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September 20, 2014(Mainichi Japan)
Editorial: Put new base survey on hold till after Okinawa gubernatorial election
社説:辺野古掘削調査 知事選まで作業中断を
One month has passed since the Defense Ministry's Okinawa Defense Bureau began a boring survey on the seabed off the Henoko district of Nago, Okinawa Prefecture, in preparation to build a substitute facility for the U.S. military's Air Station Futenma.
防衛省沖縄防衛局が、米軍普天間飛行場（沖縄県宜野湾市）の名護市辺野古への移設に向け、海底を掘削して埋め立て地盤の強度や地質を調べるボーリング調査を開始して１カ月たつ。
We are concerned about the way in which the national government is pressing forward with the project as if it is overriding resistance from local residents and creating a fait accompli one after another.
県民の反対を押し切って、既成事実を積み上げようとするかのようなやり方を、私たちは憂慮する。
To avoid further deepening the rift within Okinawa, the central government should suspend the boring survey to see how voters in the southernmost prefecture will react to the project through the Nov. 16 Okinawa gubernatorial election.
沖縄との亀裂をこれ以上、深めないよう、政府は掘削調査を中断し、１１月１６日に投開票される沖縄県知事選の結果を待つべきだ。
The national government initially planned to launch a boring survey in 2004 but its attempt was blocked by opponents. As such, the government is guarding the site by designating a larger area off Henoko as an off-limit zone, and has come under fire from opponents of the project and others for being on excessively high alert.
政府は、２００４年にも掘削調査を実施しようとしながら反対派の阻止行動で中止に追い込まれたことから、今回は立ち入り禁止水域を拡大して警戒を強めており、反対派などから過剰警備との批判が出ている。
The government's tough stance is supported by the fact that Gov. Hirokazu Nakaima granted the government permission to reclaim offshore areas of Henoko.
政府が強硬方針を貫く支えは、昨年末に仲井真弘多（ひろかず）知事が辺野古埋め立てを承認したことだ。
However, Nakaima deserves criticism that he violated his campaign pledge that he would stick to his demand that Futenma base, situated in a densely populated area of the city of Ginowan, be moved out of the prefecture.
だが、前回知事選で「県外移設」公約を掲げて再選された仲井真知事が、辺野古埋め立てを承認したことは「公約違反」と言われても仕方がない。
Numerous Okinawa residents reacted sharply to Nakaima's about-face. In January this year, Nago voters re-elected Mayor Susumu Inamine, who is opposed to the relocation of Futenma base to Henoko, while pro-mayor candidates won a majority in the municipal assembly in a recent election.
県民は反発し、１月の名護市長選では移設に反対する稲嶺進市長が再選され、先の名護市議選でも市長派が過半数を維持した。
Furthermore, the prefectural assembly adopted a resolution on Sept. 3 protesting against the national government for going ahead with the boring survey and calling for an immediate halt to the work, with the support of not only four opposition parties but also New Komeito that supports Nakaima.
今月３日には県議会で、野党４会派のほか与党の公明党も賛成して、掘削調査に着手した政府に抗議し、工事の即時中止などを求める意見書が可決された。
Such being the case, whether Nakaima's decision reflects local residents' views on the issue will be a key point of contention in the upcoming gubernatorial race.
名護市長と多くの県民が辺野古移設に反対する中で、埋め立てを承認した知事の判断は、民意を代表したものだったと言えるのか。１１月の知事選はそれが問われる選挙になる。
However, the government of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe appears unwilling to listen to local communities' opinions on the issue.
しかし、安倍政権はあまり聞く耳を持たないようだ。
Rather, it appears that the stiffer local residents' opposition grows to the project, the further the Abe administration presses forward with the work on the substitute facility for Futenma base in a bid to prevent Nakaima's possible election loss from adversely affecting the project.
それどころか、沖縄で反対の声が高まれば高まるほど、仮に知事選で仲井真氏が敗れても辺野古移設に影響しないようにするため、工事を進めて既成事実化を図ろうとしているように見える。
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told a recent news conference, "Primary attention had been focused on whether the Okinawa Prefectural Government would approve the reclamation, but it's already a past concern." However, the remark Suga made as if he dismissed opposition to the project can hardly convince local residents.
菅義偉官房長官は、先日の記者会見で、辺野古移設について「最大の関心は沖縄県が埋め立てを承認するかどうかだった。この問題はもう過去のものだ」と語った。反対意見を「過去の問題」と切り捨てるような発言は、納得できない。
In an article he contributed to the U.S. news site The Huffington Post last month, former U.S. Assistant Secretary of Defense Joseph Nye pointed out that as China's ballistic missile technology advances, U.S. bases in Okinawa Prefecture become increasingly vulnerable. He also pointed to Okinawa residents' anger at the burden of U.S. bases on them, and called for reconsidering the structure of the Japan-U.S. alliance, such as the way U.S. forces should be deployed in the Japanese archipelago.
米国のジョセフ・ナイ元国防次官補は先月、米ニュースサイト「ハフィントン・ポスト」に寄稿した論文で、沖縄の米軍基地が中国の弾道ミサイル技術の進展で「脆弱（ぜいじゃく）」になっていることや、沖縄の人々の基地負担に対する怒りを指摘して、在日米軍の配備のあり方など日米同盟の構造を再考するよう求めた。
Why does the national government view the planned construction of a substitute facility for the Air Station Futenma off Henoko as the only way to settle the issue of relocating the base while even an expert in diplomacy and security like Nye has made such a proposal?
外交・安全保障の専門家までがこう提言する中で、政府が辺野古移設を「唯一の解決策」とするのはなぜか。
The government bears responsibility to provide a sufficient explanation to Okinawa residents. As such, the boring survey should be put on hold until after the gubernatorial election.
政府は沖縄の人々に十分な説明をする責任がある。掘削調査は、知事選が終わるまで中断すべきだ。
毎日新聞 2014年09月20日 02時30分
Editorial: Put new base survey on hold till after Okinawa gubernatorial election
社説:辺野古掘削調査 知事選まで作業中断を
One month has passed since the Defense Ministry's Okinawa Defense Bureau began a boring survey on the seabed off the Henoko district of Nago, Okinawa Prefecture, in preparation to build a substitute facility for the U.S. military's Air Station Futenma.
