kokutai

K5O1K5U1T1A1I1
UK/ˌkəʊkuːˈtaɪ/US/ˌkoʊkuˈtaɪ/

noun

The national essence and character of Japan viewed as conforming to Shinto-Confucian ideals, with the emperor as its ethical, spiritual, cultural and political center.

“In response to the international communist movement, the Peace Preservation Law was enacted to criminalize attempts to change the Japanese kokutai.”

Similar
kokutai-ismkokutairon
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Meanings

nounkokutai (uncountable)
  1. JapanesehistoricaluncountablegovernmentThe national essence and character of Japan viewed as conforming to Shinto-Confucian ideals, with the emperor as its ethical, spiritual, cultural and political center.

    In response to the international communist movement, the Peace Preservation Law was enacted to criminalize attempts to change the Japanese kokutai.

  2. JapanesehistoricaluncountablegovernmentThe ideology centered on the principle of kokutai.

    Synonyms: kokutai-ism, kokutairon

Synonyms & antonyms

nounThe ideology centered on the principle of kokutai.

Similar
kokutai-ismkokutairon

Origin

Borrowed from Japanese 国体(こくたい) (kokutai, literally “national character”).

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Chinese Cantonese 國體 /国体, 國體論 /国体论
  • 國體 /国体 (gwok³ tai²)national character of Japan viewed as centered on the emperor
  • 國體論 /国体论ideology
Chinese Mandarin 國體 /国体, 國體論 /国体论
  • 國體 /国体 (guótǐ)national character of Japan viewed as centered on the emperor
  • 國體論 /国体论 (guótǐlùn)ideology
Finnish kokutai, kokutai
  • kokutainational character of Japan viewed as centered on the emperor
  • kokutaiideology
French kokutai
  • kokutainational character of Japan viewed as centered on the emperor
German Kokutai, Kokutai
  • Kokutainational character of Japan viewed as centered on the emperor
  • Kokutaiideology
Japanese 国体, 国体論
  • 国体 (kokutai)national character of Japan viewed as centered on the emperor
  • 国体論 (kokutairon)ideology
Korean 국체, 국체론
  • 국체 (gukche)national character of Japan viewed as centered on the emperor
  • 국체론 (gukcheron)ideology
Polish kokutai, ideologia kokutai
  • kokutainational character of Japan viewed as centered on the emperor
  • ideologia kokutaiideology
Russian кокута́й, кокута́й
  • кокута́й (kokutáj)national character of Japan viewed as centered on the emperor
  • кокута́й (kokutáj)ideology

Rhymes & wordplay

Rhymes with kokutai

byimybuyhighywhyreplyjJulytryapplysupplyhieyeguyfidiflyskynearbykyspysi
All rhymes →
Cite this entry
APA

kokutai. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/kokutai

MLA

“kokutai.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/kokutai. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “kokutai,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/kokutai.

Source: kokutai on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.