改 - The Washed Shell Looks CHANGED and REFORMED

Readings & Meanings:

あらた（−める）　　to change, reform

あらた（−まる）　　to be reformed

カイ reform

Common Usage:

改宗

改めて

改革

Examples:

彼はキリスト教から仏教に改宗した。

改めて、明けましておめでとうございます。

教育システムの改革が今年から始まる。

Translations:

He converted from Christianity to Buddhism.

Let's start over: Happy New Year!

The reform of the educational system will start this year.

Bonus:

If you've ever been in a situation where you're talking to a Japanese person, but you don't know each other's names because you haven't introduced yourselves, you can use the phrase 改めて to start your self-introduction.

改めて is kind of like "let's start over the right way this time."

References:

http://www.thejapanesepage.com/kanji/kanji/i.htm