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--The Asahi Shimbun, Feb. 16
（社説）丸川環境相 撤回しても残る「軽さ」
EDITORIAL: Marukawa’s gaffe about Fukushima heightens doubts about Cabinet's aptitude
Environment Minister Tamayo Marukawa caused a stir by claiming the government had no scientific grounds for its radiation decontamination target around the crippled Fukushima nuclear plant.
福島第一原発事故への対応で、担当閣僚である丸川環境相の発言が波紋を広げている。
Her comment came in a Feb. 7 speech on the government’s long-term goal of reducing radiation levels near the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant to an annual dose of 1 millisievert or less.
国が追加被曝（ひばく）線量の長期目標として示した年間１ミリシーベルトについて、７日の講演で
“There are people who worry about radiation no matter how much the levels have been lowered, people who might well be described, appropriately or not, as an ‘anti-radiation camp,’” Marukawa said. “While such people were making noise, the environment minister at that time decided (on the target) without any scientific grounds.”
「『反放射能派』と言うと変ですが、どれだけ下げても心配だという人は世の中にいる。そういう人たちが騒いだ中で、何の科学的根拠もなく時の環境大臣が決めた」などと発言した。
Her remarks were reported the following day by The Shinano Mainichi Shimbun, a local newspaper.
翌日の信濃毎日新聞が報じた。
Decontaminating areas polluted with radioactive materials and curbing additional exposure to radiation is one of the top policy priorities for Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s Cabinet.
放射性物質の除染や、追加被曝の抑制などは、安倍内閣の最重要課題の一つである。
Nearly five years since the nuclear disaster unfolded, decontamination efforts alone appear unlikely to achieve the long-term target in some areas. Residents from these areas have no hope of returning to home soon.
原発事故からまもなく５年。除染だけでは長期目標の達成が難しい地域がまだ残り、住民の帰還が進まない現状がある。
The Democratic Party of Japan-led government set the long-term decontamination goal based on recommendations of the International Commission on Radiological Protection. The panel recommended annual doses in the range of “1 to 20 millisievert” as a yardstick for recovery from the accident.
長期目標は、国際放射線防護委員会が原発事故から復旧する際の参考値とする「年１～２０ミリシーベルト」の最も厳しい水準だ。
The government’s decision to adopt the stricter end of the recommended range for the decontamination target reflected strong demand for absolute safety and security among communities in the affected areas.
１ミリシーベルトに決まった背景には、安全や安心を求める地元福島の要望もあった。
Responding to residents’ desire to return home as soon as possible while pursuing the tough long-term goal has proved a formidable challenge.
一日も早い帰還を願う住民の思いと、長期目標をどう整合させるか。
The goal, determined after considering a complicated mix of factors, has forced the government to continue making strenuous efforts while learning from mistakes.
さまざまな複雑な要素を考慮して決められ、いまなお試行錯誤が続く難題である。
If Marukawa didn’t know this background, she should be accused of failing to do her homework. Or did she know all these facts and was simply trying to demean the previous DPJ-led government?
丸川氏がそうした経緯を知らなかったとすれば、不勉強と言われても仕方がない。それとも、経緯を知ったうえで、決定当時の民主党政権をおとしめるための発言だったのか。
Even more troubling is how she flip-flopped in replying to questions about her remark.
さらに深刻なのは発言が報じられて以降の二転三転ぶりだ。
The environment minister initially responded to questions posed at the Diet and from reporters by repeatedly saying she had “no recollection of using such wording” in the speech.
国会質問や取材に「こういう言い回しをした記憶は持っていない」などと答え続け、
On the morning of Feb. 12, however, she changed her account and admitted having made the comments. She retracted the remarks in the evening that day.
一転して「言ったと思う」と認めたのは１２日朝、発言を撤回したのはその日夕方になってからだ。
Did she really forget making the remarks? Or did she bet that people would eventually forget the matter if she kept saying she had no memory of saying such things?
本当に発言内容を忘れたのか。記憶がないと言っていれば、いずれ国民が忘れてくれると思ったのか。
In any case, Marukawa’s remarks raise serious questions about her aptitude for her job.
いずれにせよ、閣僚としての適格性が疑われる発言というほかない。
However, Marukawa is not the only Cabinet member who has made a verbal blunder indicating a disturbing carelessness in speech.
丸川氏だけではない。安倍内閣の言動の「軽さ」を印象づける場面は他にもある。
In a Feb. 9 news conference, Aiko Shimajiri, the state minister for Okinawa and Northern Territories affairs, could not read the kanji characters for the Habomai group of islets, and asked her secretary how the characters should be read. The Habomai islets are part of the Northern Territories, a chain of islands claimed by Japan but occupied by Russia.
島尻沖縄北方相は記者会見で、北方領土の一部である歯舞（はぼまい）群島の「歯舞」を読めず、秘書官に問う場面があった。
Abe himself recently made an embarrassing verbal error.
In an Internet program of his Liberal Democratic Party, Abe misnamed the 2014 Stockholm agreement in which North Korea promised a fresh investigation into the fates of Japanese citizens it had abducted decades earlier. Abe mistakenly called it the Oslo Agreement, a 1993 peace accord between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization.
安倍首相も、自民党のインターネット番組で、２０１４年に北朝鮮が拉致被害者らの再調査を約束した「ストックホルム合意」を、中東和平の「オスロ合意」と間違えた。
Nobody is free from slips of the tongue or misunderstandings.
確かに、言い間違いや思い違いは誰にでもある。
But the above-mentioned errors are serious because dealing with the nuclear disaster, tackling the territorial dispute with Russia and resolving the North Korea abduction issue are important challenges placed high on the Abe Cabinet’s policy agenda.
ただ、原発事故対応や北方領土、拉致問題はいずれも安倍内閣が重要課題に掲げるテーマだ。
These gaffes could call into question not only the ministers’ qualifications for their jobs but also the Cabinet’s stances toward the issues.
閣僚の資質とともに、内閣としての姿勢が問われかねない。
（社説）丸川環境相 撤回しても残る「軽さ」
EDITORIAL: Marukawa’s gaffe about Fukushima heightens doubts about Cabinet's aptitude
Environment Minister Tamayo Marukawa caused a stir by claiming the government had no scientific grounds for its radiation decontamination target around the crippled Fukushima nuclear plant.
福島第一原発事故への対応で、担当閣僚である丸川環境相の発言が波紋を広げている。
Her comment came in a Feb. 7 speech on the government’s long-term goal of reducing radiation levels near the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant to an annual dose of 1 millisievert or less.
国が追加被曝（ひばく）線量の長期目標として示した年間１ミリシーベルトについて、７日の講演で
“There are people who worry about radiation no matter how much the levels have been lowered, people who might well be described, appropriately or not, as an ‘anti-radiation camp,’” Marukawa said. “While such people were making noise, the environment minister at that time decided (on the target) without any scientific grounds.”
「『反放射能派』と言うと変ですが、どれだけ下げても心配だという人は世の中にいる。そういう人たちが騒いだ中で、何の科学的根拠もなく時の環境大臣が決めた」などと発言した。
Her remarks were reported the following day by The Shinano Mainichi Shimbun, a local newspaper.
翌日の信濃毎日新聞が報じた。
Decontaminating areas polluted with radioactive materials and curbing additional exposure to radiation is one of the top policy priorities for Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s Cabinet.
放射性物質の除染や、追加被曝の抑制などは、安倍内閣の最重要課題の一つである。
Nearly five years since the nuclear disaster unfolded, decontamination efforts alone appear unlikely to achieve the long-term target in some areas. Residents from these areas have no hope of returning to home soon.
原発事故からまもなく５年。除染だけでは長期目標の達成が難しい地域がまだ残り、住民の帰還が進まない現状がある。
The Democratic Party of Japan-led government set the long-term decontamination goal based on recommendations of the International Commission on Radiological Protection. The panel recommended annual doses in the range of “1 to 20 millisievert” as a yardstick for recovery from the accident.
長期目標は、国際放射線防護委員会が原発事故から復旧する際の参考値とする「年１～２０ミリシーベルト」の最も厳しい水準だ。
The government’s decision to adopt the stricter end of the recommended range for the decontamination target reflected strong demand for absolute safety and security among communities in the affected areas.
１ミリシーベルトに決まった背景には、安全や安心を求める地元福島の要望もあった。
Responding to residents’ desire to return home as soon as possible while pursuing the tough long-term goal has proved a formidable challenge.
一日も早い帰還を願う住民の思いと、長期目標をどう整合させるか。
The goal, determined after considering a complicated mix of factors, has forced the government to continue making strenuous efforts while learning from mistakes.
さまざまな複雑な要素を考慮して決められ、いまなお試行錯誤が続く難題である。
If Marukawa didn’t know this background, she should be accused of failing to do her homework. Or did she know all these facts and was simply trying to demean the previous DPJ-led government?
丸川氏がそうした経緯を知らなかったとすれば、不勉強と言われても仕方がない。それとも、経緯を知ったうえで、決定当時の民主党政権をおとしめるための発言だったのか。
Even more troubling is how she flip-flopped in replying to questions about her remark.
さらに深刻なのは発言が報じられて以降の二転三転ぶりだ。
The environment minister initially responded to questions posed at the Diet and from reporters by repeatedly saying she had “no recollection of using such wording” in the speech.
国会質問や取材に「こういう言い回しをした記憶は持っていない」などと答え続け、
On the morning of Feb. 12, however, she changed her account and admitted having made the comments. She retracted the remarks in the evening that day.
一転して「言ったと思う」と認めたのは１２日朝、発言を撤回したのはその日夕方になってからだ。
Did she really forget making the remarks? Or did she bet that people would eventually forget the matter if she kept saying she had no memory of saying such things?
本当に発言内容を忘れたのか。記憶がないと言っていれば、いずれ国民が忘れてくれると思ったのか。
In any case, Marukawa’s remarks raise serious questions about her aptitude for her job.
いずれにせよ、閣僚としての適格性が疑われる発言というほかない。
However, Marukawa is not the only Cabinet member who has made a verbal blunder indicating a disturbing carelessness in speech.
丸川氏だけではない。安倍内閣の言動の「軽さ」を印象づける場面は他にもある。
In a Feb. 9 news conference, Aiko Shimajiri, the state minister for Okinawa and Northern Territories affairs, could not read the kanji characters for the Habomai group of islets, and asked her secretary how the characters should be read. The Habomai islets are part of the Northern Territories, a chain of islands claimed by Japan but occupied by Russia.
島尻沖縄北方相は記者会見で、北方領土の一部である歯舞（はぼまい）群島の「歯舞」を読めず、秘書官に問う場面があった。
Abe himself recently made an embarrassing verbal error.
In an Internet program of his Liberal Democratic Party, Abe misnamed the 2014 Stockholm agreement in which North Korea promised a fresh investigation into the fates of Japanese citizens it had abducted decades earlier. Abe mistakenly called it the Oslo Agreement, a 1993 peace accord between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization.
安倍首相も、自民党のインターネット番組で、２０１４年に北朝鮮が拉致被害者らの再調査を約束した「ストックホルム合意」を、中東和平の「オスロ合意」と間違えた。
Nobody is free from slips of the tongue or misunderstandings.
確かに、言い間違いや思い違いは誰にでもある。
But the above-mentioned errors are serious because dealing with the nuclear disaster, tackling the territorial dispute with Russia and resolving the North Korea abduction issue are important challenges placed high on the Abe Cabinet’s policy agenda.
ただ、原発事故対応や北方領土、拉致問題はいずれも安倍内閣が重要課題に掲げるテーマだ。
These gaffes could call into question not only the ministers’ qualifications for their jobs but also the Cabinet’s stances toward the issues.
閣僚の資質とともに、内閣としての姿勢が問われかねない。
The Yomiuri Shimbun
Govt needs to calmly deal with N. Korea’s halt to abduction probe
拉致再調査中止 「北」の揺さぶりに冷静対処を
North Korea’s latest act is a despicable attempt to pressure our nation. The Japanese government should not be upset by this, and must make persistent efforts to resolve the issue of the Japanese nationals abducted by that country.
北朝鮮の卑劣な揺さぶりである。政府は、動じることなく、日本人拉致問題の解決に粘り強く取り組まねばならない。
North Korea has announced it will completely halt a renewed investigation it launched regarding the fate of Japanese abductees and others in July 2014. It also said it would dissolve the Special Investigation Committee.
北朝鮮が、２０１４年７月に開始した拉致被害者らの再調査を全面的に中止すると発表した。「特別調査委員会」は解体するという。
According to an announcement by North Korea, the latest move has been taken as a response to the administration of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s strengthening its unilateral sanctions on the country. In the same announcement, North Korea also threatened Japan that it will “continue strong countermeasures to Japan’s provocative acts of hostility.”
安倍政権が北朝鮮に対する独自制裁を強化したことへの対抗措置としている。北朝鮮は「日本の挑発的な敵対行為に対する強力な対応措置が続く」と恫喝どうかつした。
North Korea also asserts that Japan’s move to strengthen its sanctions was tantamount to “nullifying” the Stockholm agreement reached in May 2014 to reinvestigate. Japan’s position is that it has no intention to abrogate the accord.
北朝鮮は、日本の制裁強化で、１４年５月の再調査に関する日朝のストックホルム合意が「破棄」されたとも主張する。日本は「破棄する考えはない」との立場だ。
Under the agreement, Japan lifted part of the sanctions it imposed on North Korea in exchange for Pyongyang’s renewed investigation into the fate of the Japanese nationals in question. They include the 12 people who have been acknowledged by the Japanese government as abductees, but have not yet returned to Japan, as well as other Japanese missing and thought have been abducted by North Korean agents.
合意では、未帰国の拉致被害者１２人や、拉致の可能性のある特定失踪者らの再調査と引き換えに、日本が制裁の一部を解除した。
Japan’s action to reinforce sanctions was in response to North Korea’s recent move to conduct a nuclear test and launch a ballistic missile, thereby threatening regional security. North Korea’s accusations against our nation are absurd.
制裁の強化は、北朝鮮が核実験と弾道ミサイル発射を強行し、地域の安全を脅かしたためである。北朝鮮の批判は筋違いだ。
It should be noted, first of all, that North Korea has put off reporting the pertinent findings of its probe for more than 1½ years, including what has become of those who were abducted. Although North Korea told Japan that it “has set up four subcommittees” on the committee, it is doubtful whether the country has actually seriously renewed its investigations into the abductions.
そもそも、北朝鮮は１年半以上も、被害者の安否情報などの報告を先送りしてきた。「４分科会を設置した」などと説明していたが、真剣に拉致問題の再調査を行ったかどうかすら疑わしい。
World must step up pressure
North Korea’s conduct has been particularly hard on the abductees’ families, who had pinned their hopes on the renewed probe.
再調査に期待を寄せた被害者家族の感情を踏みにじる行為だ。
Shutting its eyes to its own atrocities, Pyongyang has blamed the whole problem on Japan. Its assertions are totally unacceptable.
自らの非道を棚に上げて、日本に責任を押しつける北朝鮮の主張は、到底容認できない。
The Japanese government has lodged a protest with North Korea through diplomatic channels. Katsunobu Kato, the minister in charge of the abduction issue, has emphasized that he wants to “do [his] utmost to get North Korea to take specific actions, through dialogue and pressure and under the principle of action for action.” He had every reason to strongly demand Pyongyang continue its reinvestigation into the abduction issue.
政府は、外交ルートを通じて北朝鮮に抗議した。加藤拉致問題相は「対話と圧力、行動対行動の原則の下、北朝鮮から具体的な行動を引き出すよう、最大限努力したい」と強調した。再調査の継続を強く要求していくのは当然だ。
North Korea has sought to gain greater rewards for fewer concessions by providing various pieces of scattered information. This approach is the country’s usual ploy. The Japanese government should never be cajoled into following North Korea’s lead on bilateral negotiations.
様々な情報をちらつかせ、より少ない譲歩で、より多くの見返りを得ようとするのは北朝鮮の常套じょうとう手段である。相手の交渉ペースにはまってはなるまい。
North Korea’s announcement on its suspension of the renewed probe may also be viewed as an attempt to disrupt Japan’s cooperative ties with the United States and South Korea by focusing on a problem unique to our nation.
北朝鮮の再調査の中止表明は、日本固有の問題を取り上げ、米韓両国との足並みの乱れを生じさせる狙いもあるとみられる。
Japan’s basic policy is to seek a comprehensive solution to both the abduction issue and North Korea’s nuclear weapon and missile development. This is the time for Japan to cooperate with the international community to step up pressure on North Korea to rein in its dangerous acts of provocation.
拉致と核・ミサイル問題の包括的な解決が日本の基本方針だ。今は、国際社会と連携し、北朝鮮の危険な挑発に歯止めをかけるために、圧力を強める時である。
South Korea has imposed a unilateral sanction on the North by shutting down operations at the Kaesong industrial complex, an inter-Korea cooperative project. The United States is also set to strengthen its economic sanctions on North Korea.
