Glossary

Meiji

明治

Term · calendar

Japanese era name (明治) for the years 1868–1912: 1868 is Meiji 1 (元年) and Meiji 45 is 1912. Meiji (明治) is a Japanese era name (nengō), proclaimed in 1868. Its years are counted in lunar years from the new year before the proclamation: 1868 is Meiji 1 (元年), 1912 its last year, Meiji 45. A Japanese source dates a year within it as “Meiji 2” (明治2年) rather than by a continuous count. Since 1868 an era is that of an emperor (one reign, one era): Meiji is the era of Emperor Meiji, who is called after it since his death. Before: Keiō. After: Taishō.