My name is Kevin Skogheim and I'm a student at The Evergreen State College in Washington State. My major is Japanese language and culture, with a special focus on social issues such as discrimination, alienation, and taboos. I’m particularly interested in how such issues are expressed in Japanese art, especially film. Recently, however, as other priorities have arisen, I've become more distant from my Japanese studies: my language skills have atrophied while I’ve found myself generally having less and less time to devote to the subjects that excite me the most. I want to get back in touch with my passion for Japanese, and I see no better way to do that than by finally immersing myself in the culture that I’ve devoted so much of my academic journey to. Visiting Japan has long been a goal of mine, so I’m thrilled to have this opportunity—not just to reconnect with my interests, but to really challenge myself to explore more of the world and discover new perspectives. After all, how much can I claim to understand about Japan without experiencing it for myself?

Additionally, I feel that we live in an era where the world’s nations are increasingly embracing division and self-isolation at the expense of cooperation and human connection. I believe in the power of intercultural engagement to make the world a better place for all; only by bridging gaps in language and culture can we come to better understand each other and the complicated, flawed world we share. However, it occurs to me that I’ve not done much in my own life to contribute to that cause. I hope that my time in Japan will help me develop the skills and knowledge to foster those connections and create meaningful change.