Japanese Date Convertor
What is the Japanese Date System?
The Japanese date system, known as the Japanese Imperial Year system, is based on the reign of the current emperor. Years are counted from the beginning of the emperor's reign. The current era is Reiwa, which began in 2019 when Emperor Naruhito ascended to the throne.
Convert Western Year to Japanese Year
Tips for Mental Calculation
- For Reiwa era (2019-present): Subtract 2018 from the Western year
- For Heisei era (1989-2019): Subtract 1988 from the Western year
- For Shōwa era (1926-1989): Subtract 1925 from the Western year
- Remember the start years: Reiwa (2019), Heisei (1989), Shōwa (1926)
- Practice with recent years to build familiarity with the conversion