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October 13, 2013(Mainichi Japan)
Kaleidoscope of the Heart: Psychiatry patients as the antennas of their time
香山リカのココロの万華鏡:時代のアンテナ /東京

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe formally announced raising the consumption tax rate from 5 percent to 8 percent in April next year at a press conference on Oct. 1.
 10月1日に安倍晋三首相が記者会見で、消費税率を今の5%から8%に引き上げることを正式に発表した。

The following day I was responsible for outpatients. As I had expected, this topic was brought up several times in the consultation room. "I couldn't sleep last night," said one patient. "I'm flustered with anxiety," said another.
 翌日の2日は外来担当日。予想通り、診察室でこの話題を取り上げて「昨夜は眠れなかった」「不安でドキドキします」と語る人が何人かいた。

I suspect some people may be dubious, "Becoming immediately anxious and losing sleep when the tax rise is not until April next year is surely an overreaction."
 「引き上げは来年4月とまだ先なのに『昨日の今日』で早くも不眠や不安を訴えるなんて大げさな」と、いぶかしむ人もいそうだ。

But through the ages psychiatry patients have been regarded as antennas of their time, being very sensitive to social problems.
だが、昔から「精神科の患者さんは時代のアンテナ」などとも言われており、社会問題にとても敏感に反応しやすい。

There are those that become depressed or frightened just by seeing incidents or conflicts overseas that in reality have no direct effect on their lives, some people even develop illnesses. These people empathize with those suffering in distant countries, regardless if it has any effect on themselves, and feel the hardship and fear as if experiencing it firsthand.
中には、実際に自分の生活に直接関係のない海外の事件や紛争などを見るだけで恐怖や落ち込みを感じ、症状が悪化する人もいる。その人たちは自分にも影響が及ぶかどうかというよりも、遠い国で苦しんでいる人の気持ちを想像し、あたかも自分が経験したかのようにつらさや怖さを感じているのだ。

When I see people that empathize with events in faraway places, being instantly responsive to the news and worrying more than the average person, I always wonder if they are the ones with healthier minds.
 このようにニュースにいち早く反応して、やや過剰に心配したり遠い国の出来事に心を痛めたりしている人たちを見ると、いつも思うことがある。それは「この人たちの心のほうがずっと健全なのでは」ということだ。

In today's society there is an abundance of incidents occurring both in Japan and abroad. Everything is uncertain and there is no one that can guarantee peace and prosperity in the next decade. The lives of people in disadvantaged positions especially have become harder over time. If someone sees incidents such as widespread disasters or terrorist acts and says, "It has nothing to do with me," or dismisses whatever is reported in the news, in reality isn't this a much less natural attitude? Perhaps these people turn off their reaction switch and become programmed for indifference.
 今の社会、国内でも海外でもあまりにいろいろなことが起きる。何もかもが不安定で、10年後の平和や繁栄を確約できる人など誰もいない。特に、弱い立場にいる人たちの生活はますます厳しいものになりつつある。そういう中で、どんな話題が報じられても「まあ大丈夫じゃないの」と気にしないとか、世界各地での痛ましい災害やテロなどを見ても「私には関係ない」と無視するというほうが、本当はかなり不自然な態度なのではないか。もしかすると、そういう人たちは何かを感じ取る心のスイッチを切ってしまっているから、そんなふうに無頓着を装えるだけなのかもしれない。

But as a psychiatrist I can't just say, "Your reaction is normal," to patients who find it more difficult to sleep after hearing news of a consumption tax increase.
 とはいえ、精神科医としては「消費税引き上げと聞いて、ますます眠れなくなりました」と訴える人に、「それが正常な神経です」と何も手当てしないわけにはいかない。

The best I can do is to give the symptom a name such as insomnia and write out a prescription. But I'm always left with mixed feelings. Are they the ones who are "sick," or is it me? After all, I seem to turn off my reaction switch. "Consumption tax increases? Yet another contaminated water leak? Never mind about that for now," I think, pretend that everything is fine and get a good night's sleep.
「そうですか。じゃ、睡眠を促すクスリを処方しますね」と言って「不眠症」などと病名をつけ、処方箋を書くしかないのだが、いつも複雑な気持ちになる。本当に「病気」なのはどちらなのか。
 もしかしたら、「消費税アップ? また汚染水漏れ? いや、考えない、考えない」と心のスイッチを切ってしまい、何事もなかったかのように安眠している私のほうなのではないだろうか。

(By Rika Kayama, psychiatrist)
毎日新聞 2013年10月08日 地方版
2013/10/16(水) 08:28 英字新聞 記事URL COM(0)
The Yomiuri Shimbun October 14, 2013
Is denying prison inmates the right to vote really unconstitutional?
受刑者の選挙権 「制限は違憲」には疑問が多い(10月13日付・読売社説)

Will the public agree to recognize the right of prisoners, who committed crimes and are serving time, to vote in a public election?
 罪を犯し、服役している受刑者に選挙権を認めることに、国民の合意は得られるのだろうか。

The Osaka High Court recently judged that Article 11 of the Public Offices Election Law, which restricts the right to vote for prisoners across the board, violates the Constitution, which guarantees equal voting rights for every adult. The ruling was finalized, but we cannot completely agree with the result.
 受刑者の選挙権を一律に制限した公職選挙法11条の規定について、大阪高裁が、平等な選挙権を保障した憲法に違反するとの判断を示し、判決はそのまま確定した。何とも釈然としない結末である。

According to the intent and purpose of the Constitution, restrictions on suffrage cannot be permitted without unavoidable reasons except for people who violated the election law, the high court said.
 高裁判決は、「憲法の趣旨からすれば、選挙違反以外の者に対しては、やむを得ない事由がない限り、選挙権を制限することは許されない」と指摘している。

“Just being a prisoner does not necessarily mean a person grossly lacks a law-abiding spirit,” the court said in its ruling. “It is not certain that there are unavoidable reasons” for stripping inmates of their voting rights.
 「単に受刑者というだけで、著しく順法精神に欠けるとは言えない」とも言及し、受刑者の選挙権を奪うことについて、「やむを得ない事由があるとは言えない」と結論付けた。

Of course, the right to vote is an important right held by citizens of Japan.
 無論、選挙権は国民が有する大切な権利である。

However, restrictions on inmates’ voting rights tend to be considered a legal repercussion resulting from a criminal punishment because Japan has adopted a penalty system that confines inmates in prisons and deprives them of their freedom to protect society.
 一方で、社会防衛上、受刑者を服役させ、自由を奪う自由刑を採用している日本では、選挙権の制限は、刑罰の法的効果の一つとして捉える傾向が強い。

Even the high court recognized that the concept on which its latest ruling is based has not yet become a prevailing theory among legal scholars.
 今回の判決も、「違憲」との考え方が学説上の通説になっていないことを認めている。

The Supreme Court judged in 2005 that restrictions the election law places on suffrage for Japanese living overseas are unconstitutional. In March this year, the Tokyo District Court ruled that a provision restricting voting rights for mentally handicapped and other adults under guardianship is unconstitutional.
 公選法を巡っては、最高裁が2005年、海外に住む日本人の選挙権の制限を違憲と判断した。今年3月には、東京地裁が、知的障害者ら成年被後見人の選挙権を制限する規定を違憲とした。

Questionable judgment

The high court’s latest ruling adheres to the Supreme Court ruling in 2005. However, we think it is unreasonable to consider voting rights of prisoners serving a punishment under the same framework as voting rights of Japanese expats.
 大阪高裁は、05年最高裁判決の考え方を踏襲したが、刑罰を科された受刑者の選挙権を、在外邦人と同じ枠組みで判断するのは、無理があると言えよう。

Meanwhile, the high court said it was unclear whether the election law’s provision was unconstitutional when the law was implemented in 1950.
 そもそも、大阪高裁判決は、公選法の規定について、1950年の施行当時には「違憲であることが明白だったとは言えない」との見解を示した。

However, the ruling did not clarify what has made the provision apparently unconstitutional now. We can only say that the ruling lacks persuasiveness.
 だが、その規定がどのような事情で明白に違憲となったのか、判決は示していない。説得力を欠くと言わざるを得ない。

The high court dismissed the plaintiff’s appeal and consequently the state won the case, so the state could not appeal to a higher court. But we think this raises more questions.
 今回、訴訟自体は国の勝訴だったため、国側が上告できなかったことにも疑問が残る。

The plaintiff lost the case because the high court said his demand for a legal status that enables him to vote is unlawful because he has finished serving his sentence. If his demand is unlawful, we wonder if the court really needed to make a constitutional judgment at all.
 原告の男性は服役を終えており、「投票できる地位を求める訴えは不適法」というのが、原告敗訴の理由だ。訴えが不適法であるなら、憲法判断にまで踏み込む必要があったのだろうか。

