実施 vs 実行 vs 開催 vs 施行: Japanese Implement, Execute, Carry Out, Hold an Event, Enforce a Law, and Business Action Words Explained

You are reading a Japanese business email. One line says 「アンケートを実施します」and another says 「計画を実行します」. Both seem to mean something like “we will carry this out” — so why use different words? Then you open a government website and see 「新しい法律が施行されました」and an event flyer that reads 「セミナーを開催します」. Four different words, all translatable as some form of “implement,” “carry out,” or “hold.” How do you know which one is right?

This guide breaks down all four words — 実施（じっし）, 実行（じっこう）, 開催（かいさい）, and 施行（しこう）— and explains exactly when each one is used, with natural example sentences drawn from business, project management, event planning, and legal contexts. By the end, you will be able to read and write Japanese business and formal communications with much greater confidence.

Quick Answer: 実施 vs 実行 vs 開催 vs 施行

Before diving into the details, here is the essential difference in plain English.

実施（じっし）means carry out a planned activity

実施 describes executing a pre-arranged, procedural activity — something that was planned in advance and follows a set process. The emphasis is on carrying out an organized procedure: a survey, a test, a campaign, a training program. It answers the question: Was the scheduled activity performed?

実行（じっこう）means execute or put into action

実行 describes the deliberate act of moving from intention to action. The emphasis is on the agent choosing to act — executing a decision, following through on a plan, running a command. In computing, 実行 is standard for “run” (run a program, run a process). It answers: Did the person/system actually act on the intention?

開催（かいさい）means hold an event or meeting

開催 is specifically for gatherings — events, meetings, seminars, conferences, festivals, competitions. It focuses on the organizer bringing people together in one place (or virtually) for a shared purpose. If people gather, 開催 is almost certainly the right word.

施行（しこう）means put a law or system into effect

施行 is a legal/administrative term. It describes the moment a law, regulation, ordinance, or institutional system officially begins operating. It is not about people doing something; it is about a rule or system becoming active. The subject is almost always a law, regulation, or policy — never a person directly.

Why English speakers mix these up

In English, one word — “implement” or “carry out” — covers all four situations. We say “implement a survey,” “implement a plan,” “implement a law,” and “hold an event” almost interchangeably in informal writing. Japanese, however, assigns a distinct verb to each domain: procedural activities go to 実施, deliberate action decisions go to 実行, gatherings go to 開催, and legal/systemic activation goes to 施行. Using the wrong one sounds unnatural or even incorrect to a Japanese reader — much like saying “we executed a party” instead of “we held a party” in English.

Yuka

So if I want to say “we will implement the training program,” should I use 実施 or 実行?

Rei

Almost always 実施! Training programs, surveys, campaigns, and tests are all scheduled procedures — exactly what 実施 is designed for. 研修を実施します is the natural phrasing. You would use 実行 if you are talking about executing a decision or action — like 実行に移す (put into action) or running a computer process.

What Does 実施 Mean?

実施 as planned implementation

実施（じっし）is built from 実（じつ, “actual/real”) + 施（し, “apply/carry out”). Together it means “apply in reality” — turning a plan or schedule into a real, conducted activity. The key nuance is procedurality: 実施 is used when the activity has a defined process, participants, and outcome. It is one of the most common verbs in Japanese business writing and official announcements because it is neutral and formal without being legalistic.

アンケートを実施する / 試験を実施する / キャンペーンを実施する

These three collocations represent the core uses of 実施:

• アンケートを実施する — to conduct a survey. This is the standard phrase in Japanese research, customer feedback, and government polling.
• 試験を実施する — to administer an exam or test. Schools, certification bodies, and government agencies all use 実施 for examinations.
• キャンペーンを実施する — to run a campaign. Whether it is a marketing campaign, a safety campaign, or a public awareness drive, 実施 is the expected verb.

実施予定 / 実施日

Two important compound nouns built from 実施 appear constantly in official documents:

• 実施予定（じっしよてい） — scheduled to be carried out / planned implementation. Example: 来月実施予定の調査（らいつきじっしよていのちょうさ）= “the survey scheduled for next month.”
• 実施日（じっしび） — the date of implementation / the date the activity takes place. Example: 実施日は10月15日です = “The implementation date is October 15.”

Common example sentences

Example 1: 来週、社内アンケートを実施します。
Raishuu, shanai ankeeto o jisshi shimasu.
We will conduct an internal survey next week.

Example 2: JLPT試験は年に2回実施されます。
JLPT shiken wa nen ni 2 kai jisshi saremasu.
The JLPT exam is administered twice a year.

