Five Chiba Lotte players, including Kyota Fujiwara, become "Jedi"! Behind the scenes of the "STAR WARS NIGHT" key visual shoot

Pacific League Insight Yuna Takahashi

2025.3.18(火) 11:00

Chiba Lotte Marines player Kyota Fujiwara (left) and pitcher Kazuya Ojima (right) [Photo: Author]

"Star Wars Celebration Japan 2025" will be held at Makuhari Messe for three days starting on Friday, April 18. Prior to this world-class festival, which attracts many fans from all over the world, it was announced that "STAR WARS NIGHT" will be held at Zozo Marine Stadium on Wednesday, April 16.

Today, March 18th (Tuesday), a special Jedi/special poster visual featuring five players, including pitcher Kazuya Ojima and player Kyota Fujiwara, was also released. We will show you the filming site, where the world of the movie is in the air.

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As he entered the shooting site, where the main theme song of Star Wars was playing, pitcher Kazuya Ojima blurted out, "It's space." As soon as he picked up the lightsaber, he showed a reaction that reminded him of his childhood.

Once he puts on the robe and stands in front of the camera, he strikes one pose after another with a dignified expression, just like a Jedi, the guardian of justice in the galaxy.

pitcher Kazuya Ojima with a dignified presence like a Jedi [Photo: Author]

When asked what was the most exciting moment during the shoot, pitcher Kazuya Ojima replied, "When I lit up the lightsaber!" He puts his own cap on Grogu. [Photo: Author]

While occasionally checking the photos he had taken, he held a special child with the power of the Force, "Baby Yoda," also known as "Grogu." "(On the day of the event) I will work harder than anyone else to become justice for Chiba Lotte Marines, so please put on your robes, grab your lightsabers, and come to the stadium!" he said.

While checking the image, he fine-tunes the angle and stance (left), and holds the lightsaber with a bat-like grip. "I want this (lightsaber)," says Raito Ikeda (right) [Photo: Author]

Next up was player Raito Ikeda, who watched the film with his friends on baseball team when he was in elementary school. He especially liked Darth Vader, the villain of the series, and even played with a toy lightsaber with his friends.

As he took up his lightsaber, the filming staff exclaimed, "You look great!" After becoming a Jedi, Ikeda said with a laugh, "I feel like I've gotten stronger. I hope I can be that strong at bat (laughs)."

Some of the overseas Star Wars fans who will be attending Star Wars Celebration Japan 2025 at Makuhari Messe will be enjoying the collaboration event at Zozo Marine Stadium. Ikeda emphasized the appeal of the stadium to visitors to Japan, saying, "I want everyone to enjoy Zozo Marine Stadium to the fullest, so I hope you will enjoy not only the game, but also the production and the food to your heart's content."

Hiromi Oka looks happy wearing a Jedi robe [Photo: Author]

And Hiromi Oka, who loves Disney and is also checking out Star Wars films, had this expression on his face as he tried on the robe he has always dreamed of.

Carefully adjusting the height of the arms [Photo: Author]

Although the actual scenes had a serious atmosphere, he said with a gentle smile, "I felt like I was immersed in the world of the movie and it was a lot of fun, and I was happy to be able to collaborate with The Marines on the filming."

pitcher Koshiro Sakamoto (left) swings a red lightsaber, while wearing a robe and trying out various shots, including pitch movements (right) [Photo: Author]

pitcher Kojima, player Ikeda, and player Oka held blue and green lightsabers used by Jedi, but pitcher Koshiro Sakamoto also took a photo with the red lightsaber of the Sith, the sworn enemy of the Jedi. Although he was a little confused by the instruction to "Swing it as you like!", he seemed to be having fun, saying, "I feel like I'm a kid again."

He also dressed up as a Jedi, put on a glove and performed a pitch motion from a set position. "(The opportunity to film with Star Wars) was something I don't usually get to do. I hope you'll look forward to seeing the other players' performances," he said.

Kyota Fujiwara looks great with his serious expression. [Photo: Author]

Lastly, Kyota Fujiwara took part in the photo shoot. He said that he had watched Star Wars movies as part of his high school class.

Like most people, Fujiwara couldn't help but smile when he activated the lightsaber, and was said to look "happy (laughs)." He seemed to like it a lot, saying that the lightsaber was "sturdier than I thought," and even confronted the staff during the break in the shots.

He never let go of the lightsaber even between cuts. [Photo: Author]

After the 30-minute shoot, during which he was showered with comments like, "As expected, you look so cool!", Fujiwara said with a cheerful "It was fun!" and added enthusiastically, "I'll do my best to deliver a victory to everyone on the day of the event."

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On the day of "STAR WARS NIGHT" they will play against The Fighters. They will face a tough opponent who had a tough fight last season with 6 wins, 18 losses and 1 draw. Cheer on The Marines nine who will fight with the power of the "Force" and the cheers of their fans!

Interview and text by Yuna Takahashi