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➡️ WAIT! Want to save a dollar and get the latest issue each month? Become a member of our Makoto+ club and not only save and download new Makoto issues, but also access web-versions of the past three Makoto issues. Want more? Well, Makoto+ members also get a 10% reusable coupon good for anything at theJapanShop.com and each month, we will post a new eBook for you to download free of charge. Subscribe today with a free 7 day trial. Cancel at any time! Click here to learn more.   Makoto E-Zine series #37 39 Pages | 3 eBook Formats | 15 Sound FilesRecommended for beginners and lower intermediates of Japanese.FREE MP3s of the stories read by a native Japanese speaker--download link found on the last page. Listen while reading.The Fun Japanese Not Found in Textbooks. If you like our readers and lessons, you will love Makoto, the e-zine filled with articles on kanji, culture, idioms, proverbs, geography, history, etymology, JLPT tips, Japanese trivia, and much more. Not only that, but every issue will include a brand new reader with newly recorded high-quality MP3s for you to download for no extra charge. IN THIS ISSUE: March 2021 39 Pages | 3 eBook Formats | 15 Sound FilesTWO NEW READERS: Frank and the Obaasan Season Two Episode Nine (beginner) + Jigokudani Monkey Park (Intermediate) Laughs, Jokes, Riddles, and Puns Vocabulary Prefecture Spotlight: Tottori Etymology: Igirisu Cool Anime / Manga Phrase Haiku Natsume Souseki Kanji Spotlight Grammar Time! Using Ka Japanese Readers: Frank and the Obaasan (beginner) + Jigokudani Monkey Park (Intermediate)   ➡️ LEARN ABOUT BECOMING A MAKOTO+ MEMBER. CLICK HERE

➡️ WAIT! Want to save a dollar and get the latest issue each month? Become a member of our Makoto+ club and not only save and download new Makoto issues, but also access web-versions of the past three Makoto issues. Want more? Well, Makoto+ members also get a 10% reusable coupon good for anything at theJapanShop.com and each month, we will post a new eBook for you to download free of charge. Subscribe today with a free 7 day trial. Cancel at any time! Click here to learn more.   Makoto E-Zine series #38 45 Pages | 3 eBook Formats | 12 Sound FilesRecommended for beginners and lower intermediates of Japanese.FREE MP3s of the stories read by a native Japanese speaker--download link found on the last page. Listen while reading.The Fun Japanese Not Found in Textbooks. If you like our readers and lessons, you will love Makoto, the e-zine filled with articles on kanji, culture, idioms, proverbs, geography, history, etymology, JLPT tips, Japanese trivia, and much more. Not only that, but every issue will include a brand new reader with newly recorded high-quality MP3s for you to download for no extra charge. IN THIS ISSUE: April 2021 45 Pages | 3 eBook Formats | 12 Sound FilesTWO NEW READERS: Frank and the Obaasan Season Two Episode Ten (beginner) + Japanese Fruit (Intermediate) Laughs, Jokes, Riddles, and Puns Vocabulary Prefecture Spotlight: Hyogo Etymology: Tachi Oujou Anime Phrase of the Day Haiku Kanji Spotlight Grammar Time! Japanese Readers: Frank and the Obaasan Season 2 Episode 10 (beginner) + Japanese Fruits (Intermediate)   ➡️ LEARN ABOUT BECOMING A MAKOTO+ MEMBER. CLICK HERE

➡️ WAIT! Want to save a dollar and get the latest issue each month? Become a member of our Makoto+ club and not only save and download new Makoto issues, but also access web-versions of the past three Makoto issues. Want more? Well, Makoto+ members also get a 10% reusable coupon good for anything at theJapanShop.com and each month, we will post a new eBook for you to download free of charge. Subscribe today with a free 7 day trial. Cancel at any time! Click here to learn more.   Makoto E-Zine series #39 49 Pages | 3 eBook Formats | 17 Sound FilesRecommended for beginners and lower intermediates of Japanese.FREE MP3s of the stories read by a native Japanese speaker--download link found on the last page. Listen while reading.The Fun Japanese Not Found in Textbooks. If you like our readers and lessons, you will love Makoto, the e-zine filled with articles on kanji, culture, idioms, proverbs, geography, history, etymology, JLPT tips, Japanese trivia, and much more. Not only that, but every issue will include a brand new reader with newly recorded high-quality MP3s for you to download for no extra charge. IN THIS ISSUE: May 2021 49 Pages | 3 eBook Formats | 17 Sound FilesIn this issue, we have a special report about the quaint Shirakawago. The haiku is by Yosa Buson, and we take a close look at Osaka. The beginner story is an amusing pronunciation mistake made by one of Clay's buddies, and the intermediate essay is about Japanese earthquakes, how to measure them, and what to do if you experience one. Laughs, Jokes, Riddles, and Puns Vocabulary Prefecture Spotlight: Osaka Etymology: Ikura Anime Phrase of the Day Haiku Kanji Spotlight Grammar Time! Japanese Readers: Japanese Pronunciation: kowai and kawaii (beginner) + Japanese Earthquakes (Intermediate)   ➡️ LEARN ABOUT BECOMING A MAKOTO+ MEMBER. CLICK HERE

