刺し客かく

noun

assassin

Refers to a person sent to kill someone, often for political or historical reasons. Can be used in modern contexts metaphorically.

• 歴れき史し小しょう説せつでは、しばしば刺し客かくが重じゅう要ような役やく割わりを果はたす。

  In historical novels, assassins often play an important role.

• 彼かれは政せい敵てきを倒たおすために刺し客かくを送おくったと言いわれている。

  He is said to have sent an assassin to eliminate his political rival.

noun

opposition candidate fielded to unseat a same-party incumbent

Abbreviation of 刺客候補. Used in Japanese politics when a party fields a candidate specifically to defeat an incumbent from the same party, often in a primary or election.

See also: 刺客候補

• 次つぎの選せん挙きょで、党とうは現げん職しょくを倒たおすために刺し客かくを立たてるかもしれない。

  In the next election, the party might field an 'assassin' candidate to oust the incumbent.