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31st anniv. of Great Hanshin Earthquake

Forty-nine candles are lit at a park in Amagasaki, Hyogo Prefecture, on Jan. 17, 2026, creating a Japanese "kanji" character meaning "life" as the western Japan city and its surrounding areas mark the 31st anniversary of the 1995 Great Hanshin Earthquake that killed over 6,400 people, including 49 in the city.

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[Breaking News]Kanji for "bear" chosen as best to characterize 2025

KYOTO, Japan, Dec. 12 Kyodo - Seihan Mori, chief Buddhist priest of Kiyomizu temple in Kyoto, writes the kanji character "kuma," meaning bear, with a calligraphy brush during the annual kanji-of-the-year event on Dec. 12, 2025. The character was chosen to symbolize the national mood for the year due to frequent bear sightings and related incidents across Japan, as well as attention to the return of pandas - written with characters meaning "bear" and "cat" - to China. (Kyodo)

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Kanji for "bear" chosen as best to characterize 2025

KYOTO, Japan, Dec. 12 Kyodo - Seihan Mori, chief Buddhist priest of Kiyomizu temple in Kyoto, writes the kanji character "kuma," meaning bear, with a calligraphy brush during the annual kanji-of-the-year event on Dec. 12, 2025. The character was chosen to symbolize the national mood for the year due to frequent bear sightings and related incidents across Japan, as well as attention to the return of pandas - written with characters meaning "bear" and "cat" - to China. (Kyodo)

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Kanji for "bear" chosen as best to characterize 2025

Seihan Mori, chief Buddhist priest of Kiyomizu temple in Kyoto, writes the kanji character "kuma," meaning bear, with a calligraphy brush during the annual kanji-of-the-year event on Dec. 12, 2025. The character was chosen to symbolize the national mood for the year due to frequent bear sightings and related incidents across Japan, as well as attention to the return of pandas - written with characters meaning "bear" and "cat" - to China.

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Kanji for "bear" chosen as best to characterize 2025

Seihan Mori, chief Buddhist priest of Kiyomizu temple in Kyoto, writes the kanji character "kuma," meaning bear, with a calligraphy brush during the annual kanji-of-the-year event on Dec. 12, 2025. The character was chosen to symbolize the national mood for the year due to frequent bear sightings and related incidents across Japan, as well as attention to the return of pandas - written with characters meaning "bear" and "cat" - to China.

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Kanji for "bear" chosen as best to characterize 2025

Seihan Mori, chief Buddhist priest of Kiyomizu temple in Kyoto, writes the kanji character "kuma," meaning bear, with a calligraphy brush during the annual kanji-of-the-year event on Dec. 12, 2025. The character was chosen to symbolize the national mood for the year due to frequent bear sightings and related incidents across Japan, as well as attention to the return of pandas - written with characters meaning "bear" and "cat" - to China.

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Kanji for "kin," meaning gold or money, chosen as best to characterize 2024

KYOTO, Japan, Dec. 12 Kyodo - Seihan Mori, chief Buddhist priest of Kiyomizu temple in Kyoto, writes the kanji character "kin," meaning gold or money, with a calligraphy brush on Dec. 12, 2024. The character was selected as the best single kanji to symbolize the national mood for the year as Japanese athletes had their second-best ever performance at the Olympics with 20 gold medals in Paris, while a money scandal rocked the ruling Liberal Democratic Party. (Kyodo)

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Kanji for "kin," meaning gold or money, chosen as best to characterize 2024

Seihan Mori, chief Buddhist priest of Kiyomizu temple in Kyoto, writes the kanji character "kin," meaning gold or money, with a calligraphy brush on Dec. 12, 2024. The character was selected as the best single kanji to symbolize the national mood for the year as Japanese athletes had their second-best ever performance at the Olympics with 20 gold medals in Paris, while a money scandal rocked the ruling Liberal Democratic Party.

