Born in 1938 (Showa 13)
Japanese eraShowa 13
Age now87 before birthday / 88 after
Kazoe age (2026)89
Zodiac戊寅 (つちのえとら)
People born in 1938 turn 88 on their birthday in 2026. 1938 is the Year of the Tiger (戊寅 (つちのえとら)) in the Japanese zodiac.
School years for people born in 1938
Japanese school grades run from April 2 to April 1, so people born January 1 – April 1, 1938 are in the same grade as those born from April 1937.
| Stage | Born Apr 2 – Dec 31, 1938 | Born Jan 1 – Apr 1, 1938 |
|---|---|---|
| Elementary school starts | April 1945 (Showa 20) | April 1944 (Showa 19) |
| Junior high school starts | April 1951 (Showa 26) | April 1950 (Showa 25) |
| Junior high school graduation | March 1954 (Showa 29) | March 1953 (Showa 28) |
| High school starts | April 1954 (Showa 29) | April 1953 (Showa 28) |
| High school graduation | March 1957 (Showa 32) | March 1956 (Showa 31) |
| University starts | April 1957 (Showa 32) | April 1956 (Showa 31) |
| University (4-year) graduation | March 1961 (Showa 36) | March 1960 (Showa 35) |
Assumes no repeated or skipped years. For an exact date of birth, use the school year calculator.
Yakudoshi (unlucky years)
| Main unlucky years | 2026 | |
|---|---|---|
| Man | 1962 (Kazoe age 25) 1979 (Kazoe age 42) 1998 (Kazoe age 61) | — |
| Woman | 1956 (Kazoe age 19) 1970 (Kazoe age 33) 1974 (Kazoe age 37) 1998 (Kazoe age 61) | — |
Longevity celebrations
| Celebration | Year (kazoe age) | Year (actual age) |
|---|---|---|
| Kanreki (還暦) · 60 | 1998 (Heisei 10) | 1998 (Heisei 10) |
| Koki (古希) · 70 | 2007 (Heisei 19) | 2008 (Heisei 20) |
| Kiju (喜寿) · 77 | 2014 (Heisei 26) | 2015 (Heisei 27) |
| Sanju (傘寿) · 80 | 2017 (Heisei 29) | 2018 (Heisei 30) |
| Beiju (米寿) · 88 | 2025 (Reiwa 7) | 2026 (Reiwa 8) |
| Sotsuju (卒寿) · 90 | 2027 (Reiwa 9) | 2028 (Reiwa 10) |
| Hakuju (白寿) · 99 | 2036 (Reiwa 18) | 2037 (Reiwa 19) |
| Hyakuju (百寿) · 100 | 2037 (Reiwa 19) | 2038 (Reiwa 20) |
Also born in the Year of the Tiger
FAQ
How old is someone born in 1938 in 2026?
They are 87 before their birthday and 88 after it. Their kazoe age in 2026 is 89.
What is 1938 in the Japanese calendar?
1938 is Showa 13 (昭和13年).
What is the Japanese zodiac for 1938?
1938 is the Year of the Tiger, sign 戊寅 (つちのえとら). If a fortune-teller uses Risshun as the new year, people born January 1 – early February 1938 take the previous sign.