Goku Day Date in the current year: May 9, 2025

The Dragon Ball franchise began as a manga series created by manga artist and character designer Akira Toriyama. A fan of Hong Kong action films, particularly those starring Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan, Toriyama was inspired to create a kung fu shōnen manga. This resulted in the one-shot manga Dragon Boy, about a boy with martial arts skills who accompanies a princess on a journey back to her homeland. The manga was loosely based on the classic Chinese novel Journey to the West, and its protagonist Son Goku was based on Sun Wukong, one of the novel’s main characters, known as Son Goku in Japan and the Monkey King in the West.

Dragon Boy was published in Fresh Jump in 1983. It was well received and developed into a serialized manga entitled Dragon Ball, which follows the adventures of Son Goku as he trains in martial arts and travels the world in search of magical orbs called Dragon Balls. The manga was serialized in Weekly Shōnen Jump from 1984 to 1995 and collected in 42 tankōbon volumes. As of 2025, it has been adapted into six anime television series, 21 animated theatrical films, several television specials, video games, and other media.

The protagonist of Dragon Ball, Son Goku, is first introduced as an eccentric, monkey-tailed boy with superhuman strength and a passion for martial arts. He meets Bulma and sets out with her in search of the seven Dragon Balls, which can grant any wish. Along the way, he makes new friends who join him on his journey to become stronger. As he matures, Goku becomes Earth’s greatest warrior, taking on powerful enemies and protecting the planet with the help of his friends, family, and a growing number of allies.

As the main protagonist of Dragon Ball, Goku appears in most of the episodes, movies, television specials and OVAs of the manga’s anime adaptations and sequels, as well as numerous video games. The global success of the franchise has made Goku one of the most recognizable and iconic characters in manga and anime worldwide. In many Western countries, audiences were first introduced to Goku as an adult in Dragon Ball Z, which adapted the last 26 volumes of the original manga. This was largely due to the limited popularity of the original Dragon Ball anime overseas, which showed his early years as a child.

Goku Day is an officially recognized anniversary, certified and registered by the Japanese Anniversary Association. Why May 9? In Japan, dates are written with the month first, and the date 5/9 can be read as “Go” (5) and “Ku” (9). That’s why May 9 was chosen as Goku Day. The holiday is officially supported and promoted by Bird Studio, which produces Dragon Ball. To celebrate Goku Day, Bird Studio is organizing various events and promotions for Dragon Ball fans.