Universal Studios Japan

Universal Studios Japan (USJ) is the Japanese Universal Studios theme park, located in Osaka. The park opened in 2001. It is also the first Universal Studios theme park to open outside of the U.S.
Sesame Street has been a prominent feature in USJ since the addition of Sesame Street 4-D Movie Magic in late April 2003, and is one of the park's more popular character-based franchises along with Hello Kitty and Peanuts.
==Characters==
Initially, the park's walk-arounds included Elmo, Zoe, Cookie Monster, Bert, Ernie, The Count, and occasional appearances from Grover and Big Bird. On July 9, 2008, Abby Cadabby was added to the lineup. Universal Studios Japan press release. In Japanese. May 20, 2008. Oscar the Grouch made his debut at the park in the NO LIMIT! Parade in March 2023.Travel Watch. In Japanese. March 01, 2003.
 Image:Elmousj.jpg|Elmo
 Image:Cookieusjsteps.jpg|Cookie Monster
 Image:Abbyusjsmile.jpg|Abby Cadabby
 Image:Zoeusj.jpg|Zoe
 Image:Berternieusj.jpg|Ernie and Bert
 Image:Countaltusj.jpg|Count von Count
 
===Moppy===
*Main article: Moppy
As part of the park's tenth anniversary in 2011, USJ introduced a new Sesame Street walk-around character exclusive to the park named Moppy.
 Image:4-20_face_it_hes_cute.jpg|Moppy
 
