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Japanese Era / Western Year Converter Tool

Convert between Japanese era (Wareki) and Western calendar (Seireki) in real-time with age, zodiac, and graduation year info.

Last updated: 2026/10/16 Calculator Feedback & bug reports
Input

Japanese Era

Western Year

Japanese Era Reference Table
Japanese Era Western Year Zodiac Age (this year)

How to Use

1

Enter Japanese Era or Western Year

Enter a Japanese era name and year on the left, or a Western year on the right. Conversion happens automatically. You can also type or paste "Reiwa 8" etc. in the Quick Convert field.

2

View Results

See the converted year along with age, Chinese zodiac, zodiac sign, graduation years, and milestone celebrations. Enter month and day for more detailed results.

3

Copy Results

Choose a format and click "Copy Result". You can also switch to the Reference Table tab to browse all years.

About This Converter

A web tool that converts between Japanese era names (Reiwa, Heisei, Showa, Taisho, Meiji) and Western calendar years in real-time. Also displays age, Chinese zodiac, zodiac signs, graduation years, and milestone celebrations. All processing is done in your browser - no data is sent to any server.

To calculate an exact age from a birth year, try the Age Calculator, and to look up the Chinese zodiac and star sign together use the Zodiac & Star Sign Checker. For a full year-by-year list, see the Japanese Era Reference Table (in Japanese), and our Wareki–Seireki quick guide explains how the conversion works.

Features

  • Bidirectional Real-time ConversionEnter either Japanese era or Western year for instant conversion. No button clicks needed.
  • Rich Result CardShows age, Chinese zodiac, zodiac sign, graduation years, and milestone celebrations alongside the conversion.
  • Quick ConvertType or paste "Reiwa 8", "R8", "S60.3.15" and it auto-detects the format.
  • Reference TableBrowse all years from Meiji to Reiwa with era filters and search.

Use Cases

  • Verify years for resumes and CVs
  • Fill in Japanese era dates on official documents
  • Look up age and zodiac from birth year
  • Check graduation and enrollment years
  • Calculate milestone celebration years for family

FAQ

When did the Reiwa era begin?
The Reiwa era began on May 1, 2019 (Reiwa 1). Emperor Akihito abdicated and Emperor Naruhito ascended to the throne.
Are Showa 64 and Heisei 1 both 1989?
Yes, January 1-7, 1989 was Showa 64, and from January 8, 1989 onward was Heisei 1. This tool shows both notations for years that span two eras.
How is the Chinese zodiac calculated?
The Chinese zodiac (Eto) cycles through 12 animals based on the remainder when dividing the Western year by 12: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Sheep, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Boar.
How are graduation years affected by early birth dates?
In Japan, those born January 1 to April 1 are placed in the grade above those born April 2 onward of the same year. Enter the month and day for automatic detection.
What is the difference between Kazoe age and full age?
Full age counts from 0 at birth and adds 1 on each birthday. Kazoe age counts from 1 at birth and adds 1 on New Year's Day. Traditional Japanese celebrations sometimes use Kazoe age.
Which eras are supported?
Meiji (1868-), Taisho, Showa, Heisei, and Reiwa are supported. Western years can be converted in the range 1868-2100.
Is my data saved?
No, all processing is done entirely in your browser. No data is sent to or stored on any server.
How long did the Taisho era last?
The Taisho era lasted about 14.5 years, from July 30, 1912 (Taisho 1) to December 24, 1926 (Taisho 15). Both Taisho 15 and Showa 1 correspond to the year 1926.
How are transitional years between eras displayed?
For years when eras changed (e.g., 1989 is both Showa 64 and Heisei 1), if a date is entered, the exact era is shown. Without a date, both applicable eras are displayed.
Is there a formula to convert between Western and Japanese eras?
You can calculate from each era's start year: Reiwa = Year - 2018, Heisei = Year - 1988, Showa = Year - 1925, Taisho = Year - 1911, Meiji = Year - 1867. This tool also handles exact date boundaries for precise conversion.
How do I check what Reiwa year it is today?
A banner at the top of the page automatically shows today's date in both Japanese era and Western calendar, plus the day of the week. Just open the page to see the current Reiwa year. To calculate an exact age from a birth date, use the Age Calculator, and to look up the Chinese zodiac and star sign together, try the Zodiac & Star Sign Checker.
What are the exact dates when the eras changed?
Meiji to Taisho: July 30, 1912; Taisho to Showa: December 25, 1926; Showa to Heisei: January 8, 1989; Heisei to Reiwa: May 1, 2019. Enter one of these transition years and the result card automatically shows a caution with the exact switch date. The Japanese Era Reference Table is handy for browsing years by era.

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Related Guides

Wareki to Seireki: Conversion Basics & Era Chart (Reiwa, Heisei, Showa) How to convert between Japanese era years and the Western calendar, with mental-math tips and a Reiwa/Heisei/Showa chart. Learn what Western year Reiwa starts from, era-change cautions, document use, and age calculation.