Dragon Ball fans, rejoice! We will celebrate Goku Day on 9 May!

Goku, or Son Goku, is one of the protagonists of Dragon Ball, a media franchise that started as a manga series created by Akira Toriyama that was serialized from 1984 until 1995. Goku is based on Sun Wukong, a main character in the classic Chinese novel Journey to the West.

Dragon Ball manga follows Goku’s adventure from his childhood through adulthood as he traveled the world to learn martial arts, and to search the seven orbs known as the Dragon Balls, which summon a wish-granting dragon when gathered. During the adventure, Goku meets many friends and battle many powerful foes, many of whom also search for the Dragon Ball. The Dragon Ball manga series have been sold in millions of copies, both in Japan and worldwide, making it the second best-selling manga series in history.

Goku first appeared as a monkey-tailed boy who practices martial arts and possesses superhuman strength. Later on, it is revealed that Goku is a member of an extraterrestrial warrior race called the Saiyans, which is also the reason for his superhuman strength. Goku’s signature attack is Kamehameha, of which he concentrates his energy and releases it as a powerful blue energy blast from his palms. Goku is pure of heart, cheerful, and friendly, and as he grows up, he becomes the Earth’s mightiest warrior and protects his adopted home planet from those who seek to harm it.

9 May is officially recognized as Goku Day by the Japan Anniversary Association. The date is chosen because the numbers 5 and 9 can be read in Japanese as “Go” and “Ku” respectively. Goku Day was first celebrated on 9 May 2015, along with the celebration of the 30th anniversary of the Dragon Ball franchise.

Goku Day could be celebrated by dressing up as Goku or other characters from Dragon Ball manga, reading the manga series, watching the Original Video Animation or OVA, or playing the video game.

If you have not been a Dragon Ball fan, then Goku Day is the perfect day to start to get to know one of the world’s best-loved manga! So how about you? Tell us your favorite Goku Day activity, or share your most memorable Goku Day celebration!