==Attractions==
===Sesame Street 4-D Movie Magic===
*Main article: Sesame Street 4-D Movie Magic
Shown at USJ's Cinema 4-D Theater in the Hollywood area. The same theater also houses another 4-D attraction, Shrek's 4-D Adventure. (Shrek's 4-D Adventure operates from opening time until 1:45pm, and Sesame Street 4-D Movie Magic operates from 1:45pm until closing time).
===Universal Wonderland===
*Main article: Sesame Street Fun World
On March 16, 2012, the park opened up Universal Wonderland, a children's area featuring three sub-areas - Sesame Street Fun World, Snoopy Studios (which already existed beforehand) and Hello Kitty Fashion Ave.
==Entertainment==
Sesame Street characters have appeared in interactive shows and park parades over the years.
===Parades===
*Hollywood Premiere Parade (ハリウッド・プレミア・パレード): The park's first daytime parade which ran from April 27, 2002 until August 31, 2004. It featured various floats depicting different franchises represented at the park. Some franchises, like Sesame Street were represented as part of the opening unit featuring other smaller floats. Sesame Street was represented by a Muppetized taxi cab driven by Grover with Elmo as his passenger, while Big Bird walks around near the taxi.
*Happy Harmony Celebration (ハッピー・ハーモニー・セレブレーション) - Normally held during the park's springtime events, this parade featured giant floats depicting four different franchises, one of which being Sesame Street. It was held from April 14, 2005 until June 27, 2008.
*Royal Sweet Wedding (ロイヤル・スィート・ウエディング)- Held during the 2005 summer season. It focuses on a fictional marriage between Shrek and Princess Fiona, represented through nine giant balloons. The Sesame Street unit features giant balloons of Elmo, Cookie Monster and Big Bird, while walk-arounds marched below.
*Universal Water Parade (ユニバーサル・ウォーター・パレード) - Held during the 2008 summer season, two times a day. This parade features various summer-related floats that spray guests with water during show stops. Sesame Street characters appear on the last two units - Ernie and Bert on the "Inflatable" unit, and Elmo, Zoe and Cookie Monster on the "Surfing" unit.
*Magical Starlight Parade (マジカル・スターライト・パレード) - The park's daily nighttime parade, held from March 5, 2009 until June 26, 2016, featuring floats based on three different fairy tales, representing Imagination (Alice's Adventures in Wonderland), Adventure (Arabian Nights) and Romance (Cinderella). The parade is led by a large glowing Elmo float that speaks out pre-recorded lines in Japanese and can spin-around on route. He is joined by similar floats of Snoopy and Hello Kitty.
* Parade de Carnival (パレード・デ・カーニバル) - Held during the park's Halloween events from 2011 until 2016, this was a Mardi Gras-styled parade featuring decorated performers, characters and beaded necklaces. The final two floats feature Elmo, Cookie Monster, Bert and Ernie.
*Universal RE-BOOOOOORN! Parade (ユニバーサル・RE-BOOOOOOOORN!・パレード) - Held during the park's fifteenth anniversary celebration from March 18, 2016 until March 31, 2017. This was a parade that celebrated the anniversary with a large party including themed floats, smoke machines, confetti cannons, streamers, soap bubbles, and giant balloons. It features two Sesame Street-themed floats - one smaller float featuring Cookie Monster in a picture frame while standing on a bottle of champagne, and a larger float featuring Elmo and Moppy with a windmill and the Eiffel Tower, as well as large bottles that shoot out soap bubbles onto the crowd.
*Water Surprise Parade (ウォーター・サプライズ・パレード) - Held during the park's 2017, 2018 and 2019 summer events. This was essentially a version of Universal RE-BOOOOOORN! (complete with the same music) but with a "water-y surprise" in place of confetti. For the 2017 and 2018 runs, the parade almost focuses entirely on the Minions from Despicable Me, but Elmo, in addition to Snoopy and Hello Kitty, appear on the title unit, however the 2019 run re-adds the characters to their RE-BOOOOOORN!!! positions on the floats.
*Festa de-Parade (フェスタ・デ・パレード) - Held during the park's 2017, 2018 and 2019 Halloween events, and reused floats from Universal RE-BOOOOOORN!. However this time, Elmo and Cookie Monster appear on the floats where the Peanuts characters were, and vice versa. Bert & Ernie also appear on the float as well.
*Minions HACHA-MECHA Christmas Party (ミニオン・ハチャメチャ・クリスマス・パーティ) Held during the park's 2017, 2018 and 2019 Christmas events, this parade features train floats, giant balloons, streamers and confetti, Santa Claus and as the name implies, the Despicable Me Minions. Alongside other park characters, Elmo, Cookie Monster and Moppy appeared on one of the trains. In 2018 the parade was reduced to just the train floats, but increased the amount of Confetti and Balloons used.
*Universal Summer Parade - We are One! (ユニバーサル・サマー・パレード～We are One～) - Held during the park's 2020 summer season, this was a re-imagined version of Universal RE-BOOOOOORN! to encourage social distancing. Elmo appeared on the float he previously appeared on in RE-BOOOOOORN!, this time with Cookie Monster instead of Moppy.
*NO LIMIT! Parade (NO LIMIT! パレード) - Premiered on March 1, 2023 (after two delays from Spring and Fall 2022), this is the park's current daytime parade, which focuses on different kinds of party music over the many years, represented through various-themed floats, with the main attractions being the debut of Super Mario and Pokémon at the park. The Sesame Street unit represents the 1990s "Hip Hop" craze, with a large city skyline. Elmo, Cookie Monster and Abby Cadabby appear on the front, Zoe and Moppy appear on the sides, and Oscar, making his USJ debut, appears in the trash can at the back of the float.
===Street Shows===
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From 2006-2010, the park held yearly-themed Sesame Street streetainment shows, featuring Sesame Street characters on a large bus. Once the bus stops, the characters begin to dance and sing to various Sesame Street songs.
* The Famous 5 - Dreamer's Tour (フェイマス 5 ～ドリーマーズ・ツアー～) (March-December 2006): The first of the bus shows, held to celebrate the park's fifth anniversary.
* Sesame Street New Year Wish (セサミストリートのニューイヤー・ウィッシュ) (December 2006-January 2007) : Was held during the park's 2006-2007 New Year's event. It was led by the Muppetized Taxi cab from the Hollywood Premiere Parade.
* Sesame Street Dreams of Dancing (セサミストリートのドリーム・オブ・ダンシング) (February 2007-January 2009)
* Sesame Street Magical Market (セサミストリートのマジカル・マーケット) (2009): This bus show featured flimsy puppets based on Sesame Street 's Muppet vegetables. 
* Sesame Street Big Face Project (セサミストリートのビッグフェイス) (2010): The last of the bus shows.
===Live Shows===
*Sesame Street Christmas (seasonal, 2003): A live show. Elmo, Zoe, Cookie Monster, Bert and Ernie sing Christmas songs. Big Bird shows up later on.
*Sesame Street Birthday Celebration (regular, 2004) - Elmo, Cookie Monster and a female hostess/singer celebrate a park guest's birthday.
*Zoe's Flowers (2005)
*Full FX (2005): Interactive street show with Ernie and some live-actor dancers. At one point, the Count subbed in for Ernie.
*Funky Party (2016)
*Sesame Street Rhythm Alive (2018-2019): A tropical theme featuring Bert, Elmo, Cookie, and Ernie playing percussion instruments like steel drums and the marimba live. The soundtrack included "Mambo I, I, I".
*Afrobeat (2020): Bert, Ernie, and Elmo participate in a drumming show.
*No Limit (2021): A stage show in which Bert rides a BMX bike, Elmo drums, and Ernie rollerblades.
*Evolution of Dance with Sesame Street (2022 - ): Elmo, Bert, and a breakdancing Ernie are joined by backup singers and dancers. The track list includes "Dancing Queen", "It's Tricky", Op. 20: I. Scene (Swan Theme) from Swan Lake, and Earth, Wind & Fire "Boogie Wonderland".
===10th anniversary, 2011===
In February 2011, Universal Studios Japan celebrated its 10th anniversary with special Sesame Street events and shows, one of which introduced a new original character, Moppy.
* Happy Surprise, a stage show featuring the song "GOOD LUCKY!!!!!";
* Elmo and Snoopy Swirl illusion, What will happen with the “Elmo and Snoopy Swirl illusion” artwork when you watch it after staring at the swirl sign;
* Sesame Street Dream Factory, a dream charm encapsulator gift shop;
* Characters 4U - Collaboration shop merchandise, featuring products with the images of Elmo, Snoopy, Hello Kitty and Pink Panther together.
* Universal Studios Japan presents close in Kids! Dance Dance Dance, a touring show "from March 26th to July 17th visiting 12 cities and 17 locations", with Cookie Monster and Elmo. Presented was a segment of Happy Surprise.
==Merchandise==
Sesame Street merchandise is available through USJ gift shops. See Universal Studios Japan Merchandise.
==See also==
* Universal Studios Singapore
==External links==
* Official site
==Sources==
__NOWYSIWYG__
Category:International Attractions
Category:Theme Parks