JAPAN NAMES NEW IMPERIAL ERA

Japan has announced that the name of its new imperial era, set to begin on May 1, will be “Reiwa”. While ‘Rei’ means “good” and “beautiful” as well as “order” or “command”, ‘Wa’ means “peace” or “harmony”. The country’s current era, Heisei, which began in 1989, will end with Emperor Akihito’s abdication.