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Shōwa 61 in the Western calendar
昭和六十一年
=
1986
Year 61 of the Shōwa era is 1986 in the Western calendar.
Western year
1986
Kanji form
昭和六十一年
as stamped on coins
Abbreviation
S61
on licenses & forms
Zodiac
丙寅 Fire Tiger
Era position
Year 61 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 昭和六十一年 — 六十一 is six-ten-one, so it reads 61.
Quick conversion rule: Shōwa year + 1925 = Western year (Shōwa 61 + 1925 = 1986).
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Nearby years
Common questions about Shōwa 61
What year is Shōwa 61 in the Western calendar?
Shōwa 61 (昭和61年) is 1986. On Japanese forms it is often shortened to S61, and in kanji it is written 昭和六十一年.
How do I convert a Shōwa year to a Western year?
Add 1925. Shōwa 61 + 1925 = 1986, and the same rule works for every year in the Shōwa era (Dec 25, 1926 – Jan 7, 1989).
How is Shōwa 61 written on documents and coins?
It appears as 昭和六十一年 — the number is written with the kanji numeral 六十一. A full date follows the same order, with the month and day after the year: 昭和六十一年◯月◯日.
What is the zodiac sign for Shōwa 61?
1986 is the year of the Fire Tiger (丙寅) 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 61 is a past year. Japanese documents issued at the time still carry it.