Japan to CAT
-7hJapan
JSTSOURCECAT
CATGreen rows indicate typical business hours (9 AM - 5 PM)
JST and CAT on the World Map
The map below highlights the JST (Japan Standard Time) and CAT (Central Africa Time) timezone regions across the globe.
JST – Japan Standard Time
UTC+09:00Japan Standard Time (JST) is the time zone for Japan, 9 hours ahead of UTC.
- •Japan does not observe daylight saving time.
- •Tokyo is the most populous metropolitan area in the world.
- •The Tokyo Stock Exchange operates from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM JST.
- •JST is 14 hours ahead of EST and 9 hours ahead of GMT.
CAT – Central Africa Time
UTC+02:00Central Africa Time (CAT, UTC+02:00) covers Zimbabwe, Zambia, Mozambique, Malawi and neighbouring countries.
- •Central Africa Time is fixed at UTC+02:00 with no daylight saving.
- •CAT matches South Africa Standard Time (SAST) all year.
- •It is the same offset as Central European Time in winter.
- •Harare is level with Johannesburg and one hour ahead of Lagos.
Japan vs CAT: Offsets, DST and Best Call Times
Japan runs on Japan Standard Time (JST) at UTC+09:00. CAT runs on Central Africa Time (CAT) at UTC+02:00. That puts Japan 7 hours behind CAT — a difference of -7h at the current offsets.
In practice, when it is 9:00 AM in Japan it is 2:00 AM in CAT. Midnight in Japan is 5:00 PM in CAT. Neither zone observes daylight saving time, so the offset between them stays constant all year.
Japan to CAT time conversion table
| Japan (JST) | CAT (CAT) | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 12:00 AM | 5:00 PM | previous day |
| 6:00 AM | 11:00 PM | previous day |
| 7:00 AM | 12:00 AM | same day |
| 8:00 AM | 1:00 AM | same day |
| 9:00 AM | 2:00 AM | same day |
| 12:00 PM | 5:00 AM | same day |
| 3:00 PM | 8:00 AM | same day |
| 5:00 PM | 10:00 AM | same day |
| 6:00 PM | 11:00 AM | same day |
| 9:00 PM | 2:00 PM | same day |
Why people convert Japan to CAT time
- Scheduling a call from Japan to CAT: a 10:00 AM start in Japan lands at 3:00 AM in CAT, so you can confirm the slot without doing the arithmetic yourself.
- Finding shared working hours: both Japan and CAT are inside the 9-to-5 working day between 4:00 PM and 5:00 PM JST time (9:00 AM–10:00 AM CAT). That is roughly 1 hours of usable overlap.
- Watching a live event or market open: Japan viewers need 2:00 AM in CAT to catch a 9:00 AM start there, and 7:00 AM if the event is anchored to Japan.
- Always state the zone abbreviation, not just the hour. "3:00 PM JST" is unambiguous; "3 PM" across a -7h gap is not.
- Block 4:00 PM–5:00 PM JST as the recurring meeting window if you work primarily from Japan and need CAT colleagues present.
About JST (Japan Standard Time)
Japan Standard Time (JST) is the standard time zone for all of Japan. Japan does not observe daylight saving time. JST is 9 hours ahead of UTC and 14 hours ahead of EST. The Tokyo Stock Exchange, the world's third largest by market capitalization, operates on JST. South Korea uses the same offset (KST) but it is a distinct time zone.
About CAT (Central Africa Time)
Central Africa Time (CAT) is fixed at UTC+02:00 all year across a broad belt of southern and central Africa, including Zimbabwe, Zambia, Mozambique, Malawi, Rwanda, Burundi and the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. None of these countries observes daylight saving time, so CAT never shifts. It is the same offset as South Africa Standard Time (SAST) and the winter version of Central European Time, which makes CAT a convenient bridge between African, European and Middle Eastern schedules — Harare is level with Johannesburg all year and one hour ahead of Lagos.
Best time to call between Japan and CAT
Both Japan and CAT sit inside the 9 AM – 5 PM working day between 4:00 PM–5:00 PM JST, which is 9:00 AM–10:00 AM CAT. That gives roughly 1 hours of shared time — the safest window for a live call or meeting.
Business hours overlap
Japan and CAT overlap for only 60 minutes (4:00 PM–5:00 PM JST), so meetings have to be booked precisely.
Japan is 7 hours behind CAT (JST UTC+09:00 → CAT UTC+02:00). The shared working window is 4:00 PM–5:00 PM JST. Remember to re-check around daylight-saving transitions.
Learn More About Time
Dive deeper into the fascinating world of timekeeping, time zones, and how they shape our global society:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the time difference between Japan and CAT?
Japan (JST, UTC+09:00) is 7 hours behind CAT (CAT, UTC+02:00). The gap is currently -7h.
How do I convert Japan time to CAT time?
Add -7h to Japan local time. For example, 9:00 AM in Japan is 2:00 AM in CAT.
What time is it in CAT right now?
CAT uses CAT at UTC+02:00. Use the live converter at the top of this page — it updates in real time and already accounts for the -7h offset from Japan.
What is the best time to call CAT from Japan?
Call between 4:00 PM and 5:00 PM JST — that maps to 9:00 AM–10:00 AM CAT and keeps both parties inside the working day.
Which is behind, Japan or CAT?
Japan is 7 hours behind CAT. When it is 12:00 PM in Japan it is 5:00 AM in CAT.
Do Japan and CAT use different time zones?
Japan (Japan) uses JST at UTC+09:00, while CAT uses CAT at UTC+02:00. The IANA identifiers are Asia/Tokyo and Africa/Harare.
Does daylight saving time affect the Japan–CAT difference?
Neither zone observes daylight saving time, so the -7h offset between Japan and CAT is fixed all year.
Which other cities share Japan's time zone?
JST also covers Tokyo, Osaka, Yokohama, Nagoya, Sapporo, Kyoto, Kobe, Fukuoka and 1 more.
Which countries use JST, Japan's zone?
JST is used in Japan.
Is there a day difference between Japan and CAT?
Not normally. The -7h gap only pushes the date over the previous day.
What is the time difference between Japan and CAT?
CAT is -7h from Japan.
What timezone is Japan in?
Japan operates on its local timezone.
What timezone is CAT in?
CAT operates on its local timezone.
Which countries use JST (Japan Standard Time)?
JST is used in Japan.
Does JST observe daylight saving time?
No, JST does not observe daylight saving time and remains at UTC+09:00 year-round.
What are some interesting facts about JST?
Japan does not observe daylight saving time. Tokyo is the most populous metropolitan area in the world.
Which cities are in the CAT timezone?
Major cities in the CAT timezone include Harare, Lusaka, Maputo, Lilongwe, Kigali.
What is the UTC offset for CAT?
Central Africa Time (CAT) is at UTC+02:00.
What should I know about the CAT timezone?
Central Africa Time is fixed at UTC+02:00 with no daylight saving. CAT matches South Africa Standard Time (SAST) all year.
When is it midnight in Japan, what time is it in CAT?
When it is 12:00 AM (midnight) in Japan (JST), it is -7h later in CAT (CAT).
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