The tables below serve as a quick guide to Japanese era and reign names since 645 CE. Dates are provided down to the month (lunar months up to the end of 1872); the precise dates would be different under the Gregorian calendar. A second page contains a list of all 126 officially recognized imperial reigns for the 124 legendary and historical Japanese emperors.

It should be remembered that reigns typically end and begin in the same year, so that one calendar year may contain both the last year of the old reign and the first year of the new reign. The Shōwa Emperor, for example, died on January 7, 1989, meaning that 1989 was both Shōwa 64 and Heisei 1, with the latter starting from January 8, the day after the emperor’s death. The very rough listing of historical events relies heavily on the chronologies in The Cambridge History of Japan, although in some cases preference has been given to current Japanese sources.

The tables are best viewed on larger screens.

Pre-Nara period

Dates	Era name	Japanese	Events
645.6 – 650.2	Taika	大化	645 Start of the Taika (Great) Reforms; capital moved to Naniwa
650.2 – 654.10	Hakuchi (Hakuhō)	白雉 （白鳳）	This period can be referred to as either Hakuchi or Hakuhō, occupying the latter half of the reign of Emperor Kōtoku (r. 645-654). Hakuhō (originally an elegant alternative to Hakuchi) was also apparently used intermittently as an unofficial era name (shi-nengō) until 686. The Hakuhō period in art generally, although not always, refers to the years between the start of the Taika era in 645 and the establishment of the capital in Nara in 710
654.10 – 686.7	(Hakuhō)	（白鳳）	No official era name exists for this period, although “Hakuhō” seems to have been used occasionally on an unofficial basis; the Hakuchi/Hakuhō ambiguity is further compounded by scholars who contend that “Hakuhō” refers to a period (661-683) under the “Kyūshū court” as postulated by Yoshida Takehiko 667 Capital moved to Ōtsu in Ōmi Province 672 Tenmu emerges victorious in the Jinshin Disturbance; tennō (天皇) officially adopted as the sovereign’s title. This is also about the time “Nihon” becomes established as the country’s name
686.7 – 686.9	Shuchō	朱鳥	The era officially ended with the death of Emperor Tenmu in 686, but the name continued in unofficial use through the reign of Empress Jitō (r. 690-97) 694 Capital moved to Fujiwara in Yamato Province
701.3 – 704.5	Taihō	大宝	701 Taihō ritsuryō penal and administrative codes promulgated
704.5 – 708.1	Keiun	慶雲

Nara period

Dates	Era name	Japanese	Events
708.1 – 715.9	Wadō	和銅	710 Capital moved to Heijō-kyō (Nara) by Empress Genmei 712 Kojiki completed by Ō no Yasumaro
715.9 – 717.11	Reiki	霊亀
717.11 – 724.2	Yōrō	養老	718 Yōrō penal and administrative codes compiled 720 Nihon shoki completed
724.2 – 729.8	Jinki	神亀
729.8 – 749.4	Tenpyō	天平
749.4 – 749.7	Tenpyō Kanpō	天平感宝
749.7 – 757.8	Tenpyō Shōhō	天平勝宝	752 Great Buddha of Tōdaiji completed 754 Priest Ganjin arrives from China 756 Shōsōin repository constructed
757.8 – 765.1	Tenpyō Hōji	天平宝字	759 Last dated poem of the Man’yōshū 764 Revolt of Fujiwara no Nakamaro crushed
765.1 – 767.8	Tenpyō Shingo	天平神護
767.8 – 770.9	Jingo Keiun	神護景雲
770.10 – 780.12	Hōki	宝亀	770 Priest Dōkyō exiled
781.1 – 782.8	Ten’ō	天応

