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Makoto E-Zine Series #92 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 92 (October 2025)Your monthly passport to Japan’s language, culture, and timeless stories. Each month, Makoto delivers fun, culturally rich content for learners of Japanese. Short articles, cultural notes, grammar lessons, etymology deep-dives, jokes, and professionally recorded native audio make studying Japanese engaging, memorable, and something to look forward to. Discover the timeless folktale The Straw Millionaire, learn why Nintendo’s name means “leaving luck to heaven,” explore autumn onomatopoeia, and enjoy jokes, haiku, grammar tips, and more in this month’s issue. ✨ Highlights of Issue 92: Laughs, Jokes, Riddles, and Puns Vocabulary: 玉にきず Prefecture Spotlight: Gifu Etymology: 任天堂(にんてんどう) Anime Phrase of the Day Onomatopoeia: Cool evenings Haiku : Masaoka Shiki Kanji Spotlight: 車 Grammar Time!  ～なさい Japanese Readers: Frank & the Obaasan (beginner) + The Straw Millionaire (Intermediate) 📦 What’s Included: 68-page PDF & ePub formats 36 MP3 audio files (normal and slow speed) Anki flashcard deck for beginner story vocabulary Scan-and-listen QR codes for instant mobile audio playback Makoto+ Sentence Explorer integration for interactive reading Why you’ll love Makoto:Every issue blends authentic Japanese with helpful explanations, giving you the tools to grow your reading, listening, and cultural understanding. Whether you’re revisiting folktales you’ve heard before or discovering new words like ちやほや, each page is designed to spark joy and deepen your knowledge. 🔊 Instant Audio Immersion: Scan the QR codes throughout the magazine to hear native recordings on the spot. 🎁 Free Bonus Materials: Sound files, Anki flashcards, and Sentence Explorer integration are all included at no extra cost. ➡️ How to Read: Follow our step-by-step eBook guide if you’re new to digital reading. ❝Makoto is a wonderful magazine that blends language learning with culture, history, and fun. Each issue feels like a guided tour through Japan’s words, traditions, and hidden gems.❞ 🛒 Start your journey today: Download instantly and join thousands of learners who look forward to Makoto every month! 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 #93 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 93 (November 2025)Your monthly passport to Japan’s language, culture, and timeless stories. Each month, Makoto delivers fun, culturally rich content for learners of Japanese. Short articles, cultural notes, grammar lessons, etymology deep-dives, jokes, and professionally recorded native audio make studying Japanese engaging, memorable, and something to look forward to. This November issue celebrates warmth, humor, and a touch of the unexpected—from a grandmother convinced her Roomba is alive to Fukui Prefecture’s dinosaurs and handmade washi paper, and the hilarious (yet cautionary) folktale Gonzōmushi, where greed literally turns a man into a bug! ✨ Highlights of Issue 93: Laughs, Jokes, Riddles, and Puns Vocabulary: のどから手が出る Prefecture Spotlight: Fukui Etymology: サラリーマン Anime Phrase of the Day: from Yowamushi Pedal Onomatopoeia: Words for Exhaustion (へとへと, ぐったり, ふらふら, ヘロヘロ) Haiku: Kobayashi Issa – “A radish puller points the way—with his radish!” Kanji Spotlight: 国 Grammar Time! ～にくい Japanese Readers: Frank and the Obaasan: Frank Needs a Job (Beginner) + Gonzōmushi (Intermediate) 📦 What’s Included: 65-page PDF & ePub formats 35 MP3 audio files (normal and slow speed) Anki flashcard deck for beginner story vocabulary Scan-and-listen QR codes for instant mobile audio playback Makoto+ Sentence Explorer integration for interactive reading Why you’ll love Makoto:Every issue blends authentic Japanese with helpful explanations, giving you the tools to grow your reading, listening, and cultural understanding. Whether you’re revisiting folktales or discovering new words like のどから手が出る, each page is designed to spark joy and deepen your knowledge. 🔊 Instant Audio Immersion: Scan the QR codes throughout the magazine to hear native recordings on the spot. 