A day for heroes

Today, and January 16th annually, is Hero Day ヒーローの日. The date comes from the wordplay on how January 16th is written in short in Japan; 1/16 = 1‑1‑6 which can be pronounced as 1-1 hi - i, 6 ro = ヒーロー, the Japanese for hero. The Japanese "hiirou" comes from English, but there are words in Japanese too, such as "eiyu", "yusha" and "shujinko". 

A hero is traditionally defined as someone admired for courage, achievements, or noble qualities. In fiction, heroes often possess extraordinary powers, knowledge, or skills, which they use to help others. Their stories typically involve confronting villains or obstacles that challenge their ideals. However, modern portrayals have expanded beyond the superpowered archetype. Many contemporary films, manga, and anime highlight ordinary individuals who face discrimination or adversity and ultimately rise above it.

Hero Day was established by the advertising company Dentsu to encourage people not only to celebrate the heroes of anime, manga, TV and movies, but also real life heroes. It’s a day to appreciate characters who inspire courage, justice, and hope, especially the everyday heroes in our own lives.  The feature photo is of Deku, a popular Japanese ficitonal hero.