Converter › Heisei era › Heisei 20
Heisei 20 in the Western calendar
平成二十年
=
2008
Year 20 of the Heisei era is 2008 in the Western calendar.
Western year
2008
Kanji form
平成二十年
as stamped on coins
Abbreviation
H20
on licenses & forms
Zodiac
戊子 Earth Rat
Era position
Year 20 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 平成二十年 — 二十 is two-ten, so it reads 20.
Quick conversion rule: Heisei year + 1988 = Western year (Heisei 20 + 1988 = 2008).
Convert another year
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Nearby years
Common questions about Heisei 20
What year is Heisei 20 in the Western calendar?
Heisei 20 (平成20年) is 2008. On Japanese forms it is often shortened to H20, and in kanji it is written 平成二十年.
How do I convert a Heisei year to a Western year?
Add 1988. Heisei 20 + 1988 = 2008, and the same rule works for every year in the Heisei era (Jan 8, 1989 – Apr 30, 2019).
How is Heisei 20 written on documents and coins?
It appears as 平成二十年 — the number is written with the kanji numeral 二十. A full date follows the same order, with the month and day after the year: 平成二十年◯月◯日.
What is the zodiac sign for Heisei 20?
2008 is the year of the Earth Rat (戊子) 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 20 is a past year. Japanese documents issued at the time still carry it.