Example 3: 新しい安全キャンペーンを全国で実施する予定です。
Atarashii anzen kyanpeen o zenkoku de jisshi suru yotei desu.
We plan to run a new safety campaign nationwide.

Example 4: 研修は毎年4月に実施されています。
Kenshuu wa maitoshi Shigatsu ni jisshi sarete imasu.
The training program is held every April.

Example 5: 実施日が変更になりました。
Jisshi-bi ga henkou ni narimashita.
The implementation date has been changed.

What Does 実行 Mean?

実行 as deliberate execution

実行（じっこう）is built from 実（じつ, “real/actual”) + 行（こう, “carry out/go”). The nuance is slightly different from 実施: while 実施 emphasizes following a scheduled procedure, 実行 emphasizes the agent’s will and decision to act. There is often a sense of taking a decisive step — following through on something that required intention. This is why 実行 pairs naturally with words like 計画 (plan), 決定 (decision), and 命令 (order/command).

実行 also has a strong presence in computing and technology: running a program, executing a script, or triggering a process is always 実行 in Japanese, never 実施. This dual use — human decisions and machine commands — reflects the core meaning: something moves from a state of readiness into actual operation.

計画を実行する / 決定を実行する

In business and daily life:

• 計画を実行する（けいかくをじっこうする） — to execute a plan / to carry out a plan. This describes the decisive action of moving from planning to doing.
• 決定を実行する（けっていをじっこうする） — to execute / implement a decision. Once a decision is made, 実行 is the verb for acting on it.
• 実行に移す（じっこうにうつす） — to put into action / to move to execution. A very common idiom meaning “to stop planning and start doing.”

処理を実行する — computer/app context

In technology contexts, 実行 is the standard verb:

• プログラムを実行する — to run a program
• コマンドを実行する — to execute a command (in a terminal or CLI)
• 処理を実行する（しょりをじっこうする） — to run/execute a process
• 実行ファイル（じっこうファイル） — executable file (e.g., a .exe file)
• 実行中（じっこうちゅう） — currently running / execution in progress

If you use 実施 in a tech context (e.g., プログラムを実施する), it sounds wrong to a native speaker. 実施 is for human-organized procedures, not machine processes.

Common example sentences

Example 1: 新しい販売戦略を実行に移す時が来た。
Atarashii hanbai senryaku o jikkou ni utsu toki ga kita.
The time has come to put our new sales strategy into action.

Example 2: 会議で決まったことをすぐに実行してください。
Kaigi de kimatta koto o sugu ni jikkou shite kudasai.
Please execute what was decided in the meeting right away.

Example 3: このスクリプトを実行するには管理者権限が必要です。
Kono sukuriputo o jikkou suru ni wa kanrisha kengen ga hitsuyou desu.
Administrator privileges are required to run this script.

Example 4: 計画を立てるだけでなく、実行することが大切だ。
Keikaku o tateru dake de naku, jikkou suru koto ga taisetsu da.
It is important not just to make plans, but to actually carry them out.

Example 5: 実行中にエラーが発生しました。
Jikkou-chuu ni eraa ga hassei shimashita.
An error occurred during execution.

What Does 開催 Mean?

開催 as holding an event or meeting

開催（かいさい）is built from 開（かい, “open/start”) + 催（さい, “hold/organize an event”). The combination is specifically about opening up a gathering — bringing people together for a shared occasion. It is the go-to verb whenever people come together as an audience, participants, attendees, or competitors. 開催 strongly implies there is an organizer, a venue (physical or virtual), and attendees.

You will see 開催 constantly in event flyers, press releases, calendar listings, and official announcements. It is a formal but very common word — not so stiff that it sounds bureaucratic, but not casual either.

イベントを開催する / 会議を開催する / セミナーを開催する

The most common collocations with 開催:

• イベントを開催する — to hold an event
• 会議を開催する（かいぎをかいさいする） — to hold a meeting / convene a meeting (formal nuance; more common in official/business writing than 会議を開く)
• セミナーを開催する — to hold a seminar
• 大会を開催する（たいかいをかいさいする） — to hold a tournament or competition
• オリンピックを開催する — to host the Olympic Games
• 展示会を開催する（てんじかいをかいさいする） — to hold an exhibition

開催日 / 開催中

Two important compound expressions:

• 開催日（かいさいび） — the date of the event / the day the event is held. This is the standard expression on event websites and flyers: 開催日：2026年10月15日（水）
• 開催中（かいさいちゅう） — currently being held / ongoing event. A sign reading 「ただいま開催中」means “Now in progress” or “Currently open.” You see this at exhibitions, fairs, and promotional events.
• 開催場所（かいさいばしょ） — the venue / location of the event
• 開催期間（かいさいきかん） — the period during which the event runs

Common example sentences

Example 1: 来月、東京でITセミナーを開催します。
Raigetsu, Toukyou de IT seminaa o kaisai shimasu.
We will hold an IT seminar in Tokyo next month.

