Every December 12th, on "Kanji Day," Japan unveils its "Kanji of the Year," a single character chosen by the public to best represent the past twelve months. And for 2025? The undisputed champion is "Bear" (熊)! As per tradition, the head priest Seihan Mori of Kyoto's Kiyomizu-dera Temple dramatically brushed the character, revealing it alongside the top 20. Unsurprisingly, this pick has everyone talking.
Seriously, this year has been wild with bear sightings and attacks across Japan, even in urban areas! These furry (but fierce) intruders have wreaked havoc on daily life and economic activities. It's forced a national conversation about whether humans can truly coexist peacefully with nature, and frankly, it's got people rethinking their safety at home.
The selection of "Bear" as the Kanji of the Year isn't just a quirky pick; it underscores the sheer gravity of Japan's bear problem. Personal injuries and fatalities caused by bears hit an all-time high, leading to canceled events and school closures nationwide. It's been a major societal concern.
Beyond the reigning champion "Bear," here's a peek at the rest of the top ten and why the public voted for them:
▼ #2: "Rice" (米)
This character covers a lot of ground! From last year's soaring rice prices and government reserve releases sparking concerns about Japan's agriculture, to the "Rice Country" (America) itself. With Trump's return to office and new tariff policies, international and economic tremors kept "Rice" in the headlines all year long.
▼ #3: "High" (高)
Talk about hitting new heights! This year saw Sanae Takaichi become Japan's first female Prime Minister (her surname literally means "High City"), prices for everything from goods to rice continued to climb "high," gold prices and the Nikkei index soared to record "highs," and domestic temperatures shattered all-time "high" records. "High" was definitely the word of the year!
▼ #4: "Pulse" (脈)
The Osaka-Kansai Expo mascot, Myaku-Myaku, was an absolute sensation! Combined with the Expo's cultural exchange, the rise of a female Prime Minister, and a buzzing stock market, many felt a strong "pulse" of excitement throughout the nation.
▼ #5: "Myriad" / "Ten Thousand" (万)
The Osaka-Kansai Expo (or "Banpaku," using this character) was a hot topic, and the Nikkei index even surged past 50,000 points! A "myriad" of reasons for this one.
▼ #6: "Change" (変)
From the "changing" dissolution of Japan's ruling coalition in parliament to record-breaking temperatures and massive "changes" in AI technology, it was a year of dramatic shifts for the Japanese public.
▼ #7: "Expo" / "Doctor" (博)
The Osaka-Kansai "Expo" was a huge draw, and Japan also celebrated two Nobel Prize-winning "Doctors" (Shimon Sakaguchi and Susumu Kitagawa) this year, bringing this character into the spotlight.
▼ #8: "Woman" (女)
The appointment of Japan's first female Prime Minister and the blockbuster success of the film "Kokuhou," which prominently featured "onnagata" (male actors playing female roles), put this character firmly in the spotlight.
▼ #9: "New" (新)
A "new" Prime Minister, "new" technologies, "new" values, and the arrival of "new" things like the Nintendo Switch 2 all made this character a fitting choice for the year.
▼ #10: "First" (初)
This year was packed with "firsts"! Japan saw its first female Prime Minister, Ichiro Suzuki became the first Japanese player inducted into the American Baseball Hall of Fame, the Dodgers achieved their first back-to-back championship, and Japan's national football team scored their first-ever victory against Brazil in a friendly match. So many groundbreaking moments!
While these characters collectively paint a picture of Japan's major social events this year, "Bear" as the top pick truly highlights the public's widespread fear of bear attacks. It's a clear signal that the Japanese government needs to find a way to tackle this year-long crisis.
via： 「今年的漢字」官網