2013年12月の記事
全27件 (27件中 1-27件目)
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２０１３回顧・日本 「五輪」「富士山」に希望がわいた
The Yomiuri Shimbun December 29, 2013Successful Olympics bid, Mt. Fuji designation bright spots in 2013 ２０１３回顧・日本 「五輪」「富士山」に希望がわいた（12月29日付・読売社説）Apparently indicating the high hopes many people have for Olympic Games seven years ahead, readers of The Yomiuri Shimbun awarded first place on the list of “Japan’s top 10 news stories” this year to Tokyo winning the bid to host the 2020 Summer Olympics and Paralympics. ７年後の五輪開催に希望を見いだした人が多かったのだろう。 読売新聞の読者が選ぶ今年の「日本１０大ニュース」の１位に、「２０２０年夏季五輪・パラリンピックの開催地が東京に決定」が選ばれた。This means 56 years will have elapsed since Tokyo hosted the Olympics in 1964. 東京で五輪が開催されるのは１９６４年以来５６年ぶりである。The 1964 Olympiad served as a key factor behind the nation’s high economic growth. The coming Games are expected to act as a catalyst for this country’s reinvigoration. Every possible effort should be made to ensure that the Summer Games and Paralympics are successful. 前回五輪は、日本の高度成長を加速させる契機となった。今度の五輪は、日本再生の起爆剤となり得る。ぜひとも成功させたい。With Naoki Inose being forced to resign as governor of Tokyo over his receipt of a dubious ¥50 million loan—16th on the domestic news list—personnel affairs concerning the organizing committee of the Games and progress on relevant matters have been left up in the air. It is extremely important for all quarters concerned to carry out concerted efforts to make the 2020 Olympics and Paralympics successful. 東京都の猪瀬直樹前知事が５０００万円受領問題（１６位）で辞職に追い込まれ、大会組織委員会の人事などに停滞がみられる。オールジャパン体制で着実に開催準備を進めることが肝要だ。The initial design for the new National Athletic Stadium, the main venue of the Games’ competitions, is scheduled to be scaled down after the original plan came under criticism for being extravagant. It is essential to construct new facilities and refurbish existing ones for the Games without wasteful spending. メーン会場の新国立競技場は「巨大すぎる」との指摘で、規模が縮小される見通しだ。無駄のない施設整備も欠かせない。Second on the list of top 10 news items was UNESCO recognition of Mt. Fuji as a cultural World Heritage site. All components of cultural heritage relating to Mt. Fuji, including the Miho no Matsubara coastline in Shizuoka Prefecture, have been certified as “treasures of the world.” 僅差の２位は「富士山が世界文化遺産に決定」だった。当初除外される見込みだった「三保松原」を含むすべての構成資産が「世界の宝」と認定された。The beauty of Mt. Fuji and its environs must be left intact for posterity. Regulations were tightened in summer this year on car traffic in the Mt. Fuji area and a fee was experimentally levied on people who wanted to climb the sacred peak. Further endeavors should be made for the environmental conservation of the country’s loftiest mountain and its vicinity. 美しい姿を後世に残さねばならない。この夏は、マイカー規制が拡充され、入山料徴収が試験導入された。今後は一層、環境保全に知恵を絞る必要があろう。Many challenges ahead In pro baseball, Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles’ victory in the Japan Series for the first time placed fourth in the list, while the unbroken winning streak by Rakuten pitcher Masahiro Tanaka ranked eighth. プロ野球では、楽天の「初の日本一」が４位、「田中投手が連勝の新記録」が８位に入った。The triumph of Rakuten gave a great deal of encouragement to victims in the Great East Japan Earthquake of March 11, 2011, as its home ground is in Sendai. Tanaka, who was the major driving force of Rakuten capturing the highest accolade in Japan’s pro baseball world, is just entering negotiations on moving to a U.S. Major League Baseball team. We hope to see Tanaka performing brilliantly in the United States. 仙台が本拠地の楽天の優勝は、東日本大震災の被災者を大いに元気付けた。日本一の原動力となった田中将大投手は、米大リーグ球団との移籍交渉に入る。さらなる活躍を期待したい。The news that baseball legends Shigeo Nagashima and Hideki Matsui received the People’s Honor Award from the government ranked fifth on the list. 「長嶋茂雄氏と松井秀喜氏に国民栄誉賞」は５位に入った。Nagashima has made great contributions to developing professional baseball into Japan’s national sport. Matsui, a former slugger for the Yomiuri Giants and the New York Yankees, thrilled baseball fans with his huge home runs. 長嶋氏はプロ野球を国民的スポーツに発展させた最大の功労者だ。松井氏の豪快なホームランには、多くのファンが熱狂した。The scene of Nagashima and his disciple Matsui in Giants’ uniforms performing in an opening pitch ceremony in celebration of their winning of the People’s Honor Award must have engraved itself deeply in people’s memories. 巨人のユニホームを着て始球式を行った師弟の姿は、人々の記憶に深く刻まれたに違いない。The administration of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s success in ending the divided Diet after the Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito garnered a majority of seats in the House of Councillors election in July placed third on the top 10 list. This achievement was conducive to increasing the Abe Cabinet’s stability. 安倍政権は「参院選で自民、公明両党が過半数獲得、ねじれ解消」（３位）で安定度を増した。On the other hand, Japan faces many challenges. 一方で、課題も多い。The decision to raise the consumption tax to 8 percent, which will be put into force in April, placed seventh. Negotiations on the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade liberalization, ranked ninth, are destined to continue next year after failing to be concluded this year. 来年４月に消費税率８％への引き上げ（７位）が実施される。越年した環太平洋経済連携協定（ＴＰＰ）の交渉（９位）も大詰めを迎える。It is imperative for the government to ensure that the signs of business pickup thanks to the Abe administration’s Abenomics package of economic policies will lead to full-fledged recovery of the nation’s business activities. We strongly hope 2014 will prove to be a year when we can really feel the economy rejuvenating. 経済政策「アベノミクス」で上向いた景気を本格回復につなげる必要がある。来年は、経済再生を実感できる年としたい。A number of natural calamities occurred this year, such as mudslides on Izu-Oshima Island, sixth on the list. 今年は、伊豆大島の土石流（６位）など、自然災害が相次いだ。We must keep up our guard against disasters. 防災対策を怠ってはならない。(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 29, 2013)（2013年12月29日01時22分 読売新聞）
Dec 31, 2013
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辺野古移設承認 日米同盟強化へ重要な前進だ
The Yomiuri Shimbun December 28, 2013Nakaima’s approval on Henoko to reinforce Japan-U.S. alliance辺野古移設承認 日米同盟強化へ重要な前進だ（12月28日付・読売社説） ◆沖縄の負担軽減を加速させたいIt was an important advance toward solving the issue of relocating the functions of Futenma Air Station in Ginowan, Okinawa Prefecture, which has faced various twists and turns since Japan and the United States agreed in 1996 on the return of the air station’s site to Japan. １９９６年の日米合意以来、様々な曲折を経てきた米軍普天間飛行場の移設問題の解決に向けて重要な前進である。Okinawa Gov. Hirokazu Nakaima has approved the central government’s request to carry out a land reclamation project in publicly owned waters off the Henoko district in Nago in the prefecture, a necessary step for ultimately relocating the air station to the district. 沖縄県の仲井真弘多知事が、普天間飛行場の名護市辺野古への移設に伴う公有水面埋め立てを承認した。The Futenma issue has been the biggest pending issue between the two countries for the last 17 years. A huge amount of time and energy has been devoted to it. The problem can be likened to a difficult simultaneous equation, in which many parties such as the Japanese and U.S. governments, Okinawa Prefecture, the city of Nago and the U.S. military have complicated circumstances. 普天間問題はこの１７年間、日米間の最大の懸案で、膨大な時間と精力が注がれてきた。日米両政府、沖縄県、名護市、米軍など多くの関係者が複雑な事情を抱える、困難な連立方程式だからだ。Resolving this difficult issue without nullifying the past laborious efforts will have the highly significant effect of making the bilateral alliance stronger and more sustainable at a time when Japan’s security environment has been worsening. これまでの苦労を無駄にせず、難題を克服することは、日本の安全保障環境が悪化する中、同盟関係をより強靱(きょうじん)で持続可能なものにするという大きな意義を持つ。Okinawa Gov.’s determination ◆知事の決断を評価するIt seems Nakaima finally decided to bite the bullet. 仲井真知事にとっては、まさに苦渋の決断だったろう。At first he conditionally supported the Henoko relocation, but he had to raise “relocation outside the prefecture” as an election campaign pledge when running for a second term since Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama of the Democratic Party of Japan inflamed prefectural citizens’ expectations in an irresponsible manner during his 2009-10 administration, calling for “relocation at least outside the prefecture.” 当初は、辺野古移設を条件付きで支持していたが、民主党の鳩山首相が「最低でも県外移設」と県民の期待を無責任に煽(あお)ったため、２期目の知事選公約に「県外移設」を掲げざるを得なくなった。However, it is crystal clear that the dangerous situation of Futenma Air Station, located in a densely populated area, would persist for a long time if the reclamation request was not approved. しかし、埋め立てを承認しなければ、普天間飛行場の危険な現状が長期間にわたって固定化されてしまうのは確実だ。During a press conference Friday, Nakaima said he judged that the government’s measures, including those to preserve the environment, “meet the standards [under the law]” for reasons of his approval. But he also emphasized, “My view that relocation of the air station outside the prefecture would be faster has not changed.” 知事は記者会見で、埋め立てを承認した理由について、「県外移設の方が早いとの考えは変わらない」と強調しつつ、政府の環境保全措置などが「基準に適合していると判断した」と語った。The issue of bases in Okinawa Prefecture always involves conflicting approaches—whether to aim at drastic removal of bases or to promote a gradual reduction of base-hosting burdens. We praise Nakaima’s decision as a practical choice, giving top priority to steady reduction of the burden. 沖縄の米軍基地問題では常に、基地の抜本的な撤去を目指すか、段階的な負担軽減を進めるか、という方法論の対立がある。知事が着実な負担軽減を優先し、現実的選択をしたことを評価したい。The Henoko relocation plan itself is significant, as it will remove a huge airfield from the densely populated area to a sparsely populated district. In addition, it will have the secondary effect of promoting the transfer of U.S. marines stationed in the prefecture to Guam. The relocation will consequently result in a major reduction in the base-hosting burden for the entire prefecture, leading to economic development of the prefecture as well. 辺野古移設は、広大な普天間飛行場を人口密集地から過疎地に移すうえ、在沖縄海兵隊のグアム移転を促進する副次的効果を持つ。県全体で大幅な負担軽減となり、沖縄の発展にも役立とう。The prefectural governor’s brave decision has been criticized by those opposing the Henoko relocation plan, but we are sure even such people will highly evaluate his decision in the future. 知事の決断は、辺野古移設反対派から批判されているが、将来は高く評価されるはずだ。Abe takes a risk ◆リスク取った安倍政権We also praise the efforts of the administration of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, which created conditions to facilitate Nakaima’s decision. 知事の判断を後押しした安倍政権の努力も支持したい。It listed a number of measures to ease Okinawa Prefecture’s burden in hosting many U.S. bases. These included advancing the deadline for returning land used by Futenma Air Station and the Makiminato Service Area to the prefecture, the transfer of military training activities to various locations outside the prefecture and the start of negotiations on a new Japan-U.S. agreement concerning on-site environmental surveys by Japanese authorities on the U.S. bases. 基地負担の軽減策として、普天間飛行場や牧港補給地区の返還期間の短縮や訓練移転、米軍基地内の環境調査に関する新たな日米協定の協議開始などを示した。The planned return of Futenma Air Station, targeted for fiscal 2022 at the earliest, was the result of arduous negotiations between Japan and the United States. It will not be easy to advance this timetable as requested by the governor, but Tokyo and Washington should make utmost efforts to do so. ９～１２年後の返還目標は、激しい日米交渉の結果で、知事の求める前倒しは簡単ではないが、日米両政府は最大限努力すべきだ。Concerning the issue of moving the training areas for MV-22 Osprey transport aircraft outside Okinawa Prefecture, the local governments concerned are urged to offer cooperation proactively to share the burdens now heavily shouldered by the prefecture. 米軍輸送機オスプレイの訓練の県外移転も、沖縄の負担を日本全体で分かち合うため、関係自治体は積極的に協力してほしい。Washington had been wary about revising the Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement, but agreed to enter negotiations on a new agreement that would supplement the SOFA. Environmental surveys of U.S. bases ahead of their return are expected to aid the eventual utilization of their sites. Efforts must be made to work out an agreement under which surveys can be started as early as possible. 米政府は従来、日米地位協定の改定に慎重だったが、地位協定を補足する新協定の協議には応じることになった。返還予定の米軍基地内での事前の環境調査は跡地利用を促進する。より早い段階から調査できる合意を目指したい。As measures to promote the development of Okinawa Prefecture, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has pledged to secure a budget of the ¥300 billion level annually up until fiscal 2021, in addition to making an additional allocation in the fiscal 2014 budget, thus showing maximum consideration to the prefecture. For promotion of the prefecture’s northern areas, ¥5 billion will be earmarked every year. 沖縄振興策でも、安倍首相は、来年度予算の積み増しに加え、２０２１年度まで毎年３０００億円台の予算確保を約束するなど、最大限の配慮を示した。県北部振興策にも毎年５０億円を計上する。With state finances in dire straits, these funds represent exceptionally preferential treatment for the prefecture. But it is an unavoidable step to break the stalemate on the Futenma relocation issue. If the DPJ-led government had not put the issue on such a serpentine path, the people of the nation would not have to bear such a huge expenditure of taxpayers’ money. 厳しい財政事情の中、異例の優遇措置だが、難局を打開するためにはやむを得まい。ただ、民主党政権が普天間問題を迷走させなければ、これほど巨額の国民負担は生じなかったろう。The Abe administration was able to obtain the prefecture’s approval on the Futenma relocation plan largely because it consistently worked toward building a relationship of trust with Nakaima even at the political risk of the prefecture’s disapproval. That is why the governor became willing to face criticism from the local people. 安倍政権が沖縄県の承認を得られたのは、不承認時の政権への打撃というリスクも覚悟し、一貫してぶれずに、仲井真知事との信頼関係を築いたことが大きい。だからこそ、知事も県民からの批判というリスクを取ったのだろう。Abe must make all-out efforts to secure the continuing deterrent effect of the U.S. military presence in Japan while also reducing burdens on Okinawa and continuing to nurture the relationship of trust with the governor. 首相は、知事との信頼を大切にしながら、米軍の抑止力の維持と沖縄の負担軽減の両立に全力を挙げなければなるまい。
Dec 30, 2013
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首相靖国参拝 外交立て直しに全力を挙げよ
The Yomiuri Shimbun December 27, 2013Abe’s visit to Yasukuni Shrine must be followed by diplomatic rebuilding首相靖国参拝 外交立て直しに全力を挙げよ （12月27日付・読売社説）◆国立追悼施設を検討すべきだIn what could be called a “lightning shrine visit,” Prime Minister Shinzo Abe made a surprise visit to Yasukuni Shrine on Thursday, raising the question of why he took such an action at this particular point in time. A number of other questions should also be asked, including what resolve and preparations were in his mind in making this visit to the shrine. “電撃参拝”である。なぜ、今なのか。どんな覚悟と準備をして参拝に踏み切ったのか。多くの疑問が拭えない。Abe visited Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo on Thursday morning, on the first anniversary of the launch of the current Abe administration. It was his first visit since he assumed the top post of the government and the first visit to the war-related shrine by a sitting prime minister since then Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi went there on Aug. 15, 2006. 安倍首相が政権発足１年を迎えた２６日午前、就任後初めて靖国神社に参拝した。現職首相の参拝は、２００６年８月１５日の小泉首相以来だ。Regarding his inability to visit Yasukuni during the first Abe Cabinet in 2006-07, Abe is repeatedly on record as saying, “It was a matter of deepest regret.” Thursday’s visit can be said to be the fulfillment of a personal, long-cherished desire of the prime minister. 安倍首相は、第１次政権の任期中に靖国神社に参拝できなかったことについて「痛恨の極み」と述べていた。その個人的な念願を果たしたことになる。U.S. ‘disappointed’ ◆気がかりな米の「失望」Abe refrained from visiting the shrine earlier this year on Aug. 15, the day marking the end of World War II, and during the shrine’s spring and autumn festivals. Instead, he only sent offerings of masakaki sacred tree stands and made monetary offerings called tamagushi-ryo. 首相は終戦記念日と靖国神社の春・秋季例大祭の際、真(ま)榊(さかき)や玉串料を奉納するにとどめてきた。His decisions on those occasions may have been based on a broad perspective that a visit to Yasukuni would worsen Japan’s already strained relations with China and South Korea, which see Yasukuni as a symbol of Japan’s militarism, a step inadvisable from a diplomatic point of view. 参拝すれば、靖国神社を日本の軍国主義のシンボルと見る中国、韓国との関係が一層悪化し、外交上、得策ではないと大局的に判断したからだろう。The United States was also concerned that a visit to the shrine by the prime minister could heighten Tokyo’s tensions with Beijing and Seoul. 米国も首相の参拝は中韓との緊張を高めると懸念していた。On their trip to Japan in October, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel laid flowers at Tokyo’s Chidorigafuchi cemetery for the remains of unidentified Japanese who died overseas during World War II. This is believed to have been an attempt to dissuade Abe from making a Yasukuni visit. ケリー国務長官とヘーゲル国防長官が１０月の来日の際、氏名不詳で遺族に渡せない戦没者の遺骨を納めた千鳥ヶ淵戦没者墓苑で献花したのは、そのメッセージだ。We are especially concerned that the United States, in the wake of Abe’s visit to the shrine, has released an extraordinary statement saying that Washington “is disappointed that Japan’s leadership has taken an action that will exacerbate tensions with Japan’s neighbors.” 気がかりなのは、米国が「日本の指導者が近隣諸国との緊張を悪化させるような行動を取ったことに失望している」と、異例の声明を発表したことである。Was this a miscalculation by Abe, who has placed top priority on the United States in his diplomatic policies? 日米関係を最重視する首相にとって誤算だったのではないか。China has unilaterally declared an air defense identification zone over the East China Sea, heightening tension in the relations between Japan and China. China may beef up its offensive stance over the territorial sovereignty issue of the Senkaku Islands. 中国は東シナ海上空に防空識別圏を一方的に設定し、日中間の緊張を高めている。尖閣諸島をめぐって、さらに攻勢を強めてくる可能性もある。Japan, in tandem with its ally the United States, must continue acting resolutely in defense of the integrity of the nation’s territorial land and sea. 日本は同盟国の米国と連携して領土・領海を守り抜かねばならない。We cannot help but wonder whether Abe, at this highly sensitive time, has personally created a destabilizing factor for his administration by visiting Yasukuni Shrine. この微妙な時機に靖国神社に参拝し、政権の不安定要因を自ら作ってしまったのではないか。Some of the prime minister’s close aides reportedly prodded Abe to make a Yasukuni visit, saying China and South Korea have criticized Japan even though Abe had not gone there. The situation would remain unchanged even if the prime minister visited Yasukuni, they reportedly told him. 首相周辺には、「参拝しなくても中韓は日本批判を繰り返している。それなら参拝しても同じだ」と参拝を促す声があったという。If Abe came to that conclusion as a result of his failure to find a way to improve relations with China and South Korea, we cannot help but feel that is regrettable. 首相が、中韓両国との関係改善の糸口を見いだせず、そうした判断に至ったのであれば残念だ。New Komeito leader Natsuo Yamaguchi opposed the visit when Abe phoned him immediately before his visit to the shrine, saying bluntly, “I cannot support that.” After Abe’s visit, Yamaguchi said, “As the prime minister presumably acted knowing there would be adverse reactions from both China and South Korea, the prime minister should personally make efforts to ameliorate the situation.” 公明党の山口代表は首相から参拝直前に電話があった際、「賛同できない」と反対した。「中韓両国の反発を予測しての行動だろうから、首相自身が改善の努力をする必要がある」と述べている。Abe must do his utmost to rebuild the nation’s diplomacy, which has been marred because of his visit to Yasukuni. 首相は、外交立て直しに全力を挙げねばなるまい。Abuse by China, ROK◆中韓の悪のりを許すなRegarding his Yasukuni visit, Abe said he chose that day “to report the progress of the first year of my administration and convey my resolve to build an era in which the people will never again suffer the ravages of war.” In regard to China and South Korea, Abe said, “I would like to explain this feeling of mine to them directly.” 首相は、参拝について「政権発足後、１年間の歩みを報告し、戦争の惨禍で再び人々が苦しむことのない時代を創る決意を込めて不戦の誓いをした」と説明した。中韓両国などに「この気持ちを直接説明したい」とも語った。Rather than lending an ear to Abe’s statement, China and South Korea have begun to use his Yasukuni visit as material to back their claim that Japan is drifting to the right. だが、中韓両国は、安倍首相に耳を傾けるどころか、靖国参拝を日本の「右傾化」を宣伝する材料に利用し始めている。The Chinese Foreign Ministry issued a statement that Abe’s visit “infringed on the national sentiment of war-victimized countries and defied the justice of history.” The South Korean government also criticized the visit, saying it was “an anachronistic act that would harm the stability and cooperation of Northeast Asia from its very foundation.” 中国外務省は、「戦争被害国の国民感情を踏みにじり、歴史の正義に挑戦した」との談話を表明した。韓国政府も「北東アジアの安定と協力を根本から損なう時代錯誤的な行為」と非難している。Their misunderstanding and distortions are excessive. 誤解、曲解も甚だしい。Japan has pursued the path of a pacifist nation in the postwar period while upholding the principles of freedom and democracy. It is missing the mark for these two countries to ignore this point and criticize Abe’s Yasukuni visit. 日本は戦後、自由と民主主義を守り、平和国家の道を歩んできた。中韓が、それを無視して靖国参拝を批判するのは的外れだ。In the first place, China and South Korea should be blamed for worsening relations with Japan by linking the issue of perceptions of history with political and diplomatic affairs. そもそも対日関係を悪化させたのは歴史認識問題を政治・外交に絡める中韓両国の方だ。Aside from the propriety of Abe’s Yasukuni visit, how the prime minister of one nation mourns its war dead is not a matter for interference from other nations. 今回の参拝の是非は別として一国の首相が戦没者をどう追悼するかについて、本来他国からとやかく言われる筋合いもない。
