Questions About Shodo, Japanese Calligraphy: What is “Kanji of the Year”
At the end of every year in Japan, there is an event called the “Kanji of the Year.” Since 1995, the Nihon Kanji Nouryoku Kentei Kyoukai (the Japan Kanji Proficiency Testing Public Interest Incorporated Foundation) has invited people across the country to vote for a single kanji character that best represents the year’s major events and social atmosphere.
According to the official website, more than 180,000 votes were submitted this year — a sign of how deeply this event resonates with people in Japan. The foundation is well known for administering the Kanji Proficiency Test abbreviated as Kanken, which is commonly taken by students and professionals as a way to demonstrate their knowledge of kanji characters.
The Kanji for 2025 is “Bear”
The character chosen for this year was 「熊 」(Bear), reflecting an increase in bear-related incidents across Japan, as well as news about giant pandas — whose Chinese name literally means “big-bear-cat” — being returned to China.
The second most popular character was「米」(Rice), which symbolizes soaring rice prices. Interestingly, the difference between first and second place was only 180 votes.
Calligraphy Performance by a Revered Buddhist Monk
The official announcement of Kanji of the Year is made through a live calligraphy performance every year at Kiyomizu Temple in Kyoto, one of Japan’s most iconic temples. The character is written by the temple’s head priest, who has been writing the Kanji of the Year every year since 1995 — an incredible tradition spanning over three decades.
You can watch the performance on the event official X account. The character 熊 appeared on a large sheet of paper in bold brushstrokes and deep black ink.
After the announcement, many people across Japan picked up a brush themselves and tried writing this kanji. You can even find videos online of people sharing their own calligraphy, each version reflecting a different feeling and personality.
This is the beauty of calligraphy:
even when writing the same character, no two works are ever the same.
Experience Japanese Calligraphy at Our Salon
At our salon, we offer a hands-on Japanese calligraphy experience using traditional brushes and ink. No prior experience is needed — just curiosity.
Why not try writing a Kanji that represents something meaningful to you? It could be the Kanji of the Year, a word connected to nature, or a character that reflects your own story. Taking time to write slowly, feeling the brush move across the paper, is a calm and mindful experience — a moment to connect with Japanese culture in a very personal way.
We invite you to experience the art of Japanese calligraphy with us.
