April 18-20, 2025
After spending three nights in Tokyo and having the opportunity to explore one of the biggest cities in the world, Carlos and I shifted gears. Star Wars Celebration Japan was the original reason for this trip, and it was finally here.
I was ready to meet other diehard fans, see amazing cosplays, and especially watch panels and interviews with some of my favorite actors!
Those three days at Celebration may not have been a traditional Japan travel experience, but they were absolutely unforgettable.
Day 1: A New Experience
The morning bristled with excitement. I had been waiting for this weekend for nearly 2 years, and I wondered about all the things and people I might see!
After commuting down to Chiba, we went right into the thick of the crowd heading toward Makuhari Messe, the convention center. People traded little trinkets like pins and stickers – I acquired a few myself!
Carlos wasn’t doing great with all the standing, so once we made it inside, he quickly found a place to sit along the wall to rest, while I took the opportunity to explore a bit. There were some merchandise booths, but everything was expensive and the waits just weren’t worth it to me, so I didn’t end up buying anything.
But the cosplay was absolutely incredible. One of the first we saw was a fully suited Darth Vader!
Most of my experience throughout the weekend would be spent at the Celebration Live Stage, one of the major hubs of the entire event. This is where they film and stream panels, interviews, announcements, and celebrity appearances throughout the day.
Many in the audience were handed a free mini lightsaber, courtesy of Hasbro. These lit up in different colors and could be synchronized remotely during the show for visual effects – I took one but Carlos declined. It was a fun and super cool souvenir to keep!
The main hosts, Anthony Carboni and Kristin Baver, warmed up the crowd and introduced the rotating cast of personalities we’d see throughout the weekend. One of the most memorable was Oki, a Japanese vegetable carver who spent the day quietly sculpting intricate creations and presenting them to celebrity guests after interviews – a uniquely Japanese touch that perfectly fit Celebration’s setting.
We were also introduced to Reina Scully, the Japanese-language host who helped bridge the event with local fans and talent, as well as a pair of droids that added personality and chaos to the stage area. Meanwhile, energetic host Cameron Matthews was in the crowd, interviewing fans and capturing the excitement on the floor. He would also act as the energetic crowd hype man, guiding us through what would come next between segments and keeping us entertained.
After the livestream officially started, Cameron announced that our first guest would be none other than Hayden Christensen – Anakin Skywalker himself! And then, after screaming our heads off… we had to wait. Patience was certainly a recurring theme at Celebration!
Finally, Anthony returned to the front of the stage, and in what would become a recurring format, he introduced Hayden by describing his character and history in the saga, followed by an epic video montage set to dramatic music. Then came the moment: Hayden walked out on stage – and the room exploded with cheering, clapping, and shouting. This would become a familiar theme as well!
Each interview would revolve around a specific topic – with this one being about the 20th anniversary of Revenge of the Sith, though of course they would always talk about more. But the special part here was getting to sing “Happy Birthday” to Hayden – his birthday was the next day, April 19. He was clearly caught off guard, even pulling out his phone to record the moment himself!
Something fun that all the interview guests got to do after their segments was shoot a t-shirt cannon that was custom designed by to look like it came from Star Wars. It was fun to see all sorts of celebrities firing that thing off!
After Hayden was done, they brought out an extra seat. They did this in-between interviews multiple times, and it could sometimes indicate what came next – but not always!
Imagine my surprise when RYAN GOSLING and Shawn Levy were announced as the next two to come out! I had heard a bit about him being cast in an upcoming Star Wars movie (announced that morning as Starfighter), but I absolutely never would have expected to see him at Celebration!
Apparently they had shown up at the end of the Mandalorian and Grogu panel which had just happened. Over the course of the weekend, I learned that a lot of guests would later go to the Live Stage after their panel appearances, so it was a great place to catch as many famous people and actors as possible.
After them there were a few highlights – a LEGO showcase with a massive K-2SO build, Kathleen Kennedy, and a brief appearance by Ashley Eckstein (voice of Ahsoka Tano). I also got to briefly speak with a fan from Israel, and watched as Cameron interviewed people from around the world – it really showed how global the Star Wars fandom is!
Then…DAVE FILONI and PEDRO PASCAL made a surprise appearance! This was completely unannounced, and the crowd absolutely lost it. At the very start, Pedro put on Dave’s signature cowboy hat, which made all of us laugh and cheer – it honestly suited him perfectly!
Next up were Jon Favreau and Sigourney Weaver, the latter of whom will be joining the Star Wars family in the upcoming Mandalorian & Grogu film. She said she was honored by how warmly the fandom had welcomed her, and you could really feel that energy in the crowd. Jon even signed a few things for fans on the way out!