Dec 29, 2013
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ＰＫＯ弾薬提供 武器輸出の新原則策定を急げ
The Yomiuri Shimbun December 26, 2013In intl crisis, govt must lay down new weapons-export principlesＰＫＯ弾薬提供 武器輸出の新原則策定を急げ（12月26日付・読売社説）A country working to support nation-building efforts in Africa under rigorous conditions has every reason to help another country engaged in the same task, a duty that has been taken for granted internationally. 厳しい環境の下、アフリカの国造りに共に取り組む仲間を助けるのは、国際常識である。The Ground Self-Defense Force, now participating in a U.N. mission in South Sudan—officially called the U.N. Mission in the Republic of South Sudan (UNMISS)—has provided South Korean forces with 10,000 bullets for rifles without asking for payment in exchange. The bullets were given via the UNMISS authorities. The GSDF’s bullet offer was the first of its kind to occur overseas. 国連南スーダン派遣団（ＵＮＭＩＳＳ）に参加中の陸上自衛隊が、小銃弾１万発をＵＮＭＩＳＳ経由で韓国軍に無償提供した。海外での自衛隊の弾薬譲渡は初めてだ。Amid a rapid decline in the African country’s security situation, South Korean forces were working to protect the safety of about 15,000 refugees in their assigned area, surrounded by armed rebel groups. 南スーダンの治安情勢が悪化する中、韓国軍は宿営地に１万５０００人の避難民を保護し、反政府勢力から包囲されていた。It is clear the Japanese government had no option but to supply bullets to the South Korean forces. The action was needed from the standpoint of humanity and urgency, given that the lives of South Korean soldiers and local refugees were at risk.Supplying the bullets was essential for supporting the global significance of U.N. peacekeeping operations. No participants in the UNMISS mission except the GSDF were carrying bullets that could be used for rifles carried by South Korean soldiers. 韓国兵や避難民の生命にかかわる人道性や緊急性、国連平和維持活動（ＰＫＯ）という公共性、ＵＮＭＩＳＳ参加部隊で日本以外に同種の弾薬を携行していないことなど、どの観点からも弾薬を提供しない選択肢はなかった。South Korean forces telephoned the GSDF unit and expressed their gratitude for the bullets. 韓国軍から現地の陸自部隊に感謝の電話もあった。There may be cases in which the GSDF asks other nations to support its forces or come to its rescue. Making steady efforts to extend assistance comparable to the recent case of supplying bullets and increasing cooperation with foreign forces will ensure the security of GSDF personnel operating overseas.陸自が今後、他国に支援や救援を頼むケースもあろう。今回のような協力を重ね、国際的連帯を強めることが、陸自の安全確保にも役立つ。Regarding the U.N. Peacekeeping Activities Cooperation Law, which was the subject of questions during Diet sessions, the government has long said it does not expect requests from other nations to provide weapons and ammunition, and that if such a request were to be filed, it would reject the request. This line of reasoning apparently reflects the fact that it is extremely unusual for Japan to be asked by any other country to supply weapons and ammunition, even if it is a request that could affect the survival of the requesting nation’s forces. 政府はＰＫＯ協力法に関する国会答弁で、武器・弾薬の提供は想定されず、要請されても断るとしてきた。部隊の生存にかかわる武器・弾薬の提供を他国に要請される事態は極めて異例だからだ。Civilian control effectiveIn deciding on the bullet offer, the government held a meeting of four relevant Cabinet members under the National Security Council and a Cabinet conference. In these meetings, the government concluded the bullet supply would be treated as an exception to its three rules on arms exports and its official interpretation of the peace cooperation law. 政府は今回、国家安全保障会議（日本版ＮＳＣ）の４大臣会合や閣議を開き、ＵＮＭＩＳＳへの弾薬提供を、武器輸出３原則やＰＫＯ協力法の政府見解の例外扱いとすることを決めた。Given the lack of procedural defects in the latest decision, it is safe to say our nation’s principle of civilian control has fulfilled its purpose. 手続き上の欠陥はなく、文民統制も機能したと言える。In 2011, the Cabinet of then Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda relaxed the principles regarding arms exports, thus making it possible to offer weapons for peace-building and international cooperation purposes. However, the offer of arms was limited to foreign governments, meaning such institutions as the UNMISS authorities were not included in the list of organs to which our country would supply arms. 一昨年に野田内閣が３原則を緩和し、平和構築・国際協力目的の武器提供は可能になった。ただ、提供先は国に限られ、ＵＮＭＩＳＳなど国際機関は対象外だ。The government is currently considering fundamentally reexamining the three principles. Taking the recent bullet supply into consideration, the government should lay down a new set of flexible and realistic principles as quickly as possible. 政府は、武器輸出３原則の抜本的見直しを検討している。今回の事例も踏まえ、柔軟で現実的な新原則を早期に策定すべきだ。With the deterioration of the South Sudanese situation in mind, the U.N. Security Council has adopted a resolution to shore up the UNMISS mission to better protect the safety of local residents. About 6,000 staff will be sent to South Sudan, where they will be united with about 7,500 military and police personnel already deployed there. 国連安全保障理事会は、現地情勢の悪化を踏まえ、住民保護の強化のため、ＵＮＭＩＳＳを増強する決議を採択した。展開中の軍事・警察要員約７５００人に加え、約６０００人を増派する。It is imperative the U.N. resolution be implemented as promptly as possible, to resolve the South Sudanese situation. 事態の沈静化に向けて、決議を迅速に実施することが肝要だ。About 30 months after its independence, South Sudan is on the brink of a civil war, as a conflict between its president and former vice president has grown into a tribal conflict. International engagement is essential for preventing the conflict from degenerating into civil war. 独立から２年半たつ南スーダンは、大統領と前副大統領の対立が部族紛争に発展し、内戦の瀬戸際にある。これを阻止するには、国際社会の関与が欠かせない。The United States has begun to intermediate between the warring parties with the aim of seeking a solution to the problem through dialogue. 米国は、当事者間の対話による解決に向けて仲介を始めた。Japan should contribute to the international peace initiative in South Sudan, a task that should be carried out with close attention to the safety of GSDF personnel operating in that country. 日本も、陸自隊員の安全に細心の注意を払いながら、国際社会の和平努力に貢献したい。(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 26, 2013)（2013年12月26日01時32分 読売新聞）
Dec 28, 2013
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天皇陛下８０歳 公務の負担軽減を検討したい
The Yomiuri Shimbun December 23, 2013As Emperor turns 80, it’s time to consider trimming his duties 天皇陛下８０歳 公務の負担軽減を検討したい（12月23日付・読売社説）The Emperor has marked his 80th birthday. 天皇陛下が８０歳の誕生日を迎えられた。On this occasion, we express our heartfelt congratulations to the Emperor for reaching this milestone while being hale and hearty. お元気で過ごされていることを心から喜びたい。In February last year, the Emperor underwent coronary artery bypass surgery. His recovery has gone as scheduled. The Emperor currently performs official duties at the same pace as he did before the operation. 陛下は昨年２月に心臓の冠動脈のバイパス手術を受け、順調に回復された。現在は手術前と同じペースで公務に取り組まれている。The day before his 80th birthday on Monday, the Emperor said at a news conference in the Imperial Palace, “While coming to terms with certain constraints due to my advancing age, I would like to continue playing my role as much as possible.” 誕生日前の記者会見で、陛下は「年齢による制約を受け入れつつ、できる限り役割を果たしていきたい」と述べられている。Referring to his official duties, he said, “I wish to maintain my current pace, at least for a while.” This suggests he is rather negative about any move to reduce his official duties on health grounds. 公務については「しばらくはこのままでいきたい」と語り、健康上の理由による公務の軽減には否定的な考えを示された。This is presumably because the Emperor, with his best wishes for the happiness of the people, still feels a strong sense of responsibility to continue moving forward with the populace. 国民の幸せを祈り、国民と共に歩み続けることに強い使命感をお持ちだからだろう。Accompanied by the Empress, the Emperor visited such places this year as areas devastated by the Great East Japan Earthquake of March 11, 2011, and Minamata, the city in Kumamoto Prefecture that has become known for the mercury-poisoning disease with the same name. The Imperial couple also followed a tight schedule on their recent official visit to India. 今年も、陛下は皇后さまと共に東日本大震災の被災地や熊本県水俣市などを訪ねられた。先日、インドを公式訪問された際も、過密な日程をこなされた。Many people want the Emperor to be able to continue to engage in his official duties in good health. For this very reason, however, we believe the burden placed on the Emperor should not be excessive. 陛下にお元気で公務を続けられてほしいと願う国民も多いことだろう。そうであればこそ、ご負担が過重になってはなるまい。The Imperial Household Agency should examine how to reduce the load shouldered by the Emperor, perhaps by handing some of his duties to Imperial family members including Crown Prince Naruhito and his younger brother, Prince Akishino. 宮内庁は、公務時間のより一層の短縮や、皇太子さまや秋篠宮さまへの一部公務の引き継ぎも、検討していくべきだろう。Adhering to ConstitutionThe Emperor’s stance of always giving consideration to the people is also represented by his views on his funeral and mausoleum. 常に国民を思いやる陛下の姿勢は、自らの葬儀や御陵に関する考え方にも表れている。In November, the Imperial Household Agency announced that the Emperor plans to be cremated, rather than be buried as has been tradition for emperors since the Edo period, and scale down his mausoleum compared to those of the Emperor’s predecessors. 宮内庁は１１月、江戸時代から続いてきた土葬を火葬に変更し、御陵は規模を縮小する方針を明らかにした。These plans fit snugly with the wishes of the Emperor and Empress not to impose an onerous burden on the people in regard to the construction of their mausoleums and their funerals. These decisions can be said to reflect the desire of the Emperor, who has been committed to ensuring the Imperial family can meet the changes of the times while keeping the essence of royal tradition intact. 御陵の整備や葬儀にあたって、国民に負担をかけてはならないという天皇、皇后両陛下のお考えを踏まえたものだ。伝統を守りつつも、時代に即した皇室のあり方を模索し続ける陛下らしいご決断と言えよう。During the news conference, a question was asked about the relationship between the Imperial family and politics. 今回の記者会見では、皇室と政治の関係について質問が出た。Some media outlets were outraged that Princess Hisako of Takamado attended the general session of the International Olympic Committee in September that chose Tokyo as host city of the 2020 Olympics and Paralympic Games. 高円宮妃久子さまが、２０２０年東京五輪・パラリンピックの開催を決めた９月の国際オリンピック委員会（ＩＯＣ）総会に出席されたことに関し、一部メディアなどが問題視していた。In reply to the question, the Emperor said when he faces a thorny question, “I have made it a rule to seek the opinions of the Imperial Household Agency director general and the agency’s councillors.” 陛下は、判断の難しい場合、「宮内庁長官や参与の意見を聴くことにしています」と答えられた。This statement was intended to emphasize afresh his position of adhering closely to Article 4 of the Constitution, which stipulates the Emperor “shall not have powers related to government.”天皇は「国政に関する権能を有しない」とする憲法４条を順守し、自らを律するというお立場を改めて強調されたのだろう。At the IOC session, Princess Hisako only expressed Japan’s gratitude for such things as support extended from many nations after the Great East Japan Earthquake. She refrained from making any direct reference to Tokyo’s Games bid. Some media said her speech amounted to “using the Imperial family for political purposes.” It was nothing of the sort. 久子さまは、ＩＯＣ総会で大震災への各国の支援などに謝辞を述べただけで、東京招致への直接的な言及は避けられた。「皇室の政治利用」に当たるはずがない。This issue must not be allowed to bother the Emperor any further. この問題でこれ以上、陛下の心を煩わせてはならない。(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 23, 2013)（2013年12月23日01時25分 読売新聞）
Dec 27, 2013
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国の権限移譲 地方の意志と能力も試される
The Yomiuri Shimbun December 24, 2013Local governments’ will, capabilities tested in transfer of state authority国の権限移譲 地方の意志と能力も試される（12月24日付・読売社説）It is essential to revitalize regional areas by eliminating the waste caused by dual administration of central and local governments and work out innovative measures to utilize the individuality and characteristics of each region. 国と地方の二重行政によるムダの排除と、地域の個性や特色を生かした創意工夫を通じて、地方の活性化につなげることが肝要である。The government has decided to transfer 48 types of clerical work and authority, including the expansion and management of national roads and first-class rivers under its direct control, to prefectures. It also plans to reexamine 18 clerical items, including provision of HelloWork’s job information. 政府が、国直轄の国道・１級河川の整備・管理など４８の事務・権限を政府から都道府県に移譲する方針を決定した。ハローワークの求人情報の自治体への提供など１８項目の事務見直しも決めた。It will submit related bills to the ordinary Diet session convening early next year to realize these goals. いずれも来年の通常国会に関連法案を提出し、実現を図る。The transfer of authority on national roads and rivers has been left pending since the Council for Decentralization Reform, an advisory panel of the Cabinet Office, recommended this action in 2008. However, the Democratic Party of Japan-led government then came up with a wild scheme of “abolishing in principle” local agencies of the central government, thereby adding a serpentine dimension to discussions on decentralization. But the issue was eventually resolved with realistic measures worked out by the Liberal Democratic Party-led administration. 国道・河川の権限移譲は、２００８年の地方分権改革推進委員会の勧告以来の懸案だ。その後、民主党政権が国の出先機関の「原則廃止」といった乱暴な手法を掲げ、分権論議は迷走したが、ようやく現実的な内容で決着した。Administration of some sections of national roads and first-class rivers has already been transferred to prefectures. It is unreasonable to assert that administration can only be carried out by the central government. Coherent town building may be possible by integrated expansion and administration of national roads and connected local roads. 国道や１級河川の一部区間の管理は既に、都道府県に委ねられている。政府しか管理できないとの理屈は成り立たない。国道に接続する地方道との一体的な整備・管理により、整合性の取れた町づくりも可能になるのではないか。It was appropriate for the government to work out measures to secure fiscal resources, including one allocating local tax grants to finance maintenance and management costs incurred by prefectural governments. Decentralization will not make much headway without securing such fiscal resources. 権限移譲に伴い、都道府県が負担する維持管理費を地方交付税で賄うなどの財源確保策をまとめたのは適切だ。財源の手当てなしには地方分権は進まない。2-way shift possibleIt also will be possible depending on the situation to transfer authority over roads and rivers under the control of local governments to the central government. 一方で、地方が管理する道路や河川について、実情に応じて国直轄に移すことも可能にした。Recent years have seen flood damage caused by heavy rain in various parts of the country. In some of these disasters, small municipalities found it difficult to take adequate crisis-management measures for rivers. The central government’s role in times of disaster was recognized anew following the Great East Japan Earthquake and the accompanying huge task of reconstruction. 近年、各地で大雨による水害が発生し、小規模自治体では河川の管理や危機対応の難しい例が見受けられる。東日本大震災の復旧・復興では、災害時における政府の役割の重要性が再認識された。Transferring authority in this manner is reasonable, rather than calling for the uniform transfer of authority to local governments. 地方移譲という画一的な施策にはせず、国への移譲も認める柔軟な制度にしたのは妥当だ。Noteworthy is a system for handling registration and clerical work to audit nonprofit organizations that will provide paid-for transport services to replace taxis and buses in underpopulated areas. 注目されるのは、過疎地でタクシー・バスの代わりに有償旅客輸送を行う非営利組織（ＮＰＯ）などの登録・監査事務の扱いだ。Clerical work will be transferred to municipalities that apply for the system. If they are reluctant to do this, such work will be transferred to prefectures willing to do so. 基本は、希望する市町村に国の事務を移すが、市町村が希望しない場合、希望する都道府県に移譲できる仕組みにした。Thus, municipalities will be asked whether they want to undertake new clerical work or are capable of doing so and to make decisions on their own initiative. This formula can be applied to the transfer of other kinds of clerical work and authority to local governments. 新たな事務を引き受ける意志と能力があるか、自治体自身に判断を求める制度で、「手挙げ方式」と呼ばれる。他の事務・権限の地方移譲にも応用できるだろう。It also has been decided to move 29 types of clerical work and authority, including a decision on standards for the composition of primary and middle school classes, to government-designated major cities. These cities will be required to bear the financial burden of paying schoolteachers and administrative personnel, but they will be able to exercise a wider range of discretionary powers, including whether to form small classes. 小中学校の学級編制基準の決定など、２９の都道府県の事務・権限を政令市に移すことも決まった。政令市が教職員給与を負担する一方、独自の判断で少人数学級を編成できるなど裁量権が広がる。It is indispensable for the government, prefectures and municipalities to continue studying how to divide the various roles to promote practical decentralization. 政府と都道府県、市町村はどう役割分担すべきか、引き続き検討し、地に足のついた分権改革を進めることが重要である。(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 24, 2013)（2013年12月24日01時42分 読売新聞）
Dec 26, 2013
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ＮＨＫ新会長 偏りなき番組で責任を果たせ
