Japanese public votes in the annual event for the written character they think best represents the past year. According to the Japan Kanji Aptitude Testing Foundation, which organises the vote, the mood was darker this year
Seihan Mori, master of the ancient Kiyomizu temple, writes the Chinese character, known in Japan as "kanji", for 'war', which was selected as the single best kanji to symbolise the year of 2022 at a temple in Kyoto. Image: STR / Jiji Preaa/ AFP
Japan chose the kanji character for war on Monday as the symbol for 2022 after a year marked by Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the assassination of former leader Shinzo Abe.
The public votes in the annual event for the written character they think best represents the past year. Olympic-themed choices dominated 2021.