Read full review at:
http://hanami.ath.cx/in_the_miso_soup.html

Ryu Murakami, not relative to Haruki Murakami, is famous of his earlier 
novels "Almost Transparent Blue" and "Coin Locker Babies". Ryu Murakami's 
books sold millions of copies while he was still student. He hosted a TV 
talk show, and played drums in rock group. He is one of the new genious 
writers of Japan who dig deeper to the underground, where people don't want 
to see.. His books describe the world realistically, although often he is 
critisized being too extreme or populistic. Indeed, I must agree - his 
novels ain't exactly fun to read. But once you open the book - you can't 
stop until you reach the last page...

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Hanami Web - Special Knowledge about Japan
http://hanami.ath.cx