Spider Monkey at Night
1995, heibonsha
Revised on March 17, 2005
S Stories:
Ⅰ
ranslated by OSAKABE Yoshio)
Pencil Sy of AtANABE Noboru, Part I (translated by Copher Allison)
Julio Iglesias (translated by Copher Allison)
time Macy of AtANABE Noboru, Part II (translated by Copher Allison)
Croquettes (translated by Copher Allison)
Playing Cards (translated by OSAKABE Yoshio)
Neranslated by OSAKABE Yoshio)
Donutization (translated by Copher Allison)
Antitranlated by OSAKABE Yoshio)
Eels (translated by Copher Allison)
tAKAYAMA Noriko-san and my Sexual Desire (translated by OSAKABE Yoshio)
Octopus (translated by Copher Allison)
A Raid by translated by OSAKABE Yoshio)
Spanner
Donuts, again (translated by OSAKABE Yoshio)
Ⅱ
Spider-monkey at Night
Advertisement for Jazz Cafe in Kokubunji a long time ago (translated by Copher Allison)
tickets (translated by Copher Allison)
Bangkok Surprise (translated by Copher Allison)
Beer
Proverbs
Structurism
A Radiser
Message Phone
Stockings (translated by Copher Allison)
Milk
Good News
Stilts
Zoo
translated by Copher Allison)
Back of Ceiling
Mosho Mosho
A hard Rains A-Gonna Fall
Nicol, the Liar
Deep Red Mustard
About nig Effect of tale
Back
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horn
By MURAKAMI haruki
translated by OSAKABE Yoshio
trument sucs. Alt is tural in a tart to consider suching seriously.
be a horn?
? me?
An act of a person becoming a carries deeper mystery t becoming a novelist, I believe. It is tery you can understand everyt. But t, not a . If I am a , an act of a person becoming a novelist looks mucrange.
I imagine o encounter ernoon in a deep forest. During ccting, t. Or t tell ory of time in its boys complicated family background, a complex of its feature or its sexual hang-up.
“I don’t kno a violin and flute,” t gone abroad or skiing…” Since ternoon, t became an inseparable and perfect combination. After times like Flas, oday on tage and are playing t passage of Brao.
Sitting on my seat in t o t suc a tuba in anot, ing for someone to walk by.
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Pencil Sharpener
Or, ty of Noboru atanabe, part I
by MURAKAMI haruki
translated by Copher Allison
If t a guy named Noboru atanabe, I , still be using a ratty old pencil so Noboru atanabe, a so my possession. tune does not happen everyday.
anabe came into my kitcely spied my old pencil sting on table. t day, I tcable for a c bettle of soy sauce and t shaker.
Noboru atanabe, table top out of t at t time, since t or of pencil s figure out erested in on table top, at ealing suced glances. ttered on table.
quot;You knos a really nice pencil s t; Noboru atanabe said, after he pipe repair.
quot;t; Surprised, I picked it up off table. It ed gadget Id been using for more t from any otal part ed, and on top an Atom Seal sticker uck. In s, it y.
quot; you ; Noboru atanabe said. quot;ts is a little different from any otype. tly different.quot;
quot;o; I said.
It I attained a brand ne model, and Noboru atanabe came aom Seal). Noboru atanabe al sucances. Alt less recur, ty does not come too often in one lifetime.
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Julio Iglesias
by haruki Murakami
translated by Copher Allison
After to coils disappeared, t one single t to protect us from ttack of turtle. I ried to order more mosquito coils botelep telep, and mail service opped about t about it, tain I to prevent t crafty sea turtle from doing just sea brine, to to coils edly to ttom of ttle, and taking a nap in preparation for nightfall.
quot;eve done for,quot; so me. quot; comes, urtle.quot;
quot;e must not give up ; I said. quot;If turtle.quot;
quot;But turtle stole every last one of our mosquito coils.quot;
quot;ere got to try to tically. If turtle es mosquito coils so muc be somet es as ;
quot;For example?quot;
quot;Julio Iglesias,quot; I said.
quot;; she asked.
quot;I dont kno just suddenly popped into my uition or somet;
Folloincts, I put Julio Iglesias quot;Begin t; on tems turntable and ed for sunset. got dark, turtle ainly launctack. ten, or le would weep.
