https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_era_name
"The system on which the Japanese era names are based originated in China in 140 BCE, and was adopted by Japan in 645 CE, during the reign of Emperor Kōtoku.
The first era name to be assigned was "Taika" (大化), celebrating the political and organizational changes which were to flow from the great Taika reform (大化の改新) of 645. Although the regular practice of proclaiming successive era names was interrupted in the late seventh century, it was permanently re-adopted in 701 during the reign of Emperor Monmu (697–707). Since then, era names have been used continuously up through the present day.^[1]
"Mutsuhito assumed the throne in 1867, during the third year of the Keiō (慶応) era. On 23 October 1868, the era name was changed to "Meiji" (明治), and a "one reign, one era name" (一世一元, issei-ichigen) system was adopted, wherein era names would change only upon immediate imperial succession. This system is similar to the now-defunct Chinese system used since the days of the Ming Dynasty. The Japanese nengō system differs from Chinese practice, in that in the Chinese system the era name was not updated until the year following the emperor's death.
In modern practice, the first year of a nengō (元年, gannen) starts immediately upon the emperor's accession and ends on 31 December. Subsequent years follow the Gregorian calendar.
For example, the Meiji Era lasted until 30 July 1912, when the Emperor died and the Taishō (大正) era was proclaimed. 1912 is therefore known as both "Meiji 45" and "Taishō 1" (大正元年, Taishō gannen), although Meiji technically ended on 30 July with Mutsuhito's death. "

And now starts a new era with the new emperor
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2019/03/31/national/japan-keep-official-records-new-era-names-selection-process/#.XKEw1MKP4dV
Emperor Akihito is accompanied by Empress Michiko and Imperial family members (from left) Princess Yoko, Princess Akiko, Princess Nobuko, Prince Akishino and Crown Prince Naruhito, as they arrive at the autumn garden party in Tokyo in November 2014. | APKind regards, Paul.

Japan’s new imperial era – just announced - is named 'Reiwa' 令和, and is expected to start on 1 May 2019. 

The name adheres to the established naming custom in that it comprises two kanji characters – rei and wa – and is easy to read and write. But it also represents a break with centuries of tradition as the first era name to have been inspired by a Japanese, rather than Chinese, work of classical literature. The characters are taken from a stanza in a poem about plum blossoms that appears in Man’yoshu, the oldest existing collection of Japanese poetry, compiled sometime after 759. Placed in that literary context, the kanji can be read to mean "fortunate" or "auspicious" (rei), and "peace" or "harmony" (wa). Some on social media said the name had more authoritarian overtones, noting that the first character also means "order" or "command", and features in the Japanese words for official announcement and law. The second character a also appears in Yamato, an old word for Japan that has militaristic overtones.

The new name has also had an unexpected beneficiary: the Real Estate Institute of Western Australia (REIWA), which has seen a surge in traffic to its website – most of it from Japan. The institute, whose chief executive has reportedly been interviewed by Japanese media, said on Twitter that it welcomed the new era with which it shares a name, and reminded followers that the tweet was not an April Fools’ joke.

Meles meles, thank you for the comments about the new name. And yes a serious name in one language can be even a fool's name in another one. I think it was that what nordmann mentioned: Trying to do your best to explain it all in a foreign language and suddenly the listening public burst out laughing...
Kind regards from Paul.