Converter › Meiji era › Meiji 15
Meiji 15 in the Western calendar
明治十五年
=
1882
Year 15 of the Meiji era is 1882 in the Western calendar.
Western year
1882
Kanji form
明治十五年
as stamped on coins
Abbreviation
M15
on licenses & forms
Zodiac
壬午 Water Horse
Era position
Year 15 of 45
Meiji era (Oct 23, 1868 – Jul 29, 1912)
Age today
How to read it
On coins and formal documents the year is written 明治十五年 — 十五 is ten-five, so it reads 15.
Quick conversion rule: Meiji year + 1867 = Western year (Meiji 15 + 1867 = 1882).
Convert another year
Any year from Meiji 1 (1868) onward. Everything runs in your browser.
Nearby years
Common questions about Meiji 15
What year is Meiji 15 in the Western calendar?
Meiji 15 (明治15年) is 1882. On Japanese forms it is often shortened to M15, and in kanji it is written 明治十五年.
How do I convert a Meiji year to a Western year?
Add 1867. Meiji 15 + 1867 = 1882, and the same rule works for every year in the Meiji era (Oct 23, 1868 – Jul 29, 1912).
How is Meiji 15 written on documents and coins?
It appears as 明治十五年 — the number is written with the kanji numeral 十五. A full date follows the same order, with the month and day after the year: 明治十五年◯月◯日.
What is the zodiac sign for Meiji 15?
1882 is the year of the Water Horse (壬午) in the Japanese sexagenary cycle.
Is the Meiji era still used today?
No — the Meiji era covers Oct 23, 1868 – Jul 29, 1912, so Meiji 15 is a past year. Japanese documents issued at the time still carry it.