Copyright © 2026 Kotomora. All Rights Reserved.
外郭団体 (がいかくだんたい) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Meanings 1
noun
auxiliary organization ; affiliated body ; fringe organization
Refers to an organization that is closely related to and often supports a larger parent organization, typically a government ministry or major corporation, but is legally separate. Often used in political and bureaucratic contexts.
外がい 郭かく 団だん 体たい の 役やく 員いん に は 官かん 僚りょう の 天あま 下くだ り が 多おお い 。
Many executives of affiliated bodies are former bureaucrats who have parachuted into the positions.
Kanji 郭 enclosure, quarters, fortification Similar words 関かん 連れん 団だん 体たい 関連団体 is a broader term for any related organization, while 外郭団体 specifically implies a supporting or auxiliary role to a central parent organization, often with a connotation of being on the periphery.
子こ 会がい 社しゃ 子会社 is a subsidiary company in a corporate context, whereas 外郭団体 is more commonly used for non-profit or public-sector entities affiliated with government bodies.
Etymology Compound of 外郭 (がいかく, 'outer shell, periphery') and 団体 (だんたい, 'organization, group'). The term likely emerged in post-war Japanese bureaucratic language to describe organizations set up by government ministries to carry out related work at arm's length.
