when the phone calls start. First, there’s a woman who says she knows who he is and starts talking dirty to him. But then there’s a psychic, a woman named Malta Kano, who explains that Kumiko has reached out to her to help with locating the cat. Kumiko and her family believe in things like psychics, having previously arranged for Kumiko and Toru to spend time with an old man called Mr. Honda, allegedly for spiritual consultations…but all that actually happens is that he repeatedly tells them about his experiences as a soldier in Manchuria during World War II. Toru meets with Malta Kano, and her sister, Cresta, but before long Kumiko herself disappears. She sends Toru a letter explaining that she’s left him for a coworker with whom she’s been having an affair, but he doesn’t believe this and decides to try to find her, which brings him into contact with even more strange people, including a mother and son who he calls Nutmeg and Cinnamon. And appearing throughout is the sound of a bird, that sounds like something mechanical being wound. This is a weird book, and I’m not sure I entirely understand it. It’s one of those that you finish and almost want to flip right back to the beginning and start again, to see if it makes any more sense the second time through. I think there will be a second time through, though certainly not now. And there will definitely be more Murakami. If I had to chose a single word to describe it, it would be “dream-like”. The way Murakami uses language and builds the world of the book create a feeling of constant loose connection, almost a structured free association, in which the concept that would tie everything together is just tantalizingly out of reach. It works well, and I found myself turning the pages and getting drawn further and further into it, though I suspected (correctly) that not everything was going to be tied up in a neat bow by the end. Honestly, though, once I finished it, though I felt like I liked it, I have had a hard time articulating exactly why. It was obtuse, the female characters were largely underdeveloped (though I did love May), and it felt like some storylines were just dropped like hot potatoes. But despite its flaws, it’s strangely compelling. There’s something magical and mysterious about the world as Murakami creates it, and it did get me thinking about some of the deeper themes that were explored, like our obligations to each other as people and the nature of power in relationships. It’s intellectually engaging despite the kind of haziness about it. If you’re ready for something non-traditional, I would recommend this book.

## Features

- a visionary novel by one of Japan's greatest living novelists, Haruki Murakami.

## Technical Specifications

| Specification | Value |
|---------------|-------|
| Best Sellers Rank | #9,049 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #38 in Magical Realism #71 in Contemporary Fantasy (Books) #461 in Literary Fiction (Books) |
| Customer Reviews | 4.4 out of 5 stars 11,368 Reviews |

## Images

![The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle: A Novel (Vintage International) - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71JpLZpmzlL.jpg)

## Customer Reviews

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Gripping
*by K***I on October 17, 2020*

Intertwined narratives weave together history, personal relationships, and existential questions of memory and identity into a gripping narrative with masterful variation in rhythm, time, tone, and voices. I loved how vivid this book is— grounded in research and rich detail capturing the politics and cultural life of Japan in the 1980s as well as the controversial historical questions about the nation’s role in the mainland during the 1930s-1940s. I was most captivated by the parts about the secret fortress in Hailar, the Battle of Nomonhan, and the interactions between the Russian, Japanese, and Chinese. I am not bothered by the way the end resists easy answers and resolutions - in fact I think that’s part of the power of the book. At times, the female characters come across as a bit stereotyped as they’re described by the narrator, who comes across as chauvinistic, especially early in the book. Some of them may be endowed with supernatural powers yet overall they seem to have less subjectivity and agency than the male characters. But after all this is Japan in the 1980s when there was a low glass ceiling and women were routinely sidelined in the workforce. Perhaps a more generous reading is possible as the book continues— that chauvinism is part of the setup, as the book is very much a self-portrait of the narrator and the characters emanate from his POV — which gradually breaks down as he undergoes an identity crisis. I switched between the kindle and audiobook version and enjoyed both. Oddly the Kindle is the American version, while the Audible version is the British version - it’s not a big deal, though it’s odd at times to hear an American narrator using “torch” instead of “flashlight” etc. Some Audible reviewers complain about the women’s voices such as May Kasahara’s - but if you continue reading, the voices do fit the backgrounds of the characters as Murakami describes them, and their diction as Murakami writes it. May, for example, is a teenager and her voice on the page is generally lighthearted and breathless, and the narrator communicates that. Overall I think the audiobook narrator effectively differentiates between the many characters’ voices, which could otherwise be difficult to follow in such a long novel. It kept me listening and reading to the end.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ A Dream-Like Read
*by G***M on December 30, 2022*

