Yasaburō family heirloom lightsaber

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This article is non-canon within the canon continuity.

This article covers a subject from a Star Wars: Visions story that Lucasfilm declared is set in an alternate history within a reimagined galaxy.

"This ancient weapon represents the bond between parent and child in our family. As it is bestowed on you, remember that, even though we are not bound by blood, you and I share a strong connection. I am your father, and that bond cannot be broken."
―Yasaburō passing the lightsaber down to Lop[1]

The Yasaburō family heirloom lightsaber, also known as the Ancestral Sword, was a green-bladed lightsaber used by the Yasaburō clan on the planet Tao. The lightsaber was brought to Tao by a Jedi who entrusted it to a member of the clan. Before dying, the Jedi trained the clan member to use the lightsaber. The lightsaber became an heirloom and was passed down through the generations of the Yasaburō clan for hundreds of years, eventually coming into the possession of Yasaburō, the clan's leader during the Imperial Era.

Between 12 BBY and 1 BBY, Yasaburō's older daughter, Ochō, joined the Galactic Empire and sided with it against her father. After learning of Ochō's betrayal from his younger adopted daughter, Lop, Yasaburō brought Lop to a shrine in their home, where he explained the lightsaber's history before passing it down to her in a ritual. He then left for Tao's Imperial base to meet with Ochō. After hearing an explosion from the base, Lop rushed there with the lightsaber, where she found Yasaburō and Ochō fighting in a hangar. After Yasaburō was wounded, Lop attempted to persuade Ochō to turn back but was unable to do so. Ochō attacked, and when Lop defended herself with the lightsaber, Ochō became angered, as she believed herself to be the family's successor. They continued to fight, and Lop eventually shattered Ochō's weapon, then slashed her chest. Ochō fell out of the hangar but landed on an ascending starship, which then flew away.

Description

The saber's green blade had engravings.

The saber's green blade had engravings.

The Yasaburō family heirloom lightsaber,[4] also known as the Ancestral Sword,[2] was a green-bladed lightsaber used by the Yasaburō clan on the planet Tao.[1] The cylindrical hilt of the lightsaber was tan in color and was wrapped with shagreen—the skin of a creature native to Tao—which was partially covered by a golden metal fixture with a relief of a crane. Rivets modeled after flowers were affixed to the shagreen and metal fixture. The lightsaber's guard consisted of green curves with a golden border and golden flower designs. A similar curve was affixed to the base of the hilt, to which a red chrysanthemum knot and tassel was tied. The lightsaber's single blade was gently curved and had engravings on it.[2] The lightsaber was powered by a kyber crystal.[3]

The lightsaber was stored in a[1] wooden[5] box that was decorated with images depicting the Jedi meeting the Yasburō clan member and training them with the lightsaber. The top of the box was red and had golden depictions of[1] a crane and plants, as well as the symbol of the Yasaburō clan.[2]

History

A family heirloom

"This ritual has been passed down in our family for generations. Hundreds of years ago now, there was a great warrior called a Jedi, who came to this planet and died here. But first, he entrusted this treasured sword to our ancestor. Through his teachings, this ancestor was taught how to wield the blade, and ever since, both it and those techniques have been passed down for generations."
―Yasaburō, to Lop[1]
Yasaburō passed the lightsaber down to Lop in a ritual.

Yasaburō passed the lightsaber down to Lop in a ritual.

Hundreds of years before the Imperial Era, a Jedi of the Jedi Order came to Tao and entrusted the lightsaber to a member of the Yasaburō clan. Before dying, the Jedi taught them how to wield the lightsaber[1] and the Jedi ethos.[2] The lightsaber became an heirloom, and both it and the Jedi's techniques were passed down through generations of the Yasaburō clan for hundreds of years. The sword served as a symbol and proof of the family's unwavering resolve and represented the bond between parent and child. It was eventually passed down to Yasaburō, the leader of the clan during the Imperial Era.[1]

Between 12 BBY and 1 BBY,[6] Yasaburō led an attack on the Galactic Empire's base on Tao. Following the attack, Yasaburō's oldest daughter, Ochō, chose to side with the Empire against her father, believing it was necessary to protect Tao. When his younger adopted daughter, Lop, told Yasaburō of Ochō's betrayal, he brought Lop to a shrine in their home. There, Yasaburō brought out the box containing the lightsaber, and they both knelt to perform a ritual.[1]

Yasaburō removed the lightsaber from the box and placed it between them, and a circle of[1] blue energy[5] spread around them and formed symbols. Lop attempted to use her side glasses to observe what was happening, but Yasaburō told her to use her own eyes and then explained to her the history and meaning of the sword. He reminded Lop that, although they were not connected by blood, they still shared a bond and told her to keep the sword close to her heart. He then instructed Lop to take the lightsaber and say that she respectfully accepted it, which she did. After completing the ritual, Yasaburō left and prepared to meet Ochō. Lop asked him what would happen to their household, and he responded that only the sword mattered.[1]

Duel between the sisters

"That's the family sword. What are you doing with that? I'm the successor!"
"I passed it on to Lop. Inheritance has nothing to do with blood. There is so much that matters more."
―Ochō and Yasaburō[1]
Lop and Ochō duel.

