The Japan Anniversary Association has "officially" recognized May 9 as Goku Day. The numbers 5 and 9 can be read in Japanese as "Go" and "Ku" respectively. Film distributor Toei had applied to the association to have the day recognized as Goku Day.

Goku's voice actress Masako Nozawa attended a stage event after a screening of the recently released Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection 'F' film in Shinjuku on Saturday to commemorate the new day.

Nozawa spoke at the event about how she really hated voice acting work when she first started out, because she started out as a stage actress in a troupe. However, she passed various auditions to dub young boy roles in Western films and became popular, and so before she knew it she had started a career as a voice actress. She said that since then she's always been playing young boy roles, but she really wants to play beautiful women roles.

Nozawa added that when she auditioned for the role of Goku, she heard that Dragon Ball manga creator Akira Toriyama decided right away after hearing her voice that she was the one who would play Goku. Toriyama was also the one who chose Nozawa to play the roles of Goku's sons Gohan and Goten. Nozawa said, "I'm truly glad that I'm a voice actress."

Sunday is Mother's Day in Japan, and so a staff member dressed as Goku surprised Nozawa at the stage event with a bouquet of 59 carnations, and presented them to Nozawa as the "Mother of Dragon Ball ." Nozawa responded by saying, "That's sneaky of you. I'm gonna cry!" She added that to her, Goku does seem like her own child.

Shueisha 's official website for the 30th anniversary of the Dragon Ball franchise posted a special image on its site to commemorate the announcement

The Japan Anniversary Association in the past has "officially" declared February 2 as Twin Tail Day and May 4 as Star Wars Day.

Other recently recognized holidays include Terminator Day on May 25, Caesar Salad Day on July 4, Karinto (a traditional snack food made of fried dough cake) Day on November 1, Mascara Day on September 8, and Queen Day (in reference to the rock band) on April 17.

What will you do to celebrate Goku Day today? Let us know in the comments!

Sources: Cinema Today, Mainichi Shimbun's Mantan Web