{"id":107484,"date":"2024-03-06T00:22:49","date_gmt":"2024-03-06T05:22:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/learn\/zodiac-signs-in-japanese\/"},"modified":"2025-05-26T07:08:33","modified_gmt":"2025-05-26T11:08:33","slug":"zodiac-signs-in-japanese","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/japanese\/zodiac-signs-in-japanese\/","title":{"rendered":"Zodiac Signs in Japanese: What Your Japanese Birth Year, Birthdate and Blood Type Say About You"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>If you&#8217;re familiar with the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/japanese\/interesting-facts-about-japanese-language\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Japanese culture and language<\/a>, you may have already heard of <strong>\u5e72\u652f (\u3048\u3068)<\/strong> \u2014 the 12-animal zodiac. In the original myth, <a href=\"https:\/\/mythopedia.com\/topics\/jade-emperor\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">a supreme Chinese god<\/a> hosted a race for animals, and the top 12 winners became the zodiac. In order from first to last, they were: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Boar.<\/p>\n<p>This zodiac is prevalent in many East Asian cultures, and many people are well aware of their animal sign and the current &#8220;animal year.&#8221; So let&#8217;s talk about the zodiac signs in Japanese (both in Eastern and Western astrology), Japanese blood types, Japanese imperial reign eras and how you can use all of these to up your Japanese fluency. <strong><br \/>\n<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>[fluentu-toc]<\/p>\n<h2>What Is the Japanese Zodiac?<\/h2>\n<p>The Japanese zodiac <strong>has its roots in China,<\/strong> where the zodiac was a part of <strong>traditional Chinese astrology.<\/strong> Originally, it functioned as a timekeeping system, as well as a variety of other functions.<\/p>\n<p>The 12 animals of the ancient zodiac were also called the\u00a0\u5341\u4e8c\u652f (\u3058\u3085\u3046\u306b\u3057) \u2014 12 Earthly Branches. These were matched with the\u00a0\u5341\u5e72 (\u3058\u3063\u304b\u3093) \u2014 10 Heavenly Stems, which are the five natural elements of Earth, Wood, Water, Fire and Metal in both their <a href=\"https:\/\/iep.utm.edu\/yinyang\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><em>yin <\/em>and\u00a0<em>yang<\/em><\/a> forces. Together, the Earthly Branches and the Heavenly Stems created a functional calendar.<\/p>\n<p><strong>The Japanese zodiac differs from the original Chinese one<\/strong> in a few notable ways:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The Boar replaced the Pig.<\/li>\n<li>The Sheep replaced the Goat (or Ram).<\/li>\n<li>The solar (Gregorian) calendar replaced the original <a href=\"https:\/\/www.travelchinaguide.com\/intro\/focus\/calendar.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">lunar calendar used in traditional Chinese timekeeping<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>By the way, with a calendar or calculator, you can easily <a href=\"https:\/\/japanesezodiac.org\/japanese-zodiac-signs-chart.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">find out your Japanese zodiac sign<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2 data-pm-slice=\"1 1 []\">The 12 Zodiac Signs in Japanese<\/h2>\n<h3>Rat: \u5b50 (\u306d)<\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/site\/\/6\/zodiac-signs-in-japanese-2.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-17424\" src=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/site\/\/6\/zodiac-signs-in-japanese-2.jpg\" alt=\"rat-eating-food\" width=\"500\" height=\"333\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Animal kanji:<\/strong> \u9f20 (\u306d\u305a\u307f)<\/p>\n<p><strong>Birth years: <\/strong>1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, 2020<\/p>\n<p><strong>Positive attributes:<\/strong> outgoing, energetic, resourceful<\/p>\n<p><strong>Negative attributes:<\/strong> rude, greedy<\/p>\n<p>As number one in the zodiac, the Rat has some outstanding qualities. According to the myth, the clever Rat hitched a ride on the Ox and leapt over the finish line to become the first place winner.<\/p>\n<p>The Rat embodies luck and success, and so a Rat year is said to be a great one for fresh starts. While a Rat person can be extremely capable and intelligent, they may also be hard to read and have a miserly streak.