Converter › Heisei era › Heisei 16
Heisei 16 in the Western calendar
平成十六年
=
2004
Year 16 of the Heisei era is 2004 in the Western calendar.
Western year
2004
Kanji form
平成十六年
as stamped on coins
Abbreviation
H16
on licenses & forms
Zodiac
甲申 Wood Monkey
Era position
Year 16 of 31
Heisei era (Jan 8, 1989 – Apr 30, 2019)
Age today
How to read it
On coins and formal documents the year is written 平成十六年 — 十六 is ten-six, so it reads 16.
Quick conversion rule: Heisei year + 1988 = Western year (Heisei 16 + 1988 = 2004).
Convert another year
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Nearby years
Common questions about Heisei 16
What year is Heisei 16 in the Western calendar?
Heisei 16 (平成16年) is 2004. On Japanese forms it is often shortened to H16, and in kanji it is written 平成十六年.
How do I convert a Heisei year to a Western year?
Add 1988. Heisei 16 + 1988 = 2004, and the same rule works for every year in the Heisei era (Jan 8, 1989 – Apr 30, 2019).
How is Heisei 16 written on documents and coins?
It appears as 平成十六年 — the number is written with the kanji numeral 十六. A full date follows the same order, with the month and day after the year: 平成十六年◯月◯日.
What is the zodiac sign for Heisei 16?
2004 is the year of the Wood Monkey (甲申) in the Japanese sexagenary cycle.
Is the Heisei era still used today?
No — the Heisei era covers Jan 8, 1989 – Apr 30, 2019, so Heisei 16 is a past year. Japanese documents issued at the time still carry it.