Dal futuro all’infinito (e ritorno): il mio Giappone tra Expo, Star Wars e Lee Dong Wook

TOKYO: PRIMA FERMATA, EMOZIONI IN PARTENZA

Siamo a inizio maggio. I ciliegi avevano già lasciato il posto al verde vivo della primavera. Il mio hotel era a due passi dall’incrocio di Shibuya, che osservavo ogni mattina sorseggiando un latte freddo preso al kombini. Un balletto sincronizzato di vite. Non era la mia prima volta in Giappone, ma ogni viaggio qui è una prima volta.

Stavo per coprire eventi, certo. Ma con il cuore pronto a impazzire per un’esposizione dedicata a Star Wars. Perché sì, si può essere giornalisti ma il cuore che batte in segreto per Kylo Ren dove lo mettiamo?

OSAKA: IL FUTURO E’ QUI

Lo Shinkansen è una meraviglia. In silenzio e ad altissima velocità, ti porta da una città all’altra mentre tu pensi al futuro. 

Connubio perfetto, visto che la meta era Expo 2025 a Osaka.

Yumeshima Island sembra uscita da un romanzo di fantascienza. Cantieri ovunque, strutture futuristiche che si stanno già delineando, e quella sensazione strana di essere testimone di qualcosa di grande, prima ancora che inizi.

Il Padiglione Italia? Pura emozione architettonica, nato dal genio dell’architetto Mario Cucinella. Moderno e classico, teatrale ma non eccessivo. “L’arte rigenera la vita” è il suo messaggio. Un padiglione che ti accoglie come un salotto del futuro, con luci, suoni e narrazione immersiva. Ci ho trovato un’identità familiare, ma aperta al mondo. 

Il Padiglione Regno Unito, invece, è tutto slancio tecnologico, con installazioni digitali e percorsi interattivi che ti sfidano a pensare. “Non vogliamo dare risposte, ma stimolare domande,” mi ha detto uno dei commissari britannici. E in effetti, uscire da lì con più domande che certezze è stato il loro successo più grande.

Due culture, due visioni, ma lo stesso desiderio di dialogo. I miei due mondi a due passi l’uno dall’altro. Distanti ma sempre uniti.

SHIBUYA: UNA GALASSIA TUTTA NOSTRA

A Tokyo,Maggio significa solo una cosa: Star Wars Day. E il press preview della mostra Star Wars Galaxy allo Tsutaya di Shibuya è stato il mio regalo personale.

Appena entrata, mi sembrava di salire sul Millennium Falcon. Certo, meno traballante ma vi assicuro che le ginocchia hanno tremato un po’.  R2-D2, stormtrooper in scala reale, Grogu ovunque. 

Ho avuto un’incontro – scontro con uno dei Stormtrooper mentre cercavo tracce di Kylo Ren. Non li ho trovati, mai una gioia per la fangirl in me.

Però ho sorriso per cinque minuti fissi davanti a Darth Vader, riascoltando nella mia testa la sua battuta “Luke… sono tuo padre”… prima di ricordarmi che ero lì per lavorare. 

C’erano giornalisti asiatici ovunque, alcuni europei e tanti influencer. Mi sono ritrovata in contemplazione davanti ad uno dei personaggi in scala reale, di fianco a me, un blogger francese con cui ho strillato “Chewbacca!” in contemporanea come due bambini al parco. 

E sì, mi sono pure emozionata davanti a Leia che sussurra “May the force be with you”. Dopotutto, resto pur sempre una fangirl.

TOKYO: UN INCONTRO CHE NON SI DIMENTICA – IL FAN MEETING DI LEE DONG WOOK

Ma niente, nemmeno la Forza, mi aveva preparata a quello che ho vissuto al fan meeting di Lee Dong Wook.

Il Tokyo International Forum era un tripudio di emozione, luci calde e silenzi carichi d’attesa. Non ero lì solo come giornalista. 

Ero lì per raccontare cosa succede quando centinaia di persone volano dall’altra parte del mondo per ringraziare qualcuno che non conoscono di persona, ma che le ha toccate profondamente.

