Conversation

I had hoped for something more positive or traditional, but here we go:
In Japan, the Kanji of the year is 税, "tax".

Background:
* yearlong debate in Japan on raising taxes to fund increased defense spending
* fixed tax reductions
* a new invoicing system
* the new NISA (Nippon Individual Savings Account)
* crackdowns on the so-called "hometown tax"
https://languagelog.ldc.upenn.edu/nll/?p=61642