The Eras of Japan List

It is always difficult to remember which era a certain historical period of Japan belongs to. Here is the complete list with the reference dates.

We try to divide the eras into main periods, so as not to cram too many dates together, inserting a few brief historical references. Usually we find the dates indicated with the kanji 年 and preceded with the era of reference, e.g.: 明治 for Meiji.

ASAKUSA ERA (538-710)

The Asakusa period 飛鳥時代 Asuka jidai refers to a time frame that goes from 538 to 710 AD. it is important because it begins the classical era of Japan which sees its founding point in the introduction of Buddhism with the religious, cultural and artistic revolution that accompanies it:

645      大化       Taika  Emperor Kōtoku, 645–654.
650      白雉       Hakuchi or Hakuhō
686      朱鳥       Shuchō or Suchō, Akamitori or Akamidori; Emperor Tenmu,672–686
701       大宝      Taihō or Daihō; Emperor Monmu, 697–707
704        慶雲      Keiun o yōun; Genmei Emperor, 707–715
708        和銅      Wadō

NARA ERA (710-794)

The Nara period 奈良時代 Nara-jidai is characterized by Empress Gemmei's move in 710 AD of the capital to Heijō (corresponding to present-day Nara). The period sees various transfers of the capital depending on the emperor regent, an eventful period.

715        霊亀              Reiki  Emperor Genshō, 715–724.
717        養老             Yōrō
724        神亀             Jinki or Shinki; Emperor Shomu, 724–749
729        天平             Tenpyō or Tenbyō or Tenhei
749        天平感宝      Tenpyō-kanpō or Tenbyō-kanpō
749        天平勝宝      Tenpyō-shōhō or Tenbyō-shōbō or Tenpei-shōhō; Emperor Kōken, 749–758
757        天平宝字      Tenpyō-hōji or Tenbyō-hōji or Tenpei-hōji; Emperor Junnin, 758–764;
                                 Emperor Shōtoku, 764–770
765        天平神護      Tenpyō-jingo or Tenbyō-jingo or Tenhei-jingo
767        神護景雲      Jingo-keiun
770        宝亀             Hōki Emperor Kōnin, 770–781
781        天応             Ten'ō Emperor Kanmu, 781–806
782        延暦             Enryaku

HEIAN ERA (794-1192)

Heian Period 平安時代 Heian jidai is named after the capital of the Heian-kyo era, corresponding to present-day Kyoto. Culturally speaking, it is a very rich period, where there is a deeper assimilation of Chinese culture and Buddhism, both for literary production and for the culture and aristocratic structure of the country.

