In ancient Japan, the years were counted according to the reign of an emperor, this system is known as nengō or Japanese Imperial Calendar.
But in the Meiji Restoration, which took place in 1873, the government announced the adoption of the Gregorian calendar (the one we use).
Even today, the nengō system is used among the Japanese, being required in some official government documents. Let’s learn a little about this system and the eras (or periods) that are vital in the use of the Japanese Imperial Calendar.
The eras (periods) of Japan
The eras of Japan (元号; gengō or 年号; nengō) is a means of counting time that starts from the beginning of an emperor’s reign until the end of that reign. The Japanese used to use this counting to indicate their year of birth, or the year in which they lived.
Example: The Heisei era started in 1989 with the reign of Emperor Akihito. I was born in 1995, so in the Japanese Imperial calendar I was born in the year 7 of the Heisei era (平成7年). And in 2016 we are in the year 28 of the Heisei era (平成28年).
In the table below you will find the beginning of each era, starting from the Meiji era 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 Shōwa | 1926-1989 |
| Heisei | 平成 | Emperor Akihito | 1989… (Current Emperor) |
Throughout Japan’s history, there have been thousands of internal wars, and many emperors had a short reign. So the periods (or eras) that we will see in the table below were counted according to historical events and not by the reign of an emperor.
This counting system was adopted in 645 by Emperor Kotoku, with the first era known as Taika, which is present in the Asuka Period.
| Era (Period) | Start of Era | End of Era |
| Asuka Period | 538 | 710 |
| Nara Period | 710 | 794 |
| Heian Period | 794 | 1185 |
| Kamakura Period | 1185 | 1333 |
| Daikakuji and Jimyōin | — | — |
| 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 names 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 name of the emperor; he can determine the name, and sometimes after his death, he ends up being called by the name he gave to his period of reign.
Japanese Imperial Calendar
As already explained, the Japanese Imperial Calendar is calculated by the year of reign of each emperor. It is not very difficult to understand.
The Gregorian calendar that we use in Brazil is indicated by Day/Month/Year; in Japan, they reverse it 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 Kanji of the Era and then comes the kanji for year 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 in which year you were born in the Japanese imperial calendar, we recommend this site (click here), or you can check 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 the 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 | Ninju | 仁寿 |
| 855 | Saikō | 斉衡 |
| 857 | Ten’an | 天安 |
| 859 | Jōgan | 貞観 |
| 877 | Gangyō | 元慶 |
| 885 | Ninna | 仁和 |
| 889 | Kampyō | 寛平 |
| 898 | Shōtai | 昌泰 |
| 901 | Engi | 延喜 |
| 923 | Enchō | 延長 |
| 931 | Jōhei | 承平 |
| 938 | Tengyō | 天慶 |
| 947 | Tenryaku | 天暦 |
| 957 | Tentoku | 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 | Eien | 永延 |
| 989 | Eiso | 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 | Eihō | 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’yō | 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 | Eiman | 永万 |
| 1166 | Nin’an | 仁安 |
| 1169 | Kaō | 嘉応 |
| 1171 | Shōan | 承安 |
| 1175 | Angen | 安元 |
| 1177 | Jishō | 治承 |
| 1181 | Yōwa | 養和 |
| 1182 | Juei | 寿永 |
| 1184 | Genryaku | 元暦 |
| 1185 | Bunji | 文治 |
| 1190 | Kenkyū | 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 | Antei | 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 | Ninji | 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’ō | 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 | Bumpō | 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 | Embun | 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 | Eiwa | 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 | Ōei | 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 | Bummei | 文明 |
| 1487 | Chōkyō | 長享 |
| 1489 | Entoku | 延徳 |
| 1492 | Meiō | 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 | Empō | 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 | Tempō | 天保 |
| 1845 | Kōka | 弘化 |
| 1848 | Kaei | 嘉永 |
| 1855 | Ansei | 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 |
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