Born in 1978 (Showa 53)
Japanese eraShowa 53
Age now47 before birthday / 48 after
Kazoe age (2026)49
Zodiac戊午 (つちのえうま)
People born in 1978 turn 48 on their birthday in 2026. 1978 is the Year of the Horse (戊午 (つちのえうま)) in the Japanese zodiac.
School years for people born in 1978
Japanese school grades run from April 2 to April 1, so people born January 1 – April 1, 1978 are in the same grade as those born from April 1977.
| Stage | Born Apr 2 – Dec 31, 1978 | Born Jan 1 – Apr 1, 1978 |
|---|---|---|
| Elementary school starts | April 1985 (Showa 60) | April 1984 (Showa 59) |
| Junior high school starts | April 1991 (Heisei 3) | April 1990 (Heisei 2) |
| Junior high school graduation | March 1994 (Heisei 6) | March 1993 (Heisei 5) |
| High school starts | April 1994 (Heisei 6) | April 1993 (Heisei 5) |
| High school graduation | March 1997 (Heisei 9) | March 1996 (Heisei 8) |
| University starts | April 1997 (Heisei 9) | April 1996 (Heisei 8) |
| University (4-year) graduation | March 2001 (Heisei 13) | March 2000 (Heisei 12) |
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 | 2002 (Kazoe age 25) 2019 (Kazoe age 42) 2038 (Kazoe age 61) | — |
| Woman | 1996 (Kazoe age 19) 2010 (Kazoe age 33) 2014 (Kazoe age 37) 2038 (Kazoe age 61) | — |
Longevity celebrations
| Celebration | Year (kazoe age) | Year (actual age) |
|---|---|---|
| Kanreki (還暦) · 60 | 2038 (Reiwa 20) | 2038 (Reiwa 20) |
| Koki (古希) · 70 | 2047 (Reiwa 29) | 2048 (Reiwa 30) |
| Kiju (喜寿) · 77 | 2054 (Reiwa 36) | 2055 (Reiwa 37) |
| Sanju (傘寿) · 80 | 2057 (Reiwa 39) | 2058 (Reiwa 40) |
| Beiju (米寿) · 88 | 2065 (Reiwa 47) | 2066 (Reiwa 48) |
| Sotsuju (卒寿) · 90 | 2067 (Reiwa 49) | 2068 (Reiwa 50) |
| Hakuju (白寿) · 99 | 2076 (Reiwa 58) | 2077 (Reiwa 59) |
| Hyakuju (百寿) · 100 | 2077 (Reiwa 59) | 2078 (Reiwa 60) |
Also born in the Year of the Horse
FAQ
How old is someone born in 1978 in 2026?
They are 47 before their birthday and 48 after it. Their kazoe age in 2026 is 49.
What is 1978 in the Japanese calendar?
1978 is Showa 53 (昭和53年).
What is the Japanese zodiac for 1978?
1978 is the Year of the Horse, sign 戊午 (つちのえうま). If a fortune-teller uses Risshun as the new year, people born January 1 – early February 1978 take the previous sign.