806        大同      Daidō Emperor Heizei, 806–809; Emperor Saga, 809–823
810        弘仁      Kōnin Emperor Junna, 823–833
824        天長      Tenchō Emperor Ninmyō, 833–850
834        承和      Jōwa or Shōwa or Sōwa
848        嘉祥      Kashō or Kajō; Emperor Montoku, 850–858.
851        仁寿      Ninju
854        斉衡      Saikō
857        天安      Ten'an or Tennan; Emperor Seiwa, 858–876
859        貞観      Jōgan Emperor Yōzei, 876–884
877        元慶      Gangyō or Gankyō or Genkei; Emperor Kōkō, 884–887
885        仁和      Ninna or Ninwa; Emperor Uda, 887–897
889        寛平      Kanpyō or Kanpei, Kanbyō, Kanbei or Kanhei; Emperor Daigo, 887–930
898        昌泰      Shōtai
901        延喜      Engi
923        延長      Enchō Emperor Suzaku, 930–946
931        承平      Jōhei o Shōhei
938        天慶      Tengyō or Tenkei or Tenkyō; Emperor Murakami, 946–967
947        天暦      Tenryaku o Tenreki
957        天徳      Tentoku
961        応和      Ōwa
964        康保      Kōhō  Emperor Reizei, 967–969
968        安和      Anna or Anwa; Emperor En'yū, 969–984
970        天禄      Tenroku
973        天延      Ten'en
976        貞元      Jōgen or Teigen
978        天元      Tengen
983        永観      Eikan or Yōkan; Kazan Emperor, 984–986
985        寛和      Kanna or Kanwa; Emperor Ichijō, 986–1011
987        永延      Eien or Yōen
988        永祚      Eiso o Yōso
990        正暦      Shōryaku or Jōryaku or Shōreki
995        長徳      Chōtoku
999        長保      Chōhō
1004      寛弘      Kankō Emperor Sanjō, 1011–1016
1012      長和      Chōwa Emperor Go-Ichijō, 1016–1036
1017      寛仁      Kannin
1021      治安      Jian or Chian
1024      万寿      Manju
1028      長元      Chōgen Emperor Go-Suzaku, 1036–1045
1037      長暦      Chōryaku or Chōreki
1040      長久      Chōkyū
1044      寛徳      Kantoku Emperor Go-Reizei, 1045–1068
1046      永承      Eishō or Eijō or Yōjō
1053      天喜      Tengi o Tenki
1058      康平      Kōhe
1065      治暦      Jiryaku or Chiryaku
1069      延久      Enkyū Emperor Go-Sanjō, 1068–1073
1074      承保      Jōhō or Shōhō or Shōho; Emperor Shirakawa, 1073–1086
1077      承暦      Jōryaku or Shōryaku or Shōreki
1081      永保      Eih
1084      応徳      Otoku
1087      寛治      Kanji Emperor Horikawa, 1087–1107
1094      嘉保      Kahō
1096      永長      Eichō   or ōchō
1097      承徳      Jōtoku or Shōtoku                                                                                      

1099      康和      Kōwa
1104      長治      Chōji
1106      嘉承      Kajō or Kashō or Kasō; Emperor Toba, 1107–1123
1108      天仁      Tennin
1110      天永      Ten'ei or Ten'yō
1113      永久      Eikyū or Yōkyū
1118      元永      Gen'en
1120      保安      Hōan Emperor Sutoku, 1123–1142
1124      天治      Tenji or Tenchi
1126      大治      Daiji or Taiji
1131      天承      Tenshō or Tenjō
1132      長承      Chōshō or Chōjō
1135      保延      Hōen
1141      永治      Eiji
1142      康治      Kōji Emperor Konoe, 1142–1155
1144      天養      Ten'yō or Tennyō
1145      久安      Kyūan
1151      仁平      Ninpei so Ninpyō or Ninbyō or Ninhyō or Ninhei
1154      久寿      Kyūju Emperor Go-Shirakawa, 1155–1158
1156      保元      Hōgen or Hogen; Emperor Nijō, 1158–1165
1159      平治      Heiji or Byōji
1160      永暦      Eiryaku or Yōryaku
1161      応保      Ōhō
1163      長寛      Chōkan
1165      永万      Eiman or Yōman; Emperor Rokujō, 1165–1168
1166      仁安      Nin'an or Ninnan; Emperor Takakura, 1168–1180
1169      嘉応      Kaō
1171      承安      Jōan or Shōan
1175      安元      Angen
1177      治承      Jishō or Jijō or Chishō; Emperor Antoku, 1180–1185
1181      養和      Yōwa
1182      寿永      Juei Emperorr Go-Toba, 1183–1198
1184      元暦      Genryaki
1185      文治      Bunji or Monchi
1190      建久      Kenkyū Emperor Tsuchimikado, 1198–1210

 KAMAKURA ERA (1192-1333)

The Kamakura period 鎌倉時代 Kamakura-jidai is marked by the Kamakura shogunate 鎌倉幕府 Kamakura bakufu, established in 1192 by shōgun Minamoto no Yoritomo 源頼朝

