Japanese Era Converter
| 令和 Reiwa | 2019.05.01 – |
| 平成 Heisei | 1989.01.08 – |
| 昭和 Showa | 1926.12.25 – |
| 大正 Taisho | 1912.07.30 – |
| 明治 Meiji | 1868.01.25 – |
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Convert dates between the Western (Gregorian) calendar and Japanese eras — Reiwa, Heisei, Showa, Taisho and Meiji. Because each era begins on a specific date, the conversion is based on actual era start dates, so boundary years are handled correctly. Everything runs in your browser.
How to use
- Choose a direction: Western to Japanese era, or the reverse.
- Enter a date, or pick an era and its year.
- Read the converted result, with the era reference shown below.
How it works
Each modern Japanese era starts on a known date — for example Reiwa began on 1 May 2019. To convert a Western date, the tool finds which era it falls in and counts the year within that era (the first year is called gannen, year 1). Converting back adds the era year to the era's starting year minus one.
Features
Both directions
Convert Western dates to Japanese eras and era years back to Western years.
Five modern eras
Supports Reiwa, Heisei, Showa, Taisho and Meiji.
Accurate boundaries
Uses real era start dates, so dates around an era change convert correctly.
Gannen (year 1)
Shows the first year of an era as gannen, matching Japanese convention.
When to use it
Official documents
Fill in Japanese forms that ask for the era year instead of the Western year.
Birth year
Find the Japanese era for a birth date, or the Western year from an era year.
Resumes
Convert dates for a Japanese-style resume that uses era years.
Older records
Read older documents written in Showa or Taisho years as Western years.
Notes
- Dates before the Meiji era (1868) are not supported.
- An era change happens on a specific day, so the same Western year can span two eras.
- Year 1 of an era is shown as gannen.
- Everything runs on your device; nothing is uploaded.
FAQ
- What Reiwa year is it for a given Western year?
- Reiwa began in 2019, so Reiwa year = Western year − 2018 for dates on or after 1 May 2019. For example 2024 is Reiwa 6.
- What year did Heisei end?
- Heisei ran from 8 January 1989 to 30 April 2019. 2019 up to that date is Heisei 31; from 1 May 2019 it is Reiwa 1.
- What does gannen mean?
- Gannen means the first year of an era. So Reiwa 1 is also called Reiwa gannen.
- Can it handle dates before Meiji?
- No. This converter covers the modern eras from Meiji (1868) onward; earlier eras are not supported.
- Is my data sent to a server?
- No. The conversion happens entirely in your browser.