Japanese numbers:
Pre-1867 coins require more expert help than is given here.
List of emperors from 1867: |
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Mutsuhito (Meiji), 1867-1912, years 1-45 |
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Yoshihito (Taisho), 1912-1926, years 1-15 |
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Hirohito (Showa), 1926-1989, years 1-64 |
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Akihito (Heisei), 1989-2019 , years 1-31 |
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Naruhito (Reiwa-era), 2019 – present ( 令和 )
Japanese coins are dated by ruling emperor (year of accession) plus the regnal year. Prior to 1948 regnal numbers are read from right to left.
Examples:
Emperor (Mutsuhito) regnal year from R to L = 2 x 10 + 6. Date 1867 + 26 = 1893 AD.
Emperor (Yoshihito) regnal year from R to L = 10 + 1. Date 1912 + 11 = 1923 AD.
After 1948 (reform coinage) regnal numbers are read left to right.
Emperor (Hirohito) regnal year (now L to R) = 5 x 10 + 6 = 56. Date 1926 + 56 = 1982 AD.
Since the 1960s fifty yen and higher denomination coins use western numbers for the regnal year.
Emperor (Hirohito). Year = 1926 + 42 = 1968 AD.
The symbol denotes the 1st year of the reign.
Emperor (Akihito) 1st year of reign = 1989 AD.
Emperor (Akihito) regnal year = 10 + 7. Year = 1989 + 17 = 2006 AD.
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