On the program in the early hours on Thursday, fan Chikako Muramatsu, 28, said the author was “loved by a wide range of people”.
“Many fans seem to be in my parents’ generation, but Haruki has some big fans in my generation as well,” she said.
Yuji Katayama, 54, said he has been a fan of hers for a long time.
“I feel like I’m growing old with the characters in his books. I feel sympathy for them,” he said.
“I consider his novels as my textbook. By reading his books, I get acquainted with new things, such as his knowledge of foreign novels.”