➡️ WAIT! Want to save a dollar and get the latest issue each month? Become a member of our Makoto+ club and not only save and download new Makoto issues, but also access web-versions of the past three Makoto issues. Want more? Well, Makoto+ members also get a 10% reusable coupon good for anything at theJapanShop.com and each month, we will post a new eBook for you to download free of charge. Subscribe today for only $3 a month or $36 a year. Cancel at any time! Click here to learn more. IN THIS ISSUE: NEW READER: Ninja * Laughs, Jokes, Riddles, and Puns* Prefecture Spotlight: Aichi* Etymology* Phrase of the Day: Love Words* Japanese Art: Byobu* Kanji Spotlight* Grammar Time!　* Reader: Ninja! ➡️ LEARN ABOUT BECOMING A MAKOTO+ MEMBER. CLICK HERE

➡️ WAIT! Want to save a dollar and get the latest issue each month? Become a member of our Makoto+ club and not only save and download new Makoto issues, but also access web-versions of the past three Makoto issues. Want more? Well, Makoto+ members also get a 10% reusable coupon good for anything at theJapanShop.com and each month, we will post a new eBook for you to download free of charge. Subscribe today for only $3 a month or $36 a year. Cancel at any time! Click here to learn more. IN THIS ISSUE: NEW READER: 47 Ronin * Laughs, Jokes, Riddles, and Puns* Prefecture Spotlight: Okinawa* Etymology: おはよう* Phrase of the Day: English Proverbs in Japanese* Kanji Spotlight: The Bear Imposters* Grammar Time! To Decide Upon* Reader, Grammatical Notes, Kanji Notes, and English Translation ➡️ LEARN ABOUT BECOMING A MAKOTO+ MEMBER. CLICK HERE

➡️ WAIT! Want to save a dollar and get the latest issue each month? Become a member of our Makoto+ club and not only save and download new Makoto issues, but also access web-versions of the past three Makoto issues. Want more? Well, Makoto+ members also get a 10% reusable coupon good for anything at theJapanShop.com and each month, we will post a new eBook for you to download free of charge. Subscribe today for only $3 a month or $36 a year. Cancel at any time! Click here to learn more. IN THIS ISSUE: NEW READER: Takeda Shingen38 Pages * Laughs, Jokes, Riddles, and Puns* Prefecture Spotlight: Kagoshima* Etymology: あばよ* Phrase of the Day: Here's looking at you, kid.* Kanji Spotlight: Behaviors* Grammar Time! しまう* Reader, Grammatical Notes, Kanji Notes, and English Translation ➡️ LEARN ABOUT BECOMING A MAKOTO+ MEMBER. CLICK HERE

➡️ WAIT! Want to save a dollar and get the latest issue each month? Become a member of our Makoto+ club and not only save and download new Makoto issues, but also access web-versions of the past three Makoto issues. Want more? Well, Makoto+ members also get a 10% reusable coupon good for anything at theJapanShop.com and each month, we will post a new eBook for you to download free of charge. Subscribe today for only $3 a month or $36 a year. Cancel at any time! Click here to learn more. IN THIS ISSUE: NEW READER: Frank and the Obaasan33 Pages * Laughs, Jokes, Riddles, and Puns* Prefecture Spotlight: Miyazaki* Etymology: 二足の草鞋* Phrase of the Day* Kanji Spotlight: Big Dogs are Okay* Grammar Time! 失礼* Frank and the Obaasan Reader, Grammatical Notes, Kanji Notes, and English Translation  ➡️ LEARN ABOUT BECOMING A MAKOTO+ MEMBER. CLICK HERE

