Lifestyle · Japanese calendar
Japanese age: kazoedoshi, shichi-go-san and longevity
Japan has two ways of counting age. Everyday life uses full age (man-nenrei), but some customs use the traditional count, kazoedoshi, in which a baby is 1 at birth and everyone turns a year older on New Year's Day.
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Kazoedoshi, the traditional age
In kazoedoshi (数え年), a baby is 1 on the day it is born, and everyone gains a year together on 1 January rather than on their birthday. Someone born in December can be 2 in kazoedoshi a few weeks after birth.
Japan officially switched to full age (man-nenrei, 満年齢) in 1950, and everyday life uses it. Kazoedoshi lives on in customs: yakudoshi, many longevity celebrations, memorial services and, for some families, shichi-go-san.
Shichi-go-san (seven-five-three) 七五三
On or around 15 November, families take children to a shrine to give thanks for their growth and pray for their health. Traditionally girls go at 3 and 7, and boys at 5, and in many areas at 3 as well.
Children dress in kimono or hakama and receive chitose-ame, long red and white "thousand-year candy" in a bag decorated with cranes and turtles. Many families book a photo studio, often on a different day.
Most families now use full age, though some follow kazoedoshi, and some go in the year the child turns the age. The calculator shows both.
Shichi-go-san in 2026
| Age | Born in (full age) | Born in (traditional) |
|---|---|---|
| 3 Girls, and boys in many areas | 2023 | 2024 |
| 5 Boys | 2021 | 2022 |
| 7 Girls | 2019 | 2020 |
Longevity celebrations (chōju iwai)
Families celebrate reaching these ages, often with a gift in the celebration's colour. Traditionally they follow kazoedoshi, but many families now celebrate on the birthday instead. Kanreki is the 60th birthday either way.
| Age | Celebration | Meaning | Born in (for 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61 | Kanreki 還暦 | The 60-year zodiac cycle comes full circle. Red clothes are the tradition. | 1966 |
| 70 | Koki 古希 | "Rare since ancient times", from a poem by Du Fu. Purple. | 1957 |
| 77 | Kiju 喜寿 | The cursive form of 喜 (joy) looks like 七十七 (77). Purple. | 1950 |
| 80 | Sanju 傘寿 | The short form of 傘 (umbrella) looks like 八十 (80). Gold or yellow. | 1947 |
| 88 | Beiju 米寿 | 米 (rice) can be split into 八十八 (88). Gold or yellow. | 1939 |
| 90 | Sotsuju 卒寿 | The short form of 卒 looks like 九十 (90). Purple. | 1937 |
| 99 | Hakuju 白寿 | 百 (100) minus one stroke makes 白 (white), so 99. White. | 1928 |
| 100 | Hyakuju 百寿 | A hundred years. | 1927 |
See also
Era start dates are the official dates of each change of era. Customs such as yakudoshi and shichi-go-san vary between shrines and regions.