I bought a commuter pass of East Japan Railway yesterday. The expiration date is “22.2.22″ — quintet 2 — which means “Heisei 22nd year”, Feburary, 22nd. In Japan, the order of the date is usually year, month, date. And month is generally number, not letters. “Heisei 22nd year” means the 22nd year from the current emperor enthronemented at 1998. “Heisei” is one of the names of a Japanese era.

After the year 2000, the use of Japanese era is decreased, and the Christian era became major. But, government offices and some railway company continue to use Japanese era. Japan Railway companies are one of them.

I planed that the expiration date have quintet same number “2″. There are three choice, (1) buy six months pass at August 23rd, 2009, (2) buy three months pass at December 23rd, 2009, (3) buy one month pass at February 23rd, 2010. I selected last one.

A new commuter pass are available to buy seven day before the start date. “22.2.22″ pass will start at February 23rd, 2010, therefore, I can buy at January 16th. But, I bought at yesterday.

This pass is a plastic card and has magnetic records. I can use automatic ticket gate with it. The section of the pass is between Noborito and Musashi-Kosugi. Both are a town of Kawasaki city, Japan. Noborito is my homested, Musashi-Kosugi is near my office.

(Japanese prompt report)