“I’m taking two days off.”
“We finished reshelving the archives.”
“You must be—”
“I am, but today’s an important anniversary.”
Hiroshi smiled at Ayana, desperately ransacking his brain for what anniversary he had forgotten. When did they move in together? When had they gotten back together? It wasn’t her birthday, or his. Was it the day of her divorce?
“OK, I give up. I haven’t slept all night, and not much this past week.”
Ayana smiled. “Want me to tell you?”
“You’ll have to if we’re ever going to eat.”
“This is the day when we spent the night together on the beach in Kamakura.” Ayana grabbed his arm, her face beaming.
Hiroshi remembered the night after their kendo tournament during the second year of college. It was the first time to be held tenderly, to spend the night together, to make love with anyone despite the sand and the cold on the beach, buried under their kendo gear after the contest. It was the most beautiful memory of his life. It was the day he started living.
“We didn’t celebrate this last year. Did we?” Hiroshi asked.
“I came across some records of tournaments for the intercollegiate kendo association at the archives. I got curious if ours was in there. It took a little time, but I found it. In fact, that tournament has a lineage back to the eighteenth century.”
Hiroshi hugged Ayana. The swirl of people around them went ignored as Hiroshi kept tight hold of her. He could feel the stares of passing people. Hugs and clinches weren’t uncommon late at night when lovers separated at stations to take trains far apart from one another. But hugging intensely before dinner with everyone sweeping past in one of the most public spots in the city was highly unusual.
Ayana patted his back and eased away. “OK, all right, already. Now I smell like smoke.”
Hiroshi let her go. “I just can’t go up into any high place. The case, well, I didn’t tell you yet, but I had to rescue a woman who almost jumped. Twenty stories or so. So tonight, above the first floor, I wouldn’t be good company.”
Ayana touched his cheek.
“What if we go to the beach instead? If you really want to celebrate the anniversary. Recreate the past.”
She smiled and nodded. “Sand, flies, sweaty gear. That’s romance, I agree, but it’s a bit far to get there right now.”
“But we can do that sometime?”
“It depends on the beach.” Ayana took a breath and pulled out her cellphone to call and cancel the reservations with an elaborate excuse. When she dropped her cellphone into her bag, she looked at Hiroshi. “That’s canceled. So?”
“Are you disappointed?”
Ayana took his arm and turned him downhill. “With the reservation, yes. But it’s still our anniversary. What do you want to do?”
“Let’s walk home, find something to eat along the way.”
They walked away from the south exit and turned north through the busy streets surrounding Shinjuku Station. People seemed jumpier closer to the big stations, as if some electric magnet was energizing them to move and gesticulate, talk louder, drink more, shop more desperately.
“Aren’t you too tired?” Ayana asked, clutching his arm.
“No. A walk is just what I need. There’s that tempura place you like.”
“I’m overdressed for that.”
“You’re overdressed for most places between here and Kagurazaka and I’m underdressed for everywhere. I just want to get you inside someplace with good lighting so I can stare at you.”
“I thought you always liked tonkatsu deep-fried pork cutlets when you’re not with me, so what if I join you for once?”
“It’s a bit heavy. What about ramen? I know a great place on the way home. They specialize in the ‘two broth method.’”
Ayana laughed. “What’s that?”
“They keep the two broths separate until the last minute, then pour them in together right before the noodles. It’s special.”
“What are the two broths?”
“Chicken feet is one and pork bones is the other, plus secret ingredients the chef would never divulge.”
“I like the secret part.”
They took each other’s hands. Out of the busy part of Shinjuku, the streets became calmer, darker and quieter. It was more open but felt more intimate.
The quieter lanes closer by Tokyo Women’s Medical University felt even more relaxed. A series of small temples dotted both sides of the street. Fewer cars buzzed by and the streets turned into neighborhoods.
“What about a place we don’t know?” Ayana said. “Like that soba place over there.”
