ringi system; consensus-based approval system
A traditional Japanese decision-making process in which a proposal is circulated among relevant parties for approval before final authorization. Common in government and corporate settings.
In large Japanese companies, the ringi system is still used as an important means of decision-making.
Before starting a new project, we must obtain approval from related departments according to the ringi system.
Compound of 稟議 (ringi, 'submitting a proposal for approval') and 制度 (seido, 'system'). 稟議 itself derives from 稟 (rin, 'petition') and 議 (gi, 'deliberation').