Japanese Calendar
Archive
Although most people in Japan use, or at least are familiar with, the Western calendar (seireki), the traditional calendar is used for official documents. A conversion chart is provided below.
The traditional Japanese calendar is based on the reign period of the emperor. Each time a different emperor begins to rule, a new counting of the years begins and the period acquires a new name.
- 2019 – Present ~ Reiwa Era
- 1989 – 2019 ~ Heisei Era
- 1926 – 1989 ~ Showa Era
- 1912 – 1926 ~ Taisho Era
2019 – Present ~ Reiwa Era
| Western Calendar | Japanese Calendar | Western Calendar | Japanese Calendar |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Reiwa 4 | 2021 | Reiwa 3 |
| 2020 | Reiwa 2 | 2019 | Reiwa 1 / Heisei 31 |
1989 – 2019 ~ Heisei Era
| Western Calendar | Japanese Calendar | Western Calendar | Japanese Calendar |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Reiwa 1 / Heisei 31 | ||
| 2018 | Heisei 30 | 2003 | Heisei 15 |
| 2017 | Heisei 29 | 2002 | Heisei 14 |
| 2016 | Heisei 28 | 2001 | Heisei 13 |
| 2015 | Heisei 27 | 2000 | Heisei 12 |
| 2014 | Heisei 26 | 1999 | Heisei 11 |
| 2013 | Heisei 25 | 1998 | Heisei 10 |
| 2012 | Heisei 24 | 1997 | Heisei 9 |
| 2011 | Heisei 23 | 1996 | Heisei 8 |
| 2010 | Heisei 22 | 1995 | Heisei 7 |
| 2009 | Heisei 21 | 1994 | Heisei 6 |
| 2008 | Heisei 20 | 1993 | Heisei 5 |
| 2007 | Heisei 19 | 1992 | Heisei 4 |
| 2006 | Heisei 18 | 1991 | Heisei 3 |
| 2005 | Heisei 17 | 1990 | Heisei 2 |
| 2004 | Heisei 16 | 1989 | Heisei 1 / Showa 64 |
1926 – 1989 ~ Showa Era
| Western Calendar | Japanese Calendar | Western Calendar | Japanese Calendar |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | Showa 64 / Heisei 1 | 1957 | Showa 32 |
| 1988 | Showa 63 | 1956 | Showa 31 |
| 1987 | Showa 62 | 1955 | Showa 30 |
| 1986 | Showa 61 | 1954 | Showa 29 |
| 1985 | Showa 60 | 1953 | Showa 28 |
| 1984 | Showa 59 | 1952 | Showa 27 |
| 1983 | Showa 58 | 1951 | Showa 26 |
| 1982 | Showa 57 | 1950 | Showa 25 |
| 1981 | Showa 56 | 1949 | Showa 24 |
| 1980 | Showa 55 | 1948 | Showa 23 |
| 1979 | Showa 54 | 1947 | Showa 22 |
| 1978 | Showa 53 | 1946 | Showa 21 |
| 1977 | Showa 52 | 1945 | Showa 20 |
| 1976 | Showa 51 | 1944 | Showa 19 |
| 1975 | Showa 50 | 1943 | Showa 18 |
| 1974 | Showa 49 | 1942 | Showa 17 |
| 1973 | Showa 48 | 1941 | Showa 16 |
| 1972 | Showa 47 | 1940 | Showa 15 |
| 1971 | Showa 46 | 1939 | Showa 14 |
| 1970 | Showa 45 | 1938 | Showa 13 |
| 1969 | Showa 44 | 1937 | Showa 12 |
| 1968 | Showa 43 | 1936 | Showa 11 |
| 1967 | Showa 42 | 1935 | Showa 10 |
| 1966 | Showa 41 | 1934 | Showa 9 |
| 1965 | Showa 40 | 1933 | Showa 8 |
| 1964 | Showa 39 | 1932 | Showa 7 |
| 1963 | Showa 38 | 1931 | Showa 6 |
| 1962 | Showa 37 | 1930 | Showa 5 |
| 1961 | Showa 36 | 1929 | Showa 4 |
| 1960 | Showa 35 | 1928 | Showa 3 |
| 1959 | Showa 34 | 1927 | Showa 2 |
| 1958 | Showa 33 | 1926 | Showa 1 / Taisho 15 |
1912 – 1926 ~ Taisho Era
| Western Calendar | Japanese Calendar | Western Calendar | Japanese Calendar |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1926 | Taisho 15 / Showa 1 | 1918 | Taisho 7 |
| 1925 | Taisho 14 | 1917 | Taisho 6 |
| 1924 | Taisho 13 | 1916 | Taisho 5 |
| 1923 | Taisho 12 | 1915 | Taisho 4 |
| 1922 | Taisho 11 | 1914 | Taisho 3 |
| 1921 | Taisho 10 | 1913 | Taisho 2 |
| 1920 | Taisho 9 | 1912 | Taisho 1 |
| 1919 | Taisho 8 |