A wave of anonymous donations in the name of a 1960s comic superhero, a character who began as an orphan, is spreading across Japan, benefiting homes for underprivileged children and other charities.

The donations are giving average Japanese citizens something to find hope in, becoming part of "a heartwarming story in a time of social anxiety," said national broadcaster NHK, who has made this a top news story this week.

(READ the stories at CNN.com and Reuters)