Japanese Calendar Converter
This browser-based tool accurately converts between Western calendar years and Japanese era years (Reiwa, Heisei, Showa, Taisho, Meiji). Features precise era transition date detection based on official start and end dates. Perfect for creating resumes, filling official documents, and verifying historical dates. No registration required, and no data is transmitted externally.
What You Can Do
The Japanese Calendar Converter accurately converts between Western calendar years and Japanese era years (Reiwa, Heisei, Showa, Taisho, Meiji). Perfect for creating resumes and filling out official documents. Accurately determines era transition dates based on the start and end dates of each era.
- ✅ Bidirectional Conversion: Supports both Western → Japanese and Japanese → Western
- ✅ Accurate Era Transitions: Precisely reflects the dates when eras change
- ✅ Quick Reference Table: Select display range to quickly check year correspondences
Instantly convert between Western calendar and Japanese era years (Reiwa, Heisei, Showa, Taisho, Meiji). Quick reference table available.
Calendar Conversion
| Western | Japanese | Zodiac |
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💼 Use Cases
- Creating resumes and CVs - accurately enter education and work history dates
- Filling official documents - when you need to verify birth dates and era names
- Verifying historical events - cross-reference Western and Japanese calendar years
- Creating contracts and applications - when documents require Japanese era notation
- Age calculation assistance - when you need to verify era name from birth year
How to Use
📌 Basic Usage
Simply select the conversion direction with tabs, enter the year or era, and click the convert button.
📅 Supported Eras
- Reiwa (2019-)
- Heisei (1989-2019)
- Showa (1926-1989)
- Taisho (1912-1926)
- Meiji (1868-1912)
📋 Using the Reference Table
In the "Reference Table" tab, you can view a comprehensive list of Western and Japanese calendar correspondences. Select the display range to quickly check the eras you need.
💡 Tips
- When an era changes during a year, different months use different era names
- Example: January-April 2019 is Heisei 31, May onwards is Reiwa 1
- For resumes, it's standard to use the era name from the year you were born
📋 Japanese Calendar Usage in Official Documents
Understanding Era Transition Dates
Japanese eras change with imperial succession or era reform edicts. During transition years, different era names are used depending on the month and day. Here are the key transition dates:
- Reiwa: May 1, 2019 onwards (Heisei ended April 30)
- Heisei: January 8, 1989 to April 30, 2019 (Showa ended January 7)
- Showa: December 25, 1926 to January 7, 1989 (Taisho ended December 24)
- Taisho: July 30, 1912 to December 24, 1926 (Meiji ended July 29)
- Meiji: October 23, 1868 to July 29, 1912
Japanese Calendar Rules for Resumes
In resumes and CVs, education and work history must consistently use either Japanese era or Western calendar. Do not mix formats.
- No abbreviations: Write "Heisei 31" not "H31" in formal documents.
- First year notation: The first year of an era can be written as "Gannen" (元年) or "1." "Gannen" is more common in resumes.
- Transition year notation: March 2019 graduation is "Heisei 31, March"; May 2019 employment is "Reiwa 1, May."
Japanese Calendar in Official Documents
In official documents, birth dates are typically recorded using Japanese era notation. Accurate era notation is especially required for:
- Residence Certificate: Birth date in Japanese era (e.g., Born May 1, Heisei 1)
- Family Register: All dates recorded in Japanese era notation
- Passport Application: Either Western or Japanese calendar accepted (must be consistent)
- Pension Book: Birth date in Japanese era notation (Born Showa XX, Month XX, Day XX)
When to Use Western vs Japanese Calendar
Generally, domestic documents use Japanese era, international documents use Western calendar. However, Western calendar usage is increasing, and some companies prefer it.
- Japanese era recommended: Government submissions, traditional industries (banking, insurance)
- Western calendar recommended: Foreign companies, IT industry, global corporations
- Either acceptable: Resumes (consistency required), contracts (follow counterparty)
Common Mistakes and Tips
- Wrong: "H31.4" → Correct: "Heisei 31, April" (avoid abbreviations in official documents)
- Wrong: May 2019 as "Heisei 31, May" → Correct: "Reiwa 1, May" (use new era after transition)
- Wrong: Japanese era for education, Western for work → Correct: Use one format throughout
What is the Japanese Era Converter?
The Japanese Era Converter is a free online tool that converts between Western calendar years and Japanese era names (Reiwa, Heisei, Showa, Taisho, Meiji). It is ideal for preparing official documents and forms.
Who is this for?
People filling out government forms requiring Japanese era dates, job seekers writing resumes with education and work history, anyone converting between Showa/Heisei years and Western dates, and those checking era-year correspondence.
Key Features
- Supports all five modern Japanese eras: Reiwa, Heisei, Showa, Taisho, and Meiji
- Bidirectional conversion between Western and Japanese era years
- Completely free with no registration required
- All processing is done in your browser - no data is sent to any server
FAQ
Five eras are supported: Meiji (from 1868), Taisho, Showa, Heisei, and Reiwa. The tool accurately determines era transition dates and performs conversions based on the exact month and day.
During transition years, different eras apply depending on the month. For example, in 2019, January through April is Heisei 31, while May onwards is correctly converted as Reiwa 1.
Yes, the reference table displays the Chinese zodiac (junishi) for each year. You can view Western year, Japanese era, and zodiac together, making it convenient for age verification and document preparation.
No, all processing is done in your browser. Your input data is never sent to a server.
It's completely free with no usage limits. No user registration is required.
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