Novelist Ryū Murakami, known for his influential literary works and contributions to Japanese cinema, died on October 17 at the age of 74. Publisher Gentosha confirmed the news, noting that a private funeral was held for family members. Born in Nagasaki Prefecture in 1952, Murakami rose to prominence with his debut novel, Almost Transparent Blue, which achieved significant commercial success with over 3.5 million copies sold. Beyond his writing, Murakami was involved in film production, frequently writing and directing adaptations of his own stories. He also served as an interviewer for the economic talk show The Cambrian Palace. In the anime and film community, Murakami is recognized for his 1996 novel Love and Pop: Topaz II, which served as the basis for the 1998 live-action feature Love & Pop, directed by Neon Genesis Evangelion creator Hideaki Anno. Most recently, the film saw a North American theatrical release by GKIDS in February 2025.