Born in 1997 (Heisei 9)
Japanese eraHeisei 9
Age now28 before birthday / 29 after
Kazoe age (2026)30
Zodiac丁丑 (ひのとうし)
People born in 1997 turn 29 on their birthday in 2026. 1997 is the Year of the Ox (丁丑 (ひのとうし)) in the Japanese zodiac.
School years for people born in 1997
Japanese school grades run from April 2 to April 1, so people born January 1 – April 1, 1997 are in the same grade as those born from April 1996.
| Stage | Born Apr 2 – Dec 31, 1997 | Born Jan 1 – Apr 1, 1997 |
|---|---|---|
| Elementary school starts | April 2004 (Heisei 16) | April 2003 (Heisei 15) |
| Junior high school starts | April 2010 (Heisei 22) | April 2009 (Heisei 21) |
| Junior high school graduation | March 2013 (Heisei 25) | March 2012 (Heisei 24) |
| High school starts | April 2013 (Heisei 25) | April 2012 (Heisei 24) |
| High school graduation | March 2016 (Heisei 28) | March 2015 (Heisei 27) |
| University starts | April 2016 (Heisei 28) | April 2015 (Heisei 27) |
| University (4-year) graduation | March 2020 (Reiwa 2) | March 2019 (Heisei 31) |
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 | 2021 (Kazoe age 25) 2038 (Kazoe age 42) 2057 (Kazoe age 61) | — |
| Woman | 2015 (Kazoe age 19) 2029 (Kazoe age 33) 2033 (Kazoe age 37) 2057 (Kazoe age 61) | — |
Longevity celebrations
| Celebration | Year (kazoe age) | Year (actual age) |
|---|---|---|
| Kanreki (還暦) · 60 | 2057 (Reiwa 39) | 2057 (Reiwa 39) |
| Koki (古希) · 70 | 2066 (Reiwa 48) | 2067 (Reiwa 49) |
| Kiju (喜寿) · 77 | 2073 (Reiwa 55) | 2074 (Reiwa 56) |
| Sanju (傘寿) · 80 | 2076 (Reiwa 58) | 2077 (Reiwa 59) |
| Beiju (米寿) · 88 | 2084 (Reiwa 66) | 2085 (Reiwa 67) |
| Sotsuju (卒寿) · 90 | 2086 (Reiwa 68) | 2087 (Reiwa 69) |
| Hakuju (白寿) · 99 | 2095 (Reiwa 77) | 2096 (Reiwa 78) |
| Hyakuju (百寿) · 100 | 2096 (Reiwa 78) | 2097 (Reiwa 79) |
Also born in the Year of the Ox
FAQ
How old is someone born in 1997 in 2026?
They are 28 before their birthday and 29 after it. Their kazoe age in 2026 is 30.
What is 1997 in the Japanese calendar?
1997 is Heisei 9 (平成9年).
What is the Japanese zodiac for 1997?
1997 is the Year of the Ox, sign 丁丑 (ひのとうし). If a fortune-teller uses Risshun as the new year, people born January 1 – early February 1997 take the previous sign.