➡️ WAIT! Want to save a dollar and get the latest issue each month? Become a member of our Makoto+ club and not only save and download new Makoto issues, but also access web-versions of the past three Makoto issues. Want more? Well, Makoto+ members also get a 10% reusable coupon good for anything at theJapanShop.com and each month, we will post a new eBook for you to download free of charge. Subscribe today for only $3 a month or $36 a year. Cancel at any time! Click here to learn more. IN THIS ISSUE: NEW READER: Frank and the Obaasan & The Fountain of Youth33 Pages * Laughs, Jokes, Riddles, and Puns* Prefecture Spotlight: Kumamoto* Etymology: Mizu ni Nagasou* Phrase of the Day: The Pen is Mightier than the Sword* Kanji Spotlight: JLPT N5 Kanji Numbers* Grammar Time! Plan To: yotei; tsumori* Frank and the Obaasan Reader, Grammatical Notes, Kanji Notes, and English Translation* The Fountain of Youth ➡️ LEARN ABOUT BECOMING A MAKOTO+ MEMBER. CLICK HERE

➡️ WAIT! Want to save a dollar and get the latest issue each month? Become a member of our Makoto+ club and not only save and download new Makoto issues, but also access web-versions of the past three Makoto issues. Want more? Well, Makoto+ members also get a 10% reusable coupon good for anything at theJapanShop.com and each month, we will post a new eBook for you to download free of charge. Subscribe today for only $3 a month or $36 a year. Cancel at any time! Click here to learn more. IN THIS ISSUE: NEW READER: Frank and the Obaasan & The Hundred Tales Game37 Pages * Laughs, Jokes, Riddles, and Puns* Prefecture Spotlight: Nagasaki* Etymology: Oyatsu* Phrase of the Day: Tomorrow is another day* Kanji Spotlight: Directions* Grammar Time! Using Ne* Frank and the Obaasan Reader, Grammatical Notes, Kanji Notes, and English Translation* The Hundred Tales Game ➡️ LEARN ABOUT BECOMING A MAKOTO+ MEMBER. CLICK HERE