1199      正治      Shōji
1201      建仁      Kennin
1204      元久      Genkyū
1206      建永      Ken'ei also Ken'yō
1207      承元      Jōgen or Shōgen; Emperor Juntoku, 1210–1221
1211      建暦      Kenryaku
1213      建保      Kenpō or Kenhō
1219      承久      Jōkyū or Shōkyū; Emperor Chūkyō, 1221 Emperor Go-Horikawa, 1221–1232
1222      貞応      Jōō or Teiō
1224      元仁      Gennin
1225      嘉禄      Karoku
1227      安貞      Antei or Anjō
1229      寛喜      Kangi or Kanki
1232      貞永      Jōei o Teiei; Emperor Shijō, 1232–1242
1233      天福      Tenpuku or Tenfuku
1234      文暦      Bunryaku or Monryaku or Monreki
1235      嘉禎      Katei
1238      暦仁      Ryakunin or Rekinin
1239      延応      En'ō or Ennō
1240      仁治      Ninji or Ninchi; Emperor Go-Saga, 1242–1246
1243      寛元      Kangen Emperor Go-Fukakusa, 1246–1260
1247      宝治      Hōji
1249      建長      Kenchō
1256      康元      Kōgen Emperor Kameyama, 1260–1274
1257      正嘉      Shōka
1259      正元      Shōgen
1260      文応      Bun'ō or Bunnō
1261      弘長      Kōchō
1264      文永      Bun'ei Emperor Go-Uda, 1274–1287
1275      建治      Kenji
1278      弘安      Kōan Emperor Fushimi, 1287–1298.[59]
1288      正応      Shōō
1293      永仁      Einin Emperor Go-Fushimi, 1298–1301
1299      正安      Shōan Emperor Go-Nijō, 1301–1308
1302      乾元      Kengen

1303      嘉元      Kagen
1306      徳治      Tokuji
1308      延慶      Enkyō or Engyō or Enkei; Emperor Hanazono, 1308–1318
1311      応長      Ōchō
1312      正和      Shōwa
1317      文保      Bunpō or Bunhō Emperor Go-Daigo, 1318–1339
1319      元応      Gen'ō or Gennō
1321      元亨      Genkō
1324      正中      Shōchū
1326      嘉暦      Karyaku
1329      元徳      Gentoku
1331      元弘      Genkō

 NANBOKU-CHO ERA (1334-1392)

The Nanbokucho Period 南北朝時代 Nanbokuchō jidai, also known as the Northern and Southern Courts Period, is marked by the juxtaposition of two imperial courts in the early years of the Muromachi era under the Ashikaga shogunate.
The Northern Court, established by Ashikaga Takauji, was based in Kyoto and was supported by the Bakufu of the Ashikaga while the Southern Court was founded by Emperor Go-Daigo and was based in Yoshino near Nara.

Nanboku-chō Southern Court

1334      建武      Kenmu or Kenbu
1336      延元      Engen
1340      興国      Kōkoku
1346      正平      Shōhei
1370      建徳      Kentoku
1372      文中      Bunchū
1375      天授      Tenju
1381      弘和      Kōwa
1384      元中      Genchū Genchū 9 becomes Meitoku 3 in post Nanboku-chō reunification

Nanboku-chō Northern Court

1332      正慶      Shōkei or Shōkyō
1334      建武      Kenmu or Kenbu
1338      暦応      Ryakuō or Rekiō
1342      康永      Kōei
1345      貞和      Jōwa o Teiwa
1350      観応      Kannō or Kan'ō
1352      文和      Bunna or Bunwa
1356      延文      Enbun
1361      康安      Kōan
1362      貞治      Jōji o Teiji
1368      応安      Ōan
1375      永和      Eiwa
1379      康暦      Kōryaku
1381      永徳      Eitoku
1384      至徳      Shitoku
1387      嘉慶      Kakei or Kakyō
1390      明徳      Meitoku Meitoku 3 becomes Genchū 9 in post-Nanboku-chō reunification

MUROMACHI ERA (1392-1573)

The Muromachi period 室町時代 Muromachi jidai  runs from 1336, the date of Ashikaga Takauji's rise to shōgun, until 1573 when the last Ashikaga shogun was driven out of Kyoto. The name is linked to the Kyoto district where the Ashikaga shoguns established their residence after 1378. It is also called the Ashikaga period because it coincides with the Ashikaga shogunate.

