Haruki Murakami''s New Novel ''The Tale of KAHO'' Features First Female Sole Protagonist

Apr 24, 2026, 11:25

Introduction

Haruki Murakami''s new novel, ''The Tale of KAHO,'' is scheduled for release in Japan on July 3 in both print and digital formats. The work is significant as the first full-length novel by the author to feature a woman as the sole protagonist. The central character is Kaho, a 26-year-old picture book author.

Main Body

The novel is Murakami''s first full-length work in three years, following ''The City and Its Uncertain Walls,'' which focused on a male protagonist. According to publisher Shinchosha Publishing Co., Kaho is the first lone female protagonist in a Murakami novel. The story began as a short story titled ''Kaho,'' which Murakami performed at a reading event at Waseda University two years earlier, alongside author Mieko Kawakami. That story was published in the June 2024 edition of Shincho magazine. Murakami later released three additional installments in the same magazine, with the most recent appearing in the March 2025 edition. The four parts are titled ''The Anteater of Musashi-sakai,'' ''Kaho and the Termite Queen,'' and ''Kaho and the Motorcycle Man, and Scarlett Johansson.'' The new 352-page novel combines these segments into a single work. The plot follows Kaho, who is described as having average looks and intelligence but strong curiosity. After a male stranger tells her, ''To be honest, I have never seen anyone as ugly as you,'' she becomes puzzled rather than offended and tries to understand his hidden message. As a result, this quest leads her into a series of strange events. A promotional teaser from the publisher states, ''I must find the way out of this world.'' Furthermore, Murakami wrote much of the novel after recovering from a serious illness. He described the work as ''more optimistic'' than his previous output and noted that writing from a female perspective felt surprisingly natural, remarking that he ''became her.'' An English translation of the first story, translated by Philip Gabriel, was published in The New Yorker in 2024.

Conclusion

The release of ''The Tale of KAHO'' on July 3 marks a narrative shift for Murakami, as it is his first full-length novel with a female protagonist. The book is expected to be available in both print and digital editions.

Vocabulary Learning

protagonist
The main character in a story主角
Example:The novel features a woman as the sole protagonist.
puzzled
Confused because you cannot understand something困惑的
Example:She becomes puzzled rather than offended by the stranger's comment.
quest
A long search for something that is difficult to find探索
Example:This quest leads her into a series of strange events.
release
The act of making a product available to the public發行
Example:Haruki Murakami's new novel is scheduled for release in Japan on July 3.
shift
A change in direction, attitude, or focus轉變
Example:The release marks a narrative shift for Murakami.

Sentence Learning

The novel is Murakami's first full-length work in three years, following 'The City and Its Uncertain Walls,' which focused on a male protagonist.
Uses a non-defining relative clause (which focused) to add extra information about the previous novel. This helps compare two works smoothly. 使用非限制性關係從句（which focused）補充上一部小說的資訊，有助流暢地比較兩部作品。
The story began as a short story titled 'Kaho,' which Murakami performed at a reading event at Waseda University two years earlier, alongside author Mieko Kawakami.
Contains a defining relative clause (which Murakami performed) to specify the origin of the story. It organizes the timeline and participants clearly. 包含限制性關係從句（which Murakami performed）來說明故事的起源，清楚組織時間線和參與者。
The plot follows Kaho, who is described as having average looks and intelligence but strong curiosity.
Uses a relative clause (who is described) and passive voice (is described) to present the character's traits formally. The structure introduces the protagonist efficiently. 使用關係從句（who is described）和被動語態（is described）正式介紹角色特質，結構有效地引出主角。
After a male stranger tells her, 'To be honest, I have never seen anyone as ugly as you,' she becomes puzzled rather than offended and tries to understand his hidden message.
Employs 'After' to show time sequence and 'rather than' to contrast reactions. This organizes cause-effect and contrast in one sentence. 使用「After」表示時間順序，用「rather than」對比反應，在同一句子中組織因果和對比。
Furthermore, Murakami wrote much of the novel after recovering from a serious illness.
Uses the linking word 'Furthermore' to add information, and 'after' to indicate a time relationship. This helps build a logical sequence of events. 使用連接詞「Furthermore」補充資訊，用「after」表示時間關係，有助建立事件的邏輯順序。