Time for the new

Last post of 2009; time to show the kanji of the year.

The winner was...

新

The reading is shin and it means new, fresh (atarashii, arata).

The main reasons that led this kanji to the top were:

• New government: After basically 50 years of LDP (Liberal Democratic Party) rule, the power shifted to the DPJ (Democratic Party of Japan) in a landslide election. With the new Obama government, a new age for the Japan-US relationship is also in sight.
• New sports records: Ichiro, a Japanese baseball player in the US (and very popular in both places - especially Japan - as far as I know), set new records in the MLB and in Japan. Also, new records were established in many other fields, with special mention to Usain Bolt's athletics records.
• New influenza: The H1N1/09 flu (a.k.a swine flu) is known in Japan as 新型インフルエンザ, or new-type influenza. I don't think I need to mention the flu outbreak this year that didn't spare Japan... neither Brazil.
• Introduction of new systems: Japan saw this year the implementation of many new systems this year. Among which the lay judge system, the eco-point system and a highway discount system.
• Coming of a new age: From the movement towards a more environmentally friendly society to the changes in the structure of the economic system after the global crisis, there's a feeling that a new age is coming. And people have hopes for what's to come.

So, the feeling of change last year (when the kanji of the year was 変) now changed into optimism for what's to come.

About my "new" meaning, it will probably be delayed until March. That's when I graduate and start a new life, wherever and whatever it will be. I hope for the best, but I also need to double my efforts to get there.

For that, the first step is get done with the thesis that is giving me so many headaches lately.

Back to research...