He can't say exactly why he decided to become a writer. It struck him one day, out of the blue, while watching a baseball game between the Yakult Swallows and the Hiroshima Carp. Dave Hilton, an American, came to bat. In the instant that Hilton hit a double, Murakami suddenly realised that he could write a novel having never had an inclination to be a writer before. He went home and began writing that night. Murakami worked on Hear The Wind Sing for several months in very brief stretches after working days at the jazz bar he owned.

When he's in writing mode for a novel, he gets up at 4am and works for five to six hours. In the afternoon, he will run for 10km or swim for 1500m (or do both), then read a bit and listen to some music.

When he's in writing mode for a novel, he gets up at 4am and works for five to six hours. In the afternoon, he will run for 10km or swim for 1500m (or do both), then read a bit and listen to some music.