When I am writing, I do not distinguish between the natural and supernatural. Everything seems real. That is my world, you could say.

When you are used to the kind of life -of never getting anything you want- you stop knowing what it is you want.

From the girl who sat before me now...surged a fresh and physical life force. She was like a small animal that has popped into the world with the coming of spring. Her eyes moved like an independent organism with joy, laughter, anger, amazement, and despair. I hadn't seen a face so vivid and expressive in ages, and I enjoyed watching it live and move.

I've translated a lot of American literature into Japanese, and I think that what makes a good translator is, above all, a feel for language and also a great affection for the work you're translating. If one of those elements is missing the translation won't be worth much.

Gays, lesbians, straights, feminists, fascist pigs, communists, Hare Krishnas - none of them bother me. I don't care what banner they raise. But what I can't stand are hollow people. When I'm with them I just can't bare it, and wind up saying things I shouldn't.

I used to think the years would go by in order, that you get older one year at a time. But it's not like that. It happens overnight.

Most near-future fictions are boring. It's always dark and always raining, and people are so unhappy.