Japanese Era Converter
Convert between Western and Japanese era years.
Era reference table
| Era | Start | End | Offset |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reiwa | May 1, 2019 | Present | +2018 |
| Heisei | Jan 8, 1989 | Apr 30, 2019 | +1988 |
| Showa | Dec 25, 1926 | Jan 7, 1989 | +1925 |
| Taisho | Jul 30, 1912 | Dec 24, 1926 | +1911 |
| Meiji | Jan 25, 1868 | Jul 29, 1912 | +1867 |
How to use
- Select Western to Japanese or reverse.
- Enter the year or era value.
- Click the convert button.
- Copy the converted result.
About this tool
The Japanese Era Converter switches dates between Western (Gregorian) years and Japanese era notation. It supports Meiji, Taisho, Showa, Heisei, and Reiwa eras, and correctly handles boundary years where the era changes mid-year.
Features
Bidirectional conversion, era abbreviation input, month-level accuracy for transition years, and quick reference of era start and end dates. The tool works offline in your browser.
Use cases
Essential when filling out Japanese official documents, reading historical records, processing legacy databases, or preparing forms that require era dates such as Reiwa or Heisei year numbers.
Why this tool
Japanese era math is surprisingly tricky because of mid-year transitions. The converter handles these details automatically, saving time and avoiding embarrassing mistakes on formal paperwork.
FAQ
- Which eras are supported?
- Meiji, Taisho, Showa, Heisei, and Reiwa are supported.
- Does it handle boundary years?
- Yes, era transitions such as Showa 64 to Heisei 1 are handled correctly.
- Can I input era abbreviations?
- Yes, R, H, S, T, and M abbreviations are accepted as shortcuts.