<\/p>\n<h3>Ox: \u4e11 (\u3046\u3057)<\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/site\/\/6\/zodiac-signs-in-japanese-3.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-17425\" src=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/site\/\/6\/zodiac-signs-in-japanese-3.jpg\" alt=\"ox-sitting-in-grass\" width=\"500\" height=\"333\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Animal kanji:<\/strong> \u725b (\u3046\u3057)<\/p>\n<p><strong>Birth years: <\/strong>1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009, 2021<\/p>\n<p><strong>Positive attributes:<\/strong> hardworking, earnest, trustworthy<\/p>\n<p><strong>Negative attributes:<\/strong> narrow-minded, constrained<\/p>\n<p>With Asia&#8217;s heavily agrarian history, it&#8217;s no surprise that many of its cultures find significance in the ever-useful Ox.<\/p>\n<p>The Ox spurns laziness and understands the power of combining patience with hard work. However, Ox people are also quite stubborn and want to remain on the path they&#8217;ve chosen, and so it may be hard to persuade them to change their mind or consider an alternative point of view.<\/p>\n<h3>Tiger: \u5bc5 (\u3068\u3089)<\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/site\/\/6\/zodiac-signs-in-japanese-4.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-17426\" src=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/site\/\/6\/zodiac-signs-in-japanese-4.jpg\" alt=\"tiger-lying-down-in-forest\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Animal kanji:<\/strong> \u864e (\u3068\u3089)<\/p>\n<p><strong>Birth years: <\/strong>1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010, 2022<\/p>\n<p><strong>Positive attributes:<\/strong> brave, confident, passionate<\/p>\n<p><strong>Negative attributes:<\/strong> temperamental, impulsive<\/p>\n<p>The ferocious Tiger is a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.metmuseum.org\/toah\/hd\/tidra\/hd_tidra.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">highly revered animal in East Asian culture<\/a>, often depicted as a creature rivaling or just secondary to the mighty Dragon.<\/p>\n<p>A Tiger person will get things done with vigor and wit. They aren&#8217;t afraid to show how much they care for others, and so have great potential as leaders. However, they tend to have &#8220;up-and-down&#8221; and unpredictable personalities that can cause issues in their life and relationships.<\/p>\n<h3>Rabbit: \u536f (\u3046)<\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/site\/\/6\/zodiac-signs-in-japanese-5.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-17427\" src=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/site\/\/6\/zodiac-signs-in-japanese-5.jpg\" alt=\"rabbit-sitting-on-pebbles\" width=\"500\" height=\"359\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Animal kanji:<\/strong> \u514e (\u3046\u3055\u304e)<\/p>\n<p><strong>Birth years: <\/strong>1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011, 2023<\/p>\n<p><strong>Positive attributes:<\/strong> elegant, talented, tactful<\/p>\n<p><strong>Negative attributes:<\/strong> gullible, bendable will<\/p>\n<p>Those born in the Year of the Rabbit can often be described as admirable and progress-driven people.<\/p>\n<p>You could certainly trust a Rabbit person to carry out a task with poise. On the other hand, they could be easily deceived or find themselves falling victim to unscrupulous types.<\/p>\n<h3>Dragon: \u8fb0 (\u305f\u3064)<\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/site\/\/6\/close-up-of-gray-dragon-carving-on-temple-roof.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-44392 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/site\/\/6\/close-up-of-gray-dragon-carving-on-temple-roof.jpg\" alt=\"close-up-of-gray-dragon-carving-on-temple-roof\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1275\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Animal kanji:<\/strong> \u7adc (\u308a\u3085\u3046)<\/p>\n<p><strong>Birth years: <\/strong>1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012, 2024<\/p>\n<p><strong>Positive attributes:<\/strong> steadfast, noble, brave<\/p>\n<p><strong>Negative attributes:<\/strong> short-tempered, uncontrollable<\/p>\n<p>The Dragon is an incredibly important creature in Asian mythology that embodies otherworldly grace and strength. In fact, according to the origin myth of the zodiac, the Dragon did not finish first because it chose to help out some of the others during the race instead.