Eto · 干支
Japanese zodiac signs
The twelve animals of the Japanese zodiac (jūnishi), their Japanese names, and why in Japan your animal simply follows the calendar year.
| Japanese name | Chinese equivalent | Years (1960–2031) |
|---|---|---|
| Ne (rat) | Rat | 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, 2020 |
| Ushi (ox) | Ox | 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009, 2021 |
| Tora (tiger) | Tiger | 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010, 2022 |
| U (rabbit) | Rabbit | 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011, 2023 |
| Tatsu (dragon) | Dragon | 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012, 2024 |
| Mi (snake) | Snake | 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013, 2025 |
| Uma (horse) | Horse | 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014, 2026 |
| Hitsuji (sheep) | Goat | 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015, 2027 |
| Saru (monkey) | Monkey | 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016, 2028 |
| Tori (rooster) | Rooster | 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017, 2029 |
| Inu (dog) | Dog | 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018, 2030 |
| I (boar) | Pig | 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019, 2031 |
The January 1 rule
Japan adopted the Gregorian calendar in 1873 and now changes zodiac animal on January 1, not at Lunar New Year. Someone born on January 20, 1990 is a Horse in Japan but a Snake in the Chinese system. Compare with the Chinese zodiac calculator.
Jūnishi: differences from the Chinese zodiac
- The twelfth animal is the wild boar (inoshishi), not the pig.
- The eighth animal is usually shown as a sheep (hitsuji).
- The full name eto combines the ten stems and twelve branches, as in China.
Where you see it
New Year cards (nengajō) and decorations feature the coming year’s animal, and shrines sell charms for it. The 2026 hinoeuma (Fire Horse) year is surrounded by an old superstition. Read about 2026.
Frequently asked questions
What is my Japanese zodiac sign?
Take your birth year and find it in the table: in Japan the animal changes on January 1.
Is the Japanese zodiac the same as the Chinese?
The same cycle, but with the boar instead of the pig and a January 1 start.
Sources
Updated · How we write and check this guide