"Kuma" (bear) has been chosen as the kanji of the year, representing the state of the world. The Japan Kanji Aptitude Testing Foundation (Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto City) announced the selection on December 12, 2025, at Kiyomizu-dera Temple, a World Heritage Site in Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto City. The calligraphy was written by the temple's abbot, Mori Seihan.
Articles are excerpts from reports and news in the Kyoto Shimbun. Due to automatic translation, some expressions may not be accurate.
