As we all know, there has been no dynastic change in Japanese history, and since the birth of the monarchy in Japan, there has been only one dynasty, the Chrysanthemum Dynasty. According to Japanese history, Emperor Jimmu was the founding monarch of the Chrysanthemum Dynasty, who founded the Chrysanthemum Dynasty in 660 BC and also established the country of Japan, which has ruled Japan since then, with no dynastic change in between.
Since there has been no change of dynasties in Japan, how should we divide the history of Japan into different periods? The Japanese have come up with a good way to divide their own history, which is to divide the entire history of Japan into multiple "eras" according to a certain standard, that is, there are epochal changes in Japanese history. The history of Japan can be divided into several periods, with Showa, Heisei and Reiwa being three important era periods. The division of these periods is based on the reigning emperor's era name, and each period has its own unique historical characteristics and influences.
Showa period (December 25, 1926 – January 7, 1989): This period was named after Emperor Hirohito's era name "Showa". The Showa era encompasses Japan's militaristic expansion, World War II, and post-war reconstruction and economic development. During this period, Japan experienced severe war trauma, but through efforts to rebuild and recover, it achieved high economic development that lasted for decades. The Showa era also marked Japan's transition from militarism to democracy.
Heisei period (January 8, 1989 to April 30, 2019): This period was named after Emperor Akihito's era name "Heisei". The Heisei period began at the end of the Showa period, a period during which the Japanese economy experienced the bursting of bubbles and a long period of economic stagnation, but the cultural aspect was diversified. Emperor Akihito also actively promoted friendly relations between Japan and China during this period, becoming the first Japanese emperor to visit China.
Reiwa period (May 1, 2019 to present): This period was named after the current Emperor Naruhito's era name, "Reiwa". The Reiwa period began at the end of the Heisei period, a period during which many changes took place in Japanese society, including changes in the economic structure and changes in social values. The culture of the Reiwa era is characterized by greater openness and diversity, with young people paying more attention to personal expression and free choice, as well as paying more attention to social issues such as environmental protection and sustainable development.
To sum up, the division of the Showhei Sei Ryo and the era of Japan is based on the era name of the reigning emperor, and each period has its own unique historical characteristics and influences. The changes in these periods reflect not only the development of Japanese history, but also the changes and progress of Japanese society.