"The world is a complex place, and it's the writer's job to make sense of it."

"Writing novels is a lot like running a marathon. You have to be patient, disciplined, and persistent."

"Music is a big part of my life. I can't imagine living without it."

"The only way to escape the past is to confront it."

"I don’t want to be labeled as a ‘Japanese writer.’ I’m just a writer who happens to be Japanese."