Kanji of the year
Encyclopedia
The Kanji of the year is a kanji
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
. It began in 1995. The character with the most votes is selected to represent the events of that year, and is announced in a ceremony on December 12 (Kanji Day) at Kiyomizu Temple.
1996 ― 「食 shoku」(Food, eat)
1997 ― 「倒 tō」(Collapse, Knock Down)
1998 ― 「毒 doku」(Poison)
1999 ― 「末 sue」(End)
2000 ― 「金 kin」(Gold)
2001 ― 「戦 sen」(War)
2002 ― 「帰 ki」(Return)
2003 ― 「虎 tora」(Tiger)
2004 ― 「災 sai」(Disaster)
2005 ― 「愛 ai」(Love)
2006 ― 「命 inochi」(Life)
2007 ― 「偽 nise」(Deception)
2008 ― 「変 hen」(Change)
2009 ― 「新 shin」(New)
2010 ― 「暑 sho」(Hot)
Kanji
Kanji are the adopted logographic Chinese characters hanzi that are used in the modern Japanese writing system along with hiragana , katakana , Indo Arabic numerals, and the occasional use of the Latin alphabet...
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
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. It began in 1995. The character with the most votes is selected to represent the events of that year, and is announced in a ceremony on December 12 (Kanji Day) at Kiyomizu Temple.
Kanji of the year
1995 ― 「震 shin」(Quake)- The Great Hanshin-Awaji EarthquakeGreat Hanshin earthquakeThe Great Hanshin earthquake, or Kobe earthquake, was an earthquake that occurred on Tuesday, January 17, 1995, at 05:46 JST in the southern part of Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan. It measured 6.8 on the moment magnitude scale , and Mj7.3 on JMA magnitude scale. The tremors lasted for approximately 20...
. Growing feelings of unease caused by the sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subwaySarin gas attack on the Tokyo subwayThe Sarin attack on the Tokyo subway, usually referred to in the Japanese media as the , was an act of domestic terrorism perpetrated by members of Aum Shinrikyo on March 20, 1995....
.
1996 ― 「食 shoku」(Food, eat)
- Multiple outbreaks of food poisoningFoodborne illnessFoodborne illness is any illness resulting from the consumption of contaminated food, pathogenic bacteria, viruses, or parasites that contaminate food, as well as chemical or natural toxins such as poisonous mushrooms.-Causes:Foodborne illness usually arises from improper handling, preparation, or...
due to E. coli O157Escherichia coli O157:H7Escherichia coli O157:H7 is an enterohemorrhagic strain of the bacterium Escherichia coli and a cause of foodborne illness. Infection often leads to hemorrhagic diarrhea, and occasionally to kidney failure, especially in young children and elderly persons...
occur, affecting school lunch programs.
1997 ― 「倒 tō」(Collapse, Knock Down)
- A wave of corporate bankruptciesBankruptcyBankruptcy is a legal status of an insolvent person or an organisation, that is, one that cannot repay the debts owed to creditors. In most jurisdictions bankruptcy is imposed by a court order, often initiated by the debtor....
and bankBankA bank is a financial institution that serves as a financial intermediary. The term "bank" may refer to one of several related types of entities:...
failures. The Japanese teamJapan national football teamThe Japan national football team represents Japan in association football and is operated by the Japan Football Association, the governing body for association football in Japan...
beats regional powerhouses in the Asia qualifying tournament to win a berth in the 1998 FIFA World Cup1998 FIFA World CupThe 1998 FIFA World Cup, the 16th FIFA World Cup, was held in France from 10 June to 12 July 1998. France was chosen as host nation by FIFA on 2 July 1992. The tournament was won by France, who beat Brazil 3-0 in the final...
.
1998 ― 「毒 doku」(Poison)
- Sixty-seven people are sickened and 4 die after eating poisoned curry. Masumi HayashiMasumi Hayashi (poisoner)is a Japanese woman convicted of putting poison in a pot of curry being served at a 1998 summer festival in the Sonobe district of Wakayama, Wakayama Prefecture, Japan.-Summary:...
is arrested and similar incidents follow. Concern about dioxin.
