Japanese word

天下り

Pronunciation

Romajiamakudari

Meaning

  • nounparachute appointment

Example

元官僚の天下りがまた報じられました。moto kan ryō no ama kuda ri ga ma ta hō ji ra re ma shi ta

The parachute appointment of a former bureaucrat was reported again.

Illustration for 天下り (parachute appointment)

More examples

その制度は天下りを生むおそれがあります。so no sei do wa ama kuda ri o u mu o so re ga a ri ma su

That system may lead to parachute appointments.

Core concept

天下り (amakudari) presents retirement from public service as a move into a senior position at an organization linked to the official's former authority.

Common phrases

  • 天下りをなくすama kuda ri o na ku su

    eliminate parachute appointments

  • 天下りの規制ama kuda ri no ki sei

    regulation of parachute appointments

Similar words

再就職saishūshoku: Taking another job after leaving one job, with no necessary link to the person's former authority.
渡りwatari: A former official's successive jobs at related organizations after leaving public service.

Definition in Japanese

官僚が退職後、在職中の許認可などと関係する企業や団体に再就職すること。kan ryō ga tai shoku go zai shoku chū no kyo nin ka na do to kan kei su ru ki gyō ya dan tai ni sai shū shoku su ru ko to

Word origin

天下り (amakudari) combines 天 (ama, "heaven") and 下り (kudari, "descent"), expressing officials coming down from government into related jobs.

Usage tips

  • Unlike the broad English phrase "revolving door," 天下り (amakudari) specifically evokes officials leaving government for positions in organizations connected with their former work.

Other meanings

  • revolving doornoun

Word lists with this word