What do you think?
Detective Hiroshi #4
Tokyo Zangyo
In Tokyo, your job can kill.
After a top-tier manager in Japan's premier media company ends up dead in front of company headquarters, Detective Hiroshi enters the high-pressure, hard-driving world of Tokyo's large corporations. Hiroshi quickly finds out the manager fell from the roof at the exact same spot as an employee suicide three years before.
With little more to go on, Hiroshi can't tell if the manager's death was a guilt-ridden suicide, a careless accident, or a grisly personnel decision. The only certainty is that Japanese workplaces rely on "zangyo," unpaid overtime that drives employees to quit-or to kill.
Teaming up with his mentor Takamatasu, Hiroshi scours the off-record spending, lavish entertaining and unspoken agreements that keep Japan, Inc. running with brutal efficiency. Working overtime himself, Hiroshi probes the dark heart of Japanese business, a place he's tried to avoid all his life.
After a top-tier manager in Japan's premier media company ends up dead in front of company headquarters, Detective Hiroshi enters the high-pressure, hard-driving world of Tokyo's large corporations. Hiroshi quickly finds out the manager fell from the roof at the exact same spot as an employee suicide three years before.
With little more to go on, Hiroshi can't tell if the manager's death was a guilt-ridden suicide, a careless accident, or a grisly personnel decision. The only certainty is that Japanese workplaces rely on "zangyo," unpaid overtime that drives employees to quit-or to kill.
Teaming up with his mentor Takamatasu, Hiroshi scours the off-record spending, lavish entertaining and unspoken agreements that keep Japan, Inc. running with brutal efficiency. Working overtime himself, Hiroshi probes the dark heart of Japanese business, a place he's tried to avoid all his life.
340 pages, Paperback
First published July 30, 2021
About the author
Michael Pronko
16 books231 followersMichael Pronko is an award-winning, Tokyo-based writer of murder, memoir and music. His writings on Tokyo life and his taut character-driven mysteries have won critics’ awards and five-star reviews. Kirkus Reviews called his second novel, The Moving Blade, “An elegant balance of Japanese customs with American-style hard-boiled procedural” and selected it for their Best Books of 2018.
Michael also runs the website, Jazz in Japan, about the vibrant jazz scene in Tokyo and Yokohama. He has written regular columns about Japanese culture, art, jazz, society and politics for Newsweek Japan, The Japan Times, Artscape Japan, Jazznin, and ST Shukan. He has also appeared on NHK and Nippon Television.
A philosophy major, Michael traveled for years, ducking in and out of graduate schools, before finishing his PhD on Charles Dickens and film, and settling in Tokyo as a professor of American Literature at Meiji Gakuin University. He teaches contemporary American novels, film adaptations, music and art.
Michael also runs the website, Jazz in Japan, about the vibrant jazz scene in Tokyo and Yokohama. He has written regular columns about Japanese culture, art, jazz, society and politics for Newsweek Japan, The Japan Times, Artscape Japan, Jazznin, and ST Shukan. He has also appeared on NHK and Nippon Television.
A philosophy major, Michael traveled for years, ducking in and out of graduate schools, before finishing his PhD on Charles Dickens and film, and settling in Tokyo as a professor of American Literature at Meiji Gakuin University. He teaches contemporary American novels, film adaptations, music and art.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
August 9, 2021
Solving a case over a bowl of ramen and sake
A high ranking member from a top Japanese media company jumps from the top of his corporate building. Was it suicide? Murder? A woman who worked for the dead man jumped from the same spot a couple of years ago. Coincidence?
This was a well done police procedural set in Tokyo. It exposes the extremely toxic workplace people must endure especially Japanese women. You get to know the Japanese corporate culture. Oppressive and all consuming. Where zangyo(overtime) is expected from all employees with no pay of course.
This is book 4 of Detective Hiroshi Shimizu series. Hiroshi is a workaholic who drinks too much and spends too little time with his girlfriend. I enjoy the supporting cast which includes Sakaguchi a former Sumo wrestler with a bad knee and Akiko, Hiroshi's assistant, who is the glue of the operation.
The author gives you a real taste of Tokyo. Hiroshi and his crew work the case over rice balls, white shrimp, tofu, steamed vegetables and beer. I look forward to book 5
A high ranking member from a top Japanese media company jumps from the top of his corporate building. Was it suicide? Murder? A woman who worked for the dead man jumped from the same spot a couple of years ago. Coincidence?
This was a well done police procedural set in Tokyo. It exposes the extremely toxic workplace people must endure especially Japanese women. You get to know the Japanese corporate culture. Oppressive and all consuming. Where zangyo(overtime) is expected from all employees with no pay of course.
This is book 4 of Detective Hiroshi Shimizu series. Hiroshi is a workaholic who drinks too much and spends too little time with his girlfriend. I enjoy the supporting cast which includes Sakaguchi a former Sumo wrestler with a bad knee and Akiko, Hiroshi's assistant, who is the glue of the operation.
The author gives you a real taste of Tokyo. Hiroshi and his crew work the case over rice balls, white shrimp, tofu, steamed vegetables and beer. I look forward to book 5
August 12, 2021
Great stuff. My proper review is here: https://patricksherriff.com/2021/08/1...
January 31, 2026
A muckety muck in a big Japanese company jumps off a roof. Our gang starts to investigate, and finds he was held responsible for a suicide of a young woman. Zangyo means unpaid overtime, which most Japanese people seem to do. It was this sort of overtime that may have led the young lady to suicide.
