Movie fans and cosplayers yesterday came together at the Taipei Performing Arts Center to celebrate Star Wars Day and the tales from a galaxy far, far away that have captivated millions.
Owing to the verbal resemblance between “May fourth” and “may the force” be with you, May 4 has become a day to celebrate all things Star Wars.
In Taipei, people carrying gear and costumes, and many dressed elaborately as their favorite characters, started arriving at the event at about noon.
Photo: EPA
The excitement was palpable as many participants posed and took photographs of one another before the event officially began at 1:30pm.
Eason Shu (舒國維), who dressed as a Jedi knight, said he worked in property management and had taken a day off to attend the event.
Shu said he had been a fan of the franchise for more than a decade, but it was his first time attending the event.
“Usually I just watch the movies and series by myself, so I’m really happy to see so many fellow Star Wars fans here interacting,” Shu said.
James Lin (林之勳), a second-time participant who has been a Star Wars fan since the early 2000s, said he was dressed as a Sith warrior, while his son was dressed as Jedi knight Luke Skywalker.
Lin, who works in the information technology industry, said he and his son, a first-grader, took the day off for the special occasion.
Event organizer Makoto Tsai (蔡榮洲) said he had been organizing Star Wars Day events since 2015.
The center was chosen for the event because the building’s spherical exterior resembles the Death Star, the military base of the evil Galactic Empire in the first Star Wars movie released in 1977, Tsai said.
“I’m super happy to see so many Star Wars fans, on a weekday no less. This shows that promotion [of Star Wars events] has been successful,” Tsai said.
Fans of the franchise are “not alone because we will always be here with you,” he said.
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