Lifestyle · Japanese calendar

Japanese era converter

Japan counts years by imperial era (gengō). 2026 is Reiwa 8, the eighth year since Emperor Naruhito came to the throne. Official forms, contracts and residence cards often use era years, so it helps to convert quickly.

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Era start dates

Era	Began	Western years	Western year for year n
Reiwa 令和 Emperor Naruhito	1 May 2019	2019–	n + 2018
Heisei 平成 Emperor Akihito	8 Jan 1989	1989–2019	n + 1988
Shōwa 昭和 Emperor Shōwa (Hirohito)	25 Dec 1926	1926–1989	n + 1925
Taishō 大正 Emperor Taishō	30 Jul 1912	1912–1926	n + 1911
Meiji 明治 Emperor Meiji	25 Jan 1868	1868–1912	n + 1867

How era years work

A new era starts when a new emperor comes to the throne, and its first year is called gannen (元年) rather than 1. The year count does not restart on the anniversary: it follows the calendar year, so Reiwa 2 began on 1 January 2020.

In a year when the era changed, both names are correct for different parts of the year. 1989 was Shōwa 64 until 7 January and Heisei 1 from 8 January, and 2019 was Heisei 31 until 30 April and Reiwa 1 from 1 May.

On forms, dates are often written with the era's initial: R for Reiwa, H for Heisei, S for Shōwa, T for Taishō and M for Meiji. For example, 12 November 2026 is R8.11.12.

Japan switched to the Western (Gregorian) calendar in 1873. Before that, dates followed the old lunisolar calendar, so earlier Meiji dates do not match Western dates exactly.

Year table

Western years and their era years, from Shōwa 1 to Reiwa 20.

2038 Reiwa 20
2037 Reiwa 19
2036 Reiwa 18
2035 Reiwa 17
2034 Reiwa 16
2033 Reiwa 15
2032 Reiwa 14
2031 Reiwa 13
2030 Reiwa 12
2029 Reiwa 11
2028 Reiwa 10
2027 Reiwa 9
2026 Reiwa 8
2025 Reiwa 7
2024 Reiwa 6
2023 Reiwa 5
2022 Reiwa 4
2021 Reiwa 3
2020 Reiwa 2
2019 Heisei 31 / Reiwa 1
2018 Heisei 30
2017 Heisei 29
2016 Heisei 28
2015 Heisei 27
2014 Heisei 26
2013 Heisei 25
2012 Heisei 24
2011 Heisei 23
2010 Heisei 22
2009 Heisei 21
2008 Heisei 20
2007 Heisei 19
2006 Heisei 18
2005 Heisei 17
2004 Heisei 16
2003 Heisei 15
2002 Heisei 14
2001 Heisei 13
2000 Heisei 12
1999 Heisei 11
1998 Heisei 10
1997 Heisei 9
1996 Heisei 8
1995 Heisei 7
1994 Heisei 6
1993 Heisei 5
1992 Heisei 4
1991 Heisei 3
1990 Heisei 2
1989 Shōwa 64 / Heisei 1
1988 Shōwa 63
1987 Shōwa 62
1986 Shōwa 61
1985 Shōwa 60
1984 Shōwa 59
1983 Shōwa 58
1982 Shōwa 57
1981 Shōwa 56
1980 Shōwa 55
1979 Shōwa 54
1978 Shōwa 53
1977 Shōwa 52
1976 Shōwa 51
1975 Shōwa 50
1974 Shōwa 49
1973 Shōwa 48
1972 Shōwa 47
1971 Shōwa 46
1970 Shōwa 45
1969 Shōwa 44
1968 Shōwa 43
1967 Shōwa 42
1966 Shōwa 41
1965 Shōwa 40
1964 Shōwa 39
1963 Shōwa 38
1962 Shōwa 37
1961 Shōwa 36
1960 Shōwa 35
1959 Shōwa 34
1958 Shōwa 33
1957 Shōwa 32
1956 Shōwa 31
1955 Shōwa 30
1954 Shōwa 29
1953 Shōwa 28
1952 Shōwa 27
1951 Shōwa 26
1950 Shōwa 25
1949 Shōwa 24
1948 Shōwa 23
1947 Shōwa 22
1946 Shōwa 21
1945 Shōwa 20
1944 Shōwa 19
1943 Shōwa 18
1942 Shōwa 17
1941 Shōwa 16
1940 Shōwa 15
1939 Shōwa 14
1938 Shōwa 13
1937 Shōwa 12
1936 Shōwa 11
1935 Shōwa 10
1934 Shōwa 9
1933 Shōwa 8
1932 Shōwa 7
1931 Shōwa 6
1930 Shōwa 5
1929 Shōwa 4
1928 Shōwa 3
1927 Shōwa 2
1926 Taishō 15 / Shōwa 1

Japanese era converter

Western year → era year

Era year → Western year

Exact date → Japanese date

Era start dates

How era years work

Year table

See also