<\/p>\n<p>A Dragon person is likely to be charismatic, unique and inspiring due to their unwavering nature. However, as is typical of the giant lizards of lore, they&#8217;re prone to losing control of their moods and decisions.<\/p>\n<h3>Snake: \u5df3 (\u307f)<\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/site\/\/6\/zodiac-signs-in-japanese-7.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-17429\" src=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/site\/\/6\/zodiac-signs-in-japanese-7.jpg\" alt=\"green-snake-wrapped-around-branches\" width=\"500\" height=\"333\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Animal kanji:<\/strong> \u86c7 (\u3078\u3073)<\/p>\n<p><strong>Birth years: <\/strong>1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013, 2025<\/p>\n<p><strong>Positive attributes:<\/strong> observant, wise, persistent<\/p>\n<p><strong>Negative attributes:<\/strong> indifferent, negatively introverted<\/p>\n<p>While Western culture often gives snakes a bad rap, Asian culture is much kinder on these sleek, elegant creatures. In the myth, the Snake realized its physical shortcomings and hitched a ride on the Horse, remaining unseen until the finish line.<\/p>\n<p>Snake individuals are said to be intelligent and thoughtful, as well as particularly suave with money matters. But the Snake can also seem like a cold individual, especially since they aren&#8217;t inclined to share their opinions and true feelings with others.<\/p>\n<h3>Horse: \u5348 (\u3046\u307e)<\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/site\/\/6\/zodiac-signs-in-japanese-8.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-17430\" src=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/site\/\/6\/zodiac-signs-in-japanese-8.jpg\" alt=\"two-brown-horses-and-one-black-horse-in-the-middle\" width=\"500\" height=\"333\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Animal kanji:<\/strong> \u99ac (\u3046\u307e)<\/p>\n<p><strong>Birth years: <\/strong>1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014, 2026<\/p>\n<p><strong>Positive attributes:<\/strong> sociable, charming, determined<\/p>\n<p><strong>Negative attributes:<\/strong> impatient, inconsiderate<\/p>\n<p>Much like their animal namesake, a Horse person is spirited and loves to be on the move\u2014whether on a personal project or a new social trend. They ooze enough charisma to win them hordes of admirers.<\/p>\n<p>On the flip side, the Horse can get bored easily and become quickly demotivated when things don&#8217;t pan out their way. Their sociable nature can also come across as intrusiveness at times.<\/p>\n<h3>Sheep: \u672a (\u3072\u3064\u3058)<\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/site\/\/6\/zodiac-signs-in-japanese-9.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-17431\" src=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/site\/\/6\/zodiac-signs-in-japanese-9.jpg\" alt=\"one-baby-sheep-and-one-adult-sheep\" width=\"500\" height=\"334\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Animal kanji:<\/strong> \u7f8a (\u3072\u3064\u3058)<\/p>\n<p><strong>Birth years: <\/strong>1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015, 2027<\/p>\n<p><strong>Positive attributes:<\/strong> creative, kind, considerate, passionate<\/p>\n<p><strong>Negative attributes:<\/strong> indecisive, overly meek<\/p>\n<p>Interestingly, the Japanese zodiac often considers the Sheep as least compatible with the Ox, despite their animal counterparts both being four-legged agricultural livestock.<\/p>\n<p>Like the animal, the Sheep is said to be peace-loving and group-focused, as well as artistically gifted. But while obedience is a desirable trait in the actual animal, a Sheep person may be perceived as overly uncertain about themselves.\u00a0<\/p>\n<h3>Monkey: \u7533 (\u3055\u308b)<\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/site\/\/6\/zodiac-signs-in-japanese-10.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-17432\" src=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/site\/\/6\/zodiac-signs-in-japanese-10.jpg\" alt=\"monkey-poking-at-something-in-the-grass\" width=\"500\" height=\"398\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Animal kanji:<\/strong> \u733f (\u3055\u308b)<\/p>\n<p><strong>Birth years: <\/strong>1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016, 2028<\/p>\n<p><strong>Positive attributes:<\/strong> clever, versatile, resourceful<\/p>\n<p><strong>Negative attributes:<\/strong> manipulative, short-sighted<\/p>\n<p>East Asian cultures have a special reverence for monkeys. They&#8217;re often considered smart and smooth\u2014creatures who think as fast as they move.