The Foreign Ministry confirmed Wednesday the name for Japan's forthcoming new Imperial era, Reiwa, means "beautiful harmony" in English.
Within days of the announcement of the new gengō, as such eras are known, the ministry has presented an English translation for the new name.
The move is intended to dispel what the ministry considers erroneous reports overseas that the new era name has connotations of "command" or "order" — one of the most common meanings of the kanji for rei that forms the first half of Reiwa.