These Anime Characters Celebrate Their Birthdays on Japan's Children's Day!

May 5th is a huge day in Japan: Children’s Day! Started as a national holiday in 1948, it’s meant for celebrating children’s happiness. It’s a major part of Japan’s “Golden Week,” and it’s associated with things like flying carp streamers and displaying Samurai dolls.

As a result, it’s a very special day in the hearts of many, and you might not realize it, but it’s also the birthday of many popular characters including Gon Freecss from Hunter x Hunter, Monkey D. Luffy from One Piece, Deidara from Naruto, Hijikata Toushirou from Gintama, Kyoya Hibari from Katekyo Hitman Reborn!, Iori Minase from Idolm@ster, and Shin-chan from Crayon Shin-chan! (It’s kind of the perfect day for some of these silly and fun characters, isn’t it?)

Celebrating these awesome birthdays, fans posted gorgeous illustrations and other works on Twitter, and we’ve put together some of our favorites. Let’s start this birthday party with Gon in honor of Hunter x Hunter’s long-awaited return!

後で描くかあやしいから、今までに描いたゴンちゃんでお祝いしておきます！お誕生日も連載再開もおめでとう！！☺️ https://twitter.com/hashtag/%E3%82%B4%E3%83%B3%E7%94%9F%E8%AA%95%E7%A5%AD2016?src=hash">#ゴン生誕祭2016 https://t.co/JeVd1A77Ss">pic.twitter.com/JeVd1A77Ss

— ゆうと (@tomapierro) https://twitter.com/tomapierro/status/727882143334998016">May 4, 2016

https://twitter.com/hashtag/%E3%82%B4%E3%83%B3%E7%94%9F%E8%AA%95%E7%A5%AD?src=hash">#ゴン生誕祭https://twitter.com/hashtag/%E3%82%B4%E3%83%B3%E7%94%9F%E8%AA%95%E7%A5%AD2016?src=hash">#ゴン生誕祭2016
ゴンちゃんお誕生日おめでとおおおおお｡ﾟ(ﾟ^o^ﾟ)ﾟ｡ https://t.co/hPUfOpsDa3">pic.twitter.com/hPUfOpsDa3

— カリフラワー (@momogyuu) https://twitter.com/momogyuu/status/727880210524164096">May 4, 2016

ラテアート【ゴン＝フリークス】＠ HUNTER×HUNTER
LatteArt【Gon Freecss】

本日お誕生日で一杯。
Happy Birthday!https://twitter.com/hashtag/%E3%82%B4%E3%83%B3%E7%94%9F%E8%AA%95%E7%A5%AD?src=hash">#ゴン生誕祭 https://twitter.com/hashtag/%E3%82%B4%E3%83%B3%E7%94%9F%E8%AA%95%E7%A5%AD2016?src=hash">#ゴン生誕祭2016 https://twitter.com/han_meg_han">@han_meg_han https://t.co/H1NvsyO6MA">pic.twitter.com/H1NvsyO6MA

— ベルコルノ＠ラテアート (@BELCORNO) https://twitter.com/BELCORNO/status/727876570174488576">May 4, 2016

Awesome, right? Next, let’s give a loud otanjoubi omedetou to Luffy!

ルフィおめでとう〜〜！！！
そして描いたのすっっっごい久しぶり✌️https://twitter.com/hashtag/%E3%83%AB%E3%83%95%E3%82%A3%E7%94%9F%E8%AA%95%E7%A5%AD2016?src=hash">#ルフィ生誕祭2016 https://t.co/QIpShz7pMh">pic.twitter.com/QIpShz7pMh

— ぴのこ (@pino_623) https://twitter.com/pino_623/status/727899612061667328">May 4, 2016

ルフィおめでと‼︎ヾ(´▽｀*)ﾉhttps://twitter.com/hashtag/%E3%83%AB%E3%83%95%E3%82%A3%E7%94%9F%E8%AA%95%E7%A5%AD2016?src=hash">#ルフィ生誕祭2016 https://t.co/CykvyuIgna">pic.twitter.com/CykvyuIgna

— もーりー (@ryimo63) https://twitter.com/ryimo63/status/727875571569463296">May 4, 2016

ルフィさんお誕生日おめでとうございます！もうほんと…好きです…あなたが好きです…それしか言えない…
単行本で一味の得意料理発表されてたから船長にみんなで振舞ってあげた会！！おめでとう！！すき！https://twitter.com/hashtag/%E3%83%AB%E3%83%95%E3%82%A3%E7%94%9F%E8%AA%95%E7%A5%AD2016?src=hash">#ルフィ生誕祭2016https://twitter.com/hashtag/%E3%83%AB%E3%83%95%E3%82%A3%E7%94%9F%E8%AA%95%E7%A5%AD?src=hash">#ルフィ生誕祭 https://t.co/QDxLwQo4Mp">pic.twitter.com/QDxLwQo4Mp

— くろこまはしばらく死にます (@mugiwarakuroko) https://twitter.com/mugiwarakuroko/status/727875455282356225">May 4, 2016

Children’s Day is definitely the perfect choice for Luffy~ Next up on our list is Deidara! (By the way, Naruto is born on October 10th - Sports Day in Japan!)

