公聴会

• Reading: こうちょうかい
• Romaji: kōchōkai
• Kanji breakdown: 公 (kō) — public; 聴 (chō) — listen, hear; 会 (kai) — meeting, session
• Pronunciation: /koː.tɕoː.ka.i/

Meaning

Public hearing; public inquiry. A formal session at which citizens, experts, or stakeholders present testimony to a legislative or administrative body.

A procedural mechanism in the Japanese legislative process (国会) and administrative decision-making. Guarantees that affected parties have an opportunity to be heard before a law or policy is finalised. Common collocations include 公聴会を開く (to hold a public hearing) and 公聴会で意見を述べる (to give testimony at a public hearing).

Examples

1. 国会では予算委員会が外部専門家を招いて公聴会を開いた。 The Diet's budget committee held a public hearing, inviting outside experts.
2. 原発の再稼働に関する公聴会で、地元住民が強い反対意見を表明した。 At a public hearing on the restart of nuclear power plants, local residents voiced strong opposition.
3. 環境アセスメントの手続きには公聴会の実施が義務付けられている。 The environmental assessment process requires that public hearings be held.

Usage Guide

Context: parliament, administration, environmental law, policy-making

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

Sino-Japanese compound. 公 (kō) means public; 聴 (chō) means to listen or hear; 会 (kai) means meeting or session. The compound literally means a public listening session, modelled on the English concept of a 'public hearing.'

Cultural Context

Era: Postwar–Modern

Generation: Adults

Social background: Educated