🎁 Free Bonus Materials: Sound files, Anki flashcards, and Sentence Explorer integration are all included at no extra cost. ➡️ How to Read: Follow our step-by-step eBook guide if you’re new to digital reading. ❝Makoto is a wonderful magazine that blends language learning with culture, history, and fun. Each issue feels like a guided tour through Japan’s words, traditions, and hidden gems.❞ 🛒 Start your journey today: Download instantly and join thousands of learners who look forward to Makoto every month! 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 #94 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 94 (December 2025)Your monthly passport to Japan’s language, culture, and timeless stories. Each month, Makoto delivers fun, culturally rich content for learners of Japanese. Short articles, cultural notes, grammar lessons, etymology deep-dives, jokes, and professionally recorded native audio make studying Japanese engaging, memorable, and something to look forward to. This month shines a light on one of Japan's most beloved trickster monks—Ikkyū-san. Long before anime heroes outsmarted rivals with quick wit, there was Ikkyū, the mischievous young monk who solved every problem not with strength, but with clever wordplay and calm thinking. In our featured story, Ikkyū takes on a lord's impossible challenge using nothing more than logic and language—and a clever play on the word "hashi." Meanwhile, Frank continues bumbling through life in Japan, this time at City Hall dealing with hanko stamps, My Number cards, and cultural confusion. ✨ Highlights include: Laughs, Jokes, Riddles, and Puns – A trip to the doctor reveals an unexpected diagnosis Vocabulary Spotlight: 人目を引く – "eye-catching"—literally, to pull people's eyes Prefecture Spotlight: Ishikawa – Home to Kenrokuen garden, the Noto Peninsula's thousand rice fields, geisha districts, and exquisite gold leaf crafts Etymology Deep Dive: ついたち – Why the first day of the month is called "tsuitachi" (hint: it involves the moon) Anime Phrase of the Day: From Kaiju No. 8—"I can see right through monsters, even down to their guts!!" Onomatopoeia: Cold Words – ひんやり, ぶるぶる, がたがた, ぞくぞく, びゅうびゅう and more—from mild chills to bone-freezing cold Haiku Spotlight: Yosa Buson – Daffodils blooming here and there in the cold capital Kanji Focus: 円 (circle; yen) Grammar Time!: ～やすい (easy to do; prone to) Japanese Readers: Frank and the Obaasan Episode 2: Frank Goes to City Hall (Beginner) – Hanko? ハ、ハンコ？！ 一休さん：このはしわたるべからず (Intermediate) – The classic tale of Ikkyū's wordplay triumph over a lord's impossible challenge Includes: 56-page PDF and ePub formats MP3 audio files (normal and slow speed) Anki flashcard deck (beginner story vocabulary) Scan-and-listen QR codes for quick mobile access Integration with Makoto+ Sentence Explorer for interactive reading Perfect for learners who love Japanese culture and want engaging, real-world content. Use it to grow your vocabulary, improve listening skills, and enjoy Japanese through humor, folklore, and a little monkish wisdom. 🔊 Instant Audio Immersion: Scan the QR codes throughout the magazine to hear native recordings on the spot. 🎁 Free Bonus Materials: Sound files, Anki flashcards, and Sentence Explorer integration are all included at no extra cost. ➡️ How to Read: Follow our step-by-step eBook guide if you’re new to digital reading. ❝Makoto is a wonderful magazine that blends language learning with culture, history, and fun. Each issue feels like a guided tour through Japan’s words, traditions, and hidden gems.❞ 🛒 Start your journey today: Download instantly and join thousands of learners who look forward to Makoto every month! 