Here’s the full schedule for the Fan Stage at Star Wars Celebration Japan, taking place between April 18th to 20th at Makuhari Messe, Tokyo.
Friday, April 18
Living Your Star Wars Story in the Theme Parks
10:00am – 11:00am
Star Wars is about storytelling—adventures, heroes, and epic battles. But what if you could live your Star Wars story? This panel explores how Disney Parks bring the galaxy to life, allowing fans to step into their own narratives. Discover how experiences like Galaxy’s Edge, Star Tours, and the Halcyon Starcruiser go beyond attractions to become gateways to adventure and celebration.
Darkside For Life: Why the Bad Guys are so Impactful and just way Cooler
11:30am – 12:30pm
The allure of the Dark Side in Star Wars is rooted in human psychology, offering a seductive path to power and control. It promises quick solutions, tapping into desires for dominance and reshaping one’s destiny without moral limits. This temptation appeals to those seeking more than the disciplined path of the light side. Characters like Darth Vader, Darth Maul, Boba Fett and The Emperor embody this power and ambition, captivating audiences with their intensity and ruthless pursuit of goals. However, the Dark Side comes at a cost, with corruption and downfall adding depth to its appeal. Villains captivate us because they defy societal norms, exuding confidence and freedom. Their sleek designs, uniforms, theme songs and powerful presence make them hard to ignore, leaving a lasting impact. Personally, these characters, their images and toys, have shaped my identity, leading me to embrace the Dark Side, while reminding us that we can learn from both good and bad examples.
Star Wars in the 1990s
1:00pm – 2:00pm
Remember the Special Editions, Shadows of the Empire, Dark Forces, Heir to the Empire and muscular action figures? This presentation celebrates everything about the galaxy far, far away in the decade when it enjoyed an incredible resurgence – the 1990s. This nostalgia soaked look back at the decade leading up the prequels will unashamedly walk down memory lane, wearing dungarees while listening to Britpop on a Walkman. It is an opportunity to look back on the decade that brought Star Wars back and culminated with the release of The Phantom Menace.
One Galaxy: The Costume Fan Groups
2:30pm – 3:30pm
Come and meet the seven clubs working together to create the fan club area at Celebration! We’ll be showcasing what each of our clubs are, what we do, our charity work and our shared passion for Star Wars. Presenting clubs include the 501st Legion, Rebel Legion, Droid Builders, The Dark Empire, Mando Mercs, Saber Guild and the Galactic Academy. We’ll see you there!
Senator, Rebel, Chancellor: Who Is Mon Mothma?
4:00pm – 5:00pm
Since Return of the Jedi in 1983, Mon Mothma has been part of the Star Wars universe as a Leader of the Rebellion, Senator of the Republic, and Chancellor of the New Republic. While many would recognise her from her iconic line, “Many Bothans died to bring us this information”, many did not put much stock into her character until the Disney+ series Andor in 2022, where she was developed into a character of her own and given the spotlight. Yet, Mothma has appeared and been a vital character of many beloved Star Wars stories on screen and page. Who is Mon Mothma and how has her characterisation developed over the course of these stories? From Senator to Rebel to Chancellor, let’s explore Mon Mothma’s journey together.
Saturday, April 19
A Galaxy Within Reach: What Star Wars Teaches Us About Mental Health, Inclusion, and Belonging
10:00am – 11:00am
Star Wars is more than just a tale of epic battles and intergalactic adventures—it is a reflection of the human experience. A Galaxy Within Reach: What Star Wars Teaches Us About Mental Health, Inclusion, and Belonging explores how the struggles and triumphs of characters from a galaxy far, far away mirror the challenges we face in our own world. This presentation will explore how Star Wars narratives offer profound insights into mental health, identity, resilience, and the universal need for belonging. From Anakin Skywalker’s battle with trauma to Rey’s journey of self-discovery, we will examine how these stories mirror real-world mental health experiences. Additionally, we will highlight Star Wars’ evolving commitment to diversity and representation, showcasing how characters like Finn, Rose Tico, and Ahsoka Tano bring inclusion to the forefront—empowering fans who, for the first time, see themselves reflected as heroes in a galaxy that welcomes them. Through interactive discussions, audience engagement, and community-building activities, we will uncover how the themes of Star Wars are not just distant myths but lessons applicable to our everyday lives. Through these narratives, we are reminded that resilience, identity, and the power of belonging are not just themes in a galaxy far, far away—they shape our world today. As we explore these stories together, we invite you to reflect on your own journey and consider: How has Star Wars helped you find strength, belonging, or inspiration in your own life? This panel invites fans to see that the galaxy far, far away is, in reality, much closer than we think—right in our own backyard, shaping our perspectives on wellness, inclusion, and what it means to truly belong.
