Star Wars was never really part of the Christmas season but that changed nine years ago when ‘The Force Awakens‘ (2015) was released mid-December. ‘Rogue One‘ (2016) and the other two sequel movies followed suit over the next few years, and with all the marketing and promotion that came with those films, there really was a big crossover between the festive season and Star Wars. However, without any theatrical release since then (as well as the global pandemic) the sci-fi saga has had less impact on the holiday season but that has changed this year with a themed celebration in Japan’s second biggest city.

It should be noted that the ‘Spark Joy’ event in Yokohama features various things from Disney, Pixar and Marvel but the focus here will be purely on all that’s related to the galaxy far, far away. My day in Yokohama began (on Friday 29th November) with a special screening of ‘Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace‘ (1999) which has been celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. It was shown back in May in some cinemas but I was in the wrong place at the wrong time and thus unable to see it. On its release back in 1999, I saw this film twice in the cinema but I have to admit that I never really truly appreciated it until the prequel trilogy was completed in 2005.

Visiting the various filming locations in Tunisia and Italy certainly helped increase its appeal and maybe time is a great healer. Nostalgia plays an important role too. I didn’t realise until I got to Aeon Cinema Minatomirai that it was being shown in 4DX which meant another 1000 yen on top of the 1800 yen cost. My feeling is that this format is fine for a 5-10 minute ride of sorts at a theme park but is a bit too much for a two hour plus cinema experience. Still, it was great to see the movie back on the big screen even if I was unable to fully focus at times due to my seat being jolted around a lot.

Once that had concluded I went to the Sky Garden on the 69th floor of Yokohama Landmark Tower. It cost 1000 yen to go up and, as well as the fantastic views from 273 metres above ground, it also had a couple of wonderful collector display windows full of many exhibits from the late 1970s to the present day.

These valuable items have carefully been selected for this limited exhibition, and included a vast range of figures from pretty much every 3.75 inch series ever produced.

Many of the exhibits were Japan-only items including vintage candy, puzzles, soap, notebooks, coins, pin badges, bottle caps and drinks.

It was all quite overwhelming and difficult to take in all the various busts, helmets and vehicles.

As well as Tokyo Disneyland products from yesteryear, there are also some items from the George Lucas Super Live Adventure which was a special show only ever performed on stage in Japan back in 1993.

The central space is dedicated to a few dozen model displays and dioramas of famous scenes from the saga.

Round the corner from there are life-sizes Lego R2-D2 and C-3PO figures, as well as a little cafe counter selling some themed drinks including one called dark side cola. I managed to resist turning to the dark side too although the 600 yen cost for such a basic concoction may have played a part too!

The nearby Landmark Plaza is perhaps the main location for the ‘Spark Joy’ campaign and there are posters advertising it all over the place.

The main tree of the event is on the first floor, and it expresses the four worlds of Disney, Pixar, Marvel and Star Wars with a sound and light show every 15 minutes.

A closer look at the presents in front of the Spark Tree reveals the special character-themed wrapping.

There is an R2-D2 photo spot on the fourth floor of the shopping mall. Mickey Mouse, Spider-man and Inside Out are also represented with similar settings.

The day finished at Mark IS Minatomirai with a quick look around a pop-up souvenir shop selling all kinds of Marvel and Star Wars related products.

There is a stamp rally to collect four character stamps at Mark IS Minatomirai (B2 and 5F) and Landmark Plaza (2F and 4F). When November turned into December, a different set of four stamps was introduced, and if you look at the picture below you’ll notice that I collected all eight. So how did I get them all then?

At the end of the aforementioned 4DX cinema experience I decided to leave halfway through the end credits but once outside I realised I’d left my headphones so I went back in to retrieve them. About half an hour later, I realised my commuter pass must’ve fallen out of my pocket too during all the seat movement. I returned to the cinema but another film was being shown. I had to return home so the cinema called me later to say they’d found it. To cut a long story short, I returned a few days later to get it, and whilst in Minatomirai again I decided to collect the next set of stamps as it was a different month to my original visit.

Bonus: There have been a couple of Star Wars events of sort that didn’t feature on Tokyo Fox this year so I’ll briefly include them here. Most recently, Toy Sapiens in Shibuya-ku had a special ‘Join The Dark Side’ themed display between October and December.

Tokyu Plaza Ginza had a Pop Up store for about six weeks back in the summer but it wasn’t noticably different enough from the previous year’s one to justify a new post.

Click here to read ‘TF Flashback: The Ups & Downs of My Star Wars Pilgrimage To Tunisia (2009)’

Click here to read ‘The Countdown To Star Wars Day 2024 Has Begun With 11 Days of Festivities In Japan’s 2nd Biggest City’

Click here to read ‘Show Your Star Wars Passion, Strength & Power By Visiting This Unique Collection of Artwork In Tokyo’

Click here to read ‘Dining Out: Black Curry Ramen & Japan’s Most Secret Toilet Guarded By A Life-Size Star Wars Character!’

Click here to read ‘Reflecting On 15 Years Since Star Wars Celebration Japan & Looking Ahead To The Next One In 2025!’