Japanese Era Year Converter
Real-time conversion between Japanese eras (Reiwa, Heisei, Showa, Taisho, Meiji) and AD.
Includes detailed era info and today's Japanese date.
Enter AD year to convert
About Japanese Era Converter
A free online tool that instantly converts between Japanese Imperial Eras (Reiwa, Heisei, Showa, Taisho, Meiji) and the Gregorian calendar (AD). It displays today's date in both formats in real-time, alongside detailed historical context for each era.
Perfect for reading historical documents, completing Japanese official forms, or simply exploring Japan's unique calendar system.
How To Use
Select Conversion Type
Use the tabs to switch between "AD → JP Era" and "JP Era → AD".
Enter the Year
Type the Gregorian year, or select a Japanese Era from the dropdown and type its specific year.
View History
Click "Convert" to instantly see the result and learn about the historical events of that period.
Glossary
- Japanese Era (Gengo)
- A unique calendar system based on the reigns of Japanese emperors. Used globally in official documents throughout Japan.
- AD (Gregorian)
- The internationally accepted civil calendar, used in global business and everyday life.
- Gengo
- The title given to the reign of an emperor. According to modern law, there is only one "Gengo" per emperor.
- Kaigen
- The action of changing the era name. Currently done only when a new emperor ascends the throne.
- Gannen (1st Year)
- The first year of a new era. For example, "Reiwa 1" is officially written and spoken as "Reiwa Gannen".
FAQ
- Q.When did the Reiwa era start?
- Reiwa started on May 1, 2019. Therefore, the year 2019 contains both Heisei 31 and Reiwa 1.
- Q.Are Showa 64 and Heisei 1 the same year?
- Showa 64 lasted only 7 days (Jan 1-7, 1989), while Heisei 1 was the rest of 1989. Both occurred in AD 1989, but refer to different periods.
- Q.Does this support older eras before Meiji?
- Yes! Our tool exclusively supports hundreds of historical eras dating all the way back to the Taika era (AD 645).
- Q.Is the conversion accurate during transition years?
- Years with transition dates (like 1989) simply map to both corresponding eras. Please refer to dates closely.
- Q.How can I know today's Japanese date?
- The "TODAY" box at the top dynamically calculates and displays today's current AD and Era date.
- Q.How is the Japanese era system used abroad?
- While heavily used internally in Japan for administration naturally, AD is widely and exclusively used internationally.
Use Cases
📋 Official Forms
When filling out Japanese government or bank forms, which often require your birth year or current date in the Japanese format.
🔍 Historical Research
Correlating Japanese historical texts, artwork, and timelines with global timelines.
🎂 Age Verification
Easily calculating age for someone born in older eras like Showa or Heisei.
💼 Business Docs
Quick conversions when drafting contracts, invoices, or minutes in Japanese formats.
📚 Anime & Manga
Understanding the accurate historical settings and periods referenced in Japanese media.
🎌 Travel & Tourism
Gaining deep architectural context for when shrines, temples, or artifacts were built.