Changes

Writing the '''date in Japanese''' also makes use of the system of [[Japanese numerical system|numbers and counters]]. Thus, when the date is written out in full, the format is as follows:

Writing the '''date in Japanese''' also makes use of the system of [[Japanese numerical system|numbers and counters]]. Thus, when the date is written out in full, the format is as follows:

yyyy年mm月dd日, where 年 is the counter for years, 月 for months and 日 for days. Thus 13 September, 2008 would be written as 2008年9月13日.

yyyy年mm月dd日, where 年 is the counter for years, 月 for months and 日 for days. Thus 13 September 2008 would be written as 2008年9月13日.

Sometimes, instead of the Western year being used, the year of the current [[Akihito|Emperor's]] reign is used. Thus, 2008 could be written as Heisei (平成) 20, or to use the date format above: 平成20年9月13日. To arrive at a Western date, based on an era, you take the commencement date of the era (1989 in the case of Heisei), subtract 1 (as 1989 would be year 1 of Heisei, not year 0) and add the number of years of the era. Thus Heisei 20 = 1989 - 1 + 20 = 2008. The specific eras will be discussed in more detail below.

Sometimes, instead of the Western year being used, the year of the current [[Akihito|Emperor's]] reign is used. Thus, 2008 could be written as Heisei (平成) 20, or to use the date format above: 平成20年9月13日. To arrive at a Western date, based on an era, you take the commencement date of the era (1989 in the case of Heisei), subtract 1 (as 1989 would be year 1 of Heisei, not year 0) and add the number of years of the era. Thus Heisei 20 = 1989 - 1 + 20 = 2008. The specific eras will be discussed in more detail below.

===Calculating Year Periods===

===Calculating Year Periods===

When calculating either the nengō, or corresponding Western year, remember that the first year of the era is 1, not 0. Thus, to calculate the dates of the Heisei era, which began in 1989, add or subtract 1988 (1989 - 1) from the year in question. Thus 2007 was Heisei 19 (2007 - 1988), and conversely Heisei 5 would be 1988 + 5 = 1993.  

When calculating either the nengō, or corresponding Western year, remember that the first year of the era is 1, not 0. Thus, to calculate the dates of the Heisei era, which began in 1989, add or subtract 1988 (1989 - 1) from the year in question. Thus 2007 was Heisei 19 (2007–1988), and conversely Heisei 5 would be 1988 + 5 = 1993.  

===Modern ''Nengō''===

===Modern ''Nengō''===

It was only with the reign of Emperor [[Meiji]] that the system of "one reign, one era" (一世一元 ''issei-ichigen'') came into use, meaning that era names would change only on Imperial succession.  

It was only with the reign of Emperor [[Meiji]] that the system of "one reign, one era" (一世一元 ''issei-ichigen'') came into use, meaning that era names would change only on Imperial succession.  

The first year of an era is called ''gan-nen'' (元年). Subsequent years are counted from the beginning of the following calendar year. For example, the Shōwa era commenced on 25 December, 1926, and the second year of Shōwa started a week later on 1 January, 1927. It would also imply that 1926 , can be written as both [[Taisho|Taishō]] 15 (the era name of the deceased Emperor) and Shōwa 1.

The first year of an era is called ''gan-nen'' (元年). Subsequent years are counted from the beginning of the following calendar year. For example, the Shōwa era commenced on 25 December 1926, and the second year of Shōwa started a week later on 1 January 1927. It would also imply that 1926 , can be written as both [[Taisho|Taishō]] 15 (the era name of the deceased Emperor) and Shōwa 1.

The practice of ''issei-ichigen'' was only formalised in 1979, when the Era Name Law (元号法, ''gengō-hō'') was passed. Thus since 1868, there have been only four ''nengō'': Meiji (明治), Taishō (大正), Shōwa (昭和) and Heisei (平成).<ref>http://www.ndl.go.jp/koyomi/e/</ref>

The practice of ''issei-ichigen'' was only formalised in 1979, when the Era Name Law (元号法, ''gengō-hō'') was passed. Thus since 1868, there have been only four ''nengō'': Meiji (明治), Taishō (大正), Shōwa (昭和) and Heisei (平成).<ref>http://www.ndl.go.jp/koyomi/e/</ref>

===Historical ''Nengō''===

===Historical ''Nengō''===

Prior to the convention that started with the Meiji Era, the start of a new era could be declared for any number of reasons. The main reasons for declaring a new era would be the first, fifth and 58^th years of the "sexagenary cycle" (十干十二支 ''jikkan jūnishi''), based on the [[Chinese]] system of 60 combinations of the two basic cycles, the ten calendar signs and the twelve signs of the [[Chinese zodiac]], the ascension of a new Emperor to the throne, an auspicious event, or a natural disaster.

