Japan has numerous daycare centers for the elderly where they can participate in clubs and activities. For 28 years, I hosted an English club at one such center, which also had clubs for haiku writing, hula dancing, classical Japanese dance, karaoke, choral singing, tai chi, and more. Outside of institutions, retirees meet to play ground gold and gate ball. Many keep vegetable gardens and sell their surplus produce at unmanned roadside stalls. They regularly go to their local hot springs or sento public baths to chat with friends. All in all, the elderly in Japan lead active lives and embrace their ikigai, or profound sense of purpose.

There is indeed no “L” in Romaji. Nevertheless, for learners of Japanese, L is far closer than R when pronouncing the 3rd kana in こもれび. Consider the difference in pronunciation for the name りさ Risa (ree-sah, pronounced in English) and what her name sounds more like in Japanese, which would be “Lisa.”

leh is reh. There is no L in Japanese.

I think the othering is more common in areas without many foreigners. I assume people mean well, but they are at a loss as to how to interact with what they consider “outsiders.”

I am not aware of a word for moonlight leaking through trees. It is a lovely image, though.