Makoto is a monthly digital magazine for beginner to lower-intermediate learners of Japanese. Each issue features short articles, cultural notes, language lessons, jokes, and native-audio recordingsdesigned to make learning fun, immersive, and memorable.
In this issue (October 2025, Issue 92):
This month's spotlight is on one of Japan's most famous folktales, Warashibe Choja ("The Straw Millionaire")a tale of small beginnings, kindness, and unexpected fortune. Alongside this timeless story, you'll explore the origins of Nintendo's name, cool evening onomatopoeia for autumn, and a seasonal haiku by Masaoka Shiki.
Highlights include:
- Laughs, Jokes, Riddles, and Puns playful humor to make learning stick
- Vocabulary Spotlight: 玉にきず (a tiny flaw in perfection)
- Prefecture Spotlight: Gifu castles, swordmaking, and Shirakawa-go
- Etymology Deep Dive: 任天堂 (Nintendo) "leaving luck to heaven"
- Anime Phrase of the Day: A line from Chihayafuru
- Onomatopoeia: ひんやり, ひやっ, ぞくぞく, ブルブル words for cool nights
- Haiku Spotlight: Masaoka Shiki autumn's lonely beauty
- Kanji Focus: 車 (car; vehicle)
- Grammar Time!: ~なさい (gentle and firm commands)
- Japanese Readers: • Frank & the Obaasan (Beginner) lighthearted story practice [With Sentence Explorer Integration] • The Straw Millionaire (Intermediate) fully annotated with vocabulary, grammar, and cultural notes [With Sentence Explorer Integration]
Includes:
- 65-page PDF and ePub formats
- 30 MP3 audio files (normal and slow speed)
- 1 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 seasonal beauty.
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