In early 2015, Haruki Murakami began an advice column on his blog called "Murakami-san no Tokoro" ("Mr. Murakami's Place"). In it, the famed author replied to questions sent in by his readers.

"So what do you think of the annual fuss surrounding the Nobel Prize and whether you'll get it?," asked one.

"To be honest, it's a bit annoying," he replied. "This is not a horse race."