Consequently, the court’s ruling will have wings. The plaintiff’s side intends to accept the ruling but demand the election law be revised. The government should handle this matter very carefully.
 結果として、違憲判断が独り歩きする。原告側は判決を受けて公選法改正を求める方針だが、政府は慎重に対応すべきだ。

We believe that important judgments on the Constitution should in principle be left to the Supreme Court because its rulings have binding power as judicial precedents.
 本来、重要な憲法判断は、判決が判例として拘束力を持つ最高裁に委ねるのが筋である。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 13, 2013)
(2013年10月13日01時34分 読売新聞)
2013/10/15(火) 07:19 英字新聞 記事URL COM(0)
The Yomiuri Shimbun October 13, 2013
Lack of police cooperation partly to blame for stalking-murder case
ストーカー殺人 見過ごせない警察の連携不足(10月12日付・読売社説)

Another outrageous stalking-murder has occurred.
 またも悲惨なストーカー殺人が起きた。

Why wasn’t such a terrible incident prevented? Police must thoroughly investigate their handling of the case.
 最悪の事態を防げなかったのか。警察は徹底検証せねばならない。

A third-year female student at a private high school in Mitaka, Tokyo, was stabbed to death Tuesday and a 21-year-old Kyoto man she had previously dated was arrested later in the day.
 東京都三鷹市で私立高校3年の女子生徒が8日に刺殺され、京都市在住の元交際相手の男が逮捕された。

The girl had refused to see him any longer. She had rejected his mobile phone calls and e-mails since June. But after the man appeared in the vicinity of her home early this month, her homeroom teacher called Suginami Police Station of the Metropolitan Police Department, which is near her school, to request countermeasures on Oct. 4.
 女子生徒は、かつて付き合っていた男との交際を拒んでいた。6月からは電話やメールの着信も拒否していた。だが、今月に入り、自宅付近に男が姿を見せたため、担任教諭が4日、高校に近い警視庁杉並署に対処法を相談した。

The problem was that the station failed to adequately listen. Its response was simply to recommend that the teacher contact the Mitaka Police Station, which has jurisdiction over the area where the girl lived. The girl and her parents visited the Mitaka station four days later—and she was killed later the same day.
 問題なのは、被害内容を詳しく聞き取らなかった杉並署の対応だ。女子生徒宅を管轄する三鷹署への相談を勧めただけだった。女子生徒は4日後、三鷹署に相談したが、その日に殺害された。

Suginami Police Station displayed a lack of concern for a case that happened outside its jurisdiction. If it had communicated with Mitaka Police Station immediately, the outcome could have been different.
 杉並署は、管轄外で起きた事案への当事者意識を持てなかったのではないか。即座に三鷹署に連絡していたら、展開は違っていた可能性もある。

A question also arises as to whether the Mitaka station responded adequately. Just one police officer handled the case for half a day from when the girl visited until the time of her murder.
 三鷹署の対応も十分だったのだろうか。女子生徒の相談を受けてから、事件発生までの半日間、担当者が1人で対処した。

If the station had carefully arranged safety measures such as patrolling around her home, vigilant to the fact that stalker cases tend to involve abrupt turns and twists, perhaps the murder could have been prevented.
 ストーカー事件は急展開しやすいという危機感を持ち、女子生徒宅の周辺をパトロールするなど、手厚い態勢を取っていれば、事件を防ぐ余地もあっただろう。

Lessons not learned

In a stalker case two years ago in Nagasaki Prefecture, two family members of the stalking victim were killed even after help was sought from the Chiba, Nagasaki and Mie prefectural police, all of whom failed to share information on the case.
 2年前に長崎県で起きたストーカー事件では、千葉、長崎、三重の3県警が情報を共有せず、相談をたらい回しにした結果、被害女性の家族2人が殺害された。

Based on that bitter experience, in which a response was delayed due to the involvement of police from different jurisdictions, the National Police Agency directed police stations nationwide to take quick action and thorough measures to protect stalking victims who seek help.
 複数の県警が絡んで対処が遅れた苦い経験から、警察庁は、迅速な対応や被害者保護の徹底を全国の警察に指示した。

A revision to the Anti-Stalker Law was enforced on Oct. 3, enabling police and public safety commissions from outside a victim’s area of residence to issue warnings and stay-away orders to a suspected stalker.
 ストーカー規制法も、被害者の居住地以外の警察や公安委員会でも警告・禁止命令を出せるように改正され、今月3日に施行されたばかりだった。

But the measures devised from lessons learned from the Nagasaki incident failed to meet their purpose this time. On the contrary, even two police stations that were both in Tokyo failed to communicate with each other this time.
 しかし、長崎の事件を教訓にしたこうした対策の趣旨は生かされなかった。それどころか、今回は都内の警察署同士でさえ速やかに連携できなかった。

The MPD must profoundly consider the magnitude of the consequences.
 招いた結果の重大性を警視庁は深刻に受け止めねばならない。

The number of stalking victims has soared. Nearly 20,000 stalking cases were confirmed by police last year alone. Dealing with stalkers is an increasingly important police duty.
 ストーカー被害は増加傾向にある。警察が昨年1年間に把握しただけでも2万件近くに上る。警察の職務の中で、ストーカー対策は重要性を増している。

Most of the offenders are said to stop stalking and other acts following police intervention.
 大半の加害者は警察の介入でつきまといなどをやめるという。

What is the best way to contact offenders and protect victims? We suggest nationwide police organizations comprehensively study past cases to devise stalking countermeasures.
 いかにして加害者に接触し、被害者を保護するか。全国の警察が事例を持ち寄り、対処方法を練り上げてもらいたい。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 12, 2013)
(2013年10月12日01時39分 読売新聞)
2013/10/14(月) 07:56 英字新聞 記事URL COM(0)
The Yomiuri Shimbun October 12, 2013
U.N. Minamata convention must lead to world free of mercury poisoning
水俣条約採択 「脱水銀」へ日本の教訓生かせ(10月11日付・読売社説)

By learning important and serious lessons from Minamata disease, considered a historic example of a tragedy caused by environmental pollution, efforts must be made to effectively stem mercury contamination from spreading worldwide.
 公害の原点である水俣病を教訓に、世界的な水銀汚染の広がりを食い止めねばならない。

The Minamata Convention on Mercury of the United Nations was adopted Thursday in an international council in Kumamoto, with delegates from about 140 countries and territories participating. The name Minamata was used for the landmark treaty at the initiative of the Japanese government.
 「水銀に関する水俣条約」が、約140の国・地域が参加した熊本市での国際会議で採択された。日本政府の提案で、条約名に「水俣」が用いられた。

The U.N. Environment Program, which sponsored the conference, aims to have the pact take effect from 2016. The treaty bans in principle the manufacturing, export and import of products containing mercury, starting from 2020.
会議を主催した国連環境計画は2016年の発効を目指す。
 水銀含有製品の製造や輸出入を20年以降、原則として禁止する。

When a coal-fired thermal power plant is newly built that emits mercury in the process of combustion for power generation, the plant operator will be obliged under the treaty to introduce the best possible technology available to curb mercury emissions into the environment. The pact also includes such regulations as banning development of new mercury mines.
燃焼時に水銀を排出する石炭火力発電所を新設する際には、排出抑制装置を導入する。新規の水銀鉱山の開発を禁じる――。条約はこうした内容を盛り込んだ。

This is definitely a major step forward for the realization of a “world free of mercury.”
 「脱水銀」へ大きな一歩だ。

Mercury has been used broadly in the production of goods familiar in our daily lives, such as batteries, thermometers and fluorescent lamps.
 水銀は、電池や体温計、蛍光灯など身近な製品に使われてきた。

Japanese manufacturers have addressed the task of regulating the use of mercury ahead of many other countries, but there has been little progress on curbing the use of mercury in emerging and developing countries.
日本のメーカーは、いち早く水銀の使用規制に取り組んだが、新興国・途上国では進んでいない。

When discharged into the atmosphere, sea and rivers, mercury accumulates in living creatures’ bodies. Those who eat large quantities of mercury-contaminated fish and shellfish are in danger of developing poisoning symptoms like those of Minamata disease.
 水銀が大気中や海、河川に排出されると、生物内に蓄積される。汚染された魚介類などを人間が大量に食べると、水俣病のような中毒症状を引き起こす。

China the largest emitter

The quantity of mercury being emitted into the atmosphere due to industrial activities and other causes is estimated at about 2,000 tons a year worldwide.
 産業活動などで大気中へ排出される水銀は、年約2000トンに上る。

It is a matter of urgency to cut back on mercury emissions to prevent health hazards that are a menace across national borders.
国境を超えた健康被害を防ぐには、排出削減が急務である。

