Japan announces name of new era: 'Reiwa'

Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga announced the name of the new Imperial era Monday by holding up a framed calligraphy parchment, as his predecessor had done, revealing the new moniker: "Reiwa."

The two characters mean "order" and "harmony," and replace the current era, "Heisei," which means "achieving peace." The new era will begin on May 1, when Crown Prince Naruhito ascends to the throne, succeeding his father, Emperor Akihito. Akihito abdicated, the first Japanese monarch to do so in 200 years.

The name was announced after weeks of secret government meetings. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told reporters before the announcement that the goal was to "choose a name that would lead to a new era brimming with hope." This is the 248th era name, and was decided after experts on classic Chinese and Japanese literature suggested two to five names for officials to choose from, The Associated Press reports. Under the country's postwar constitution, the emperor does not have political power.

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