Translation guide
An intelligence agency is a government organization that gathers, analyzes, and uses information to protect national security. In Japanese, the most common term is 情報機関 (jōhō kikan), but specific agencies have their own names.
Referring to any government body that collects and analyzes intelligence
The standard, neutral term for any intelligence agency. Suitable for formal and informal contexts.
That intelligence agency is working on international counterterrorism.
A more formal or literary term emphasizing espionage and covert information gathering. Often used in news or historical contexts.
Referring to well-known agencies like the CIA or MI6
Most major intelligence agencies have established Japanese names, often abbreviated or transliterated. Use these when referring to a specific organization.
The CIA is an American intelligence agency.
MI6 is the UK's foreign intelligence agency.
Referring to the broader system of intelligence agencies and their interactions
A direct translation of 'intelligence community,' used in political and security discussions. Less common than 情報機関 but understood in context.
Japan's intelligence community consists of multiple agencies.
During the Cold War, intelligence agencies of various countries were actively operating.
Japan's primary intelligence agency, often abbreviated as 内調 (Naichō). Use when referring to Japan's own intelligence apparatus.
The Cabinet Intelligence and Research Office plays a central role in Japan's intelligence agencies.