Die Pilgerjahre des farblosen Herrn Tazaki

The new Murakami! His greatest success.

Young Tsukuru Tazaki is part of a clique of five friends, all of whom have a color in their names. Only Tsukuru stands out and feels, in a metaphorical sense, colorless, as unlike his friends, he has no particular traits or preferences, except perhaps a vague interest in train stations. When he leaves their hometown of Nagoya after high school to study in Tokyo, it does not affect their friendship. At least not until that summer day when Tsukuru eagerly returns to Nagoya for the holidays and discovers that his friends have suddenly and inexplicably cut him off. He tries again and again to reach them unsuccessfully, until he finally receives a call: Tsukuru is told to stay away from them in the future, as he already knows why. Desperate, Tsukuru returns to Tokyo, where he spends half a year on the brink of suicide.

Many years later, the now 36-year-old Tsukuru reveals to his new girlfriend Sara that she cannot believe he never tried to get to the bottom of the story. Encouraged by her, Tsukuru sets out to confront the demons of his past.