The police start investigating, and find more and more irregularities, not just in the life of the muckety muck, but in the company itself. The company uses its influence to try to direct the investigation as well.
Japan's been in a recession for years and years. Makes you wonder what they're all working for.
The police start investigating, and find more and more irregularities, not just in the life of the muckety muck, but in the company itself. The company uses its influence to try to direct the investigation as well.
Japan's been in a recession for years and years. Makes you wonder what they're all working for.
December 15, 2021
Rating: 4.5/5.0
Mr. Pronko’s “Tokyo Zangyo” is a page turning procedural mystery that will keep readers guessing from start to finish!
Read full review in the 2021 Holiday issue of InD'tale Magazine.
Mr. Pronko’s “Tokyo Zangyo” is a page turning procedural mystery that will keep readers guessing from start to finish!
Read full review in the 2021 Holiday issue of InD'tale Magazine.
July 24, 2021
I was delighted to receive an ARC of this book. I have been following this author for awhile now, since reading his essay collections, as I have an interest in Japan and Japanese culture. I really like his writing style and how Tokyo jumps off the page.
This is the forth in the series, somehow I seem to have missed the third, which I’ll definitely have to remedy. This is a really good detective series and I enjoyed the mystery here. Overwork seems to be quite a problem in Japan and this story is based around an extremely toxic workplace where a young girl has committed suicide after working a ridiculous amount of hours and is closely followed over the edge of the building by her vile boss. Is it suicide or murder? I really enjoyed finding out and loved the location descriptions as the characters move around Tokyo. Certainly can’t travel there right now, so this made me feel like I was back over there. Learnt a few new words too!
Thank you to the author for the ARC, opinions and rating are my own.
This is the forth in the series, somehow I seem to have missed the third, which I’ll definitely have to remedy. This is a really good detective series and I enjoyed the mystery here. Overwork seems to be quite a problem in Japan and this story is based around an extremely toxic workplace where a young girl has committed suicide after working a ridiculous amount of hours and is closely followed over the edge of the building by her vile boss. Is it suicide or murder? I really enjoyed finding out and loved the location descriptions as the characters move around Tokyo. Certainly can’t travel there right now, so this made me feel like I was back over there. Learnt a few new words too!
Thank you to the author for the ARC, opinions and rating are my own.
August 3, 2021
For those who have somehow missed this absolutely cool, thrilling series, the Detective Hiroshi series, I urge you to not miss out any longer. As an avid reader, I remember when I dove into “The Last Train” back in 2017, and this world was opened up to me. Everything from the colors of the city to the culture, to the calculated and memorable way Michael Pronko worked his characters and plot to make sure a reader could quite literally not put down the book until it had concluded, were just some of the awesome perks that came from the first title. And, by the way, these perks have continued ever since. In fact, I have yet to read a slow or bad book in this series. (“The Moving Blade” 2018 and “Tokyo Traffic” 2020.)
In this latest full-blown thrill-ride, our favorite bringer of justice, Detective Hiroshi, is faced with a crime that focuses on a high-level manager in Japan’s premier media company dead who has been found dead in front of the headquarters’ building. Not taking long to find out what exactly occurred, Detective Hiroshi uncovers the slightly odd fact that the newly deceased manager fell from the roof at the exact same spot as an employee of the company did three years ago – a crime written up as a suicide. But was it? And even if it was, is the manager’s death suicide or was someone actually after the bigwig for some reason?
The author throws both readers and Detective Hiroshi into the high-anxiety days and nights of Tokyo’s large corporations where the pressure seems to be set at 150% at all times. After investigating initially, the one thing Hiroshi exposes is the fact that Japanese workplaces rely on a specific industry process called “zangyo,” which basically is defined as unpaid overtime that will drive employees to quit—or, if they get mad enough that it keeps falling in their laps, something that will drive them to kill people in charge.
Hiroshi is helped by his mentor Takamatasu, as they immerse themselves into the seedier parts of the company – Japan, Inc. – and learn about everything from off-record spending to under-the-table agreements that occur in order to keep the company efficient, and so much more. Being one of the hard-working, Hiroshi’s overtime hours start rising (of course, he gets paid) as he tries to solve the crime, and expose all the dark shadows that fill the murky world of Japanese business.
As I stated in the beginning, the author (who is a lover of all things Tokyo) uses his wealth of sheer passion for the area and its people, and writes this unique color and vibrancy into his characters and their surroundings. This continues to be an international police procedural that is suspenseful and has its own amazing flavor. My advice is to start reading this amazing series today! 5-Stars!!
In this latest full-blown thrill-ride, our favorite bringer of justice, Detective Hiroshi, is faced with a crime that focuses on a high-level manager in Japan’s premier media company dead who has been found dead in front of the headquarters’ building. Not taking long to find out what exactly occurred, Detective Hiroshi uncovers the slightly odd fact that the newly deceased manager fell from the roof at the exact same spot as an employee of the company did three years ago – a crime written up as a suicide. But was it? And even if it was, is the manager’s death suicide or was someone actually after the bigwig for some reason?
The author throws both readers and Detective Hiroshi into the high-anxiety days and nights of Tokyo’s large corporations where the pressure seems to be set at 150% at all times. After investigating initially, the one thing Hiroshi exposes is the fact that Japanese workplaces rely on a specific industry process called “zangyo,” which basically is defined as unpaid overtime that will drive employees to quit—or, if they get mad enough that it keeps falling in their laps, something that will drive them to kill people in charge.