デイダラ誕生日おめでとう！即席楽描きなのでタグはやめておく。
自分の感覚に素直で、何かを訴えたい想い、幼さも残る若者だけども、他人のセンスを認めつつ自分の魂の燃やし方を模索する姿や冷静さは職人であり漢だと思ってるよ。かっこいい。 https://t.co/gV7buyTXBa">pic.twitter.com/gV7buyTXBa

— 群青ハナオ@自家通販中 (@gun_hno) https://twitter.com/gun_hno/status/727896841619017729">May 4, 2016

久々に祝うぞ〜〜〜デイダラ先輩たんじょうびおめでとうおめでとう！ https://twitter.com/hashtag/%E3%83%87%E3%82%A4%E3%83%80%E3%83%A9%E7%94%9F%E8%AA%95%E7%A5%AD2016?src=hash">#デイダラ生誕祭2016 https://t.co/2qOdJMcRy5">pic.twitter.com/2qOdJMcRy5

— はなもち(もりし) (@morisics) https://twitter.com/morisics/status/727878391546814465">May 4, 2016

デイダラちゃんお誕生日おめでとうございます！https://twitter.com/hashtag/%E3%83%87%E3%82%A4%E3%83%80%E3%83%A9%E7%94%9F%E8%AA%95%E7%A5%AD2016?src=hash">#デイダラ生誕祭2016 https://twitter.com/hashtag/%E3%83%87%E3%82%A4%E3%83%80%E3%83%A9%E8%AA%95%E7%94%9F%E7%A5%AD?src=hash">#デイダラ誕生祭 https://t.co/jIxKbsQWeL">pic.twitter.com/jIxKbsQWeL

— 宵 (@mofu_mofu_mochi) https://twitter.com/mofu_mofu_mochi/status/727875815757598724">May 4, 2016

It’s hard to believe that it’s already been almost 2 years since Naruto ended! Before we get too nostalgic, though, we’ll move on to Hijikata!

土方さんおめでとうございます(大事な事なので2度言いました https://t.co/FUj2BhjcuU">pic.twitter.com/FUj2BhjcuU

— 左和 (@SOURtvt) https://twitter.com/SOURtvt/status/727880005632458752">May 4, 2016

https://twitter.com/hashtag/%E5%9C%9F%E6%96%B9%E5%8D%81%E5%9B%9B%E9%83%8E%E7%94%9F%E8%AA%95%E7%A5%AD2016?src=hash">#土方十四郎生誕祭2016
土方さんおめでとーッ！！🎉🎉
雑でごめんなさい。何これ https://t.co/tiGhUNB86e">pic.twitter.com/tiGhUNB86e

— ほくろ° (@hokuroro_) https://twitter.com/hokuroro_/status/727879034646855681">May 4, 2016

土方さんお誕生日おめでとうございます！！！ https://t.co/slhy2zaX5D">pic.twitter.com/slhy2zaX5D

— ニナ (@niina_1oo9) https://twitter.com/niina_1oo9/status/727876466944282625">May 4, 2016

Next up on the list are some “Wow”-worthy Tweets for Kyoya Hibari!

ラテアート【雲雀恭弥】家庭教師ヒットマンREBORN!
LatteArt【Kyoya Hibari】

本日お誕生日で１杯。
Happy Birthday! https://twitter.com/hashtag/%E9%9B%B2%E9%9B%80%E6%81%AD%E5%BC%A5%E7%94%9F%E8%AA%95%E7%A5%AD2016?src=hash">#雲雀恭弥生誕祭2016 https://twitter.com/hashtag/%E9%9B%B2%E9%9B%80%E6%81%AD%E5%BC%A5%E7%94%9F%E8%AA%95%E7%A5%AD?src=hash">#雲雀恭弥生誕祭 https://twitter.com/amano_akira_">@amano_akira_ https://t.co/ypZgRIZx3z">pic.twitter.com/ypZgRIZx3z

— ベルコルノ＠ラテアート (@BELCORNO) https://twitter.com/BELCORNO/status/727895109707005952">May 4, 2016

体調万全じゃない状態で迎えてしまったけど本当愛してるよ雲雀さんおめでとう
https://twitter.com/hashtag/%E9%9B%B2%E9%9B%80%E6%81%AD%E5%BC%A5%E7%94%9F%E8%AA%95%E7%A5%AD2016?src=hash">#雲雀恭弥生誕祭2016 https://t.co/m5zhgqRKn2">pic.twitter.com/m5zhgqRKn2

— HUKI (@huki_1869) https://twitter.com/huki_1869/status/727889687172407297">May 4, 2016

ハッピーバースデー雲雀さん！https://twitter.com/hashtag/%E9%9B%B2%E9%9B%80%E6%81%AD%E5%BC%A5%E7%94%9F%E8%AA%95%E7%A5%AD2016?src=hash">#雲雀恭弥生誕祭2016 https://t.co/ESL7pMKYNl">pic.twitter.com/ESL7pMKYNl

