Converter › Taishō era
The Taishō era 大正
Jul 30, 1912 – Dec 24, 1926 · Emperor Taishō (Yoshihito) · era name glossed “great righteousness”
The short Taishō era (1912–1926) sits between Meiji modernization and the long Shōwa era. It began on July 30, 1912, so 1912 items can be marked either Meiji 45 or Taishō 1 — worth checking when dating antiques and documents.
Conversion rule: Taishō year + 1911 = Western year. Year 1 is written 元年 (gannen).
How to read Taishō dates
On coins
大正七年
kanji numerals — 七 reads 7, so this is Taishō 7 = 1918
On forms & licenses
T7
the era is shortened to its initial — T7 means Taishō 7
Year 1
大正元年
written 元年 (gannen, “origin year”), never 1年
Step-by-step examples for coins, documents and licenses: reading guide →
Taishō era → Western year table
| Era year | Kanji | Western | Zodiac |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taishō 1 | 大正元年 | 1912 | 子 Rat |
| Taishō 2 | 大正二年 | 1913 | 丑 Ox |
| Taishō 3 | 大正三年 | 1914 | 寅 Tiger |
| Taishō 4 | 大正四年 | 1915 | 卯 Rabbit |
| Taishō 5 | 大正五年 | 1916 | 辰 Dragon |
| Taishō 6 | 大正六年 | 1917 | 巳 Snake |
| Taishō 7 | 大正七年 | 1918 | 午 Horse |
| Taishō 8 | 大正八年 | 1919 | 未 Goat |
| Taishō 9 | 大正九年 | 1920 | 申 Monkey |
| Taishō 10 | 大正十年 | 1921 | 酉 Rooster |
| Taishō 11 | 大正十一年 | 1922 | 戌 Dog |
| Taishō 12 | 大正十二年 | 1923 | 亥 Pig |
| Taishō 13 | 大正十三年 | 1924 | 子 Rat |
| Taishō 14 | 大正十四年 | 1925 | 丑 Ox |
| Taishō 15 | 大正十五年 | 1926 | 寅 Tiger |
Common questions about the Taishō era
What years does the Taishō era cover?
The Taishō era covers Jul 30, 1912 – Dec 24, 1926. In year terms: Taishō 1 = 1912 through Taishō 15 = 1926.
How do I convert a Taishō year to a Western year?
Add 1911. Taishō 7 + 1911 = 1918, and the same rule works for every year in the era. Going the other way, subtract 1911 from the Western year.
What does “Taishō” mean?
The name 大正 is customarily glossed “great righteousness” in English. Each modern era name is chosen when a new emperor accedes — Taishō corresponds to the reign of Emperor Taishō (Yoshihito).
What is Taishō 1 called?
元年 (gannen, “origin year”) — the first year of any era is written 大正元年, never 大正1年. On forms it may appear as T1.
Which years in this era have two era names?
Both edge years are shared. 1912 is Meiji 45 through July 29, then Taishō 1 from July 30; 1926 is Taishō 15 through December 24, then Shōwa 1 from December 25.