The Historical Era of Japan List

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It is always complicated remember what a historical period of Japan was like.
Here is the complete list with the reference dates for rembember the perios era.

Let's try to divide the eras for main periods so that we do not accumulate too many dates together, adding some brief historical references to which we refer. Usually we find the dates indicated by kanji 年 and preceded by the reference era, eg: 明治 for Meiji.

ASAKUSA PERIOD (538-710)

The Asakusa period 飛鳥時代Asuka jidai refers to a time span ranging from 538 to 710 dC. is important because it begins at the classic era of Japan, which sees its fundamental point of introduction of Buddhism with the religious, cultural and artistic revolution that accompanies it:

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

NARA PERIOD (710-794)

The period of Nara 奈良時代 Nara-jidai is characterized by the displacement in 710 dC, by Empress Gemmei of the capital in Heijō (corresponding to the current Nara). The period sees various transfers of capital depending on the emperor regent, a lively period.

715        霊亀             Reiki Emperor Genshō, 715–724.
717        養老             Yōrō
724        神亀             Jinki o Shinki; Emperor Shōmu, 724–749
729        天平             Tenpyō o Tenbyō oppure Tenhei
749        天平感宝   Tenpyō-kanpō o Tenbyō-kanpō
749        天平勝宝   Tenpyō-shōhō o Tenbyō-shōbō oppure Tenpei-shōhō; Emperor Kōken, 749–758
757        天平宝字   Tenpyō-hōji o Tenbyō-hōji oppure Tenpei-hōji; Emperor Junnin, 758–764;
                                    Emperor Shōtoku, 764–770
765        天平神護    Tenpyō-jingo o Tenbyō-jingo oppure 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 PERIOD (794-1192)

The Heian period 平安時代 Heian jidai takes the name of the capital of Heian-kyo era, corresponding to the current Kyoto. Culturally speaking, it is a very rich time, where there is a deeper assimilation of Chinese culture and Buddhism, both for literary production and for the aristocratic culture and structure of the country.

