Japanese Reign Names

The following table is meant as a quick guideline to Japanese era names since 645 CE. Dates are provided down to the month (lunar months up to the end of 1872). It should be remembered that reigns end and begin in the same year, so that one calendar year can contain both the last year of the old reign and the first year of the new reign. The Shōwa Emperor, for example, died on January 7, 1989, meaning that 1989 was both Shōwa 64 and Heisei 1, with the latter starting from January 8, the day after the emperor's death. The very rough listing of historical events relies heavily on the chronologies in The Cambridge History of Japan, although in some cases I have given precedence to Japanese sources. Corrections to mistakenly entered data will be gratefully received.

Note: Intercalary months are indicated by an asterisk.

Dates (CE)	Era Name (Japanese)	Era Name (English)	Historical Events and Comments
645.6 - 650.2	大化	Taika	645 Taika (Great) Reform; capital moved to Naniwa.
650.2 - 654.10	白雉（白鳳）	Hakuchi (Hakuhō)	Hakuhō can be used to refer to the same specific era as Hakuchi, occupying the latter half of the reign of Emperor Kōtoku. It was also apparently used intermittently as an unofficial era name until 686. The Hakuhō period in art generally refers to the years between the Taika Reform of 645 and the establishment of the capital in Nara in 710.
654.10 - 686.7	（白鳳）	(Hakuhō)	No official era name exists for this period, although "Hakuhō" seems to have been used occasionally on an unofficial basis. The Hakuchi/Hakuhō ambiguity is further compounded by scholars who contend that "Hakuhō" refers to a period (661-683) under the "Kyūshū court" as postulated by Yoshida Takehiko. 667 Capital moved to Ōtsu in Ōmi Province.
686.7 - 686.9	朱鳥	Shuchō	The era officially ended with the death of Emperor Tenmu, but the name continued in unofficial use through the reign of Empress Jitō (r. 690-97). 694 Capital moved to Fujiwara in Yamato Province.
701.3 - 704.5	大宝	Taihō
704.5 - 708.1	慶雲	Keiun
Nara Period (710 - 794)
708.1 - 715.9	和銅	Wadō	710 Capital moved to Heijō-kyō (Nara). 712 Kojiki completed by Ō no Yasumaro.
715.9 - 717.11	霊亀	Reiki
717.11 - 724.2	養老	Yōrō	718 Yōrō civil and penal codes compiled. 720 Nihon shoki completed.
724.2 - 729.8	神亀	Jinki
729.8 - 749.4	天平	Tenpyō
749.4 - 749.7	天平感宝	Tenpyō Kanpō
749.7 - 757.8	天平勝宝	Tenpyō Shōhō	752 Great Buddha of Tōdaiji completed. 754 Priest Ganjin arrives from China. 756 Shōsōin constructed.
757.8 - 765.1	天平宝字	Tenpyō Hōji	759　Last dated poem of the Man'yōshū. 764 Revolt of Fujiwara no Nakamaro crushed.
765.1 - 767.8	天平神護	Tenpyō Shingo
767.8 - 770.9	神護景雲	Jingo Keiun
770.10 - 780.12	宝亀	Hōki	770 Priest Dōkyō exiled.
781.1 - 782.8	天応	Ten'ō
Heian Period (794 - 1192)
782.8 - 806.5	延暦	Enryaku	784 Capital moved to Nagaoka. 788 Priest Saichō builds Enryakuji. 794　Capital moved to Heian-kyō (Kyoto)
806.5 - 810.9	大同	Daidō
810.9 - 824.1	弘仁	Kōnin	811 Emishi defeated after thirty years of conflict.
824.1 - 834.1	天長	Tenchō	832 Priest Kūkai established a Shingon chapel inside the imperial palace.
834.1 - 848.6	承和	Jōwa	847 Priest Ennin returns from China, introducing Tendai and Mikkyō pactices.
