Being a sheepman in midsummer is quite a challenging option

At this time of every year, I recall the phrases

“It was amid summer when Sheep Man was asked to compose a song for Christmas. The requester and Sheep Man were both soaked with sweat under their summer sheep costumes. Being a sheepman in midsummer is quite a challenging option.”

and thank that I am not one of them.

The book is “Murakami and Illustrators” published last month and consists of a variety of illustrations and excerpts from his novels. This page is originally from “The Sheep Man’s Christmas” published in 1985.