1.
the military; military establishment; military leadership
The military as an institution or political force, especially its leadership and decision-making apparatus. Often used in historical and political contexts to refer to the military establishment's influence on government.
軍部が政治に介入した。
The military intervened in politics.
戦前の日本では軍部の発言力が非常に強かった。
In prewar Japan, the military establishment had very strong political influence.
軍部の独走を抑えるために文民統制の原則が憲法に盛り込まれた。
The principle of civilian control was incorporated into the constitution to restrain the military from acting independently.
Composed of 軍 (military, army) and 部 (department, section). Refers to the military not as individual soldiers but as an institutional and political force.
USAGE:
Essential for understanding Japanese modern history, especially the period from the Meiji era through World War II. The 軍部's growing political power in the 1930s is a central topic in Japanese history education. In contemporary contexts, the word may be used when discussing military establishments in other countries as well.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 軍部の台頭: rise of the military
- 軍部の暴走: the military running out of control
- 軍部の独走: the military acting unilaterally
- 軍部が権力を握る: the military seizes power
- 軍部と政府: the military and the government
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 軍隊: armed forces; military troops — refers to the actual fighting forces, while 軍部 emphasizes the institutional/political aspect
- 軍: army; military — a broader term; 軍部 specifically means the military establishment as a political entity
- 自衛隊: Self-Defense Forces — Japan's postwar military; 軍部 is not typically used for the SDF