Japanese Year Converter: Reiwa, Heisei, Showa to AD
Change any Japanese era year (Wareki) into an AD year, or find the Japanese era for a Western year. Free, instant, and no signup needed.
How to convert Japanese years to AD
Japan counts years from the start of each emperor’s reign. Year 1 of an era is called gannen (元年). To get the AD year, add the number below to the era year:
- Pick the era written on your document, such as 令和 (Reiwa) or 平成 (Heisei).
- Read the year number after it. Reiwa 8 means the 8th year of Reiwa.
- Add the era number from the list above. Reiwa 8: 8 + 2018 = 2026.
- To go back, subtract the same number from the AD year. 1985 – 1925 = Showa 60.
Japanese era table (Meiji to Reiwa)
| Era | Kanji | Emperor | Starts | Ends | Year 1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reiwa | 令和 | Naruhito | 1 May 2019 | Present | 2019 |
| Heisei | 平成 | Akihito | 8 Jan 1989 | 30 Apr 2019 | 1989 |
| Showa | 昭和 | Hirohito | 25 Dec 1926 | 7 Jan 1989 | 1926 |
| Taisho | 大正 | Yoshihito | 30 Jul 1912 | 25 Dec 1926 | 1912 |
| Meiji | 明治 | Mutsuhito | 23 Oct 1868 | 30 Jul 1912 | 1868 |
Eras change on a specific date, not on 1 January. So 1989, 1926, 1912, and 2019 each belong to two eras. If your document shows a full date, use the era that matches the month and day.
Quick reference: common Japanese years
| Japanese year | AD year | Japanese year | AD year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reiwa 1 | 2019 | Heisei 20 | 2008 |
| Reiwa 3 | 2021 | Heisei 25 | 2013 |
| Reiwa 5 | 2023 | Heisei 30 | 2018 |
| Reiwa 7 | 2025 | Showa 40 | 1965 |
| Reiwa 8 | 2026 | Showa 50 | 1975 |
| Reiwa 10 | 2028 | Showa 60 | 1985 |
| Heisei 1 | 1989 | Taisho 10 | 1921 |
| Heisei 10 | 1998 | Meiji 30 | 1897 |
Where you will see Japanese era years
Visa and residence forms
Application forms, residence cards, and certificates often show dates in Reiwa or Heisei.
Birth and family registers
Koseki, birth certificates, and marriage records use era years for older dates.
Diplomas and school records
Graduation dates on Japanese school certificates are written with the era name.
Driving licences and IDs
Japanese licences and My Number related papers show issue and expiry in era years.
Property and contracts
Building registries and rental contracts list the build year as Showa, Heisei, or Reiwa.
Japanese study and travel
Museums, old books, and news archives use Wareki, which helps when reading Japanese sources.
What is the Japanese calendar (Wareki)?
Wareki (和暦) is the traditional Japanese way of counting years. A new era name is set when an emperor takes the throne, and the year count restarts from 1. Modern Japan uses one era per emperor, which has been the rule since Meiji.
Japan uses both systems. Government forms, licences, and official papers mostly use Wareki, while business and international documents often use the AD year. That is why a converter is useful when you deal with anything from Japan.
The current era, Reiwa (令和), started on 1 May 2019 when Emperor Naruhito took the throne. The previous era, Heisei, ended on 30 April 2019.
Frequently asked questions
What year is Reiwa 8?
Reiwa 8 is 2026. Reiwa 1 started in 2019, so add 2018 to the Reiwa year.
How do I convert Heisei to AD?
Add 1988 to the Heisei year. Heisei 30 is 2018, and Heisei 1 is 1989.
How do I convert Showa to AD?
Add 1925 to the Showa year. Showa 60 is 1985, and Showa 64 is 1989.
What does gannen mean?
Gannen (元年) means the first year of an era. Reiwa gannen is Reiwa 1, which is 2019.
Why do some years have two eras?
An era can change in the middle of a year. 1989 is both Showa 64 and Heisei 1, and 2019 is both Heisei 31 and Reiwa 1. Use the exact date to pick the right one.
Is Japan still using the Japanese calendar?
Yes. Official forms, IDs, and government documents still use era years, next to the AD year.
Which era is Japan in now?
Reiwa (令和), which began on 1 May 2019.
Is this converter accurate?
It uses the official start year of each era. For legal or visa use, check the exact date on your document, because eras change mid-year.