Sosei

So sei, or sōsei in proper romanization, is a Japanese noun formed from the kanji 創 (create, origin) and 生 (birth, life). It is commonly translated as creation, genesis, or origination, referring to the act or process of bringing something into being or the origin of a thing, idea, or phenomenon. In Japanese usage, sōsei appears across philosophical, literary, and scientific contexts, where it can describe the birth of a concept, the creation of a system, or the emergence of new conditions. The nuance ranges from cosmic creation to the formation of institutions, technologies, or cultural practices.

In modern branding and naming, sōsei is sometimes used as a proper noun in Japan and internationally, aiming to convey innovation and renewal. A notable example is the Sosei Group Corporation, a biopharmaceutical company whose branding evokes the idea of creating life through science. The term can also appear in fictional, poetic, or speculative works to signal genesis or transformative change.

Romanization and variants: the term is commonly written as sōsei with a macron to indicate the long vowel; without diacritics, it appears as sosei or so-sei. It is related to, but distinct from, similar compounds such as 創世 (sōsei, often rendered “world’s creation”) and 創成 (sōsei, meaning formation or creation), which carry overlapping meanings but different emphases in Japanese usage.

See also Genesis, Creation, 創生, 創世.