848.6 - 851.4	嘉祥	Kashō
851.4 - 854.11	仁寿	Ninju
854.11 - 857.2	斉衡	Saikō
857.2 - 859.4	天安	Tennan
859.4 - 877.4	貞観	Jōgan	866 Fujiwara no Yoshifusa the first person not of the imperial family to receive the title of regent (sesshō).
877.4 - 885.2	元慶	Gangyō
885.2 - 889.4	仁和	Ninna
889.4 - 898.4	寛平	Kanpei	894 Plan to send an embassy to T'ang China is canceled.
898.4 - 901.7	昌泰	Shōtai
901.7 - 923.4*	延喜	Engi	901 Nihon sandai jitsuroku, last of the Six National Histories, completed. 905　Kokinshū compiled.
923.4* - 931.4	延長	Enchō
931.4 - 938.5	丞平	Shōhei	935 Jōhei-Tengyō Disturbance begins.
937.5 - 947.4	天慶	Tengyō	941 Fujiwara no Tadahira is appointed kanpaku, a title henceforth used for regents of adult emperors.
947.4 - 957.10	天暦	Tenryaku
957.10 - 961.2	天徳	Tentoku
961.2 - 964.7	応和	Ōwa
964.7 - 968.8	康保	Kōhō
968.8 - 970.3	安和	Anna
970.3 - 973.12	天禄	Tenroku
973.12 - 976.7	天延	Ten'en
976.7 - 978.11	貞元	Jōgen
978.11 - 983.4	天元	Tengen
983.4 - 985.4	永観	Eikan
985.4 - 987.4	寛和	Kanwa	985 Priest Genshin writes Ōjō yōshū (The Essentials of Rebirth in the Pure Land).
987.4 - 989.8	永延	Eien
989.8 - 990.11	永祚	Eiso
990.11 - 995.2	正暦	Shōryaku
995.2 - 999.1	長徳	Chōtoku	995 Fujiwara no Michinaga becomes nairan ("private inspector"), cementing his control over the court; until 1027, the height of Fujiwara influence.
999.1 - 1004.7	長保	Chōho	Makura no sōshi (The Pillow Book) by Sei Shōnagon largely completed by this time.
1004.7 - 1012.12	寛弘	Kankō	Genji monogatari (The Tale of Genji) by Murasaki Shikibu completed about this time.
1012.12 - 1017.4	長和	Chōwa
1017.4 - 1021.2	寛仁	Kan'in
1021.2 - 1024.7	治安	Jian
1024.7 - 1028.7	万寿	Manju
1028.7 - 1037.4	長元	Chōgen	1028 Revolt of Taira no Tadatsune (surrenders to Minamoto no Yorinobu in 1031).
1037.4 - 1040.11	長暦	Chōryaku
1040.11 - 1044.11	長久	Chōkyū
1044.11 - 1046.4	寛徳	Kantoku
1046.4 - 1053.1	永承	Eishō	1051 Beginning of the Earlier Nine Years' War under Minamoto no Yoriyoshi.
1053.1 - 1058.8	天喜	Tenki	1053 Hōōdō (Phoenix Hall) constructed at the Byōdōin by Minamoto no Yorimichi.
1058.8 - 1065.8	康平	Kōhei	1063 Yoriyoshi secretly builds shrine dedicated to Hachiman in Sagami Province.
1065.8 - 1069.4	治暦	Jiryaku	1068 Emperor Go-Sanjō becomes the first emperor in 170 years whose mother is not a Fujiwara.
1069.4 - 1074.8	延久	Enkyū
1074.8 - 1077.11	承保	Shōhō
1077.11 - 1081.2	承暦	Shōryaku
1081.2 - 1084.2	永保	Eiho
1084.2 - 1087.2	応徳	Ōtoku
1087.2 - 1094.12	寛治	Kanji	1087 Emperor Shirakawa abdicates and establishes the Senior Retired Emperor's Office (in-no-chō).
