Japanese & Western Calendars

Submitted by admin on Wed, 07/30/2008 - 09:55

Today, in Japan there are two systems of counting the years. The traditional Japanese years are based on the emperor. When a new emperor takes the role, a new era or period begins in Japan: The current Emperor has reigned for 24 years. He called his era "Heisei." So, (2013) is Heisei 25.

Up until the present:

Some of this information is taken from Japan Guide by Open Road Publishing, p. 71 (Click for information) The rest was supplied by my vivid imagination - *Just kidding...*
縄文 Jomon Period: ??? - 300 BC 弥生 Yayoi Period: 300 BC - 300 AD 古墳 Kofun Period: 300 AD -593 飛鳥 Asuka Period: 593 - 710 奈良 Nara Period: 710 - 794 平安 Heian Period: 794 - 1185 鎌倉 Kamakura Period: 1185 - 1333	室町 Muromachi Period: 1333 - 1573 桃山 Momoyama Period: 1573 - 1603 江戸 Edo Period: 1603 - 1868 明治 Meiji Period: 1868 - 1912 大正 Taisho Period: 1912 - 1926 昭和 Showa Period: 1926 - 1989 平成 Heisei Period: 1989 - present

The below shows a chart comparing Japanese and Western recent years.
Do you know your birthday by the Japanese calendar?

The Heisei era started in 1989 and before that was the Showa era. I was born in 1973 so my birth year is showa 48!

WESTERN YEAR	JAPANESE YEAR
2007	平成 heisei 19
2006	18
2005	17
2004	16
2003	15
2002	14
2001	13
2000	12
1999	11
1998	10
1997	9
1996	8
1995	7
1994	6
1993	5
1992	4
1991	3
1990	2
1989	昭和 showa 64 / 平成 heisei 1
1988	昭和 showa 63
1987	62
1986	61
1985	60
1980	55
1975	50
1970	昭和 showa 45
1960	昭和 showa 35
1950	昭和 showa 25
1940	昭和 showa 15
1930	昭和 showa 5
1920	大正 taisho 8