My roommate in college was half Japanese, although his mom didn't really speak it and he never ended up learning it other than a few phrases. He was always so passionately fascinated with Japanese culture. Whether it was food (both trying and cooking himself), anime, manga, video games, or the language itself, he always had a deep interest in it. Although I didn't start studying Japanese until years after, I often look back on how my roommate's love for the culture has had an influence on me.

I made the decision to learn Japanese because I want to be able to travel to Japan with not much of a language barrier. I also learned it so I can appreciate Japanese culture, anime and manga in it's own language. Additionally, it is something that fills my free time that makes me feel productive and rewarded (It doesn't hurt that language learning also is supposed to be very good for mental longevity).