上場

• Reading: じょうじょう
• Romaji: joujou
• Kanji breakdown: 上 (jou) — above, onto, raise; 場 (jou/ba) — place, market floor
• Pronunciation: /d͡ʑoː.d͡ʑoː/

Meaning

Listing on a stock exchange; going public. The process by which a company offers its shares for public trading.

A key corporate milestone: listing shares on a stock exchange such as the Tokyo Stock Exchange (東京証券取引所). 上場企業 means 'listed company'; 上場審査 is the listing examination. Contrasts with 非上場 (unlisted). Going public (上場する) provides access to capital markets but requires compliance with exchange regulations and disclosure obligations.

Examples

1. 創業から10年でついに東証プライムへの上場を果たした。 Ten years after founding, the company finally achieved a listing on the Tokyo Stock Exchange Prime Market.
2. 上場審査を通過するには、厳格な財務基準を満たす必要がある。 To pass the listing examination, a company must meet stringent financial standards.
3. 上場廃止の危機に直面した企業が、再建計画を公表した。 A company facing the threat of delisting announced a reconstruction plan.

Usage Guide

Context: stock market, corporate milestones, IPO, financial news

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Compound of 上 (jou, above/onto) and 場 (jou, place/market/floor). Literally 'placing onto the market floor,' reflecting the original image of listing a company's shares for trading on an exchange.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: Business professionals

Social background: Corporate