Makoto #87

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 Taisho-era trends to the softest onomatopoeia you ever did hear: ????. 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 ???? (Game over, man!)
?? The wobbly world of ????—from fluffy clouds to unfocused minds
?? A deep dive into ?????? and the shameful roots of being "unpresentable"
?? Grammar Time! with ??? (Choose your fighter: tea ??? coffee?)
?? Reading practice: a mustard mix-up (Beginner) and a cultural crash course in the Taisho period (Intermediate)
?? Kanji Spotlight on ?—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: ????
• Prefecture Spotlight: Wakayama
• Etymology: ??????
• Onomatopoeia: ????
• Anime Phrase of the Day: BEASTARS
• Haiku: ????
• Kanji Spotlight: ?
• Grammar Time: ???
• Japanese Readers: Mustard Mishap (Beginner) + Taisho Era Insights (Intermediate)

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