By using this site, you agree to our Privacy Policy and our Terms of Use. Close

Forums - General Discussion - Japan's new era name was announced: Reiwa

The new era will start on May 1st, one day after Emperor Akihito abdicates.

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

Are people talking about that outside of Japan? Here of course it's a pretty big deal.

Emperor Akihito is stepping down on April 30, in the first abdication in 200 years, bringing his era of Heisei to an end. The new era takes effect May 1.

The name draws from the 7th century poetry collection "Manyoshu," Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said after the announcement by the chief cabinet secretary, Yoshihide Suga.

Abe said the name means that culture is born and grows when people come together and "care for each other beautifully."

"With this selection of a new era name, I renew my commitment to pioneer a new era that will be filled with hope," Abe said.

The Manyoshu is Japan's oldest poetry collection and symbolizes Japan's rich culture and long tradition, he said.

The choice was a break from more than 1,300 years of drawing era names, or gengo from using Chinese classics. It was kept strictly secret ahead of Monday's announcement.

"We hope (the era name) will be widely accepted by the people and deeply rooted as part of their daily lives," Suga told reporters in first announcing the name, written in two Chinese characters in black ink calligraphy on a white background.



Need something off Play-Asia? http://www.play-asia.com/

Haven't seen anybody talking about it.



I'm not big on it either. 令 sounds too cold and official. My money was on something brighter like 永明



Ka-pi96 said:
eh, I don't like it.

Did you have any favorites beforehand?



Need something off Play-Asia? http://www.play-asia.com/

RingoGaSuki said:
I'm not big on it either. 令 sounds too cold and official. My money was on something brighter like 永明

I get what you mean.

But at least it's big on the internet with all the R18 jokes/memes.



Need something off Play-Asia? http://www.play-asia.com/

We'll never know. The other candidates won't be disclosed.
But lots of people had their own favorites. Did people at your workplace talk at all about it?



Need something off Play-Asia? http://www.play-asia.com/

manuel said:
We'll never know. The other candidates won't be disclosed.
But lots of people had their own favorites. Did people at your workplace talk at all about it?

I was hyped and talked about it with my coworkers, it seems none of them even knew about the era system.

TBH I think the rest of the world doesn't care as it's irrelevant to their lives.



What anime is this?



It's not totally irrelevant, as on some official (older) forms there's still no space to write the date in the Western format.
Although I assume that now, as many forms will be renewed, the Western date will also be added.



Need something off Play-Asia? http://www.play-asia.com/

OTBWY said:
What anime is this?

It's called Japan. It's pretty awesome, but most of the time there are no subtitles yet.



Need something off Play-Asia? http://www.play-asia.com/