Japan switches from Heisei to new Reiwa era, but old cultural and political faultlines remain

Written by Kevin Rafferty |Updated: May 1, 2019 9:00:27 am

The writer is former editor of The Financial Express and has covered Asia as reporter and editor for 50 years.

Japan switches from Heisei to new Reiwa era, but old cultural and political faultlines remain

For all the hype, and acres of newsprint and online space about the new emperor, and, prime minister Shinzo Abe’s determination to milk the change for electoral advantage, any talk of a new era is largely wishful thinking.

Japan’s old ghosts will continue to haunt it, and no political leader has shown a clue on how to frighten them away. (Illustration by Suvajit Dey)

Japan is making much fuss, including an unprecedented 10 consecutive days of holiday, over the end of the Heisei era and the beginning of Reiwa on May 1, as Emperor Akihito abdicates in favour of his son, Crown Prince Naruhito.