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Heisei 21 in the Western calendar
平成二十一年
=
2009
Year 21 of the Heisei era is 2009 in the Western calendar.
Western year
2009
Kanji form
平成二十一年
as stamped on coins
Abbreviation
H21
on licenses & forms
Zodiac
己丑 Earth Ox
Era position
Year 21 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 平成二十一年 — 二十一 is two-ten-one, so it reads 21.
Quick conversion rule: Heisei year + 1988 = Western year (Heisei 21 + 1988 = 2009).
Convert another year
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Common questions about Heisei 21
What year is Heisei 21 in the Western calendar?
Heisei 21 (平成21年) is 2009. On Japanese forms it is often shortened to H21, and in kanji it is written 平成二十一年.
How do I convert a Heisei year to a Western year?
Add 1988. Heisei 21 + 1988 = 2009, and the same rule works for every year in the Heisei era (Jan 8, 1989 – Apr 30, 2019).
How is Heisei 21 written on documents and coins?
It appears as 平成二十一年 — the number is written with the kanji numeral 二十一. A full date follows the same order, with the month and day after the year: 平成二十一年◯月◯日.
What is the zodiac sign for Heisei 21?
2009 is the year of the Earth Ox (己丑) 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 21 is a past year. Japanese documents issued at the time still carry it.