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Yomiuri Shimbun
04-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yomiuri Shimbun
Here's Why May the 4th Is Celebrated as Star Wars Day across the Galaxy
AP Photo/Hiro Komae, File A Star Wars supporter poses for a photo during a fan convention called the Star Wars Celebration Japan in Chiba, near Tokyo, April 18, 2025. It didn't begin a long time ago or in a galaxy far far away, but every May 4 it feels like images, memes and promotional deals involving 'Star Wars' have an inescapable gravity. May 4 — or May the 4th, as fans say — has evolved over the years into Star Wars Day, an informal holiday celebrating the space epic and its surrounding franchise. What is Star Wars Day? Star Wars Day was created by fans as a sly nod to one of the films' most popular catchphrases, 'May the force be with you.' Get it? Good, now May the 4th be with you too. It's not an official holiday but has become so well-known that even former President Joe Biden marked it last year when 'Star Wars' actor Mark Hamill dropped by the White House a day beforehand. 'I think it's a very clever way for fans to celebrate their passion and love for 'Star Wars' once a year,' said Steve Sansweet, founder and executive chairman of Rancho Obi-Wan, a nonprofit museum in California that has the world's largest collection of 'Star Wars' memorabilia. How did it begin? The phrase 'May the 4th be with you' was used by fans in the years after the first film was released in 1977, and even appeared in a British political ad in 1979 celebrating Margaret Thatcher's victory as prime minister on May 4 that year. For some fans, the official Star Wars Day comes on May 25, the date of the first film's release. The Los Angeles City Council even declared the date to be Star Wars Day in 2007, although the California Legislature voted in 2019 to designate May 4 as Star Wars Day. How has it spread? May the 4th caught on informally among fans through inside jokes shared on social media and viewings of the films to mark the occasion. Businesses eventually joined in on the fun, with brands ranging from Nissan to Jameson Whiskey running ads or posting on social media about it. Disney, which acquired Lucasfilm in 2012, embraced the day as a way to further promote the franchise with merchandise, special screenings and other events surrounding the brand. Not all 'Star Wars' fans are enthused about how ubiquitous the once-underground joke has become. Chris Taylor, a senior editor at Mashable and author of 'How Star Wars Conquered the Universe,' labels himself a 'May the 4th grinch' in part because of its commercialization. 'I love a good dad joke as much as anyone, but my God you can take it too far,' Taylor said. How is it being celebrated this year? The day is being celebrated on a large and small scale this year. Disney+ is launching the new series 'Star Wars: Tales of the Underworld' on the date, and it comes as the second season gets underway for another franchise series, 'Andor.' It also follows the announcement that a new stand-alone 'Star Wars' film installment starring Ryan Gosling will be released in 2027. Disney marks the day with the launch of new 'Star Wars' merchandise, ranging from lightsaber sets to jewelry. Most Major League Baseball teams have marked the day in recent years with special events incorporating 'Star Wars' characters. For example, the San Francisco Giants sold special tickets for Saturday's game that included a bobblehead portraying pitcher Logan Webb as 'Obi-Webb Kenobi.' It's hard to find a place where May the 4th celebrations aren't occurring, from bakeries serving cookies with a 'Star Wars' theme to concerts featuring the memorable scores of the films. It's a town-wide celebration in New Hope, Pennsylvania, which shares its name with the subtitle of the first 'Star Wars' film. The town of about 2,600 people, located 30 miles (50 kilometers) northeast of Philadelphia, plans to have costumed characters throughout town with restaurants serving themed items like a 'YodaRita.' 'I would always joke around and wish people 'May the 4th' — but taking it to this level, I've definitely upped my 'Star Wars' nerdiness,' said Michael Sklar, president of the Greater New Hope Chamber of Commerce.
