I did not know about this today, but every year Kanji certification association of Japan selects "The Kanji of the year"! It seems awfully bizarre to me, because it is like choosing "The Alphabet of the Year." (But then again, I would be very curious to know what the alphabet of 2009 would be. Anyone has any ideas.)
Well, Japan has spoken, and the Kanji of 2009 was selected today. It is the Kanji which stands for "new." Here, take a look. http://headlines.yahoo.co.jp/hl?a=20091211-00000564-san-soci.view-000
More than 160,000 people voted this year, which was the most votes that they have ever gotten in the 15 years of its history.
2009 saw Japan's Liberal Democratic Party defeated by Democratic Party of Japan; a new cabinet was born. People welcomed Prime Minister Hatoyama with hopes for change; he was to be a breath of fresh air. Whether he will be able to fulfill on that expectation is uncertain in the midst of issues with suspicious funding.
Being a Japanese myself, I have always believed that Japan is not a country made for revolutions. Japanese people are much too conservative and timid to seek a radical change. However, I may have been wrong. Japanese people have seen an opportunity for change and they grabbed hold of it. Whether they will be able to make it happen... is anyone's guess. For now, I am willing to believe that Japan is ready for change.
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