Born in 2004 (Heisei 16): eto and age

1.The eto of 2004, and the Risshun rule

The eto of 2004 is 甲申 (Kinoe-saru, the Yang Wood Monkey). In Four Pillars, Nine Star Ki and other Eastern astrology, though, the year begins at Risshun (Feb 4 in 2004). People born between 1 January 2004 and the moment of Risshun (Feb 4, 20:56) are treated as the previous year's 癸未 Mizunoto-hitsuji and Roppaku Kinsei.

2.Personality of people born in 2004

甲申 combines 甲, the stem of a great tree, with 申, the monkey. Clever and nimble like a monkey, you think quickly, have many talents and an inexhaustible supply of ideas.

You are a natural leader with a strong sense of justice, and once you decide something you see it through. You look after people, and friends trust you deeply.

Read more: meaning of 甲申, Year of the Monkey and Goō Dosei.

3.School years in Japan for people born in 2004

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.

4.Longevity celebrations

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.

5.Yakudoshi (unlucky years) for people born in 2004

Yakudoshi are counted in traditional age (kazoedoshi = the calendar year − birth year + 1; everyone gains a year on 1 January, regardless of birthday).

6.Fortune for the Monkey in 2026 and 2027

2026: overall ★★☆☆☆ An uneven year: preparation and judgment are key

2027: overall ★★★☆☆ A steady year: consistent effort pays off

Read the full fortune for the Monkey →

7.The calendar of 2004

In 2004, Goō Dosei sat in the center of the Nine Star Ki year chart, and the lucky direction (where the year god Toshitokujin resides) was east-northeast. Years with the same eto are 1944 and 2064; years with the same eto and the same star come every 180 years (1824, 2184). The name is used for the Gapsin Coup (甲申政変) of 1884 in Korea.