Japan uses its imperial eras to bookmark a period in time, and to reflect the zeitgeist and overall spirit of the population.
Heisei (achieving peace), which ends on April 30 when Emperor Akihito abdicates, will be remembered as a time of economic stagnation and severe disasters, but also a time when Japan's entertainment and sports icons won hearts all over the world.
Already a subscriber? Log in
Read the full story and more at $9.90/month
Get exclusive reports and insights with more than 500 subscriber-only articles every month
ST One Digital
$9.90/month
No contract
ST app access on 1 mobile device
Unlock these benefits
All subscriber-only content on ST app and straitstimes.com
Easy access any time via ST app on 1 mobile device
E-paper with 2-week archive so you won't miss out on content that matters to you