Japanese Zodiac

Japanese Zodiac Signs Chart

The Japanese Zodiac Signs by Birth Year.

Click on your birth year within the chart below to read about your Japanese Zodiac Animal sign character.

The Animal	Japanese Writing	In Japanese we Say	The Year of Birth
Rat	ネズミ	Nezumi	2008, 1996, 1984, 1972, 1960, 1948, 1936, 1924, 1912
Ox	うし	Ushi	2009, 1997, 1985, 1973, 1961, 1949, 1937, 1925
Tiger	トラ	Tora	1998, 1986, 1974, 1962, 1950, 1938, 1926, 1914
Rabbit	うさぎ	Dragon	1999, 1987, 1975, 1963, 1951, 1939, 1927, 1915
Dragon	たつ	Tatsu	2000, 1988, 1976, 1964, 1952, 1940, 1928, 1916
Snake	へび	Hebi	2001, 1989, 1977, 1965, 1953, 1941, 1929, 1917
Horse	うま	Uma	2002, 1990, 1978, 1966, 1954, 1942, 1930, 1918, 1906
Sheep	ひつじ	Hitsuji	2003, 1991, 1979, 1967, 1955, 1943, 1931, 1919, 1907
Monkey	さる	Saru	2004, 1992, 1980, 1968, 1956, 1944, 1932, 1920, 1908
Rooster	とり	Tori	2005, 1981, 1969, 1957, 1945, 1933, 1921, 1909
Dog	いぬ	Inu	2006, 1982, 1970, 1958, 1946, 1934, 1922, 1910
Boar	いのしし	Inoshishi	2007, 1983, 1971, 1959, 1947, 1935, 1923, 1911

Facts About the Japanese Zodiac.

The Zodiac calendar was introduced from China during ancient times. Sources tell us this was around 604, which at during this period, the Empress Suiko reigned.

The western Zodiac which compromises 12 star signs for the 12 months of the year whereas the Japanese Zodiac is pretty different, it works by calculating the years which rolls back every 12 years. Each year is named after a specific animal such as the Snake ( hebi ), Dragon ( tatsu ), Dog ( inu ), etc which make up the 12 Japanese Zodiac animal signs.

Each persons Zodiac symbol is dependant on the year they were born.
For example, if someone was born in 2007, the Japanese Zodiac for this person would be the Boar or ( inoshishi ) as it is known in Japan.

The Zodiac system above is referenced through a specific name for men and women as well. In Japan, we say "toshi-otoko" for men and "toshi-onna" for women.

In order to facilitate the readings of the Japanese Zodiac calendar, the Japanese created/invented there very own Zodiac symbols using the 12 Animals which appear in the calendar below.