On April 1, 2019, Chief Cabinet Secretary Suga Yoshihide announced the name of the new era, Reiwa. It took effect on May 1, 2019, with the succession to the throne.
The Era Name Act of 1979 says: Gengō wa, kōi no keishō ga atta baai ni kagiri aratameru. “The era name is changed only when there is a succession to the throne.”