韓国は、独自の制裁として、南北協力事業「開城工業団地」の操業中断に踏み切った。米国も北朝鮮への経済制裁を強化する。
As in the past, it is important for Japan, the United States and South Korea to closely cooperate with each other. The emphasis should be put on ensuring that the U.N. Security Council soon adopts additional stern sanctions on North Korea.
日米韓３か国の緊密な協調が引き続き大切である。国連安全保障理事会での厳格な追加制裁決議の早期採択に力を入れたい。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 14, 2016)
Govt needs to calmly deal with N. Korea’s halt to abduction probe
拉致再調査中止 「北」の揺さぶりに冷静対処を
North Korea’s latest act is a despicable attempt to pressure our nation. The Japanese government should not be upset by this, and must make persistent efforts to resolve the issue of the Japanese nationals abducted by that country.
北朝鮮の卑劣な揺さぶりである。政府は、動じることなく、日本人拉致問題の解決に粘り強く取り組まねばならない。
North Korea has announced it will completely halt a renewed investigation it launched regarding the fate of Japanese abductees and others in July 2014. It also said it would dissolve the Special Investigation Committee.
北朝鮮が、２０１４年７月に開始した拉致被害者らの再調査を全面的に中止すると発表した。「特別調査委員会」は解体するという。
According to an announcement by North Korea, the latest move has been taken as a response to the administration of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s strengthening its unilateral sanctions on the country. In the same announcement, North Korea also threatened Japan that it will “continue strong countermeasures to Japan’s provocative acts of hostility.”
安倍政権が北朝鮮に対する独自制裁を強化したことへの対抗措置としている。北朝鮮は「日本の挑発的な敵対行為に対する強力な対応措置が続く」と恫喝どうかつした。
North Korea also asserts that Japan’s move to strengthen its sanctions was tantamount to “nullifying” the Stockholm agreement reached in May 2014 to reinvestigate. Japan’s position is that it has no intention to abrogate the accord.
北朝鮮は、日本の制裁強化で、１４年５月の再調査に関する日朝のストックホルム合意が「破棄」されたとも主張する。日本は「破棄する考えはない」との立場だ。
Under the agreement, Japan lifted part of the sanctions it imposed on North Korea in exchange for Pyongyang’s renewed investigation into the fate of the Japanese nationals in question. They include the 12 people who have been acknowledged by the Japanese government as abductees, but have not yet returned to Japan, as well as other Japanese missing and thought have been abducted by North Korean agents.
合意では、未帰国の拉致被害者１２人や、拉致の可能性のある特定失踪者らの再調査と引き換えに、日本が制裁の一部を解除した。
Japan’s action to reinforce sanctions was in response to North Korea’s recent move to conduct a nuclear test and launch a ballistic missile, thereby threatening regional security. North Korea’s accusations against our nation are absurd.
制裁の強化は、北朝鮮が核実験と弾道ミサイル発射を強行し、地域の安全を脅かしたためである。北朝鮮の批判は筋違いだ。
It should be noted, first of all, that North Korea has put off reporting the pertinent findings of its probe for more than 1½ years, including what has become of those who were abducted. Although North Korea told Japan that it “has set up four subcommittees” on the committee, it is doubtful whether the country has actually seriously renewed its investigations into the abductions.
そもそも、北朝鮮は１年半以上も、被害者の安否情報などの報告を先送りしてきた。「４分科会を設置した」などと説明していたが、真剣に拉致問題の再調査を行ったかどうかすら疑わしい。
World must step up pressure
North Korea’s conduct has been particularly hard on the abductees’ families, who had pinned their hopes on the renewed probe.
再調査に期待を寄せた被害者家族の感情を踏みにじる行為だ。
Shutting its eyes to its own atrocities, Pyongyang has blamed the whole problem on Japan. Its assertions are totally unacceptable.
自らの非道を棚に上げて、日本に責任を押しつける北朝鮮の主張は、到底容認できない。
The Japanese government has lodged a protest with North Korea through diplomatic channels. Katsunobu Kato, the minister in charge of the abduction issue, has emphasized that he wants to “do [his] utmost to get North Korea to take specific actions, through dialogue and pressure and under the principle of action for action.” He had every reason to strongly demand Pyongyang continue its reinvestigation into the abduction issue.
政府は、外交ルートを通じて北朝鮮に抗議した。加藤拉致問題相は「対話と圧力、行動対行動の原則の下、北朝鮮から具体的な行動を引き出すよう、最大限努力したい」と強調した。再調査の継続を強く要求していくのは当然だ。
North Korea has sought to gain greater rewards for fewer concessions by providing various pieces of scattered information. This approach is the country’s usual ploy. The Japanese government should never be cajoled into following North Korea’s lead on bilateral negotiations.
様々な情報をちらつかせ、より少ない譲歩で、より多くの見返りを得ようとするのは北朝鮮の常套じょうとう手段である。相手の交渉ペースにはまってはなるまい。
North Korea’s announcement on its suspension of the renewed probe may also be viewed as an attempt to disrupt Japan’s cooperative ties with the United States and South Korea by focusing on a problem unique to our nation.
北朝鮮の再調査の中止表明は、日本固有の問題を取り上げ、米韓両国との足並みの乱れを生じさせる狙いもあるとみられる。
Japan’s basic policy is to seek a comprehensive solution to both the abduction issue and North Korea’s nuclear weapon and missile development. This is the time for Japan to cooperate with the international community to step up pressure on North Korea to rein in its dangerous acts of provocation.
拉致と核・ミサイル問題の包括的な解決が日本の基本方針だ。今は、国際社会と連携し、北朝鮮の危険な挑発に歯止めをかけるために、圧力を強める時である。
South Korea has imposed a unilateral sanction on the North by shutting down operations at the Kaesong industrial complex, an inter-Korea cooperative project. The United States is also set to strengthen its economic sanctions on North Korea.
韓国は、独自の制裁として、南北協力事業「開城工業団地」の操業中断に踏み切った。米国も北朝鮮への経済制裁を強化する。
As in the past, it is important for Japan, the United States and South Korea to closely cooperate with each other. The emphasis should be put on ensuring that the U.N. Security Council soon adopts additional stern sanctions on North Korea.
日米韓３か国の緊密な協調が引き続き大切である。国連安全保障理事会での厳格な追加制裁決議の早期採択に力を入れたい。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 14, 2016)
The Yomiuri Shimbun
Can consensus be achieved through LDP’s lower house electoral reform plan?
衆院選制度改革 自民党案で合意形成できるか
The electoral system is the foundation of democracy. It is desirable that the system is reformed based on a broad consensus among the ruling and opposition parties. However, a draft plan proposed by the ruling Liberal Democratic Party looks unlikely to win the understanding of other parties.
選挙制度は民主主義の土台だ。与野党の幅広い合意で見直すことが望ましい。自民党案では他党の理解は得られまい。
According to the draft plan on reforming the House of Representatives electoral system compiled by the LDP, only demarcation of single-seat constituencies would be reviewed based on simplified censuses conducted in 2015, while the number of seats allocated to prefectures would be maintained, to reduce vote-value disparities to less than 2 to 1.
自民党が衆院選挙制度改革の原案をまとめた。小選挙区の「１票の格差」を２倍未満に抑えるため、２０１５年の簡易国勢調査に基づき、都道府県の定数配分は維持したまま、選挙区の区割りだけを見直す。
The LDP draft plan also says the reduction of lower house seats and the review of their allocation to prefectures would be postponed until after full censuses are conducted in 2020. The LDP proposes eliminating six seats in single-seat constituencies and four in proportional representation blocs, but details on how to allocate the number of seats to prefectures — which is the most important point — are still unclear.
定数の削減と配分見直しは、２０年の国勢調査後に先送りする。削減幅は小選挙区６、比例選４という。しかし、肝心の具体的な定数配分方式は曖昧なままだ。
The LDP claims its draft plan is based on a report submitted by a research panel of experts on lower house electoral system reform, but the party seems to lack sincerity.
自民党は、有識者調査会の答申に沿っていると強弁するが、誠実さが欠けていないか。
The panel says in its report that the Adams’ method should be used to reallocate lower house seats to prefectures. According to the report, this would increase the number of seats allocated to Tokyo and four prefectures by seven in total, while 13 prefectures would lose one seat each. Even if population changes in the future are taken into consideration, the vote-value disparity is expected to be less than 2 to 1 for a while.
答申は、「アダムズ方式」で都道府県定数の再配分を求めた。定数は東京都と４県で計７増え、１３県で各１減る。将来の人口変動を加味しても、１票の格差は当面、２倍未満に収まる見通しだ。
Compared to other major allocation methods, the Adams’ method is said to be advantageous to less-populated prefectures. The LDP is critical of the panel’s report for being harsh on provincial regions. However, it certainly pays due consideration to them.
アダムズ方式は、他の主な配分方式と比べて、人口の少ない県に有利とされる。自民党は「地方に冷たい」と批判するが、地方にも一定の配慮をしている。
In the report, redrawing electoral districts at the time of simplified censuses is considered merely a supplementary measure for the correction of the number of lower house seats to be done every 10 years.
簡易国勢調査時の区割り見直しは、あくまで１０年ごとの定数是正の補完措置との位置づけだ。
Respect panel’s report
The LDP’s draft plan, which would change demarcation of constituencies first, cannot help but give the impression that the party has employed only parts of the report for its own convenience. Doesn’t the LDP, in its heart of hearts, only want to avoid opposition from incumbent lawmakers whose constituencies are in prefectures where lower house seats might be reduced?
区割り見直しを先行させる自民党案は、答申のうち、自らに都合の良い部分をつまみ食いした印象が拭えない。定数が減る県の現職議員らの反発を避けたいのが本音ではないか。
A major problem with the LDP’s draft plan is that electoral districts would have to be redrawn widely twice — this time, and five years from now.
問題なのは、自民党案では、今回と５年後の２回、大幅な区割り変更を余儀なくされることだ。
If demarcation of constituencies is changed often, it could damage the stability of the electoral system. It would also weaken relations between voters and lawmakers or candidates.
選挙区の境界が頻繁に変わるようでは、制度の安定性が損なわれかねない。有権者と議員・候補者の関係も希薄になろう。
Since the LDP failed to reach an agreement on an electoral reform plan in its negotiations with the other parties in the first place, didn’t the party decide to let experts discuss the issue and pledge to respect their report?
そもそも、自民党は他党との協議で改革案に合意できなかったため、有識者に検討を委ね、その答申を「尊重する」と約束したはずではなかったのか。
Of course, as the report expresses doubt about the necessity to reduce the number of lower house seats, there is some room for discussion on that point. However, it is unreasonable not to accept the Adams’ method, a basic part of the report, and postpone fundamental reform for as long as five years.
答申は、定数削減の必要性に疑問を示しており、その点は議論の余地はある。だが、答申の根幹部分と言えるアダムズ方式を受け入れず、抜本改革を５年も先延ばしするのは筋が通らない。
Some members of the main opposition Democratic Party of Japan have already voiced criticism about the LDP plan, calling it “out of the question.”
民主党などからは早くも、自民党案について「論外」などと批判する声が出ている。
Transition to a new electoral system will require revision of the Public Offices Election Law and other relevant laws, and reviewing the demarcation of electoral districts.
新制度への移行には、公職選挙法などを改正したうえ、区割りの見直し作業などが必要となる。
The LDP, which is far more powerful than any of the other parties in the lower house, bears the grave responsibility of leading discussions on electoral system reform. The party must refine its draft plan, rising above party interests and strategy.
衆院で「１強」の自民党は、選挙制度改革論議を主導する重い責任がある。党利党略を排し、原案を練り直さねばならない。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 13, 2016)
Can consensus be achieved through LDP’s lower house electoral reform plan?
衆院選制度改革 自民党案で合意形成できるか
The electoral system is the foundation of democracy. It is desirable that the system is reformed based on a broad consensus among the ruling and opposition parties. However, a draft plan proposed by the ruling Liberal Democratic Party looks unlikely to win the understanding of other parties.
選挙制度は民主主義の土台だ。与野党の幅広い合意で見直すことが望ましい。自民党案では他党の理解は得られまい。
According to the draft plan on reforming the House of Representatives electoral system compiled by the LDP, only demarcation of single-seat constituencies would be reviewed based on simplified censuses conducted in 2015, while the number of seats allocated to prefectures would be maintained, to reduce vote-value disparities to less than 2 to 1.
自民党が衆院選挙制度改革の原案をまとめた。小選挙区の「１票の格差」を２倍未満に抑えるため、２０１５年の簡易国勢調査に基づき、都道府県の定数配分は維持したまま、選挙区の区割りだけを見直す。
The LDP draft plan also says the reduction of lower house seats and the review of their allocation to prefectures would be postponed until after full censuses are conducted in 2020. The LDP proposes eliminating six seats in single-seat constituencies and four in proportional representation blocs, but details on how to allocate the number of seats to prefectures — which is the most important point — are still unclear.
定数の削減と配分見直しは、２０年の国勢調査後に先送りする。削減幅は小選挙区６、比例選４という。しかし、肝心の具体的な定数配分方式は曖昧なままだ。
The LDP claims its draft plan is based on a report submitted by a research panel of experts on lower house electoral system reform, but the party seems to lack sincerity.
自民党は、有識者調査会の答申に沿っていると強弁するが、誠実さが欠けていないか。
The panel says in its report that the Adams’ method should be used to reallocate lower house seats to prefectures. According to the report, this would increase the number of seats allocated to Tokyo and four prefectures by seven in total, while 13 prefectures would lose one seat each. Even if population changes in the future are taken into consideration, the vote-value disparity is expected to be less than 2 to 1 for a while.
答申は、「アダムズ方式」で都道府県定数の再配分を求めた。定数は東京都と４県で計７増え、１３県で各１減る。将来の人口変動を加味しても、１票の格差は当面、２倍未満に収まる見通しだ。
Compared to other major allocation methods, the Adams’ method is said to be advantageous to less-populated prefectures. The LDP is critical of the panel’s report for being harsh on provincial regions. However, it certainly pays due consideration to them.
アダムズ方式は、他の主な配分方式と比べて、人口の少ない県に有利とされる。自民党は「地方に冷たい」と批判するが、地方にも一定の配慮をしている。
In the report, redrawing electoral districts at the time of simplified censuses is considered merely a supplementary measure for the correction of the number of lower house seats to be done every 10 years.
簡易国勢調査時の区割り見直しは、あくまで１０年ごとの定数是正の補完措置との位置づけだ。
Respect panel’s report
The LDP’s draft plan, which would change demarcation of constituencies first, cannot help but give the impression that the party has employed only parts of the report for its own convenience. Doesn’t the LDP, in its heart of hearts, only want to avoid opposition from incumbent lawmakers whose constituencies are in prefectures where lower house seats might be reduced?
区割り見直しを先行させる自民党案は、答申のうち、自らに都合の良い部分をつまみ食いした印象が拭えない。定数が減る県の現職議員らの反発を避けたいのが本音ではないか。
A major problem with the LDP’s draft plan is that electoral districts would have to be redrawn widely twice — this time, and five years from now.
問題なのは、自民党案では、今回と５年後の２回、大幅な区割り変更を余儀なくされることだ。
If demarcation of constituencies is changed often, it could damage the stability of the electoral system. It would also weaken relations between voters and lawmakers or candidates.
選挙区の境界が頻繁に変わるようでは、制度の安定性が損なわれかねない。有権者と議員・候補者の関係も希薄になろう。
Since the LDP failed to reach an agreement on an electoral reform plan in its negotiations with the other parties in the first place, didn’t the party decide to let experts discuss the issue and pledge to respect their report?
そもそも、自民党は他党との協議で改革案に合意できなかったため、有識者に検討を委ね、その答申を「尊重する」と約束したはずではなかったのか。
Of course, as the report expresses doubt about the necessity to reduce the number of lower house seats, there is some room for discussion on that point. However, it is unreasonable not to accept the Adams’ method, a basic part of the report, and postpone fundamental reform for as long as five years.
答申は、定数削減の必要性に疑問を示しており、その点は議論の余地はある。だが、答申の根幹部分と言えるアダムズ方式を受け入れず、抜本改革を５年も先延ばしするのは筋が通らない。
Some members of the main opposition Democratic Party of Japan have already voiced criticism about the LDP plan, calling it “out of the question.”
民主党などからは早くも、自民党案について「論外」などと批判する声が出ている。
Transition to a new electoral system will require revision of the Public Offices Election Law and other relevant laws, and reviewing the demarcation of electoral districts.
新制度への移行には、公職選挙法などを改正したうえ、区割りの見直し作業などが必要となる。
The LDP, which is far more powerful than any of the other parties in the lower house, bears the grave responsibility of leading discussions on electoral system reform. The party must refine its draft plan, rising above party interests and strategy.
衆院で「１強」の自民党は、選挙制度改革論議を主導する重い責任がある。党利党略を排し、原案を練り直さねばならない。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 13, 2016)
The Yomiuri Shimbun
1st detection of gravitational waves opens new window to universe
「重力波」初観測 宇宙への新しい窓が開いた
It is highly significant that a new observation method has been acquired to unravel the mysteries of the universe.