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 #95 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 95 (January 2026) Fun, story-driven reading and listening practice for learners of Japanese 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—designed to make Japanese feel alive, approachable, and genuinely enjoyable. In this issue (January 2026, Issue 95): This month marks the official start of Frank and the Obaasan: Season 3—and things immediately get weirder. Frank is still an alien trying to survive everyday life in Japan. Obaasan is still calm, terrifyingly capable, and one step ahead of everyone. Season 3 raises the language level slightly from Season 1, leaning into upper-beginner Japanese, while doubling down on humor, misunderstandings, and cultural friction. To match this shift, the opening chapters have been reworked and reformatted to make the language clearer, more supportive, and easier to study. Across three episodes in this issue, Frank faces new bureaucratic realities, a deceptively normal Japanese word, and a misunderstanding that spirals far beyond what anyone intended. It’s fun, a little stupid, and—by design—stupidly funny. Highlights include: Frank and the Obaasan: Season 3, Episodes 1–3A refreshed and reformatted start to the new season, written at an upper-beginner level with clearer structure, vocabulary notes, and study support Onomatopoeia Focus: Japanese Laughterあはは, にやにや, げらげら, どはは and more—how Japanese expresses laughter across moods, personalities, and situations Grammar Time!: ぜひWhat ぜひ really means in natural Japanese, and how it’s actually used in conversation Vocabulary Spotlight: 思う壺“Just as planned”—an idiom that captures intention, manipulation, and satisfaction all at once Kanji Focus: 話 (JLPT N5)Meanings, readings, example words, and usage centered around one of the most foundational kanji in Japanese Haiku / Senryū SpotlightA short, humorous poem with full language and cultural breakdown Anime Phrase of the DayA real line from a popular anime, carefully unpacked for meaning, grammar, and nuance Prefecture Spotlight: ToyamaA look at geography, culture, and regional flavor beyond the usual tourist path Etymology Corner: だめWhere this extremely common word comes from—and why it feels the way it does Jokes, riddles, and wordplayLight, enjoyable reading that still reinforces real Japanese Includes: 73-page PDF and ePub formats MP3 audio files (normal and slow speed) Scan-and-listen QR codes for quick mobile access Integration with Makoto+ Sentence Explorer for interactive reading, audio, furigana-on-demand, translations, notes, and vocabulary tracking Perfect for learners who enjoy Japanese through stories, humor, and culture—and who want material that’s fun first, but secretly very effective.   🔊 Instant Audio Immersion: Scan the QR codes throughout the magazine to hear native recordings on the spot. 🎁 Free Bonus Materials: Sound files, Anki flashcards, and Sentence Explorer integration are all included at no extra cost. ➡️ How to Read: Follow our step-by-step eBook guide if you’re new to digital reading. ❝Makoto is a wonderful magazine that blends language learning with culture, history, and fun. Each issue feels like a guided tour through Japan’s words, traditions, and hidden gems.❞ 🛒 Start your journey today: Download instantly and join thousands of learners who look forward to Makoto every month! 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 #96 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 96 (February 2026) Fun, story-driven reading and listening practice for learners of Japanese 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—designed to make Japanese feel alive, approachable, and genuinely enjoyable. In this issue (February 2026, Issue 96): This month’s issue brings three very different reading experiences together: a true beginner-friendly story, a continued chapter in Frank and the Obaasan’s increasingly chaotic life in Japan, and a classic Japanese folktale retold with learners in mind. The language range is intentionally wide. Absolute beginners get carefully scaffolded reading practice, while upper-beginner learners get more natural sentence flow, real-world vocabulary, and cultural context that rewards slower, thoughtful reading. Highlights include: Beginner Story: Super"man"A gentle, confidence-building story written entirely for beginners. Presented in multiple formats, including a hiragana-only version with spacing, making it ideal for early reading practice. Frank and the Obaasan: Season 3, Episode 4Frank faces a very human challenge: paperwork. This