In ancient Japan, years were counted according to the reign of an emperor, this system is known as nengō or Imperial Japanese Calendar.
But in the Meiji Reform, which took place in 1873, the government announced the adoption of the Gregorian calendar (which we use).
Even today, the system nengō it is used among the Japanese, being required in some official government documents. Let's get to know a little about this system and the eras (or periods) that are vital in the use of the Imperial Japanese Calendar.
Índice de Conteúdo
The era (periods) of Japan
At era of Japan (元号; gengō ou - or nengō) is a means of counting time which starts from the beginning of an emperor's reign to the end of his reign. The Japanese used to use this count to indicate their year of birth, or the year they lived in.
ExampleA it was Heisei began in 1989 with the reign of Emperor Akihito. I was born in 1995, so in the Imperial Japanese calendar I was born in year 7 of the Heisei era (平成7年). And in 2016 we are in year 28 of the Heisei era (平成28年).
In the table below you find the beginning of each era, starting from the Meiji or Modern Japan:
| Period / Era | Kanji | Emperor | Calendar / Start - End |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meiji | 明治 | Emperor Meiji | 1868-1912 |
| Taishō | 大正 | Emperor Taishō | 1912-1926 |
| Shōwa | 昭和 | Emperor Showa | 1926-1989 |
| Heisei | 平成 | Emperor Akihito | 1989... (Current Emperor) |
Throughout Japan's history, thousands of internal wars have taken place, and many Emperors have had a short period of reign. So, the Periods (or era) that we will see in the table below, were counted according to historical events and not under the reign of an Emperor.
This counting system was adopted in 645 by Emperor Kotoku, the first being known by the name Taika which is present in the Asuka Period.
| Era (Period) | Beginning of the Era | end of era |
| Asuka period | 538 | 710 |
| Nara period | 710 | 794 |
| Heian period | 794 | 1185 |
| Kamakura period | 1185 | 1333 |
| Daikakuji and Jimyoin | -- | -- |
| Muromachi period | 1392 | 1573 |
| Sengoku period | 1467 | 1573 |
| Azuchi-Momoyama period | 1573 | 1603 |
| Edo period | 1603 | 1867 |
At the end of the article we will leave a list with the name of all the eras according to the reign of each emperor.
It is worth remembering that the name of the Era or Period is not the same as the Emperor's name, he can determine the name, and sometimes after his death he ends up being called the name he gave to his reign period.
Imperial Japanese Calendar
As already explained, the Japanese Imperial Calendar is calculated by the regnal year of each emperor. It's not very difficult to understand.
The Gregorian calendar we use in Brazil is indicated by the Day/Month/Year in Japan they invert and use Year 年/Month 月/Day 日. The Japanese imperial calendar is represented by the year of the period or era.
