The era of the new Japanese emperor - the crown prince Naruhito - was named Reiwa, Japan Times reported.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga displayed on Monday a placard showing off the kanji characters for the new era. The first character represents “good fortune,” while the second is translated as “peace” or “harmony.”

The current Emperor of Japan, Akihito, will leave the throne on April 30. The date was set as early as 2017. His eldest son, 59-year-old Prince Naruhito will be proclaimed emperor on May 1. The current era in Japan is called Heisei (“achieving peace”).

Akihito is the 125th Emperor of Japan. He was born in 1933, and ascended the throne on January 7, 1989, after the death of his father, Emperor Hirohito.