維新(いしん)

いしん
noun
restoration, reform, renewal
formalhistorypolitics
See also: 威信(いしん) (prestige)
1. restoration, reform, political renewal
A sweeping political reform or renewal. Most commonly refers to the Meiji Restoration of 1868, when power was restored to the emperor and Japan began rapid modernization. Also used more broadly for any radical reform movement.
明治維新(めいじいしん)で日本(にほん)は大(おお)きく変(か)わった。
Japan changed dramatically with the Meiji Restoration.
維新(いしん)の志士(しし)たちの活躍(かつやく)を描(えが)いた小説(しょうせつ)だ。
It's a novel depicting the exploits of the restoration patriots.
教育(きょういく)維新(いしん)を掲(かか)げて新党(しんとう)が結成(けっせい)された。
A new party was formed under the banner of educational reform.

Cultural note

The 明治維新(めいじいしん) (Meiji Restoration, 1868) is the most important event associated with this word. It ended the Tokugawa shogunate and restored imperial rule, leading to Japan's rapid modernization. The word carries connotations of radical, sweeping change. In modern politics, parties sometimes use 維新(いしん) in their names to signal a reformist agenda.

Forms

維(い) (maintain, connect) + 新(しん) (new) — literally "connecting to the new."

Common collocations

Related Words

Related: 革命(かくめい) (revolution)
Compare: 改新(かいしん) (reform)
general
Added 2026.2.27 14:49 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:01
13500/13869_ishin