However finally discovering how great Okamoto Mayo is was the biggest find. I'm also still interested in music, but not strictly Japanese. Lately it's been salsa, and I've started learning how to play it as well. Cycling has gotten stronger than ever, helped by buying a new road bicyle and taking trips over 100 miles for the first time. I've also been reading Japanese literature in English.
Music continues to be salsa.
Cycling still continues on the side, but music takes over everything else including reading. As for listening, I discovered Kawamoto Makoto, and that Ijichi Hiromasa, who happened to have written several songs I loved over the past few years, writes all of Speed's music. So I could finally buy their two albums and enjoy them without feeling guilty. The big find at the end of this period, and carrying over into the Japanese period below, was Tanimura Yumi . I quickly collected all of her albums and should have all of her videos by the end of the year.