宇宙の謎を解き明かす新たな観測方法を手に入れた意義は大きい。
A research team that includes the California Institute of Technology has announced it detected gravitational waves from the universe.
米カリフォルニア工科大などのチームが、「宇宙から到来した重力波を捉えた」と発表した。
Albert Einstein hypothesized the existence of gravitational waves a century ago based on his theory of general relativity.
重力波は、アインシュタインが一般相対性理論に基づき、１００年前に存在を予言した現象だ。
According to Einstein’s theory, celestial bodies like black holes, which have a huge mass, would warp space-time around them. If such bodies collided, the warp would spread like ripples.
一般相対性理論によると、ブラックホールなどの巨大な質量の天体は、周囲の時空間をゆがめる。天体同士が衝突すると、ゆがみがさざ波のように広がっていく。
The research team believes the gravitational waves it detected were generated 1.3 billion light years from Earth when two black holes merged.
今回捉えた重力波について、研究チームは、１３億光年の彼方で二つのブラックホールが合体して発生したものと推定している。
Celestial bodies with a large mass could not be observed directly by the electromagnetic waves — such as light, radio waves and X-rays — that have been conventionally used in astronomy.
これまで、天文学で用いられてきた光や電波、Ｘ線などの電磁波では、巨大質量を持つ天体を直接観測することは出来なかった。
The mass and internal conditions of stars can be inferred by observing gravitational waves. The findings may lead to elucidating such mysteries as how black holes whose nature has not been fully understood are created and how they inflate.
重力波を観測することで、星の質量や内部の様子を推定できる。実態がほとんど分かっていないブラックホールがどのように誕生し、増大するのかといった謎の解明につながるかもしれない。
Gravitational waves are said to have been generated in the huge expansion of space that occurred right after the Big Bang, which created the cosmos, and the same ripples are said to still exist in space even today. The detection of such ripples may become reality.
宇宙が誕生したビッグバンの直後に起きた空間の大膨張でも、重力波が発生し、残滓ざんしが今も宇宙に存在するとされる。その発見も現実味を帯びてきたと言えよう。
Hopes for KAGRA project
The U.S. team’s landmark discovery has been supported by high-precision observation equipment.
米チームによる発見を支えたのは、高精度の観測装置だ。
The coherence of laser beams was used to measure the warps. Laser beams were sent through two pipes, each measuring four kilometers long, to detect warps of space-time caused by gravitational waves.
ゆがみの測定には、レーザー光の干渉を利用した。長さ４キロ・メートルの２本のパイプ内にレーザー光を走らせて、重力波による空間のゆがみを検出した。
The measured warps were only one-ten quadrillionth of a millimeter. Vibration control equipment was installed to prevent the observation from being affected by vibrations caused by wind, sea waves and road traffic. The team has reportedly looked into all other possibilities to confirm that the observed data represented gravitational waves.
観測したゆがみは、１京分の１ミリほどしかなかった。風や海の波、道路交通などの振動に影響されないよう、防振装置を設けた。今回の観測データが重力波であることを確認するため、他のあらゆる可能性を検討したという。
Similar observations have been attempted in Japan and Europe. A gravitational wave telescope named KAGRA, now under construction at the site of a mine in Hida, Gifu Prefecure, will start test operations this spring.
日本や欧州でも同様の観測が試みられている。岐阜県飛騨市の鉱山跡に建設が進む「かぐら」では今春から試験観測が始まる。
Leading the KAGRA project is Takaaki Kajita, a 2015 Nobel Prize laureate in Physics and the director of the Institute for Cosmic Ray Research at the University of Tokyo. Kajita expressed willingness to join international efforts in space observation, saying, “With the participation of KAGRA, the accuracy of observations will improve.”
チームリーダーは、昨年のノーベル物理学賞を受賞した梶田隆章・東京大学宇宙線研究所長だ。梶田氏は「かぐらが加わることで、観測の精度がよくなる」と意欲を示している。
The U.S. team was able to obtain its results soon after it started observations. Expectations are mounting regarding what discoveries KAGRA will make.
米チームの成果は、観測を始めてから、ほどなくして得られた。かぐらによって、どのような発見があるのか、期待が膨らむ。
Japan has a long tradition in the field of astrophysics, and has contributed to the observation of neutrinos, thereby developing the science of astronomy.
日本は、宇宙物理学の分野で長い伝統がある。ニュートリノの観測や、これによる天文学の開拓に貢献してきた。
We also want to see next-generation researchers mature in the field of gravitational wave astronomy.
重力波天文学でも、次代を担う研究者を育てていきたい。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 13, 2016)
1st detection of gravitational waves opens new window to universe
「重力波」初観測 宇宙への新しい窓が開いた
It is highly significant that a new observation method has been acquired to unravel the mysteries of the universe.
宇宙の謎を解き明かす新たな観測方法を手に入れた意義は大きい。
A research team that includes the California Institute of Technology has announced it detected gravitational waves from the universe.
米カリフォルニア工科大などのチームが、「宇宙から到来した重力波を捉えた」と発表した。
Albert Einstein hypothesized the existence of gravitational waves a century ago based on his theory of general relativity.
重力波は、アインシュタインが一般相対性理論に基づき、１００年前に存在を予言した現象だ。
According to Einstein’s theory, celestial bodies like black holes, which have a huge mass, would warp space-time around them. If such bodies collided, the warp would spread like ripples.
一般相対性理論によると、ブラックホールなどの巨大な質量の天体は、周囲の時空間をゆがめる。天体同士が衝突すると、ゆがみがさざ波のように広がっていく。
The research team believes the gravitational waves it detected were generated 1.3 billion light years from Earth when two black holes merged.
今回捉えた重力波について、研究チームは、１３億光年の彼方で二つのブラックホールが合体して発生したものと推定している。
Celestial bodies with a large mass could not be observed directly by the electromagnetic waves — such as light, radio waves and X-rays — that have been conventionally used in astronomy.
これまで、天文学で用いられてきた光や電波、Ｘ線などの電磁波では、巨大質量を持つ天体を直接観測することは出来なかった。
The mass and internal conditions of stars can be inferred by observing gravitational waves. The findings may lead to elucidating such mysteries as how black holes whose nature has not been fully understood are created and how they inflate.
重力波を観測することで、星の質量や内部の様子を推定できる。実態がほとんど分かっていないブラックホールがどのように誕生し、増大するのかといった謎の解明につながるかもしれない。
Gravitational waves are said to have been generated in the huge expansion of space that occurred right after the Big Bang, which created the cosmos, and the same ripples are said to still exist in space even today. The detection of such ripples may become reality.
宇宙が誕生したビッグバンの直後に起きた空間の大膨張でも、重力波が発生し、残滓ざんしが今も宇宙に存在するとされる。その発見も現実味を帯びてきたと言えよう。
Hopes for KAGRA project
The U.S. team’s landmark discovery has been supported by high-precision observation equipment.
米チームによる発見を支えたのは、高精度の観測装置だ。
The coherence of laser beams was used to measure the warps. Laser beams were sent through two pipes, each measuring four kilometers long, to detect warps of space-time caused by gravitational waves.
ゆがみの測定には、レーザー光の干渉を利用した。長さ４キロ・メートルの２本のパイプ内にレーザー光を走らせて、重力波による空間のゆがみを検出した。
The measured warps were only one-ten quadrillionth of a millimeter. Vibration control equipment was installed to prevent the observation from being affected by vibrations caused by wind, sea waves and road traffic. The team has reportedly looked into all other possibilities to confirm that the observed data represented gravitational waves.
観測したゆがみは、１京分の１ミリほどしかなかった。風や海の波、道路交通などの振動に影響されないよう、防振装置を設けた。今回の観測データが重力波であることを確認するため、他のあらゆる可能性を検討したという。
Similar observations have been attempted in Japan and Europe. A gravitational wave telescope named KAGRA, now under construction at the site of a mine in Hida, Gifu Prefecure, will start test operations this spring.
日本や欧州でも同様の観測が試みられている。岐阜県飛騨市の鉱山跡に建設が進む「かぐら」では今春から試験観測が始まる。
Leading the KAGRA project is Takaaki Kajita, a 2015 Nobel Prize laureate in Physics and the director of the Institute for Cosmic Ray Research at the University of Tokyo. Kajita expressed willingness to join international efforts in space observation, saying, “With the participation of KAGRA, the accuracy of observations will improve.”
チームリーダーは、昨年のノーベル物理学賞を受賞した梶田隆章・東京大学宇宙線研究所長だ。梶田氏は「かぐらが加わることで、観測の精度がよくなる」と意欲を示している。
The U.S. team was able to obtain its results soon after it started observations. Expectations are mounting regarding what discoveries KAGRA will make.
米チームの成果は、観測を始めてから、ほどなくして得られた。かぐらによって、どのような発見があるのか、期待が膨らむ。
Japan has a long tradition in the field of astrophysics, and has contributed to the observation of neutrinos, thereby developing the science of astronomy.
日本は、宇宙物理学の分野で長い伝統がある。ニュートリノの観測や、これによる天文学の開拓に貢献してきた。
We also want to see next-generation researchers mature in the field of gravitational wave astronomy.
重力波天文学でも、次代を担う研究者を育てていきたい。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 13, 2016)
The Yomiuri Shimbun
Outsider candidates dominate U.S. presidential race amid public distrust
米大統領選 政治不信が招く非主流派躍進
Candidates outside the mainstream who are rebelling against the establishment have been gaining ground in the race for the Democratic and Republican nominations for president of the United States. The final election will be held in November.
１１月の米大統領選に向けた民主党と共和党の指名候補争いで、既存支配層（エスタブリッシュメント）に反旗を翻す非主流派が躍進している。
Sen. Bernie Sanders, a strongly left-wing, self-described “democratic socialist,” won the Democratic Party’s primary in New Hampshire over former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. This marked a difficult start for Clinton, the favored candidate for the party’s nomination, despite her narrow win in the Iowa caucuses.
民主党では、「民主社会主義者」を名乗る最左派のバーニー・サンダース上院議員がニューハンプシャー州予備選を制した。「本命候補」のクリントン前国務長官は、初戦のアイオワ州党員集会で辛勝したが、厳しい滑り出しだ。
Real estate tycoon Donald Trump, who has no prior political career, emerged victorious in the Republican Party’s primary in New Hampshire. In Iowa, Trump placed second behind Ted Cruz, a nonmainstream conservative hard-liner.
共和党は、政治経験のない不動産王ドナルド・トランプ氏がニューハンプシャーを押さえた。アイオワでも、非主流の保守強硬派、テッド・クルーズ上院議員が勝利し、トランプ氏が２位だった。
Indecisive politics continue due to partisan confrontation in Washington. The decline of American influence in the international community is evident. The emergence of these nonmainstream candidates, it may be said, reflects the people’s distrust of and discontent with such developments.
ワシントンでは、党派対立で「決められない政治」が続く。国際社会での米国の影響力低下も目立つ。これらに対する国民の不信と不満が表れた結果と言える。
If candidates prevail in early-stage primaries that draw significant media attention, they will be able to gather more campaign funds and support due to the psychological effect of jumping on the bandwagon. The whirlwind set off by the candidates who are standing outside the center of politics will not cease for some time.
メディアの注目を集める序盤戦で優位に立てば、勝ち馬に乗る心理効果で、選挙資金や支持をさらに呼び込める。政治の中心から離れたアウトサイダーの旋風は当面、収まらないだろう。
Conservatives and liberals have become further polarized under the administration of Democratic President Barack Obama. No national consensus can be found regarding the reform of the medical insurance system, the strengthening of gun control and the process for accepting immigrants.
オバマ民主党政権下で、米社会は保守とリベラルの両極化が進んだ。医療保険制度改革や銃規制強化、移民受け入れ策について、国民的合意を見いだせずにいる。
National consensus illusive
The standard of living for middle- and low-income earners has not improved as their job opportunities decreased due to the transfer of factories to China and other countries, as well as the inflow of immigrants. A sense of unfairness toward the rich has spread among the people.
中国などへの工場移転や移民流入で、中低所得層の雇用が減り、生活水準は上がらない。富裕層に対する不公平感が広がる。
Of concern is the emergence of a populism that serves to incite amid such a deadlock.
懸念されるのは、こうした閉塞状況を背景に扇動的なポピュリズムが台頭することである。
Trump has called for “making America great again” and openly expressed his hostile feelings toward China and Mexico, among other countries. He has even gone so far as to argue for forcible deportation of illegal immigrants and an entry ban on Muslims. Trump is also opposed to the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade framework and is calling for huge tax cuts.
「偉大な米国の復活」を唱えるトランプ氏は中国やメキシコなどへの敵対心をむき出しにし、不法移民の強制送還やイスラム教徒の入国拒否まで主張している。環太平洋経済連携協定（ＴＰＰ）にも反対し、大規模減税を訴える。
Sanders, a champion of “antiestablishment” policies whose signature campaign promise is the correction of economic inequality, has obtained overwhelming support from the young and other voters by proposing to make tuition free at public universities, and dissolve major financial institutions.
「反エスタブリッシュメント」と格差是正を看板とするサンダース氏は、公立大学の無償化や大手金融機関の解体を掲げ、若者らの圧倒的支持を得ている。
But the campaign promises of Trump and Sanders are nothing but extreme arguments with little chance of being realized.
だが、２人の公約は実現性に乏しい極論に過ぎない。
It is hard to understand why Clinton, who had pushed for the TPP pact as a member of the Obama administration, has changed tack to oppose it. Even if it is a temporary strategy for the campaign, we are left with the undeniable impression that she has been drawn into a swirl of populism.
オバマ政権の一員としてＴＰＰを推進したクリントン氏が、反対姿勢に転じたのも理解に苦しむ。暫定的な選挙向け戦術だとしても、ポピュリズムのうねりに巻き込まれている印象は否めない。
If the candidates only deny the existing political and economic systems and compete to make radical and inward-looking arguments, neither national reconciliation nor the recovery of America’s credibility can be realized. We want to see constructive debate that will contribute to repairing social rifts.
既存の政治や経済の仕組みを否定し、急進的で内向きの主張を競い合っているだけでは、国民融和も、米国の威信回復も実現できまい。社会の亀裂の修復につながる建設的な論戦を求めたい。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 12, 2016)
Outsider candidates dominate U.S. presidential race amid public distrust
米大統領選 政治不信が招く非主流派躍進
Candidates outside the mainstream who are rebelling against the establishment have been gaining ground in the race for the Democratic and Republican nominations for president of the United States. The final election will be held in November.
１１月の米大統領選に向けた民主党と共和党の指名候補争いで、既存支配層（エスタブリッシュメント）に反旗を翻す非主流派が躍進している。
Sen. Bernie Sanders, a strongly left-wing, self-described “democratic socialist,” won the Democratic Party’s primary in New Hampshire over former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. This marked a difficult start for Clinton, the favored candidate for the party’s nomination, despite her narrow win in the Iowa caucuses.
民主党では、「民主社会主義者」を名乗る最左派のバーニー・サンダース上院議員がニューハンプシャー州予備選を制した。「本命候補」のクリントン前国務長官は、初戦のアイオワ州党員集会で辛勝したが、厳しい滑り出しだ。
Real estate tycoon Donald Trump, who has no prior political career, emerged victorious in the Republican Party’s primary in New Hampshire. In Iowa, Trump placed second behind Ted Cruz, a nonmainstream conservative hard-liner.
共和党は、政治経験のない不動産王ドナルド・トランプ氏がニューハンプシャーを押さえた。アイオワでも、非主流の保守強硬派、テッド・クルーズ上院議員が勝利し、トランプ氏が２位だった。
Indecisive politics continue due to partisan confrontation in Washington. The decline of American influence in the international community is evident. The emergence of these nonmainstream candidates, it may be said, reflects the people’s distrust of and discontent with such developments.
ワシントンでは、党派対立で「決められない政治」が続く。国際社会での米国の影響力低下も目立つ。これらに対する国民の不信と不満が表れた結果と言える。
If candidates prevail in early-stage primaries that draw significant media attention, they will be able to gather more campaign funds and support due to the psychological effect of jumping on the bandwagon. The whirlwind set off by the candidates who are standing outside the center of politics will not cease for some time.
メディアの注目を集める序盤戦で優位に立てば、勝ち馬に乗る心理効果で、選挙資金や支持をさらに呼び込める。政治の中心から離れたアウトサイダーの旋風は当面、収まらないだろう。
Conservatives and liberals have become further polarized under the administration of Democratic President Barack Obama. No national consensus can be found regarding the reform of the medical insurance system, the strengthening of gun control and the process for accepting immigrants.
オバマ民主党政権下で、米社会は保守とリベラルの両極化が進んだ。医療保険制度改革や銃規制強化、移民受け入れ策について、国民的合意を見いだせずにいる。
National consensus illusive
The standard of living for middle- and low-income earners has not improved as their job opportunities decreased due to the transfer of factories to China and other countries, as well as the inflow of immigrants. A sense of unfairness toward the rich has spread among the people.
