A few days ago, the kanji of the year 2013 was announced in Japan. It is “輪 (wa)”, means ring, circle, hoop or round. It seems like becoming the Olympic host 2020 affected Japan a lot this year.

This year, the head monk of the Kiyomizu-dera (清水寺) in Kyoto, Mori Seihan (森清範) wrote the word, WA. 

Monk Mori says, “Wa means many people get together and move things well. Also the sound is the same as the Kanji 和 (peace). Let´s make a peaceful circle”.

Let´s hope good things spread like ripples next year.

More about Kanji

Kanji of the year 2011

Feeling of Kanji

Zen calligraphy

History of Kanji