SnitchSeeker staffer sweetpinkpixie, as reported, covered the night and opening ceremonies of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios Japan earlier this week. Photos and full reports of each event, led by Glenn Gumpel, president and CEO, Universal Studios Japan, and actors Tom Felton and Evanna Lynch, can be read below.

After attending the media preview tour earlier in the afternoon, and this time without my husband and son in tow, I returned to the park that evening around 6 pm wearing my Gryffindor necktie previously purchased at Harry Potter: The Exhibition in Tokyo back in June of last year. The sun was just beginning to set when I arrived, so I got to see what twilight was like in Hogsmeade and at Hogwarts. I was eventually told by staff that I needed to move to the press area, unfortunately not along the red carpet, but my spot was directly in front of the stage for the ceremony.

When it got close to 7 pm, they began to let in about 1,000 fans who were the very lucky winners of a lottery held earlier. Seeing the looks on these people’s faces as they entered Hogsmeade for the first time was absolutely priceless. There were people wearing house T-shirts, Hogwarts robes, carrying wands and wearing the biggest smiles I have ever seen. Of course there were also a few people who, like me, needed a moment to gather themselves and dab their eyes with handkerchiefs.

Once everyone was settled in, the lights dimmed and music filled the area. The crowd went wild at "Hedwig’s Theme" and were so excited that it was hard to make out the announcement of the special guests arriving at the red carpet. Applause really started to take off when Japanese television personality, and chairperson of the Universal Studios Japan Fan Club, Becky, took to the red carpet.

Things escalated further when SMAP, a Japanese music group (my first taste of Japanese music when I was in middle school, actually) and Universal Studios Japan ambassadors began walking down the red carpet. The announcement got no further than “He played Harry Potter’s rival... ” when there was a roar from all the fans for Tom Felton, followed by another wave of cheers and loud exclamations of "KAWAIIIIIIIIIII" as Evanna Lynch was announced.

Once all red carpet walking was finished, the master of ceremonies (sporting a Hufflepuff scarf) took to the stage and called up Glenn Gumpel, president and CEO, Universal Studios Japan, his wife, and Becky. Gumpel, who explained that he had his wife with him on stage because having her in the audience looking at him always made him feel nervous, really captivated the audience with his personal touch and sincere words.

There were even moments where it seemed as though the translator on stage wasn’t necessary as everyone seemed to really tune in to what he was saying and fed off his excitement. He even poked a little fun at the translator for mispronouncing Tom Williams' name when the chairman and CEO of Universal Parks & Resorts was called to the stage. Gumpel asked Williams a few questions; perhaps the most touching was one about what made The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios Japan different than the park in Florida. Meyer said that comparing the two parks is like comparing two of your own children, both are just incredible and amazing in their own way.

Next up was the governor of Osaka Prefecture, who gave a very brief speech sharing his enthusiasm for the park’s opening. Then it was SMAP’s turn ... and another roar from the crowd as the five men took the stage wearing Gryffindor scarves. They each took turns speaking and sharing their experiences from the day - drawing a loud "EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEH" from the crowd when they explained they had already been through the park, had the food and toured Hogwarts castle.

Goro Inagaki, one of the band’s members, explained that he has a dislike for roller coasters and any sort of attraction rides, but qualified this by saying that Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey was something he would ride over and over again. After talking up essentially every aspect of the area, it was time for Tom Felton and Evanna Lynch to take the stage.

Cue LOTS more screaming.

Poor Tom’s earpiece wasn’t working at all, Gumpel explained to the audience. But he remained poised and thanked the fans for coming out that evening. The moment Evanna opened her mouth, everyone erupted into a chorus of "KAWAII." The two really stood out on stage since they were the only ones wearing Slytherin and Ravenclaw scarves, which I imagine was done on purpose.

They then practiced the Wand-Lighting Charm - which explained why nearly every one of the guests had wands with them - and when Lumos was uttered for "real," a massive fireworks display was set off that bathed Hogsmeade and Hogwarts in colorful light as "Leaving Hogwarts" played. It was soon followed by a sea of colorful confetti that even earned an "Oh wow" from Tom as it fell on the stage.

The 1,000 cheering fans were then told that they would get a special first look at Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey, an announcement greeted with more cheering and tears while I stood in my little press area gleefully spitting out some confetti that had gotten into my mouth because of the big ol’ open mouth grin I had had during the final moments of the ceremony. Totally awesome and totally worth it.