After this, I went to get lunch. I met up with Carlos and we headed all the way across the convention center to the main food court, but we realized the line was absurd. So we opted to leave the convention center and walk to a nearby McDonald’s instead.
We both tried a delicious chicken sandwich, but the standout item to me was a Bacon Potato Pie, which was warm, crispy, and packed with a creamy mashed potato and bacon filling!
After grabbing food, Carlos decided to head back to the hotel to rest. I, on the other hand, headed to the Lucasfilm Animations 20th Anniversary panel. I got there just in time, as they closed off the queue not long after. Once inside, I received a small red raffle ticket upon entry.
I ended up seated in the upper section. While waiting for the panel to start, the host invited a large group of cosplayers onstage for a Star Wars-themed competition involving naming unique Star Wars elements – like planets, Sith Lords, animals, or Jedi. In the end, the host cheekily let the contestant from Japan win!
Then the panel began. Hosted by longtime Celebration staple David W. Collins, it brought Dave Filoni and producer Athena Portillo onstage to reflect on the 20-year history of Lucasfilm Animation.
Early on, they surprised us with a never-before-seen clip from an unfinished Clone Wars arc, featuring Anakin Skywalker chasing Boba Fett through Coruscant. Even in its rough, unfinished state, the crowd went wild – it felt like peeking behind the curtain of Star Wars history.
The panel then shifted to the present with a preview of Tales of the Underworld (which came out May 4 last year). We watched the first Asajj Ventress episode in full, complete with a stunning lightsaber duel against an Inquisitor that was an awesome experience to watch with other fans.
And then came the moment no one was ready for.
After discussing the past and present, Collins asked Portillo how she’d describe the future of Lucasfilm Animation.
“I would show it.”
The lights went down, and a brand-new trailer premiered for Maul: Shadow Lord – a visually stunning series centered on Maul’s rise within the criminal underworld, set to premiere in April this year. The crowd was already losing it when, as the trailer ended, a figure stepped onto the stage.
“Roll it again.”
It was Sam Witwer.
With just two words, he became Maul, and the hall absolutely erupted. They played the trailer again, somehow with even more energy than the first time. It was one of those Celebration moments you never forget – the kind that reminds you why people fly across the world for this event.
After that, they made one more announcement: if you still had your raffle ticket, you could redeem it for a free Lucasfilm 20th Anniversary poster. I immediately checked my pockets… and realized my ticket was gone. I rushed back inside to check under the seats and around the benches, but no luck. Deflated, I sat on a bench just outside the event hall, hoping the line would die down a bit. I happened to mention what happened to a few other fans – and one of them, incredibly, gave me their raffle ticket. That small act of kindness absolutely made my day.
After getting my poster, just as I’d hoped, Sam Witwer took the Celebration Live Stage – joined once again by Athena Portillo, talking about the new series. It was a thrill seeing him in person, and his passion for the character and Star Wars in general was clear as ever.
Following the final segment came one of Celebration’s most beloved traditions: the Running of the Willrow Hoods. It’s a tongue-in-cheek homage to a background character from The Empire Strikes Back – a citizen evacuating Cloud City while carrying what looks like an ice cream maker. Dozens of cosplayers sprinted through the venue in orange jumpsuits clutching replica “ice cream makers,” bringing the day to a hilarious close.
Day 1 wrapped up, and I joined the massive crowd heading toward the train station. Knowing the trains would be packed, I took my time and let the day sink in. Along the way, I met a family who handed me their last custom-made pin, and another fan from Malaysia gave me one too – which felt especially fitting, since I’d be visiting his country just a couple weeks later. Even the train itself was decked out in Star Wars Celebration decorations!
Back at the hotel, I filled Carlos in on everything before calling it a night. I needed the rest – because tomorrow, I’d be in cosplay.
Day 2: The Cosplay Strikes Back
Before heading to Chiba today, I decided to pick up some snacks at a nearby 7/11 to keep myself fueled throughout the next couple days, before suiting up in my Obi-Wan Kenobi cosplay!
Carlos ended up skipping today, mainly because the day before he had accidentally used walking directions instead of the bus to get to the train station… He said even the locals seemed confused seeing a lost tourist wandering through!
After getting to Makuhari Messe, I noticed a lot more Japanese fans compared to Friday, which was awesome to see! From what I could tell, the crowd seemed like a pretty even 50/50 split between Japanese and international attendees, and the same would be true on Sunday.
I went straight to the Live Stage again. Cameron was back, scouting for fun fans to interview. He found two unforgettable ones – Bananakin and Obi-Wan Cornobi – who were literally dressed as a banana and an ear of corn!
