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Meiji 21 in the Western calendar
明治二十一年
=
1888
Year 21 of the Meiji era is 1888 in the Western calendar.
Western year
1888
Kanji form
明治二十一年
as stamped on coins
Abbreviation
M21
on licenses & forms
Zodiac
戊子 Earth Rat
Era position
Year 21 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 明治二十一年 — 二十一 is two-ten-one, so it reads 21.
Quick conversion rule: Meiji year + 1867 = Western year (Meiji 21 + 1867 = 1888).
Convert another year
Any year from Meiji 1 (1868) onward. Everything runs in your browser.
Nearby years
Common questions about Meiji 21
What year is Meiji 21 in the Western calendar?
Meiji 21 (明治21年) is 1888. On Japanese forms it is often shortened to M21, and in kanji it is written 明治二十一年.
How do I convert a Meiji year to a Western year?
Add 1867. Meiji 21 + 1867 = 1888, and the same rule works for every year in the Meiji era (Oct 23, 1868 – Jul 29, 1912).
How is Meiji 21 written on documents and coins?
It appears as 明治二十一年 — 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: 明治二十一年◯月◯日.
What is the zodiac sign for Meiji 21?
1888 is the year of the Earth Rat (戊子) 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 21 is a past year. Japanese documents issued at the time still carry it.