One of the great pleasures of life in a country not your own is savoring its literature in the original language.
The first Japanese people I ever knew were characters in novels, who all (very kindly) spoke to me in my language, since I knew nothing of theirs. One day, I promised them, we'll have a reunion -- in Japanese.
The time has come, and I have lately been renewing my acquaintance with some very old friends. They're still their old youthful selves, though changed in other ways.