Japanese longevity celebrations (長寿祝い) 2026
Pick a birth year to see when each traditional longevity celebration falls, by kazoe age and by actual age.
Who celebrates in 2026
| Celebration | Age | Born in (kazoe age) | Born in (actual age) | Origin of the name |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kanreki (還暦) | 60 | 1966 (Showa 41) | 1966 (Showa 41) | The zodiac sign of the birth year returns after 60 years. |
| Koki (古希) | 70 | 1957 (Showa 32) | 1956 (Showa 31) | From a poem by Du Fu: “living to seventy has been rare since ancient times”. |
| Kiju (喜寿) | 77 | 1950 (Showa 25) | 1949 (Showa 24) | The cursive form of 喜 looks like the characters for 77. |
| Sanju (傘寿) | 80 | 1947 (Showa 22) | 1946 (Showa 21) | The short form of 傘 looks like the characters for 80. |
| Beiju (米寿) | 88 | 1939 (Showa 14) | 1938 (Showa 13) | The character 米 can be split into 八十八 (88). |
| Sotsuju (卒寿) | 90 | 1937 (Showa 12) | 1936 (Showa 11) | The short form of 卒 (卆) looks like 九十 (90). |
| Hakuju (白寿) | 99 | 1928 (Showa 3) | 1927 (Showa 2) | 百 (100) minus 一 (1) gives 白 (99). |
| Hyakuju (百寿) | 100 | 1927 (Showa 2) | 1926 (Taisho 15 / Showa 1) | Celebration of turning 100, also called kiju (紀寿). |
Each name comes from a pun on the kanji. Families usually celebrate on the birthday, on Respect for the Aged Day (third Monday of September), or when relatives gather at New Year or Obon.
FAQ
Are longevity celebrations based on kazoe age?
Traditionally yes, but today most families use actual age. Kanreki is the same year either way: actual age 60 equals kazoe age 61.
Why is red given for kanreki?
Kanreki marks a return to the birth sign, like being born again, so people give red items (a color associated with babies and protection), such as the red sleeveless jacket chanchanko.
What is the most famous celebration?
Kanreki (60) and beiju (88) are the best known, but koki (70) and kiju (77) are also widely celebrated.