What does 令和 mean?
令和 (Reiwa) is Japan’s current imperial era. It began on May 1, 2019, when Emperor Naruhito ascended the throne.
JAPANESE ERA CONVERTER
Reiwa or Western year? Know instantly.
Convert between Japanese era years and the Western calendar, including common R, H and S abbreviations.
JAPANESE
ROMAJI
WESTERN
TRY
令和Reiwa
2019–present
平成Heisei
1989–2019
昭和Showa
1926–1989
REIWA YEAR GUIDE
What year is Reiwa 8?
Reiwa 8 is 2026. To convert most Reiwa years to a Western year, add 2018. To convert a Western year from 2019 onward to Reiwa, subtract 2018.
What was before Reiwa?
Heisei came immediately before Reiwa. Heisei ran from January 8, 1989 through April 30, 2019.
Why is 2019 in two eras?
Dates through April 30 are Heisei 31. Dates from May 1 are Reiwa 1, usually written 令和元年.
Reiwa to Western year conversion table
Japanese yearRomajiWestern year
令和8年Reiwa 82026
令和7年Reiwa 72025
令和6年Reiwa 62024
令和5年Reiwa 52023
令和4年Reiwa 42022
令和3年Reiwa 32021
令和2年Reiwa 22020
令和元年Reiwa 12019
Help and examples
Japanese era years restart when a new emperor’s era begins. The first year is written 元年 or year 1, and abbreviated forms use R, H, or S.
Example: 令和8年 → 2026
Common mistakes
- Adding the era start year without subtracting one
- Treating January 1 as the start of every era
- Confusing Reiwa (R), Heisei (H), and Showa (S)
Questions
What year is Reiwa 1?
Reiwa 1 began on May 1, 2019. Dates earlier in 2019 belong to Heisei 31.
What does 元年 mean?
Gannen (元年) means the first year of an era.