You know, like spelling bees here in North America. In a kanji bee, the moderator would ask the contestant to write the kanji for an obscure word....

I'm too lazy to google around on the internet for the answer, so I thought I'd ask here.

They have kanji quiz shows on TV from time to time.

I've never heard of kanji bees though in the school system though. In fact, using kanji beyond your school year is strongly discouraged in schools.

kitakitsune Wrote:... In fact, using kanji beyond your school year is strongly discouraged in schools.

Really? I've never heard of that, though it does fit with the system's unfriendliness towards critical thinking and individual excellence. It's pretty dumb, if you ask me.

Anyway, I've never heard of institution run kanji competitions; I guess there's just not much point in having one.

Kanken

sholum Wrote:

kitakitsune Wrote:... In fact, using kanji beyond your school year is strongly discouraged in schools.

Really? I've never heard of that

http://detail.chiebukuro.yahoo.co.jp/qa/...1325785818
http://www.news-postseven.com/archives/2...91683.html
etc.
最近よく耳にする話ですね。。。

Regarding the original question, the first thing that came to mind was the kanji quizzes on TV.

I remember reading somewhere that some department store in Tokyo once asked shoppers to indicate what their favorite kanji was.

The winning kanji was AI = LOVE (birdhouse-heart-walking legs in Heisig speak).

Oh, isn't that charming?