Why I study Japanese

I want to study Japanese so that I can better understand Japanese culture, read literature and watch movies in Japanese rather than solely relying on translation. I am fascinated about Japanese myths, shinto religion and zen Buddhism that exist simultaneously and continued to influence the society even today. I love Japanese literature and movie, especially the ones of Haruki Murakami and Akira Kurosawa. The words and scenes are capable of describing subtle and minute emotions, my direct exposure through Japanese can reduce the effect of mis-translation on or even the influence of translators' interpretations.