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Meiji 31 in the Western calendar
明治三十一年
=
1898
Year 31 of the Meiji era is 1898 in the Western calendar.
Western year
1898
Kanji form
明治三十一年
as stamped on coins
Abbreviation
M31
on licenses & forms
Zodiac
戊戌 Earth Dog
Era position
Year 31 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 明治三十一年 — 三十一 is three-ten-one, so it reads 31.
Quick conversion rule: Meiji year + 1867 = Western year (Meiji 31 + 1867 = 1898).
Convert another year
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Nearby years
Common questions about Meiji 31
What year is Meiji 31 in the Western calendar?
Meiji 31 (明治31年) is 1898. On Japanese forms it is often shortened to M31, and in kanji it is written 明治三十一年.
How do I convert a Meiji year to a Western year?
Add 1867. Meiji 31 + 1867 = 1898, and the same rule works for every year in the Meiji era (Oct 23, 1868 – Jul 29, 1912).
How is Meiji 31 written on documents and coins?
It appears as 明治三十一年 — the number is written with the kanji numeral 三十一. A full date follows the same order, with the month and day after the year: 明治三十一年◯月◯日.
What is the zodiac sign for Meiji 31?
1898 is the year of the Earth Dog (戊戌) 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 31 is a past year. Japanese documents issued at the time still carry it.