Honorary doctorate awarded to Haruki Murakami

On December 17, 2024, Waseda University President Aiji Tanaka presented an honorary doctorate to alumnus and author Haruki Murakami. The presentation ceremony took place at Okuma Auditorium and was attended by approximately 1,000 people, including donors to the Haruki Murakami Library Fund, members of the public, students, faculty and staff.

Murakami said in his greeting, “I am very pleased that the first honorary doctorate I have received in Japan is from my alma mater. If I hadn’t come to Waseda University, I feel like I might never have written novels. I would like to continue writing good novels.”

Next, The Waseda International House of Literature (The Haruki Murakami Library) held a celebratory event consisting of “Lecture” and “Reading x Jazz,” which explored Murakami’s literary works while live jazz music related to his works was played.

Honorary Doctorate Award Ceremony

Commemorative Event

Commemorative Lecture: “Literature for the Individual”
Lecture: Toshifumi Miyawaki (Professor Emeritus, Seikei University) Performance: Mikiko Nagatake (piano)

Commemorative Reading x Jazz “Everything Becomes Real”
Performed by: Mikiko Nagatake (piano) and Yoshio Suzuki (bass)

Commemorative Reading x Jazz “Everything Becomes Real”
Reader: Robert Campbell, Advisor to The Waseda International House of Literature (The Haruki Murakami Library)

About Waseda University’s Honorary Doctorate

This degree is awarded to individuals who have made outstanding contributions to academia, the arts, society, or humanity, and who Waseda University deems appropriate to honor. It is the highest honorary title at Waseda University. It has been awarded to 148 people from Japan and overseas, including Haruki Murakami.