"STAR WARS NIGHT" was held at Zozo Marine Stadium on Wednesday, April 16th. The stadium was filled with the solemn atmosphere of the hugely popular Star Wars movie series, and many fans were wearing merchandise of characters from the movies.

This event was held ahead of the "Star Wars Celebration Japan 2025" to be held at Makuhari Messe for three days starting on Friday the 18th. Before the game, players Kyota Fujiwara, Hiromi Oka, and pitcher Kazuya Ojima in the galaxy, took a commemorative photo with Darth Vader and Stormtroopers of the Imperial Army.

On the perimeter of the stadium, the team's official mascot, Mar-kun, and cheer performers "M☆Splash!!" also greeted fans wearing costumes exclusive to the day.


Star Wars costume groups from all over the world also came to the event, welcoming fans of both teams around the stadium and at the entrance gate.

After starting line-up was announced, the costumed group filed in through center fielder gate and excited the ground. Walking at the front of the group dressed as a Jedi was none other than actor Hayami Mokomichi, a huge Star Wars first baseman! At Hayami's first pitch ceremony, Soto stood at bat with a lightsaber in hand, and pitcher Kojima was catcher.


The music and visual effects were Star Wars themed, and the excitement was building as the game finally began. There were many elaborate gimmicks throughout the game and between inning that would be irresistible to Star Wars fans.


The Chiba Lotte starter, who fights under the slogan "Seize the win with the power of the Force," is Haruya Tanaka pitcher, who is in his third year. After closer the first inning with no runs, the third inning from the second inning were all three-way outs. In the top of the fifth, he was pinch-hit with two outs and bases loaded, but got out of the jam with a struck out strikeout.
After the bottom of the fifth inning tied 0-0, there were fireworks in the inning of the game. When "March of the Empire (Darth Vader's theme)" was playing, fireworks linked to the famous Star Wars theme song lit up the night sky, such as red fireworks inspired by Darth Vader's red lightsaber.

The deadlock was broken in the bottom of the sixth inning. With one out and runners on first and second, Daito Yamamoto hit the first pitch into the upper left field stands! Then, in the bottom of the eighth inning, Shogo Nakamura hit a home run, giving Chiba Lotte a stunning 4-0 win. On the pitching side, Tanaka Haru pitcher his longest seven innings, closer only two hit and no runs with eight strike out, while Yamamoto hit his first professional Home Run, showing off some outstanding performances from the young players. Perhaps the "power of the force" was also a driving force behind the players.

"STAR WARS NIGHT" ended with a packed house and great success, but the world's largest festival is finally coming up this weekend. Makuhari's "Star Wars fever" is still going on.
Interview and text by Yuna Takahashi
Photography: Ayako Kikuchi