Yuno Nagao:"Star Wars" opening pitch in Hokkaido - Influenced by his father, he became a Star Wars fan and is looking forward to the new film being released next year

On August 29th, child Yuno Nagao threw the first pitch (ceremonial opening pitch) to commemorate "STAR WARS WEEK" before the professional baseball game of the Hokkaido Nippon-Ham Fighters, held at Escon Field Hokkaido (Kitahiroshima City, Hokkaido).

The stadium, home to the Nippon-Ham Fighters, has become a hot topic among fans for its triangular roof, which resembles the Star Destroyer from Star Wars. The stadium is hosting "STAR WARS WEEK" until September 7th, billed as "10 special days steeped in Star Wars."

On the first day, familiar Star Wars characters, made up of members of a Lucasfilm-approved fan costume group, gathered on the mound. Yuzuno appeared dressed in a Padawan-style costume with a hooded robe, alongside the Sith Lord Darth Vader and the lone bounty hunter Mandalorian. Carrying Grogu from the latest film, Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu, she headed to the mound. As a crowd of spectators and SW fans watched, she swung her arms wide and threw the ball with all her might, drawing thunderous applause.

Afterwards, Yuzuno and the SW characters participated in a member list exchange. Director Tsuyoshi Shinjo presented Yuzuno with his favorite red wristband and they took a commemorative photo together.

Yuzuno, who says she became a fan of Star Wars thanks to her father, smiled after her first pitch and said, "It was so much fun, I was thrilled and excited in a good way. I threw it with a feeling of 'Wow!' so it was fun, exciting, and thrilling, just like Star Wars!"

She also met Director Shinjo and seemed overwhelmed, saying, "He's an amazing person, with an incredible aura and a halo shining from behind me, it was dazzling!" When asked about her favorite Star Wars scene, she said, "I really love the part in Star Wars: A New Hope (Episode 4) where Princess Leia says, 'Help me, Obi-Wan Kenobi,' and it made me feel the excitement of the saga, like everything is about to begin. I love the world of Star Wars. The characters are so fascinating, and the CGI is amazing. I also have a lot of respect for George Lucas. If I could meet him someday, I'd love to ask him lots of questions and get a glimpse into his mind."

Yuzuno will be seeing her first Star Wars movie in theaters when "Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu," which will be released next year, said of the film, "It's my first time seeing Star Wars in a movie theater, so I'm super excited! I really love Grogu, so I'd like to collect lots of Grogu and Mandalorian merchandise and watch it at the theater together." She appears to be looking forward to the release. Finally, she reflected on her first pitch that day, saying, "It's an unbelievable memory of my summer vacation."

During the stadium's "STAR WARS WEEK," the images on the large screen will be "Star Wars" themed, and the stadium will also feature ukiyo-e art of Yoda and Darth Vader created to commemorate "Star Wars Celebration Japan 2025," an exhibition of life-size statues of familiar "Star Wars" characters including R2-D2 and Grogu, as well as performances that use video and music to express the "Star Wars" galaxy, and exclusive photo spots.

The film "Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Grogu" (directed by Jon Favreau) begins five years after the death of Darth Vader and the collapse of the Empire. The Mandalorian, a ruthless, lone bounty hunter who adheres to his family's strict code of secrecy and completes any job with perfection, accepts a job. The job is to deliver Grogu, also known as "The Child," a being said to possess great Force powers and change the world, alive to his client. The Mandalorian initially handed Grogu over in exchange for a large reward, but, sensing a mysterious connection, he breaks his family's rules and rescues Grogu. During their journey, the two gradually develop a bond like that of father and son. However, they are pursued by remnants of the former Imperial Army, desperate to obtain Grogu's powers at all costs... This is the story. The film will be released simultaneously in Japan and the US on May 22, 2026.