Language/Japanese/Culture/Basic-Political-Vocabulary

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Japanese Culture → Politics and Society → Basic Political Vocabulary

As a Japanese language teacher with over 20 years of experience, I will be guiding you in this lesson to learn about the basic political vocabulary in Japan. Understanding the political concepts and institutions is crucial for governmental and diplomatic contexts. This lesson corresponds to the A1 level of the "Complete 0 to A1 Japanese Course."

Consider broadening your understanding by checking out these related lessons: Calligraphy & Traditional Arts and Customs.

Political Vocabulary

Here are some of the basic Japanese political vocabulary words:

Japanese	Pronunciation	English
政治	seiji	Politics
国会	kokkai	National Diet
選挙	senkyo	Election
国民	kokumin	National citizen
政府	seifu	Government
自民党	jimintou	Liberal Democratic Party
立憲民主党	rikken minshutou	Constitutional Democratic Party
公明党	koumeitou	Komeito (Clean Government Party)
日本共産党	nihon kyouminto	Japanese Communist Party
首相	shushou	Prime Minister
大臣	daijin	Minister
内閣	naikaku	Cabinet
外交	gaikou	Diplomacy

Political Concepts

Japanese political concepts are based on democracy and the constitutional monarchy. Here are some of the important concepts:

国民主権 (kokumin shuken): Sovereignty belongs to the people, and they have the power to elect government officials and determine the direction of the country.
三権分立 (san-ken-bunri): Separation of powers among the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government.
憲法 (kenpou): The constitution, which defines the fundamental principles and values of the Japanese political system.
自由民主主義 (jiyuu minshu shugi): Liberal democracy, which emphasizes freedom, human rights, and rule of law.
平和主義 (heiwa shugi): Pacifism, which is reflected in Japan's constitution and foreign policy.
皇室 (koushitsu): The imperial family, headed by the Emperor, who serves as a symbol of national unity and continuity.

Governmental Institutions

The Japanese government has a parliamentary system, which means that the executive branch, led by the Prime Minister, is accountable to the legislature. Here are some of the important institutions:

国会 (kokkai): The National Diet, which consists of the House of Representatives (衆議院 shuugiin) and the House of Councillors (参議院 sangiin).
内閣 (naikaku): The Cabinet, which is appointed by the Prime Minister and approved by the Emperor. It consists of the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister(s), and Ministers of various departments such as Foreign Affairs, Defense, Finance, and Education.
最高裁判所 (saikou saibansho): The Supreme Court, which is the highest court in Japan and adjudicates on constitutional and legal disputes.
総務省 (soumushou): The Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, which oversees local governments, elections, and media regulation.
外務省 (gaimushou): The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which is responsible for Japan's diplomatic relations with other countries.
警視庁 (keishichou): The Metropolitan Police Department, which is the main law enforcement agency in Tokyo.
防衛省 (boueishou): The Ministry of Defense, which is in charge of Japan's national defense and security.

Diplomatic Vocabulary

If you are interested in diplomatic relations between countries, you may want to learn some basic diplomatic vocabulary in Japanese. Here are some of the important words and phrases:

外交官 (gaikoukan): Diplomat
外交使節 (gaikou shisetsu): Diplomatic Mission
駐日大使 (chuu nichi taishi): Ambassador to Japan
外交関係 (gaikou kankei): Diplomatic Relations
外交協定 (gaikou kyoutei): Diplomatic Agreement
国際関係 (kokusai kankei): International Relations
国際条約 (kokusai jouyaku): International Treaty
外交パスポート (gaikou passport): Diplomatic Passport

Conclusion

In conclusion, understanding basic political vocabulary and concepts in Japan is essential for those who want to learn about the country's governance and diplomatic relations. Knowing the institutions and processes of the Japanese government can aid in comprehending the nation's social and economic issues. In our next lesson, we will learn about the current social issues and controversies in Japan.

Sources

Having concluded this lesson, consider checking out these related pages: Contemporary Spiritual Movements & Shinto and Buddhism.

Table of Contents - Japanese Course - 0 to A1

Course Presentation

Hiragana Basics

Greetings and Introductions

Geography and History

Adjectives and Adverbs

Family and Social Relations

Religion and Philosophy

Particles and Conjunctions

Travel and Tourism

Education and Science

Prepositions and Interjections

Arts and Media

Politics and Society

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