>国外での外国人向け放送の拡充も急務だ。↓＾＾ 海外の日本人向け放送の拡充は急務だ。 民放はネットで世界に向けて無料開放して良いのでは？ 厳しいのは日本だけ。 これも霞ヶ関の影響力か？ 例えばタイ、全チャンネル無料で見られます＾＾。（スラチャイ）The Yomiuri Shimbun December 21, 2013New NHK president must promote impartiality, fairness in broadcastsＮＨＫ新会長 偏りなき番組で責任を果たせ（12月21日付・読売社説）We want NHK’s new president to fulfill his responsibility as the head of the public broadcasting corporation by promoting production of fair and neutral programs. 中立で公正な番組作りを推進することで、公共放送のトップとしての責任を果たしてほしい。NHK’s Board of Governors has appointed Katsuto Momii to succeed Masayuki Matsumoto as the public broadcaster’s president. After serving as a vice president of Mitsui & Co., Momii has worked in various positions in the business world, including the post of president of Nihon Unisys Ltd., a major player in IT solutions services. ＮＨＫの経営委員会は松本正之会長の後任に籾井勝人氏を選出した。籾井氏は三井物産で副社長を務めた後、情報システム会社の日本ユニシスで社長などを歴任した経済人だ。Momii is the third NHK president in a row from the private sector. He should effectively reform the public broadcaster by using the management abilities he cultivated when he worked with private companies. 民間出身の会長は３代連続である。企業で培った経営手腕を存分に発揮し、ＮＨＫ改革の実効を上げることが求められる。Matsumoto can be credited with such reforms as lowering viewers’ fees and reducing wages for NHK employees. 松本会長が受信料の値下げや職員給与の削減といった改革に取り組んだ点は評価できる。However, compared with private broadcasters, NHK must do more to cut manpower and production costs. Momii should bring cost-consciousness home to all NHK employees to overhaul the bloated organization. ただ、民放に比べ、要員削減や制作費の使い方などでＮＨＫの合理化努力はまだ甘い。籾井氏はコスト意識を徹底させ、肥大化した組織の見直しを図るべきだ。Viewers’ fees account for more than 90 percent of NHK’s revenue, but nearly 30 percent of viewers do not pay the fees. ＮＨＫの収入の９割超を占める受信料は、支払っていない比率が全国で３割近くに及ぶ。Raising the fee collection rate will be necessary to help alleviate the people’s sense of unfairness. 国民の不公平感を和らげるためにも、受信料の徴収率をさらに引き上げる必要がある。Legal compliance is also an important challenge for the new president. NHK’s Science and Technology Research Laboratories was hit by a scandal concerning fictitious orders this autumn. Serious irregularities such as insider trading have been rife in NHK. 法令順守も新会長の重要な課題だ。今秋には放送技術研究所で架空発注問題が起きた。ＮＨＫでは、インサイダー事件など過去にも深刻な不祥事が頻発している。Enhance awarenessIt is essential to enhance employees’ awareness and work toward preventing the recurrence of such incidents. 職員の意識向上を図り、再発防止に努めることが大切になる。The political and business worlds have increasingly criticized NHK’s programs and reporting as biased, arguing that they took a negative stance in reporting on the maintenance and restart of nuclear power plants and the deployment of new U.S. Osprey military transport aircraft. This could also be a factor behind Matsumoto’s exit from the post of NHK president. 原発の維持・再稼働や米軍輸送機オスプレイの配備に批判的だとして、ＮＨＫの番組・報道には政財界から「偏っている」との批判が高まっていた。これも松本会長退任の背景にあろう。Also, in regard to reporting on the law on protecting specially-designated state secrets, it seems that NHK failed to present a diverse range of views, inviting mostly experts with negative views of the law as guest commentators on the matter. 特定秘密保護法をめぐる報道でも、論点が多岐にわたらず、登場する識者の人選も、反対する側に傾いていたのではないか。Momii, who will assume the post to take ultimate responsibility for production of programs, should constantly take care to ensure program contents are impartial while attaching importance to presenting views in a balanced manner when the programs take up subjects on which opinion is divided. 番組制作の最高責任者に就く籾井氏は、見解が分かれる問題を取り上げる場合、バランスを重視し、放送内容が中立かどうか絶えず目配りをしなくてはならない。NHK’s political neutrality is a major principle stipulated in the Broadcast Law. The relationship of trust with viewers and listeners should be built by providing unbiased programs. 「不偏不党」は、放送法で定められた大原則だ。偏らない番組を提供し続けることで、視聴者との信頼関係を築くべきだろう。Expanding and improving broadcasting for people overseas is also an urgent task. It will serve the national interest to actively broadcast programs about Japanese policies, culture and tourism resources overseas. 国外での外国人向け放送の拡充も急務だ。日本の政策や文化、観光資源を積極的に海外に発信していくことは国益にもつながる。Momii will be pressed to craft an effective strategy to expand business in such fields as sales of programs to foreign cable television companies. High expectations will be placed on him in this regard because of his personal connections and the experience he accumulated working with a major trading house. 外国のケーブルテレビ会社への販売促進などで効果的な戦略を立てることが望まれる。商社出身の籾井氏の人脈やビジネス経験に期待したい。Focusing on technological innovations such as development of next-generation high-definition broadcasting, dubbed “8K,” and simultaneous provision of programs on the Internet is another mission facing the new president. 次世代高画質放送「８Ｋ」（スーパーハイビジョン）の開発や、番組のインターネットへの同時配信といった技術革新に注力することも新会長の使命と言える。(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 21, 2013)（2013年12月21日01時33分 読売新聞）
Dec 25, 2013
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「首都直下地震」 人命と国の中枢をどう守るか
The Yomiuri Shimbun December 20, 2013Act to protect lives and govt center from major earthquake damage「首都直下地震」 人命と国の中枢をどう守るか（12月20日付・読売社説）Paralysis of the nation’s nerve center in a major earthquake is a worst-case scenario that must be prevented. 大震災で日本の中枢機能がマヒする最悪の事態を防がねばならない。A panel of the government’s Central Disaster Management Council, which has been studying measures to deal with the aftermath of a major quake whose focus is directly below Tokyo, has compiled a report on the scale of a predicted temblor and the damage likely to be caused. 首都直下地震の対策を検討してきた政府の中央防災会議の部会が、予想される地震の規模や、それによる被害予測をまとめた。The predictions were made based on the assumption of a magnitude-7.3 earthquake occurring with its focus in southern central Tokyo. The panel has adopted this scenario because among the various quakes that might happen in Tokyo and its vicinity, there is a 70-percent possibility that a magnitude-7.3 quake will occur within 30 years and it would strike a direct blow to the nation’s nerve center. 想定したのは、東京都心南部を震源とするマグニチュード７・３の地震だ。首都周辺で起き得る大地震のうち、今後３０年間の発生確率が７０％と高く、国の中枢を直撃する恐れがあるためという。The anticipated earthquake would cause shaking at an intensity of upper 6 on the Japanese scale of seven in central Tokyo, even reaching 7 in some areas. In the worst case, 610,000 buildings and houses are predicted to collapse and be destroyed by fire, causing about 23,000 deaths. この地震では、震度６強の猛烈な揺れが都心部を襲う。一部地域は震度７になる。最悪の場合、建物６１万棟が倒壊・炎上し、約２万３０００人もの犠牲者が出る。This reflects the fragility of a gigantic and overpopulated city. Countermeasures must be taken urgently. 巨大過密都市の弱点を反映したものだ。対策は急務である。Above all, fires are of serious concern. Fires are anticipated to break out in various places simultaneously and spread for about two days. It is feared that disaster victims will not be able to escape and will be engulfed by fire. 特に火災は深刻だ。各所で同時多発し、延焼が２日程度続く。被災者が周囲を火に囲まれ、逃げられない事態も心配される。Streets will be swamped with people who have lost their homes or are unable to return home. Major roads will become unusable due to the debris while railways and other transport networks will be disrupted. 住宅を失ったり、帰宅できなくなったりした被災者で街はあふれる。がれきで主要道路は不通となり、鉄道など交通網が止まる。Losses of power, water and telephone connections may continue for about a week. 停電や電話の不通、断水が１週間程度も続くかもしれない。Disruption of official functionsOf special concern is that the Diet, the Prime Minister’s Office and government offices will cease to function. If central coordination and control are lost, the damage will be compounded. 懸念されるのは、国会や首相官邸、官庁街が機能不全になることだ。震災対応の司令塔が失われれば、被害は一層拡大しよう。Moreover, if the nerve center for economic activities is destroyed, production and distribution will stagnate, with a major impact across the nation. Economic damage is estimated to total about ¥95 trillion. 経済活動の中枢が壊滅すれば、生産や流通が滞り、全国に甚大な影響が及ぶ。経済被害の額は、約９５兆円に上るという。 政府や自治体はもちろん、企業や家庭で対策を講じたい。If the percentage of buildings in Tokyo equipped with earthquake resistance measures is enhanced from the current 87 percent to 94 percent, the death toll would be halved, according to calculations by the panel. 今回、中央防災会議の部会は、東京都内の建物の耐震化率が今の８７％から９４％に上昇すると、死者数は半減すると試算した。Regarding fires, if earthquake-sensing breakers, which stop power supply immediately upon sensing a temblor, were installed in every household to reduce the likelihood of fire, it is said that the fire death toll would drop by 90 percent. 火災についても、揺れを感知して電気を止める「感震ブレーカー」が全戸に普及し、初期消火できれば、焼死者は９割減るという。The public and private sectors must cooperate in strengthening such immediately needed countermeasures. 官民が連携し、こうした足元の対策を強化することが肝要だ。The Cabinet Office, under which the disaster panel exists, has drafted a program to preserve government functions in the aftermath of a disaster, taking into account the panel’s compilation of disaster damage predictions. 内閣府は、今回の被害想定に合わせ、政府の活動が震災時にも停滞しないようにする「事業継続計画」の素案をまとめた。The program calls for quickly grasping the damage situation to begin rescue and relief activities. It also points out the need to disseminate accurate information both at home and abroad and make all-out efforts to carry out emergency measures on such priority issues as financial stability and public safety. It will be necessary to clarify the roles to be played by the government ministries and agencies concerned so that measures can be implemented without fail. 被災状況の把握を急ぎ、救助救援を展開する。内外への正確な情報発信に努め、金融の安定、治安対策などの非常時優先業務に全力を挙げるという内容だ。関係府省の役割分担を明確にし、確実に実施できるよう備えるべきだ。A special law was enacted last month to accelerate countermeasures against an earthquake centered directly below Tokyo. Areas will be designated based on the law to accelerate the reinforcement of sewerage and other infrastructure systems with the joint efforts of the central and local governments. Projects must be promoted steadily on a priority basis. 対策の加速を図る首都直下地震対策特措法も先月、成立した。今後、下水道の補強などインフラ整備を急ぐ地域を指定し、政府と自治体が取り組むことになる。優先順位をつけ、着実に進めたい。(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 20, 2013)（2013年12月20日01時36分 読売新聞）
Dec 22, 2013
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イタイイタイ病 「全面解決」までの長い道のり
The Yomiuri Shimbun December 19, 2013The long road to full settelment of itai-itai pollution disease casesイタイイタイ病 「全面解決」までの長い道のり（12月19日付・読売社説）As 45 years have passed since itai-itai disease was recognized by the state as a pollution-related disease, it was indeed a long journey for the issue to have been “fully resolved.” 公害病と認定されてから４５年、「全面解決」までの道のりは、あまりに長かった。The case of itai-itai disease, an affliction caused by pollution in areas along the Jinzugawa river in Toyama Prefecture, reached its resolution when Mitsui Mining & Smelting Co.—the company that caused the pollution—and a victims group signed a compensation agreement on Tuesday. The company has also made a formal apology to the victims for the first time. 富山県の神通川流域で発生したイタイイタイ病を巡り、被害者団体と原因企業の三井金属鉱業が被害者救済の合意書に調印した。三井金属鉱業は初めて正式に謝罪した。The victims have grown old and many victims have died. It appears that the victims and the company responsible for the pollution have mutually conceded and reached a full settlement. 被害者の高齢化が進む。他界した人も少なくない。被害者と原因企業が歩み寄り、全面解決を実現させたことを評価したい。The main pillar of the agreement is that Mitsui Mining will pay a lump sum of ¥600,000 per person to those victims of the disease who were not recognized under the Environment Ministry’s criteria as victims of itai-itai disease and so were not eligible for compensation. 環境省の基準でイタイイタイ病と認定されず、救済から漏れていた被害者に、三井金属鉱業が１人当たり６０万円の一時金を支払うのが、合意書の柱だ。Yet those victims recognized as sufferers by the state were entitled to receive ¥10 million per person. 認定患者への賠償金１０００万円とは大きな開きがある。For victims who had sought to have their cases settled early, accepting the compensation proposal must have been a bitter decision.早期解決を目指してきた被害者たちにとって、解決案の受け入れは苦渋の決断だったろう。Eligible for the lump sum compensation will be those who meet certain criteria, including a degree of kidney dysfunction that is a symptom developed at a stage leading to itai-itai disease. Nearly 1,000 people are believed to be eligible to receive the payments. 一時金は、イタイイタイ病の前段症状である腎機能低下の度合いなどで、条件を満たした人が対象となる。該当者は１０００人近くに上るとみられる。Mitsui Mining must compensate as many victims as possible. 三井金属鉱業には、可能な限り多くの人を救済する姿勢で臨むことが求められる。Recognition difficultItai-itai disease is considered to be one of Japan’s four major pollution-related diseases, along with Minamata disease in Kumamoto Prefecture, Minamata disease in Niigata Prefecture, and Yokkaichi asthma in Mie Prefecture. イタイイタイ病は、水俣病、新潟水俣病、四日市ぜんそくとともに４大公害病に数えられる。As nephropathy patients suffered from brittle bones, they moaned in pain, crying “Itai, itai (It hurts, it hurts),” which is what gave the disease its name. It was recognized by the state as the country’s first pollution-related disease in 1968.体の骨が折れやすくなり、患者が「痛い、痛い」と泣き叫んだことから、病名が付いた。１９６８年、日本初の公害病に認定された。The disease was caused by cadmium, a heavy metal, discharged from the Kamioka mine in Gifu Prefecture. The pollutant spread through the consumption of rice and other things contaminated by cadmium in the river and harvested in the affected areas. 原因は、神岡鉱業所（岐阜県）から排出された重金属のカドミウムだ。汚染流域で収穫されたコメなどを通じて被害が広がった。Mitsui Mining has cleaned up the polluted soil, in addition to paying compensation to those recognized as victims. The cleanup of soil in the polluted farm land was completed last year. 三井金属鉱業は、認定患者への賠償金支払いに加え、汚染地域の土壌改善などに取り組んできた。汚染された農地の復元事業は昨年、ようやく終了した。Once pollution has been set off, it takes the polluter many years and hefty sums to provide relief measures to the victims and restore the environment—one lesson to be learned from itai-itai disease. いったん公害を引き起こすと、被害者救済や環境の回復に長い年月と多くの費用を要する。イタイイタイ病の教訓である。It can be said the criteria for officially recognizing sufferers of pollution-related diseases, set by the ministry, has blocked many sufferers from receiving compensation in a timely manner. As many sufferers of itai-itai disease were not recognized as sufferers until their cases became so serious that they developed the bone-softening disorder osteomalacia, those with relatively milder cases were left neglected. 環境省の患者認定基準が、早期の幅広い救済を阻んだと言えよう。重症化し、骨軟化症にならないと、イタイイタイ病と認定されないため、比較的、軽症の人が置き去りにされる結果となった。Minamata disease is similar to itai-itai disease in that the ministry’s criteria for officially recognizing sufferers is rigid. 認定のハードルが極めて高いという点では、水俣病も同様だ。In April, the Supreme Court backed a lower court ruling that recognized a sufferer who was not recognized under the ministry’s criteria as a victim of Minamata disease. Lawsuits with sufferers of the disease seeking relief measures are still continuing in the country. 最高裁は４月、環境省の基準で認定を退けられたケースについて、水俣病患者と認める判断を示した。被害者救済を巡る争いは、今なお続いている。It is highly important, first and foremost, for sufferers of Minamata disease and others concerned with it to compromise. 水俣病問題でも、被害者をはじめ、当事者同士の歩み寄りが何よりも求められる。(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 19, 2013)（2013年12月19日01時33分 読売新聞）
Dec 21, 2013
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国家安保戦略 日本守り抜く体制を構築せよ
The Yomiuri Shimbun December 18, 2013Build defensive system with clear policies under ‘proactive pacifism’国家安保戦略 日本守り抜く体制を構築せよ（12月18日付・読売社説） ◆「積極的平和主義」の具体化が急務Japan’s security environment situation has rapidly become precarious in recent years. It is therefore significant that the government laid down, for the first time, comprehensive and systematic guiding principles for maintaining peace and security in the East Asian region. 日本の安全保障環境は近年、急速に悪化している。東アジアの平和と安全の確保へ、包括的かつ体系的な指針を初めて定めた意義は大きい。The government has decided on its national security strategy, a historic set of guidelines that replaces the nation’s Basic Policy for National Defense adopted in 1957. 政府が国家安全保障戦略を決定した。１９５７年の「国防の基本方針」に代わる歴史的文書だ。The strategy was drawn up by the National Security Council—a Japanese version of the NSC of the United States—launched earlier this month. 今月上旬に発足した国家安全保障会議（日本版ＮＳＣ）が策定した。It is historic that the government has put into process a motion to defend the national interest by marshaling the collective strength of the country, not only its defense capability but also its diplomatic, economic and technological capabilities.防衛力だけでなく、外交・経済・技術力など国の総合力を駆使し、国益を守る道筋を描いたことは、画期的だと言える。The strategy touts “proactive pacifism” as its principle, under which Japan will actively contribute to the peace and stability of the Asia and the broader international community. 戦略は、国際社会とアジアの平和と安定に積極的に寄与するという「積極的平和主義」を基本理念に掲げている。Defend national interests ◆ＮＳＣ主導で国益守れNorth Korea has repeatedly taken provocative military actions by advancing its nuclear and missile development programs. Meanwhile, China has rapidly built up and modernized its own military capability, while attempting to change the status quo by force in areas near the Senkaku Islands by announcing a new air defense identification zone. We must also remain vigilant against international terrorism and cyber-attack threats. 北朝鮮は核・ミサイル開発を進展させ、軍事的挑発を繰り返す。中国は軍備を急速に増強・近代化し、防空識別圏の設定など、尖閣諸島周辺で「力による現状変更」を試みている。国際テロやサイバー攻撃への警戒も怠れない。It is difficult to singlehandedly maintain the security of our nation. By contributing to peace in the region and the global community, the situation in areas surrounding Japan will improve, and cooperation with other countries concerned, including the United States, will be strengthened. Such contributions will prove valuable for enhancing Japan’s security. 日本単独で自国の安全を維持するのは難しい。世界と地域の平和に貢献することで、周辺情勢は改善され、米国など関係国との連携が強化される。日本の安全保障にも役立とう。As long as Japan holds the position of a major player in the international community, it will have a say in drawing up various international rules, concerning, for instance, maritime activities and free trade. 日本が国際社会の主要プレーヤーの地位にあれば、海洋活動や自由貿易など、様々な国際ルール作りで発言権を確保できる。To this end, the promotion of the proactive pacifism will be key. そのために重要なのが、「積極的平和主義」の推進だ。The strategy defines the peace and further prosperity of Japan as its national interests, while citing such challenges as the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and the rapid rise of China. It also defines strategic defense approaches, such as the formulation of the overall defense system and the reinforcement of the Japan-U.S. alliance. 戦略は、日本の平和、更なる繁栄などを国益と定義し、大量破壊兵器の拡散、中国の台頭といった課題を列挙した。総合的な防衛体制の構築、日米同盟の強化などの戦略的アプローチも明示した。It is critical that the NSC swiftly takes charge and reflects this strategy appropriately in concrete policies. Efforts must also be made to create a cycle in which the strategy can be changed in accord with fresh developments, enhancing and improving its content. ＮＳＣが主導し、この戦略を具体的な政策にきちんと反映させることが急務である。情勢の変化に応じて、戦略を修正し、より良い内容に高めていくサイクルを作り出す努力も欠かせない。We are gratified that the strategy has referred to a policy of fostering respect for other countries and their people, in addition to love for this country and region. 戦略が、安全保障の国内基盤を強化するため、国民が「諸外国に対する敬意を表し、我が国と郷土を愛する心を養う」方針に言及したのは前向きに評価できる。Regarding new diplomatic and foreign policies, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said he will clearly present them to the world and to its people. 安倍首相は、新たな外交・安保政策について「国民、海外に対し透明性をもって示す」と語った。It is important for Japan to give detailed explanations both at home and abroad to distinguish its diplomatic methods from the self-righteous methods of China.中国の独善的な外交手法との違いを明確化するためにも、内外に丁寧な説明を行うことが大切だ。