The name of the next Imperial era, known as gengō in Japanese, will be announced on April 1, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe confirmed Friday. « Tradition dictate
The name of the next Imperial era, known as gengō in Japanese, will be announced on April 1, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe confirmed Friday.
“Tradition dictates that the name of a new era is decided on and disclosed to the public following the start of the new Imperial era,” Abe said during a New Year’s news conference in Ise, Mie Prefecture, following his annual visit to the Grand Shrines of Ise earlier in the day.
“However, I believe it is best to announce the name on April 1, prior to the Crown Prince’s ascension, so as to minimize the impact the change may have on the lives of the Japanese people,” he added.
The new era name will be made public soon after it is approved at a Cabinet meeting on April 1, a month prior to the start of the new era.