Fan da Brasile, Corea, Singapore, Vietnam, Taiwan, Filippine e America. Ma i due gruppi più rumorosi? Italia e Regno Unito. 

Dalla collaborazione tra padiglioni dell’Expo, all’amicizia tra fandom: la connessione è stata reale.

Ho conosciuto Elisa da Firenze, che ha realizzato braccialetti fatti a mano per tutti. Sheena da Newcastle, che ha curato gli outfit dei pupazetti Wookdong con minuzia british. Hydie una fan da Hong Kong ma che vive in Inghilterra. Una famiglia. 

“Non e' solo Wook come attore,” mi ha detto Ilaria, fan marchiggiana volata da Roma, davanti a una tazza di tè a Ginza. “È come guarda le persone. Come ascolta. Quella gentilezza, arriva.”

Dalle nove del mattino la gente era in fila. Wookdong peluche tra le mani, pastelli tenui nei vestiti, ansia e gioia negli occhi. Quando si sono spente le luci, è stato come l’arrivo di un treno veloce: un’ondata.

Lee Dong Wook è salito sul palco con quel sorriso che smonta e ricompone. Il programma era classico: domande, racconti dal backstage, canzoni, battute. Alcune perse nella traduzione. Altre atterrate dritte nel cuore. 

Nel parterre vicino al palco, si e’ intravisto un lightstick con il tricole e la Union Jack, segno che una delle compagne di tour e’ riuscita a vincere un biglietto per le prime file.

Quando ha parlato di gratitudine, la sala ha tremato. Quando ha detto, guardando tutti: “Grazie per amarmi”, il respiro si è fermato un attimo.

Ha cantato “To the One I Love” dei Deux, commuovendo la sala.

Ha ricevuto lettere, regali, parole sincere. 

Io? Avevo un registratore che non ho usato e un taccuino semi-vuoto con note scritte qua e la’, ma sono uscita con il cuore pieno di emozione.

DIETRO LE QUINTE: LA VITA NEI DETTAGLI

I momenti più veri, però, non sono stati solo quelli ufficiali.

Un tassista a Osaka mi ha chiesto se ero lì per lavoro o per qualche star. Ho risposto: “Entrambi.” E lui ha riso: “Onesta. Mi piaci.”

Due studenti in un ramen shop, che litigavano sul miglior personaggio di Star Wars in dialetto del Kansai. Un caos adorabile che ho capito grazie al mio interprete. 

Ho incontrato anche una fan malese, Miss Lily, che gestisce una della fanpage piu' grandi dedicati all'attore coreano, che ha preso due giorni di ferie per venire al fan meeting di Lee Dong Wook. “Ne valeva la pena,” mi ha detto, commossa.

E in un caffe’ di Shinjuku, ho chiacchierato con fan giapponesi storici di Lee Dong Wook. Quando ho detto che alcuni venivano dall’Europa, una di loro ha detto: “Siete come una famiglia, voi stranieri.” 

E aveva ragione.

L’ULTIMA FERMATA: CASA, ANCHE SE LONTANO

Alla fine del viaggio, guardando di nuovo Shibuya dall’alto, ho ripensato a tutto: le costellazioni digitali del Padiglione UK, la delicatezza del Padiglione Italia, le urla d’amore per Lee Dong Wook, i momenti silenziosi tra un appuntamento e l’altro.

Il Giappone mi ha regalato tanto. 

Professionalmente, contenuti da raccontare. Emozioni da custodire. 

Personalmente? La certezza che esiste una comunità globale, fatta di speranza, affetto e condivisione. Che cerchiamo tutti la stessa cosa: sentirci parte di qualcosa.

E a volte, lo troviamo nei posti più impensati.

Persino a migliaia di chilometri da casa, in mezzo a una folla, mi sono sentita esattamente dove dovevo essere.

ENGLISH VERSION

Wook, Wonder, and the Expo: A European Journalist’s Love Letter to Japan

What happens when a journalist meets Baby Yoda, global innovation, and Lee Dong Wook fans in the same trip

Japan doesn’t wait for you to catch up. It moves at its own rhythm—flashing lights, perfectly timed trains, vending machines that do everything but sing you a lullaby. And yet, every time I land in Tokyo, I somehow feel at home. This time, though, the trip was something else entirely. A mix of work, wonder, and the kind of whirlwind only a journalist-who-is-also-a-fan can truly understand.

