kikaku

Kikaku, written with the kanji 企画 and read きかく (kikaku) in Japanese, denotes the act or result of planning a project, program, event, or media content. The characters suggest conceiving a plan and drawing it up. In modern usage, 企画 functions as both a process term and a label for a proposed concept.

In business and public administration, 企画 appears in phrases such as 企画立案 (formulation of ideas), 企画書 (planning or proposal document), 企画部 (planning department), and 企画会議 (planning meeting). In media, entertainment, and advertising, it refers to the conceptual stage of projects—TV programs, films, products, or campaigns—before execution.

The term differs from related concepts like 計画, which emphasizes a concrete plan or schedule. 企画 centers on ideation and concept development, while 計画 focuses on how a plan will be carried out. The planning document 企画書 is used to present ideas for consideration; after approval, the project moves into development and production.

Origins and usage: 企画 is a standard term in modern Japanese across corporate, media, and cultural contexts. It is commonly used in both everyday business language and formal contexts to describe the process of creating and proposing new concepts or projects. In English, 企画 is typically translated as plan, project concept, or program.