This is not the weapon of a Jedi Knight, but the handcrafted replica of a Taiwanese man who disliked the official “Star Wars” products, started making his own blades and now sells them for up to $400 each.
It’s a booming business for Tsai Jung-chou, enough for him to quit his optical engineering job three years ago and make models of the iconic sci-fi weapon full-time. He says his mailbox is flooded with orders from fans around the world.
The 32-year-old says his model, a metal hilt attached to a glowing polycarbonate tube, is the brightest and strongest on the market, strong enough to use in gentle duels. He even offers to replace or fix those that break in mock combat.
And while it won’t cut metal, his lightsaber certainly sounds like the real thing when it’s turned on, with a motion-sensor soundboard that generates the humming and buzzing heard in the movies.
Producing a realistic replica of the fictional weapon was a decade-long quest for the Tsai, who is better known by his alias Makoto Tsai.
In this Dec. 14, 2015, photo, 32-year-old Tsai Jung-chou, also known as “Makoto Tsai”, poses with his handcrafted replicas of the Star Wars lightsaber at his home workshop in New Taipei City, Taiwan. A former optical engineer, Tsai now designs and fabricates his own versions of the iconic sci-fi weapon which he sells for up to $400 per model. (AP Photo/Wally Santana)
He was smitten when he first saw “Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones” in 2002. But he was sorely disappointed with the lightsaber he bought from the franchise. The light was dim and the blade seemed wimpy.
So he decided to build his own. He enrolled in an optical engineering school at a Taiwanese university and asked professors for advice.
“I was just a student. I didn’t have lots of money,” he said. “So I thought I should just make one myself because I like to make things myself anyway.”
In this Dec. 14, 2015, photo, 32-year-old Tsai Jung-chou, also known as “Makoto Tsai”, upgrades a replica Star Wars lightsaber with his personally designed LEDs and sound card at his home workshop in New Taipei City, Taiwan. A former optical engineer, Tsai now designs and fabricates his own versions of the iconic sci-fi weapon which he sells for up to $400 per model. (AP Photo/Wally Santana)
Tsai went on to work as an engineer for a high-power laser design company.
After years of experimentation, he came up with a design using an LED light strip that lights up in sequence, giving a scrolling effect as it powers up.
Tsai posted video clips of his handicraft on YouTube and other Internet sites, which were then reposted on Star Wars fan websites. Soon he had people contacting him and offering to pay for what he calls “Makoto’s lightsaber.”
Each model takes two to three days to finish, Tsai says. Prices range from $200 to $400 for the top models. He also provides upgrades to any current or older models. He hasn’t kept track of how many he has made, but produces about 10-15 a month since he went full-time in 2012.
In the days leading up to the premier of the newest installment, “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” Tsai hung out with his friends dressed in Star Wars character costumes — and was busily making more lightsabers.
“I am actually happy that Disney has bought this movie franchise. They brought all the old characters — Luke, Princess Lea and Han Solo,” he said. “I watched the trailer so many times and every time I cry. I get so emotional.”
As for now, Tsai has no plan to expand his business. For him, becoming a master lightsaber maker is a dream come true.
Does he ever worry what he would do for a living if lightsabers faded in popularity?
“That’s just not going to happen,” he said. “Never.”
In this photo made on Monday, Dec. 14, 2015, 32 year old Tsai Jung-chou or known by sci-fi fans as “Makoto Tsai”, upgrades a replica Star Wars lightsaber with his personally designed LEDs and sound card at his home workshop in New Taipei City, Taiwan. A former optical engineer, Tsai now designs and fabricates his own versions of the iconic sci-fi weapon which he sells for up to $400 per model. (AP Photo/Wally Santana)
In this Dec. 14, 2015, photo, 32-year-old Tsai Jung-chou, also known as “Makoto Tsai”, upgrades a replica Star Wars lightsaber with his personally designed LEDs and sound card at his home workshop in New Taipei City, Taiwan. A former optical engineer, Tsai now designs and fabricates his own versions of the iconic sci-fi weapon which he sells for up to $400 per model. (AP Photo/Wally Santana)
In this Dec. 14, 2015, photo, 32-year-old Tsai Jung-chou, also known as “Makoto Tsai”, compares his upgrade of a replica Star Wars lightsaber, left, with his personally designed LEDs and sound card at his home workshop in New Taipei City, Taiwan. A former optical engineer, Tsai now designs and fabricates his own versions of the iconic sci-fi weapon which he sells for up to $400 per model. (AP Photo/Wally Santana)
In this Dec. 14, 2015, photo, Star Wars fans dressed in character enter a fast food restaurant in the neighborhood of 32-year-old Tsai Jung-chou, also known as “Makoto Tsai”, who makes replica lightsabers at his home workshop in New Taipei City, Taiwan. A former optical engineer, Tsai now designs and fabricates his own versions of the iconic sci-fi weapon which he sells for up to $400 per model. (AP Photo/Wally Santana)