1094.12 - 1096.12	嘉保	Kahō
1096.12 - 1097.11	永長	Eichō
1097.11 - 1099.8	承徳	Shōtoku
1099.8 - 1104.2	康和	Kōwa
1104.2 - 1106.4	長治	Chōji
1106.4 - 1108.8	嘉承	Kashō
1108.8 - 1110.7	天仁	Tennin
1110.7 - 1112.7	天永	Ten'ei
1113.7 - 1118.4	永久	Eikyū
1118.4 - 1120.4	元永	Genei
1120.4 - 1124.4	保安	Hōan
1124.4 - 1126.1	天治	Tenji
1126.1 - 1131.1	大治	Taiji	1129 The retired emperor Toba, Shirakawa's grandson, becomes senior retired emperor; he relies on the Ise Heishi for military support.
1131.1 - 1132.8	天承	Tenshō
1132.8 - 1135.4	長承	Chōshō
1135.4 - 1141.7	保延	Hōen
1141.7 - 1142.4	永治	Eiji
1142.4 - 1144.2	康治	Kōji
1144.2 - 1145.7	天養	Ten'yō
1145.7 - 1151.1	久安	Kyūan
1151.1 - 1154.10	仁平	Ninpei
1154.10 - 1156.4	久寿	Kyūju
1156.4 - 1159.4	保元	Hogen	1156　 Hogen Disturbance; Taira no Kiyomori and Minamoto no Yoshitomo support victorious Emperor Go-Shirakawa.
1159.4 - 1160.1	平治	Heiji	1159　 Heiji DIsturbance; Kiyomori foils Yoshitomo's attempted coup.
1160.1 - 1161.9	永暦	Eiryaku
1161.9 - 1163.3	応保	Ōhō
1163.3 - 1165.6	長寛	Chōkan
1165.6 - 1166.8	永万	Eiman
1166.8 - 1169.4	仁安	Nin'an	1167　Taira no Kiyomori becomes chancellor (dajōdaijin).
1169.4 - 1171.4	嘉応	Kaō
1171.4 - 1175.7	承安	Shōan
1175.7 - 1177.8	安元	Angen	1175 Priest Hōnen preaches Pure Land teachings in Kyoto, leading to formation of the popular Pure Land sect.
1177.8 - 1181.7	治承	Jishō	1181 Death of Kiyomori.
1181.7 - 1182.5	養和	Yōwa
1182.5 - 1184.4	寿永	Juei
1184.4 - 1185.8	元暦	Genryaku
1185.8 - 1190.4	文治	Bunji	1185　Final defeat of the Heike by Minamoto no Yoshitsune at Dan-no-ura.
Kamakura Period (1192 - 1333)
1190.4 - 1199.4	建久	Kenkyū	1192　Kamakura Bakufu established by Minamoto no Yoritomo.
1199.4 - 1201.2	正治	Shōji	1199　Death of Yoritomo.
1201.2 - 1204.2	建仁	Kennin
1204.2 - 1206.4	元久	Genkyū	1204　Assassination of Minamoto no Yoriie by Hōjō Tokimasa.
1206.4 - 1207.10	建永	Ken'ei
1207.10 - 1211.3	承元	Shōgen
1211.3 - 1213.12	建暦	Kenryaku
1213.12 - 1219.4	建保	Kenpō
1219.4 - 1222.4	承久	Jōkyū	1221 Jōkyū Disturbance results in stronger bakufu control.
1222.4 - 1224.11	貞応	Jōō
1224.11 - 1225.4	元仁	Gennin
1225.4 - 1227.12	嘉禄	Karoku
1227.12 - 1229.3	安貞	Antei
1229.3 - 1232.4	寛喜	Kanki
1232.4 - 1233.4	貞永	Jōei	1232 Jōei (or, more properly, Goseibai) Code promulgated; 51 articles governing samurai behavior.
1233.4 - 1234.11	天福	Tenpuku
1234.11 - 1235.9	文暦	Bunryaku
1235.9 - 1238.11	嘉禎	Katei
1238.11 - 1239.2	暦仁	Ryakunin
1239.2 - 1240.7	延応	En'ō
1240.7 - 1243.2	仁治	Ninji
1243.2 - 1247. 2	寛元	Kangen	1244　Construction of Eiheiji.
