Books A Wild Sheep Chase by Haruki Murakami (Author), Alfred Birnbaum (Translator

The story follows an unnamed narrator, a chain-smoking ad executive living a somewhat detached life, who receives a mysterious photograph of a pastoral scene along with a request from his long-lost friend, "Rat," to visit their hometown. This leads him into a bizarre quest involving a peculiar sheep with a star-shaped birthmark, which is believed to hold the key to the power and influence of Japan's elite, particularly the enigmatic “Boss” who is gravely ill.​

The protagonist is compelled to find this sheep, which seems to exist in a realm of supernatural significance. His journey takes him to Hokkaido and the surrounding countryside, where he encounters mystical figures like the Sheep Man—dressed in a sheep costume—and gets involved in the complex politics and spiritual mysteries surrounding the sheep’s power.

Throughout his journey, the narrator reflects on themes of existential search, identity, and the loss of innocence. He also learns that the "Rat," his old friend, has committed suicide after revealing that he was possessed by the sheep, which had been manipulating them both. The narrative culminates with the protagonist confronting the mysterious sheep and the mystical forces it symbolizes, while exploring the boundaries between reality and illusion.