Japanese Era Converter — Convert Reiwa, Heisei, Showa, Taisho and Meiji years to and from the western calendar
Convert between Japanese era years (Reiwa, Heisei, Showa, Taisho, Meiji) and western years in both directions, with the switch years handled correctly. For driver's licenses, city hall forms, tax notices and any document that prints dates as 令和 or R7.
Read or fill in any Japanese form that uses era years, without doing the math yourself.
Japanese Era Converter: tips and things to know
- Reiwa began on May 1, 2019, so 2019 is both Heisei 31 and Reiwa 1.
- Heisei ran from 1989 to 2019 and Showa from 1926 to 1989.
- On forms the first year of an era is written 元年 (gannen), not 1年. Quick check: Reiwa year = western year − 2018.
How to use the Japanese Era Converter
Choose the direction
Pick "Western → Japanese" or "Japanese → Western".
Enter the year
Type a western year, or choose an era and type the year within it.
Read the result
The converted year appears immediately, along with an era reference table.
Where you will meet Japanese era years
Japan uses the western calendar in daily life, but official paperwork often uses the era (nengo) system: a name for the reign of each emperor plus a year count that restarts at 1. Reiwa 7 is 2025.
You will see era years on driver's licenses (the expiry date), city hall forms, bank and pension documents, tax notices, and in the date field of résumés and contracts. Many forms simply print 令和 and expect you to fill in the number.
The eras this tool covers
The five eras since Japan's modernization, oldest first:
- Meiji (明治, M): 1868 – 1912
- Taisho (大正, T): 1912 – 1926
- Showa (昭和, S): 1926 – 1989
- Heisei (平成, H): 1989 – 2019
- Reiwa (令和, R): May 1, 2019 – present
Reading abbreviations like R7 and H31
Documents and stamps often shorten the era to its initial letter: R7.4.1 means Reiwa 7, April 1, 2025. H31 is Heisei 31 (2019), S60 is Showa 60 (1985). Dates are written year, month, day.
Because an era changes mid-year, the switch year belongs to both. 2019 was Heisei 31 until April 30 and Reiwa 1 from May 1. Likewise 1989 was Showa 64 until January 7 and Heisei 1 from January 8. This tool shows both names for those years.
Converting in your head
Each era has a fixed offset. Add it to the era year to get the western year, or subtract it to go the other way.
- Reiwa: + 2018 (Reiwa 7 = 2025)
- Heisei: + 1988 (Heisei 30 = 2018)
- Showa: + 1925 (Showa 60 = 1985)
- Taisho: + 1911
- Meiji: + 1867
Writing the first year
The first year of an era is called gannen (元年) and is written with that character rather than the numeral 1 on official documents. Reiwa 1 is 令和元年. This tool shows 元 for year 1 in Japanese mode so you can copy it as it should appear.
Japanese Era Converter FAQ
Which eras does the tool cover?
Reiwa, Heisei, Showa, Taisho and Meiji, which together cover 1868 to the present.
What does it show for a year when the era changed?
Both names. 2019, for example, is shown as Heisei 31 and Reiwa 1.
What year is Reiwa 7?
2025. Add 2018 to any Reiwa year to get the western year.
Do I have to use era years on forms?
Not usually. Most forms accept the western year if you cross out the printed 令和, and city offices will help. Driver's license and some tax documents, however, print dates in era years, so you need to be able to read them.