1999 ― 「末 sue」(End)
- The final year of the century. The Tokaimura nuclear accidentTokaimura nuclear accidentThe Tokaimura nuclear accident , which occurred on 30 September 1999, resulted in two deaths. At that time, it was Japan's worst civilian nuclear radiation accident. The criticality accident occurred in a uranium reprocessing facility operated by JCO , a subsidiary of Sumitomo Metal Mining Co...
.
2000 ― 「金 kin」(Gold)
- Judo athlete Ryoko Tamura (now Ryoko Tani) and marathon-runner Naoko TakahashiNaoko Takahashiis a Japanese long-distance runner competing mainly in the marathon. She is widely known for her victory in the women's marathon at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, a performance that stands as the current Olympic record. At the 2001 Berlin Marathon, Takahashi became the first woman to break the 2...
win gold at the Sydney Olympics2000 Summer OlympicsThe Sydney 2000 Summer Olympic Games or the Millennium Games/Games of the New Millennium, officially known as the Games of the XXVII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was celebrated between 15 September and 1 October 2000 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
. Kim Dae JungKim Dae JungKim Dae-jung was President of South Korea from 1998 to 2003, and the 2000 Nobel Peace Prize recipient. He came to be called the "Nelson Mandela of Asia" for his long-standing opposition to authoritarian rule.-Early life:...
(金 大中) and Kim Jong-ilKim Jong-ilKim Jong-il, also written as Kim Jong Il, birth name Yuri Irsenovich Kim born 16 February 1941 or 16 February 1942 , is the Supreme Leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea...
(金 正日) hold the first North-South Korean presidential summit. Deaths of centenarian twin sisters Kin-san and Gin-sanKinsan Ginsan“Kinsan Ginsan” was the affectionate name given to twin sisters from Japan who were record-setting in terms of their longevity. They were and . Their maiden name was...
(whose names sound like Gold and Silver).
2001 ― 「戦 sen」(War)
- 9/11 terror attacksSeptember 11, 2001 attacksThe September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks (also referred to as September 11, September 11th or 9/119/11 is pronounced "nine eleven". The slash is not part of the pronunciation...
. The U.S. war in AfghanistanWar in Afghanistan (2001–present)The War in Afghanistan began on October 7, 2001, as the armed forces of the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Australia, and the Afghan United Front launched Operation Enduring Freedom...
. Global recessionRecessionIn economics, a recession is a business cycle contraction, a general slowdown in economic activity. During recessions, many macroeconomic indicators vary in a similar way...
.
2002 ― 「帰 ki」(Return)
- Japan and North Korea begin talks. Five Japanese citizens kidnappedNorth Korean abductions of JapaneseThe abductions of Japanese citizens from Japan by agents of the North Korean government happened during a period of six years from 1977 to 1983. Although only 17 Japanese are officially recognized by the Japanese government as having been abducted, there may have been as many as 70 to 80...
by North KoreaNorth KoreaThe Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , , is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea...
return to Japan.
2003 ― 「虎 tora」(Tiger)
- The Hanshin TigersHanshin TigersThe are a Nippon Professional Baseball team based in Koshien, Nishinomiya, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan, and are in the Central League. Hanshin Electric Railway Co., Ltd., the subsidiary of Hankyu Hanshin Holdings Inc., owns the Hanshin Tigers directly...
win the Central League pennant for the first time in 18 years.
2004 ― 「災 sai」(Disaster)
- The Chūetsu earthquake2004 Chuetsu earthquakeThe occurred at 5:56 p.m. on Saturday, October 23, 2004 . The Japan Meteorological Agency has named it the Heisei 16 Niigata Prefecture Chuetsu Earthquake or The Mid Niigata Prefecture Earthquake of 2004...
. Typhoon Tokage lands, causing tremendous damage. Accident at the MihamaMihama, Fukuiis a town located in Mikata District, Fukui, Japan.As of 2003, the town has an estimated population of 11,148 and a density of 73.19 persons per km²...
nuclear power plant. Mitsubishi MotorsMitsubishi Motorsis a multinational automaker headquartered in Minato, Tokyo. In 2009 it was the fifth-largest Japan-based automaker and the 17th-largest in the world measured by production...
scandal involving the cover-up of known defects.