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Paris Olympics: Football

A spectator poses for a photo with a "hachimaki" Japanese traditional headband with the kanji for "Japan" at a Paris Olympics men's football Group D match between Japan and Paraguay on July 24, 2024, at Bordeaux Stadium in Bordeaux, southwestern France.

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Kanji for "tax" chosen to symbolize Japan's social mood in 2023

KYOTO, Japan Kyodo - Seihan Mori, chief Buddhist priest of Kiyomizu temple in Kyoto, writes the kanji character "zei," meaning tax, with a calligraphy brush on Dec. 12, 2023. The character was selected as the best single kanji to symbolize the national mood for the year as tax-related issues hit headlines, including the government's temporary income tax cut of 40,000 yen per person planned next fiscal year. (Kyodo)

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Kanji for "tax" chosen to symbolize Japan's social mood in 2023

Seihan Mori, chief Buddhist priest of Kiyomizu temple in Kyoto, writes the kanji character "zei," meaning tax, with a calligraphy brush on Dec. 12, 2023. The character was selected as the best single kanji to symbolize the national mood for the year as tax-related issues hit headlines, including the government's temporary income tax cut of 40,000 yen per person planned next fiscal year.

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Rugby World Cup: Japan vs. Samoa

Kanji Shimokawa (R) and Warner Dearns of Japan tackle a Samoan player during the second half of a Rugby World Cup Pool D match at Stadium de Toulouse in Toulouse, France, on Sept. 28, 2023.

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RWC - England v Japan

Ben Earl #7 of England and Kanji Shimokawa #20 of Japan during the Rugby World Cup match between England and Japan at Stade de Nice on September 17, 2023 in Nice, France. Photo by Baptiste Paquot/ABACAPRESS.COM

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Rugby World Cup: Japan vs. England

Japan's Kanji Shimokawa holds onto the ball during the second half of a Rugby World Cup Pool D match against England at Stade de Nice in Nice, France, on Sept. 17, 2023.

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Rugby: Japan's pre-World Cup training

Japan player Kanji Shimokawa works out during a gym session ahead of the upcoming Rugby World Cup at the Brave Blossoms' base in Toulouse, France, on Sept. 5, 2023.

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Fujii joins Habu as only player in shogi history with 7 titles

Photo taken on June 2, 2023, in the Aichi Prefecture city of Seto, the hometown of shogi player Sota Fujii, shows a soda float with the kanji character for "seven" on it served to celebrate his securing of the Meijin title, shogi's most prestigious and oldest, the previous day in a best-of-seven series in Takayama, Nagano Prefecture. The 20-year-old became the second player in the board game's history to hold seven titles simultaneously, after Yoshiharu Habu in 1996, and also became the youngest Meijin title holder, breaking the previous record of 21 years and two months set by Koji Tanigawa in 1983.

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Fujii joins Habu as only player in shogi history with 7 titles

Shogi player Sota Fujii poses in front of a paper lantern with the kanji characters for "Fujii" inn, the venue of the best-of-seven shogi Meijin series, written on it in Takayama in Nagano Prefecture, central Japan, on June 2, 2023, a day after clinching the most prestigious and oldest title. The 20-year-old became the second player in the board game's history to hold seven titles simultaneously, after Yoshiharu Habu in 1996, and also became the youngest Meijin title holder, breaking the previous record of 21 years and two months set by Koji Tanigawa in 1983.

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28th anniversary of Great Hanshin Earthquake

Photo taken on Jan. 16, 2023, shows stacked stones arranged to spell out the kanji for "life" lit up near a river in Takarazuka, Hyogo Prefecture, during an event marking the 28th anniversary of the Great Hanshin Earthquake, which struck the western Japan city of Kobe and its vicinity killing more than 6,000 people.

