Uchikura & Co., LLC

From 大君 to Tycoon

 

The Japanese word 大君 has two notable readings with very different histories.

 

When read as おおきみ (ōkimi), it is an ancient Japanese title meaning “great ruler.” It was once used for the sovereign of Japan and later became a respectful term referring to the Emperor.

 

The same characters can also be read as たいくん (taikun), meaning “great lord.” During the Tokugawa period, this title was used in communications with foreign countries to refer to the Shogun. It presented him as Japan’s powerful national ruler without calling him the Emperor.

 

In the mid-19th century, Westerners encountered the word taikun in their dealings with Japan. The term entered English as “tycoon.”

 

Over time, its meaning changed. In modern English, a tycoon is no longer a Shogun. It refers to a wealthy, powerful, and successful person in business, such as a media tycoon, railroad tycoon, or technology tycoon.

 

The word traveled an interesting path:

 

おおきみ — the Emperor
たいくん — the Shogun
tycoon — a powerful business leader

 

One Japanese word crossed the ocean and found an entirely new role in the English language.