Tokyo Tempos

In Tokyo Tempos, award-winning mystery writer Michael Pronko writes about the mystery of everyday Tokyo life. He takes his three decades of living, writing, and teaching in Japan and delves into what it's like living with Japanese food, seasons, ceremonies, rules, and trains.

The pithy, pointed writings in Tokyo Tempos offer a reminder of how even huge cities like Tokyo live and breathe with the loves, hopes, pleasures, and puzzling meanings of the people who live there.

Tokyo Tempos is the fourth in the Tokyo Moments Series.
"Tokyo Tempos is a charming, unaffected, and yet profoundly philosophical collection of essays on the colorful chaos that is Tokyo." Independent Book Review

"An intellectual and heartfelt guide to the Tokyo most visitors never see, this deeply engaging work reveals the city's heart through vivid, street-level perspectives and thoughtful storytelling." Reader Views

"For readers familiar with Pronko's excellent Detective Hiroshi series of Japanese-set crime thrillers, it will come as no surprise that the prose is beautifully weighted, a sense of place evoked, and telling details precisely set—not just the sights, but the sounds and the smells of the city." Indie Reader

"Pronko captures the essence of a city that pulses with both tradition and innovation, inviting readers to discover the countless small moments that define life in one of the world's most fascinating urban landscapes." Reader's Favorite

"Tokyo Tempos is an artful love letter to an inimitable city. Taking a poetic, personal, and aesthetic brush to a dynamic landscape, this collection is an impressive and rousing homage from a gifted storyteller." SPR Review

"These vignettes insert readers into the beating heart of Tokyo's culture, offering insights and knowledge that is nearly impossible to find in more general books about travel to Tokyo, and understanding its special culture." D. Donovan, Midwest Book Review

"A fantastic collection that does a wonderful job of capturing Tokyo's ultra-layered experiences through succinct, immersive entries. The bite-sized format lends itself perfectly to Pronko's reflective style, allowing readers to savor his keen observations, packing a lot of texture into impressively compact pieces." Reader's Favorite

"These aren't just snippets of Tokyo and the usual touristy accounts of the big attractions. Pronko takes a deeper look at what makes Tokyo hum, what gives it the appeal that draws thousands of visitors every year." Reader Views Five Stars