Kafka on the Shore

“It rained sardines and mackerels that day.”

This illustration is inspired by Haruki Murakami’s novel, in particular the character of Mr. Nakata, who left a lasting impression. Although not the main protagonist, he is an elderly man who, after a mysterious childhood incident, loses the ability to read and write but gains the ability to speak with cats.

Nakata moves through the world with quiet kindness and an almost instinctive understanding of things he cannot quite explain. After a dark encounter that results in the death of a cat, he tells a policeman that it will rain fish the next day. Sardines and mackerels to be exact. And then, somehow, it does.

This is a mockup book cover for Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami, created to explore how the novel could be visually translated. Alongside the final illustration, I also included early sketches and studies of values and backdrops to show the process behind the image.