根回し

• Reading: ねまわし
• Romaji: nemawashi
• Kanji breakdown: 根 (root) + 回し (turning/going around) → going around the roots, preparing the ground
• Pronunciation: /ne.ma.wa.ɕi/

Meaning

Behind-the-scenes consensus building — privately discussing and gaining agreement from stakeholders before an official meeting or decision.

Originally a gardening term, 根回し is a deeply embedded practice in Japanese business culture. Before any important meeting, proposal, or decision, the person in charge is expected to individually consult each relevant party to ensure there will be no opposition. Meetings then become formalities where pre-agreed decisions are simply confirmed. While essential for smooth business operations in Japan, younger workers sometimes view it as inefficient.

Examples

1. 会議の前にちゃんと根回ししておかないと、絶対反対される。 If you don't do the groundwork before the meeting, you'll definitely get pushback.
2. 部長への根回しは済んだ？明日のプレゼン大丈夫？ Did you lay the groundwork with the department head? Is tomorrow's presentation going to be okay?
3. 根回しなしで提案したら、その場で却下されたよ。 I made the proposal without doing any groundwork first, and it got shot down on the spot.

Usage Guide

Context: workplace, business, politics

Tone: strategic, pragmatic

Do Say

• 先に根回ししておいたから、会議はスムーズにいくと思う。 (I did the groundwork in advance, so I think the meeting will go smoothly.)
• 根回しって面倒だけど、日本の会社では必須だよね。 (Consensus building is a pain, but it's essential in Japanese companies.)

Don't Say

• 根回しを「裏工作」と同じ意味で使わない (Don't equate 根回し with 'scheming' — it's a legitimate and expected business practice in Japan)

Common Mistakes

• Thinking 根回し is optional in Japanese business — skipping it often leads to proposals being rejected on the spot
• Confusing it with bribery or corruption — 根回し is a standard, transparent practice of building consensus

Origin & History

Originally a gardening term meaning to cut the roots of a tree before transplanting to help it survive. Applied to business contexts since the postwar era to describe pre-meeting consensus building.

Cultural Context

Era: Postwar business culture, term used since at least the 1960s

Generation: All ages in the workforce

Social background: White-collar workers, especially management

Regional notes: Used across all of Japan. A fundamental concept in Japanese organizational culture that foreign businesspeople often learn about early.