• 革新かくしん — innovation; reform
• 革命かくめい — revolution
• 改革かいかく — reform; reorganization
• 変革へんかく — transformation
• 皮革ひかく — leather and hides
• 革製かくせい — leather-made
• 革靴かわぐつ — leather shoes
• 革張かわばり — 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.

政府せいふは 教育制度きょういくせいどを 改革かいかくしました。
The government reformed the education system.

この靴くつは 革かわでできています。
These shoes are made of leather.