Heisei period

Heisei (平成) is the current era in Japan. The Heisei era started on 8 January 1989, the first day after the death of the reigning Emperor Hirohito. His son, Akihito, succeeded to the throne. In accordance with Japanese customs, Hirohito was posthumously renamed "Emperor Shōwa" on 31 January 1989.

Thus, 1989 corresponds to Shōwa 64 up to 7 January and to Heisei 1 (平成元年, Heisei gannen, gannen means "first year") since 8 January. To convert a Western era year after 1989 to Heisei, subtract 1988, for example, 2016−1988 = Heisei 28.

History and meaning

On 7 January 1989, at 07:55 JST, the Grand Steward of Japan's Imperial Household Agency, Shōichi Fujimori, announced Emperor Shōwa's death, and revealed details about his cancer for the first time. Shortly after the death of the Emperor, Keizō Obuchi, then Chief Cabinet Secretary and later Prime Minister of Japan, announced the end of the Shōwa era, and heralded the new era name "Heisei" for the new incoming Emperor, and explained the meaning of the name.