Haruki Murakami (born January 12, 1949) is a Japanese writer, novelist, and translator. His books and stories have been bestsellers in Japan and have won international fame, with his work being translated into more than 40 languages and selling millions of copies outside his home country. His work has been inspired and influenced by Western culture, mainly western music and literature, and has received numerous awards, including the World Fantasy Award, the Frank O'Connor International Short Story Award, the Franz Kafka Prize, and the Jerusalem Prize. Murakami's most popular and notable works include Norwegian Wood, A Wild Sheep Chase, The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle, and Kafka on the Shore. Steven Poole of The Guardian praised Murakami as "among the world's greatest living novelists" for his works and achievements.