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Meiji 17 in the Western calendar
明治十七年
=
1884
Year 17 of the Meiji era is 1884 in the Western calendar.
Western year
1884
Kanji form
明治十七年
as stamped on coins
Abbreviation
M17
on licenses & forms
Zodiac
甲申 Wood Monkey
Era position
Year 17 of 45
Meiji era (Oct 23, 1868 – Jul 29, 1912)
Age today
How to read it
On coins and formal documents the year is written 明治十七年 — 十七 is ten-seven, so it reads 17.
Quick conversion rule: Meiji year + 1867 = Western year (Meiji 17 + 1867 = 1884).
Convert another year
Any year from Meiji 1 (1868) onward. Everything runs in your browser.
Nearby years
Common questions about Meiji 17
What year is Meiji 17 in the Western calendar?
Meiji 17 (明治17年) is 1884. On Japanese forms it is often shortened to M17, and in kanji it is written 明治十七年.
How do I convert a Meiji year to a Western year?
Add 1867. Meiji 17 + 1867 = 1884, and the same rule works for every year in the Meiji era (Oct 23, 1868 – Jul 29, 1912).
How is Meiji 17 written on documents and coins?
It appears as 明治十七年 — the number is written with the kanji numeral 十七. A full date follows the same order, with the month and day after the year: 明治十七年◯月◯日.
What is the zodiac sign for Meiji 17?
1884 is the year of the Wood Monkey (甲申) in the Japanese sexagenary cycle.
Is the Meiji era still used today?
No — the Meiji era covers Oct 23, 1868 – Jul 29, 1912, so Meiji 17 is a past year. Japanese documents issued at the time still carry it.