Japanese Calendar

Japanese Calendar

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.

•  1989 - Present ~ Heisei Era
•  1926 - 1989 ~ Showa Era
•  1912 - 1926 ~ Taisho Era

 

1989 - Present ~ Heisei Era

Western Calendar	Japanese Calendar	Western Calendar	Japanese Calendar
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