中国などへの工場移転や移民流入で、中低所得層の雇用が減り、生活水準は上がらない。富裕層に対する不公平感が広がる。
Of concern is the emergence of a populism that serves to incite amid such a deadlock.
懸念されるのは、こうした閉塞状況を背景に扇動的なポピュリズムが台頭することである。
Trump has called for “making America great again” and openly expressed his hostile feelings toward China and Mexico, among other countries. He has even gone so far as to argue for forcible deportation of illegal immigrants and an entry ban on Muslims. Trump is also opposed to the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade framework and is calling for huge tax cuts.
「偉大な米国の復活」を唱えるトランプ氏は中国やメキシコなどへの敵対心をむき出しにし、不法移民の強制送還やイスラム教徒の入国拒否まで主張している。環太平洋経済連携協定（ＴＰＰ）にも反対し、大規模減税を訴える。
Sanders, a champion of “antiestablishment” policies whose signature campaign promise is the correction of economic inequality, has obtained overwhelming support from the young and other voters by proposing to make tuition free at public universities, and dissolve major financial institutions.
「反エスタブリッシュメント」と格差是正を看板とするサンダース氏は、公立大学の無償化や大手金融機関の解体を掲げ、若者らの圧倒的支持を得ている。
But the campaign promises of Trump and Sanders are nothing but extreme arguments with little chance of being realized.
だが、２人の公約は実現性に乏しい極論に過ぎない。
It is hard to understand why Clinton, who had pushed for the TPP pact as a member of the Obama administration, has changed tack to oppose it. Even if it is a temporary strategy for the campaign, we are left with the undeniable impression that she has been drawn into a swirl of populism.
オバマ政権の一員としてＴＰＰを推進したクリントン氏が、反対姿勢に転じたのも理解に苦しむ。暫定的な選挙向け戦術だとしても、ポピュリズムのうねりに巻き込まれている印象は否めない。
If the candidates only deny the existing political and economic systems and compete to make radical and inward-looking arguments, neither national reconciliation nor the recovery of America’s credibility can be realized. We want to see constructive debate that will contribute to repairing social rifts.
既存の政治や経済の仕組みを否定し、急進的で内向きの主張を競い合っているだけでは、国民融和も、米国の威信回復も実現できまい。社会の亀裂の修復につながる建設的な論戦を求めたい。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 12, 2016)
The Yomiuri Shimbun
Japan should lead push for tough UNSC resolution on North Korea
対「北」独自制裁 厳格な安保理決議の先駆けに
It is important not to ignore the reckless actions repeatedly taken by North Korea and to swiftly implement tough sanctions against that country. Japan should play a leading role in a concerted effort by the international community.
度重なる北朝鮮の暴挙を看過せず、厳しい制裁措置を迅速に発動することが重要である。国際社会の一致した取り組みを日本が主導したい。
The government held a meeting of the National Security Council on Wednesday, attended by its four ministers, and decided to revive and strengthen its unilateral sanctions against North Korea.
政府は、国家安全保障会議（ＮＳＣ）の４大臣会合を開き、北朝鮮に対する独自制裁を復活・強化する方針を決めた。
Nuclear tests and the launch of long-range ballistic missiles by North Korea pose direct threats to Japan. It is a matter of course for Japan to have promptly taken harsh measures.
北朝鮮の核実験と長距離弾道ミサイル発射は、日本にとって直接の脅威である。いち早く厳格な対応を取ったのは当然だ。
These measures include a ban on the reentry of senior officials of the pro-Pyongyang General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon) who have returned home to North Korea, and a ban on entry into Japanese ports by all vessels of North Korean registry, including those on humanitarian missions. All these measures were lifted when Pyongyang began in July 2014 its reinvestigation of Japanese nationals abducted to North Korea or suspected to have been abducted.
北朝鮮に帰国した在日本朝鮮人総連合会幹部の再入国を禁止する。人道目的を含むすべての北朝鮮籍船舶の入港を認めない。いずれも、２０１４年７月の日本人拉致被害者らの再調査開始時に解除した措置を復活するものだ。
Added to the reentry ban are engineers related to nuclear and missile technologies. The government has also gone so far as to ban, in principle, remittances to North Korea.
さらに、再入国禁止の対象に核・ミサイル技術者を追加する。北朝鮮向けの送金については、「原則禁止」に踏み込んだ。
North Korea has postponed presenting to Japan the results of its reinvestigation into Japanese citizens abducted to that country or suspected to have been abducted. As long as Pyongyang continues making such insincere responses, it is reasonable for Japan to decide to revive and strengthen unilateral sanctions on North Korea, in line with the principle of “action for action.”
北朝鮮は、拉致被害者らの再調査に関し、日本への報告を先送りしている。こうした不誠実な対応を重ねる以上、制裁を復活・強化するのは、「行動対行動」の原則に沿う妥当な判断と言える。
Don’t close doors
Actions taken by the North Korean regime under Kim Jong Un have become ever more uncertain.
北朝鮮の金正恩政権の行動は、不確実性が高まっている。
The Foreign Ministry, the National Police Agency and other government organizations must cooperate closely to ensure the effectiveness of the sanctions. At the same time, the government needs to respond flexibly to North Korea, by not cutting off openings for dialogue, for instance.
外務省や警察庁などが密接に協力し、制裁の実効性を確保しなければならない。一方で、北朝鮮との対話の窓口は閉ざさないなど、柔軟な対応が求められる。
The government must adhere to its policy of comprehensively resolving the issues of the Japanese abductees and North Korea’s nuclear and missile development, and deal with them tenaciously.
政府は、拉致と核・ミサイル問題を包括的に解決する方針を堅持し、粘り強く対処すべきだ。
Needless to say, Japan’s unilateral sanctions alone will only have a limited effect. It is necessary to hasten the establishment of an international coalition network committed to containing North Korea.
無論、日本単独の制裁では、効果が限られる。国際的な対北包囲網の構築を急ぐ必要がある。
South Korea announced Wednesday that it would suspend operations at the joint industrial complex in Kaesong, North Korea, as a unilateral sanction. The move is aimed at reducing the foreign currency earned by Pyongyang, but suspending operations could risk losing a channel for dialogue with North Korea.
韓国は、独自の制裁として南北協力事業「開城工業団地」の操業中断を発表した。外貨収入を減らす狙いがあるが、北朝鮮との対話の窓口を失うリスクも伴う。
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held separate phone talks with U.S. President Barack Obama and South Korean President Park Geun-hye. They agreed to cooperate toward the early adoption of a resolution by the U.N. Security Council.
安倍首相はオバマ米大統領、韓国の朴槿恵大統領と個別に電話会談した。国連安全保障理事会での制裁決議の早期採択に向けて、連携することで一致した。
The biggest stumbling block for the UNSC resolution is China’s reluctant posture.
安保理決議の採択にとって、最大の障害は中国の消極姿勢だ。
China has been asserting that sanctions on North Korea should be limited to measures related to its nuclear and missile developments, and opposes sanctions that would affect the lives of the public.
中国は、制裁の対象を核・ミサイル開発に関連するものに限定するよう主張し、国民生活に影響を与える措置には反対している。
Yet this conciliatory stance taken for many years by China has bolstered North Korea, letting Pyongyang conduct nuclear tests and missile launches repeatedly. This time, it is vital to strengthen real pressure on North Korea.
だが、こうした長年の融和的な態度が北朝鮮を増長させ、再三の核実験やミサイル発射を許したのではないか。今回こそ、北朝鮮に対する実質的な圧力を強化することが欠かせない。
It is important for Japan, the United States and South Korea to unite to urge China to modify its stance.
日米韓は結束し、中国に軌道修正を働きかけることが大切だ。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 11, 2016)
Japan should lead push for tough UNSC resolution on North Korea
対「北」独自制裁 厳格な安保理決議の先駆けに
It is important not to ignore the reckless actions repeatedly taken by North Korea and to swiftly implement tough sanctions against that country. Japan should play a leading role in a concerted effort by the international community.
度重なる北朝鮮の暴挙を看過せず、厳しい制裁措置を迅速に発動することが重要である。国際社会の一致した取り組みを日本が主導したい。
The government held a meeting of the National Security Council on Wednesday, attended by its four ministers, and decided to revive and strengthen its unilateral sanctions against North Korea.
政府は、国家安全保障会議（ＮＳＣ）の４大臣会合を開き、北朝鮮に対する独自制裁を復活・強化する方針を決めた。
Nuclear tests and the launch of long-range ballistic missiles by North Korea pose direct threats to Japan. It is a matter of course for Japan to have promptly taken harsh measures.
北朝鮮の核実験と長距離弾道ミサイル発射は、日本にとって直接の脅威である。いち早く厳格な対応を取ったのは当然だ。
These measures include a ban on the reentry of senior officials of the pro-Pyongyang General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon) who have returned home to North Korea, and a ban on entry into Japanese ports by all vessels of North Korean registry, including those on humanitarian missions. All these measures were lifted when Pyongyang began in July 2014 its reinvestigation of Japanese nationals abducted to North Korea or suspected to have been abducted.
北朝鮮に帰国した在日本朝鮮人総連合会幹部の再入国を禁止する。人道目的を含むすべての北朝鮮籍船舶の入港を認めない。いずれも、２０１４年７月の日本人拉致被害者らの再調査開始時に解除した措置を復活するものだ。
Added to the reentry ban are engineers related to nuclear and missile technologies. The government has also gone so far as to ban, in principle, remittances to North Korea.
さらに、再入国禁止の対象に核・ミサイル技術者を追加する。北朝鮮向けの送金については、「原則禁止」に踏み込んだ。
North Korea has postponed presenting to Japan the results of its reinvestigation into Japanese citizens abducted to that country or suspected to have been abducted. As long as Pyongyang continues making such insincere responses, it is reasonable for Japan to decide to revive and strengthen unilateral sanctions on North Korea, in line with the principle of “action for action.”
北朝鮮は、拉致被害者らの再調査に関し、日本への報告を先送りしている。こうした不誠実な対応を重ねる以上、制裁を復活・強化するのは、「行動対行動」の原則に沿う妥当な判断と言える。
Don’t close doors
Actions taken by the North Korean regime under Kim Jong Un have become ever more uncertain.
北朝鮮の金正恩政権の行動は、不確実性が高まっている。
The Foreign Ministry, the National Police Agency and other government organizations must cooperate closely to ensure the effectiveness of the sanctions. At the same time, the government needs to respond flexibly to North Korea, by not cutting off openings for dialogue, for instance.
外務省や警察庁などが密接に協力し、制裁の実効性を確保しなければならない。一方で、北朝鮮との対話の窓口は閉ざさないなど、柔軟な対応が求められる。
The government must adhere to its policy of comprehensively resolving the issues of the Japanese abductees and North Korea’s nuclear and missile development, and deal with them tenaciously.
政府は、拉致と核・ミサイル問題を包括的に解決する方針を堅持し、粘り強く対処すべきだ。
Needless to say, Japan’s unilateral sanctions alone will only have a limited effect. It is necessary to hasten the establishment of an international coalition network committed to containing North Korea.
無論、日本単独の制裁では、効果が限られる。国際的な対北包囲網の構築を急ぐ必要がある。
South Korea announced Wednesday that it would suspend operations at the joint industrial complex in Kaesong, North Korea, as a unilateral sanction. The move is aimed at reducing the foreign currency earned by Pyongyang, but suspending operations could risk losing a channel for dialogue with North Korea.
韓国は、独自の制裁として南北協力事業「開城工業団地」の操業中断を発表した。外貨収入を減らす狙いがあるが、北朝鮮との対話の窓口を失うリスクも伴う。
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held separate phone talks with U.S. President Barack Obama and South Korean President Park Geun-hye. They agreed to cooperate toward the early adoption of a resolution by the U.N. Security Council.
安倍首相はオバマ米大統領、韓国の朴槿恵大統領と個別に電話会談した。国連安全保障理事会での制裁決議の早期採択に向けて、連携することで一致した。
The biggest stumbling block for the UNSC resolution is China’s reluctant posture.
安保理決議の採択にとって、最大の障害は中国の消極姿勢だ。
China has been asserting that sanctions on North Korea should be limited to measures related to its nuclear and missile developments, and opposes sanctions that would affect the lives of the public.
中国は、制裁の対象を核・ミサイル開発に関連するものに限定するよう主張し、国民生活に影響を与える措置には反対している。
Yet this conciliatory stance taken for many years by China has bolstered North Korea, letting Pyongyang conduct nuclear tests and missile launches repeatedly. This time, it is vital to strengthen real pressure on North Korea.
だが、こうした長年の融和的な態度が北朝鮮を増長させ、再三の核実験やミサイル発射を許したのではないか。今回こそ、北朝鮮に対する実質的な圧力を強化することが欠かせない。
It is important for Japan, the United States and South Korea to unite to urge China to modify its stance.
日米韓は結束し、中国に軌道修正を働きかけることが大切だ。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 11, 2016)
--The Asahi Shimbun, Feb. 10
EDITORIAL: BOJ's negative interest rate policy positively ineffective
（社説）長期金利低下 マイナスに潜む不安
The benchmark 10-year Japanese government bond yield on Feb. 9 fell below zero percent on the market for the first time. Is this good news or bad? Many people probably don’t know, but they certainly must be feeling anxious.
これは良いニュースか、悪いニュースか。多くの人がそれさえ理解できないまま、おぼろげな不安だけを感じたのではないか。長期金利の指標となっている１０年物国債がきのうの市場で初めてマイナスになった。
In normal transactions, the idea of negative interest rates is absurd.
本来なら正常な取引でマイナス金利はありえない。
Just think about it: You lend money to someone and you have to pay interest to the borrower? That’s ridiculous. You are obviously better off not lending to anyone because you at least won’t lose any money.
お金を貸した者が借りる者に金利を払うくらいなら、自分でお金を抱えている方が減らないだけましだからだ。
The ridiculous situation surrounding Japanese government bonds was caused by the Bank of Japan’s negative interest rate policy announced on Jan. 29.
にもかかわらずこんな異常な金利が生じたのは、先月２９日に日本銀行が発表した「マイナス金利政策」の影響である。
BOJ Governor Haruhiko Kuroda stressed that adding this negative interest rate policy to his already substantial monetary easing policy “should make for probably the most effective framework in the history of the central bank.”
日銀の黒田東彦総裁は、これまで実施してきた大規模な量的緩和政策にマイナス金利政策を加えることで「これまでの中央銀行の歴史の中で、おそらく最も強力な枠組み」になると強調した。
In a sense, the outcome has surpassed Kuroda’s expectations. Mortgage rates, which were already historically low, have come down further, and the near-nonexistent interest rates on time deposits have shrunk even more. Financial institutions have stopped selling low-yield fund products.
その狙いはある意味で想定以上に効果を発揮した。もともと歴史的低水準にあった住宅ローン金利は一段と下がった。わずかばかりの定期預金金利もさらに圧縮された。金融機関は利回りの魅力が乏しいファンド商品の発売を取りやめた。
But will these developments improve the Japanese economy? We believe the opposite will be the case.
だが、こうした動きが日本経済を好転させるのかといえば、むしろ逆ではないか。
Even if lending rates drop further, it is unlikely that businesses will suddenly start investing more amid sluggish domestic demand. And even if banks further lower interest rates on savings and move on to negative rates, consumers probably will not start spending more so long as their future remains uncertain.
貸出金利が一段と下がったとしても、国内需要が盛り上がりを欠く中で、企業が急に投資意欲を増すとは考えにくい。銀行が預金金利をゼロに近づけ、さらにマイナス金利にしたとしても、先行きへの不安が解消しないのに人々が急に消費に走るわけでもなかろう。
Switzerland and Sweden have already implemented negative interest rate policies, but their economy-pumping effects have been marginal at best. In fact, there are growing fears of “side effects,” such as people keeping their money under the proverbial mattress and banks losing their earnings.
マイナス金利政策で先行するスイスやスウェーデンなどでも景気浮揚効果はほとんどなかった。むしろタンス預金の増加や銀行の収益悪化といった副作用のほうが心配されている。
It will soon be three years since Kuroda went ahead with a “new phase” of quantitative and qualitative monetary easing in keeping with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s “Abenomics” theory that drastic monetary easing should jump-start the anemic economy.
強力な金融緩和が経済を押し上げるというアベノミクス路線に乗って走り出した黒田日銀の異次元緩和も開始からまもなく３年になる。
Although Abenomics has raised stock prices and devalued the yen against the dollar, it has brought no significant changes to the nation’s economic growth rate and consumer prices. Because of this disappointing outcome, the Bank of Japan adopted the negative interest rate policy last month.
円安と株高はもたらしたものの、経済成長率や物価はほぼ横ばいで目立った効果はうかがえなかった。その手詰まり感からマイナス金利政策にも手を広げることになった。
On Feb. 9, the Nikkei 225 index fell by more than 900 points, and the yen-dollar exchange rate closed in the lower 114-yen level for the first time in 15 months. These market reactions were the opposite of what all past monetary easing policies brought, and the central bank obviously did not expect this highly irregular outcome.
