Japanese longevity celebrations
Beiju 米寿
Japan’s celebration of turning 88
Beiju (written 米寿, read べいじゅ) is one of Japan’s traditional longevity milestones — a set of birthdays, starting at 60, that families mark with a gathering and gifts. Each has a name drawn from a kanji character or a classical reference, and each has a customary color.
Why 88?
The character 米 (rice) breaks down into 八十八 (88).
The color: Gold
Gifts and decorations for the day are commonly chosen in this color. Which color goes with which age varies somewhat by region and source; the one shown here is the most widely cited.
Who reaches Beiju in 2026?
By Western age counting, anyone born in 1938 turns 88 this year. Japan traditionally used kazoe-doshi — you are 1 at birth and gain a year every New Year’s Day — so some families celebrate a year earlier, in the year the person turns 87 by Western count (born 1939).
Someone born in 1938 reaches Beiju in 2026 reached (2025 by kazoe count)
All seven milestones
Ages are given by Western (full-year) count unless noted. Only the widely documented, standard explanations are shown — no invented meanings. About our data