Paid tribute to Makoto Wada and selected new talent

“One of an editor’s greatest joys is nurturing a young writer over time. It’s a thrill to look at the clear night sky and discover a new star before anybody else sees it. (1Q84 Book 1, Ch. 2)”

This month’s Illustration Magazine features Makoto Wada (1936-2019), a great illustrator and a close friend of Murakami since his debut in 1979.


On the top of the magazine, Murakami wrote two pages of tribute to Wada; “Same as for the many great artists, no one can make up his absence.”


Later in the magazine, Gao Yan (b.1996) is featured. Her work is chosen by Murakami himself for the illustrations of his new book “Abandoning A Cat: What I Talk About When I Talk About My Father” to be released this week.


It reminds me of the editor’s unwritten implication and the lines in 1Q84, although she is already well known for some people, but not for many, including myself.

Wishing good luck to the new talent at the clear night sky.