Michael Pronko

Michael Pronko is an author based in Tokyo, known for his Detective Hiroshi series. The first book in the series, "The Last Train," won the 2018 Shelf Unbound Best Independently Published Book and the 2017 Book Excellence Awards Best Mystery. Pronko was born in Kansas City and has lived in Tokyo for many years, immersing himself in a very different world than his place of birth.

In addition to writing his acclaimed mystery novels, Pronko is also a professor of American Literature at Meiji Gakuin University in Tokyo. He has a PhD on Charles Dickens and film, and his academic background is evident in his thoughtful and nuanced writing. Pronko has also written regular columns about Japanese culture, art, jazz, society, and politics for various publications, and has appeared on Japanese television. He is also the founder of the website Jazz in Japan, which covers the vibrant jazz scene in Tokyo and Yokohama.

Pronko's writing, both fiction and non-fiction, is deeply rooted in his experiences in Tokyo. He is fascinated by the city's size, sweep, and speed, and sees it as a place that is both overwhelming and essential to understand. Through his writing, Pronko aims to explore the complexities of Tokyo and its people, and to restore humanity through the power of stories. He considers himself privileged to work with stories and to share them with others.