Japanese Era Converter
Convert between Gregorian years and the Japanese era calendar (Reiwa, Heisei, Showa and more) in both directions. Handy for forms and documents in Japan.
Gregorian → Japanese era
Japanese era → Gregorian
Each row shows its valid Gregorian date range. Early Meiji years are listed for context but are not converted at day level.
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Why it matters
Official documents, coins and forms in Japan often use the era calendar. Converting between Reiwa/Heisei/Showa years and Gregorian years avoids costly mistakes on paperwork.
FAQ
What is the Japanese era calendar?
Japan counts years within named imperial eras (元号). The current era is Reiwa (令和), which began in 2019. Before it came Heisei, Showa, Taisho and Meiji.
How do I read Reiwa 6?
Reiwa 1 is 2019, so Reiwa 6 is 2024 (2019 + 6 − 1). The first year of an era is written 元年 (gannen).
Are transition dates handled?
Yes. Reiwa, Heisei, Showa and Taisho use their exact Gregorian start and end dates, so a transition year can contain two eras.
Are early Meiji dates supported?
Day-level conversion for 1868–1872 is not supported because Japan still used a historical lunisolar calendar. This tool starts exact Meiji conversion at 1873-01-01.
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