In this Dec. 14, 2015, photo, Star Wars fans dressed in character order food at a fast food restaurant in the neighborhood of 32-year-old Tsai Jung-chou, also known as “Makoto Tsai”, who makes replica lightsabers at his home workshop in New Taipei City, Taiwan. A former optical engineer, Tsai now designs and fabricates his own versions of the iconic sci-fi weapon which he sells for up to $400 per model. (AP Photo/Wally Santana)
In this Dec. 14, 2015, photo, Star Wars fans dressed as Chewbacca and Luke Skywalker leave a fast food restaurant in the neighborhood of 32-year-old Tsai Jung-chou, also known as “Makoto Tsai”, who makes replica lightsabers at his home workshop in New Taipei City, Taiwan. A former optical engineer, Tsai now designs and fabricates his own versions of the iconic sci-fi weapon which he sells for up to $400 per model. (AP Photo/Wally Santana)
In this Dec. 14, 2015, photo, a Star Wars fan dressed as “Chewbacca” carries bags of fast food after visiting a restaurant in the neighborhood of 32-year-old Tsai Jung-chou, also known as “Makoto Tsai”, who makes replica lightsabers at his home workshop in New Taipei City, Taiwan. A former optical engineer, Tsai now designs and fabricates his own versions of the iconic sci-fi weapon which he sells for up to $400 per model. (AP Photo/Wally Santana)
In this Dec. 14, 2015, photo, 32-year-old Tsai Jung-chou, right, also known as “Makoto Tsai”, stands with his friends dressed as Star Wars characters and holding his handcrafted replicas of the Star Wars lightsaber at his home workshop in New Taipei City, Taiwan. A former optical engineer, Tsai now designs and fabricates his own versions of the iconic sci-fi weapon which he sells for up to $400 per model. (AP Photo/Wally Santana)
In this Dec. 14, 2015, photo, 32-year-old Tsai Jung-chou, center, also known as “Makoto Tsai”, poses with friends as they wield his handcrafted replicas of the Star Wars lightsaber at his home workshop in New Taipei City, Taiwan. A former optical engineer, Tsai now designs and fabricates his own versions of the iconic sci-fi weapon which he sells for up to $400 per model. (AP Photo/Wally Santana)
In this Dec. 14, 2015, photo, 32-year-old Tsai Jung-chou, right, also known as “Makoto Tsai”, poses with his handcrafted replica of the Star Wars lightsaber at his home workshop in New Taipei City, Taiwan. A former optical engineer, Tsai now designs and fabricates his own versions of the iconic sci-fi weapon which he sells for up to $400 per model. (AP Photo/Wally Santana)
In this Dec. 14, 2015, photo, 32-year-old Tsai Jung-chou, right, also known as “Makoto Tsai”, poses with his handcrafted replica of the Star Wars lightsaber at his home workshop in New Taipei City, Taiwan. A former optical engineer, Tsai now designs and fabricates his own versions of the iconic sci-fi weapon which he sells for up to $400 per model. (AP Photo/Wally Santana)
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AP Images is the world’s largest collection of historical andcontemporary photos. AP Images provides instant access to AP's iconic photos and adds new content every minute of every day from every corner of the world, making it an essential source of photos and graphics for professional imagebuyers and commercial customers. Whether your needs are for editorial, commercial, or personal use, AP Images has the content and the expert sales team to fulfill your image requirements. Visit apimages.com to learn more.
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Reblogged this on adventurerinloveblog and commented:
Now this is fascinating I just watched Star Wars force awakens last Saturday and want to buy this lightsaber I’m actually reviewing the movie in my upcoming blog
AP Images Blog 
Hero!!
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This is AWESOME, those lightsabers look so cool. I love how this is his job, it must be amazing surrounded by all those lights when you work.
Boy those captions were long though, LOL.
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I hate it
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I would definitely buy one
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Omg so cool
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A tribute to what passion can accomplish!
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This is so cool!
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This is a true example of someone who saw a vision through a passion of theirs! Great job Tsai Jung-chou
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My God, i honestly wish i could steal some of them
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Ill take a hundred! This guys got talent…
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Awesome it is
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Reblogged this on adventurerinloveblog and commented:
Now this is fascinating I just watched Star Wars force awakens last Saturday and want to buy this lightsaber I’m actually reviewing the movie in my upcoming blog
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