きのうの日経平均株価は９００円超下げ、円は一時１年３カ月ぶりの円高ドル安の１ドル＝１１４円台前半をつけた。これまでの緩和策への反応とは逆である。これは日銀にとっても想定外の異常事態ではないのか。
If this situation continues, the Japanese economy may well become trapped in a vicious cycle of having to rely on further extreme monetary easing, with no relief in sight. An urgent review of the central bank policy is called for.
このままでは超金融緩和を続けないと回らない経済へと、はまっていきかねない。出口はますます遠くなるばかりだ。早急に政策の見直しが必要だ。
EDITORIAL: BOJ's negative interest rate policy positively ineffective
（社説）長期金利低下 マイナスに潜む不安
The benchmark 10-year Japanese government bond yield on Feb. 9 fell below zero percent on the market for the first time. Is this good news or bad? Many people probably don’t know, but they certainly must be feeling anxious.
これは良いニュースか、悪いニュースか。多くの人がそれさえ理解できないまま、おぼろげな不安だけを感じたのではないか。長期金利の指標となっている１０年物国債がきのうの市場で初めてマイナスになった。
In normal transactions, the idea of negative interest rates is absurd.
本来なら正常な取引でマイナス金利はありえない。
Just think about it: You lend money to someone and you have to pay interest to the borrower? That’s ridiculous. You are obviously better off not lending to anyone because you at least won’t lose any money.
お金を貸した者が借りる者に金利を払うくらいなら、自分でお金を抱えている方が減らないだけましだからだ。
The ridiculous situation surrounding Japanese government bonds was caused by the Bank of Japan’s negative interest rate policy announced on Jan. 29.
にもかかわらずこんな異常な金利が生じたのは、先月２９日に日本銀行が発表した「マイナス金利政策」の影響である。
BOJ Governor Haruhiko Kuroda stressed that adding this negative interest rate policy to his already substantial monetary easing policy “should make for probably the most effective framework in the history of the central bank.”
日銀の黒田東彦総裁は、これまで実施してきた大規模な量的緩和政策にマイナス金利政策を加えることで「これまでの中央銀行の歴史の中で、おそらく最も強力な枠組み」になると強調した。
In a sense, the outcome has surpassed Kuroda’s expectations. Mortgage rates, which were already historically low, have come down further, and the near-nonexistent interest rates on time deposits have shrunk even more. Financial institutions have stopped selling low-yield fund products.
その狙いはある意味で想定以上に効果を発揮した。もともと歴史的低水準にあった住宅ローン金利は一段と下がった。わずかばかりの定期預金金利もさらに圧縮された。金融機関は利回りの魅力が乏しいファンド商品の発売を取りやめた。
But will these developments improve the Japanese economy? We believe the opposite will be the case.
だが、こうした動きが日本経済を好転させるのかといえば、むしろ逆ではないか。
Even if lending rates drop further, it is unlikely that businesses will suddenly start investing more amid sluggish domestic demand. And even if banks further lower interest rates on savings and move on to negative rates, consumers probably will not start spending more so long as their future remains uncertain.
貸出金利が一段と下がったとしても、国内需要が盛り上がりを欠く中で、企業が急に投資意欲を増すとは考えにくい。銀行が預金金利をゼロに近づけ、さらにマイナス金利にしたとしても、先行きへの不安が解消しないのに人々が急に消費に走るわけでもなかろう。
Switzerland and Sweden have already implemented negative interest rate policies, but their economy-pumping effects have been marginal at best. In fact, there are growing fears of “side effects,” such as people keeping their money under the proverbial mattress and banks losing their earnings.
マイナス金利政策で先行するスイスやスウェーデンなどでも景気浮揚効果はほとんどなかった。むしろタンス預金の増加や銀行の収益悪化といった副作用のほうが心配されている。
It will soon be three years since Kuroda went ahead with a “new phase” of quantitative and qualitative monetary easing in keeping with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s “Abenomics” theory that drastic monetary easing should jump-start the anemic economy.
強力な金融緩和が経済を押し上げるというアベノミクス路線に乗って走り出した黒田日銀の異次元緩和も開始からまもなく３年になる。
Although Abenomics has raised stock prices and devalued the yen against the dollar, it has brought no significant changes to the nation’s economic growth rate and consumer prices. Because of this disappointing outcome, the Bank of Japan adopted the negative interest rate policy last month.
円安と株高はもたらしたものの、経済成長率や物価はほぼ横ばいで目立った効果はうかがえなかった。その手詰まり感からマイナス金利政策にも手を広げることになった。
On Feb. 9, the Nikkei 225 index fell by more than 900 points, and the yen-dollar exchange rate closed in the lower 114-yen level for the first time in 15 months. These market reactions were the opposite of what all past monetary easing policies brought, and the central bank obviously did not expect this highly irregular outcome.
きのうの日経平均株価は９００円超下げ、円は一時１年３カ月ぶりの円高ドル安の１ドル＝１１４円台前半をつけた。これまでの緩和策への反応とは逆である。これは日銀にとっても想定外の異常事態ではないのか。
If this situation continues, the Japanese economy may well become trapped in a vicious cycle of having to rely on further extreme monetary easing, with no relief in sight. An urgent review of the central bank policy is called for.
このままでは超金融緩和を続けないと回らない経済へと、はまっていきかねない。出口はますます遠くなるばかりだ。早急に政策の見直しが必要だ。
The Yomiuri Shimbun
Abe should find way forward on Northern Territories in talks with Putin
北方領土問題 首脳会談で打開の糸口を探れ
Russia maintains a tough, inflexible position regarding the territorial issue over the northern islands it occupies off Hokkaido. We hope the stalemate will be broken as Prime Minister Shinzo Abe holds more talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
北方領土問題に対するロシアの姿勢は、硬直的で厳しい。安倍首相がプーチン大統領との会談を重ねる中で、打開の糸口を見つけたい。
Speaking at a national meeting to demand the return of the four islands on Northern Territories Day on Sunday, Abe said, “Negotiations will be conducted tenaciously to work out a final solution through a dialogue of top leaders.”
首相は「北方領土の日」の７日、返還要求全国大会に出席した。領土問題について「首脳レベルの対話を通じ、最終的解決に向けて粘り強く交渉に臨む」と訴えた。
Arrangements are being made for Abe to meet with Putin in the southern Russian city of Sochi during the extended holiday period from late April to early May. Tokyo and Moscow will also attempt to determine the most appropriate time for Putin to visit Japan.
４～５月の大型連休にロシア南部のソチで、プーチン氏と会談する方向で調整している。プーチン氏の来日も、日露両政府が「最も適切な時期」を模索する。
Putin’s decision on the matter is indispensable to resolving the territorial issue. Abe’s desire to seek a solution by visiting Russia is therefore understandable.
領土問題の解決にはプーチン氏の決断が不可欠なだけに、自らの訪露で問題の前進を図ろうとする首相の意図は理解できる。
But opposition can be expected from the United States and some European countries, which are at odds with Russia over the Ukrainian situation. To realize Abe’s visit to Russia ahead of the Ise-Shima summit of the Group of Seven major powers, which will be chaired by Abe, it is essential to secure the understanding of the other G-7 leaders.
ただ、ウクライナ情勢を巡ってロシアと対立する米欧の反発も予想される。主要国首脳会議（伊勢志摩サミット）前に議長の首相が訪露することには、他の首脳の理解を求める努力が欠かせない。
Last month, the government established a new representative post on bilateral issues with Russia and appointed Chikahito Harada, former ambassador to Russia. Harada will represent Japan at vice-ministerial meetings with Russia instead of a deputy minister for foreign affairs. The appointment is believed to be aimed at more intensively tackling the territorial issue by establishing a task force for that purpose.
政府は１月に、日露関係担当の政府代表ポストを新設し、原田親仁・前ロシア大使を起用した。従来の外務審議官に代わって、日露外務次官級協議に出席する。領土交渉の専従体制を作り、腰を据えて取り組むのが狙いだろう。
Abe apparently wants to bolster security relations with Russia, thereby checking China’s increased maritime advancement and North Korea’s nuclear and missile development.
首相には、ロシアとの安全保障関係を強化し、中国の海洋進出や、北朝鮮の核・ミサイル開発を牽制けんせいしたい思惑もあるようだ。
No ‘token of goodwill’
Russia is also wary over China’s emergence. Due to the drop in crude oil prices and the weakness of the ruble, Russia’s economy has continued to deteriorate, with its gross domestic product falling to less than one-fourth of China’s. Some people have expressed concern about the widening gap in strength between the two countries.
ロシアにも、中国の台頭への警戒感がある。原油・ルーブル安によるロシア経済の悪化が続き、国内総生産（ＧＤＰ）は中国の４分の１以下に落ち込んだ。国力の格差拡大を危惧する声もある。
Whether Moscow concurs with Tokyo about the importance of improving bilateral relations in Russia’s rivalry with Beijing could be a factor in making progress on the territorial issue.
ロシアが中国との対抗上、日露関係を改善する重要性を日本と共有するかどうかが、領土問題を進展させる一つのカギとなろう。
A statement made by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov during a news conference in late January cannot be overlooked. “Conclusion of a peace treaty is not a synonym for resolution of the territorial issue,” he said bluntly.
看過できないのは、ロシアのラブロフ外相が１月下旬の記者会見で、「平和条約（の締結）は領土問題の解決と同義語ではない」と言い放ったことだ。
Concerning the return of the Habomai group of islets and Shikokan Island, based on the Japan-Soviet Joint Declaration of 1956, Lavrov said these islands “would be handed over as a token of goodwill, not returned.”
１９５６年の日ソ共同宣言に基づく歯舞、色丹両島の返還についても「返還ではなく、善意のしるしとして引き渡す」と語った。
But since the 1993 Tokyo Declaration on Japan-Russia Relations, both governments have confirmed repeatedly that they would try “to resolve the sovereignty issue over the four islands and conclude a peace treaty.” Thus resolution of the territorial issue and conclusion of a peace treaty are inseparable.
だが、９３年の東京宣言以降、日露両政府は再三、「北方４島の帰属問題を解決し、平和条約を締結する」と確認してきた。領土問題と平和条約は不可分である。
There is no mention of “a token of goodwill” in the Japan-Soviet Joint Declaration. Lavrov’s self-serving interpretation cannot be accepted.
日ソ共同宣言に「善意のしるし」との文言はない。ラブロフ氏の独善的な解釈は容認できない。
While attempting to explore the real intention behind Putin’s reference to resolving the territorial dispute “in a draw,” the government must proceed with negotiations prudently and strategically.
政府は、「引き分け」による領土問題の解決を唱えるプーチン氏の真意を探りながら、慎重かつ戦略的に協議を進めるべきだ。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 9, 2016)
Abe should find way forward on Northern Territories in talks with Putin
北方領土問題 首脳会談で打開の糸口を探れ
Russia maintains a tough, inflexible position regarding the territorial issue over the northern islands it occupies off Hokkaido. We hope the stalemate will be broken as Prime Minister Shinzo Abe holds more talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
北方領土問題に対するロシアの姿勢は、硬直的で厳しい。安倍首相がプーチン大統領との会談を重ねる中で、打開の糸口を見つけたい。
Speaking at a national meeting to demand the return of the four islands on Northern Territories Day on Sunday, Abe said, “Negotiations will be conducted tenaciously to work out a final solution through a dialogue of top leaders.”
首相は「北方領土の日」の７日、返還要求全国大会に出席した。領土問題について「首脳レベルの対話を通じ、最終的解決に向けて粘り強く交渉に臨む」と訴えた。
Arrangements are being made for Abe to meet with Putin in the southern Russian city of Sochi during the extended holiday period from late April to early May. Tokyo and Moscow will also attempt to determine the most appropriate time for Putin to visit Japan.
４～５月の大型連休にロシア南部のソチで、プーチン氏と会談する方向で調整している。プーチン氏の来日も、日露両政府が「最も適切な時期」を模索する。
Putin’s decision on the matter is indispensable to resolving the territorial issue. Abe’s desire to seek a solution by visiting Russia is therefore understandable.
領土問題の解決にはプーチン氏の決断が不可欠なだけに、自らの訪露で問題の前進を図ろうとする首相の意図は理解できる。
But opposition can be expected from the United States and some European countries, which are at odds with Russia over the Ukrainian situation. To realize Abe’s visit to Russia ahead of the Ise-Shima summit of the Group of Seven major powers, which will be chaired by Abe, it is essential to secure the understanding of the other G-7 leaders.
ただ、ウクライナ情勢を巡ってロシアと対立する米欧の反発も予想される。主要国首脳会議（伊勢志摩サミット）前に議長の首相が訪露することには、他の首脳の理解を求める努力が欠かせない。
Last month, the government established a new representative post on bilateral issues with Russia and appointed Chikahito Harada, former ambassador to Russia. Harada will represent Japan at vice-ministerial meetings with Russia instead of a deputy minister for foreign affairs. The appointment is believed to be aimed at more intensively tackling the territorial issue by establishing a task force for that purpose.
政府は１月に、日露関係担当の政府代表ポストを新設し、原田親仁・前ロシア大使を起用した。従来の外務審議官に代わって、日露外務次官級協議に出席する。領土交渉の専従体制を作り、腰を据えて取り組むのが狙いだろう。
Abe apparently wants to bolster security relations with Russia, thereby checking China’s increased maritime advancement and North Korea’s nuclear and missile development.
首相には、ロシアとの安全保障関係を強化し、中国の海洋進出や、北朝鮮の核・ミサイル開発を牽制けんせいしたい思惑もあるようだ。
No ‘token of goodwill’
Russia is also wary over China’s emergence. Due to the drop in crude oil prices and the weakness of the ruble, Russia’s economy has continued to deteriorate, with its gross domestic product falling to less than one-fourth of China’s. Some people have expressed concern about the widening gap in strength between the two countries.
ロシアにも、中国の台頭への警戒感がある。原油・ルーブル安によるロシア経済の悪化が続き、国内総生産（ＧＤＰ）は中国の４分の１以下に落ち込んだ。国力の格差拡大を危惧する声もある。
Whether Moscow concurs with Tokyo about the importance of improving bilateral relations in Russia’s rivalry with Beijing could be a factor in making progress on the territorial issue.
ロシアが中国との対抗上、日露関係を改善する重要性を日本と共有するかどうかが、領土問題を進展させる一つのカギとなろう。
A statement made by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov during a news conference in late January cannot be overlooked. “Conclusion of a peace treaty is not a synonym for resolution of the territorial issue,” he said bluntly.
看過できないのは、ロシアのラブロフ外相が１月下旬の記者会見で、「平和条約（の締結）は領土問題の解決と同義語ではない」と言い放ったことだ。
Concerning the return of the Habomai group of islets and Shikokan Island, based on the Japan-Soviet Joint Declaration of 1956, Lavrov said these islands “would be handed over as a token of goodwill, not returned.”
１９５６年の日ソ共同宣言に基づく歯舞、色丹両島の返還についても「返還ではなく、善意のしるしとして引き渡す」と語った。
But since the 1993 Tokyo Declaration on Japan-Russia Relations, both governments have confirmed repeatedly that they would try “to resolve the sovereignty issue over the four islands and conclude a peace treaty.” Thus resolution of the territorial issue and conclusion of a peace treaty are inseparable.
だが、９３年の東京宣言以降、日露両政府は再三、「北方４島の帰属問題を解決し、平和条約を締結する」と確認してきた。領土問題と平和条約は不可分である。
There is no mention of “a token of goodwill” in the Japan-Soviet Joint Declaration. Lavrov’s self-serving interpretation cannot be accepted.
日ソ共同宣言に「善意のしるし」との文言はない。ラブロフ氏の独善的な解釈は容認できない。
While attempting to explore the real intention behind Putin’s reference to resolving the territorial dispute “in a draw,” the government must proceed with negotiations prudently and strategically.
政府は、「引き分け」による領土問題の解決を唱えるプーチン氏の真意を探りながら、慎重かつ戦略的に協議を進めるべきだ。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 9, 2016)
The Yomiuri Shimbun
North Korea missile launch needs strong UNSC response
北ミサイル発射 地域の安定を揺るがす暴挙だ
◆安保理は厳格な制裁決議を急げ
North Korea’s latest missile launch has further increased the threat from that country, which is shaking the regional peace and stability. The international community must unite in its efforts to deal with the threat.
地域の平和と安定を揺るがす北朝鮮の脅威が一段と増大した。国際社会は結束し、対応せねばならない。
North Korea has gone ahead with launching a long-range ballistic missile under the pretext of orbiting what it described as a “satellite.” It is an absolute folly.
北朝鮮が「人工衛星打ち上げ」との名目で、長距離弾道ミサイルの発射を強行した。愚挙の極みである。
In an “important special broadcast,” state-run Korean Central Television announced that the country had launched an Earth observation satellite and successfully put it into orbit.
