Kanji of the year

The kanji of the year (今年の漢字 Kotoshi no kanji) is a Japanese character chosen by the Japanese Kanji Proficiency Society (財団法人日本漢字能力検定協会 Zaidan hōjin Nihon Kanji Nōryoku kentei kyōkai) through a national ballot in Japan, starting in 1995. The character with the most votes, selected to represent the events of that year, is announced in a ceremony on December 12 (Kanji Day) at Kiyomizu Temple.

Year Kanji Events
1995
「震 shin」
(quake)[1]
 The Great Hanshin–Awaji earthquake and growing feelings of unease caused by the sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway.
1996
「食 shoku」
(food, eat)
 Multiple outbreaks of food poisoning due to E. coli O157 occur, affecting school lunch programs.
1997
「倒 tō」
(collapse, knock down)
 The 1997 Asian financial crisis results in a wave of corporate bankruptcies and bank failures, while the Japanese team beats regional powerhouses in the Asia qualifying tournament to win a berth in the 1998 FIFA World Cup.
1998
「毒 doku」
(poison)
 Sixty-seven people are sickened and four die after eating poisoned curry, for which Masumi Hayashi is arrested. Similar incidents follow amid concerns about dioxins.
1999
「末 sue」
(end)
 The final year of the century, when the Tokaimura nuclear accident occurs.
2000
「金 kin」
(gold)
 Judo athlete Ryoko Tamura (now Ryoko Tani) and marathon-runner Naoko Takahashi win gold at the Sydney Olympics, Kim Dae Jung and Kim Jong-il hold the first North-South Korean presidential summit, the deaths of centenarian twin sisters Kin-san and Gin-san (whose names sound like "gold" and "silver"), and the introduction of the ¥2,000 note.
2001
「戦 sen」
(war)
 The September 11, 2001 attacks, the U.S. war in Afghanistan, and the global recession.
2002
「帰 ki」
(return)
 Japan and North Korea begin talks and five Japanese citizens kidnapped by North Korea return to Japan.
2003
「虎 tora」
(tiger)
 The Hanshin Tigers win the Central League pennant for the first time in 18 years and the involvement of the Japan Self-Defense Force in the Iraq War, which the people equate to "stepping on a tiger's tail."
2004
「災 sai」
(disaster)
 The Chūetsu earthquake, Typhoon Tokage wrecks great damages upon landfall, the accident at the Mihama Nuclear Power Plant, and scandal at Mitsubishi Motors involving the cover-up of known defects.
2005
「愛 ai」
(love)
 Expo 2005 is held in Aichi, Princess Nori marries Yoshiki Kuroda, and table tennis athlete Ai Fukuhara plays in China, as well as a spate of child-by-parent and parent-by-child murders.
2006
「命 inochi」
(life)
 Prince Hisahito of Akishino is born, while feelings of uncertainty about life arise from hit and run accidents due to driving under the influence, suicide due to bullying, and the notable suicide of a member of the Imperial Guard.
2007
「偽 nise」
(deception)
 A series of food labeling scandals in which expired products were relabeled and sold, problems over political funds and faulty pension records, and allegations of copyright infringement at the Beijing Shijingshan Amusement Park.
2008
「変 hen」
(change)
 Changing of the Japanese prime minister, Barack Obama winning the American presidency using the slogan "change", economical and ecological changes around the world.
2009
「新 shin」
(new)
 The Democratic Party of Japan is swept into power by lower house elections to end half a century of LDP dominance, the worldwide outbreak of swine flu (known as Shin-gata influenza), and Ichiro Suzuki sets a new MLB record with nine consecutive seasons with 200 hits.[2]
2010
「暑 sho」
(hot)
 Record heatwaves affecting both people's livelihoods and the natural environment and the Chilean mine collapse trapped about 700 meters underground in a hot, humid mine.
2011
「絆 kizuna」
(bonds)[3]
 The Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami occurs, with people across Japan rediscovering the importance of their bonds with family and friends and Japan's women's national football team, Nadeshiko Japan, wins the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup, a result of confidence and teamwork among its members.[4]
2012
「金 kin」
(gold)
 Several medals are won at the 2012 London Olympics, Shinya Yamanaka wins a Nobel Prize, and a solar eclipse is observed for the first time in Japan in 932 years, amid concerns such as consumption tax and welfare ("金" is also the first kanji to be selected more than once).
2013
「輪 rin」
(wheel)
 Successful bid to host the 2020 Summer Olympics.
2014
「税 zei」
(tax)
 Social discussion and additional expense tax in Japan.
2015
「安 an」
(safety)[5]
 Safety issues concerning explosion in Yasukuni Shrine, terrorist attack on Paris.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "過去の「今年の漢字」一覧". Matome.Naver.jp. 2015-12-16.
  2. ↑ ""Shin" Selected as Kanji of the Year New Administration, Record-Breaking Ichiro Suzuki...". Kyoto Shimbun. 2009-12-11.
  3. ↑ "2011年の漢字は「絆」 「災」「助」など続く". Nikkei News. 2011-12-12.
  4. ↑ "Japanese public chooses 'kizuna' as kanji of 2011". BBC News online. 24 December 2011. Retrieved 25 December 2011.
  5. ↑ "今年の漢字、2015年は"安"に決定。とにかく明るい安村も興奮「安心の安！」". HuffingtonPost. 2015-12-15.

External links


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