After all the waiting, the new Star Wars finally hit the theaters last week. Japanese folks are certainly prepared for the force to be awakened because about 80 percent of the theater rooms are greeting the movie Star Wars. Not surprisingly, nearly all seats are filled which includes the front row.

If you are big Star Wars fans, likely you will seek some Star Wars collectables. Among all the collectables that are on sell, there is one specific item that sold out immediately in a day. Traditional Japanese art from Edo period with the Star Wars theme together (picture below).

The technique being used is known as ukiyo-e, a style of printing that was famous though the 17th and 19th centuries in Japan. Unlike modern paintings mostly using paper, Ukiyo-e prints typically begin life as paintings which are then carved into blocks of wood. Ink is applied to the surface of the wood and paper is pressed against the ink. Then a different block of wood used to build up each layer of color and create the finish image. The production time took about half a year for one piece, and the full concept took about 2 years to generate.

The craftsman are divided into 3 position.

絵師 Eshi, uses ink to paint the initial image.

彫師 Horishi, wood carving.

摺師 Surishi, also refers to the craftsman of patterns on clothes. Uses hand-made paper to print colors one by one.

The first 200 pieces were sold out at its first appearance, A new open reservation order is now starting from December 18th.

Here are the other two Star Wars artworks, and a total of 3 pieces was made for Star Wars.