En 15 secondes
- Used for official, public announcements by government or organizations.
- Combines 'public notice' with the verb 'to put out'.
- Too formal for personal use; strictly for professional or legal contexts.
Signification
This phrase refers to the formal act of an official body or organization making a public announcement or posting a legal notice for everyone to see.
Exemples clés
3 sur 6News report about an upcoming election
政府は来月の選挙の告示を出しました。
The government issued the official notice for next month's election.
A university announcing new rules
大学が新しい奨学金制度の告示を出す予定です。
The university plans to issue a public notice regarding the new scholarship system.
Discussing city hall procedures
市役所が告示を出さない限り、手続きは始まりません。
The procedure won't start until the city hall issues a public notice.
Contexte culturel
The 'Official Gazette' (Kanpo) is the daily publication of the Japanese government. Any 'kokuji' must be published here to be legally binding. It has been published since 1883. The day a 'kokuji' is issued is called 'Kokuji-bi'. On this day, candidates must register by 5 PM, or they cannot run. It is a day of extreme activity for political offices. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the government frequently issued 'kokuji' to update quarantine rules and vaccine priorities, which were then reported by all major news outlets. The 'Kousatsu' (wooden boards) of the Edo period were so important that damaging one was a capital offense. This history gives the modern 'kokuji' its aura of absolute authority.
Spotting it in the wild
Look at the bottom of official posters in Japan. You will often see '令和〇年〇月〇日 告示' followed by the name of the city office.
Don't use for business
If you use this in a business meeting for a standard announcement, you will sound like you are trying to act like the government. Stick to 'happyou' or 'tsuchi'.
En 15 secondes
- Used for official, public announcements by government or organizations.
- Combines 'public notice' with the verb 'to put out'.
- Too formal for personal use; strictly for professional or legal contexts.
What It Means
Think of kokuji o dasu as the heavy hitter of announcements. It is not just a casual 'hey everyone' or a quick text to a group chat. This phrase is reserved for when an official authority makes something public. It is the moment a decision moves from a private office to the public eye. When you hear this, something official is happening. It usually involves laws, elections, or major institutional changes. It carries the weight of authority and the expectation of compliance.
How To Use It
You use this phrase when you are talking about organizations. The subject is usually a city hall, a government branch, or a university board. You combine the noun kokuji (public notice) with the verb dasu (to put out/issue). It is very common in news reports. You might say, 'The city issued a notice about the election.' In Japanese, that becomes shi ga senkyo no kokuji o dashita. It sounds professional and very definitive.
When To Use It
Use this when the context is serious and public. It is perfect for discussing government actions or official school policies. If a town is holding an election, they must kokuji o dasu. If a university is changing its entrance exam rules, they will kokuji o dasu. It is the right choice for business meetings when discussing legal requirements. It makes you sound like you understand the formal structures of Japanese society.
When NOT To Use It
Please, do not use this for your personal life! If you tell your friends you are 'issuing a notice' about a party, they will think you are being incredibly sarcastic or weirdly robotic. Avoid it for small office updates too. For a simple 'FYI' or 'heads up,' use oshirase. Using kokuji for a lunch invitation is like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut. It is just too much power for a sandwich date.
Cultural Background
Japan has a long history of public notice boards called kosatsuba. In the Edo period, these wooden boards were where the Shogun’s laws were posted. People would gather around to read the latest rules. Even today, every neighborhood has a keijiban (notice board). Kokuji o dasu is the modern, linguistic descendant of that tradition. It represents the transition from a private decision to a public reality. It is a core part of how 'The System' communicates with the people.
Common Variations
You will often see kokuji suru which is the verb version. It means 'to notify publicly.' Another common one is kokuji ga aru, meaning 'there is a public notice.' If you want to sound even more formal, you might hear kokuji o okonau (to perform/conduct a public notice). While dasu is the most common collocation, okonau adds an extra layer of ceremony. Stick with dasu for most professional conversations.
Notes d'usage
This is a high-formality collocation. It is primarily used in written journalism, legal contexts, and formal institutional communication. Avoid using it in casual speech unless you are being intentionally hyperbolic.
Spotting it in the wild
Look at the bottom of official posters in Japan. You will often see '令和〇年〇月〇日 告示' followed by the name of the city office.
Don't use for business
If you use this in a business meeting for a standard announcement, you will sound like you are trying to act like the government. Stick to 'happyou' or 'tsuchi'.