<\/p>\n<p>The zodiac Monkey is one of the most likely of the 12 zodiac animals to get out of a pinch as needed. However, the Monkey can also be arrogant and erratic, and doesn&#8217;t always consider the consequences of their actions. A Monkey is particularly compatible with other clever members of the zodiac, including the Rat and the Snake.<\/p>\n<h3>Rooster: \u9149 (\u3068\u308a)<\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/site\/\/6\/zodiac-signs-in-japanese-11.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-17433\" src=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/site\/\/6\/zodiac-signs-in-japanese-11.jpg\" alt=\"rooster-perched-on-brick\" width=\"500\" height=\"333\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Animal kanji:<\/strong> \u9d8f (\u3068\u308a)<\/p>\n<p><strong>Birth years: <\/strong>1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017, 2029<\/p>\n<p><strong>Positive attributes:<\/strong> diligent, devoted, independent<\/p>\n<p><strong>Negative attributes:<\/strong> overambitious, aggressive<\/p>\n<p>The Japanese word for rooster is technically \u96c4\u9d8f (\u304a\u3093\u3069\u308a), but the zodiac form may simply use \u9d8f (\u306b\u308f\u3068\u308a) \u2014 chicken. More frequently, the Japanese zodiac refers to the rooster as \u9149 (\u3068\u308a), which sounds like a reference to an unspecified bird.<\/p>\n<p>A Rooster individual enjoys being busy, takes pride in their efforts and doesn&#8217;t back down from challenges or speaking their mind. They may get a bit too confident or ambitious, however, which can leave them crushingly disappointed if they fail to achieve their goal.<\/p>\n<h3>Dog: \u620c (\u3044\u306c)<\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/site\/\/6\/zodiac-signs-in-japanese-12.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-17434\" src=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/site\/\/6\/zodiac-signs-in-japanese-12.jpg\" alt=\"cute-dog-looking-at-camera\" width=\"500\" height=\"333\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Animal kanji:\u00a0<\/strong>\u72ac (\u3044\u306c)<\/p>\n<p><strong>Birth years: <\/strong>1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018, 2030<\/p>\n<p><strong>Positive attributes:<\/strong> loyal, honest, down-to-earth<\/p>\n<p><strong>Negative attributes:<\/strong> stubborn, overly critical<\/p>\n<p>Loyalty is the hallmark of man&#8217;s best friend, and the zodiac Dog shares this trait. The Dog is often said to be the most faithful and dutiful of the zodiac members.<\/p>\n<p>A Dog individual may be cautious when forming relationships, but once they manage to create a bond, they will cherish it to the best of their ability. The Dog may struggle with giving or taking criticism, and their occasional obstinacy can make them difficult to deal with at times.<\/p>\n<h3>Boar: \u4ea5 (\u3044)<\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/site\/\/6\/zodiac-signs-in-japanese-13.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-17435\" src=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/site\/\/6\/zodiac-signs-in-japanese-13.jpg\" alt=\"wild-board-in-forest\" width=\"500\" height=\"333\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Animal kanji:<\/strong> \u732a (\u3044\u306e\u3057\u3057)<\/p>\n<p><strong>Birth years: <\/strong>1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019, 2031<\/p>\n<p><strong>Positive attributes:<\/strong> self-empowered, honest, humble<\/p>\n<p><strong>Negative attributes:<\/strong> short-tempered, na\u00efve<\/p>\n<p>Some variations of the zodiac myth say the Boar was last due to the creature&#8217;s inherent laziness. Others say it was due to overcompensation\u2014in one version, the Boar literally ran past the overseeing god and had to circle back.<\/p>\n<p>A Boar person possesses admirable inner strength, vitality and honesty\u2014all qualities that make for good, sincere companions. They can be quick to anger and immovable in their judgments, though, particularly if you find yourself on their bad side.