Yen & Zen · For residents
Western year ↔ Japanese era
Convert any year between Gregorian (西暦) and Japanese era (和暦)—Reiwa, Heisei, Showa, Taisho, Meiji.
A.
Western → Era
B.
Era → Western
About the Japanese era system
Japan uses both the Gregorian calendar and a regnal era system tied to the reigning emperor. The current era, Reiwa (令和), began on May 1, 2019. The previous eras still appear constantly on official forms, train tickets, expiration dates, and signage—so converting between them is a daily task for many residents and a frequent source of confusion for travelers.
Frequently asked
- Why is year 1 of an era written as 元年?
- The first year of any era is traditionally written 元年 (gannen), not 1年. From the second year onward, regular numerals are used: 2年, 3年, etc.
- Do I round when an era starts or ends mid-year?
- No. The era applies starting on the exact date of accession and ends on the exact date of the next emperor’s accession. For year-only conversions, the year of transition belongs to both eras depending on the date.
- Which eras does this tool cover?
- Reiwa (2019–present), Heisei (1989–2019), Showa (1926–1989), Taisho (1912–1926), and Meiji (1868–1912).