'Bear' Kanji Selected as Japan's Character of the Year 2025 Amid Record Sightings and Attacks

Kanji 'Kuma' Reflects National Mood

The kanji character 熊 (kuma), meaning 'bear,' was officially announced as Japan's Kanji of the Year for 2025 on Friday, December 12. The selection, made by the Japan Kanji Aptitude Testing Foundation, took place during a traditional ceremony at Kyoto's Kiyomizu Temple. The chief Buddhist priest, Seihan Mori, inscribed the character with a giant calligraphy brush onto a large sheet of Japanese washi paper, measuring approximately 1.5 meters high and 1.3 meters wide.

This annual tradition, which began in 1995, aims to encapsulate the social climate and significant events of the year through a single character chosen by public vote. The character 'bear' emerged as the top choice, garnering 23,346 votes, representing 12.3% of the total 189,122 public votes cast.

Surge in Bear Encounters Drives Selection

The primary reason for the selection of 熊 was the unprecedented increase in bear sightings and attacks across Japan throughout 2025. This year saw a record number of human injuries and fatalities, with bears venturing into urban and residential areas, causing widespread anxiety among the public.

• Between April and November 2025, a record 230 people were attacked by bears, surpassing the previous high of 219 for the entire fiscal year through March 2024.
• As of November 20, the number of fatalities due to bear attacks reached a record high of 13.
• Nationwide, there were 36,814 bear sightings from April to October 2025, nearly double the total from the prior fiscal year.
• The Asiatic black bear was responsible for 97% of human casualties.

These encounters led to the cancellation of events, closure of schools, and extensive damage to crops in rural communities, further straining local economies. Experts suggest that factors such as abandoned farmland, aging communities reducing human presence in mountain areas, and a decrease in natural food sources like beech nuts and acorns (possibly due to climate change) are driving bears closer to human settlements.

Government Response and Other Influences

In response to the escalating situation, the Japanese government has intensified its countermeasures. The environment ministry allocated ¥3.4 billion ($22 million) in its supplementary budget for 'bear countermeasures,' which include mobilizing retired police and self-defense forces as hunters and providing subsidies for traps and bear-monitoring drones.

While bear attacks were the dominant factor, the Japan Kanji Aptitude Testing Foundation also noted heightened public attention towards giant pandas as a secondary influence. Four pandas were repatriated to China from a theme park in Wakayama Prefecture this year, with the remaining two at Tokyo's Ueno Zoo scheduled to return next year.

Close Contenders and Historical Context

The kanji 米 (kome), meaning 'rice' (and also referring to the United States), was a close second in the voting, receiving 23,166 votes. Its strong showing was attributed to soaring rice prices and the political impact of the inauguration of U.S. President Donald Trump and his high tariff policies. The character 高 (taka), meaning 'high,' came in third, reflecting rising stock and commodity prices, as well as the election of Sanae Takaichi as Japan's first female Prime Minister.

This marks the first time that the kanji for 'bear' has been chosen as the Kanji of the Year, underscoring the profound impact of these wildlife encounters on the national consciousness in 2025.