On the Joy (And Chaos) of Star Wars Celebration

Star Wars Celebration is a wild, fractal, and intense journey. It’s also a serious commitment of time, money, and energy, especially when it’s overseas, as this year's event in Japan was for me, a U.S. citizen.

My first Celebration was in Anaheim in 2022. It was my first con of any kind, and oh, what an innocent I was! I was a brand new writer for Youtini, which had landed a booth and a panel, and I was excited to meet members of my team and dive into the current of Star Wars. But I’m also an introvert who craves solitude and was caught off guard by what an overwhelming experience Celebration can be. 

It was mesmerizing, joyful, and fantastically crowded. It felt like the entire population of Coruscant had shown up!

I missed SWC London in 2023 due to the cost, but I regretted it. I was determined not to miss Japan in 2025. This time, I had a plan: to protect my nervous system, go with the flow, and let the Force guide me into the mythic realm of Star Wars.  

Heading to Japan 

I love to travel and have always been fascinated by Japan, but I have never visited before. Now, Celebration was my excuse! With the U.S. dollar stronger against the yen than it had been in decades, I wasn’t going to miss this chance.

Lucasfilm

I started in Tokyo, where I visited beautiful shrines and museums. I love religion and art, and I wanted the trip to nourish me before the chaos of the con. I knew Celebration would be exhausting, so I saved that for last. 

After a serene, inspiring week in Tokyo, I spent two days in Nikko, a World Heritage site nestled in sacred mountains.  I arrived during the spring festival, visited tranquil mountain shrines, and stumbled upon a Zen Buddhist ritual. I lunched at a traditional Japanese café run by a kind couple–I’m still not sure what I ate, but it was delicious. My historic inn overlooked a luminous mountain range and a meandering river. I felt immersed in peace and the living Force.

Then came Star Wars Celebration.

Star Wars Celebration is Not for Wimps

From there, it was off to Star Wars Celebration in Chiba (just east of Tokyo), where it felt like entering a storm. Or an asteroid field. Or perhaps a Nihil battleground. (Can you tell I’ve been reading The High Republic?) 

Star Wars Celebration is an energy bomb. I’d lucked out in reserving the Andor Panel on the Galaxy Stage, which began at 10 a.m. on Saturday. That meant making sure I got there in time. 10 a.m. sounds reasonable, right? Hah! The lines outside the con were long, snaking like a maze beneath the sun. It felt like hours before I made it inside. 

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I felt for the parents carrying small kids and the disabled fans pushing onward with Jedi-level willpower. Once I got through the doors, I was catapulted into the current. The only way forward was to flow with it. Fighting it would leave me frazzled. Fortunately, I arrived just in time for my panel!

Entering the Chaos With Intention

Star Wars Celebration swirls with intense currents. Having survived Anaheim in 2022, I knew how easy it was to hit nervous system overload.

This time, I had strategies. 

Every morning, I set intentions. Instead of bracing against the current of people, I planned to flow with it. When I wanted to exit the crush, I’d tilt sideways to slip free.  I found a quiet corner by a window in the food court to journal and recharge when I needed a break. 

Lastly, I let go of any attachments to plans or outcomes. Instead, I was determined to stay centered, like a Jedi moving through the throngs of Coruscant or weaving their way through a pirate port in the wilds of space. 

The Joy of Star Wars Celebration

And that’s when the joy of Celebration kicked in. There’s truly something for everyone: cosplay, merch, storytelling, art, gaming, comics, books, celebrities, clothes, parties, and friends. It’s a place where fans find their tribe — those souls who care passionately about the same thing you do. And best of all, there’s the heartfelt spirituality that hums beneath it all.

The dive into mythic creativity, storytelling, and art inspires me the most.  I especially love the panels.  I can relax in the dark and listen to my favorite creators without being jostled by the crowds.

A Lineage of Myth and Storytelling

The immersion within the current of Star Wars is powerful.  It’s an opportunity to observe archetypes and expressions of lore, to discover what resonates, and to learn about the legacies and sacred lineage building within this expansive world.

