結社

• Reading: けっしゃ
• Romaji: kessha
• Kanji breakdown: 結 (ketsu) — bind, form, join; 社 (sha) — society, organisation
• Pronunciation: /ke.s.ɕa/

Meaning

Association; society; organisation. The act of forming a group or the group itself, especially one with a shared ideology or purpose.

Appears in legal and political contexts, particularly in the phrase 結社の自由 (freedom of association), a fundamental right guaranteed by the Japanese Constitution. Used for both legitimate organisations and clandestine groups. 秘密結社 (secret society) is a common compound. The right of 結社 is considered essential to civil society.

Examples

1. 憲法は結社の自由を基本的人権の一つとして保障している。 The constitution guarantees freedom of association as one of the fundamental human rights.
2. 政府はその秘密結社を危険な組織と見なし、解散を命じた。 The government deemed the secret society a dangerous organization and ordered its dissolution.
3. 労働者が結社して権利を守ることは民主主義社会の根幹をなす。 Workers forming associations to protect their rights is fundamental to a democratic society.

Usage Guide

Context: constitutional law, civil society, political science

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Sino-Japanese compound. 結 (ketsu) means to bind, form, or join; 社 (sha) means society, organisation, or community (as in 会社, 社会). Together they denote the formal binding of people into a collective body.

Cultural Context

Era: Meiji–Modern

Generation: Adults

Social background: Educated