Tokyo: An alternative award to the Nobel Prize of literature 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. 
Renowned author Haruki Murakami was also the part of the nomination list for this award along with British-born author Neil Gaiman, Guadeloupe-born Maryse Conde and Vietnam-born Kim Thuy. However, the Kafka on The Shore writer requested to withdraw his nomination as 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.

Murakami's forthcoming book Killing Commandante will be released in October. Recently, he also wrote liner notes by for remastered reissue of musician Ryuichi Sakamoto’s BTTB album.