Lifestyle · Japanese calendar
Yakudoshi: unlucky years
In Japan, certain ages are believed to bring bad luck: yakudoshi. Many people visit a shrine or temple for a blessing to ward it off (yakubarai). The ages are counted the traditional way, in kazoedoshi.
Am I in an unlucky year?
🔒 Worked out in your browser. Nothing you enter is sent anywhere.
Who is in an unlucky year in 2026
Birth years in an unlucky year during 2026, counted in kazoedoshi. Shrines publish the same list each year.
Men
| Age (kazoedoshi) | Born in | Year |
|---|---|---|
| 24 | 2003 H15 | Mae-yaku |
| 25 | 2002 H14 | Hon-yaku |
| 26 | 2001 H13 | Ato-yaku |
| 41 | 1986 S61 | Mae-yaku |
| 42 | 1985 S60 | Hon-yaku Taiyaku, the most serious |
| 43 | 1984 S59 | Ato-yaku |
| 60 | 1967 S42 | Mae-yaku |
| 61 | 1966 S41 | Hon-yaku |
| 62 | 1965 S40 | Ato-yaku |
Women
| Age (kazoedoshi) | Born in | Year |
|---|---|---|
| 18 | 2009 H21 | Mae-yaku |
| 19 | 2008 H20 | Hon-yaku |
| 20 | 2007 H19 | Ato-yaku |
| 32 | 1995 H7 | Mae-yaku |
| 33 | 1994 H6 | Hon-yaku Taiyaku, the most serious |
| 34 | 1993 H5 | Ato-yaku |
| 36 | 1991 H3 | Mae-yaku |
| 37 | 1990 H2 | Hon-yaku |
| 38 | 1989 S64/H1 | Ato-yaku |
| 60 | 1967 S42 | Mae-yaku |
| 61 | 1966 S41 | Hon-yaku |
| 62 | 1965 S40 | Ato-yaku |
Who is in an unlucky year in 2027
Birth years in an unlucky year during 2027, counted in kazoedoshi. Shrines publish the same list each year.
Men
| Age (kazoedoshi) | Born in | Year |
|---|---|---|
| 24 | 2004 H16 | Mae-yaku |
| 25 | 2003 H15 | Hon-yaku |
| 26 | 2002 H14 | Ato-yaku |
| 41 | 1987 S62 | Mae-yaku |
| 42 | 1986 S61 | Hon-yaku Taiyaku, the most serious |
| 43 | 1985 S60 | Ato-yaku |
| 60 | 1968 S43 | Mae-yaku |
| 61 | 1967 S42 | Hon-yaku |
| 62 | 1966 S41 | Ato-yaku |
Women
| Age (kazoedoshi) | Born in | Year |
|---|---|---|
| 18 | 2010 H22 | Mae-yaku |
| 19 | 2009 H21 | Hon-yaku |
| 20 | 2008 H20 | Ato-yaku |
| 32 | 1996 H8 | Mae-yaku |
| 33 | 1995 H7 | Hon-yaku Taiyaku, the most serious |
| 34 | 1994 H6 | Ato-yaku |
| 36 | 1992 H4 | Mae-yaku |
| 37 | 1991 H3 | Hon-yaku |
| 38 | 1990 H2 | Ato-yaku |
| 60 | 1968 S43 | Mae-yaku |
| 61 | 1967 S42 | Hon-yaku |
| 62 | 1966 S41 | Ato-yaku |
About yakudoshi
The unlucky ages are thought to be times of change in life, when illness, accidents and setbacks are more likely. 42 for men and 33 for women are the most feared, the taiyaku, partly because the numbers can be read as "shi-ni" (to death) and "san-zan" (terrible).
The year before (mae-yaku) and the year after (ato-yaku) are seen as the run-up and the fading-out, so each unlucky age covers three years.
Many shrines and temples follow the calendar year, starting on New Year's Day. Some count from setsubun in early February, when the old new year began, so a few birth years can differ by one between shrines.
What people do
- Visit a shrine or temple for a yakubarai (厄払い) or yakuyoke (厄除け) blessing, usually between New Year and setsubun. Fees are typically from about ¥5,000.
- Wear or carry something long, such as a scarf or a necklace, which is said to protect against bad luck. Something with scales, like a snake pattern, is a popular gift.
- Avoid big changes in the hon-yaku year where possible, such as moving house, changing jobs or getting married, although many people simply go ahead.
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.