Integrated defense capability ◆「統合機動防衛力」整備をThe new version of the National Defense Program Guidelines, which the Cabinet has adopted along with the national security strategy, embraces a concept termed “dynamic joint defense force.” The idea is derived from “dynamic defense power,” a concept framed in the current basic defense program, which was enforced in 2010. The new concept attaches great importance to managing the three arms of the Self-Defense Forces in a flexible and integrated manner. 安保戦略と同時に閣議決定された新しい防衛大綱は、「統合機動防衛力」という概念を打ち出した。２０１０年策定の現大綱の「動的防衛力」を発展させたもので、機動力に加えて陸海空３自衛隊の一体運用を重視するという。The government has good reason to rework its basic defense framework to shore up our nation’s preparedness to deal with “gray-zone situations” that fall between peace and an emergency, a task that must be complemented by efforts to secure both a qualitative and quantitative improvement in the country’s defense capability. 平時と有事の中間にある「グレーゾーンの事態」への対処を強化し、防衛力の「質」と「量」の両方を確保する方向性は妥当だ。Japan is witnessing new threats today, even though the end of the Cold War virtually eliminated the danger of foreign armed forces invading the nation. New dangers include the possibility of remote Japanese islands being occupied by other countries, as well as ballistic missile attacks and acts of terrorism. Improving Japan’s defense capacity not only qualitatively but quantitatively is essential to reinforce surveillance efforts aimed at maintaining command of its territorial waters and airspace. 冷戦後、日本本土への着上陸侵攻の恐れはほぼ消滅したが、離島占拠、弾道ミサイル、テロなど、新たな脅威が出現している。警戒監視活動を強化し、制海・制空権を維持するには、「質」と同様、「量」も確保せねばならない。It is reasonable that the new defense program guidelines call for an increase in SDF destroyers and fighter planes, after a continuous decline in numbers over the years. The government should quickly introduce Global Hawk surveillance drones while also increasing the number of SDF early-warning aircraft. 新大綱が、減少が続いていた護衛艦や戦闘機の数を増加に転じさせたのは適切である。無人偵察機グローバルホークの導入や早期警戒機の増強を急ぎたい。The latest defense framework emphasizes the need to better defend the territorial integrity of isolated islands. It entails the addition of Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft to the lineup of Ground Self-Defense Force equipment and creation of an amphibious rapid deployment brigade. 新大綱は、離島防衛の強化に力点を置き、陸上自衛隊への新型輸送機オスプレイの導入や水陸両用部隊の新設を明記した。To defend remote islands, the SDF must improve its ability to swiftly mobilize troops. It is essential for the SDF to carry out joint exercises with the U.S. forces under various scenarios, while also reexamining the appropriateness of current restrictions on the use of weapons by SDF personnel in gray-zone situations. 離島防衛には、迅速に部隊を動かす機動力の向上が重要だ。様々なシナリオを想定し、米軍との共同訓練を重ねるとともに、グレーゾーンの事態における武器使用のあり方を検討する必要がある。However, it is questionable whether the number of GSDF personnel should be increased by 5,000 from the current 154,000 as laid out in the new defense program guidelines. 疑問なのは、陸自の定数を現大綱の１５万４０００人から５０００人増やしたことである。With the fiscal situation in dire straits, it is impossible to expect a large increase in defense budget appropriations. The nation’s defense capabilities should be improved in a manner that will allot funds where they are truly necessary and curtail appropriations where possible. 厳しい国家財政の下、防衛予算の大幅な伸びは期待できず、防衛力整備のメリハリが不可欠だ。The new defense policy outline is correct in reducing the number of SDF tanks and firearms. Similar cuts should have been sought in areas of lower priority. 新大綱は、戦車・火砲を減らしたように、優先順位の低い分野は合理化すべきだった。We feel that maintaining the current level of GSDF personnel in Hokkaido may be intended to help alleviate problems arising from the prefecture’s increasing depopulation.北海道の陸自定数維持は過疎対策ではないか。
Dec 20, 2013
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張成沢氏処刑 失政への不満封じる恐怖政治
The Yomiuri Shimbun December 17, 2013North Korea’s reign of terror aimed at containing people’s frustrations張成沢氏処刑 失政への不満封じる恐怖政治（12月17日付・読売社説）The latest developments in North Korea indicate that the country has become even more unstable since former leader Kim Jong Il died two years ago. 金正日総書記の死から２年を経て、北朝鮮は一段と不安定化しているということだろう。Jang Song Thaek, vice chairman of the National Defense Commission who was regarded as the No. 2 man in the Kim Jong Un regime, was sentenced to death for allegedly trying to take power by staging a military coup. He was executed the same day, just four days after he was ousted from all his posts and expelled from the Workers’ Party of Korea. 金正恩政権のナンバー２と目されていた張成沢国防委員会副委員長が、解任・党除名処分の４日後、クーデター目的の国家転覆陰謀行為を働いたなどとして死刑判決を言い渡され、即刻処刑された。These developments illustrate the coldhearted nature of Kim—the ruling party’s first secretary—who is trying to strengthen his dictatorship through a reign of terror that included liquidating his uncle, in the apparent belief that without doing so he would not be able to maintain control of the country. 自身の叔父すら抹殺する「恐怖政治」で独裁体制の強化を図ろうとする金正恩第１書記の冷酷な本性と、そうでもせねば国内を統制できないとの危機感の表れだ。North Korea’s state-run media reported the sentence, handed down at a special military court of the State Security Department—the country’s secret police—accusing Jang of attempting to bring about the collapse of the country’s economy and people’s livelihoods. It also said that if the state was driven to the verge of collapse, Jang believed he could grab the reins of power. 国営メディアは、秘密警察・国家安全保衛部の特別軍事法廷の判決文を伝え、「国の経済と人民生活を破局に追い込もうとした」と張氏を糾弾した。国家が崩壊寸前になれば、政権簒奪(さんだつ)に成功するとの打算があったとしている。Jang was accused in court of a diverse range of crimes, including an act of treason by cheaply selling off the country’s land with a 50-year lease to a foreign country—land in a special economic and trade zone in Rason near its borders with China and Russia—and triggering tremendous economic confusion with the redenomination of the currency four years ago. 挙げられた罪状は、中露との国境に位置する羅先経済貿易地帯の土地を「５０年期限で外国に売り飛ばす売国行為」や、４年前のデノミによる「途方もない経済的混乱の惹(じゃっ)起(き)」など多岐にわたる。To what extent these accusations are true is not known. But the issuance of this statement itself is tantamount to North Korea admitting there are cracks in the regime and economic maladministration. Kim’s regime may be trying to lay all the responsibility on Jang to justify its legitimacy. どこまで事実か疑わしいが、こうした発表自体が体制内の亀裂と経済失政を自認したに等しい。全責任を張氏になすりつけ、政権の正当化を図る狙いではないか。North Korea, which is reinforcing its state control at home, may adopt a policy of external provocations. 国内統制を強める北朝鮮は、対外的には挑発路線に一層傾斜する可能性がある。There are strong fears that the country may flaunt its nuclear deterrent by conducting its fourth nuclear test and fire yet another missile under the guise of launching an artificial satellite.核抑止力の誇示へ、４回目の核実験や、「人工衛星打ち上げ」と称するミサイル発射に踏み切ることへの懸念は強い。Nuclear missile developmentIn this respect, it has been learned through analyses of satellite photos that North Korea has restarted a plutonium reactor, while moving ahead with improving nuclear test and missile launch sites. The international community must pay close attention to such developments and cooperate to deal with them. 事実、プルトニウム生産炉の運転再開や、核実験場、ミサイル発射場の整備を進める様子が衛星写真の分析で判明している。国際社会は、今後の動向を鋭意注視し、連携して対応せねばならない。Now that Jang has been removed from the scene, Kim apparently intends to carry out economic activities under the Cabinet-led leadership. 張氏の勢力一掃後、金第１書記は、内閣主導の名の下で、経済活動を展開する意向のようだ。There are no signs of the country changing its policy of pursuing, in parallel, both economic reconstruction and the strengthening of its nuclear capability. 経済再建と核戦力強化の二兎(にと)を追う「並進路線」を変える兆しは見られない。As long as North Korea continues to pursue nuclear and missile development, international economic sanctions against the country will not be relaxed. The country will not be successful in wooing any foreign investment or foreign tourists. だが、核・ミサイル開発を続ける限り、北朝鮮への経済制裁は緩和されない。外国からの投資や観光客誘致の成果は上がるまい。The North Korean people’s frustration will grow as economic hardships continue. The danger of the country collapsing from within is growing. 経済の困窮によって、国民の不満は高まる。内部から崩壊に向かうリスクは増すばかりだ。In its efforts to develop the northeastern part of China by helping stabilize North Korea, Beijing has been urging Pyongyang to carry out reforms and open its market. The execution of Jang, who had assumed the pivotal role in this scheme, is probably a major blow to China’s influence. 中国は、北朝鮮を安定化させて中国東北部の開発につなげようと、改革・開放を促してきた。その中心人物でもあった張氏の処刑は、大きな誤算だろう。The destabilization of a despotic state developing nuclear weapons could lead to the outbreak of domestic turmoil. This is an important phase when Japan should prepare itself for any emergency by firmly maintaining the Japan-U.S. alliance and reinforcing its defense capability. 核武装する独裁国家の不安定化は、内乱など暴発の危険を伴う。日米同盟を堅持し、防衛力を強化して備えるべき重要な局面だ。(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 17, 2013)（2013年12月17日01時35分 読売新聞）
Dec 19, 2013
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武器輸出新原則 防衛産業維持にも目を向けよ
The Yomiuri Shimbun December 16, 2013Govt must consider how to maintain defense industry, production base武器輸出新原則 防衛産業維持にも目を向けよ（12月16日付・読売社説）Japan should reinforce its international cooperation in the area of defense equipment and maintain its defense technology and production base as national security priorities. 防衛装備面での国際連携を強化し、日本の防衛生産・技術基盤を維持するという安全保障の観点を最重視すべきだ。The government and ruling parties have started drastically reviewing the three principles on arms exports and drawing up new rules on arms exports. 政府・与党が、武器輸出３原則を抜本的に見直し、新たな武器輸出の原則を策定する作業を開始した。The three principles, confirmed in 1967 by the administration of then Prime Minister Eisaku Sato, prohibit Japan from exporting arms to countries in the Communist bloc, countries to which arms exports are banned by U.N. resolutions and countries involved in conflict. ３原則は、１９６７年に佐藤内閣が共産圏諸国、国連決議による武器禁輸国、紛争当事国向けの武器輸出を禁止したものだ。In 1976, the administration under then Prime Minister Takeo Miki went so far as to effectively ban all such exports, saying the nation must refrain from exporting arms to even countries not subject to the three principles.７６年に三木内閣が３原則の対象国以外への輸出も慎むとして、事実上の全面禁輸に踏み込んだ。Since 1983, however, the government had made one exception after another to the principles, as confirmed in informal remarks made by chief cabinet secretaries, providing the United States with weapons technology, exporting mine detectors and patrol vessels for peace-building efforts and jointly developing and producing missile defense equipment with other countries. ８３年以降、武器技術の対米供与、地雷探知機、巡視船など平和貢献目的の輸出や、ミサイル防衛の国際共同開発・生産について、官房長官談話で次々と例外を設けてきた。As a result, the whole system has become extremely complex and hard to understand.その結果、極めて複雑で、分かりづらい制度となっている。This time, the administration under Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is set to end the total ban and to narrow the list of countries subject to export restrictions, while at the same time making the whole system more consistent. Such efforts to meet the needs of the times are appropriate. 安倍政権が今回、全面禁輸はやめて、禁輸対象国を絞り込むとともに、全体を整合性ある仕組みにするのは、時代の要請に応じたものであり、妥当である。Enhance national securityThe important thing is to create a standard that will enhance Japan’s national security. 重要なのは、日本の安全保障に役立つ基準を作ることだ。In light of the recent military developments in China and North Korea, the international situation surrounding Japan has become ever harsher. 中国や北朝鮮の最近の軍事動向を踏まえれば、日本の国際情勢は厳しさを増している。Expanding cooperation in the area of defense equipment with such countries as the United States, an ally of Japan, European countries and Australia will stimulate the improvement of Japan’s defense technology and the reinforcement of international cooperation, thus contributing to the peace and security of Japan. 同盟国の米国や、欧州諸国、豪州などとの装備面の協力を拡大することは、日本の防衛技術の向上や国際連携の強化を促し、日本の平和と安全に寄与しよう。It is important to expand international cooperation by making it possible for Japan to export finished products, and parts and components of arms, in addition to joint development and production of arms with other countries. 武器の国際共同開発・生産に加えて、武器の完成品や部品の輸出も可能にすることで、国際協力を拡大することが大切である。It is also necessary to establish procedures appropriately to prevent the arms from being transferred to a third country and to tighten export controls on general-purpose parts that can be used either militarily or commercially. 無論、武器の第三国移転を防止する手続きや、武器に転用されかねない汎用品の輸出管理を厳格化するなどの「歯止め」措置も適切に定める必要がある。The government and ruling parties must discuss these issues properly and work out a conclusion soon. 政府・与党できちんと議論し、早期に結論を出すべきだ。It must be kept in mind that because the government’s defense budgets were cut back for 10 years in a row up to fiscal 2012, Japan’s defense technology and domestic production base has been undermined. 留意すべきは、昨年度まで１０年連続で防衛予算が削減されたことで、日本の防衛生産・技術基盤が揺らぎ始めていることだ。In the past 10 years, nearly 90 private companies have pulled out of the defense industry, making it hard in some areas to secure technicians with specific skills. ここ１０年で９０社近くの民間企業が防衛分野から撤収し、一部では特殊な熟練技術者の確保が困難になりつつある。As tanks, destroyers and fighter planes become ever more technologically advanced, the unit price of the equipment rises. Repair and maintenance costs for the equipment have also been rising. As a result, the government has no choice but to reduce the amount of such equipment procured, putting a strain on the management of companies in the defense industry. 戦車や護衛艦、戦闘機の高性能化に伴い、装備の単価は上昇する。装備品の修理や整備費も増えている。その結果、装備の調達数を減らさざるを得なくなり、防衛産業の経営を圧迫している。The decline in the nation’s defense technology and its production base will directly lead to the decline in the nation’s overall defense capability. The government needs to discuss ways to maintain and foster the nation’s defense industry in earnest under the constraint of limited defense spending. 防衛生産・技術基盤の衰退は、国家の総合的な防衛力の低下に直結する。政府は、限られた予算で防衛産業を維持・育成する方策を真剣に検討する必要がある。(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 16, 2013)（2013年12月16日01時22分 読売新聞）
Dec 18, 2013
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日・ＡＳＥＡＮ 海と空で対中連携が強まった
The Yomiuri Shimbun December 15, 2013Japan, ASEAN strengthen ties in bid to counter China in air and at sea日・ＡＳＥＡＮ 海と空で対中連携が強まった（12月15日付・読売社説）In a success in his Southeast Asian diplomacy, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe saw a summit meeting of Japan and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations agree to jointly urge China to abide by international rules. 中国が国際ルールを順守するよう、連携して働きかけることについては認識を共有できた。安倍首相の東南アジア外交の成果と言える。At a special summit meeting among Japan and 10 ASEAN nations held in Tokyo, the leaders adopted a joint statement saying it is important to ensure the safety of seas and the freedom of navigation as well as to resolve conflicts in accordance with the “universally recognized principles of international laws.” 日本と東南アジア諸国連合（ＡＳＥＡＮ）１０か国の首脳らが参加した特別首脳会議が東京で開催され、海上の安全、航行の自由及び、国際法の原則に基づく紛争解決などの重要性をうたった共同声明を採択した。The statement clearly stated the nations will cooperate to ensure the “freedom of overflight” and “civil aviation safety” in air zones over the high seas—with China’s air defense identification zone in mind, although it did not specifically refer to China. 名指しは避けたものの、中国の防空識別圏設定を念頭に、公海上空での「飛行の自由」や「民間航空の安全」を確保するため、協力する方針も明記された。Some Southeast Asian nations, such as Cambodia and Laos, have close ties with China. Nonetheless, it was significant that Japan and the ASEAN member nations issued the joint statement with the aim of holding China in check, which has heightened tensions not only on the seas but also in the air. 東南アジアにはカンボジアやラオスなど中国と結びつきが強い国もある。だが、海のみならず、空でも緊張を高める中国を牽制(けんせい)する上で、日本とＡＳＥＡＮ各国が共同声明を出した意義は大きい。Without consulting with its neighbors, China unilaterally set its ADIZ over the East China Sea and threatened to adopt “emergency defensive measures” by the Chinese military against any aircraft that refuses to obey its instructions. It also hinted at setting another ADIZ over the South China Sea. 中国は周辺国と協議せずに一方的に東シナ海に識別圏を設け、全ての航空機を対象に、指示に従わなければ中国軍による緊急措置を取ると威嚇した。南シナ海での識別圏設定も示唆している。“Without free ocean and air [navigation], we can’t expect to have active trade,” Abe stressed at a press conference. 安倍首相は、記者会見で「自由な海や空がなければ、活発な貿易は期待できない」と強調した。‘Proactive pacifism’During his separate meetings with the ASEAN leaders and during the summit sessions, Abe said Japan will contribute to regional stability based on “proactive pacifism” and proposed holding a meeting of defense ministers from Japan and the ASEAN members. 首脳会議や各国首脳との個別会談では、「積極的平和主義」に基づき、地域の安定に貢献すると表明し、日本とＡＳＥＡＮ各国との防衛相会合も呼びかけた。It is imperative for Japan to deepen cooperative security ties with the ASEAN countries to deal with China and North Korea. 中国や北朝鮮と向き合うためには、東南アジア諸国と安全保障での協力を深める必要がある。ASEAN and China are considering setting legally binding codes of conduct in the South China Sea, where they have prolonged territorial disputes, but Beijing is reluctant to accept such codes. Japan should cooperate with the United States in backing ASEAN efforts to conclude an early agreement on codes of conduct with China. ＡＳＥＡＮと中国は、領有権争いの続く南シナ海での行動を法的に拘束する「行動規範」を検討中だが、中国は消極的だ。早期策定に向けて、日本は米国と連携し、ＡＳＥＡＮを後押ししなければならない。During the special summit meeting, participants also made progress in the area of economic cooperation. They broadly agreed in the two fields of investment and service in negotiations for a Japan-ASEAN economic partnership agreement. 特別首脳会議では経済面での協力も前進した。日・ＡＳＥＡＮの経済連携協定交渉が、投資とサービスの２分野でほぼ合意した。Abe expressed Japan’s support for an economic community ASEAN aims to create by the end of 2015 and pledged to actively provide official development assistance to the body. 安倍首相は、２０１５年をめどとするＡＳＥＡＮの経済共同体設立を支援する意向を表明し、政府開発援助（ＯＤＡ）供与も積極的に進めると約束した。Absorbing the vigor of rapidly growing Southeast Asia will provide a springboard for Japan’s economic growth. 成長著しい東南アジアの活力を取り込むことが、日本の経済成長にも弾みとなる。The leaders also formulated a mid- and long-term plan for cooperation not only in political and economic fields but also in the area of antidisaster measures. They also plan to have more active exchanges in culture, arts, tourism and sports. 特別首脳会議で中長期ビジョンもまとまった。政治・経済だけでなく、防災面での協力を強化し、文化・芸術、観光、スポーツなどで交流を促進するとしている。Japan and ASEAN have just observed the 40th anniversary of their friendship this year. It is hoped that they will strengthen their strategic ties even further. 日本とＡＳＥＡＮの友好協力は４０周年を迎えた。戦略的な連携を一層強めていきたい。(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 15, 2013)（2013年12月15日01時25分 読売新聞）
Dec 17, 2013
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与党税制大綱 家計と景気への目配り十分か
