An heir or inheritor — a person who takes over a family business, household leadership, or inherited role.
父が高齢になったので、息子が家業の跡継ぎになった。
As his father grew old, the son became the heir to the family business.
小さな町の商店は跡継ぎがいなくて閉店した。
A small town shop closed because there was no heir to take it over.
伝統芸能の世界では、跡継ぎの養成が重視される。
In traditional arts, training successors is given great importance.
A successor — someone who follows another in a position or role, such as in a company or organization.
社長の退任に伴い、部長が跡継ぎとして社長に就任した。
With the president's resignation, the department head took over as successor and became president.
経営の跡継ぎを社外から探すことにした。
They decided to look outside the company for a business successor.
跡継ぎ問題は多くの中小企業が直面している。
Succession issues are something many small and medium enterprises face.