Just before midnigsteps near tranceo traiger voice began to sing quot;Begin t; tsteps immediately stopped, and in turtle anguished moaning.
e en turtle.
t nig;Begin t; 126 times. e Julio Iglesias too, it nearly as bad as turtle.
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time Machine
Or, ty of Noboru atanabe, part II
by MURAKAMI haruki
translated by Copher Allison
t the door.
I left tangerine I ing on top of tatsu and to to find Noboru atanabe (plumber and collector of pencil sanding t 6:30, so Noboru atanabe said quot;Good evening.quot;
quot;Good evening,quot; I replied, not really kno;
quot;Yes, I knooday I o ask a favor of you. You ime mac t... you mig for a brand ne;
quot;time mac; I repeated to myself, a little surprised. But t go a;Yes, t; I said casually. quot;You to see it?quot;
quot;Yes, if I mig;
And so I accompanied Noboru atanabe to my four-and-a- room, angerine peel still sitting on tric kotatsu.
quot;Aime mac; he had a sense of humor kind of like mine.
But Noboru atanabe didnt laugatsu futon urned tions, and tugged gently at the four legs, one by one.
quot;t; ;Incredible. Its a 1971 model National oo, sir?quot;
quot;Yea; I replied agreeably. One of ttle h.
Since Noboru atanabe o s for a brand neime macold ;Go a; Norboru atanabe out to Ace parked in front of trieved a brand neric kotatsu (or time macrunk, broug into my room, and exc for tional quot;; (or time macig away.
quot;t; Noboru atanabe said as . I urning to my room, I finising my tangerine.
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Croquettes
by haruki Murakami
ttranslated by Copher Allison
I ty, maybe 18 or 19, and er. Standing nervously at the clasp of her purse.
quot;Umm, year-end bonus, sir,quot; s voice.
quot;Ao sign for somet?quot; I said.
quot;No, no. Im your year-end bonus.quot;
quot;Im afraid I dont quite understand.quot;
quot;ell, you see, to cut straigo t of tter, you can do . I old to come K Inc. in cesy gifts.quot;
quot;I see,quot; I groaned. K Inc. ing drunk icular manager, I ed for my end-of-t;A young girl.quot; Of course, I said it as a joke. Never in my dreams did I imagine t sucruly first-rate publisually do it.
quot;Unfortunately, Im really busy today. See, I of o finisomorro really in t no made. If I oday, I could ;
o sob. quot;Im useless. You cant even give me a do a single t. t even give me a drivers license.quot;
quot;t; I said.
But t going to keep ba to invite her in and give her a cup of coffee.
quot;If you dont to me do someto provide you ars.quot;
quot;Id rat sing,quot; I said, cutting , Id never be able to get my work done.
quot;ttes. I make excellent croquettes.quot;
quot;Great,quot; I said. I really like croquettes a lot.
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Playing Cards
By MURAKAMI haruki
translated by OSAKABE Yoshio
After t, t to protect us from ttack of turtle. It t urtle away.
quot;e are finis ; s;to coils and Julios disc is .quot;
quot;to be some ot; I said.
quot; illy Nelson or Ric;
quot;No, its only Julio t urtle,quot; I kne.
t day I to to t rock. turtle napped as usual crouc s po attack. No matter turtle, no idea to drive it ao me. I oo tired to play ion.
e . And ending our lives eaten by turtle o go. en by a sea turtle!
e o our fate and finis meal. ea, turtle came upon us. Its footsteps approaceadily and it slowly walked round our house.
quot;No; she said holding my hands.
quot;e o give up. Its a s but pleasant life,quot; I said.
turtle peeped and found out t to coils, and no song of Julio Iglesias eits hands.
Playing cards?
And since t. Its not suc mucter ten alive. Besides, its not as if ening to Julio Iglesias every night by choice.
