On April 1, Chief Cabinet Secretary of Japan, Yoshihide Suga, has officially announced the name (‘gengo’) for Japan’s new Imperial era at Prime Minister’s official residence in Tokyo. The new name is known as ‘Reiwa’ (令和), a word derived from two Kanji characters: ‘rei’ (令) and ‘wa’(和). ‘Rei’ (令) as the first character in the name can be defined to mean “order” or “command”, also “good fortune” or “beautiful”. Meanwhile, ‘wa’ (和) as the second character in the name means “harmony” and “peace”, inspired from the previous Imperial name of Emperor Hirohito of ‘Showa’ (昭和)which means “enlightened peace”. ‘Reiwa’ (令和) is believed to harmonize the noble value of the new and the previous Imperial name, and it will be a symbol of Japanese people’s love of culture and the country’s rich nature. This Imperial period is scheduled to start on May 1, when the Crown Prince Naruhito takes over the Imperial Chrysanthemum Throne.

Practically, ‘Reiwa’ was nominated among 6 other candidates’ proposals by a panel of experts on classical Chinese and Japanese literature. The common criteria of the strict selection were: easy to be read and written, has not previously been used, and exceptional. Therefore, the government was carefully avoiding not to select the first name character with its four forerunners, specifically M (‘Meiji’), T (‘Taisho’), S (‘Showa’) and H (‘Heisei’) in order to prevent the confusion of typing letter in official documents. The era name is certainly a matter of huge public interest in Japan as it significantly influences Japanese government, business, and people in their daily life. Changes are made particularly for official paperwork, driving license, computer system, newspapers, new calendar, train tickets, coins, stamps, and receipts.

Other consideration of choosing the name is assuredly political considerations. For the first time in Japan’s history, Prime Minister Abe selected two kanji for the name taken from Japanese classical literature, not Chinese one, wishing that Japanese will join their hearts to develop Japan’s own culture. Since Taika, the first ‘gengo’ in 645 AD, for more than 1,300 years, Japan has its existed traditional practice of taking the era name from Chinese classical literature. Nevertheless, the new era name, ‘Reiwa’, the Japan’s 248^th ‘gengo’, is originally derived from a 1,200-year-old stanza of ‘Manyoshu’, the Japanese oldest poetry anthology collection written by a native source based on such a belief, from various social status: royal family, noblemen and noblewomen, warriors, ordinary farmers and people. The ‘Manyoshu’ was compiled in 759 AD when Japan was just beginning to form its identity as a nation. This poem beautifully describes about nature, especially about the blooming plum flower that blowing with the wind after winter. It also represents a meaning that “culture is born and nurtured as the people’s hearts are beautifully drawn together”. It symbolizes Japanese profound public culture, long tradition, the heritage of the imperial family, as well as the stability of state and happiness of people.

The practice of selecting new name for Imperial era by the cabinet ordinance was firstly implemented for the transition from ‘Showa’ period to ‘Heisei’ in 1989. In the pre-modern Japan, the Imperial era name did not only mark the accession of a new Emperor, but it also evoked an image of certain historical events and represented the mood of each Imperial period, such as, a fire disaster at the Imperial Palace in ‘Ansei’ era in 1854 and in the time of natural disaster recovery period. During the reign of Emperor Meiji (1867-1912), Japan adopted a practice of “one reign, one era name”, requiring the alteration of the era name immediately after the death of an Emperor. With the Meiji Constitution of the Empire of Japan in 1889, the practice of selection for an era name was inspired by the Chinese Qing Dynasty. During that period, the name of the era was entirely Imperial decision and announced by the Imperial rescript. Later in 1947, the existing Imperial House Law was revoked after Japan’s defeat in the Second World War, however, no provision regarding the era name was found. The reformation of the era name system was done 30 years after. In 1977, the Era Name Law was adopted in June, leading to a significant change of selecting era name by Cabinet ordinance since then.

This year, by selecting ‘Reiwa’ as the new Japanese Imperial era name, Prime Minister Abe has not only marked the first departure from Chinese classics to Japanese native literature, but also announced the new Imperial era name prior to the succession, in which ‘gengo’ is usually announced after the accession of a new monarch, in order to minimize disruptions caused by document and calendar changes after ‘Heisei’ ends on April 30. It was reported that when Prime Minister Abe informed the current and the next Emperors about the new ‘gengo’, Emperor Akihito listened to the news with his usual expression while the Crown Prince Naruhito nodded with a smile.

