Makoto #90

Makoto Japanese Language & Culture Magazine Issue 90 (August 2025)
Fun, culturally rich reading and listening practice for learners of Japanese

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 recordings—designed to make learning fun, immersive, and memorable.

In this issue (August 2025, Issue 90):

This month's theme is 平成時代 (The Heisei Era)—a reflective, nostalgic journey into the cultural currents that defined Japan from 1989 to 2019. Whether you're a Shōwa old-hand, Heisei native, or Reiwa rookie, we hope this issue brings back memories—or makes some new ones.

Highlights include:

•Laughs, Jokes, Riddles, and Puns – because language learning should never be boring
•Vocabulary Spotlight: うり二つ (lookalike; spitting image)
•Prefecture Spotlight: Mie – home of Ise Shrine and the ninja of Iga
•Etymology Deep Dive: 浴衣 (ゆかた) – from bathrobe to summer fashion icon
•Anime Phrase of the Day – quote and explanation from a popular anime
•Onomatopoeia: Summer rain – the many moods of Japanese raindrops
•Haiku Spotlight: Yosa Buson – poetic imagery for rainy days
•Kanji Focus: 雨 (rain)
•Grammar Time! ～なくてはならない (how to say "must do" in polite Japanese)
•Japanese Readers:

•Beginner: A summer vacation story
•Intermediate: An overview of the Heisei era (with Sentence Explorer integration on Makoto+)

Includes:

•63-page PDF and ePub formats
•27 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 the intermediate reading

Perfect for learners who love Japanese culture and want engaging, real-world content. Use it to build vocabulary, sharpen listening skills, and explore the language in all its cultural richness—rain or shine.