Topping the list of mercury emissions by industry are small-scale gold mines, many of which are in developing countries. They consume mercury in the process of extracting gold from ores.
 最も大量に排出しているのは、途上国に多い小規模の金採掘現場だ。鉱石から金を取り出すために水銀が使われている。

Mercury is indispensable for people who earn their living through gold-mining operations. In light of this, the international treaty falls short of prohibiting the use of mercury for mining purposes, calling instead for efforts to reduce its use.
 金採掘で生計を立てる人々にとって、水銀は欠かせない。条約でも、採掘での使用については、禁止でなく、削減にとどまった。

How can support be given to developing nations that can hardly afford to fund projects for environmental conservation? This problem must be addressed if the Minamata convention is to be made truly effective and viable.
 環境対策にまで手が回らない途上国をどう支援していくのか。条約を実効性あるものにするには、避けて通れない課題である。

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has expressed the Japanese government’s intention to earmark a total of $2 billion (about ¥200 billion) in aid to developing nations’ environmental measures projects in three years from 2014.
 安倍首相は、途上国の環境対策費として、14年からの3年間で20億ドル(約2000億円)の支援を表明した。

It is of great significance that Japan, aiming to prevent a recurrence of the tragedy of the widespread damage from Minamata disease that resulted from delays in responding to the problem, is now contributing to preventing mercury contamination around the world.
対応の遅れが被害拡大を招いた水俣病の悲劇を繰り返さないため、日本が世界の水銀汚染防止に貢献する意義は大きい。

Countermeasures against thermal power generation using coal containing mercury are also a key issue. In particular, China, which is the world’s largest discharger of mercury, must proactively tackle the challenge of phasing out mercury emissions.
 水銀を含む石炭による火力発電の対策も重要だ。特に、世界一の水銀排出国の中国には、積極的な取り組みが求められる。

An outbreak of Minamata disease has been confirmed in watershed regions of some river systems in China. China appears poised to ratify the convention, seemingly with the aim of obtaining technological support from industrially advanced countries to reduce mercury emissions.
 中国では河川流域で水俣病の発生も確認されている。今回、中国が条約を批准する見通しなのは、先進国から排出削減の技術支援を得る狙いもあるのだろう。

In the wake of the treaty’s adoption, Japan must take measures to respond to the fact that mercury has been recycled domestically from used products, mainly those produced abroad, for export to other Asian countries and elsewhere.
 条約採択により、日本も対応を迫られる。国内では使用済みの海外製品などから水銀がリサイクルされ、アジア諸国などに輸出されている。

When the pact takes effect, however, it will be required to store the mercury domestically.
だが、条約発効後は国内保管が必要となる。

Taking this into account, building a system to safely manage spent mercury is certain to become a pressing task.
安全な管理体制の構築が欠かせない。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 11, 2013)
(2013年10月11日01時38分 読売新聞)
2013/10/13(日) 06:49 英字新聞 記事URL COM(0)
The Yomiuri Shimbun October 11, 2013
Elderly also need to shoulder fair burden of nursing care cost
介護保険制度 高齢者も応分の負担が必要だ(10月10日付・読売社説)

To maintain the nursing care insurance system, it is impossible to ask only those people who are under retirement age to bear the heavy burdens. It is necessary for the elderly to bear their fair share of the costs.
 介護保険制度を維持するには、現役世代にばかり負担を求めるわけにはいかない。高齢者にも相応の負担が必要だ。

The Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry has submitted to the Social Security Council a draft to review the self-pay rate for nursing care services from the current 10 percent to 20 percent for people earning a certain level of income.
 厚生労働省は、介護保険の自己負担割合について、一定の所得がある場合には、現在の1割から2割に引き上げる見直し案を社会保障審議会に提示した。

The ministry plans to submit a bill to revise the Nursing Care Insurance Law to an ordinary Diet session next year, aiming at enforcing the revised law in fiscal 2015. If realized, it would be the first raise in the self-pay rate since the nursing care insurance system was created in 2000.
 来年の通常国会に介護保険法改正案を提出し、2015年度の実施を目指す。介護保険制度が2000年に創設されて以来、自己負担率引き上げは初めてとなる。

Due to the rapid graying of society, the payment of benefits under the system has been snowballing. It is quite understandable that the government is trying to secure revenue.
 急速な高齢化で、介護保険の給付費は膨らむ一方だ。政府が財源の確保を図るのは理解できる。

The people who will become subject to the increase in the self-pay rate are those with an annual pension income of nearly ¥3 million. About 20 percent of people aged 65 or older meet this criteria.
 自己負担引き上げの対象となるのは、年金だけで年間300万円近い収入がある人だ。高齢者全体の20%程度が該当する。

Under the health care insurance system, the self-pay rate of those aged 70 or older and who have a monthly income of ¥280,000 has already been raised to 30 percent. It is inevitable to increase the amount paid for the nursing care insurance system in proportion to income.
 医療保険では既に、現役並みの所得がある高齢者の自己負担は3割に引き上げられている。介護保険についても、所得に応じた負担増はやむを得まい。

The ministry will also review a system to lessen the burden on residents at nursing care facilities for the purpose of spending cuts.
 歳出削減のため、厚労省は介護施設の入居者に対する負担軽減制度も見直す。

At facilities like special nursing homes for the aged, expenses, such as living and meal costs paid by low-income residents, are currently subsidized through nursing care insurance revenue. Under the ministry’s envisioned review, married couples with savings of ¥20 million or more will be excluded from the system.
 特別養護老人ホームなどでは、低所得者を対象に、入居者が負担する食費や居住費を介護保険財源で補助している。その対象から、夫婦で預貯金が2000万円以上ある場合などを除外する。

Currently, low-income earners are eligible for the subsidies even if they have a huge amount of assets. It is natural to review the system. There are no subsidies for people who receive in-home nursing care services or residents in so-called group homes for the aged, leading some to criticize the system as unfair. This point should be taken into consideration.
 現在は多額の資産があっても補助対象になっている。これを見直すのは当然だろう。自宅で介護を受けている人やグループホーム入居者に補助はなく、不公平との指摘がある点も考慮すべきだ。

Major problems

However, the increased revenue following these measures is expected to reach only about several tens of billions of yen, which is obviously insufficient. We also doubt to what extent the government will be able to determine individuals’ assets since, in principle, the government will rely on self-reporting. These are major points to be studied.
 ただ、これらの措置による財政改善効果は数百億円規模にとどまる見込みで、十分ではない。資産の把握も、自己申告が原則では実効性に疑問符がつく。今後の大きな課題である。

The ministry is now considering removing services for those users who require only low-level nursing care services from the nursing care insurance system and transferring them to programs run by city, town and village governments utilizing volunteers. The ministry is also thinking about changing the criteria for those eligible to enter special nursing homes for the aged from the current “Nursing care required: Level 1 or higher” to “Nursing care required: Level 3 or higher” under the nursing care requirement authorization system.
 厚労省は、軽度者向けサービスを介護保険から外し、ボランティアを活用した市町村の事業への移管も検討している。特養の入居基準も、現在の「要介護1以上」から「要介護3以上」に改める。

We think the direction of the policy, using the limited revenues mainly for people requiring intensive nursing care, is appropriate. The important thing is to make the entire nursing care insurance system efficient.
 限られた財源を重度者中心に振り向ける方向性は妥当と言える。重要なのは、介護保険サービス全体の効率化である。

On the other hand, the welfare ministry will reduce the nursing care insurance premiums of low-income earners, who account for 30 percent of the elderly. It is designed to prevent an increase of the burden on low-income earners if an increase in premiums is unavoidable due to the increase in the number of nursing care service users.
 一方で厚労省は、高齢者の3割に当たる低所得者の介護保険料を軽減する。利用者の増加で保険料の上昇が避けられない中、低所得者の負担増を防ぐためだ。

However, public funds will be required to take such a measure for low-income earners. To ensure that revenue can be secured by increasing the burden on high-income earners, we think the rate and the people entitled to reduced premiums must be limited to the minimum necessary.
 だが、低所得者対策には公費投入が必要になる。高所得層の負担引き上げで財源を確保する効果が失われないよう、保険料軽減の率や対象を絞るべきではないか。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 10, 2013)
(2013年10月10日01時22分 読売新聞)
2013/10/12(土) 07:21 英字新聞 記事URL COM(0)
The Yomiuri Shimbun October 10, 2013
Govt should narrow down ‘sanctuary’ categories to accelerate TPP talks
TPP首脳声明 交渉加速へ「聖域」絞り込みを(10月9日付・読売社説)

