Since 2016, several thefts have plagued Toronto used bookstores, specifically going after the works of famed Japanese author Haruki Murakami. Stealing Murakami begins with an investigative approach on the ongoing thefts in Toronto bookstores, yet quickly abandons this angle, emulating a common theme of Murakami’s, that finding something which has been missing often leads to disappointment. Stealing Murakami then dives into the abstract and experimental, seeking to understand the allure of Murakami’s work amongst the youth, while mirroring his trademark magical realist writing style through a visual medium.