国営の朝鮮中央テレビは「特別重大報道」で「地球観測衛星を打ち上げ、軌道への進入に完全に成功した」と発表した。
U.N. Security Council resolutions previously adopted over North Korea’s nuclear weapon and missile development prohibit Pyongyang from any launch using ballistic missile technology. The country’s latest missile launch, along with January’s nuclear test, was a clear violation of the resolutions.
北朝鮮の核・ミサイル開発を巡る国連安全保障理事会の決議は、弾道ミサイル技術を使った発射を禁じている。今回の発射が、１月の核実験と同様に、決議に違反しているのは明白だ。
Increasing concern
◆懸念増す核運搬技術
North Korea’s repeated reckless conducts, which pose a serious challenge to the international order, cannot be tolerated. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe had every reason to emphasize his determination, saying, “We will resolutely take measures, acting in cooperation with the international community.”
度重なる暴挙は、国際秩序への深刻な挑戦であり、決して容認できない。安倍首相が「国際社会と連携して、毅然きぜんと対応していく」と強調したのは当然である。
The missile recently launched by North Korea is believed to have been a three-stage ballistic missile similar to an improved version of the Taepodong 2 missile, a model the country sent aloft in December 2012. According to observations by the U.S. authorities, an object detached from the missile is believed to have circled the Earth.
北朝鮮が発射したのは、前回の２０１２年１２月の「テポドン２改良型」に類似した３段式の弾道ミサイルとみられている。米当局の観測によると、ミサイルから分離された物体が地球を周回した模様だ。
The fact that it reached outer space like in 2012, illustrates advancement in that nation’s missile technology. Some point out North Korea’s extension of a launchpad last year was part of an effort to increase the size of its missiles, thereby extend the range.
前回に続いて宇宙空間にまで到達したことは、北朝鮮のミサイル技術の前進を裏付ける。昨年の発射台の延長工事は、ミサイル大型化で射程を伸ばす目的だったとの見方もある。
North Korea’s effort to develop missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads and reaching the U.S. mainland is aimed at bringing the United States to the negotiating table.
北朝鮮は、米本土を核搭載ミサイルで攻撃できる能力を確立することで、米国を交渉の場に引き出すのが狙いだろう。
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, first secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea, is inexperienced and rules his country through a reign of terror in which close aides are purged one after another. We feel the latest missile launch shows he has become even more incapable of making reasonable decisions.
経験が乏しい金正恩第１書記は側近を次々に粛清する恐怖政治を敷いている。ミサイル発射は、ますます合理的な判断ができなくなっている証左ではないのか。
The U.N. Security Council is to discuss the latest missile launch at an emergency meeting. It is essential for the council to hammer out effective measures. Japan, a nonpermanent member of the council, needs to proactively work to encourage other members of the U.N. organ to adopt strong sanctions against North Korea.
安保理は緊急会合で、発射問題を協議する。実効性のある措置を打ち出すことが肝要だ。非常任理事国の日本も、強力な制裁決議の採択を他の理事国に積極的に働きかける必要がある。
China’s responsibility
◆中国の責任は重大だ
The problem is that China, which holds a lifeline that can determine whether North Korea can survive economically, remains cautious about strengthening sanctions. Although Beijing said North Korea’s missile launch was “regrettable,” it avoided any strong denunciation of Pyongyang.
問題なのは、経済面で北朝鮮の生命線を握る中国が、制裁強化に慎重姿勢を崩していないことだ。中国政府は発射に「遺憾」を表明したが、厳しい非難は避けた。
Chinese President Xi Jinping spoke by phone with U.S. President Barack Obama two days before the missile launch and confirmed the need for a coordinated response to North Korea’s actions.
習近平国家主席はミサイル発射の２日前、オバマ米大統領と電話会談し、連携して北朝鮮に対応することを確認していた。
Yet Xi insisted only on a solution through dialogue and consultation, indicating that it will not compromise with the United States, which called for stronger sanctions.
しかし、習氏は「対話と協議を通じて問題を解決する」と語るだけで、強力な制裁を追求する米国への歩み寄りを見せなかった。
China’s lukewarm posture may have bolstered North Korea. Shortly after the U.S.-China phone conversation, North Korea notified an international organization that it was bringing forward the start of the window during which it would launch a rocket.
こうした中国の中途半端な姿勢が、北朝鮮を増長させたのではないか。北朝鮮は、米中電話会談の直後、国際機関に対して発射予告期間の前倒しを通告した。
North Korea has repeatedly conducted nuclear tests and missile launches. It is obvious that previous sanctions are not sufficient.
北朝鮮は核実験とミサイル発射を繰り返している。従来の制裁が不十分なのは明らかだろう。
China should no longer avoid imposing sanctions on North Korea, which would deal a blow to Pyongyang, and should cooperate with the U.N. Security Council to adopt strong sanctions.
中国は北朝鮮に打撃を与える制裁をこれ以上回避せず、安保理決議の採択に協力すべきだ。
In criticizing the launch, South Korean President Park Geun-hye said North Korea is trying to advance its nuclear technology and missile capability to deliver a nuclear weapon.
朴槿恵韓国大統領は、発射を非難し、「北朝鮮は核と、その運搬手段であるミサイル能力を高度化しようとしている」と断じた。
The South Korean government announced that it would begin official talks with the United States to deploy one of the most advanced U.S. missile defense systems in South Korea. Seoul’s decision, made in disregard of China’s opposition, can be construed as a decision to modify its tilt toward China.
韓国政府は、最新鋭の米ミサイル防衛システムの韓国配備について、米国と公式協議を行うと発表した。中国の反対を押し切っての決定で、対中傾斜を修正する意思の表れだと言えよう。
North Korea is said to have deployed a large number of Rodong ballistic missiles that can reach Japan. If North Korea improves the accuracy of the missiles, they will, together with the country’s ability to develop smaller nuclear weapons, pose a more serious threat to Japan.
北朝鮮は、日本を射程に収める弾道ミサイル・ノドンを大量に実戦配備しているとされる。ミサイルの精度が向上すれば、核兵器の小型化と相まって、日本にとっても脅威が深刻化する。
Immediately after the missile launch, the Japanese government held a meeting of the National Security Council attended by its four ministers, to analyze intelligence and discuss what actions should be taken in the days ahead.
政府はミサイル発射の直後に、国家安全保障会議（ＮＳＣ）の４大臣会合を開いて、情報を分析し、今後の対応などを協議した。
Three minutes after the missile launch, the government reported the relevant information to local governments in Okinawa Prefecture and others, through the J-Alert instant warning system. The smooth transmission of this information was praiseworthy.
政府は発射の３分後、全国瞬時警報システム「Ｊアラート」で沖縄県の自治体などに情報を速報した。概おおむね円滑な情報伝達が行われたのは評価できる。
Bolster crisis control
◆危機管理体制を万全に
Although the Self-Defense Forces had been ordered to intercept any incoming missiles from North Korea, no measures to intercept were taken, as the SDF judged that there was no possibility of the missile falling onto Japanese territory.
自衛隊には、「破壊措置命令」が出されていたが、ミサイルが国内に落下する恐れはないと判断し、迎撃措置は取らなかった。
It was appropriate that the SDF, by responding promptly to North Korea’s advancing the start of the window for launching a rocket, had completed its deployment of the Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) surface-to-air guided missile units and other preparations.
北朝鮮の発射予告期間の前倒しに迅速に対処し、自衛隊が地対空誘導弾ＰＡＣ３などの配備を完了させたのは適切だった。
It is essential to examine the latest series of responses and beef up the crisis-management system for the entire country.
今回の一連の対応を検証し、日本全体の危機管理体制を強化することが欠かせない。
North Korea has also postponed its report on the reinvestigation of the abducted Japanese nationals. The government should consider in earnest the revival or reinforcement of its own sanctions that were lifted earlier.
北朝鮮は、日本人拉致被害者の再調査の報告も先送りしている。政府は、解除した独自制裁の復活や強化を真剣に検討すべきだ。
As North Korea has continued taking actions that completely run counter to improving its relations with Japan, this country will implement harsh measures commensurate to the steps taken by North Korea. It is important for this country to adhere to the principle of “action for action.”
北朝鮮が対日関係改善に完全に逆行する行動を続けた以上、日本は、それに見合う厳しい措置を取る。「行動対行動」の原則を貫くことが重要である。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 8, 2016)
North Korea missile launch needs strong UNSC response
北ミサイル発射 地域の安定を揺るがす暴挙だ
◆安保理は厳格な制裁決議を急げ
North Korea’s latest missile launch has further increased the threat from that country, which is shaking the regional peace and stability. The international community must unite in its efforts to deal with the threat.
地域の平和と安定を揺るがす北朝鮮の脅威が一段と増大した。国際社会は結束し、対応せねばならない。
North Korea has gone ahead with launching a long-range ballistic missile under the pretext of orbiting what it described as a “satellite.” It is an absolute folly.
北朝鮮が「人工衛星打ち上げ」との名目で、長距離弾道ミサイルの発射を強行した。愚挙の極みである。
In an “important special broadcast,” state-run Korean Central Television announced that the country had launched an Earth observation satellite and successfully put it into orbit.
国営の朝鮮中央テレビは「特別重大報道」で「地球観測衛星を打ち上げ、軌道への進入に完全に成功した」と発表した。
U.N. Security Council resolutions previously adopted over North Korea’s nuclear weapon and missile development prohibit Pyongyang from any launch using ballistic missile technology. The country’s latest missile launch, along with January’s nuclear test, was a clear violation of the resolutions.
北朝鮮の核・ミサイル開発を巡る国連安全保障理事会の決議は、弾道ミサイル技術を使った発射を禁じている。今回の発射が、１月の核実験と同様に、決議に違反しているのは明白だ。
Increasing concern
◆懸念増す核運搬技術
North Korea’s repeated reckless conducts, which pose a serious challenge to the international order, cannot be tolerated. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe had every reason to emphasize his determination, saying, “We will resolutely take measures, acting in cooperation with the international community.”
度重なる暴挙は、国際秩序への深刻な挑戦であり、決して容認できない。安倍首相が「国際社会と連携して、毅然きぜんと対応していく」と強調したのは当然である。
The missile recently launched by North Korea is believed to have been a three-stage ballistic missile similar to an improved version of the Taepodong 2 missile, a model the country sent aloft in December 2012. According to observations by the U.S. authorities, an object detached from the missile is believed to have circled the Earth.
北朝鮮が発射したのは、前回の２０１２年１２月の「テポドン２改良型」に類似した３段式の弾道ミサイルとみられている。米当局の観測によると、ミサイルから分離された物体が地球を周回した模様だ。
The fact that it reached outer space like in 2012, illustrates advancement in that nation’s missile technology. Some point out North Korea’s extension of a launchpad last year was part of an effort to increase the size of its missiles, thereby extend the range.
前回に続いて宇宙空間にまで到達したことは、北朝鮮のミサイル技術の前進を裏付ける。昨年の発射台の延長工事は、ミサイル大型化で射程を伸ばす目的だったとの見方もある。
North Korea’s effort to develop missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads and reaching the U.S. mainland is aimed at bringing the United States to the negotiating table.
北朝鮮は、米本土を核搭載ミサイルで攻撃できる能力を確立することで、米国を交渉の場に引き出すのが狙いだろう。
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, first secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea, is inexperienced and rules his country through a reign of terror in which close aides are purged one after another. We feel the latest missile launch shows he has become even more incapable of making reasonable decisions.
経験が乏しい金正恩第１書記は側近を次々に粛清する恐怖政治を敷いている。ミサイル発射は、ますます合理的な判断ができなくなっている証左ではないのか。
The U.N. Security Council is to discuss the latest missile launch at an emergency meeting. It is essential for the council to hammer out effective measures. Japan, a nonpermanent member of the council, needs to proactively work to encourage other members of the U.N. organ to adopt strong sanctions against North Korea.
安保理は緊急会合で、発射問題を協議する。実効性のある措置を打ち出すことが肝要だ。非常任理事国の日本も、強力な制裁決議の採択を他の理事国に積極的に働きかける必要がある。
China’s responsibility
◆中国の責任は重大だ
The problem is that China, which holds a lifeline that can determine whether North Korea can survive economically, remains cautious about strengthening sanctions. Although Beijing said North Korea’s missile launch was “regrettable,” it avoided any strong denunciation of Pyongyang.
問題なのは、経済面で北朝鮮の生命線を握る中国が、制裁強化に慎重姿勢を崩していないことだ。中国政府は発射に「遺憾」を表明したが、厳しい非難は避けた。
Chinese President Xi Jinping spoke by phone with U.S. President Barack Obama two days before the missile launch and confirmed the need for a coordinated response to North Korea’s actions.
習近平国家主席はミサイル発射の２日前、オバマ米大統領と電話会談し、連携して北朝鮮に対応することを確認していた。
Yet Xi insisted only on a solution through dialogue and consultation, indicating that it will not compromise with the United States, which called for stronger sanctions.
しかし、習氏は「対話と協議を通じて問題を解決する」と語るだけで、強力な制裁を追求する米国への歩み寄りを見せなかった。
China’s lukewarm posture may have bolstered North Korea. Shortly after the U.S.-China phone conversation, North Korea notified an international organization that it was bringing forward the start of the window during which it would launch a rocket.
こうした中国の中途半端な姿勢が、北朝鮮を増長させたのではないか。北朝鮮は、米中電話会談の直後、国際機関に対して発射予告期間の前倒しを通告した。
North Korea has repeatedly conducted nuclear tests and missile launches. It is obvious that previous sanctions are not sufficient.
北朝鮮は核実験とミサイル発射を繰り返している。従来の制裁が不十分なのは明らかだろう。
China should no longer avoid imposing sanctions on North Korea, which would deal a blow to Pyongyang, and should cooperate with the U.N. Security Council to adopt strong sanctions.
中国は北朝鮮に打撃を与える制裁をこれ以上回避せず、安保理決議の採択に協力すべきだ。
In criticizing the launch, South Korean President Park Geun-hye said North Korea is trying to advance its nuclear technology and missile capability to deliver a nuclear weapon.
朴槿恵韓国大統領は、発射を非難し、「北朝鮮は核と、その運搬手段であるミサイル能力を高度化しようとしている」と断じた。
The South Korean government announced that it would begin official talks with the United States to deploy one of the most advanced U.S. missile defense systems in South Korea. Seoul’s decision, made in disregard of China’s opposition, can be construed as a decision to modify its tilt toward China.
韓国政府は、最新鋭の米ミサイル防衛システムの韓国配備について、米国と公式協議を行うと発表した。中国の反対を押し切っての決定で、対中傾斜を修正する意思の表れだと言えよう。
North Korea is said to have deployed a large number of Rodong ballistic missiles that can reach Japan. If North Korea improves the accuracy of the missiles, they will, together with the country’s ability to develop smaller nuclear weapons, pose a more serious threat to Japan.
北朝鮮は、日本を射程に収める弾道ミサイル・ノドンを大量に実戦配備しているとされる。ミサイルの精度が向上すれば、核兵器の小型化と相まって、日本にとっても脅威が深刻化する。
Immediately after the missile launch, the Japanese government held a meeting of the National Security Council attended by its four ministers, to analyze intelligence and discuss what actions should be taken in the days ahead.
政府はミサイル発射の直後に、国家安全保障会議（ＮＳＣ）の４大臣会合を開いて、情報を分析し、今後の対応などを協議した。
Three minutes after the missile launch, the government reported the relevant information to local governments in Okinawa Prefecture and others, through the J-Alert instant warning system. The smooth transmission of this information was praiseworthy.
政府は発射の３分後、全国瞬時警報システム「Ｊアラート」で沖縄県の自治体などに情報を速報した。概おおむね円滑な情報伝達が行われたのは評価できる。
Bolster crisis control
◆危機管理体制を万全に
Although the Self-Defense Forces had been ordered to intercept any incoming missiles from North Korea, no measures to intercept were taken, as the SDF judged that there was no possibility of the missile falling onto Japanese territory.
自衛隊には、「破壊措置命令」が出されていたが、ミサイルが国内に落下する恐れはないと判断し、迎撃措置は取らなかった。
It was appropriate that the SDF, by responding promptly to North Korea’s advancing the start of the window for launching a rocket, had completed its deployment of the Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) surface-to-air guided missile units and other preparations.
北朝鮮の発射予告期間の前倒しに迅速に対処し、自衛隊が地対空誘導弾ＰＡＣ３などの配備を完了させたのは適切だった。
It is essential to examine the latest series of responses and beef up the crisis-management system for the entire country.
今回の一連の対応を検証し、日本全体の危機管理体制を強化することが欠かせない。
North Korea has also postponed its report on the reinvestigation of the abducted Japanese nationals. The government should consider in earnest the revival or reinforcement of its own sanctions that were lifted earlier.
北朝鮮は、日本人拉致被害者の再調査の報告も先送りしている。政府は、解除した独自制裁の復活や強化を真剣に検討すべきだ。
As North Korea has continued taking actions that completely run counter to improving its relations with Japan, this country will implement harsh measures commensurate to the steps taken by North Korea. It is important for this country to adhere to the principle of “action for action.”
