Have you ever heard the "Meiji era," "Shōwa," or "Reiwa" and wondered what they really mean? In Japan, time is not just counted — it is named. Each era has a unique name, chosen with extreme care, symbolizing the spirit of the time and aspirations for the future. This tradition, called Gengō (元号), transforms the calendar into a cultural narrative.
In this article, we will walk from the first official era to the present era, discovering the meaning of each name, why it was chosen, and what it tells us about Japan at that time. Get ready, because this is an intense journey through history encoded in two ideograms at a time.
Table of Contents
Asuka Period (538–710)
Taika (大化) – "Great Reform"
The first official era of Japan, beginning in 645. “Taika” marks the start of the centralization of power under Emperor Tenji, with profound istrative reforms known as the Taika Reforms. The choice of name reflected this movement of rupture and reconstruction. Dai (大) means “great”; ka (化) is “transformation.” A name that perfectly summarizes the ambition of the moment.
Hakuchi (白雉) – "White Pheasant"
Used between 650 and 654, it received this name after a white pheasant was offered to the emperor, considered a sign of good omen. Haku (白) means “white,” and chi (雉) means “pheasant.” An example of how natural phenomena influenced political decisions.
Nara Period (710–794)
During this period of fixed capital in Heijō-kyō (current Nara), Japan formalized the regular use of eras.
Wadō (和銅) – "Pacific Copper"
Adopted in 708, with the discovery of pure copper in Japan. Wa (和) is an ancient name for Japan, also translated as "harmony"; dō (銅) means "copper." The name united national identity and economic prosperity.
Tenpyō (天平) – "Celestial Balance"
Used between 729-749. Ten (天) means "sky" and pyō (平) means "balance or peace." It reflected the Buddhist ideal and the desire for spiritual and social stability under Emperor Shōmu's rule.
Tenpyō-kanpō (天平感宝) – “Heaven, Peace and Sensible Treasures”
This variation lasted only a few months. It shows how certain names were attempts to correct or bless difficult periods, often through superstition.
Heian Period (794–1185)
The era of aesthetic refinement and court culture.
Kōnin (弘仁) – "Expanded Virtue"
Used from 810 to 824. It symbolized the desire for the expansion of morality and stability during the reign of Emperor Saga. The ideogram Kō (弘) means “expand,” and nin (仁) is “virtue,” an essential quality in Confucian values.
Jōgan (貞観) – "Right View"
From 859 to 877. An era of stability, marked by culture and Buddhism. The name reflects the quest for morality and just governance.
Kamakura Period (1185–1333)
With the shogunate established, the emperor still named the eras, but politics was dominated by the warriors.
Bunji (文治) – "Governance through Culture"
1190 to 1199. The ideogram Bun (文) means "letter" or "culture," and ji (治) means "to govern." It represented an attempt to rebalance power between weapons and knowledge.
Kenji (建治) – "Establishment of Governance"
Usada from 1275 to 1278. It indicates the effort to restore imperial authority during times of tension with the Hōjō clan.
Muromachi Period (1336–1573)
Ōei (応永) – “Eternal Answer”
Used for 35 years (1394–1428), one of the longest. A sign of relative stability. Ō (応) means "response," ei (永) means "eternity." It was an expression of governmental continuity and stability after years of war.
Bunmei (文明) – “Civil Enlightenment”
1469 to 1487. Even amidst internal wars, the name aspired to cultural elevation. With bun (文) for culture and mei (明) for clarity, it reflected the desire for civility in an unstable time.
Sengoku Period (1467–1573)
Despite the chaos, the names remained symbolic.
Eishō (永正) – "Enduring Peace"
1504 to 1521. A clear attempt to bring hope amidst the war. An almost ironic name for an era of constant battles among feudal lords.
Tenbun (天文) – "Celestial Phenomenon"
1532 to 1555. Reflects the connection between heaven and political destiny. A name with astrological weight, typical of an era when heavens and wars were inseparable.
