I know that last year was the 50th anniversary of Kanji of the Year (今年の漢字), in which they voted for 熊 (くま) due to a surge of bear attacks or sightings. I wonder what Kanji will be for this year? I think the closest thing the west has to 今年の漢字 would be: word of the year from Merriam Webster or Collins, for reference they voted for "slop" (汚物).