Japanese documents often use an era name (元号) followed by a year instead of the Gregorian year.

The idea

Read 令和元年 as れいわがんねん: 元年 is the first year. For later years add the era year minus one to its first Gregorian year: Reiwa 5 is 2019 + 4 = 2023. Heisei began in 1989; Shōwa began in 1926.

Patterns to compare
EraFirst year
昭和（しょうわ）1926
平成（へいせい）1989
令和（れいわ）2019

Examples

  • この証明書しょうめいしょは令和れいわ５年ねんに発行はっこうされました。This certificate was issued in Reiwa 5 (2023).
  • 生年月日せいねんがっぴを平成へいせいで記入きにゅうしてください。Please enter your date of birth in the Heisei era.
  • 令和れいわ元年がんねんは２０１９年ねん５月がつ１日ついたちに始はじまりました。Reiwa 1 began on May 1, 2019.
  • 平成へいせい３１年ねんは２０１９年ねん４月がつ３０日にちに終おわりました。Heisei 31 ended on April 30, 2019.
  • 書類しょるいには昭和しょうわ６４年ねん１月がつ７日なのかと書かいてあります。The form says Showa 64, January 7.
  • 書類しょるいの元号げんごうと年ねんを確認かくにんしてください。Please check the era and year on the document.

Read-aloud uses a synthetic Japanese voice available on your device. Voice quality and availability vary; it does not assess your pronunciation.

Watch out

An era change can split a Gregorian year. April 30, 2019 was Heisei 31, while May 1 was Reiwa 1. Check month and day, not just the year.

Try it yourself

  1. Write the reading of 令和元年 in hiragana.

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    れいわがんねん

    令和元年 is れいわがんねん; 元年 means the first year.

  2. Write 2023 as a Reiwa year using Arabic numerals.

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    令和5年 / 令和５年

    令和5年: 2023 − 2019 + 1 = 5.

  3. Write the era year for April 30, 2019, using Arabic numerals.

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    平成31年 / 平成３１年

    平成31年: Heisei lasted through April 30, 2019.

Use it today

Read an issue date on a document and convert it to the Gregorian calendar; check the full date if it falls in a transition year.