The Number comes after the Era Kanji and then the year kanji 年. Example: 昭和7年/12月/ 21日
| Meiji | 明治 |
| Taishō | 大正 |
| Shōwa | 昭和 |
| Heisei | 平成 |
If you need to know what year you were born in the Japanese imperial calendar. We recommend this website (click here), or see the table below which is in descending order:
| Gregorian Year | Imperial Year | Gregorian Year | Imperial Year |
| 2014 | Heisei 26 | 1970 | Showa 45 |
| 2013 | Heisei 25 | 1969 | Showa 44 |
| 2012 | Heisei 24 | 1968 | Showa 43 |
| 2011 | Heisei 23 | 1967 | Showa 42 |
| 2010 | Heisei 22 | 1966 | Showa 41 |
| 2009 | Heisei 21 | 1965 | Showa 40 |
| 2008 | Heisei 20 | 1964 | Showa 39 |
| 2007 | Heisei 19 | 1963 | Showa 38 |
| 2006 | Heisei 18 | 1962 | Showa 37 |
| 2005 | Heisei 17 | 1961 | Showa 36 |
| 2004 | Heisei 16 | 1960 | Showa 35 |
| 2003 | Heisei 15 | 1959 | Showa 34 |
| 2002 | Heisei 14 | 1958 | Showa 33 |
| 2001 | Heisei 13 | 1957 | Showa 32 |
| 2000 | Heisei 12 | 1956 | Showa 31 |
| 1999 | Heisei 11 | 1955 | Showa 30 |
| 1998 | Heisei 10 | 1954 | Showa 29 |
| 1997 | heisei 9 | 1953 | Showa 28 |
| 1996 | heisei 8 | 1952 | Showa 27 |
| 1995 | heisei 7 | 1951 | Showa 26 |
| 1994 | heisei 6 | 1950 | Showa 25 |
| 1993 | heisei 5 | 1949 | Showa 24 |
| 1992 | heisei 4 | 1948 | Showa 23 |
| 1991 | heisei 3 | 1947 | Showa 22 |
| 1990 | heisei 2 | 1946 | Showa 21 |
| 1989 | Showa 64 / Heisei 1 | 1945 | Showa 20 |
| 1988 | Showa 63 | 1944 | Showa 19 |
| 1987 | Showa 62 | 1943 | Showa 18 |
| 1986 | Showa 61 | 1942 | Showa 17 |
| 1985 | Showa 60 | 1941 | Showa 16 |
| 1984 | Showa 59 | 1940 | Showa 15 |
| 1983 | Showa 58 | 1939 | Showa 14 |
| 1982 | Showa 57 | 1938 | Showa 13 |
| 1981 | Showa 56 | 1937 | Showa 12 |
| 1980 | Showa 55 | 1936 | Showa 11 |
| 1979 | Showa 54 | 1935 | Showa 10 |
| 1978 | Showa 53 | 1934 | Showa 9 |
| 1977 | Showa 52 | 1933 | Showa 8 |
| 1976 | Showa 51 | 1932 | Showa 7 |
| 1975 | Showa 50 | 1931 | Showa 6 |
| 1974 | Showa 49 | 1930 | Showa 5 |
| 1973 | Showa 48 | 1929 | Showa 4 |
| 1972 | Showa 47 | 1928 | Showa 3 |
| 1971 | Showa 46 | 1927 | Showa 2 |
| 1970 | Showa 45 | 1926 | Taisho 15 / Showa 1 |
| 1969 | Showa 44 | 1925 | Taisho 14 |
| 1968 | Showa 43 | 1924 | Taisho 13 |
| 1967 | Showa 42 | 1923 | Taisho 12 |
| 1966 | Showa 41 | 1922 | Taisho 11 |
| 1965 | Showa 40 | 1921 | Taisho 10 |
| 1964 | Showa 39 | 1920 | Taisho 9 |
| 1963 | Showa 38 | 1919 | Taisho 8 |
| 1962 | Showa 37 | 1918 | Taisho 7 |
| 1961 | Showa 36 | 1917 | Taisho 6 |
| 1960 | Showa 35 | 1916 | Taisho 5 |
| 1959 | Showa 34 | 1915 | Taisho 4 |
| 1958 | Showa 33 | 1914 | Taisho 3 |
| 1957 | Showa 32 | 1913 | Taisho 2 |
| 1956 | Showa 31 | 1912 | Taisho 1 |
The table below shows all periods of the Imperial calendar since 645:
| Year | Period | Kanji |
|---|---|---|
| 645 | Taika | 大化 |
| 650 | Hakuchi | 白雉 |
| 686 | Shuchō | 朱鳥 |
| 701 | Taihō | 大宝 |
| 704 | Keiun | 慶雲 |
| 708 | Wadō | 和銅 |
| 715 | Reiki | 霊亀 |
| 717 | Yōrō | 養老 |
| 724 | Jinki | 神亀 |
| 729 | Tempyō | 天平 |
| 749 | Tempyōkampō | 天平感宝 |
| 749 | Tempyōshōhō | 天平勝宝 |
| 757 | Tempyōjōji | 天平宝字 |
| 765 | Tempyōjingo | 天平神護 |
| 767 | Jingokeiun | 神護景雲 |
| 770 | Hōki | 宝亀 |
| 781 | Ten'ō | 天応 |
| 782 | Enryaku | 延暦 |
| 806 | Daidō | 大同 |
| 810 | Kōnin | 弘仁 |
| 823 | Tenchō | 天長 |
| 834 | Jōwa | 承和 |
| 848 | Kashō | 嘉祥 |
| 851 | ninja | 仁寿 |
| 855 | Saikō | 斉衡 |
| 857 | Ten'an | 天安 |
| 859 | Jōgan | 貞観 |
| 877 | Gangyō | 元慶 |
| 885 | girl | 仁和 |
| 889 | Kampyō | 寛平 |
| 898 | Shōtai | 昌泰 |
| 901 | engineering | 延喜 |
| 923 | fill | 延長 |
| 931 | Jōhei | 承平 |
| 938 | Tengyō | 天慶 |
| 947 | Tenryaku | 天暦 |
| 957 | trytoku | 天徳 |
| 961 | Ōwa | 応和 |
| 964 | Kōhō | 康保 |
| 968 | Anna | 安和 |
| 970 | Tenroku | 天禄 |
| 974 | Ten'en | 天延 |
| 976 | Jōgen | 貞元 |
| 979 | Tengen | 天元 |
| 983 | Eikan | 永観 |
| 985 | Kanna | 寛和 |
| 987 | Hey | 永延 |
| 989 | Here | 永祚 |
| 990 | Shōryaku | 正暦 |
| 995 | Chōtoku | 長徳 |
| 999 | Chōhō | 長保 |
| 1004 | Kankō | 寛弘 |
| 1013 | Chōwa | 長和 |
| 1017 | Kannin | 寛仁 |
| 1021 | Jian | 治安 |
| 1024 | Manju | 万寿 |
| 1028 | Chōgen | 長元 |
| 1037 | Chōryaku | 長暦 |
| 1040 | Chōkyū | 長久 |
| 1045 | Kantoku | 寛徳 |
| 1046 | Eishō | 永承 |
| 1053 | Tengi | 天喜 |
| 1058 | Kōhei | 康平 |
| 1065 | Jiryaku | 治暦 |
| 1069 | Enkyū | 延久 |
| 1074 | Jōhō | 承保 |
| 1078 | Jōryaku | 承暦 |
| 1081 | hey | 永保 |
| 1084 | Ōtoku | 応徳 |
| 1087 | Kanji | 寛治 |
| 1095 | Kahō | 嘉保 |
| 1097 | Eichō | 永長 |
| 1098 | Jōtoku | 承徳 |
| 1099 | Kōwa | 康和 |
| 1104 | Chōji | 長治 |
| 1106 | Kajō | 嘉承 |
| 1108 | Tennin | 天仁 |
| 1110 | Tennei | 天永 |
| 1113 | Eikyū | 永久 |
| 1118 | Gen'ei | 元永 |
| 1120 | Hōan | 保安 |
| 1124 | Tenji | 天治 |
| 1126 | Daiji | 大治 |
| 1131 | Tenshō | 天承 |
| 1132 | Chōshō | 長承 |
| 1135 | Hōen | 保延 |
| 1141 | Eiji | 永治 |
| 1142 | Kōji | 康治 |
| 1144 | Ten'you | 天養 |
| 1145 | Kyūan | 久安 |
| 1151 | Nimpei | 仁平 |
| 1154 | Kyūju | 久寿 |
| 1156 | Hōgen | 保元 |
| 1159 | Heiji | 平治 |
| 1160 | Eiryaku | 永暦 |
| 1161 | Ōhō | 応保 |
| 1163 | Chōkan | 長寛 |
| 1165 | Hey man | 永万 |
| 1166 | Nin'an | 仁安 |
| 1169 | Kaō | 嘉応 |
| 1171 | Shōan | 承安 |
| 1175 | Angen | 安元 |
| 1177 | Jisho | 治承 |
| 1181 | Yōwa | 養和 |
| 1182 | Juei | 寿永 |
| 1184 | Genryaku | 元暦 |
| 1185 | Bunji | 文治 |
| 1190 | Research | 建久 |
| 1199 | Shōji | 正治 |
| 1201 | Kennin | 建仁 |
| 1204 | Genkyū | 元久 |
| 1206 | ken'ei | 建永 |
| 1207 | Jōgen | 承元 |
| 1211 | Kenryaku | 建暦 |
| 1214 | Kempō | 建保 |
| 1219 | Jōkyū | 承久 |
| 1222 | Jōō | 貞応 |
| 1225 | Gennin | 元仁 |
| 1225 | Karoku | 嘉禄 |
| 1228 | Ante | 安貞 |
| 1229 | Kanki | 寛喜 |
| 1232 | Jōei | 貞永 |
| 1233 | Tempuku | 天福 |
| 1235 | Bunryaku | 文暦 |
| 1235 | Katei | 嘉禎 |
| 1239 | Ryakunin | 暦仁 |