I remember reading somewhere that Haruki Murakami’s books are among the most-stolen from bookstores. I’m not sure why that is, but there’s no denying that the Japanese author has very devoted fans. Reading The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle was my first experience with him, and left me both sort of getting it and sort of not. It’s a hard story to describe: there’s a guy, Toru Okada, who lives outside of Tokyo with his wife, Kumiko, and their cat (which they’ve named Noboru Wataya, after her disliked brother) has gone missing. Toru has recently left his longtime job in a lawyer’s office, but is unemployed while he tries to figure out what’s next. Kumiko wants him to find the cat, and his searches for it lead him to strike up an acquaintance with a strange teenage girl, May, who lives down the block. That’s when the phone calls start. First, there’s a woman who says she knows who he is and starts talking dirty to him. But then there’s a psychic, a woman named Malta Kano, who explains that Kumiko has reached out to her to help with locating the cat. Kumiko and her family believe in things like psychics, having previously arranged for Kumiko and Toru to spend time with an old man called Mr. Honda, allegedly for spiritual consultations…but all that actually happens is that he repeatedly tells them about his experiences as a soldier in Manchuria during World War II. Toru meets with Malta Kano, and her sister, Cresta, but before long Kumiko herself disappears. She sends Toru a letter explaining that she’s left him for a coworker with whom she’s been having an affair, but he doesn’t believe this and decides to try to find her, which brings him into contact with even more strange people, including a mother and son who he calls Nutmeg and Cinnamon. And appearing throughout is the sound of a bird, that sounds like something mechanical being wound. This is a weird book, and I’m not sure I entirely understand it. It’s one of those that you finish and almost want to flip right back to the beginning and start again, to see if it makes any more sense the second time through. I think there will be a second time through, though certainly not now. And there will definitely be more Murakami. If I had to chose a single word to describe it, it would be “dream-like”. The way Murakami uses language and builds the world of the book create a feeling of constant loose connection, almost a structured free association, in which the concept that would tie everything together is just tantalizingly out of reach. It works well, and I found myself turning the pages and getting drawn further and further into it, though I suspected (correctly) that not everything was going to be tied up in a neat bow by the end. Honestly, though, once I finished it, though I felt like I liked it, I have had a hard time articulating exactly why. It was obtuse, the female characters were largely underdeveloped (though I did love May), and it felt like some storylines were just dropped like hot potatoes. But despite its flaws, it’s strangely compelling. There’s something magical and mysterious about the world as Murakami creates it, and it did get me thinking about some of the deeper themes that were explored, like our obligations to each other as people and the nature of power in relationships. It’s intellectually engaging despite the kind of haziness about it. If you’re ready for something non-traditional, I would recommend this book.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ A Milestone of Narrative Majesty
*by M***A on October 20, 2013*

The fiction, the fame and the personality of Haruki Murakami constitute an unprecedented triumph of contemporary literature for all of us to cherish and honor around the world. Devoted to a narrative poetics of a dream of another logic of existence, Murakami embodies a splendor of re-imagining audacity that is distinctly of the highest achievement of the artistic sensibility of our times. Murakami's body of texts is an epic dream of defamiliarizing storytelling of displacement of consciousness beyond waking life and known finalities. An assault of art and soul in a colossal ambition of meaning, The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle is a towering performance of narrative consolation that can only be read in a trance as a text of bliss. Every chapter of the 3 Books and 68 Chapters of The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle is a shuffling shade of a visionary dream in a dazzling palette of gnosis of a storyteller as seer. The story of a failed marriage is spun in breathtaking narrative invention as a surreal extravaganza of human fate in a gorgeous pastiche of voices, styles and genres panning human meaning from the gross to the sublime. Written by the only writer in the history of literature who is also a marathon runner, The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle is nothing short of a narrative marathon of total genius that cuts the ribbon of enlightenment. The cat of Toru Okada's wife Kumiko disappears in the opening pages of The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle and a search for the cat ensues that turns into a phantasmagoria of unsettlement of consciousness in eerie occurrences of borderless mutation of dream and reality of 607 marvelous pages. An ordinary cat disappears and along with it ordinariness itself. From the mesmerizing story that Murakami tells us we may infer that in searching for what we lose we may recover more than we lost because in our search we had the courage like Toru to lose who we ordinarily are and find who we are at "the core." In The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle, the world is a "defiled" place. "Defilement" is a foundational error of the human self being split into two by a diabolic "power." Every major character in The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle (Toru, Kumiko, Creta, Lieutenant Mamiya and Cinnamon) is differently split into two and differently searching for a lost wholeness. Noboru Wataya, the brother of Kumiko, personifies the sinister metastasis of "defilement" that spreads and invades as a glamorous "power" of seducing and splitting evil A perplexed loser, Toru seems an Everyman whom Murakami selects to search for meaning deeply and literally in a "well" and surrounds with saviors of the soul like Mr. Honda, May Kashara, Lieutenant Mamiya and Nutmeg Akasaka and saves almost fully. The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle reads like a medieval Morality play retold as a contemporary magical allegory of a postmodern psychomachia. As it draws to a close after an epic spell of storytelling, The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle convinces us that it has told an ancient tale of the perils of the soul in an evil world and the ultimate victory of Good over Evil in a hypnotic surreal plot with real characters and magical action and mythical perfume that is the most imaginative narrative contemplation of human fate in our times. The story of Toru is a surreal edition with Murakami's idiosyncrasies of imagination, enchantment of craft and majesty of wisdom of the eternal story of Everyman. The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle is a secret almanac of the soul--the lost soul, the searching soul and the saved soul--as a postmodern magical novel of mad loveliness and aching wonder. The act of reading The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle--moving from page to unfathomable page of an astonishing novel of voice after bewitching voice, mood after surprising mood, moment after mysterious moment and story after strange story of the encyclopedia of the human enigma--is its own incomparable meaning. However, if the reader cannot avoid asking at some point or the other of this fabulous script and the spell it casts what the writing and the reading of The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle amount to, the answer can only be that it is about the ultimate human search for Murakami and his reader: saving the soul--that it is what Murakami has done in the way he knows best as an author to save his soul: by telling a story at the deepest recesses of an esoteric imagination and what we as readers ought to do in the way we know best as readers to save our soul: by losing ourselves in saving grace in the form of a novel of the highest generosity of narrative wisdom and compassion in contemporary literature. I doubt if anyone can read The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle without choking in thanks for being saved in the magical opulence of imagination and wisdom and compassion of a transcendent novel of hell and heaven and the human soul by a storyteller as savior.

## Frequently Bought Together

- The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle: A Novel
- Kafka on the Shore
- Norwegian Wood

---

## Why Shop on Desertcart?

- 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016
- 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories
- 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price
- 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members)
- 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection
- ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews

**Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.jp/products/2646405-the-wind-up-bird-chronicle-a-novel-vintage-international](https://www.desertcart.jp/products/2646405-the-wind-up-bird-chronicle-a-novel-vintage-international)

---

*Product available on Desertcart Japan*
*Store origin: JP*
*Last updated: 2026-02-21*