Makoto E-Zine Series #94
Recommended for beginner to intermediate learners of Japanese.
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.
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