“Zei” ("税"), or "tax," has been voted as the word of the year in Japan in 2023, reflecting people's frustration over rising costs of living and discussions on taxes among policymakers. Announcing the word: The Kyoto-based Japan Kanji Aptitude Testing Foundation unveiled the word of the year at an event at the Kiyomizudera temple on Tuesday, according to The Asahi Shimbun. As part of the ceremony, chief priest Seihan Mori drew the word on a large sheet of paper using a calligraphy brush.
The character for the word tax, zei , was inscribed on a 21 sq ft piece of paper by a skilled calligrapher at the annual ceremony held by the Japan Kanji Aptitude Testing Foundation on Tuesday
The kanji character for “tax” has been chosen as Japan’s word of the year, in a reflection of growing public anxiety over the cost of living and impending tax…