Makoto Japanese Language & Culture Magazine — Issue 101 (July 2026)Story-driven reading and listening practice for learners of JapaneseMakoto is a monthly digital magazine for beginner to intermediate learners of Japanese. Each issue blends short stories, language lessons, cultural notes, humor, and native-audio recordings — all designed to make Japanese feel natural, usable, and enjoyable.In this issue:After the fireworks of...

"On more than one occasion," said the captain, "input from the esteemed members of the Agora Society has aided our investigations. Furthermore, in at least one case, the Agora's contribution led directly to the apprehension of a murderer.""Hear, hear!" Shouted Otto, the decidedly least reserved member of our little group. The rest of us clapped politely and softly lest we further fanned the flames of dear Otto's enthusiasm."However, with your permission, today, I shall do a...

A string of thefts ends in a grisly murder. Certain evidence leads Captain Barnwell to suspect a former thief, Rutherford Nordlinger as the culprit. Carl Brooke becomes personally involved as Nordlinger's guilt is questioned.--In the style of Arthur Conan Doyle, Clay Boutwell brings back the Agora Society and its premiere scholar, Carl Brooke. This is the second novella in the Agora Series, the first being, Two Tocks before Midnight.

A hidden identity. A mysterious priest. An oath left unfulfilled.Edison, the most proper member of the Agora Society, hides a past he thought was long buried. The sudden appearance of a strange priest, however, reveals secrets that demand Edison honor an oath made long ago.With news of the imminent arrival of assassins, can the members of the Agora Society and Captain Barnwell discover the truth in time to save a friend?--Scroll up now and one click your copy...

An art critic is brutally murdered and the subject of his last review is suspected.Did the artist do it or was it one of the family members--all of whom had motive and opportunity?Join Carl Brooke and Captain Barnwell as they uncover the clues and weed through the red herrings to discover the surprising identity of the murderer.

The loveliest creature on earth ... a dark secret ... and the felled crabapple treeAn anonymous telegram introduces Carl Brooke to both his future wife and her conflicted brother. Long buried secrets from the Civil War threaten to come to the forefront with the discovery of a deliberately cut tree.As he tugs at the loose threads, Carl discovers the presence of a mysterious one-legged man and the possible reemergence of his nemesis, Thomas Drake.Fa...

Three of Japan's oldest and best-loved folktales — every sentence broken down for upper-beginner readers.A lazy young man sleeps for three years while his village works the fields — until a drought reveals what he was really doing all along. A kind old man's loyal dog leads him to buried gold, and a greedy neighbor's envy sets off a chain of strange transformations. A young fisherman saves a turtle, spends what feels like a few days in the Dragon Palace beneath the sea, and returns...

Reeling from the horrific pain of the loss of Anne, his wife, Carl Brooke must face his ultimate nemesis, Thomas Drake. Did Drake play a hand in Anne's death?Can Carl stop Drake before he harms his daughter, Mary?Join Carl Brooke and Captain Barnwell on their final adventure together.

"There it was again. A moment, a flash, something indescribable and so quickly discarded that one would feel obliged to disbelieve one's own eyes had it not become inescapable by multiple repetition in my presence."Murder and intrigue abound. At the center of it all appears a mysterious sheik and his cursed ruby.--In the style of Arthur Conan Doyle, Clay Boutwell brings back the Agora Society and its premiere scholar, Carl Brooke. This is the fourth novella in the Ag...

Makoto Japanese Language & Culture MagazineIssue 96 (February 2026)Story-driven reading and listening practice for learners of JapaneseMakoto is a monthly digital magazine for beginner to intermediate learners of Japanese. Each issue blends short stories, language lessons, cultural notes, humor, and native-audio recordings, all designed to make Japanese feel natural, usable, and enjoyable.In this issue (February 2026,...

Makoto Magazine Series #80: The Fun Japanese Not Found in TextbooksFor Beginners to Lower Intermediates: Boost Your Japanese Journey Today!Let's begin with a phrase that embodies the refined elegance of the Heian period: いとおかし. At first glance, you might think it has something to do with being "strange" or enjoying "sweets" due to the 「おかし」 part. However, this expression, frequently heard in Heian-period dramas, actually means "how delightful!" or "how char...

Kidnapped! An honorable man has gone missing and his wife is not in the least helpful. The sheriff dithers and every day brings death closer to a reality.It is late 1865. After hostilities cease, the Agora Society, led by the indomitable Carl Brooke, sends a group to aid the reconstruction of Wilmington Port in North Carolina and to encourage its sister society, the Nec Temere.Unknown to the volunteers, a heinous crime has been committed, creating a greater urgency...