Frank and the Obaasan: A Japanese Reader for Beginners

Are you a beginner or upper-beginner student of Japanese? Looking for something fun that’s actually written for adults—but not too hard? Meet Frank: a confused, natto-loving alien and your new Japanese reading buddy.

🚀 NOW FULLY REVISED AND EXPANDED!
We’ve given this book a galactic makeover:

✅ Completely re-edited with improved formatting and expanded text

✅ All audio newly recorded—with a few fun sound effects!

✅ Integrated with our interactive Makoto+ Sentence Explorer
(Totally free—no credit card required!)

📘 PLUS FREE BONUSES!

🎧 MP3 Audio: Direct download via QR code or short link—totally free; no opt-in or anything

📱 Sentence Explorer: Unlock all story sentences with vocabulary & grammar notes in one click
(Requires a free Makoto+ account—no credit card, no strings attached.)

🗂️ Anki Flashcard Deck: Vocabulary from the entire book

📄 PDF + ePub versions: Sent straight to your inbox when you join our free newsletter (unsubscribe any time)

THE STORY
Frank crash-lands in Japan with a broken spaceship and barely any Japanese. But with the help of a tough-but-kind grandmother (Obaasan), Frank learns about Earth... and natto. Along the way, he:

Befriends sushi

Accidentally starts an intergalactic war

Discovers natto

Learns to say “I’m sorry” in Japanese... a lot

This is Japanese reading practice at its silliest—and its most helpful.

WHAT YOU GET

15 Complete Short Stories (with furigana)

Vocabulary & Grammar Explanations after each line

Literal English Translations (for understanding, not cheating!)

Free Audio + Sentence Explorer + Flashcards to reinforce everything you learn

Beginner-friendly but not written for kids

Whether you’ve just mastered hiragana or you’re looking to boost your confidence with real Japanese, Frank and the Obaasan will make you laugh, learn, and love reading in Japanese.

Click “Buy Now” and ninja up your Japanese today!