Chief Priest Mori Seihan of Kiyomizu-dera Temple brushes the kanji of the year, "熊" (bear), on December 12 in Kyoto's Higashiyama Ward. (©Sankei by Daiki Watanabe)
The Japan Kanji Aptitude Testing Foundation announced on December 12 that the kanji chosen to represent the mood of 2025 is "熊" (bear). This marks the first time the character has been selected.
Record Bear Encounters
Bears were spotted in many parts of Japan this year, and the number of human injuries reached a record high. The issue drew national attention after legal revisions allowed municipalities to decide whether to capture or cull bears through so-called "emergency gun hunts."
The return of pandas from Adventure World in Shirahama, Wakayama Prefecture, to China was also cited as a factor in the kanji's selection.
At around 2 PM on December 12, Chief Priest Mori Seihan of Kiyomizu-dera Temple in Kyoto brushed the character "熊" on a large sheet of washi paper. The paper measured about 1.5 meters high (59 inches) and 1.3 meters wide.
The "Kanji of the Year" initiative began in 1995 and marks its 30th anniversary this year. Votes were collected via the foundation's website and by postcard, and the character receiving the most votes was selected.
Voting Results
A total of 189,122 votes were cast, with "bear" receiving 23,346. A close second was "米" (rice) with 23,166 votes, reflecting rising rice prices and the release of government stockpiles.
Third was "高" (high), with 18,300 votes. The character was linked to rising prices and soaring stock markets, as well as to Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, whose surname includes the character. She became Japan's first female prime minister in constitutional history in October.
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(Read the article in Japanese.)
Author: The Sankei Shimbun