Heian period

Dates	Era name	Japanese	Events
782.8 – 806.5	Enryaku	延暦	784 Capital moved to Nagaoka 788 Priest Saichō builds Enryakuji 794 Capital moved to Heian-kyō (Kyoto) by Emperor Kanmu
806.5 – 810.9	Daidō	大同
810.9 – 824.1	Kōnin	弘仁	811 Emishi defeated after thirty years of conflict. 816 Priest Kūkai establishes Kongōbuji on Mount Kōya
824.1 – 834.1	Tenchō	天長	832 Priest Kūkai establishes a Shingon chapel inside the imperial palace
834.1 – 848.6	Jōwa	承和	838 Last official embassy to Tang China 847 Priest Ennin returns from China, introducing Tendai and Mikkyō (esoteric Buddhism) practices
848.6 – 851.4	Kashō	嘉祥
851.4 – 854.11	Ninju	仁寿
854.11 – 857.2	Saikō	斉衡
857.2 – 859.4	Tennan	天安
859.4 – 877.4	Jōgan	貞観	866 Fujiwara no Yoshifusa becomes the first person not of imperial birth to receive the title of regent (sesshō)
877.4 – 885.2	Gangyō	元慶
885.2 – 889.4	Ninna	仁和
889.4 – 898.4	Kanpei	寛平	894 Plan to send an embassy to Tang China is canceled
898.4 – 901.7	Shōtai	昌泰
901.7 – 923.4*	Engi	延喜	901 Nihon sandai jitsuroku, last of the Six National Histories, completed 905 Kokinshū compiled
923.4* – 931.4	Enchō	延長
931.4 – 938.5	Jōhei (or Shōhei)	丞平	935 Jōhei-Tengyō Disturbance begins
937.5 – 947.4	Tengyō	天慶	939-40 Rebellion by Taira no Masakado 941 Fujiwara no Tadahira is appointed kanpaku, a title henceforth used for regents of adult emperors
947.4 – 957.10	Tenryaku	天暦
957.10 – 961.2	Tentoku	天徳
961.2 – 964.7	Ōwa	応和
964.7 – 968.8	Kōhō	康保
968.8 – 970.3	Anna	安和
970.3 – 973.12	Tenroku	天禄
973.12 – 976.7	Ten’en	天延
976.7 – 978.11	Jōgen	貞元
978.11 – 983.4	Tengen	天元
983.4 – 985.4	Eikan	永観
985.4 – 987.4	Kanwa	寛和	985 Priest Genshin writes Ōjō yōshū (The Essentials of Rebirth in the Pure Land)
987.4 – 989.8	Eien	永延
989.8 – 990.11	Eiso	永祚
990.11 – 995.2	Shōryaku	正暦
995.2 – 999.1	Chōtoku	長徳	995 Fujiwara no Michinaga becomes nairan (“private inspector”), cementing his control over the court; until 1027, the height of Fujiwara influence
999.1 – 1004.7	Chōho	長保	Makura no sōshi (The Pillow Book) by Sei Shōnagon largely completed by this time
1004.7 – 1012.12	Kankō	寛弘	Genji monogatari (The Tale of Genji) by Murasaki Shikibu completed about this time
1012.12 – 1017.4	Chōwa	長和
1017.4 – 1021.2	Kan’in	寛仁
1021.2 – 1024.7	Jian	治安
1024.7 – 1028.7	Manju	万寿
