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Shōwa 21 in the Western calendar
昭和二十一年
=
1946
Year 21 of the Shōwa era is 1946 in the Western calendar.
Western year
1946
Kanji form
昭和二十一年
as stamped on coins
Abbreviation
S21
on licenses & forms
Zodiac
丙戌 Fire Dog
Era position
Year 21 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 昭和二十一年 — 二十一 is two-ten-one, so it reads 21.
Quick conversion rule: Shōwa year + 1925 = Western year (Shōwa 21 + 1925 = 1946).
Convert another year
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Common questions about Shōwa 21
What year is Shōwa 21 in the Western calendar?
Shōwa 21 (昭和21年) is 1946. On Japanese forms it is often shortened to S21, and in kanji it is written 昭和二十一年.
How do I convert a Shōwa year to a Western year?
Add 1925. Shōwa 21 + 1925 = 1946, and the same rule works for every year in the Shōwa era (Dec 25, 1926 – Jan 7, 1989).
How is Shōwa 21 written on documents and coins?
It appears as 昭和二十一年 — the number is written with the kanji numeral 二十一. A full date follows the same order, with the month and day after the year: 昭和二十一年◯月◯日.
What is the zodiac sign for Shōwa 21?
1946 is the year of the Fire Dog (丙戌) 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 21 is a past year. Japanese documents issued at the time still carry it.