Makoto E-Zine Series #100 — Anniversary Issue 🎉 Recommended for beginner to intermediate learners of Japanese. You can purchase the printed version on Amazon by clicking here. Makoto Japanese Language & Culture Magazine Issue 100 (June 2026) — eight years, one hundred issues, and a complete redesign Makoto is a monthly digital magazine for beginner to intermediate learners of Japanese. Each issue blends short stories, language lessons, cultural notes, humor, and native-audio recordings — all designed to make Japanese feel natural, usable, and enjoyable. In this issue (June 2026, Issue 100): Issue #1 ran 36 pages. Issue #100's PDF runs 122, has been fully redesigned, and is the first issue where the PDF, ePub, web version, and the iPhone & Android apps all draw from the same source. Yumi snuck the number 百 into as many corners of the issue as she could — the etymology, the beginner story, even the haiku. The Japanese Reader takes a darker turn this month with a full breakdown of one of Edo Japan's most enduring ghost stories. Frank returns for Season 3, Episode 8. And there's quite a bit more inside. Readers: Beginner Reader: 小学校100年の思い出 (100 Years of Elementary School Memories) A third-grader's essay gets chosen for the school's 100-year anniversary book. But was it really her essay? A quietly funny beginner story built around the number 100, presented in hiragana-spaced, kanji+furigana, and natural formats for multiple reading passes. Intermediate Reader: 四谷怪談 (Yotsuya Kaidan) One of Japan's most enduring ghost stories — and the source of every disfigured, long-haired, one-eyed vengeful ghost you've ever seen in a J-horror film. A fallen samurai named Iemon decides his loyal wife Oiwa is in the way of a richer match. The only question is how long the ghost will wait to settle the bill. Adapted from the 1825 kabuki 『東海道四谷怪談』. Darker than what we usually run, with full vocabulary, grammar notes, audio, and kanji breakdowns. Watch for the causative-passive 飲まされる at Oiwa's realization. Frank and the Obaasan: Season 3, Episode 8 Talking is my Job Summoned by the ancient and unyielding law of rent, Frank steps into a role unlike anything he's faced before. Includes structured Japanese, vocabulary/grammar support, and Japanese-only reading. Language & culture lessons: Grammar Time — Beginner: ～てもいい (JLPT N5) The everyday permission pattern: "you may ~" / "is it okay to ~?" — with examples across verbs, both adjective types, and nouns. Grammar Time — Intermediate: ～わけではない (JLPT N2) The "it's not that ~" pattern for softened or partial denial. Useful for sounding less blunt — and for understanding why a Japanese speaker just disagreed with you without actually saying "no." Onomatopoeia Focus: Soft Things ふにゃふにゃ, もちもち, and とろとろ — three textures of "soft" that range from a half-asleep cat to fresh mochi to slow-braised pork belly. Vocabulary (5 entries, N5 to N1): お願いします, なるべく早く, 仕方がない, 腑に落ちない, and 足を引っ張る — graded across all five JLPT levels, each with usage notes, example sentences, and audio. Etymology: 百聞は一見にしかず Japan's version of "a picture is worth a thousand words" — but older, sharper, and traceable to 『漢書』, the ancient Chinese Book of Han. (And, of course, fitting for issue #100.) Kanji Spotlight (JLPT N5 to N1): 本, 親, 依, 捨, and 矛 — readings, meanings, stroke order, compound words, and example sentences for each. Prefecture Spotlight: 新潟 (Niigata) The setting of Kawabata's Snow Country, Sado Island's gold mines, taiko drumming, the crested ibis, and some of Japan's finest sake — perfected in Niigata's fertile rice plains. Anime Phrase of the Month 「テーマパークに来たみたいだぜ」 from 野原ひろし 昼メシの流儀 — the Crayon Shin-chan dad gets his own show about lunch. Haiku Spotlight: 高浜虚子 (Takahama Kyoshi) 「ゆらぎ見ゆ百の椿が三百に」— a late-in-life haiku where 100 camellias shimmer into 300. A poem about the number 100, in issue 100. Jokes & Riddles, Katakana Match (Sports), and more Includes: 122 pages (PDF) — completely redesigned for issue #100 30 MP3 audio files 4 Anki flashcard decks 2 eBook formats (PDF + ePub) Scan-and-listen QR codes for quick mobile access Full integration with the Makoto Japanese Explorer app and Sentence Explorer — magazine content is now built into the Read tab with inline audio, tappable vocabulary, furigana-on-demand, translations, notes, and vocabulary tracking Eight years, one hundred issues, and the most ambitious issue of Makoto we've ever put together. Whether you're tracing a phrase back to ancient China, counting plates with a samurai's ghost, or just here for Frank's latest career move — thanks for being part of the first 100. NOTE: Digital and Print Versions Available (print on Amazon, digital here). Digital version downloads are instant—no waiting. No Dropbox account required. Download directly on PC/Mac or access files on mobile. If you don't see your email right away, check your spam folder or contact us. This series is also available on Amazon.

