Thankx for the list, Wolph... I never felt home where I was born (even before I didn't know about Japan). Since I got most of my family and my wife in Nippon, it's the place where I lay my hat... And the place where they will bury me ;)...
PS: I don't listen to JPop, have not one Manga in my house and rarely watch anime... But I love the people

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The method of learning Japanese recommended by experts is to be born as a Japanese baby and raised by a Japanese family, in Japan. And even then it is not easy...