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Taishō 1 in the Western calendar
大正元年
=
1912
Year 1 (gannen 元年) of the Taishō era is 1912 in the Western calendar.
Western year
1912
Kanji form
大正元年
as stamped on coins
Abbreviation
T1
on licenses & forms
Zodiac
壬子 Water Rat
Era position
Year 1 of 15
Taishō era (Jul 30, 1912 – Dec 24, 1926)
Age today
Era-change year
Taishō 1 began on July 30, 1912. Dates in 1912 before July 30 belong to Meiji 45.
How to read it
On coins and formal documents the year is written 大正元年 — the first year of an era is written 元年 (gannen, “origin year”), not 1年.
Quick conversion rule: Taishō year + 1911 = Western year (Taishō 1 + 1911 = 1912).
Convert another year
Any year from Meiji 1 (1868) onward. Everything runs in your browser.
Same Western year, different era
1912 is split between two eras because the era changed mid-year: Meiji 45. Documents dated 1912 can therefore carry either name — check the month before converting.
Nearby years
Common questions about Taishō 1
What year is Taishō 1 in the Western calendar?
Taishō 1 (大正元年) is 1912. On Japanese forms it is often shortened to T1, and in kanji it is written 大正元年.
How do I convert a Taishō year to a Western year?
Add 1911. Taishō 1 + 1911 = 1912, and the same rule works for every year in the Taishō era (Jul 30, 1912 – Dec 24, 1926).
How is Taishō 1 written on documents and coins?
It appears as 大正元年 — the first year of an era is written 元年 (gannen, “origin year”) rather than 一年. A full date follows the same order, with the month and day after the year: 大正元年◯月◯日.
What is the zodiac sign for Taishō 1?
1912 is the year of the Water Rat (壬子) in the Japanese sexagenary cycle.
Is the Taishō era still used today?
No — the Taishō era covers Jul 30, 1912 – Dec 24, 1926, so Taishō 1 is a past year. Japanese documents issued at the time still carry it.