Japanese Era Calendar Converter: Reiwa, Heisei and Showa Year Table
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Category: Job Search Preparation & Interview Tips
Authors: Shusaku Yosa
In 2026, the Japanese era year is Reiwa 8 (令和8年). For example, September 20, 2026 is 令和8年9月20日. When filling out a Japanese resume or form, use the calendar requested by the form and keep your dates consistent.
A year-only formula is not enough for an era-transition year. In 2019, dates through April 30 are Heisei 31 and dates from May 1 are Reiwa 1. The same Gregorian year can therefore contain two era years.
Quick conversion formulas
Era | Era year to Gregorian | Gregorian to era year | Date boundary to remember |
|---|---|---|---|
Reiwa / 令和 | Add 2018 | Subtract 2018 | Began May 1, 2019 |
Heisei / 平成 | Add 1988 | Subtract 1988 | January 8, 1989 to April 30, 2019 |
Showa / 昭和 | Add 1925 | Subtract 1925 | December 25, 1926 to January 7, 1989 |
Apply a formula only after checking that the date belongs to that era. The first year may be written 元年 (gannen) instead of 1年. Thus 令和元年 and 令和1年 both refer to the first Reiwa year, within its actual date range.
Examples: Reiwa 8 + 2018 = 2026; Heisei 30 + 1988 = 2018; Showa 63 + 1925 = 1988. A form that uses a numeric field may require 1 rather than 元.
Era transitions that need the full date
Gregorian date | Japanese era date |
|---|---|
January 7, 1989 | 昭和64年1月7日 / Showa 64 |
January 8, 1989 | 平成元年1月8日 / Heisei 1 |
April 30, 2019 | 平成31年4月30日 / Heisei 31 |
May 1, 2019 | 令和元年5月1日 / Reiwa 1 |
Do not label every 1989 date as Heisei or every 2019 date as Reiwa. Check the month and day on the original document. The National Tax Agency's era-change information also explains the start of Reiwa on May 1, 2019.
Gregorian-to-Japanese year table: 1950–2026
Years are listed newest first. For the two rows containing both eras, use the exact date boundaries above.
2026–2020
Gregorian year | Japanese era year |
|---|---|
2026 | Reiwa 8 |
2025 | Reiwa 7 |
2024 | Reiwa 6 |
2023 | Reiwa 5 |
2022 | Reiwa 4 |
2021 | Reiwa 3 |
2020 | Reiwa 2 |
2019–2010
Gregorian year | Japanese era year |
|---|---|
2019 | Heisei 31 / Reiwa 1 |
2018 | Heisei 30 |
2017 | Heisei 29 |
2016 | Heisei 28 |
2015 | Heisei 27 |
2014 | Heisei 26 |
2013 | Heisei 25 |
2012 | Heisei 24 |
2011 | Heisei 23 |
2010 | Heisei 22 |
2009–2000
Gregorian year | Japanese era year |
|---|---|
2009 | Heisei 21 |
2008 | Heisei 20 |
2007 | Heisei 19 |
2006 | Heisei 18 |
2005 | Heisei 17 |
2004 | Heisei 16 |
2003 | Heisei 15 |
2002 | Heisei 14 |
2001 | Heisei 13 |
2000 | Heisei 12 |
1999–1990
Gregorian year | Japanese era year |
|---|---|
1999 | Heisei 11 |
1998 | Heisei 10 |
1997 | Heisei 9 |
1996 | Heisei 8 |
1995 | Heisei 7 |
1994 | Heisei 6 |
1993 | Heisei 5 |
1992 | Heisei 4 |
1991 | Heisei 3 |
1990 | Heisei 2 |
1989–1980
Gregorian year | Japanese era year |
|---|---|
1989 | Showa 64 / Heisei 1 |
1988 | Showa 63 |
1987 | Showa 62 |
1986 | Showa 61 |
1985 | Showa 60 |
1984 | Showa 59 |
1983 | Showa 58 |
1982 | Showa 57 |
1981 | Showa 56 |
1980 | Showa 55 |
1979–1970
Gregorian year | Japanese era year |
|---|---|
1979 | Showa 54 |
1978 | Showa 53 |
1977 | Showa 52 |
1976 | Showa 51 |
1975 | Showa 50 |
1974 | Showa 49 |
1973 | Showa 48 |
1972 | Showa 47 |
1971 | Showa 46 |
1970 | Showa 45 |
1969–1960
Gregorian year | Japanese era year |
|---|---|
1969 | Showa 44 |
1968 | Showa 43 |
1967 | Showa 42 |
1966 | Showa 41 |
1965 | Showa 40 |
1964 | Showa 39 |
1963 | Showa 38 |
1962 | Showa 37 |
1961 | Showa 36 |
1960 | Showa 35 |
1959–1950
Gregorian year | Japanese era year |
|---|---|
1959 | Showa 34 |
1958 | Showa 33 |
1957 | Showa 32 |
1956 | Showa 31 |
1955 | Showa 30 |
1954 | Showa 29 |
1953 | Showa 28 |
1952 | Showa 27 |
1951 | Showa 26 |
1950 | Showa 25 |
Using dates on a Japanese resume
Follow the form's instructions
Some forms specify 西暦 (Gregorian calendar); others provide an era selector such as 昭和, 平成 or 令和. Use that format. If no format is specified, choose one clear system and apply it consistently to education and employment entries.
Check dates against records
Use certificates, employment records or other reliable documents for enrollment, graduation, joining and leaving dates. Do not infer them solely from your birth year or a standard school schedule: individual histories differ.
Keep the information consistent
If your resume and employment-history document describe the same event, the dates should match even if a required form uses a different calendar. Check for a one-year error after converting, especially around transition years.
Common conversion mistakes
Confusing 元年 with year zero
元年 means year one. There is no Reiwa year zero in this notation. May 1, 2019 belongs to Reiwa 1, not Reiwa 0.
Using the formula outside the era
Subtracting 2018 from an earlier year does not make it a valid Reiwa date. Identify the era from the full date first.
Using an era year to calculate age without the birthday
Convert the birth year if necessary, then account for whether the birthday has occurred as of the requested reference date. A year difference alone can be one year too high.
Updating a date that refers to an earlier event
A document completed now may describe an event from decades ago. Convert the event date, not the current year. Only a field asking for the date of completion should use the current date.
Frequently asked questions
What Japanese year is 2026?
2026 is Reiwa 8 (令和8年).
Is 2019 Heisei 31 or Reiwa 1?
Both occur in 2019: Heisei 31 through April 30, then Reiwa 1 from May 1.
Is 1989 Showa 64 or Heisei 1?
Both occur in 1989: Showa 64 through January 7, then Heisei 1 from January 8.
Must a resume use Japanese era years?
Follow any stated requirement. If the form permits either, consistency and accurate dates matter more than choosing one calendar universally.