Japan Today
03-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Japan Today
Here's why May the 4th is celebrated as Star Wars Day across the galaxy
FILE - A Star Wars supporter poses for a photo during a fan convention called the Star Wars Celebration Japan in Chiba, near Tokyo, Friday, April 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae, File) By ANDREW DeMILLO It didn't begin a long time ago or in a galaxy far far away, but every May 4 it feels like images, memes and promotional deals involving 'Star Wars' have an inescapable gravity. May 4 — or May the 4th, as fans say — has evolved over the years into Star Wars Day, an informal holiday celebrating the space epic and its surrounding franchise. Star Wars Day was created by fans as a sly nod to one of the films' most popular catchphrases, 'May the force be with you.' Get it? Good, now May the 4th be with you too. It's not an official holiday but has become so well-known that even former President Joe Biden marked it last year when 'Star Wars' actor Mark Hamill dropped by the White House a day beforehand. 'I think it's a very clever way for fans to celebrate their passion and love for 'Star Wars' once a year,' said Steve Sansweet, founder and executive chairman of Rancho Obi-Wan, a nonprofit museum in California that has the world's largest collection of 'Star Wars' memorabilia. The phrase 'May the 4th be with you' was used by fans in the years after the first film was released in 1977, and even appeared in a British political ad in 1979 celebrating Margaret Thatcher's victory as prime minister on May 4 that year. For some fans, the official Star Wars Day comes on May 25, the date of the first film's release. The Los Angeles City Council even declared the date to be Star Wars Day in 2007, although the California Legislature voted in 2019 to designate May 4 as Star Wars Day. May the 4th caught on informally among fans through inside jokes shared on social media and viewings of the films to mark the occasion. Businesses eventually joined in on the fun, with brands ranging from Nissan to Jameson Whiskey running ads or posting on social media about it. Disney, which acquired Lucasfilm in 2012, embraced the day as a way to further promote the franchise with merchandise, special screenings and other events surrounding the brand. Not all 'Star Wars' fans are enthused about how ubiquitous the once-underground joke has become. Chris Taylor, a senior editor at Mashable and author of 'How Star Wars Conquered the Universe,' labels himself a 'May the 4th grinch" in part because of its commercialization. 'I love a good dad joke as much as anyone, but my God you can take it too far,' Taylor said. The day is being celebrated on a large and small scale this year. Disney+ is launching the new series 'Star Wars: Tales of the Underworld' on the date, and it comes as the second season gets underway for another franchise series, 'Andor.' It also follows the announcement that a new stand-alone 'Star Wars' film installment starring Ryan Gosling will be released in 2027. Disney marks the day with the launch of new 'Star Wars' merchandise, ranging from lightsaber sets to jewelry. Most Major League Baseball teams have marked the day in recent years with special events incorporating 'Star Wars' characters. For example, the San Francisco Giants sold special tickets for Saturday's game that included a bobblehead portraying pitcher Logan Webb as 'Obi-Webb Kenobi.' It's hard to find a place where May the 4th celebrations aren't occurring, from bakeries serving cookies with a 'Star Wars' theme to concerts featuring the memorable scores of the films. It's a town-wide celebration in New Hope, Pennsylvania, which shares its name with the subtitle of the first 'Star Wars' film. The town of about 2,600 people, located 30 miles (50 kilometers) northeast of Philadelphia, plans to have costumed characters throughout town with restaurants serving themed items like a 'YodaRita.' 'I would always joke around and wish people 'May the 4th' — but taking it to this level, I've definitely upped my 'Star Wars' nerdiness,' said Michael Sklar, president of the Greater New Hope Chamber of Commerce. © Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
Straits Times
29-04-2025
- Sport
- Straits Times
Giro d'Italia final stage dedicated to Pope Francis
A portrait of the late Pope Francis is seen on the day of a memorial Mass at St. Mary's Cathedral in Tokyo, Japan, April 27, 2025. Hiro Komae/Pool via REUTERS The final stage of this year's Giro d'Italia will be dedicated to Pope Francis, who died on April 21, with a neutralised start in Vatican City, race organisers said on Tuesday. The Giro, which begins in Albania on May 9, will end on June 1 in Rome, and before the official start of the final stage, riders will pass through Vatican City before leaving through Porta del Perugino. This is the third consecutive year that the Giro will conclude in the Italian capital but only the seventh time Rome has hosted the finish in 108 editions of the race. "This presence is renewed this year with an exciting symbolic start from Vatican City, a tribute to Pope Francis, his persona, and his message of hope in the Jubilee year," Rome Mayor Roberto Gualtieri said. The Giro has passed through the Vatican City on two previous occasions. The 1974 race began there and the prologue of the 2000 edition finished in St. Peter's Square. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Yahoo
