The first character means “good” and “beautiful,” with the second character meaning “peace” or “harmony.”
Japan has revealed the name for its next imperial era as the country prepares to transition to a new emperor. The nation has been rocked following the first abdication in over two centuries.
The new characters will be used on Japanese coins, calendars, in newspapers and on official paperwork. It brings to an end the Heisei era, which began in 1989. According to The Washington Post, the 85-year-old ruler renounced his throne over health issues. Akihito, who will be known as Emperor Heisei after his death, made the abdication on the grounds that his current state of health had precluded the continuation of weighty traditional duties.
"Our nation is facing a big turning point, but there are lots of Japanese values that should not fade away," Abe said at the unveiling of the “Reiwa” symbol. The name “signals that our nation's culture is born and nourished by people's hearts being drawn beautifully together,” he added.
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