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Shōwa 20 in the Western calendar
昭和二十年
=
1945
Year 20 of the Shōwa era is 1945 in the Western calendar.
Western year
1945
Kanji form
昭和二十年
as stamped on coins
Abbreviation
S20
on licenses & forms
Zodiac
乙酉 Wood Rooster
Era position
Year 20 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 昭和二十年 — 二十 is two-ten, so it reads 20.
Quick conversion rule: Shōwa year + 1925 = Western year (Shōwa 20 + 1925 = 1945).
Convert another year
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Common questions about Shōwa 20
What year is Shōwa 20 in the Western calendar?
Shōwa 20 (昭和20年) is 1945. On Japanese forms it is often shortened to S20, and in kanji it is written 昭和二十年.
How do I convert a Shōwa year to a Western year?
Add 1925. Shōwa 20 + 1925 = 1945, and the same rule works for every year in the Shōwa era (Dec 25, 1926 – Jan 7, 1989).
How is Shōwa 20 written on documents and coins?
It appears as 昭和二十年 — the number is written with the kanji numeral 二十. A full date follows the same order, with the month and day after the year: 昭和二十年◯月◯日.
What is the zodiac sign for Shōwa 20?
1945 is the year of the Wood Rooster (乙酉) 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 20 is a past year. Japanese documents issued at the time still carry it.