Welcome to the Labyrinthine Dolphin Hotel: An Invitation to Haruki Murakami’s “Dance Dance Dance”
Have you ever visited the same place repeatedly in your dreams? It might be a place that doesn’t exist in reality. Or perhaps a place you once visited has become strangely distorted in your memory. Haruki Murakami’s novel “Dance Dance Dance” is a story that traverses the mysterious space between dreams and reality with light steps.
The protagonist, “I,” once stayed at the desolate Dolphin Hotel in Sapporo. He spent unforgettable time with Kiki, a high-class call girl with an elusive charm. However, Kiki suddenly disappeared and left “I’s” life.
Four years later, “I” visits Sapporo again and goes to the place where the Dolphin Hotel used to be. But what he finds there is a completely different, ultra-high-rise luxury hotel from the desolate hotel of the past. The name remains Dolphin Hotel, but the management has changed, and there is no trace of the old atmosphere.
While confused, “I” checks into the new Dolphin Hotel and gets caught up in strange events. The pitch-black darkness encountered in the hallway at midnight, mysterious voices heard from behind the walls, and the reappearance of the “Sheep Man”… The boundary between reality and dreams becomes blurred, and “I” wanders through the maze-like hotel where the past, present, and future intersect.
To deepen your enjoyment of this novel, here is some background knowledge that will be helpful as you read:
- Connection to the Previous Work “A Wild Sheep Chase” “Dance Dance Dance” is positioned as a sequel to “A Wild Sheep Chase.” In the previous work, “I” gets caught up in a massive conspiracy after encountering the mysterious “Sheep Man.” It was during this process that he met Kiki, who has a strange power in her ears. “Dance Dance Dance” depicts “I,” four years after the events of the previous work. The mystery of Kiki’s disappearance, the existence of the “Sheep Man,” and the fate imposed on “I” himself… Those who have read the previous work can read on with anticipation of how these mysteries will be unraveled or if new mysteries will arise.
- The Boundary Between Reality and Fiction One of the characteristics of Murakami’s works is the skillful interweaving of reality and fiction. Unreal events blend into everyday scenery, and readers are drawn into a mysterious world before they know it. In “Dance Dance Dance,” dreamlike events occur one after another in the real city of Sapporo. “I” proceeds through the story, doubting whether what he sees is real or a dream. Readers, too, will immerse themselves in the world of the story, feeling the boundary between reality and fiction blur through “I’s” perspective.
- Light Rhythm and Humor The appeal of Murakami’s works also lies in his unique writing style. The colloquial expressions skillfully used to create a light rhythm draw readers into the world of the story and keep them engaged. In “Dance Dance Dance,” humorous conversations and well-paced descriptions are scattered throughout. For example, the scene of reuniting with Gotanda, a classmate from “I’s” middle school days and a popular actor. Gotanda is active in the glamorous entertainment world but still feels somewhat unfulfilled. “I” and Gotanda reminisce about old times while talking about each other’s lives. It is a Murakami-like depiction where the sadness and emptiness of life can be glimpsed in comical conversations.
- Music and Loneliness Music plays an important role in Murakami’s works. In “Dance Dance Dance,” various genres of music appear and color the atmosphere of the story. The protagonist, “I,” spends lonely time listening to music or reminiscing about past memories. For example, the words of the “Sheep Man,” who repeatedly appears in the novel, “Keep dancing. As long as the music is playing, just keep dancing.” These words become a guiding principle in “I’s” life and symbolize the entire story. Music heals “I’s” loneliness while also serving to anchor him to the real world.
- Diverse Characters “Dance Dance Dance” features a variety of unique characters. In addition to “I” and the “Sheep Man” from the previous work, new characters such as Gotanda, Yuki, and Yumiko enliven the story. Yuki is a 13-year-old girl who struggles with the fact that her parents are celebrities and cannot fit in at school. With her special sensitivity, she gradually opens up as she spends time with “I.” Yumiko is a woman with glasses who works at the front desk of the Dolphin Hotel. Meticulous and serious, she begins to re-examine her life after meeting “I.” These characters each live with their own worries and conflicts. Their figures will give readers an opportunity to think deeply about their own way of life and relationships.
“Dance Dance Dance” is a full-fledged Murakami world novel where dreams and reality, past and present, loneliness and hope intersect. Even if you haven’t read the previous work, you can fully immerse yourself in the world of this novel. Now, why don’t you step into the mysterious world of the Dolphin Hotel?