KanjiSchool
昭
“shining / Showa era” in Japanese is 昭, read shou (しょう). It is a Grade 3 Kyōiku kanji, taught in year 3 of Japanese elementary school, and appears in words such as 昭和 (Showa).
Try it now
What does 昭 mean?
Learn all 1,018 kanji with spaced-repetition review — free. Start free →
昭和の時代。
しょうわのじだい。The Showa era.
Get unlimited AI example sentences + native audio + saved progress. Start free →
Unlock guided stroke order, scoring and daily streaks. Start free →
Full details, readings & example
| Kanji | 昭 |
|---|---|
| Meaning | shining / Showa era |
| Readings | しょう |
| Grade | Grade 3 (Medium) |
| Curriculum | Kyōiku kanji · Japanese elementary school |
| Example | 昭和 (Showa) |
How to read 昭
昭 is read shou (しょう) depending on the word.
Words with 昭
- 昭和
Learn 昭 in real sentences — free
Read stories and news built from only the kanji you already know. KanjiSchool’s path covers all 2,136 Jōyō kanji — 1,018 ready to learn now.
Start free — no credit card →
Kanji read the same way as 昭
Same sound, different character — the classic trap. Compare them side by side:
Read this character in a real sentence
Updated: 2026-08-28