Hero Day (Hero no Hi)

What is "Hero Day"?

January 16 (1/16) is "Hero Day." The date comes from a wordplay on the English word "hero": "hi" (1), "ī" (1), and "rō" (6) combine to sound like "hī-ī-rō," echoing "hero." Established by Dentsu Inc., this day encourages people to think about the heroes in their own lives and express their gratitude or admiration — not just heroes from anime and movies, but the everyday heroes close to home.

What is a hero?

What comes to mind when you hear the word "hero" varies from person to person — a superpowered character fighting evil, a historical figure, an athlete who overcame adversity. But real heroes might be much closer than you think.

The heroes in everyday life

A parent who works every day for their family, a friend who reached out a hand when you were struggling, firefighters and police officers who protect the community, healthcare workers facing illness head-on. You don't need superpowers — anyone who acts for the sake of others can be called a hero.

Japan's hero culture

Japan has cultivated its own unique hero culture. Tokusatsu (live-action special-effects) heroes and anime heroes have been loved across generations and have had a major influence overseas as well.

The lineage of tokusatsu heroes

• The Ultraman series — the story of giants of light, running since 1966
• The Kamen Rider series — the original transforming hero, starting in 1971
• The Super Sentai series — pioneers of the team-based hero genre
• The Metal Hero series — metallic heroes that began with "Space Sheriff" stories

Heroes of anime and manga

From "Astro Boy" to "My Hero Academia," Japanese anime and manga have produced countless heroes. What makes them inspiring isn't just their strength, but how they face their struggles and insecurities while still standing up to challenges, giving courage to readers and viewers alike.

What heroes teach us

• The courage to act on what you believe is right
• The kindness to never overlook someone in need
• The strength to get back up no matter how many times you fall
• The importance of working together with others
• The integrity to face your own weaknesses

You might be someone's hero too

Heroes aren't distant figures. A casual word from you might save someone, and a small act of kindness can become a major source of strength for them. Without even realizing it, you may already be someone's hero.

How to spend Hero Day

• Think about who your own personal heroes are
• Send a message to someone you admire or want to thank
• Revisit a hero story you loved as a kid
• Try to act in a way that could make you someone's hero

With gratitude to our heroes

Hero Day is a day to thank the figures — real and fictional — who give us courage and hope. Both the heroes of fiction and the heroes in our everyday lives enrich who we are. Why not use this day as a chance to say "thank you" to your own heroes?