Azuchi-Momoyama Period (1573–1603)
Tenshō (天正) – “Celestial Justice”
It was under the command of Oda Nobunaga that the name Tenshō emerged in 1573. Hideyoshi kept it during his consolidation of power. The chosen kanji say it all: Ten (天) represents the sky or divine order; shō (正) is justice, correction. In the midst of an era of conflicts and forced unification, the name acted almost like a seal of approval from the heavens for military campaigns.
More than symbolism, it was propaganda. Each victory over rivals could be seen as the fulfillment of celestial justice. The name was chosen with political intent, not just spiritual.
Edo Period (1603–1868)
With the Tokugawa shogunate established, the names of the eras began to reflect stability, rigidity, and cultural prosperity. Even with long and peaceful periods, the name of each era carried an ideal that the government wished to propagate.
Kan’ei (寛永) – "Serene Eternity"
Adopted between 1624 and 1644, the name symbolized a stable government with absolute authority. Kan (寛) means "serenity" or "tolerance"; ei (永) means eternity. A name chosen to provide tranquility to the population and reinforce the Tokugawa rule as legitimate and permanent.
It was in this era that Japan closed itself off from the world (sakoku), and internal peace was maintained with an iron fist. The name of the era served as a constant reminder: everything was under control, and it would be this way for a long time.
Genroku (元禄) – "Original Prosperity"
This era, from 1688 to 1704, is ed as a true cultural boom. Kabuki, ukiyo-e, haikai, and the life of the pleasure districts flourished. Gen (元) is origin or foundation; roku (禄) means blessing or wealth. The name carried the idea of an era of wealth born from a solid foundation established.
It is no coincidence that many historians and artists consider the Genroku the cultural peak of the Edo period. Prosperity was not only economic but also aesthetic and emotional.
Meiji Era (1868–1912)
Meiji (明治) – "Enlightened Government"
This was the landmark of the end of feudal Japan. The Meiji Restoration restored power to the emperor and transformed the country in record time. The name of the era — Mei (明), “enlightenment,” and ji (治), “to govern” — was chosen to reflect exactly that: a new type of leadership, more rational, modern, and forward-looking.
Everything changed: clothing, calendars, political system, literacy. And the name Meiji served as a banner for a revolution that transformed the archipelago into a power.
Taishō Era (1912–1926)
Taishō (大正) – "Great Rectitude"
Although brief, it was an era of liberalism and urban growth. Tai (大) means "great"; shō (正) is the same "correct" or "just" as in other eras. The name invoked a moral leadership, perhaps more desired than real.
While Emperor Taishō was in poor health, the name of the era served as an ethical anchor for democratic movements and political openness. The term became a symbol of "Taishō democracy" — brief, but significant.
It was the Shōwa era (1926–1989)
Shōwa (昭和) – "Illuminated Peace"
It started under tension and ended with prosperity. Shō (昭) means “to illuminate,” wa (和) is harmony, peace. A name that said a lot — or that desired a lot. At the beginning of the era, wars and authoritarianism marked the country. In the post-war period, the “economic miracle” and the rise of modern Japanese culture came.
It's interesting to observe how a name can mean one thing and experience the opposite, only to finally align with its purpose. Shōwa is duality in the form of an era.
It was the Heisei era (1989–2019)
Heisei (平成) – "Concrete Peace"
Hi (平) is "peace", sei (成) It is "to reach", "to achieve". The name was chosen to represent the desire for peaceful continuity after a troubled century. The intention was great — but Heisei was marked by a stagnant economy, natural disasters, and accelerated social changes.
Still, many Japanese see Heisei as an era of emotional transition: from post-war ambition to acceptance of a new reality. Less growth, more introspection.
It was Reiwa (2019–present)
Reiwa (令和) – “Beautiful Harmony”
The first name taken from a Japanese text, the Manyōshū. A symbolic break. Rei (令), in this context, represents "excellence" or "good order"; wa (和) follows as "harmony". The goal is to guide the country towards a beautiful coexistence between tradition and the future.
The choice was bold. Instead of turning to China, Japan looked to its own classical literature. It is an era of identity affirmation, even in the midst of the health crisis and the advance of AI. The name serves as a reminder that balance and aesthetics still matter.
