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礼奉公 (れいぼうこう) Japanese meaning | Kotomora
Meanings 1
noun
free service after apprenticeship
Historical term for a period of unpaid work a former apprentice performed for their master as a gesture of gratitude after completing training. Related to お礼奉公.
See also: お礼奉公
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In the Edo period, after completing their training, artisan apprentices sometimes worked without pay for several years as reihōkō.
Kanji 奉 observance, offer, present 公 public, prince, official Etymology Compound of 礼 (rei, 'gratitude') and 奉公 (hōkō, 'service'). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the term reflects the custom of repaying one's master through labor.