Japan, the United States and other countries participating in Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade negotiations have put off their goal of quickly reaching a broad agreement. It will be difficult for them to reach a conclusion by the end of this year so they must reshape their strategy.
 日米など参加国が目標にしてきた「大筋合意」は見送られた。年内妥結への道は険しく、戦略立て直しが課題だ。

Leaders from the 12 countries involved in the TPP negotiations met in Indonesia and adopted a statement on Tuesday.
 12か国による環太平洋経済連携協定(TPP)交渉の首脳会合がインドネシアで開かれ、首脳声明を採択した。

The leaders’ statement emphasized, “We have agreed that negotiators should now proceed to resolve all outstanding issues with the objective of completing this year a comprehensive and balanced, and regional agreement.”
 首脳声明は、「包括的でバランスの取れた協定を年内妥結するため、残された困難な課題の解決に取り組む」と強調した。

The 12 countries initially expected to reach a broad agreement in Indonesia to conclude the TPP negotiations by the end of this year. However, the United States and emerging economies were unable to resolve differences over such areas as intellectual property rights and competition policy. The 12 countries also shelved talks over tariff elimination.
 12か国は当初、年内決着に向け、インドネシアで大筋合意するシナリオだったが、知的財産権や競争政策などを巡って、米国と新興国の対立が解けなかった。関税撤廃の交渉も棚上げされた。

The fact that the 12 countries gave up reaching a broad agreement highlighted the difficulties of negotiations in which participating countries’ interests are intricately tangled. The abrupt absence of U.S. President Barack Obama, a facilitator in the TPP negotiations, also diminished the momentum of the talks.
 大筋合意の断念は、複雑に利害が絡む交渉の難しさを浮き彫りにした。推進役であるオバマ米大統領の突然の欠席も、交渉の勢いを減退させた一因だろう。

The focus of attention from now on will be whether the participating countries can accelerate negotiations.
 今後の焦点は、交渉を加速できるかどうかである。

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is right in saying, “We must make this [the TPP] the first step toward the creation of a great, free economic zone in the Asia-Pacific region.” We hope the TPP will help Japan harness the economic vitality of other Asian countries to boost its own growth.
 安倍首相が「アジア太平洋の大きな自由経済圏の第一歩にしなければならない」と述べたのはもっともだ。アジアの活力を取り込み、成長に弾みをつけたい。

Treating special items

An unavoidable issue is how to treat the five agricultural categories, such as rice, wheat and dairy products, which the Liberal Democratic Party demands should be regarded as “sanctuaries” that are exempt from eliminating tariffs.
 避けて通れないのは、自民党が関税撤廃の「聖域」として求めているコメ、麦、乳製品など農産品5項目の扱いだ。

Koya Nishikawa, chairman of the LDP’s TPP committee, said Sunday, “We have to consider whether [some products in the five categories] can be eliminated [from a list of items for which tariffs will be maintained].” His remark drew a backlash from some LDP members and agricultural organizations.
 同党の西川公也TPP対策委員長が、「(関税維持対象から)抜けるか抜けないかを検討する」と述べたことで、党内の一部や農業団体などが反発している。

However, we believe it is quite natural and proper for Japan to closely examine the sanctuary categories.
 だが、聖域の精査は、日本として当然の対応ではないか。

Although the TPP adopts a principle of eliminating tariffs on all items, participating countries are discussing a liberalization rate, a percentage of trade items that will be tariff-free. It is highly likely Japan will be urged to achieve a liberalization rate of above 95 percent.
 TPPでは関税撤廃を原則としながらも、全貿易品目のうち関税を撤廃する割合を示す自由化率が議論されている。日本は90%台後半を求められる可能性が高い。

The five agricultural categories cover 586 products in tariff classifications, with the rice category alone comprising 58 items. If tariffs are maintained for all those items, the liberalization rate will be only 93.5 percent.
 農産品5項目は関税分類でコメ58品目など計586品目あるが、これらをすべて維持すれば、自由化率は93・5%にとどまる。

In preparation for an acceleration in the TPP negotiations, Japan must narrow down the sanctuary categories. Otherwise it will not be able to fully exert its negotiating power. The government must quickly have specific discussions over what items Japan should preferentially protect and on which items Japan should make concessions to best serve the overall national interest.
 交渉加速に備え、586品目の「聖域」を絞り込まないと、交渉力も十分に発揮できまい。優先的に何を守り、何を譲ることが国益に資するのか。政府は具体的な検討を急がねばならない。

Rather than simply being defensive, it is also important for Japan to go on the front foot, for example, by capturing markets in emerging economies with its intellectual property.
 守るだけでなく、知財で新興国市場を攻略するなど、攻めの姿勢を強化することも重要だ。

With negotiations over the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership for East Asia getting started, the future goal is to create a wider Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific.
 東アジア包括的経済連携(RCEP)も動き出し、より広いアジア太平洋自由貿易地域(FTAAP)作りが将来の目標になる。

Japan, which started later than South Korea in forming economic partnerships with other countries, must make up for this loss by leading trade liberalization. Japan’s negotiating power to better utilize different free-trade frameworks will certainly be put to the test.
 韓国に経済連携で出遅れた日本は、貿易自由化を主導して挽回しなければならない。複数構想を使い分ける交渉力が問われる。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 9, 2013)
(2013年10月9日01時52分 読売新聞)
2013/10/11(金) 07:36 英字新聞 記事URL COM(0)
The Yomiuri Shimbun October 9, 2013
Koizumi’s call to end nuclear power shows clear lack of perspective
小泉元首相発言 「原発ゼロ」掲げる見識を疑う(10月8日付・読売社説)

Junichiro Koizumi’s recent comment calling for ending Japan’s reliance on nuclear power generation lacked the insight expected of a former prime minister. The last thing the country’s nuclear policy needs is more confusion.
 首相経験者として、見識を欠く発言である。原子力政策をこれ以上混乱させてはならない。

In a recent lecture meeting, Koizumi asked the government to put forth a zero nuclear energy policy by calling for establishment of “a recycling society based on natural resources and that does not rely on nuclear power generation.” Koizumi said his view on this matter changed after the Great East Japan Earthquake.
 小泉元首相が講演で、「原子力発電に依存しない、自然を資源にした循環型社会」の実現を唱え、政府に対し、「原発ゼロ」の方針を掲げるよう求めた。東日本大震災を機に自らの考えを変えたという。

Koizumi’s statement on nuclear power generation contradicts the nuclear policy of the government and the Liberal Democratic Party. This cannot be brushed off even though Koizumi has already retired from politics.
 小泉氏の発言は、政府・自民党の方針と異なる。政界を引退したとはいえ、看過できない。

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe intends to restart nuclear reactors following confirmation they are safe to operate, as he seeks to revise the Democratic Party of Japan-led government’s policy of ending the use of nuclear power generation. The LDP, for its part, incorporated a policy of promoting the restart of reactors in its campaign platforms for the two most recent national elections.
 安倍首相は、安全性が確認された原発は再稼働させ、民主党政権の「原発ゼロ」路線を見直す意向だ。自民党も原発再稼働の推進を選挙公約に盛り込んだ。

Koizumi said finding substitute energy sources for nuclear power would “certainly be worked out by wise people.” We think this statement is overly optimistic and irresponsible.
 小泉氏は原発の代替策について「知恵ある人が必ず出してくれる」と語るが、あまりに楽観的であり、無責任に過ぎよう。

Thermal power generation is currently filling the shortfall created by the loss of nuclear power generation. As a result, utility bills continue to rise due to higher fuel import costs. If this situation goes unchecked, the impact on household budgets and economic activity will be significant.
 現在、火力発電で原発を代替している結果、燃料の輸入費が増え、電気料金は上昇を続けている。このままでは、家計や経済活動に与える影響が大きい。

Thermal power generation is a major cause of accelerated global warming because it discharges a huge amount of carbon dioxide.
 火力発電は、二酸化炭素(CO2)を多く排出し、地球温暖化が進む大きな要因である。

Renewable energy sources that utilize sunlight and wind have the disadvantage of being affected by weather conditions. As such, there is no prospect that they will become principal power sources. It is necessary to seek a balanced composition of electricity sources in which nuclear and thermal power account for the lion’s share.
 太陽光や風力を利用した再生可能エネルギーは、天候に左右されるなど弱点があり、主要電源になる展望は見えていない。原子力、火力を主力にバランスの取れた電源構成を目指す必要がある。

If the government adopts a zero nuclear energy policy, it will become impossible to secure sufficient engineers capable of handling such work as decommissioning reactors at the wrecked Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant.
 「原発ゼロ」が政策になれば、福島第一原発の廃炉などに必要な技術者も確保できまい。

