🐉 Japan Zodiac Calculator (干支 / Eto)

The Japanese zodiac, or 干支 (えと, eto), is a 12-year cycle where each year is represented by an animal: Nezumi (Rat), Ushi (Ox), Tora (Tiger), Usagi (Rabbit), Tatsu (Dragon), Mi (Snake), Uma (Horse), Hitsuji (Sheep), Saru (Monkey), Tori (Rooster), Inu (Dog), Inoshishi (Boar). The cycle is shared with China and Korea and is deeply woven into Japanese culture - from New Year decorations to horoscopes and even corporate marketing.

But the eto is actually richer than just 12 animals. It combines the 12 animals (地支, jūnishi) with a 10-part "stem" cycle (十干, jikkan: 甲・乙・丙・丁…), producing a 60-year sexagenary cycle (六十干支). Each year therefore has a unique two-character name such as 甲辰 (Kanoe-Tatsu) or 令和's first year 2019 = 己亥 (Tsuchinoe-I). After 60 years the combination repeats. This is why people say they share their "true" zodiac with someone born 60 years apart.

Unlike the Western star sign, which depends on your birth date, the Japanese zodiac depends only on the year. It is used to wish people well at New Year, to choose auspicious dates, and even to describe personality traits in a light-hearted way. To see how the year also maps to an era name, try our era converter.

The animal for a year is found with a simple cycle: index = (year − 4) mod 12. The −4 offset comes from the fact that 4 AD was a Rat year in this system. So for 2026: (2026 − 4) = 2022, 2022 mod 12 = 6, the 7th animal → Uma (Horse). The tool does this automatically for any year you enter, including years BC if you use a negative number.

The full 60-year name adds the stem: stem index = (year − 4) mod 10, combined with the branch. For 2024 the stem is 甲 (Kanoe) and the branch is 辰 (Tatsu), giving 甲辰 (Kanoe-Tatsu). The position within the 60-year cycle is (year − 4) mod 60 + 1.

The 60-year cycle is why 2024's 甲辰 last occurred in 1964 (the year of the Tokyo Olympics) and will next occur in 2084. This longer view is handy for generation studies and family history. If you want the "unlucky age" associated with your birth year, our yakudoshi checker builds on the same calendar.

1. Type any year (positive for AD, negative for BC if your tool allows it).
2. Click Calculate to see the zodiac animal (干支 branch).
3. The result also shows the 10-part stem and the full 60-year name (干支).
4. Check the position within the 60-year cycle for generation context.
5. Use it for New Year greetings, horoscopes, or family history.

How do I find my Japanese zodiac animal?

It depends only on your birth year, not the date. Count where your year falls in the 12-animal cycle: (year − 4) mod 12 gives the index. 2026 is a Horse (Uma) year; 2024 is a Dragon (Tatsu).

What is the difference between 干支 and the 12 animals?

干支 (eto) is the full system: the 12 animals (地支) combined with a 10-part stem (十干) to make a 60-year cycle. The "zodiac animal" is just the animal part of that name.

Why does the cycle repeat every 60 years?

Because 60 is the lowest common multiple of 12 (animals) and 10 (stems). So the name 甲辰 (Kanoe-Tatsu) recurs every 60 years: 1964, 2024, 2084.

Is the Japanese zodiac the same as the Chinese one?

Yes - Japan adopted the same 12-animal, 60-year system from China centuries ago. The animal order and the stem cycle are identical; only the pronunciation differs.

What year is 2026 in the zodiac?

2026 is 丙午 (Hinoe-Uma), the Year of the Horse. The Horse is the 7th animal in the cycle.

Does the zodiac depend on the birth date?

No. Unlike Western star signs, the Japanese zodiac is determined by the calendar year of birth. The animal changes on 1 January, not mid-year.

The easiest mental shortcut: 2020 was a Rat year (Nezumi), and the animals advance by one each year. So 2024 = Dragon, 2026 = Horse, 2028 = Dog. Once you know one anchor year, you can count forward or backward by remembering the order 子・丑・寅・卯・辰・巳・午・未・申・酉・戌・亥.

In Japan the Zodiac year of your birth is celebrated at New Year with eto-themed decorations (絵馬, kites, and the famous zodiac float at the Nagahama Hikiyama festival). The Horse year (丙午, Hinoe-Uma) is sometimes singled out in folklore as a particularly intense year. When you meet someone born 60 years apart, you share the exact same 干支 - a fun conversation starter. For event dates tied to the zodiac, combine this with the rokuyō calendar for a full traditional reading.