Author Ryu Murakami, of 'Almost Transparent Blue' and 'Audition', Dies at 74

Japanese writer and filmmaker Ryu Murakami has died at the age of 74. The news was published by his publisher, Gentosha, in a statement on its website. The author died at home on October 17, but his death was only announced this Friday (23). The funeral was held in a private ceremony, restricted to family, who requested that no condolences or gifts be received.

Murakami became known for works that explore themes such as violence, sex, and drugs. Among his books is Audition, which inspired the 1999 film of the same name, directed by Takashi Miike and considered a classic of Japanese horror.

The writer debuted in literature in 1976 with Almost Transparent Blue , a work that won two important literary awards in Japan and sold over 3.5 million copies. He also wrote and directed adaptations of his own books, such as Tokyo Decadence.