Hiroshi is helped by his mentor Takamatasu, as they immerse themselves into the seedier parts of the company – Japan, Inc. – and learn about everything from off-record spending to under-the-table agreements that occur in order to keep the company efficient, and so much more. Being one of the hard-working, Hiroshi’s overtime hours start rising (of course, he gets paid) as he tries to solve the crime, and expose all the dark shadows that fill the murky world of Japanese business.
As I stated in the beginning, the author (who is a lover of all things Tokyo) uses his wealth of sheer passion for the area and its people, and writes this unique color and vibrancy into his characters and their surroundings. This continues to be an international police procedural that is suspenseful and has its own amazing flavor. My advice is to start reading this amazing series today! 5-Stars!!
August 22, 2021
Tokyo Zangyo is the 4th in Michael Pronko’s ‘Detective Hiroshi’ series. I stumbled upon Pronko’s first novel (The Last Train) by accident and immediately looked for his next book (The Moving Blade). Like the first it was amongst the most engaging and inventive police stories I’d ever read. The third novel in the series (Tokyo Traffic) suffered mildly (IMHO) only because it wasn’t long enough. I wanted more. Other than that it was riveting.
Tokyo Zangyo once again makes the city a central character in a complex and pulsing story. The 24 hour/day dynamism, the colours, the food and the contrast between modern skyscrapers and the maze of old hidden alleys of old Tokyo are integrated into every scene. There is a great sense of place and pace.
In this novel a high ranking Japanese businessman in a nationally important media company jumps to his death in an apparent suicide from the roof of his office building. It soon emerges that a couple of years earlier a woman working for this same man jumped to her death from the same place. Hiroshi and his colleagues sense a strong connection between the two deaths but the company and senior police management find this line of enquiry to be inconvenient and potentially damaging. Detective Hiroshi and his team are tasked with solving the mystery and possible connection between the two deaths without disturbing the stature of the company or the cozy relationship between the company and senior government ministers.
Pronko uses the rigid, toxic, corporate pressure cooker of big business in Tokyo to drive the narrative. The pressure and the temptations of corporate life affect both men and women but the female employees have less power and an impaired ability to cope. They face strong social pressures to achieve suitable employment and they need to find unusual coping methods to survive. Michael Pronko gives the reader a window into a rigid, unforgiving system and the murky compromises so many people are forced to endure where “zangyo” (overtime) is inescapable, perpetual and unpaid.
Ironically, Hiroshi is ironically a victim of the same reality. He works too much, drinks with his police colleagues too much and spends too little time with his girlfriend and family. His police colleagues are wonderful and familiar characters from the earlier novels. They are, for the most part, refreshingly normal rather than the cliche artificially flawed and complex characters facing personal demons you find in so many police procedurals. (Thank you Michael!)
Hiroshi's expertise is accounting, which gives him a central role in understanding the complex transfers of money, the off-the-record spending and other agreements that occur allow companies to appear to be more efficient than they actually are. Hiroshi and his teammates push to expose improper activities that have lead to deaths, regardless of how unwelcome his findings may be.
I can't wait for book #5. Michael Pronko has created a wonderful world of policing in an utterly foreign culture. I think he deserves to be considered alongside greats such as Ian Rankin, Henning Mankell and Peter Robinson. If you haven't read any of his books, do yourself a favour and start with "The Last Train" and keep going. I
Tokyo Zangyo once again makes the city a central character in a complex and pulsing story. The 24 hour/day dynamism, the colours, the food and the contrast between modern skyscrapers and the maze of old hidden alleys of old Tokyo are integrated into every scene. There is a great sense of place and pace.
In this novel a high ranking Japanese businessman in a nationally important media company jumps to his death in an apparent suicide from the roof of his office building. It soon emerges that a couple of years earlier a woman working for this same man jumped to her death from the same place. Hiroshi and his colleagues sense a strong connection between the two deaths but the company and senior police management find this line of enquiry to be inconvenient and potentially damaging. Detective Hiroshi and his team are tasked with solving the mystery and possible connection between the two deaths without disturbing the stature of the company or the cozy relationship between the company and senior government ministers.
Pronko uses the rigid, toxic, corporate pressure cooker of big business in Tokyo to drive the narrative. The pressure and the temptations of corporate life affect both men and women but the female employees have less power and an impaired ability to cope. They face strong social pressures to achieve suitable employment and they need to find unusual coping methods to survive. Michael Pronko gives the reader a window into a rigid, unforgiving system and the murky compromises so many people are forced to endure where “zangyo” (overtime) is inescapable, perpetual and unpaid.
Ironically, Hiroshi is ironically a victim of the same reality. He works too much, drinks with his police colleagues too much and spends too little time with his girlfriend and family. His police colleagues are wonderful and familiar characters from the earlier novels. They are, for the most part, refreshingly normal rather than the cliche artificially flawed and complex characters facing personal demons you find in so many police procedurals. (Thank you Michael!)
Hiroshi's expertise is accounting, which gives him a central role in understanding the complex transfers of money, the off-the-record spending and other agreements that occur allow companies to appear to be more efficient than they actually are. Hiroshi and his teammates push to expose improper activities that have lead to deaths, regardless of how unwelcome his findings may be.
