Join Our Newsletter
  • Visit Our Store
  • Come Write for J-List!
J-List Blog
Visit J-List - Your Favorite Online Shop and Friend in Japan
  • Featured
  • News
  • Gallery
  • Product Reports
  • Your Friend in Japan
No Result
View All Result
J-List Blog
  • Featured
  • News
  • Gallery
  • Product Reports
  • Your Friend in Japan
No Result
View All Result
J-List Blog
No Result
View All Result

Kanji of the Year 2013

Peter Payne by Peter Payne
11 years ago
in Your Friend in Japan

Today (December 12) is 漢字の日 kanji no hi or Kanji Day, a day for appreciating the role of Chinese characters in modern Japanese society. It’s also the day the Japanese Kanji Proficiency Society announces the “kanji of the year,” the single character that best sums up the events of the past twelve months, which is done at a ceremony at the beautiful Kiyomizu-dera temple in Kyoto. The character for 2013 has been announced, and it’s….輪, meaning circle, hoop or ring, clearly a reference to Japan’s winning of the 2020 Olympics, which are called 五輪 gorin (“five rings”) in Japanese. The character is pronounced wa when used by itself or in certain words like 輪ゴム wa-gomu, a rubber band, and rin (reen) when forming more advanced words like 一輪車 ichi rin-sha, a unicycle, or 輪廻 rin-ne, the Buddhist concept of death and rebirth (samsara). Perhaps the most common use of 輪 (wa) is to describe your circle of friends (友達の輪 tomodachi no wa). Previous kanji of the year have included 命 inochi (life) in 2006, a year marked by a record number of suicides; 変 hen (change) in 2008, a year of change for Japan as well as the world; and 絆 kizuna (bond, as in the bonds that tie us to one another) after the terrible trials of the earthquakes and tsunamis of 2011.

The Kanji of the Year for 2013 is 輪。

Tags: BuddhismJapanJapanese languagekanjikanji of the year

More Posts Like This

When The Subtitles Substitute Name For Onii Chan
Your Friend in Japan

Onii-chan, No! When Translators Don’t Follow Japanese Naming Conventions

by Peter Payne
6 months ago

How do you feel when you're watching anime and a character uses an honorific like "Onii-chan," but the subtitles use...

Camera Angles In Anime
Your Friend in Japan

Yandere Meets Instant Noodles! Anime Marketing with Seiyuu Saori Hayami

by Peter Payne
6 months ago

Last week X lit up with the hashtag #早見沙織, or #HayamiSaori. Being a huge fan of anime voice actress Hayami...

How Do Japanese View U.s. Elections

Elections in Japan vs The US! How Does Japan View American Politics?

7 months ago
Japanese Is Similar To Spanish Blog

Why Is Japanese So Similar to Spanish? Let’s Compare Both Languages!

8 months ago
What Products Should You Get On The J List Sale Page

Senpai, Want to Save Some Money? Browse the J-list Sale Page!

8 months ago
Say Goodbye To Summer With J List $20 Coupon

Goodbye, Anime Summer! Enjoy A New $20 Coupon!

9 months ago
Next Post
Sgbox Printingsjahs

Steins;Gate's Package is Printing Now

Trending Today

Please Put Them On Takamine San PV2 5
News

The Power of No Panties, Please Put Them On, Takamine-san

3 months ago
Spring 2025 Ecchi Anime Web Cover
News

Spring 2025 Ecchi Anime and Where to Watch Them

2 months ago
Shock! Manga Artists Who Also Created Hentai
Your Friend in Japan

Shock! 15 Famous Manga Artists Who Also Made Hentai

1 year ago
Anime Reverse Image Search Ultimate Guide
Your Friend in Japan

Find That Anime! The Ultimate Anime Reverse Image Search Guide

1 week ago
Haite Kudasai, Takamine San Episode 4 Featured Image
Featured

Haite Kudasai, Takamine-san, Episode 4 — Choose Your Own Adventurous Lingerie!

1 day ago
Get the Newest Figures from J-List - Your Favorite Online Shop and Friend in Japan
Happy News! J List's Fiscal Year End Sale Gives You The Best Anime Deals
Your Friend in Japan

Don’t Miss the Best Anime Deals in J-List’s Fiscal Year-End Clearance!

by Peter Payne
May 19, 2025

Makina-san a Love Bot?!, Episode 7 — I Swear It’s Eye Candy

Makina-san a Love Bot?!, Episode 1 — Gyaru Sex Robots?!

Makina-San a Love Bot?!, Episode 2 — Hands Off My Virginity

Makina-san a Love Bot?!, Episode 3 — It’s a Shower Episode?!

The Makina-san a Love Bot?! English Dub Premieres April 30

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Discord
  • YouTube

© J-LIST. All trademarks, characters and images are property of their respective owners.

No Result
View All Result
  • Featured
  • News
  • Gallery
  • Product Reports
  • Your Friend in Japan

© J-LIST. All trademarks, characters and images are property of their respective owners.

No Result
View All Result
  • Featured
  • News
  • Gallery
  • Product Reports
  • Your Friend in Japan

© J-LIST. All trademarks, characters and images are property of their respective owners.