The Yomiuri Shimbun December 13, 2013Reduced consumption rate system must be at same time as hike to 10%与党税制大綱 家計と景気への目配り十分か（12月13日付・読売社説） ◆消費税１０％と同時に軽減税率をWe are concerned that increasing the consumption tax rate to 8 percent from April may dampen personal spending. The latest tax policy agreement between the ruling coalition parties has left unresolved problems regarding measures to shore up business activities. 来年４月に消費税率を８％に引き上げた後、個人消費の失速を招かないか。景気下支えに課題を残したと言えよう。The Liberal Democratic Party and coalition partner New Komeito decided Thursday on an outline for tax system revisions for fiscal 2014. The decision signifies the ruling parties’ endorsement of a government budget draft for next fiscal year and a set of tax revision bills to be presented to the Diet early next year. 自民、公明の与党は２０１４年度の税制改正大綱を決めた。政府の来年度の予算案と、税制改正法案を裏付けるものだ。The LDP-Komeito agreement has fallen short of deciding on a specific date to introduce a reduced consumption tax rate system to curb the tax rate on food and other daily necessities to benefit low-income people. The agreement also has incorporated such items as income and residential tax levies on salaried workers. Steps to impose heavier tax burdens on households are conspicuous in the accord. 低所得者対策として、食料品などの消費税率を低く抑える軽減税率の導入時期の決定を見送ったほか、会社員を対象にした増税などを盛り込んだ。家計の負担を増やすメニューが目立つ。Specific timing ambiguous ◆導入時期は曖昧なままThe biggest focus in the tax revision discussions was whether a reduced tax rate system should be introduced at the same time as an increase in the sales tax to 10 percent scheduled for October 2015. 最大の焦点は、政府が１５年１０月に予定通り消費税率を８％から１０％へ上げる場合、同時に軽減税率を導入するかどうかだった。In January, the ruling coalition reached an agreement to “make efforts to introduce” a tax break on necessities when the planned hike to 10 percent occurs. 与党は今年１月、１０％増税時の「導入を目指す」と合意した。The ruling parties' accord, this time, however, said a reduced tax rate system “will be introduced at a time when the consumption tax rate is 10 percent, after necessary financial resources and understanding from the public, including businesses, are secured.” It added that the ruling camp will “reach a conclusion on the matter by December 2014.” だが、今回の大綱は「必要な財源を確保しつつ、事業者を含む国民の理解を得た上で税率１０％時に導入する」と記し、「１４年１２月までに結論を得る」ことにした。The proviso added to the ruling coalition’s accord, such as “understanding from the public,” will weigh heavily on future discussions on a reduced tax rate, since the wording in the accord can be interpreted as either “at the same time as the hike to 10 percent” or “sometime after” the hike. 導入に「国民の理解」などの条件を付けた意味は重く、「１０％に引き上げと同時」とも「１０％に引き上げ後のいつか」とも解釈できる。This is the product of compromise between the LDP, which has remained wary of implementing a reduced tax rate, and Komeito, which has strongly insisted the proposed tax break on such items as food and newspapers be introduced when the rate is raised to 10 percent. 導入に慎重姿勢を崩さない自民党と、１０％への増税の時期と合わせて食料品や新聞などを対象に導入すべきだとする公明党との妥協の産物にほかならない。A reduced tax rate system would mitigate tax burdens on all taxpayers, including lower-income people, helping shore up a broad spectrum of household budgets. 軽減税率は、低所得層を含む国民全体の税負担を幅広く和らげて家計を下支えする。It is also problematic that the tax system revision outline this time has come short of discussing specifics, such as which items would be eligible for a lower tax rate. 今回の大綱が、軽減税率の対象品目など具体的な検討に踏み込めなかったのも問題である。Decisions on specific items to be covered and plans to put the reduced rate system into practice must not be postponed unnecessarily. A decision should be made quickly to introduce a reduced tax rate at the same time the rate is increased to 10 percent. いたずらに対象品目や制度設計などの決定を遅らせてはならない。１０％増税と同時の導入を速やかに決断すべきだろう。During the ruling camp’s tax discussions, the LDP’s Tax System Research Commission and the Finance Ministry pointed out the introduction of the reduced tax rate system would make it necessary to employ an invoice system to log the tax rates and amounts item by item, leading to complicated clerical work for businesses. 今回、自民党税調と財務省は、軽減税率の導入には、商品ごとに税率や税額を記載したインボイス（税額票）が必要で、企業の事務負担が増すと指摘した。Given that business deals free from the consumption tax, including land transactions, and those subject to the tax have been in place even under the existing tax system, Komeito refuted that argument in the discussions, noting a reduced tax rate system could be realized without an invoice system. The LDP tax panel and the Finance Ministry should have more aggressively addressed resolving impediments to employing a reduced tax rate. ただ、今でも土地売買など非課税取引と消費税を課す取引は混在しており、公明党はインボイスは不要だと反論した。自民党税調と財務省は積極的に課題解決へ取り組むべきだったのではないか。The tax system revision outline also includes steps to reduce the income tax breaks for company employees and other salaried workers, and raising their income and residential taxes. People whose annual income exceeds ¥12 million will be subject to heavier taxes from 2016, and those whose annual income is more than ¥10 million will be subject to them from 2017. 大綱は、会社員などの給与所得控除を削減し、所得税や住民税を増税する方針も盛り込んだ。１６年から年収１２００万円超の人を対象とし、１７年からは１０００万円超の人まで拡大する。According to a trial calculation by the Finance Ministry, people with an annual income of ¥15 million are estimated to have an additional tax burden of ¥70,000 to ¥110,000 a year. There are fears this will dampen their motivation to spend in anticipation of an increase in the burden on household budgets. 財務省の試算では、年収１５００万円の場合、年７万～１１万円の負担増となる見込みだ。将来の家計の負担増を見越し、消費意欲は減退する恐れがある。As the planned consumption tax hike is expected to increase the perceived burden on low-income earners, the ruling parties seem to have tried to alleviate the sense of unfairness by imposing increased tax burdens on high-income earners. 消費増税で低所得者の負担感が増すため、与党は、高所得者への課税強化で不公平感を和らげることを狙ったようだ。Fast and sloppy ◆拙速な所得控除見直しHowever, full-scale discussions on the reexamination of tax deductions were conducted for merely a week. It cannot be helped if the ruling parties are criticized for targeting company employees, whose income can be easily ascertained, unlike that of the self-employed, to ensure tax revenue. だが、控除見直しを巡る本格的な議論は、わずか１週間だった。自営業者と違い、収入を把握しやすい会社員を狙い撃ちするのでは「取りやすいところから取る」と批判されても仕方がない。Quite a few people are increasingly dissatisfied over the fact that the ruling parties quickly decided on a tax hike for salaried workers while not presenting a time frame for introducing the reduced consumption tax rates. 軽減税率の導入時期を示さない一方で、サラリーマン増税を即決したことに、不満を募らせる人も少なくないだろう。In the case of taxation on automobiles, the tax hike for light motor vehicles was incorporated into the outline of tax system revisions as a measure to secure fiscal resources needed to phase out the automobile acquisition tax from next fiscal year. 自動車課税では、購入時に課す自動車取得税を来年度から段階的に縮小・廃止するための財源確保策として、軽自動車税の増税などを盛り込んだ。The tax on light vehicles is less than that on compact cars. As long as light vehicles also impose burdens on roads and the environment, it is unavoidable for the light vehicle tax to be raised in line with the beneficiary-to-pay principle. 軽自動車税は、小型車の税金に比べて納税者の負担が軽い。軽自動車も道路や環境に負荷をかける以上、受益者負担として引き上げられるのはやむを得まい。In regard to lowering the corporate tax, which was regarded as a centerpiece of the government’s growth strategy, the outline said merely that the matter will “continue to be studied.” Discussions on concrete measures such as the timing and margin for a tax cut have not deepened. 成長戦略の目玉とされた法人税率の引き下げは、「引き続き検討を進める」と記しただけで、減税の時期や引き下げ幅などの具体論は深まらなかった。Japan’s corporate tax rates—even if excluding the special corporate tax for reconstruction from the 2011 disaster, which is planned to be abolished at the end of fiscal 2013, one year ahead of schedule as an economic measure—are higher than those in Europe and many other Asian countries. しかし、経済対策で１年前倒し廃止が決まった復興特別法人税を除いても、日本の法人税は欧州やアジアの多くの国より高い。
Dec 16, 2013
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マンデラ氏死去 今こそ継承したい寛容の精神
The Yomiuri Shimbun December 12, 2013World must learn from, carry on Mandela’s legacy of forgivenessマンデラ氏死去 今こそ継承したい寛容の精神（12月12日付・読売社説）About 100 heads of state and other world leaders mourned the death of Nelson Mandela at a memorial service for the former South African president in Johannesburg on Tuesday, showing how Mandela was revered all around the world. 約１００人の国家元首や首脳級の要人が集い、その死を悼んだ。世界中で尊敬される指導者だった証しである。Mandela, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate honored for his strenuous fight against apartheid and eventual success in ending his country’s system of racial segregation, died last Thursday. He was 95. 南アフリカで、アパルトヘイト（人種隔離政策）を撤廃に導いて、ノーベル平和賞を受けたネルソン・マンデラ元大統領が、９５歳で死去した。The global dignitaries at the national memorial service held for Mandela at a stadium in South Africa’s largest city included Crown Prince Naruhito and former Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda. In a memorial address, U.S. President Barack Obama praised the anti-apartheid icon’s achievements, describing him as “a giant of history, who moved a nation toward justice and in the process moved billions around the world.” ヨハネスブルクで行われた追悼式には、皇太子さまが、福田康夫元首相とともに参列された。オバマ米大統領は演説で、マンデラ氏を「歴史上の巨人だった。国家を正義に導き、世界の何十億の人々を揺り動かした」と称賛した。During the second half of the 20th century, Afrikaner whites, the South African minority that ruled the country, repressed the black majority under legislation based on the apartheid policy. Black members of the population did not possess the right to vote and were even restricted in where they could live. ２０世紀後半の南アでは、支配権を握る少数派の白人が、アパルトヘイトに基づき、多数派の黒人を法的に抑圧した。黒人には参政権がなく、居住地も制限された。A lawyer, Mandela fought racial discrimination in his country after joining the anti-apartheid activities of the African National Congress, then a political party struggling for the freedom of black South Africans. Mandela’s adherence to his cause despite 27 years in prison for treason provokes amazement. 弁護士だったマンデラ氏は、黒人解放組織、アフリカ民族会議（ＡＮＣ）の反アパルトヘイト活動に参加して、人種差別と闘った。反逆罪で、２７年間も獄中生活を強いられたにもかかわらず、節を曲げなかったのは、驚嘆に値する。The true worth of Mandela’s political leadership was demonstrated when and after he was asked by his nation’s white government to help end apartheid. By that time, the South African government could no longer endure the international sanctions imposed on the country. マンデラ氏が政治指導者としての真骨頂を発揮したのは、国際社会の制裁に耐えかねた白人政権から、アパルトヘイト撤廃への協力を求められて以降だ。The power of forgivenessMandela ended the ANC’s pursuit of an armed struggle and negotiated with the white government, which resulted in an end to apartheid and a national election open to all races. This enabled the ANC to take the reins of government, with Mandela becoming South Africa’s first black president. However, he urged the black majority not to retaliate against whites. ＡＮＣの武力闘争路線を終わらせ、政権との交渉で、アパルトヘイト廃止と全人種参加選挙にこぎつけた。ＡＮＣが政権を掌握したのに伴い、黒人として初の大統領に選出されたが、白人に対する報復を強く戒めた。In his inaugural address as South African president in 1994, Mandela pledged to “build the society in which all South Africans, both black and white, will be able to walk tall, without any fear in their hearts.” In fact, the position of vice president was assumed by Mandela’s predecessor, a white president. １９９４年の大統領就任演説で「黒人や白人ら全ての国民が、胸を張って歩ける社会を建設する」と約束し、副大統領には白人の前大統領が就いた。Mandela’s spirit of tolerance—with which he sought to transform South Africa into a nation in which all ethnic groups could live in harmony—deeply affected people around the world.多人種共存を目指す寛容の精神が、世界の人々に深い感銘を与えたと言える。In 1995, South Africa hosted the rugby World Cup. Mandela cheered for his country’s national team, which comprised mostly white players—an episode that helped create a sense of unity among South Africans. The story was later made into an American film that became known to many people around the world. 南アで開催されたラグビー・ワールドカップ（Ｗ杯）で、白人主体の代表チームを自ら応援し、国民の一体感を育んだ逸話は、映画化され、よく知られている。Mandela’s achievements also included his successful post-apartheid economic policies, which included efforts to skillfully utilize the vitality of white industrialists instead of depriving them of management rights. He did not persist in his own view that his country’s mines should be placed under state control. All this contributed to economic growth. 白人の企業家から経営権を奪わず、むしろその活力を生かした経済政策も実績である。持論だった鉱山国有化などには固執せず、南アの経済成長につなげた。However, today South Africa seems to be experiencing what may be regarded as the adverse effects of the ANC’s prolonged rule, including corruption within its administration and abuse of privilege. Little progress has been made in narrowing economic disparities between the white minority and the black majority. だが、現在の南アでは、ＡＮＣ政権が長期化するに伴い、政権内で腐敗や特権乱用の傾向が目立っている。白人と黒人の間の経済格差の解消も進まない。Ethnic conflicts and bloodshed attributable to religious differences continue to rage in many parts of the world. Not only South Africans but also people around the world must remind themselves of the precious lessons taught by Mandela. 世界各地では、民族や宗教の違いに根ざす流血が続く。南アに限らず、国際社会全体で、マンデラ氏の残した教訓を改めてかみしめる必要がある。(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 12, 2013)（2013年12月12日01時27分 読売新聞）
Dec 15, 2013
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ＴＰＰ交渉 日米対立が招いた合意先送り
The Yomiuri Shimbun December 11, 2013Final TPP accord postponed due to conflict between Japan, U.S. ＴＰＰ交渉 日米対立が招いた合意先送り（12月11日付・読売社説）As participating countries failed to reconcile a variety of conflicts, including one between Japan and the United States, an accord on creating a new free trade zone in Asia and the Pacific region has been postponed till next year. A rough road lies ahead for the negotiations. 日米などの対立が解けず、アジア太平洋地域での新たな自由貿易圏作りの合意は、来年に先送りされた。交渉の前途は多難である。A ministerial meeting of the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade talks ended in Singapore on Tuesday. シンガポールで開かれていた環太平洋経済連携協定（ＴＰＰ）交渉の閣僚会合が閉幕した。Japan, the United States, Australia and nine other nations in the talks abandoned their goal of reaching an accord by the end of this year, which they originally hoped for. The countries will continue intensive discussions and hold a ministerial meeting again in January, they said in a joint statement issued after the meeting. 日米、豪州など１２か国は、当初目指した年内妥結を断念し、「交渉の妥結に向けて集中的に作業を続ける。閣僚会合を１月に開く」との声明を発表した。As the administration of U.S. President Barack Obama had given the highest priority to reaching a final accord within this year, U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman continued pressing Japan and emerging countries on tariff elimination and market liberalization. オバマ米政権は年内合意を最優先し、フロマン通商代表が、日本や新興国に関税撤廃や市場開放を求める圧力をかけ続けた。But it is difficult to settle negotiations on issues on which the participants’ interests are complexly tangled. It can be said the latest talks highlighted the reality that the talks will not proceed as Washington hoped. しかし、参加国の利害が複雑に絡み合う交渉のとりまとめは難しい。米国の思惑通りに進まない現実を浮き彫りにしたと言える。In particular, the conflict between Japanese and U.S. interests became clear. There is no denying that the conflict between the two countries may have held up negotiations as a whole. とくに鮮明になったのが日米両国の対立だった。全体の交渉も停滞させた印象が否めない。Sticking pointsThe Liberal Democratic Party has been asserting that rice, wheat and barley, and three other sensitive agricultural products should be regarded as “sanctuaries” exempt from tariff elimination. Bearing this in mind, Japan rejected the U.S. call for full tariff elimination, with no exceptions. 自民党はコメ、麦など農産品５項目を関税撤廃の聖域扱いとするよう主張している。これを踏まえた日本は、全品目の関税撤廃を求める米国の要求を拒否した。Instead, Japan reportedly proposed, as a concession, to the U.S. side that it would raise its liberalization rate—the percentage of trade items that will be tariff-free—to about 95 percent. But the United States reportedly rejected the proposal. その代わり、全品目のうち関税撤廃に応じる自由化率を約９５％に引き上げる譲歩案を提示した模様だが、米国は拒んだという。On the other hand, Washington, which aims at expanding sales of U.S. automobiles in Japan, called on Tokyo to ease regulations on vehicle safety and environmental standards. But Japan steadily refused. 一方、米国車の販売拡大を目指す米国が日本市場での自動車の安全や環境の基準緩和を求めた点では、日本が拒否を続けた。With midterm elections slated for next November, the Obama administration, which wants to showcase a final TPP accord as its achievement, is not in a position to make easy compromises. 来年１１月の中間選挙を控え、ＴＰＰ合意を成果としてアピールしたいオバマ政権には、安易に妥協できない事情があるのだろう。Yet Japan needs to proactively tap into the vitality of fast-growing Asian economies and fuel its own growth, rather than merely maintaining a defensive stance. だが、日本も守りに徹するだけでなく、成長著しいアジアの活力を取り込み、成長に弾みをつける攻めの姿勢が必要である。While trying to reinforce the international competitiveness of agriculture, a sector Japan has been called on to liberalize further, the government must make a strategic plan to promote free trade, centering around the TPP. 一層の市場開放を求められる農業の競争力強化を図りつつ、ＴＰＰを軸に自由貿易を推進する戦略を練らなければならない。Fierce conflicts between the United States and such emerging economies as Malaysia and Vietnam over the protection of intellectual property rights and competition policies can also be cited as reasons why the participating countries gave up on the final accord in Singapore. シンガポールでの妥結を断念した一因として、知的財産権や競争政策を巡り、米国と、マレーシア、ベトナムなど新興国が激しく対立した事情も挙げられる。The conflicts among the 12 countries are deep-rooted, so there is little cause for optimism that they will be able to reach an accord at next month’s ministerial meeting. The major focus will be how flexibly the United States can respond to other countries’ assertions. １２か国の対立は根深く、１月の閣僚会合での決着は楽観できない。米国がどこまで柔軟に対応できるかが最大の焦点になろう。Meanwhile, South Korea’s next moves deserve close attention, as that country has made clear its intention to participate in the TPP. 注視すべきは、ＴＰＰへの参加意向を表明した韓国の動きだ。For South Korea to join the negotiations, it needs to win the approval of the 12 participating countries. That could happen as early as the spring. Before that happens, Japan needs to take the lead in formulating the trade rules and aim to reach an early accord to best take advantage of having already been a member. 韓国の合流には１２か国の同意が必要で、早くても来春になるが、日本はその前に貿易ルール作りを主導して早期妥結を図り、先行メリットを生かしたい。Japan must demonstrate tough bargaining power in pursuit of its national interests. 国益の追求へ、したたかな交渉力が日本に求められる。(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 11, 2013) （2013年12月11日01時43分 読売新聞）
Dec 13, 2013
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みんなの党分裂 「江田新党」は野党再編序章か
