Hunter x Hunter birthdays, their significance, and what they represent - An informative/analytical thread

In this thread, I’ll be discussing five characters specifically: The four protagonists of Hunter x Hunter, and Hisoka. While more characters have birthdays, these five have deliberate dates to represent them in a way other characters do not.

These dates are 3/3, for Leorio, 4/4, for Kurapika, 5/5, for Gon, 6/6, for Hisoka, and 7/7, for Killua. While some hold more room for analyzation than others, they all carry importance in their own right. Except for maybe Hisoka, which I’ll explain later.

There’s an obvious pattern here, with every month and day having to be the same number. But there’s significance further than just a neat little trick, that Western fans might not understand. So I’m here to explain!

Leorio - 3/3
Leorio’s birthday is on the Japanese holiday “Hinamatsuri” or, Girl’s Day. It’s a holiday in which “platforms covered with a red carpet-material are used to display a set of ornamental dolls representing the Heian period.”

While his birthday doesn’t seem to have a deep connection to him like the other’s do, and is really only there to keep the pattern, I have to point out that his holiday is a mirror of Gon’s. Gon’s birthday falls on “Children’s Day”, originally called “Boy’s Day”.

The reason this is noteworthy for me is because they’re the only birthdays of the main cast that have a true connection, and are a part of the same grouping of celebration. I think this may speak to their similarities and deep, fate-like connection.

Hinamatsuri also represents joy, coming of age, and pure celebration, things I believe all represent Leorio well.

Kurapika - 4/4
Of the FOUR main characters, Kurapika is the only one whose birthday is not on a traditional Japanese holiday. Though, that doesn’t mean his birthday wasn’t a purposeful choice by Togashi.

The number “4” is seen as the number that represents death in Japan, because of one of its possible pronunciations. 4/4 is essentially a “death day” in the context of Kurapika. Kurapika is heavily represented by the number 4, similarly to Hisoka.

Kurapika’s exam number was 404, he’s currently tracking the 4th Prince Tserriednich, who is residing in room 1004, Kurapika is residing in room 1014, he made an alliance with the fourth member of Ryodan, etc. The number “4” always draws back to him.

This could be for one of two reasons. It either represents that he’s the God of Death, as stated by Neon’s fortunes, or that he’s going to meet an unfortunate demise. Something curious about this is that Neon’s fortune says the scarlet eyed chain user will be—

—“bathed in blood” and Nobunaga wonders if that means he’ll commit a massacre, or if he’ll die. Similarly to Neon’s fortunes, the number “4” is a constant reminder that you have to question Kurapika’s fate. Is he the bringer of death, or the one who will die?

Gon - 5/5
On a lighter note, Gon’s birthday falls on Children’s Day! A day all for young children, mostly boys, having fun. It represents familial bonds, which is a huge part of Gon’s story line. It’s exciting, and the energy of the holiday perfectly encapsulates Gon.

There isn’t really a serious meaning behind it; I think Togashi just wanted Gon to represent joy, which is why his birthday falls on the holiday that it does. Gon mentioned he originally wanted Gon to be a son figure for the audience, too, which makes sense in context.

Hisoka - 6/6
What’s interesting about Hisoka is that I couldn’t find anything about his birthday that really seemed important. However, the significance of him being in the protagonist lineup doesn’t mean nothing. His birthday was placed on 6/6 so Killua could fall on 7/7.

Hisoka isn’t a true protagonist, so there’s no reason for him to complete the pattern, unless his exact placing meant something. And it does. He connects Gon and Killua’s holidays, and this is important, because Killua’s birthday might be the most vital to all of HxH.

Killua - 7/7
Killua’s birthday falls on Tanabata, or The Star Festival, a holiday that celebrates two lovers. A wealthy, princess seamstress, and a poor farmer. There are many variations of this story, but I’ll try to explain it as best I can in tweet limit.

Orihime, the princess, weaved the sky, and Hikoboshi herded cows. They both did good work, but when they met each other, they fell so in love that they began to neglect their responsibilities. Orihime’s father, enraged by this, banned the two lovers from ever meeting.

Sound familiar? Good, because it is. The father separated the two by a river, but because he loved his daughter, he allowed her to visit the farmer one day a year: 7/7. Orihime waited for the day to be reunited with her lover, but the river overflowed and they couldn’t meet.

That’s when a bird, or in some stories a flock of birds, carried Orihime to Hikoboshi so they could spend their day together. Now, why is this story about lovers so important, and what does it mean for Killua? You probably guessed it: Gon and Killua are based off of Tanabata.

Silva was angry at Killua for neglecting his assassin duties so that he could be friends with Gon, a poor boy, and he was forced to come home before being allowed outside. The one who reunited them, Canaria/Canary, is named after a bird. Flocks of birds represent chapter 339.

And here’s the kicker: Orihime and Hikoboshi are represented by stars in the sky. KilluGon’s dynamic is represented by stars and celestial figures. The Whale Island scene, the Nagareboshi ending, and “you are light.” Tanabata is tied so closely with KilluGon.

Togashi was very intentional with his birthday placements, and that’s seen not only in how they represent the energy of certain characters, but the ties the dates have to his story. It’s all planned. I hope you guys find this as interesting as I do, especially the KilluGon bait.