川上(かわかみ)

かわかみ
noun
upstream; upper reaches of a river
naturebusiness
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(かわかみ)から流(なが)れてきた。
It came flowing from upstream.
川上(かわかみ)に向(む)かって歩(ある)いた。
I walked toward the upper reaches of the river.
大雨(おおあめ)で川上(かわかみ)のダムが放流(ほうりゅう)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(かわかみ)産業(さんぎょう)から川下(かわしも)産業(さんぎょう)まで一貫(いっかん)して管理(かんり)する。
To manage consistently from upstream industries to downstream industries.
製造(せいぞう)の川上(かわかみ)で品質(ひんしつ)を管理(かんり)することが重要(じゅうよう)だ。
It is important to control quality at the upstream stage of manufacturing.
川上(かわかみ)から川下(かわしも)へ、情報(じょうほう)が正確(せいかく)に伝(つた)わる仕組(しく)みが必要(ひつよう)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(かわかみ) and 川下(かわしも) are commonly used as a metaphor for stages in a supply chain or value chain.

Common collocations

Similar words

  • 川下(かわしも): downstream — the lower part of a river, or the later stages of a supply chain (distribution, retail)

Related words

Related Words

Related: 上流(じょうりゅう) (upper stream)
Related: 源流(げんりゅう) (headwaters, source)
general
Added 2026.4.25 1:14 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02
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