"What Western year is Reiwa 8?" "What Reiwa year is it now?" Converting between Reiwa and the Western calendar is still confusing for many people. This article provides a quick-reference table and an easy conversion formula.
Reiwa ↔ Western Year Conversion Table
| Reiwa | Western | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Reiwa Gannen | 2019 | From May 1 (before April 30 = Heisei 31) |
| Reiwa 2 | 2020 | Year the Tokyo Olympics were postponed |
| Reiwa 3 | 2021 | Tokyo Olympics held |
| Reiwa 4 | 2022 | |
| Reiwa 5 | 2023 | |
| Reiwa 6 | 2024 | |
| Reiwa 7 | 2025 | |
| Reiwa 8 | 2026 | ← This year |
| Reiwa 9 | 2027 | |
| Reiwa 10 | 2028 | |
| Reiwa 11 | 2029 | |
| Reiwa 12 | 2030 |
Free Tool
Japanese Era Converter
Convert between Western calendar years and Japanese era names (Reiwa, Heisei, Showa). Includes age calculator.
Try it now →How to Convert Reiwa ↔ Western Years
The Formula
The formula is simple to remember:
Reiwa → Western: Reiwa year + 2018 = Western year
Western → Reiwa: Western year − 2018 = Reiwa year
Examples
| Conversion | Calculation | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Reiwa 8 → Western | 8 + 2018 | = 2026 |
| Reiwa 10 → Western | 10 + 2018 | = 2028 |
| 2030 → Reiwa | 2030 − 2018 | = Reiwa 12 |
| 2025 → Reiwa | 2025 − 2018 | = Reiwa 7 |
Common Reiwa Lookups
This Year, Next Year, and the Year After
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What Reiwa year is it now? | Reiwa 8 (2026) |
| What Reiwa year is next year? | Reiwa 9 (2027) |
| What about the year after? | Reiwa 10 (2028) |
When Did Reiwa Begin?
Reiwa began on May 1, 2019. Everything before April 30, 2019 is Heisei 31.
Reiwa to Heisei Equivalents
| Reiwa | Heisei Equivalent |
|---|---|
| Reiwa Gannen | Heisei 31 |
| Reiwa 2 | Heisei 32 (does not actually exist) |
| Reiwa 3 | Heisei 33 |
| Reiwa 8 | Heisei 38 |
To convert Reiwa to its Heisei equivalent: Reiwa year + 30 = Heisei equivalent
Fiscal Year Conversion
Japan's fiscal and academic years start in April, so keep this in mind when converting:
| Fiscal Year | Period |
|---|---|
| Reiwa 7 fiscal year | April 2025 – March 2026 |
| Reiwa 8 fiscal year | April 2026 – March 2027 |
| Reiwa 9 fiscal year | April 2027 – March 2028 |
Origin of the Name "Reiwa"
The name Reiwa comes from the Man'yoshu, Japan's oldest collection of poetry. Specifically, it is drawn from the preface to the "Thirty-Two Poems on Plum Blossoms."
The characters mean "beautiful" (rei, 令) and "harmony" (wa, 和), together conveying "beautiful harmony."
Reiwa is notable as the first era name drawn from a Japanese classic. All previous era names came from Chinese classics.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How long will the Reiwa era last?
Under the current Era Name Act, a new era begins upon the passing or abdication of the Emperor. There is no predetermined end date for Reiwa.
What does the "018" mnemonic mean?
It is a memory trick for converting Reiwa to Western years. "Rei-wa" sounds like "018" in Japanese. Add 018 to the Reiwa year to get the last three digits of the Western year. For example, Reiwa 8 → 8 + 018 = 026 → 2026.
Can I see Reiwa, Heisei, and Showa conversions at the same time?
Yes. sakutto's era converter displays Reiwa, Heisei, and Showa equivalents simultaneously when you enter a Western year. It also shows the exact changeover dates for transition years.
What if I mistakenly write "Reiwa" for a date before 2019?
Dates before May 1, 2019 should use the correct era (Heisei, Showa, etc.). Using "Reiwa" for earlier dates is incorrect. Use sakutto's era converter to verify the proper era for any date.
Summary
Converting between Reiwa and Western years is easy: just use the formula "Reiwa + 2018 = Western year." The "018 (rei-wa)" mnemonic makes it even simpler. For quick and accurate conversions, try sakutto's era converter tool.
Free Tool
Japanese Era Converter
Convert between Western calendar years and Japanese era names (Reiwa, Heisei, Showa). Includes age calculator.
Try it now →