防衛省沖縄防衛局が、米軍普天間飛行場（沖縄県宜野湾市）の名護市辺野古への移設に向け、海底を掘削して埋め立て地盤の強度や地質を調べるボーリング調査を開始して１カ月たつ。
We are concerned about the way in which the national government is pressing forward with the project as if it is overriding resistance from local residents and creating a fait accompli one after another.
県民の反対を押し切って、既成事実を積み上げようとするかのようなやり方を、私たちは憂慮する。
To avoid further deepening the rift within Okinawa, the central government should suspend the boring survey to see how voters in the southernmost prefecture will react to the project through the Nov. 16 Okinawa gubernatorial election.
沖縄との亀裂をこれ以上、深めないよう、政府は掘削調査を中断し、１１月１６日に投開票される沖縄県知事選の結果を待つべきだ。
The national government initially planned to launch a boring survey in 2004 but its attempt was blocked by opponents. As such, the government is guarding the site by designating a larger area off Henoko as an off-limit zone, and has come under fire from opponents of the project and others for being on excessively high alert.
政府は、２００４年にも掘削調査を実施しようとしながら反対派の阻止行動で中止に追い込まれたことから、今回は立ち入り禁止水域を拡大して警戒を強めており、反対派などから過剰警備との批判が出ている。
The government's tough stance is supported by the fact that Gov. Hirokazu Nakaima granted the government permission to reclaim offshore areas of Henoko.
政府が強硬方針を貫く支えは、昨年末に仲井真弘多（ひろかず）知事が辺野古埋め立てを承認したことだ。
However, Nakaima deserves criticism that he violated his campaign pledge that he would stick to his demand that Futenma base, situated in a densely populated area of the city of Ginowan, be moved out of the prefecture.
だが、前回知事選で「県外移設」公約を掲げて再選された仲井真知事が、辺野古埋め立てを承認したことは「公約違反」と言われても仕方がない。
Numerous Okinawa residents reacted sharply to Nakaima's about-face. In January this year, Nago voters re-elected Mayor Susumu Inamine, who is opposed to the relocation of Futenma base to Henoko, while pro-mayor candidates won a majority in the municipal assembly in a recent election.
県民は反発し、１月の名護市長選では移設に反対する稲嶺進市長が再選され、先の名護市議選でも市長派が過半数を維持した。
Furthermore, the prefectural assembly adopted a resolution on Sept. 3 protesting against the national government for going ahead with the boring survey and calling for an immediate halt to the work, with the support of not only four opposition parties but also New Komeito that supports Nakaima.
今月３日には県議会で、野党４会派のほか与党の公明党も賛成して、掘削調査に着手した政府に抗議し、工事の即時中止などを求める意見書が可決された。
Such being the case, whether Nakaima's decision reflects local residents' views on the issue will be a key point of contention in the upcoming gubernatorial race.
名護市長と多くの県民が辺野古移設に反対する中で、埋め立てを承認した知事の判断は、民意を代表したものだったと言えるのか。１１月の知事選はそれが問われる選挙になる。
However, the government of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe appears unwilling to listen to local communities' opinions on the issue.
しかし、安倍政権はあまり聞く耳を持たないようだ。
Rather, it appears that the stiffer local residents' opposition grows to the project, the further the Abe administration presses forward with the work on the substitute facility for Futenma base in a bid to prevent Nakaima's possible election loss from adversely affecting the project.
それどころか、沖縄で反対の声が高まれば高まるほど、仮に知事選で仲井真氏が敗れても辺野古移設に影響しないようにするため、工事を進めて既成事実化を図ろうとしているように見える。
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told a recent news conference, "Primary attention had been focused on whether the Okinawa Prefectural Government would approve the reclamation, but it's already a past concern." However, the remark Suga made as if he dismissed opposition to the project can hardly convince local residents.
菅義偉官房長官は、先日の記者会見で、辺野古移設について「最大の関心は沖縄県が埋め立てを承認するかどうかだった。この問題はもう過去のものだ」と語った。反対意見を「過去の問題」と切り捨てるような発言は、納得できない。
In an article he contributed to the U.S. news site The Huffington Post last month, former U.S. Assistant Secretary of Defense Joseph Nye pointed out that as China's ballistic missile technology advances, U.S. bases in Okinawa Prefecture become increasingly vulnerable. He also pointed to Okinawa residents' anger at the burden of U.S. bases on them, and called for reconsidering the structure of the Japan-U.S. alliance, such as the way U.S. forces should be deployed in the Japanese archipelago.
米国のジョセフ・ナイ元国防次官補は先月、米ニュースサイト「ハフィントン・ポスト」に寄稿した論文で、沖縄の米軍基地が中国の弾道ミサイル技術の進展で「脆弱（ぜいじゃく）」になっていることや、沖縄の人々の基地負担に対する怒りを指摘して、在日米軍の配備のあり方など日米同盟の構造を再考するよう求めた。
Why does the national government view the planned construction of a substitute facility for the Air Station Futenma off Henoko as the only way to settle the issue of relocating the base while even an expert in diplomacy and security like Nye has made such a proposal?
外交・安全保障の専門家までがこう提言する中で、政府が辺野古移設を「唯一の解決策」とするのはなぜか。
The government bears responsibility to provide a sufficient explanation to Okinawa residents. As such, the boring survey should be put on hold until after the gubernatorial election.
政府は沖縄の人々に十分な説明をする責任がある。掘削調査は、知事選が終わるまで中断すべきだ。
毎日新聞 2014年09月20日 02時30分
ウナギは食うな、クジラは食うな。
いやな時代になりました。
でも、一番いやなのは、金融緩和政策による円安なんです。
海外円建て生活者の生活（暮らし向き）を直撃しています。
（スラチャイ）
The Yomiuri Shimbun
New glass eel farming restrictions must have bite as well as bark
ウナギ養殖規制 資源保護の実効性が問われる
We hope efforts to protect eel resources will be strengthened so people can continue to eat Japanese eel.
