Goal: "Native Speaker"

What does it take to become a "Native Speaker"?  I continue to occasionally repeat this question to myself after 10 years of intensively studying my second language, Japanese.  And after 10 long years, I continue to feel that I am not yet a "Native Speaker", certainly by definition I am not, and that I still have in the ballpark of about 10 years left before I can attain such a fluency.

Ten Years!??  I am more than certain that my haphazard 10 years is closer to a structured 4-5 years of study.  I believe with the general advice that I intend to provide as I begin to write this blog, a student of any language will be able to take advantage of my mistakes and the experience I gained from them.  Further, as I am a student of Japanese, I will endeavor to provide thoughtful, specific advice as well as resources, and specific advice on methods of study.