806        大同      Daidō Imperatore Heizei, 806–809; Imperatore Saga, 809–823
810        弘仁      Kōnin Imperatore Junna, 823–833
824        天長      Tenchō Imperatore Ninmyō, 833–850
834        承和      Jōwa o Shōwa oppure Sōwa
848        嘉祥      Kashō o Kajō; Imperatore Montoku, 850–858.
851        仁寿      Ninju
854        斉衡      Saikō
857        天安      Ten'an o Tennan; Imperatore Seiwa, 858–876
859        貞観      Jōgan Imperatore Yōzei, 876–884
877        元慶      Gangyō o Gankyō oppure Genkei; Imperatore Kōkō, 884–887
885        仁和      Ninna o Ninwa; Imperatore Uda, 887–897
889        寛平      Kanpyō o Kanpei, Kanbyō, Kanbei o Kanhei; Imperatore Daigo, 887–930
898        昌泰      Shōtai
901        延喜      Engi
923        延長      Enchō Imperatore Suzaku, 930–946
931        承平      Jōhei o Shōhei
938        天慶      Tengyō o Tenkei oppure Tenkyō; Imperatore Murakami, 946–967
947        天暦      Tenryaku o Tenreki
957        天徳      Tentoku
961        応和      Ōwa
964        康保      Kōhō Imperatore Reizei, 967–969
968        安和      Anna o Anwa; Imperatore En'yū, 969–984
970        天禄      Tenroku
973        天延      Ten'en
976        貞元      Jōgen o Teigen
978        天元      Tengen
983        永観      Eikan o Yōkan; Imperatore Kazan, 984–986
985        寛和      Kanna o Kanwa; Imperatore Ichijō, 986–1011
987        永延      Eien o Yōen
988        永祚      Eiso o Yōso
990        正暦      Shōryaku o Jōryaku or Shōreki
995        長徳      Chōtoku
999        長保      Chōhō
1004      寛弘      Kankō Imperatore Sanjō, 1011–1016
1012      長和      Chōwa Imperatore Go-Ichijō, 1016–1036
1017      寛仁      Kannin
1021      治安      Jian o Chian
1024      万寿      Manju
1028      長元      Chōgen Imperatore Go-Suzaku, 1036–1045
1037      長暦      Chōryaku o Chōreki
1040      長久      Chōkyū
1044      寛徳      Kantoku Imperatore Go-Reizei, 1045–1068
1046      永承      Eishō o Eijō o Yōjō
1053      天喜      Tengi o Tenki
1058      康平      Kōhe
1065      治暦      Jiryaku o Chiryaku
1069      延久      Enkyū Imperatore Go-Sanjō, 1068–1073
1074      承保      Jōhō o Shōhō o Shōho; Imperatore Shirakawa, 1073–1086
1077      承暦      Jōryaku o Shōryaku o Shōreki
1081      永保      Eih
1084      応徳      Ōtoku
1087      寛治      Kanji Imperatore Horikawa, 1087–1107
1094      嘉保      Kahō
1096      永長      Eichō   o ōchō
1097      承徳      Jōtoku o Shōtoku
1099      康和      Kōwa
1104      長治      Chōji
1106      嘉承      Kajō o Kashō o Kasō; Imperatore Toba, 1107–1123
1108      天仁      Tennin
1110      天永      Ten'ei o Ten'yō
1113      永久      Eikyū o Yōkyū
1118      元永      Gen'en
1120      保安      Hōan Imperatore Sutoku, 1123–1142
1124      天治      Tenji o Tenchi
1126      大治      Daiji o Taiji
1131      天承      Tenshō o Tenjō
1132      長承      Chōshō o Chōjō
1135      保延      Hōen
1141      永治      Eiji
1142      康治      Kōji Imperatore Konoe, 1142–1155
1144      天養      Ten'yō o Tennyō
1145      久安      Kyūan
1151      仁平      Ninpei so Ninpyō o Ninbyō o Ninhyō o Ninhei
1154      久寿      Kyūju Imperatore Go-Shirakawa, 1155–1158
1156      保元      Hōgen o Hogen; Imperatore Nijō, 1158–1165
1159      平治      Heiji o Byōji
1160      永暦      Eiryaku o Yōryaku
1161      応保      Ōhō
1163      長寛      Chōkan
1165      永万      Eiman o Yōman; Imperatore Rokujō, 1165–1168
1166      仁安      Nin'an o Ninnan; Imperatore Takakura, 1168–1180
1169      嘉応      Kaō
1171      承安      Jōan o Shōan
1175      安元      Angen
1177      治承      Jishō o Jijō o Chishō; Imperatore Antoku, 1180–1185
1181      養和      Yōwa
1182      寿永      Juei Imperatorer Go-Toba, 1183–1198
1184      元暦      Genryaki
1185      文治      Bunji o Monchi
1190      建久      Kenkyū Imperatore Tsuchimikado, 1198–1210

KAMAKURA PERIOD (1192-1333)

The Kamakura 鎌倉時代 Kamakura-jidai period is marked by the Kamogura Kamakura 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 o Shōgen; Imperatore Juntoku, 1210–1221
1211      建暦      Kenryaku
1213      建保      Kenpō o Kenhō
1219      承久      Jōkyū o Shōkyū; Imperatore Chūkyō, 1221 Imperatore Go-Horikawa, 1221–1232
1222      貞応      Jōō o Teiō
1224      元仁      Gennin
1225      嘉禄      Karoku
1227      安貞      Antei o Anjō
1229      寛喜      Kangi o Kanki
1232      貞永      Jōei o Teiei; Imperatore Shijō, 1232–1242
1233      天福      Tenpuku o Tenfuku
1234      文暦      Bunryaku o Monryaku o Monreki
1235      嘉禎      Katei
1238      暦仁      Ryakunin o Rekinin
1239      延応      En'ō o Ennō
1240      仁治      Ninji o Ninchi; Imperatore Go-Saga, 1242–1246
1243      寛元      Kangen Imperatore Go-Fukakusa, 1246–1260
1247      宝治      Hōji
1249      建長      Kenchō
1256      康元      Kōgen Imperatore Kameyama, 1260–1274
1257      正嘉      Shōka
1259      正元      Shōgen
1260      文応      Bun'ō o Bunnō
1261      弘長      Kōchō
1264      文永      Bun'ei Imperatore Go-Uda, 1274–1287
1275      建治      Kenji
1278      弘安      Kōan Imperatore Fushimi, 1287–1298.[59]
1288      正応      Shōō
1293      永仁      Einin Imperatore Go-Fushimi, 1298–1301
1299      正安      Shōan Imperatore Go-Nijō, 1301–1308
1302      乾元      Kengen
1303      嘉元      Kagen
1306      徳治      Tokuji
1308      延慶      Enkyō o Engyō o Enkei; Imperatore Hanazono, 1308–1318
1311      応長      Ōchō
1312      正和      Shōwa
1317      文保      Bunpō o Bunhō Imperatore Go-Daigo, 1318–1339
1319      元応      Gen'ō o Gennō
1321      元亨      Genkō
1324      正中      Shōchū
1326      嘉暦      Karyaku
1329      元徳      Gentoku
1331      元弘      Genkō

