At the end of May, my family came to visit Japan to celebrate my father’s 60th birthday. At 60, according to the Chinese zodiac, a person has returned to the calendar sign under which the person was born after completing a full cycle of the twelve-pronged zodiac calendar. Although originally a Chinese tradition, it is arguable that Japanese society probably observes this tradition more closely now.

5月下旬、私の家族は日本に来て、父の60歳の誕生日を祝いました。日本では、還暦祝いは満年齢で60歳（数え年で61歳）を迎えたことを喜び、長寿を祝う行事です。還暦は元来中国からの伝統ですが、今は日本の方がもっと人気で、伝統を守っていますね。今まで、中国、韓国やシンガポールも住みましたが、日本以外では、この行事は残っていません。