KYOTO (TVBS News) — Japan announced the kanji of the year for 2023, selecting "稅" (tax), which was publicly inscribed by Mori Seihan, the chief abbot of the Kiyomizu-dera Temple in Kyoto on Tuesday (Dec. 12).
This marks the second time since 2014 that the character for tax has been chosen.
The Japan Kanji Aptitude Testing Foundation, which has conducted the annual kanji selection since 1995, noted that this year's choice symbolizes the Japanese people's heightened attention to the issues of tax increases and tax cuts.
A total of 147,878 individuals participated in the 2023 vote, with "稅" (tax) securing first place with 5,976 votes. The second and third most voted characters were "暑" (heat) and "戰" (war), respectively.
Japanese citizens have been actively discussing tax-related issues throughout the year. The government's consideration of a 40,000 yen tax reduction policy to stimulate the economy has also garnered widespread attention, resulting in a mix of anxiety and anticipation among the public with regard to tax adjustments.
The character chosen each year in Japan reflects the events that have left a significant impact on Japanese society. For instance, "戰" (war) was chosen in 2022 due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, "金" (gold) in 2021 in light of the Tokyo Olympics, and "密" (secrecy/density) in 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Meanwhile, in Taiwan, the "2023 Character of the Year" results were announced on Dec. 7, with "缺" (lack/shortage) soaring to the top spot, followed by "蛋" (egg) and "詐" (fraud) in second and third places, highlighting distinct societal concerns within the region.