(Grandmaster) George Lucas created something sacred. 

He founded a direct lineage of transmission similar to those that flow through religion and art. Lucas personally imparted his vision and methods to his padawans, Dave Filoni and Doug Chiang (executive creative director of Lucasfilm). Now, they are the Masters passing their wisdom down to a new generation of storytellers and artists.

Lucasfilm

Their panels fascinated me. I saw Filoni at the Ahsoka and Lucasfilm Animation’s 20th Anniversary panels. Chiang hosted panels on design and art direction. 

Both continually referenced George Lucas. They consciously strive to honor his principles and then — this is crucial  —  pass them on to the new generation of storytellers and artists they work with.

Dave is in his 50s, and Doug is in his 60s. As leaders within Lucasfilm, they think carefully about the next generation coming up the ranks. For they are the Masters now, transmitting the legacy of the Maker himself.

The Kindness of Star Wars

This part always stuns me:  the kindness at Star Wars Celebration.

There’s a generosity of spirit among the creators: Filoni teared up twice on stage remembering George Lucas and Ray Stevenson (who passed away after filming Ahsoka Season 1). Chiang spoke openly about his insecurities and impostor syndrome. The actors like Hayden, Rosario, Diego, and Temuera exude the same heartfelt energy.

And the fans mirror that warmth.  

There’s a striking amount of kindheartedness at Star Wars Celebration. It's magic. Pure, real, embodied magic.  A young woman and I screamed in unison when Sam Witwer came on stage for the upcoming series Maul - Shadow Lord. We bonded instantly as if we were old friends. I even made a new Star Wars friend on the metro. And I reconnected with my Youtini family, who had flown in from across the U.S.

Youtini

People cross oceans to attend this con, and when you’re there, it feels like you’re all on the same team.

Relinquishing Attachment

Celebration is a liminal world. I’ve learned I need to find the eye of the storm within myself, or else I’ll get swept away. Many of my plans didn’t work out. I missed some panels I wanted to attend. I skipped the Celebration store despite having a reservation because the line was too long. I didn’t even buy those socks I wanted... or anything else, really.

But other magic emerged: surprises, encounters, and insights I hadn’t planned. For me, it felt better to flow with the Force.

Coming Home

When it ended, I was ready to come home. Once back, I slept for an entire day. Jet lag played its part, but I think Celebration was the main culprit. But it was a good exhaustion. The kind that comes from completing a meaningful journey. 

Celebration was transformative. Just as I’d hoped, it immersed me more deeply into the Force. Once home, it was exciting to jump straight into Andor Season 2 and watch Revenge of the Sith in theaters that same week!  

And there’s so much more on the horizon.

Incredible storytelling is coming our way: animated and live-action, comics, novels, games, and movies. Maul and Vader! The Mandalorian and Grogu, and Starfighter! 

Star Wars is alive and kicking.

Conclusion:  Star Wars Is a Living Myth

In The Power of Myth (1988), mythologist Joseph Campbell told Bill Moyers that the world needed a new myth for our time. 

Star Wars is that myth.

It’s a living, evolving energy. A current that weaves new generations, galaxies, and rituals into its weft. At Celebration Japan, fans from every continent (except Antarctica!) gathered. All ages. All languages. All united by Star Wars.

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Yes, every time I go, I feel overwhelmed. I think, “Maybe I won’t do this again.” And then I find myself tearing up during a panel, sharing laughter and awe with a stranger, feeling my soul stirred by a story that touches something true. 

Because Star Wars is mythic.

Its archetypes and tragedies speak to our deep unconscious. The sacrifices and shadows, the falls to the darkness, and moments of redemption are currents that echo through all our religious traditions. They’re ancient and universal. They spiral in our DNA like an ancestral whisper, moving us on a soul-deep level.

And when I leave, worn out and frazzled, I also leave expanded.

I remember the power of story and the depth of this fandom.  

And I know that the Force is real. And Star Wars beats at the burning heart of it. This is the Way.

See you in 2027 for the 50th Anniversary!