Reviews of A Guide to Jazz in Japan

Kirkus Reviews
”There’s always the danger that guides like this can feel snobbish or exclusionary, but here, Pronko effectively welcomes readers into the Japanese jazz experience, which will appeal to tourists and armchair travelers alike.”

Feathered Quill
"A Guide to Jazz in Japan is a must-have guide to understand Japan through jazz, transcending a mere jazz club directory to become a passport to cultural experience."

Independent Book Review
"A clutch resource for jazz fans and world travelers alike, A Guide to Jazz in Japan is your one-stop shop to discovering the musical riches that await in the land of the rising sun."

Booklife by Publishers Weekly
“Musically inclined tourists will find A Guide to Jazz in Japan an invaluable planning aide, while armchair travelers fascinated by the music and scene will relish the detailed account of a country’s love affair with jazz. Practical, passionate guide to jazz in Japan that also celebrates the country and art form.” Editor’s Pick

Self-Publishing Review
"A thoughtful music guide that casually swings across the line into storytelling. Boasting more than two decades of exploration within the country’s jazz scene, Pronko’s recommendations land with undeniable authority borne from a genuine love for these artists. It would be impossible to collate this type of comprehensive, intimate, and eloquent guide without spending some serious time in top jazz haunts of the country. Even if you’re not a particular fan of jazz, or you’ve never set foot in Japan, this is the type of immersive and imagination-seizing read that can transport you to another world, delivered by a true-blue student of music and mood." ★★★★½

Literary Titan (May 2025)
“More than just a directory of Tokyo’s jazz clubs—it’s a love letter to a city’s hidden rhythm. It’s part guidebook, part memoir, and part cultural essay, told with the warmth of someone who’s not only observed this world for decades but been deeply moved by it. The writing sings, the details spark, and the emotion lingers. This is a guidebook, yes, but it’s also a beautiful meditation on place, passion, and the way music makes a foreign land feel like home.” ★★★★★ 

ReaderViews (May 2025)
“The ultimate jazz-lovers’ dream when it comes to breaking down the what, where, and how of jazz in Japan. The writing draws you into each venue, giving you that you-are-there feeling, as if you’re walking around the jazz clubs taking it all in. You’ll be amazed at the education you’ll receive just by reading this.” ★★★★★

Readers’ Favorite (April 2025)
“Pronko’s deep passion for jazz shines on each page and makes this guide a vivid experience for anyone curious about music and Japan.” ★★★★★

Midwest Book Review (April 2025)
“Readers receive more than a travel guide’s usual outline of places to go and things to see. Through Pronko’s eyes, they get to experience the options and shifting atmospheres of Japan’s jazz scene in an intimate, revealing way that eludes most traditional music guides. Riveting, personal, informative, and practical, A Guide to Jazz in Japan is everything a guidebook, history, and music celebration should be.”

Reviews of Tokyo Tempos

Kirkus Reviews (December 2024)
“Pronko succeeds in imbuing Tokyo with serene magic, and readers may feel compelled to book plane tickets upon completing this volume.” Read More

The Book Revue (December 2024)
“This book gave me a new appreciation for Tokyo's complex beauty, reminding me of the careful balance of tradition and modernity that makes this city and Japan as a whole so alluring.” Read More

Feathered Quill (December 2024)
“Tokyo Tempos is a poignant and passionate presentation of Tokyo as a city of contrast, not just a setting but a living entity representing the modern tension between innovation, progress, and the roots of tradition.” Read More

“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.” IndieReader (Read more)

“Tokyo Tempos is a charming, unaffected, and yet profoundly philosophical collection of essays on the colorful chaos that is Tokyo.” Independent Book Review (read more)

“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

“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