The Emperor of Japan is going to abdicate the throne to his son in May. And so, the name of Japanese era is also going to change, as one name is to the reign of one emperor. People believe it’s a traditional rule of Japan, but it’s not. Anyway, media, and so, people had made a fuss over the new name; what name will it be? Who are discussing about it? When will it be announced? When to start using it?
And! On April 1st the Chief Cabinet Secretary(!) and the Prime Minister(!!!) announced the new name, “Reiwa” . TV kept shouting the news all day and the name danced all over the newspaper in big letters next day. It was like a great festival, and the people seem in a spree. The percentage of those supporting the cabinet rose 9 point! Can you believe it? The abdication is not the work of the cabinet. I’m tired of the stupidity of our people. .
The Prime Minister Abe is an extreme nationalist and he insisted to choose the word from Japanese old book, not from the Chinese one, and he is happy his desire came true. But anyway the name is written in Chinese letters and the old book was using them as Japan didn’t have its own letters in those days. We use Chinese letters and Japanese letters made from Chinese letters now. Our culture owe Chinese one greatly, but Abe doesn’t know it or hates to admit it.
By the way, the first part of the new name “rei” is the character meaning “order”, “command” or “demand”. We take it the cabinet’s true intention. Do you welcome it?