神楽坂の祭り・催事・市・伝統芸能・ダンス・コンサート等のイベント情報

Waseda International House of Literature (The Haruki Murakami Library) celebrated the 5th anniversary of its opening in October 2026. As a special project, we will hold an exhibition based on Haruki Murakami’s What I Talk About When I Talk About Running. This memoir, in which Murakami, a “running novelist,” writes about himself, has resonated with many runners. This exhibition presents how the work, through encounters with three Denmark-based artisans, was transformed into a one-of-a-kind special edition book. Exhibition Overview Based on Haruki Murakami’s memoir What I Talk About When I Talk About Running, we introduce 12 specially bound volumes created by three artisans based in Denmark. The copperplate engraver Martin Mörck, letterpress printer Erling Jørgensen, and bookbinder Klara Kölqvist spent over a decade shaping a single book into distinct expressions. Carving, printing, binding—their handcraft overlaps to create a unique character in each volume, bringing out the textures of paper, ink, and leather. At the venue, in addition to the special editions, we display copper plates and sketches, movable type, bookbinding tools, and production photographs to trace the production process. An installation that unfolds the printed text sheets into the space is also presented. We also specially exhibit the running shoes actually used by Haruki Murakami, touching on the author’s own “running,” which lies behind the work. Artist Profiles Copperplate engraver Martin Mörck An international copperplate engraver who has worked on banknotes, stamps, and book illustrations in more than 30 countries. Using traditional copperplate techniques, he pursues rich expression through exquisitely detailed lines. For this project, he engraved illustrations that accompany the text onto copper plates and printed each sheet by hand. His delicate linework brings new breadth to the world of the book. Letterpress printer Erling Jørgensen A craftsman who has honed letterpress printing since 1962 and preserved the craft in Denmark to the very end. For this project, he hand-set metal type letter by letter and spent seven years printing every page of the text. The impressions left in the paper and the nuances of the ink reveal the traces where type, paper, press, and the artisan’s hands meet. Bookbinder Klara Kölqvist A bookbinder who carries on the traditional craft of hand bookbinding in Denmark. She binds new publications and also creates works in collaboration with writers and artists. For this project, she bound papers printed by letterpress and copperplate techniques and used materials such as leather for the binding. She treats materials, structure, and tactility as part of the work, making a book not only to read but to experience. Related Special Program What I Talk About When I Talk About Running — Waseda University Track and Field Club Special Interview https://youtu.be/2sIHracNGjE?si=OAx-oH2HtGm6SQH8 In conjunction with this exhibition, Waseda University Track and Field Club athletes Shinsaku Kudo, Yota Mashiko, and Ojiro Honda, along with ekiden head coach Katsuhiko Hanada, talk about “running.” The conflicts they grapple with in their athletic careers, the driving force that keeps them challenging their goals, and what running has brought to them. Through each of their words, we explore the meaning of “running.” Please enjoy this alongside the exhibition. Participants Katsuhiko Hanada (Ekiden Head Coach, Waseda University Track and Field Club) Shinsaku Kudo (Waseda University Track and Field Club) Yota Mashiko (Waseda University Track and Field Club) Ojiro Honda (Waseda University Track and Field Club) Filming cooperation Waseda University Tokorozawa Campus, Tokorozawa Library