Can a writer be a media celebrity and maintain his creative work?
Ryu: I’ve never once thought of myself as a “media celebrity.” I become involved in TV projects and what not only when the subject is of particular interest to me. KJ: One critic has written, “The primary concern of Japanese literary hotshots Haruki and Ryu Murakami (no relation) is America. Not necessarily America the chunk of land across the Pacific Ocean, but America the cultural influence, America the trendsetter, America the quiet infiltrator of the East.” How would you comment on this? Ryu: After World War II, a tidal wave of American culture swept over Japan. It would not be possible for anyone growing up here to be free of this influence. That’s true for people of other countries in Asia and Europe as well. Since I came to know Cuba, however, my interest in America has changedin complex ways that would take too long to explain here. I think Ryu started going to Cuba in the early 90s. As happens to many visitors, he seems to have been immediately captivated by the energy of the
