The kanji character for "Kizuna," or bonds, was selected as the character best representing this year in the annual Kanji contest, and was announced by the Japan Kanji Aptitude Testing Foundation, Shimogyo Ward, Kyoto, on December 12 at Kiyomizu-dera Temple in Higashiyama Ward, Kyoto. The selection reflects the recognition of bonds of immediate family and society, and the support from home and abroad, due to the Great East Japan Earthquake in which many lives were lost.

A total of 496,997 people, the greatest number ever, responded in this contest. "Kizuna" received the most with 61,453 entries, or about 12 percent of the total. Some entries from victims of the earthquake included messages. "Our entire family is moving forward, believing in the future," wrote a 28-year-old woman from Fukushima. Another 42-year-old woman from Fukushima wrote, "Through the support of bonds within Japan and all over the world, we are all hanging in there."

Other reasons for this selection were the teamwork of Japan's national women's soccer team, "Nadeshiko Japan," which won the World Cup, and the spread of good will, including the sending of school bags and other items to child care institutions across the country.

In second place and following in order were the kanji for "Sai," "Shin," "Nami" and "Jo," which mean disaster, quake, wave and help, all associated with the disaster. Seihan Mori, chief priest of Kiyomizu-dera Temple, largely and vividly wrote the single character for "kizuna" on Japanese paper, and said, "I hope these bonds join people hand in hand and they focus on reconstruction."