Born in 1940 (Showa 15)
Japanese eraShowa 15
Age now85 before birthday / 86 after
Kazoe age (2026)87
Zodiac庚辰 (かのえたつ)
People born in 1940 turn 86 on their birthday in 2026. 1940 is the Year of the Dragon (庚辰 (かのえたつ)) in the Japanese zodiac.
School years for people born in 1940
Japanese school grades run from April 2 to April 1, so people born January 1 – April 1, 1940 are in the same grade as those born from April 1939.
| Stage | Born Apr 2 – Dec 31, 1940 | Born Jan 1 – Apr 1, 1940 |
|---|---|---|
| Elementary school starts | April 1947 (Showa 22) | April 1946 (Showa 21) |
| Junior high school starts | April 1953 (Showa 28) | April 1952 (Showa 27) |
| Junior high school graduation | March 1956 (Showa 31) | March 1955 (Showa 30) |
| High school starts | April 1956 (Showa 31) | April 1955 (Showa 30) |
| High school graduation | March 1959 (Showa 34) | March 1958 (Showa 33) |
| University starts | April 1959 (Showa 34) | April 1958 (Showa 33) |
| University (4-year) graduation | March 1963 (Showa 38) | March 1962 (Showa 37) |
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 | 1964 (Kazoe age 25) 1981 (Kazoe age 42) 2000 (Kazoe age 61) | — |
| Woman | 1958 (Kazoe age 19) 1972 (Kazoe age 33) 1976 (Kazoe age 37) 2000 (Kazoe age 61) | — |
Longevity celebrations
| Celebration | Year (kazoe age) | Year (actual age) |
|---|---|---|
| Kanreki (還暦) · 60 | 2000 (Heisei 12) | 2000 (Heisei 12) |
| Koki (古希) · 70 | 2009 (Heisei 21) | 2010 (Heisei 22) |
| Kiju (喜寿) · 77 | 2016 (Heisei 28) | 2017 (Heisei 29) |
| Sanju (傘寿) · 80 | 2019 (Heisei 31 / Reiwa 1) | 2020 (Reiwa 2) |
| Beiju (米寿) · 88 | 2027 (Reiwa 9) | 2028 (Reiwa 10) |
| Sotsuju (卒寿) · 90 | 2029 (Reiwa 11) | 2030 (Reiwa 12) |
| Hakuju (白寿) · 99 | 2038 (Reiwa 20) | 2039 (Reiwa 21) |
| Hyakuju (百寿) · 100 | 2039 (Reiwa 21) | 2040 (Reiwa 22) |
Also born in the Year of the Dragon
FAQ
How old is someone born in 1940 in 2026?
They are 85 before their birthday and 86 after it. Their kazoe age in 2026 is 87.
What is 1940 in the Japanese calendar?
1940 is Showa 15 (昭和15年).
What is the Japanese zodiac for 1940?
1940 is the Year of the Dragon, sign 庚辰 (かのえたつ). If a fortune-teller uses Risshun as the new year, people born January 1 – early February 1940 take the previous sign.