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A thread, inspired by @RichardMedH's recent 出馬 tweet:
Selected Japanese election/politics terms
+ #JapanPolitics tidbits
Not authoritative; just based on my experience as a Lower House aide and in local elections.
I'll add terms when inspired.
1/ https://twitter.com/RichardMedh/status/1300355870681780224
Selected Japanese election/politics terms
+ #JapanPolitics tidbits
Not authoritative; just based on my experience as a Lower House aide and in local elections.
I'll add terms when inspired.
1/ https://twitter.com/RichardMedh/status/1300355870681780224
出馬 / shutsuba
”Ride out on a horse”
Used re: someone running for office (出馬する) or deciding not to (出馬断念, etc). Not commonly used in casual political talk.
We say “[office] に出る,” as in
He’s running for city assembly
あいつ、市議に出る
2/
”Ride out on a horse”
Used re: someone running for office (出馬する) or deciding not to (出馬断念, etc). Not commonly used in casual political talk.
We say “[office] に出る,” as in
He’s running for city assembly
あいつ、市議に出る
2/
対抗馬 / taikōba
"Opposing horse"
Election opponent/rival. Used in "two-horse races," esp. when strength is equal or similar. Local/prefectural assembly elections are at large (=no districts), so it's used less there except in a battle for a specific area / voter group.
3/
"Opposing horse"
Election opponent/rival. Used in "two-horse races," esp. when strength is equal or similar. Local/prefectural assembly elections are at large (=no districts), so it's used less there except in a battle for a specific area / voter group.
3/
陣営 / Jin’ei
“Campaign”
Yep, same term as a war campaign.
A tangent: 陣 + 馬 forms (a version of) our local mountain name 陣馬山 Jinbasan. One origin story: Takeda Shingen of Kai (Yamanashi) set his army in array there to attack Hōjō Ujiteru in what’s now Hachioji.
4/
“Campaign”
Yep, same term as a war campaign.
A tangent: 陣 + 馬 forms (a version of) our local mountain name 陣馬山 Jinbasan. One origin story: Takeda Shingen of Kai (Yamanashi) set his army in array there to attack Hōjō Ujiteru in what’s now Hachioji.
4/
陣営 cont'd
In elections, you hear the term 陣営 used sometimes to re: the “[candidate name] camp,” etc, but not super often.
Sadly, campaign officials don’t get 陣営-derived or otherwise martial titles. Lots of 事務局長 or 選挙対策 (shortened to 選対) 本部長, and so on.
5/
In elections, you hear the term 陣営 used sometimes to re: the “[candidate name] camp,” etc, but not super often.
Sadly, campaign officials don’t get 陣営-derived or otherwise martial titles. Lots of 事務局長 or 選挙対策 (shortened to 選対) 本部長, and so on.
5/
出陣 / shutsujin
出陣式 / shutsujinshiki
"Go out to battle" (+shiki = ceremony before going to battle)
Every campaign I've seen held a 出陣式 on the first official day of the election period. Many speeches, then candidate rides out to battle w/an election car as their steed.
6/
出陣式 / shutsujinshiki
"Go out to battle" (+shiki = ceremony before going to battle)
Every campaign I've seen held a 出陣式 on the first official day of the election period. Many speeches, then candidate rides out to battle w/an election car as their steed.
6/
陣中見舞い / jinchūmimai
"Visit during battle"
Visits to campaign offices by well-wishers, often w/a gift of snacks or money. If you want to win over a politician, visit w/the outcome still in question. Some ppl show up only after victory. This is meticulously remembered.
7/
"Visit during battle"
Visits to campaign offices by well-wishers, often w/a gift of snacks or money. If you want to win over a politician, visit w/the outcome still in question. Some ppl show up only after victory. This is meticulously remembered.
7/
勝ち馬に乗る / kachiuma ni noru
"Get on the winning horse"
Similar to "jump on the bandwagon." In this LDP election, I've seen several articles use 勝ち馬に乗る to describe LDP factions moving to support Suga along the way. It can sometimes refer negatively to late supporters.
8/
"Get on the winning horse"
Similar to "jump on the bandwagon." In this LDP election, I've seen several articles use 勝ち馬に乗る to describe LDP factions moving to support Suga along the way. It can sometimes refer negatively to late supporters.
8/
刺客 / shikaku
"Assassin"
Outsider sent to run in a district to unseat an incumbent (for example, as punishment for the incumbent’s rebellion against party leadership). Usually an opponent who's famous / popular / otherwise able to sway enough voters against the incumbent.
9/
"Assassin"
Outsider sent to run in a district to unseat an incumbent (for example, as punishment for the incumbent’s rebellion against party leadership). Usually an opponent who's famous / popular / otherwise able to sway enough voters against the incumbent.
9/
刺客 cont’d
Recent use case: 2005 Lower House election. PM Koizumi wanted to privatize Japan Post. Many LDP MPs rebelled—postal interests were (are) very strong. Koizumi called a snap election. Two of his 刺客 who beat rebel MPs: Now-Tokyo Gov. Koike Yuriko, Katayama Satsuki.
10/
Recent use case: 2005 Lower House election. PM Koizumi wanted to privatize Japan Post. Many LDP MPs rebelled—postal interests were (are) very strong. Koizumi called a snap election. Two of his 刺客 who beat rebel MPs: Now-Tokyo Gov. Koike Yuriko, Katayama Satsuki.
10/
宣車・戦車 / sensha
"Tank"
Election vehicle. This one's an apt pun: Sensha is most correctly rendered as 宣車 (from 宣伝カー =advertising car), but when spoken as sensha, it evokes 戦車 =combat vehicle; most often a tank.
I know—you just call it a [bleep]ing loud nuisance.
11/
"Tank"
Election vehicle. This one's an apt pun: Sensha is most correctly rendered as 宣車 (from 宣伝カー =advertising car), but when spoken as sensha, it evokes 戦車 =combat vehicle; most often a tank.
I know—you just call it a [bleep]ing loud nuisance.
11/
常在戦場 / jōzaisenjō
"Always on the battlefield"
Not exactly an election term; this 四字熟語 is motto of many Lower House MPs, who must plunge into battle anytime if PM calls a snap election. Campaign HQ, posters, flyers, etc have to be ready anytime.
(ok, more terms later)
12/
"Always on the battlefield"
Not exactly an election term; this 四字熟語 is motto of many Lower House MPs, who must plunge into battle anytime if PM calls a snap election. Campaign HQ, posters, flyers, etc have to be ready anytime.
(ok, more terms later)
12/
為書き / tamegaki
I’ll say “support poster”
Politicians send these to the campaign offices of candidates, where they’re posted on walls/ceilings. Campaign staff face decisions:
-which to post prominently
-how to spread out if not enough arrive
-how to fit when too many arrive
13/
I’ll say “support poster”
Politicians send these to the campaign offices of candidates, where they’re posted on walls/ceilings. Campaign staff face decisions:
-which to post prominently
-how to spread out if not enough arrive
-how to fit when too many arrive
13/
