Page 11 - ARUBA TODAY

A11
WORLD NEWS Tuesday 2 april 2019

New Japan era to be called ‘Reiwa,’ or pursuing harmony

By MARI YAMAGUCHI Manyoshu is a great choice
Associated Press because it is an anthology
TOKYO (AP) — The era of that documents the peo-
Japan’s next emperor, ple’s own voices, Robert
which begins May 1, will be Campbell, head of the Na-
named “Reiwa,” connot- tional Institute of Japanese
ing pursuit of harmony, the Literature in Tokyo, said in
government said Monday an interview with public
after selecting the phrase broadcaster NHK.
from ancient Japanese Discussing and guessing
poetry instead of Chinese the new era name in ad-
classics as Prime Minister vance was not considered
Shinzo Abe promotes na- a taboo this time because
tional pride. Akihito is abdicating, a
The current “Heisei,” or highly unusual step. Era
“achieving peace,” era will name changes are also a
end with Emperor Akihito’s time for many Japanese
abdication on April 30. His to reflect on the outgoing
son, Naruhito, is to ascend and incoming periods.
the throne the following “Many Japanese people
day. don’t think of an emperor
While a growing number of when they mention an era
Japanese prefer the West- name. Changes in eras are
ern calendar over the Jap- a rare occasion when peo-
anese system in a highly ple realize the link between
digitalized and globalized Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga unveils the name of new era “Reiwa” at the the era name and the em-
society, era names are still prime minister’s office in Tokyo, Monday, April 1, 2019. peror,” Miyashiro said.
widely used in government Associated Press The new name seemed
and business documents severe winter to signal the lost because of war guilt March to nominate names well-received.
and on calendars. Many start of spring.” taught during the U.S. oc- that met strict criteria, in- Office worker Yoshiko Su-
people use them to identify The first character of the cupation after Japan’s cluding being easy to read gita, 50, said she liked the
generations and historical era name, “rei,” also means World War II defeat. Abe and write but not common. name’s second character,
periods. “good” or “beautiful,” while also has been pushing to The nominations were pre- “wa,” which means peace
The choice had been kept the second, “wa” could restore an authoritative im- sented first to nine outside or harmony. “I hope that
strictly secret ahead of mean “peace,” ‘’harmo- age of the emperor. experts, including Nobel harmony and peace will
Monday’s announcement. ny” or “mild” as in the in- “We hope (the era name) Prize-winning stem-cell sci- also continue in this new
Abe said the two char- troduction to a Manyoshu will be widely accepted entist Shinya Yamanaka era,” she said.
acters were taken from a section with poems about by the people and deeply and award-winning novel- Akihito’s Heisei era was the
poem about plum blossoms plum flowers. “It is now the rooted as part of their daily ist Mariko Hayashi, to pres- first without war in Japan’s
in the “Manyoshu,” a 7th good month in early spring, lives,” Chief Cabinet Sec- ent their views and narrow modern history, but is also
century poetry collection, the air is fresh and wind is retary Yoshihide Suga said the selection before final remembered as a period
and mean that “culture is soft. The plums blossoms in announcing the name, approval by the Cabinet. of lost years caused by
born and nurtured as the are like the white powder written with two Chinese Although some names economic deflation and
people’s hearts are beau- of a beauty before a mir- characters in black ink cal- nominated in the past have natural disasters.
tifully drawn together.” He ror, the fragrance like that ligraphy on a white back- come from Japanese clas- Era name changes create
said “Manyoshu” is Japan’s which follows the sachet of ground. sics, none was ever chosen. a host of business oppor-
oldest collection of poetry a noble lady,” it says, de- The announcement gives “I think the first adoption tunities. Anything dubbed
written by both royals and scribing a scene at a party the government, businesses of an era name drawn “last of Heisei” attracts
ordinary people, and it was where people open their and people only a month from Japanese classics un- Akihito fans, while others
appropriate to choose the hearts. to adjust to a change that der the Abe government, wait to submit marriage
name from a book symbol- The break from 1,400 years affects many parts of Japa- which has the strong back- certificates or file other of-
izing Japan’s rich culture of drawing era names from nese society, even though ing of conservatives, seems ficial registrations until the
and tradition. Chinese classics was ex- the system is not compulso- to be quite significant,” new era starts. Analysts say
Abe said the government pected from Abe’s conser- ry and the emperor has no said Eiichi Miyashiro, an era the era change, which will
selected the name “with vative government, which political power under Ja- name expert and senior extend Japan’s “Golden
hopes of making Japan a is often hawkish toward pan’s postwar constitution. editorial staff member at Week” holiday period to
nation where every per- China. Abe and his stron- Under a 1979 law, a panel the Asahi newspaper. 10 days with the addition
son can achieve dreams, gest supporters have cam- of experts on classical Chi- Taking the name from a of May 1, could buoy tour-
like the plum flowers that paigned to bolster national nese and Japanese litera- Japanese book stresses ism and other recreational
bloom beautifully after a pride, which they say was ture was appointed in mid- the country’s identity, and spending.q