GRAMMAR DETAIL

に向けて

toward · in preparation for

Indicates carrying out preparation or action toward a future goal or event.

Examples

大会に向けて、選手たちは毎朝練習している。

The athletes practice every morning in preparation for the tournament.

完成に向けて、最後の調整を進めている。

We are making the final adjustments toward completion.

来年の試験に向けて勉強を始めた。

I started studying for next year's exam.

Structure: に向けて follows a future goal or event and describes preparations or actions directed toward it.
Basic usage: 大会に向けて、選手たちは毎朝練習している。 presents the athletes' practice as preparation for the coming tournament.

Modifying an action or a noun
- 試験に向けて準備する gives the goal of the act of preparing. To name the preparations as a noun phrase, use に向けた, as in 試験に向けた準備.
Different from an intended audience with 向け
- 試験に向けて勉強する gives the goal of studying, while 初心者向けの本 identifies the book's intended readers. Although both involve a target, action toward a future goal differs from design for an audience.