1028.7 – 1037.4	Chōgen	長元	1028 Revolt of Taira no Tadatsune (surrenders to Minamoto no Yorinobu in 1031)
1037.4 – 1040.11	Chōryaku	長暦
1040.11 – 1044.11	Chōkyū	長久
1044.11 – 1046.4	Kantoku	寛徳
1046.4 – 1053.1	Eishō	永承	1051 Beginning of the Earlier Nine Years’ War under Minamoto no Yoriyoshi
1053.1 – 1058.8	Tenki	天喜	1053 Hōōdō (Phoenix Hall) constructed at the Byōdōin by Minamoto no Yorimichi
1058.8 – 1065.8	Kōhei	康平	1063 Yoriyoshi secretly builds shrine dedicated to Hachiman in Sagami Province
1065.8 – 1069.4	Jiryaku	治暦	1068 Emperor Go-Sanjō becomes the first emperor in 170 years whose mother is not a Fujiwara
1069.4 – 1074.8	Enkyū	延久
1074.8 – 1077.11	Shōhō	承保
1077.11 – 1081.2	Shōryaku	承暦
1081.2 – 1084.2	Eiho	永保
1084.2 – 1087.2	Ōtoku	応徳	1086 Emperor Shirakawa abdicates and establishes his Senior Retired Emperor’s Office (In-no-chō)
1087.2 – 1094.12	Kanji	寛治
1094.12 – 1096.12	Kahō	嘉保
1096.12 – 1097.11	Eichō	永長
1097.11 – 1099.8	Shōtoku	承徳
1099.8 – 1104.2	Kōwa	康和
1104.2 – 1106.4	Chōji	長治
1106.4 – 1108.8	Kashō	嘉承
1108.8 – 1110.7	Tennin	天仁
1110.7 – 1112.7	Ten’ei	天永
1113.7 – 1118.4	Eikyū	永久
1118.4 – 1120.4	Genei	元永
1120.4 – 1124.4	Hōan	保安
1124.4 – 1126.1	Tenji	天治
1126.1 – 1131.1	Taiji	大治	1129 The retired emperor Toba, Shirakawa’s grandson, becomes senior retired emperor; he relies on the Ise Heishi for military support
1131.1 – 1132.8	Tenshō	天承
1132.8 – 1135.4	Chōshō	長承
1135.4 – 1141.7	Hōen	保延
1141.7 – 1142.4	Eiji	永治
1142.4 – 1144.2	Kōji	康治
1144.2 – 1145.7	Ten’yō	天養
1145.7 – 1151.1	Kyūan	久安
1151.1 – 1154.10	Ninpei	仁平
1154.10 – 1156.4	Kyūju	久寿
1156.4 – 1159.4	Hōgen	保元	1156 Hōgen Disturbance; Taira no Kiyomori and Minamoto no Yoshitomo support victorious Emperor Go-Shirakawa
1159.4 – 1160.1	Heiji	平治	1159 Heiji Disturbance; Kiyomori foils Yoshitomo’s attempted coup
1160.1 – 1161.9	Eiryaku	永暦
1161.9 – 1163.3	Ōhō	応保
1163.3 – 1165.6	Chōkan	長寛
1165.6 – 1166.8	Eiman	永万
1166.8 – 1169.4	Nin’an	仁安	1167 Taira no Kiyomori becomes chancellor (daijōdaijin)
1169.4 – 1171.4	Kaō	嘉応
1171.4 – 1175.7	Shōan	承安
1175.7 – 1177.8	Angen	安元	1175 Hōnen preaches Pure Land teachings in Kyoto, leading to formation of the popular Pure Land sect
1177.8 – 1181.7	Jishō	治承	1181 Death of Kiyomori
1181.7 – 1182.5	Yōwa	養和
1182.5 – 1184.4	Juei	寿永
1184.4 – 1185.8	Genryaku	元暦

