Actress Yuri Tsunematsu threw out the ceremonial first pitch at the interleague baseball game between the Chiba Lotte Marines and the Chunichi Dragons held at ZOZO Marine Stadium (Mihama Ward, Chiba City) on Getsuku. In a ceremonial pitch ceremony commemorating the box office success of the movie "Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Glogoo" (directed by Jon Favreau), Tsunematsu, who openly declares herself a huge fan of the "Star Wars" series, appeared wearing a headband resembling Glogoo's ears. Although the ball bounced once, she delivered a powerful throw "with the power of the Force," and gave herself a score of "80 points."
◇ZOZO Marine Stadium is completely decked out in Star Wars themes
On this day, the stadium hosted "STAR WARS NIGHT." Special Glogoo-themed grass was painted on the right and left field areas of the field, and various effects such as video projections and background music were changed to special "STAR WARS NIGHT" versions, transforming the entire stadium into a Star Wars wonderland.
Amidst all this, to the tune of Star Wars music, some of the most popular Star Wars characters appeared on the mound one after another, including the legendary bounty hunter Mandalorian clad in gleaming silver armor, the dark lord Darth Vader, a beloved character from the Star Wars series, and the elite Stormtroopers of the Imperial Army.
Then, Tsunematsu, a passionate Star Wars fan who even dressed in Star Wars-inspired clothing in her private life to see the latest film, "Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Glogoo," took to the mound.
As batter Daiki Yamamoto stood in the batter's box, wielding a lightsaber, the powerful ball hit by Tsunematsu bounced once near home plate before being drawn in by the Force into the glove held by Koshiro Wada, eliciting thunderous applause from the entire stadium.
◇Next time, I'll aim for a strike and try again.
After throwing the ball, Tsunematsu spoke to reporters, saying that it was her first time throwing the first pitch, and that she had practiced with a friend who has baseball experience. Regarding her pitch, she said, "I thought I might be nervous, but I was excited and had fun seeing the characters I'd only seen on screen in person! The Mandalorian was nearby, so I felt like he was watching over me, and I was able to throw the ball happily. I could feel the Force not only from Glogoo, but also from everyone who came to the stadium. However, it bounced once, so I'd give myself an 80. Next time, I want to aim for a strike and try again!"
Furthermore, regarding the atmosphere at the stadium, which was packed with SW fans carrying Glogoo merchandise, she said, "It was really wonderful to see everyone enjoying themselves in their Glogoo headwear and clothing! I also brought my own Glogoo, so I'll be watching the rest of the game with it," expressing her surprise at the "Glogoo craze" sweeping across Japan.
Regarding the currently hugely successful film, he said, "It was a wonderful experience to be able to enjoy watching the Mandalorian and Glogou protect each other on the big screen! I think even people who have never seen 'Star Wars' will be able to enjoy the battle scenes, and above all, Glogou is so cute and truly heartwarming! Glogou's charm lies in the fact that he is both 'cute' and 'strong'! He has a childlike curiosity about all sorts of things, which makes him endearing, and I also feel that his dangerous nature, which makes it hard to take your eyes off him, is part of his charm," and he passionately stated that the film can be enjoyed even by Star Wars newcomers.
◇Next year marks the 50th anniversary of the first theatrical release, and a new film starring Ryan Gosling will be released in May.
The film "Star Wars: The Mandalorian and Glogo" is set after the death of Darth Vader and the collapse of the Empire. In a lawless galaxy, the Mandalorian, a solitary bounty hunter who perfectly completes any job while adhering to strict rules under the motto "Our Way," travels with Glogo, a mischievous and gluttonous creature known as "The Child" who possesses immense Force powers. Together, they gradually develop a father-son-like bond and confront destiny to prevent a new war aimed at the restoration of the Empire. The film was released on May 22nd and had already surpassed 2 billion yen in box office revenue by June 8th.
Next year marks the 50th anniversary of the US theatrical release of the first film in the series, "Star Wars: A New Hope (Episode IV)." It has also been announced that "Star Wars: Starfighter," starring Ryan Gosling, will be released in the US in May 2027.
