Do you know the words "Reiwa" and "Heisei"? These are the names of the Japanese eras. So, what do the words "Reiwa" and "Heisei" mean? Also, how do we express the Gregorian calendar year and centuries in Japan? Let's learn together.
1.Reiwa
"Reiwa" is the Japanese era name that began on May 1, 2019. Japanese era names are called "gengo" (gengo). "gengo" (gengo) is a title used to count the Japanese calendar. The year 2020 in the Gregorian calendar is written as "Reiwa 2-nen." "Reiwa" comes from the oldest collection of Japanese poetry, "Man'yōshū." "Reiwa" contains the meaning that "culture is born and grows as people come together in beautiful harmony."
Example sentences
This year is 2021, or Reiwa 3.
Kotoshi wa seireki 2021-nen de, Reiwa 3-nen desu.
This year is 2021 on the Western calendar, which is the third year of Reiwa.
"Reiwa 1-nen" is often written as "Reiwa Gan'nen." In particular, it is often written as "Gannen" in official documents. "Gannen" refers to the first year of the Emperor's accession to the throne or the first year of a new era.
Example sentences
The Reiwa era began on May 1, 2019.
Reiwa gan'nen wa 2019-nen 5-gatu 1-nichi kara hajimatta.
The first year of Reiwa began on May 1, 2019.
2.Heisei
"Heisei" is the era name used from January 8, 1989 to April 30, 2019. "Heisei" comes from the Chinese history books "Shiki" and "Shokyō." "Heisei" contains the wish for peace both inside and outside Japan, as well as the heavens and the earth.
Example sentences
My birthday is January 1, 1993.
Watashi no tanjōbi wa Heisei 5-nen 1-gatsu 1-nichi da.
My birthday is January 1, 1990 (Heisei 5th).
Example sentences
The year 1996 in the Gregorian calendar is the 8th year of the Heisei era.
Seireki 1996-nen wa, Heisei 8-nen desu.
1996 AD is the 8th year of Heisei.
3.Showa (Shōwa)
"Showa" was the era name used from December 25, 1926 to January 7, 1989. "Showa" was the longest-running era name (gengō). It originated from the Chinese classics, "Four Books and Five Classics." "Showa" represents wishes for peace for the people and prosperity for the world.
Example sentences
The Tokyo Olympics were held on October 10, 1964.
Shōwa 39-nen 10-gatu 10-nichi ni Tōkyō orinpikku ga kaisai sareta.
The Tokyo Olympics were held on October 10, 1964 (Shōwa 39th).
Example sentences
Showa 50 is the year 1975 in the Gregorian calendar.
Shōwa 50-nen wa, seireki 1975-nen desu.
The 50th year of Shōwa is 1975 AD
So far we have explained how to say the Japanese era names. From here on, we will introduce Japanese words related to "years", such as centuries.
4.Century
"Seiki" is a Japanese word meaning century. A "century" is a unit of 100 years. For example, the "21st century" (21-seiki) runs from 2001 to 2100. It is a word that is often used in textbooks, on television, in newspapers, etc.
Example sentences
The last Winter Olympics of the 20th century was the Nagano Olympics.
20-seiki saigo no tōki orinpikku wa Nagano orinpikku da.
The last Winter Olympics in the 20th century is the Nagano Olympics.
Example sentences
Today at school we learned about 19th century Japan.
Kyō wa gakkō de 19-seiki no Nihon ni tsuite mananda.
Today I learned about Japan in the 19th century at school.
5.Half a Century
"Hanseiki" is a word that means 50 years, which is half of a century. "Hanseiki" is sometimes used to emphasize the long period of time that 50 years is.
Example sentences
He has been driving this car for over half a century.
Kare wa kono kuruma ni hanseiki ijō nori tsuzukete iru.
He has been in this car for more than half a century.
Example sentences
This building was built more than half a century ago.
Kono tatemono wa hanseiki ijō mae ni taterareta.
This building was built over half a century ago.
6.Quarter Century
"Quarter century (shihanseiki)" is a word that refers to 25 years, which is one-fourth of a century. "Quarter (shihan)" means "one-fourth." "Quarter century (shihanseiki)" is sometimes used to emphasize the long period of 25 years.
Example sentences
He has been making sake for over a quarter of a century.
Kare wa shihanseiki ijō, nihonshu wo tsukuri tsuzukete iru.
He has been making sake for over a quarter of a century.
Example sentences
A quarter of a century has passed since that great earthquake.
Ano ōkina jishin kara shihanseiki ga keika shita.
A quarter of a century has passed since that big earthquake.
7.End of the Century (Seikimatsu)
"Seikimatsu" is a word that indicates the end of a century. If it refers to the last year of the 20th century, it would be "20-seikimatsu." Apart from its original meaning, it can also be used to mean "the end of the world" or "a world in ruins where humanity has become extinct." This is said to be influenced by a famous Japanese manga in which the end of the century is depicted as a hopeless world. Although it is different from the original meaning, some people use it as a metaphor.
Example sentences
A major event occurred at the end of the 20th century.
20-seikimatsu ni ōkina jiken ga okotta.
A big incident happened at the end of the 20th century.
Example sentences
There are more and more people with strange hairstyles in the world, it feels like the end of the century.
Yononaka ni hen'na kamigata no hito ga fuete, seikimatsu no yōda.
The number of people with strange hairstyles is increasing in the world, and it seems like the end of the world.
8.Leap Year
"Leap year (urūdoshi)" refers to a leap year. In other words, it is a year that occurs once every four years in which February has 29 days and the year is 366 days long. The word "leap" in "leap year (urūdoshi)" means "a year with more days or months than usual."
Example sentences
My daughter was born in 2020, a leap year.
Musume wa 2020-nen no urūdoshi ni umareta.
My daughter was born in the leap year of 2020.
9.Olympic Year (Orinpikkuiyā)
Olympic year (Orinpikkuiyā) is the term used to refer to the year in which the Olympics are held. It is a combination of the English words "Olympic" and "year." It emphasizes the joy and delight of the memorable year in which the Olympics are held.
Example sentences
This year is an Olympic year.
Kotoshi wa orinpikkuiyā da.
This year is the Olympic year.
In Japanese, there are many expressions for "years" such as "Reiwa" and "Heisei." Did you know that there are other Japanese era names such as "Taishō" and "Meiji"? If you are interested in Japanese, You can experience Japanese language lessons taught by experienced teachers for free. Human Academy Japanese Language Learning Plus Register for free Would you like to try it?