Shōwa (昭和) was the era before Heisei (平成). It started on Dec 25th, 1926, following the death of the Emperor Taisho. You can read more on Wikipedia or keep browsing on this site with the following links.
| Year | Local Year | Age | Sexagenary Cycle | Chinese Zodiac |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | Shōwa 51 | 48 | tatsu | Dragon |
| 1977 | Shōwa 52 | 47 | mi | Snake |
| 1978 | Shōwa 53 | 46 | uma | Horse |
| 1979 | Shōwa 54 | 45 | hitsuji | Goat |
| 1980 | Shōwa 55 | 44 | saru | Monkey |