I can't wait for book #5. Michael Pronko has created a wonderful world of policing in an utterly foreign culture. I think he deserves to be considered alongside greats such as Ian Rankin, Henning Mankell and Peter Robinson. If you haven't read any of his books, do yourself a favour and start with "The Last Train" and keep going. I
June 1, 2022
I am so mad at myself for accidentally reading book #4 before book #3.... I kept wondering how Hiroshi ended up with Ayana. I thought he might end up with Akiko... but I digress. No, I don't. One of the reasons IO love these books is Hiroshi. I think he is a great character... between two worlds in some ways--his history in Boston was so impactful to him. And it is so fun to read his reverse culture shock adjustments in his life back in his home country. He is a lovely character. I also love his colleagues--especially Takamatsu. So, this series is fantastic on character.
It is also really wonderful on place. Tokyo is an important character in its own right.
My favorite of the books was #2. Blade. I admired a lot how the author wove in so much backstory on the issue of extraterritoriality. As I wrote in my review of that book: Extraterritoriality is not something Americans would ever accept within their own borders and is --in fact- something that is brushed under the rug a lot in conversations about Japan but is a source of great anger in areas near bases. This book does not "tell" but "shows"how this functions in Japan and what is so problematic about it. So, the simple police procedural became a compelling read for me."
In this book, his topic was corporate life. I worked as an OL at Hitachi's international HQ when I was a "young lady" (I use the term loosely) and while there was no murder or anything particularly salacious or even oppressive about the workplace --still much of what is in this book is in the realm of imagination, without a doubt--there were no women bucho. Tho my ex-husband's bucho at Fujitsu was a woman who took no prisoners (and why should she?)
Awesome book. I would like to request the author make his next novel involving the art trade. Please see section 2 of my essay here I think something interesting could be done with the illicit art trade in Japan. Meanwhile, I will be reading book #3!
It is also really wonderful on place. Tokyo is an important character in its own right.
My favorite of the books was #2. Blade. I admired a lot how the author wove in so much backstory on the issue of extraterritoriality. As I wrote in my review of that book: Extraterritoriality is not something Americans would ever accept within their own borders and is --in fact- something that is brushed under the rug a lot in conversations about Japan but is a source of great anger in areas near bases. This book does not "tell" but "shows"how this functions in Japan and what is so problematic about it. So, the simple police procedural became a compelling read for me."
In this book, his topic was corporate life. I worked as an OL at Hitachi's international HQ when I was a "young lady" (I use the term loosely) and while there was no murder or anything particularly salacious or even oppressive about the workplace --still much of what is in this book is in the realm of imagination, without a doubt--there were no women bucho. Tho my ex-husband's bucho at Fujitsu was a woman who took no prisoners (and why should she?)
Awesome book. I would like to request the author make his next novel involving the art trade. Please see section 2 of my essay here I think something interesting could be done with the illicit art trade in Japan. Meanwhile, I will be reading book #3!
July 28, 2021
Detective Hiroshi Shimizu and his colleagues have been assigned to investigate a mysterious death that looks more like a suicide than a homocide. But even though powerful public and private leadership agencies, plus their own homicide departmental chief, desperately want the death to be declared a suicide, Hiroshi and his teammates will not ignore any evidence. Hiroshi's special expertise lies in high-level financial accounting, English language, and overseas connections. Only gradually do his skills come into play.
In Japanese, 'zangyo' means 'overtime work.' 'Karoshi' means 'overwork death.' These terms help explain the lifeways not only of Japan's mega-corporate power-brokers but more especially the suffering of their much abused female assistants.There are many and around all their lives the plot winds and constricts.
The story's universe is rich and authentic. Readers will relish descriptions of Tokyo's street life, cafes, and entertainment venues in many of the city's districts. Google Map's Street View is a good way to enjoy 360-degree views of the neighborhoods.
We have been introduced to Hiroshi's small group of associates, personal and professional, in Pronko's previous novels. In Zangyo, their characters continue to develop quite naturally as we watch them progress through life. Old wounds heal. Backgrounds are fleshed-out. New lessons are learned. This is one of the strengths of the Hiroshi mysteries. And again, among a colorful cast, there are especially intriguing new characters who play key rolls by unlocking the truth. As the book ends, we can't help but hope that our favorites reappear in Hiroshi's next adventure.
Michael Pronko has again gifted us with a rare new puzzle set in Tokyo's rich urban scenes. The plot is sound, the characters ever more believable, and the lessons well placed.
In the interest of transparency, I must say that I received a pre-release copy of the ebook. It was great.
In Japanese, 'zangyo' means 'overtime work.' 'Karoshi' means 'overwork death.' These terms help explain the lifeways not only of Japan's mega-corporate power-brokers but more especially the suffering of their much abused female assistants.There are many and around all their lives the plot winds and constricts.
The story's universe is rich and authentic. Readers will relish descriptions of Tokyo's street life, cafes, and entertainment venues in many of the city's districts. Google Map's Street View is a good way to enjoy 360-degree views of the neighborhoods.
We have been introduced to Hiroshi's small group of associates, personal and professional, in Pronko's previous novels. In Zangyo, their characters continue to develop quite naturally as we watch them progress through life. Old wounds heal. Backgrounds are fleshed-out. New lessons are learned. This is one of the strengths of the Hiroshi mysteries. And again, among a colorful cast, there are especially intriguing new characters who play key rolls by unlocking the truth. As the book ends, we can't help but hope that our favorites reappear in Hiroshi's next adventure.
