I read it over 3 or 4 days and can't say that I had any real problems following the plot.
On the other hand, my Asimov binge ended in a haze of confusion and back tracking lost threads.
He has some great ideas but can be really long winded.
In the useless information department, I used to teach Dr Kobayashi, a professor of music and accomplished pianist, who had been Seiji Ozawa's good friend for 40 odd years
I never got to meet him.
Murakami lives two stations down my local line.