Summary

As the story opens, Tsukuru Tazaki was a sophomore in college when he began to focus on dying. He felt that he was barely alive and that it would be a small step toward death. He knew the event that brought him to this point but didn't know why he was so near death. He continued to attend class and to do the things that were required, such as brushing his teeth. Each time he stopped thinking about death, his mind went blank. He didn't keep up with news, had no interest in entertainment, and his sexual desire dissolved. He didn't really care about anything though he sometimes wandered the neighborhood or went to train stations simply to watch. He also lost his appetite and ate very little.

The event that brought him to this point was clear in his mind. His four best...