[rtpg]

If you have to deal with larger systems that interface with finance or government orgs, you'll end up needing to work with these numbers though.

I've heard that there's not a legal framework for using Common Era dates in certain contexts, which...apparently matters? I've also heard that the gov't even has regulations for enforcing usage, but can't find a reference on that. One could think that it's merely an interface problem but if the database asks for Heisei the easiest thing is to outsource the CE -> Heisei transition to the person filling out the form.