Japanese era ⇄ year converter
Official forms use the imperial era, not the Western year. Convert either way, and write today the way a form wants it.
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The years 1989 and 2019 span two eras depending on the month. Reiwa began May 2019, Heisei 1989, Showa 1926. Year-level conversion; for the exact era in a boundary year, check the month.
Reference: the current era is Reiwa, which began in 2019 (Reiwa 1 = 2019). Heisei ran 1989–2019 and Showa 1926–1989. To convert, add the era’s start year minus one — for example Reiwa 6 = 2019 + 6 − 1 = 2024.
Japanese era years — common questions
What year is it in the Japanese calendar?
Japan is in the Reiwa era, which started in 2019. So 2024 is Reiwa 6, 2025 is Reiwa 7. Enter any year in the converter above to switch between Western and Japanese era years.
How do I convert Reiwa or Heisei to a Western year?
Add the era start year and subtract one: Reiwa 1 = 2019, so Reiwa N = 2018 + N; Heisei 1 = 1989, so Heisei N = 1988 + N. The converter does this both ways instantly.
Why do Japanese forms ask for the era year?
Official Japanese documents — residence cards, contracts, city-hall forms — often print dates in the era system. Knowing your birth year in Showa or Heisei makes those forms much faster to fill.