ringleader; mastermind; leader of a plot
Refers to the person who plans and leads a conspiracy, rebellion, or criminal scheme. Often used in legal or news contexts.
The police arrested the ringleader of the incident.
He is believed to be the mastermind behind the coup.
首謀者 refers to the identified ringleader of a crime or plot, while 黒幕 stresses a hidden figure who manipulates events from the shadows.
首謀者 is the explicit person-noun for the one who masterminds a plot, while 首謀 is the more abstract/formal term that can describe the act itself or stand in for the person in set phrases.
首謀者 is a more formal, legal-sounding term for the mastermind of a plot or crime, while 張本人 can describe the person behind any kind of trouble, not just criminal schemes.
首謀者 specifically denotes the ringleader or mastermind behind a plot, whereas 火付け役 can describe anyone who triggers an event without necessarily planning it.
首謀者 emphasizes the person who planned or instigated a crime or plot, whereas 主犯 is the legal term for the main offender who actually committed it.
首謀者 focuses on being the mastermind who planned a scheme, while 元凶 can also mean the main cause of a problem without implying deliberate planning.
首謀者 refers specifically to the person who plans or masterminds a crime or plot, while 首領 refers to the ongoing head or boss of a group regardless of any single scheme.
Standard kanji form for 'ringleader'.
Rarely used kanji form; 首謀者 is preferred.
Compound of 首 (head, chief) + 謀 (plot, scheme) + 者 (person). The kanji combination directly conveys 'person who heads a plot'.