NNN Reporter / He’s starting with the center stroke. And the Kanji is…

Gold. 

Kiyomizu-dera Temple’s Chief Priest Mori Seihan wrote the “Kanji of the year” with a big brush.

This year’s letter “Gold” reflects the numerous gold medals won by Japanese Olympic and Paralympic athletes, the Sado Island Gold Mine’s register to the UNESCO cultural World Heritage site, and baseball star Ohtani’s “golden” accomplishment.

The Kanji, which also means “money” in Japanese, reflects the slush fund scandal that tainted Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party.

It is the fifth time in 30 years “gold” was selected as the Kanji of the year.

In place was a letter that means “disaster,” reflecting the torrential rain and the magnitude-7.5 quake that hit Noto Peninsula.

The written Kanji will be displayed at Kiyomizu-dera Temple until December 21.