北朝鮮が対日関係改善に完全に逆行する行動を続けた以上、日本は、それに見合う厳しい措置を取る。「行動対行動」の原則を貫くことが重要である。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 8, 2016)
The Yomiuri Shimbun
Use cultural power to promote migration to provincial areas
地方の未来 移住促進へ文化力を生かそう
The excessive concentration of people and industry in the Tokyo metropolitan area continues. How can we create a flow of people to provincial areas where the population is decreasing?
東京圏への一極集中が止まらない。人口減少が続く地方への人の流れをいかに作り出すか。
Attracting people by utilizing their inherent cultures and uncovering alluring features unique to particular areas will be an important consideration.
地域文化を生かして固有の魅力を発掘し、人を呼び込む視点が肝要だろう。
According to a 2015 population migration report compiled by the Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry, people who moved into the Tokyo metropolitan area numbered nearly 120,000 more than those who had moved out of it. For 20 straight years, the number of people who moved into the metropolitan area exceeded the number of those who moved out.
総務省の２０１５年の人口移動報告で、東京圏への転入者が転出者を１２万人近く上回った。２０年連続の転入超過である。
Among Japan’s three largest urban sprawls, however, more people have left the Osaka and Nagoya areas compared to those who have moved in.
３大都市圏でも、大阪、名古屋圏は逆に転出者の方が多い。
In its comprehensive strategy for “vitalization of local economies,” the government aims to equalize the figures of those moving into and out of the metropolitan area by 2020. However, if nothing is done to change the current situation, it will be impossible to achieve this goal. Genuine efforts must be made to promote the migration of people to provincial areas.
政府は「地方創生」の総合戦略で、２０年に東京圏から地方への転出と転入を均衡させる目標を掲げた。現状を放置していては、目標達成は見通せない。地方移住の促進に本腰を入れる必要がある。
How can the attractions of provincial areas be made to shine and conveyed elsewhere? First, the number of visitors to those areas should be increased by organizing sightseeing, homecoming and migration tours. In addition to migration, the return of people to provincial areas must be carried forward by aiming to realize “residency in two areas” — or the lifestyle of moving back and forth between urban and provincial areas.
地域の魅力をどう磨き、発信するか。まずは観光や帰省、移住を誘うツアーによる来訪者を増やしたい。移住に加え、都市と地方を往還する「２地域居住」も目指し、地方回帰を進めねばならない。
The cultural powers rooted in each area should be used. There are various kinds of cultural resources — such as history, cultural property, traditional arts, customs, local cuisine and scenery — but some provincial areas have not yet identified their values.
活用したいのが、地域に根づく文化の力だ。歴史や文化財、伝統芸能、習俗、郷土食、景観など、文化資源は数多いが、価値に気づいていない地域もあろう。
Discovering hidden assets
Both the public and private sectors should unearth hidden cultural resources and disseminate information about them domestically and internationally in a variety of creative ways, including promotional videos.
埋もれた資源を官民で掘り起こし、ＰＲ動画を含め、工夫を凝らして国内外に発信したい。
Good use should be made of “Japan Heritage,” a system launched last year by the Cultural Affairs Agency.
文化庁が昨年、設けた「日本遺産」をうまく使ってはどうか。
Under the system, cultural resources scattered in provincial areas that are connected by a “story” are considered heritages. So far, 18 resources have been recognized following applications from local governments.
地域に点在する文化資源を結びつける「物語」を遺産としてとらえる制度だ。自治体の申請に基づき、計１８件が認定されている。
For example, the Shikoku Henro, straddling 57 municipalities in the Shikoku region, is considered a piece of heritage based on the culture of pilgrimage routes. Akari Mau Hanto Noto (Noto peninsula of dancing lights) is a piece of heritage focusing on the Kiriko Matsuri traditional lantern float festivals handed down in six Ishikawa Prefecture municipalities.
四国の５７市町村にまたがる「四国遍路」は、巡礼文化をたどる遺産だ。「灯あかり舞う半島 能登」は石川県の６市町に息づく伝統のキリコ祭りにスポットを当てた。
Such heritages should be developed as tourism resources. They are expected to have the effect of attracting not only Japanese people but also visitors to Japan from abroad.
観光資源として整備したい。日本人だけでなく、訪日外国人客を誘導する効果も期待できる。
Local governments must work jointly with local residents to find candidates for Japan Heritage. Such efforts would also help local people create a sense of pride in their regions, and nurture human resources to lead development of those areas.
自治体が住民と協力して遺産候補を探すことが大切だ。郷土への誇りを培い、地域づくりを先導する人材の育成にも役立とう。
It is also important to consider the increasing number of vacant houses and retail premises, and abolished school buildings, as assets, and try to reuse them as accommodations and operational bases for migrating workers and other people.
増え続ける空き家や空き店舗、廃校舎を資源ととらえ、移住者らの滞在施設や活動拠点として再利用する発想も欠かせない。
For example, the village of Higashi-Yoshino, Nara Prefecture, renovated a vacant house into a shared office last year. Working conditions in the mountain village became popular via the Internet, and five people have already migrated to work there.
奈良県東吉野村は昨年、空き家を共有オフィスに改装した。山里の作業環境がネット上で評判を呼び、既に５人が移住した。
According to a survey by the Cabinet Office, nearly 40 percent of urban residents in their 20s indicated that they wish to settle down in farming, fishing or mountain villages. The attractions of working in traditional village culture should be presented to young people wishing to live outside of urban areas to entice them into provincial areas.
内閣府調査によると、都会の２０歳代の４割近くが農山漁村への定住願望を抱く。里山文化を体感して働く魅力を提案し、ローカル志向の若者を呼び込みたい。
The government should place importance on vitalization of local economies with cultural power. We expect the central government to help local governments tap their cultural resources and connect such efforts to a correction of the excessive concentration of people and industry in the metropolitan area.
政府は、文化力による地方創生を重視すべきだ。自治体の文化資源の活用を後押しし、一極集中の是正につなげてもらいたい。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 6, 2016)
Use cultural power to promote migration to provincial areas
地方の未来 移住促進へ文化力を生かそう
The excessive concentration of people and industry in the Tokyo metropolitan area continues. How can we create a flow of people to provincial areas where the population is decreasing?
東京圏への一極集中が止まらない。人口減少が続く地方への人の流れをいかに作り出すか。
Attracting people by utilizing their inherent cultures and uncovering alluring features unique to particular areas will be an important consideration.
地域文化を生かして固有の魅力を発掘し、人を呼び込む視点が肝要だろう。
According to a 2015 population migration report compiled by the Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry, people who moved into the Tokyo metropolitan area numbered nearly 120,000 more than those who had moved out of it. For 20 straight years, the number of people who moved into the metropolitan area exceeded the number of those who moved out.
総務省の２０１５年の人口移動報告で、東京圏への転入者が転出者を１２万人近く上回った。２０年連続の転入超過である。
Among Japan’s three largest urban sprawls, however, more people have left the Osaka and Nagoya areas compared to those who have moved in.
３大都市圏でも、大阪、名古屋圏は逆に転出者の方が多い。
In its comprehensive strategy for “vitalization of local economies,” the government aims to equalize the figures of those moving into and out of the metropolitan area by 2020. However, if nothing is done to change the current situation, it will be impossible to achieve this goal. Genuine efforts must be made to promote the migration of people to provincial areas.
政府は「地方創生」の総合戦略で、２０年に東京圏から地方への転出と転入を均衡させる目標を掲げた。現状を放置していては、目標達成は見通せない。地方移住の促進に本腰を入れる必要がある。
How can the attractions of provincial areas be made to shine and conveyed elsewhere? First, the number of visitors to those areas should be increased by organizing sightseeing, homecoming and migration tours. In addition to migration, the return of people to provincial areas must be carried forward by aiming to realize “residency in two areas” — or the lifestyle of moving back and forth between urban and provincial areas.
地域の魅力をどう磨き、発信するか。まずは観光や帰省、移住を誘うツアーによる来訪者を増やしたい。移住に加え、都市と地方を往還する「２地域居住」も目指し、地方回帰を進めねばならない。
The cultural powers rooted in each area should be used. There are various kinds of cultural resources — such as history, cultural property, traditional arts, customs, local cuisine and scenery — but some provincial areas have not yet identified their values.
活用したいのが、地域に根づく文化の力だ。歴史や文化財、伝統芸能、習俗、郷土食、景観など、文化資源は数多いが、価値に気づいていない地域もあろう。
Discovering hidden assets
Both the public and private sectors should unearth hidden cultural resources and disseminate information about them domestically and internationally in a variety of creative ways, including promotional videos.
埋もれた資源を官民で掘り起こし、ＰＲ動画を含め、工夫を凝らして国内外に発信したい。
Good use should be made of “Japan Heritage,” a system launched last year by the Cultural Affairs Agency.
文化庁が昨年、設けた「日本遺産」をうまく使ってはどうか。
Under the system, cultural resources scattered in provincial areas that are connected by a “story” are considered heritages. So far, 18 resources have been recognized following applications from local governments.
地域に点在する文化資源を結びつける「物語」を遺産としてとらえる制度だ。自治体の申請に基づき、計１８件が認定されている。
For example, the Shikoku Henro, straddling 57 municipalities in the Shikoku region, is considered a piece of heritage based on the culture of pilgrimage routes. Akari Mau Hanto Noto (Noto peninsula of dancing lights) is a piece of heritage focusing on the Kiriko Matsuri traditional lantern float festivals handed down in six Ishikawa Prefecture municipalities.
四国の５７市町村にまたがる「四国遍路」は、巡礼文化をたどる遺産だ。「灯あかり舞う半島 能登」は石川県の６市町に息づく伝統のキリコ祭りにスポットを当てた。
Such heritages should be developed as tourism resources. They are expected to have the effect of attracting not only Japanese people but also visitors to Japan from abroad.
観光資源として整備したい。日本人だけでなく、訪日外国人客を誘導する効果も期待できる。
Local governments must work jointly with local residents to find candidates for Japan Heritage. Such efforts would also help local people create a sense of pride in their regions, and nurture human resources to lead development of those areas.
自治体が住民と協力して遺産候補を探すことが大切だ。郷土への誇りを培い、地域づくりを先導する人材の育成にも役立とう。
It is also important to consider the increasing number of vacant houses and retail premises, and abolished school buildings, as assets, and try to reuse them as accommodations and operational bases for migrating workers and other people.
増え続ける空き家や空き店舗、廃校舎を資源ととらえ、移住者らの滞在施設や活動拠点として再利用する発想も欠かせない。
For example, the village of Higashi-Yoshino, Nara Prefecture, renovated a vacant house into a shared office last year. Working conditions in the mountain village became popular via the Internet, and five people have already migrated to work there.
奈良県東吉野村は昨年、空き家を共有オフィスに改装した。山里の作業環境がネット上で評判を呼び、既に５人が移住した。
According to a survey by the Cabinet Office, nearly 40 percent of urban residents in their 20s indicated that they wish to settle down in farming, fishing or mountain villages. The attractions of working in traditional village culture should be presented to young people wishing to live outside of urban areas to entice them into provincial areas.
内閣府調査によると、都会の２０歳代の４割近くが農山漁村への定住願望を抱く。里山文化を体感して働く魅力を提案し、ローカル志向の若者を呼び込みたい。
The government should place importance on vitalization of local economies with cultural power. We expect the central government to help local governments tap their cultural resources and connect such efforts to a correction of the excessive concentration of people and industry in the metropolitan area.
政府は、文化力による地方創生を重視すべきだ。自治体の文化資源の活用を後押しし、一極集中の是正につなげてもらいたい。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 6, 2016)
--The Asahi Shimbun, Feb. 6
EDITORIAL: Abe’s perverse argument for rewriting Constitution
（社説）首相の改憲論 あまりの倒錯に驚く
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has been aggressively signaling his eagerness to rewrite the Constitution, which potentially includes the revision of its war-renouncing Article 9.
安倍首相が、９条も視野に入れた憲法改正への意欲を積極的に発信している。
He is apparently hoping to pave the way for realizing his long-cherished dream ahead of the Upper House election to be held in summer. His reasoning, however, is strikingly perverse.
夏の参院選を控え、悲願の実現に向けた地ならしをする狙いがあるようだ。だが、その論法はあまりにも倒錯している。
Seventy percent of constitutional scholars have judged that, in light of the interpretation of Article 9, the very presence of the Self-Defense Forces may violate the Constitution, the prime minister told a session of the Lower House Budget Committee. “There is a prevailing belief that this situation must be eliminated.”
首相は衆院予算委員会で「憲法学者の７割が、９条の解釈からすれば自衛隊の存在自体が憲法違反のおそれがあると判断している」「この状況をなくすべきではないかという考え方もある」と述べた。
He made the remark in reply to a question from his close aide Tomomi Inada, chairwoman of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party’s Policy Research Council, who said, “Constitutionalism is being emasculated somewhat by leaving Paragraph 2 of Article 9, which no longer fits reality, intact.”
首相に近い自民党の稲田政調会長が「現実に合わない９条２項をこのままにしておくことこそ、立憲主義を空洞化する」と聞いたのに答えたものだ。
In an Asahi Shimbun survey of constitutional scholars last year, 63 percent of the respondents said they believed the presence of SDF troops either “violates” or “may violate” the Constitution. But at the same time, 98 percent of the respondents also pointed out that bills for new security legislation, which the Abe administration had submitted to the Diet after reinterpreting the Constitution to lift Japan’s self-imposed ban on the right to exercise collective self-defense, either “violate” or “may violate” the Constitution.
確かに朝日新聞の昨年の憲法学者へのアンケートでは、６３％が自衛隊の存在は「憲法違反」「憲法違反の可能性がある」と答えている。同時に、安倍政権が集団的自衛権の行使を認める憲法解釈変更をへて国会に提出した安全保障関連法案については、９８％が「違憲」「違憲の可能性」を指摘している。
Abe’s Cabinet overrode the opposition of a majority of constitutional scholars and of the public by overturning the constitutional interpretation of successive Cabinets, which long held the view that Japan was not allowed to exercise the right to collective self-defense.
多数の憲法学者と国民の反対を押し切り、集団的自衛権は行使できないとの歴代内閣の憲法解釈を、閣議決定だけで変えてしまったのは安倍内閣である。
The right course for Abe would be to retract the security legislation if he takes issue with the disagreement between the existence of SDF troops and the views of scholars. He should also engage in serious soul-searching if he finds fault with constitutionalism being “emasculated.”
自衛隊の存在と学者の見解とのへだたりを問題にするのであれば、安保法制を撤回するのが筋ではないか。「立憲主義の空洞化」を批判するなら、まずは我が身を省みるべきだろう。
“Believing that even a finger should not be laid on the Constitution amounts to abandoning thought,” Abe told a lawmaker of the opposition Democratic Party of Japan, who called Abe’s Diet responses into question, during a separate Diet session. “Instead of doing so, the LDP has presented a draft for amendments,” said the prime minister, who challenged the DPJ to present its own.
首相は国会で、一連の答弁を疑問視する民主党議員に対し、「憲法に指一本触れてはならないと考えることで思考停止になる」「自民党はそうではなく、改正草案を示している」と語り、民主党にも草案を「出してみて下さいよ」と挑発した。
Abe simply steamrolled his reinterpretation of the Constitution in circumventing the process of amending it when he had his Cabinet lift the ban on the right to exercise collective self-defense. But he now proudly says his party has “presented a draft for amendments.” How can he be so opportunistic?
集団的自衛権の行使容認では憲法改正の手続きを避け、解釈変更を押し通しながら、いまになって「改正案を示している」と胸を張る。ずいぶんと都合のいい話ではないか。
The LDP’s draft for an amended Article 9, which explicitly spells out Japan’s self-defense rights, calls for Japan to possess “Defense Forces,” an upgrade from the SDF.
自民党の９条改正案は自衛権を明記し、「国防軍の保持」をうたう。
Abe acknowledged, in the meantime, that amending Article 9 has yet to win the support of the public. Asked which part, then, of the Constitution he wants to see amended and exactly how, the prime minister only answered, “Discussions in the Diet and among the public will find a gradual convergence.”
一方で首相は、９条改正が国民の支持を得ている状況にないと認めている。それでは憲法のどこをどう改正するのかと問われれば、「国会や国民的な議論の中でだんだんと収斂（しゅうれん）していく」と答えるのみだ。
The Constitution is the supreme law to protect the rights of individuals, defend peace and prescribe the status of power and authority. So yes, let the Diet and the public discuss it, including whether it should be amended at all.
憲法は、一人ひとりの人権と平和を守り、権力のあり方を規定する最高法規である。国会でも、国民的にも、改正の是非を含め論じ合えばいい。
But we never embrace an argument for rewriting the Constitution, wherein amendment has become an end in itself instead of what that amendment actually is.
ただし、中身ではなく改正そのものが目的化した改憲論には与（くみ）することはできない。
EDITORIAL: Abe’s perverse argument for rewriting Constitution
（社説）首相の改憲論 あまりの倒錯に驚く
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has been aggressively signaling his eagerness to rewrite the Constitution, which potentially includes the revision of its war-renouncing Article 9.
