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| Japan reveals name of new imperial era will be 'Reiwa' | Japan reveals name of new imperial era will be 'Reiwa' |
| (about 13 hours later) | |
| Japan has announced that the name of its new imperial era, set to begin on 1 May, will be "Reiwa" - signifying order and harmony. | Japan has announced that the name of its new imperial era, set to begin on 1 May, will be "Reiwa" - signifying order and harmony. |
| The country's current era, Heisei, will end in a month with Emperor Akihito's historic abdication. | The country's current era, Heisei, will end in a month with Emperor Akihito's historic abdication. |
| Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga announced the highly anticipated name by holding up a board with the characters handwritten on it. | Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga announced the highly anticipated name by holding up a board with the characters handwritten on it. |
| Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has addressed the nation to explain its meaning. | Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has addressed the nation to explain its meaning. |
| Each Japanese emperor's reign, or "gengo", is given a name that is then used alongside the Western calendar to mark the years. | Each Japanese emperor's reign, or "gengo", is given a name that is then used alongside the Western calendar to mark the years. |
| What does Reiwa mean? | What does Reiwa mean? |
| The term for the new era is made up of the two characters Rei and Wa. Rei can mean "commands" or "order", as well as "auspicious" or "good". | The term for the new era is made up of the two characters Rei and Wa. Rei can mean "commands" or "order", as well as "auspicious" or "good". |
| Wa often means "harmony", and is also used in the Japanese word for "peace" - "hei-wa". | Wa often means "harmony", and is also used in the Japanese word for "peace" - "hei-wa". |
| It is the first time a gengo's name has been taken from an old anthology of Japanese poems, the Manyoshu, instead of a Chinese one, Mr Abe said. | It is the first time a gengo's name has been taken from an old anthology of Japanese poems, the Manyoshu, instead of a Chinese one, Mr Abe said. |
| The Manyoshu symbolises Japan's "profound public culture and long tradition", he said. | The Manyoshu symbolises Japan's "profound public culture and long tradition", he said. |
| "Our nation is facing up to a big turning point, but there are lots of Japanese values that shouldn't fade away," Mr Abe told reporters. | "Our nation is facing up to a big turning point, but there are lots of Japanese values that shouldn't fade away," Mr Abe told reporters. |
| The Manyoshu, which dates back to the 8th Century, depicts the auspicious month ("reigetsu") in early spring when the winds have become temperate ("fu-wa"). | The Manyoshu, which dates back to the 8th Century, depicts the auspicious month ("reigetsu") in early spring when the winds have become temperate ("fu-wa"). |
| There have been only four eras in Japan's modern history. Emperor Akihito's current era, Heisei, which means "achieving peace", was preceded by the Showa era (1926-1989), which can be translated as "enlightened harmony". | There have been only four eras in Japan's modern history. Emperor Akihito's current era, Heisei, which means "achieving peace", was preceded by the Showa era (1926-1989), which can be translated as "enlightened harmony". |
| Before that, the Taisho era (1912-1926) meant "great righteousness", while the Meiji gengo (1868-1912) meant "enlightened rule" in English. | Before that, the Taisho era (1912-1926) meant "great righteousness", while the Meiji gengo (1868-1912) meant "enlightened rule" in English. |
| How significant is an imperial era? | How significant is an imperial era? |
| Each gengo's name aims to set the tone for the upcoming decades, and remains significant to most Japanese in their daily life. | Each gengo's name aims to set the tone for the upcoming decades, and remains significant to most Japanese in their daily life. |
| It appears on coins, newspapers, driving licences and official paperwork. | It appears on coins, newspapers, driving licences and official paperwork. |
| Monday's unveiling of the era name follows weeks of speculation and top-secret cabinet discussions, and the winning term was eventually chosen from a selection drawn up by a panel of scholars and experts. | |
| Although still widely used, the gengo calendar is declining in popularity as Japan opens up to global influence. According to a recent survey in Japan's Mainichi newspaper, a third of people mostly used the gengo system, compared to 82% in 1975, while 25% preferred the Western calendar. | |
| Since both calendars use Western months, many people simply use them alongside each other. | Since both calendars use Western months, many people simply use them alongside each other. |
| Why will the current emperor abdicate? | Why will the current emperor abdicate? |
| Japan's government confirmed in December 2017 that the current emperor, 85-year old Akihito, would abdicate in April 2019 due to old age and hand the throne to his son, Crown Prince Naruhito. | Japan's government confirmed in December 2017 that the current emperor, 85-year old Akihito, would abdicate in April 2019 due to old age and hand the throne to his son, Crown Prince Naruhito. |
| He will be the first Japanese emperor to do so in more than two centuries. | He will be the first Japanese emperor to do so in more than two centuries. |
| Usually, a new era is revealed only when one emperor has died and his successor has taken the throne. Things are different this time round, however, due to the abdication. | Usually, a new era is revealed only when one emperor has died and his successor has taken the throne. Things are different this time round, however, due to the abdication. |
| The announcement was made one month early so government offices and companies can update computer software and prepare for the transition before it comes into effect next month. | The announcement was made one month early so government offices and companies can update computer software and prepare for the transition before it comes into effect next month. |