Since 1999 there have been 16 Star Wars Celebration fan conventions. The vast majority of these occasions have been within the USA however there have been 4 in Europe and two in Japan. The primary Japanese ones in 2008 was 4 years earlier than the Disney takeover and in addition in a limited-digital period of interplay. Occasions had modified a good bit by the point it returned to Japan 17 years later. I’m fortunate sufficient to have been at each of them however how did they differ?
Dates: Star Wars Celebration Japan 2008 ran for 3 days between 19-21 July with the ultimate day being on Marine Day, certainly one of Japan’s nationwide holidays. However, the 2025 model came about from April 18-20.
Local weather: The new & humid summer season performed host to the 2008 occasion whereas final 12 months’s was within the a lot milder Spring season. It was heat however removed from the sweaty summer season situations that are by no means ideally suited for a number of the cosplayers.
Measurement: The Makuhari Messe Conference Middle venue was used for each conventions, however the 2025 one usually came about in Halls 1-7. Nonetheless, the Celebration stage was situated within the Makuhari Occasion Corridor. Additionally, the registration and badge pick-up space had been in Corridor 9. In distinction, 2008’s occasion primarily used only one corridor.
Attendance – The 17,000 whole of 2008 was completely dwarfed by the 2025 attendance which was six instances bigger.
Viewers: The overwhelming majority of attendees in 2008 had been Japanese however 17 years later and issues had dramatically modified because it was a much more worldwide affair with over 125 nationalities represented.
Admission– A 3-day move in 2008 was ¥10,000 (¥5,000 for youngsters) however in 2025 it was ¥23,800 for such a factor. Single-day grownup passes had been ¥4,000 in 2008 however about ¥8,000 in 2025. A Yoda Premium 3-day move was ¥22,000 in 2008 while a Jedi Grasp VIP 3-day move final 12 months was ¥140,000. I solely purchased my VIP move per week earlier than the occasion which you wouldn’t be capable to do now as all of the tickets promote out shortly.
Phases: There have been 3 levels on the authentic Star Wars Celebration Japan and 9 on the 2025 occasion.
Panels: It was a first-come-first-served coverage in 2008 however final time registration and lottery purposes had been wanted to entry sure high-profile panels on the Celebration Important Stage akin to ‘The Mandalorian & Grogu‘, ‘Andor: A Star Wars Story‘, ‘Ahsoka‘ and the closing ceremony.
Stay Streaming: It was a distinct period of fandom in 2008 however issues have modified rather a lot because the Disney takeover. Star Wars Celebration has been streamed stay on-line since 2015 that means that the 2008 went largely unnoticed to many.
Host Anthony Carboni interviews Vanessa Marshall in 2025
Language: One of the vital notable variations final 12 months was the principle language. Star Wars is mostly an English-language manufacturing and what all of the crew converse in order that was all translated into Japanese after all. As an English speaker, the stream of fascinating tales and anecdotes was inevitably halted by the necessity for interpretation each 30 seconds but it surely actually couldn’t be helped although! I feel this is likely one of the causes there was not one other Celebration in Japan for thus lengthy afterwards. With the change in demographics in 2025 and the event of AI, Celebration 2025 was principally in English. I actually do marvel how the Japanese followers felt about this as their occasion was form of overtaken by the international attendees.
Merchandise: My reminiscence is a bit of hazy with regards to this a part of Celebration which is essential to many collectors. After all, there have been many distributors at each however I’m referring to the official Celebration merchandise. There was an enormous retailer in 2025 but it surely was a way more modest dimension 17 years earlier. Additionally, native cultural roots had been embraced much more in 2025 to cater for the worldwide attendees who lapped up the Japanese-style merchandise.
Superstar Visitors: Mark Hamill was the star attraction in 2008. He might have performed many Celebrations since however again then he was new to all of it and seeing him interviewed on stage was removed from the entertaining and polished expertise it turned in later years. He took some time to get going and provides the viewers what they needed however when he did say one thing humorous or fascinating it was largely met by silence. He typically talked for too lengthy and didn’t give the interpreter an opportunity to catch up and share in Japanese.
Different friends included Anthony Daniels, Jeremy Bulloch, Peter Mayhew, David Prowse, Ray Park, Jake Lloyd and Amy Allen had been all current in 2008. Carrie Fisher pulled out earlier than the occasion began.
The friends in 2025, amongst others, had been Ahmed Greatest, Ashley Eckstein, Diego Luna, Mads Mikkelsen, Manny Jacinto and Rosario Dawson. Anthony Daniels, Daniel Logan and Temuera Morrison had been attendees of each occasions. There have been additionally particular friends who appeared on stage for bulletins of future tasks like Ryan Gosling and Sigourney Weaver.
Autographs & Pictures – Photograph alternatives didn’t exist at such conventions in 2008 as smartphones and selfies had been simply not a factor. 15 actors and actresses signed autographs with a spread of various costs for each relying on their star energy. Getting Mark Hamill to signal one thing of yours price 20,000 yen however within the modern-day you possibly can count on to pay practically double that for both an autograph or a photograph alternative. It was typically attainable to take a photograph collectively on the desk in 2008 if the actor or actress permitted it.
¥3,000 for an autograph, a photograph & a chat!
Theme & Content material: Regardless of the whole lot else happening, Celebration remains to be a promotional occasion and in 2008 ‘The Clone Wars‘ film was on the horizon and taking the franchise into a brand new period. It was additionally being marketed as a 30-year celebration of Star Wars in Japan as the unique film didn’t land in Japan till 1978, one 12 months after the remainder of the world. A good few stay motion movies (akin to ‘Star Wars: Starfighter‘) and Disney + collection had been promoted in 2025.
Vibe: Onerous to recollect the noughties expertise an excessive amount of however the two occasions positively had utterly totally different emotions to them. Though it felt huge on the time, the unique Celebration Japan did really feel like a small-time venue on the again of the 2025 occasion. While not on the size of the late 80s/early 90s, Star Wars was pretty dormant in July 2008. Nonetheless, the Clone Wars announcement did kickstart the animation aspect of the franchise paving the way in which for others like ‘Rebels‘ and ‘The Dangerous Batch‘ to observe.
Different: There was actually a rise within the likes of vloggers, podcasters, social media, meals vans and SWAG. I’m positive there are a couple of extra issues however for now that’s all that I can provide you with.
Blast Factors podcast hosts Jason & Gabe
Closing Ideas: Only a few vacationers ever actually got here to Japan in 2008 however as of late the nation is completely flooded by worldwide guests. It’s way more open to folks from abroad and each Star Wars and the Celebration occasions have grown and grown because the Disney takeover in 2012. Hopefully, the 2025 occasion proved that it was attainable to do an occasion in Japan and overcome the key language impediment which might be why it took so lengthy to return to those shores. Let’s hope it’s not one other 17 12 months wait until Celebration Japan returns!
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