担い手
Meanings
A person who physically bears or carries something, especially in an organized event or role. Also usable for someone who carries on something in a broad sense, but the more responsibility-focused use is treated separately.
At the festival, there are not enough people to carry the portable shrine.
person in charge; person bearing responsibility; supporting actor
Common in news, policy, education, and community contexts for the people or groups expected to sustain, lead, or take responsibility for an activity, field, tradition, or service.
It is necessary to train people who will support local medical care.
Young people are expected to be the leaders of the next generation.
Usage patterns
- 〈物〉の担い手the person(s) who carry/bear a physical object (e.g. in a festival)
At the festival, the young men become the carriers of the portable shrine.
- 〈事〉の担い手the one who bears responsibility for or sustains something (tradition, industry, movement)
He is known as a bearer of the region's traditional culture.
- 〈事〉の担い手となるto become the one responsible for sustaining or leading something
She eventually became the person responsible for running the company.
- 担い手を育てるto train/develop the next generation of people to carry on a role or field
Support measures are needed to train the next generation of farmers.
- 担い手が不足するthere is a shortage of people to carry on or sustain something
In rural areas, there is a shortage of people to keep local events going.