Star Wars Inspired Shadow Puppets
11:30am – 12:30pm
Fusion Wayang Kulit’ is an award-winning team from Malaysia where they revive the traditional shadow puppetry art by merging it with the STAR WARS and enhancing it with various multimedia components, yet maintaining the dominant characteristic elements of traditional art. It has been featured in CNN, Wall Street Journal, Asahi Shimbun and of course the official Lucasfilm’s Youtube channel. Join us today where we will talk about the journey of how we started this remarkable project 14 years ago and the unique designs behind it.
Celebrating the Stories of Jedi: Fallen Order & Survivor
1:00pm – 2:00pm
“Hope will always survive in those who continue to fight.” — Eno Cordova. Featuring the hosts of Stardust Records, Linds and Savi and seasoned cosplayer Yasmine, this panel will be a celebration of the captivating adventures, characters, and lessons within “Jedi: Fallen Order” and “Jedi: Survivor”. We’ll celebrate what Star Wars does best by discussing its themes of hope, found family, and perseverance beautifully executed within the story of these games. Join us in our uplifting discussion of the characters and the story many of us have come to love through the medium of gaming!
Inspiring and Serving the Community Through Star Wars Memorabilia
2:30pm – 3:30pm
Star Wars is an unprecedented pop culture phenomenon. Recently, five collectors – Steve Sansweet, Gus Lopez, Duncan Jenkins, Lisa Stevens, and Vic Wertz – owning four of the world’s foremost Star Wars memorabilia collections, announced their plans to open a public, world-class museum to exhibit and archive these collections. This one-of-a-kind museum, called The Saga Museum of Star Wars Memorabilia, will inspire through the force of imagination stemming from a shared love of one of cinema’s most influential franchises. This panel will cover the history and background on these extraordinary collections. We will share details about vision, scope, and location considerations for this museum, along with the effort and progress required to create something of this magnitude. We will provide a glimpse of the incredible items and stories that we will be unveiling to the public. We’ll also share how you can engage with us on our journey to build this museum by fans and for fans!
The Art of Japanese Star Wars Vegetable Carving Episode 5
4:00pm – 5:00pm
There are many ways to enjoy Star Wars – and one of them is through cuisine! I would like to tell the story of combining what I considers the most advanced and attractive movie universe, Star Wars, with the Japanese analog cooking technique Mukimono I will introduce the Star Wars vegetables carvings that I have been making for my friends since 1995. By watching my panel, you might even find some inspiration for some Star Wars-themed dishes you can enjoy at home!
Sunday, April 20
Women in Star Wars Cosplay
9:30am – 10:30am
Cosplay has been a way for female Star Wars fans to unite through a shared passion for creativity and storytelling. At this panel women cosplayers will discuss how portraying characters like Leia Skywalker, Rey, or Bo Katan allows them to connect with others and with the saga on a personal level. They will share stories of crafting intricate costumes, finding confidence through cosplay, and building female friendships within the community. They will also explain how stepping into the shoes of their favorite Star Wars characters is more than a hobby—it is a way to celebrate the franchise’s themes of hope and resilience while inspiring others to embrace their love of the fandom boldly while forging life long friendships with other women fans.
Padme’s Closet: Cosplaying Star Wars Royalty
11:00am – 12:00pm
Of all the amazing costumes in the Star Wars universe, there are none more intricate and captivating than the many outfits worn by our beloved Queen and Senator, Padme Amidala. Come hear from veteran Padme cosplayers as they divulge the secrets of recreating some of the most iconic and beautiful costumes in the Star Wars Universe!
Around the world with Star Wars
12:30pm – 1:30pm
This panel focus on showing filming locations from Star Wars movies and TV shows throughout the whole world and propose an itinerary as well as discussions on the locations as well as hearing participants experiences on eventual visited place.
Karabast Costumes
2:00pm – 3:00pm
Cosplayers and professional prop makers from all around Asia and the South Pacific as we discuss the difficulties of making and developing functional working costumes, even when sometimes it doesn’t go to plan. As sharing our passion, creativity and experiences of cosplaying in Asia and the South Pacific.
Check out all the schedules for Star Wars Celebration Japan here.
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