“Kuma,” or Bear, Chosen for Kanji of 2025

Kyoto, Dec. 12 (Jiji Press)–“Kuma,” meaning bear, was picked Friday as the kanji character of the year in Japan, amid a series of wild bear attacks across the country. It was the first time that kuma has been selected as the kanji of the year. The kanji character was written with a calligraphy brush at an event at Kiyomizu-dera in the western Japanese city of Kyoto by Seihan Mori, chief priest of the famous Buddhist temple. Kuma received the most votes in a poll conducted by the Japan Kanji Aptitude Testing Foundation by mail and online from November, garnering 23,346 of 189,122 votes cast in the 31st annual kanji selection. As well as the bear attacks, the return of four giant pandas to China in June from the Adventure World amusement facility in Wakayama Prefecture, western Japan, was also mentioned as a reason to pick the character. Referring to the selection of kuma, the chief priest said, “I think people must have a strong impression as the topic had been widely reported.” He added, “The Earth’s environment is changing, and I felt that bears are drawing closer to our daily lives.” “Kome,” the kanji character meaning rice, came in second, with 23,166 votes, mainly due to the continued surge in rice prices and the releases of government-stockpiled rice. The selection of the kanji, which can also be pronounced “bei” and used in the abbreviated two-character kanji combination for the United States, also reflected high tariffs by the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump. In third place was a kanji character with the meaning of “high.” The character is included in the surname of Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, the first-ever female prime minister in the country. It attracted 18,300 votes. The kanji of the year written on a large board will be exhibited in the temple until Dec. 22. It will be showcased at the Japan Kanji Museum & Library in the city from Dec. 23. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]