CHANGING TIMES

When Emperor Akihito abdicated on April 30 at the age of 85, after 30 years on the Chrysanthemum Throne, so ended Japan’s Heisei era. It was replaced by the Reiwa (“beautiful harmony”) era when the new Emperor Naruhito ascended the throne on May 1.

The change brought with it a lot of pomp, celebration and retrospection, and for many Japanese was a sad farewell to an emperor and empress who had made the Imperial Family feel human and compassionate – no image encapsulated that more than the pair visiting evacuation shelters after the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami, kneeling on the floor consoling survivors.

Still, the era change also reminded everyone of a quirk in Japan’s traditional calendar: 2018 was Heisei 30 in the Japanese system (the 30th year of Heisei reign) and 2020 will be Reiwa 2, but 2019 is technically two years. January 1 to April 30 was Heisei 31, while May 1 to December 31 is Reiwa 1.