(Illustration by Yukiyo Oda/Stripes Japan)

In Japan, there is a unique year system based on the imperial era. Reiwa 8 means eighth year since Reiwa Emperor (Emperor Naruhito) was enthroned (in May 2019). In fact, although Japan has adopted the Western calendar for many things, this unique Japanese system is still in very commonly used, especially with government-issued documents, such as a driver’s license or family registration. So, let’s remember, 2025 is Reiwa 7 and 2026 is Reiwa 8. Got it?

Kae (-ru)/ki [return] (Illustration by Stripes Japan)