Makoto Magazine Series #87: Fluffy Dandelions and Fiery Mustard

For Beginners to Lower Intermediates: Float into Japanese this May!

May in Japan is all about warmth, wind, and wandering minds. (And, apparently, mustard-related confusion.) This month's Makoto drifts gently your way with lessons on everything from Taishō-era trends to the softest onomatopoeia you ever did hear: ふわふわ. Whether you're curled up with a matcha latte or flinching from an accidental wasabi misfire, this issue's got something to tickle your brain and boost your Japanese.

Here's what's blooming in this issue:

🌼 Vocabulary spotlight on 万事休す (Game over, man!)
🌼 The wobbly world of ふわふわ—from fluffy clouds to unfocused minds
🌼 A deep dive into みっともない and the shameful roots of being "unpresentable"
🌼 Grammar Time! with または (Choose your fighter: tea または coffee?)
🌼 Reading practice: a mustard mix-up (Beginner) and a cultural crash course in the Taishō period (Intermediate)
🌼 Kanji Spotlight on 川—because sometimes you just need to go with the flow
🌼 Haiku from Masaoka Shiki, who knew how to say "It's May" without saying "It's May"
🌼 Prefecture Spotlight: Wakayama, land of waterfalls, umeboshi, and samurai
🌼 Anime Quote of the Month: When love = guaranteed defeat, from BEASTARS

Whether you're drifting like a dandelion seed or just trying to figure out why your "mustard" sandwich is making you cry, we hope this issue helps you laugh, learn, and level up.

Clay & Yumi

Details:

🆓 Included Freebies: Sound files and flashcards for every issue!
🎧 Scan the QR codes to instantly hear native audio while reading
📚 Learn with jokes, riddles, etymology, and culturally-rich stories

In this Issue: • Laughs, Jokes, Riddles, and Puns
• Vocabulary: 万事休す
• Prefecture Spotlight: Wakayama
• Etymology: みっともない
• Onomatopoeia: ふわふわ
• Anime Phrase of the Day: BEASTARS
• Haiku: 正岡子規
• Kanji Spotlight: 川
• Grammar Time: または
• Japanese Readers: Mustard Mishap (Beginner) + Taishō Era Insights (Intermediate)

🛒 Buy now and float higher on your Japanese learning journey!