Your Doorway to Japan

This Year in Japanese

Toward the end of each year, the Japanese select words, phrases, and kanji that best represent how they and their nation fared over the past 12 months. Here we explore the characters and terminology that Japan chooses to describe itself and its national experience.

LATEST
“Dual Sword Wielder” Ohtani Shōhei on Top in 2021 Words of the YearCULTURE | Dec 1, 2021
Japan’s Words of 2021: Nominees Announced for Annual ListCULTURE | Nov 4, 2021
“Mitsu” COVID-19 Warning Chosen as 2020’s Kanji of the YearINSIGHT | Dec 14, 2020
Endearing Dejection: “Pien” Picked as One of Japan’s Words of 2020INSIGHT | Dec 11, 2020
The “San Mitsu” Three Cs Take the New Phrase of the Year ThroneCULTURE | Dec 1, 2020
Words of 2020: Nominees AnnouncedCULTURE | Nov 9, 2020
The Year in Web Searches: Japan’s Top Internet Keywords for 2019INSIGHT | Dec 26, 2019
Pay It Forward: The Top New Japanese Words for 2019INSIGHT | Dec 13, 2019
New Era Name’s “Rei” the Kanji of the Year for 2019INSIGHT | Dec 12, 2019
“One Team” Puts Rugby at Top of 2019’s Words of the YearCULTURE | Dec 2, 2019
Words of 2019: Nominees AnnouncedINSIGHT | Nov 6, 2019
Japan-Surfing the Web: The Top Internet Keywords of 2018INSIGHT | Dec 28, 2018
Dictionary Dreams and Debuts: The Top New Japanese Words for 2018INSIGHT | Dec 27, 2018
A Disastrous Kanji of the Year? “Wazawai” Picked as Top Character for 2018INSIGHT | Dec 12, 2018
“So Da Nē!” Hokkaidō Curlers Provide 2018’s Top Word of the YearINSIGHT | Dec 3, 2018
On Everyone’s Lips: Candidates Announced for the Top Words of 2018INSIGHT | Nov 8, 2018
A Year of Japanese Searches: The Top Internet Keywords of 2017INSIGHT | Dec 29, 2017
Storming the Dictionary: The Top New Japanese Words for 2017INSIGHT | Dec 28, 2017