Nostalgia, excitement as Japan awaits new imperial era name

 

March 31, 2019



What's in a name?

Quite a lot if you're a Japanese citizen awaiting the official announcement Monday of what the soon-to-be-installed new emperor's next era will be called.

It's a proclamation that has happened only twice in nearly a century, and the new name will follow Emperor Naruhito, after his May 1 investiture, for the duration of his rule — and beyond, becoming his official name after death.

An era name is an inextricable part of public life and shared memory in Japan. A lot of what happens in the years to come — births, deaths, natural disasters, cultural and social phenomena, election...



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