NENGO Japanese Era Converter
Japanese calendar today

Japanese Era ⇄ Western Year Converter

Convert Reiwa, Heisei, Shōwa, Taishō and Meiji years to the Western calendar — and back — instantly. Free, private, and accurate to the exact day the era changed.

Type a year like 1970…

Pick an era and type a year like 45…

What year is it in Japan right now?

2026 is Reiwa 8 in the Japanese calendar.

Quick rule: Western year − 2018 = Reiwa year (2026 − 2018 = 8). Everything about this year — kanji form, zodiac, how it appears on documents — is on the Reiwa 8 page.

Years people look up most

Jump straight to a year — each page has the kanji form, the abbreviation used on forms, the zodiac sign, and the age of someone born that year.

Reiwa
Heisei
Shōwa
Taishō
Meiji

Need a year that isn't listed? Use the converter above, or open the full table for Reiwa, Heisei, Shōwa, Taishō or Meiji.

Japanese era names — the five modern eras

Each era name corresponds to one emperor's reign. Click an era for its meaning, history, and full year-by-year table.

EraKanjiMeaningEmperorPeriodYearsConvert
Reiwabeautiful harmonyNaruhitoMay 1, 2019 – presentReiwa 1 = 2019+ 2018
Heiseiachieving peaceAkihitoJan 8, 1989 – Apr 30, 2019Heisei 1 = 1989+ 1988
Shōwaenlightened harmonyShōwa (Hirohito)Dec 25, 1926 – Jan 7, 1989Shōwa 1 = 1926+ 1925
Taishōgreat righteousnessTaishō (Yoshihito)Jul 30, 1912 – Dec 24, 1926Taishō 1 = 1912+ 1911
Meijienlightened ruleMeiji (Mutsuhito)Oct 23, 1868 – Jul 29, 1912Meiji 1 = 1868+ 1867

The "meaning" column is the customary English gloss of each name. The "convert" column is the shortcut: Shōwa year + 1925 = Western year (e.g. Shōwa 45 + 1925 = 1970). Year 1 of an era is called gannen.

Where you'll meet Japanese era years

Era years are everywhere in Japan — knowing how to convert them helps you read:

Frequently asked questions

What year is Reiwa 8 in the Western calendar?
Reiwa 8 is 2026. To convert any Reiwa year, add 2018 to it (Reiwa 1 = 2019).
What is a Japanese era name (gengō / nengō)?
A gengō (), also called nengō (), is the name of the period used for counting years in the official Japanese calendar. Since 1868 each era matches one emperor's reign: Meiji, Taishō, Shōwa, Heisei, and the current Reiwa era, which began on May 1, 2019. Era years appear on Japanese official documents, driver's licenses, coins, and forms.
Why do some years, like 1989 and 2019, have two era names?
Because the era changes partway through the calendar year when an emperor's reign ends. In 1989, January 1–7 was Shōwa 64 and January 8 onward was Heisei 1. In 2019, January 1 – April 30 was Heisei 31 and May 1 onward was Reiwa 1. The same happened in 1912 (Meiji 45 / Taishō 1) and 1926 (Taishō 15 / Shōwa 1).
How do I read a date like 昭和45年 on a Japanese coin or document?
is the era name Shōwa and means year 45, so is Shōwa 45 = 1970. Coins often write the year in kanji numerals, e.g. (four-ten-five = 45). Year 1 of any era is written (gannen) instead of 1年. See the reading guide for step-by-step examples.
What year came before Reiwa 1?
Heisei 31. Emperor Akihito abdicated on April 30, 2019 (Heisei 31), and the Reiwa era began the next day, May 1, 2019, under Emperor Naruhito.
Does this converter cover dates before 1868?
No. Before Meiji, Japan used over 240 historical era names and a lunar calendar, so accurate conversion needs specialized historical tables. This tool covers the five modern eras from Meiji (1868) to the present, which covers the coins, documents, cameras, and records you are most likely to encounter.