I think I'll stay alive here a bit longer, and see with my own eyes what's going to happen. I can still die after that - it won't be too late. Probably.

Since I have come to America, I am often asked whether my next novel will be set in America. I don't think it will. I think I will be living in America for some time to come, but while living in America, I would like to write about Japanese society from the outside.

Whenever I look at the ocean, I always want to talk to people, but when I'm talking to people, I always want to look at the ocean.

I am a flawed human being - a far more flawed human being than you realize.

I didn't feel like I was in my own body; my body was just a lonely, temporary container I happened to be borrowing.

Judging the mistakes of strangers is an easy thing to do - and it feels pretty good.

Pointless thinking is worse than no thinking at all.