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)

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

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.

'Kanji' meaning tax picked as best characterizing 2014

'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.

'Kanji' meaning tax picked as best characterizing 2014

'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.

'Kanji' meaning tax picked as best characterizing 2014

'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. (Kyodo)

'Kanji' meaning tax picked as best characterizing 2014

'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. (Kyodo)