The first celebrity guest of the day was Anthony Daniels, the one and only C-3PO! This panel was super funny – him and Anthony Carboni (the stage host) pretend to dislike each other purely because they share a first name, which was a joke running throughout the interview. It ended with Anthony Daniels literally getting wrapped up in bubble wrap!
After a couple other panels and showcases I decided to check out some cosplays, including a fantastic General Grievous with whom I briefly clashed blades!
Then came Ahmed Best, best known originally as Jar Jar Binks, but now also beloved as Jedi Master Kelleran Beq. Ashley Eckstein also joined in!
During the lull before the next panel, I ended up meeting and chatting briefly with a couple from Perth, Rachel and Robbie – they were super nice and even let me move forward a bit in the crowd when space opened up.
Denise Gough and Kyle Soller were next, and came out to talk about their roles as Dedra Meero and Syril Karn in Andor. And just after, Diego Luna and Alan Tudyk – Cassian Andor and K-2SO – hit the stage! Diego spoke very genuinely about how much the Star Wars community has meant to him over the last ten years, and it made me happy to be part of that!
From there I headed to the Ahsoka panel, something I had booked months beforehand. Star Wars Celebration had three major stages: the Celebration Stage (where I had seen the Lucasfilm Animations anniversary panel), and two others – the Galaxy and Twin Sun Stages – which showed livestreamed broadcasts of whatever was happening on the Celebration Stage. You couldn’t enter the Celebration Stage without a reserved ticket won through the lottery, and the same went for the two livestream venues.
The panel was awesome – Dave Filoni, Rosario Dawson (who plays live-action Ahsoka), and Hayden Christensen talked about the filming and other aspects of season 1 before pivoting to season 2 news. A major focus was on Ray Stevenson and his tragic passing. The character he played, Baylan Skoll, was very well-received by fans, and it was confirmed that his role would be recast – as he seems to be vital to the future story.
They mentioned that filming was set to start just a week after Celebration, but gave us some conceptual artwork and prop reveals in the meantime. To close the panel, they played a stylized retro teaser – done entirely with concept art and narration. It was presented in the same vein as the original teaser for The Empire Strikes Back back in 1979, before any footage had been filmed.
On my way back, I was thrilled to spot a Japanese Anakin cosplayer – an obvious must for a photo since I was in full Obi-Wan. His girlfriend snapped some great shots of us, which I was really happy with.
I spent the next little while wandering and snapping photos of some of the most impressive cosplayers I encountered. Then I spotted a Darth Maul, and of course, Obi-Wan couldn’t just let him walk by. We circled each other dramatically and clashed sabers for a bit, which drew a small crowd. We ended with a mutual bow. It was nerdy, spontaneous fun – exactly the kind of thing that makes Celebration so special.
On my way back to the Live Stage, I noticed a gathering crowd below a second-floor balcony – Hayden Christensen was up there doing another interview! After chuckling a bit and snapping a pic, I kept going.
I was glad I did – because just after I got there, Rosario Dawson, Jon Favreau, and Dave Filoni came out for an interview expanding a bit on what had been discussed at the Ahsoka panel.
After the segment, I took a much-needed snack break, heading up to one of the balconies that overlooked the Live Stage. It was a great place I could relax and still keep an eye on the action below, making sure I didn’t miss anything big before heading back down into the crowd.
Next up being interviewed was Manny Jacinto – who absolutely killed it as The Stranger in The Acolyte. Even though the show was canceled, the crowd was chanting “SEASON 2!” and it was clear he felt the love. He also mentioned how impressed he was by the cosplayers who dressed up as The Stranger, even though there’s no official merchandise for the character yet – people crafted their own versions by hand. At the end of his segment, he was surprised with a gift: The Stranger’s unique and menacing helmet from the show (an unreleased Hasbro item) and he was clearly floored. Of course, he put it on, and everybody went crazy!
After his interview, I chatted with a friendly attendee named Will from the UK and we connected on social media.
Then, to close out the night, Temuera Morrison (Jango Fett/Boba Fett) and Daniel Logan (young Boba Fett) appeared performing a haka in honor of their Maori heritage. They were hilarious and energetic, discussing their roles in Attack of the Clones, The Mandalorian, and The Book of Boba Fett, with Temuera playfully singing about Boba and delivering his classic “Like a bantha!” line. Daniel even brought out his young daughter to sit in his seat briefly!
Ashley Eckstein returned for a bit after that, but I was already heading out to beat the commuter rush. While waiting for the bus, I met a guy named Rick from New York at the stop – we ended up chatting all the way to the station and part of the train ride. After returning to the hotel, I told Carlos all about the day, and he decided to join me for the next one, especially since we had a panel to attend.
Day 3: The Return of Visions
This morning, we started off with the panel for Star Wars Visions: Volume 3, so we got there a bit earlier than the other two days and grabbed our seats after getting to go around the massive line of people.
