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Shōwa 46 in the Western calendar
昭和四十六年
=
1971
Year 46 of the Shōwa era is 1971 in the Western calendar.
Western year
1971
Kanji form
昭和四十六年
as stamped on coins
Abbreviation
S46
on licenses & forms
Zodiac
辛亥 Metal Pig
Era position
Year 46 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 昭和四十六年 — 四十六 is four-ten-six, so it reads 46.
Quick conversion rule: Shōwa year + 1925 = Western year (Shōwa 46 + 1925 = 1971).
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Nearby years
Common questions about Shōwa 46
What year is Shōwa 46 in the Western calendar?
Shōwa 46 (昭和46年) is 1971. On Japanese forms it is often shortened to S46, and in kanji it is written 昭和四十六年.
How do I convert a Shōwa year to a Western year?
Add 1925. Shōwa 46 + 1925 = 1971, and the same rule works for every year in the Shōwa era (Dec 25, 1926 – Jan 7, 1989).
How is Shōwa 46 written on documents and coins?
It appears as 昭和四十六年 — the number is written with the kanji numeral 四十六. A full date follows the same order, with the month and day after the year: 昭和四十六年◯月◯日.
What is the zodiac sign for Shōwa 46?
1971 is the year of the Metal Pig (辛亥) 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 46 is a past year. Japanese documents issued at the time still carry it.