天下り先

• Reading: あまくだりさき
• Romaji: amakudari saki
• Kanji breakdown: 天 (ten/ama) — heaven; 下 (ka/shita/kuda) — below, descend; 先 (sen/saki) — ahead, destination
• Pronunciation: /a.ma.kɯ.da.ɾi.sa.ki/

Meaning

Post-retirement destination; the private-sector or quasi-governmental organisation that a retired bureaucrat or senior official moves into through connections.

A noun combining 天下り (amakudari — descent from heaven, the practice of senior public officials taking lucrative positions in regulated industries) and 先 (saki — destination). The term carries strong negative connotations of cronyism and revolving-door politics. It is a politically charged expression frequently used critically in journalism and public debate.

Examples

1. 元官僚の天下り先として有名な財団が解散した。 A foundation well known as a post-retirement destination for former bureaucrats has been dissolved.
2. 規制省庁と天下り先企業の癒着が問題視されている。 The cosy relationship between regulatory ministries and the organisations their retired officials move into is being called into question.
3. 彼の天下り先として複数の大手企業が候補に挙がっているらしい。 It appears that several major companies are being considered as potential post-retirement destinations for him.

Usage Guide

Context: politics, bureaucracy, journalism, business

Tone: critical

Origin & History

From 天下り (descent from heaven — referring to retired officials entering industry) and 先 (destination). The 天 (heaven) metaphor reflects the historically elevated status of central government in Japanese society.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: Adults

Social background: Professional