Welcome to “A Wild Sheep Chase”: A Journey into the Other Reality Hidden in Your Everyday Life
Haruki Murakami’s “A Wild Sheep Chase” is a mysterious adventure story where the ordinary everyday life wanders into the extraordinary. Readers, along with the protagonist “I,” will be tossed about by strange incidents, enigmatic characters, and the mysterious existence of the “sheep,” and will be drawn into the heart of the story as if wandering through a deep fog.
The story begins with the protagonist’s divorce.
The 29-year-old “I” runs a small advertising agency in Tokyo. His marriage ended after four years, and his wife left him for his friend, a jazz guitarist. A feeling of loss, like a hole in his heart. One day, a strange phone call suddenly interrupts “I’s” daily life. It’s a request from a mysterious man who appeared at his partner’s company.
The mysterious man claims to be the secretary of a powerful right-wing figure known as “The Boss” and makes a bizarre demand.
He wants “I” to find a photo of a “sheep” that was published in a PR magazine that “I” produced. The deadline is only one month. “The Boss’s” secretary threatens “I” with a large reward and a big job if he succeeds, and the destruction of “I” and his company if he fails.
What is the mystery hidden in the photo of the “sheep”? And what is “The Boss’s” true purpose?
“I” follows the trail of the “sheep” in the photo, traveling to Hokkaido, retracing the memories of his ex-wife. Along the way, he meets a variety of unique and enigmatic characters, including a mysterious girlfriend with a strange power in her ears, his best friend “The Rat” who disappears after leaving cryptic words, and a “Sheep Professor” who seems to know something about the “sheep.”
“I’s” journey blurs the line between reality and fantasy.
The unsettling atmosphere lurking in the beautiful nature. Strange events and inexplicable phenomena. The existence of the “sheep” erodes “I’s” spirit and distorts the real world. Readers, through “I’s” perspective, will catch a glimpse of another reality hidden in everyday life.
“A Wild Sheep Chase” is not just an adventure story.
It is also a profound story that depicts the loss and regeneration of identity, human weakness, and the darkness of organizations and society. Through his journey to find the “sheep,” “I” confronts himself and questions the meaning of life.
Here are some points to know that will help you enjoy the story more deeply:
- Japan in the 1970s: The story is set in Japan in the 1970s, a time when the country had achieved material affluence through rapid economic growth but was beginning to feel a spiritual emptiness.
- The darkness of right-wing politics: In the background of the story, there is a mysterious organization led by the powerful right-wing figure, “The Boss.” This organization has a great influence on politics and the economy and will be deeply involved in “I’s” journey.
- The metaphor of the “sheep”: The “sheep” can be interpreted as various symbols in the story. It may represent human desires, organizational control, or social conformity pressure.
“A Wild Sheep Chase” is an unforgettable work that will stay with you long after you finish reading it.
Please step into this strange and fascinating world. And, together with “I,” chase the mystery of the “sheep,” search for the true purpose of “The Boss,” and witness the fate of “I’s” own identity.
Welcome to the world of Haruki Murakami.