Kamakura period

Dates	Era name	Japanese	Events
1185.8 – 1190.4	Bunji	文治	1185 Final defeat of the Heike by Minamoto no Yoshitsune at Dan-no-ura; the establishment by Minamoto no Yoritomo of the shugo-jitō (military governor and land steward) system in the first year of the Bunji era is now taught in Japanese schools to mark the start of the Kamakura Period
1190.4 – 1199.4	Kenkyū	建久	1192 Kamakura Bakufu established by Minamoto no Yoritomo. Formerly taught in Japanese schools to mark the beginning of the Kamakura Period
1199.4 – 1201.2	Shōji	正治	1199 Death of Yoritomo
1201.2 – 1204.2	Kennin	建仁
1204.2 – 1206.4	Genkyū	元久	1204 Assassination of Minamoto no Yoriie by Hōjō Tokimasa
1206.4 – 1207.10	Ken’ei	建永
1207.10 – 1211.3	Shōgen	承元
1211.3 – 1213.12	Kenryaku	建暦
1213.12 – 1219.4	Kenpō	建保
1219.4 – 1222.4	Jōkyū	承久	1221 Jōkyū Disturbance results in stronger bakufu control
1222.4 – 1224.11	Jōō	貞応
1224.11 – 1225.4	Gennin	元仁
1225.4 – 1227.12	Karoku	嘉禄
1227.12 – 1229.3	Antei	安貞
1229.3 – 1232.4	Kanki	寛喜
1232.4 – 1233.4	Jōei	貞永	1232 Jōei (or, more properly, Goseibai) Code promulgated; 51 articles governing samurai behavior
1233.4 – 1234.11	Tenpuku	天福
1234.11 – 1235.9	Bunryaku	文暦
1235.9 – 1238.11	Katei	嘉禎
1238.11 – 1239.2	Ryakunin	暦仁
1239.2 – 1240.7	En’ō	延応
1240.7 – 1243.2	Ninji	仁治
1243.2 – 1247. 2	Kangen	寛元	1244 Construction of Eiheiji
1247.2 – 1249.3	Hōji	宝治
1249.3 – 1256.10	Kenchō	建長
1256.10 – 1257.3	Kōgen	康元
1257.3 – 1259.3	Shōka	正嘉
1259.3 – 1260.4	Shōgen	正元
1260.4 – 1261.2	Bun’ō	文応
1261.2 – 1264.2	Kōchō	弘長
1264.2 – 1275.4	Bun’ei	文永	1266 Kublai Khan seeks relations with Japan, sends envoys in 1268 1274 Mongols attempt first invasion of Japan
1275.4 – 1278.2	Kenji	建治
1278.2 – 1288.4	Kōan	弘安	1281 Mongols attempt second invasion of Japan
1288.4 – 1293.8	Shōō	正応
1293.8 – 1299.4	Einin	永仁
1299.4 – 1302.11	Shōan	正安
1302.11 – 1303.8	Kengen	乾元
1303.8 – 1306.12	Kagen	嘉元
1306.12 – 1308.10	Tokuji	徳治
1308.10 – 1311.4	Enkyō	延慶
1311.4 – 1312.3	Ōchō	応長
1312.3 – 1317.2	Shōwa	正和
1317.2 – 1319.4	Bunpō	文保	1318 Emperor Go-Daigo ascends throne
1319.4 – 1321.2	Gen’ō	元応
1321.2 – 1324.12	Genkō	元亨
1324.12 – 1326.4	Shōchū	正中
1326.4 – 1329.8	Karyaku	嘉暦