The Yomiuri Shimbun December 10, 2013Eda’s split from Your Party may trigger political realignmentみんなの党分裂 「江田新党」は野党再編序章か（12月10日付・読売社説）Four years and four months after its inception, Your Party has split. This event has the potential of leading to a realignment of opposition parties. みんなの党が、結党４年４か月でとうとう分裂した。野党再編への序章となる可能性がある。Former Secretary General Kenji Eda and 13 other members of the party have submitted letters of resignation to the party and announced plans to establish a new party before the end of the year. The 14 defectors—eight from the House of Representatives and six from the House of Councillors—account for 40 percent of the party’s 35 lawmakers. Mito Kakizawa, an independent in the lower house, will join the planned new party. 江田憲司前幹事長らが離党届を提出し、年内に新党を結成する方針を表明した。離党するのは１４人の衆参両院議員で、党所属３５人の４割に上る。新党には無所属の柿沢未途衆院議員も加わる。The primary reason for the split was a feud between party leader Yoshimi Watanabe and Eda over the party’s future course. 分裂の主因は、路線を巡る渡辺代表と江田氏の確執である。Watanabe has insisted on cooperating with other parties in one political bloc, while maintaining the independence of Your Party. Eda, on the other hand, does not hesitate to run the risk of dissolving the party to help realign opposition forces. Watanabe scorned Eda’s move as an “antiparty action.” 渡辺氏は、みんなの党を存続させたまま、他の野党と連携する「政党ブロック」の構想を主張する。野党再編のためなら、解党も辞さないとする江田氏の動きを「反党行為」と攻撃してきた。Watanabe removed Eda from the post of party secretary general in August and forced Eda’s close follower, Kakizawa, to leave the party later that month. ８月には、江田氏を幹事長から外し、その後、江田氏の側近である柿沢氏を離党に追い込んだ。The situation was brought to a head over the party leadership’s handling of the government-proposed legislation on protecting specially designated state secrets. 特定秘密保護法を巡る対応が、分裂の直接の引き金となった。Eda vehemently criticized Watanabe’s role in working out an agreement to amend the bill through talks with the Liberal Democratic Party and its coalition partner, New Komeito, as “wooing the LDP.” 江田氏は、渡辺氏が主導した自民、公明の与党との法案修正合意について、「自民党へのすり寄り」と厳しく批判している。Attention will be focused on whether Eda’s action will evolve into interparty tie-ups or a realignment of opposition parties involving the Democratic Party of Japan and Nippon Ishin no Kai (Japan Restoration Party). 今後の焦点は、江田氏の動きが、民主党や日本維新の会を巻き込み、政党の枠を超えた連携や野党再編に発展するかどうかだ。After submitting his letter of resignation to the party Monday, Eda said at a news conference that political forces should work together to compete with the LDP. This probably means he wants his new party to act as the foundation for future realignment of opposition parties. 江田氏は離党届提出後の記者会見で、自民党に対抗する政治勢力を結集する必要性を指摘した。「江田新党」も将来の野党再編への布石とする考えなのだろう。Fighting a behemothGiven that the current political map is dominated by the LDP, leaving small and weak parties far in its wake, the unity of opposition parties is being put to the test. It is understandable that the opposition parties will try to rally their forces to increase their voice against the behemoth ruling party. 自民党が突出した「１強多弱」の状況の下、野党の結束が問われている。巨大与党に対抗し、発言力を高めるために、野党が勢力結集を目指すのは理解できる。But the question remains whether they can agree on political ideals and policies. Ishin no Kai’s acting secretary general, Yorihisa Matsuno, plans to form a parliamentary group with Eda’s new party. This is a realistic option. だが、政治理念、政策で一致できるのか。維新の会の松野頼久幹事長代行が、維新と「江田新党」による統一会派結成という緩やかな連携を呼び掛ける意向を示しているのは、現実的と言える。Ishin no Kai, which was founded before the lower house election in December last year, is not a monolithic party either, as policy differences have emerged between its Osaka-based members, led by party coleader Toru Hashimoto, and a group of lawmakers in Tokyo. 昨年の衆院選前に結党した維新の会も、橋下共同代表ら大阪の勢力と東京の国会議員団との間で政策の違いが表面化しており、一枚岩ではない。If a unified parliamentary group can be realized by Eda’s party and Ishin no Kai, it will surpass the DPJ in strength in the lower house to become the second political force after the LDP. As the biggest parliamentary group of the opposition camp, it will have the strongest voice among opposition groups in the Diet. 統一会派が実現すれば、衆院議席で民主党を上回り、自民党に続く勢力となる。野党第１会派として、国会での発言権は増そう。Your Party, under Watanabe’s leadership, is expected to increase its cooperation with the administration of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Watanabe will reportedly offer advice to the Abe Cabinet in its reexamination of the constitutional interpretation of the right to collective self-defense. 一方で、みんなの党の渡辺氏は、安倍政権と政策面での協調姿勢を強めるのではないか。集団的自衛権の憲法解釈見直しについても近く安倍内閣に提言するという。DPJ President Banri Kaieda cannot sit back and calmly watch the split of Your Party without taking action. Quite a few DPJ members also lean toward a realignment of the opposition parties. Unless something is done to change the status quo, the DPJ’s leadership will see its power further wane. みんなの党の分裂劇を静観する構えの民主党の海江田代表も安閑とはしていられまい。党内にも野党再編を志向する議員は少なくない。今のままでは、執行部の求心力が一層弱まる可能性がある。(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 10, 2013)（2013年12月10日01時45分 読売新聞）
Dec 12, 2013
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婚外子格差撤廃 配偶者の権利も尊重したい
The Yomiuri Shimbun December 9, 2013Spouse’s rights must be respected despite change on inheritance rights婚外子格差撤廃 配偶者の権利も尊重したい（12月8日付・読売社説）The Diet has approved a bill to revise the Civil Code that will delete an article that discriminates against the inheritance rights of children born to unmarried parents. 婚姻届を出していない男女の間に生まれた非嫡出子（婚外子）の相続格差をなくす改正民法が成立した。For now, we can only praise the Diet’s swift action following a ruling by the Supreme Court’s Grand Bench that said the article “runs counter to the Constitution, which guarantees equality under the law.” 「法の下の平等を保障した憲法に違反する」という最高裁大法廷の判断を受け、国会が速やかに対応したことを、まずは評価したい。The revision will delete the article limiting the inheritance an out-of-wedlock child receives to half that of a child born in wedlock. Among major advanced nations, Japan was the only country that maintained such a discriminatory regulation. 婚外子の遺産相続分を法律上の夫婦の子（嫡出子）の２分の１とする民法の規定を削除したのが、今回の改正である。このような格差が残っていたのは、主要先進国の中では日本だけだった。In its ruling in September, the Supreme Court stressed, “Children born out of wedlock should not be at a disadvantage as a result of their parents not being married, a situation the children had no control over.” 最高裁は９月に出した家事審判の決定で、「父母が婚姻関係になかったという、自ら選択・修正する余地のない事柄を理由として、子に不利益を及ぼすことは許されない」と強調した。The number of so-called de facto marriages and single mothers has increased, and the narrow social view of perceiving children born out of wedlock as different has declined considerably. The court’s decision is in line with changing public awareness. 事実婚やシングルマザーが増え、婚外子を特別視する風潮も薄れてきている。国民の意識の変化に沿った判断だったと言える。At the same time, the court’s ruling does not diminish respect for de jure marriages, in which couples follow all legal procedures. しかし、最高裁決定は、法律上の手続きを経た「法律婚」の尊重まで否定したわけではない。We should bear in mind that there is no change in this way of thinking under the revised Civil Code.改正後の民法でも、この考え方自体には変更がない点に留意したい。During discussions on the revision, strong concerns were voiced within the Liberal Democratic Party that the family system based on legal marriage could be undermined and that adultery could be encouraged. 改正に向けた議論で、自民党内には「法律婚に基づく家族制度が揺らぎかねない」「不倫を助長する」といった懸念が強かった。Even if a spouse of a deceased person has no previous acquaintance with an out-of-wedlock biological child, that child is still entitled to receive the same inheritance as the spouse’s child. 仮に故人の配偶者と婚外子の間に面識がなかった場合でも、突然現れた婚外子が配偶者の子供と同じ額を相続することになる。If the only asset is a house, some people have said there may be an increase in cases of a spouse selling the house to pay a portion of the inheritance to an out-of-wedlock child. 家屋以外に財産がない相続では、配偶者が家屋を売却し、婚外子に相続分を支払うケースが増えるとの見方も出ている。Importance of family tiesWe can understand to some extent the concern expressed by the LDP and other parties that the deletion of the article could undermine the rights of a spouse—who had lived with his or her spouse for many years before that spouse died, built up their family and accumulated wealth together—and those of the spouse’s child. 故人に長年連れ添って家庭を築き、共に財産を形成してきた配偶者と、その子供の権利が損なわれるという自民党などの指摘には、うなずける面がある。To deal with these problems and to maintain the family system founded on legal marriage, other measures must be taken, besides those concerning discriminatory inheritance between in-wedlock and out-of-wedlock children. こうした問題に対処し、法律婚に立脚した家族制度を維持していくためには、嫡出子・婚外子の相続格差によってではなく、別の仕組みや手段を講じるべきだ。The government and the LDP have decided to study what form the legal system for inheritance should take, particularly in regard to spouses, in an effort to protect family bonds, and to come up with a conclusion one year from now. 政府・自民党は「家族の絆を守るための諸施策」として、配偶者に配慮した相続法制のあり方などを検討し、１年後をめどに結論を取りまとめることを決めた。Granting a higher share of inheritance to a spouse than under the current system is a good option. 配偶者の相続分を現行より手厚くすることも、有力な選択肢の一つではないか。The family will remain the foundation of society. During and after the Great East Japan Earthquake, people once again recognized the importance of the family ties. 家族が社会の基礎を構成することは、これからも変わるまい。東日本大震災では家族の絆の大切さを国民が再認識した。We should deepen our discussion on family ties now that the Civil Code has been revised. 今回の民法改正を機に、改めて家族のあり方に関する議論を深めていきたい。(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 8, 2013)（2013年12月8日01時23分 読売新聞）
Dec 11, 2013
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秘密保護法成立 国家安保戦略の深化につなげよ
The Yomiuri Shimbun December 8, 2013Make use of intelligence protection law to strengthen national security strategy秘密保護法成立 国家安保戦略の深化につなげよ（12月7日付・読売社説） ◆疑念招かぬよう適切な運用をA law to protect state secrets, comparable to those in other advanced countries, has finally been enacted in Japan. 日本にもようやく米英など他の先進国並みの機密保全法制が整った。The government must use the law to strengthen diplomatic and national security policies. At the same time, it should pay special attention in applying the law, so the general public does not feel as if its right to know will be limited. 外交・安全保障政策の強化につなげる一方で、「知る権利」が損なわれるという疑念を国民から抱かれぬよう、政府は運用に十分配慮しなければならない。The specially designated intelligence protection law, which strengthens punishments of public employees who leak classified information concerning national security, was enacted after a bill on the law passed a House of Councillors plenary session late Friday, with a majority of votes by the Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito. 安全保障に関わる機密情報を漏らした公務員らの罰則を強化する特定秘密保護法が６日深夜、参院本会議で自民、公明両党の賛成多数によって可決、成立した。With the ruling and opposition parties in fierce confrontation over the bill, members of Your Party—which agreed to passage of the bill in the House of Representatives—walked out of the plenary session, criticizing the ruling camp’s way of managing Diet business as “high-handed.” We regret that this extremely important law was born in such unusual circumstances. 与野党が激しく対立する中、衆院で賛成したみんなの党が与党の「強引な国会運営」を批判して退席した。極めて重要な法律が異例の事態で誕生したのは残念だ。Unified rules clarified ◆統一的なルール明確にAs epitomized by China’s recent declaration of an air defense identification zone, the national security environment surrounding Japan has become increasingly severe. 中国の防空識別圏設定の動きが象徴するように、日本の安全保障環境は厳しさを増している。Japan needs to obtain important intelligence on the matter from the United States and other countries and must strengthen its cooperation with them. To do so, it is indispensable to enhance the credibility of its efforts to protect secret information. 米国はじめ各国から重要な情報を入手し、連携を強めねばならない。それには、秘密保護への信頼を高めることが不可欠だ。Japan already had rules in place to protect state secrets, including obligations for public officials to protect secrets under the National Civil Service Law, rules for special defense secrets in line with the Japan-U.S. Mutual Defense Assistance Agreement of 1954, and another set of rules for defense secrets under the Self-Defense Forces Law revised in 2001. 既に国家公務員法の守秘義務や１９５４年の日米相互防衛援助協定に伴う特別防衛秘密、２００１年の改正自衛隊法による防衛秘密などの法制はある。However, these rules have not adequately protected important intelligence, and it has been pointed out that intelligence is easily leaked in Japan. With the new law, unified and full-fledged rules covering the entire government have been put in place to protect state secrets concerning defense, diplomacy and anti-espionage and antiterrorism activities. それでも十分ではなく、日本は情報が漏れやすいと指摘されてきた。今回、防衛、外交、スパイ活動防止、テロ防止に関する、政府全体の統一的かつ本格的な秘密保全ルールが整ったと言える。The Japanese version of the U.S. National Security Council was launched Wednesday. To enhance the council’s intelligence gathering and analysis abilities, the new law is indispensable. 今週発足した国家安全保障会議（日本版ＮＳＣ）の情報収集と分析の能力を高めていく上でも、欠かせない法制度である。However, the legislative intent of the law, which is to protect the Japanese people, has been made light of by some people. ところが、国民を守るための立法趣旨が軽んじられている。We were surprised that during Diet deliberations on the bill some opposition party members criticized the legislation, even comparing it to the prewar public order maintenance law, which was used to clamp down on ideological criminals. That is an extremely irrational opinion that ignores Japan’s postwar history as a democratic nation as well as changes in the political system and media coverage. 審議の中で戦前、思想犯の弾圧に用いられた治安維持法になぞらえた批判まで出たのには驚く。戦後の民主主義国家としての歩みや政治体制、報道姿勢の変化を無視した暴論と言うほかなかろう。In answer to a question during Diet deliberations on the bill, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said: “The general public won’t have access to specially designated secrets, so prosecution of citizens under the law won’t be possible.” As he said, ordinary citizens will not be subject to the law. 安倍首相が「一般国民が特定秘密を知ることはあり得ない。ゆえに処罰されることはあり得ない」と答弁したように、普通の国民が対象となることはない。Yet, it cannot be denied that the people’s distrust of the government increased through the deliberations of the bill. The government must explain the intent of the secret intelligence protection law carefully to the people and seek their understanding. ただ、法案審議を通じ、政府に対する国民の不信感が増したことも否めない。政府は、秘密保護法の趣旨を国民に丁寧に説明し、理解を求めていくべきである。Through discussions between the ruling parties and the opposition parties Nippon Ishin no Kai (Japan Restoration Party) and Your Party, the range of subjects that can be designated as special secrets was narrowed further, and the principles for disclosing them after they are declassified was made clear. This is praiseworthy. 与党と維新の会やみんなの党との協議で、秘密指定対象がより絞られ、指定解除後の公開原則も明確になったことは評価できる。Concern over right to know ◆知る権利とのバランスThe biggest point of contention in the upper house deliberations was whether bureaucrats would arbitrarily expand the range of secrecy. 参院審議の最大の論点は、官僚が恣意(しい)的に秘密の範囲を拡大するのではないかという点だった。Abe pledged to establish a third-party surveillance committee to check the validity of confidentiality designations. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga also mentioned that an information oversight office with about 20 members will be established in the Cabinet Office. These appear to be the results of concessions made by the government thus far. 秘密指定の妥当性をチェックする第三者機関として、首相は「保全監視委員会」を設けると約束した。菅官房長官も、内閣府に２０人規模の「情報保全監察室」を発足させると言明した。政府側が次々と妥協を図ったと言える。It is essential that the proposed third-party organ be equipped with functional capabilities. Due heed must especially be taken of the public’s strong concern about secrets handled by such organizations as the National Police Agency and the Public Security Investigation Agency, which are involved in dealing with terrorism and espionage activities. 第三者機関には実効性を持たせることが肝要だ。特に、警察庁や公安調査庁などテロやスパイ活動を取り締まる分野での秘密については、国民の不安が強いことに留意しなければならない。The Democratic Party of Japan has maintained that a third-party body, if established within the government, would be unable to perform its functions. However, it is doubtful whether a third-party committee comprising experts nominated by both the ruling and opposition parties, as proposed by the DPJ, would be able to adequately judge the secrecy of information. 民主党は、政府内の組織では、機能を果たせないと言うが、民主党の提案するように与野党が指名した有識者による委員会で的確に検証できるのか、疑問だ。High-level judgments on how to handle highly confidential state secrets can be made only in light of government policy and national strategy. We thus believe an oversight body established within the government is desirable in view of the high risk of an information leak. 秘匿性の高い情報をどう扱うかという高度の判断は、政府の方針や国家戦略に基づいてこそ可能になる。情報漏えいリスクが高まる観点からも、政府内の監視組織の方が望ましい。The biggest concern is whether government employees will become apprehensive about answering questions from the media out of fear of severe punishment, namely up to 10 years in prison imposed on people who violate the secrecy law. They also might use the law as an excuse to hide information. 最も懸念されるのは、公務員が懲役１０年以下という厳罰を恐れ、報道機関の取材に対して萎縮しかねないことだ。秘密保護法を理由に情報を秘匿する恐れがある。Due to such overreaction to the Personal Information Protection Law, it is already difficult to share even information that needs to be shared for the good of society. This trend should not be accelerated. 個人情報保護法に対する過剰反応で、社会に必要な情報まで流通しにくくなった。その傾向に拍車をかけてはなるまい。
Dec 9, 2013
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中国防空識別圏 習主席は日米の懸念に応えよ
