Japanese longevity celebrations
Sanju 傘寿
Japan’s celebration of turning 80
Sanju (written 傘寿, read さんじゅ) 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 80?
The abbreviated form of 傘 (umbrella) resembles 八十 (80).
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 Sanju in 2026?
By Western age counting, anyone born in 1946 turns 80 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 79 by Western count (born 1947).
Someone born in 1946 reaches Sanju 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