1394      応永      Ōei Emperor Shōkō, 1412–1428
1428      正長      Shōchō Emperor Go-Hanazono, 1428–1464
1429      永享      Eikyō or Eikō
1441      嘉吉      Kakitsu or Kakichi
1444      文安      Bun'an or Bunnan
1449      宝徳      Hōtoku
1452      享徳      Kyōtoku
1455      康正      Kōshō
1457      長禄      Chōroku
1460      寛正      Kanshō Emperor Go-Tsuchimikado, 1464–1500
1466      文 正     Bunshō or Monshō

1467      応仁      ōnin
1469      文明      Bunmei
1487      長享      Chōkyō
1489      延徳      Entoku
1492      明応      Meiō Emperor Go-Kashiwabara, 1500–1526
1501      文亀      Bunki
1504      永正      Eishō
1521      大永      Daiei Emperor Go-Nara, 1526–1557
1528      享禄      Kyōroku
1532      天文      Tenbun or Tenmon
1555      弘治      Kōji Emperor  Ōgimachi, 1557–1586
1558      永禄      Eiroku
1570      元亀      Genki

AZUCHI-MOMOYAMA  ERA (1573-1603)

The Azuchi-Momoyama Period 安土桃山時代 Azuchi Momoyama jidai is the era of the three unifiers of Japan. Oda Nobunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi and Tokugawa Ieyasu  who transformed Warring States Japan 戦国時代 Sengoku jidai back into a unitary state.

1573      天正      Tenshō Emperor Go-Yōzei, 1586–1611
1592      文禄      Bunroku
1596      慶長      Keichō or Kyōchō; Emperor Go-Mizunoo, 1611–1629

 EDO  ERA (1603-1867)

The Edo period 江戸時代 Edo jidai, also known as the Tokugawa period 徳川時代 Tokugawa jidai in which the Tokugawa family held the maximum political and military power in the country through the bakufu. The period takes its name from the capital Edo, seat of the shōgun, renamed Tokyo in 1869.

1615      元和      Genna or Genwa
1624      寛永      Kan'ei Emperor Meishō, 1629–1643 Emperor Go-Kōmyō, 1643–1654
1644      正保      Shōhō
1648      慶安      Keian or Kyōan
1652      承応      Jōō or Shōō; Emperor Go-Sai, 1655–1663
1655      明暦      Meireki or Myōryaku or Meiryaku
1658      万治      Manji
1661      寛文      Kanbun Emperor Reigen, 1663–1687
1673      延宝      Enpō or Enhō
1681      天和      Tenna or Tenwa
1684      貞享      Jōkyō Emperor Higashiyama, 1687–1709
1688      元禄      Genroku
1704      宝永      Hōei Emperor Nakamikado, 1709–1735
1711      正徳      Shōtoku
1716      享保      Kyōhō Emperor Sakuramachi, 1735–1747
1736      元文      Genbun
1741      寛保      Kanpō or Kanhō
1744      延享      Enkyō Emperor Momozono, 1747–1762
1748      寛延      Kan'en
1751      宝暦      Hōreki or Hōryaku; Emperor Go-Sakuramachi, 1762–1771
1764      明和      Meiwa Emperor Go-Momozono, 1771–1779
1772      安永      An'ei Emperor  Kōkaku, 1780–1817
1781      天明      Tenmei
1789      寛政      Kansei
1801      享和      Kyōwa
1804      文化      Bunka Emperor Ninkō, 1817–1846
1818      文政      Bunsei
1830      天保      Tenpō or Tenhō
1844      弘化      Kōka Emperor Kōmei, 1846–1867.
1848      嘉永      Kaei
1854      安政      Ansei
1860      万延      Man'en
1861      文久      Bunkyū
1864      元治      Genji
1865      慶応      Keiō

MODERN PERIOD (1868- ad oggi)

Last years of the 19th century up to today covering the years of the current Emperor Akihito.

1868      明治      Meiji Emperor Meiji, 1868–1912.
1912      大正      Taishō Emperor Taishō, 1912–1926.
1926      昭和      Shōwa Emperor Shōwa, 1926–1989.
1989      平成      Heisei Akihito, 1989–2019.
2019      明仁      Akihito,  2019 Heisei - To date.