For context, Visions is an animated non-canon anthology where different studios create their own standalone Star Wars stories, each in their own style and interpretation. Vol. 1 was all Japanese studios, while Vol. 2 had seen animation studios from around the world take part.
Rather than most of the panels and interviews we’d seen, which were in English with Japanese subtitles, this one was the other way around – fitting, since Vol. 3 would be returning to the style of Vol. 1. Some of those stories would be sequels, while others would be brand new. We got to see teasers, plenty of concept art, and a trailer at the end. It has since come out and is pretty great!
As the panel wrapped up, everyone received a custom-made Visions Vol. 3 pin. After this, Carlos headed to Akihabara to go shopping for a few people, while I stayed for the rest of the day.
First up was Ahmed Best again, where he announced a new limited Star Wars season in Fortnite, complete with a Darth Jar Jar outfit. I’m a big Fortnite fan, so this was pretty exciting, though I missed much of it due to my trip.
After him was David Collins, a longtime sound designer at Lucasfilm. Anthony started the panel by asking about how they translated Peter Schilling’s “Major Tom (Coming Home)” into Huttese for the Skeleton Crew trailer! Much of the interview focused on sound design and in-universe languages, which I found fascinating as someone who loves linguistics. As new shows come out, they track the words and phrases created for each project, gradually building vocabularies over time.
After that came Rosario Dawson and Diego Luna – both having one-on-one versions of their interviews from the previous day.
After this, while taking a break at my spot on the balcony, I saw Rachel and Robbie again, the couple from Perth. This was great because I was able to connect with them on social media – Rachel ended up giving me some great tips for Taiwan and Malaysia!
After that, I decided to just wander for a while. I saw tons of awesome cosplays – including but not limited to a few Ahsokas, a “Lothcat Delivery Service”, several varieties of clone troopers, stormtroopers, multiple Vaders, Mandalorians, and even a tauntaun – one of the best cosplays of the whole convention!
I also grabbed a snack at a small shop at one of the other halls, something called a tornado potato – basically a spiral-cut potato deep-fried on a stick that was really good!
After checking out the Live Stage again I went back to my spot, and ran into Will from the UK again – so we chatted for a while. A lot of this day was spent roaming and peoplewatching, and I had a lot of fun with that.
I also tried to get into the Celebration Japan Closing Ceremony, but did not quite make it. After I went back inside, I saw the tail end of a Mads Mikkelsen panel. I’m honestly not sure what they discussed, but it was still neat to see him in person.
After that came a demonstration with Oki the Vegetable Carver, where he carved the Millennium Falcon live on stage. He admitted he was a bit flustered since he normally works behind the scenes, but as always, he did a great job.
Finally, it was time for the closing ceremony, which took place across multiple stages. It served as a recap of Star Wars in the two years since Celebration 2023 (on the Galaxy Stage), highlights from this Celebration and a look ahead (on the Celebration Stage), and the Live Stage crew wrapping things up with Cam in the crowd and all the familiar hosts – Kristin, Anthony, Reina, Oki, and the droids.
The big final announcement: the next Star Wars Celebration will be April 1–4, 2027, in Los Angeles, marking the 50th anniversary of Star Wars! I definitely plan on going, since it’s only a few hours away from my hometown.
As I left, I took one last look at the crowd of fellow fans from around the world. I was still on cloud nine after such an incredible few days, but I also wanted to beat the worst of the post-ceremony crowds.
Epilogue: The Last Night in Tokyo
There was a local restaurant called Mukoubuchi right next to our hotel that Carlos and I had talked about visiting one night. He ended up not being hungry, so I went on my own. It turned out to be absolutely delicious – and it gave me time to think about what I had experienced that weekend.
As I sat and began to enjoy the local atmosphere, I remembered the incredible people I had met, exhibiting the diversity and love of the Star Wars community. I was part of a global fandom that revered the actors and creators who have helped make Star Wars, and who had passion enough to make and wear all kinds of unique cosplays.
Star Wars Celebration had been amazing, not to mention Tokyo as a whole. While eating spicy gyoza, potato cheese mochi, and some incredible chicken, I just smiled. From the hidden Ushijima Shrine to the tourist-heavy Shibuya Crossing, it had all been wonderful to experience. And of course, the food was out of this world!
Even when I finished my meal, I decided to wait a bit to leave. The staff were friendly, and there was an interesting Japanese TV show on – overall the vibe was very local, though I did not feel out of place. It gave rest to both my body and soul.
The next day, Carlos and I would be going to Kyoto, a city full of history. It was time to wish Tokyo goodbye, and prepare for the next leg of our journey.
[…] My Star Wars Celebration Experience! […]