‘Star Wars’ Meets ‘Great Wave’ In Ukiyo-E-Style Official Japanese Posters
Images via Star Wars
The Force is strong with Japanese art, as Star Wars Celebration Japan 2025 prepares to greet fans on April 18 to 20, 2025. This is the first time the event is heading to the nation since 2008, so naturally, that date would feel far, far away to diehards. Luckily, Lucasfilm has unveiled the first five badge designs for the convention, which is set to be held at the Makuhari Messe.
The striking collection, which will comprise 17 pieces, was created by renowned Japanese illustrator TAKUMI, who has skilfully blended traditional Japanese aesthetics into the Star Wars universe to reimagine beloved characters like Darth Vader, Luke Skywalker, Yoda, Ahsoka Tano, and the Mandalorian with Grogu (AKA “Baby Yoda”) through the classical art form of Ukiyo-e.
Official art for Star Wars Celebration Japan
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Drawing inspiration from the parallels between samurai and Jedi, as well as from Japanese period dramas and Akira Kurosawa’s influence on George Lucas, TAKUMI’s badge art highlights each character’s narrative in a style reminiscent of Hokusai’s Great Wave off Kanagawa.
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TAKUMI sees a natural affinity between Star Wars and ukiyo-e, noting the storytelling power inherent in both.
“The appeal of Star Wars is multifaceted,” he notes. “It’s a grand narrative about the fight for freedom in the galaxy, but it’s also a collection of personal love stories and a mystical fable featuring the Force, creatures, and various planets. Ukiyo-e is all about storytelling, as is the Star Wars universe.”
Image via Star Wars
The artist studied the personalities and backstories of figures like Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker to determine how best to adapt their tales into a traditional Japanese context. From character poses to costume design, he envisioned lightsabers, armor, and even iconic weapons with a distinctly Japanese influence, integrating details from historical clothing, decorations, and weaponry.
Image via Star Wars
Image via Star Wars
Integral to the body of work is the weaving of nature and seasonal motifs into the backgrounds. TAKUMI thoughtfully selected symbols like flowers, plants, and the moon to reflect the characters’ traits and stories.
Image via Star Wars
As for the event’s key art, Lucasfilm has chosen to depict Darth Vader in the sumi-e ink painting technique. The Dark Lord is framed by cherry blossoms, with X-Wings and TIE Fighters battling in the foreground, and the rising sun and Mount Fuji completing the epic scene.
Image via Star Wars
Tradition strikes back—and nobody’s complaining.
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[via Laughing Place and Geek Culture, images via Star Wars]
