Japanese era converter
Paste 令和8年9月21日, R8.9.21, or 2026-09-21. The converter returns the era, imperial year, kanji form, and the Western date used on Japanese documents.
Today on the Tokyo calendar is 令和8年10月1日（木）.
Converted date
- Japanese calendar
- 令和8年10月1日
- Document form
- 令和8年10月1日（木）
- Romaji reading
- Reiwa 8-nen 10-gatsu 1-nichi
- Form code
- R8.10.1
- Western calendar
- Oct 1, 2026
Thursday
—
In that Western year
Modern eras used on documents
The era year advances on 1 January, not on the nengō anniversary. When the emperor changes mid-year, that Western year has two counts.
| Era | Start | End |
|---|---|---|
| 明治 Meiji · Mutsuhito | ||
| 大正 Taishō · Yoshihito | ||
| 昭和 Shōwa · Hirohito | ||
| 平成 Heisei · Akihito | ||
| 令和 Reiwa · Naruhito | ongoing |
How to read a Japanese date
Nengō follows the reign. 令和8年 is the eighth Reiwa year, not eight years after 1 May: the imperial year steps forward on 1 January.
The first year of an era may be written 元年. 令和元年 and 令和1年 cover the same span, from 1 May to 31 December 2019.
Banks and city halls sometimes use the era letter: R, H, S, T, or M, then year, month, and day. R8.9.21 is 21 September 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Is 2019 Heisei or Reiwa?
Both. Through 30 April it is Heisei 31; from 1 May it is Reiwa 1. Include the month when the switch matters.
Does Shōwa 64 exist?
Yes, but only through 7 January 1989. The 8th is already Heisei 1. Western 1989 therefore starts in Shōwa and ends in Heisei.
Can I convert dates before Meiji?
This converter covers Meiji, Taishō, Shōwa, Heisei, and Reiwa, the range used on current documents. Before 1873 Japan used a lunisolar calendar, so day-to-day mapping changes character.
Era boundaries follow each nengō’s civil Gregorian dates from 23 October 1868. The era year increases on Western 1 January, not on the emperor’s accession date.