standard-bearer; flag-bearer
Refers to a person who carries a flag or banner, often in a ceremonial, military, or symbolic context. Can also be used figuratively for a leading figure in a movement.
開会式で旗手が国旗を掲げて入場した。
At the opening ceremony, the flag-bearer entered carrying the national flag.
He is known as a leading figure of rock music.
彼は改革運動の旗手として知られている。
He is known as a standard-bearer of the reform movement.
He served as the flag-bearer for the Japanese team at the opening ceremony.
She became the leading figure in that field.
旗手 (a flag-bearer) and 騎手 (a jockey) are pronounced identically as きしゅ but refer to completely different roles.
counter for people
Sino-Japanese compound of 旗, “flag,” and 手, “bearer or person responsible for something.” Both き and しゅ are on-readings.