noun
changing the world; turning the tide
Formal or literary noun expressing a dramatic reversal of circumstances or a world-changing event. Often used in grand, historical, or rhetorical contexts.
彼の演説は回天の力を持つと評された。
His speech was praised as having the power to change the world.
歴史の回天を目指した改革
It was a reform aimed at turning the tide of history.
noun
Kaiten (manned suicide torpedo)
Historical term referring to the manned suicide torpedoes used by the Imperial Japanese Navy during World War II. Not used in modern military contexts.
回天は、太平洋戦争末期に日本海軍が使用した特攻兵器である。
The Kaiten was a special attack weapon used by the Japanese navy in the final stages of the Pacific War.
Composed of 回 (turn, revolve) and 天 (heaven, sky, world). The literal meaning 'turning heaven' developed into the figurative sense of changing the world or reversing a situation. The WWII torpedo name draws on the same kanji, evoking a desperate attempt to turn the tide of war.