The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

JAPANESE CUSTOM

JAPANESE DO NOT OBSERVE INDIVIDUAL BIRTHDAYS. INSTEAD
IT IS THE CUSTOM TO CELEBRATE NEW YEAR AS A BIRTHDAY
FOR EACH PERSON. THUS JAPANESE HAVE TWO WAYS OF
COUNTING THEIR AGES; ACCORDING TO THE JAPANESE CALENDAR
(WHEN THE ADDED BIRTHDAY OF NEW YEAR'S IS INCLUDED
WITH THE ACTUAL DATE OF BIRTH), AND TO THE WESTERN
CALENDAR (THE ACTUAL DATE OF ONE'S BIRTH).
"KAZOETOSHI" IS THE TERM USED ACCORDING TO THE JAPANESE
CALENDAR. (THUS BABIES BY HAVING ANOTHER BIRTHDAY
ON NEW YEAR'S DAY ARE SUDDENLY ENTERING THEIR SECOND YEAR
BEFORE THE FIRST HAS HARDLY STARTED!).

Submitter comment: INFORMANT LEARNED THE ABOVE WHILE GROWING UP IN JAPAN.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; WARREN

Date learned: 08-01-1964