I certainly wouldn't say that his style is simply "oriental" - I think I'm trying to judge where on the scale the Eastern notions of narrative end and his own personal weirdness begins. I find the feeling of drift in his stories quite similar to a kind of shapelessness, by Western standards, that I get from anime. But, yes, I do see that he's also very Western-grounded. Fascinating read. Will have to track down Wind-up Bird and Hard-boiled Wonderland. In my copious free time.