Tibetan Information Office (TIO) is based in Canberra.

Japan’s new era ‘Reiwa’ represents Harmony and ‘Hope’ in Tibetan: CTA President congratulates Japan

File photo of Dr Lobsang Sangay, President of Central Tibetan Administration (L); Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (R) explains the calligraphy rendering of the new era’s name ‘Reiwa’ at a press conference in Tokyo, 1 May 2019.

Dharamshala: President Dr Lobsang Sangay sent greetings to His Excellency Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and the people of Japan on the historic occasion of the enthronement of crown prince His Majesty Naruhito and the ushering of the new imperial era: Reiwa.

The reign of the next Japanese emperor which will be known as the ‘Reiwa‘ era translates as ‘Hope’ in the Tibetan language. The official Japanese translation of Reiwa is ‘beautiful harmony’.

“I would like to extend our heartfelt congratulations to the people of Japan today on the historic occasion of the enthronement of crown prince His Majesty Naruhito as the new emperor as it ushers Reiwa era, which coincidently means hope,” the President wrote.

“We express our sincere prayers that Japan, as one of the world’s most leading democratic and economic superpower, will strive to continue the path towards achieving enduring world peace and the happiness of the Japanese people as the new emperor takes the rein from His Majesty Akihito who earnestly worked for the cause for more than 30 years.”

“We would also like to take this opportunity to express our profound gratitude to the people and government of Japan for the firmly supporting the resolution of the issue of Tibet through dialogue,” he concluded.

Ahead of the coronation of Crown Prince Naruhito, Japan unveiled a new name for the imperial era that begins on 1 May, drawing from an ancient Japanese text. “Like the flowers of the plum tree blooming proudly in spring after the cold winter, we wish the Japanese people to bloom like individual flowers with the (promise of the) future. With such a wish for Japan, we decided upon ‘Reiwa’” said Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at the unveiling.