ウナギを食べ続けられるよう、資源保護の取り組みを強化したい。
Japan, China, South Korea and Taiwan have agreed to reduce eel farmers’ procurement of young Japanese eels by 20 percent from 2015. This is the first international framework created to manage stocks of the Japanese eel.
日本と中国、韓国、台湾が、ニホンウナギの養殖量を、２０１５年から２割減らすことで合意した。ニホンウナギの資源管理に関する初の国際的な枠組みだ。
Wild stocks of glass, or young, eels that are used for farming are rapidly decreasing due to overfishing. In 2013, Japan caught about five tons of glass eels, barely one-tenth of the figure netted in the mid-1970s.
養殖に使う稚魚の「シラス」は乱獲で激減している。日本の１３年の漁獲量は約５トンで、１９７０年代半ばの１０分の１にすぎない。
China and other nations that export eel to Japan also are struggling with poorer catches.
日本にウナギを輸出する中国などでも漁獲量は低迷している。
Japan is the biggest consumer of Japanese eel. To prevent the depletion of eel resources, Japan proposed the restrictions during unofficial talks with the three other governments. The agreement will control the volume of glass eels that can be used at eel farms.
資源の枯渇を防ぐため、最大の消費国である日本が非公式協議で提案し、養殖場に入れるシラスの量を規制することになった。
Although this is a “gentleman’s agreement” with no legally binding power, we welcome the fact that the international parties involved share a sense of crisis about the state of eel stocks, and are now aligned on protecting this resource.
法的拘束力のない「紳士協定」とはいえ、４か国・地域が危機感を共有し、資源保護で足並みをそろえたことは評価できる。
The drive to reach this agreement on managing eel resources stemmed from critical views in the international community about overfishing of Japanese eel.
資源管理で合意した背景には、ニホンウナギの乱獲に対する国際社会の厳しい見方がある。
In June, the International Union for Conservation of Nature designated Japanese eel as an endangered species.
国際自然保護連合（ＩＵＣＮ）は今年６月、ニホンウナギを「絶滅危惧種」に指定した。
Consequently, it is possible restrictions on the export and import of Japanese eel could be set at a meeting of the Washington Convention due to be held in 2016. The convention is an international treaty to protect endangered animals and plants.
このため２０１６年に開かれるワシントン条約の会議で、輸出入制限の対象になる可能性が出ている。
If trade in the eels were to be restricted, it would generate significant problems in Japan, because 60 percent of eel consumed here is imported. Eel farmers in China and other nations would also suffer a blow if exports were restricted.
対象になれば、国内消費の６割を輸入に頼る日本が困るだけでなく、輸出が制限される中国などの養殖業者も打撃を受ける。
Will 20% be enough?
China and Taiwan initially opposed Japan’s proposal to scale back the volume of young eels introduced into eel farms. Their about-face is probably aimed at protecting their own eel farmers.
日本提案に当初は反対した中国や台湾が受け入れたのは、自国の養殖業者を守る狙いだろう。
To ensure that Japanese eel does not become restricted by the Washington Convention, it is essential to steadily reduce the volume of young eels being moved from the wild to eel farms and demonstrate clear results in the protection of eel resources.
ワシントン条約の制限を受けないためには、養殖量の削減を着実に実行し、資源保護の成果を上げることが重要だ。
There was apparently no scientific basis for choosing 20 percent as the figure for reduction. It will be necessary to verify the agreement’s effectiveness in replenishing eel stocks. If this 20 percent reduction is found to be insufficient, additional cuts may need to be considered.
２割の削減幅には科学的な根拠はないという。資源回復の効果を検証し、不十分な場合は削減幅の上積みが求められよう。
Eel farmers and others in the four parties to this agreement will be entrusted with managing eel resources.
資源管理の対応は、各国・地域の業者などに委ねられる。
Private-sector bodies comprising eel farm operators and others will confirm the new rules are being followed.
規制の順守状況の確認は、養殖業者らが作る民間の自主管理組織が担う。
An international nongovernmental organization will be established to oversee these bodies and share reports on the state of eel stocks.
これらの上部団体として国際的な非政府組織を設立し、状況を報告し合うという。
If these rules are not thoroughly enforced and stocks of Japanese eel continue to decline, eel farmers will end up shooting themselves in the foot. We urge them to be keenly aware of this fact and positively go along with the four-way agreement.
規制を徹底せずに、ニホンウナギの減少が続くようだと、養殖業者は自らの首を絞めることになる。それを自覚し、積極的に取り組んでもらいたい。
Looking ahead, it will be worth considering elevating the status of the agreement to an accord based on international treaties and making it legally binding.
合意を国際条約に基づく協定に格上げし、拘束力を持たせることも、今後の検討課題だ。
Many observers have suggested the restrictions on the amount of glass eels that can be used for farming will result in a shortage of eel and keep prices high. While it is certain this agreement will hit consumers in the pocket, it is a cost that must be paid to protect an important element of Japanese cuisine.
養殖規制によってウナギが品薄になり、価格が高止まりするとの見方は多い。消費者の懐に響くのは確かだが、ウナギという大切な日本食を守るために、必要なコストである。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 19, 2014)Speech
いやな時代になりました。
でも、一番いやなのは、金融緩和政策による円安なんです。
海外円建て生活者の生活（暮らし向き）を直撃しています。
（スラチャイ）
The Yomiuri Shimbun
New glass eel farming restrictions must have bite as well as bark
ウナギ養殖規制 資源保護の実効性が問われる
We hope efforts to protect eel resources will be strengthened so people can continue to eat Japanese eel.
ウナギを食べ続けられるよう、資源保護の取り組みを強化したい。
Japan, China, South Korea and Taiwan have agreed to reduce eel farmers’ procurement of young Japanese eels by 20 percent from 2015. This is the first international framework created to manage stocks of the Japanese eel.
日本と中国、韓国、台湾が、ニホンウナギの養殖量を、２０１５年から２割減らすことで合意した。ニホンウナギの資源管理に関する初の国際的な枠組みだ。
Wild stocks of glass, or young, eels that are used for farming are rapidly decreasing due to overfishing. In 2013, Japan caught about five tons of glass eels, barely one-tenth of the figure netted in the mid-1970s.