安倍首相が、９条も視野に入れた憲法改正への意欲を積極的に発信している。
He is apparently hoping to pave the way for realizing his long-cherished dream ahead of the Upper House election to be held in summer. His reasoning, however, is strikingly perverse.
夏の参院選を控え、悲願の実現に向けた地ならしをする狙いがあるようだ。だが、その論法はあまりにも倒錯している。
Seventy percent of constitutional scholars have judged that, in light of the interpretation of Article 9, the very presence of the Self-Defense Forces may violate the Constitution, the prime minister told a session of the Lower House Budget Committee. “There is a prevailing belief that this situation must be eliminated.”
首相は衆院予算委員会で「憲法学者の７割が、９条の解釈からすれば自衛隊の存在自体が憲法違反のおそれがあると判断している」「この状況をなくすべきではないかという考え方もある」と述べた。
He made the remark in reply to a question from his close aide Tomomi Inada, chairwoman of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party’s Policy Research Council, who said, “Constitutionalism is being emasculated somewhat by leaving Paragraph 2 of Article 9, which no longer fits reality, intact.”
首相に近い自民党の稲田政調会長が「現実に合わない９条２項をこのままにしておくことこそ、立憲主義を空洞化する」と聞いたのに答えたものだ。
In an Asahi Shimbun survey of constitutional scholars last year, 63 percent of the respondents said they believed the presence of SDF troops either “violates” or “may violate” the Constitution. But at the same time, 98 percent of the respondents also pointed out that bills for new security legislation, which the Abe administration had submitted to the Diet after reinterpreting the Constitution to lift Japan’s self-imposed ban on the right to exercise collective self-defense, either “violate” or “may violate” the Constitution.
確かに朝日新聞の昨年の憲法学者へのアンケートでは、６３％が自衛隊の存在は「憲法違反」「憲法違反の可能性がある」と答えている。同時に、安倍政権が集団的自衛権の行使を認める憲法解釈変更をへて国会に提出した安全保障関連法案については、９８％が「違憲」「違憲の可能性」を指摘している。
Abe’s Cabinet overrode the opposition of a majority of constitutional scholars and of the public by overturning the constitutional interpretation of successive Cabinets, which long held the view that Japan was not allowed to exercise the right to collective self-defense.
多数の憲法学者と国民の反対を押し切り、集団的自衛権は行使できないとの歴代内閣の憲法解釈を、閣議決定だけで変えてしまったのは安倍内閣である。
The right course for Abe would be to retract the security legislation if he takes issue with the disagreement between the existence of SDF troops and the views of scholars. He should also engage in serious soul-searching if he finds fault with constitutionalism being “emasculated.”
自衛隊の存在と学者の見解とのへだたりを問題にするのであれば、安保法制を撤回するのが筋ではないか。「立憲主義の空洞化」を批判するなら、まずは我が身を省みるべきだろう。
“Believing that even a finger should not be laid on the Constitution amounts to abandoning thought,” Abe told a lawmaker of the opposition Democratic Party of Japan, who called Abe’s Diet responses into question, during a separate Diet session. “Instead of doing so, the LDP has presented a draft for amendments,” said the prime minister, who challenged the DPJ to present its own.
首相は国会で、一連の答弁を疑問視する民主党議員に対し、「憲法に指一本触れてはならないと考えることで思考停止になる」「自民党はそうではなく、改正草案を示している」と語り、民主党にも草案を「出してみて下さいよ」と挑発した。
Abe simply steamrolled his reinterpretation of the Constitution in circumventing the process of amending it when he had his Cabinet lift the ban on the right to exercise collective self-defense. But he now proudly says his party has “presented a draft for amendments.” How can he be so opportunistic?
集団的自衛権の行使容認では憲法改正の手続きを避け、解釈変更を押し通しながら、いまになって「改正案を示している」と胸を張る。ずいぶんと都合のいい話ではないか。
The LDP’s draft for an amended Article 9, which explicitly spells out Japan’s self-defense rights, calls for Japan to possess “Defense Forces,” an upgrade from the SDF.
自民党の９条改正案は自衛権を明記し、「国防軍の保持」をうたう。
Abe acknowledged, in the meantime, that amending Article 9 has yet to win the support of the public. Asked which part, then, of the Constitution he wants to see amended and exactly how, the prime minister only answered, “Discussions in the Diet and among the public will find a gradual convergence.”
一方で首相は、９条改正が国民の支持を得ている状況にないと認めている。それでは憲法のどこをどう改正するのかと問われれば、「国会や国民的な議論の中でだんだんと収斂（しゅうれん）していく」と答えるのみだ。
The Constitution is the supreme law to protect the rights of individuals, defend peace and prescribe the status of power and authority. So yes, let the Diet and the public discuss it, including whether it should be amended at all.
憲法は、一人ひとりの人権と平和を守り、権力のあり方を規定する最高法規である。国会でも、国民的にも、改正の是非を含め論じ合えばいい。
But we never embrace an argument for rewriting the Constitution, wherein amendment has become an end in itself instead of what that amendment actually is.
ただし、中身ではなく改正そのものが目的化した改憲論には与（くみ）することはできない。
The Yomiuri Shimbun
Reselling of disposed food shows safety wasn’t given top priority
廃棄食品横流し 安全優先の意識が欠けている
Food that should have been thrown away has been distributed and ended up on many dining tables. This must be prevented from happening again.
廃棄されるべき食品が流通し、食卓に上っていた。再発を防がなければならない。
Ichibanya Co., operator of the CoCo Ichibanya curry restaurant chain, had entrusted Daiko, an industrial waste disposal company in Aichi Prefecture, to discard frozen beef cutlets. However, Daiko illegally resold the cutlets, which ended up being sold at supermarkets and retailers.
カレーチェーン「ＣｏＣｏ壱番屋」を展開する壱番屋が廃棄を委託した冷凍ビーフカツが、愛知県の産業廃棄物処理会社「ダイコー」によって横流しされ、スーパーや小売店で売られていた。
There were suspicions some of the cutlets had been contaminated by a foreign substance. Daiko’s president reportedly tried to explain his actions by saying, “I succumbed to the temptation of being able to make a profit without spending money to dispose of the food.”
冷凍カツには、異物混入の疑いがあった。ダイコーの会長は「処理費用をかけずに、利益を得られるので、魔が差した」と釈明しているという。
We are extremely concerned by Daiko’s attitude of giving precedence to making a profit by distributing the frozen cutlets, despite fears they could harm the health of consumers.
健康被害の恐れがありながら、冷凍カツを流通させた利益優先の姿勢は、極めて問題である。
Daiko sold the cutlets to a noodle maker. At its facilities, the noodle maker was found to be storing 108 kinds of food, including miso and deli items sold at major convenience stores and by food makers. All these items appear to have been bought from Daiko — and were supposed to have been discarded.
横流しを受けた製麺業者の施設からは、大手コンビニエンスストアや食品メーカーの総菜やみそなど、１０８品目もの製品が見つかっている。全てダイコーから入手した廃棄食品とみられる。
Reselling such items had seemingly become a common practice. Police have launched an investigation into what is suspected to be a violation of the Waste Management and Public Cleansing Law. We hope the police will quickly trace the distribution channels.
横流しが常態化していたのだろう。警察は廃棄物処理法違反の疑いで捜査に乗り出した。流通経路の特定を急いでもらいたい。
The waste management law obliges operators of waste disposal businesses to submit a report, called a manifest, to companies that produce the waste. The kinds and volumes of waste to be handled, as well as the method of disposal, must be specified in the report. This is meant to give transparency to the flow of industrial waste.
廃棄物処理法は、処理業者に対し、扱った産業廃棄物の種類や量、処理方法をマニフェスト（管理票）に記載し、廃棄した事業者に報告するよう義務づけている。産廃の流れを透明化するためだ。
Reducing ‘food loss’
However, Daiko falsely reported to Ichibanya that all the cutlets “had been made into compost.” This shows there are limits to managing industrial waste through these reports.
しかし、ダイコーは壱番屋に、「すべて堆肥化した」と虚偽の報告をしていた。マニフェストによる廃棄物管理には限界があることを示している。
The Environment Ministry should crack down on such deceitful operators by strengthening its guidance and screening of them, and by reviewing its inspection system of the manifest.
悪質な業者を排除するため、環境省は、指導や検査を強化し、マニフェストのチェック体制も再検討すべきだ。
A response by operators who dispose of food will also be important to prevent further wrongdoing.
不正防止には、食品を廃棄する事業者側の対応も重要である。
Since this scandal emerged, Ichibanya has decided it would no longer hand over food for disposal in its original state as a food product. Instead, items will be removed from the wrapping and mixed with other waste food sludge before being entrusted to an operator for disposal. In cases in which waste is discarded in the form of a food product, an Ichibanya employee will accompany the contractor to observe the disposal process until the final phase.
事件を受けて、壱番屋は、製品をそのまま廃棄せず、包装を外して汚泥などに混ぜてから処理を委託することを決めた。製品の状態のまま委託する際には、最終処理まで社員を立ち会わせる。
We hope operators that handle food will thoroughly implement such steps.
食品を扱う業者は、こうした取り組みを徹底してほしい。
It must not be forgotten that what is known as “food loss” was behind this incident. Even excluding cases like this one, in which a foreign substance was thought to have contaminated a food product, about 6.4 million tons of food are discarded each year in Japan for various reasons, including the approach of their best-before date.
事件の背景に、「食品ロス」の問題があることも忘れてはならない。今回のような異物混入がなくても、賞味期限が迫ったという理由などで廃棄される食品は、国内で年６４０万トンにも上る。
It can be said that the illegal reselling of food has taken advantage of the habit of discarding food that can still be consumed. The industry must come up with shrewd ways to reduce “food loss.”
横流しは、まだ食べられる食品を捨ててしまう慣習につけ込んでいるとも言える。業界には食品ロスを減らす工夫が求められる。
Many consumers tend to avoid food nearing its best-buy date, and instead opt for items produced more recently. They need to reconsider their perceptions in this respect.
賞味期限が間もなく切れる食品を避け、製造から日が浅いものを選びがちな消費者の意識も、見直す必要があるだろう。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 5, 2016)
Reselling of disposed food shows safety wasn’t given top priority
廃棄食品横流し 安全優先の意識が欠けている
Food that should have been thrown away has been distributed and ended up on many dining tables. This must be prevented from happening again.
廃棄されるべき食品が流通し、食卓に上っていた。再発を防がなければならない。
Ichibanya Co., operator of the CoCo Ichibanya curry restaurant chain, had entrusted Daiko, an industrial waste disposal company in Aichi Prefecture, to discard frozen beef cutlets. However, Daiko illegally resold the cutlets, which ended up being sold at supermarkets and retailers.
カレーチェーン「ＣｏＣｏ壱番屋」を展開する壱番屋が廃棄を委託した冷凍ビーフカツが、愛知県の産業廃棄物処理会社「ダイコー」によって横流しされ、スーパーや小売店で売られていた。
There were suspicions some of the cutlets had been contaminated by a foreign substance. Daiko’s president reportedly tried to explain his actions by saying, “I succumbed to the temptation of being able to make a profit without spending money to dispose of the food.”
冷凍カツには、異物混入の疑いがあった。ダイコーの会長は「処理費用をかけずに、利益を得られるので、魔が差した」と釈明しているという。
We are extremely concerned by Daiko’s attitude of giving precedence to making a profit by distributing the frozen cutlets, despite fears they could harm the health of consumers.
健康被害の恐れがありながら、冷凍カツを流通させた利益優先の姿勢は、極めて問題である。
Daiko sold the cutlets to a noodle maker. At its facilities, the noodle maker was found to be storing 108 kinds of food, including miso and deli items sold at major convenience stores and by food makers. All these items appear to have been bought from Daiko — and were supposed to have been discarded.
横流しを受けた製麺業者の施設からは、大手コンビニエンスストアや食品メーカーの総菜やみそなど、１０８品目もの製品が見つかっている。全てダイコーから入手した廃棄食品とみられる。
Reselling such items had seemingly become a common practice. Police have launched an investigation into what is suspected to be a violation of the Waste Management and Public Cleansing Law. We hope the police will quickly trace the distribution channels.
横流しが常態化していたのだろう。警察は廃棄物処理法違反の疑いで捜査に乗り出した。流通経路の特定を急いでもらいたい。
The waste management law obliges operators of waste disposal businesses to submit a report, called a manifest, to companies that produce the waste. The kinds and volumes of waste to be handled, as well as the method of disposal, must be specified in the report. This is meant to give transparency to the flow of industrial waste.
廃棄物処理法は、処理業者に対し、扱った産業廃棄物の種類や量、処理方法をマニフェスト（管理票）に記載し、廃棄した事業者に報告するよう義務づけている。産廃の流れを透明化するためだ。
Reducing ‘food loss’
However, Daiko falsely reported to Ichibanya that all the cutlets “had been made into compost.” This shows there are limits to managing industrial waste through these reports.
しかし、ダイコーは壱番屋に、「すべて堆肥化した」と虚偽の報告をしていた。マニフェストによる廃棄物管理には限界があることを示している。
The Environment Ministry should crack down on such deceitful operators by strengthening its guidance and screening of them, and by reviewing its inspection system of the manifest.
悪質な業者を排除するため、環境省は、指導や検査を強化し、マニフェストのチェック体制も再検討すべきだ。
A response by operators who dispose of food will also be important to prevent further wrongdoing.
不正防止には、食品を廃棄する事業者側の対応も重要である。
Since this scandal emerged, Ichibanya has decided it would no longer hand over food for disposal in its original state as a food product. Instead, items will be removed from the wrapping and mixed with other waste food sludge before being entrusted to an operator for disposal. In cases in which waste is discarded in the form of a food product, an Ichibanya employee will accompany the contractor to observe the disposal process until the final phase.
事件を受けて、壱番屋は、製品をそのまま廃棄せず、包装を外して汚泥などに混ぜてから処理を委託することを決めた。製品の状態のまま委託する際には、最終処理まで社員を立ち会わせる。
We hope operators that handle food will thoroughly implement such steps.
食品を扱う業者は、こうした取り組みを徹底してほしい。
It must not be forgotten that what is known as “food loss” was behind this incident. Even excluding cases like this one, in which a foreign substance was thought to have contaminated a food product, about 6.4 million tons of food are discarded each year in Japan for various reasons, including the approach of their best-before date.
事件の背景に、「食品ロス」の問題があることも忘れてはならない。今回のような異物混入がなくても、賞味期限が迫ったという理由などで廃棄される食品は、国内で年６４０万トンにも上る。
It can be said that the illegal reselling of food has taken advantage of the habit of discarding food that can still be consumed. The industry must come up with shrewd ways to reduce “food loss.”
横流しは、まだ食べられる食品を捨ててしまう慣習につけ込んでいるとも言える。業界には食品ロスを減らす工夫が求められる。
Many consumers tend to avoid food nearing its best-buy date, and instead opt for items produced more recently. They need to reconsider their perceptions in this respect.
賞味期限が間もなく切れる食品を避け、製造から日が浅いものを選びがちな消費者の意識も、見直す必要があるだろう。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 5, 2016)
スポンサードリンク
プロフィール
カイちゃん父親に花束を捧げる
タイのスラチャイです
妻はタイ人、娘ばかり３人も！ 
■近況
２００９年の９月１５日に脳梗塞を発症、右手が少し不自由になりました。
MRAで脳梗塞の部位を特定でき、素早い処置をとれたので大事に至りませんでした。
快復にむけてリハビリ中です。
(2011/01/01更新)
■自己紹介・リンク
[ はじめに ]
タイのスラチャイです。
英語学習に王道はありません。
毎日毎日の地道な努力の積み重ねが必要です。
スラチャイはＮＨＫのラジオ英語会話で現在の英語力を身につけました。
一日僅か１５分の学習でも数年間継続すれば相当な学習効果が期待できます。
[ 名前 ]
松井 清 （スラチャイ）
[ 略歴 ]
・福岡県出身
・国立高知大学卒業
・準大手建設会社に就職
・50歳で会社を早期退職
・99/10 タイ全土を旅行
・00/10 タイに移住
・03/07 カイちゃん誕生
・07/06 シーファーちゃん誕生
・現在タイ国コンケン在住
[ 座右の銘 ]
Slow and steady wins the race.
遅くとも着実な者が勝利する
（NHK基礎英語芹沢栄先生）
[ 学習の手引き ]
・音読して耳から英語を吸収
・Think in English.
・ネイティブ発音付辞書活用
・英英辞典を活用（英和も）
・翻訳和文で専門用語確認
[ English Newspapers ]
Yomiuri
Mainichi
Asahi
Japan Times
Washington Post
Newyork Times
Bangkok Post
The Nations
Phuket Gazette
[ 英字新聞の英和対訳学習 ]
英字新聞（読売）
英字新聞（毎日）
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英字新聞（朝日２）
[ スラチャイ編集の辞書 ]
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ラオ日辞書
日ラオ辞書
[ 英字新聞リンク ]
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