“Let’s just keep walking.” Hiroshi pulled her closer. The night air felt warmer than the past few days, and the wind had stopped.
Ayana twisted free and skipped a few steps ahead. She turned to face Hiroshi, walking backwards and watching him.
He burst forward to catch up with her, pulled her close, and kissed her deeply.
They let go, gave each other a little squeeze, and slipped back shoulder to shoulder to keep walking.
“Is this really the day of that kendo contest?” Hiroshi couldn’t quite believe it was.
“Why would I make that up? And anyway, it’s better than typical anniversaries, birthdays or whatever, isn’t it?”
Hiroshi felt deeply, strongly that it was much better.
They walked for a while in silence.
“It’s nice to walk like this, without a plan. Like we did in college.”
“That was walking without money. I had a lot of plans.”
“It was nice back then. We couldn’t plan anything more than what money we had in our pockets.”
“Which allowed very few plans. Maybe that’s the secret, to always have more time than money.”
“Maybe the secret is just walking like this.”
THE END
If you enjoyed this book, please consider taking a minute to write a review on your favorite book-related site. Reviews really help indie writers like myself.
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Special Thanks
Thanks to everyone who helped.
Allen Appel
Marco Mancini
Matt Kineen
Anne Brewer
Luis Carlet and Hifumi Okunuki of Tozen Union
Richard Sheehan
Nancy LaFever
And thanks also to my friends, family and students.
And always, thanks for all to my wife.
About the author
Michael Pronko is the author of three mystery novels and three collections of writings about Tokyo. He has written about Japanese culture, art, jazz, and politics for Newsweek Japan, The Japan Times, Artscape Japan, and other publications for over twenty years. He has appeared on NHK Public TV, Tokyo MXTV and Nippon Television. He also runs a website, Jazz in Japan, about the vibrant jazz scene in Japan.
Michael is a professor of American Literature and Culture at Meiji Gakuin University in Tokyo, teaching courses in contemporary American novels, film adaptations, and American art and music. When not teaching, writing or listening to jazz, he wanders Tokyo contemplating its intensity and figuring out the stories to come.
His award-winning collections of essays about life in Tokyo are available at online retailers and from his website, as are the Japanese language versions. His first three novels in the Detective Hiroshi series have won numerous awards.
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For more on the Hiroshi series: www.michaelpronko.com
Follow Michael on Twitter: @pronkomichael
Michael’s Facebook page: www.facebook.com/pronkoauthor
For more about jazz in Japan: www.jazzinjapan.com.
Memoirs on Tokyo Life
Beauty and Chaos: Slices and Morsels of Tokyo Life (2014)
Motions and Moments: More Essays on Tokyo (2015)
The Detective Hiroshi Series
The Last Train (2017)
The Moving Blade (2018)
Tokyo Traffic (2020)
Awards for The Last Train (2017)
Winner Shelf Unbound Best Independently Published Book (2018)
Solo Medalist Winner New Apple E-Book Awards for Mystery (2017)
Winner Beverly Hills Book Awards for Crime Fiction (2017)
Winner Best Mystery Book Excellence Awards for Mystery (2017)
Winner Independent Press Award for Mystery and for Thriller (2018)
Global Award Reader Views (2017-2018)
Gold Award Literary Titan Book Award (2017)
Silver Honoree IBPA Benjamin Franklin Digital Awards (2017)
Silver Award Feathered Quill Awards (2018)
Silver Award Independent Publisher Book Awards (2018)
Reviews of The Last Train (2017)
“A flawless, dark, atmospheric mystery set in Tokyo. Our judges couldn’t put this novel down.” Shelf Unbound Competition
“For anyone who loves crime and cop novels, or Japanophiles in general, this is a terrific thriller.” Blue Ink Review
“This exotic crime thriller is a lightning-fast chase to the finish line that’ll leave hearts pounding and pages turning.” Best Thrillers
“A well-paced and absorbing mystery, with quick action and a look at urban life, an utterly page-turning adventure.” Foreword Reviews
“An absorbing investigation and memorable backdrop put this series launch on the right track.” Kirkus Reviews
“Gripping and suspenseful, this fast-paced thriller unfolds on the streets of Tokyo, where a clever and cold-blooded killer exacts revenge.” Booklife Prize
