This post war Japan narrative is beautifully written. I especially like how Murakami explores the protagonist's feelings by making him have a fortuitous rendezvous with his childhood love when he is already married. His succumbing is as beautiful as it is moment of truth which defies the expectations associated with "moving on" - especially considering that he already had children with a wife he claimed to love.

Existential too, considering the protagonist's formative years as a single child...

And who can forget the jazz inflected scenes - utterly aesthetically fulfilling. ~