the year before a critical age; the year before an inauspicious year
Refers to the year immediately preceding a person's 厄年 (yakudoshi), a traditionally unlucky age in Japanese culture. Often associated with preventive rituals or visits to shrines.
See also: 厄年
Next year is my main unlucky year, so this year is the year before it.
Many people undergo purification rituals during the year before their critical age.
Compound of 前 (mae, 'before') and 厄 (yaku, 'misfortune' or 'calamity'), referring to the year before a traditionally unlucky age.