noun, noun or participle which takes 'suru'
taking over a duty; succeeding to a post
Formal term for assuming an official position or duty, often in a ceremonial or hereditary context. Used with する to mean 'to take over a duty'.
彼は先代の跡を継いで、会長の職を襲職した。
He succeeded to the post of chairman, taking over from his predecessor.
就任 is a more common and general term for assuming a position or office, while 襲職 specifically implies taking over an existing duty or role, often with a sense of succession.
継承 means inheritance or succession in a broader sense (e.g., traditions, property), whereas 襲職 is limited to official duties or posts.
Compound of 襲 (しゅう, 'to succeed' or 'to inherit') and 職 (しょく, 'post' or 'duty'). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the kanji combination directly conveys the meaning of succeeding to an official role.