On April 1st, 2019, Japan’s new era name was decided to be “令和(Reiwa)”.
It was announced at a press conference by Cabinet Secretary Suga Yoshihide.
【菅官房長官・記者会見】本日（4月1日）午前の動画を掲載しました。
［冒頭発言］元号を改める政令及び元号の読み方に関する内閣告示についてhttps://t.co/ERRtMPyHBj— 首相官邸 (@kantei) April 1, 2019
The era of “Heisei” will end on April 30, and will take effect on May 1st, when the prince is to be called the new emperor, and the era name will change at midnight on that day.
Prime Minister Abe announced a conversation after midday at noon that “Reiwa has the meaning that people are gathered with beautiful hearts and that culture is born and nurtured.”
The new era name is the 248th from the first “大化(Taika)”.
What is the era name?
The era name is a kind of era in eastern Asia including Japan.
It is a title attached to a specific age, and is basically based on the year, but the change of the era name is also made in the middle of the year, and some era names have been changed in less than a year.
Origin of the ‘Reiwa’
The new era name “Reiwa” is taken from the “reigetsu（令月）” of the plum blossom song of Japan’s oldest poetry anthology “Manyoshu”.
Image source : https://www.amazon.co.jp/
Manyoshu, completed in the 8th century, contains more than 4500 necks of people of various status.
The meaning of the “reigetsu（令月）” is that it is a good month to do anything, and a wonderful month.
The character “令(rei)” also means God.
It is the 20th time that the character “和(wa)” is used for the name, meaning “Japan” or harmony, but this is the first time the character “令(rei)” is used.
Japanese Opinion on “Reiwa”
In response to the new era name, over 60% of Japanese people have a positive opinion that “beautiful sound”, “leading”, “classy”, “cool”.
On the other hand, the character “令(rei)” also has the meaning of “order”, and there is also a negative voice that “it sounds like you can not be peaceful unless you obey the government’s order.”
In any case, it will gradually penetrate the Japanese people.
Emperor’s reaction to the new era name
The new era, “Reiwa,” was communicated to the Emperor and Princesses through the Imperial Palace after the Cabinet decision.
According to Director Yamamoto of the Imperial Household Agency, Deputy Secretary of the Cabinet Secretary Sugita contacted Mr. Yamamoto by phone, and the Secretary Secretary Yamamoto went to the palace and told the Emperor.
Mr. Yamamoto heard on the phone by writing a new era called “Reiwa” on a prepared paper and showing to his Majesty that he told that Manyoshu is the original, then the Emperor has a peaceful expression as usual it seems to have been done.
In addition, it was informed to the prince from Mr. Nishimura, Deputy General of the Imperial Household Agency. It is said that the prince was smiling.
