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October 23, 2017

Japanese & Western Calendars

Today, in Japan there are two systems of counting the years. The traditional Japanese years are based on the emperor. When a new emperor takes the role, a new era or period begins in Japan:

The current Emperor has reigned since 2019. He called his era “Reiwa.”
So, (2020) is Reiwa 2.

Here is a brief listing of eras in Japanese history
  • 縄文 Jomon Period: ??? – 300 BC
  • 弥生 Yayoi Period: 300 BC– 300 AD
  • 古墳 Kofun Period: 300 AD-593
  • 飛鳥 Asuka Period: 593 –710
  • 奈良 Nara Period: 710 – 794
  • 平安 Heian Period: 794 –1185
  • 鎌倉 Kamakura Period: 1185– 1333
  • 室町 Muromachi Period: 1333 – 1573
  • 桃山 Momoyama Period: 1573– 1603
  • 江戸 Edo Period: 1603 – 1868
  • 明治 Meiji Period: 1868 –1912
  • 大正 Taisho Period: 1912– 1926
  • 昭和 Showa Period: 1926 –1989
  • 平成 Heisei Period: 1989-2019
  • 令和 Reiwa Period: 2019– present


The chart below compares Japanese and Western recent years.

Do you know your birthday by the Japanese calendar?
I was born in 1973 so my birth year is showa 48!


WESTERN YEARJAPANESE YEAR
2007平成 heisei 19
200618
200517
200416
200315

2002

14
200113
200012
199911
199810
19979
19968
19957
19946
19935
19924
19913
19902
1989昭和 showa 64 / 平成 heisei
1
1988昭和 showa 63
198762
198661
198560
198055
197550
1970昭和 showa 45
1960昭和 showa 35
1950昭和 showa 25
1940昭和 showa 15
1930昭和 showa 5

1920

大正 taisho 8

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