The Twelve Signs of the Japanese Zodiac

Does your Zodiac sign fit your personality?

The twelve signs of the Japanese zodiac: Nezumi (Rat), Ushi (Ox), Tora (Tiger), Usagi (Rabbit), Tatsu (Dragon), Hebi (Snake), Uma (Horse), Hitsuji (Sheep), Saru (Monkey), Tori (Rooster), Inu (Dog), and Inoshishi (Boar)

ThoughtCo / Nusha Ashjaee

The Japanese zodiac (Juunishi) is divided into 12 blocks with each block containing a group of years. The years in each block are 12 years apart from the previous or following year (in that block only). Each block is given a name of an animal based on the ancient Chinese concept that all time shifts are based on these twelve units. In Japan, the adoption of the twelve-year cycle, with a different animal representing each block, is fairly common.

Those individuals born during a particular year were said to inherit some of the personalities of that year's animal. Have a look below to see what year and animal you are.

Rat (nezumi)

Born 2008, 1996, 1984, 1972, 1960, 1948, 1936, 1924, 1912. People born in the year of the Rat are charming, honest, ambitious, and have a tremendous capacity for pursuing a course to its end. They will work hard for their goals. They are easily angered but maintain an outward show of control.

Ox (ushi)


Tiger (tora)


Rabbit (usagi)


Dragon (tatsu)


Snake (hebi)


Horse (uma)


Sheep (hitsuji)


Monkey (saru)


Rooster (tori)


Dog (inu)


Boar (inoshishi)


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Your Citation
Abe, Namiko. "The Twelve Signs of the Japanese Zodiac." ThoughtCo, Jul. 30, 2021, Abe, Namiko. (2021, July 30). The Twelve Signs of the Japanese Zodiac. Retrieved from Abe, Namiko. "The Twelve Signs of the Japanese Zodiac." ThoughtCo. (accessed December 7, 2021).