品行方正
hin.kou.hou.sei

Literally: dignity – conduct – direction – correct

Alternately: Good morals, ethics, and deeds. Someone’s thoughts and actions both being beyond reproach.

Notes: 品行 on its own is “behavior,” 方正 on its own is “correct spirit and behavior,” or more literally, “proper direction.”

It was really, really pleasant having a leader who was not just ethical, but thoughtfully and carefully so, for nearly a decade. Already I miss the peace and stability of an administration full of good intent and free of greed and scandals. Thanks, Obama.

The joke is that some kid was supposed to fill in this compound on a test, but wrote 品川方面 (Shinagawa houmen, “Headed for Shinagawa”).