Showa

Meiji lived to 1912, and in his era brought Japan into the modern world, making the hermit nation into an industrial and military power able to defeat Russia in battle--the first time a European army had been defeated by non-whites since the Moors conquered Spain. Meiji died in 1912, which was the 45th year of his era.

Taisho ascended to the throne in the same year, so 1912 was also the first year of the Taisho era. He was mad, and reigned only until 1926, to be succeeded by the Prince Hirohito, who took the era name of

Showa, meaning "Enlightened Peace." By 1931 Japan was at war in Manchuria; by 1937 it had invaded China proper; and in 1941 it went to war against American, British, and Dutch forces in Southeast Asia.

Koki

As militarism grew in Japan, the Imperial Calendar (called koki) came into use. This calendar dated from the mythical beginning of the Japanese dynasty in 660 BC. The last two digits were used to date all military equipment up to 2599 (1939). After that, only the single digit was used.

Here are the equivalent dates for the years from Hirohito's ascent to the throne until the Japanese surrender: