Born in 1981 (Showa 56)
Japanese eraShowa 56
Age now44 before birthday / 45 after
Kazoe age (2026)46
Zodiac辛酉 (かのととり)
People born in 1981 turn 45 on their birthday in 2026. 1981 is the Year of the Rooster (辛酉 (かのととり)) in the Japanese zodiac.
School years for people born in 1981
Japanese school grades run from April 2 to April 1, so people born January 1 – April 1, 1981 are in the same grade as those born from April 1980.
| Stage | Born Apr 2 – Dec 31, 1981 | Born Jan 1 – Apr 1, 1981 |
|---|---|---|
| Elementary school starts | April 1988 (Showa 63) | April 1987 (Showa 62) |
| Junior high school starts | April 1994 (Heisei 6) | April 1993 (Heisei 5) |
| Junior high school graduation | March 1997 (Heisei 9) | March 1996 (Heisei 8) |
| High school starts | April 1997 (Heisei 9) | April 1996 (Heisei 8) |
| High school graduation | March 2000 (Heisei 12) | March 1999 (Heisei 11) |
| University starts | April 2000 (Heisei 12) | April 1999 (Heisei 11) |
| University (4-year) graduation | March 2004 (Heisei 16) | March 2003 (Heisei 15) |
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 | 2005 (Kazoe age 25) 2022 (Kazoe age 42) 2041 (Kazoe age 61) | — |
| Woman | 1999 (Kazoe age 19) 2013 (Kazoe age 33) 2017 (Kazoe age 37) 2041 (Kazoe age 61) | — |
Longevity celebrations
| Celebration | Year (kazoe age) | Year (actual age) |
|---|---|---|
| Kanreki (還暦) · 60 | 2041 (Reiwa 23) | 2041 (Reiwa 23) |
| Koki (古希) · 70 | 2050 (Reiwa 32) | 2051 (Reiwa 33) |
| Kiju (喜寿) · 77 | 2057 (Reiwa 39) | 2058 (Reiwa 40) |
| Sanju (傘寿) · 80 | 2060 (Reiwa 42) | 2061 (Reiwa 43) |
| Beiju (米寿) · 88 | 2068 (Reiwa 50) | 2069 (Reiwa 51) |
| Sotsuju (卒寿) · 90 | 2070 (Reiwa 52) | 2071 (Reiwa 53) |
| Hakuju (白寿) · 99 | 2079 (Reiwa 61) | 2080 (Reiwa 62) |
| Hyakuju (百寿) · 100 | 2080 (Reiwa 62) | 2081 (Reiwa 63) |
Also born in the Year of the Rooster
FAQ
How old is someone born in 1981 in 2026?
They are 44 before their birthday and 45 after it. Their kazoe age in 2026 is 46.
What is 1981 in the Japanese calendar?
1981 is Showa 56 (昭和56年).
What is the Japanese zodiac for 1981?
1981 is the Year of the Rooster, sign 辛酉 (かのととり). If a fortune-teller uses Risshun as the new year, people born January 1 – early February 1981 take the previous sign.