Gengo: How Japanese Era Names Work

Forms, bank statements and train tickets in Japan often show a year you do not recognize, and the logic behind it is simple.

Published October 18, 2026 at 11:46 PM JST | By Tokyo Paul

Quick answer: Gengo are Japanese era names, such as Meiji, Showa, Heisei and Reiwa. A new one is chosen when a new emperor takes the throne, and years are counted from one within each era. Reiwa began in 2019, so 2025 is Reiwa 7. Official forms often use these years, though the Western calendar is also common.

What a gengo is and how years are counted

A gengo is an era name that sets the counting of years in Japan's traditional dating system. Each era starts at year one, and the number goes up until the era changes. The first year of a new era begins on the day the new emperor takes the throne, which means the partial year at the start is called year one, and the next calendar year is year two.

For example, Reiwa started on 1 May 2019, so 2019 is Reiwa 1, 2020 is Reiwa 2, and so on. To convert from the Western calendar, you subtract 2018 from the Western year for Reiwa dates. The same logic works for earlier eras with different numbers. The first year is sometimes written with the character for origin, gan, instead of the numeral one. You may see this on formal documents or in news articles, where the phrase is read as gannen.

The modern rule: one emperor, one name

Chinese dynasties used era names for centuries, and Japan adopted the practice in the seventh century. In earlier periods, era names changed often, sometimes because of auspicious events, natural events or political reasons. A single emperor might have several names during his reign. The modern system was set in the Meiji period. A law passed in 1889 established that an emperor would have a single era name for his entire reign, and the era name would also serve as the posthumous name of the emperor.

That is why the emperor reigning from 1868 to 1912 is commonly called Emperor Meiji. In 1979, a law formalized the procedure for choosing era names, and the system was confirmed again with the transition in 2019. Since the principle is one name per reign, the system is now fairly predictable, compared with the earlier centuries. Understanding this single-name rule explains why an emperor's era name and his later title are the same word in Japanese histories.

Recent eras and quick conversions

Four eras cover most of the dates you will meet. Meiji ran from 1868 to 1912, Taisho from 1912 to 1926, Showa from 1926 to 1989, and Heisei from 1989 to 2019. Reiwa began in 2019 and is the current one. Transition years contain two names, because the change happens partway through. Handy offsets: for Showa, add 1925 to the era year to get the Western year, so Showa 50 is 1975.

For Heisei, add 1988, so Heisei 20 is 2008. For Reiwa, add 2018, so Reiwa 7 is 2025. For Taisho add 1911 and for Meiji add 1867. Many people memorize a few reference points to estimate quickly. If someone says they were born in Heisei 5, that is 1993. Having these offsets in your phone notes makes ticket machines and forms less puzzling.

How Reiwa was chosen

The name Reiwa was announced in April 2019, before the emperor's accession on 1 May. The government's announcement generated considerable public interest, and the name was displayed on a framed calligraphy sheet held up by the chief cabinet secretary. It was the first era name taken from a Japanese classical source, the Manyoshu, an eighth-century poetry anthology, rather than from Chinese classical texts as in previous cases.

The characters are commonly explained as meaning beautiful harmony, though the translation has been discussed, and official English guidance has used the phrase order and harmony or beautiful harmony in different contexts. Era names are usually selected from a group of candidates that experts propose, then reviewed by officials and finalized by the cabinet. The process has some formal rules, such as choosing characters that are easy to write and read and that are not used in common names.

Where you will see gengo in daily life

Official paperwork is the most common place. City hall forms, resident cards, driver's licenses, pension documents and many tax forms use Japanese years, often with a field where you circle the era name. Birth dates on registration forms are frequently written the same way. Receipts, product labels and train tickets sometimes use abbreviations. A single letter may stand for the era: M for Meiji, T for Taisho, S for Showa, H for Heisei and R for Reiwa.

A date such as R7.4.1 means 1 April, Reiwa 7. Food packaging, though, usually uses Western dates. Old buildings, bridges, monuments and stone markers also show gengo, so understanding them helps with sightseeing. You can often read the era name on a commemorative stone and work out a rough year using the offsets above. Knowing these single letters helps when reading product dates, repair slips and printed forms.

Using gengo with confidence

Many travelers meet gengo when filling out hotel registration forms or long-term residence paperwork. For short stays, the Western calendar is generally accepted, but if a form is in Japanese and lists era options, writing your birth year in the format requested is easiest. Staff at counters can usually help if you point to the field. Some digital systems accept both systems, and many government websites offer a conversion tool.

Calendars, planners and some smartphone apps can display Japanese years too. Business contracts often prefer Western dates to avoid confusion, particularly when companies deal internationally. One common mistake is forgetting that an era year may overlap two Western years in a single context. For example, Showa 64 lasted only a few days in early January 1989. When dealing with that boundary, check a conversion chart, since the start dates matter.

Culture, calligraphy and era anniversaries

Era names have a cultural presence beyond paperwork. When a new name is announced, many bookshops and craft stores display calligraphy, and commemorative items appear for a while. Souvenirs such as stamps, coins and shrine seals sometimes carry the new era mark. Shrines and temples may issue special goshuin (temple stamps) in a new era, and these are collected by many visitors.

If you are interested in calligraphy, the characters for the era names are good practice because each is balanced and widely shown. Looking back on past eras is also a popular way to describe the mood of a time. People speak of Showa nostalgia, Heisei memories or Meiji modernity, and each label brings associated ideas of music, fashion and technology. Using gengo in conversation is a friendly way to connect with people.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the current Japanese era?

The current era is Reiwa, which began on 1 May 2019 with the accession of Emperor Naruhito. To convert a Reiwa year to the Western calendar, add 2018. Reiwa 7, for example, corresponds to 2025. Official forms in Japan often use these era years alongside Western dates.

How do you convert Showa years to Western years?

Add 1925 to the Showa year. Showa 40 is 1965, and Showa 64 is 1989. The era ran from late December 1926 to early January 1989, so its first and last years were very short. A conversion chart helps with dates near those boundaries.

Why does Japan still use era names?

Era names are part of tradition and are tied to the imperial institution. Government documents commonly use them, while private companies and international business often use Western years. Both systems exist side by side, and most people in Japan are comfortable switching between them depending on the form or the situation.

Keep Exploring

More guides from Tokyo Paul: The Emperor's Birthday: Japan's National Holiday Explained, Furusato Nozei: Japan's Hometown Tax Gift System Explained and Longevity Celebrations in Japan: Kanreki to Hakuju.