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Shōwa 56 in the Western calendar
昭和五十六年
=
1981
Year 56 of the Shōwa era is 1981 in the Western calendar.
Western year
1981
Kanji form
昭和五十六年
as stamped on coins
Abbreviation
S56
on licenses & forms
Zodiac
辛酉 Metal Rooster
Era position
Year 56 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 昭和五十六年 — 五十六 is five-ten-six, so it reads 56.
Quick conversion rule: Shōwa year + 1925 = Western year (Shōwa 56 + 1925 = 1981).
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Nearby years
Common questions about Shōwa 56
What year is Shōwa 56 in the Western calendar?
Shōwa 56 (昭和56年) is 1981. On Japanese forms it is often shortened to S56, and in kanji it is written 昭和五十六年.
How do I convert a Shōwa year to a Western year?
Add 1925. Shōwa 56 + 1925 = 1981, and the same rule works for every year in the Shōwa era (Dec 25, 1926 – Jan 7, 1989).
How is Shōwa 56 written on documents and coins?
It appears as 昭和五十六年 — the number is written with the kanji numeral 五十六. A full date follows the same order, with the month and day after the year: 昭和五十六年◯月◯日.
What is the zodiac sign for Shōwa 56?
1981 is the year of the Metal Rooster (辛酉) 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 56 is a past year. Japanese documents issued at the time still carry it.