• Blog
  • Photos
  • More Photos
Menu

The Gaijin Ghost

A photoblog, where you become the phantom foreigner, exploring travel destinations in Japan.
  • Blog
  • Photos
  • More Photos

ANA’s R2-D2 jet at Narita International Airport in Chiba, Japan, May 2019.

'Star Wars' Coverage (Portfolio)

April 20, 2025

The memory systems of this R2 unit contain 50+ Star-Wars-related articles and posts that I wrote while working as an independent contractor for the Death Star /Film and other sites. The links below cover a ten-year period, from December 2015, when The Force Awakens was in theaters (and Aomori’s Star Wars Nebuta floats were in Tokyo), to April 2025, when the Star Wars Celebration event took place in Chiba, Japan.

Much of my early Star Wars coverage explores how this piece of Americana has intersected with Japanese culture. Each section here runs in reverse chronological order, with the “Star Wars in Japan” one dating back furthest. I started out writing from a Japan-centric angle, branching out into broader film analysis over time. You’ll find general commentary in the “Features & Reviews” section.

This is where The Gaijin Ghost becomes an honorary Force ghost. Some of the old posts here refer to a “Star Wars in Japan” sidebar on the blog, but the sidebar is long gone and the links that were once under it have since migrated to this post.

Star Wars in Japan

‘Star Wars’ Comes Home to Japan at Celebration 2025

‘Star Wars’ Celebration Japan 2025 (Photo Gallery)

‘Star Wars’ Cinema Concert at the Tokyo International Forum

‘Star Wars: Visions’ Volume 2 Still Offers a Taste of Tokyo Anime

The ‘Star Wars’ Tour of Japan (With ‘Obi-Wan Kenobi’ and ‘Andor’ Thoughts)

How Star Wars: Visions Fulfills the Promise of a Decade-Old Art Project Curated by George Lucas Himself (/Film Article)

‘Star Wars’ Identities: 10 Things We Learned From Lucasfilm’s Treasure Trove of Original Movie Costumes (/Film Article)

You Can Watch the Full ‘Star Wars’ Kabuki Play Online (/Film Article)

  • There’s a dead link now in place of the video, but you can see the full Star Wars kabuki play with English subtitles here.

Closing the Book on ‘Star Wars’ in Japan (for Now)

Dance On Over to Koenji for the Awa Odori Festival and Vintage ‘Star Wars’ Memorabilia

'Star Wars' Brings International Visibility to Japanese Local Festivals (Japan Today Article)

At 40, 'Star Wars' and Its Relationship with Japan Only Deepens (GaijinPot Article)

'The Last Jedi' Press Tour Comes to Tokyo

Rian Johnson Has Literally Been Praying for the Success of 'The Last Jedi' While Promoting 'Star Wars' in Japan (/Film Article)

  • Johnson himself liked my tweet about this one.

Floats & Food in Hakata, Fukuoka (Towering ‘Star Wars’ Float Included)

This 42-Foot ‘Star Wars’ Float Invaded a Japanese Festival - and It’s Quite the Sight to See (/Film Article)

Exploring the Japanese Roots of 'Star Wars' (/Film Article)

An Overview of Star Wars Events & Festivals in Japan (TDR Explorer Article)

'Snow Star Wars,' ANA’s C-3PO Jet, Droids Rice Paddy in Aomori, and More

The Sapporo Snow Festival's 'White Star Wars' Snow Sculpture

‘Star Wars’ in Japan - Menu of Off-Blog Content

Photo Tour of Star Tours at Tokyo Disneyland

The Nebuta Room - Aomori's ‘Star Wars’ Parade Floats

'The World of Star Wars' Exhibition & Taco Bell in Japan

‘Star Wars’ in Japan - Preface

Features & Reviews

One Underrated Scene Proves Attack of the Clones Could Have Been a Much Better Movie (Inverse Article)

Return of the Jedi Gave the Original Star Wars Trilogy the Ending It Needed (/Film Article)

‘The Mandalorian’ Season 3 Treads the Living Waters

The Empire Strikes Back Ending Explained: 'To Just Have Survived Is to Get Pretty Far in This Life Sometimes’ (/Film Article)

Is R5-D4 the Same Droid From Star Wars: A New Hope? An Investigation (/Film Article)

  • An ode to the quintessential Star Wars background character and his arc in The Mandalorian, Season 3.

