The government will announce the name of the new era on April 1, after approving an ordinance on the adoption of the name at a Cabinet meeting the same day, according to sources.
The era begins after the crown prince's enthronement on May 1.
The government decided to announce the name on April 1 because both the public and private sectors require sufficient time to prepare and update their systems ahead of the new era's start.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is expected to announce this plan during his New Year press conference on Friday.
The government ordinance changing the era name from Heisei to the new name will come into effect on May 1, the day the crown prince becomes emperor. The government will whittle down suggestions for the new name submitted by several academics to three candidates, and the era name will be approved at a Cabinet meeting after soliciting the opinions of experts, the House of Representatives speaker and House of Councillors president. The ordinance will be signed by the current Emperor and promulgated.
Some conservative lawmakers of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party placed importance on the system in which each era name coincides with the reign of an emperor. These lawmakers insisted the new emperor should sign and promulgate the ordinance on the new era name on May 1.
In consideration of these lawmakers, the government also considered announcing the new era's name in mid-April. However, it decided to give priority to consideration for people's daily lives by announcing the new name on April 1.
Read more from The Japan News at https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/