2005 ― 「愛 ai」(Love)
- Expo 2005Expo 2005Expo 2005 was the World's Fair held for 185 days between Friday, March 25 and Sunday, September 25, 2005, in Aichi Prefecture, Japan, east of the city of Nagoya. It was a Specialized International Exhibition under the scheme of the 1972 protocol of the Convention relating to International Exhibitions...
is held in Aichi (愛知). Princess NoriSayako Kuroda, formerly , is the third child and only daughter of Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko of Japan. She held the childhood appellation "Nori no miya" . She married Yoshiki Kuroda on 15 November 2005...
marries Yoshiki Kuroda. Table tennisTable tennisTable tennis, also known as ping-pong, is a sport in which two or four players hit a lightweight, hollow ball back and forth using table tennis rackets. The game takes place on a hard table divided by a net...
athlete Ai FukuharaAi Fukuharais a Japanese table tennis player sponsored by All Nippon Airways.-Table tennis career:Fukuhara began playing at the age of 3 and became a professional at age 10. The following year, she became the youngest player ever to become a member of the Japanese national team. Because of her age, she has...
(福原 愛, Fukuhara Ai) plays in China.
2006 ― 「命 inochi」(Life)
- Prince Hisahito of AkishinoPrince Hisahito of Akishinois the third child of the Prince and Princess Akishino, and their only son. He is third in line to become Emperor of Japan.Prince Hisahito has two older sisters, Princess Mako of Akishino and Princess Kako of Akishino .- Name :His personal name Hisahito in this case means "serene and virtuous,"...
is born. Feelings of uncertainty about life arising from hit and runHit and run (vehicular)Hit-and-run is the act of causing a traffic accident , and failing to stop and identify oneself afterwards...
accidents due to driving under the influenceDriving under the influenceDriving under the influence is the act of driving a motor vehicle with blood levels of alcohol in excess of a legal limit...
, suicideSuicideSuicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
due to bullying, the suicide of a member of the Imperial Guard, and other causes. Living things that are born, life that is cut short or taken.
2007 ― 「偽 nise」(Deception)
- A series of food production/mislabeling scandals in which products that had expired were relabeled and sold. Problems over political funds and faulty pension records. Intellectual Property Infringement Controversy of Shijingshan Amusement Park, Beijing, China.
2008 ― 「変 hen」(Change)
- Changing of the Japanese prime minister, Barack ObamaBarack ObamaBarack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
winning the American presidentialPresident of the United StatesThe President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
elections using the word (change), economical and ecological changes around the world.
2009 ― 「新 shin」(New)
- The Democratic Party of Japan swept to power in August 2009 lower house elections to form a new government for the first time as the nation’s voters turned their backs on half a century of LDP single-party government. Swine fluSwine fluSwine influenza, also called pig influenza, swine flu, hog flu and pig flu, is an infection by any one of several types of swine influenza virus. Swine influenza virus or S-OIV is any strain of the influenza family of viruses that is endemic in pigs...
, known as Shin-gata influenza (新型インフルエンザ), breaks out around the world. Ichiro SuzukiIchiro Suzuki, usually known simply as is a Major League Baseball right fielder for the Seattle Mariners. Ichiro has established a number of batting records, including the sport's single-season record for hits with 262...
sets a new MLB record with nine consecutive seasons with 200 hits.
2010 ― 「暑 sho」(Hot)
- The high temperatures that affected people's health and lives, as well as the natural environment in Japan.The Chilean mine collapse2010 Copiapó mining accidentThe 2010 Copiapó mining accident, also known as the "Chilean mining accident", began in the afternoon of Thursday, 5 August 2010 as a significant cave-in at the troubled 121-year-old San José copper–gold mine. The mine is located deep in the Atacama Desert, one of the driest and harshest...
in which all the miners were rescued after having been trapped about 700 meters underground in a hot, humid mine.