Age Chart
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Born in 2012 (Heisei 24)

Last updated:

Age (birthday passed)14
Age (before birthday)13
Traditional count (kazoedoshi)15
ZodiacDragon
Japanese eraHeisei 24

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 2012Born 2 Apr – 31 Dec 2012
Elementary school entry (April)2018 (Heisei 30)2019 (Heisei 31 / Reiwa 1)
Elementary school graduation (March)2024 (Reiwa 6)2025 (Reiwa 7)
Junior high school entry2024 (Reiwa 6)2025 (Reiwa 7)
Junior high school graduation20272028
High school entry20272028
High school graduation20302031
University entry20302031
University graduation (4 years)20342035

Adulthood in Japan

CelebrationYear
Turns 18 (legal age of adulthood in Japan since 1 April 2022)2030
Turns 202032

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)
Kanreki6020722071
Koki7020822081
Kiju7720892088
Sanju8020922091
Beiju8821002099
Sotsuju9021022101
Hakuju9921112110
Hyakuju10021122111

Other years of the Dragon

← 2011 · 2013 →

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 2012 (Heisei 24, year of the Dragon) are 14 today if their birthday has passed this year, otherwise 13.