Location of disposal site vital

Koizumi said his reasoning was based on doubts over how radioactive waste produced at nuclear plants is handled. “It is more irresponsible to promote nuclear power generation without ascertaining the likelihood of securing a nuclear waste disposal site,” he emphasized.
 小泉氏は、「原発ゼロ」の理由として、原発から生じる放射性廃棄物の扱い方を疑問視し、「核のごみ処分場のあてもないのに、原発を進める方がよほど無責任ではないか」と主張した。

The technical aspects of methods for disposing of spent nuclear fuel and radioactive waste produced in this process have already been resolved.
 使用済み核燃料や、それを処理した際に出る放射性廃棄物の処分法は技術的に決着している。

Experts say radioactive material can be disposed safely if it is buried in stable layers of earth. Japan and some other countries have decided to adopt this method. Construction of such a facility has already started in Finland.
 専門家は地盤の安定した地層に埋めれば、安全に処分できると説明している。日本を含め各国がこの方法の採用を決めており、フィンランドでは建設も始まった。

Radioactivity becomes weaker as time passes, and declines by 99.95 percent after 1,000 years have elapsed. This differs from waste materials of heavy metals such as mercury that remain toxic permanently.
 放射能は、時間を経ると減り、1000年で99・95%が消滅する。有害性が消えない水銀など重金属の廃棄物とは事情が違う。

The fly in the ointment is that a final disposal site to bury radioactive waste in Japan has not been found. The government and electric power industry have invited bids for candidate sites, but they have not done enough to convince local governments and affected residents to support such a project.
 問題は、廃棄物を埋める最終処分場を確保できないことだ。政府と電力業界は候補地を募ってきたが、自治体や住民の理解を得る努力がなお足りない。

The government’s dereliction, it may be said, is partly to blame for the failure to secure a disposal site. Part of the responsibility rests with Koizumi, who served as prime minister until several years ago. Discussions on selecting a disposal site need to be moved ahead.
 処分場の確保に道筋が付かないのは、政治の怠慢も一因と言える。首相だった小泉氏にも責任の一端があろう。処分場選定を巡る議論を進めるべきである。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 8, 2013)
(2013年10月8日01時47分 読売新聞)
2013/10/10(木) 07:07 英字新聞 記事URL COM(0)
The Yomiuri Shimbun October 8, 2013
Will China's new free-trade zone encourage foreign investment?
上海自由貿易区 外資呼び込みモデルになるか(10月7日付・読売社説)

The Chinese economy, driven by reckless government-led investments, is now facing a brick wall. In this context, the newly opened pilot free trade zone, aimed at encouraging foreign investment, will be a testing ground for economic reforms.
 官主導の放漫な投資で牽引(けんいん)してきた中国経済が壁に直面している。
 外資呼び込みを狙った自由貿易試験区が立て直しの試金石になろう。

In the free trade zone, which opened in Shanghai recently, various restrictions on foreign businesses have been eased on an experimental basis.
 上海で、外資企業などに対する規制を実験的に緩和する自由貿易試験区が発足した。

Thirty-six Chinese and foreign companies, mainly in such sectors as finance and foreign trade, including U.S. giants Citibank, N.A. and Microsoft Corp., and Porsche A.G. of Germany, have been granted licenses to operate in the zone.
米シティバンク、米マイクロソフト、独ポルシェなど金融や貿易を中心に内外企業36社が進出した。

Specific deregulatory measures include one allowing market forces rather than regulators to set interest rates and another that makes it easier for foreign-capital financial institutions to establish offices there.
 具体的な緩和措置には、金利の自由化や外資系金融機関の設立要件緩和が挙げられる。

As foreign capital investment in China has been sluggish recently, due chiefly to soaring payrolls, the Chinese government plans to use the new free trade zone to attract more investment from abroad.
労働者賃金の高騰などで、海外企業の対中投資が最近伸び悩んでおり、中国政府は、試験区をテコに、国外からの投資を再加速させる方針だ。

If the experimental free trade zone proves effective in reinvigorating the economy, the government said it would introduce such zones elsewhere. It appears Beijing considers the new zone as an important model project to help achieve economic reform.
 経済活性化につながれば、試験区の全国展開もあり得るという。改革を先導する重要なモデルプロジェクトと見ているようだ。

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, the No. 2 official in the government, came up with the idea of setting up the free trade zone, leading to his economic policy being called “Likonomics.”
 この構想を主導したのは、李克強首相だ。「リコノミクス」と呼ばれる経済政策を陣頭指揮する政権ナンバー2である。

Last month, Li said the government would uniformly promote stable economic growth, structural adjustment and reform, indicating he believes the Chinese economy is in a dire situation.
 李首相は9月、「安定成長、構造調整、改革促進を統一的に進める」と述べた。中国経済の現状は危ういと考えたのだろう。

After the Lehman shock in 2008, China propped up the economy through sizable stimulus measures totaling 4 trillion yuan (about ¥60 trillion). The country temporarily recovered to achieve double-digit growth.
 2008年のリーマン・ショック後、中国は4兆元(約60兆円)の巨額の景気対策で経済成長をテコ入れし、その後、2けた台の高成長を一時回復した。

Income gap widening

Recently, however, the country’s economic growth dropped to the 7 percent range, while the widening income gap among Chinese has become a social issue. Endless corruption among senior officials of the Chinese Communist Party is further widening economic disparities.
 しかし、最近は成長率が7%台に減速し、所得格差の拡大も社会問題化している。共産党幹部らのとどまるところを知らない腐敗が格差拡大に拍車をかけている。

Even more worrisome is the so-called shadow banking. Many local governments and business enterprises that rushed to make real estate and capital investments with loans extended by nonbank financial institutions have been overwhelmed by massive debts.
 さらに懸念されるのが、シャドーバンキング(影の銀行)問題だ。ノンバンクなどから融資を受けて不動産投資や設備投資に走った地方政府や企業などが、巨額の債務を抱えている。

As debts owed by local governments reportedly total 20 trillion yuan, management of the post-bubble economy is a serious challenge.
 地方政府の債務は総額20兆元にも達するとの情報もあり、バブル処理は重い課題と言える。

The new free trade zone is also intended to expose local governments and domestic companies to competition from foreign firms by lowering investment barriers and promoting foreign capital investment.
 試験区には、規制緩和で投資障壁を低くし、海外からの投資を呼び込むことによって、地方政府や国内企業を外資企業との競争にさらす意図もあるのだろう。

It is believed that if many foreign companies operate in the free trade zone, the interest structure monopolized by domestic entities will collapse and hopefully hold down excessive investment—the chief culprit of the economic bubble. However, if competition is not carried out on the basis of certain rules and in a fair manner, the effect will be minimal.
 多くの外資が進出すれば、これまでの利権独占構造が崩れ、バブルの元凶となってきた過剰投資も抑制されるという筋書きだ。だが、競争がルールに基づき公正に行われなければ効果は上がるまい。

How can the Chinese maintain stable growth and employment, while avoiding overheating the economy?
 景気過熱を避けながら、安定成長と雇用をどう維持するか。

The Chinese government under President Xi Jinping is expected to spell out a basic policy of economic structural reform—deemed essential for stable growth—at the general assembly of the Chinese Communist Party’s Central Committee in November. Some difficult maneuvering lies ahead for the Chinese government.
 習近平政権は11月の共産党中央委員会総会で、安定成長に欠かせない経済構造改革の基本方針を打ち出す見通しだ。中国政府は難しい舵(かじ)取りを迫られる。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 7, 2013)
(2013年10月7日01時34分 読売新聞)
2013/10/09(水) 06:15 英字新聞 記事URL COM(0)
The Yomiuri Shimbun October 7, 2013
Obama’s absence overshadows TPP summit meeting in Bali
TPP交渉 前途に影落とす米大統領欠席(10月6日付・読売社説)

It has become uncertain whether a clear road map can be drawn up at an upcoming Trans-Pacific Partnership meeting to conclude negotiations on the multilateral free trade pact by the end of this year. The absence of U.S. President Barack Obama at the TPP summit will certainly cast a shadow over the negotiations.
 年内妥結へ道筋を付けられるかどうか、不透明である。オバマ米大統領の欠席が交渉に影を落とすのは避けられまい。

Obama said he will skip the TPP summit to be held Tuesday in Indonesia with the participation of 12 countries including Japan, Australia, Canada and the United States.
 日米、豪州、カナダなど12か国が、インドネシアで8日開く環太平洋経済連携協定(TPP)交渉の首脳会合に、オバマ大統領が欠席する。

Obama has been aiming to have the TPP-member countries reach a broad agreement at the summit in Indonesia and to put priority on concluding the free trade pact by the end of this year. However, he had to give up the trip to Asia because some functions of the U.S. government have been shut down due to a standoff between the ruling and opposition parties that has left the passage of the federal budget for the new fiscal year stalled in Congress.
 大統領は年内妥結を最優先課題に掲げ、インドネシアでの「大筋合意」を目指してきた。だが、議会の与野党対立で新年度予算が成立せず、政府機能の一部停止に追い込まれたため、外遊を断念せざるを得なくなった。

