Kanji of the year

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The Kanji of the year (今年の漢字 Kotoshi no Kanji) 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 the December 12 (Kanji Day) at Kiyomizu Temple.

[edit] Kanji of the year

1995 ― 「震」(Quake): The Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake. Growing feelings of unease caused by the sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway.
1996 ― 「食」(Food): Multiple outbreaks of food poisoning due to E. coli O157 occur, affecting school lunch programs.
1997 ― 「倒」(Collapse, Knock Down): A wave of corporate bankruptcies and bank failures. The Japanese team beats regional powerhouses in the Asia qualifying tournament to win a berth in the FIFA World Cup.
1998 ― 「毒」(Poison): Sixty-seven people are sickened and 4 die after eating poisoned curry. Similar incidents follow. Concern about dioxin.
1999 ― 「末」(End): The final year of the century. The Tokaimura nuclear accident.
2000 ― 「金」(Gold, kin): Judo athlete Ryoko Tamura (now Ryoko Tani) and marathon-runner Naoko Takahashi win gold at the Sydney Olympics. Kim Dae Jung (金大中) and Kim Jong-il (金正日) hold the first North-South Korean presidential summit. Deaths of centengenarian twin sisters Kin-san and Gin-san (whose names sound like Gold and Silver).
2001 ― 「戦」(War): 9/11 terror attacks. The U.S. war in Afganistan. Global recession.
2002 ― 「帰」(Return): Japan and North Korean begin talks. Five Japanese citizens kidnapped by North Korea return to Japan.
2003 ― 「虎」(Tiger): The Hanshin Tigers win the Central League pennant for the first time in 18 years.
2004 ― 「災」(Disaster): The Chūetsu earthquake. Typhoon Tokage lands, causing tremendous damage. Accident at the Mihama nuclear power plant. Mitsubishi Motors scandal involving the cover-up of known defects.
2005 ― 「愛」(Love, ai): Expo 2005 is held in Aichi (愛知). Princess Nori marries Yoshiki Kuroda. Table tennis athlete Ai Fukuhara (福原愛, Fukuhara Ai) plays in China. The popular Densha Otoko love story.
2006 ― 「命」(Life): Prince Hisahito of Akishino is born. Feelings of uncertainty about life arising from hit and run accidents due to driving under the influence, suicide 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.