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Shōwa 52 in the Western calendar
昭和五十二年
=
1977
Year 52 of the Shōwa era is 1977 in the Western calendar.
Western year
1977
Kanji form
昭和五十二年
as stamped on coins
Abbreviation
S52
on licenses & forms
Zodiac
丁巳 Fire Snake
Era position
Year 52 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 昭和五十二年 — 五十二 is five-ten-two, so it reads 52.
Quick conversion rule: Shōwa year + 1925 = Western year (Shōwa 52 + 1925 = 1977).
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Nearby years
Common questions about Shōwa 52
What year is Shōwa 52 in the Western calendar?
Shōwa 52 (昭和52年) is 1977. On Japanese forms it is often shortened to S52, and in kanji it is written 昭和五十二年.
How do I convert a Shōwa year to a Western year?
Add 1925. Shōwa 52 + 1925 = 1977, and the same rule works for every year in the Shōwa era (Dec 25, 1926 – Jan 7, 1989).
How is Shōwa 52 written on documents and coins?
It appears as 昭和五十二年 — the number is written with the kanji numeral 五十二. A full date follows the same order, with the month and day after the year: 昭和五十二年◯月◯日.
What is the zodiac sign for Shōwa 52?
1977 is the year of the Fire Snake (丁巳) 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 52 is a past year. Japanese documents issued at the time still carry it.