In "The Boy Named Crow," a prologue of sorts, "Kafka" Tamura is preparing to run away from his home in Tokyo. He talks about his plans with his imaginary companion, Crow. Tomorrow is Kafka's fifteenth birthday and he has taken a substantial amount of money from his father, along with his cell phone and hunting knife. Crow warns Kafka that he can expect many trials on his journey, and he must be the toughest teenager ever to withstand it. (read more)