Ultraman Day

What Is Ultraman Day?

Every July 10th is "Ultraman Day" (ウルトラマンの日, Urutoraman no Hi) in Japan. On July 10, 1966, the first episode of "Ultraman" (ウルトラマン) was broadcast on TBS television — introducing Japan and eventually the world to the alien superhero who transforms from a human host to battle giant monsters threatening Earth. Created by Tsuburaya Productions (円谷プロダクション) and director Eiji Tsuburaya (円谷英二) — the special effects mastermind behind Godzilla — Ultraman became one of Japan's most beloved and internationally recognized superhero franchises.

Ultraman's Origins

Eiji Tsuburaya had revolutionized Japanese special effects filmmaking through his work on Godzilla (1954) and subsequent monster films. Ultraman was conceived as a weekly television equivalent — bringing the excitement of kaiju (giant monster) battles to living rooms across Japan. The premise — a silver alien hero who merges with a human host and can grow to giant size to battle equally giant threats — combined the human drama of an undercover hero with the spectacular visual appeal of massive monster confrontations that Tsuburaya's effects team could render convincingly.

The Ultraman Universe

Since 1966, the Ultraman franchise has expanded into dozens of television series, films, and animated works featuring different Ultra heroes — Ultraseven, Ultraman Ace, Ultraman Taro, and many others — creating a vast interconnected "Ultra Series" universe. The franchise has been continuously broadcast or produced for over 55 years, making it one of the longest-running live-action superhero franchises in history. Ultraman merchandise, toys, and character goods remain among Japan's best-selling character product categories.

Global Impact

Ultraman's influence extends far beyond Japan. The series has been broadcast in dozens of countries, generating passionate fan communities worldwide. The Ultra Series' combination of creature design, superhero action, and surprisingly sophisticated storylines about environmental protection, human cooperation, and self-sacrifice has resonated across cultures. American filmmaker Mike Dougherty (director of the 2019 Godzilla: King of the Monsters) has publicly cited Ultraman as a formative childhood influence.

Fun Facts

• Color timer: Ultraman's "Color Timer" (カラータイマー) — the circular jewel in his chest that flashes red when his energy is depleting, giving him approximately 3 minutes to defeat his opponent — is one of tokusatsu television's most iconic dramatic devices, creating a countdown tension in every battle.
• Netflix expansion: Tsuburaya Productions partnered with Netflix to create new Ultraman animated series for global distribution, bringing the franchise to streaming audiences worldwide and introducing Ultraman to new generations of international viewers.