Born in 1972 (Showa 47)
Japanese eraShowa 47
Age now53 before birthday / 54 after
Kazoe age (2026)55
Zodiac壬子 (みずのえね)
People born in 1972 turn 54 on their birthday in 2026. 1972 is the Year of the Rat (壬子 (みずのえね)) in the Japanese zodiac.
School years for people born in 1972
Japanese school grades run from April 2 to April 1, so people born January 1 – April 1, 1972 are in the same grade as those born from April 1971.
| Stage | Born Apr 2 – Dec 31, 1972 | Born Jan 1 – Apr 1, 1972 |
|---|---|---|
| Elementary school starts | April 1979 (Showa 54) | April 1978 (Showa 53) |
| Junior high school starts | April 1985 (Showa 60) | April 1984 (Showa 59) |
| Junior high school graduation | March 1988 (Showa 63) | March 1987 (Showa 62) |
| High school starts | April 1988 (Showa 63) | April 1987 (Showa 62) |
| High school graduation | March 1991 (Heisei 3) | March 1990 (Heisei 2) |
| University starts | April 1991 (Heisei 3) | April 1990 (Heisei 2) |
| University (4-year) graduation | March 1995 (Heisei 7) | March 1994 (Heisei 6) |
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 | 1996 (Kazoe age 25) 2013 (Kazoe age 42) 2032 (Kazoe age 61) | — |
| Woman | 1990 (Kazoe age 19) 2004 (Kazoe age 33) 2008 (Kazoe age 37) 2032 (Kazoe age 61) | — |
Longevity celebrations
| Celebration | Year (kazoe age) | Year (actual age) |
|---|---|---|
| Kanreki (還暦) · 60 | 2032 (Reiwa 14) | 2032 (Reiwa 14) |
| Koki (古希) · 70 | 2041 (Reiwa 23) | 2042 (Reiwa 24) |
| Kiju (喜寿) · 77 | 2048 (Reiwa 30) | 2049 (Reiwa 31) |
| Sanju (傘寿) · 80 | 2051 (Reiwa 33) | 2052 (Reiwa 34) |
| Beiju (米寿) · 88 | 2059 (Reiwa 41) | 2060 (Reiwa 42) |
| Sotsuju (卒寿) · 90 | 2061 (Reiwa 43) | 2062 (Reiwa 44) |
| Hakuju (白寿) · 99 | 2070 (Reiwa 52) | 2071 (Reiwa 53) |
| Hyakuju (百寿) · 100 | 2071 (Reiwa 53) | 2072 (Reiwa 54) |
Also born in the Year of the Rat
FAQ
How old is someone born in 1972 in 2026?
They are 53 before their birthday and 54 after it. Their kazoe age in 2026 is 55.
What is 1972 in the Japanese calendar?
1972 is Showa 47 (昭和47年).
What is the Japanese zodiac for 1972?
1972 is the Year of the Rat, sign 壬子 (みずのえね). If a fortune-teller uses Risshun as the new year, people born January 1 – early February 1972 take the previous sign.