Age Chart
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Born in 2009 (Heisei 21)

Last updated:

Age (birthday passed)17
Age (before birthday)16
Traditional count (kazoedoshi)18
ZodiacOx
Japanese eraHeisei 21

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 2009Born 2 Apr – 31 Dec 2009
Elementary school entry (April)2015 (Heisei 27)2016 (Heisei 28)
Elementary school graduation (March)2021 (Reiwa 3)2022 (Reiwa 4)
Junior high school entry2021 (Reiwa 3)2022 (Reiwa 4)
Junior high school graduation2024 (Reiwa 6)2025 (Reiwa 7)
High school entry2024 (Reiwa 6)2025 (Reiwa 7)
High school graduation20272028
University entry20272028
University graduation (4 years)20312032

Adulthood in Japan

CelebrationYear
Turns 18 (legal age of adulthood in Japan since 1 April 2022)2027
Turns 202029

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)
Kanreki6020692068
Koki7020792078
Kiju7720862085
Sanju8020892088
Beiju8820972096
Sotsuju9020992098
Hakuju9921082107
Hyakuju10021092108

Other years of the Ox

← 2008 · 2010 →

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 2009 (Heisei 21, year of the Ox) are 17 today if their birthday has passed this year, otherwise 16.