Age Chart
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Born in 1968 (Shōwa 43)

Last updated:

Age (birthday passed)58
Age (before birthday)57
Traditional count (kazoedoshi)59
ZodiacMonkey
Japanese eraShōwa 43

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 1968Born 2 Apr – 31 Dec 1968
Elementary school entry (April)1974 (Shōwa 49)1975 (Shōwa 50)
Elementary school graduation (March)1980 (Shōwa 55)1981 (Shōwa 56)
Junior high school entry1980 (Shōwa 55)1981 (Shōwa 56)
Junior high school graduation1983 (Shōwa 58)1984 (Shōwa 59)
High school entry1983 (Shōwa 58)1984 (Shōwa 59)
High school graduation1986 (Shōwa 61)1987 (Shōwa 62)
University entry1986 (Shōwa 61)1987 (Shōwa 62)
University graduation (4 years)1990 (Heisei 2)1991 (Heisei 3)

Adulthood in Japan

CelebrationYear
Turns 18 (legal age of adulthood in Japan since 1 April 2022)1986 (Shōwa 61)
Turns 201988 (Shōwa 63)

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.

CelebrationAgeYear (full age)Year (traditional count)
Kanreki6020282027
Koki7020382037
Kiju7720452044
Sanju8020482047
Beiju8820562055
Sotsuju9020582057
Hakuju9920672066
Hyakuju10020682067

Other years of the Monkey

← 1967 · 1969 →

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 1968 (Shōwa 43, year of the Monkey) are 58 today if their birthday has passed this year, otherwise 57.