Haruki Murakami's T-Shirt Collection - On Memory, Culture, and Collecting

“The T-shirts I Love” Book Cover

Haruki Murakami's book The T-Shirts I Love compiles a series of essays originally published in the Japanese men's fashion magazine Popeye, in which the author narrates his extensive t-shirt collection and the personal stories and anecdotes behind each piece.

Murakami, who owns around 200 t-shirts, has long been fascinated by the way these "simple" tees can serve as memorabilia, tools to gauge how time passes, and how they provide material for social commentary.

The rise of punk rock in the 1970s gave birth to t-shirts featuring band logos and subversive graphics, while the 1980s saw the proliferation of t-shirts featuring pop culture references and ironic slogans. Today, the t-shirt continues to be a staple in everyone’s closet to showcase one's personal style, tastes, and interests - whether that's a political statement, a favorite fast food brand, or simply a comfortable fit. And, just as Murakami uses fiction to discuss solitude, and the desire for belonging, he sees the t-shirt as a lens through which to consider broader questions of identity, consumerism, and nostalgia.

As a t-shirt enthusiast, I've always been curious about the way these simple garments can have so many stories, and intentions behind them.What sets them apart from the humble white tee. What makes them so valuable on the t-shirt market, or what makes them end up in thrift stores piles. So when I stumbled upon Haruki Murakami's book, I was intrigued and wanted to learn more about t-shirt culture through the lens of one of Japan's most iconic authors. 

Shelby T-shirt│© Yasutomo Ebisu

As a self-proclaimed collector, I carefully curate my t-shirt collection. I'm drawn to shirts that are rare (limited editions of obscure 90s collabs), or representative of a particular aesthetic (the Hysteric Glamour rockabilly ones!), have cool patterns and original cuts. But, what does Murakami own, and what does he like? How does he curate his own collection?

In reality, Murakami does not really curate, as he did not collect intentionally. Rather, time, experiences, gifts, running event merch,  and trips around the US and its many thrift stores led him to possess ridiculous amounts of t-shirts. The T-shirts just seemed to "pile up" around him without him really planning it.

One of the coolest aspects of Murakami's collection is the sheer variety of designs, from the humorous ("I put ketchup on my ketchup") to the nostalgic (a vintage Beach Boys concert tee) to the downright bizarre. Each piece shows us a different facet of the author's life. 

Among the many t-shirts featured in the book, five in particular are quite iconic:

The "Tony Takitani" Shirt

Murakami stumbled upon this yellow tee featuring the name of one of his fictional characters in a thrift store in Maui. The story behind this t-shirt remains a mystery, as Murakami did not recall ever issuing any official merch. featuring the character. Tony Takitani is the son of Shozaburo Takitani, a Japanese jazz trombonist who spent World War II in Shanghai. Crazy he ended up in a thrift store, in Hawaii. 

Tony Takitani House T-shirt│© Yasutomo Ebisu

The "Springsteen on Broadway" Shirt

As a longtime fan of Bruce Springsteen, Murakami was thrilled to attend the singer's Broadway show in 2017. This tee is one of his favorites. 

The "I Put Ketchup on My Ketchup" Shirt

This playful design makes fun of the American tendency to overindulge in ketchup, with the added twist that it's produced by none other than Heinz itself. When Murakami wears the shirt around town, Americans sometimes call out, "Love the shirt!". Murakami specifies; ‘’The ones who do usually have that "I love ketchup" look about them’’.

I Put Ketchup on my Ketchup T-shirt│© Yasutomo Ebisu

The Vintage Beach Boys Shirt

Murakami's collection includes a number of vintage concert tees, each one a relic of an important era in music history. 

The "Kobe Marathon" Shirt

As a lifelong runner, Murakami has achieved many marathons over the years, each finisher's tee a hard-earned badge of honor. But one shirt in particular holds a special place in his collection - the tee from the 1983 Honolulu Marathon. "I don't think I'll be wearing it again," he admits, "but it's the t-shirt I got for completing my first full marathon. Whenever I see this shirt, it brings back a flood of memories."

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