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Newspaper
by MURAKAMI haruki
translated by OSAKABE Yoshio
treme be got into told me in details of tnessed it by myself.
t notigation. If ttention, I o reconsider. t time tivities are limited to tee t t spread to t oo late to take a step after t.
An event from tnessed ively er Saint Valentines day. I aking tesando to toranomon. A next to me and ion of ticle entitled ‘Depreciation of tion?’I glanced at a ne, “5 kg diet changes your life.” .
train approacsuke station, ts off, as usual, and t instant. t urned upside-down.
‘?noitalfni ymonoce SU sgnirb rallod eaicerpeD’
“efil ruoy segnaeid gk 5”
‘O again,’ to me. ‘ is t ing for?’
‘Yes, indeed,’ I replied.
It for us, if it lasts forever like this.
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Donutization
haruki Murakami
translated by Copher Allison
At time o ionsly fell apart--I mean, ized girlfriend?--I started drinking in bars nearly every nig in quot;treasure of Sierra Madre.quot;
quot;Look, Big Brot fall apart,quot; my sister advised. quot;I kno donutized people never return to normal. You to break up ;
Sely rig as sized, tay donutized forever. I called t;I e breaking up, but in ts just fate. Ill never forget you...blea;
quot;You still dont get it?quot; tized girlfriend said. quot;ter of our ence is not you take a long, t on looking only at tely around you?quot;
ion I ed to ask ized people only think in suchnarrow-minded, parochial ways?
But anys spring, my little sister, for no apparent reason, donutized as er graduating from Joucy, and beginning to rip, ayed at er day and cried er on t to see how shes doing.
quot;You still dont get it?quot; my donutized little sister says. quot;ter of our ence is...quot;
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Antithesis
by MURAKAMI haruki
translated by OSAKABE Yoshio
A picture card at last arrived from my uncle. e did not o Borneo last September to catcit usual ilts and coconut trees, tter itself from tter er, is quite amazing.
“Unfortunately, Antit a big one, disappeared recently even in te. Its letters are se it on t.
“Natives said t seen Antiter class for years. I caug monters ty-five long. Obviously a middle class, but according to t’s even te my grief. Regarding tit’s caused by less volcanic as’s due to t no one knoe reasons. If to Japan by June.”
An old picture of my uncle, posing in front of titives, Antit in 1960’s. At t time, ime as titer and I felt firmly rong drive from ture. It ime like titers.
to encounter real sitaurants became as o catceorite by a tennis racket. Of course sometimes it’s on today. But it’s taken for granted t tasteless, small Antitear it to pieces immediately. Because saying, “Big Antithing”.
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Eels
haruki Murakami
translated by Copher Allison
It a p abruptly rousted me from a deep sleep. In t of t een sleep in being t I of t the phone call came.
Ring ring.
First, t vaniss; and finally t at last only I . Just me: 37 years old, drunk, and not particularly likeable. rigo deprive me of my eels and rubber boots?
Ring ring.
quot;; May Kasa;Are you t;
quot;U; I responded.
quot;s May Kasae. But ts coming in again. t a nest in one of tc of t t moved t. Id not kidding: t doo te babies. I cant stand it! So, like, bring over t spray again, OK? I knos late and everyt I totally e ants. So can you come?quot;
In tly. his May Kasahara, who had robbed me of my eels?
I tried asking ions.
quot;O ake,quot; said May Kasaic. quot;t problem me flustered, ever since t. Sorry.quot;
on, closed my eyes, and tried to find thick mud of sleep.
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tAKAYAMA Noriko-san and my sexual desire
By MURAKAMI haruki
translated by OSAKABE Yoshio
Up to no AKAYAMA Noriko-san, ty-five years old. Srides treets o say, “I’m just oiled”. From a little far after the heavy rain.
time ( of Sendagaya elementary sco Aoyama Icconis my company annoyed o part from me as soon as possible s least to reduce my sexual desire o .)
It took some monto realize so er I sa of tsuya station, o someplace on tokyo” araightening her spine.
ook several steps to ed somet alone in front of tsuya station in an a scene of “Summertime”. But I o knoAKAYAMA Noriko-san did not misunderstand my sexual desire.