The 'Election' trigger
For most Japanese people, this phrase is synonymous with the start of election season. It's a great conversation starter about politics.
Exemples
6政府は来月の選挙の告示を出しました。
The government issued the official notice for next month's election.
This is the most standard use of the phrase in political news.
大学が新しい奨学金制度の告示を出す予定です。
The university plans to issue a public notice regarding the new scholarship system.
Used here for institutional policy changes.
市役所が告示を出さない限り、手続きは始まりません。
The procedure won't start until the city hall issues a public notice.
Emphasizes the necessity of the official notice for a process to begin.
お母さんが「門限は8時」という告示を出したんだ。
My mom issued a 'public notice' that my curfew is 8 PM.
Using such formal language for a household rule is intentionally funny.
ついに裁判所がその件に関する告示を出した。
Finally, the court issued a public notice regarding that matter.
The phrase adds gravity and finality to the scene.
会社が移転の告示を出したよ。見た？
The company put out the notice about the relocation. Did you see it?
Appropriate for major corporate announcements even in semi-casual texts.
Teste-toi
Choose the most appropriate word to complete the sentence.
{来月|らいげつ}の{市議会議員選挙|しぎかいぎいんせんきょ}の（ ）が{出|だ}されました。
Elections require a formal 'kokuji' (notice). 'Houkoku' is a report, 'Uwasa' is a rumor, and 'Soudan' is a consultation.
Fill in the blank with the correct particle and verb form.
{政府|せいふ}は{新|あたら}しい{安全基準|あんぜんきじゅん}（ ）{告示|こくじ}（ ）。
The object of the notice is marked with 'を', and the phrase is '{告示|こくじ}を{出|だ}す'.
Match the phrase to the correct situation.
Which situation would use '{告示|こくじ}を{出|だ}す'?
Only government/official ministerial actions use 'kokuji'.
Complete the dialogue between two colleagues.
A: {選挙|せんきょ}のポスターが{貼|は}ってあるね。 B: うん、{昨日|きのう}（ ）からね。
The passive form '{告示|こくじ}が{出|だ}された' (the notice was issued) explains why posters are now visible.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Banque d exercices
4 exercices{来月|らいげつ}の{市議会議員選挙|しぎかいぎいんせんきょ}の（ ）が{出|だ}されました。
Elections require a formal 'kokuji' (notice). 'Houkoku' is a report, 'Uwasa' is a rumor, and 'Soudan' is a consultation.
{政府|せいふ}は{新|あたら}しい{安全基準|あんぜんきじゅん}（ ）{告示|こくじ}（ ）。
The object of the notice is marked with 'を', and the phrase is '{告示|こくじ}を{出|だ}す'.
Which situation would use '{告示|こくじ}を{出|だ}す'?
Only government/official ministerial actions use 'kokuji'.
A: {選挙|せんきょ}のポスターが{貼|は}ってあるね。 B: うん、{昨日|きのう}（ ）からね。
The passive form '{告示|こくじ}が{出|だ}された' (the notice was issued) explains why posters are now visible.
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsNo. A press release is for media attention. A 'kokuji' is a legal requirement to inform the public about administrative actions.
Only if they are an official representative of a government body (e.g., 'The Minister issued a notice'). An average person cannot.
'Kokuji' is the legal act of issuing the notice. 'Keiji' is the physical act of posting it on a board.
Because it's a specialized administrative term that requires understanding of Japanese formal registers and social structures.
Yes, in political or legal dramas, or in 'isekai' anime where a king issues a decree to the public.
It's a bit too formal. 'Oshirase' (notice/announcement) is much better for a school club.
Yes, a 'kokuji' is almost always a written document, even if it's published digitally.
Yes, '{告示|こくじ}する' is also very common and means the same thing as '{告示|こくじ}を{出|だ}す'.
The administrative action (like an election or a new law) might be legally invalid.
Yes, news reports almost always say '{告示|こくじ}が{出|だ}されました' (The notice was issued).
Expressions liées
{公示|こうじ}を{出|だ}す
similarTo issue a national election notice.
{公告|こうこく}を{行|おこな}う
specialized formTo make a public announcement (often judicial).
{通知|つうち}を{送|おく}る
similarTo send a notification.
{声明|せいめい}を{出|だ}す
similarTo issue a statement.
