Age ChartBorn in 1956 (Shōwa 31)
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School years in Japan
In Japan a school year starts on 1 April; children born from 2 April to 1 April of the next year are in the same grade.
| Born 1 Jan – 1 Apr 1956 | Born 2 Apr – 31 Dec 1956 | |
|---|---|---|
| Elementary school entry (April) | 1962 (Shōwa 37) | 1963 (Shōwa 38) |
| Elementary school graduation (March) | 1968 (Shōwa 43) | 1969 (Shōwa 44) |
| Junior high school entry | 1968 (Shōwa 43) | 1969 (Shōwa 44) |
| Junior high school graduation | 1971 (Shōwa 46) | 1972 (Shōwa 47) |
| High school entry | 1971 (Shōwa 46) | 1972 (Shōwa 47) |
| High school graduation | 1974 (Shōwa 49) | 1975 (Shōwa 50) |
| University entry | 1974 (Shōwa 49) | 1975 (Shōwa 50) |
| University graduation (4 years) | 1978 (Shōwa 53) | 1979 (Shōwa 54) |
Adulthood in Japan
| Celebration | Year |
|---|---|
| Turns 18 (legal age of adulthood in Japan since 1 April 2022) | 1974 (Shōwa 49) |
| Turns 20 | 1976 (Shōwa 51) |
Traditional longevity celebrations
Customs differ: celebrations are held either in the year of the full age or, traditionally, by the old count in which a person is 1 at birth.
| Celebration | Age | Year (full age) | Year (traditional count) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kanreki | 60 | 2016 (Heisei 28) | 2015 (Heisei 27) |
| Koki | 70 | 2026 (Reiwa 8) | 2025 (Reiwa 7) |
| Kiju | 77 | 2033 | 2032 |
| Sanju | 80 | 2036 | 2035 |
| Beiju | 88 | 2044 | 2043 |
| Sotsuju | 90 | 2046 | 2045 |
| Hakuju | 99 | 2055 | 2054 |
| Hyakuju | 100 | 2056 | 2055 |
Other years of the Monkey
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
People born in 1956 (Shōwa 31, year of the Monkey) are 70 today if their birthday has passed this year, otherwise 69.