The absence of the U.S. president was apparently unexpected, as he was supposed to chair the summit meeting and lead the negotiations.
 首脳会合の議長を務め、交渉を主導するはずだった大統領の不在は、予想外の展開と言える。

Meanwhile, a split between the United States and emerging economies has become increasingly apparent at a TPP ministerial meeting in Indonesia that serves as a prelude to the summit talks.
 首脳会合の前哨戦としてインドネシアで開かれている閣僚会合では、米国と新興国の対立が改めて浮き彫りになってきた。

Regarding intellectual property rights, the United States is demanding enhanced protection of new drug patents, while emerging countries such as Malaysia oppose the move, since inexpensive generic medicine made after patents for genuine drugs expire is widely used in those countries.
 「知的財産権」について、米国が新薬特許の保護強化を求めているのに対し、特許切れ後の安価な後発薬が普及するマレーシアなど新興国は反発を続ける。

Negotiations on a competition policy have also been stalled, after the United States demanded the governments of emerging economies be prohibited from subsidizing state companies and to provide the same conditions as private companies.
 米国などが新興国による国営企業への補助金を禁止し、民間企業との対等の条件を求めた「競争政策」も膠着(こうちゃく)状態だ。

Still, in negotiations on the environment, the United States demanded the abolition of subsidies for the fishing industry, but Japan’s opposition to the move is likely to be approved, according to informed sources.
 一方、「環境」で米国が要求した漁業補助金の原則禁止については、これに反対していた日本の主張が容認される方向という。

This shows that any negotiations under the TPP cannot be concluded at a pace set by the United States alone, but requires the broader support of other participants, even if Washington takes a tough stance.
 米国が強硬姿勢で臨んでも、支持が広がらなければ、米国ペースで決着できないことを示す。

Abolition of tariffs

A tough road appears to be ahead for the TPP talks, with negotiations on the abolition of tariffs, the biggest issue, postponed at the upcoming meeting.
 今回、最大の焦点である関税撤廃交渉が先送りされるのも、前途多難を予感させる。

Even if participating countries can reach a “broad” agreement over simplifying customs clearance procedures and other issues they can agree on, it cannot be called a real agreement as long as points of contention and areas that are difficult to negotiate are left out.
 通関手続きの簡素化など、各国が一致できた点を中心に「大筋合意」にこぎつけたとしても、難航分野や争点を外した内容では、真の大筋合意とは言えない。

The ruling Liberal Democratic Party maintains that five agricultural items, such as rice and wheat, should be exempted as sacred cows from the abolition of tariffs. Eventually, however, the United States and other participating countries are expected to strongly pressure Japan to liberalize its agricultural industry.
 自民党はコメ、麦など農産品5項目を関税撤廃の聖域とするよう主張している。いずれ、日本の農業分野の市場開放を米国などから強く求められる見通しだ。

The government is trying to limit the liberalization rate to just over 90 percent, with under 10 percent of the items remaining subject to tariffs. But a final battle over it has yet to come.
 政府は関税をなくす品目の割合を示す自由化率を90%超とする方向で模索しているが、ギリギリの攻防はこれからだろう。

Certainly, playing defense is not the only way to contribute to Japan’s national interests. The government must work out a strategy to boost Japan’s growth by tapping into the vitality of emerging Asian economies. Japan must quickly choose domestic products to be subject to liberalization and take measures to strengthen the competitiveness of the domestic farm industry.
 無論、守勢に立つだけが日本の国益ではない。アジアの活力を取り込み、成長に弾みをつける戦略を練る必要がある。自由化する品目の国内調整や、農業の競争力強化策も急がねばならない。

The upcoming summit will offer the Japanese side a chance to establish itself as a tough negotiator by winning concessions from the United States, which is pushing to conclude the TPP talks as soon as possible, and by reconciling the split between the United States and emerging countries. We expect Japan will make its presence felt at the summit meeting.
 早期決着を焦る米国から日本が譲歩を引き出したり、米国と新興国の対立を仲裁したりして、したたかに交渉する好機でもある。日本は存在感を示したい。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 6, 2013)
(2013年10月6日01時31分 読売新聞)
2013/10/08(火) 06:43 英字新聞 記事URL COM(0)
The Yomiuri Shimbun October 6, 2013
Mizuho Bank’s loans to gangsters show corporate governance lacking
暴力団融資 みずほの企業統治が問われる(10月5日付・読売社説)

Mizuho Bank’s handling of its latest scandal was done in an impromptu manner that shows the megabank lacks a sense of responsibility. Mizuho must swiftly regain its organizational discipline.
 メガバンクとしての責任感を欠く場当たり的な対応だ。緩んだ組織のタガを、早急に締め直さねばならない。

The Financial Services Agency issued a business improvement administrative order to the bank because it determined it had been extending loans to many members of gang organizations through affiliated firms, including the consumer credit company Orient Corp.
 みずほ銀行が、系列信販会社・オリエントコーポレーションなどを通じ、多数の暴力団員らに融資していたとして、金融庁から業務改善命令を受けた。

These loans were extended in the form of 230 so-called tie-up loans between the bank and consumer credit firms, the total value of which exceeded ¥200 million.
 これらの融資は、銀行と信販会社との提携ローンで行われていた。取引は230件、融資額は計2億円超にのぼるという。

The business world has been working to rid itself of the influence of criminal organizations. In spite of this, Mizuho extended a huge sum of loans to gangsters. There is simply no justification for the bank’s actions.
 経済界の取り組む暴力団排除の動きに逆行し、多額の融資をしていたのは論外である。

Mizuho Bank held a press conference on Friday, and Vice President Toshitsugu Okabe apologized for the scandal. We cannot understand why it took one week to hold the press conference after the FSA issued the business improvement order. Bank President Yasuhiro Sato himself should have appeared at the press conference to explain the reasons for the scandal, among other things.
 みずほ銀は4日、記者会見を開き、岡部俊胤副頭取が陳謝した。改善命令から記者会見まで1週間もかかったのは、理解に苦しむ。佐藤康博頭取が自ら、不祥事の理由などを説明すべきだった。

To restore the trust in the bank, Mizuho must clarify where management responsibility lies through stern internal punishments. Also, it needs to take thorough steps to determine the cause of the scandal and devise measures to prevent a recurrence.
 傷ついた信頼の回復へ、みずほ銀は厳しい社内処分で責任を明確化し、原因解明と再発防止策を徹底する必要がある。

Under the tie-up loan system, consumer credit firms receive and screen applications from customers. If they approve a loan to buy a car, for example, a bank extends the loan.
 問題になった提携ローンは、信販会社の融資審査に基づき、銀行が自動車などの購入代金を貸し付ける仕組みだ。

Left untouched for 2 years

Mizuho learned that it had lent money to gangsters during a confirmation process after the loans were extended.
 みずほ銀は融資後の確認で、暴力団員への融資を見つけた。

However, the bank did not make an appropriate response such as canceling the transactions based on the terms of loan contracts and left the problem unsolved for two years until it was pointed out by the FSA in its inspection in December last year.
 ところが、契約に基づく取引解除など適切な対応を取らず、昨年12月の金融庁検査で指摘されるまで、2年間も放置した。

Furthermore, information on the questionable transactions went no further than executives in charge of legal compliance, including the then vice president, and did not reach top management executives. We must say that the bank’s corporate governance is defective.
 さらに、こうした経緯の情報は当時の副頭取ら法令順守担当の役員にとどまり、経営トップに伝わっていなかったという。ガバナンス(企業統治)に欠陥があると言わざるを得まい。

Other banks also deal with tie-up loans. With the latest scandal as a good lesson, banks and consumer credit companies should make utmost efforts to prevent the extension of problematic loans by, for example, sharing credit records such as lists of gangsters and gangster-related people.
 提携ローンは、みずほ以外の銀行も扱っている。今回のケースを教訓に、銀行と信販会社が暴力団関係者のリストなど信用情報を共有し、問題融資の防止に努めることが求められよう。

The Mizuho Financial Group was launched in 2000 through a management integration of three banks: Dai-Ichi Kangyo Bank, Fuji Bank and the Industrial Bank of Japan. In July this year, the group was transformed into a one-bank system under the One Mizuho New Frontier Plan after the merger of Mizuho Bank and Mizuho Corporate Bank. The scandal has spoiled the fresh start of the banking group.
 2000年に第一勧業、富士、日本興業の3行が経営統合して発足したみずほグループは、今年7月に1行体制の「ワンみずほ」に移行した。再スタートの出ばなをくじくつまずきだ。

