How Was the New Era Name “Reiwa” Announced?

At the Prime Minister’s press conference on April 1, 2019, the new era name was announced as follows.

“The new era name is ‘Reiwa.’”

The announcement presented society as a whole with the name of the new era that would replace the long-used Heisei era and made a strong impression on many people. Because era names are widely used not only in official documents and administrative procedures but also in everyday life, the decision has significant cultural and institutional meaning.

This new era name May 1, 2019 It came into use after His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince acceded to the throne.

The Origin of “Reiwa” Is Found in the Man'yoshu

The word “Reiwa” comes from the Man'yoshu The name was taken from the following passage.

“It was in a fair and auspicious month of early spring, when the air was clear and the wind a gentle breeze; the plum flowers blossomed like a beauty applying powder before a mirror, and the orchids gave off fragrance like perfume from a sachet.”

This passage appears in the preface to a collection of thirty-two poems on plum blossoms and depicts the arrival of spring: clear air, gentle winds, beautifully blooming plum blossoms, and fragrant orchids.

From this passage, “rei” and “wa” The two characters were selected from this passage to form the new era name “Reiwa.”

The Meaning Conveyed by “Reiwa”

At the press conference, it was explained that the name “Reiwa” expresses the idea that culture is born and nurtured as people bring their hearts together beautifully This meaning was said to be embodied in the name.

This explanation shows that “Reiwa” is not merely a phrase expressing a wish for peace and harmony, but rather an ideal of an era in which new culture and values are nurtured through connections among people This ideal is embedded in the name.

In other words, “Reiwa” envisions not a society of isolated individuals but one in which people support one another by bringing their hearts together. It also expresses the hope that Japan’s long cultural traditions will be carried into the next era and developed in new forms.

Why Did the Man’yoshu Attract Attention as the Source?

One reason “Reiwa” attracted particular attention was that the source of the era name was the Man’yoshu, a Japanese classic, rather than a Chinese classic were selected.

Because many previous era names were derived from Chinese classics, choosing the Man’yoshu, one of Japan’s oldest poetry anthologies, was understood as an effort to reflect the distinctiveness of Japanese culture in the name of the new era.

Of course, the Man’yoshu itself emerged within a cultural context that included Classical Chinese expressions and cannot be discussed as completely independent of that background. Nevertheless, seeking the source of the era name in a Japanese classic carried awareness of Japanese history and culture This can be understood as strongly emphasizing that point.

What Conditions Apply to Candidate Era Names?

Several considerations are said to apply when examining and organizing candidate era names. Specifically, the following conditions are used.

1. It should have a positive meaning appropriate to the ideals of the people.
2. It must consist of two kanji characters
3. It must be easy to write
4. It must be easy to read
5. It must not have been used previously as an era name or posthumous name.
6. It must not already be in common use

These conditions show that an era name is not selected simply because it sounds good; rather, meaning, number of characters, visual clarity, ease of reading, historical duplication, and distinction from ordinary words are among the many factors considered comprehensively in the selection process.

Why Is Choosing an Era Name Difficult?

Looking again at the conditions for candidate era names reveals how difficult it is to express the ideals and aspirations of an era in only two kanji characters This becomes easy to understand.

It is not easy to find a term that has a positive meaning, is easy for everyone to write and read, does not overlap with past era names or posthumous names, and is not already widely used in everyday language. The task is even more difficult when one also considers whether the term will be accepted by the public and become established as a symbol of the new era.

In this sense, the two characters of “Reiwa” can be seen as embodying an effort to satisfy formal conditions under the system and cultural meaning both sets of requirements.

The Impression “Reiwa” Made on Society

The announcement of a new era name had meaning beyond a simple institutional change. Era names mark turning points in life for many people, and the transition from “Heisei” to “Reiwa” symbolized both the end of one era and the beginning of another.

In particular, the name “Reiwa” was associated with images of spring’s arrival and gentleness or harmony, and can be understood as having given many people a relatively positive and calm impression.

Furthermore, because the name derives from a Japanese classic, it also conveyed the idea of opening a new era while valuing tradition For many people, it carried this symbolic meaning.

Summary

The new era name “Reiwa” was announced at the Prime Minister’s press conference on April 1, 2019, and came into use on May 1 of the same year.

Its origin the Man'yoshu lies in “It was in a fair and auspicious month of early spring, when the air was clear and the wind a gentle breeze...” this passage, which conveys culture is born and nurtured as people bring their hearts together beautifully this meaning.

Candidate era names are also subject to strict conditions: they must have a positive meaning, consist of two kanji characters, be easy to write and read, not have been used previously, and not already be in common everyday use. These requirements show again how difficult it is to embody the ideals of an era in just two characters.

“Reiwa” was the term selected from among candidates meeting these many conditions and became the symbol of a new era.