Kanji 1 to 10 and year, month and day.

[Stu W]

Thought this might be of assistance when reading dog tags and dates on swords.

Regards,
Stu

[BRUNO FRANCK]

greetings bruno

[Papa Nambu]

To read years you should also know:
昭和 Shōwa (December 25, 1926, through January 7, 1989)

大正 Taishō (July 30, 1912 to December 25, 1926)

明治 Meiji (September 1868 through July 30, 1912)

For example, the picture below from a China Incident medal document says "Showa 15 Year (1940) 4 Month (April) 29 Day (29th)"

Sometimes the imperial year 皇紀 kōki was used rather than the emperor's reign.
This year is based on the founding of Japan by Emperor Jimmu. The 2600th anniversary medal issued in 1940 is going by this dating system.
http://www.imperialjapanmedalsandbadges.com/2600th.html
It' was also used for a lot of military nomenclature in the 1930s-1940s, like the Type 99 rifle (Year 2599) and the "Zero" fighter (Year 2600).
The Type 30 bayonet and the Type 38 rifle on the other hand are based on the Meiji year.

[GHP]

Additionally, you may run in to these ...

The old kanji for numbers are still used today, especially when writing rank diplomas (2nd Rank, 3rd Rank) or checks/cheques. For instance, the number 弐 (2) cannot be falsified; whereas 二 (2) can be falsified to "3" with the addition of a single stroke: 二 plus 一 equals三

For example, someone who has received a 2nd rank in kendo (kendo ni-dan) could -- if he has no scruples, change it to a 3rd rank IF the standard numerals were used:

剣道二段 [kendo 2nd rank] can be falsified to
剣道三段 [kendo, 3rd rank] with one expert stroke.

But when the old kanji are used, this forgery is impossible:
剣道弐段 [kendo 2nd rank] could not be manipulated to
剣道参段 [kendo 3rd rank]

In certificates, the number 1 is never used, always 初 [sho/initial] step:
剣道 初段 [kendo shodan]


1 一 . 壱
2 二 . 弐
3 三 . 参
4 四 . 肆 [no longer used]
5 五 . 伍 [no longer used]
6 六 . 陸 [no longer used]
7 七 . 柒 or 漆 [no longer used]
8 八 . 捌 [no longer used]
9 九 . 玖 [no longer used]
10 十 . 拾

Regards,
--Guy Power

[Stu W]

Some of the dates we most often encounter in this hobby...

[GHP]

Zodiac Chart
Sample:

