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Shōwa 40 in the Western calendar
昭和四十年
=
1965
Year 40 of the Shōwa era is 1965 in the Western calendar.
Western year
1965
Kanji form
昭和四十年
as stamped on coins
Abbreviation
S40
on licenses & forms
Zodiac
乙巳 Wood Snake
Era position
Year 40 of 64
Shōwa era (Dec 25, 1926 – Jan 7, 1989)
Age today
How to read it
On coins and formal documents the year is written 昭和四十年 — 四十 is four-ten, so it reads 40.
Quick conversion rule: Shōwa year + 1925 = Western year (Shōwa 40 + 1925 = 1965).
Convert another year
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Common questions about Shōwa 40
What year is Shōwa 40 in the Western calendar?
Shōwa 40 (昭和40年) is 1965. On Japanese forms it is often shortened to S40, and in kanji it is written 昭和四十年.
How do I convert a Shōwa year to a Western year?
Add 1925. Shōwa 40 + 1925 = 1965, and the same rule works for every year in the Shōwa era (Dec 25, 1926 – Jan 7, 1989).
How is Shōwa 40 written on documents and coins?
It appears as 昭和四十年 — the number is written with the kanji numeral 四十. A full date follows the same order, with the month and day after the year: 昭和四十年◯月◯日.
What is the zodiac sign for Shōwa 40?
1965 is the year of the Wood Snake (乙巳) in the Japanese sexagenary cycle.
Is the Shōwa era still used today?
No — the Shōwa era covers Dec 25, 1926 – Jan 7, 1989, so Shōwa 40 is a past year. Japanese documents issued at the time still carry it.