Born in 1956 (Showa 31)
Japanese eraShowa 31
Age now69 before birthday / 70 after
Kazoe age (2026)71
Zodiac丙申 (ひのえさる)
People born in 1956 turn 70 on their birthday in 2026. 1956 is the Year of the Monkey (丙申 (ひのえさる)) in the Japanese zodiac.
School years for people born in 1956
Japanese school grades run from April 2 to April 1, so people born January 1 – April 1, 1956 are in the same grade as those born from April 1955.
| Stage | Born Apr 2 – Dec 31, 1956 | Born Jan 1 – Apr 1, 1956 |
|---|---|---|
| Elementary school starts | April 1963 (Showa 38) | April 1962 (Showa 37) |
| Junior high school starts | April 1969 (Showa 44) | April 1968 (Showa 43) |
| Junior high school graduation | March 1972 (Showa 47) | March 1971 (Showa 46) |
| High school starts | April 1972 (Showa 47) | April 1971 (Showa 46) |
| High school graduation | March 1975 (Showa 50) | March 1974 (Showa 49) |
| University starts | April 1975 (Showa 50) | April 1974 (Showa 49) |
| University (4-year) graduation | March 1979 (Showa 54) | March 1978 (Showa 53) |
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 | 1980 (Kazoe age 25) 1997 (Kazoe age 42) 2016 (Kazoe age 61) | — |
| Woman | 1974 (Kazoe age 19) 1988 (Kazoe age 33) 1992 (Kazoe age 37) 2016 (Kazoe age 61) | — |
Longevity celebrations
| Celebration | Year (kazoe age) | Year (actual age) |
|---|---|---|
| Kanreki (還暦) · 60 | 2016 (Heisei 28) | 2016 (Heisei 28) |
| Koki (古希) · 70 | 2025 (Reiwa 7) | 2026 (Reiwa 8) |
| Kiju (喜寿) · 77 | 2032 (Reiwa 14) | 2033 (Reiwa 15) |
| Sanju (傘寿) · 80 | 2035 (Reiwa 17) | 2036 (Reiwa 18) |
| Beiju (米寿) · 88 | 2043 (Reiwa 25) | 2044 (Reiwa 26) |
| Sotsuju (卒寿) · 90 | 2045 (Reiwa 27) | 2046 (Reiwa 28) |
| Hakuju (白寿) · 99 | 2054 (Reiwa 36) | 2055 (Reiwa 37) |
| Hyakuju (百寿) · 100 | 2055 (Reiwa 37) | 2056 (Reiwa 38) |
Also born in the Year of the Monkey
FAQ
How old is someone born in 1956 in 2026?
They are 69 before their birthday and 70 after it. Their kazoe age in 2026 is 71.
What is 1956 in the Japanese calendar?
1956 is Showa 31 (昭和31年).
What is the Japanese zodiac for 1956?
1956 is the Year of the Monkey, sign 丙申 (ひのえさる). If a fortune-teller uses Risshun as the new year, people born January 1 – early February 1956 take the previous sign.