<\/p>\n<h2><b>Japanese Horoscopes<\/b><\/h2>\n<p>Western astrological zodiac signs\u2014known as\u00a0\u661f\u5ea7 (\u305b\u3044\u3056)\u2014are also included in Japanese horoscope readings. The respective dates and characteristics of each sign remain the same\u2013it\u2019s really only the names that have changed.\u00a0<\/p>\n<h3><b>Aries: \u7261\u7f8a\u5ea7 (\u304a\u3072\u3064\u3058\u3056)<\/b><\/h3>\n<p>Sign of the Ram<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Dates: March 21\u2014April 19<\/li>\n<li>Characteristics: Optimistic, bold, genuine, impatient, reckless<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>Taurus: \u7261\u725b\u5ea7 (\u304a\u3046\u3057\u3056)<\/b><\/h3>\n<p>Sign of the Ox<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Dates: April 20\u2014May 20<\/li>\n<li>Characteristics: Pragmatic, hardworking, steadfast, stubborn, brooding<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>Gemini: \u53cc\u5b50\u5ea7 (\u3075\u305f\u3054\u3056)<\/b><\/h3>\n<p>Sign of the Twins<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Dates: May 21\u2014June 20<\/li>\n<li>Characteristics: Creative, curious, adaptable, indecisive, anxious<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>Cancer: \u87f9\u5ea7 (\u304b\u306b\u3056)<\/b><\/h3>\n<p>Sign of the Crab<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Dates: June 21\u2014July 22<\/li>\n<li>Characteristics: Caring, loyal, protective, suspicious, sensitive<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>Leo: \u7345\u5b50\u5ea7 (\u3057\u3057\u3056)<\/b><\/h3>\n<p>Sign of the Lion<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Dates: July 23\u2014August 22<\/li>\n<li>Characteristics: Passionate, friendly, generous, arrogant, overbearing<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>Virgo: \u4e59\u5973\u5ea7 (\u304a\u3068\u3081\u3056)<\/b><\/h3>\n<p>Sign of the Virgin<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Dates: August 23\u2014September 22<\/li>\n<li>Characteristics: Kind, reliable, humble, critical, uptight<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>Libra: \u5929\u79e4\u5ea7 (\u3066\u3093\u3073\u3093\u3056)<\/b><\/h3>\n<p>Sign of the Scales<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Dates: September 23\u2014October 22<\/li>\n<li>Characteristics: Diplomatic, empathetic, well-tempered, irresponsible, begrudging<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>Scorpio: \u880d\u5ea7 (\u3055\u305d\u308a\u3056)<\/b><\/h3>\n<p>Sign of the Scorpion<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Dates: October 23\u2014November 21<\/li>\n<li>Characteristics: Brave, ambitious, honest, jealous, controlling<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>Sagittarius: \u5c04\u624b\u5ea7 (\u3044\u3066\u3056)<\/b><\/h3>\n<p>Sign of the Archer<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Dates: November 22\u2014December 21<\/li>\n<li>Characteristics: Adventurous, intelligent, enthusiastic, impatient, disorganized<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>Capricorn: \u5c71\u7f8a\u5ea7 (\u3084\u304e\u3056)<\/b><\/h3>\n<p>Sign of the Goat<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Dates: December 22\u2014January 19<\/li>\n<li>Characteristics: Tenacious, grounded, responsible, hard to please, pessimistic<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>Aquarius: \u6c34\u74f6\u5ea7 (\u307f\u305a\u304c\u3081\u3056)<\/b><\/h3>\n<p>Sign of the Water Bearer<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Dates: January 20\u2014February 18<\/li>\n<li>Characteristics: Resourceful, fair, independent, standoffish, rebellious\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>Pisces: \u9b5a\u5ea7 (\u3046\u304a\u3056)<\/b><\/h3>\n<p>Sign of the Fish<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Dates: February 19\u2014March 20<\/li>\n<li>Characteristics: Thoughtful, artistic, intuitive, low self-esteem, lazy\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Japanese Blood Type Personalities<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/site\/\/6\/red-blood-cells-floating-everywhere.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-44394 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/site\/\/6\/red-blood-cells-floating-everywhere.jpg\" alt=\"red-blood-cells-floating-everywhere\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1097\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Genetic blood types, known as \u8840\u6db2\u578b (\u3051\u3064\u3048\u304d\u304c\u305f ) in Japanese, are also considered personality descriptors in Japan, as well as other East Asian countries. Granted, the system isn\u2019t considered an exact science, but it does pop up in social contexts at times.