The Yomiuri Shimbun December 7, 2013President Xi must pay heed to Japan, U.S. concerns over ADIZ中国防空識別圏 習主席は日米の懸念に応えよ（12月6日付・読売社説）China must take seriously the explicit declarations by Japan and the United States of their intentions regarding Beijing’s announcement of its new air defense identification zone. 日米両国の明確な意思表示を中国は重く受け止めるべきだ。U.S. Vice President Joe Biden met with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday in Beijing, declaring that the United States does not recognize or accept the ADIZ recently established by China over the East China Sea, expressing Washington’s “significant apprehension.” 米国のバイデン副大統領が、中国の習近平国家主席と北京で会談し、東シナ海に設定された中国の防空識別圏を認めないと述べた上で「深い懸念」を表明した。In the talks, Biden reportedly called for Beijing to take measures to reduce tensions with countries concerned, prodding the Chinese leadership to exercise self-restraint to prevent a crisis over the zone. バイデン氏はさらに、中国に対し、関係国との緊張緩和に向けた措置を取り、この問題で危機を誘発するような行動を自制するよう要請したという。Both of Biden’s calls were in line with what was confirmed in his talks with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe the previous day. いずれも、安倍首相との会談で確認した内容に沿ったものだ。It was especially significant that Biden conveyed directly to Xi the strong sense of apprehension both Japan and the United States have over the way China declared the ADIZ and the rules of its implementation, which both Tokyo and Washington said deviate from international norms. 中国の防空識別圏の設定の仕方や運用が国際常識から外れているとの日米両国の強い懸念を、習氏に直接伝えた点に意味がある。In declaring the ADIZ, which changes the status quo in the East China Sea, China failed to consult with countries concerned beforehand. Rather, it unilaterally implemented the zone and abruptly announced it. 中国は、現状を変更する識別圏設定に当たり、周辺国との事前調整をせず、一方的に発表した。The means by which China implemented the new ADIZ strays from implementation protocol for air defense identification zones of other countries. その運用方法も、国際社会のやり方とは大きく異なっている。In the ADIZs of countries other than China, including Japan, only aircraft found to be heading toward the countries’ territorial airspace are subject to alert. China, however, made it mandatory for all aircraft passing through its new ADIZ to report flight plans to Chinese authorities. Also, Beijing has warned it will make planes that fail to comply with its ADIZ rules subject to unspecified “defensive emergency measures.” 日本などの防空識別圏では、領空に向かう航空機だけが警戒の対象となる。だが、中国は、識別圏内を飛行する全航空機に、飛行計画の提出を義務付けたばかりか、従わないと、「防御的緊急措置」の対象になると警告している。Dangerous mind-setAlthough most of the ADIZ is set above high seas, China’s warning is tantamount to treating the zone as part of its own airspace. We believe this is an illegitimate and dangerous mode of thinking. 識別圏の大半は公海上空に設定されているのに、自らの領空のように扱っている。不当かつ極めて危険な考え方である。In reply to calls from Biden, Xi was cited as reiterating China’s “principled stance” that its new ADIZ was established “in accord with international law and practice.” Does China intend to continue treating its air zone in its own fashion? バイデン氏に対し、習氏は、中国の「原則的な立場」を繰り返し、識別圏は「国際法や国際慣例に合致している」と述べたという。識別圏を引き続き、自己流で運用し続けるつもりなのだろうか。As long as China takes such an attitude, it will never win the understanding of countries concerned, including Japan and the United States. First, Beijing should do away with its hard-line stance, which could invite the risk of an accidental military conflict. こうした態度では、日米をはじめ関係国の理解は得られまい。中国は、偶発的な軍事衝突を引き起こしかねない強硬な姿勢を、まず改める必要がある。In his talks with Xi, Biden was also quoted as calling for China to create a crisis management mechanism in cooperation with Japan, with which China has an ongoing sovereignty row over the Senkaku Islands in Okinawa Prefecture, and other countries surrounding the new air zone. バイデン氏は習氏に、不測の事態を回避するために、沖縄県・尖閣諸島をめぐり対立する日本や周辺国と危機管理メカニズムを構築するよう促した。It is crucial to expedite the opening up of communication channels among the countries concerned. The Chinese government has made an overture to the Japanese government to hold consultations with the aim of “securing safe flights” in the airspace where the two countries’ ADIZs overlap. 関係国間で、意思の疎通を図ることは欠かせない。中国政府も日本に対して、「識別圏が重なっている空域での安全な飛行」のための協議を呼びかけている。We worry, however, that in the process of such consultations, China will insist that Japan acknowledge China’s ADIZ, including airspace over the Senkakus, as if it were a fait accompli. ただ、気がかりなのは、話し合いの過程で、中国が、尖閣諸島上空を含む自らの防空識別圏を既成事実であるかのように主張してくると見られることだ。Even if such consultations take place, Japan must not give up its stance of refusing to recognize China’s declaration of the air defense identification zone. 協議を行う場合でも、識別圏を認めないとの立場を崩してはならない。In dealing with the ADIZ, it is important that Japan work closely with the United States in taking strategic measures against China. 防空識別圏の問題を巡っては、米国との足並みをそろえながら、中国に戦略的に働きかけることが肝要である。(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 6, 2013)（2013年12月6日01時26分 読売新聞）
Dec 8, 2013
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男性の育児休業 働く母親支える環境作りを
The Yomiuri Shimbun December 6, 2013Encouraging men to take child-care leave would benefit society 男性の育児休業 働く母親支える環境作りを（12月5日付・読売社説）Increasing the amount of child-care leave taken by men will help create a social environment more conducive to child-rearing. 男性の育児休業をより増やすことが、社会全体で子育てを支援する環境作りにもなるだろう。The Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry has started discussions highly likely to result in raising the child-care benefits paid through employment insurance. 厚生労働省が、雇用保険から育児休業の取得者に支払われる給付額を増額する方向で検討に入った。The anticipated change is designed to increase the number of working men who take child-care leave. Fewer than 2 percent do so now. わずか２％足らずの男性の育児休業取得率を引き上げるのが目的だ。The ministry plans to submit a bill to revise the Employment Insurance Law to the ordinary Diet session next year. 来年の通常国会に雇用保険法改正案を提出する。Under the current system, a working couple is able to take child-care leave, in principle, until their baby is 14 months old if the leave is taken by only one parent at a time. A parent taking leave is entitled to receive benefits worth 50 percent of the wages earned before taking the leave. 育児休業は、夫婦がそれぞれ取得する場合、原則として、子供が１歳２か月になるまで認められる仕組みだ。その間、休業前賃金の５０％が支給される。The government is likely to raise the child-care leave benefit to 67 percent of wages for at least the first six-month period for each parent. 政府は、この育児休業給付を最初の半年に限って６７％に引き上げる方針だ。For example, if a new mother takes two months of maternity leave after giving birth, followed by child-care leave for six months, and then her husband takes child-care leave for the next six months, the couple would be assured of a full year of child-care benefits worth 67 percent of the wages of whichever parent was taking leave at the time.例えば、妻が子供が２か月になるまで産休を取った後に半年育児休業を取得し、続いて夫も半年の育児休業に入れば、１年間は６７％を維持できる。The government hopes that by boosting such economic assistance, the child-care leave taken by men will increase. 政府は、こうした経済的な支援の強化によって男性の育児休業が増えると期待している。Companies must helpYet there is also a sense of unwillingness in business circles. だが、経済界には抵抗感もある。While the central government pays for a little under 7 percent of the child-care leave benefit, the rest is to be covered by insurance for which employers and employees pay equally. Therefore, the increase in the benefit is likely to raise the financial burden on both labor and management.育児休業給付の７％弱は国が負担し、残りを事業主と被保険者である労働者が折半するため、給付増で労使の負担が増すことになりかねないからである。It is also unlikely that a hike in child-care leave benefits alone will be sufficient to increase the amount of child-care leave taken by men. 育児休業給付の増額だけで男性の休業取得が増える、とも考えにくい。An opinion survey taken by the ministry found that men most often cited “workplace atmosphere” as a reason for not taking child-care leave.厚労省の実施した世論調査によると、男性が育児休業を取得しなかった理由としては、「職場の雰囲気」が最も多かった。If more working men were to take child-care leave, even for a very short period, it would give mental support to working women. We think it important for businesses to understand this well and to start creating environments in which men feel it is easier to take their child-care leave. 短期間でも男性が育児のために休暇を取るようになれば、働く女性の精神的な支えとなろう。企業がそれをよく理解し、休業を取得しやすい環境作りから始めていくことが大切ではないか。At leading consumer products maker Kao Corp., winner of the grand prize of the “Ikumen Company Award 2013,” the rate of men taking child-rearing leave has been hovering in the 35-40 percent range in recent years. (“Ikumen” is a recently coined word for fathers who actively take part in raising children.) 厚労省の「イクメン企業アワード」のグランプリを受賞した日用品メーカーの花王では、近年の男性社員の育児休業取得率は、３５～４０％で推移している。The company has established a system of giving its male employees fully paid child-care leave for up to five days. It encourages them to take the leave more actively by holding seminars. Although the average period of child-care leave taken by male employees is only 11 days, the company said its employees’ attitudes have been changing. 最高５日間の有給の休業制度を設けたほか、セミナーを開催するなど積極的な活用を呼びかけてきたという。男性の取得期間の平均は１１日間と短いものの、社員の意識も変わってきている。Since earlier this year, the Tokyo Stock Exchange has selected listed companies that excel at utilizing women, calling these companies “Nadeshiko issues” and recommending their stock to potential investors. The rate of male workers taking child-care leave is one yardstick for the TSE’s selection. 東京証券取引所では、今年から女性を積極的に活用する企業を選定し、「なでしこ銘柄」として推奨している。男性の育児休業取得率も選定基準の一つだ。Hiroshima Prefecture Gov. Hidehiko Yuzaki provided another positive example with his announcement that he was taking child-care leave himself, apparently pushing up the rate of men taking such leave at companies in the prefecture to 7 percent. 広島県のように知事の「育休宣言」が一つのきっかけとなり、県内企業の男性の育児休業取得率が７％にまで伸びた例もある。Measures to deal with the low birth rate are a matter of urgency. 少子化対策は喫緊の課題だ。Both the public and private sectors need to consider ways to broadly support child-rearing, including the child-care leave taken by men.男性の育児休業も含め、官民で幅広い子育て支援策を考えたい。(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 5, 2013)（2013年12月5日01時50分 読売新聞）
Dec 7, 2013
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バイデン氏来日 対中国で日米同盟強める時だ
The Yomiuri Shimbun December 5, 2013Japan, U.S. must reinforce alliance to deal with China’s forceful methodsバイデン氏来日 対中国で日米同盟強める時だ（12月4日付・読売社説）We heartily applaud the clear political message sent from a high diplomatic level that Japan and the United States will not tolerate any self-righteous step taken by China. 中国による独善的な措置は認めない、という明確な政治的メッセージを高いレベルで発信したことを評価したい。Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and visiting U.S. Vice President Joe Biden on Tuesday held talks in Tokyo. They agreed both countries would not recognize China’s newly established air defense identification zone, which they called an “attempt by China to change status quo unilaterally by force,” and would cooperate closely on the issue. 安倍首相とバイデン米副大統領が東京で会談し中国の防空識別圏設定について、中国の「力による一方的な現状変更の試み」を黙認せず、日米が緊密に連携する方針で一致した。They also confirmed they “will not condone any action that could threaten [the] safety of civilian aircraft.” 「民間機の安全を脅かす行動は許容しない」ことも確認した。Biden is expected to present the opinions of Japan and the United States when he holds talks Wednesday with Chinese President Xi Jinping. バイデン氏は４日の中国の習近平国家主席との会談で、こうした日米の考えを提起する予定だ。Allowing China’s latest move to go unchallenged could set a bad precedent, as China is using strong-arm methods to back up its own assertions. This would send a message that China might misconstrue. 今回の措置を看過すれば、中国が強引な手法で主張を押し通すという悪(あ)しき前例を残しかねず、中国に誤ったシグナルを送る。To halt Chinese diplomatic moves that deviate from existing international rules and threaten the regional peace and stability of Asia, it is vital that Japan and the United States reinforce their alliance and calibrate their diplomatic policies. 既存の国際規範を逸脱し、アジアの平和と安定を脅かす中国外交に歯止めをかけるには、日米両国が同盟関係を強化し、外交政策を調整することが欠かせない。The Japanese version of the U.S. National Security Council, which is to be launched Wednesday, should assume a pivotal role in this task. ４日に発足する国家安全保障会議（日本版ＮＳＣ）がその中核的な役割を担うべきだろう。It is also important to seek support on this issue not only with South Korea, whose air defense zone overlaps with the one China is claiming, but also with countries in Southeast Asia and Europe. A broad consensus must be built, based on the conviction that ensuring China abides by international rules is a common challenge for the global community. 防空識別圏が重なる韓国だけでなく、東南アジアや欧州各国とも共同歩調を取ることも大切だ。中国に規範を守らせることが、国際社会の共通課題だという幅広い合意形成を図らねばならない。Move Futenma issue forwardDuring their talks, Abe and Biden confirmed they would “push forward with a strong resolve” the planned relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps’ Futenma Air Station to the Henoko district in Nago, Okinawa Prefecture. 会談では、米軍普天間飛行場の辺野古移設について「強い決意で進める」方針を確認した。The Futenma issue has been like a splinter stuck in the Japan-U.S. alliance since 1996. If Okinawa Gov. Hirokazu Nakaima approves land reclamation necessary for the relocation off the Henoko district, the issue will take a great step forward. The issue is at a crucial juncture. 普天間問題は、１９９６年以来、日米同盟に突き刺さったトゲのような存在だ。沖縄県の仲井真弘多知事から辺野古埋め立ての承認を得られれば、問題は大きく進展するだけに、今が正念場である。Making the relocation to Henoko a reality will eliminate the possibility of the Futenma base remaining where it is for years and years, and also accelerate the planned transfer of U.S. marines stationed in Okinawa Prefecture to Guam. 辺野古移設の実現は、普天間飛行場の長期の固定化を避けるだけでなく、在沖縄海兵隊のグアム移転も加速する効果を持とう。Biden also emphasized that Washington would cooperate with Japan so the Futenma base can be moved soon. バイデン氏は、米側も早期移設に協力する考えを強調した。To create conditions in which Nakaima would find it easier to approve the reclamation, both Tokyo and Washington must do more to quickly alleviate Okinawa Prefecture’s burden of hosting U.S. military bases. Steps for this could include agreeing to allow prior on-site inspections of U.S. bases planned to be returned to the prefecture, and partially lifting restrictions in waters U.S. forces use for training exercises. 知事が承認しやすい環境整備のため、日米両政府は、米軍訓練海域の一部制限解除に加え、返還予定の基地への事前立ち入り調査の合意など、沖縄県の基地負担軽減策の具体化を急ぐ必要がある。Abe and Biden agreed both countries would continue cooperating on a process to conclude Trans-Pacific Partnership trade accord negotiations by the end of the year. 環太平洋経済連携協定（ＴＰＰ）交渉に関して、首相と副大統領は、年内の妥結へ道筋をつける方向で協力を続けることで合意した。However, Japan is poised to refuse the total scrapping of tariffs on items in five key categories of rice, wheat and other farm products, leaving the talks between Japan and the United States with nowhere to go. ただ、日本は、コメや麦など農産品の重要５項目の全面的な関税撤廃には応じない方針で、日米協議は平行線が続いている。It is important for Japan to aim at concluding the TPP talks by reminding itself from a broader perspective that, while maintaining tariffs that are vital for Japan, reaching an agreement as a whole would serve the common interests of the 12 participating countries. 日本としては、守るべき関税は守りつつ、ＴＰＰ交渉全体の妥結は参加１２か国の共通の利益となるとの大局的観点を忘れず、交渉決着を目指すことが重要である。(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 4, 2013)（2013年12月4日01時50分 読売新聞）
Dec 6, 2013
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年金制度改革 課税の見直しも議論したい
The Yomiuri Shimbun December 4, 2013Review of taxation must also be discussed in pension system reform年金制度改革 課税の見直しも議論したい（12月3日付・読売社説）Finding ways to alleviate the sense of unfairness regarding financial burdens to be shared by pensioners and working generations is a crucial challenge for the nation that must be tackled to maintain the pension system with limited fiscal resources. 年金受給者と勤労世代の間にある負担の不公平感をいかに和らげるか。限られた財源の中で、年金制度を維持するために重要な課題である。A bill that will set the procedures for a package of social security system reform programs is likely to pass the current session of the Diet. But the bill only says that pension system reform is necessary. The government must step up efforts to study ways to create a solid system and a timetable for its implementation. 社会保障制度改革の手順を定める「プログラム」法案は、今国会で成立する見通しだ。ただ、年金改革については、その必要性を明記するにとどまっている。政府は具体的な制度設計と実施時期の検討を急がねばならない。In its August report, the National Council on Social Security System Reform, which laid the foundation for the bill, pointed out that “even the elderly must be asked to sustain the system in accordance with their burden-sharing ability.” この法案の土台となった社会保障制度改革国民会議は、８月の報告書で「高齢者にも、負担能力に応じて制度の支え手になってもらうべきだ」と指摘している。Pension payments amount to about ¥52 trillion, which is about half of social welfare spending. Welfare expenses are anticipated to increase year after year as the population ages. To ensure the system remains stable, pension benefits and payment burdens must be reexamined. 年金給付額は社会保障費の半分に当たる約５２兆円に上る。高齢化で社会保障費は年々増えていく。制度を安定させるには、給付と負担の見直しが欠かせない。One concrete reform step would be to bolster pension taxation on high-income earners. 改革の具体策の一つが、高所得者に対する年金課税の強化だ。For example, in the case of single people aged 65 or older who receive public pensions, at least ¥1.2 million is deducted when their tax payment is calculated. No income tax is imposed on a married couple when their annual income is no more than about ¥2.05 million. 例えば、公的年金を受給している６５歳以上の高齢者には、課税の際、最低でも１２０万円の控除が適用される。夫婦世帯では通常、年金収入が年間約２０５万円までなら所得税がかからない。In the case of salaried workers, however, total tax deductions from their income amounts to ¥650,000, and the minimum taxable income is set as low as about ¥1.57 million. 一方、サラリーマンの給与所得控除は６５万円で、課税最低限は年収１５７万円程度と低い。Unfair taxationMany people, including low-income irregular workers who pay taxes while supporting their families, apparently consider the current situation, in which no tax is levied on pensioners even with the same amount of income as theirs, as unfair. 低賃金の非正規労働で家計を支えながら納税している人など、同じ年収でも年金受給者には課税されない現状を不公平に感じる人も少なくないのではないか。Various measures for low-income earners are applied to pension-receiving households. For households with no resident tax imposed, their nursing care insurance premiums are reduced. In addition, a lower financial ceiling is set on treatment expenses they must pay to medical institutions. 非課税の年金受給世帯には様々な低所得者対策も適用される。住民税非課税世帯の場合、介護保険料の軽減措置を受けられる上、医療機関に支払う治療費の限度額も低く設定されている。However, many senior citizens possess a large amount of assets even if their income is low. It would not be proper to regard tax-exempt pensioners in the same way as the socially vulnerable. だが、低収入でも多額の資産を有する高齢者も多い。非課税の年金受給者を一律に社会的弱者とみなすのは適切ではなかろう。Half of the basic pension is financed by state coffers. Even so, pension financing will remain difficult unless something is done. It is unavoidable to bolster taxation on pensioners to a certain extent so as not to impose an excessive burden on working generations. 基礎年金の２分の１は国庫負担で賄われているが、それでも、このままでは年金財政は厳しい。現役世代の負担を過重にしないためにも、年金受給者に対する一定の課税強化はやむを得まい。Raising the age for beginning to receive pension payments is also a major challenge. 年金の支給開始年齢の引き上げも大きな課題である。The age of people entitled to receive corporate employees pension benefits will be raised, in phases, to 65. The United States, Britain and Germany have already decided to raise the entitlement age to 67 or 68. 厚生年金を受け取れる年齢は段階的に６５歳に引き上げられているが、米英やドイツは既に６７～６８歳への引き上げを決めている。However, the population is aging faster in Japan than in these three countries. Raising the starting age for pension payments, therefore, is an inevitable course of action that Japan must take. 日本は、これらの国より高齢化が進んでいる。支給開始年齢の引き上げは避けられないだろう。The next national election will be held almost three years from now at the latest. The ruling and opposition parties should work tenaciously and earnestly toward building a consensus on pension system reform. 次期国政選挙まで最大３年近く時間がある。与野党は、じっくりと腰を据えて合意形成への道を探るべきだ。(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 3, 2013)（2013年12月3日01時34分 読売新聞）
Dec 5, 2013
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脱法ドラッグ 規制強化で若者への蔓延防げ
