kaikaku

Kaikaku (改革) is a Japanese term meaning reform or overhaul. It denotes a broad, radical change intended to restructure a system, organization, or policy. In common usage it is often contrasted with kaizen (改善), which refers to gradual, incremental improvement. While kaizen aims for small, continuous gains, kaikaku pursues large-scale transformation, sometimes with substantial investment and risk.

The etymology reflects its meaning: 改 means to change, and 革 denotes renewal or reform, together conveying a fundamental restructuring. The term is used across domains to signal a decisive reconfiguration rather than incremental tweaks.

In government and public policy, kaikaku refers to structural reforms designed to reorganize institutions, governance, or social policy. Examples include administrative reform, fiscal consolidation measures, or major sector reforms intended to shift incentives and outcomes.

In business and manufacturing, kaikaku is used in lean management to describe radical redesigns of processes, products, or value chains. This may involve new technology, major process overhauls, or a rethinking of the business model. Kaikaku is typically pursued when incremental improvements no longer suffice to achieve strategic objectives and carries higher risk and investment requirements than kaizen.

See also: Kaizen, Lean manufacturing, Reform (political).