Michael Pronko on A Guide to Jazz in Japan | Japanese Jazz, Kansas City & Finding the Hidden Clubs

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series with author Michael Pronko, talking about his 2026 book A Guide to Jazz in Japan.Michael was back in his old stomping grounds of Kansas City to sit down with Neon Jazz for a wide-ranging conversation about his early memories of KC, his journey to Japan, and how he became deeply woven into the country's extraordinary jazz culture.In A Guide to Jazz in Japan, Pronko brings together jazz history, cultural insight, travel knowledge, and personal experience to explore one of the most vibrant jazz scenes in the world. More than a travel guide, the book is a love letter to Japanese jazz and an invaluable cultural resource for anyone curious about the music, people, clubs, neighborhoods, and traditions that make Japan's jazz scene so unique.Whether you're planning a trip to Japan, living there, an armchair traveler, or simply a lifelong jazz fan, Michael Pronko points you toward some of the best Japanese jazz experiences — including places far beyond the usual tourist destinations.From Kansas City to Japan, this conversation explores jazz, travel, culture, history, discovery, and the many unexpected connections between two great jazz worlds.Dig into this wide-ranging Neon Jazz conversation with Michael Pronko and discover why Japan has become such an important destination for jazz lovers around the world.Get Michael Pronko's book — A Guide to Jazz in Japan:Michael Pronko — A Guide to Jazz in JapanSubscribe to Neon Jazz for more conversations with jazz musicians, authors, artists, educators, and cultural voices from around the world.For More Neon Jazz: Shows via MixCloud: https://www.mixcloud.com/neonjazzkc/Subscribe via Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/user/neonjazzkcSubscribe via iTunes/Apple - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/famous-interviews-joe-dimino/id546432639?mt=2The Home of Neon Jazz: http://theneonjazz.blogspot.com/Contribute to Neon Jazz via PayPal:                     https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=ER Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.