Prior to the convention that started with the Meiji Era, the start of a new era could be declared for any number of reasons. The main reasons for declaring a new era would be the first, fifth and 58th years of the "sexagenary cycle" (十干十二支 ''jikkan jūnishi''), based on the [[Chinese]] system of 60 combinations of the two basic cycles, the ten calendar signs and the twelve signs of the [[Chinese zodiac]], the ascension of a new Emperor to the throne, an auspicious event, or a natural disaster.

Many periods were only three or four years long and the names had nothing to do with the Emperor of the time. Furthermore, a change of emperor did not necessarily mean an immediate change to a new era; this normally occurred between one to two years after the Emperor's death.<ref>Ryusaku Tsunoda, et. al., comp., Sources of Japanese Tradition, Columbia University Press, 1958</ref>

Many periods were only three or four years long and the names had nothing to do with the Emperor of the time. Furthermore, a change of emperor did not necessarily mean an immediate change to a new era; this normally occurred between one to two years after the Emperor's death.<ref>Ryusaku Tsunoda, et. al., comp., Sources of Japanese Tradition, Columbia University Press, 1958</ref>

|-valign=top align="center"  

|-valign=top align="center"  

|1384  

|1384  

|Shi<i></i>toku  

|Shi''''toku  

|<font size=3>至徳</font>

|<font size=3>至徳</font>

|-valign=top align="center"  

|-valign=top align="center"  

|-valign=top align="center"  

|-valign=top align="center"  

|1596  

|1596  

|[[Emperor_Go-Mizunoo#Keichō|Keichō]]   

|[[Emperor Go-Mizunoo#Keichō|Keichō]]   

|<font size=3>慶長</font>

|<font size=3>慶長</font>

|}

|}

|-valign=top align="center"

|-valign=top align="center"

|1615  

|1615  

|[[Emperor_Go-Mizunoo#Genna|Genna]]

|[[Emperor Go-Mizunoo#Genna|Genna]]

|<font size=3>元和</font>

|<font size=3>元和</font>

|-valign=top align="center"  

|-valign=top align="center"  

|-valign=top align="center"  

|-valign=top align="center"  

|1652  

|1652  

|[[Emperor_Go-Sai#Jōō|Jōō]]

|[[Emperor Go-Sai#Jōō|Jōō]]

|<font size=3>承応</font>

|<font size=3>承応</font>

|-valign=top align="center"  

|-valign=top align="center"  

|1655  

|1655  

|[[Emperor_Go-Sai#Meireki|Meireki]]  

|[[Emperor Go-Sai#Meireki|Meireki]]  

|<font size=3>明暦</font>

|<font size=3>明暦</font>

|-valign=top align="center"  

|-valign=top align="center"  

|1658  

|1658  

|[[Emperor_Go-Sai#Manji|Manji]]  

|[[Emperor Go-Sai#Manji|Manji]]  

|<font size=3>万治</font>

|<font size=3>万治</font>

|-valign=top align="center"  

|-valign=top align="center"  

|-valign=top align="center"  

|-valign=top align="center"  

|1912  

|1912  

|[[Taisho|Taishō ]]  

|[[Taisho|Taishō]]  

|<font size=3>大正</font>

|<font size=3>大正</font>

|-valign=top align="center"  

|-valign=top align="center"  

|}

|}

==External Links==

==External links==

[http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2272.html Convert from Gregorian years to Japanese nengō and vice versa]

* [http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2272.html Convert from Gregorian years to Japanese nengō and vice versa]

==References==

==References==

[[category:Japanese]][[category:Japanese History]]

[[Category:Japanese]][[Category:Japanese History]]