Unveiling the new era name was also a highly anticipated event in Japan as its people were eager to find out the name of the coming new era. According to the domestic news, after being announced, 74% of Japanese people were happy and approved the name selected for the nation’s next era. The name has also increased the support rate for the Abe Cabinet up to 52.8% since the previous survey was held in March. Prime Minister Abe himself also received a positive public support as reported that nearly 85% of Japanese appreciated with the government’s choice of a name from Japanese classic to foster patriotism and nationalism. Contrary to the Japanese, some citizens in Beijing evaluated Japan’s new era name as strange and difficult to understand because it was not derived from Chinese classics. Some observers in China also mentioned that the choice is indicative of what they see as the nationalist leanings of Abe administration. Nonetheless, Japanese Defense Minister Takeshi Iwaya mentioned that Japan was long under the influence of Chinese civilization, and it enjoyed great benefits from it. However, Japan also has cultivated its own unique culture over thousands of years, so it is very meaningful that Japanese kanji were chosen from a Japanese book this time.

References:

74% happy with Reiwa as name for Japan’s next era, with Abe Cabinet Approval rate rising to 52.8%. (2019, April 2). The Japan Times. Retrieved from: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2019/04/02/national/70-approve-reiwa-name-japans-next-imperial-era-poll-shows/#.XKY0S5gzbIU

Japan reveals name of new imperial era will be ‘Reiwa’. (2019, April 1). BBC News. Retrieved from: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-47769566

Japan to keep official records of new era name’s selection process. (2019, March 31). The Japan Times. Retrieved from: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2019/03/31/national/japan-keep-official-records-new-era-names-selection-process/#.XKSvUpgzbIU

Japan’s new era named “Reiwa”, 1^st from native source. (2019, April 1). Kyodo News. Retrievd from: https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2019/04/1cb8c8786917-update1-japan-to-announce-name-of-era-under-new-emperor.html

New Japan era to be called “Reiwa”, or pursuing harmony. (2019,  April 1). The Washington Post. Retrieved from: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/japan-to-name-new-era-for-soon-to-be-emperor-naruhito/2019/03/31/ddff883a-5416-11e9-aa83-504f086bf5d6_story.html?noredirect=on&utm_term=.53cf9ce2ca72

Reiwa, Japan’s new imperial era title, raises concerns about authoritarian connotations.(2019, April 3). ABC News. Retrieved from:  https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-04-03/new-japanese-imperial-title-of-reiwa-confuses-some/10965194

Reiwa: Japan announces dawn of a new era. (2019, April 1). CNN. Retrieved from: https://edition.cnn.com/2019/03/31/asia/japan-new-era-reiwa-intl/index.html

Reiwa: Japan reveals name of new era ahead of Emperor’s ahead of Emperor’s abdication. (2019, April 1). The Japan Times. Retrieved from: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2019/04/01/national/politics-diplomacy/japan-readies-announce-name-new-era/#.XKQcGZgzbIV

Reiwa: What’s in a name for Japan Emperor’s new era? (2019, April 1). The Sydney Morning Gerald. Retrieved from: https://www.smh.com.au/world/asia/reiwa-what-s-in-a-name-for-japan-emperor-s-new-era-20190401-p519s1.html

Some in China baffled by Japan’s era name, with regret that it wasn’t inspired by a Chinese classic. (2019, April 1). The Japan Times. Retrieved from: https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2019/04/01/national/chinese-call-japans-new-era-name-strange-express-disappointment/#.XKdEeZgzbIU

Suga: New era name Reiwa comes from Japanese poetry anthology ‘Manyoshu’. The Mainichi.. Retrieved from:  https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20190401/p2a/00m/0na/006000c

The Historical Background of How Japan Chooses Its Era Names. (2017, May 19). Nippon.com. Retrieved from: https://www.nippon.com/en/in-depth/a05403/the-historical-background-of-how-japan-chooses-its-era-names.html

Website:

             https://hubpages.com/literature/The-Manyoshu

Photo: Uichiro Kasai Nikkei https://asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/Japan-s- Reiwa-era/Japan-unveils-dawn-of-the-Reiwa-era OK