The kanji for gold (金 kin) was chosen as the single most representative character symbolic of the social mood in Japan this year, the Kyoto-based Japan Kanji Aptitude Testing Foundation said Thursday. The character symbolized Japan's gold medals at the Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games, as well as Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani's golden year.
The character can also be read as kane, meaning money. This year Japan saw money problems with political slush funds, robberies by people recruited online and rising prices putting a strain on household finances.
In Kyoto, chief Buddhist priest Seihan Mori of Kiyomizu temple drew the character with a giant calligraphy brush on washi, or Japanese paper, 1.5 meters high and 1.3 meters wide, at the famous location. The event was televised live.
The selection for the 30th annual poll run by the foundation is based on votes cast by the general public.
The foundation received 221,971 answers. Of those, 12,148 were for gold, the fifth time that the kanji has been No. 1
The second most popular kanji was 災, sai (disaster) with 9,772 votes. Third with 7,486 votes was 翔, sho, (soar), the first character of Shohei Ohtani's name. Next were 震, shin (quake) and 選, sen (election).
Last year, the kanji of the year was tax (税, zei).
© Japan Today
15 Comments
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divinda
And of course, to symbolize unrelenting inflation.
kohakuebisu
I know Japanese calligraphy stylizes characters, but that is neither an unmistakable depiction of the character nor an attractive abstraction of it. It's missing the second stroke that forms half the "roof". This work is not especially beautiful, or balanced like the character is when normally written.
As for "kin" representing 2024, its a bit weak and unimaginative. I watch lots of sports but regard it as a personal weakness, not something to be celebrated. If this is to be a record year for tourism, surely rai 来 (come) would be more appropriate. Or any of the "ikusa" type kanji meaning war or strife.
dagon
Basically a small minority of individuals, supported by a large state and corporate funded organization, found wealth and success. While the vast, vast majority struggled.
Sounds about right.
kurisupisu
Someone having fun with kanji?
This kanji has been chosen (rather ironically), as gold has seen a meteoric rise this year, far in excess of most stock investments.
Bitcoin too.
Next year will see alt-coins do their thing.
There will be a need to invent a new kanji then…
NCIS Reruns
They already use 仮 (ka) which means false but is also used to mean virtual when referring to the currency. If enough greedy jerks sink their money into it, the word of the year is likely to be 破産 (hasan), meaning bankruptcy.
factchecker
Should be bronze since the value of the yen has reduced everyone's buying power.
Mr Kipling
Again? Didn't they choose this a few years ago. What ever the kanji for failure is would have been a better choice.
finally rich
Good pick, the Golden age for America and worldwide peace is about to (re)start.
BertieWooster
Yes, Kin is about right.
Gold for the corrupt LDP "politicians" who managed to keep theirs and escape punishment.
Gold for the pharmaceutical companies who made a killing with Covid and continue laughing all the way to the bank.
Gold for those who bought the metal while governments kept the printing presses running and the value of money plummeted.
OssanAmerica
At least Jong Un might be happy. Seriously, a rather unimaginitive choice. Considering what is going on all over the world this year, and the possibility of a conflict in the Indo-Pacific on the horizon I would have suggested 惧.
OssanAmerica
Agree. That photo looks more like 重 than 金.
Tokyo Guy
What a load of 金玉
Hello Kitty 321
＠kohakuebisu
While I agree that is a very ugly bit of calligraphy, when writing in the cursive style, the "roof" is depicted using a sort of 'L' shape so that part is okay, it is the rest that is terrible.
Speed
苦 ku as in "kurushimi" ＝ suffering, worry and hardship. I realy think this is how many in Japan are feeling. "Kane" is the last thing many people have in their pockets these days.
pogogo
Gold is ost appropriate now.
All things considered Japan has a golden culture, warts and all. What other culture has been so co opted globally in recent decades, from foods to anime, fashion, tourism?
The uniqueness of Japan society, it's members, for most part is worth the moniker. Those particularly enduring recent natural disasters are definitely deserving of gold status.