Example 2: 毎年この公園でお祭りが開催されます。
Maitoshi kono kouen de omatsuri ga kaisai saremasu.
A festival is held at this park every year.

Example 3: 国際会議が来週開催される予定です。
Kokusai kaigi ga raishuu kaisai sareru yotei desu.
An international conference is scheduled to be held next week.

Example 4: 開催中の展示会に、ぜひお越しください。
Kaisai-chuu no tenjikai ni, zehi oide kudasai.
Please come visit the exhibition, which is currently open.

Example 5: 開催日と会場はこちらのページでご確認ください。
Kaisai-bi to kaijou wa kochira no peeji de go-kakunin kudasai.
Please check this page for the event date and venue.

Yuka

What about saying イベントを実施する? Is that wrong?

Rei

It is not grammatically wrong — you will occasionally see it in corporate reports when describing an event as a business activity. But イベントを開催する is far more natural. Think of it this way: 開催 is specifically about gathering people, while 実施 is about carrying out a procedure. When attendees are the focus, 開催 is almost always the better choice.

What Does 施行 Mean?

施行 as putting a law or system into effect

施行（しこう）is built from 施（し, “apply/administer”) + 行（こう, “carry out”). Unlike the other three words, 施行 is almost exclusively a legal and administrative term. It describes the moment a law, ordinance, regulation, or formal system officially begins to apply — the point at which it becomes binding and enforceable.

An important note on pronunciation: 施行 is read two ways. しこう（shikou） is standard in legal contexts (法律の施行). せこう（sekou） appears in construction contexts (工事の施工 — note this is 工 not 行, but a common source of confusion). For the legal/regulatory meaning covered here, always use しこう.

法律を施行する / 条例が施行される / 制度の施行

Key collocations with 施行:

• 法律を施行する（ほうりつをしこうする） — to put a law into effect / to enforce a law. The government is almost always the subject.
• 条例が施行される（じょうれいがしこうされる） — an ordinance takes effect. Local governments (city halls, prefectures) use this for local regulations.
• 制度の施行（せいどのしこう） — the implementation/enforcement of a system or scheme (pension system, medical insurance system, etc.)
• 規則が施行される（きそくがしこうされる） — a rule or regulation takes effect

施行日 — the date a law takes effect

施行日（しこうび） is one of the most important compounds to recognize. It means “the date a law or regulation takes effect” — not the date of an event or meeting. English speakers sometimes misread 施行日 as an event date because it looks similar to 開催日, but the meanings are completely different:

• 施行日 → the day a law becomes law (legal enforcement begins)
• 開催日 → the day an event is held (people gather)
• 実施日 → the day a procedure or activity is carried out

Official government websites and legal documents will always specify the 施行日 when announcing new legislation.

Common example sentences

Example 1: 新しい個人情報保護法は来年4月1日に施行されます。
Atarashii kojin jouhou hogo-hou wa rainen Shigatsu 1-nichi ni shikou saremasu.
The new Personal Information Protection Act will take effect on April 1 next year.

Example 2: この条例の施行日は公布の日から起算して3ヶ月後です。
Kono jourei no shikou-bi wa koufu no hi kara kisan shite 3-kagetsu-go desu.
The effective date of this ordinance is three months from the date of promulgation.

Example 3: 新制度の施行に伴い、申請手続きが変わります。
Shin-seido no shikou ni tomonai, shinsei tetsuzuki ga kawarimasu.
With the enforcement of the new system, the application procedure will change.

Example 4: 施行日以降に締結した契約に適用されます。
Shikou-bi ikou ni teiketsu shita keiyaku ni tekiyou saremasu.
This applies to contracts concluded on or after the effective date.

Example 5: 改正された法律は昨年すでに施行されている。
Kaisei sareta houritsu wa sakunen sude ni shikou sarete iru.
The amended law was already put into effect last year.

