Japan selects this year's kanji as 'Dense (密)' influenced by COVID-19 prevention slogans

Japanese Government Implements '3M (Closed, Crowded, Close-contact)' Avoidance Measures for Disease Prevention

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Hyunjin] The kanji character symbolizing Japanese society this year, '密' (dense), was selected, NHK and others reported on the 14th.

According to the report, the Japan Kanji Aptitude Testing Foundation announced this year's kanji at the Kiyomizudera temple in Kyoto City on the same day. The foundation selects and announces the kanji of the year every December through postal and internet voting.

The selected character '密' (dense) was chosen because, due to the spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), the Japanese government and local governments proposed the slogan 'Avoid the 3密 (closed spaces, crowded places, close-contact settings)' as a quarantine measure, which greatly influenced the daily lives of Japanese people, the foundation explained. The foundation also cited that despite people being physically apart due to COVID-19, relationships with important people became '密' (close) through online means.

Previously, last year's kanji of the year was '令' (order). The accession of Emperor Naruhito in April last year, which changed Japan's era name to 'Reiwa (令和)', influenced the selection. The kanji of the year in 2018, a year marked by many natural disasters such as earthquakes, heavy rains, and typhoons, was '災' (disaster).

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.