The Japanese edition of Haruki Murakami’s 1Q84 began with BOOK1 and BOOK2, both published in hardcover on 29 May 2009. If you are looking for BOOK1 specifically, its Japanese hardcover is a 560-page volume with ISBN 978-4-10-353422-8. Japanese paperbacks divide BOOK1 into two separate parts, so check the ISBN and format before ordering.
What the Japanese title refers to
The title “(1Q84) BOOK1 2 村上春树 日文版” points to Murakami’s Japanese-language original, specifically BOOK1 and BOOK2—not a single combined volume. Shinchosha lists BOOK1 and BOOK2 as Japanese hardcovers released on 29 May 2009, with BOOK3 following on 16 April 2010. Shinchosha’s official series page presents the publication sequence.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle: A Novel (Vintage International) | $10.45 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
Kafka on the Shore (Vintage International) | $9.56 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
Sputnik Sweetheart: A Novel | $9.55 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
The City and Its Uncertain Walls: A Novel (Vintage International) | $11.38 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
|
Norwegian Wood | $17.00 | Buy on Amazon |
Shinchosha describes the work as a long novel whose central world turns on the possibility of love and a changed present. A publisher-hosted review by clinical psychologist and Shimane University professor Keiko Iwamiya reads the story through Aomame and Tengo’s formative childhood memory, the significance of age ten, and contrasts including good and evil, light and shadow, and victim and perpetrator. These are Iwamiya’s interpretive themes, not a statement of critical consensus.
Japanese BOOK1 editions and identifiers
| Edition | What it contains | ISBN | Publisher listing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japanese hardcover BOOK1 | One physical volume; 560 pages | 978-4-10-353422-8 | Published 29 May 2009; listed at ¥2,420 by Shinchosha |
| Japanese paperback BOOK1, part 1 | First of two separate paperback parts | 978-4-10-100159-3 | Shinchosha lists BOOK1 paperback in two parts |
| Japanese paperback BOOK1, part 2 | Second of two separate paperback parts | 978-4-10-100160-9 | Shinchosha lists BOOK1 paperback in two parts |
The ¥2,420 figure is the publisher’s displayed hardcover price, not a guarantee of a seller’s current price or stock. Confirm the format and ISBN with the bookseller; the hardcover identifier does not identify either paperback part. Shinchosha’s BOOK1 catalog entry gives its page count, publication date, ISBN, and listed price.
#1 Best Overall
- a visionary novel by one of Japan's greatest living novelists, Haruki Murakami.
How BOOK1 and BOOK2 fit the publication sequence
The Japanese hardcover sequence was not released all at once: BOOK1 and BOOK2 arrived together on 29 May 2009, and BOOK3 followed on 16 April 2010. Shinchosha also divides each Japanese paperback book into two parts. Thus BOOK1 paperback part 1 and part 2 are subdivisions of BOOK1, not alternate names for BOOK2.
For readers choosing between the Japanese original and a translation, first confirm language, then format and volume coverage. The identifiers above establish the Japanese BOOK1 hardcover and its two paperback parts; they do not establish the contents, translator, or completeness of any particular translation.
Rank #2
Recognition
Shinchosha records BOOK1 as receiving the 63rd Mainichi Publishing Culture Award in the Literature and Arts Division. The catalog entry does not state the award year. The publisher’s BOOK1 record is the source for this recognition.
Quick Recap
Best Value
Rank #3
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
