There may not have been any theatrical releases yet again in 2025 but on streaming there was season two of the critically acclaimed ‘Andor‘ and the conclusion of ‘Skeleton Crew‘ in terms of live-action content. As for animation, ‘Tales of the Underworld‘ and season three of ‘Visions‘ both aired. On the fandom side of things there was plenty of action this year in Japan with multiple pop-up shops, some exhibits, live sport tie-ins and one humungous event.  There’s been more than enough going on to merit a rankings list so let’s begin the top 10 at number 12 as we count down to the inevitable number one!!

12. Star Wars Pop Up Store, November 20 – 26 @ Keio Shinjuku Store, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo.

11. Star Wars Special Store by Benelic, October 9 – January 12 @ Tokyo Station B1F, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo.

10. Takashi Okazaki Star Wars Collection produced by Applebum, October 27 – November 4 @ Miyashita Park North, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo.

This small pop-up store was opened to coincide with the release of ‘Star Wars: Visions Volume 3′ and it had some very cool clothing and artwork for fans with deep pockets! Around the same period of time there was also another Visions exhibit/pop up shop in Shinjuku but that one sadly bypassed my attention!

9. Star Wars Galaxy in Ginza, July 17 – August 27 @ Tokyu Plaza Ginza, Chuo-ku, Tokyo.

This was the third consecutive year for this spacious pop-up store to appear in Ginza.

8. Star Wars Night, April 16 @ ZOZO Marines Stadium, Mihama-ku, Chiba-ken.

For Chiba Lotte Marines home game against Nippon Ham Fighters, their stadium was transformed into a galaxy far, far away. The promo video was very cool with the baseball bat being replaced with a lightsaber. There was exclusive crossover merchandise on sale, a parade of international cosplayers, fireworks displays between innings and even a foul play pun on the big screen as chui (warning) is pronounced the same as Chewie!

7. Star Wars Pop Up Store, October 3-29 @ Tokyo Solomachi 3F, Sumida-ku, Tokyo.

This pop-up store was perhaps most notable for the large range of sukajan (Japanese souvenir jackets with embroidered motifs) on sale at a high price which are always interesting to look at not that I can imagine myself ever wearing one!

6. Coca Cola Star Wars collaboration, July – October @ Various convenience stores & supermarkets nationwide.

18 different iconic characters were splashed across nearly 50 different bottle and can designs. Special Coke On vending machines had offers for collecting stamps and points via the app which could then be exchanged for some rather limited-edition clothing items like Star Wars Coca Cola jackets, sweaters, t-shirts, coaster sets and drink tickets. More details here.

5. Star Wars Pop Up Store, September 17 – 21 @ Isetan Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo.

The biggest-sized pop up shop of the year featured life-size statues of iconic characters, Grogu goods aplenty, sukajan, busts, dioramas, figures, backpacks, grooming products, t-shirts, accessories and a vending machine containing eight label oolong tea can designs that were dispensed randomly at 800 yen a can! More details here.

4. Star Wars Galaxy in Shibuya, May 4 – June 10 @Shibuya Tsutaya, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo.

This was far more than a pop-up store as there were many life-size statues on display at ground floor level whilst all manner of goods were on sale downstairs from there. More details here.

3. Star Wars Week, August 29 – September 7 @ Es Con Field Hokkaido, Kitahiroshima, Hokkaido.

Perhaps inspired by Star Wars Night in Chiba a few months earlier, Nippon Ham Fighters (the visiting team on that occasion) decided to make it a week-long event with stickers given out to those who attended in Star Wars wear of some kind. Productions expressing Star Wars through video and music as well as full-size characters and photo spots were all present.

2. May The 4th Be With You, April 25 – May 6 @ Toho Cinemas Hibiya, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo.

For all the other things that are going on in Star Wars fandom, it’s still the movies which are the lifeblood of the franchise. The 20th anniversary of ‘Revenge of the Sith‘ (2005) saw that film back in cinemas around the world but Toho in Hibiya went one step further and put all the episodic movies back on the big screen with each trilogy being repeated four times. More details here.

1. Star Wars Celebration Japan 2025, April 18-20 @ Makuhari Messe, Mihama-ku, Chiba-ken.

105,000 fans attended this three-day event in Chiba which was the 16th Celebration event and the first time it’d had been in Japan since 2008. There were multiple stages, various panels, celebrity autograph and photo opportunities, merchandise aplenty, convention exclusives, big reveals and so much more. More details here.

Click here to read ‘The Popularity of Star Wars Pop-Up Shops Popping Up In Tokyo Continues But Why?!’

Click here to read ‘This Year’s “May The 4th Be With You” Festivities In Tokyo Were The Best Yet!’

Click here to read ‘Star Wars Sparks Joy At This Christmas Event Just Outside of Tokyo’

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