養殖に使う稚魚の「シラス」は乱獲で激減している。日本の１３年の漁獲量は約５トンで、１９７０年代半ばの１０分の１にすぎない。
China and other nations that export eel to Japan also are struggling with poorer catches.
日本にウナギを輸出する中国などでも漁獲量は低迷している。
Japan is the biggest consumer of Japanese eel. To prevent the depletion of eel resources, Japan proposed the restrictions during unofficial talks with the three other governments. The agreement will control the volume of glass eels that can be used at eel farms.
資源の枯渇を防ぐため、最大の消費国である日本が非公式協議で提案し、養殖場に入れるシラスの量を規制することになった。
Although this is a “gentleman’s agreement” with no legally binding power, we welcome the fact that the international parties involved share a sense of crisis about the state of eel stocks, and are now aligned on protecting this resource.
法的拘束力のない「紳士協定」とはいえ、４か国・地域が危機感を共有し、資源保護で足並みをそろえたことは評価できる。
The drive to reach this agreement on managing eel resources stemmed from critical views in the international community about overfishing of Japanese eel.
資源管理で合意した背景には、ニホンウナギの乱獲に対する国際社会の厳しい見方がある。
In June, the International Union for Conservation of Nature designated Japanese eel as an endangered species.
国際自然保護連合（ＩＵＣＮ）は今年６月、ニホンウナギを「絶滅危惧種」に指定した。
Consequently, it is possible restrictions on the export and import of Japanese eel could be set at a meeting of the Washington Convention due to be held in 2016. The convention is an international treaty to protect endangered animals and plants.
このため２０１６年に開かれるワシントン条約の会議で、輸出入制限の対象になる可能性が出ている。
If trade in the eels were to be restricted, it would generate significant problems in Japan, because 60 percent of eel consumed here is imported. Eel farmers in China and other nations would also suffer a blow if exports were restricted.
対象になれば、国内消費の６割を輸入に頼る日本が困るだけでなく、輸出が制限される中国などの養殖業者も打撃を受ける。
Will 20% be enough?
China and Taiwan initially opposed Japan’s proposal to scale back the volume of young eels introduced into eel farms. Their about-face is probably aimed at protecting their own eel farmers.
日本提案に当初は反対した中国や台湾が受け入れたのは、自国の養殖業者を守る狙いだろう。
To ensure that Japanese eel does not become restricted by the Washington Convention, it is essential to steadily reduce the volume of young eels being moved from the wild to eel farms and demonstrate clear results in the protection of eel resources.
ワシントン条約の制限を受けないためには、養殖量の削減を着実に実行し、資源保護の成果を上げることが重要だ。
There was apparently no scientific basis for choosing 20 percent as the figure for reduction. It will be necessary to verify the agreement’s effectiveness in replenishing eel stocks. If this 20 percent reduction is found to be insufficient, additional cuts may need to be considered.
２割の削減幅には科学的な根拠はないという。資源回復の効果を検証し、不十分な場合は削減幅の上積みが求められよう。
Eel farmers and others in the four parties to this agreement will be entrusted with managing eel resources.
資源管理の対応は、各国・地域の業者などに委ねられる。
Private-sector bodies comprising eel farm operators and others will confirm the new rules are being followed.
規制の順守状況の確認は、養殖業者らが作る民間の自主管理組織が担う。
An international nongovernmental organization will be established to oversee these bodies and share reports on the state of eel stocks.
これらの上部団体として国際的な非政府組織を設立し、状況を報告し合うという。
If these rules are not thoroughly enforced and stocks of Japanese eel continue to decline, eel farmers will end up shooting themselves in the foot. We urge them to be keenly aware of this fact and positively go along with the four-way agreement.
規制を徹底せずに、ニホンウナギの減少が続くようだと、養殖業者は自らの首を絞めることになる。それを自覚し、積極的に取り組んでもらいたい。
Looking ahead, it will be worth considering elevating the status of the agreement to an accord based on international treaties and making it legally binding.
合意を国際条約に基づく協定に格上げし、拘束力を持たせることも、今後の検討課題だ。
Many observers have suggested the restrictions on the amount of glass eels that can be used for farming will result in a shortage of eel and keep prices high. While it is certain this agreement will hit consumers in the pocket, it is a cost that must be paid to protect an important element of Japanese cuisine.
養殖規制によってウナギが品薄になり、価格が高止まりするとの見方は多い。消費者の懐に響くのは確かだが、ウナギという大切な日本食を守るために、必要なコストである。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 19, 2014)Speech
September 18, 2014(Mainichi Japan)
Editorial: Nuclear plant support measures run counter to official policy
社説:原発の支援強化 脱依存政策に逆行する
The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry is considering boosting support for nuclear power plants as Japan moves toward full liberalization of its electricity retailing market.
電力小売りの全面自由化に備え、経済産業省が原発支援の強化策を検討している。
Under the system eyed by the ministry, consumers would shoulder the huge costs of building and decommissioning reactors so that even if there were an electricity price war, power companies wouldn't go into the red. In essence, the system makes it easy to build and rebuild nuclear power plants and maintain them in the future.
電気の価格競争が起きても、巨額の建設費や廃炉などのコストを消費者に負担させ、電力会社が赤字にならない仕組みを導入するという。新設や建て替えを容易にし、将来にわたって原発を維持するための仕組みと言える。
But proposals that attempt to extend the life of nuclear power plants when the government has yet to present a picture for the future of the nation's energy policies cannot be justified.
エネルギー政策の将来像を示さないまま、原発の延命ばかりを図ろうとする政策には納得できない。
Nuclear power costs much more than thermal and other forms of power, yet for decades power companies have recovered expenses, protected by regional monopolies and the full cost pricing method that tacks the cost of producing electricity onto power bills.
原発は火力発電などに比べて巨額のコストがかかる。電力会社は発電費用を電気料金に転嫁させる総括原価方式と地域独占という制度に守られ数十年にわたって、そうしたコストを回収してきた。
With the full liberalization of electricity retailing set to be implemented in fiscal 2016, however, those power companies will lose their regional monopolies. And then the full cost pricing method will be abolished. If more newcomers enter the electricity market and the price of electricity drops, it will become even harder for power companies to recover costs associated with nuclear power.