Pairwise Comparisons

実施 vs 実行 — planned procedure vs deliberate action

This is the trickiest distinction because both words can translate as “carry out” or “implement.” The key difference is the frame of reference:

Contrast:
アンケートを実施する ✔ — conduct a survey (scheduled procedure)
アンケートを実行する ✖ — unnatural; surveys are procedures, not acts of will
計画を実行する ✔ — execute a plan (decisive action)
計画を実施する ✔ — also possible but sounds more bureaucratic; 実行 is more common here

実施 vs 開催 — carrying out an activity vs holding a gathering

Both verbs appear in event-related contexts, which causes confusion. The distinction is clear when you ask: Is the focus on the gathering of people, or the execution of a procedure?

• イベントを開催する ✔ — focusing on people coming together at the event
• イベントを実施する ✔ — possible in corporate reports, focusing on the activity being executed as planned
• アンケートを実施する ✔ — conducting a survey (procedure-focused)
• アンケートを開催する ✖ — wrong; you cannot “hold a gathering” for a survey

When in doubt: if people attend, use 開催. If a procedure is conducted, use 実施.

実施 vs 施行 — procedure implementation vs legal enforcement

These two are often confused in official documents because both describe “putting something into effect.” The critical difference: 実施 describes carrying out an activity or program; 施行 describes a law or regulation becoming enforceable.

• 新しい制度を実施する — to carry out / operate a new system (emphasis on running the system as a program or activity)
• 新しい制度を施行する — to put a new system into legal effect (emphasis on the legal/binding activation)

Both are grammatically correct with 制度, but 施行 is used specifically when the system has legal force — a pension scheme, a medical insurance revision, a tax system change. 実施 is used when the focus is on operating the system in practice.

開催 vs 実行 — event vs action

These two are rarely confused because their domains are so different, but for completeness: 開催 is for gatherings (people come together), and 実行 is for actions and commands (an agent acts or a system runs). There is no overlap in natural usage.

Natural Collocations: Which Verb Goes with Which Noun?

試験・アンケート・キャンペーン → 実施

Any noun representing a scheduled procedural activity pairs with 実施. These are activities with defined steps, participants, and results:

• 試験を実施する — administer an exam
• アンケートを実施する — conduct a survey
• キャンペーンを実施する — run a campaign
• 研修を実施する — carry out training
• 調査を実施する（ちょうさをじっしする）— conduct an investigation / survey
• 点検を実施する（てんけんをじっしする）— carry out an inspection
• 訓練を実施する（くんれんをじっしする）— conduct a drill / exercise

計画・決定・命令 → 実行

Any noun representing a decision, intention, or command pairs with 実行:

• 計画を実行する — execute a plan
• 決定を実行する — carry out a decision
• 命令を実行する — execute an order
• コマンドを実行する — run a command
• プログラムを実行する — run a program
• 戦略を実行する（せんりゃくをじっこうする）— execute a strategy

イベント・会議・セミナー → 開催

Any noun representing a gathering of people pairs with 開催:

• イベントを開催する — hold an event
• 会議を開催する — convene a meeting
• セミナーを開催する — hold a seminar
• 展示会を開催する — hold an exhibition
• 大会を開催する — hold a tournament
• 式典を開催する（しきてんをかいさいする）— hold a ceremony
• コンサートを開催する — hold a concert

法律・条例・制度 → 施行

Any noun representing a law, regulation, or legally binding system pairs with 施行:

• 法律を施行する — put a law into effect
• 条例を施行する — enforce an ordinance
• 規則を施行する — put rules into effect
• 制度を施行する — activate a system (legal nuance)
• 改正法を施行する（かいせいほうをしこうする）— enforce an amended law

Collocation Summary Table

✔ = natural and correct △ = possible but less common or more specific ✖ = unnatural or incorrect

Common Mistakes English Speakers Make

Using 実行 for surveys and tests (should be 実施)

This is the most common error. Because 実行 looks “more active” and translates as “execute” — a word English speakers associate with professional contexts — learners often write アンケートを実行する or 試験を実行する. These sound wrong to a native speaker. Surveys and exams are conducted following a procedure, not executed from a decision. Always use 実施 for these procedural activities.

Using 開催 for tests and surveys too broadly

Some learners overgeneralize 開催 to cover any organized activity. 試験を開催する sounds odd because a test is not a gathering — it does not bring people together in the same social sense as an event or meeting. 開催 requires a clear “gathering of people as its primary purpose.” Stick to: events, meetings, seminars, competitions, ceremonies.

