Japan new era name to be announced around 11:30 A.M. Monday

March 29, 2019

Tokyo--The Japanese government on Friday confirmed that it will announce the new era name around 11:30 a.m. (2:30 a.m. GMT) Monday.

The government confirmed Monday's procedures in a meeting at the prime minister's office Friday morning, which was chaired by Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga.

According to the schedule that was confirmed, the name will be announced by Suga at a press conference, which will be followed by a separate press conference by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe from noon.

In his press conference, Abe will read out a statement to explain the source of the new era name and its intended meanings.

Regarding how he will announce the new name, Suga told a press conference Friday that he "will follow the style taken when the current name of Heisei was announced."

When the name of Heisei was announced in 1989, then Chief Cabinet Secretary Keizo Obuchi displayed a calligraphy of the era name written in kanji.

On Thursday night, a rehearsal for Monday's announcement was held at a press conference room at the prime minister's office. No reporters were allowed access to the event.

On Monday, government officials will meet with a panel of experts at the prime minister's office from 9:30 a.m. and seek their opinions. The meeting is expected to last about 40 minutes.

From 10:20 a.m., a meeting with the heads and deputy heads of both chambers of the Diet, Japan's parliament, will take place at the official residence of the speaker of the House of Representatives, the lower chamber.

All cabinet ministers will hold a discussion to narrow down the proposed names to one. Then, a cabinet meeting will be convened to decide the new era name.

An ordinance to change the era from Heisei will be signed by Emperor Akihito and promulgated within Monday. It will be effectuated May 1, when Crown Prince Naruhito accedes to the throne. The new era will replace Heisei at midnight April 30.

At Friday's government meeting, the members of the experts panel were also picked. The panel is believed to have nine members, including Kyoto University Prof. Shinya Yamanaka, who won the 2012 Noble Prize in Physiology or Medicine.

The list of the members will be disclosed Monday.

Abe is slated to meet with the Emperor at the Imperial Palace on Friday to brief him on Monday's procedures. Later on Friday, Abe will meet with the Crown Prince to give him a similar explanation. Jiji Press