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Shōwa 36 in the Western calendar
昭和三十六年
=
1961
Year 36 of the Shōwa era is 1961 in the Western calendar.
Western year
1961
Kanji form
昭和三十六年
as stamped on coins
Abbreviation
S36
on licenses & forms
Zodiac
辛丑 Metal Ox
Era position
Year 36 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 昭和三十六年 — 三十六 is three-ten-six, so it reads 36.
Quick conversion rule: Shōwa year + 1925 = Western year (Shōwa 36 + 1925 = 1961).
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Nearby years
Common questions about Shōwa 36
What year is Shōwa 36 in the Western calendar?
Shōwa 36 (昭和36年) is 1961. On Japanese forms it is often shortened to S36, and in kanji it is written 昭和三十六年.
How do I convert a Shōwa year to a Western year?
Add 1925. Shōwa 36 + 1925 = 1961, and the same rule works for every year in the Shōwa era (Dec 25, 1926 – Jan 7, 1989).
How is Shōwa 36 written on documents and coins?
It appears as 昭和三十六年 — the number is written with the kanji numeral 三十六. A full date follows the same order, with the month and day after the year: 昭和三十六年◯月◯日.
What is the zodiac sign for Shōwa 36?
1961 is the year of the Metal Ox (辛丑) 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 36 is a past year. Japanese documents issued at the time still carry it.