Read a Japanese calendar: Understanding dates in Japan

For anyone living, traveling or doing business in Japan, understanding how to read Japanese dates is a useful as well as fascinating skill. Behind each date is a unique system, inherited from centuries of imperial history, which still coexists today with the Gregorian calendar. This dual system may seem confusing at first, but with some benchmarks it quickly becomes legible and logical.

The Japanese era system: imperial continuity

In Japan, years are not only counted according to the Gregorian calendar (as 2025) but also according to theImperial era(orgengō). Each era begins with the induction of a new emperor, and the years are then counted from that moment on.

As a result, 2025 corresponds toReiwa 7Because the current emperor, Naruhito, ascended to the throne in May 2019, marking the beginning of the Reiwa era. The system is therefore: Reiwa 1 (2019), Reiwa 2 (2020), etc.

The recent eras are:

• Reiwa: since 2019
• Heisei: 1989 to 2019
• Shōwa: 1926 to 1989
• Taishō: 1912 to 1926

Each change reflects a political and cultural shift. This dating mode continues to be used in administration, official documents, permits, newspapers, and even train tickets.

Read a Japanese date: the basics

A typical Japanese date often reads as follows:R3.4.1which means “Reiwa 3, 1 April”. The initial of the era (R for Reiwa, H for Heisei, S for Shōwa, T for Taishō) is followed by year, then month and day.

In formal documents, it is also possible to see dates in kanji, for example:
(Reiwa san nen shigatsu tsuitachi).

Once these elements are identified, the reading becomes intuitive. However, many Japanese themselves useConversion tablesto verify or recall the correspondence between the two calendars.

What if an emperor dies in the course of the year?

When the emperor dies (or abdicates, rare case), the current year may bear two designations. Let us take 1989:

• 1-7 January:Shōwa 64
• From 8 January to 31 December:Heisei 1

This can lead to confusion for events that date precisely. For example, a person born on 5 January 1989 was born in Shōwa 64, while another born on 10 January 1989 was born in Heisei 1.

The system is therefore apparently rigid, but flexible in its internal logic, always stowed to the imperial transition date.

Why knowing your year of birth in Japanese calendar is essential

Many documents in Japan — such as health insurance forms, visa applications or driving licences — request youryear of birth according to Japanese calendar. It is therefore impossible to simply say “born in 1990” : we must know the equivalent, in this caseHeisei 2.

Some Japanese town halls will gladly help you convert these dates if you are a foreigner, but it is better to have this information in mind. TheAutomatic convertersonline asZervTekorprinted tablesat the end of the notebook can be very practical.

Why do two calendars coexist in Japan?

Japan officially adopted the Gregorian calendar in 1873, but at the same time maintained the imperial system out of respect for tradition and history. This system symbolizes the stability of the imperial institution and national unity.

Thegengōis also a way of situating epochs in collective memory. For example, “the Shōwa years” refer to the post-war decades, industrialisation and openness of the country. The Heisei years, for their part, are often associated with post-bully economic stagnation and major natural disasters (such as the 2011 earthquake).

The historical abdication of Emperor Akihito: a turning point

In 2019, Emperor Akihito abdicated — very rare — for reasons of health. His son, Naruhito, succeeded him on 1 May, marking the beginning ofReiwa era.

Traditionally, the next era began only when the emperor died. To avoid delaying computerization and administrative preparations, the government announced the name of the new era one month in advance (April 1, 2019), a historic first.

This allowed companies, administrations and developers toupdate software and documentsin time, in particular those relating to certificates, taxes, driving licences, etc.

The place of the Japanese calendar in everyday life

In addition to the administration, the Japanese calendar is found in many aspects of everyday life:

• Thetransport tickets(especially train tickets during the New Year).
• Thevalidation buffersin museums or temples.
• Thefoodstuffs(some display the date of manufacture according to the Japanese era).
• TheOfficial Journals, often dated in Japanese format.

For those who remain in Japan for several months, it is therefore useful to become familiar with this format. This facilitates understanding of forms, archiving documents or managing contracts.

The Japanese calendar and the animals of the zodiac

Each year is also associated with asign of the Chinese zodiac(Rat, Beef, Tiger, etc.). These signs come back every 12 years and are often subject to derivatives and amulet (ommori) sold in New Year shrines.

Thus, a Japanese man could say: “I was born in Shōwa 60, the year of Boeuf”, which adds a cultural and symbolic dimension to the date of birth.

Thecombined tablesshow as follows:

• Year in Japanese calendar
• Gregorian year
• The astrological sign
• Age

These tools are omnipresent inJapanese almanachs, very popular and often consulted.

Towards a change in succession rules?

Abdication of Akihito also revived the debate on thereform of the imperial familythe position of women. Today, only men can access the throne. In addition, a woman in the imperial family loses her title if she marries a commoner.

This situation endangers the continuity of the lineage, for only one male heir remains today: the young prince Hisahito.

Several public figures argue for a return to a more inclusive law, as existed before the Meiji restoration, when Japan even had empresses. Japanese society is evolving, and with it perhaps the imperial system.

The Japanese calendar is much more than just a dating system: it is a mirror of history, a living tradition and an essential component of contemporary Japanese culture. Whether you’re traveling there for a few weeks or you’re settling in, reading and understanding a Japanese date, it’s also learning to decode a part of the national identity. And in a country where every detail counts, this little skill can prove valuable every day.

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