Muromachi period

Dates	Era name	Japanese	Events
1331.8 – 1334.1	Genkō	元弘	Emperor Go-Daigo adopted the era name “Genkō” in 1331, but Emperor Kōgon of the Northern Court continued to use the previous name “Gentoku” until until 1332.4 (Gentoku 4), when he promulgated the “Shōkyō” era name (see below) The Shōkyō era thus marks the start of alternative reign names that continued throughout the Northern and Southern Courts period (1336-1392); in 1333.5, however, the overthrow of the Kamakura Bakufu resulted in the disenthronement of Kōgon, so until 1338, the Northern Court reverted to “Kenmu” 1333  Kamakura Bakufu overthrown
1334.1 – 1336.2	Kenmu	建武	“Kenmu” was used by Emperor Go-Daigo until 1336.2, when the era name for the Southern Court was changed to “Engen”; the Northern Court under Emperor Kōmyō continued to use “Kenmu” until 1338.8, when the era name was changed to “Ryakuō”
1336.2 – 1340.4	Engen	延元	1336: Beginning of the Northern and Southern Courts period (until 1392), with Emperor Kōmyō in Kyoto and Emperor Go-Daigo at Yoshino in Nara; the year is Engen 1 for the Southern Court and Kenmu 3 for the Northern Court The lighter shading indicates Southern Court dates 1338 Muromachi Bakufu established in Kyoto by Ashikaga Takauji
1340.4 – 1346.12	Kōkoku	興国
1346.12 – 1370.7	Shōhei	正平	1358 Death of Ashikaga Takauji
1370.7 – 1372.10	Kentoku	建徳
1372.10 – 1375.5	Bunchū	文中
1375.5 – 1381.2	Tenju	天授
1381.2 – 1384.4	Kōwa	弘和
1384.4 – 1392.10*	Genchū	元中	1391-92 Meitoku Rebellion put down by Muromachi Bakufu 1392 Reunification of Northern and Southern Courts in Genchū 9 (Meitoku 3 for the Northern Court
1332.4 – 1334.1	Shōkyō	正慶	1332 Beginning of reign names considered exclusive to the Northern Court “Shōkyō” was used at the court of Emperor Kōgon (r. 1331-1333); a return to “Kenmu” after Kōgon’s disenthronement lasted until 1336.2, when Emperor Go-Daigo of the Southern Court changed his court’s era name to Engen (see above); the Kenmu era name thereafter continued in use only at the Northern Court until 1338, when “Ryakuō” was adopted The darker shading indicates Northern Court dates
1338.8 – 1342.4	Ryakuō	暦応	1338 Muromachi Bakufu established in Kyoto by Ashikaga Takauji
1342.4 – 1345.10	Kōei	康永
1345.10 – 1350.2	Jōwa	貞和
1350.2 – 1352.9	Kannō	観応
1352.9 – 1356.3	Bunwa	文和
1356.3 – 1361.3	Enbun	延文	1358 Death of Ashikaga Takauji
1361.3 – 1362.9	Kōan	康安
1362.9 – 1368.2	Jōji	貞治
1368.2 – 1375.2	Ōan	応安
1375.2 – 1379.3	Eiwa	永和
1379.3 – 1381.2	Kōryaku	康暦
1381.2 – 1384.2	Eitoku	永徳
1384.2 – 1387.8	Shitoku	至徳
1387.8 – 1389.2	Kakei	嘉慶
1389.2 – 1390.3	Kōō	康応
1390.3 – 1394.7	Meitoku	明徳	1391-92 Meitoku Rebellion put down by Muromachi Bakufu 1392 Meitoku 3 (Genchū 9 for the Southern Court) marks the return to a unified sequence of era names under Emperor Go-Komatsu of the Northern Court
1394.7 – 1428.4	Ōei	応永	1397 Kinkakuji built by Ashikaga Yoshimitsu
1428.4 – 1429.9	Shōchō	正長
1429.9 – 1441.2	Eikyō	永享
1441.2 – 1444.2	Kakitsu	嘉吉	1441 Kakitsu Disturbance, resulting in the assassination of Ashikaga Yoshinori
1444.2 – 1449.7	Bun’an	文安
1449.7 – 1452.7	Hōtoku	宝徳
1452.7 – 1455.7	Kyōtoku	享徳
1455.7 – 1457.9	Kōshō	康正
1457.9 – 1460.12	Chōroku	長禄
1460.12 – 1466.2	Kanshō	寛正
1466.2 – 1467.3	Bunshō	文正
1467.3 – 1469.4	Ōnin	応仁	1467 Ōnin War begins, continuing until 1477
1469.4 – 1487.7	Bunmei	文明	1480’s Sengoku (Warring States) daimyō emerge. The Sengoku period is sometimes said to start in 1467, sometimes in 1493; the end is variously marked at 1568, 1573, or 1590
1487.7 – 1489.8	Chōkyō	長享
1489.8 – 1492.7	Entoku	延徳
1492.7 – 1501.2	Meiō	明応
1501.2 – 1504.2	Bunki	文亀
1504.2 – 1521.8	Eishō	永正
1521.8 – 1528.8	Taiei	大永
1528.8 – 1532.7	Kyōroku	享禄
1532.7 – 1555.10	Tenbun	天文	1543 Portuguese traders introduce Western muskets and canon into Japan 1549 Francis Xavier lands at Kagoshima and begins Christian mission
1555.10 – 1558.2	Kōji	弘治
1558.2 – 1570.4	Eiroku	永禄	1560 Oda Nobunaga defeats Imagawa Yoshimoto in the Battle of Okehazama, concludes an alliance with Tokugawa Ieyasu in 1562
1570.4 – 1573.7	Genki	元亀	1571 Nobunaga destroys Enryakuji, headquarters of the Tendai sect on Mt. Hiei near Kyoto