1247.2 - 1249.3	宝治	Hōji
1249.3 - 1256.10	建長	Kenchō
1256.10 - 1257.3	康元	Kōgen
1257.3 - 1259.3	正嘉	Shōka
1259.3 - 1260.4	正元	Shōgen
1260.4 - 1261.2	文応	Bun'ō
1261.2 - 1264.2	弘長	Kōchō
1264.2 - 1275.4	文永	Bun'ei	1266 Kublai Khan seeks relations with Japan, sends envoys in 1268. 1274 Mongols attempt first invasion of Japan.
1275.4 - 1278.2	建治	Kenji
1278.2 - 1288.4	弘安	Kōan	1281 Mongols attempt second invasion of Japan.
1288.4 - 1293.8	正応	Shōō
1293.8 - 1299.4	永仁	Einin
1299.4 - 1302.11	正安	Shōan
1302.11 - 1303.8	乾元	Kengen
1303.8 - 1306.12	嘉元	Kagen
1306.12 - 1308.10	徳治	Tokuji
1308.10 - 1311.4	延慶	Enkyō
1311.4 - 1312.3	応長	Ōchō
1312.3 - 1317.2	正和	Shōwa
1317.2 - 1319.4	文保	Bunpō	1318 Emperor Go-Daigo ascends throne.
1319.4 - 1321.2	元応	Gen'ō
1321.2 - 1324.12	元亨	Genkō
1324.12 - 1326.4	正中	Shōchū
1326.4 - 1329.8	嘉暦	Karyaku
1329.8 - 1331.8	元徳	Gentoku
Muromachi Period (1333 - 1573)
1331.8 - 1334.1	元弘	Genkō	Emperor Go-Daigo's court continued to use "Genkō" until 1334.1, although Emperor Kōgon promulgated the "Shōkyō" era name in 1332.4. The Shōkyō era marks the start of alternative reign names that continued throughout the Northern and Southern Courts period (1336-92). 1333 Kamakura Bakufu overthrown.
1334.1 - 1336.2	建武	Kenmu	"Kenmu" was used by Emperor Go-Daigo until 1336.2, when the era name for the Southern Court was changed to "Engen." The Northern Court under Emperor Kōmyō continued to use "Kenmu" until 1338.8, when the era name was changed to "Ryakuō."
1336.2 - 1340.4	延元	Engen	1336 Beginning of reign names considered exclusive to the Southern Court (gray shading). (Engen 1; also counted as Kenmu 3) Beginning of the Northern and Southern Courts period (until 1392), with Emperor Go-Daigo at Yoshino and Emperor Kōmyō in Kyoto).
1340.4 - 1346.12	興国	Kōkoku
1346.12 - 1370.7	正平	Shōhei
1370.7 - 1372.10	建徳	Kentoku
1372.10 - 1375.5	文中	Bunchū
1375.5 - 1381.2	天授	Tenju
1381.2 - 1384.4	弘和	Kōwa
1384.4 - 1392.10*	元中	Genchū
1332.4 - 1334.1	正慶	Shōkyō	1332 Beginning of reign names considered exclusive to the Northern Court; "Shōkyō" was used at the court of Emperor Kōgon (r. 1331-1333).
1338.8 - 1342.4	暦応	Ryakuō	1338　Muromachi Bakufu established in Kyoto by Ashikaga Takauji.
1342.4 - 1345.10	康永	Kōei
1345.10 - 1350.2	貞和	Jōwa
1350.2 - 1352.9	観応	Kannō
1352.9 - 1356.3	文和	Bunwa
1356.3 - 1361.3	延文	Enbun	1358 Death of Ashikaga Takauji.
1361.3 - 1362.9	康安	Kōan
1362.9 - 1368.2	貞治	Jōji
1368.2 - 1375.2	応安	Ōan
1375.2 - 1379.3	永和	Eiwa
1379.3 - 1381.2	康暦	Kōryaku
1381.2 - 1384.2	永徳	Eitoku
1384.2 - 1387.8	至徳	Shitoku
1387.8 - 1389.2	嘉慶	Kakei
1389.2 - 1390.3	康応	Kōō
1390.3 - 1394.7	明徳	Meitoku	1391-92 Meitoku Rebellion put down by Muromachi Bakufu. 1392　Reunification of Northern and Southern Courts in Meitoku 3 (Genchū 9 for the Southern Court).
