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
I think I read somewhere that “inochi” ? was chosen in reaction to the recent spate of student suicides in Japan. The idea is to remind students of the importance of life.
Even more student suicides there? How sad.
Matt has some other useful comments on ?.