ところが２０１６年度に予定される電力小売りの完全自由化で地域独占は失われる。総括原価方式もその後、廃止される。新規参入が増えて電気の市場価格が下がれば、原発のコスト回収は一段と難しくなる。
The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry therefore proposed new measures to support nuclear power at a meeting to deliberate the role of the nation's nuclear power plants. With respect to the system guaranteeing a set price for electricity produced though nuclear power, the ministry proposed that the cost of decommissioning nuclear reactors and the disposing of spent nuclear fuel be made part of a standard price, with consumers forced to cover the difference if the market price falls below that standard.
そこで経産省は、原発のあり方などを議論する審議会で新たな原発支援策を提案した。そのうち原発で発電した電気に一定の販売価格を保証する制度は、廃炉や使用済み核燃料の処分に必要な費用も含めて基準価格を設け、市場価格がそれを下回った場合は、その差額分を全国の消費者の電気料金に上乗せすることで穴埋めする仕組みだ。
The ministry is also reportedly set to consider revisions to accounting systems to ease the effects of reactor decommissioning on management.
さらに、廃炉による経営への影響を緩和するための会計制度見直しなども検討するという。
In terms of fuel alone, nuclear power plants can be run more cheaply than oil-fired power plants or those running on liquefied natural gas. This is probably why power companies are rushing to restart reactors. But when it comes to building a new nuclear plant or rebuilding an existing one, then the circumstances are entirely different. The latest support measures indicate that if market principles were to be given free reign, then the option of maintaining nuclear power would vanish.
原発は、燃料費だけで比べれば液化天然ガス（ＬＮＧ）や石油火力などに比べて安上がりだ。電力会社が再稼働を急ぐのもそのためだろう。しかし新設や建て替えとなると事情は一変する。今回の支援策は市場原理に任せた場合、原発を維持し続けるという選択肢はないことを物語っている。
The basic energy plan that the Cabinet approved in April this year states that Japan will aim to reduce its reliance on nuclear power "as much as possible." At the same time, it describes nuclear power as an "important base-load power source" and says the government will determine the level that should be secured. The proposed measures run counter to the policy of breaking with nuclear power. When considering the government's keenness to restart nuclear power plants, it seems that its real intention is to rely on nuclear power.
政府が今年４月に閣議決定したエネルギー基本計画は、原発依存度を「可能な限り低減させる」として脱原発依存の方針を示す一方、原発を「重要なベースロード電源」と位置づけ、「確保していく規模を見極める」とした。今回の支援策は脱原発依存政策に逆行する。再稼働に前のめりの姿勢などを合わせると、政府の本音は原発依存にあるとうかがえる。
It is probably difficult to do away with nuclear power immediately when considering the importance of a stable supply of electricity, global warming countermeasures, energy security and other such issues. But Japan has gone through the Fukushima nuclear disaster, and it should be aiming to achieve a society that does not rely on nuclear power.
電力の安定供給や地球温暖化対策、エネルギー安全保障などの観点から原発の即時全廃が困難であることは確かだろう。しかし、福島の原発事故を経験した我が国が目指すべきは、原発に依存しない社会であるはずだ。
The government should therefore outline a path for solving these issues and provide an explanation to the public. Policies that take nuclear power for granted will not win public support.
政府はそのための課題と解決の道筋を描いて国民に説明すべきである。原発の存続ありきという政策では、国民の理解は得られまい。
毎日新聞 2014年09月18日 02時30分
Editorial: Nuclear plant support measures run counter to official policy
社説:原発の支援強化 脱依存政策に逆行する
The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry is considering boosting support for nuclear power plants as Japan moves toward full liberalization of its electricity retailing market.
電力小売りの全面自由化に備え、経済産業省が原発支援の強化策を検討している。
Under the system eyed by the ministry, consumers would shoulder the huge costs of building and decommissioning reactors so that even if there were an electricity price war, power companies wouldn't go into the red. In essence, the system makes it easy to build and rebuild nuclear power plants and maintain them in the future.
電気の価格競争が起きても、巨額の建設費や廃炉などのコストを消費者に負担させ、電力会社が赤字にならない仕組みを導入するという。新設や建て替えを容易にし、将来にわたって原発を維持するための仕組みと言える。
But proposals that attempt to extend the life of nuclear power plants when the government has yet to present a picture for the future of the nation's energy policies cannot be justified.
エネルギー政策の将来像を示さないまま、原発の延命ばかりを図ろうとする政策には納得できない。
Nuclear power costs much more than thermal and other forms of power, yet for decades power companies have recovered expenses, protected by regional monopolies and the full cost pricing method that tacks the cost of producing electricity onto power bills.
原発は火力発電などに比べて巨額のコストがかかる。電力会社は発電費用を電気料金に転嫁させる総括原価方式と地域独占という制度に守られ数十年にわたって、そうしたコストを回収してきた。
With the full liberalization of electricity retailing set to be implemented in fiscal 2016, however, those power companies will lose their regional monopolies. And then the full cost pricing method will be abolished. If more newcomers enter the electricity market and the price of electricity drops, it will become even harder for power companies to recover costs associated with nuclear power.
ところが２０１６年度に予定される電力小売りの完全自由化で地域独占は失われる。総括原価方式もその後、廃止される。新規参入が増えて電気の市場価格が下がれば、原発のコスト回収は一段と難しくなる。
The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry therefore proposed new measures to support nuclear power at a meeting to deliberate the role of the nation's nuclear power plants. With respect to the system guaranteeing a set price for electricity produced though nuclear power, the ministry proposed that the cost of decommissioning nuclear reactors and the disposing of spent nuclear fuel be made part of a standard price, with consumers forced to cover the difference if the market price falls below that standard.
そこで経産省は、原発のあり方などを議論する審議会で新たな原発支援策を提案した。そのうち原発で発電した電気に一定の販売価格を保証する制度は、廃炉や使用済み核燃料の処分に必要な費用も含めて基準価格を設け、市場価格がそれを下回った場合は、その差額分を全国の消費者の電気料金に上乗せすることで穴埋めする仕組みだ。
The ministry is also reportedly set to consider revisions to accounting systems to ease the effects of reactor decommissioning on management.