NANBOKU-CHO PERIOD (1334-1392)

The Nanbokucho period 南北朝時代 Nanbokuchō jidai , also known as the North and South Court Period, is marked by the oppression of two imperial courts in the early Muromachi era under the Ashikaga Shogunate.
The North Court, established by Ashikaga Takauji, was headquartered in Kyoto and was supported by Ashikaga's Bakufu while the South Court was founded by the Emperor Go-Daigo and was headquartered in Yoshino near Nara.

Nanboku-chō Southern Court

1334      建武      Kenmu o 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 becames Meitoku 3 in post Nanboku-chō reunification

Nanboku-chō Northern Court

1332      正慶      Shōkei o Shōkyō
1334      建武      Kenmu o Kenbu
1338      暦応      Ryakuō o Rekiō
1342      康永      Kōei
1345      貞和      Jōwa o Teiwa
1350      観応      Kannō o Kan'ō
1352      文和      Bunna o 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 o Kakyō
1390      明徳      Meitoku Meitoku 3 becames Genchū 9 in post-Nanboku-chō riunification

MUROMACHI PERIOD (1392-1573)

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

1394      応永      Ōei Imperatore Shōkō, 1412–1428
1428      正長      Shōchō Imperatore Go-Hanazono, 1428–1464
1429      永享      Eikyō o Eikō
1441      嘉吉      Kakitsu o Kakichi
1444      文安      Bun'an o Bunnan
1449      宝徳      Hōtoku
1452      享徳      Kyōtoku
1455      康正      Kōshō
1457      長禄      Chōroku
1460      寛正      Kanshō Imperatore Go-Tsuchimikado, 1464–1500
1466      文正      Bunshō o Monshō                                                                                                                                                                                                                          1467      応仁      Ōnin
1469      文明      Bunmei
1487      長享      Chōkyō
1489      延徳      Entoku
1492      明応      Meiō Imperatore Go-Kashiwabara, 1500–1526
1501      文亀      Bunki
1504      永正      Eishō
1521      大永      Daiei Imperatore Go-Nara, 1526–1557
1528      享禄      Kyōroku
1532      天文      Tenbun o Tenmon
1555      弘治      Kōji Imperatore Ōgimachi, 1557–1586
1558      永禄      Eiroku
1570      元亀      Genki

AZUCHI-MOMOYAMA PERIOD (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 again transformed Japan's fighting states 戦国時代 Sengoku jidai into a unified state.

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

EDO PERIOD (1603-1867)

The Edo period 江戸時代 Edo jidai, also known as Tokugawa 徳川時代 Tokugawa jidai for which the Tokugawa family held through the bakufu the greatest political and military power in the country. The period is named after the capital Edo, the headquarters of the Shōgun, renamed Tokyo in 1869.

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

1748      寛延      Kan'en
1751      宝暦      Hōreki o Hōryaku; Imperatore Go-Sakuramachi, 1762–1771
1764      明和      Meiwa Imperatore Go-Momozono, 1771–1779
1772      安永      An'ei Imperatore Kōkaku, 1780–1817
1781      天明      Tenmei
1789      寛政      Kansei
1801      享和      Kyōwa
1804      文化      Bunka Imperatore Ninkō, 1817–1846
1818      文政      Bunsei
1830      天保      Tenpō o Tenhō
1844      弘化      Kōka Imperatore 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- to today)

Last years of the 19th century until today to cover the years of the present emperor Akihito.

1868      明治      Meiji Imperatore Meiji, 1868–1912.
1912      大正      Taishō Imperatore Taishō, 1912–1926.
1926      昭和      Shōwa Imperatore Shōwa, 1926–1989.
1989      平成      Heisei Akihito, 1989–ad oggi [imperatore regnante].

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