Photo/Illutration Haruki Murakami receives an honorary doctorate from Waseda University on Dec. 17. (Provided by Waseda International House of Literature)

Widely acclaimed writer Haruki Murakami has received an honorary doctorate from his alma mater, Waseda University.

A ceremony was held on Dec. 17 at which Murakami said receiving the honorary doctorate made him feel as though “his life cycle had completed a circuit.”

In presenting the honorary doctorate, Waseda University noted that Murakami, 75, was a “world novelist” who had a huge effect on the cultural and arts sectors through “his works that seamlessly tied together the real and fantastical worlds.”

The university also noted Murakami’s contributions to the Waseda International House of Literature, popularly known as the “Haruki Murakami Library,” which opened in 2021.

He contributed handwritten manuscripts and materials for his novels as well as his collection of nearly 20,000 vinyl records. Murakami has also taken part in events held at the library.

In his speech, Murakami called Waseda a “big-hearted university” for presenting an honorary doctorate to a bad student who was always causing problems when he was enrolled. He said he would never have become a novelist if he had not attended Waseda.

Murakami gave the following speech at the honorary doctorate presentation ceremony:

I am surprised at how many people have gathered here. Thank you very much. While I am very thankful for receiving an honorary doctorate from my alma mater, Waseda University, in this manner, I also have a very strange feeling as well.

That is because I was a very bad student who never attended classes, did not study and caused much trouble to the university by running amok without much thinking. The university is very big-hearted to present an honorary doctorate to such a graduate.

I have received six honorary doctorates in the past. I am not trying to boast, but those doctorates were all from foreign universities. This is the first time I am receiving an honorary doctorate from a Japanese institution.

This might not be the most appropriate thing to say, but receiving an honorary doctorate is not helpful in any way. I have received six so far, but have not profited at all. I receive no annuity and it does not help my book sales. While it has no benefits at all, I guess that is not what such degrees are all about.

I am very happy that if I were to receive an honorary doctorate in Japan, the first was to be from my alma mater, Waseda University. If I had not attended Waseda University, I believe I would not have written novels.

I feel that receiving this honorary doctorate has made my life cycle complete a circuit. I want to go on writing good novels in the future. Thank you very much.

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