Haruki Murakami thinks he owns about 200 T-shirts. Award-winning author of novels Kill the Commander and The Chronicle of the Bird to be reassembled, and over 50 other books, had no intention of collecting T’s – they just stacked up. “When I meet an interesting one, I buy it on a whim,†he says. His new book, Murakami T: The T-shirts I love, by Knopf, compiles his favorites and the stories behind them in the straightforward, unassuming tone that characterizes his non-fiction. “Maybe readers will make an unexpected discovery, like, I see, novelists also shop at thrift stores and buy used t-shirts for $ 3,” he says. “Even a novelist has to wear something, right? Below, he talks about style, substance and American beer.
Vanity Fair: Do you remember the first T-shirt that made you think, I have to buy this? How was it ?
Haruki Murakami: The one I remember the most is the Champion Plug T-shirt. I bought it when I was about 18 years old. I really liked it and wore it a lot. Recently I watched the movie Once upon a time … in Hollywood, and Brad pitt was wearing the exact same T-shirt. It brought back good memories.
What’s the most memorable interaction you’ve had with a stranger based on a t-shirt you wore?
I don’t remember any particularly memorable interactions, but when I lived in the United States and walked down the street, people would often ask me, “Where did you buy this shirt?” This wouldn’t happen in Tokyo. I guess that’s a difference between the two cultures. When I tell them things like, “Oh, this one? I bought it in Shibuya in Tokyo â€, they are a little disappointed.
get into it.Yasutomo Ebisu / Knopf
When you walk into a thrift store, what is your strategy for hunting down T-shirts? How do you do it?
It is important to take the time to choose. If you’re worried about time and you’re in a rush, you’ll miss out on some real finds. Having a lot of free time, more than you know what to do with it, is the key especially if you want to have a collection.
Why do you think you have a hard time getting rid of things in general and T-shirts in particular?
I collect T-shirts and LPs, but not books. I get rid of most books after reading them. I’m a novelist, so why are t-shirts more important to me than books? It’s a difficult question for me to answer.
How does autobiographical writing compare to writing fiction?
I find it hard to write fiction unless I say to myself, okay, it’s time to write fiction! When I’m not in the mood for writing fiction, I find myself at my desk just writing. Like a musician practicing his instrument. Since writing is something I just love to do. This is how this book of T-shirts was born. I enjoyed writing it and hope people find it just as enjoyable to read.
