Local Hero (Gotōchi Hīrō)

A local hero (ローカルヒーロー／ご当地ヒーロー rōkaru hīrō/gotōchi hīrō^?) is a Japanese fictional character who is created to represent their region and perform in special martial arts stage shows.

Created either by local groups or the local government, a local hero is modeled after the superheroes of Japanese tokusatsu (superheroes are not as prevalent in manga in Japan as they are in comic books in the West). A local hero is often themed around the city or prefecture's local mythologies or industries, are created to teach the children who watch the stage shows certain things (like Recycle Sentai Wakerunger (リサイクル戦隊ワケルンジャー Resaikuru Sentai Wakerunjā^?) of Fukui, Fukui Prefecture), or are themed after the event that they are used to promote (the Traffic Sentai Anzenger (トラフィック戦隊アンゼンジャー Torafikku Sentai Anzenjā^?) group performed at the Tokyo Motor Show to act in both the latter forms for road traffic safety).

Although local heroes are produced to act in a local area, some gain fame throughout Japan by performing at other local heroes' shows or being featured in mainstream media.

In 2008, Symantec created the character of Norton Fighter (ノートンファイター Nōton Faitā^?) for its Japanese advertising campaign alongside celebrity otaku Shoko Nakagawa for their new software, including several other characters to go with him. Hironobu Kageyama has recorded a song for Norton Fighter as well titled "Bōei Senshi! Norton Fighter" (防衛戦士！ノートン・ファイター Bōei Senshi! Nōton Faitā^?). As a local hero, Norton Fighter is based in the Akihabara region of Tokyo.