Translation guide
An organization of workers formed to protect and advance their rights and interests. In Japanese, the most common term is 労働組合, but other related terms exist depending on context.
The standard term for a trade union in most contexts.
The most common and neutral term for a trade union. Often abbreviated to 労組 in news or formal writing.
He is the chairman of the trade union.
The trade union is demanding a wage increase.
Abbreviation of 労働組合, common in newspapers and formal contexts.
The union leaders held a press conference.
A union organized within a single company, which is the typical form in Japan.
Refers specifically to a union organized at the company level, the dominant type in Japan.
Most Japanese trade unions are enterprise-based unions.
A union that organizes workers across an industry or craft, rather than a single company.
A national-level organization that coordinates multiple unions.
A federation of trade unions, often used in names like 日本労働組合総連合会 (Rengo).
Rengo is Japan's largest trade union federation.
In casual conversation, 労働組合 is often shortened to 組合 (くみあい) when the context is clear, but 労組 is more common in writing.
Japanese unions are typically enterprise-based (企業別組合), meaning each company has its own union, unlike many Western countries where industrial or craft unions are more common. When discussing trade unions in a Japanese context, it may be helpful to clarify this difference.
A craft union, organizing workers by specific occupation or trade.
A craft union is made up of workers with specific skills.