特需

• Reading: とくじゅ
• Romaji: tokuju
• Kanji breakdown: 特 (toku) — special, exceptional; 需 (ju) — demand, requirement
• Pronunciation: /to.kɯ.dʑɯ/

Meaning

Special demand; procurement boom. An extraordinary surge in demand, typically stimulated by government procurement or exceptional circumstances.

A noun formed from 特 (special) and 需 (demand). Historically associated with the Korean War procurement boom (朝鮮特需, 1950–53), which provided a crucial stimulus for Japan's postwar economic recovery. More broadly used for any exceptional demand spike — disaster reconstruction, pandemic-driven demand, or large-scale government contracts. The term carries historical resonance in Japanese economic discourse.

Examples

1. 朝鮮戦争による特需が、戦後日本の経済復興を大きく後押しした。 The procurement boom generated by the Korean War gave a major boost to Japan's postwar economic recovery.
2. 大規模な自然災害の後、建設業界に復興特需が生まれた。 After a large-scale natural disaster, a reconstruction demand surge arose in the construction industry.
3. 防衛費の増加により、関連メーカーに特需が見込まれている。 With rising defence spending, a procurement windfall is anticipated for related manufacturers.

Usage Guide

Context: economic history, government procurement, industry analysis

Tone: analytical

Origin & History

From 特 (toku) meaning 'special, exceptional' and 需 (ju) meaning 'demand, requirement.' The compound was coined to describe the exceptional procurement demand arising from wartime or emergency conditions.

Cultural Context

Era: Postwar–Modern

Generation: Economists, historians

Social background: Academic, professional