Born in 2020 (Reiwa 2): eto and age
People born in 2020 turn 6 on their birthday in 2026.
On this page
- Year
- 2020
- Japanese era
- Reiwa 2
- Eto
- 庚子 Kanoe-ne (Yang Metal Rat)
- Animal
- Rat (子)
- Stem
- Kanoe (庚)
- Nacchin
- Earth on the Wall
- Main star (Nine Star Ki)
- Shichiseki Kinsei
- Lucky direction (ehō)
- West-southwest
- Risshun
- Feb 4 18:03
- Kanreki
- 2080
1.The eto of 2020, and the Risshun rule
The eto of 2020 is 庚子 (Kanoe-ne, the Yang Metal Rat). In Four Pillars, Nine Star Ki and other Eastern astrology, though, the year begins at Risshun (Feb 4 in 2020). People born between 1 January 2020 and the moment of Risshun (Feb 4, 18:03) are treated as the previous year's 己亥 Tsuchinoto-i and Happaku Dosei.
2.Personality of people born in 2020
庚子 combines 庚, the stem of iron and the sword, with 子, the rat. In Japanese, “rat arithmetic” (nezumi-zan) means multiplying quickly, and the Rat stands for prosperity and many descendants. Rat people think fast, gather information well, act quickly and have a real talent for saving.
You decide quickly and face difficulties head on. Loyal, you will wear yourself out for your friends.
Read more: meaning of 庚子, Year of the Rat and Shichiseki Kinsei.
3.School years in Japan for people born in 2020
Japanese school years run from 2 April to 1 April the next year, so people born between 1 January and 1 April (hayaumare) are in the grade above.
| Milestone | Born 2 Apr – 31 Dec | Born 1 Jan – 1 Apr |
|---|---|---|
| Elementary school entry | 2027 Apr | 2026 Apr |
| Junior high entry | 2033 Apr | 2032 Apr |
| Senior high entry | 2036 Apr | 2035 Apr |
| University entry | 2039 Apr | 2038 Apr |
| Coming-of-age ceremony | 2041 Jan | 2040 Jan |
4.Shichi-go-san for children born in 2020
Families visit a shrine around 15 November, counting either way. See Shichi-go-san ages and dates, and Omiyamairi and Okuizome for the ceremonies right after birth.
5.Longevity celebrations
| Celebration | Year |
|---|---|
| Kanreki (60) | 2080 |
| Koki (70) | 2090 |
| Kiju (77) | 2097 |
| Sanju (80) | 2100 |
| Beiju (88) | 2108 |
Kanreki is celebrated at 60 (61 in traditional counting). From Koki on, the celebrations were originally counted in traditional age, which would make each one a year earlier than shown.
6.Yakudoshi (unlucky years) for people born in 2020
Yakudoshi are counted in traditional age (kazoedoshi = the calendar year − birth year + 1; everyone gains a year on 1 January, regardless of birthday).
| Yakudoshi | Mae-yaku (before) | Hon-yaku (main) | Ato-yaku (after) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Men, 25 | 2043 | 2044 | 2045 |
| Men, 42 (the great yakudoshi) | 2060 | 2061 | 2062 |
| Men, 61 | 2079 | 2080 | 2081 |
| Women, 19 | 2037 | 2038 | 2039 |
| Women, 33 (the great yakudoshi) | 2051 | 2052 | 2053 |
| Women, 37 | 2055 | 2056 | 2057 |
| Women, 61 | 2079 | 2080 | 2081 |
7.Fortune for the Rat in 2026 and 2027
2026: overall ★★☆☆☆ An uneven year: preparation and judgment are key
2027: overall ★★☆☆☆ An uneven year: preparation and judgment are key
Read the full fortune for the Rat →
8.The calendar of 2020
In 2020, Shichiseki Kinsei sat in the center of the Nine Star Ki year chart, and the lucky direction (where the year god Toshitokujin resides) was west-southwest. Years with the same eto are 1960 and 2080; years with the same eto and the same star come every 180 years (1840, 2200). The Boxer Rebellion of 1900 is also called the Gengzi Incident (庚子事変) in China.
Your birth year is only the start. Calculate the eto of your birth day (your Day Master) for a deeper look at your personality and fortune: try the free Four Pillars chart or astrology reading.
9.FAQ
How old is someone born in 2020?
They turn 6 on their birthday in 2026 (and are 5 before it). In traditional kazoedoshi counting they are 7.
What is the eto of 2020?
The eto of 2020 is 庚子 (Kanoe-ne), the Yang Metal Rat, a Year of the Rat.
What is the Nine Star Ki star for 2020?
People born on or after Risshun (Feb 4) are Shichiseki Kinsei; those born before it are Happaku Dosei.