Translation guide
In Japanese, the most common term for a labor union is 労働組合 (roudou kumiai). There are also abbreviated forms and related terms for specific contexts.
The standard, all-purpose term for a labor union in Japan.
The standard term for a labor union. Used in formal and everyday contexts.
He is the chairman of the labor union.
The labor union is planning a strike.
Abbreviation of 労働組合. Common in news and informal writing.
The union representative negotiated with the company.
Loanword from English, often used in names of specific unions or in a more casual sense.
He belongs to a union.
Refers to the typical Japanese union organized within a single company.
Specifically refers to an enterprise-based union, the most common type in Japan.
Many labor unions in Japan are enterprise-based unions.
A union that organizes workers across an entire industry or trade.
An industrial union, organizing workers by industry rather than by company.
The industrial union is trying to improve working conditions across the industry.
A national organization that coordinates multiple unions.
A federation or confederation of labor unions. Often shortened to 連合 (れんごう).
Rengo is Japan's largest labor union federation.
In news headlines or casual conversation, 労組 (ろうそ) is often used instead of the full 労働組合.
Japanese unions are often enterprise-based (企業内組合), unlike many Western countries where industrial or trade unions are more common. When discussing unions in Japan, it may be helpful to specify the type.