Makoto E-Zine Series #101 Recommended for beginner to intermediate learners of Japanese. You can purchase the printed version on Amazon by clicking here. Makoto Japanese Language & Culture Magazine Issue 101 (July 2026) — the first issue of the next hundred Makoto is a monthly digital magazine for beginner to intermediate learners of Japanese. Each issue blends short stories, language lessons, cultural notes, humor, and native-audio recordings — all designed to make Japanese feel natural, usable, and enjoyable. In this issue (July 2026, Issue 101): After the fireworks of issue #100, #101 gets to enjoy the quiet luxury of being a perfectly ordinary number — which means it's simply a magazine full of Japanese to dig into. Frank clocks in for a full shift at the diner, a rain-soaked stranger shows up at a castle gate claiming to be a princess, and the etymology section explains why the gods get credit for thunder. All in the fully redesigned format introduced last issue: PDF, ePub, web, and the iPhone & Android apps, all from the same source. Readers: Beginner Reader (Let's Read): 看板を読む子 (Reading the Signs) A bored kid in the back seat reads restaurant signs out the car window — and accidentally gives Mom entirely the wrong idea. Presented in hiragana-spaced and kanji+furigana formats for multiple reading passes, with grammar notes covering の modifiers, 何も～ない, ～ている, ～ことにする, のなら, and て-form sequencing. Japanese Reader: えんどう豆の上のお姫さま (The Princess and the Pea) After last month's ghost story, something gentler: Andersen's classic retold in clear, approachable Japanese. A prince wants a real princess, and the queen has a testing method involving one very small pea and a great deal of bedding. Full vocabulary, grammar notes, and audio — watch for ～かどうか (whether or not), ～たり～たり, ～ようで, and the confident conclusion pattern ～にちがいない. Frank and the Obaasan: Season 3, Episode 9 A Day at the Restaurant (定食屋の日常) Last month Frank got a job. This month he actually has to do it. A full day at the teishoku diner — morning prep, lonely regulars, and Frank's particular gift for saying goodbye to fish. Includes structured Japanese, vocabulary/grammar support, and Japanese-only reading. Language & culture lessons: Grammar Time — Beginner: ～てもいい (JLPT N4) The everyday permission pattern: "you may ~" / "is it okay to ~?" — with examples across verbs, adjectives, and nouns. Grammar Time — Intermediate: ～ものの (JLPT N2) The "although ~" pattern for when the first half of your sentence writes a check the second half can't cash — a contrast connector you'll meet constantly in written Japanese. Onomatopoeia Focus: Rain しとしと, ざあざあ, and ぽつぽつ — three ways Japanese hears the rain, from a gentle drizzle to a downpour to the first scattered drops that make you regret not bringing an umbrella. Vocabulary (5 entries, N5 to N1): いただきます, 久しぶり, 気になる, 念のため, and 気が置けない — graded across all five JLPT levels, each with usage notes, example sentences, and audio. Etymology: 雷 Why is thunder called かみなり? Because to the ancient Japanese, it was quite literally the sound the gods make — a word history that traces the kanji back to lightning spreading across the sky beneath rainclouds. Kanji Spotlight (JLPT N5 to N1): 館, 親, 登, 現, and 矛 — readings, meanings, stroke order, compound words, and example sentences for each. Prefecture Spotlight: 神奈川 (Kanagawa) Home to Yokohama — one of Japan's first ports opened to foreign trade in 1859 and now home to the country's largest Chinatown — plus Kamakura's Great Buddha and more. Anime Phrase of the Month 「同じ気持ちじゃない時、どうしたらいいんだろう？」 from ちいかわ — Hachiware wonders what to do when someone doesn't feel the same way. Small, cute, and quietly devastating, as Chiikawa tends to be. Haiku Spotlight: 正岡子規 (Masaoka Shiki) 「ずんずんと夏を流すや最上川」— the mighty Mogami River sweeps summer itself downstream, in one of Shiki's most energetically modern-sounding classical haiku. With five English translations and full analysis. Jokes & Riddles, Katakana Match (Nation Names), and more Includes: 106 pages (PDF) in the fully redesigned Makoto format 27 MP3 audio files 4 Anki flashcard decks 2 eBook formats (PDF + ePub) Scan-and-listen QR codes for quick mobile access Full integration with the Makoto Japanese Explorer app and Sentence Explorer — magazine content is built into the Read tab with inline audio, tappable vocabulary, furigana-on-demand, translations, notes, and vocabulary tracking Issue 101: no milestones, no fireworks — just a magazine full of Japanese worth digging into. Whether you're testing princesses with produce, learning to hear the rain in Japanese, or just here to see how Frank handles the lunch rush — welcome to the second hundred. NOTE: Digital and Print Versions Available (print on Amazon, digital here). Digital version downloads are instant—no waiting. No Dropbox account required. Download directly on PC/Mac or access files on mobile. If you don't see your email right away, check your spam folder or contact us. This series is also available on Amazon.

Makoto E-Zine series #40 Recommended for beginners and lower intermediates of Japanese. Now includes handy QR codes on each page to scan and instantly hear that page's sound files. (You can still download the sound files and PDF for no extra charge) All the fun Japanese not found in textbooks!FREE sound files of the stories read by a native Japanese speaker--download link found on the last page. Listen while reading. The Fun Japanese Not Found in Textbooks. If you like our readers and lessons, you will love Makoto, the e-zine filled with articles on kanji, culture, idioms, proverbs, geography, history, etymology, JLPT tips, Japanese trivia, and much more. Not only that, but every issue will include a brand new reader with newly recorded high-quality MP3s for you to download for no extra charge.  IN THIS ISSUE: June 2021TWO NEW READERS: Japanese Toilets (beginner) + Uriko and the Amanojaku (Intermediate) Laughs, Jokes, Riddles, and Puns Vocabulary: ookina kao o suru Prefecture Spotlight: Wakayama Etymology: Amanojaku Anime Phrase of the Day Haiku: By Aoki Kayoko Kanji Spotlight Grammar Time! All about the topic particle は wa Japanese Japanese Toilets (beginner) + Princess Uriko and the Amanojaku (Intermediate)