Azuchi-Momoyama period

Dates	Era name	Japanese	Events
1573.7 – 1592.12	Tenshō	天正	1582 Nobunaga betrayed by Akechi Mitsuhide; Toyotomi Hideyoshi avenges Nobunaga’s death, enters Osaka Castle in 1583 1585 Hideyoshi becomes imperial regent (kanpaku) 1592 After defeating the Go-Hōjō at Odawara in 1590, Hideyoshi invades Korea; truce reached in 1596

Edo period

Dates	Era name	Japanese	Events
1596.10 – 1615.7	Keichō	慶長	1597 Hideyoshi moves to Osaka Castle, orders second invasion of Korea 1598 Hideyoshi dies and Japanese armies leave Korea 1600 Tokugawa Ieyasu wins victory in the Battle of Sekigahara, achieving military predominance; Edo (Tokugawa) Bakufu established in 1603 1615 Defeat of Toyotomi Hideyori at Osaka
1615.7 – 1624.2	Genna	元和	1616 Death of Ieyasu, interred first at Mt. Kunō in Shizuoka and later at Nikkō
1624.2 – 1644.12	Kan’ei	寛永	1617 Western trading ships limited to Nagasaki and Hirado; Japanese ships prohibited from travelling abroad in 1635; Chinese traders limited to Nagasaki the same year; Portuguese ships forbidden to land from 1639; Dutch trading mission moved to Dejima in Nagasaki in 1641, completing the implementation of the bakufu’s policy of national seclusion (sakoku) 1617 Licensed quarter at Yoshiwara in Edo authorized 1635 System of alternate service (sankin kōtai) institutionalized 1637 Shimabara Rebellion
1644.12 – 1648.2	Shōhō	正保
1648.2 – 1652.9	Keian	慶安
1652.9 – 1655.4	Shōō	承応
1655.4 – 1658.7	Meireki	明暦	1657 Much of Edo destroyed in a great fire
1658.7 – 1661.4	Manji	万治
1661.4 – 1673.9	Kanbun	寛文
1673.9 – 1681.9	Enpō	延宝
1681.9 – 1684.2	Tenna	天和
1684.2 – 1688.9	Jōkyō	貞享
1688.9 – 1704.3	Genroku	元禄	A high point in Japanese culture reached with the activities of Chikamatsu Monzaemon (puppet theater), Ihara Saikaku (fiction), and Matsuo Bashō (haikai/haiku) 1702 Vendetta of the Akō rōnin; dramatized and first performed at the Takemoto-za in Osaka in 1748
1704.3 – 1711.4	Hōei	宝永
1711.4 – 1716.6	Shōtoku	正徳	1716 First major reform of Tokugawa shogunate under Yoshimune
1716.6 – 1736.4	Kyōhō	享保	1733 First violent uprisings by commoners in Edo protesting high prices
1736.4 – 1741.2	Genbun	元文
1741.2 – 1744.2	Kanpō	寛保
1744.2 – 1748.7	Enkyō	延享
1748.7 – 1751.10	Kan’en	寛延
1751.10 – 1764.6	Hōreki	宝暦
1764.6 – 1772.11	Meiwa	明和
1772.11 – 1781.4	An’ei	安永
1781.4 – 1789.1	Tenmei	天明	1787 Matsudaira Sadanobu appointed senior councilor, initiates the Kansei Reforms; forced into retirement in 1793
1789.1 – 1801.2	Kansei	寛政
1801.2 – 1804.2	Kyōwa	享和
1804.2 – 1818.4	Bunka	文化	1811 Shogunate establishes an office to translate Western documents
1818.4 – 1830.12	Bunsei	文政
1830.12 – 1844.12	Tenpō	天保	1837 Ōshio Heihachirō leads riots in Osaka 1841 Tenpō Reforms begun by Mizuno Tadakuni
1844.12 – 1848.2	Kōka	弘化
1848.2 – 1854.11	Kaei	嘉永	1853 Commodore Perry arrives at Uraga
1854.11 – 1860.3	Ansei	安政	1858 Ii Naosuke forces approval of American treaty
1860.3 – 1861.2	Man’en	万延	1860 Ii Naosuke assassinated
1861.2 – 1864.2	Bunkyū	文久
1864.2 – 1865.4	Genji	元治
1865.4 – 1868.9	Keiō	慶応	1867 Tokugawa Yoshinobu relinquishes title as shogun

