Born in 2008 (Heisei 20)
Japanese eraHeisei 20
Age now17 before birthday / 18 after
Kazoe age (2026)19
Zodiac戊子 (つちのえね)
People born in 2008 turn 18 on their birthday in 2026. 2008 is the Year of the Rat (戊子 (つちのえね)) in the Japanese zodiac.
School years for people born in 2008
Japanese school grades run from April 2 to April 1, so people born January 1 – April 1, 2008 are in the same grade as those born from April 2007.
| Stage | Born Apr 2 – Dec 31, 2008 | Born Jan 1 – Apr 1, 2008 |
|---|---|---|
| Elementary school starts | April 2015 (Heisei 27) | April 2014 (Heisei 26) |
| Junior high school starts | April 2021 (Reiwa 3) | April 2020 (Reiwa 2) |
| Junior high school graduation | March 2024 (Reiwa 6) | March 2023 (Reiwa 5) |
| High school starts | April 2024 (Reiwa 6) | April 2023 (Reiwa 5) |
| High school graduation | March 2027 (Reiwa 9) | March 2026 (Reiwa 8) |
| University starts | April 2027 (Reiwa 9) | April 2026 (Reiwa 8) |
| University (4-year) graduation | March 2031 (Reiwa 13) | March 2030 (Reiwa 12) |
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 | 2032 (Kazoe age 25) 2049 (Kazoe age 42) 2068 (Kazoe age 61) | — |
| Woman | 2026 (Kazoe age 19) 2040 (Kazoe age 33) 2044 (Kazoe age 37) 2068 (Kazoe age 61) | Honyaku (main year) |
Longevity celebrations
| Celebration | Year (kazoe age) | Year (actual age) |
|---|---|---|
| Kanreki (還暦) · 60 | 2068 (Reiwa 50) | 2068 (Reiwa 50) |
| Koki (古希) · 70 | 2077 (Reiwa 59) | 2078 (Reiwa 60) |
| Kiju (喜寿) · 77 | 2084 (Reiwa 66) | 2085 (Reiwa 67) |
| Sanju (傘寿) · 80 | 2087 (Reiwa 69) | 2088 (Reiwa 70) |
| Beiju (米寿) · 88 | 2095 (Reiwa 77) | 2096 (Reiwa 78) |
| Sotsuju (卒寿) · 90 | 2097 (Reiwa 79) | 2098 (Reiwa 80) |
| Hakuju (白寿) · 99 | 2106 (Reiwa 88) | 2107 (Reiwa 89) |
| Hyakuju (百寿) · 100 | 2107 (Reiwa 89) | 2108 (Reiwa 90) |
Also born in the Year of the Rat
FAQ
How old is someone born in 2008 in 2026?
They are 17 before their birthday and 18 after it. Their kazoe age in 2026 is 19.
What is 2008 in the Japanese calendar?
2008 is Heisei 20 (平成20年).
What is the Japanese zodiac for 2008?
2008 is the Year of the Rat, sign 戊子 (つちのえね). If a fortune-teller uses Risshun as the new year, people born January 1 – early February 2008 take the previous sign.