Born in 2008 (Heisei 20): eto and age

1.The eto of 2008, and the Risshun rule

The eto of 2008 is 戊子 (Tsuchinoe-ne, the Yang Earth Rat). In Four Pillars, Nine Star Ki and other Eastern astrology, though, the year begins at Risshun (Feb 4 in 2008). People born between 1 January 2008 and the moment of Risshun (Feb 4, 20:00) are treated as the previous year's 丁亥 Hinoto-i and Jikoku Dosei.

2.Personality of people born in 2008

戊子 combines 戊, the stem of a mountain, 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.

Generous and big-hearted, you are fair to everyone. Calm and steady, you are the person others count on in a crisis.

Read more: meaning of 戊子, Year of the Rat and Ippaku Suisei.

3.School years in Japan for people born in 2008

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 2008

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 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 →

7.The calendar of 2008

In 2008, Ippaku Suisei sat in the center of the Nine Star Ki year chart, and the lucky direction (where the year god Toshitokujin resides) was south-southeast. Years with the same eto are 1948 and 2068; years with the same eto and the same star come every 180 years (1828, 2188).