| Murakami uses the term to explain and critique the stubborn two-dimensionality of anime, manga and Japanese art, and Japan's kawaii consumer culture. |
| Some of the rewards of this novel lie in trying to unravel the puzzles Murakami sets the reader. |
| Murakami was forced to flee to the north where Uesugi Kenshin granted him refuge. |
| However, these two defeats at the hand of Murakami did not deter Takeda Shingen. |
| In 2003, it is the Japanese artist, Takashi Murakami, who is inspired by the legendary fabric. |
| The survivors needed hope for a brighter future, and Murakami sought to supply a salving narrative through his art. |