episode raises the language level slightly while maintaining clear structure, humor, and full study support, including line-by-line breakdowns, translations, and Japanese-only reading. The Magical Listening Hood (聞き耳ずきん)A classic Japanese folktale retold in accessible Japanese, with both Japanese-only and translated versions. Designed to help learners experience traditional storytelling without being overwhelmed by archaic language. Japanese Grammar: あとでA practical grammar feature explaining how あとで is actually used in everyday Japanese, with clear examples and usage patterns. Onomatopoeia Focus: Japanese Laughterにやにや, にやり, くくく, ひひひ, and more. A deeper look at how Japanese expresses laughter, mood, and personality through sound-symbolic words. Kanji Spotlight: 食 (JLPT N5)Meanings, readings, example words, and usage centered on one of the most essential kanji related to eating and daily life. Japanese Saying: 熱をあげるA useful expression meaning to become obsessed or infatuated, with explanation and example usage. Prefecture Spotlight: AichiAn introduction to Aichi Prefecture, including cultural notes and practical vocabulary. Etymology Corner: 一肌脱ぐThe origin and imagery behind this common expression meaning to go out of one’s way to help someone. Anime Phrase of the MonthA real line from a popular anime, carefully unpacked for meaning, nuance, and natural usage. Haiku SpotlightA short seasonal poem with vocabulary, translation, and cultural explanation. Jokes, riddles, and wordplayLight reading that reinforces real Japanese in an approachable way. Includes: 85 pages (Print) 30 MP3 audio files Scan-and-listen QR codes for quick mobile access Integration with Makoto+ Sentence Explorer for interactive reading, audio playback, furigana-on-demand, translations, notes, and vocabulary tracking Perfect for learners who want Japanese that feels human, readable, and fun, without sacrificing clarity or study support.   🔊 Instant Audio Immersion: Scan the QR codes throughout the magazine to hear native recordings on the spot. 🎁 Free Bonus Materials: Sound files, Anki flashcards, and Sentence Explorer integration are all included at no extra cost. ➡️ How to Read: Follow our step-by-step eBook guide if you’re new to digital reading. ❝Makoto is a wonderful magazine that blends language learning with culture, history, and fun. Each issue feels like a guided tour through Japan’s words, traditions, and hidden gems.❞ 🛒 Start your journey today: Download instantly and join thousands of learners who look forward to Makoto every month! 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 #97 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 97 (March 2026) Fun, story-driven reading and listening practice for learners of Japanese 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—designed to make Japanese feel alive, approachable, and genuinely enjoyable. In this issue (March 2026, Issue 97): This month’s issue moves comfortably between the everyday and the supernatural. From a beginner-friendly story about トイレのスリッパ to a classic Japanese 怪談 shaped by 百物語, you’ll see how the same Japanese language handles daily life, comedy, and quiet dread—with full study support throughout. Highlights: Beginner Reader: Toilet SlippersA confidence-building story rooted in everyday life in Japan, presented in multiple formats for early reading practice. Intermediate Reader: 牡丹灯籠 (The Peony Lantern)A famous 怪談 retold in accessible Japanese, with guided reading support and audio. Frank and the Obaasan: Season 3, Episode 5 回転寿司の惨劇Frank’s first day at a part-time job goes about as well as you’d expect. Includes structured Japanese, vocabulary/grammar support, and Japanese-only reading. Language & culture lessons: Grammar Time: ～ばいいですかA practical pattern for asking “What should I do?” naturally in Japanese. Onomatopoeia Focus: Laughterにやにや, にやり, くくく, ひひひ, and more. Vocabulary / Idiom: さじを投げるMeaning, nuance, and usage. Etymology: 詰むWhere the meaning comes from and how it’s used today. Kanji Spotlight: 読 (JLPT N5)Readings, meanings, example words, and usage. Prefecture Spotlight: 静岡Cultural notes and practical vocabulary. Anime Phrase of the MonthA real line from anime, unpacked for meaning and natural usage. Haiku Spotlight: 正岡子規Seasonal poetry with vocabulary and explanation. Jokes, riddles, and wordplayLight reading that reinforces real Japanese. Includes: 92 pages (Print) 30 MP3 audio files Scan-and-listen QR codes for quick mobile access Integration with Makoto+ Sentence Explorer for interactive reading, audio playback, furigana-on-demand, translations, notes, and vocabulary tracking Perfect for learners who want Japanese that feels human, readable, and fun, without sacrificing clarity or study support.   