"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.
The reasons cited for the selection were the record high number of human casualties and deaths caused by bears, and the return of pandas to China.
A total of 189,122 votes were submitted. "Kuma" (bear) came in first with 23,346 votes, accounting for 12.34%. "Kome" (rice) came in second place with 23,166 votes, a close second.
For 2024, the choice was made for "Kin" (gold), reflecting the gold medal won at the Paris Olympics and Paralympics and the Liberal Democratic Party's slush fund scandal.
Selecting the kanji of the year is an annual December event, marking its 31st year since its inception in 1995. It is a familiar sight in December. Votes are collected from across the country on the website of the Japan Kanji Aptitude Testing Foundation and other platforms, and the kanji with the most votes is selected.
