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Shōwa 59 in the Western calendar
昭和五十九年
=
1984
Year 59 of the Shōwa era is 1984 in the Western calendar.
Western year
1984
Kanji form
昭和五十九年
as stamped on coins
Abbreviation
S59
on licenses & forms
Zodiac
甲子 Wood Rat
Era position
Year 59 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 昭和五十九年 — 五十九 is five-ten-nine, so it reads 59.
Quick conversion rule: Shōwa year + 1925 = Western year (Shōwa 59 + 1925 = 1984).
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Nearby years
Common questions about Shōwa 59
What year is Shōwa 59 in the Western calendar?
Shōwa 59 (昭和59年) is 1984. On Japanese forms it is often shortened to S59, and in kanji it is written 昭和五十九年.
How do I convert a Shōwa year to a Western year?
Add 1925. Shōwa 59 + 1925 = 1984, and the same rule works for every year in the Shōwa era (Dec 25, 1926 – Jan 7, 1989).
How is Shōwa 59 written on documents and coins?
It appears as 昭和五十九年 — the number is written with the kanji numeral 五十九. A full date follows the same order, with the month and day after the year: 昭和五十九年◯月◯日.
What is the zodiac sign for Shōwa 59?
1984 is the year of the Wood Rat (甲子) 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 59 is a past year. Japanese documents issued at the time still carry it.