Meiji period

Dates	Era name	Japanese	Events
1868.9 – 1912.7	Meiji	明治	1868 Edo renamed Tokyo and designated capital; era names made to coincide with reign of emperor 1872 Conscription and education ordinances enacted 1873 Land taxes revised; signs prohibiting Christianity taken down 1877 Satsuma Rebellion 1884 Peerage created 1885 Cabinet system established 1889 Constitution promulgated; first national election held in 1890 1894-95 Sino-Japanese War; annexation of Taiwan 1904-05 Russo-Japanese War 1910 Annexation of Korea

Taishō period

Dates	Era name	Japanese	Events
1912.7 – 1926.12	Taishō	大正	1914-1918 World War I 1923 Great Kantō Earthquake 1926 Universal male suffrage (first election in 1928)

Shōwa period

Dates	Era name	Japanese	Events
1926.12- 1989.1	Shōwa	昭和	1931 Manchurian Incident 1933 Japan leaves League of Nations (effective 1935) 1941 Attack on Pearl Harbor 1945 Atomic bombs dropped; end of World War II 1951 Treaty of San Francisco signed 1955 Liberal Democratic Party achieves political dominance 1964 Summer Olympics held in Tokyo; Shinkansen “bullet train” starts operation 1972 Okinawa returned to Japan 1973 First “oil shock” begins 1978 Second “oil shock” begins

Heisei and Reiwa periods

Dates	Era name	Japanese	Events
1989.1- 2019.4	Heisei	平成	1990 Japanese economic bubble bursts; beginning of the “Lost Decade” 1993 The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) fails to win a majority in the House of Representatives; coalition cabinets formed beginning in 1994 . 2009 The Democratic Party of Japan wins a majority of seats in the House of Representatives, marking the end of LDP parliamentary rule 2011 The Great East Japan Earthquake (March 11) 2012 The LDP-Kōmeitō coalition regains control of the House of Representatives in a landslide general-election victory 2013 The Liberal Democratic Party cements its comeback with an overwhelming victory in the House of Councillors election 2019 The Heisei Emperor (Akihito) abdicates on April 30
2019.5-	Reiwa	令和	2019 Crown Prince Naruhito installed as emperor on May 1, becoming the first emperor in modern times to ascend the thrown while the previous emperor is still alive 2021 The 2020 Tokyo Olympics open on July 23 after being delayed a year because of the coronavirus pandemic 2024 The 2024 Noto Peninsula Earthquake (January 1) 2025 The LDP-Komeito coalition is dissolved; Takaichi Sanae elected the first female prime minister of Japan, forming a new coalition government with the Japan Innovation Party