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Octopus
by haruki Murakami
translated by Copher Allison
Noboru atanabe sent me a postcard ure of an octopus on it. Beneatopus, a s note ten in a cramped hand.
quot;It o my attention t you rendered my daug to extend my iest ts go out to eat octopus sometime soon.quot;
I ten back from a trip, and for one reason or anot o ride ter any aid. For t matter, I didnt even know er. I guess h someone else.
But eating octopus toget sound so bad.
I e Noboru atanabe a letter. On tcard, ture of a te:
quot;tcard of topus a lot. Lets go out to eat togetact me at t;
A full mont any response from Noboru atanabe. it pass as a matter of courtesy, I t. And altrangest desire to eat octopus t montion t I o eat octopus anabe.
Just about time I ting about Noboru atanabe and octopai altogetcard from ime ture of a manbo on it. Beneate.
quot;t octopus t ime indeed since I en sucopus as t. But concerning t t time, I must take some issue. As t of a daug t age, I cannot tolerate your sexual values. Lets get togetter leisurely over nabe sometime.quot;
Oanabe again.
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A Raid by the Old Man Mushikubo
By MURAKAMI haruki
translated by OSAKABE Yoshio
“I am t.
“Yes, I knos around here know him.
“Sorry for no notice but today I’d like to speak virginity of young girls.”
“ait …, a minute. I am noory …” I tried to pus a he door.
“It doesn’t take a long time. If you like, you can cook there. e can speak here during your cooking.”
Really, can’t be garlic and eggplant co enter properly from tce in age usually, remely quickly in a t.
“ are you cooking?” terestingly.
“ell, spagti and garlic, and kidney beans salad.”
“Are they your supper?”
“Yes.” I replied. I eat in supper is no concern of a stranger. I kidney beans if I like to t kidney beans; I a pumpkin if I like to eat ty of young girls, t to meddle. I o put into if tes me, I am not sure ly s my mouter t s to say, he will go back.
Until I ate tti and to o speak endlessly a break about an importance of ty at t I er errible disaster. But unintentionally I t… well, virgins ely.
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Donuts, again
by MURAKAMI haruki
translated by OSAKABE Yoshio
I got a py Donuts Study Club. Indeed, today’s students invent a lot of neo join symposium to discuss about donuts. Yes, I said. I donuts and all my knoions are vastly superior to average students.
tumn meeting of ty Donuts Study Club el Neani. A live band played music and ttraction of a donut-aligning game. After a snack room. Besides me, a famous cultural ant and a cooking critic .
I argued, “If donuts emporary literature, t as an essential piece in a certain personal focusing pohey paid me 50,000 yen.
I so my pocket, moved to tel bar and drank vodka tonic major, t-aligning game.
“Your novels are like donuts, bot t Flaubert ever t muc donuts.”
S. I agree t Flaubert never t muc donuts. But it’s tury and t century is just around t at time is simply embarrassing.
“Flaubert, cest moi.” I said trying to imitate Flaubert.
“You are a funny man,” ster myself t I’m pretty good at entertaining Frenc major girls.
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Advertisement for a Jazz Coffee S as in Kokubunji a Long time Ago
by haruki Murakami
translated by Copher Allison
may alienate some people rigart, t tioner doesnt s not t it doesnt all: t around t is quite cool. But if you move atle bit, t reacructural defect for a ne t circumstances as well.
In t a jazz fan, te unpleasant. If, on t jazz fan, you may find to be less-tisfying. to example of quot;You cant please all time.quot; e dont raine records. In compensation, an Getz. t records, but s out for next to not a c, and its badly out of tune. ty of t its alic, and t may not be t suitable background music for talking to your s.
exactly reticent, very talkative eit not very good at talking. busy, s at ter and reads books. to tell trute unexpectedly e a novel and receive a literary prize for neers, but no one kno. t even knoo tly listening to e music everyday. It is not knos 2:30 in ternoon, and quot;Billy taylor at London ; is playing. Its not a very good performance, but t. In any event, please dont blame .
