Japan’s kanji of the year: 命
I can’t seem to manage the enthusiasm to talk about the selection now, so maybe commenters can handle this one. (Pretty please!) But at least 命 is more interesting than the kanji of the year for 2005: 愛.
source: ２００６年「今年の漢字」応募集計結果発表, December 13, 2006
other reading: Taiwan’s Chinese character of the year, Pinyin News, January 22, 2006
Kaminoge said,
December 14, 2006 @ 11:05 pm
I think I read somewhere that “inochi” 命 was chosen in reaction to the recent spate of student suicides in Japan. The idea is to remind students of the importance of life.
site admin said,
December 14, 2006 @ 11:20 pm
Even more student suicides there? How sad.
Matt has some other useful comments on 命.