Let me take you through it—from Expo dreams in Osaka to galactic selfies in Shibuya, and finally, a heart-thumping fan meeting with Korean actor Lee Dong Wook that brought together fans from Italy, the UK, and beyond. Buckle up.

TOKYO TOUCHDOWN: THE WARM-UP BEFORE THE STORM

Arriving in Tokyo in early May felt like stepping into a movie. The sakura had mostly shed their blush, replaced by fresh green branches swaying under the sun. I stayed in Shibuya, not far from the famous crossing, and every morning I’d grab a convenience store iced latte and watch the orderly chaos below from my hotel window. This wasn’t my first trip, but Japan always surprises you—especially when you’re here on double duty: covering events and fangirling on Kylo Ren.

OSAKA: FUTURE IN THE MAKING AT EXPO 2025

After Tokyo, I boarded the Shinkansen to Osaka. The transition was fast—literally. The bullet train remains one of my favorite ways to travel. Quiet, punctual, and with snacks that actually taste good. As we zipped past rice paddies and distant mountain ranges, I prepped for what might be one of the most important global events of the decade: Expo 2025.

Located on Yumeshima Island, the Expo site has been transformed into a vision of sustainability, innovation, and international collaboration. Walking through the structures, you can feel the pulse of something big coming to life. 

It's for sure worth visiting.

ITALY’S PAVILLION: EMOTIONAL ARCHITECTURE

Italy’s pavilion stands out—not just because of its striking architecture, which feels like a dance between tradition and modernity—but also because of its message: “Art regenerates life.” I spoke with a member of the Italian delegation who described it as “a living theatre of ideas.”

Inside, visitors will experience immersive installations blending sound, light, and history—one of which reinterprets the Renaissance through a future-forward lens. It’s poetic without being pretentious.

As I stood in the pavilion’s central space, I couldn’t help but think of how many Italian artists once dreamed beyond borders.

This pavilion? It feels like a tribute to that eternal curiosity.

THE UK PAVILION: FUTURE IS PERSONAL

A few steps away, the UK Pavilion brings a very different energy—sleek, digital, and resolutely optimistic. “We want people to leave with questions,” said one of the British commissioners I met during a guided walkthrough. “Not everything has to be answered right away. But curiosity? That’s the spark.”

The structure is fluid, with large-scale digital installations and interactive exhibits focused on innovation in health, climate science, and AI. At one station, I spoke with a researcher explaining sustainable energy systems using a virtual globe. “It’s not about tech for tech’s sake,” she told me. “It’s about people.”

And it shows.

Both pavilions—so different in style—offered a mirror to their respective cultures. Italy’s full of emotion, beauty, and layered storytelling. The UK’s sharp, bold, and practical. Together? A fascinating dialogue.

A GALACTIC PREVIEW: STAR WARS IN SHIBUYA

One of the first official stops on my schedule was the press preview of the “Star Wars Galaxy” exhibition at Shibuya Tsutaya. It launched on May the 4th—yes, Star Wars Day. The timing couldn’t have been better.

Walking into the space was like stepping aboard the Millennium Falcon—minus the turbulence. Life-size replicas of R2-D2, stormtroopers, and, of course, Grogu (Baby Yoda) greeted guests at every turn. I tripped on a storm trooper while trying to find signs of Kylo Ren, failing miserably. I spotted journalists from all over Asia scribbling in notepads and influencers framing the perfect shot, but I’ll admit: I took a solid five minutes just smiling at the Darth Vader helmet before I remembered I was there to work. 

The layout was smart: starting from the original trilogy’s roots to the modern Disney+ universe, it didn’t just focus on nostalgia. It celebrated the saga’s evolution. At one point, I found myself next to a French blogger from Lyon, both of us whispering “Chewbacca!” at the same time like we were seven years old again. 

And yes, I got teary eyed when I saw General Lea on screen whispering “May the force be with you”. I’m just a fangirl, after all.

CROSSING PATHS WITH FANDOM: LEE DONG WOOK’S FAN MEETING

But nothing—not even Jedi mind tricks—prepared me for the intensity, warmth, and joy of Lee Dong Wook’s fan meeting.

Held in the stylish venue Tokyo International Forum, the event was everything you’d expect from a Hallyu star gathering—and more. I wasn’t just there as a journalist; I was also following the European fanbase who’d travelled miles to see their favourite actor. Some came from Brazil, Korea, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Hong Kong even the US and Vietnam but among the largest overseas groups? Italy and the UK. IT seems like the partnership among the two countries didn’t end in Osaka, at the Expo.

I met Elisa, who flew from Florence and made handmade bracelets for the event, and Sheena from Newcastle, who coordinated outfits with fellow fans down to the tiniest detail—Wookdong plushies  ( the actor’s plushie character) and all. These weren’t casual followers. They were a sisterhood. Hydie flew from the UK as well and in the crowd I spotted a lightstick with both the Italian and the British flags.

“It’s not just about Wook,” said Ilaria, another Italian fan I shared tea with in Ginza. “It’s the way he treats people. The way he listens. That kindness? We feel it.”

At the venue, fans lined up as early as 9 am, many dressed in soft pastels or themed cosplay for their Wookdong plushies. The hall buzzed with excitement, and when the lights dimmed, you could feel hearts speeding up like a train pulling into Shinjuku.

Dong Wook appeared, smiling that familiar smile that somehow melts you and revives you at the same time. The fan meeting had all the classic moments—Q&A sessions, behind-the-scenes stories, a few jokes that got lost in translation but somehow still landed—but what stayed with me was the emotional connection.

When he spoke about gratitude, you could see fans tearing up. When he laughed, we all laughed. And when he looked directly at the audience and said, “Thank you for loving me,” the entire room exhaled in unison.

Lee Dong Wook’s genuine appreciation for his fans was evident. He addressed their concerns with sincerity, offered words of encouragement, and even treated the audience to a heartfelt rendition of “To the One I Love” by Deux. The event was a testament to the deep bond between the actor and his fans, transcending language and cultural barriers.

Some brought gifts. Others, letters.

Me? I brought my recorder (that I didn’t use) and a notebook with just few notes scribbled here and there — the notepad might have been empty, but I left with a full heart.

SIDE NOTES & SIDE STREETS

When I wasn’t racing between pavilions or translating quotes from Expo commissioners, I carved out time for what I call “the real reporting”: talking to people. Taxi drivers. Bento shop owners. Other journalists at coffee stalls.

A cab driver in Osaka asked me if I was in town for business or of for celebrity stars. I told him, “Both,” and he burst out laughing. “You are an honest one. Welcome.”

Over ramen one evening, I overheard two young students arguing over their favourite Star Wars characters—in Kansai dialect. It was chaotic. And beautiful, especially for someone eavesdropping like me.

In Ginza, I met an international fan from Malaysia, Miss Lily, who manages one of the biggest fan accounts on Instagram and X. She took two days vacation to attend Lee Dong Wook's fan meeting. “It was worth it,” she said, eyes still glowing.

In Shinjuku, I found myself chatting with a group of Japanese fans who had followed Lee Dong Wook since his early roles. They asked me about European fans, surprised by how far they travelled. “You all come together like a family,” one of them said. And it’s true. They do. We do.

CLOSING THOUGHTS: FANDOM, FUTURE, AND FEELING AT HOME

As my flight home approached, I found myself back in Shibuya, looking over the crossing one last time. I thought about everything I’d seen: the digital constellations of the UK Pavilion, the velvet elegance of Italy’s Expo dream, the warm roar of fans cheering in Tokyo, the quiet moments in between.

Japan gave me a lot this trip. Professionally, I gathered interviews, images, and insights I can’t wait to share. Personally? I felt part of something bigger. A global fan community. A shared hope in innovation. A reminder that whether we’re clapping in a fan event, taking selfies next to Grogu, or watching construction workers build the future on Yumeshima Island, we’re all looking for connection.

And sometimes, we find it in the most unexpected places.

Even halfway across the world, in the crowd, I felt right at home.