A sense of rivalry still deeply rooted among Mizuho bankers from the three former banks must be behind the poor response to the scandal. It is an urgent task for the bank to reform its corporate climate into one with a smooth flow of information.
 旧3行意識がいまだに根強いことが、お粗末な対応の背景にあるのだろう。風通しのいい企業風土へ改革することが急務である。

Before the merger of the three banks, Dai-Ichi Kangyo Bank received strong criticism from society over a payoff scandal involving a sokaiya corporate racketeer. And after the launch of the group, Mizuho was roundly criticized for successive large-scale system failures.
 第一勧銀時代に起こした総会屋への利益供与事件や、みずほグループ発足後に相次いだ大規模なシステム障害などは、社会から強い批判を浴びた。

As far as we can see from its response to the latest scandal, the financial group has not made use of its bitter experiences. This time, it must listen sincerely to the harsh criticisms of society for the sake of management reform.
 今回の対応を見る限り、苦い経験を生かしたとは思えない。今度こそ厳しい声を真摯(しんし)に受け止め、経営改革につなげるべきだ。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 5, 2013)
(2013年10月5日01時26分 読売新聞)
2013/10/07(月) 06:50 英字新聞 記事URL COM(0)
The Yomiuri Shimbun October 5, 2013
U.N. climate report notes urgency for steps against global warming
IPCC報告 深刻な温暖化にどう備えるか(10月4日付・読売社説)

The latest U.N. report on climate change, it can be said, has indicated anew the importance of measures against global warming.
 地球温暖化対策の重要性が改めて示されたと言えるだろう。

The report was compiled by the U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) based on its latest scientific assessment of present and future global warming.
 国連の「気候変動に関する政府間パネル(IPCC)」が、地球温暖化の現状と将来に関する最新の科学的見解をまとめた。

The report concluded it is extremely likely global warming is being caused by increased carbon dioxide emissions due to massive consumption of fossil fuels, such as oil and coal.
 石油や石炭など化石燃料の大量消費により、二酸化炭素(CO2)の排出量が増大し、地球規模の温暖化が引き起こされている可能性が極めて高い、と結論づけた。

Unless adequate measures are taken to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the report predicted the average global temperature would likely rise by up to 4.8 C from the average for the two decades from 1986 to 2005. The report also warned of the high possibility that heat waves and heavy rain would occur more often around the world.
 十分な対策を講じないと、今世紀末の世界の平均気温は、1986~2005年の平均に比べ、最大4・8度上がると予測した。世界中で熱波や豪雨が増える可能性が非常に高いとも警告した。

It also predicted sea levels could rise a maximum of 82 centimeters by the end of the century. Arctic sea ice is expected to be nonexistent in the summer in the not-so-distant future.
 海面も今世紀末には最大82センチ上昇する。夏の北極海の海氷も遠からず消滅する恐れがある。

It may be said that the report painted an extremely serious vision for the future of the Earth.
 極めて深刻な地球の未来図を描き出したと言えよう。

The report is reviewed every five to six years. The latest one assigned human culpability for global warming in the strongest tone ever, saying there is a “more than 95 percent” possibility that global warming has been caused by human activities.
 報告書は5~6年ごとに見直されている。今回は、温暖化について、「95%以上の確率」で人間の活動が原因とし、これまでで最も強く人類の責任を指摘した。

Reference has also been made to the phenomena already caused by global warming. The duration and frequency of heat waves have increased in Asia, Europe and Australia since 1950, according to the report.
 すでに生じている影響にも触れた。例えば、1950年以降、アジア、欧州、豪州で熱波の期間と頻度が増えているという。

Unusual phenomena reported

In Japan, this summer saw record rainfall and a series of tornadoes. As things stand at present, it is impossible to determine that global warming is responsible for such phenomena. But many people believe there have been abnormal climate changes.
 日本でも今夏、記録的な豪雨や竜巻が連続して発生した。現時点では温暖化の影響と断じられないものの、異変を実感している人は多いのではないか。

The report’s predictions are uncertain. There are currently 195 countries represented in the IPCC, which calls for neutrality and fairness. However, its views are not unanimously shared in many areas. In the case of its previous report, inadequate handling of data emerged as a problem.
 予測には不確かな部分もある。IPCCは195か国の政府が関与し、中立公正を標榜(ひょうぼう)しているが、見解への異論は少なくない。前回の報告書では、データの不適切な扱いが問題になった。

In the case of the latest report, its contents were made public while it was being drafted as part of procedural improvement measures. This indicated the IPCC’s efforts to regain public confidence.
 今回は報告書の作成段階で草稿を広く公開するなど、手続きを改善した。信頼を取り戻そうというIPCCの姿勢がうかがえる。

If the most drastic measures are taken to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, the report estimated it would be possible to limit the temperature increase to 0.3 C to 1.7 C at the end of this century. Effective measures must be taken as early as possible.
 報告書は、最大限の対策を取れば、今世紀末の気温上昇を0・3~1・7度に抑えられると試算している。有効な対策が急務だ。

Attention is now on the future course of the Conference of the Parties to the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change. Efforts are centered on a new framework scheduled to take effect in 2020 to replace the Kyoto Protocol, which has served as a pillar of emission control measures.
 焦点は、国連気候変動枠組み条約締約国会議の交渉の行方だ。対策の柱だった京都議定書に代わり、2020年にスタート予定の新たな枠組みが重要になる。

China and the United States, the two largest emission producers, are not obliged to reduce greenhouse effect gases under the Kyoto Protocol. A new framework must involve all major industrial countries to be effective.
 京都議定書では温室効果ガスの削減義務を負っていない2大排出国の中国、米国など、すべての主要排出国が参加する実効性のある枠組みにせねばならない。

Of course, every country must make every effort to reduce gas emissions as much as possible even before a new framework will take effect.
 無論、新たな枠組みが発効するまでの間も、各国は可能な限り対策に取り組む必要がある。

Use of nuclear power generation that produces no carbon dioxide is also indispensable for tackling global warming.
 温暖化対策には、発電時にCO2を排出しない原子力発電の活用も欠かせない。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 4, 2013)
(2013年10月4日02時12分 読売新聞)
2013/10/06(日) 06:25 英字新聞 記事URL COM(0)
The Yomiuri Shimbun October 4, 2013
Does Park intend to improve S. Korea’s relations with Japan?
朴大統領発言 日韓関係改善の意思あるのか(10月3日付・読売社説)

Considering South Korean President Park Geun Hye’s recent statements, we cannot help doubting whether she intends to improve relations with Japan.
 対日関係を改善する意思があるのだろうかと、疑わざるを得ない。

In her talks with U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, who spoke to her about the importance of security cooperation among Japan, South Korea and the United States, she criticized Japan, saying, “Trust has not been established due to the [Japanese] leadership, which has repeatedly made regressive remarks” on historical and territorial issues.
 日米韓の安保協力の重要性を説いたヘーゲル米国防長官に、韓国の朴槿恵大統領が、「歴史や領土問題で時代逆行発言を繰り返す(日本)指導部のせいで、信頼を築けない」と対日批判を展開した。

Japan-South Korea relations have rapidly deteriorated since last summer, when then President Lee Myung Bak visited the Takeshima islands and made a statement demanding the Emperor apologize for Japan’s colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula. Even after the administration in both countries changed, bilateral relations have been chilly.
 日韓関係は、昨年夏の李明博大統領の竹島訪問と天皇謝罪要求の発言以降、急激に悪化し、両国の政権交代後も冷え込んでいる。

Park’s statement that the responsibility for the situation lies with Japan is extremely one-sided. She was also barking up the wrong tree in saying so to a ranking U.S. official.
 その責任が日本にあるという発言は一方的に過ぎよう。米政府高官に主張したのもお門違いだ。

Concerning the so-called comfort women issue, Park said, “Japan has leveled insults against them rather than offering an apology.” We think she is operating under a misconception.
 朴氏は、いわゆる元従軍慰安婦問題では、日本が「謝罪どころか、侮辱している」と述べた。どこかに誤解があるのではないか。

Based on her understanding of the bilateral situation, she said it is difficult to have summit talks with Japan, unless Japan shows a “sincere attitude.” By doing so, she established de facto conditions for holding talks. This is problematic, too. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe says he always keeps an open door for dialogue.
 その上で、日本が「誠意ある姿勢」を見せない限り首脳会談は難しい、と事実上の条件をつけた点も問題だ。安倍首相は対話のドアは常に開けているとしている。

On its independence movement day in March, just after her inauguration, Park demanded Japan “have a correct understanding of history and take an attitude of responsibility.” She even clearly said, “The hostile dynamic of one party being a perpetrator and the other party a victim will remain unchanged even after 1,000 years have passed.”
 朴氏は大統領就任直後の3月、独立運動記念日に、日本に「歴史を正しく直視し、責任を負う姿勢」を求め、「加害者と被害者の歴史的立場は千年の歴史が流れても変わらない」とまで断言した。

