Tokyo: Next month after Emperor Akihito abdicates Japan’s new imperial era will be called ‘Reiwa.’ The term includes two characters: ‘Rei’ – meaning ‘order’ and ‘auspicious’ – and ‘Wa’ – meaning ‘peace’ or ‘harmony’.
The official meaning and the English spelling will be announced by the government very soon said media reports. Speaking at a press conference, Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said that the government decided at a cabinet meeting on the new era name and how to pronounce it. He held up the new name painted in traditional calligraphy on white paper.
Although the Gregorian calendar is widely used in Japan, the imperial calendar is also in common use and the new era announcement has been highly anticipated.
At the end of April, the new era will begin after Emperor Akihito steps down and his son Crown Prince Naruhito assumes the throne on 1 May. The era Akihito rule was known as ‘Heisei’ (Meaning: ‘peace prevails everywhere’).