次回この記事の日本語版を投稿します。
May 1st marks the dawn of a new period "Reiwa".
I consider myself fortunate as I first visited Japan in 1982 at the tail end of the Showa period and returned to work here in 1989 at the beginning of Heisei period. As I look back things have certainly changed. Just to mention a few.
Rod brake bicycles were still sold and some postmen delivered mail on their orange rod-brake postal bicycles.
Photo courtesy of Postal Museum Japan
Western-style toilets were the exception rather than the rule and came complete with stick-figures to demonstrate how to use them.
Photo courtesy of 毎日がレビュー
Public telephones came in assorted colors & functions: Red, Yellow and Green.
Photo courtesy of NTT技術資料館
No electronic ticket wickets, train station personnel physically punched your train ticket.
Photo courtesy of めくるたび.
Before the 500 yen coin, there used to be 500 yen notes.
Photo courtesy of Wiki 5百円紙幣
At the office, no computers. The only things on top of desks were a telephone an ashtray and a two-tiered in-out tray.
（Yes, back then people actually smoked at their desks!)
Saturdays were workdays and school children attended school on Saturdays.
The vast majority of automobiles were equipped with standard transmissions and had side mirrors mounted on the top of the front fenders.
Large department stores had mini-amusement parks on their rooves.
Photo courtesy of Wiki.
No consumption tax! Can you imagine that? Maybe those really were the good'ol days:)
Yes indeed, things have changed and time continues to march on.
I hope the "Reiwa" period will be filled with good health, happines and prosperity for all.