“Kuma” Was 2025’s Kanji of the Year

In Japan, there is an annual event in which the public votes on a kanji character to represent the year. Held at the end of the year, the event is meant to showcase Japan’s overall state, for better or worse. The kanji can summarize an event, mark a change in economic health, or celebrate a momentous occasion in Japan. In 2025, the officially chosen kanji for the year was “kuma” or “bear”, a rather grim character all things considered.

Why is kanji chosen every year?

The Japan Kanji Aptitude Testing Foundation organizes the event at Kiyomizudera Temple in Kyoto. It began in 1975, and 2025 marks its fiftieth anniversary. Because of this milestone, the organizers chose the kanji with great care. People across Japan cast 189,122 public votes, and 23,166 selected kuma. Although this number is small compared to Japan’s total population, it still represents a large group of participants.

As mentioned previously, the Japan Kanji Aptitude Testing Foundation selects kanji each year to reflect on Japan during the prior year. For example, the other kanji that were in the running in 2025 were “Kome” or rice, and “taka” or high.

“Kome” was chosen due to rising rice prices nationwide. Similarly, taka was chosen due to the rising cost of living in Japan and the summer heat. Although it is not an official scientific or economic organization that can directly influence these (and other) problems, the Japan Kanji Aptitude Testing Foundation can help raise awareness of the issues that need to be addressed.

Why was “kuma” chosen for 2025?

Sadly, the kanji “kuma” (bear) was chosen as Japan’s kanji of the year. This was due to a record number of bear attacks across the country. Many people were injured, and some even lost their lives. Experts believe environmental changes may be to blame. Habitat loss, urban expansion, and food shortages for bears are key factors. Whatever the cause, the reality is that many people suffered from bear attacks last year.

Chief Buddhist priest at the Kiyomizudera Temple, Seihan Mori, was broadcasting painting the kanji live on TV. His thoughts on the matter are somber, yet heartfelt. “I pray for the victims to rest in peace. I think this serves as a reminder that we need to consider the problems arising from changes in the environment seriously.”

This is a significant statement regarding choosing kuma as the official kanji of the year, because it shows that the decision is not made in ignorance. It could be very predatory and callous to choose a word representing calamity and death, especially as the animal attacks were very public throughout the year.

Rather than using the sightings and attacks as sensational media, Seihan Mori has stated that the word is used to bring remembrance to those affected by the animals. In a day and age where social media headlines can often blur and dull one’s sense of empathy for the plight of others, it’s nice to see someone take special care to remind us that we should continue to care for our fellow neighbors.

What significance can kanji and words have for Japan?

The very idea of using a special word to denote an entire year is not unique to Japan, yet it is still marked as a wonderful time capsule. In 2020, for example, the kanji “mitsu” was chosen as the kanji of the year as it was part of Japan’s slogan to help stop the spread of COVID-19. Six years later, the world is very different from what it was before the COVID-19 pandemic. For many, it was a time of solitude, uncertainty, and plenty of anxiety. Looking back at mitsu being chosen for 2020 is a stark reminder of how radical the year was, not just for Japan but for the world as a whole.

Overall, words have meaning, whether they are spoken or read, printed or written by hand. Moreover, they convey our thoughts, feelings, emotions, hopes, and fears. Words can bring us together and tear us apart. When put together, words weave stories, histories, and the day-to-day dialogue of our lives. 

It might seem so simple and silly to put so much stock into a single word, or kanji as it were, but ultimately, these words carry weight with them. For those affected by the bear sightings and attacks of 2025, kuma is more than just a word. It’s a reminder of what was lost and how to prevent it in the future. What do you think of Japan’s kanji of the year? What would you have chosen? Please let us know! We’d love to hear from you!

Cited Sources

• Nippon.com. “‘Kuma’ Declared the Kanji of the Year for an ‘Unbearable’ 2025”.
• The Asahi Shimbun. “‘Bear’ chosen as kanji of 2025 after spike in recorded attacks‘”.
• Tokyo Weekender. “Bear Character Chosen as Japan’s Kanji of the Year for 2025“.