I've read most of Murakami's novels. I think probably the most "important" one thus far is The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle, which is brutal in parts but mostly just surreal and amazing. I recommend it highly. I also really liked Kafka on the Shore. I think that was the first of his books that I read.

Weirdly, I'm looking at Amazon now and I think all my favorites were the ones with 4 stars and my least favorites were the ones with 4 and a half stars. Hmph.

I agree with anon above that Kazuo Ishiguro is great.