Frank and the Obaasan: A Japanese Reader for Beginners

READ Real Japanese—Now Even Better! Beginner to upper-beginner in Japanese? Love stories that are fun but still give you serious language practice? Frank and the Obaasan Volume 2 is back—newly updated and now fully integrated with the Makoto+ Sentence Explorer for the ultimate interactive learning experience.

What’s New? With the Makoto+ Sentence Explorer, every single sentence from this book is yours to explore online for free. Listen to crystal-clear audio, see each sentence broken down into bite-sized parts, check vocabulary and grammar instantly, and reinforce your learning with quizzes and games. It’s like having a Japanese tutor available 24/7—only far more patient.

The Story Frank is not your typical Japanese learner—he’s an alien. After crash-landing in Japan and surviving Volume 1’s fermented-soybean-fueled mission to save the galaxy, he now faces an even stranger menace. Joined by the no-nonsense (and possibly super-powered) Obaasan, Frank must once again protect the universe… and maybe grab some natto along the way.

Inside You’ll Find:

10 complete episodes in one continuous story arc

Furigana above all kanji, so you can read even as a beginner

Line-by-line breakdowns of every sentence with clear vocabulary and grammar explanations in English

Full English translations (to check, not to cheat!)

MP3 audio for every episode—listen while you read for maximum retention

Anki Flashcard Deck - with all vocabulary from the book

Makoto+ Sentence Explorer access for instant lookups, audio, quizzes, and more

If you can read hiragana and know some basic grammar, you’re ready to jump in. Short, absurd, and addictive, Frank and the Obaasan will keep you turning pages—and learning—without feeling like homework.

So… what are you waiting for? Ninja up your Japanese and click “Buy Now.”

© 2025 Kotoba Inc (Ebook): 6610001009182

Release date

Ebook: August 13, 2025