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The Reiwa era 令和
May 1, 2019 – present · Emperor Naruhito · era name glossed “beautiful harmony”
Reiwa is the current era, begun on May 1, 2019. Its name — officially glossed “beautiful harmony” — was the first era name drawn from a Japanese classic (the Man'yōshū poetry anthology) rather than Chinese classics.
Conversion rule: Reiwa year + 2018 = Western year. Year 1 is written 元年 (gannen).
How to read Reiwa dates
On coins
令和四年
kanji numerals — 四 reads 4, so this is Reiwa 4 = 2022
On forms & licenses
R4
the era is shortened to its initial — R4 means Reiwa 4
Year 1
令和元年
written 元年 (gannen, “origin year”), never 1年
Step-by-step examples for coins, documents and licenses: reading guide →
Reiwa era → Western year table
| Era year | Kanji | Western | Zodiac |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reiwa 1 | 令和元年 | 2019 | 亥 Pig |
| Reiwa 2 | 令和二年 | 2020 | 子 Rat |
| Reiwa 3 | 令和三年 | 2021 | 丑 Ox |
| Reiwa 4 | 令和四年 | 2022 | 寅 Tiger |
| Reiwa 5 | 令和五年 | 2023 | 卯 Rabbit |
| Reiwa 6 | 令和六年 | 2024 | 辰 Dragon |
| Reiwa 7 | 令和七年 | 2025 | 巳 Snake |
| Reiwa 8 | 令和八年 | 2026 | 午 Horse |
The Reiwa era is ongoing; this table runs through the current year and grows each January.
Common questions about the Reiwa era
What years does the Reiwa era cover?
The Reiwa era covers May 1, 2019 – present. In year terms: Reiwa 1 = 2019 through Reiwa 8 = 2026 — and it grows by one each January.
How do I convert a Reiwa year to a Western year?
Add 2018. Reiwa 4 + 2018 = 2022, and the same rule works for every year in the era. Going the other way, subtract 2018 from the Western year.
What does “Reiwa” mean?
The name 令和 is customarily glossed “beautiful harmony” in English. Each modern era name is chosen when a new emperor accedes — Reiwa corresponds to the reign of Emperor Naruhito. It was the first era name drawn from a Japanese classic — the Man'yōshū poetry anthology — rather than Chinese classics.
What is Reiwa 1 called?
元年 (gannen, “origin year”) — the first year of any era is written 令和元年, never 令和1年. On forms it may appear as R1.
Which years in this era have two era names?
2019 carries two names: January 1 – April 30 is Heisei 31, and May 1 onward is Reiwa 1. Documents dated 2019 can therefore show either era — check the month.