Makoto Magazine Series #86: The Fun Japanese Not Found in Textbooks
For Beginners to Lower Intermediates: Boost Your Japanese Journey Today!

Spring Forward into Japanese with the April Issue!
April in Japan is all about fresh starts—new school year, cherry blossoms, and... misunderstood onomatopoeia? (We're looking at you, ドロドロ.) This month's Makoto is a full bento box of language, laughs, and cultural goodness, and you're invited to dig in.

Here's what's blooming in this issue:

🌸 A vocabulary spotlight on 頭角を現す (when your metaphorical horns start to show)
🌸 The surprising backstory of しまった (Spoiler: it's more than just an "Oops!")
🌸 An Osakan adventure in takoyaki, temples, and tightwads
🌸 Grammar Time! with ～く/～にする (Let's make things cheaper—or more precious!)
🌸 A poetic moment with 加賀千代女 and the fragrant plum blossoms
🌸 Kanji Spotlight on 山—because what's Japan without its mountains?
🌸 Onomatopoeia: もぐもぐ, the sound of adorable chewing
🌸 Reading practice: a beginner story about the dangers of saying "dorodoro" and an intermediate tale from the Meiji Restoration

Whether you're curled up with some omurice or riding the allergy rollercoaster, this issue is your springboard into better Japanese and brighter days. Study smart, laugh often, and let's make a few しまった moments of our own (they're part of the fun!).

Clay & Yumi

Details:

🔊 Now Featuring QR Codes for Instant Audio Playback! Scan the QR codes peppered throughout the magazine and hear the accompanying sound files instantly! A complete immersion experience at your fingertips.

🎁 FREE Sound Files & Anki Flashcards Each issue comes with free sound files of all the Japanese examples read by a native Japanese speaker. Plus, download a free Anki flashcard deck to help solidify your vocabulary of the main story. All freebies can be accessed through the download link on the last page.

📚 Unique & Informative Content Tired of the same old textbook content? Dive into a wide array of topics that typical courses overlook. This issue covers:

In this Issue:
• Laughs, Jokes, Riddles, and Puns
• Vocabulary: 頭角を現す
• Prefecture Spotlight: Osaka
• Etymology: しまった
• Onomatopoeia: もぐもぐ
• Anime Phrase of the Day: Dandadan
• Haiku: 加賀千代女
• Kanji Spotlight: 山
• Grammar Time! ～く/～にする
• Japanese Readers: Dorodoro (Beginner) + Meiji Period (Intermediate)

🛒 Buy now and blossom in your Japanese journey!