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The “Kanji of the Year” in Japan

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The “Kanji of the Year” is a campaign organized by the “Japan Kanji Proficiency Testing Association” (日本漢字能力検定協会 Nihon kanji nōryo kuken teikyōkai) as part of educational activities to convey the splendor and deep meaning of the kanji. This association chooses the Kanji from an open call (from November 1) and announces it as the kanji that best represents or defines the social situation of the current year , making it perfect for learning today. It was started in 1995 and every December 12, Kanji Day , is announced at Kiyomizu Temple in Kyoto. The ceremony is performed in the hope that the events of the year will be cleaned up and the new year will always be better. The “Kanji of the Year” is a long-awaited event for people and has become one of the year-end traditions.

The kanji that is chosen first to represent the current year receives the most requests, although the next 19 kanji on the list are announced a few minutes later.

kanji year 02
The Kanji is chosen from an open call (from November 1) and towards the beginning of December the kanji with the most votes is announced, the one that best represents or defines the social situation of the current year ,

Something curious is that the finalist kanji has been repeated in other years since the reasons for choosing them, depending on the year, are different. For example:

kyoto
Kiyomizu Temple. From its balcony, the announcement and writing of the Kanji of the Year is made.

The Kanji “金” （キン・コン／かね・かな） has been chosen three times; in the year 2016 (Year in which all of Japan was moved by the avalanche of “gold” medals of Japanese athletes in the Games Olympics of that year), in 2012 (An annular eclipse observed in a large area of ​​Japan for the first time in 932 years and in June the last passage of Venus in the 21st century was observed and in August the eclipse of Venus was observed ), in 2000 (a year that was marked by many events related to money and corruption) and in 2021 it was also chosen for the medals that athletes won at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Another example is the kanji “災” (サイ／わざわい which has been chosen twice. In the year 2004 (natural disasters such as typhoons and earthquakes occurred that greatly damaged the country) and in 2018 (a year of natural disasters such as earthquakes, torrential rains, typhoons and intense heat throughout the country)

The “Kanji of the Year” is written on a washi paper about 150 cm long x 130 cm wide.

kanji mitsu
This is what the place where the Kanji of the Year is announced in the Kiyomizu Temple in Kyoto looks like.

List of Kanji of the Year from previous years

YearkanjiMeaningEvent for which this kanji was chosen
nineteen ninety five震Shin シンfuru.eru ふる.えるearthquakeGreat Hanshin Earthquake.
nineteen ninety six食shoku ショクta.beru た.べるeat foodNumerous cases of food poisoning due to E. coli O157, which affected school menu programs.
1997倒tou トウtao.reru たお.れるoverthrowWave of business and bank bankruptcies. The Japanese soccer team beats the favorite teams in the Asian qualifying tournament and also qualifies for the 1998 World Cup.
1998毒doku ドクpoison67 people get sick and four die after eating poisoned curry.
1999末matsu マツsue すえfinalEnd of decade, century and millennium. Tokaimura nuclear accident.
2000金kin キンkane かねgold moneySeveral gold medals are achieved at the Sydney Olympics. Kim Dae Jung (金大中) and Kim Jong-il (金正日) hold the first presidential summit between the two Koreas.
2001戦sen センtataka.u たたか.う
ikusa いくさ		warThe September 11 attacks take place. The War in Afghanistan and Global Recession begins.
2002帰kiキkae.ru かえ.るreturnFive Japanese citizens kidnapped by North Korea return to Japan.
2003虎ko コtorah とらtigerThe Hanshin Tigers win the Central League for the first time in 18 years.
2004災sai サイwazawa.i わざわ.いdisasterEarthquakes and typhoons cause great damage. Accident at the Mihama nuclear power plant. Scandal at Mitsubishi Motors over cover-up of known defects.
2005愛ai アイito.shii いと.しいloveExpo 2005 takes place in Aichi (愛知). Princess Nori marries Yoshiki Kuroda. Ping pong (table tennis) player Ai Fukuhara plays in China.
2006命mei メイinochi いのちlifePrince Hisahito of Akishino is born. Concern about traffic accidents under the influence of alcohol resulting in being run over and failure to provide assistance. Concern about cases of suicide due to abuse, the suicide of a member of the Imperial Guard and other causes.
2007偽gi ギitsuwa.ru いつわ.る
nise にせ		false, deceptionScandal in food production and labeling consisting of relabelling and reselling expired products. Problems with the financing of parties and the erroneous registration of pensions. Beijing Shijingshan Amusement Park Intellectual Property Infringement Controversy.
2008変hen ヘンka.waru か.わるchangeChange of prime minister in Japan. Barack Obama wins the presidential elections. Changes in the world economy. ecological changes.
2009新Shin シンatara.shii あたら.しい
arata あらた		newThe Democratic Party of Japan comes to power and forms a government in a historic election after half a century of rule by the Liberal Party of Japan. Influenza A spreads throughout the world.
2010暑shō ショatsu.i あつ.いheat (weather)Japan suffers a heat wave that exceeds records. The miners who were trapped in a hot Copiapó mine are rescued. The Hayabusa probe endures heat of 10,000 °C during re-entry into the Earth’s atmosphere.
2011絆Ban バンkizuna きずなunion, tie2011 Japan earthquake and tsunami. People in Japan discover the importance of being united in the face of devastating situations. The Japan Women’s National Soccer Team “Nadeshiko” wins the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
2012金kin キンkane かねgold moneySeveral medals won at the 2012 London Olympics. A solar eclipse sweeps across Japan. There is concern about social security and consumption tax.
2013輪rin リンwheelTokyo is chosen to host the Olympic Games in 2020.
2014税zei ゼイtaxesConcern about the increase in taxes in Japan.
2015安an アンyasu やすrelaxed, security, still or peacefulThe Japanese military security law is proclaimed that will allow the Japanese army to act outside its borders.
2016金kin キンkane かねgold moneySeveral gold medals are won at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics and for cases of corruption in Japanese politics.
2017北hoku ホクkita きたnorthThis kanji makes clear reference to the North Korean nuclear threat and missile tests.
2018災sai サイwazawa.i わざわ.いdisaster2018 Osaka earthquake and the 2018 Japan Floods.
2019令king レイryou りょうok orderIt symbolizes the entry into the new Japanese era Reiwa 令和
2020密Mitsu
ミツ		ミツビツひそ-かにこま-かいsecret
close		Reference to the san mitsu (３密, the three Cs), a government recommendation to avoid closed spaces, crowds, and close contact due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2021 金kin キンkane かねgold moneyReference to the gold medals of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games, held in 2021 after being postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as other great sporting achievements of Japanese athletes during the year.
Kanji 2021
The Kanji that got the most votes is written by the high priest of the Kiyomizu temple in the traditional Japanese “cursive” script.