May 1st marks the beginning of Japan's new era, the Reiwa Era. I thought some of you might be interested in some of the links I collected to share with my students:

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20190430_20

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/n...res-imperial-couple/

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/n...erial-naming-system/

https://www.theguardian.com/wo...ror-akihito-abdicate

So, if I had a customer who works for a Japanese company with whom I am on friendly terms, would there be an appropriate thing to send him or her by e-mail to acknowledge the abdication/succession?

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So, if I had a customer who works for a Japanese company with whom I am on friendly terms, would there be an appropriate thing to send him or her by e-mail to acknowledge the abdication/succession?

That's a very good question -- one without a clear answer!

Heretofore, when there has been a new era, it has also been in the context of the current emperor dying, but this time there's no mourning or sadness involved. The Japanese media have been talking about people are saying "what do we say, how should we mark the occasion?" and then there are those who are saying we should treat it sort of like new year's, when people say "congratulations" to each other. Is your colleague in Japan (and thus we'd assume is following the discussion more closely)? If so, you could say something like "Congratulations on the start of the new era." If the person is in the US, it's hard to know how closely they're following it, but you could say that you've read about the new era and ask what they think of the new name (Reiwa), they would probably be pleased that you're following it.

I've been talking about it with friends currently in Japan and also with Japanese people who teach Japanese in the US -- both of these groups are following the news quite closely, so we're sort of saying "Happy Reiwa" in a silly way because no one really knows quite how to commemorate the occasion. Which is a very long-winded way of saying I don't know the answer to your question, but if you just say "happy Reiwa the person might think it sounds weird!

Ok, I just poked around twitter some more, some people (ok, a lot of people) are combining Happy New Year w/ era and saying "Happy New Era" (in English or katakanam so you might say that. That actually sounds more proper/official than "Happy Reiwa" but I like "Happy Reiwa" anyway!

And the katakana version of Happy Reiwa is also a hashtag, I feel vindicated!!

令和　is Reiwa (and the rest of this sign says "let's greet the new era with new home appliances!"

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Originally posted by ShiroKuro:

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So, if I had a customer who works for a Japanese company with whom I am on friendly terms, would there be an appropriate thing to send him or her by e-mail to acknowledge the abdication/succession?

Is your colleague in Japan (and thus we'd assume is following the discussion more closely)?

Yes.

This all sounds so very Japanese.

I just sent a one-line e-mail that says "I just wanted to send greetings and best wishes for the new Reiwa Era to you, your family, friends, and colleagues."

I hope that is well-received.

...and I got automatic replies from the ones I've sent so far, saying:

Thank you for your email.
In observation of national holidays in Japan, I`m currently out of office.
I'll be back on 7th May.

Thank you in advance for your understanding.

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Originally posted by pianojuggler:
...and I got automatic replies from the ones I've sent so far, saying:

Thank you for your email.
In observation of national holidays in Japan, I`m currently out of office.
I'll be back on 7th May.



Thank you in advance for your understanding.

Thanks, SK!

Why was this new era necessary/ appropriate without the death of an emperor?

I'm checking your links now but that's going to be the source of my confusion.

I can tell already!

What?!

The emperor is going to abdicate?

Wow.

Shiro, got a favor to ask ...
Can you please point me to articles that explain/discuss the origins or references of the term “令和” and what that term is meant to convey or project? (E.g., did the term come from this or that classical text, what does it mean in this or that classical text?) Thanks in advance!

Ax, it did indeed come from classical text, the Manyoshu. Here's one article from the day Reiwa was announced:

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/n...nounce-name-new-era/
"The Manyoshu passage that inspired Reiwa was written by poet Otomo no Tabito as an introduction to 32 ume-themed poems penned by his poet friends, according to officials. In the introduction, “rei” was used to refer to “reigetsu,” or “auspicious month,” while “wa” described the peaceful manner of an early spring breeze."

Wiki has a good write up currently as well:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...a#Origin_and_meaning
Original Kanbun text:

于時、初春令月、氣淑風和、梅披鏡前之粉、蘭薫珮後之香。

Classical Japanese translation (kanbun kundoku):

時に、初春の令月にして、気淑く風和ぎ、梅は鏡前の粉を披き、蘭は珮後の香を薫す。

And we talked about it at WTF, WTg started a thread
http://well-temperedforum.grou...661002366#7661002366

There was a lot of back and forth about how to interpret it, most have settled on "Beautiful harmony" which is not the official translation (there isn't one) but was suggested by the relevant government office.

Daniel, did you get your questions answered? The outgoing emperor is 85 years old, he requested special permission to be allowed to retire, basically, because he was concerned that his advancing age would get in the way of his ability to perform his duties, and he didn't want that to become a burden. This is the first time in 200 (plus?) years that a Japanese emperor has abdicated, heretofore a new emperor, and the corresponding new era, has come about because of the death of the current emperor.

So this is actually a neat moment in Japan as people are enjoying the change without the sadness that would usually accompany it.