Born in 1961 (Showa 36)
Japanese eraShowa 36
Age now64 before birthday / 65 after
Kazoe age (2026)66
Zodiac辛丑 (かのとうし)
People born in 1961 turn 65 on their birthday in 2026. 1961 is the Year of the Ox (辛丑 (かのとうし)) in the Japanese zodiac.
School years for people born in 1961
Japanese school grades run from April 2 to April 1, so people born January 1 – April 1, 1961 are in the same grade as those born from April 1960.
| Stage | Born Apr 2 – Dec 31, 1961 | Born Jan 1 – Apr 1, 1961 |
|---|---|---|
| Elementary school starts | April 1968 (Showa 43) | April 1967 (Showa 42) |
| Junior high school starts | April 1974 (Showa 49) | April 1973 (Showa 48) |
| Junior high school graduation | March 1977 (Showa 52) | March 1976 (Showa 51) |
| High school starts | April 1977 (Showa 52) | April 1976 (Showa 51) |
| High school graduation | March 1980 (Showa 55) | March 1979 (Showa 54) |
| University starts | April 1980 (Showa 55) | April 1979 (Showa 54) |
| University (4-year) graduation | March 1984 (Showa 59) | March 1983 (Showa 58) |
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 | 1985 (Kazoe age 25) 2002 (Kazoe age 42) 2021 (Kazoe age 61) | — |
| Woman | 1979 (Kazoe age 19) 1993 (Kazoe age 33) 1997 (Kazoe age 37) 2021 (Kazoe age 61) | — |
Longevity celebrations
| Celebration | Year (kazoe age) | Year (actual age) |
|---|---|---|
| Kanreki (還暦) · 60 | 2021 (Reiwa 3) | 2021 (Reiwa 3) |
| Koki (古希) · 70 | 2030 (Reiwa 12) | 2031 (Reiwa 13) |
| Kiju (喜寿) · 77 | 2037 (Reiwa 19) | 2038 (Reiwa 20) |
| Sanju (傘寿) · 80 | 2040 (Reiwa 22) | 2041 (Reiwa 23) |
| Beiju (米寿) · 88 | 2048 (Reiwa 30) | 2049 (Reiwa 31) |
| Sotsuju (卒寿) · 90 | 2050 (Reiwa 32) | 2051 (Reiwa 33) |
| Hakuju (白寿) · 99 | 2059 (Reiwa 41) | 2060 (Reiwa 42) |
| Hyakuju (百寿) · 100 | 2060 (Reiwa 42) | 2061 (Reiwa 43) |
Also born in the Year of the Ox
FAQ
How old is someone born in 1961 in 2026?
They are 64 before their birthday and 65 after it. Their kazoe age in 2026 is 66.
What is 1961 in the Japanese calendar?
1961 is Showa 36 (昭和36年).
What is the Japanese zodiac for 1961?
1961 is the Year of the Ox, sign 辛丑 (かのとうし). If a fortune-teller uses Risshun as the new year, people born January 1 – early February 1961 take the previous sign.