Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on December 2009

財団法人 日本漢字能力検定協会

The kanji for shin, meaning “new,” was chosen as the character that best represented 2009 in the Japan Kanji Aptitude Foundation’s annual poll, receiving 14,093 votes. Respondents cited the new H1N1 flu virus, a rash of new sports records (Ichiro Suzuki in baseball; Usain Bolt in running), various newly enacted policies (lay jury system, stimulus package to lower highway tolls)—and, of course, the brand spanking-new government. Over 160,000 people participated in this year’s poll. One respondent explained, “It was a year of looking forward to, fearing and embracing hope for many new things. Now that the world has taken a new step forward, I expect great things from the new era.”