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Shōwa 1 in the Western calendar
昭和元年
=
1926
Year 1 (gannen 元年) of the Shōwa era is 1926 in the Western calendar.
Western year
1926
Kanji form
昭和元年
as stamped on coins
Abbreviation
S1
on licenses & forms
Zodiac
丙寅 Fire Tiger
Era position
Year 1 of 64
Shōwa era (Dec 25, 1926 – Jan 7, 1989)
Age today
Era-change year
Shōwa 1 lasted just seven days: December 25 – 31, 1926. Dates earlier in 1926 belong to Taishō 15.
How to read it
On coins and formal documents the year is written 昭和元年 — the first year of an era is written 元年 (gannen, “origin year”), not 1年.
Quick conversion rule: Shōwa year + 1925 = Western year (Shōwa 1 + 1925 = 1926).