A novel titled Wild Sheep Chase by Harukı Murakamı, draws attention to the History of
Japan and how it affects the identity of society, the knowledge of history gives a detailed
picture of how the various aspects of society such as economic growth, technology, soldier
systems, and the relationship between the other countries worked in the past. To realize the
society as a whole, Harukı Murakamı uses the symbolization of sheep, the allusion of H.G.
Well, significant questions that are directed to the reader, and magical realism.
In 1868 the Japanese empire was built by the leader called Meiji and the connotation
of “ıntroduced to Japan in the early Meiji era..” said by the main character shows that
unnatural sheep comes from the Meiji period but the strange man refuses him and implies
that the sheep comes from Ansei reign. The author directs the reader to when the
imperialism of Japan started by Meiji won China in the war. After that event Meiji
restoration brought economic growth, a modernized soldier system with samurais, a
reformation of the laws in the 1870’s so Japan was in a power state. Isolated society became
modernized and affected by the restorations. In that case, the sheep from China symbolizes
the power in ancient Japan. Moreover, ın the extract the expression “Japanese had ever
seen a sheep” gives an idea of the society is not completely realize the power of Japan in
past. As another technique, Murakamı asks questions to the main character by the character
of a strange man in the novel. “How much do you know about sheep?” and “…tragic animal
do you not think?” pushes the reader to contemplate the knowledge and story behind the
sheep and how the Japanese identity is being shaped due to the power and restorations.
The writer uses magical realism as a vehicle to question the accepted knowledge of
sheep and to describe the extraordinariness of sheep. Searching for the sheep from the
“photograph” implies the usage of magical realism. Words “dragon” and “phoenix” reinforce
that the sheep is strange. Additionally, the allusion of “H.G. Well” about his “Martians” book
also supports that the sheep are like Martians who do not belong to the earth. Relate to this,
The Japanese adapted the European-style innovations to their own social structures such as
the clothing styles and new laws, and modernize the Japanese society by westernization.
Japanese identity changed over time so the sheep which does not come from Japan and had
an unnatural impact on society changed their identity. The connotation of “very image of
modern Japan” conveys that recent Japan created with its history and supports the historical
events related.
In A Wıld Sheep Chase, the effect of historical events on society is shown by Murakamı by
the usage of magical realism, allusion, symbolization, and the significant questions. The
knowledge of history builds up the empires and creates their fundamentals and ın other
ınterpretatıon, by questioning the reader Murakamı tries to make the reader realize and
remember Japanese history. Murakami explains the history behind the Modern Japanese
identity of the society.