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Shōwa 63 in the Western calendar
昭和六十三年
=
1988
Year 63 of the Shōwa era is 1988 in the Western calendar.
Western year
1988
Kanji form
昭和六十三年
as stamped on coins
Abbreviation
S63
on licenses & forms
Zodiac
戊辰 Earth Dragon
Era position
Year 63 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 昭和六十三年 — 六十三 is six-ten-three, so it reads 63.
Quick conversion rule: Shōwa year + 1925 = Western year (Shōwa 63 + 1925 = 1988).
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Common questions about Shōwa 63
What year is Shōwa 63 in the Western calendar?
Shōwa 63 (昭和63年) is 1988. On Japanese forms it is often shortened to S63, and in kanji it is written 昭和六十三年.
How do I convert a Shōwa year to a Western year?
Add 1925. Shōwa 63 + 1925 = 1988, and the same rule works for every year in the Shōwa era (Dec 25, 1926 – Jan 7, 1989).
How is Shōwa 63 written on documents and coins?
It appears as 昭和六十三年 — the number is written with the kanji numeral 六十三. A full date follows the same order, with the month and day after the year: 昭和六十三年◯月◯日.
What is the zodiac sign for Shōwa 63?
1988 is the year of the Earth Dragon (戊辰) 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 63 is a past year. Japanese documents issued at the time still carry it.