Patlabor Day

What Is Patlabor Day?

August 10th is "Patlabor Day" in Japan. It was established by HEADGEAR Inc., the rights holder of "Mobile Police Patlabor," and registered with the Japan Anniversary Association in 2018. The date comes from the wordplay "pa (8) - to (10)," the first part of "Patlabor." The aim was to mark the series' 30th anniversary in 2018, thank its many fans, and make the day a symbolic date for the series.

A Holiday for a Beloved Sci-Fi Series Starring "Labors"

"Mobile Police Patlabor" is a landmark Japanese robot anime and manga series set in a near-future world, following a police unit that responds to crimes involving industrial robots known as "Labors."

• Origin: the first two syllables of "Patlabor" ("Pa-to") are likened to the wordplay "8, 10"
• About HEADGEAR: a creative group whose members include manga artist Yūki Masami, director Oshii Mamoru, and character designer Takada Akemi; Yūki commented that he was simply amazed the series had been given an anniversary
• What makes the series distinctive: beyond the giant robots, it's beloved for its careful depiction of everyday police life and human drama

A Grounded Take on Robot Fiction Since the 1980s

"Mobile Police Patlabor" began in 1988 as a manga and an original video animation (OVA) series. Rather than portraying far-fetched heroics, Patlabor earned high praise from fans for depicting robots as working machinery and the down-to-earth lives of the people who operate them.

Tips for Marking This Day

• Rewatch an episode or reread a volume of "Mobile Police Patlabor"
• Look into merchandise or events tied to the series
• Learn about the design and setting of the Labors featured in the show
• Talk about your favorite robot anime series

Genuine Human Drama Lives Inside Giant Machines

What Patlabor has always depicted is more than robots in action -- it's the real stories of the people who operate them. August 10th is a day to immerse yourself once again in the world of Patlabor.