This accolade is a modern invention, set up in the 1990s by the Japanese Kanji Proficiency Society, apparently. A nice piece of PR by them! And I guess it works especially well in Japan, where (unlike in the West, for example) written characters are not only practical words, but used in calligraphy as a respected and nuanced visual art form. Calligraphy also has connections to Zen Buddhism.
The Kanji of the Year is awarded in December each year, based on votes for the most used or topical one encapsulating the previous 12 months. The topical aspects might relate to Japanese or world events. The annual announcement takes place at the famous Kiyomizu-dera (Kiyomizu temple) in Kyoto, where a calligrapher priest will create the word on a large scale.
2017's Kanji of the Year was 北 (kita = North) reflecting global and national concerns over developments in North Korea, and some natural events in Northern Japan. In 2016 and 2012 it was 金 (kin = gold or money) due to Olympic successes, financial changes and other world events. 2015's Kanji was 安 (an = safety) echoing world terrorist attacks and new laws in Japan.
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