Hi! My name is Victoria Mikolaski and I’m currently a junior majoring in East Asian studies at William and Mary. I have a passion for foreign languages and have studied Spanish for 6 years, French for 7 years, and have now been studying Japanese for 3 years. My interest in Japan started when I was young with Japanese popular culture in various mediums: music, manga and anime, and fashion. I have a diverse number of interests, and often I’m doing something creative with my hands like making art or playing instruments. Once I started college, I acquired a new hobby, cosplay, that brought me closer to some subcultures that have strong connections to Japan. I’m going to Japan for study abroad soon and hope to learn even more about Japanese culture and language! 