Converter › Heisei era › Heisei 8
Heisei 8 in the Western calendar
平成八年
=
1996
Year 8 of the Heisei era is 1996 in the Western calendar.
Western year
1996
Kanji form
平成八年
as stamped on coins
Abbreviation
H8
on licenses & forms
Zodiac
丙子 Fire Rat
Era position
Year 8 of 31
Heisei era (Jan 8, 1989 – Apr 30, 2019)
Age today
How to read it
On coins and formal documents the year is written 平成八年 — 八 is eight, so it reads 8.
Quick conversion rule: Heisei year + 1988 = Western year (Heisei 8 + 1988 = 1996).
Convert another year
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Nearby years
Common questions about Heisei 8
What year is Heisei 8 in the Western calendar?
Heisei 8 (平成8年) is 1996. On Japanese forms it is often shortened to H8, and in kanji it is written 平成八年.
How do I convert a Heisei year to a Western year?
Add 1988. Heisei 8 + 1988 = 1996, and the same rule works for every year in the Heisei era (Jan 8, 1989 – Apr 30, 2019).
How is Heisei 8 written on documents and coins?
It appears as 平成八年 — the number is written with the kanji numeral 八. A full date follows the same order, with the month and day after the year: 平成八年◯月◯日.
What is the zodiac sign for Heisei 8?
1996 is the year of the Fire Rat (丙子) in the Japanese sexagenary cycle.
Is the Heisei era still used today?
No — the Heisei era covers Jan 8, 1989 – Apr 30, 2019, so Heisei 8 is a past year. Japanese documents issued at the time still carry it.