“Mystery readers will relish the progress of a detective torn between cultures, the reader of Japanese literature the depth of background.” Midwest Book Review
“Tokyo comes to vivid life in this taut thriller, an unrelenting portrayal of a strong female character and the heart-pounding search to find her.” Publishers Daily Reviews
“Nothing short of electrifying, a masterpiece that combines action with humor and suspense.” Readers’ Favorite
“A fast-paced thriller that skillfully exposes readers to the seedy urban side of Japan and leaves readers waiting for the next in the series.” Feathered Quill
“Written from knowledge rather than research, he knows a lot more than he has any need to tell us brings the city gloriously to life.” The Bookbag
“A heartfelt, thoughtful ode to a strange and beautiful city, in the way that so many classic detective novels are. Lyrically written with plenty of suspense.” Indie Reader
Awards for The Moving Blade (2018)
Named One of Kirkus Reviews Best Indie Mysteries and Thrillers (2018)
Grand Prize Winner Chanticleer International Book Awards Global Thrillers (2018)
Winner Independent Press Award for Crime Fiction (2019)
Gold Award Literary Titan Book Award (2018)
Five Star Honoree B.R.A.G. Medallion (2018)
Gold Award Independent Publisher Awards for Mystery (2019)
Silver Medal Readers’ Favorite for Thriller (2019)
Reviews of The Moving Blade (2018)
“An elegant balance of Japanese customs with an American-style hard-boiled procedural. A tight, rock-solid installment in a series that’s only getting better.” Kirkus Reviews
“A true page turner with main characters that come alive with intelligence, curiosity and imperfections.” Blue Ink Review
“An homage to Tokyo and a savagely entertaining mystery that will grip readers and keep them guessing until the violent, octane-fueled finish.” SPR Review
“One of the year’s best thrillers. A string of grisly murders, high stakes geopolitics and the prose of a master craftsman elevate this crime thriller to rarefied air.” Best Thrillers
“Full of East Asian and international politics and plenty of sociological commentary. Fun and thrilling throughout—an exciting modern mystery.” Foreword Clarion Reviews
“This book made it to my favorites list before I even finished reading it. Suspense and intrigue from the very first chapter…and great writing.” Literary Titan
“Ripe with surprising plot twists that take the reader into the deep underbelly of Tokyo. An intriguing story of murder, mystery, and maleficence.” US Review of Books
“Detailed and compellingly plotted…for anyone with a fascination or even a curiosity about Japan, this is a great crime novel.” Crime Fiction Lover
“A powerfully written crime novel; often stark and unsettling, the characters spring off the page.” The Wishing Shelf
“A stellar novel with a unique storyline and setting, The Moving Blade is fresh and original.” BookLife Prize
“The second in the Detective Hiroshi series is another cracker: real tension and a scenario which is (unfortunately) only too believable.” The Bookbag
“More than most procedural crime novels…enriched by carefully drawn portraits of both political and cultural differences between Western and Eastern culture.” Chanticleer Book Reviews
“The action-packed plot is not just a dramatic whodunit piece, but a slice of life piece inspecting Japanese heart and minds.” Midwest Book Review
“Pronko brought this story to life so much that I found myself hoping that none of the negative aspects could possibly be true.” Reader Views
Awards for Tokyo Traffic (2020)
Gold Award Literary Titan (2020)
Gold Medallian Book Readers Appreciation Group (B.R.A.G.) (2020)
Long-listed Shelf Unbound Best Indie Book (2020)
Reviewer’s Choice Feathered Quill Book Awards (2020)
Winner Thriller Independent Press Award (2021)
Winner Thriller National Indie Excellence Awards 2021
Silver Medal Reader’s Favorite Fiction Mystery Murder
Silver Winner Thriller and Suspense Foreword Indies 2020
First Runner-Up Eric Hoffer Award 2021
Reviews of Tokyo Traffic (2020)
“Pronko’s immediate style puts you into the guts of the action but will pull at your heartstrings at the same time. The city of Tokyo shines brightly, with grit and glamour, and the author isn’t afraid to tear the wrapper off of this dynamic city,” Reader Views.
