One of the more endearing aspects of Japan is that each December they choose a "kanji" (character) that epitomises the year just passed. Last year it was just "hot", and back in 2007 it was "fake", following a series of corruption scandals, proving that the Japanese clearly share the British conversational staples of the weather and scandal.
This year the character announced with a flourish by the chief priest of the Kiyomizu Temple in Kyoto was "kizuna" meaning "ties" or "connections". It reflects a renewed recognition of the importance of family and friends following the devastating events of March which brought home with a jolt how fragile human life can be in the face of nature's fury. That was apparent in the rush of texts and tweets as people tried desperately to find out whether their loved ones were safe. It was felt by everyone who arrived home to anxious waiting children after trekking for hours through the streets of Tokyo when all the public transport failed on 11 March. And it was evident in the sudden rush of engagements and marriages as people realised that they didn't want to have to experience the next big tremor alone.
The importance of personal ties is also neatly encapsulated in the other great December tradition - the league table of popular products and phenomena that have grabbed the public's attention that year. In the top spots this year were means of keeping in touch with others - i-phones, i-pads - and the Japanese response, the ANdroid range of products. Facebook was there too, with membership up 50% since April and gradually taking over from the Japanese version, mixi. Social network games that allow people to connect with others rather than playing alone also made the list.
Connections were a feature of other winners too: new shinkansen (bullet train) routes which now link one end of the country almost to the other; a range of new retail outlets in the Yurakucho area of Tokyo, which act as a link between the two established shopping areas of Ginza and Marunouchi, creating one giant retail heaven. Others were phenomena that really united the country, such as the world championship-winning women's football team, shops that sprang up to sell goods made in the devastated Tohoku region and energy-saving devices which people flocked to buy as their contribution to the national challenge to conserve electricity.
It would take more contrivance than I'm capable of to fit some of the other products into the connections theme. There's a 7-year old actress who's achieved fame for the ability to cry real tears to order, non-alcoholic cocktails, a hit facial cleanser and giant pandas. Could be a good Christmas pastime in there though - a prize of a can of non-alcoholic beer for the best suggestion for linking a facewash and a panda!
Sue Kinoshita
Director of Trade & Investment, UKTI Japan