Converter › Meiji era › Meiji 26
Meiji 26 in the Western calendar
明治二十六年
=
1893
Year 26 of the Meiji era is 1893 in the Western calendar.
Western year
1893
Kanji form
明治二十六年
as stamped on coins
Abbreviation
M26
on licenses & forms
Zodiac
癸巳 Water Snake
Era position
Year 26 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 明治二十六年 — 二十六 is two-ten-six, so it reads 26.
Quick conversion rule: Meiji year + 1867 = Western year (Meiji 26 + 1867 = 1893).
Convert another year
Any year from Meiji 1 (1868) onward. Everything runs in your browser.
Nearby years
Common questions about Meiji 26
What year is Meiji 26 in the Western calendar?
Meiji 26 (明治26年) is 1893. On Japanese forms it is often shortened to M26, and in kanji it is written 明治二十六年.
How do I convert a Meiji year to a Western year?
Add 1867. Meiji 26 + 1867 = 1893, and the same rule works for every year in the Meiji era (Oct 23, 1868 – Jul 29, 1912).
How is Meiji 26 written on documents and coins?
It appears as 明治二十六年 — the number is written with the kanji numeral 二十六. A full date follows the same order, with the month and day after the year: 明治二十六年◯月◯日.
What is the zodiac sign for Meiji 26?
1893 is the year of the Water Snake (癸巳) 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 26 is a past year. Japanese documents issued at the time still carry it.