How to use
- Enter a Gregorian year to see its Japanese era year and zodiac sign.
- Or pick an era and year number, such as Showa 50, to find the Gregorian year.
- For years in which the era changed, use the exact date converter to see which era applies.
- Scroll the chart below to look up any year from 1868 to next year.
Japanese eras since 1868
| Era | Kanji | Began | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reiwa | 令和 | 1 May 2019 | 2019– |
| Heisei | 平成 | 8 January 1989 | 1989–2019 |
| Showa | 昭和 | 25 December 1926 | 1926–1989 |
| Taisho | 大正 | 30 July 1912 | 1912–1926 |
| Meiji | 明治 | 1868 | 1868–1912 |
How to write a Japanese era date
Japanese dates put the era first, then year, month and day: 令和7年10月6日 is Reiwa 7, 6 October, which is 6 October 2025. The first year of an era is written 元年 (gannen) instead of 1年. On forms, eras are often abbreviated to one letter: R (Reiwa), H (Heisei), S (Showa), T (Taisho) and M (Meiji).
Frequently asked questions
What year is Reiwa 1?
Reiwa 1 is 2019, starting from 1 May 2019. To convert a Reiwa year to a Gregorian year, add 2018.
How do I convert Heisei and Showa years?
Add 1988 to a Heisei year and 1925 to a Showa year. For example, Heisei 10 is 1998 and Showa 60 is 1985.
Why does 1989 have two eras?
Emperor Showa died on 7 January 1989. 1–7 January is Showa 64 and from 8 January it is Heisei 1. Likewise, 2019 is Heisei 31 until 30 April and Reiwa 1 from 1 May.
How are ages in the chart calculated?
The age is the age a person born in that year reaches on their birthday this year. Before their birthday they are one year younger.