Michael Pronko

Michael Pronko is an American author and professor known for his Tokyo-based mystery series, including the novel The Last Train (2017). He also wrote award-winning collections of essays on Tokyo.

Born in Kansas City, Michael Pronko graduated from Brown University with a degree in philosophy. He then travelled the world for two years, working various jobs, before returning to academia. He earned an MA in Education and later a PhD in English from the University of Kent at Canterbury, focusing on Dickens and film adaptation.

Michael's journey into teaching began with a call from Beijing, offering him a teaching position. He spent two years in Beijing, teaching English and travelling throughout China. After returning to the United States, he completed a degree in Comparative Literature at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. His time in Beijing and extensive travels greatly influenced his writing and teaching philosophy.

In 1997, Michael moved to Tokyo, where he has lived, taught, and written for over two decades. His experiences in Tokyo led to his first novel, The Last Train (2017), followed by The Moving Blade (2018), Tokyo Traffic (2020), and Tokyo Zangyo (2021). These novels form part of the Detective Hiroshi series, with more instalments planned. In addition to his fiction, Michael has published three essay collections: Beauty and Chaos: Essays on Tokyo (2014), Tokyo's Mystery Deepens (2014), and Motions and Moments: More Essays on Tokyo (2015).

Michael has contributed to numerous publications, including The Japan Times, Newsweek Japan, and Jazznin. He also runs the website Jazz in Japan, where he explores the vibrant jazz scene in Japan. Michael's academic pursuits continue alongside his writing. He works as a professor of American Literature at Meiji Gakuin University in Tokyo, teaching courses on contemporary novels, film adaptations, American music, film, and art.

Michael's love for Tokyo and Japanese culture began during his college years, influenced by his father's time in Japan and his exposure to Japanese films and philosophy. This passion is evident in his writing, where he blends his dual interests in Western and Japanese cultures. Despite his deep connection to Japan, Michael acknowledges the challenges of living in a different cultural environment, describing his experience as "coming to terms with it" rather than a "love affair."

Michael Pronko lives in western Tokyo with his wife, also a professor.

Photo credit: www.michaelpronko.com