1.
upstream; upper reaches of a river
The part of a river closer to its source, or the direction from which the water flows.
川上から流れてきた。
It came flowing from upstream.
川上に向かって歩いた。
I walked toward the upper reaches of the river.
大雨で川上のダムが放流した。
The dam upstream released water due to heavy rain.
2.
upstream (in a supply chain or process)
The earlier stages of a production or supply chain, closer to raw materials or initial creation.
川上産業から川下産業まで一貫して管理する。
To manage consistently from upstream industries to downstream industries.
製造の川上で品質を管理することが重要だ。
It is important to control quality at the upstream stage of manufacturing.
川上から川下へ、情報が正確に伝わる仕組みが必要だ。
A system is needed for information to flow accurately from upstream to downstream.
The literal meaning refers to the upper part of a river, near its source. In business, 川上 and 川下 are commonly used as a metaphor for stages in a supply chain or value chain.
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 川上産業: upstream industry (raw materials, manufacturing)
- 川上から川下まで: from upstream to downstream
- 川上に遡る: to go upstream; to trace back to the source
ANTONYM:
- 川下: downstream — the lower part of a river, or the later stages of a supply chain (distribution, retail)
RELATED TERMS:
- 上流: upper stream — can be used similarly for rivers and also figuratively for upper class
- 源流: headwaters, source — the very origin of a river or tradition