Japanese calendars and era names

The idea

西暦 counts Gregorian years; 和暦 names an era and its numbered year. 元年 means the first year. Reiwa began on 1 May 2019, so Reiwa 6 is 2024.

Examples

• 西暦せいれき２０１９年ねんは、令和れいわ元年がんねんです。2019 is the first year of Reiwa.
• 令和れいわは２０１９年ねん５月がつ１日ついたちに始はじまりました。Reiwa began on May 1, 2019.
• 平成へいせい３１年ねん４月がつ３０日にちは、平成へいせい最後さいごの日ひでした。April 30, Heisei 31 was the last day of Heisei.
• 書類しょるいに生年月日せいねんがっぴを和暦われきで書かきます。I write my date of birth on the form using the Japanese era calendar.
• このカレンダーには、西暦せいれきと和暦われきの両方りょうほうが載のっています。This calendar shows both Gregorian and Japanese era years.
• 令和れいわ６年ねんは、西暦せいれき２０２４年ねんです。Reiwa 6 is 2024.

Watch out

An era can change during a calendar year: 30 April 2019 was still Heisei 31. Check the month and day when converting a transition year.

Try it yourself

1. ２０１９年５月１日：令和れいわ＿年（元／２）

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   元

   元: 元年 names the first year of an era; Reiwa began that day.

2. 令和６年：西暦せいれき＿年（２０２４／２０１９）

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   ２０２４

   ２０２４: Reiwa 1 was 2019, so year 6 is 2024.

3. ２０１９年４月３０日：平成へいせい＿年（３１／元）

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   ３１

   ３１: 30 April 2019 was the final day of Heisei 31.

Use it today

Write your birth date in 西暦, then find its era name and year, checking the transition date.