Kafka on the Shore
Kafka on the Shore is a novel by Haruki Murakami, first published in Japanese as Umibe no Kafuka by Shinchosha in 2002. It alternates between a 15-year-old runaway and an elderly man who can talk to cats. Philip Gabriel's English translation appeared in 2005 and won the 2006 World Fantasy Award.
- Editions tracked
- 3
- First edition
- Shinchosha, 2002
- First published
- Shinchosha, 2002
- First UK edition
- The Harvill Press, 2005
The first edition of Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami was published in Tokyo by Shinchosha in 2002. We track 3 editions.
Which edition do you have?
First edition
Later and other editions
- Audiofy/Naxos2001 Other I own Kafka on the Shore, Audiofy/Naxos 2001 Log in to want this
- Harvill Press2005 Hardback I own Kafka on the Shore, Harvill Press 2005 Log in to want this
We have not yet researched the issue points for this book. If you know how to tell the first from later printings, tell us and we will credit you once it is checked against a second source.
Awards, adaptations and setting
Awards and honours
Setting and characters
- Set in
- Takamatsu
- Genre
- magic realist fiction, metafiction, fantasy, postmodern fiction
Read next
- Comes after
- Sputnik Sweetheart
- Followed by
- After Dark
In print
- Editions recorded
- 61 on Open Library, 15 in English
- Wikipedia
- Articles in 38 languages
From Wikidata and Open Library, both CC0. A prize or a new adaptation often lifts demand for the first printing.
More by Haruki Murakami
- Pinball, 19731985 · 1 edition
- The Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World1985 · 2 editions
- Norwegian Wood1987 · 2 editions
- A Wild Sheep Chase1989 · 2 editions
- Dance Dance Dance1991 · 2 editions
- The Elephant Vanishes1993 · 2 editions
- The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle1994 · 2 editions
- South of the Border, West of the Sun1999 · 2 editions
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How to Identify a First Edition
To identify a first edition, check that your copy is the first printing of the first edition. Read the copyright …
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For most books published since the 1920s, the original dust jacket carries a large share of the value, often most …
Read the guide →Frequently asked questions
Who published the first edition of Kafka on the Shore?
The first edition of Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami was published in Tokyo by Shinchosha in 2002.
How many editions of Kafka on the Shore are there?
We track 3 editions of Kafka on the Shore, including 1 first edition. Each has its own page with how to identify it.
Did Kafka on the Shore win any awards?
Yes: Kafka on the Shore won the World Fantasy Award for Best Novel (2006), according to Wikidata.
What should I read after Kafka on the Shore?
In order, it follows Sputnik Sweetheart and it is followed by After Dark, according to Wikidata.
Where these facts come from
- Kafka on the Shore, Wikipedia (en.wikipedia.org)
- Kafka on the Shore (Q579744), Wikidata (wikidata.org)
- Kafka on the Shore, BookWyrm (bookwyrm.de)
- Kafka on the Shore, LitCharts (litcharts.com)
Every fact on this page was checked against the sources listed. Checked 17 October 2026. Reviewed by Harriet Ellis; read how we check facts.