Now and Zen: A history of Japanese eras
The new era of Reiwa will start later this year
TRAVEL Japan
A new emperor is in town. Naruhito, Japan's current Crown Prince, is set to be the country's 126th emperor. This means the start of a new era: the Reiwa period. It will follow the Heisei era, which lasted from January 8, 1989 to April 30, 2019.
Over the years, Japan has seen hundreds of changes, from earthquake destruction to technological innovation. Get to know the country's history, and the world's oldest monarchy, with this guide to Japan's sprawling past.