Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage: A Journey to Fill the Void in His Heart
Haruki Murakami’s novel, “Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage,” is a work like a quiet, deep lake. On the surface, it appears calm and serene, but beneath it swirls a multitude of emotions, memories, and mysteries. Tsukuru Tazaki, a 36-year-old single railway engineer, seems to lead an ordinary life, but deep within his heart lies an unhealed wound from his university days 16 years ago.
The Symbolism of “Color”: A Yearning for Individuality, Talent, and Purpose
Tsukuru was nicknamed “Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki” by his friends. This wasn’t just a nickname; it symbolized his very existence. His closest friends from high school—Akamatsu (Red Pine), Oumi (Blue Sea), Shirane (White Root), and Kurono (Black Field)—all had colors in their surnames, while Tsukuru alone was “colorless.”
In the novel, “color” is depicted as a symbol of individuality, talent, and vitality. Tsukuru didn’t possess any special talents or brilliance like his friends and felt he had nothing to offer, leading to feelings of inferiority. This “lack of color” connected to his anxieties about his purpose in life and a deep sense of loneliness.
Perfect Harmony and Sudden Rupture: The High School Friend Group
During high school, Tsukuru and his four friends met as if guided by fate, forming a strong bond. They deeply understood and supported each other, sharing irreplaceable moments. For Tsukuru, this friend group was a haven where he could truly be himself.
However, after Tsukuru moved to Tokyo for university, a sudden rift occurred in the group. Tsukuru was unilaterally ostracized by his friends without any explanation. This event cast a long shadow over Tsukuru’s life, continuing to haunt him even after 16 years.
Reunion After 16 Years: A “Pilgrimage” to Confront Past Wounds
At the age of 36, Tsukuru decides to confront his past wounds, triggered by his encounter with a new girlfriend, Sara. Sara perceives the issues buried deep within Tsukuru’s heart and gently encourages him. She urges him to visit his old friends and uncover the truth about what happened 16 years ago.
Guided by Sara’s words, Tsukuru embarks on a journey to Nagoya and Finland. It wasn’t just a physical journey but also a spiritual “pilgrimage” to look within himself and overcome his past.
Deepening Mysteries on the Journey: Fragments of Memory and New Discoveries
Tsukuru reunites with his former friends and listens to their accounts of the past events. However, their memories are fragmented, each recounting the events from different perspectives. Through their stories, Tsukuru begins to realize that the “truth” of what happened 16 years ago might be entirely different from what he had imagined.
Furthermore, during his journey, Tsukuru uncovers new facts. It becomes clear that his friends also suffered emotional wounds from the past events, significantly impacting their lives.
Music, Railways, and the Darkness of the Heart: The World Woven by Haruki Murakami
This novel is filled with the unique charm characteristic of Haruki Murakami’s works.
- The Power of Music: The Liszt piano pieces favored by Shiro serve as an important motif symbolizing the characters’ emotions and the lost past. The music flowing throughout the novel stirs the reader’s emotions, drawing them deep into the story’s world.
- Symbolism of Railways: As a railway engineer, Tsukuru is passionate about designing train stations. Railways are symbolically depicted as Tsukuru’s life itself and a connection between the past and present.
- Exploration of the Heart’s Darkness: All the characters carry deep darkness in their hearts due to past events. This novel delicately portrays the complexities of the human heart and the universal theme of how to heal wounded hearts.
A Journey to Look Within Oneself
“Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage” is a profound work that combines the thrill of a mystery novel with the depth of a human drama. After reading it, you will surely empathize with the characters’ hearts and be led to contemplate your own life deeply.
Tsukuru’s “pilgrimage” will also become a journey for us readers to look within ourselves. Through his confrontation with past wounds and self-renewal, we too may find hints for answering various questions in life.