昭和(しょうわ)

しょうわ
noun
Showa; the Showa era (1926–1989)
1. Showa; the Showa era (1926–1989)
The Japanese imperial era name for the reign of Emperor 昭和(しょうわ) (Hirohito), spanning 1926 to 1989. Years are counted from the start, so 昭和(しょうわ)50年(ねん) is 1975.
昭和(しょうわ)生(う)まれです。
I was born in the Showa era.
祖父(そふ)は昭和(しょうわ)の時代(じだい)を生(い)きた。
My grandfather lived through the Showa era.
この町並(まちな)みには、今(いま)でも昭和(しょうわ)の雰囲気(ふんいき)が色濃(いろこ)く残(のこ)っている。
This townscape still retains a strong Showa-era atmosphere even today.

The 元号(げんごう) (Japanese era name) for 1926–1989, the reign of Emperor 昭和(しょうわ). Years within the era are counted from one, so 昭和(しょうわ)元年(がんねん) is 1926.

FIGURATIVE USE:

Colloquially, 昭和(しょうわ) describes things that feel old-fashioned or nostalgically retro:

  • 昭和(しょうわ)っぽい: has a retro, old-school feel
  • 昭和(しょうわ)の香(かお)り: a nostalgic, bygone atmosphere

RELATED ERAS:

  • 明治(めいじ): Meiji (1868–1912)
  • 平成(へいせい): Heisei (1989–2019)
  • 令和(れいわ): Reiwa (2019–present)
general
Added 2026.5.25 12:05
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