🔊 Instant Audio Immersion: Scan the QR codes throughout the magazine to hear native recordings on the spot. 🎁 Free Bonus Materials: Sound files, Anki flashcards, and Sentence Explorer integration are all included at no extra cost. ➡️ How to Read: Follow our step-by-step eBook guide if you’re new to digital reading. ❝Makoto is a wonderful magazine that blends language learning with culture, history, and fun. Each issue feels like a guided tour through Japan’s words, traditions, and hidden gems.❞ 🛒 Start your journey today: Download instantly and join thousands of learners who look forward to Makoto every month! 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 #98 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 98 (April 2026) Story-driven reading and listening practice for learners of Japanese 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 (April 2026, Issue 98): This month moves from springtime impulse to late-night dread. A beginner story about Clay's first encounter with Japanese crows builds early reading confidence, while an Edo-period folktale about a woman buying 水あめ (mizuame) after dark leads to one of the quietest, most devastating endings in Japanese folklore. In between, Frank gets a convenience store night shift and somehow turns it into an interplanetary incident. Readers: Beginner Reader: からす (Karasu) Clay doesn't know the word for "crow." His neighbor does. What follows involves barking, flapping, and a very patient おばさん. Presented in hiragana-spaced, kanji+furigana, and natural formats for multiple reading passes. Intermediate Reader: 水あめを買う女 (The Mizuame-Buying Woman) A mysterious woman visits a candy shop every night, pays a single coin, and disappears. A classic folktale with guided reading support, full vocabulary and grammar notes, audio, and kanji breakdowns. Frank and the Obaasan: Season 3, Episode 6 コンビニの夜 Frank bows to the automatic door. He eulogizes a meat bun. He demands ID for apple juice. He gets fired. Includes structured Japanese, vocabulary/grammar support, and Japanese-only reading. Language & culture lessons: Grammar Time: ～かどうか (JLPT N5) A beginner-friendly pattern for expressing "whether or not" with natural examples. Onomatopoeia Focus: Laughter わっはっは, どはは, ぎゃはは, あっはっは — four ways to laugh, each with its own personality. Vocabulary: うわの空 A Heian-period phrase for when your mind drifts off. Includes comparison with ぼんやり and ぼーっとする. Etymology: 道草を食う How "eating roadside grass" became "wasting time on the way home." Plus the related idiom 油を売る. Kanji Spotlight: 来 (JLPT N5) Readings, meanings, stroke order, and example words. Prefecture Spotlight: 山梨 Home to half of Mt. Fuji, 40% of Japan's bottled water, and more wineries than you'd expect. Anime Phrase of the Month: アンパンマン "おなかがすいているんだね。ぼくの顔をどうぞ。" He offers his face. Background on anpan and its Meiji-era origins included. Haiku Spotlight: 松尾芭蕉 A springtime haiku about setting off for Kiso on a whim, plus a breakdown of 桜狩り vs. 花見. Jokes, riddles, and wordplay A doctor joke that might make you rethink your next checkup. Katakana practice A matching exercise to keep your katakana sharp. Includes: 86 pages (PDF) 35 MP3 audio files 3 Anki flashcard decks Scan-and-listen QR codes for quick mobile access Full integration with Makoto+ Sentence Explorer for interactive reading, audio playback, furigana-on-demand, translations, notes, and vocabulary tracking Perfect for learners who want Japanese that feels human, readable, and fun — whether you're flapping your arms at a crow or following a ghost to a candy shop.   🔊 Instant Audio Immersion: Scan the QR codes throughout the magazine to hear native recordings on the spot. 🎁 Free Bonus Materials: Sound files, Anki flashcards, and Sentence Explorer integration are all included at no extra cost. ➡️ How to Read: Follow our step-by-step eBook guide if you’re new to digital reading. ❝Makoto is a wonderful magazine that blends language learning with culture, history, and fun. Each issue feels like a guided tour through Japan’s words, traditions, and hidden gems.❞ 🛒 Start your journey today: Download instantly and join thousands of learners who look forward to Makoto every month! 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 #99 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 99 (May 2026) Story-driven reading and listening practice for learners of Japanese 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 (May 2026, Issue 99): This month moves from kitchen mishap to one of Japan's most famous ghost stories. A beginner story about an American making curry from scratch sets up a quietly devastating run-in with the metric system, while a classic Edo-period 怪談 about a maid, ten precious plates, and a well you don't want to stand near at midnight delivers some of the most haunting Japanese in folklore. In between, Frank survives his third job interview — barely — by confessing to a sushi-shop crime of love. Readers: Beginner Reader: カレー (Curry) Mark moves to Japan and decides to cook dinner from scratch. He buys the roux, chops the vegetables, and confidently ignores the part of the instructions written in milliliters. What he ends up with is not curry. Presented in hiragana-spaced, kanji+furigana, and natural formats for multiple reading passes. Intermediate Reader: 番町皿屋敷 (The Dish Mansion at Banchō) One of Japan's most enduring ghost stories. A samurai. A loyal maid named お菊. Ten precious heirloom plates — and only nine after midnight. A voice in the well counting one… two… three… and stopping at nine, every night, until a wandering monk does the one thing that finally lets her rest. Guided reading with full vocabulary, grammar notes, audio, and kanji breakdowns. Frank and the Obaasan: Season 3, Episode 7 三度目のバイト先 Two days at a sushi place. One day at a convenience store. Frank's resume is not selling itself. But when the owner of a small 定食屋 asks why he keeps getting fired, Frank's answer — "My love is too strong" — turns out to be exactly the right answer. Includes structured Japanese, vocabulary/grammar support, and Japanese-only reading. Language & culture lessons: Grammar Time: ～はずがない (JLPT N5) A versatile pattern for "there's no way…" Includes examples for verbs, nouns, and both adjective types. Onomatopoeia Focus: Soft Things ぷにぷに, むにゅむにゅ, and ぐにゃぐにゃ — three flavors of "soft" that English would just call "squishy" and leave it at that. Vocabulary: 肩が軽くなる Japan's version of "a load off my shoulders." Includes comparison with ほっとする. Etymology: サボる The surprisingly tidy journey from French sabotage (factory-floor resistance) to Japanese skipping class. Kanji Spotlight: 書 (JLPT N5) Readings, meanings, stroke order, and example words. Prefecture Spotlight: 長野 (Nagano) Home to nine of Japan's twelve tallest mountains, the famously bathing snow monkeys at Jigokudani, Matsumoto Castle, and the 1998 Winter Olympics. Anime Phrase of the Month Haiku Spotlight: 小林一茶 (Kobayashi Issa) A quiet early-summer haiku about new tea cutting through midday drowsiness — with five different translations to compare. More... Includes: 100 pages (PDF) 26 MP3 audio files 4 Anki flashcard deck 2 eBook formats Scan-and-listen QR codes for quick mobile access Full integration with Makoto+ Sentence Explorer for interactive reading, audio playback, furigana-on-demand, translations, notes, and vocabulary tracking Perfect for learners who want Japanese that feels human, readable, and fun — whether you're guessing at milliliters, counting plates by a well, or trying to convince a chef that loving food too much is actually a job qualification. 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.

