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Shōwa 55 in the Western calendar
昭和五十五年
=
1980
Year 55 of the Shōwa era is 1980 in the Western calendar.
Western year
1980
Kanji form
昭和五十五年
as stamped on coins
Abbreviation
S55
on licenses & forms
Zodiac
庚申 Metal Monkey
Era position
Year 55 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 昭和五十五年 — 五十五 is five-ten-five, so it reads 55.
Quick conversion rule: Shōwa year + 1925 = Western year (Shōwa 55 + 1925 = 1980).
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Nearby years
Common questions about Shōwa 55
What year is Shōwa 55 in the Western calendar?
Shōwa 55 (昭和55年) is 1980. On Japanese forms it is often shortened to S55, and in kanji it is written 昭和五十五年.
How do I convert a Shōwa year to a Western year?
Add 1925. Shōwa 55 + 1925 = 1980, and the same rule works for every year in the Shōwa era (Dec 25, 1926 – Jan 7, 1989).
How is Shōwa 55 written on documents and coins?
It appears as 昭和五十五年 — the number is written with the kanji numeral 五十五. A full date follows the same order, with the month and day after the year: 昭和五十五年◯月◯日.
What is the zodiac sign for Shōwa 55?
1980 is the year of the Metal Monkey (庚申) 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 55 is a past year. Japanese documents issued at the time still carry it.