taikai

Taikai, written in kanji as 大会, is a Japanese noun that denotes a large gathering or event. Depending on context, it can mean a tournament, a competition, a conference, or a convention. The term is widely used across sports, martial arts, academia, and industry to name organized, formal events.

Etymology: The word combines 大 (dai, big or great) and 会 (kai, meeting or assembly), yielding “great meeting” or “grand gathering.” The reading taikai is the standard pronunciation in Japanese.

Usage: In sports and martial arts, taikai commonly refers to a tournament or championship, often with multiple rounds and a defined structure, such as a national taikai or regional taikai. In academic, business, or hobby contexts, it can refer to conferences, conventions, or assemblies organized by clubs, schools, or organizations. Common phrases include 学術大会 (gakujutsu taikai, academic conference) and 社内大会 (sha-nai taikai, internal company tournament).

Examples and notes: The term appears in the names of many events, for instance kendo taikai or judo taikai. Translators choose “tournament,” “competition,” or “conference” depending on context. In place names or historical texts, taikai can refer to large public gatherings such as assemblies or festivals, though this sense is less common in modern usage.