Changes

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 a 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 a 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.

===Days of the Week===

==Days of the Week==

With the Japanese names for the days of the week, counters are built into the names themselves, with each name being broken down into three parts - the first being the name of the day, the second indicating it is a weekday (''you'' 曜) and the third,''bi'' (日) being the counter for days. The days themselves are named after the Sun and Moon, as well as the five elements - fire, water, metal, earth and wood.

With the Japanese names for the days of the week, counters are built into the names themselves, with each name being broken down into three parts - the first being the name of the day, the second indicating it is a weekday (''you'' 曜) and the third,''bi'' (日) being the counter for days. The days themselves are named after the Sun and Moon, as well as the five elements - fire, water, metal, earth and wood.

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===Months of the Year===

==Months of the Year==

Although there are Japanese names for each month of the year, in recent times, they have taken a far more pragmatic approach and simply named each month for its corresponding number. Thus January is ''ichigatsu'' (一月) or "first month". The table below sets out the new and old names for the months of the year.

Although there are Japanese names for each month of the year, in recent times, they have taken a far more pragmatic approach and simply named each month for its corresponding number. Thus January is ''ichigatsu'' (一月) or "first month". The table below sets out the new and old names for the months of the year.

|<font=3>元亀</font>

|<font=3>元亀</font>

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====Early Modern Ages (1573 to 1868)====

====Early Modern Ages (1573 to 1868)====

|<font=3>慶長</font>

|<font=3>慶長</font>

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=====The Edo Period (江戸時代) 1603 - 1868=====

=====The Edo Period (江戸時代) 1603 - 1868=====

|<font=3>昭和</font>

|<font=3>昭和</font>

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====The Present (現代) 1945 - ====

====The Present (現代) 1945 - ====