Born in 1948 (Showa 23)
Japanese eraShowa 23
Age now77 before birthday / 78 after
Kazoe age (2026)79
Zodiac戊子 (つちのえね)
People born in 1948 turn 78 on their birthday in 2026. 1948 is the Year of the Rat (戊子 (つちのえね)) in the Japanese zodiac.
School years for people born in 1948
Japanese school grades run from April 2 to April 1, so people born January 1 – April 1, 1948 are in the same grade as those born from April 1947.
| Stage | Born Apr 2 – Dec 31, 1948 | Born Jan 1 – Apr 1, 1948 |
|---|---|---|
| Elementary school starts | April 1955 (Showa 30) | April 1954 (Showa 29) |
| Junior high school starts | April 1961 (Showa 36) | April 1960 (Showa 35) |
| Junior high school graduation | March 1964 (Showa 39) | March 1963 (Showa 38) |
| High school starts | April 1964 (Showa 39) | April 1963 (Showa 38) |
| High school graduation | March 1967 (Showa 42) | March 1966 (Showa 41) |
| University starts | April 1967 (Showa 42) | April 1966 (Showa 41) |
| University (4-year) graduation | March 1971 (Showa 46) | March 1970 (Showa 45) |
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 | 1972 (Kazoe age 25) 1989 (Kazoe age 42) 2008 (Kazoe age 61) | — |
| Woman | 1966 (Kazoe age 19) 1980 (Kazoe age 33) 1984 (Kazoe age 37) 2008 (Kazoe age 61) | — |
Longevity celebrations
| Celebration | Year (kazoe age) | Year (actual age) |
|---|---|---|
| Kanreki (還暦) · 60 | 2008 (Heisei 20) | 2008 (Heisei 20) |
| Koki (古希) · 70 | 2017 (Heisei 29) | 2018 (Heisei 30) |
| Kiju (喜寿) · 77 | 2024 (Reiwa 6) | 2025 (Reiwa 7) |
| Sanju (傘寿) · 80 | 2027 (Reiwa 9) | 2028 (Reiwa 10) |
| Beiju (米寿) · 88 | 2035 (Reiwa 17) | 2036 (Reiwa 18) |
| Sotsuju (卒寿) · 90 | 2037 (Reiwa 19) | 2038 (Reiwa 20) |
| Hakuju (白寿) · 99 | 2046 (Reiwa 28) | 2047 (Reiwa 29) |
| Hyakuju (百寿) · 100 | 2047 (Reiwa 29) | 2048 (Reiwa 30) |
Also born in the Year of the Rat
FAQ
How old is someone born in 1948 in 2026?
They are 77 before their birthday and 78 after it. Their kazoe age in 2026 is 79.
What is 1948 in the Japanese calendar?
1948 is Showa 23 (昭和23年).
What is the Japanese zodiac for 1948?
1948 is the Year of the Rat, sign 戊子 (つちのえね). If a fortune-teller uses Risshun as the new year, people born January 1 – early February 1948 take the previous sign.