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Which countries have been the most receptive or supportive of your work? What are the biggest differences among conventions in Ger- many, Japan, or Europe? I get a lot of positive feedback at events in Japan, and I’m really thank- ful for that. The level of skill and the material available for cosplayers in Japan is on a whole different level from the west. I am really glad when I can meet the standards somehow. Europe is a whole lot more relaxed in general, though the pressure at competitions and performances is higher in my opinion. What’s been the biggest challenge for you? Contact lenses. I have never worn colored contacts until a year ago and it was a long and hard struggle to get started. To be honest, I am still scared every time I have to put in contact lenses (haha). Another struggle is always finding time. I am really busy in my life right now so I rarely have time to work on my own costumes anymore. Luckily my agency is very supportive and tailors costumes for me under supervi- sion or on request when I’m too busy. What characters are you thinking of working on in the future? I am currently working on Slaine (Aldnoah Zero) and Hisomu (Kiznaiver) for this summer’s Comiket. There are some bigger projects I’ve been wanting to take on, like Tracer (Overwatch) and Haine (Shinshi Doumei Cross Artbook), but haven’t had the time yet to work out the details. What advice would you give to those who are just starting out? Have fun. When you first start to cosplay it might seem overwhelming how many ways there are to go about it, and especially in the west the gap between “just for fun” and “performance and elite” seems super big, but everyone starts somewhere. Nothing will ever be perfect, so just have fun, make friends, and learn as you go along!

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