Body in Motion: Furukawa Hideo, Writer for the Multimedia Age

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to serve as an introduction of the work of the contemporary Japanese author, Furukawa Hideo (b. 1966), to the Anglophone audience. I consider Furukawa to be a member of the 'post-Murakami' generation, not only in terms of chronology but also in terms of influence. Murakami Haruki (b. 1949) left an identifiable impact on Furukawa's fiction, however it would be erroneous to consider Furukawa a Murakami imitator. In this study, I attempt to highlight the elements that make Furukawa unique as an author; specifically his careful manipulation of the theme-space matrix, and his fast-paced style influenced by Furukawa's performances of his own literary works, and collaboration with musicians, which reflects Furukawa's position in the center of the contemporary cultural trend towards multimedia integration.