さらに、廃炉による経営への影響を緩和するための会計制度見直しなども検討するという。
In terms of fuel alone, nuclear power plants can be run more cheaply than oil-fired power plants or those running on liquefied natural gas. This is probably why power companies are rushing to restart reactors. But when it comes to building a new nuclear plant or rebuilding an existing one, then the circumstances are entirely different. The latest support measures indicate that if market principles were to be given free reign, then the option of maintaining nuclear power would vanish.
原発は、燃料費だけで比べれば液化天然ガス（ＬＮＧ）や石油火力などに比べて安上がりだ。電力会社が再稼働を急ぐのもそのためだろう。しかし新設や建て替えとなると事情は一変する。今回の支援策は市場原理に任せた場合、原発を維持し続けるという選択肢はないことを物語っている。
The basic energy plan that the Cabinet approved in April this year states that Japan will aim to reduce its reliance on nuclear power "as much as possible." At the same time, it describes nuclear power as an "important base-load power source" and says the government will determine the level that should be secured. The proposed measures run counter to the policy of breaking with nuclear power. When considering the government's keenness to restart nuclear power plants, it seems that its real intention is to rely on nuclear power.
政府が今年４月に閣議決定したエネルギー基本計画は、原発依存度を「可能な限り低減させる」として脱原発依存の方針を示す一方、原発を「重要なベースロード電源」と位置づけ、「確保していく規模を見極める」とした。今回の支援策は脱原発依存政策に逆行する。再稼働に前のめりの姿勢などを合わせると、政府の本音は原発依存にあるとうかがえる。
It is probably difficult to do away with nuclear power immediately when considering the importance of a stable supply of electricity, global warming countermeasures, energy security and other such issues. But Japan has gone through the Fukushima nuclear disaster, and it should be aiming to achieve a society that does not rely on nuclear power.
電力の安定供給や地球温暖化対策、エネルギー安全保障などの観点から原発の即時全廃が困難であることは確かだろう。しかし、福島の原発事故を経験した我が国が目指すべきは、原発に依存しない社会であるはずだ。
The government should therefore outline a path for solving these issues and provide an explanation to the public. Policies that take nuclear power for granted will not win public support.
政府はそのための課題と解決の道筋を描いて国民に説明すべきである。原発の存続ありきという政策では、国民の理解は得られまい。
毎日新聞 2014年09月18日 02時30分
September 17, 2014(Mainichi Japan)
Editorial: Japan must give up Antarctic whaling, focus on preserving coastal hunt
社説:ＩＷＣ総会 守るべきは湾岸捕鯨だ
The Japanese government will unveil plans to resume research whaling in the Antarctic Ocean at the International Whaling Commission meeting now in session in Slovenia.
政府は開催中の国際捕鯨委員会（ＩＷＣ）総会で、南極海で調査捕鯨を再開する計画を示す。
It is an absolute certainty, however, that the move will be strongly opposed by a number of anti-whaling nations, while the International Court of Justice has already ordered Japan to cease research whaling. As such, Japan should switch strategies. It should abandon Antarctic whaling -- the necessity of which is doubtful in any case -- and emphasize instead coastal whaling around Japan, which has a foundation in traditional Japanese food culture.
しかし、国際司法裁判所（ＩＣＪ）から中止命令を受けた調査に対し、反捕鯨国が強く反発するのは確実だ。必要性の乏しい南極海での捕鯨からは撤退し、伝統的な食文化といえる沿岸捕鯨に理解を求める戦略に転換すべきだ。
The international court ordered Japan to halt its Antarctic whaling program in March this year, stating that the program did not meet international standards for what constitutes scientific research. The court also took issue with Japan's insistence that the take of 103 minke whales in the 2012-2013 season was scientifically useful, despite the country's assertion that a "sample size" of about 850 was necessary for its scientific objectives. The court said that this and other parts of Japan's case "cast doubt" on the "characterization of JARPA II (the research whaling project) as a programme for the purposes of scientific research."
ＩＣＪが今年３月に中止命令を出したのは、南極海での日本の調査捕鯨が国際条約で認められる科学調査に該当しないと判断したからだ。生態調査には科学的に８５０頭前後必要だとして捕獲枠を確保しながら、１００頭余りしか捕っていない点などが合理性に欠けると認定された。
Japan accepted the international court's decision and called off the whaling expedition for fiscal 2014.
判決を受けて今年度は南極海での調査を見送り、北西太平洋での調査も規模を縮小した。
The government apparently plans to consult experts in setting a vastly reduced annual whaling quota for missions in fiscal 2015 and beyond, and call on other nations for their understanding.
今回は来年度以降の南極海での調査について、専門家の意見を踏まえて捕獲枠を大幅に引き下げるなどの見直し案を示し、各国の理解を求めるという。
Anti-whaling leader New Zealand, however, has already submitted a motion to the IWC meeting calling for Japan's research whaling to be postponed. The motion has already received the apparent backing of a number of countries including Australia, and Japan's plan faces a hard road that's quickly getting even harder.
しかし、総会では既に反捕鯨国のニュージーランドが事実上調査の先延ばしを求める決議案を提出し、オーストラリアなどが賛成の姿勢を示すなど日本に対する風当たりは強まっている。
The Antarctic research whaling program was started to help establish a scientific basis for the resumption of commercial whaling, which has been suspended by the IWC since the 1985-1986 season. Whale meat consumption in Japan, however, has dropped significantly, with the amount of whale on the market now just around 2 percent of what it was at its peak in 1962. Japan furthermore imports whale meat from Iceland -- which has continued commercial whaling -- and there is now an oversupply. There is very little reason to restart commercial whaling in the Antarctic Ocean, which means there is no need to keep doing research whaling to that end.
