The celebrated Japanese author Haruki Murakami has accepted an honorary doctorate in literature from the Macau University of Science and Technology (MUST).
The acceptance ceremony was held earlier this month at Tokyo’s Waseda University – Murakami’s alma mater and home to his extensive archive – according to a statement issued by MUST.
At the ceremony, Murakami (whose best-known novels include Norwegian Wood and Kafka on the Shore) said he hoped his work would inspire those involved with science and technology to be more creative.
The event was attended by MUST faculty members, former Japanese government ministers, and Murakami’s wife, Yoko. In an address, MUST president Joseph Hun-wei Lee praised Murakami’s outstanding literary contributions and achievements.
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Waseda University’s executive vice president, Watanabe Yoshihiro, expressed interest in promoting cooperation initiatives between his university and MUST.
Takeo Kawamura, who served as Japan’s chief cabinet secretary and education minister in the early 2000s, pledged to work with Murakami to develop more cultural exchanges between Japan and China.
Haruki Murakami is a prolific writer and has won many awards since his debut novel, Hear the Wind Sing, was published in 1979. His fiction often includes elements of magical realism, though he is also known for his essays and autobiographical story-telling.
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