Michael Pronko has again gifted us with a rare new puzzle set in Tokyo's rich urban scenes. The plot is sound, the characters ever more believable, and the lessons well placed.
In the interest of transparency, I must say that I received a pre-release copy of the ebook. It was great.
January 26, 2023
This was very different to what I usually read and I really enjoyed it. I started on book 4 as it was given in exchange for an honest review. I will definitely be getting the first 3 books and start from book 1.
Entertaining story line and I liked the narrator.
Well worth a listen.
Entertaining story line and I liked the narrator.
Well worth a listen.
August 28, 2021
Just as the first three books in the series, this story is very well done. The reader gets pulled in and plopped right down in Tokyo. It seems very realistic. If I ever get to Tokyo, I’m going to wander the alleys to find the little restaurants that Hiroshi and his crew ate at.
The plot was another foray into Japanese culture - the control that big companies have over employees and the loyalty and sense of duty that the employees have. The main characters are well developed, distinct from each other, likable and believable.
I really like this series and hope that Michael Pronko is hard at work on the next book.
Also , I was lucky enough to receive an advance copy of this book.
The plot was another foray into Japanese culture - the control that big companies have over employees and the loyalty and sense of duty that the employees have. The main characters are well developed, distinct from each other, likable and believable.
I really like this series and hope that Michael Pronko is hard at work on the next book.
Also , I was lucky enough to receive an advance copy of this book.
August 20, 2021
Loved it! If you either live in Japan (as I do) or want to live and learn about Japan this a book about Tokyo and Japan daily culture in general. Real insight and real place and the plot that keeps you reading and reading! Worth the lot ie time to read money for the book and your enjoyment you get!
February 25, 2022
We are proud to announce that TOKYO ZANGYO (Detective Hiroshi, #4) by Michael Pronko has been honored with the B.R.A.G.Medallion (Book Readers Appreciation Group). It now joins the very select award-winning, reader-recommended books at indieBRAG.
August 13, 2023
The Detective Hiroshi Series:
Sources: AuthorsXP dot com or ARCs from author. All the books are a bit wordy but still worth reading.
The Last Train, #1 - Interesting. Immersing. Intense. A good blend of Eastern and Western cultures with well written story lines, a gamut of characters, ranging from likeable to deviant. The vigilante is a hero in my opinion and accomplished more than simple revenge. The detective did the right thing, twice, in the end. 5*
The Moving Blade, #2 - Interesting and immersing with a bit of American - Japanese history. The hierarchy of crime amongst Asians is interesting. 4*
Tokyo Traffic, #3 - Still interesting and immersing with a good pace and interesting story lines. What is good about these books is that the past novels are not brought into the present novels. 4*
Tokyo Zangyo, #4 - Interesting reading about the Japanese work culture, which I knew about for decades but Mr. Pronko describes parts that are unknown, either through the changes of time or just hidden from outsiders. The blending of English and Japanese is one of the best translation methods I have read. 4*
Azabu Getaway, #5 - Interesting and intriguing story lines with likeable characters blended with the Japanese language and culture. Detective Hiroshi and his fellow police officers, again, fight against the dark side of Japanese life, its criminal activities. 4*
The Detective Hiroshi Series end.
Memoirs on Tokyo Life: Source: ARCs from author.
Beauty and Chaos: Slices and Morsels of Tokyo Life, #1 - Read this after the Hiroshi series so the writing style varies. Interesting snippets into Toyko and her people and their culture seen through the author's eyes. 4*
Tokyo’s Mystery Deepens: Essays on Tokyo, #2 - Interesting short stories. 4*
Motions and Moments: More Essays on Tokyo, #3 - I am saturated with Japan, her people and her culture. The sites, the sights and the complexities of Tokyo should not be read continuously but savored with one or two bits at a time. I promised the author to finish in a week all his books not understanding the world I was immersing myself in, it was too much, but still very interesting, and I am not ignorant about Japanese history and culture, although, not current. It was like my two week vacation in Utah and Colorado. By the time I arrived near Four Corners, I had enough of the beauty of those two States that I was not interested in seeing that ditch known as The Grand Canyon and turned left instead of right. 4*
Memoirs on Tokyo Life end.
Sources: AuthorsXP dot com or ARCs from author. All the books are a bit wordy but still worth reading.
The Last Train, #1 - Interesting. Immersing. Intense. A good blend of Eastern and Western cultures with well written story lines, a gamut of characters, ranging from likeable to deviant. The vigilante is a hero in my opinion and accomplished more than simple revenge. The detective did the right thing, twice, in the end. 5*
The Moving Blade, #2 - Interesting and immersing with a bit of American - Japanese history. The hierarchy of crime amongst Asians is interesting. 4*
Tokyo Traffic, #3 - Still interesting and immersing with a good pace and interesting story lines. What is good about these books is that the past novels are not brought into the present novels. 4*
Tokyo Zangyo, #4 - Interesting reading about the Japanese work culture, which I knew about for decades but Mr. Pronko describes parts that are unknown, either through the changes of time or just hidden from outsiders. The blending of English and Japanese is one of the best translation methods I have read. 4*
Azabu Getaway, #5 - Interesting and intriguing story lines with likeable characters blended with the Japanese language and culture. Detective Hiroshi and his fellow police officers, again, fight against the dark side of Japanese life, its criminal activities. 4*
The Detective Hiroshi Series end.