南極海での調査捕鯨はＩＷＣが一時停止を決めた商業捕鯨再開のため科学的根拠を示そうと始まった。ところが国内の鯨肉消費は激減し、最近の流通量は最も多かった１９６２年の２％程度にとどまる。しかも商業捕鯨を続けるアイスランドなどからの輸入もあり、需給はだぶついている。南極海で商業捕鯨を再開する必要性は乏しい。それを目的とした調査も、もはや必要ないだろう。
Mind you, neither can Japan completely go over to the other side, joining nations completely opposed to whaling and eating whale meat. Coastal hunts for small whales continue in places such as Abashiri, Hokkaido, Ayukawa, Miyagi Prefecture, Wada, Chiba Prefecture, and Taiji, Wakayama Prefecture, where they are an important part of traditional culture and where whale meat is still a part of the local diet. Japan may have no great reason to seek the resumption of the Antarctic whale hunt, but it does need to protect these local culinary traditions.
もっとも、鯨食を否定してすべての捕鯨を認めない反捕鯨国側の主張にもくみすることはできない。北海道の網走、宮城県の鮎川、千葉県の和田、和歌山県の太地などでは沿岸で小型捕鯨が伝統的に続けられ、鯨食が定着している。そうした地域に根ざした食文化は守る必要がある。
Japan's coastal whalers now take Baird's beaked whales, among other varieties, after the IWC banned the hunt for the previously most popular variety, the minke whale. The Japanese government has called on the IWC to set a limited minke catch for the northwestern Pacific, but has so far been denied. Japan has proposed the same measure again at the current IWC meeting, but support looks hard to obtain.
沿岸小型捕鯨はミンククジラが主体だったが、ＩＷＣで禁じられたため、管理の対象外のツチクジラなどを捕っている。政府はＩＷＣで北西太平洋沿岸でのミンククジラの捕獲枠設定を求め、否定され続けてきた。今回も提案しているが、理解を得るのは難しそうだ。
Japan's insistence on moving ahead with Antarctic whaling has invited the intense opposition of other IWC nations, which is then also extended to Japanese requests for a coastal whaling compromise. Japan must break the connection between Antarctic whaling and coastal hunts. To gain support from other countries, Japan must use the ecological data already collected to build a persuasive case. The government must make greater efforts to preserve the coastal whaling traditions of Japan.
南極海での捕鯨に固執して参加国の反発を招き、沿岸での捕獲枠設定まで否定されるという負の連鎖からは脱却する必要がある。各国の理解を得るには、これまで積みあげた生態に関するデータを元に粘り強い説得が求められる。そうした努力は沿岸捕鯨を守るために重ねるべきだ。
毎日新聞 2014年09月17日 02時30分
Editorial: Japan must give up Antarctic whaling, focus on preserving coastal hunt
社説:ＩＷＣ総会 守るべきは湾岸捕鯨だ
The Japanese government will unveil plans to resume research whaling in the Antarctic Ocean at the International Whaling Commission meeting now in session in Slovenia.
政府は開催中の国際捕鯨委員会（ＩＷＣ）総会で、南極海で調査捕鯨を再開する計画を示す。
It is an absolute certainty, however, that the move will be strongly opposed by a number of anti-whaling nations, while the International Court of Justice has already ordered Japan to cease research whaling. As such, Japan should switch strategies. It should abandon Antarctic whaling -- the necessity of which is doubtful in any case -- and emphasize instead coastal whaling around Japan, which has a foundation in traditional Japanese food culture.
しかし、国際司法裁判所（ＩＣＪ）から中止命令を受けた調査に対し、反捕鯨国が強く反発するのは確実だ。必要性の乏しい南極海での捕鯨からは撤退し、伝統的な食文化といえる沿岸捕鯨に理解を求める戦略に転換すべきだ。
The international court ordered Japan to halt its Antarctic whaling program in March this year, stating that the program did not meet international standards for what constitutes scientific research. The court also took issue with Japan's insistence that the take of 103 minke whales in the 2012-2013 season was scientifically useful, despite the country's assertion that a "sample size" of about 850 was necessary for its scientific objectives. The court said that this and other parts of Japan's case "cast doubt" on the "characterization of JARPA II (the research whaling project) as a programme for the purposes of scientific research."
ＩＣＪが今年３月に中止命令を出したのは、南極海での日本の調査捕鯨が国際条約で認められる科学調査に該当しないと判断したからだ。生態調査には科学的に８５０頭前後必要だとして捕獲枠を確保しながら、１００頭余りしか捕っていない点などが合理性に欠けると認定された。
Japan accepted the international court's decision and called off the whaling expedition for fiscal 2014.
判決を受けて今年度は南極海での調査を見送り、北西太平洋での調査も規模を縮小した。
The government apparently plans to consult experts in setting a vastly reduced annual whaling quota for missions in fiscal 2015 and beyond, and call on other nations for their understanding.
今回は来年度以降の南極海での調査について、専門家の意見を踏まえて捕獲枠を大幅に引き下げるなどの見直し案を示し、各国の理解を求めるという。
Anti-whaling leader New Zealand, however, has already submitted a motion to the IWC meeting calling for Japan's research whaling to be postponed. The motion has already received the apparent backing of a number of countries including Australia, and Japan's plan faces a hard road that's quickly getting even harder.
しかし、総会では既に反捕鯨国のニュージーランドが事実上調査の先延ばしを求める決議案を提出し、オーストラリアなどが賛成の姿勢を示すなど日本に対する風当たりは強まっている。
The Antarctic research whaling program was started to help establish a scientific basis for the resumption of commercial whaling, which has been suspended by the IWC since the 1985-1986 season. Whale meat consumption in Japan, however, has dropped significantly, with the amount of whale on the market now just around 2 percent of what it was at its peak in 1962. Japan furthermore imports whale meat from Iceland -- which has continued commercial whaling -- and there is now an oversupply. There is very little reason to restart commercial whaling in the Antarctic Ocean, which means there is no need to keep doing research whaling to that end.