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tickets
haruki Murakami
translated by Copher Allison
I tried asking my fat;Dad, ter ttle ickets. tickets from trains, and eat bentos. trips of cabbage in tos.quot; I t about ttle understand cer t year, very fair. ; to eat ct just t ;
quot;So t er t tos?quot; I tired asking. quot;rain reacs destination, all t off. ticket from anotrain,quot; my father said.
quot;And t anoto ?quot; I sed, unable to restrain myself. I cant stand even t of curned to my fatuck out my tongue. quot;ts terrible! I dont eat any of t stuff,quot; I said.
me. But it my fat a ead. ticket in ;Neig from me and ride train, youll o eat crips of cabbage for ever and ever and ever. Neig;
I I cried and cried. After a moment o my fat; cry. to MacDonalds and get ; Fatle voice.quot; So I finally stopped crying.
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Bangkok Surprise
by haruki Murakami
translated by Copher Allison
quot;; a womans voice asked.
quot;Yes, ts rig;
quot;Please excuse turbance. You see, Ive been calling 5721-1252.quot;
quot;O; I said.
quot;Ive called it like 30 times since t no one ever ans on a trip or somet;
quot;And?quot; I asked.
quot;And, maybe, since it seemed like you migry 5721-1252 instead.quot;
quot;O;
t a little bit. quot;I just came back from Bangkok last nig amazing to me in Bangkok. It otally unbelievable. Absolutely incredible. I o stay t I came . I really to talk about o sleep, keeping it bottled up like t to tell somebody. So I t maybe t 1251 en to me.quot;
quot;O;
quot;But I t I really couldnt tell a oo easily, I t;
quot;U; I said.
quot;;
quot;I turned 37 last mont;
quot;37, ter if it tle younger. Im sorry for saying so.quot;
quot;Os OK.quot;
quot;Im sorry,quot; s;But Ill try 5721-1253. Bye.quot;
t w happened in Bangkok.
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Stockings
by haruki Murakami
translation by Copher Allison
Imagine this, if you will:
ts on ters te ties, and un is, 5 9quot;?
You follow me so far?
s it doable in t seems as if to extract tents. First, some black stockings. t panty t come separately, to a pair. about a dozen stockings all toget to be interested in tockings, and t so muc t a black t, able stereo. After looking it over briefly, ts terested. tated, judging by five or six packs of cigarettes. te. a cigarette, commences smoking. After taking tomps it out .
Just telep ation, ;; ;No, no. Its not rig; t;Its totally and I dont smoke. I eaten c least ten years.... ts rigion to t all. Do you understand?quot; and he phone.
rieves a y box of cocking. time, retcocking tig up to t to examine it closely. to s pocket, rieves all t, jingling, into an empty vase nearby. uffs tretcocking into t exactly t moment, t tside t, balding man, ie terflies is standing. And jabbing h a rolled-up newspaper, he speaks in a gruff voice.
So, ion.
quot; in t;
You een seconds to ansick tock tick tock...
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the India Salesman
by haruki Murakami
ttranslated by Copher Allison
Usually about once every oto our ;I bet its about time for to come,quot; and sure enoug as if ;you sry to forget about t ; and t; t ill come,quot; but ts to forget and quot;I bet its about time for t; slips carelessly out of fail, t about t le-like eyes t bulge out of ;ts all on account of India,quot; o me boastfully. quot;If you make sure to get your India, kid, youll turn into a big, strong guy, just like me. Youll ;
really get all of tuff o me, I al t makes me nervous. Sometimes t my motoo. I ts amazing. Even my fat really yell at my mother.
quot;Maam, Im ime I ing our pantry. quot;Like I al use it consistently, a little at a time, so t it can be absorbed into t . Look at your kid. Lately, it seems like sparkle quite as brig do. If you look in I mean. If you look in oo little India. getting enoug you tiful? iful, isnt o get more India.quot;
quot;I guess youre rig; my mot;But t like I o . I kno India is great and everyt...quot;
quot;t; t;ter, all air. If you t to make it India. Anyt doesnt compare.quot;
As a result of ttle more India. t the India salesman was really amazing.