Taiwan/Western/Japanese/China/Zodiac
<table class="blue" summary="年代對照表 (民國前)" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" height="1090" width="315"><thead><tr><th scope="col">民國</th> <th scope="col">西元</th> <th scope="col">日本年號</th> <th scope="col">中國年號</th> <th scope="col">歲次</th> </tr> </thead> <tbody> <tr> <td>民前38</td> <td>1874</td> <td>明治7</td> <td>同治13</td> <td>甲戌</td> </tr> <tr> <td>民前37</td> <td>1875</td> <td>明治8</td> <td>光緒元</td> <td>乙亥</td> </tr> <tr> <td>民前36</td> <td>1876</td> <td>明治9</td> <td>光緒2</td> <td>丙子</td> </tr> <tr> <td>民前35</td> <td>1877</td> <td>明治10</td> <td>光緒3</td> <td>丁丑</td> </tr> <tr> <td>民前34</td> <td>1878</td> <td>明治11</td> <td>光緒4</td> <td>戊寅</td> </tr> <tr> <td>民前33</td> <td>1879</td> <td>明治12</td> <td>光緒5</td> <td>己卯</td> </tr> <tr> <td>民前32</td> <td>1880</td> <td>明治13</td> <td>光緒6</td> <td>庚辰</td> </tr> <tr> <td>民前31</td> <td>1881</td> <td>明治14</td> <td>光緒7</td> <td>辛巳</td> </tr> <tr> <td>民前30</td> <td>1882</td> <td>明治15</td> <td>光緒8</td> <td>壬午</td> </tr> <tr> <td>民前29</td> <td>1883</td> <td>明治16</td> <td>光緒9</td> <td>癸未</td> </tr> <tr> <td>民前28</td> <td>1884</td> <td>明治17</td> <td>光緒10</td> <td>甲申</td> </tr> <tr> <td>民前27</td> <td>1885</td> <td>明治18</td> <td>光緒11</td> <td>乙酉</td> </tr> <tr> <td>民前26</td> <td>1886</td> <td>明治19</td> <td>光緒12</td> <td>丙戌</td> </tr> <tr> <td>民前25</td> <td>1887</td> <td>明治20</td> <td>光緒13</td> <td>丁亥</td> </tr> <tr> <td>民前24</td> <td>1888</td> <td>明治21</td> <td>光緒14</td> <td>戊子</td> </tr> <tr> <td>民前23</td> <td>1889</td> <td>明治22</td> <td>光緒15</td> <td>己丑</td> </tr> <tr> <td>民前22</td> <td>1890</td> <td>明治23</td> <td>光緒16</td> <td>庚寅</td> </tr> <tr> <td>民前21</td> <td>1891</td> <td>明治24</td> <td>光緒17</td> <td>辛卯</td> </tr> <tr> <td>民前20</td> <td>1892</td> <td>明治25</td> <td>光緒18</td> <td>壬辰</td> </tr> <tr> <td>民前19</td> <td>1893</td> <td>明治26</td> <td>光緒19</td> <td>癸巳</td> </tr> <tr> <td>民前18</td> <td>1894</td> <td>明治27</td> <td>光緒20</td> <td>甲午</td> </tr> <tr> <td>民前17</td> <td>1895</td> <td>明治28</td> <td>光緒21</td> <td>乙未</td> </tr> <tr> <td>民前16</td> <td>1896</td> <td>明治29</td> <td>光緒22</td> <td>丙申</td> </tr> <tr> <td>民前15</td> <td>1897</td> <td>明治30</td> <td>光緒23</td> <td>丁酉</td> </tr> <tr> <td>民前14</td> <td>1898</td> <td>明治31</td> <td>光緒24</td> <td>戊戌</td> </tr> <tr> <td>民前13</td> <td>1899</td> <td>明治32</td> <td>光緒25</td> <td>己亥</td> </tr> <tr> <td>民前12</td> <td>1900</td> <td>明治33</td> <td>光緒26</td> <td>庚子</td> </tr> <tr> <td>民前11</td> <td>1901</td> <td>明治34</td> <td>光緒27</td> <td>辛丑</td> </tr> <tr> <td>民前10</td> <td>1902</td> <td>明治35</td> <td>光緒28</td> <td>壬寅</td> </tr> <tr> <td>民前09</td> <td>1903</td> <td>明治36</td> <td>光緒29</td> <td>癸卯</td> </tr> <tr> <td>民前08</td> <td>1904</td> <td>明治37</td> <td>光緒30</td> <td>甲辰</td> </tr> <tr> <td>民前07</td> <td>1905</td> <td>明治38</td> <td>光緒31</td> <td>乙巳</td> </tr> <tr> <td>民前06</td> <td>1906</td> <td>明治39</td> <td>光緒32</td> <td>丙午</td> </tr> <tr> <td>民前05</td> <td>1907</td> <td>明治40</td> <td>光緒33</td> <td>丁未</td> </tr> <tr> <td>民前04</td> <td>1908</td> <td>明治41</td> <td>光緒34</td> <td>戊申</td> </tr> <tr> <td>民前03</td> <td>1909</td> <td>明治42</td> <td>宣統元</td> <td>己酉</td> </tr> <tr> <td>民前02</td> <td>1910</td> <td>明治43</td> <td>宣統2</td> <td>庚戌</td> </tr> <tr> <td>民前01</td> <td>1911</td> <td>明治44</td> <td>宣統3</td> <td>辛亥</td></tr></tbody></table>

[GHP]

Reading Japanese Data Plates [involves numbers and dates]

Valuable charts from gunsight.com

Reading Japanese Data Plates

<center> <table border="1"> <tbody> <tr> <td colspan="2" align="center">Japanese</td> <td align="center">English</td> <td colspan="2" align="center">Japanese</td> <td align="center">English</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center"></td> <td rowspan="2" align="left">Zero
Rei</td> <td align="center">0</td> <td align="center">/</td> <td align="left">Gou</td> <td align="left">Mark or Type</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center"></td> <td align="center">0</td> <td align="center"></td> <td align="left">Shiki</td> <td align="left">Type</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center"></td> <td align="left">Ichi</td> <td align="center">1</td> <td align="center"></td> <td align="left">Gata</td> <td align="left">Model</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center"></td> <td align="left">Ni</td> <td align="center">2</td> <td align="center"></td> <td align="left">Kai</td> <td align="left">Modification</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center"></td> <td align="left">San</td> <td align="center">3</td> <td align="center"></td> <td align="left">Ko</td> <td align="left">1st class/Grade"A"</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center"></td> <td align="left">Yon</td> <td align="center">4</td> <td align="center"></td> <td align="left">Ostu</td> <td align="left">2nd class/Grade"B"</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center"></td> <td align="left">Go</td> <td align="center">5</td> <td align="center"></td> <td align="left">Hei</td> <td align="left">3rd class/Grade"C"</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center"></td> <td align="left">Roku</td> <td align="center">6</td> <td align="center"></td> <td align="left">Kasyo</td> <td align="left">Tentative name</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center"></td> <td align="left">Nana</td> <td align="center">7</td> <td align="center"></td> <td align="left">Kuugisyo</td> <td align="left">Aviation technology institute</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center"></td> <td align="left">Hachi</td> <td align="center">8</td> <td align="center"></td> <td align="left">Shi</td> <td align="left">Prototype </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center"></td> <td align="left">Kyuu</td> <td align="center">9</td> <td align="center">
</td> <td align="left">
</td> <td align="left">
</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center"></td> <td align="left">Jyuu</td> <td align="center">10</td> <td align="center">
</td> <td align="left">
</td> <td align="left">
</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </center>