Lop and Ochō duel.

While waiting in their home, Lop knelt with the lightsaber next to her. After an explosion came from the Imperial base, Lop rushed there, where she found Yasaburō fighting Ochō in a hangar. Yasaburō fought with two three-pronged daggers, while Ochō used a weapon consisting of three rods chained together, with blades affixed to the ends of the two outer rods. After Ochō wounded Yasaburō, Lop knelt by his side and the three argued, but they were unable to persuade Ochō to turn back. Yasaburō's older daughter leapt into the air and attacked, but Lop drew the lightsaber and blocked her sister. After seeing that Lop had the sword, Ochō was shocked and claimed that she was the family's successor. Yasaburō explained to her that he had passed it down to Lop and that inheritance was unrelated to blood.[1]

Angered, Ochō attacked Lop again, and after exchanging blows, Lop was knocked back. After again failing to convince Ochō, Lop attacked the Imperial, and the pair resumed fighting. Lop sliced the connections between the rods of Ochō's weapon, but she continued to fight while wielding two of its separated components, forcing Lop back. As her sister leapt toward her, Lop used the Force to pull one of Yasaburō's daggers to her, which she wielded alongside the lightsaber as they dueled. Lop soon shattered Ochō's weapon, then used both of her own to slice her sister's chest. Ochō fell out of the hangar but landed atop an ascending starship, which Lop watched fly away as she held the lightsaber.[1]

Behind the scenes

"You can talk about a Star Wars without lightsabers, but in fact, it would not be Star Wars."
―Yuki Igarashi[2]
Concept art of the lightsaber

Concept art of the lightsaber

The lightsaber first appeared in "Lop & Ochō," a short film directed by Yuki Igarashi and released as part of the first volume of the non-canon Star Wars: Visions series. The animated short, produced by Geno Studio, released on Disney+[1] on September 22, 2021.[7] Prior to the short's release, it was first pictured in a special look video uploaded to the official Star Wars YouTube channel on July 3 of that year.[8] It was then first mentioned simultaneously in the original Japanese and English dub trailers for the series, which were both uploaded to the official Star Wars YouTube channel on August 17.[9][10] The name Yasaburō family heirloom was used in the short's episode guide,[4] and the name Ancestral Sword was used in The Art of Star Wars: Visions, a 2022 art book written by Zack Davisson.[2]

The lightsaber was designed by Ren Ishimori,[2] and concept art of it was colored by Yuichi Kuboki.[4] The basic shape of the sword resembles the lightsabers used by[2] the Jedi[11] Obi-Wan Kenobi and Luke Skywalker, but the hilt and fittings are similar to Japanese swords with traditional ornamentation. The engravings on the blade were modeled after the Inariyama Sword and Seven-Branched Sword. Igarashi commented on the importance of lightsabers to Star Wars, saying it would not be Star Wars without them.[2]

Concept art gallery

"Lop & Ochō"
Storyboards Concept art Digital renderings In-progress artwork

Appearances

Sources

Notes and references

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  1. ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 1.16 1.17 1.18 1.19 1.20 1.21 1.22 1.23 1.24 Star-Wars-Visions-series-logo-short Star Wars: Visions — "Lop & Ochō"
  2. ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 The Art of Star Wars: Visions
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 StarWars-DatabankII Kyber Crystal (Lightsaber Crystal) in the Databank (backup link) — Based on corresponding details applicable to all Jedi lightsabers
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 StarWars.com "Lop & Ochō" Concept Art Gallery on StarWars.com (backup link) (Slide 4)
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Star-Wars-Visions-series-logo-short Star Wars: Visions — "Lop & Ochō" (Audio description from Disney+)
  6. ↑ Premium-Era-real Star Wars Anime Visions Will Include What Became of the Jedi, a Rock Opera, and More by Daniel Robson on IGN (backup link archived on September 22, 2021) establishes that "Lop & Ochō" takes place between Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith and Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope. Star Wars: Timelines dates the events of Revenge of the Sith to 19 BBY and the events immediately preceding A New Hope to 1 BBY. As the prologue takes place seven years before the main story, the main story must take place between 12 BBY and 1 BBY, and the the prologue must take place between 19 BBY and 8 BBY.
  7. ↑ StarWars.com Stunning New Star Wars: Visions Trailer Debuts on StarWars.com (backup link)
  8. ↑ SWYT-Logo STAR WARS: VISIONS | SPECIAL LOOK | DISNEY+ on the official Star Wars YouTube channel (backup link) (Posted on StarWars.com)
  9. ↑ SWYT-Logo Star Wars: Visions | Original Trailer | Disney+ on the official Star Wars YouTube channel (backup link) (Posted on StarWars.com)
  10. ↑ SWYT-Logo Star Wars: Visions | English Dub Trailer | Disney+ on the official Star Wars YouTube channel (backup link) (Posted on StarWars.com)
  11. ↑ Star Wars Encyclopedia: The Comprehensive Guide to the Star Wars Galaxy
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