にもかかわらず | Despite and In Spite Of in Japanese

Formal Contrast

にもかかわらず is the written register's "despite". It states that something happened even though conditions were against it.

悪天候(あくてんこう)にもかかわらず、試合(しあい)は行(おこな)われた。(Despite the bad weather, the match went ahead.)

Unlike most patterns in this family, nouns need no connector:

な-adjectives and nouns often take である in formal writing.

Pattern	Register
けど	casual speech
のに	everyday, carries emotion
にもかかわらず	formal, written, emotionally neutral

のに sounds disappointed or surprised. にもかかわらず reports the contrast without feeling — which is exactly why reports and news use it.

It can open a sentence as a connective, meaning "nevertheless":

Example Sentences

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Speed

悪天候(あくてんこう)にもかかわらず、試合(しあい)は行(おこな)われた。

Despite the bad weather, the match was held.

努力(どりょく)したにもかかわらず、結果(けっか)は出(で)なかった。

Despite the effort, no results came.

連絡(れんらく)したにもかかわらず、返事(へんじ)がありません。

Despite having contacted them, there's been no reply.

不利(ふり)な条件(じょうけん)にもかかわらず契約(けいやく)を結(むす)んだ。

They signed the contract despite unfavourable terms.

高齢(こうれい)にもかかわらず毎日(まいにち)働(はたら)いている。

He works every day despite his age.

警告(けいこく)したにもかかわらず無視(むし)された。

It was ignored despite the warning.

予算(よさん)が不足(ふそく)していた。にもかかわらず計画(けいかく)は成功(せいこう)した。

The budget was short. Nevertheless, the plan succeeded.

渋滞(じゅうたい)にもかかわらず定刻(ていこく)に到着(とうちゃく)した。

We arrived on time despite the traffic.