The kanji is Makoto which means "truth" or "sincerity." You've now found the staple t-shirt of your wardrobe. It's made of a thicker, heavier cotton, but it's still soft and comfy. And the double stitching on the neckline and sleeves add more durability to what is sure to be a favorite! • 100% ring-spun cotton • Sport Grey is 90% ring-spun cotton, 10% polyester • Dark Heather is 65% polyester, 35% cotton • 4.5 oz/y² (153 g/m²) • Pre-shrunk • Shoulder-to-shoulder taping • Quarter-turned to avoid crease down the centerSize guide   S M L XL 2XL Length (inches) 28 29 ¼ 30 ¼ 31 ¼ 32 ½ Width (inches) 18 20 22 24 26

GET UNLIMITED ACCESS, FOREVER Lifetime of Makoto+ Shogun Main Benefits: Pay once and enjoy lifetime access to everything Makoto+ has to offer - No more monthly payments ever! Includes a lifetime subscription to Makoto magazine [digital]. Download each new issue for no extra charge each month - for life (Please note: you don't get downloads for back issues, but you do get unlimited access to the web version of all back issues plus downloads for all future issues (internet connection required)) Exclusive, limited time offer $299.00 The lifetime membership permanently gives you unlimited access to Makoto+ Shogun level (the highest level). You will have immediate access to the entire library of Makoto+ content including all Makoto back issues in web format. You will be charged a one-time fee of $299 for lifetime membership. No-questions-asked 14-day refund policy. If you want your MakotoPlus.com account under a different email address, please let us know. We will have to manually create the account, so please give us up to 24 hours to do that.

This cute little bear with a bow is looking for her mama. Is it you? The Japanese reads "Mama?" and means the same in English. You've now found the staple t-shirt of your wardrobe. It's made of a thicker, heavier cotton, but it's still soft and comfy. And the double stitching on the neckline and sleeves add more durability to what is sure to be a favorite! • 100% ringspun cotton • 4.5 oz/y² (153 g/m²) • Pre-shrunk • Shoulder-to-shoulder taping • Quarter-turned to avoid crease down the center Size guide   S M L XL 2XL 3XL Length (inches) 28 29 ¼ 30 ¼ 31 ¼ 32 ½ 33 ½ Width (inches) 18 20 22 24 26 28

Dive into the duality of a manga girl's expression; while she appears to be deeply contemplative with a hand on her chin, her sleepy eyes reveal the truth. The accompanying Japanese text humorously conveys, 'I may look like I'm deep in thought, but actually, I'm just sleepy.' The Japanese is:   I might look like I'm deep in thought, but I'm actually just sleepy. Vocabulary: 私(わたし) I; me は as for [this is the topic marker] 深(ふか)く deeply [Adverbial form of 深(ふか)い (deep)] 考(かんが)え込(こ)んでいる to be deeply thinking; engrossed in thought [Te-form of 考(かんが)え込(こ)む + いる (present progressive); 考(かんが)え - think (Stem form of 考(かんが)える (to think)) 込(こ)む - to go into; to put into (This auxiliary verb gives the nuance of going deeply into the action) So, 考(かんが)え込(こ)む is used when someone is not just thinking, but is deeply engrossed or involved in the thinking process.] ように like; as if [Indicates a semblance or appearance of the preceding action] 見(み)える to appear; to seem [Potential form of 見(み)る (to see)] かもしれません might be; perhaps; may be [Expresses uncertainty] が but; however [Conjunction indicating contrast] 実(じつ)は actually; in reality [A phrase that reveals some truth or actual condition] ただ just; merely [Used to highlight the simplicity or single nature of something] 眠(ねむ)い sleepy; drowsy だけ only; just [Indicates limitation] です is; are [Polite ending particle] • 100% ring-spun cotton • Sport Grey is 90% ring-spun cotton, 10% polyester • Dark Heather is 65% polyester, 35% cotton • 4.5 oz/yd² (153 g/m²) • Shoulder-to-shoulder taping • Quarter-turned to avoid crease down the center • Blank product sourced from Bangladesh, Nicaragua, Honduras, Dominican Republic, Haiti or Guatemala This product is made especially for you as soon as you place an order, which is why it takes us a bit longer to deliver it to you. Making products on demand instead of in bulk helps reduce overproduction, so thank you for making thoughtful purchasing decisions! Size guide   LENGTH (inches) WIDTH (inches) S 28 18 M 29 20 L 30 22 XL 31 24 2XL 32 26 3XL 33 28   LENGTH (cm) WIDTH (cm) S 71.1 45.7 M 73.7 50.8 L 76.2 55.9 XL 78.7 61 2XL 81.3 66 3XL 83.8 71.1