1394 - 1428.4	応永	Ōei	1397　Kinkakuji built by Ashikaga Yoshimitsu.
1428.4 - 1429.9	正長	Shōchō
1429.9 - 1441.2	永享	Eikyō
1441.2 - 1444.2	嘉吉	Kakitsu	1441 Kakitsu Disturbance, resulting in assassination of Ashikaga Yoshinori.
1444.2 - 1449.7	文安	Bun'an
1449.7 - 1452.7	宝徳	Hōtoku
1452.7 - 1455.7	享徳	Kyōtoku
1455.7 - 1457.9	康正	Kōshō
1457.9 - 1460.12	長禄	Chōroku
1460.12 - 1466.2	寛正	Kanshō
1466.2 - 1467.3	文正	Bunshō
1467.3 - 1469.4	応仁	Ōnin	1467　Ōnin War begins, continuing until 1477.
1469.4 - 1487.7	文明	Bunmei	1480s Sengoku (Warring States) daimyō emerge (the Sengoku period is sometimes said to start in 1467, sometimes in 1493; the end is variously marked at 1568, 1573, or 1590).
1487.7 - 1489.8	長享	Chōkyō
1489.8 - 1492.7	延徳	Entoku
1492.7 - 1501.2	明応	Meiō
1501.2 - 1504.2	文亀	Bunki
1504.2 - 1521.8	永正	Eishō
1521.8 - 1528.8	大永	Taiei
1528.8 - 1532.7	享禄	Kyōroku
1532.7 - 1555.10	天文	Tenbun	1543　Portuguese traders introduce Western muskets and canon into Japan. 1549 Francis Xavier lands at Kagoshima and begins Christian mission.
1555.10 - 1558.2	弘治	Kōji
1558.2 - 1570.4	永禄	Eiroku	1560 Oda Nobunaga defeats Imagawa Yoshimoto in the Battle of Okehazama, concludes an alliance with Tokugawa Ieyasu in 1562.
1570.4 - 1573.7	元亀	Genki	1571 Nobunaga destroys Enryakuji, headquarters of the Tendai sect on Mt. Hiei near Kyoto.
Azuchi-Momoyama Period (1573-1600)
1573.7 - 1592.12	天正	Tenshō	1582 Nobunaga betrayed by Akechi Mitsuhide; Toyotomi Hideyoshi avanges Nobunaga's death, enters Osaka Castle in 1583. 1585　 Hideyoshi becomes imperial regent (kanpaku). 1592 After defeating the Go-Hōjō at Odawara in 1590, Hideyoshi invades Korea; truce reached in 1596.
1592.12 - 1596.10	文禄	Bunroku
Edo Period (1600 - 1867)
1596.10 - 1615.7	慶長	Keichō	1597 Hideyoshi moves to Osaka Castle, orders second invasion of Korea. 1598 Hideyoshi dies and Japanese armies leave Korea. 1600 Tokugawa Ieyasu wins victory in the Battle of Sekigahara, achieving military predominance; Edo (Tokugawa) Bakufu established in 1603. 1615　Defeat of Toyotomi Hideyori at Osaka.
1615.7 - 1624.2	元和	Genna	1616 Death of Ieyasu, interred first at Mt. Kunō in Shizuoka and later at Nikkō.
1624.2 - 1644.12	寛永	Kan'ei	1617 Western trading ships limited to Nagasaki and Hirado; Japanese ships prohibited from travelling abroad in 1635; Chinese traders limited to Nagasaki the same year; Portuguese ships forbidden to land from 1639; Dutch trading mission moved to Dejima in Nagasaki in 1641, completing the implementation of the bakufu's exclusion policy (sakoku). 1617 Licensed quarter at Yoshiwara in Edo authorized. 1635 System of alternate service (sankin kōtai) institutionalized. 1637 Shimabara Rebellion.
