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Meiji 3 in the Western calendar
明治三年
=
1870
Year 3 of the Meiji era is 1870 in the Western calendar.
Western year
1870
Kanji form
明治三年
as stamped on coins
Abbreviation
M3
on licenses & forms
Zodiac
庚午 Metal Horse
Era position
Year 3 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 明治三年 — 三 is three, so it reads 3.
Quick conversion rule: Meiji year + 1867 = Western year (Meiji 3 + 1867 = 1870).
Convert another year
Any year from Meiji 1 (1868) onward. Everything runs in your browser.
Nearby years
Common questions about Meiji 3
What year is Meiji 3 in the Western calendar?
Meiji 3 (明治3年) is 1870. On Japanese forms it is often shortened to M3, and in kanji it is written 明治三年.
How do I convert a Meiji year to a Western year?
Add 1867. Meiji 3 + 1867 = 1870, and the same rule works for every year in the Meiji era (Oct 23, 1868 – Jul 29, 1912).
How is Meiji 3 written on documents and coins?
It appears as 明治三年 — the number is written with the kanji numeral 三. A full date follows the same order, with the month and day after the year: 明治三年◯月◯日.
What is the zodiac sign for Meiji 3?
1870 is the year of the Metal Horse (庚午) 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 3 is a past year. Japanese documents issued at the time still carry it.