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Shōwa 16 in the Western calendar
昭和十六年
=
1941
Year 16 of the Shōwa era is 1941 in the Western calendar.
Western year
1941
Kanji form
昭和十六年
as stamped on coins
Abbreviation
S16
on licenses & forms
Zodiac
辛巳 Metal Snake
Era position
Year 16 of 64
Shōwa era (Dec 25, 1926 – Jan 7, 1989)
Age today
How to read it
On coins and formal documents the year is written 昭和十六年 — 十六 is ten-six, so it reads 16.
Quick conversion rule: Shōwa year + 1925 = Western year (Shōwa 16 + 1925 = 1941).
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Common questions about Shōwa 16
What year is Shōwa 16 in the Western calendar?
Shōwa 16 (昭和16年) is 1941. On Japanese forms it is often shortened to S16, and in kanji it is written 昭和十六年.
How do I convert a Shōwa year to a Western year?
Add 1925. Shōwa 16 + 1925 = 1941, and the same rule works for every year in the Shōwa era (Dec 25, 1926 – Jan 7, 1989).
How is Shōwa 16 written on documents and coins?
It appears as 昭和十六年 — the number is written with the kanji numeral 十六. A full date follows the same order, with the month and day after the year: 昭和十六年◯月◯日.
What is the zodiac sign for Shōwa 16?
1941 is the year of the Metal Snake (辛巳) in the Japanese sexagenary cycle.
Is the Shōwa era still used today?
No — the Shōwa era covers Dec 25, 1926 – Jan 7, 1989, so Shōwa 16 is a past year. Japanese documents issued at the time still carry it.