Haruki Murakami’s new novel set for 500000 pre-release print run

PanARMENIAN.Net - The eagerly-awaited new novel from Haruki Murakami set for release this week will have an initial hardback printrun of half a million copies, the Japanese publisher said, according to AFP.

The new novel is expected to hit bookstores on Friday April 12 with major outlets planning to open early at 8:00 am (2300 GMT, Thursday), while at least one large seller in Tokyo will fling open its doors at midnight.

Online book giant Amazon Japan had received more than 20,000 pre-orders for the new novel as of Saturday, faster than any other book by Murakami, publishing house Bungeishunju Ltd said.

Half a million copies is the largest initial hardback printrun for the Japanese publisher, one of the country's biggest.

The new book's title is only available in Japanese for now: "Shikisai wo Motanai Tazaki Tsukuru to Kare no Junrei no Toshi". An unofficial translation renders it: "Colourless Tsukuru Tazaki and the Year of his Pilgrimage".

It will be Murakami's first work in three years after the final installment of "1Q84" -- a three-part novel containing the usual Murakami mixture of parallel universes, bizarre characters and surrealist happenings as the lives of a female murderer and a male novelist intertwine.

"1Q84", which can be read as "1984" in Japanese, proved a worldwide phenomenon.