The grand opening ceremony that took place the morning of July 15 in Osaka, was led by Glenn Gumpel with Evanna Lynch and Tom Felton outside Hogsmeade, with thousands of fans queuing to get their first glimpse of Hogwarts and Hogsmeade. Katherine gave her rundown of Tuesday's events live from Universal, including the three announcing the opening of the attraction with the Revelio spell.

On July 15, 2011, it felt like my childhood had really come to an end. As "Hedwig’s Theme" played and the Hogwarts Express pulled away from Platform 9 ¾, I wasted an entire packet of tissues as the camera zoomed in on the faces of the Golden Trio all grown up. You don’t even want to know what it was like when the final credits started rolling. I was being stared at in the tiny movie theater over here in Japan.

With the release of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2, I was hit with a sobering fact that the magic of Harry Potter was over and, despite the packed theater I was in, I seemed to be the only one who had really been touched by the world J.K. Rowling so skillfully constructed and made us all fall in love with. However, after being lucky enough to participate in the opening ceremony at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios Japan, I realized that I must have just been in a movie theater of very reserved fans.

My day started at 5 am in my hotel room where I donned my Gryffindor robes purchased the day before and made sure my son was tucked away in bed with his Hedwig before making my way to the staff entrance at Universal Studios Japan. I was the first person from the press to arrive and after checking in was given a bag of goodies consisting of a long Hufflepuff towel and a tin of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter cookies.

We then made our way to the front gates of Universal Studios Japan were a large crowd was already gathered, the majority in some form of Harry Potter inspired costume. I was fortunate to be able to speak to two girls, one who was dressed up as Ginny Weasley (or should we be saying Ginny Potter these days?), and they could hardly contain their excitement. There was even a little boy with a wand who had been practicing his Patronus Charm casting all morning, his parents informed me.

We were then escorted around the back of the park and made our way to the entrance to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter where, after a quick rehearsal of the ceremony, press drew numbers to see where we would get to stand. Yours truly drew number 6, so I was front and center for the entire event. Those guests who were lucky to get special guest passes for the first day waited off to the side along the pathway leading into the area while Glenn Gumpel gave a speech and was soon joined by Tom Felton and Evanna Lynch.

Evanna, greeted by more exclamations of "KAWAII," thanked everyone for still showing so much love and support for Harry Potter after all these years. I definitely felt my heart strings being pulled. Tom was especially glad to see fans wearing Slytherin T-shirts and robes and thanked them for their support.

I could literally feel the excitement in the air that seemed to cling to my skin - or maybe the latter was just the humidity - and soon Tom and Evanna were teaching everyone how to perform the Revelio Charm. After a brief practice, the spell was cast and smoke erupted from either side of the arched entrance - which felt REALLY good on my face as it began to dissipate. As it did, "Harry's Wondrous World" began playing and when the smoke had cleared the once empty archway was filled with Hogwarts students, Durmstrang students, Beauxbatons students, an Ollivander's wandmaker, the Hogwarts Express conductor and two owl handlers holding real owls.

Press made their way around the two rows blocking the entrance to make way for park guests, and on either side of the street of Hogsmeade were more students from all three Wizarding schools, Hogsmeade shop employees, Hogsmeade villagers and magic everywhere. The two rows blocking the entrance soon moved out of the way to allow guests to enter the park, led by Evanna and Tom holding the hands of two VERY lucky young Potterheads.

As if I wasn’t an emotional blob already, seeing the smiling faces and tears on the guests as they entered - young and old - made it hard for me to continue to take pictures with a steady hand. It didn’t take very long for a line to form to get into Hogwarts that went all the way from the castle to the entrance of Hogsmeade, not to mention the queue to get into Ollivander's to interact with the wandmaker there.

I was going to see if I could get a few words and first impressions from some of the guests as they stepped into the wizarding world for the first time, but the expressions on their faces really said it all.

I got myself another Butterbeer, FINALLY one that I could drink in its entirety and not share, and hung around the Hogsmeade main street for just a little bit longer, not wanting to let go of the magic just yet. It is an amazing feeling to know that the magic and joy of Harry Potter lives on, not just at Universal Studios Japan, but worldwide.

To paraphrase J.K. Rowling, whether it is by visiting The Wizarding World of Harry Potter (either in Florida or Japan), taking the Warner Bros Studio Tour London: The Making of Harry Potter, or just opening the books and reliving the adventure in your imagination, Hogwarts will always be there to welcome you home and I for one feel silly in thinking that the magic of Harry Potter was over for me when I sat in that movie theater three years ago.