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28th anniversary of Great Hanshin Earthquake

People place lights on stacked stones arranged to spell out the kanji for "life" near a river in Takarazuka, Hyogo Prefecture, on Jan. 16, 2023, during an event marking the 28th anniversary of the Great Hanshin Earthquake, which struck the western Japan city of Kobe and its vicinity killing more than 6,000 people.

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28th anniversary of Great Hanshin Earthquake

People offer silent prayers besides stacked stones arranged to spell out the kanji for "life" near a river in Takarazuka, Hyogo Prefecture, on Jan. 16, 2023, during an event marking the 28th anniversary of the Great Hanshin Earthquake, which struck the western Japan city of Kobe and its vicinity killing more than 6,000 people.

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Sea lion writes kanji for new year

A South American sea lion writes the kanji character meaning "rabbit" at Yokohama Hakkeijima Sea Paradise in Yokohama, near Tokyo, on Dec. 26, 2022, ahead of the 2023 Year of the Rabbit in the Chinese zodiac.

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Sea lion writes kanji for new year

A South American sea lion writes the kanji character meaning "rabbit" at Yokohama Hakkeijima Sea Paradise in Yokohama, near Tokyo, on Dec. 26, 2022, ahead of the 2023 Year of the Rabbit in the Chinese zodiac.

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Sea lion writes kanji for new year

A South American sea lion writes the kanji character meaning "rabbit" at Yokohama Hakkeijima Sea Paradise in Yokohama, near Tokyo, on Dec. 26, 2022, ahead of the 2023 Year of the Rabbit in the Chinese zodiac.

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Sea lion writes kanji for new year

A South American sea lion writes the kanji character meaning "rabbit" at Yokohama Hakkeijima Sea Paradise in Yokohama, near Tokyo, on Dec. 26, 2022, ahead of the 2023 Year of the Rabbit in the Chinese zodiac.

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Kanji characterizing 2013

KYOTO, Japan - Photo shows the kanji "wa," meaning ring, which chief Buddhist priest Seihan Mori has written at Kiyomizu Temple in Kyoto on Dec. 12, 2013. "Wa" was chosen as the Chinese character best symbolizing 2013's national ethos in Japan.

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Kanji characterizing 2013

KYOTO, Japan - Photo shows chief Buddhist priest Seihan Mori and the kanji "wa," meaning ring, he has written at Kiyomizu Temple in Kyoto on Dec. 12, 2013. "Wa" was chosen as the Chinese character best symbolizing 2013's national ethos in Japan.

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Kanji characterizing 2013

KYOTO, Japan - Photo shows chief Buddhist priest Seihan Mori and the kanji "wa," meaning ring, he has written at Kiyomizu Temple in Kyoto on Dec. 12, 2013. "Wa" was chosen as the Chinese character best symbolizing 2013's national ethos in Japan.

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Kanji museum opens in Kyoto

KYOTO, Japan, June 29 Kyodo - Photo taken in the western Japan city of Kyoto shows tourists making the kanji character "fuku," meaning "to hide" in Japanese, at the Japan Kanji Museum & Library on June 29, 2016, the day of its opening. The museum, launched by the Japan Kanji Aptitude Testing Foundation, allows visitors to deepen their knowledge about the shape, sound and meaning of each Chinese character through interactive exhibitions.

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Top 3 'lucky man' race finishers hold up character, pictures

OSAKA, Japan - The top three finishers of an annual race to pick a "Fuku-otoko" (lucky man) raise a framed Chinese kanji character and paintings, all suggesting luck, at Nishinomiya Shrine in Nishinomiya, Hyogo Prefecture, western Japan, on Jan. 10, 2015. From R: runner-up Yuya Koike, winner Tomonori Shiwa and third-place Koki Ishida.

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Winner of 'lucky man race' at Shinto shrine in west Japan

OSAKA, Japan - Tomonori Shiwa raises the Chinese kanji character "fuku" or luck in a frame as the winner of an annual race to pick a "Fuku-otoko" (lucky man) at Nishinomiya Shrine in Nishinomiya, Hyogo Prefecture, western Japan, on Jan. 10, 2015. He reached the main hall of the Shinto shrine ahead of other participants to be crowned the year's lucky man.

