A lot of people online appear to be feeling anxious ahead of the Emperor’s abdication. Some simply don’t like change, and this upcoming transition represents the biggest change their lives have ever known.
So when the Yomiuri Shimbun published an article online that included predictions on what the new era would be called, people on social media and message boards such as 2chan responded en masse. According to a poll conducted by Sony Life Insurance, most respondents chose “heiwa” (“peace”), with “wahei” (which also means “peace”) finishing second.
The sample size of the survey was small but it was enough for many to lampoon the news online, even noting that “heiwa” is also the name of a company famous for producing pachinko machines.
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