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Shōwa 56 in the Western calendar
昭和五十六年
=
1981
Year 56 of the Shōwa era is 1981 in the Western calendar.
Western year
1981
Kanji form
昭和五十六年
as stamped on coins
Abbreviation
S56
on licenses & forms
Zodiac
辛酉 Metal Rooster
Era position
Year 56 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 昭和五十六年 — 五十六 is five-ten-six, so it reads 56.
Quick conversion rule: Shōwa year + 1925 = Western year (Shōwa 56 + 1925 = 1981).