An era name is an inextricable part of public life and shared memory in Japan. It’s the last cherry blossom season of the Heisei era. And I’m sure it will be true when the next era begins: It will be the first of everything during this next imperial era,” said Sneider, who has been visiting and living in Japan off and on since 1954. The current wave of excitement for the new name and nostalgia for the disappearing era is in large part because these changes of the guard are so rare. His Showa era was followed by his son Akihito’s Heisei era, which will come to an end with an unusual abdication — most emperors rule until death — that ushers in Naruhito on May 1.

Source: National Post March 31, 2019 12:45 UTC