Translating every “implement” as 実行

In English, “implement” covers a broad range: implement a policy, implement a plan, implement a system, implement a campaign. In Japanese, these split across at least three words: 制度を施行する (implement = put into legal effect), キャンペーンを実施する (implement = carry out a procedure), 計画を実行する (implement = execute an action). Resist the temptation to default to 実行 for everything.

Misreading 施行日 as event date (it means “date a law takes effect”)

This is a particularly important reading mistake in official documents. 施行日（しこうび）does not mean “the day something happens” in a general sense. It specifically means the day a law or regulation comes into force. If you misread it as an event date, you may badly misunderstand a legal document or official notice. Remember: 開催日 = event date, 実施日 = activity date, 施行日 = date a law takes effect.

Confusing 実施 and 施行 in official documents

Both words appear in government and corporate documents. The confusion often arises with 制度（system/scheme）: 制度を実施する and 制度を施行する can both appear, but with different shades. When the document is legal in nature (describing when rules become binding), 施行 is correct. When the document is operational (describing how a program is being run day-to-day), 実施 is correct. In practice, look for nearby legal language (法律, 規則, 公布) as a signal that 施行 is the right interpretation.

Decision Rule: Which Action Word Should You Use?

Use this flowchart whenever you need to choose between these four words:

Is the subject a LAW, REGULATION, ORDINANCE, or LEGALLY BINDING SYSTEM?
    YES --> Use 施行（しこう）
             e.g., 法律を施行する / 条例が施行される / 施行日
    NO
     |
     v
Are people gathering together for a shared occasion (event, meeting, seminar)?
    YES --> Use 開催（かいさい）
             e.g., イベントを開催する / 会議を開催する / セミナーを開催する
    NO
     |
     v
Is it a computer command, program, or a decisive act of WILL on a decision/plan?
    YES --> Use 実行（じっこう）
             e.g., 計画を実行する / コマンドを実行する / 実行ファイル
    NO
     |
     v
Is it a scheduled procedural ACTIVITY with defined steps?
(survey, exam, campaign, training, inspection, drill)
    YES --> Use 実施（じっし）
             e.g., アンケートを実施する / 試験を実施する / 研修を実施する

Still unsure?
    - People attend? --> 開催
    - Legal document involved? --> 施行
    - Computer/tech context? --> 実行
    - Survey/exam/campaign? --> 実施

Summary Comparison Table

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Quick Quiz

Test yourself! Choose the most natural Japanese verb from the four covered in this article. Answers are below.

1. Your company is sending out a customer satisfaction survey next week. Which verb do you use?
(a) アンケートを実行する   (b) アンケートを実施する   (c) アンケートを開催する

2. A new data privacy law officially starts applying from April 1. How do you describe this?
(a) 法律が実施される   (b) 法律が施行される   (c) 法律が開催される

3. Your project team decided on a new marketing strategy and is now putting it into action. Which verb fits?
(a) 戦略を施行する   (b) 戦略を開催する   (c) 戦略を実行する

4. An international trade fair is being organized in Osaka in October. Which verb do you use?
(a) 博覧会を実施する   (b) 博覧会を開催する   (c) 博覧会を実行する

5. A software engineer runs a command in the terminal. Which verb describes this?
(a) コマンドを実施する   (b) コマンドを開催する   (c) コマンドを実行する

6. You are reading a government notice that says 「本条例の______日は令和8年4月1日とする」. What word fits the blank, and what does it mean?
(a) 開催   (b) 実施   (c) 施行

—

Answers:

1. (b) アンケートを実施する — Surveys are scheduled procedural activities, not gatherings or decisions. 実施 is the only natural choice here.

2. (b) 法律が施行される — A law taking legal effect always uses 施行. 実施 would sound as though you are running the law like a program, which is unnatural in this context.

3. (c) 戦略を実行する — Executing a business strategy that has been decided upon is a classic use of 実行. The team is acting on an intention.

4. (b) 博覧会を開催する — A trade fair is a gathering of people. 開催 is the natural and expected verb.

5. (c) コマンドを実行する — In computing, running any command, script, or process is always 実行. This is standard Japanese tech vocabulary.

6. (c) 施行 — 施行日 means “the date this ordinance takes effect.” The sentence reads: “The effective date of this ordinance shall be April 1, Reiwa 8.” If you chose 実施日, you would be saying “the date we carry out this ordinance,” which sounds informal and imprecise in a legal document.

Which of these four words do you find most confusing? Have you come across 施行日 in a Japanese document and wondered what it meant? Share your experience in the comments below — we would love to hear how you are putting this vocabulary to use!

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