14-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Organizers unveil sleek metallic torches for Milan-Cortina Olympics and Paralympics
Former Italy's Cross Country skier Stefania Belmondo, right, and Paralympic champion Beatrice 'Bebe' Vio hold the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics and Paralympics torches during the unveiling ceremony in Milan, Italy, Monday, April 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni) Italian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, left, passes the torch for the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 to Italian paralympic athlete Martina Caironi during the official unveiling ceremony at Italian Pavilion of Osaka Expo 2025 in Osaka, western Japan, Monday, April 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae) Italian figure skaters, Carolina Kostner, center left, and Italian paralympic athlete Martina Caironi, center right, hold the torches for the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 during the official unveiling ceremony at Italian Pavilion of Osaka Expo 2025 in Osaka, western Japan, Monday, April 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae) The torches for the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 are unveiled during the official unveiling ceremony at Italian Pavilion of Osaka Expo 2025 in Osaka, western Japan, Monday, April 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae) Former Italy's Cross Country skier Stefania Belmondo, right, and Paralympic champion Beatrice 'Bebe' Vio hold the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics and Paralympics torches during the unveiling ceremony in Milan, Italy, Monday, April 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni) Italian figure skaters, Carolina Kostner, left, and Martina Caironi, right, hold the Torches for the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 during the official unveiling ceremony at Italian Pavilion of Osaka Expo 2025 in Osaka, western Japan, Monday, April 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae) Italian figure skaters, Carolina Kostner, left, and Martina Caironi, right, hold the Torches for the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 during the official unveiling ceremony at Italian Pavilion of Osaka Expo 2025 in Osaka, western Japan, Monday, April 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae) Former Italy's Cross Country skier Stefania Belmondo, right, and Paralympic champion Beatrice 'Bebe' Vio hold the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics and Paralympics torches during the unveiling ceremony in Milan, Italy, Monday, April 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni) Italian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, left, passes the torch for the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 to Italian paralympic athlete Martina Caironi during the official unveiling ceremony at Italian Pavilion of Osaka Expo 2025 in Osaka, western Japan, Monday, April 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae) Italian figure skaters, Carolina Kostner, center left, and Italian paralympic athlete Martina Caironi, center right, hold the torches for the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 during the official unveiling ceremony at Italian Pavilion of Osaka Expo 2025 in Osaka, western Japan, Monday, April 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae) The torches for the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 are unveiled during the official unveiling ceremony at Italian Pavilion of Osaka Expo 2025 in Osaka, western Japan, Monday, April 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae) Former Italy's Cross Country skier Stefania Belmondo, right, and Paralympic champion Beatrice 'Bebe' Vio hold the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics and Paralympics torches during the unveiling ceremony in Milan, Italy, Monday, April 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Antonio Calanni) Italian figure skaters, Carolina Kostner, left, and Martina Caironi, right, hold the Torches for the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026 during the official unveiling ceremony at Italian Pavilion of Osaka Expo 2025 in Osaka, western Japan, Monday, April 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae) MILAN (AP) — Organizers for the Milan-Cortina Olympics on Monday unveiled a sleek and minimalistic metallic design for the torches that will be used in the traditional relay ahead of next year's Winter Games. The torches will be made primarily out of recycled materials, with a design system that lets the fuel canister be refilled up to 10 times — reducing the number of torches that will be needed, organizers said. Made from an aluminum and brass alloy, the Olympic torch features a blue-green hue while the Paralympic version is bronze colored. Advertisement 'The design of the torch is intended to enhance the flame itself, the true essence of the torch relay,' organizers said. 