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Shōwa 17 in the Western calendar
昭和十七年
=
1942
Year 17 of the Shōwa era is 1942 in the Western calendar.
Western year
1942
Kanji form
昭和十七年
as stamped on coins
Abbreviation
S17
on licenses & forms
Zodiac
壬午 Water Horse
Era position
Year 17 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 昭和十七年 — 十七 is ten-seven, so it reads 17.
Quick conversion rule: Shōwa year + 1925 = Western year (Shōwa 17 + 1925 = 1942).
Convert another year
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Common questions about Shōwa 17
What year is Shōwa 17 in the Western calendar?
Shōwa 17 (昭和17年) is 1942. On Japanese forms it is often shortened to S17, and in kanji it is written 昭和十七年.
How do I convert a Shōwa year to a Western year?
Add 1925. Shōwa 17 + 1925 = 1942, and the same rule works for every year in the Shōwa era (Dec 25, 1926 – Jan 7, 1989).
How is Shōwa 17 written on documents and coins?
It appears as 昭和十七年 — the number is written with the kanji numeral 十七. A full date follows the same order, with the month and day after the year: 昭和十七年◯月◯日.
What is the zodiac sign for Shōwa 17?
1942 is the year of the Water Horse (壬午) 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 17 is a past year. Japanese documents issued at the time still carry it.