Japan to announce new era name on April 1

Is that a carpet, and why are they wearing shoes inside?

It won't start with an M, T, S or H. That would confuse 99% of official documents in Japan. Still leaves a lot of options though.

So going to announce a new year on April 1 2019.

Please don’t let it be something ridiculously inane.

It could be just the picture, but seems like Prince Akishino shaved just half of his moustache...

Man oh man, these royals are in dire need of BETTER places for pictures, they are ALWAYS the most sterile, boring spots for a picture, whoever decides these things needed to be fired decades ago!!

@ Hollisbrown, I dont think that it would be a good picture with all of the emperor, emperor,s wife and children and future emperors were all warring pink, red and blue flip flop, slippers.

What a beautiful family unit. So normal.

a historic photo to be sure

l agree a singularly uninspired background, without knowing the decor of the palace, I would have thought there were way better locations.

Looking forward to the start of a new era. As I've said before, I'm not a monarchist but the Emperor and Empress are a lovely couple and seem genuinely invested in peace.

Under the plan, the government on April 1 will hear opinions from experts in various fields, as well as the chiefs and deputies of both houses of the Diet, about multiple candidate names before cabinet approval and proclamation by the emperor.

So, an honest question here.

Does the Crown Prince / Emperor-to-be get to provide his input on the name of the era?? I mean, it will be HIS era

I supposed probably not. It will all be decided for him by the government, and probably by some of the senior guys in the IHA, and he will just be wheeled out to announce it.

I just have visions of the era name having Abe's stamp all over it rather than perhaps what the Emperor-to-be would prefer.

I can only affect the order of a standard date (YMD, MDY,or DMY). My computer (win7) doesn't give me option for the imperial year...or time period (iron age, cretaceous, etc) for that matter. Help?

@juminRhee,

I can only affect the order of a standard date (YMD, MDY,or DMY). My computer (win7) doesn't give me option for the imperial year...or time period (iron age, cretaceous, etc) for that matter. Help?

Was that a serious question?

If so, it is possible to set your PC to display wareki, which is the Japanese calendar. Including for Windows 7. It involves your region and language settings. See below in Japanese:

https://docs.grapecity.com/help/multirow-winforms-8/DateTimePickerCell_JapaneseEra.html

For the upcoming change in era name / numbering, see the below

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/uwp/design/globalizing/japanese-era-change

Hope that helps.

Thank you, ill try that.

Does the Imperial Household Agency shop for furniture at IKEA?

Who arranges these pathetic photo shoots? The star of the photo is clearly that table!