<\/p>\n<p>The majority of Japanese natives are Type A blood type, while Type AB is the rarest within the population. There are recommended matching systems between different types as well. Here are some very general characteristics of each blood type:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Type A:<\/strong> <strong>A\u578b (\u3048\u30fc\u304c\u305f)<\/strong> \u2014 diligent, organized, clever, perfectionist, anxious, sensitive<\/li>\n<li><strong>Type B:<\/strong> <strong>B\u578b (\u3073\u30fc\u304c\u305f)<\/strong> \u2014 thoughtful, passionate, creative, selfish, stubborn, impatient\u00a0<\/li>\n<li><strong>Type O:<\/strong> <strong>O\u578b (\u304a\u30fc\u304c\u305f)<\/strong> \u2014 confident, outgoing, generous, condescending, insensitive, jealous<\/li>\n<li><strong>Type AB:<\/strong> <strong>AB\u578b (\u3048\u30fc\u3073\u30fc\u304c\u305f)<\/strong> \u2014 reliable, practical, adaptable, indecisive, erratic, critical<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Japanese Eras and Birth Years<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/site\/\/6\/shot-of-gray-concrete-bridge-over-river-near-tokyo-imperial-palace.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-44396 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/site\/\/6\/shot-of-gray-concrete-bridge-over-river-near-tokyo-imperial-palace.jpg\" alt=\"shot-of-gray-concrete-bridge-over-river-near-tokyo-imperial-palace\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>There exists a unique Japanese era calendar based on the reigns of the country\u2019s emperors. The era is named after the emperor, and years are numbered consecutively until a new ruler presides, and then you start counting from Year 1 again. This system is known as \u5143\u53f7 (\u3052\u3093\u3054\u3046).<\/p>\n<p>The 1900s to 2000s include these monarchs:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Emperor Taish\u014d:<\/strong> <strong>\u5927\u6b63 (\u305f\u3044\u3057\u3087\u3046)<\/strong> \u2014 July 30, 1912 to December 25, 1926<\/li>\n<li><strong>Emperor Sh\u014dwa:<\/strong> <strong>\u662d\u548c (\u3057\u3087\u3046\u308f)<\/strong> \u2014 December 25, 1926 to January 7, 1989<\/li>\n<li><strong>Emperor Heisei:<\/strong> <strong>\u5e73\u6210 (\u3078\u3044\u305b\u3044)<\/strong> \u2014 January 8, 1989 to April 30, 2019<\/li>\n<li><strong>Emperor Reiwa:<\/strong> <strong>\u4ee4\u548c<\/strong> <strong>(\u308c\u3044\u308f)<\/strong> \u2014 May 1, 2019 to present<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>If you&#8217;re referring to an era, you&#8217;d append the term \u6642\u4ee3 (\u3058\u3060\u3044) to the emperor&#8217;s reign name. For example, the Taish\u014d Era would be the \u5927\u6b63\u6642\u4ee3 (\u305f\u3044\u3057\u3087\u3046\u3058\u3060\u3044).<\/p>\n<p>Under this system, here are some examples of how your birth years would be converted:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Birth year 1980 = Sh\u014dwa 55 (as 1980 is the 55th year of Emperor Sh\u014dwa\u2019s reign)<\/li>\n<li>Birth year 1991 = Heisei 3 (three years after the Heisei era began in 1989)<\/li>\n<li>Birth year 2020 = Reiwa 2 (two years after Emperor Reiwa&#8217;s reign started in 2019)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>This system is still used in many Japanese contexts, ranging from casual encounters to important political affairs. However, there\u2019s an ongoing debate regarding its overall relevance in recent times.<\/p>\n<h2>Why Learn the Japanese Zodiac?<\/h2>\n<p>Of course, learning the zodiac signs is <strong>a fun way to learn a few <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/japanese\/animals-in-japanese\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Japanese words for animals<\/a>.<\/strong> But there&#8217;s a bit more to it than that:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>They help you understand<\/strong> <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/japanese\/japanese-superstitions\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">superstitions in Japanese culture<\/a>.<\/strong> For example, it was believed that the year <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/1987\/01\/15\/world\/japan-s-zodiac-66-was-a-very-odd-year.