Memoirs on Tokyo Life: Source: ARCs from author.
Beauty and Chaos: Slices and Morsels of Tokyo Life, #1 - Read this after the Hiroshi series so the writing style varies. Interesting snippets into Toyko and her people and their culture seen through the author's eyes. 4*
Tokyo’s Mystery Deepens: Essays on Tokyo, #2 - Interesting short stories. 4*
Motions and Moments: More Essays on Tokyo, #3 - I am saturated with Japan, her people and her culture. The sites, the sights and the complexities of Tokyo should not be read continuously but savored with one or two bits at a time. I promised the author to finish in a week all his books not understanding the world I was immersing myself in, it was too much, but still very interesting, and I am not ignorant about Japanese history and culture, although, not current. It was like my two week vacation in Utah and Colorado. By the time I arrived near Four Corners, I had enough of the beauty of those two States that I was not interested in seeing that ditch known as The Grand Canyon and turned left instead of right. 4*
Memoirs on Tokyo Life end.
August 13, 2021
A WISHING SHELF BOOK REVIEW
11th August 2021
TITLE: Tokyo Zangyo, A Tokyo Mystery
AUTHOR: Michael Pronko
Star Rating: 5
‘A skillfully plotted, fast-paced mystery. Highly recommended!’ A ‘Wishing Shelf’ Book Review
REVIEW
For me, the most important aspect of a good mystery (or thriller) is the pacing. It's vital the novel gets going from the first page and keeps you gripped all the way to the very end. The author, Michael Pronko, seems to understand this, offering the reader a complex mystery, fast pacing, and a cast of charasmatic (and often gritty) characters.
Set in Tokyo, the complex setting is superbly described and explored by the characters. The plot too is excellent. It's a multilayered mystery but, thankfully, not too complex, exploring the culture of this fascinating city, in particular the toxic workplace through the eyes of the flawed and charismatic Hiroshi. Although this is a very atmospheric story, it's not the gritty Tokyo setting that stands out. It's the characters. The author’s very good at exploring the minds of his protagonists, particularly Detective Hiroshi. In fact, it's his ability to offer such interesting and diverse characters to the reader that brings this novel alive.
There is an intensity to this novel which, I feel, is the result of the author’s knowledge of Japanese culture. So, even if you don’t happen to be a fan of the genre, the novel also offers a gripping, often jaw dropping, insight into the goings on of the big Japanese corporations.
I always like to end with a ‘what struck me the most’ comment. Well, ‘what struck me the most’ about this novel was the author’s knowledge of character. He knows the mystery/thriller genre very, VERY well and this shows in the depth of the characters he created.
A ‘Wishing Shelf’ Book Review
www.thewsa.co.uk
11th August 2021
TITLE: Tokyo Zangyo, A Tokyo Mystery
AUTHOR: Michael Pronko
Star Rating: 5
‘A skillfully plotted, fast-paced mystery. Highly recommended!’ A ‘Wishing Shelf’ Book Review
REVIEW
For me, the most important aspect of a good mystery (or thriller) is the pacing. It's vital the novel gets going from the first page and keeps you gripped all the way to the very end. The author, Michael Pronko, seems to understand this, offering the reader a complex mystery, fast pacing, and a cast of charasmatic (and often gritty) characters.
Set in Tokyo, the complex setting is superbly described and explored by the characters. The plot too is excellent. It's a multilayered mystery but, thankfully, not too complex, exploring the culture of this fascinating city, in particular the toxic workplace through the eyes of the flawed and charismatic Hiroshi. Although this is a very atmospheric story, it's not the gritty Tokyo setting that stands out. It's the characters. The author’s very good at exploring the minds of his protagonists, particularly Detective Hiroshi. In fact, it's his ability to offer such interesting and diverse characters to the reader that brings this novel alive.
There is an intensity to this novel which, I feel, is the result of the author’s knowledge of Japanese culture. So, even if you don’t happen to be a fan of the genre, the novel also offers a gripping, often jaw dropping, insight into the goings on of the big Japanese corporations.
I always like to end with a ‘what struck me the most’ comment. Well, ‘what struck me the most’ about this novel was the author’s knowledge of character. He knows the mystery/thriller genre very, VERY well and this shows in the depth of the characters he created.
A ‘Wishing Shelf’ Book Review
www.thewsa.co.uk
October 19, 2021
Overall Rating = 4.67
Storyline & Concept = 4.5
Writing & Delivery = 5
Editorial = 4.5
Tokyo Zangyo, the fourth in the series by Michael Pronko, features Detective Hiroshi and his troupe of sidekicks, who are called upon to investigate the death of a manager of a large Japanese media company. While some want to write it off as a suicide, Hiroshi is forced to dig into the mire of unpaid overtime and harassment common to Japanese workplaces in order to discover the truth.
Michael Pronko has created a varied and intriguing cast of characters to complement the hard-working and empathetic protagonist, Hiroshi, and to bring several layers of entertainment to the story. Pronko takes the reader deep into the culture of Japanese businesses and gives us insight into the rigid expectations of the Nippon hierarchy and the toxic effect they have on employees. He exposes the Japanese lifestyle with vivid descriptions of Tokyo, the food, and the people, adding a heavy dose of charm to the narrative. Hiroshi is an interesting and relatable character, and it’s easy to understand how he has carried this series to four books (and hopefully more to come). As this was my first experience with Pronko’s writing, I will definitely be checking out the first three in the series.