<center> <table border="1"> <tbody> <tr> <td>Japanese</td> <td colspan="2" align="center">English</td> <td>Japanese</td> <td colspan="2" align="center">English</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center"></td> <td align="left">mm</td> <td align="left">Milliliter Meter </td> <td align="center"></td> <td align="left">g</td> <td align="left">Gram</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center"></td> <td align="left">cm</td> <td align="left">Centimeter </td> <td align="center"></td> <td align="left">kg</td> <td align="left">Kilogram</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center"></td> <td align="left">m</td> <td align="left">Meter </td> <td align="center"></td> <td align="left">t</td> <td align="left">Ton</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center"></td> <td align="left">km</td> <td align="left">Kilometer </td> <td align="center"></td> <td align="left">Kt</td> <td align="left">Knot </td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center"></td> <td align="left">l/L</td> <td align="left">Liter </td> <td align="center"></td> <td align="left">nm</td> <td align="left">N-Mile</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center"></td> <td align="left">m2</td> <td align="left">Square meter </td> <td align="center">
</td> <td align="left">
</td> <td align="left">
</td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="3" align="center"></td> <td colspan="3" align="center"></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </center>

<center> <table border="1"> <tbody> <tr> <td colspan="2" align="center">Japanese </td> <td align="center">English</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td></td> <td>Magnetic Compass</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td></td> <td>Artificial Horizon </td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td></td> <td>Directional Gyro </td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td></td> <td>Air Speed Indicator</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td></td> <td>Altimeter</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td></td> <td>Tachometer </td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td></td> <td>Rate of Climb Indicator </td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td></td> <td>Turn And Bank Indicator</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td></td> <td>Fuel Quantity Gauges </td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td></td> <td>Cylinder Head Temperature Gauge </td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td></td> <td>Inclinometer </td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td></td> <td>Oil Temperature Gauge</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td></td> <td>Oil Pressure Guage </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </center>

<center> <table border="1"> <tbody> <tr> <td align="center">Japanese</td> <td align="center">English</td> <td align="center">Japanese</td> <td align="center">English</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td>Exhaust Temperature Gauge </td> <td></td> <td>Pressure Guage</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td>Outside Air Temperature Gauge </td> <td></td> <td>Manifold Pressure Gauge</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td>Coolant Tempature Gauge</td> <td></td> <td>Fuel Oil Pressure Gauge</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td>Carburetor Air Temperature Gauge</td> <td></td> <td>Oil Pressure Guage</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td>Oxygen Flow Guage</td> <td></td> <td>Route Guage</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td>Oxygen Adjustment Device</td> <td></td> <td>Alignment Indicator</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td>Angle Instructions Device</td> <td></td> <td>Exhaust Gas Guage</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td>Position Instructions Device</td> <td></td> <td>Load Gauge</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td>Clock</td> <td></td> <td>Autopilot</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </center> <center>


</center> <center> <table border="1"> <tbody> <tr> <td colspan="2" align="center"> Sample
</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center">Japanese</td> <td align="center">English</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td rowspan="2">Turn And Bank Indicator model 2 Improvement 1</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center">Senkaikei ni gata kai ichi</td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td rowspan="2">Type 92 Magnetic Compass Model 2</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center">kyuu ni shiki koukuurasingi ni gata </td> </tr> <tr> <td></td> <td rowspan="2">Type 1 Air Speed Indicator Model 3</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center">ichi go sokuryokukei san gata</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </center>

<center> <table border="1"> <tbody> <tr> <td colspan="11" align="center"> Name of an era list
</td> </tr> <tr> <td>
</td> <td align="center">96</td> <td align="center">97</td> <td align="center">98</td> <td align="center">99</td> <td align="center">0</td> <td align="center">1</td> <td align="center">2</td> <td align="center">3</td> <td align="center">4</td> <td align="center">5</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center">Kouki</td> <td align="center">2596</td> <td align="center">2597</td> <td align="center">2598</td> <td align="center">2599</td> <td align="center">2600</td> <td align="center">2601</td> <td align="center">2602</td> <td align="center">2603</td> <td align="center">2604</td> <td align="center">2605</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center">Showa</td> <td align="center">11</td> <td align="center">12</td> <td align="center">13</td> <td align="center">14</td> <td align="center">15</td> <td align="center">16</td> <td align="center">17</td> <td align="center">18</td> <td align="center">19</td> <td align="center">20</td> </tr> <tr> <td align="center">A.D.</td> <td align="center">1936</td> <td align="center">1937</td> <td align="center">1938</td> <td align="center">1939</td> <td align="center">1940</td> <td align="center">1941</td> <td align="center">1942</td> <td align="center">1943</td> <td align="center">1944</td> <td align="center">1945</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> </center> The meaning of "Kouki" is The Imperial reign.