海角大神

With the publication date of 鈥淐olorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage鈥� quickly approaching, various bookstores are planning celebrations.

"Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki," Murakami's latest novel, was published in his native country of Japan in April of last year and, as reported by Monitor contributor Husna Haq, it quickly became a bestseller there, selling one million copies the first week and inspiring midnight lines of customers waiting to聽 buy the book the night before its publication.

Now midnight parties for 鈥淐olorless Tsukuru Tazaki鈥� are coming to the US, where the novel will be released on Aug. 12. According to industry newsletter , of Brooklyn is holding a 鈥淜araoke Murakami鈥� event, which will include Japanese food and a raffle for signed copies of the novel.

At the midnight party at of Oxford, Miss., customers will be encouraged to share their own Tsukuru Tazaki-like information, such as a color that they believe represents them and a dream that has been a big part of their lives. of Chicago will be playing a 鈥淢urakami-inspired playlist,鈥� according to the store鈥檚 Facebook page, and also offering signed copies of the novel.

Brazos Bookstore of Houston will have "Murakami-inspired activities and games (The Wind-Up Bird Pi帽ata! Pin the Kafka on the Shore! The Wild Sheep Count!)," according to its , as well as offering a coloring book titled "What I Talk About When I Talk About Coloring" that was created by the bookstore's workers.

In Seattle, the is planning a trivia contest and a black-and-white costume contest, among other activities, while the celebration at New York City's will include a raffle for signed copies of the book and music.聽

Meanwhile, a in Australia and New Zealand asked fans create seven-second videos through Instagram, drawing from Murakami鈥檚 work. Fans who entered qualified to win $3,000 to enable them to travel on their own pilgrimage like Murakami鈥檚 character Tsukuru Tazaki, who in the book goes on a trip to visit old friends.聽