Sublime Line: “Tokyo Zangyo is an attention-grabbing police procedural that checks off all the boxes for a winning mystery.”
Storyline & Concept = 4.5
Writing & Delivery = 5
Editorial = 4.5
Tokyo Zangyo, the fourth in the series by Michael Pronko, features Detective Hiroshi and his troupe of sidekicks, who are called upon to investigate the death of a manager of a large Japanese media company. While some want to write it off as a suicide, Hiroshi is forced to dig into the mire of unpaid overtime and harassment common to Japanese workplaces in order to discover the truth.
Michael Pronko has created a varied and intriguing cast of characters to complement the hard-working and empathetic protagonist, Hiroshi, and to bring several layers of entertainment to the story. Pronko takes the reader deep into the culture of Japanese businesses and gives us insight into the rigid expectations of the Nippon hierarchy and the toxic effect they have on employees. He exposes the Japanese lifestyle with vivid descriptions of Tokyo, the food, and the people, adding a heavy dose of charm to the narrative. Hiroshi is an interesting and relatable character, and it’s easy to understand how he has carried this series to four books (and hopefully more to come). As this was my first experience with Pronko’s writing, I will definitely be checking out the first three in the series.
Sublime Line: “Tokyo Zangyo is an attention-grabbing police procedural that checks off all the boxes for a winning mystery.”
November 20, 2021
This is a sort of police procedural kind of book, but it's set in Japan with Japanese characters. The author is an American by birth, but has lived in Japan for the past twenty or so years.
So, we begin with a fancy executive, Shigeru Onizuka, falling off the edge of an office building, in a drunken stupor. But, was he pushed or did he fall over the edge by himself? There was a fence protecting the edge of the building, but the fence had clearly been cut through. But, there was no sign of the shears that would be needed to cut the fence. Several years earlier, a young woman who used to work for Onizuka, Maryu Yamase, had plunged from the very same place. Coincidence or not?
It seems that Onizuka was an abusive, bullying boss. He might have essentially driven Maryu Yamase to suicide, or he might have arranged things to save face of one kind or another. He had been reported repeatedly for abusing all of his employees, especially the young women. So, perhaps Onizuka was pushed by one of Maryu's relatives, or perhaps her boy friend, who was an American jazz musician living and working in Tokyo.
Well, the story unfolds and eventually Det. Hiroshi Shimizu and his cronies untangle the mess. It was a pretty fun book.
So, we begin with a fancy executive, Shigeru Onizuka, falling off the edge of an office building, in a drunken stupor. But, was he pushed or did he fall over the edge by himself? There was a fence protecting the edge of the building, but the fence had clearly been cut through. But, there was no sign of the shears that would be needed to cut the fence. Several years earlier, a young woman who used to work for Onizuka, Maryu Yamase, had plunged from the very same place. Coincidence or not?
It seems that Onizuka was an abusive, bullying boss. He might have essentially driven Maryu Yamase to suicide, or he might have arranged things to save face of one kind or another. He had been reported repeatedly for abusing all of his employees, especially the young women. So, perhaps Onizuka was pushed by one of Maryu's relatives, or perhaps her boy friend, who was an American jazz musician living and working in Tokyo.
Well, the story unfolds and eventually Det. Hiroshi Shimizu and his cronies untangle the mess. It was a pretty fun book.
July 20, 2025
Decent Japanese mystery
I had read two previous books by Pronko and really enjoyed them a lot. However, this one was not quite as exciting as the others. I think if you are an accountant, you will probably love this book, but for me the plot included way too much information about the financial aspects of large corporations. The overall plot was essentially good, but I got very bogged down in the details. I did think it was interesting to learn about how Japanese business cultures have changed since World War II.
I really like the character of Detective Hiroshi. All the others were a little confusing for me because of the Japanese names, but I really like the sumo wrestler as well. I actually got tired reading about all of the police staff. Never getting any sleep. I feel like I need a nap! Overall, it’s a decent read, but I’d recommend starting with his first novels. And as I said, if you’re interested in financial machinations, you’ll probably really enjoy this book.!
I had read two previous books by Pronko and really enjoyed them a lot. However, this one was not quite as exciting as the others. I think if you are an accountant, you will probably love this book, but for me the plot included way too much information about the financial aspects of large corporations. The overall plot was essentially good, but I got very bogged down in the details. I did think it was interesting to learn about how Japanese business cultures have changed since World War II.
I really like the character of Detective Hiroshi. All the others were a little confusing for me because of the Japanese names, but I really like the sumo wrestler as well. I actually got tired reading about all of the police staff. Never getting any sleep. I feel like I need a nap! Overall, it’s a decent read, but I’d recommend starting with his first novels. And as I said, if you’re interested in financial machinations, you’ll probably really enjoy this book.!
January 3, 2024
Disclaimer: I received this book from Good Reads in exchange for a review.
The story begins with an executive at one of Japan's largest companies throwing himself off of the roof of the company office building, just like one of his subordinates did a year earlier. But was it suicide? Or was it murder? The detectives assigned to the case are convinced of the latter, and relentlessly dig into every lead they can find. Along the way the meet former coworkers and colleagues of both deceased, and some shady characters. The word Zangyo is Japanese for overtime, and many of the workers in the story are forced to work long overtime hours. The story leads to a satisfactory ending, and an interesting voyage that gives the reader a taste of Japanese culture. I enjoyed it very much, and would recommend it.