The Daily Stream: Rogue One: A Star Wars Story Takes On Deeper Dimensions After Andor (/Film Article)

The Daily Stream: Andor's Prison Scenes Put THX 1138 and Clerks in a Dystopian Work Blender (/Film Article)

After Over 40 Years, Boba Fett Is Finally a Star Wars Lead (/Film Article)

  • In The Book of Boba Fett.

What Is the Best ‘Star Wars’ Movie? The Runner-Up in Our Poll Might Surprise You (/Film Article)

The Daily Stream: “Hey Guys, You Ever See That Really Old Movie, The Empire Strikes Back?” (/Film Article)

How ‘The Rise of Skywalker’ Draws On Previous Threads to Conclude the 9-Episode ‘Star Wars’ Saga (/Film Article)

‘Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker’ Spoiler Review: J.J. Abrams Delivers a Relentless Game of Hyperspace Hopscotch (/Film Article)

‘American Graffiti’ at 45: Revisiting George Lucas’ Pre-‘Star Wars’ Masterpiece (/Film Article)

‘Solo: A Star Wars Story’ - The Gaijin Ghost Review

James Mangold's Past Movies Make Him an Inspired Choice to Direct a Boba Fett Film (/Film Article)

  • Written after The Hollywood Reporter broke the news that Mangold would be helming a Boba Fett movie. That project ultimately fell through and what we got instead was the Disney+ series, The Book of Boba Fett. Mangold moved on to Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny for Lucasfilm, but he has another Star Wars project, Dawn of the Jedi, currently in development.

After 35 Years, ‘Star Wars’ Has Never Equalled the Creature Effects of ‘Return of the Jedi’ (/Film Article)

‘Star Wars’ at Disney's Hollywood Studios

Addressing the Four Biggest 'The Last Jedi' Fan Complaints (/Film Article)

Unlearn What You Have Learned: Luke Skywalker Is the Greatest 'Star Wars' Character (/Film Article)

The Greatest ‘Star Wars’ Music Video That Never Was

News, Lists & SEO

The 100 Greatest ‘Star Wars’ Moments

J.J. Abrams Fully Intended On Declining Star Wars: The Force Awakens (/Film Article)

Harrison Ford Wasn't Always A Fan Of George Lucas' Star Wars Writing (/Film Article)

Andor Created A 'Direct Link' To A New Hope's Torture Sequence [Exclusive] (/Film Article)

James Earl Jones Has Stepped Away From Voicing Darth Vader (/Film Article)

Andor Trailer: The Rebellion Needs All The Heroes It Can Get (/Film Article)

Lucasfilm’s Executive Vice President Agrees That VFX Artists ‘Don’t Get The Credit They Deserve’ [Exclusive] (/Film Article)

George Lucas’ Favorite Star Wars Character Is About As George Lucas As It Gets (/Film Article)

  • Jar Jar Binks.

The Lightsaber Umbrella In Star Wars: Visions Explained (/Film Article)

'Star Wars' Galactic Starcruiser Trailer: Yes, A Disney Theme Park Hotel Has A Trailer (/Film Article)

These last few links will take you to some different listicles I’ve written for /Film where one or more sections were devoted to a Star Wars movie or TV show:

  • The Mandalorian: Season 1 (2019) / Knives Out (2019) / Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (2019)

  • Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015)

  • The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

  • Star Wars (1977)

For the record, my personal ranking of the Star Wars movies (from least favorite to favorite) is as follows:

11. Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (2019)

10. Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999)

9. Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones (2002)

8. Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018)

7. Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005)

6. Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2015)

5. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)

4. Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017)

3. Return of the Jedi (1983)

2. Star Wars: A New Hope (1977)

1. The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

Tags star wars in japan
← 'Star Wars' Comes Home to Japan at Celebration 2025Japan Travel Writing Portfolio →