1644.12 - 1648.2	正保	Shōhō
1648.2 - 1652.9	慶安	Keian
1652.9 - 1655.4	承応	Shōō
1655.4 - 1658.7	明暦	Meireki	1657 Much of Edo destroyed in a great fire.
1658.7 - 1661.4	万治	Manji
1661.4 - 1673.9	寛文	Kanbun
1673.9 - 1681.9	延宝	Enpō
1681.9 - 1684.2	天和	Tenna
1684.2 - 1688.9	貞享	Jōkyō
1688.9 - 1704.3	元禄	Genroku	A high point in Japanese culture reached with the activities of Chikamatsu Monzaemon (puppet theater), Ihara Saikaku (fiction), and Matsuo Bashō (haikai/haiku) . 1702　Vendetta of the Akō rōnin; dramatized and first performed at the Takemoto-za in Osaka in 1748 .
1704.3 - 1711.4	宝永	Hōei
1711.4 - 1716.6	正徳	Shōtoku	1716 First major reform of Tokugawa shogunate under Yoshimune.
1716.6 - 1736.4	享保	Kyōhō	1733 First violent uprisings by commoners in Edo protesting high prices.
1736.4 - 1741.2	元文	Genbun
1741.2 - 1744.2	寛保	Kanpō
1744.2 - 1748.7	延享	Enkyō
1748.7 - 1751.10	寛延	Kan'en
1751.10 - 1764.6	宝暦	Hōreki
1764.6 - 1772.11	明和	Meiwa
1772.11 - 1781.4	安永	An'ei
1781.4 - 1789.1	天明	Tenmei	1787 Matsudaira Sadanobu appointed senior councilor, initiates the Kansei Reforms; forced into retirement in 1793.
1789.1 - 1801.2	寛政	Kansei
1801.2 - 1804.2	享和	Kyōwa
1804.2 - 1818.4	文化	Bunka	1811 Shogunate establishes an office to translate Western documents.
1818.4 - 1830.12	文政	Bunsei
1830.12 - 1844.12	天保	Tenpō	1837 Ōshio Heihachirō leads riots in Osaka. 1841 Tenpō Reforms begun by Mizuno Tadakuni.
1844.12 - 1848.2	弘化	Kōka
1848.2 - 1854.11	嘉永	Kaei	1853 Commodore Perry arrives at Uraga .
1854.11 - 1860.3	安政	Ansei	1858 Ii Naosuke forces approval of American treaty.
1860.3 - 1861.2	万延	Man'en	1860 Ii Naosuke assassinated.
1861.2 - 1864.2	文久	Bunkyū
1864.2 - 1865.4	元治	Genji
1865.4 - 1868.9	慶応	Keiō	1867 Tokugawa Yoshinobu relinquishes title as shogun.
Meiji Period (1868 - 1912)
1868.9 - 1912.7	明治	Meiji	1868 Edo renamed Tokyo and designated capital; era names made to coincide with reign of emperor. 1872 Conscription and education ordinances enacted. 1873 Land taxes revised; signs prohibiting Christianity taken down. 1877 Satsuma Rebellion. 1884 Peerage created. 1885 Cabinet system established. 1889 Constitution promulgated; first national election held in 1890. 1894-95 Sino-Japanese War; annexation of Taiwan. 1904-05 Russo-Japanese War. 1910 Annexation of Korea.
Taishō Period (1912 - 1926)
1912.7 - 1926.12	大正	Taishō	1914-1918 World War I. 1923 Great Kantō Earthquake.
Shōwa Period (1926 - 1989)
1926.12 - 1989.1	昭和	Shōwa	1931 Manchurian Incident. 1933 Japan leaves League of Nations (effective 1935). 1941 Attack on Pearl Harbor. 1945 Atomic bombs dropped; end of World War II.
Heisei Period (1989 - )
1989 .1 -	平成	Heisei	1955 Liberal Democratic Party achieves political dominance.

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