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Western Japan Shinto shrine sells lucky charms

YAMAGUCHI, Japan - Charms with attractive "kanji" characters such as "un" for luck and "qi" for life energy written on them are on sale on Dec. 5, 2014, at Kotozaki Hachimangu, a Shinto shrine in Ube, Yamaguchi Prefecture, western Japan.

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'Kanji' meaning tax picked as best characterizing 2014

KYOTO, Japan - Seihan Mori (L), the chief priest of Kiyomizu Temple in Kyoto, writes the "kanji" character "zei" meaning tax on a large sheet of "washi" paper on Dec. 12, 2014, at the announcement by the Japan Kanji Aptitude Testing Foundation of the single best kanji symbolizing the year 2014 in Japan.

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'Kanji' meaning tax picked as best characterizing 2014

KYOTO, Japan - Seihan Mori (L), the chief priest of Kiyomizu Temple in Kyoto, writes the "kanji" character "zei" meaning tax on a large sheet of "washi" paper on Dec. 12, 2014, at the announcement by the Japan Kanji Aptitude Testing Foundation of the single best kanji symbolizing the year 2014 in Japan.

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Kanji of year in 2 decades exhibited in Kyoto

KYOTO, Japan - The Japan Kanji Aptitude Testing Foundation starts an exhibition of the "kanji" Japanese character representing social conditions of each year from 1995 to 2013 at Kiyomizu-dera, a Buddhist temple in Kyoto, on Dec. 1, 2014. This year's kanji will be added after its announcement on Dec. 12.

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Pyongyang girls cheer for 'Antonio' Inoki

PYONGYANG, North Korea - North Korean girls cheer Japanese upper house member and former professional wrestler Kanji "Antonio" Inoki (far L), who co-hosted a pro wrestling event in Pyongyang, upon entering a gymnasium in the capital city on Aug. 30, 2014.

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Kanji for 'kizuna' formed with candle lanterns

NATORI, Japan - The "kanji" character for "kizuna," or bond, is formed using candle lanterns at Yuriage Junior High School in Natori, Miyagi Prefecture on March 11, 2014, the third anniversary of the earthquake and tsunami disaster.

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Kanji characterizing 2013

TOKYO, Japan - Prime Minister Shinzo Abe answers reporters' questions at the prime minister's office in Tokyo on Dec. 12, 2013. While "wa" was chosen as the Chinese character best symbolizing 2013's national ethos in Japan, Abe said he chose "yume" meaning dream as the year's kanji, as Tokyo won its bid in September to host the 2020 Olympic Games.

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Japan's tsunami anniv. commemorated in Indonesia's Aceh

JAKARTA, Indonesia - Junior high school students form a kanji letter of the Japanese word ''kizuna,'' which means bonds or connections between people, during a ceremony in the village of Peukan Bada, near Indonesia's Aceh provincial capital Banda Aceh on March 11, 2013, to commemorate the second anniversary of the earthquake and tsunami in northeastern Japan.

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Sea lion practices New Year calligraphy

YOKOHAMA, Japan - A male South American sea lion practices on Dec. 26, 2011, for a calligraphy writing display on New Year's Day at Yokohama Hakkeijima Sea Paradise in Kanagawa Prefecture. With the assistance of a zookeeper, he wrote the kanji representing the animal symbol of 2012, a year of the dragon.

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'Kizuna' (bond) selected as kanji of 2011 in Japan

KYOTO, Japan - Seihan Mori, chief priest at Kiyomizu Temple, writes the kanji that can be read ''kizuna,'' meaning bond, at the Buddhist temple in Kyoto on Dec. 12, 2011. ''Kizuna'' has been chosen by a kanji promotion organization as the kanji that best characterizes the year 2011.

