The kanji for "sen," meaning war or battle, was picked as the single most representative Chinese character corresponding to the social mood in Japan this year, a Kyoto-based organization said Monday.
The selection for the 28th annual poll run by the Japan Kanji Aptitude Testing Foundation, based on votes cast by the general public, came as Russia's invasion of Ukraine and other international conflicts dominate headlines.
Domestically speaking, the Chinese character illustrated the public's excitement about the heated battles the Japanese national soccer team fought at the World Cup held in Qatar since late November. The Samurai Blue exited in the round of 16.
The choice also alluded to the public's struggle over rising costs in their daily lives.
In Kyoto, chief Buddhist priest Seihan Mori of Kiyomizu temple made the announcement by writing the character with a giant calligraphy brush on "washi," or Japanese paper, 1.5 meters high and 1.3 meters wide, at the renowned location.
Last year, the kanji for "kin," meaning gold or money, was picked after Japan had its best-ever haul of 27 gold medals at the Tokyo Olympics in the summer.
This is the second time "sen" has been chosen. It was also picked in December 2001, when terrorist attacks in the United States and domestic job cuts were among the reasons cited.
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