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Learn moreKanji of the Year
Each year, the Japan Kanji Aptitude Testing Foundation selects one kanji character that best represents the events and sentiments of the past year.
Chosen to represent the successive bear appearances and expanding damage across Japan in 2025, including record human casualties and government countermeasures. Also reflects the return of pandas (bear cats) to China.
30 Years of History
(1995-2024)
Click any kanji to learn more about its historical significance.
The Tradition
Since 1995, the Japan Kanji Aptitude Testing Foundation has been selecting the "Kanji of the Year" (今年の漢字) based on public votes and the year's significant events. This tradition began when the foundation noticed people writing kanji on New Year's temple walls expressing their hopes and reflections for the coming year.
Each kanji represents not just a word, but the collective sentiment, challenges, and aspirations of Japanese society throughout the previous year. The "Kanji of the Year" has become an important cultural event in Japan, reflecting the collective consciousness and major events that shape each year.
Kanji information sourced from the Japan Kanji Aptitude Testing Foundation
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