Reiwa (令和) – The Current Japanese Era

Reiwa (令和) is the current era of Japan. It began on 1 May 2019, when Emperor Naruhito ascended the Chrysanthemum Throne, replacing the previous Heisei (平成) era.

Quick Answer: What Year Is It in Reiwa Right Now?

2026 corresponds to Reiwa 8 (令和8年).

Reiwa 8 began on 1 January 2026 in everyday usage, and the Reiwa 8 fiscal year (令和8年度) runs 1 April 2026 – 31 March 2027.

Reiwa Year Converter

Convert any year between the Western (Gregorian) calendar and any modern Japanese era — Reiwa, Heisei, Shōwa, Taishō or Meiji. Edit either field and the other updates.

Manual conversion formulas

• Reiwa → Western: Western = Reiwa + 2018 (e.g. 令和8 → 2026)
• Western → Reiwa: Reiwa = Western − 2018 (e.g. 2026 → 令和8)
• Heisei → Western: Western = Heisei + 1988 (e.g. 平成31 → 2019)
• Shōwa → Western: Western = Shōwa + 1925 (e.g. 昭和64 → 1989)
• Taishō → Western: Western = Taishō + 1911
• Meiji → Western: Western = Meiji + 1867

The first year of any era is conventionally written 元年 (gannen) rather than “1年”. So 令和元年 = Reiwa 1 = 1 May – 31 December 2019.

Age Calculator (Japanese Calendar)

Find your 満年齢 (full age) as of today and the Japanese era of your birth year.

Note: Japan also uses 数え年 (kazoedoshi), the traditional age count where a baby is “1” at birth and gains a year each New Year. The number above is the standard 満年齢, used on every modern form.

Today’s Date in Every Common Japanese Format

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Calendar Year vs. Fiscal Year (年度)

Many Japanese forms distinguish between the calendar year (年) and the fiscal year (年度, nendo) — and they don’t line up.

So 令和8年4月 (April Reiwa 8) is the first month of fiscal year 令和8年度. 令和8年3月 (March Reiwa 8) still belongs to fiscal year 令和7年度. Watch this on tax forms.

Reiwa ↔ Western Year Conversion Table

Recent Heisei & Shōwa years (popular conversions)

Meaning of “Reiwa” (令和の意味)

The era name Reiwa (令和) is composed of two kanji:

• 令 (rei) – “auspicious,” “good,” or “order”
• 和 (wa) – “harmony” or “peace”

The Japanese government officially translates Reiwa as “beautiful harmony.” The name expresses the hope that culture is born and nurtured when people’s hearts are drawn together in a beautiful way.

Origin of the Name (令和の出典)

Reiwa is the first era name in Japanese history drawn from a Japanese classical text rather than a Chinese one. It comes from the Man’yōshū (万葉集), the oldest existing collection of Japanese poetry, compiled in the 8th century.

The source passage is the preface to a series of 32 plum-blossom poems in Volume 5:

初春の令月にして、気淑く風和ぎ、梅は鏡前の粉を披き、蘭は珮後の香を薫らす

“In this auspicious (令) month of early spring, the air is fresh and the wind gentle (和); the plum blossoms open like powder before a mirror, and the orchids breathe out fragrance like the scent of a sash.”

All 247 previous era names are believed to have originated from Chinese classics, making Reiwa a historic shift toward Japanese literary heritage.

How Reiwa Was Announced

• 1 April 2019: Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga held up the calligraphy revealing the new era name. The announcement was broadcast worldwide.
• 30 April 2019: Emperor Akihito abdicated, ending the Heisei era — the first abdication of a Japanese emperor in roughly 200 years.
• 1 May 2019: Emperor Naruhito acceded to the throne, beginning the Reiwa era.

Where You’ll See Reiwa Years Used

Although the Western calendar is widely used in Japan, the Reiwa era appears in many official and everyday contexts:

• Government documents, tax forms, and resident certificates (住民票)
• Driver’s licences and passports (Japanese-language fields)
• Newspapers and television broadcasts
• Coins minted by the Japan Mint (each coin is stamped with its Reiwa year)
• Contracts, school records, and corporate filings
• News reporting on legislation and budgets (e.g. “令和8年度 budget”)

Recent Modern Japanese Eras

Frequently Asked Questions

What year is Reiwa now?

As of 2026, it is Reiwa 8 (令和8年). The Reiwa year always equals the Western year minus 2018.

When did the Reiwa era begin?

The Reiwa era began on 1 May 2019, the day Emperor Naruhito ascended the throne.

What does Reiwa mean in English?

The Japanese government’s official English translation is “beautiful harmony.” The kanji 令 means “auspicious” or “order,” and 和 means “harmony” or “peace.”

Is “Reiwa 1” the same as “Reiwa gannen”?

Yes. The first year of any Japanese era is conventionally written 元年 (gannen) rather than 1年, so 令和元年 and Reiwa 1 refer to the same period (1 May – 31 December 2019).

How do I convert my birth year to Reiwa?

Subtract 2018 from your Western birth year. If you were born before 1 May 2019, you were born in an earlier era (Heisei, Shōwa, etc.), not Reiwa — use the converter above.

What’s the difference between 令和8年 and 令和8年度?

令和8年 (Reiwa 8 calendar year) = 1 January – 31 December 2026. 令和8年度 (Reiwa 8 fiscal year) = 1 April 2026 – 31 March 2027. Government budgets, school years, and corporate accounts use 年度.

Why does R8 sometimes show up on Japanese forms and licences?

Japanese driver’s licences and many printed forms abbreviate the era to a single Roman letter — R for 令和, H for 平成, S for 昭和, T for 大正, M for 明治 — followed by the year, then month and day. So R8.5.7 = 令和8年5月7日 = 7 May 2026.

Who decides the era name?

The Japanese Cabinet selects the era name (元号, gengō) based on recommendations from a panel of scholars, then announces it officially. The name takes effect when a new emperor accedes to the throne.

Will Reiwa end?

Yes — every Japanese era ends with the reign of its emperor. Reiwa will end when Emperor Naruhito’s reign ends, at which point a new era name will be announced.

Does Reiwa appear on Japanese coins?

Yes. Every Japan Mint coin since mid-2019 is stamped with its Reiwa year (e.g. 令和元年, 令和8年). Coins from earlier in 2019 still bear 平成31年.

See Also

• Reiwa on Wikipedia (English)
• 令和 - Wikipedia (日本語)
• Man’yōshū (万葉集) – the source of the Reiwa name
• Japanese era name (Gengō)
• Japanese fiscal year (年度)