The kanji character “kin,” meaning gold or money, has been selected as Japan’s word of the year for 2023. This choice reflects Japan’s success at the Paris Olympics and a financial scandal within the ruling party. The character was unveiled at a Buddhist temple in Kyoto and received the most votes in the annual contest organized by the Japan Kanji Aptitude Testing Foundation.
This is the fifth time that “kin” has been chosen, thanks to its association with Japanese athletes’ achievements during Olympic years. However, this year’s selection also reflects public anger towards the Liberal Democratic party following a financial scandal involving its members.
The head priest of the temple expressed surprise at the choice, as he expected “wa” meaning circle to be selected to show solidarity with the Ishikawa prefecture, which was hit by an earthquake. Other popular choices included “sai” meaning disaster and “sho” which is part of the name of Japanese baseball star Shohei Ohtani.
Overall, the selection of the word “kin” as Japan’s word of the year for 2023 highlights the country’s success in sports, as well as its challenges with political corruption and natural disasters. It serves as a reflection of the events and sentiments that have shaped Japan over the past year.
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