Age Chart
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Born in 2003 (Heisei 15)

Last updated:

Age (birthday passed)23
Age (before birthday)22
Traditional count (kazoedoshi)24
ZodiacGoat
Japanese eraHeisei 15

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 2003Born 2 Apr – 31 Dec 2003
Elementary school entry (April)2009 (Heisei 21)2010 (Heisei 22)
Elementary school graduation (March)2015 (Heisei 27)2016 (Heisei 28)
Junior high school entry2015 (Heisei 27)2016 (Heisei 28)
Junior high school graduation2018 (Heisei 30)2019 (Heisei 31 / Reiwa 1)
High school entry2018 (Heisei 30)2019 (Heisei 31 / Reiwa 1)
High school graduation2021 (Reiwa 3)2022 (Reiwa 4)
University entry2021 (Reiwa 3)2022 (Reiwa 4)
University graduation (4 years)2025 (Reiwa 7)2026 (Reiwa 8)

Adulthood in Japan

CelebrationYear
Turns 18 (legal age of adulthood in Japan since 1 April 2022)2021 (Reiwa 3)
Turns 202023 (Reiwa 5)

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)
Kanreki6020632062
Koki7020732072
Kiju7720802079
Sanju8020832082
Beiju8820912090
Sotsuju9020932092
Hakuju9921022101
Hyakuju10021032102

Other years of the Goat

← 2002 · 2004 →

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 2003 (Heisei 15, year of the Goat) are 23 today if their birthday has passed this year, otherwise 22.