Kanji of Japan's new imperial era Reiwa picked as representing 2019 english.kyodonews.net

KYODO NEWS - 2 hours ago - 16:17 | Arts, All, JapanThe kanji "rei" has been picked as the Chinese character best describing this year's social mood in Japan after the new imperial era Reiwa commenced in May, a Kyoto-based academic organization said Thursday.
Related coverage:"One Team" wins 2019 top buzzword award after Brave Blossoms' exploitsIN PHOTOS: Japan's new era named "Reiwa"Japan's new era named "Reiwa," 1st from native sourceIn modern Japan, era names, or gengo, are used for the length of an emperor's reign.
Reiwa is comprised of the Chinese characters "rei," meaning order, command and auspicious, and "wa," representing harmony, peace or Japan.
Last year, the foundation chose a kanji "sai" meaning "disaster" amid a string of natural and man-made calamities.
The era name was derived from the 1,200-year-old Manyoshu anthology of poems and is translated by the government as "beautiful harmony."