The government said Friday it will announce the name of Japan's forthcoming new era at 11:30 a.m. Monday, and that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will make a statement on the decision from noon.
The announcement will come a month before the new era, the 248th in Japan's history, starts on May 1, when Crown Prince Naruhito succeeds to the throne following Emperor Akihito's abdication the previous day.
Top government spokesman Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told a news conference Friday that he will announce the name the Cabinet decides.