To mark the accession of Crown Prince Naruhito to Emperor Naruhito and the start of the Reiwa Era on May 1, the official residence of the Consulate General of Japan is open to people wishing to sign a greeting book that will be sent to Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako.
Greeting books are also available at the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawai‘i and at the Hawaii Senior Life Enrichment Association office in Waikiki. Gifts are not being accepted.
Emperor Akihito’s abdication on April 30 marked the end of the Heisei Era and the first year of the Reiwa Era, or Reiwa Ichi-nen, in Japan. “Reiwa” is a combination of two Japanese characters: “beautiful” (rei ) and “harmony” (wa ) and was drawn from Japan’s oldest poetry book, the “Manyoshu,” from the seventh century, which contains the oldest existing anthology of waka poems.
• Consulate General of Japan (1742 Nu‘uanu Ave.)
Through May 10 (weekdays only); 8-11:30 a.m., 1-3:30 p.m.
• Japanese Cultural Center of Hawai‘i lobby (2454 S. Beretania St.)
Through May 15 (weekdays only); 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
• Hawaii Okinawa Center (94-587 Uke‘e St.)
Through May 10; 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
• Hawaii Senior Life Enrichment Association, Aloha Office (2250 Kaläkaua Ave., Ste. 512
Through May 14 (except Wednesdays, Sundays); 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
