Year of the Rat

Last updated: Oct 9, 2026 14:14 UTC

Born	Japanese era	Zodiac	Age (birthday passed)	Age (before birthday)	Traditional count (kazoedoshi)
2020	Reiwa 2	Rat	6	5	7
2008	Heisei 20	Rat	18	17	19
1996	Heisei 8	Rat	30	29	31
1984	Shōwa 59	Rat	42	41	43
1972	Shōwa 47	Rat	54	53	55
1960	Shōwa 35	Rat	66	65	67
1948	Shōwa 23	Rat	78	77	79
1936	Shōwa 11	Rat	90	89	91
1924	Taishō 13	Rat	102	101	103
1912	Meiji 45 / Taishō 1	Rat	114	113	115
1900	Meiji 33	Rat	126	125	127

Method

Ages are computed from today’s date in Japan time. ‘Birthday passed’ means the birthday in the current year has already come. The traditional count adds one to the current year minus the birth year. Japanese era years follow the Era Name Act and the cabinet orders changing the era; in a year when the era changed, both names are shown. School years follow the School Education Act and the Act on Age Calculation (a person reaches an age on the day before the birthday, so those born on 1 April join the earlier grade). Adulthood follows Article 4 of the Civil Code.

About this page

Years of the Rat and how old people born in them are today.

In Japan the zodiac year is customarily counted from 1 January; in the Chinese lunar calendar it changes at the Lunar New Year, so people born in January or February may have the previous sign.