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer nofollow\">1966 saw a staggering decline in Japan&#8217;s childbirth rate<\/a> due to the &#8220;curse&#8221; of the <strong>\u4e19\u5348 (\u3072\u306e\u3048\u3046\u307e) \u2014 Fire Horse<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>The zodiac continues to be a form of<\/strong> <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/japanese\/japanese-fortune-telling\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Japanese fortune telling<\/a>. <\/strong>Just like believers in the Western zodiac system, those who believe in the Japanese zodiac rely on their horoscopes for information and reassurance regarding their destiny, relationships, etc.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Notable zodiac-related ceremonies are still practiced today. <\/strong>For instance, the <strong>\u9084\u66a6 (\u304b\u3093\u308c\u304d)<\/strong> ceremony is held when one reaches 60 years of age, as that marks the end of one zodiac cycle and the beginning of a &#8220;new cycle&#8221; in that individual&#8217;s life.<\/li>\n<li><strong>The Japanese zodiac remains culturally prevalent.\u00a0<\/strong>Some shrines in Japan are dedicated to a specific zodiac animal. Visitors can write wishes on prayer boards called\u00a0<strong>\u7d75\u99ac (\u3048\u307e)<\/strong>, which often depict the animal of significance. You&#8217;ll also find mentions of the zodiac in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/japanese\/learn-japanese-tv-shows\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">TV shows<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/japanese\/learn-japanese-with-movies-films\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">movies<\/a> and other <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/japanese\/learn-japanese-with-youtube\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">native Japanese videos<\/a> like the kind you&#8217;ll find on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/japanese\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">FluentU<\/a> (where you&#8217;ll also find plenty of other vocabulary and cultural tidbits). <p><strong>FluentU<\/strong> takes authentic videos\u2014like music videos, movie trailers, news and inspiring talks\u2014and turns them into personalized language learning lessons.<\/p>\r\n<p><\/p>\r\n<p>You can try FluentU for free for 2 weeks. Check out the website or download <a href=\"https:\/\/apps.apple.com\/us\/app\/fluentu-learn-language-videos\/id917892175\">the iOS app<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/play.google.com\/store\/apps\/details?id=com.fluentflix.fluentu&amp;hl=en&amp;gl=US\">Android app.<\/a><\/p>\r\n<p><i><a data-bid=\"1\" data-no-instant=\"1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/try\/april-sale-3331\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">P.S. Click here to take advantage of our current sale! (Expires at the end of this month.)<\/a><\/i>\r\n<\/p>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">\r\n  <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/site\/\/6\/NativeAd-Japanese.jpg\" alt=\"FluentU Ad\" \/>\r\n  <p style=\"text-align: center\">\r\n    <button class=\"btn-blue\" style=\"border: none;font-size: 18px;text-align: center;padding: 0.75rem 1.5rem;cursor: pointer\">\r\n      Try FluentU for FREE!\r\n  <\/button>\r\n  <\/p>\r\n<\/a>\r\n<\/li>\n<li><strong>Many Japanese people pay special attention to the zodiac around New Year&#8217;s.<\/strong> If you <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/japanese\/japanese-travel-phrases\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">travel to Japan<\/a> around the end of the year, you&#8217;ll see an abundance of items depicting the next year&#8217;s animal.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>So, how much do you resonate with your zodiac animal?<\/p>\n<p>Keep the Japanese zodiac in mind around New Year&#8217;s, too, to see what&#8217;s in store for the next year!<\/p>\n<div class=\"aomtjapan\"> \r\n<p>\r\n<h2>And One More Thing...<\/h2>\r\n<p>\r\nIf you love learning Japanese with authentic materials, then I should also tell you <strong><a data-bid=\"1\" data-no-instant=\"1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/try\/april-sale-3331\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">more about FluentU<\/a>.<\/strong>\r\n<\/p>\r\n<p>\r\nFluentU naturally and gradually eases you into learning Japanese language and culture. You'll learn real Japanese as it's spoken in real life.