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Calligraphy expressing hope for reconstruction

TOKYO, Japan - Hisaki Miyadate (R), vice governor of Iwate Prefecture, which was hit by the March 11 quake-tsunami disaster, holds a calligraphy work of Seihan Mori, chief priest of Kiyomizudera temple in Kyoto, at the Iwate prefectural government office in Morioka on Nov. 8, 2011. The Japanese kanji character for ''kizuna'' (bond) represented in the work was chosen by the Buddhist priest as an expression of hope for reconstruction from the disaster.

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Floral kanji of 'life' in Amagasaki

AMAGASAKI, Japan - Photo taken from a Kyodo News helicopter on April 24, 2011, shows the kanji for ''life'' formed by flowers in a field near the site of a fatal train accident in Amagasaki, Hyogo Prefecture, a day before the 6th anniversary of the West Japan Railway Co. derailment in which 106 passengers and the driver were killed and 562 people were injured.

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Ban imposed on access to nuclear crisis area

FUKUSHIMA, Japan - Police alert drivers about access-restricted areas at a crossroads 30 kilometers from the crippled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, in Minamisoma, Fukushima Prefecture, on March 30, 2011. The sign in kanji on the board (L) says, ''Restricted Access.''

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'Hot' chosen as kanji of the year

KYOTO, Japan - Seihan Mori, chief priest of Kiyomizu temple, writes the kanji character ''sho,'' meaning hot, during an annual calligraphy ceremony to unveil the Chinese character of the year at the temple in Kyoto on Dec. 10, 2010. The kanji character was voted as best characterizing Japan, which experienced a record-hot summer.

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Kanji meaning 'open' said to characterize Japan

TOKYO, Japan - Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshito Sengoku holds a sign showing the kanji character meaning ''opening up'' or ''leading the way'' as best characterizing Japan in the year 2010 during a press conference in Tokyo on Dec. 10, 2010.

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Kanji meaning 'new' picked to best characterize year 2009

KYOTO, Japan - Seihan Mori (R), chief priest of Kiyomizu temple in Kyoto, and Akio Kioi, head of the Japan Kanji Aptitude Testing Foundation, pose for photos after Mori wrote the character ''shin'' on a large piece of ''washi'' Japanese paper on Dec. 11, 2009. The character, which means ''new'' in English, has been chosen as the single best kanji to symbolize the year 2009.

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Kanji meaning 'new' picked to best characterize year 2009

KYOTO, Japan - Seihan Mori, chief priest of Kiyomizu temple in Kyoto, writes the character ''shin,'' which means ''new'' in English, with a dash of a calligraphy brush on a large piece of ''washi'' Japanese paper on Dec. 11, 2009. The character has been chosen as the single best kanji to symbolize the year 2009.

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Kanji body chief to step down over business practice allegations

TOKYO, Japan - Noboru Okubo (R), head of the Japan Kanji Aptitude Testing Foundation, bows in apology during a press conference at the education ministry in Tokyo on April 15 after presenting the ministry with plans to reform the foundation's business practices following allegations of impropriety. Okubo said he will step down from the foundation's board in his first public appearance since the revelation in January of the problems with his organization.

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Ministry searches 'kanji' testing body over alleged illicit deals

KYOTO, Japan - This photo taken Feb. 9 shows the headquarters of the Japan Kanji Aptitude Testing Foundation in Kyoto. The education ministry searched the head office of the public-interest corporation the same day after it was alleged to have engaged in illegal business practices in its administration of aptitude tests for ''kanji'' Chinese characters.

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Obama-inspired kanji chosen as best characterizing 2008

KYOTO, Japan - Seihan Mori, head of Kiyomizu-dera temple in Kyoto, writes the character ''hen,'' which means ''change'' in English, on Dec. 12 as the character has been chosen as the single best kanji to characterize the year 2008.