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Japanese Longevity Celebrations: Kanreki, Koki, Kiju and More

From Kanreki to Koki, Japan celebrates different birthdays with distinct names. Here is each age and the origin of its name.

Kanreki (ι‚„ζš¦) β€” Age 60

Named for the idea that the 60-year cycle of the traditional zodiac calendar returns to the sign of one's birth year β€” "the calendar returns." The best-known of the longevity celebrations, traditionally marked with the gift of a red vest.

Koki (叀希) β€” Age 70

Believed to derive from a line in a poem by the Chinese poet Du Fu: "living to 70 has been rare since ancient times."

Kiju (ε–œε―Ώ) β€” Age 77

A uniquely Japanese celebration name, derived from the cursive form of the character for "joy" (ε–œ), which resembles the character combination for "seventy-seven."

Sanju (ε‚˜ε―Ώ) β€” Age 80

Derived from the simplified form of the character for "umbrella" (ε‚˜), which resembles the characters for "eighty."

Beiju (η±³ε―Ώ) β€” Age 88

A well-known longevity celebration derived from the fact that the character for "rice" (η±³) can be broken down into components resembling "eighty-eight."

Sotsuju (卒寿) β€” Age 90

Derived from the simplified form of the character for "graduate/complete" (卒), which resembles the characters for "ninety."

Hakuju (η™½ε―Ώ) β€” Age 99

Derived from the fact that removing the top horizontal stroke from the character for "hundred" (η™Ύ) leaves the character for "white" (η™½) β€” representing 100 minus 1, or 99.

Hyakuju (η™Ύε―Ώ) / Kiju (η΄€ε―Ώ) β€” Age 100

A celebration of literally turning 100, named "Hyakuju" after the character for "hundred" (η™Ύ), or alternatively "Kiju" using the character "η΄€" meaning a century.

Why is Kanreki celebrated with the color red?

Because turning 60 marks the zodiac cycle returning to one's birth sign β€” as if "returning to infancy" β€” the custom of gifting a red vest and headwear is said to have arisen from this idea. Some regional variation exists in the colors or items given.

Traditional age or actual age?

The ages for these longevity celebrations were traditionally counted using the old East Asian counting system, but today many families use actual (Western-style) age instead. There is no strict rule, so timing can be adjusted to suit the family's circumstances.

Frequently Asked Questions

Must Kanreki be celebrated exactly at age 60?

Kanreki fundamentally refers to the actual age of 60 (when the zodiac cycle completes), but the actual celebration can be timed around a birthday or whenever it's convenient for the family to gather.

Is a longevity celebration something that must be done?

It is not a strict obligation but a customary way for family and loved ones to celebrate someone's longevity. A simple meal together or a heartfelt expression of gratitude, without any rigid formality, is more than sufficient.