民生委員

• Reading: みんせいいいん
• Romaji: minseiin
• Kanji breakdown: 民 (min) — people | 生 (sei) — livelihood | 委 (i) — entrust, committee | 員 (in) — member
• Pronunciation: /min.se.i.i.in/

Meaning

Welfare commissioner; a volunteer community welfare officer appointed by the government to support vulnerable residents.

民生委員 are unpaid volunteers appointed by the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare under the 民生委員法 (Welfare Commissioners Act). They work in liaison with local municipalities to identify and assist elderly people living alone, low-income households, people with disabilities, and families in difficulty. They serve as a bridge between residents and public welfare services. Each commissioner is responsible for a defined neighbourhood, and terms are three years.

Examples

1. 担当地区の民生委員が定期的に一人暮らしの高齢者を訪問している。 The welfare commissioner in charge of the district regularly visits elderly people living alone.
2. 生活に困っている家庭があれば、まず地域の民生委員に相談してみてください。 If there is a household in financial difficulty, please first consult the local welfare commissioner.
3. 民生委員は無報酬で地域福祉を支える重要なボランティアだ。 Welfare commissioners are important volunteers who support community welfare without pay.

Usage Guide

Context: social welfare, community services, local government

Tone: official

Origin & History

Compound of 民生 (minsei, people's livelihood/welfare) and 委員 (iin, commissioner/committee member). The term reflects the post-war welfare state framework established in Japan's social legislation of the late 1940s.

Cultural Context

Era: Post-war–Present

Generation: Adults, especially elderly communities

Social background: Universal