Japan

Calendar Systems

 Uncommon Aircraft

National Era System

During the Meiji Restoration in 1868, the national era calendar system was initiated, which counted years from the founding date of the imperial dynasty, 660 B.C. This system has been in sporadic use ever since. Type numbers for service aircraft were derived from the last one or two digits of the year; i.e., Type 96 Fighter indicates a fighter accepted for service in the year 2,596 (1936).

Showa Era System

In 1926, Hirohito became emperor of Japan and chose Showa as his reign name. His rule became known as the Showa era, and the Japanese use this as another way of keeping the calendar; for example, the tenth year of the Showa era would be 1935 in the Gregorian calendar and 2,595 in the national calendar.

The following table provides a calendar cross-reference for the World War II era, along with aircraft Type examples.

Gregorian National Showa Example Aircraft
1926 2,586 1 Type 86; 1-Shi
1927 2,587 2 Type 87; 2-Shi
1928 2,588 3 Type 88; 3-Shi
1929 2,589 4 Type 89; 4-Shi
1930 2,590 5 Type 90; 5-Shi
1931 2,591 6 Type 91; 6-Shi
1932 2,592 7 Type 92; 7-Shi
1933 2,593 8 Type 93; 8-Shi
1934 2,594 9 Type 94; 9-Shi
1935 2,595 10 Type 95; 10-Shi
1936 2,596 11 Type 96; 11-Shi
1937 2,597 12 Type 97; 12-Shi
1938 2,598 13 Type 98; 13-Shi
1939 2,599 14 Type 99; 14-Shi
1940 2,600 15 Type 100 (Army) or Type 0 (Navy); 15-Shi
1941 2,601 16 Type 1; 16-Shi
1942 2,602 17 Type 2; 17-Shi
1943 2,603 18 Type 3; 18-Shi
1944 2,644 19 Type 4; 19-Shi
1945 2,645 20 Type 5; 20-Shi
1946 2,646 21 Type 6; 21-Shi


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© 1997-2005, Robert Beechy

http://fire.prohosting.com/hud607/uncommon/reference/japan/calendar.html

Originally posted 1998

Modified: 01/01/2005