Choose Life

While this may at first glance appear to be a post about a popular hobby in Japan - Trainspotting - it is in fact, about the annual contest that has been running since 1995. A contest in which people from all over the country choose the kanji (Chinese character) they think best sums up the year. This year’s winner was - 命 inochi, which means life.

When people were giving their reasons behind this choice, a lot of them explained that this had been a year in which -

they were made painfully aware of the gravity and value of the unique gift of life given to an individual.

In second place comes the kanji that starts the name of the newest member of the Imperial family, Prince Hisahito - 悠　hisa. This can also be read as Yu and is also the first kanji in Mrs. Boyle’s first name, fact fans. It means leisurely or peaceful.

So as you go about your business today, choose life. And a leisurely one at that.

Source - Yahoo News

Wednesday, December 13th, 2006 Japan, Japanese Culture, Japanese News, Japanese Traditions Trackback URL for this entry