Welcome to the Makoto+ bonus content page.
Normally, the content on this page is for members only (either Samurai or Shogun), but The Makoto Letters are--for a limited time--open to everyone to view. If you are not a member yet, become one now to unlock everything else on this page!

The Makoto Letters
Podcast Bonus Content
Japanese TV and Movie Breakdowns

CM Breakdown: やめるの、やめた | Bonus Download

Outsider Cops | She’s Aiming for Him | Bonus Download

釣りバカ日誌 | Been 課長 for a Long Time | Bonus Download

Learn Japanese with Dramas 悪女~働くのがカッコ悪いなんて誰が言った?~ Using やる気 Bonus Download

Learn Japanese with 結婚できない男: 持ちつ持たれつ Mochitsu Motaretsu Bonus Download

Spirited Away 千と千尋の神隠し Movie Famous Lines Bonus Download
Japanese Anime and Manga Breakdowns

Spy Family – Drunk Yor | Bonus Download

Spy Family – Dodgeball | Bonus Download

Chainsaw Man | Bonus Download

Spy Family – Fractions | Bonus Download

Spy Family – Have Confidence | Bonus Download

Spy Family – Anya’s Self Introduction | Bonus Download
Japanese Song Lesson Worksheets

Spring Thief by Yorushika Bonus Content

Sukiyaki by Sakamoto Kyuu 上を向いて歩こう Bonus Content

Wednesday Campanella Edison エジソン Bonus Content

Yuuri Dried Flowers ドライフラワー Bonus Content

Wednesday Campanella Maneki Neko 招き猫 Bonus Content

Gurenge 紅蓮華 Bonus Content
Japanese Shadowing

Shadowing #7: Ordering Coffee
Download the PDF, Anki deck, and sound files here, or just watch

Shadowing #2-6: Katakana Words
Download the PDF, Anki flashcard deck, and sound files below, or just

Shadowing #1: Basic Morning Phrases
Download the PDF and sound files here, or just watch the video
Japanese Vocabulary Worksheets

Missing the Train | Bonus Download

While… in Japanese | Bonus Download

短文チャレンジ – The Three Great Gardens of Japan | Bonus Download

Astonishment… in Japanese | Bonus Download

Japanese Homonyms | Bonus Download

I wish I hadn’t… in Japanese | Bonus Download
Sleep Stories

For studying, these stories are probably all intermediate and above level. Also much of the language is a little old fashioned. These are, however, all excellent stories and very famous.
Even beginners can use these recordings to help fall asleep. Who knows? You might learn something in your dreams!

Sleep Stories in Japanese | 鼻 by 芥川龍之介 Akutagawa Ryuunosuke The Nose | Makoto+
The Nose (鼻 hana), was composed in 1916 and is about a monk with a very large nose (hence the title). The story addresses jealousy, egoism, and the making fun of others all with a hint of humor here and there. Natsume Sōseki (夏目漱石) gave the story high praise.

Sleep Stories in Japanese | 注文の多い料理店 by Miyazawa Kenji The Restaurant with Many Orders 宮沢賢治 | Makoto+
Two young gentlemen are tired and hungry after a full day’s fruitless hunt. They happen upon an impressive Western-style restaurant right smack in the middle of the woods. But perhaps they aren’t as lucky as they first appear.

Sleep Stories in Japanese | よだかの星 by Miyazawa Kenji The Nighthawk Star 宮沢賢治 | Makoto+
The yodaka (Nighthawk/Nightjar) is an ugly bird. Everyone knows it. The hawk (taka) is very upset the yodaka uses his name (the taka becomes daka) and demands the yodaka change his name.

Sleep Stories in Japanese | 夢十夜, Yume Jūya Ten Nights of Dreams by Natsume Souseki 夏目漱石 | Makoto+
Originally serialized in the Asahi Shimbun in 1908, Natsume Souseki wrote ten short “dreams” are written in a surreal, dreamlike style. Weird, disturbing, and somewhat humorous, these short stories are like haiku—they hint at a much bigger story which is left to the reader to fish out.

Sleep Stories in Japanese | 藪の中 In a Grove Akutagawa Ryuunosuke | Makoto+
Kurosawa Akira based his famous movie, Rashomon, mostly on 藪の中 yabu no naka (In a Grove). He also used some elements from another Akutagawa story called… Rashomon, but the main source was In a Grove.

Sleep Stories in Japanese | I am a Cat 吾輩は猫である by Natsume Souseki 夏目漱石 | Makoto+
The opening line is well-known in Japan: 吾輩は猫である。名前はまだ無い。 I am a cat. I don’t yet have a name.

Sleep Stories in Japanese | 走れメロス Run, Melos! by Dazai Osamu 太宰治 | Makoto+
Published in 1940, Run, Melos! is a Japanese classic widely read in Japanese schools. Based on an ancient Greek legend, it is a story about a man named Melos who, despite hardships, keeps his promises and values honesty.

Sleep Stories in Japanese | Akutagawa Ryuunosuke Kumo no Ito 芥川龍之介 蜘蛛の糸 Makoto+
The Spider’s Thread by Ryunosuke Akutagawa. The Buddha, while at a lotus pond of Paradise, spots a man named Kandata suffering in hell. He gives him a chance.

Sleep Stories in Japanese | Akutagawa Ryuunosuke Toshishun 芥川龍之介 杜子春 Makoto+
Akutagawa Ryuunosuke weaves a tale of a Prodigal Son.
how do i get to the historical names page? I clicked on the link from your email, but was just taken to this generic page. (Shogun member)
Oh sorry! I thought I tested the links, but I may not have changed one.
Here’s the introduction for the historical figures section:
https://makotoplus.com/course/introduction-4-2-2/
It only has 20 figures now, but I’ll add more later.