Born in 1942 (Showa 17)
Japanese eraShowa 17
Age now83 before birthday / 84 after
Kazoe age (2026)85
Zodiac壬午 (みずのえうま)
People born in 1942 turn 84 on their birthday in 2026. 1942 is the Year of the Horse (壬午 (みずのえうま)) in the Japanese zodiac.
School years for people born in 1942
Japanese school grades run from April 2 to April 1, so people born January 1 – April 1, 1942 are in the same grade as those born from April 1941.
| Stage | Born Apr 2 – Dec 31, 1942 | Born Jan 1 – Apr 1, 1942 |
|---|---|---|
| Elementary school starts | April 1949 (Showa 24) | April 1948 (Showa 23) |
| Junior high school starts | April 1955 (Showa 30) | April 1954 (Showa 29) |
| Junior high school graduation | March 1958 (Showa 33) | March 1957 (Showa 32) |
| High school starts | April 1958 (Showa 33) | April 1957 (Showa 32) |
| High school graduation | March 1961 (Showa 36) | March 1960 (Showa 35) |
| University starts | April 1961 (Showa 36) | April 1960 (Showa 35) |
| University (4-year) graduation | March 1965 (Showa 40) | March 1964 (Showa 39) |
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 | 1966 (Kazoe age 25) 1983 (Kazoe age 42) 2002 (Kazoe age 61) | — |
| Woman | 1960 (Kazoe age 19) 1974 (Kazoe age 33) 1978 (Kazoe age 37) 2002 (Kazoe age 61) | — |
Longevity celebrations
| Celebration | Year (kazoe age) | Year (actual age) |
|---|---|---|
| Kanreki (還暦) · 60 | 2002 (Heisei 14) | 2002 (Heisei 14) |
| Koki (古希) · 70 | 2011 (Heisei 23) | 2012 (Heisei 24) |
| Kiju (喜寿) · 77 | 2018 (Heisei 30) | 2019 (Heisei 31 / Reiwa 1) |
| Sanju (傘寿) · 80 | 2021 (Reiwa 3) | 2022 (Reiwa 4) |
| Beiju (米寿) · 88 | 2029 (Reiwa 11) | 2030 (Reiwa 12) |
| Sotsuju (卒寿) · 90 | 2031 (Reiwa 13) | 2032 (Reiwa 14) |
| Hakuju (白寿) · 99 | 2040 (Reiwa 22) | 2041 (Reiwa 23) |
| Hyakuju (百寿) · 100 | 2041 (Reiwa 23) | 2042 (Reiwa 24) |
Also born in the Year of the Horse
FAQ
How old is someone born in 1942 in 2026?
They are 83 before their birthday and 84 after it. Their kazoe age in 2026 is 85.
What is 1942 in the Japanese calendar?
1942 is Showa 17 (昭和17年).
What is the Japanese zodiac for 1942?
1942 is the Year of the Horse, sign 壬午 (みずのえうま). If a fortune-teller uses Risshun as the new year, people born January 1 – early February 1942 take the previous sign.