Every December a 漢字 (Japanese kanji character) is chosen in Japan that best summarizes the year that is ending…and it becomes the official 「今年の漢字」 (“Kanji of the Year”) in a ceremony in Kyoto with the temple monk writing the character in calligraphy brushstrokes on a large board.
The 2011 Kanji of the Year is 「絆」 ("Bond").
The official character for 2011 was announced today. It’s 「絆」 (Kizuna)…which means “(to) bond“.
This was chosen because of the way the people of Japan and the world came together to help the victims of the March 11 earthquake.
(Last year (2010), the Kanji of the Year meant “hot”. Click here to find out why.)
Tokyo Five 
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