Heisei

Heisei is a Japanese era name used in the official calendar to designate the period of Emperor Akihito’s reign. It began on January 8, 1989, following the death of Emperor Hirohito and Akihito’s accession as emperor, and ended on April 30, 2019, with the abdication of Akihito and the transition to the next era, Reiwa.

The name Heisei consists of two kanji characters: 平 (hei) meaning peace, calm, or evenness, and 成 (sei) meaning to achieve or to become. The combination is commonly understood as a wish for peace and orderly progress, though exact interpretations vary. The era name is used in the Japanese calendar as a twelve-letter labeling system for years within the period.

During the Heisei era, Japan experienced significant social and economic shifts. The early years followed the burst of the asset price bubble and a prolonged period of economic stagnation known as the Lost Decade. The era also saw major disasters, including the Great Hanshin–Awaji earthquake in 1995 and the Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami in 2011, along with reforms in various sectors and an accelerating digital and globalized economy. Heisei is frequently used to refer to the historical period of Akihito’s reign, as opposed to the chronological year system used before and after it.

After an official abdication on April 30, 2019, the Reiwa era began on May 1, 2019, marking the end of Heisei. The era name remains a reference point in historical, cultural, and legal contexts.