- 革新 — innovation; reform
- 革命 — revolution
- 改革 — reform; reorganization
- 変革 — transformation
- 皮革 — leather and hides
- 革製 — leather-made
- 革靴 — leather shoes
- 革張 — leather-covered
The kanji 革 originally depicted a stretched animal hide, complete with tail and limbs — a symbol of change after the skin is removed. Over time, it came to represent transformation, reform, and innovation.
This dual meaning — both literal leather and symbolic change — is found in both material-related words and social/political vocabulary.