“A great page-turner with real tension towards the end and I hope that it won't be too long before we hear more about Hiroshi,” The Bookbag.
“A dark and striking thriller with an indelible cast and setting,” Kirkus Reviews.
“Starts fast and doesn’t let up on its breakneck pace until bodies (both living and dead) are strewn all over the place,” Pacific Book Review.
“With Tokyo Traffic, Pronko further establishes Hiroshi as one of the most distinctive and intrepid detectives in contemporary crime fiction,” Best Thrillers.
“This is a classic thriller, the gritty atmosphere, the dark characters and a brave and slightly broken hero,” The Wishing Shelf.
“Pronko develops characters that leap off the page. We want them to escape, we want them to get caught, we want them to solve the case,” Chanticleer Book Reviews.
“Combining old-fashioned gumshoeing with modern-day social conventions, Pronko’s tale is as much a Tokyo detective’s diary as it is a gritty underworld whodunit,” US Review of Books.
“Tokyo is described in all of its beauty and ugliness, where the sparkling world of music clubs, internet cafes and teen hangouts are tainted by a dismaying traffic of young people,” Advicesbooks.
“Pronko’s characters are fully developed, his dialogue is authentic, and his writing is clear and concise,” San Francisco Book Review.
“It’s clear the author knows Japan deep in his soul. Pronko is also a masterful storyteller. As the narrative’s tension builds, readers will find themselves racing
toward the inexorable moment when police, victims and villains collide,” Blue Ink Review.
“A high-energy thriller set in the gruesome world of human trafficking and child pornography, TOKYO TRAFFIC keeps the adrenaline pumping until the very end,” IndieReader.
“A story that winds through Tokyo's streets and Hiroshi's heart alike, drawing readers through a dangerous game that culminates in an unexpected, satisfying conclusion,” Midwest Book Review.
“Taut and terse, this noir novel is executed to perfection,” Foreword Clarion Reviews.
“Pronko creates the backdrop to this story as if it is a character all on its own and invites readers into this colorful world in an easy yet striking way. Thrilling crime fiction set in an exotic location,” Literary Titan.
“I read and reviewed the first two in this series, and am happy to say that Tokyo Traffic is as good as the first two, if not better. It makes for uncomfortable reading at many points, but it’s a necessary discomfort,” Crime Fiction Lover.
“As both a love letter to Japan and a bold condemnation of certain human rights crises still alive and well in our modern world, Tokyo Traffic is a superlative addition to the Detective Hiroshi series,” SPR Review.
“Rich in local colour and culture, the unfolding investigation into the dark underbelly of Tokyo life is fascinating, if disturbing,” Booksplainer.
“This is a sophisticated, humane, and compelling take on the modern police procedural.
Fans will thrill to this mystery’s lively characters, vivid descriptions of Tokyo, and unlikely heroics,” Booklife Review.
“Adroitly takes readers on another outstanding Detective Hiroshi thrill ride into the streets of Tokyo, this time presenting a murderous case involving human trafficking that you don’t want to miss,” Feathered Quill.
“If there’s a better crime series set in Japan, I’ve not yet read it,” Crime Thriller Hound.
“Mystery readers who enjoy their detective pieces firmly rooted in reality will find Tokyo Traffic an excellent read,” California Bookwatch.
"The worldbuilding is impeccable and I enjoyed the complex environment the protagonist navigates. Tokyo Traffic is filled with mystery and realism and I found myself rooting for the protagonist. It is fast-paced and emotionally rich," Reader's Favorite.
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