Okay, here is the translation following your instructions: Kōbō Abe - Music Journey

Author: Wang Xin
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-07-01
Features: To understand Murakami, you must understand the music in his works, the music of the 1960s, and the 1960s behind the music. In Murakami's novels, characters often appear as inheritors and traitors. Many of them love music and always whistle or hum songs while on the go. Music always plays in street-side cafes, and in their homes, sound systems are always on. The world of music is a vast realm lurking behind Murakami's fictional universe—it is a crucial key to deciphering his works. To like and understand music is my impression of Murakami. He listens to a wide variety of genres, from rock to jazz to classical, almost encompassing all musical styles. He casually yet skillfully selects music to add a soundtrack to each scene in his novels. The music and text fit naturally together, creating a three-dimensional context. Reading his novels at these moments feels like watching a series of music videos. Meanwhile, when choosing music, he reveals his own emotions, recommending the music he loves or that has influenced him to the readers, hoping they will also come to enjoy it. What kind of music does Murakami like? The answer is the 1960s. I have found many classic names from the 1960s in Murakami's works. These characters once shone brightly on the Western music scene at the time, such as The Beatles, Doors, Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Glenn Gould, The Beach Boys, Albert Ayler, and Ravi Shankar. At the same time, figures from the two decades before and after the 1960s, who were prominent and charismatic, are also among the music Murakami chooses. This includes a wide range of artists, from Charlie Parker and Billie Holiday to Michael Jackson and The Eagles. And running through all this music is a central theme—the musical coming-of-age story of the youth of the 1960s. Murakami's life and the era of his novels intersect through music, connecting the present with the past, reality with fantasy, and weaving together Murakami's world of music-infused works. The music and text selected in this book also follow this main theme while also covering other musical communities. I believe that the music Murakami loves should be introduced in this book.