Tokyo, April 24 -- Haruki Murakami's first novel in three years will hit shelves in Japan in July, starring a woman as the main character for the first time, his publisher said on Thursday. Titled "The Tale of KAHO", the internationally renowned author's latest release will see the titular character as the first female protagonist in his catalog of full-length novels, publisher Shinchosha said on Thursday on a specially created website. The Japanese author of "Norwegian Wood" and "Kafka on the Shore" is known for his intricate tales about the absurdity and loneliness of modern life, which have been translated into about 50 languages. According to the novel's synopsis, 26-year-old picture book author Kaho encounters a male stranger who sudde...