With the ascension of Emperor Naruhito to the Chrysanthemum Throne and the beginning of the Reiwa Era on Wednesday, Japan concluded the 30-year Heisei Era.

Ahead of the change, The Japan Times spoke with Kenji Goto, 70, a veteran journalist who covered the death of Emperor Showa and the 1989 enthronement of his son, Emperor Emeritus Akihito, as a political reporter for Kyodo News.

Goto, who currently appears on television almost every day as a news anchor on TV Asahi*s ※Hodo Station§ and ※Sunday Station,§ among other shows, reflected on what it was like covering the Heisei Era and what to expect in the new era.