| 1239 | En'ō | 延応 |
| 1240 | ninja | 仁治 |
| 1243 | Kangen | 寛元 |
| 1247 | Hōji | 宝治 |
| 1249 | Kenchō | 建長 |
| 1256 | Kōgen | 康元 |
| 1257 | Shōka | 正嘉 |
| 1259 | Shōgen | 正元 |
| 1260 | Bun'o | 文応 |
| 1261 | Kōchō | 弘長 |
| 1264 | bun'ei | 文永 |
| 1275 | Kenji | 健治 |
| 1278 | Kōan | 弘安 |
| 1288 | Shōō | 正応 |
| 1293 | Einin | 永仁 |
| 1299 | Shōan | 正安 |
| 1303 | Kengen | 乾元 |
| 1303 | Kagen | 嘉元 |
| 1307 | Tokuji | 徳治 |
| 1308 | Enkyō | 延慶 |
| 1311 | Ōchō | 応長 |
| 1312 | Shōwa | 正和 |
| 1317 | bump | 文保 |
| 1319 | Gen'ō | 元応 |
| 1321 | Genkō | 元亨 |
| 1325 | Shōchu | 正中 |
| 1326 | Karyaku | 嘉暦 |
| 1329 | Gentoku | 元徳 |
| 1331 | Genkō (Southern) | 元弘 |
| 1332 | Shōkei | 正慶 |
| 1334 | Kemmu (Southern) | 建武 |
| 1336 | Eigen (Southern) | 延元 |
| 1338 | Ryakuō | 暦応 |
| 1340 | Kōkoku (Southern) | 興国 |
| 1342 | Kōei | 康永 |
| 1345 | Jōwa | 貞和 |
| 1347 | Shōhei (Southern) | 正平 |
| 1350 | Kan'ō | 観応 |
| 1352 | Bunna | 文和 |
| 1356 | Dew | 延文 |
| 1361 | Kōan | 康安 |
| 1362 | Jōji | 貞治 |
| 1368 | Ōan | 応安 |
| 1370 | Kentoku (Southern) | 建徳 |
| 1372 | Bunchū (Southern) | 文中 |
| 1375 | Hey | 永和 |
| 1375 | Tenju (Southern) | 天授 |
| 1379 | Kōryaku | 康暦 |
| 1381 | Eitoku | 永徳 |
| 1381 | Kōwa (Southern) | 弘和 |
| 1384 | Shitoku | 至徳 |
| 1384 | Genchū (Southern) | 元中 |
| 1387 | Kakei | 嘉慶 |
| 1389 | Kōō | 康応 |
| 1390 | Meitoku | 明徳 |
| 1394 | hey | 応永 |
| 1428 | Shōchō | 正長 |
| 1429 | Eikyō | 永享 |
| 1441 | Kakitsu | 嘉吉 |
| 1444 | bun'an | 文安 |
| 1449 | Hōtoku | 宝徳 |
| 1452 | Kyōtoku | 享徳 |
| 1455 | Kōshō | 康正 |
| 1457 | Chōroku | 長禄 |
| 1461 | Kanshō | 寛正 |
| 1466 | Bunshō | 文正 |
| 1467 | Ōnin | 応仁 |
| 1469 | boommei | 文明 |
| 1487 | Chōkyō | 長享 |
| 1489 | Entoku | 延徳 |
| 1492 | Quite | 明応 |
| 1501 | Bunki | 文亀 |
| 1504 | Eishō | 永正 |
| 1521 | Daiei | 大永 |
| 1528 | Kyōroku | 享禄 |
| 1532 | Tembun | 天文 |
| 1555 | Kōji | 弘治 |
| 1558 | Eiroku | 永禄 |
| 1570 | Genki | 元亀 |
| 1573 | Tenshō | 天正 |
| 1593 | Bunroku | 文禄 |
| 1596 | Keichō | 慶長 |
| 1615 | Genna | 元和 |
| 1624 | Kan'ei | 寛永 |
| 1645 | Shōhō | 正保 |
| 1648 | Keian | 慶安 |
| 1652 | Jōō | 承応 |
| 1655 | Meireki | 明暦 |
| 1658 | Manji | 万治 |
| 1661 | Kambun | 寛文 |
| 1673 | In powder | 延宝 |
| 1681 | Tenna | 天和 |
| 1684 | Jōkyō | 貞享 |
| 1688 | Genroku | 元禄 |
| 1704 | Hōei | 宝永 |
| 1711 | Shōtoku | 正徳 |
| 1716 | Kyōhō | 享保 |
| 1736 | Gembun | 元文 |
| 1741 | Kampō | 寛保 |
| 1744 | Enkyō | 延享 |
| 1748 | Kan'en | 寛延 |
| 1751 | Hōreki | 宝暦 |
| 1764 | Meiwa | 明和 |
| 1773 | an'ei | 安永 |
| 1781 | Temmei | 天明 |
| 1801 | Kansei | 寛政 |
| 1802 | Kyōwa | 享和 |
| 1804 | Bunka | 文化 |
| 1818 | Bunsei | 文政 |
| 1831 | Tempo | 天保 |
| 1845 | Kōka | 弘化 |
| 1848 | Kaei | 嘉永 |
| 1855 | I longed | 安政 |
| 1860 | man'ei | 万延 |
| 1861 | Bunkyū | 文久 |
| 1864 | Genji | 元治 |
| 1865 | Keiō | 慶応 |
| 1868 | Meiji | 明治 |
| 1912 | Taishō | 大正 |
| 1926 | Shōwa | 昭和 |
| 1989 | Heisei | 平成 |
