First Birthday

This might be a very silly question, please forgive my ignorance. In Japan for a baby's birthday after being alive for 365 days - would you call this a first birthday? Would the baby be considered 1 year old, (Age 1)? Thanks in advance.

Yes, this would be the child's first birthday. I think in Korea it is not counted as the first, but I'm not sure.

Thank you for your thoughtful reply.

The Japanese count their age in the same way as people in western countries do. I believe in China they traditionally added a year in order to include the time spent in the womb, but that is not the case in Japan now, although possibly it was in the past.

In Japan, practically, a baby will be "one year old" on the 365th day after birth.

But traditionally a baby is "one year old" upon birth and will be "two years old" on the next _New Years Day_ after birth.

So for example, when looking into the traditonal calender for fortune-telling, or recieving special blessings at shrines, or participating in traditional events, we count our ages in the traditional way.

However, when celebrating birthdays (the day you were born) or consulting to a medical doctor or registering official documents, we count our ages in the same way they do in France or the U.S.

I appreciate all the help. I was just sending a birthday card to a friend for her baby's first birthday and I wanted to select the right one! You all really helped out!!