Spatial Analysis of Murakami Haruki's "After Dark": Midnight town as a place where we encounter the "darkness"

ODA Masayasu

丂This paper analyses Murakami Haruki's "After Dark" mainly from the spatial viewpoint. Findings obtained are as follows:

丂1. It is made clear that the colors of the clothes and belongings of the characters respond to their personalities. Meanwhile, it is pointed out that Eri has a similarity to the Chinese prostitute and Shirakawa and Mari have something in common in colors, that is, in personality.

丂2. The author supposes the main story is not set in actual Shibuya, but in a fi ctitious town with Shibuya in mind, which he calls "Shibuya."

丂3. The mapping of the homes of the characters makes clear that according to the personalities, there is a difference between the distances from "Shibuya" to their homes and between those directions.

丂4. The location of the facilities in the town is examined and shown as a map.

丂5. As a result of considering the contact with the Chinese criminal organization, it is supposed that we encounter the "darkness" anywhere as well as in particular places, and the whole midnight town itself is an alien world.