\r\n<\/p>\r\n<p>\r\nFluentU has a broad range of contemporary videos as you'll see below:\r\n<\/p>\r\n<a data-bid=\"1\" data-no-instant=\"1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/try\/april-sale-3331\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-2474\" src=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/site\/\/6\/Japnaese-5.png\" alt=\"learn-japanese-with-videos\" width=\"307\" height=\"546\" \/><\/a>\r\n<p>\r\n<strong>FluentU makes these native Japanese videos approachable through interactive transcripts.<\/strong> Tap on any word to look it up instantly.\r\n<\/p>\r\n<a data-bid=\"1\" data-no-instant=\"1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/try\/april-sale-3331\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-2477\" src=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/site\/\/6\/Japanese-2.png\" alt=\"learn-japanese-with-songs\" width=\"307\" height=\"546\" \/><\/a>\r\n<p>\r\nAll definitions have multiple examples, and they're written for Japanese learners like you. Tap to add words you'd like to review to a vocab list.\r\n<\/p>\r\n<a data-bid=\"1\" data-no-instant=\"1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/try\/april-sale-3331\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-2476\" src=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/site\/\/6\/Japanese-6.png\" alt=\"learn-japanese-with-movies\" width=\"307\" height=\"546\" \/><\/a>\r\n<p>\r\nAnd FluentU has a learn mode which turns every video into a language learning lesson. You can always swipe left or right to see more examples.\r\n<\/p>\r\n<a data-bid=\"1\" data-no-instant=\"1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/try\/april-sale-3331\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-2478\" src=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/site\/\/6\/Japanese-7.png\" alt=\"practice-japanese-with-adaptive-quizzes\" width=\"307\" height=\"546\" \/><\/a>\r\n<p>\r\nThe best part? FluentU keeps track of your vocabulary, and gives you extra practice with difficult words. It'll even remind you when it\u2019s time to review what you\u2019ve learned.<strong> You'll have a 100% personalized experience. <\/strong>\r\n<\/p>\r\n<p>\r\nStart using the FluentU website on your computer or tablet or, better yet, download the FluentU app from the iTunes or Google Play store. <a data-bid=\"1\" data-no-instant=\"1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/try\/april-sale-3331\/\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Click here to take advantage of our current sale! (Expires at the end of this month.)<\/a>\r\n<\/p> <\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>If you&#8217;re familiar with the Japanese culture and language, you may have already heard of \u5e72\u652f (\u3048\u3068) \u2014 the 12-animal zodiac. In the original myth, a supreme Chinese god hosted&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":413,"featured_media":226886,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"slim_seo":{"title":"Zodiac Signs in Japanese: What Your Japanese Birth Year, Birthdate and Blood Type Say About You | FluentU Japanese Blog","description":"Discover the zodiac signs in Japanese, including the character traits for each of the 12 zodiac animals. You'll also learn all about your horoscopes in Japanese, why your blood type matters in Japan and what you need to know about Japan's imperial eras. Read all about the Japanese zodiac signs here!"},"footnotes":""},"categories":[545,548],"tags":[],"coauthors":[185],"class_list":["post-107484","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-japanese","category-vocabulary-japanese"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/107484","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/413"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=107484"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/107484\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":253860,"href":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/107484\/revisions\/253860"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/226886"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=107484"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=107484"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=107484"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=107484"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}