jidai

Jidai is a Japanese noun that means era, period, or epoch. It is used to describe a span of time defined by distinctive political, social, or cultural characteristics, especially in history, literature, and media. The term can refer to both ancient and modern divisions.

Originating from the kanji for time (時) and generation/age (代), jidai is often combined with place names or rulers to specify a historical period, such as Edo jidai (the Edo period) or Meiji jidai. In Japanese, the term also appears in compounds like jidaigeki, meaning period drama, a genre of film, television, and theater that portrays historical settings.

Examples of widely recognized eras include the Jōmon jidai (Jōmon period), Yayoi jidai, Kofun jidai, Asuka jidai, Nara jidai, Heian jidai, followed by Edo jidai, Meiji jidai, Taishō jidai, Shōwa jidai, Heisei jidai, and Reiwa jidai. These divisions serve historical and cultural analysis, though exact boundaries between eras can be fluid and debated among scholars.

In popular culture, jidai is used to categorize works by setting rather than by precise dates, with jidaigeki often focusing on the Edo period or earlier. The term also appears in contemporary discourse to discuss changes across different eras and to compare social, technological, and political conditions between them.