— miru☆ (@milemiru) https://twitter.com/milemiru/status/727881310270832640">May 4, 2016

The lovely idol Iori Minase also shares this birthday, so we’d better share some incredible pieces for her birthday before she gets upset with us commoners…

いおりんお誕生日おめでとう！！ https://twitter.com/hashtag/%E6%B0%B4%E7%80%AC%E4%BC%8A%E7%B9%94%E7%94%9F%E8%AA%95%E7%A5%AD?src=hash">#水瀬伊織生誕祭 https://twitter.com/hashtag/%E6%B0%B4%E7%80%AC%E4%BC%8A%E7%B9%94%E7%94%9F%E8%AA%95%E7%A5%AD2016?src=hash">#水瀬伊織生誕祭2016 https://t.co/wtp25Gmx3V">pic.twitter.com/wtp25Gmx3V

— ばけつ (@bakettuu) https://twitter.com/bakettuu/status/727876183925268481">May 4, 2016

『夢は自分を叶える為に生まれた証だから
きっとこの心で私のM@STERPIECE』
伊織、誕生日おめでとう。
これからも担当として精一杯頑張るから、末永くよろしく。https://twitter.com/hashtag/%E6%B0%B4%E7%80%AC%E4%BC%8A%E7%B9%94%E7%94%9F%E8%AA%95%E7%A5%AD?src=hash">#水瀬伊織生誕祭 https://twitter.com/hashtag/%E6%B0%B4%E7%80%AC%E4%BC%8A%E7%B9%94%E7%94%9F%E8%AA%95%E7%A5%AD2016?src=hash">#水瀬伊織生誕祭2016 https://t.co/WVG92l0EmH">pic.twitter.com/WVG92l0EmH

— 百田@5/29CSF幸子ｵﾝﾘｰI13 (@momoda_y) https://twitter.com/momoda_y/status/727875491638562817">May 4, 2016

今年もいおりん痛ケーキ作りました！お誕生日おめでとう！ https://twitter.com/hashtag/%E6%B0%B4%E7%80%AC%E4%BC%8A%E7%B9%94%E7%94%9F%E8%AA%95%E7%A5%AD?src=hash">#水瀬伊織生誕祭 https://twitter.com/hashtag/%E6%B0%B4%E7%80%AC%E4%BC%8A%E7%B9%94%E7%94%9F%E8%AA%95%E7%A5%AD2016?src=hash">#水瀬伊織生誕祭2016 https://t.co/SywWehm7lq">pic.twitter.com/SywWehm7lq

— てつこ/いお誕！！！ (@tezzco) https://twitter.com/tezzco/status/727876388863107073">May 4, 2016

Did that delicious cake make you hungry? Before you go find something yummy to eat, we have one last character to celebrate: Shin-chan!

危ない⚠
寝る前にやらなきゃ！https://twitter.com/hashtag/%E9%87%8E%E5%8E%9F%E3%81%97%E3%82%93%E3%81%AE%E3%81%99%E3%81%91%E7%94%9F%E8%AA%95%E7%A5%AD?src=hash">#野原しんのすけ生誕祭 https://twitter.com/hashtag/%E3%82%AF%E3%83%AC%E3%83%A8%E3%83%B3%E3%81%97%E3%82%93%E3%81%A1%E3%82%83%E3%82%93?src=hash">#クレヨンしんちゃん https://t.co/AyDhCyn90p">pic.twitter.com/AyDhCyn90p

— じろ吉 (@love05141128) https://twitter.com/love05141128/status/727898271461441541">May 4, 2016

しんちゃん誕生日おめでとう！🎂

これからも永遠の5歳児でいてね！！https://twitter.com/hashtag/%E3%82%AF%E3%83%AC%E3%83%A8%E3%83%B3%E3%81%97%E3%82%93%E3%81%A1%E3%82%83%E3%82%93?src=hash">#クレヨンしんちゃんhttps://twitter.com/hashtag/%E9%87%8E%E5%8E%9F%E3%81%97%E3%82%93%E3%81%AE%E3%81%99%E3%81%91%E7%94%9F%E8%AA%95%E7%A5%AD?src=hash">#野原しんのすけ生誕祭 https://t.co/IvOpbwI345">pic.twitter.com/IvOpbwI345

— ちばん (@chiban3rd) https://twitter.com/chiban3rd/status/727875451843043328">May 4, 2016

しんちゃんお誕生日おめでとうーーー！！！永遠の5歳児💞大好き💞https://twitter.com/hashtag/%E9%87%8E%E5%8E%9F%E3%81%97%E3%82%93%E3%81%AE%E3%81%99%E3%81%91%E7%94%9F%E8%AA%95%E7%A5%AD?src=hash">#野原しんのすけ生誕祭 https://t.co/S4w2YDlvq7">pic.twitter.com/S4w2YDlvq7

— 林檎と一緒にFly away! (@mayoringo57) https://twitter.com/mayoringo57/status/727881597790224384">May 4, 2016

Phew, so many incredible characters with some seriously talented fans! Do you share a birthday with any of your favorites?