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Haruki Murakami withdraws from consideration for alternative Nobel award
Haruki Murakami has asked for the withdrawal of his nomination for an alternative to the Nobel Prize in Literature, saying he wanted to concentrate on his writing.
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Japanese writer Haruki Murakami is pictured outside Hans Christian Andersen's house in Odense, on October 30, 2016. Murakami has asked for the withdrawal of his nomination for an alternative to the Nobel Prize in Literature, (Scanpix Denmark/AFP/Henning Bagger )
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apanese author Haruki Murakami has asked for the withdrawal of his nomination for an alternative to the Nobel Prize in Literature, postponed this year over a sexual misconduct scandal, saying he wanted to concentrate on his writing.
One of Japan's most successful literary exports, Murakami's Nobel prospects are the subject of intense annual scrutiny in his home country.
Murakami expressed gratitude at the nomination, but said he wanted to "concentrate on writing, away from media attention", the organizers of the New Academy Prize in Literature said while announcing his withdrawal on social media site Facebook.
It gave no further details of Murakami's decision.
Read also: Murakami delights fans with radio show debut
The replacement award was set up by a group of Swedish cultural figures after this year's Nobel Prize in Literature was postponed following a sexual misconduct scandal at the Swedish Academy.
The other nominees for the alternative prize are British-born author Neil Gaiman, Guadeloupe-born Maryse Conde and Vietnam-born Kim Thuy.
They have all "expressed enthusiasm for their nomination," the organizers' statement added. The winner will be announced in October.
