表舞台(おもてぶたい)

おもてぶたい
noun
public stage; the spotlight; center stage
figurativesociety
1. public stage; the spotlight; front stage of public life
The visible, public arena where important events take place or where a person is in the public eye. Often used figuratively for someone's public career or prominence.
表舞台(おもてぶたい)に立(た)つ。
To stand on the public stage.
長年(ながねん)裏方(うらかた)だった彼(かれ)が、ついに表舞台(おもてぶたい)に出(で)た。
After years behind the scenes, he finally stepped into the spotlight.
引退(いんたい)した政治家(せいじか)が再(ふたた)び表舞台(おもてぶたい)に戻(もど)ってくるとは誰(だれ)も予想(よそう)しなかった。
No one expected the retired politician to return to the public stage.

Composed of 表(おもて) (front, surface, public) + 舞台(ぶたい) (stage). The metaphor of a stage is central — the 表舞台(おもてぶたい) is where things are visible to the public, in contrast to the behind-the-scenes world.

Common collocations

Similar words

  • 裏方(うらかた) — behind the scenes (the opposite: those who work out of public view)
  • 舞台(ぶたい) — stage (literal or figurative, without the specific "public" nuance)
  • 檜舞台(ひのきぶたい) — grand stage (the most prestigious stage, implies a big moment)

Related Words

Compare: 裏方(うらかた) (behind the scenes (the opposite)
general
Added 2026.3.30 4:24 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02
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