Makoto Japanese Language & Culture Magazine Issue 94 (December 2025)
Fun, culturally rich reading and listening practice for learners of Japanese
Makoto is a monthly digital magazine for beginner to 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 (December 2025, Issue 94):
This month shines a light on one of Japan's most beloved trickster monks—Ikkyū-san. Long before anime heroes outsmarted rivals with quick wit, there was Ikkyū, the mischievous young monk who solved every problem not with strength, but with clever wordplay and calm thinking. In our featured story, Ikkyū takes on a lord's impossible challenge using nothing more than logic and language—and a clever play on the word "hashi." Meanwhile, Frank continues bumbling through life in Japan, this time at City Hall dealing with hanko stamps, My Number cards, and cultural confusion.
Highlights include:
•Laughs, Jokes, Riddles, and Puns – A trip to the doctor reveals an unexpected diagnosis
•Vocabulary Spotlight: 人目を引く – "eye-catching"—literally, to pull people's eyes
•Prefecture Spotlight: Ishikawa – Home to Kenrokuen garden, the Noto Peninsula's thousand rice fields, geisha districts, and exquisite gold leaf crafts
•Etymology Deep Dive: ついたち – Why the first day of the month is called "tsuitachi" (hint: it involves the moon)
•Anime Phrase of the Day: From Kaiju No. 8—"I can see right through monsters, even down to their guts!!"
•Onomatopoeia: Cold Words – ひんやり, ぶるぶる, がたがた, ぞくぞく, びゅうびゅう and more—from mild chills to bone-freezing cold
•Haiku Spotlight: Yosa Buson – Daffodils blooming here and there in the cold capital
•Kanji Focus: 円 (circle; yen)
•Grammar Time!: ～やすい (easy to do; prone to)
Japanese Readers:
•Frank and the Obaasan Episode 2: Frank Goes to City Hall (Beginner) – Hanko? ハ、ハンコ?!
•一休さん:このはしわたるべからず (Intermediate) – The classic tale of Ikkyū's wordplay triumph over a lord's impossible challenge
Includes:
•56-page PDF and ePub formats
•MP3 audio files (normal and slow speed)
•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 a little monkish wisdom.