Such statements damage the significance of a statement made in 1965 by her father, then President Park Chung Hee, when Japan-South Korean diplomatic relations were normalized: that South Korea and Japan had been enemies, but it was a thing of the past.
 これでは、朴氏の父親の朴正煕大統領が1965年の日韓国交正常化に際して、「韓日は仇敵(きゅうてき)関係だったが、あくまでも過去だ」と述べた意義が損なわれよう。


Questionable diplomacy

It is questionable that Park has been pursuing diplomacy that is particularly focused on Japan’s perception of history.
 訝(いぶか)しいのは、朴氏が日本の歴史認識にことさら焦点を当てる外交を繰り広げていることだ。

During her meeting with U.S. President Barack Obama in May, she said Japan needs to have a correct recognition of history. During her speech to the U.S. Congress, she said, “Those who are blind to the past cannot see the future.”
 5月のオバマ米大統領との会談で「日本は正しい歴史認識をもつべきだ」と語り、米国議会では「歴史に目を閉ざす者は未来を見ることができない」と述べた。

In June, during a lunch meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, she proposed the establishment of a memorial to Korean independence activist An Jung Geun, who assassinated Hirobumi Ito, the first resident general of Korea under Japan’s colonial rule, at Harbin Station in China’s Heilongjiang Province in 1909. She praised An as a historical figure respected by the peoples of South Korea and China.
 翌月は習近平・中国国家主席との昼食会で、伊藤博文・初代韓国統監をハルビン駅で暗殺した朝鮮独立運動家の安重根を「韓中両国民が尊敬する歴史的人物」とたたえ、記念碑建立を提案した。

Such statements by Park have inflamed anti-Japanese nationalism in her country. During a soccer game between the Japanese and South Korean national teams in June, a huge image of An Jung Geun and a banner reading “A nation that forgets its history has no future” appeared in the South Korean supporters’ seats. This incident must be related to Park’s statements.
 こうした朴氏の言動が、反日ナショナリズムを煽(あお)る結果になっている。7月のサッカー日韓戦で、韓国応援席に安重根の巨大な肖像画と、「歴史を忘れた民族に未来はない」との横断幕が登場したことも、無縁ではあるまい。

In South Korea, two court rulings have been handed down in damages suits in favor of former South Korean workers forcibly employed by Japanese companies during Japan’s colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula. Such rulings are considered violations of the 1965 bilateral agreement on claims rights. This situation is shaking Japan-South Korean relations, which were normalized decades ago.
 韓国では、日韓請求権協定に反する形で、韓国人元徴用工の損害賠償請求訴訟で日本企業敗訴の判決が相次いでいる。国交正常化後の日韓関係を揺るがす事態だ。

There are many issues that must be jointly tackled by the leaders of Japan and South Korea, such as the nuclear threat from North Korea and how to deal with China, which has been expanding its military and economic power. It is impossible to build a relationship of mutual trust if Park sticks to rehashing settled issues from the past, rather than establishing future-oriented relations.
 日韓には、北朝鮮の核脅威や膨張中国への対処など、首脳同士で取り組むべき課題が多い。朴氏が未来志向よりも過去清算にこだわるなら、信頼関係は築けない。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 3, 2013)
(2013年10月3日01時37分 読売新聞)
2013/10/05(土) 08:53 英字新聞 記事URL COM(0)
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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!

PIC_0014.JPG

■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)
英字新聞(朝日)
英字新聞(朝日2)

[ スラチャイ編集の辞書 ]
タイ日辞書(改訂版)
日タイ辞書(改訂版)
ラオ日辞書
日ラオ辞書

[ 英字新聞リンク ]
ocn cafe
fc2
goo
yahoo
ameba

online casino

[ online casino ]
オンラインカジノとは

[ 32red casino mobile ]
for iPhone, Android
Roulette Game
Blackjack Game
Slots Game

[ my favorite way ]
Earning some money on the commuting train is fantastic.
roulette game
通勤電車の中で稼ぐ(ルーレット)^^
ルーレットで遊ぶ

[ 32red casino iPhone & Android ]
Mermaids Millions
Royal Derby
Tomb Raider
Blackjack Game
Major Millions

Tomb Raider iTunes App
Blackjack iTunes App
Roulette Game
Android & iPhone Direct Registration

[ sellection for mobile ]
32Red Web App (iPhone & Android) Casino - Homepage

[ 32red download for PC ]


[ online casino for PC ]
Roulette
Blackjack
Online Slots

[ zipang casino ]
in english

検索フォーム

seesaa100 英字新聞s HPs 1

スラチャイの家族紹介
私の家族

スラチャイの手作りリンク集
スラチャイタイ在住9年目
中国語会話基礎(北京語)
タイ日辞典(単語帳)
タイ語の子音
タイ語の母音
スラチャイ編曲のmidiのギター曲
スラチャイ編曲のJ.S.Bachです

スラチャイの多国言語学習
初歩のタイ語
初歩の中国語
初歩のラオス語
初歩のビルマ語
初歩のシンハリ語
初歩のタガログ語

タイ語の基礎
タイ文字
タイ日辞書
タイ語の副詞
タイ語の前置詞
タイ語の助動詞
タイ語の接続詞

基礎タイ語一覧(タイ文字、ローマ字)
seesaaサイト内リンク一覧:
01 あいさつ
02 別れのあいさつ
03 声をかけるとき
04 感謝の言葉と答え方
05 謝罪の言葉と答え方
06 聞き直すとき
07 相手の言うことがわからないとき
08 うまく言えないとき
09 一般的なあいづち
10 よくわからないときの返事
11 強めのあいづち
12 自分について述べるとき
13 相手のことを尋ねるとき
14 頼みごとをするとき
15 申し出・依頼を断るとき
16 許可を求めるとき
17 説明してもらうとき
18 確認を求めるとき
19 状況を知りたいとき
20 値段の尋ね方と断り方
21 急いでもらいたいとき
22 待ってもらいたいとき
23 日時・場所・天候を尋ねるとき
24 その他

基礎タイ語一覧(タイ文字、音声付き)
サイト外HPリンク一覧:
01 あいさつ
02 別れのあいさつ
03 声をかけるとき
04 感謝の言葉と答え方
05 謝罪の言葉と答え方
06 聞き直すとき
07 相手の言うことがわからないとき
08 うまく言えないとき
09 一般的なあいづち
10 よくわからないときの返事
11 強めのあいづち
12 自分について述べるとき
13 相手のことを尋ねるとき
14 頼みごとをするとき
15 申し出・依頼を断るとき
16 許可を求めるとき
17 説明してもらうとき
18 確認を求めるとき
19 状況を知りたいとき
20 値段の尋ね方と断り方
21 急いでもらいたいとき
22 待ってもらいたいとき
23 日時・場所・天候を尋ねるとき
24 その他

seesaa100 英字新聞s HPs 2

タイの文化一覧:
01 雨の日にも傘をささないタイ人
02 勉強熱心なタイ人女性たち
03 タイ人は敬謙な仏教徒
04 タイの市場
05 タイの食堂
06 タイ人は外食が大好き
07 果物王国タイランド
08 タイ人の誕生日
09 タイの電話代は高い
10 微笑みの国タイランド

14の戒律(テラワーダ仏教戒律)
seesaaサイト内リンク一覧:
第01番目の戒律
第02番目の戒律
第03番目の戒律
第04番目の戒律
第05番目の戒律
第06番目の戒律
第07番目の戒律
第08番目の戒律
第09番目の戒律
第10番目の戒律
第11番目の戒律
第12番目の戒律
第13番目の戒律
第14番目の戒律

14の戒律(テラワーダ仏教戒律)
サイト外HPリンク一覧:
14の戒律解説
第01番目の戒律
第02番目の戒律
第03番目の戒律
第04番目の戒律
第05番目の戒律
第06番目の戒律
第07番目の戒律
第08番目の戒律
第09番目の戒律
第10番目の戒律
第11番目の戒律
第12番目の戒律
第13番目の戒律
第14番目の戒律

[ 英字新聞リンク ]
yahoo geolog
yaplog
worldpress
teacup
jugem
hatena
@word
blogger
biglobe
excite
a8
so-net
ameblo
wox
rakuten
ninja
seesaa
goo
fc2
yahoo
livedoor
dreamlog

[ HPリンク ]
HP2 srachai2000_2
Japanese for Thai students
タイ語学習サイト
ラオ日・日老辞書
cocolog 家族のアルバム
fc2 家族のアルバム

クリック募金^^

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