Born in 1988 (Showa 63)
Japanese eraShowa 63
Age now37 before birthday / 38 after
Kazoe age (2026)39
Zodiac戊辰 (つちのえたつ)
People born in 1988 turn 38 on their birthday in 2026. 1988 is the Year of the Dragon (戊辰 (つちのえたつ)) in the Japanese zodiac.
School years for people born in 1988
Japanese school grades run from April 2 to April 1, so people born January 1 – April 1, 1988 are in the same grade as those born from April 1987.
| Stage | Born Apr 2 – Dec 31, 1988 | Born Jan 1 – Apr 1, 1988 |
|---|---|---|
| Elementary school starts | April 1995 (Heisei 7) | April 1994 (Heisei 6) |
| Junior high school starts | April 2001 (Heisei 13) | April 2000 (Heisei 12) |
| Junior high school graduation | March 2004 (Heisei 16) | March 2003 (Heisei 15) |
| High school starts | April 2004 (Heisei 16) | April 2003 (Heisei 15) |
| High school graduation | March 2007 (Heisei 19) | March 2006 (Heisei 18) |
| University starts | April 2007 (Heisei 19) | April 2006 (Heisei 18) |
| University (4-year) graduation | March 2011 (Heisei 23) | March 2010 (Heisei 22) |
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 | 2012 (Kazoe age 25) 2029 (Kazoe age 42) 2048 (Kazoe age 61) | — |
| Woman | 2006 (Kazoe age 19) 2020 (Kazoe age 33) 2024 (Kazoe age 37) 2048 (Kazoe age 61) | — |
Longevity celebrations
| Celebration | Year (kazoe age) | Year (actual age) |
|---|---|---|
| Kanreki (還暦) · 60 | 2048 (Reiwa 30) | 2048 (Reiwa 30) |
| Koki (古希) · 70 | 2057 (Reiwa 39) | 2058 (Reiwa 40) |
| Kiju (喜寿) · 77 | 2064 (Reiwa 46) | 2065 (Reiwa 47) |
| Sanju (傘寿) · 80 | 2067 (Reiwa 49) | 2068 (Reiwa 50) |
| Beiju (米寿) · 88 | 2075 (Reiwa 57) | 2076 (Reiwa 58) |
| Sotsuju (卒寿) · 90 | 2077 (Reiwa 59) | 2078 (Reiwa 60) |
| Hakuju (白寿) · 99 | 2086 (Reiwa 68) | 2087 (Reiwa 69) |
| Hyakuju (百寿) · 100 | 2087 (Reiwa 69) | 2088 (Reiwa 70) |
Also born in the Year of the Dragon
FAQ
How old is someone born in 1988 in 2026?
They are 37 before their birthday and 38 after it. Their kazoe age in 2026 is 39.
What is 1988 in the Japanese calendar?
1988 is Showa 63 (昭和63年).
What is the Japanese zodiac for 1988?
1988 is the Year of the Dragon, sign 戊辰 (つちのえたつ). If a fortune-teller uses Risshun as the new year, people born January 1 – early February 1988 take the previous sign.