The Embassy of Japan in Dushanbe announces the succession of the Imperial throne and the beginning of the new Japanese era “Rei-Wa” on May 1, 2019.
Today, His Imperial Highness the Crown Prince acceded to the Imperial throne. For Japanese nationals, this would be very historical succession to the Imperial throne, which is done from an Emperor alive — the first in approximately 200 years.
The new era’s name in Japan under the reign of now acceded His Imperial Majesty the Emperor (the 126th) is “Rei-Wa” (meaning “beautiful harmony”).
The two Chinese characters were taken from a sentence from the “Man-yo-shu’; “In this auspicious early spring, weather is fine and wind gentle. The plum blossoms open like powder before a mirror while the orchids give off the sweet scent of a sachet”. This name “Rei-Wa” gives the meaning that a culture coming into being and flourishing when people bring their hearts and minds together in a beautiful manner.
The “Man-yo-shu” is Japan’s oldest poetry anthology, compiled more than 1,200 years ago. It is a huge Japanese work containing a lot of poems composed by people from a wide range of strata in society, not only Emperors, Imperial Family members, and nobility, but also soldiers defending the country and hard-working farmers.
Since the time not recorded on the documents, the Japanese nationals had created highly sophisticated culture, and had paid very high respect to the nature surrounding them. Though sometimes very harsh, the Japanese nature also shows very beautiful four seasons to the people.
The Japanese nationals are determined to pass down their characteristics firmly to the era “Rei-Wa”. And just as the plum and/or cherry blossoms announce the arrival of spring after harsh cold winter has gone, all Japanese nationals would make their own buds come into full bloom, together with their hopes for the future.
The Government of Japan sincerely hopes here that not only the Japanese nationals, the nationals of the Republic of Tajikistan, but also all the people in the world, regardless where they live, could live very safe and prosperous lives in the “Rei-Wa” era.