'The idea is to direct focus towards the flame, leaving the torch almost in the background. By concentrating on the simplicity of the design, the flame becomes the main protagonist.' The Olympic flame will arrive in Rome on Dec. 4 and will begin its journey across Italy two days later. The 2026 Games run Feb. 6-22 and the Paralympics run March 6-15. The torches, which were designed by Italian architect Carlo Ratti, were displayed at joint presentations at the Expo 2025 in Osaka, Japan, and in Milan. ___ AP Olympics:
Euronews
14-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Euronews
Expo 2025 opens in Osaka with about 80 pavilions for visitors to enjoy
ADVERTISEMENT The Expo 2025 opened in Osaka on Sunday with more than 10,000 people singing Beethoven's Ninth Symphony to celebrate the start of the six-month event that Japan hopes will unite the world divided by tensions and wars. The Osaka Expo will be held at Yumeshima – which means 'dream island – which is a reclaimed industrial waste burial site in the Osaka Bay. Participants from more than 160 countries, regions and organisations showcase their futuristic exhibits inside about 80 pavilions of unique architecture. The main theme of the second Osaka Expo is to 'create a future society for our lives'. The city held the Expo once before in the year 1970, which set record numbers for the event, attracting 64 million visitors. The record was only beat decades later in 2010 in Shanghai. The pavilion of Turkmenistan is seen on the opening day of the Expo 2025 in Osaka, central Japan, Sunday, April 13, 2025 Hiro Komae/Copyright 2025 The AP. All rights reserved Organisers expect about 28 million visitors to trickle through by mid-October. Though ticket sales have been slow, with the event having only sold about nine million tickets in advance, short of the initial target of 14 million. 'It's been 55 years since the last Expo in Osaka. I've been looking forward to it,' said Daiki Chiba, who travelled from Sendai, about 900 kilometres northeast of Osaka. Many visitors carried Myaku-Myaku mascots – the official symbol and logo of the event – or wore clothes matching its colours — red, blue and white — to get in the mood. The mascot is an imaginary creature featuring a blue face encircled by red balls, some of them eyeballs. Organisers say it was born from the fusion of cells and water in a small spring in the Kansai region. Visitors take photos on the opening day of Osaka Expo 2025 in Osaka, western Japan, Sunday, April 13, 2025 Hiro Komae/Copyright 2025 The AP. All rights reserved The Expo comes only four years after Japan struggled to host the no-audience Tokyo Olympics during the coronavirus pandemic. It opens in the wake of trade wars and fears of a global economic downturn sparked by US President Donald Trump's tariffs, the three-year Russian invasion of Ukraine and Middle East conflicts. Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba compared the global tensions to a 'national crisis' and said that Trump's tariffs, especially the 25% duty on automobiles, would be a blow to all industries and Japan's economy. But, Japan is still committed despite all the global uncertainty to turn the pinch into an opportunity. 'I think the timing is actually quite fitting,' said Sachiko Yoshimura, head of Expo 2025 global communications. 'Holding the Expo now could eventually help to address the divisions in the world. ... I believe this Expo in Japan might actually lead to stronger international relationships and improvements,' he added. Exhibits of cutting-edge technology, such as robots and flying cars, as well as pop culture like Hello Kitty and Gundam, are among the highlights of the Expo. The US pavilion is seen on the opening day of the Expo 2025 in Osaka, central Japan, Sunday, April 13, 2025 Hiro Komae/Copyright 2025 The AP. All rights reserved The US pavilion focuses on space travel. Its lunar stone from the Apollo 12 mission, a sensation at the 1970 expo, was back on display. ADVERTISEMENT China, also highlighting space technology, exhibits soil samples from its lunar missions. Carrying a 'Not for sale' sign and decorated with its blue-and-yellow national flags, Ukraine attracted many visitors with a globe and other items carrying barcodes. By scanning them, visitors can see videos showing people's lives at war and their reconstruction effort. Dmytro Liuyi, Ukrainian creative director, said his country's participation was undecided until December due to the ongoing full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine. Kyiv's pavilion aims to highlight the hardships of war and promote global peace and stability over conflict and misery. ADVERTISEMENT
