Makoto Japanese Explorer

Makoto Japanese Explorer
Read. Listen. Learn.

Learn Japanese the natural way through real stories, real sentences, and real context. Created by Japanese language instructors with over 25 years of experience.

Download it and start learning for free.

While Makoto+ Samurai and Shogun members unlock the full experience — including our monthly Makoto magazine, readable right in the app — free members still get a generous amount of stories, quizzes, courses, and learning tools to make real progress. You can install the app, start reading, and make real progress without paying or entering a credit card.

So give it a try. Download the app, explore at your own pace, and see how it works for you. No pressure, no commitment.

Makoto Japanese Explorer is designed for learners who want to move beyond isolated flashcards and actually read Japanese. Build vocabulary, grammar, and confidence one sentence at a time, supported by audio, quizzes, and smart learning tools.

Total beginner? No problem. The app includes guided beginner courses in Introduction to Japanese, Hiragana, and Katakana, so you can start from zero and naturally grow into reading.

What You’ll Get

• Interactive Story Mode – Read Japanese stories one sentence at a time with furigana, progress tracking, and completion checkmarks.
• Haiku Mode – Learn Japanese through classic and modern haiku with guided reading support.
• Professional Audio – Mostly native human recordings, plus some high-quality TTS, at normal and slow speed for every line.
• Vocabulary Tools – Tap any word to see definitions, grammar notes, kanji breakdowns, and JLPT levels.
• Flashcards – Daily sessions, Cram mode, Study Again, and JLPT N5 kanji flashcards (more levels coming).
• Quizzes – Vocabulary, grammar, and comprehension quizzes based on stories you've read — add any missed words straight to your Word Bank.
• Word Bank – Save vocabulary as you read, organized with folders. (drop "now with" — folders aren't news anymore)
• Journey of Words (ことばの旅) – A daily deep dive into one fun Japanese word, slang term, or idiom, with a clear explanation, multiple example sentences, and audio.
• Courses – Introduction to Japanese, Hiragana, and Katakana, with more courses coming.
• Progress Tracking – Daily streaks with grace periods, learning stats, and visible progress bars on stories.
• Customization – Rearrange or hide home screen sections, global furigana settings, dark mode, and font size options.
• Offline Access – Download stories and study anywhere, anytime.
• Makoto Magazine In-App – Read the monthly magazine right in the app, with tappable vocabulary and audio (Samurai & Shogun).
• Kana Charts – Hiragana and katakana reference charts with audio for every character.
• Fun Phrases – Illustrated everyday and anime-style phrases with native audio, refreshed on your home screen.
• Anki Export – Send your Word Bank and study decks to Anki with one tap.
• Sakura Points – Earn points as you read, quiz, and keep your streak goi