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Reiwa 1 in the Western calendar
令和元年
=
2019
Year 1 (gannen 元年) of the Reiwa era is 2019 in the Western calendar.
Western year
2019
Kanji form
令和元年
as stamped on coins
Abbreviation
R1
on licenses & forms
Zodiac
己亥 Earth Pig
Era position
Year 1 — ongoing
Reiwa era (May 1, 2019 – present)
Age today
Era-change year
Reiwa 1 began on May 1, 2019, following the abdication of Emperor Akihito. January 1 – April 30, 2019 belongs to Heisei 31.
How to read it
On coins and formal documents the year is written 令和元年 — the first year of an era is written 元年 (gannen, “origin year”), not 1年.
Quick conversion rule: Reiwa year + 2018 = Western year (Reiwa 1 + 2018 = 2019).
Convert another year
Any year from Meiji 1 (1868) onward. Everything runs in your browser.
Same Western year, different era
2019 is split between two eras because the era changed mid-year: Heisei 31. Documents dated 2019 can therefore carry either name — check the month before converting.
Nearby years
Common questions about Reiwa 1
What year is Reiwa 1 in the Western calendar?
Reiwa 1 (令和元年) is 2019. On Japanese forms it is often shortened to R1, and in kanji it is written 令和元年.
How do I convert a Reiwa year to a Western year?
Add 2018. Reiwa 1 + 2018 = 2019, and the same rule works for every year in the Reiwa era (May 1, 2019 – present).
How is Reiwa 1 written on documents and coins?
It appears as 令和元年 — the first year of an era is written 元年 (gannen, “origin year”) rather than 一年. A full date follows the same order, with the month and day after the year: 令和元年◯月◯日.
What is the zodiac sign for Reiwa 1?
2019 is the year of the Earth Pig (己亥) in the Japanese sexagenary cycle.
Is the Reiwa era still used today?
Yes — the Reiwa era began on May 1, 2019 and is still in use, so Reiwa 1 is year 1 of the current era.