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Shōwa 48 in the Western calendar
昭和四十八年
=
1973
Year 48 of the Shōwa era is 1973 in the Western calendar.
Western year
1973
Kanji form
昭和四十八年
as stamped on coins
Abbreviation
S48
on licenses & forms
Zodiac
癸丑 Water Ox
Era position
Year 48 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 昭和四十八年 — 四十八 is four-ten-eight, so it reads 48.
Quick conversion rule: Shōwa year + 1925 = Western year (Shōwa 48 + 1925 = 1973).
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Common questions about Shōwa 48
What year is Shōwa 48 in the Western calendar?
Shōwa 48 (昭和48年) is 1973. On Japanese forms it is often shortened to S48, and in kanji it is written 昭和四十八年.
How do I convert a Shōwa year to a Western year?
Add 1925. Shōwa 48 + 1925 = 1973, and the same rule works for every year in the Shōwa era (Dec 25, 1926 – Jan 7, 1989).
How is Shōwa 48 written on documents and coins?
It appears as 昭和四十八年 — the number is written with the kanji numeral 四十八. A full date follows the same order, with the month and day after the year: 昭和四十八年◯月◯日.
What is the zodiac sign for Shōwa 48?
1973 is the year of the Water Ox (癸丑) 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 48 is a past year. Japanese documents issued at the time still carry it.