Japan dates?
- Thread starter briareos
- Start date
epigene
相変わらず不束者です
- 10 Nov 2004
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Japan still uses its own style of counting years.
H stands for "Heisei," which is the name of the reign of the current Emperor Akihito. (Remember Showa? That's the reign of the late Emperor Hirohito).
So, it means 2007 is the 19th year of the reign of the current Emperor.
HTH!
H stands for "Heisei," which is the name of the reign of the current Emperor Akihito. (Remember Showa? That's the reign of the late Emperor Hirohito).
So, it means 2007 is the 19th year of the reign of the current Emperor.
HTH!
epigene
相変わらず不束者です
- 10 Nov 2004
- 4,354
- 179
Yes, we do. It's still used in various application and other official forms we submit to government offices, banks, etc.
I think the Western (Gregorian) calendar is gaining ground, though. I always have a year conversion table on hand to use when I need to check what year is Meiji 34-nen, for example.
However, I see more and more young people using the Western style these days. So, it's interesting to hear that your Japanese friend still uses Heisei dates.
I think the Western (Gregorian) calendar is gaining ground, though. I always have a year conversion table on hand to use when I need to check what year is Meiji 34-nen, for example.
However, I see more and more young people using the Western style these days. So, it's interesting to hear that your Japanese friend still uses Heisei dates.
- 28 Jul 2005
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And, it is one thing that I'd love to see go out of public service use. I have noticed a good number of forms will allow for the Gregorian style of 2007, yet some still 'want' you to do it in good ole Japanese fashion. But you see, it's definitely going to change again at some point down the road. I really wish we just used the same style all over the world...even for internal affairs.
Alma
nature's sweet success
- 2 Apr 2005
- 728
- 13
hmmm I've faced this as soon as I arrived here. interesting thing, and i just wanted to find out more, so thanks for this thread
)... but, with new emperor, you just start from 0 again? so, how to you know, for example history dates, if they are all in just two digits? and do you cound centuries at all then...
oh bunch of stupid questions, I know, I am sorry... I am not even sure did I put it all right
i understand this part, but still... what was before? I know my year of birth is 56 (So, it means 2007 is the 19th year of the reign of the current Emperor.
HTH!
)... but, with new emperor, you just start from 0 again? so, how to you know, for example history dates, if they are all in just two digits? and do you cound centuries at all then...oh bunch of stupid questions, I know, I am sorry... I am not even sure did I put it all right
epigene
相変わらず不束者です
- 10 Nov 2004
- 4,354
- 179
This is a Japanese/Gregorian calendar year conversion chart:
和暦西暦対応表
The names of the periods are, from left, Meiji, Taisho, Showa and Heisei (for the last 4 emperors including the current).
If you check the very end of each column, you see the date on which reign name change took place. So, the first year of a new reign is very often short (because it marks the passing of the previous emperor and ascension of the new one to the Chrysanthemum Throne).
Alma, you were born in 1981? That's the 56th year of the Showa Period (which lasted 64 years because the late Emperor Showa ascended when he was very young--his father died early because of illness--and lived a long life).
Earlier reign names are here:
年号一覧表
(That's why I need a conversion chart!)
和暦西暦対応表
The names of the periods are, from left, Meiji, Taisho, Showa and Heisei (for the last 4 emperors including the current).
If you check the very end of each column, you see the date on which reign name change took place. So, the first year of a new reign is very often short (because it marks the passing of the previous emperor and ascension of the new one to the Chrysanthemum Throne).
Alma, you were born in 1981? That's the 56th year of the Showa Period (which lasted 64 years because the late Emperor Showa ascended when he was very young--his father died early because of illness--and lived a long life).
Earlier reign names are here:
年号一覧表
(That's why I need a conversion chart!)
- 14 Aug 2007
- 144
- 0
H19 means 19th year of reign of Emperor Heisei (Akihito). It is the same system as the Romans sometimes used with their emperors. I think it was also used in Imperial China.
Maybe this is because Japanese and Roman emperors were seen as living gods. So the calendar starts again at each new emperor. In societies with only one god, like Christians, Muslims, Jews... the date start with the foundation (or other important event) of that religion. Japanese and Romans have many gods and many beliefs so it doesn't work.
Maybe this is because Japanese and Roman emperors were seen as living gods. So the calendar starts again at each new emperor. In societies with only one god, like Christians, Muslims, Jews... the date start with the foundation (or other important event) of that religion. Japanese and Romans have many gods and many beliefs so it doesn't work.
Hmm: I understand the idea in general, I think: BUT with the Gregorian calendar, is it the Day/Month/Year version in Japan, or the American style month/day/year? (very confusing for we Aussies at times)Also, when arriving in Japan and needing to fill out immigration and customs forms etc, as well as the JR Pass activation, what is used? Can tell we will be first-timers in March, but this is the first I've heard or seen of this Imperial calendar (rather nice though: makes you learn the history)
well...neither do i .
it's interesting to have a precise idea about all emperors periods; nevertheless, as said alma i could not understand a bit at what is reffered to by the numbers appearing in the last column in blue.
can anyone explain please ?
thank you epigene... I do understand it more now, even I do not understand this second link at all
interesting, really! thaks again
it's interesting to have a precise idea about all emperors periods; nevertheless, as said alma i could not understand a bit at what is reffered to by the numbers appearing in the last column in blue.
can anyone explain please ?
- 8 Aug 2005
- 7,316
- 3,727
the right column in blue is the day of the month that the change of era took place.
