The phrase “the last XX of Heisei period” is a trend in Japan.
The Japanese era name (nengo) is a name given to the period of an emperor’s reign.
Currently we are in Heisei era. 2018 is Heisei 30, and coming 2019 is Heisei 31.
Heisei started on January 8, 1989, the day after the death of the Emperor Hirohito, when his son, Akihito, acceded to the throne as the 125th Emperor.
However, Emperor Akihito is set to abdicate the Chrysanthemum Throne on April 30, 2019 therefore a new era name will be given when Crown Prince Naruhito succeeds to the Throne on May 1, 2019.
So since Heisei era is scheduled to end in 4 month, nowadays everybody is chanting “This is the last Christmas of Heisei era” “The last winter of Heisei” and so forth.
What will the new era name be?
Sources say the announcement of the new nengo will likely come after the ceremony to mark the 30th year of Emperor Akihito’s reign, which will be held on Feb. 24, Heisei 31.
Until then, let’s practice the phrase and cherish the last of Heisei!
“The last XX of Heisei era”
→ Heisei saigo no XX (hey-say sigh-go no XX).
平成最後のお正月がやってきます。
巷ではこの「平成最後の～」というフレーズ、流行っていますね。
英語では、the last 〇〇 of Heisei eraと言います。
「皇位を継承する」は ascend/succeed to the Chrysanthemum Throne
「退位」には abdicate の動詞を使います。