The Yomiuri Shimbun December 3, 2013Apply new law effectively to curb use of quasi-legal drugs by young people 脱法ドラッグ 規制強化で若者への蔓延防げ（12月2日付・読売社説）The use of so-called quasi-legal drugs must be checked from spreading further among young people. いわゆる「脱法ドラッグ」が若者の間にこれ以上、蔓延(まんえん)するのを食い止めなくてはならない。A bill to revise the Pharmaceutical Affairs Law designed to ban the possession, use and purchase of these hazardous substances has passed through the House of Representatives. 脱法ドラッグの所持や使用、購入を禁止する薬事法改正案が衆院を通過した。The bill provides for imprisonment of up to three years or a fine of up to ¥3 million for violations. It should be passed into law as soon as possible so its provisions can be enforced. 違反者には、３年以下の懲役または３００万円以下の罰金が科される。規制強化のため、早期の成立が望まれる。Quasi-legal drugs are not subject to laws and regulations, despite the fact that people who use them hallucinate or develop other symptoms similar to those caused by narcotics or stimulant drugs. 脱法ドラッグとは、麻薬や覚醒剤に似た幻覚、興奮作用がありながら、法による取り締まりの対象にならない薬物を指す。The drugs can cause serious health problems such as disturbed consciousness and breathing difficulty. There have been a spate of fatal cases. Last year, 209 people were taken to the hospital by ambulance in Tokyo alone after using the drugs, a marked increase from the 11 such cases in the previous year. 使用すると、意識障害、呼吸困難など深刻な健康被害を招く恐れがある。死亡例も相次いでいる。昨年は東京都内だけで２０９人が救急車で搬送され、前年の１１人から大幅に増えた。In some cases, drivers who had used the drugs struck and killed pedestrians. In one case, a man who had used them intruded into the premises of a primary school and chased students around. The use of the drugs should be considered a threat to public safety. 吸引して車を運転し、歩行者を死亡させた例がある。小学校に侵入して児童を追い回す事件も起きた。治安面でも看過できない。Also worrisome is the fact that the use of such substances has spread among minors. 未成年者に乱用が広がっていることも憂慮される。According to a survey of about 50,000 middle school students, 120 said they have taken quasi-legal drugs. Sixty percent of the users said they also took stimulant drugs. 約５万人の中学生を対象に行われた調査では、１２０人が「脱法ドラッグを使った経験がある」と回答している。そのうち６割が覚醒剤を使用していた。This shows quasi-legal drugs may be “gateway drugs,” as people who casually take them face a risk of eventually using narcotics and stimulant drugs. 脱法ドラッグが麻薬や覚醒剤に手を染める「入り口」になっていることを示すデータだ。Measures urgently neededTo prevent young people from being trapped in a vicious circle of drug abuse and addiction, measures must be urgently taken.若者が薬物依存の深みにはまるのを防ぐためにも、対策は急務である。These substances are sold almost openly under such names of “legal herbs” and “legal aroma” in entertainment areas and on the Internet. Many of them can be bought for several thousand yen. 「合法ハーブ」「合法アロマ」などと称し、繁華街やインターネットで半ば公然と売られている。数千円で買えるものが多い。The Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry categorizes quasi-legal drugs as “designated items” based on the Pharmaceutical Affairs Law. Currently, however, the drugs are regulated only for their production, import and sales. 厚生労働省は、脱法ドラッグを薬事法に基づく「指定薬物」としているが、規制の対象は現在、製造や輸入、販売に限っている。Probably behind the abuse of such substances is the ease of their use, which so far has not been legally penalized. Punishing both sellers and users is appropriate. Penalties under the revised law are nearly as severe as those for violations of the Stimulant Drugs Control Law and the Narcotics Control Law. 使っても刑罰が及ばない気安さが、乱用の背景にあるのだろう。売る側だけでなく、使う側も処罰の対象とするのは適切な措置だ。法改正により、覚醒剤取締法や麻薬取締法に次いで重い罰則が科されることになる。It is important to properly teach young people, both at home and at school, the danger and illegality of quasi-legal drugs. 家庭や学校で、脱法ドラッグの危険性や違法性について、きちんと教えることが大切だ。Some illegal substances whose chemical structures have been slightly changed to avoid being categorized as illicit drugs have been put on the market one after another, frustrating authorities. 脱法ドラッグを巡っては、薬物指定を逃れるため、化学構造を少し変えた薬物が次々に登場し、イタチごっこが続いてきた。This spring, the ministry imposed a comprehensive ban on substances that do not have the exact chemical structures as substances subject to punishment but share their primary components. The ban makes it possible for narcotics officers to apprehend violators. 厚労省は今春、類似薬物に一括して網をかける「包括指定」を導入した。麻薬取締官による摘発も可能にした。If the revised bill is passed into law, the overall framework of regulations will have been changed to make it possible for related measures to be implemented steadily.今回の改正案が成立すれば、規制の枠組みが整い、対策は着実に前進しよう。The reinforcement of regulation is also considered an effective way to contain crime syndicates, which use drug trafficking as a source of funds. 薬物を資金源とする暴力団を封じ込めるためにも、規制強化は有効と言える。(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 2, 2013)（2013年12月2日02時06分 読売新聞）
Dec 4, 2013
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危険運転処罰法 悲惨な事故減らす「抑止力」に
The Yomiuri Shimbun December 2, 2013Stronger penalties against dangerous driving must help deter road tragedies 危険運転処罰法 悲惨な事故減らす「抑止力」に（12月1日付・読売社説）A new law—the law on penalties for injury or death inflicted by motor vehicle operators—has been enacted to make punishments stiffer against such reckless, serious driving offenses as drunk driving. 酒酔いなど、悪質な運転で死傷事故を起こした際の刑罰を重くする自動車運転死傷行為処罰法が成立した。来年５月までに施行される。The law, which will take effect in May 2014, should serve as a turning point in reducing the number of victims in traffic accidents caused by dangerous driving. 危険運転による事故の犠牲者を減らす契機としたい。The enactment of the law means the revamping of the judicial system regarding dangerous driving. Stipulations in the Penal Code regarding “penalties against dangerous driving resulting in injury or death” have been separated in the new law and the sphere of application has been expanded significantly. 今回の立法措置は、危険運転に関わる法体系を見直したものだ。刑法の危険運転致死傷罪を新法に移し、適用範囲を広げた。Under the Penal Code, a maximum of 20 years’ imprisonment for injury or death due to dangerous driving, such as under the influence of alcohol or drugs, was handed down only when it could be substantiated that the driver was “in a state in which the ability to safely operate a vehicle is seriously impeded” at the time of an accident. 最高刑が懲役２０年の危険運転致死傷罪は、飲酒や薬物摂取で、運転手が「正常な運転が困難な状態」であることが適用条件だ。Judging whether a driver’s ability was “seriously impeded” was extremely difficult for law-enforcement authorities, and dangerous driving cases under the Penal Code were strictly limited to offenses when the driver was totally inebriated. しかし、「困難な状態」だったかどうかの線引きは難しく、泥酔状態での運転など立件されるケースは限られていた。This resulted in drivers—regardless of the grave accidents they caused—facing the lesser charge of “negligence resulting in injury or death,” the maximum penalty for which is seven years in prison.Many victims and bereaved families understandably criticized the law as far too lenient. 悪質な運転にもかかわらず、懲役７年の自動車運転過失致死傷罪となることが多く、被害者側は刑罰が軽すぎると批判していた。The new law will make it possible to expand the definition of dangerous driving when an accident is caused by a person behind the wheel whose “ability to drive normally is impeded.” Driving offenses in this category are subject to prison sentences up to 15 years. 新法は、「正常な運転に支障が生じる恐れ」でも危険運転致死傷罪を適用可能とした。この場合、最高刑は懲役１５年となる。The creation of a penalty falling between seven and 20 years’ imprisonment can be called a step forward. 懲役２０年と７年の中間的な刑罰を設けたのは、一歩前進と言えよう。Stop hit-and-run deceptionsThe Justice Ministry believes the new stipulations can be applied to an accident caused by a person driving who is slightly drunk. It is important to ensure the new law is publicized widely to deter dangerous driving. 法務省は、酒気帯び運転の事故にも、新たな規定が適用できるとの見解を示している。ドライバーに新法を周知し、危険運転の抑止につなげることが重要だ。A new punishment of up to 12 years in prison has been created under the law in an effort to stop drivers from fleeing the scene of an accident and turning themselves into police later when indications of drunkenness have worn off. Allowing such hit-and-run drunk drivers to turn themselves in later after sobering up would deprive the new law of the effectiveness of the tougher penalties. Police must clamp down on such offenses. 飲酒運転などで事故を起こした運転手の逃走行為を罰する「発覚免脱罪」（懲役１２年以下）も新設された。酔いがさめてから出頭するような逃げ得を許しては、厳罰化の効果が失われる。積極的に立件してもらいたい。Also characteristic of the new law is that drivers with “certain ailments” are now subject to penalties for dangerous driving resulting in injury or death. 「特定の病気」で運転に支障が生じた場合を危険運転致死傷罪の対象としたのも、新法の特徴だ。This stipulation was inserted in the new law after the driver of a crane truck suffered epileptic seizures in Tochigi Prefecture in 2011, killing six children. 栃木県でクレーン車の運転手がてんかん発作を起こし、児童６人を死亡させた事故を教訓とした。A list of specific ailments subject to the punishment is expected to be worked out by government ordinance. In compiling the list, sufficient consideration must be paid to patients’ groups and others who fear prejudices toward certain conditions might be aggravated because of the planned ordinance. 具体的な病名は今後、政令で定める。病気に対する偏見の助長を懸念する患者団体などの声に十分配慮することが求められる。The law also includes heavier penalties against accidents caused by anyone driving without a license. 新法には、無免許運転による事故の刑罰をより重くする規定も設けられた。In 2012, a boy driving a minivan killed or injured 10 people in Kameoka, Kyoto Prefecture. It was later learned that the boy had frequently driven without a license. 京都府亀岡市で昨年、少年が軽自動車で児童ら１０人を死傷させた。以前から無免許運転を繰り返していた。In this case, the prosecution failed to apply charges of dangerous driving resulting in injury or death because the boy could not be considered “lacking in driving skills.”検察は「運転技術は未熟ではない」として、危険運転致死傷罪の適用を見送った。Public criticism subsequently mounted against the prosecution for failing to punish him severely in spite of his driving without a license. 無免許でありながら、厳罰に問えないことが問題となった。Even under the new law, however, cases similar to the one in Kameoka cannot be covered by the penalty against dangerous driving resulting in injury or death unless a driver is drunk or high on drugs. だが、飲酒や薬物摂取がなければ、新法でも亀岡市のようなケースは危険運転致死傷罪に問えない。Even after the implementation of the new law, there should be further discussions about what penalties are considered adequate for driving without a license. 悪質な無免許運転の刑罰について、施行後も議論が必要だ。(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 1, 2013)（2013年12月1日02時14分 読売新聞）
Dec 3, 2013
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猪瀬氏の５０００万 「借用証」でも疑念は消えない
The Yomiuri Shimbun December 1, 2013Suspicions haunt Tokyo Gov. Inose over borrowing from Tokushukai猪瀬氏の５０００万 「借用証」でも疑念は消えない（11月30日付・読売社説）Why did Tokyo Gov. Naoki Inose borrow a huge amount of money? Even one week after his first press conference on the scandal, suspicions have not been diminished. 巨額の借入金の趣旨は何だったのか。最初の釈明記者会見から１週間が過ぎても、疑念は一向に消えない。Concerning the ¥50 million he received from the Tokushukai medical group, which faced a compulsory investigation over a suspected violation of the election law, Inose stressed in his general policy speech at the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly on Friday that he “borrowed the money for personal use.” 強制捜査を受けた医療グループ「徳洲会」側から５０００万円を受け取っていた東京都の猪瀬直樹知事が、都議会の所信表明で改めて「個人の借り入れだった」と強調した。His explanation, which went no further than his earlier explanations, drew boos and jeers from the floor. It was natural that various groups of assembly members expressed anger at his explanations, denouncing them as insufficient. これまでの釈明の域を出ない内容に、議場から激しいヤジが飛んだ。各会派が「説明不足だ」と反発したのはもっともだ。In his press conference Tuesday, he displayed an IOU he wrote when he received the money, which he said he had kept in a safe-deposit box. 猪瀬氏は２６日の記者会見で、現金授受の際に記入したとする「借用証」を公開した。貸金庫に保管していたという。The IOU contained only the lender’s name, House of Representatives member Tsuyoshi Tokuda; the date; the amount of money and the governor’s name. There was no mention of a repayment date or an interest rate. 貸し手の徳田毅衆院議員の名前と日付が印字されているほかは、金額と知事の署名があるだけだ。返済時期や利子の記載もない。Even if the IOU is authentic, it is not enough to prove that the money “was not for election campaigning” as claimed by Inose. これが本物であるとしても、借用証だけでは、「選挙運動のためではない」という猪瀬氏の主張が証明されたとは言えまい。Inose dined with Tokuda six days before he received the money on Nov. 29 last year, before the campaign for a Tokyo gubernatorial election kicked off. During the meeting, there was reportedly talk to the effect that elections are costly. Inose revealed in the news conference that Tokuda proposed lending him money, quoting him as saying, “If you can’t prepare enough money, I’m ready to lend you some.” 猪瀬氏は現金受領の６日前に徳田議員と会食し、その際、選挙には金がかかることが話題に上ったという。徳田議員が「お金がないなら、いつでも貸します」と語ったことも、猪瀬氏は記者会見で明らかにしている。Money for electioneering?Taking this conversation into consideration, it would be natural to assume the cash was provided for financing Inose’s election campaign. このやり取りを踏まえれば、選挙のために現金が提供されたと考えるのが自然だろう。The Public Offices Election Law makes it mandatory for a candidate’s campaign funds manager to record revenues and expenses in election campaign financial reports. Writing financial records, if done without awareness of falsehood, does not constitute an illegal act. 公職選挙法は、選挙運動に関する収入と支出を選挙運動費用収支報告書に記載するよう、候補者の出納責任者に義務づけている。出納責任者に虚偽記載の認識がなければ、違法行為にはならない。There was no mention of the ¥50 million in Inose’s campaign financial report. He stressed he had not told his funds manager that he had received the money, probably out of consideration of the law’s stipulation. 猪瀬氏の報告書に５０００万円の記載はなかった。猪瀬氏が出納責任者に現金受領を伝えていなかったと強調するのは、公選法の規定を意識してのことだろう。Inose needs to give sufficient explanations to dispel suspicions still surrounding him. 疑念は払拭されていない。猪瀬氏は説明を尽くす必要がある。He said he “didn’t know” the Tokushukai group operated a hospital and a nursing care and health facility in Tokyo when he received the controversial money. 知事は現金受領の際、徳洲会グループの病院と介護老人保健施設が都内にあることを「知らなかった」とも述べている。The group received about ¥850 million in subsidies from the metropolitan government over the past five years. Having served as a vice governor of Tokyo since 2007 to 2012, Inose cannot escape the charge of dereliction of duty. グループには、過去５年間に都から約８億５０００万円の補助金などが出ている。２００７年から副知事の要職にあった人物として無責任のそしりは免れまい。General employees of the metropolitan government face punishment if they borrow money from outsiders related to their duties. Naturally, a stricter code of conduct is necessary for a governor and a vice governor, whose authority extends over all metropolitan administrative matters. 都の一般職員が、職務上の利害関係がある業者から借金をすれば、懲戒処分の対象になる。都政全般に職務権限が及ぶ知事や副知事が、一般職員以上に襟を正さねばならないのは当然である。Next week, the metropolitan assembly is scheduled to hold question-and-answer sessions involving representatives and rank-and-file members from various groups of assembly members. The groups must play a major role in digging into the facts of the scandal. 都議会では来週、代表質問と一般質問が予定される。真相究明に向け、各会派の役割も重い。(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 30, 2013)（2013年11月30日01時43分 読売新聞）
Dec 2, 2013
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自民県連転換 辺野古移設へ環境整備を急げ
The Yomiuri Shimbun November 30, 2013Step up efforts to pave way for Futenma base relocation plan自民県連転換 辺野古移設へ環境整備を急げ（11月29日付・読売社説）An important step has been taken to resolve the issue of relocating the U.S. Marine Corps’ Futenma Air Station in Okinawa Prefecture, which was left pending for a long time. 長年の懸案である米軍普天間飛行場の移設問題を解決するうえで、重要な一歩と言える。The step was a decision by a group of Liberal Democratic Party members of the Okinawa Prefectural Assembly to approve the station’s relocation to the Henoko district in Nago after reversing its stance of pushing for relocation outside the prefecture. Five LDP Diet members belonging to the prefectural party chapter had earlier shifted their stance to back the Henoko relocation plan. The chapter will soon make a formal decision on its relocation approval policy. 自民党の沖縄県議団が従来の「県外移設」の方針を転換し、名護市辺野古への移設を容認することを決めた。沖縄県連所属の国会議員５人も辺野古移設を容認しており、県連は近くこの方針を正式決定する。Okinawa Gov. Hirokazu Nakaima is scheduled to decide in December whether to approve a request made by the central government for a land reclamation project in public waters necessary to achieve the Henoko relocation plan. 沖縄県の仲井真弘多知事は１２月中にも、政府が申請した辺野古移設に伴う公有水面埋め立てについて、可否を判断する予定だ。If the plan falls through, it is highly likely to solidify the status quo, in which the danger posed by the Futenma base being located in a residential area will continue for a long period. Behind the prefectural chapter’s about-face could be its realistic judgment to avoid the worst-case scenario. 仮に辺野古移設が頓挫すれば、住宅地にある普天間飛行場の危険な現状が長期間、固定化する公算が大きい。県連の方針転換の背景には、この最悪の状況は避けたいという現実的な判断がある。The policy shift by the LDP’s prefectural chapter, which backs the governor as the ruling party in the prefectural assembly, is expected to push the governor to make a proactive decision on the relocation issue. 知事与党の自民党県連が辺野古移設容認に転じたことは、知事の前向きな決断を後押ししよう。The government and ruling parties must continue such efforts as urging New Komeito’s Okinawa prefectural headquarters to reverse its stance of opposing the Henoko relocation plan as they try to obtain approval from a wider spectrum of local people. 政府・与党は、「県外移設」を唱える公明党県本部の翻意を促すなど、地元関係者の理解を広げる努力を続けねばなるまい。Nago Mayor Susumu Inamine has submitted a letter of opinions to the Okinawa prefectural government, in which he argues against the reclamation plan, saying environment conservation measures are insufficient. 移設先である名護市の稲嶺進市長は、環境保全策が不十分などとして、埋め立てに反対する意見書を沖縄県に提出した。In addition to Inamine, two other politicians who both endorse the Futenma relocation plan have announced their candidacy for the Nago mayoral election set for January. Like the past four mayoral elections, the biggest issue is likely to be the relocation. 来年１月の名護市長選には、稲嶺市長と、辺野古移設を容認する２氏が出馬表明している。過去４回の市長選と同様、移設の是非が最大の争点となる見通しだ。Security a matter of stateIn the first place, national security should not be influenced by the outcome of a local election. Although it is necessary to give due consideration to the will of local residents, the central government should be primarily responsible for security policies based on a comprehensive view. 日本の安全保障が一地方選の結果に左右される事態は本来、あってはならない。地元の民意は十分勘案すべき要素であっても、安保政策は、政府が総合判断し、責任を持つべきものだからだ。The mayor is not authorized to refuse the relocation plan, but to promote the plan smoothly, it is desirable to obtain the mayor’s approval. The LDP should step up efforts to make the two pro-relocation candidates to form an alliance and have just one run. 市長に移設を拒否する権限はないが、移設を円滑に進めるには無論、市長が容認している方が望ましい。自民党は、容認派の２人の一本化を急ぐべきだろう。The government, for its part, needs to make all-out efforts to have Nakaima give reclamation the green light before the election. 政府も、仲井真知事が市長選前に埋め立てを承認できる環境整備に全力を挙げる必要がある。It is essential to accelerate the efforts to decrease the prefecture’s burden for hosting the U.S. military. 重要なのは、沖縄県の米軍基地負担の軽減を加速することだ。The Japanese and U.S. governments will soon lift a ban on partial fishing operations in the waters used by the U.S. military for training. It is also important to steadily expand training areas for the new U.S. Osprey transport aircraft outside Okinawa Prefecture. 日米両政府は近く、米軍の訓練海域における漁船操業の一部を解禁する。新型輸送機オスプレイの訓練の県外移転も、着実に拡大することが大切である。If the Futenma relocation plan gets moving, it will give momentum to the transfer of U.S. marines in Okinawa Prefecture to Guam and the return of U.S. military facilities to Japan. 普天間飛行場の移設が動き出せば、在沖縄海兵隊のグアム移転や米軍施設返還にも弾みがつく。Efforts must also be made to promote prefectural development. 沖縄振興にも力を入れたい。The Cabinet Office has asked for a budgetary allocation of ¥340.8 billion for fiscal 2014, up 13 percent over the current fiscal year. The government should think hard to work out more effective local revitalization policies, such as establishing national strategy special zones and effective utilization of U.S. base sites. 内閣府は来年度予算で、今年度より１３％も多い３４０８億円を要求している。国家戦略特区の創設や基地跡地の有効活用など、より効果的な地域活性化策となるよう大いに知恵を絞るべきだ。(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 29, 2013)（2013年11月29日01時32分 読売新聞）
Dec 1, 2013
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- シングルマザーの子育て
- もうどうしたらいいか分からない
- (2025-11-14 23:09:22)
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- 子供に英語。どうしてますか？
- 不便が成長させる？
- (2026-05-09 18:20:08)
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- 妊婦さん集まれ～！！
- 5月24日は「戌の日 大安」！三重県…
- (2026-05-23 06:34:37)
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