草の根

• Reading: くさのね
• Romaji: kusanone
• Kanji breakdown: 草 (sō/kusa) — grass; 根 (kon/ne) — root, foundation
• Pronunciation: /kɯ.sa.no.ne/

Meaning

Grassroots; originating from or involving ordinary citizens at the local or community level, as opposed to elite institutions or top-down authority.

Used as a noun and modifier (草の根の/草の根的な). Describes political movements, activism, or initiatives that arise from ordinary people at the community level. The term gained prominence in Japanese political discourse in the postwar era, translating the English 'grassroots.' Common collocations include 草の根民主主義 (grassroots democracy), 草の根運動 (grassroots movement), and 草の根外交 (people-to-people diplomacy).

Examples

1. 草の根の市民運動が国会を動かし、法改正へとつながった事例がある。 There are cases in which grassroots citizens' movements have moved parliament and led to changes in the law.
2. 政党の組織票だけに頼らず、草の根の支持を広げることが選挙の鍵だと言われた。 It was said that the key to elections lay not in relying solely on organised party votes, but in broadening grassroots support.
3. 草の根レベルの国際交流が、二国間の相互理解を深める上で重要な役割を果たしている。 Grassroots-level international exchange plays an important role in deepening mutual understanding between two countries.

Usage Guide

Context: politics, activism, civil society, democracy

Tone: positive

Origin & History

A calque of the English 'grassroots,' with 草 (grass) and 根 (roots). The metaphor of grass growing from the ground up evokes political or social power arising from the common people rather than from above.

Cultural Context

Era: Modern

Generation: Adults

Social background: Universal