Prime Minister Shinzo Abe officially confirmed at his New Year press conference Friday that Japan's new era name following the abdication of Emperor Akihito will be announced on April 1.The press conference was held in Ise, Mie Prefecture in central Japan, after Abe paid his annual visit to the Ise Grand Shrine.Abe said that the next era name will be endorsed at a Cabinet meeting on April 1 ahead of Emperor Akihito's April 30 abdication and Crown Prince Naruhito's ascension to the throne on May 1. Emperor Akihito will be the first living Japanese monarch to give up the throne in about 200 y…READ FULL ARTICLE
