"REI-WA"! NEW JAPANESE REGNAL ERA' NAME REVEALED, ahead of Imperial Transition

The name of the upcoming Imperial Era in Japan has been made public. The Reign of pending Emperor Naruhito will be known as the 'REIWA' Period. It will start on Wednesday, May 1, 2019, a day after incumbent Emperor Akihito abdicates in favor of his son.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga unveils the next Imperial Era's name

The announcement was made today (Monday, April 1), at 11:30am local time, by the government's Chief Secretary, Yoshihide Suga. He appeared in a press conference to the Japanese & global media, holding a panel with the name, comprised of two kanji characters.

Suga expressed his hope that the new name "will be widely accepted by the people and deeply rooted in life of Japan".

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe discloses the meaning of 'Rei-wa'

Later Prime Minister Shinzo Abe explained the meaning of this gengo - era name. Reiwa (令和) comes from Man'yōshū, an ancient Japanese anthology of poems, and represents the sacred ume (plum) flowers, representing harmony. It can be (fluently) translated as 'Order of Harmony'.

Japanese ume flowers, discribed with "reiwa" in old anthology

In revealing the roots of this name, Abe described its meaning of taking "care for each other beautifully", which 'culture is born & grows' from. It was the first time a native source was used (and not Chinese literature as it was common before). Some critics point out the government's desire to put a nationalist hardline (behind this choise).

The current, "Heisei Period", meaning 'Achieving Peace', was introduced on the death of Emperor Hirohito, on 7 January 1989. It begun the following day & will last until Emperor Akihito's abdication (30 April, 2019).

Akihito, the Emperor of Heisei Period

Posthumously the Emperors take the name of their reigns (ie: Hirohito is known as the Shōwa Emperor, after his reign - the Shōwa Period). Akihito however, will be known as Emperor Emeritus (or Jōkō) following his abdication (& while alive).

The first-ever Imperial Era of Japan was named 'Taika'

Era names in Japan have a symbolical meening. First initiated in the 7th century AD (with a tradition, coming from China), they once showcasted the Emperor's power, and used to be changed more frequently (eg after natural disasters) to represent renewal. Since 1868 they are accorded to Imperial reigns.

List of all Japanese Era names (throughout its monarchy's ~1,400 years of recorded history)

The country's official Calendar is still based on the years of an Emperor's Reign. Up until before WWII monarchs chosed the name of their reigns themselves, but since their semi-divine role was abolished (1945), the government adopted this role.

Imperial Palace of (old Capital) Kyoto once had an important role in era namings

According to the 1979 legislation, the era name is decided by the cabinet & changed with the change of monarch. A panel of classical literature experts is called to sugest a naming, with ~100 suitable candidacies, of which two-five are nominated for final selection by a commission of officials, taking place unanimously.

A rail pass, dated to the 18th year of Heisei Era (2006)

To be chosen, the name must have an ancient auspicious meaning (and represent matching nation's ideals), consisting of two characters, not commonly used (but rather of an origin from literature), easily written & spelled, and having not been implemented in any previous era, or regnal name.

It is also preferable its first (capital) letter to differ from those of recent eras, so to avoid confusion in using its initials for shortprint (eg: H31 - short-prints the 31st year of Heisei Period, or 2019).

Emperor Akihito (right) with his firstborn son & heir, Crown Prince Naruhito

The previous time government had to conduct the selection in a matter of hours (before announcing the Emperor's death). Now, as the abdication was pre-planned (with a special bill passed in 2017), they begun inspecting options from early this year.

The atmosphere was less solemn & tense, though in preserving the ancient tradition's 'spirituality', the process was kept strictly secret until today & its participants' names will remain private.

Reiwa period's gengo name in kanji characters.

Japan is on its final countdown before the Imperial Transition - the first not through death in almost 202 years. After his formal accession in a month's time, Naruhito will be formally enthroned on October 22. While most of people don't believe anymore in era's "auspiciousness", many look forward to it as a new beginning.

• Videos from today's headlines:

& further/alternative links of information:

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190401_11/?fbclid=IwAR2wLdp8foPR8sImm_mmq_N_0WhfNriyKI6B-12NX_eAAj5IhCpBlOFAATg

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/nhknewsline/backstories/reiwaera/?fbclid=IwAR1gkid0BlRcJ7QIU80nbgztImhsEwOjBJrtnl1piR0oKVIPZz9TiVnN6CE

https://japantoday.com/category/national/Abe-explains-choice-of-Reiwa-for-next-era-name?

https://edition.cnn.com/2019/03/31/asia/japan-new-era-reiwa-intl/index.html?utm_medium=social&utm_term=link&utm_source=fbCNN&utm_content=2019-04-01T08%3A00%3A22&fbclid=IwAR2tGT0WsA_QNb-kX_XULRXUB6I1RUTlleCGb523GKkoAnYCyNG0HHa9dqg

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/nhknewsline/backstories/gengo/?fbclid=IwAR1mpf-PEx0OUJ-7pqxq--MKkUQ7gdY1AImET7vSb5sO7GWU_Dp-_svjZp8

https://japantoday.com/category/national/nostalgia-excitement-as-japan-awaits-new-imperial-era-name?

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190329_23/?fbclid=IwAR3js5KK14Um46YzFWZEaVcxrx0m2SUPKc6BN0SDdiLI3HDrSgmqMEQVhgw

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reiwa_period

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_era_name

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2019_Japanese_imperial_transition;

PS: See also this, (immediately previous) publication, related to the 'life & times' of Emperor Akihito: https://royaleventsintheword.blogspot.com/2019/03/akihito-turns-85-with-his-30-year.html?spref=fb&fbclid=IwAR11cnFhFYZND36gWuRa6OLO36m8dcU7spxlM-GxRlqpy1kPf_aNMJzZSBQ.