Jay Rubin is an American author, translator, and professor. He is best known for his translations of the works of Haruki Murakami, a Japanese novelist. Rubin has translated over a dozen of Murakami's works, including The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle, Kafka on the Shore, and 1Q84. He has also written several books on Japanese culture and literature, including Making Sense of Japanese and The Japanese Way of the Tea Ceremony. Rubin is a professor emeritus at Harvard University, where he taught Japanese literature and culture for over 30 years. He has also taught at the University of Washington and the University of Oregon. He is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the Japan-U.S. Friendship Commission. Rubin is a highly respected figure in the field of Japanese literature and culture. He has been awarded the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon, by the Japanese government for his contributions to the promotion of Japanese culture. He is also the recipient of the Japan-U.S. Friendship Commission Prize for the Translation of Japanese Literature.