The story begins with an executive at one of Japan's largest companies throwing himself off of the roof of the company office building, just like one of his subordinates did a year earlier. But was it suicide? Or was it murder? The detectives assigned to the case are convinced of the latter, and relentlessly dig into every lead they can find. Along the way the meet former coworkers and colleagues of both deceased, and some shady characters. The word Zangyo is Japanese for overtime, and many of the workers in the story are forced to work long overtime hours. The story leads to a satisfactory ending, and an interesting voyage that gives the reader a taste of Japanese culture. I enjoyed it very much, and would recommend it.
October 28, 2021
A different view of Japan and its workforce. It seems that the profitable and well oiled companies can do no wrong. If they do, it is easy to get out even of murder. I’ll read more of this author. He is not very keen, at least it seems, on the Japanese culture. But very keen on the police who drink too much and smoke too much!
I MUST ADD THIS. I GOT IT ALL WRONG apparently Mr. Pronko is very fond of his adoptive city. His description, I would assume are correct, but it is fiction after all. I just pity all the poor women that have to work in that society, as described in this book. Enough already, I enjoyed the mystery.
I MUST ADD THIS. I GOT IT ALL WRONG apparently Mr. Pronko is very fond of his adoptive city. His description, I would assume are correct, but it is fiction after all. I just pity all the poor women that have to work in that society, as described in this book. Enough already, I enjoyed the mystery.
March 25, 2025
Something a cut above here
I already had a high regard for Michael Pronko when I started reading Tokyo Zangyo; his situations are always tense, his stories full of action. He writes polished prose that richly observes the teeming city of Tokyo and its people, with numerous scenes set in its tighter, darker corner.
This story reaches new places inside his protagonist Hiroshi. In the careful exposition Pronko’s customary array of humanity each touch closer to Hiroshi’s tender spots. He is more aware of personal failings here at the same time the story deals with some of the darker, destructive aspects of the culture.
I already had a high regard for Michael Pronko when I started reading Tokyo Zangyo; his situations are always tense, his stories full of action. He writes polished prose that richly observes the teeming city of Tokyo and its people, with numerous scenes set in its tighter, darker corner.
This story reaches new places inside his protagonist Hiroshi. In the careful exposition Pronko’s customary array of humanity each touch closer to Hiroshi’s tender spots. He is more aware of personal failings here at the same time the story deals with some of the darker, destructive aspects of the culture.
January 7, 2026
The book was both a real trudge and a major disappointment. I read all the prior books in this series, enjoyed them, . I’m not sureso I was really looking forward to this one — what a let down. The book started slow and got worse at it went along. I’m not sure how I finished it. Just kept waiting for the plot to come together, but it never did. The book just sort of meandered along and ended with thud. I’m not sure if I can get the motivation to read the next in the series. I gave the book 2 stars. As they say in the NFL, after review I should have rated it one star.
February 17, 2026
Audiobook: I was entertained by this book. I thought the author described the city of Tokyo and its inhabitants in a way that made me feel like I had a little better understanding of the culture. I felt for the women and their struggles as they tried to be heard. I admired Detective Hiroshi skills and intelligence as he worked to solve his newest case. I enjoyed Peter Berkrot's narration as his performance kept my attention. I was given a copy of the audiobook. I volunteered, without financial gain, to post this review which reflected my honest opinions regarding this audiobook.
April 30, 2024
Zangyo, a new word to the same work habit.
I thought the book was well written, I like the characters and think they made a good group of detectives from different walks of life. It was funny at times and sad at others. It showed how different our work culture is. Keep writing them Michael..
I thought the book was well written, I like the characters and think they made a good group of detectives from different walks of life. It was funny at times and sad at others. It showed how different our work culture is. Keep writing them Michael..
October 4, 2025
A little difficult to understand the Japanese culture but have better understanding by end of book
five stars
Japanese businesses and police are not like American. Getting used to routines, expectations was something I needed to get around.
Plot was very complicated.
I liked how typical Japanese life was indicated.
Their Ramen is way more complicated than mine.
five stars
Japanese businesses and police are not like American. Getting used to routines, expectations was something I needed to get around.
Plot was very complicated.
I liked how typical Japanese life was indicated.
Their Ramen is way more complicated than mine.
December 31, 2022
Zipped through this detective story today. Pronko's mysteries always read quickly and seem to do a great job of nailing Tokyo business and cop cultures.
Enough reading for today... already over what I expected to read this year, though only slightly.
Enough reading for today... already over what I expected to read this year, though only slightly.
July 20, 2024
I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway. I didn't realize it was #4 in a series. I learned that after I read it. I had it scored 2 stars because I didn't understand why some things were said. It was like reading a detective book of inside jokes.
December 15, 2025
A tad more sex and violence than I am used to. I did feel a bit like this was written by an expat and not a Japanese author. A good mystery and quite the page turner. Michael Pronko is a very good author. I have loved his essays on Japan and also his mysteries. Well done!
July 20, 2021
I was lucky to get an advance copy of Tokyo Zangyo - the best book in this series, so far.
August 10, 2021
Another Great Read
Tokyo Olympics just ended & I finished this book. What treats I was given. I recommend the series to anyone who likes detective reads and new foreign places.
Tokyo Olympics just ended & I finished this book. What treats I was given. I recommend the series to anyone who likes detective reads and new foreign places.
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