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Shōwa 49 in the Western calendar
昭和四十九年
=
1974
Year 49 of the Shōwa era is 1974 in the Western calendar.
Western year
1974
Kanji form
昭和四十九年
as stamped on coins
Abbreviation
S49
on licenses & forms
Zodiac
甲寅 Wood Tiger
Era position
Year 49 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 昭和四十九年 — 四十九 is four-ten-nine, so it reads 49.
Quick conversion rule: Shōwa year + 1925 = Western year (Shōwa 49 + 1925 = 1974).
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Common questions about Shōwa 49
What year is Shōwa 49 in the Western calendar?
Shōwa 49 (昭和49年) is 1974. On Japanese forms it is often shortened to S49, and in kanji it is written 昭和四十九年.
How do I convert a Shōwa year to a Western year?
Add 1925. Shōwa 49 + 1925 = 1974, and the same rule works for every year in the Shōwa era (Dec 25, 1926 – Jan 7, 1989).
How is Shōwa 49 written on documents and coins?
It appears as 昭和四十九年 — the number is written with the kanji numeral 四十九. A full date follows the same order, with the month and day after the year: 昭和四十九年◯月◯日.
What is the zodiac sign for Shōwa 49?
1974 is the year of the Wood Tiger (甲寅) 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 49 is a past year. Japanese documents issued at the time still carry it.