南極海での調査捕鯨はＩＷＣが一時停止を決めた商業捕鯨再開のため科学的根拠を示そうと始まった。ところが国内の鯨肉消費は激減し、最近の流通量は最も多かった１９６２年の２％程度にとどまる。しかも商業捕鯨を続けるアイスランドなどからの輸入もあり、需給はだぶついている。南極海で商業捕鯨を再開する必要性は乏しい。それを目的とした調査も、もはや必要ないだろう。
Mind you, neither can Japan completely go over to the other side, joining nations completely opposed to whaling and eating whale meat. Coastal hunts for small whales continue in places such as Abashiri, Hokkaido, Ayukawa, Miyagi Prefecture, Wada, Chiba Prefecture, and Taiji, Wakayama Prefecture, where they are an important part of traditional culture and where whale meat is still a part of the local diet. Japan may have no great reason to seek the resumption of the Antarctic whale hunt, but it does need to protect these local culinary traditions.
もっとも、鯨食を否定してすべての捕鯨を認めない反捕鯨国側の主張にもくみすることはできない。北海道の網走、宮城県の鮎川、千葉県の和田、和歌山県の太地などでは沿岸で小型捕鯨が伝統的に続けられ、鯨食が定着している。そうした地域に根ざした食文化は守る必要がある。
Japan's coastal whalers now take Baird's beaked whales, among other varieties, after the IWC banned the hunt for the previously most popular variety, the minke whale. The Japanese government has called on the IWC to set a limited minke catch for the northwestern Pacific, but has so far been denied. Japan has proposed the same measure again at the current IWC meeting, but support looks hard to obtain.
沿岸小型捕鯨はミンククジラが主体だったが、ＩＷＣで禁じられたため、管理の対象外のツチクジラなどを捕っている。政府はＩＷＣで北西太平洋沿岸でのミンククジラの捕獲枠設定を求め、否定され続けてきた。今回も提案しているが、理解を得るのは難しそうだ。
Japan's insistence on moving ahead with Antarctic whaling has invited the intense opposition of other IWC nations, which is then also extended to Japanese requests for a coastal whaling compromise. Japan must break the connection between Antarctic whaling and coastal hunts. To gain support from other countries, Japan must use the ecological data already collected to build a persuasive case. The government must make greater efforts to preserve the coastal whaling traditions of Japan.
南極海での捕鯨に固執して参加国の反発を招き、沿岸での捕獲枠設定まで否定されるという負の連鎖からは脱却する必要がある。各国の理解を得るには、これまで積みあげた生態に関するデータを元に粘り強い説得が求められる。そうした努力は沿岸捕鯨を守るために重ねるべきだ。
毎日新聞 2014年09月17日 02時30分
The Yomiuri Shimbun
Clinical trial using iPS cells litmus test for promoting regenerative medicine
ｉＰＳ細胞移植 再生医療普及への試金石だ
The latest clinical trial is the first step of epoch-making research that could evolve into regenerative medicine. After careful safety assessment, putting the latest result into practical use should be promoted.
画期的な研究成果を再生医療に発展させる第一歩である。安全性を慎重に評価し、患者への実用化を進めたい。
A team led by RIKEN ophthalmologist Masayo Takahashi transplanted retina cells produced from induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells into the eyes of a woman suffering from age-related macular degeneration. The patient is said to be doing well.
理化学研究所の高橋政代・プロジェクトリーダーらが、ｉＰＳ細胞（人工多能性幹細胞）から網膜の細胞を作製し、目の難病である加齢黄斑変性の患者に移植する手術を行った。術後の経過は順調だという。
It was the world’s first clinical trial of transplanting iPS cells, which can develop into the cells of various types of tissues, into a human body.
様々な組織の細胞に変化するｉＰＳ細胞を人間の体に移植し、治療に使う世界初の試みだ。
This clinical trial can be considered a litmus test for regenerative medicine using iPS cells, which could eventually be used widely.
ｉＰＳ細胞による再生医療の普及に向けた試金石とも言えよう。
About 700,000 people are estimated to be suffering from the age-related macular degeneration, the symptoms of which include distorted vision.
視界がゆがむ加齢黄斑変性の国内の患者は、約７０万人に上る。
The current treatment is symptomatic therapy to prevent the patient’s condition from further deteriorating. With the transplant of retina cells, the patient could make a full recovery. Expectations among patients over the effectiveness of such a transplant are believed to be running high.
現在の治療は、症状の悪化を止める対症療法だが、網膜細胞の移植手術なら完治できる可能性がある。患者の期待は大きいだろう。
Over the past seven years, since Prof. Shinya Yamanaka of Kyoto University successfully produced human iPS cells, the risk of the iPS cells becoming cancerous — a key issue to be tackled — has almost been resolved, while the efficiency of production has been enhanced.
山中伸弥・京都大教授が、人のｉＰＳ細胞の作製に成功してから７年、課題とされた細胞のがん化のリスクはほぼ解消され、作製効率も向上した。
The latest surgical procedure carries important implications as a clinical study to confirm the safety of medical technology using iPS cells. Is there an absolute guarantee the iPS cells will not turn cancerous? Are there any unknown risks? These issues will be examined over the next four years.
今回の手術は、技術の安全性を確かめる臨床研究として重要な意味を持つ。ｉＰＳ細胞から作った網膜細胞は本当にがん化しないのか、未知のリスクはないのか。４年間にわたり検査を続ける。
In an effort to have research results using iPS cells linked to regenerative medicine, the Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Ministry plans to spend ¥110 billion from fiscal 2012 to 2022.
文部科学省はｉＰＳ細胞の研究成果を再生医療につなげるため、２０１２～２２年度に計１１００億円を投じる方針だ。
Faster approval needed
Clinical research using iPS cells in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease and serious cardiac failure are planned from next fiscal year.
来年度以降には、ｉＰＳ細胞を使ったパーキンソン病や重症心不全の治療の臨床研究が計画されている。
Also under way is research to determine the mechanisms behind intractable diseases and develop new medicines for such diseases by producing iPS cells from patients with incurable diseases and transforming them into nerve and muscle cells.
難病患者からｉＰＳ細胞を作って神経や筋肉の細胞に変化させ、病気のメカニズムの解明や、創薬につなげる研究も進む。
It is hoped that with the successful retina cell operation, the transition from basic research to clinical research in regenerative medicine — in which Japan tends to lag behind other major countries — will advance smoothly.
今回の手術を契機に、日本では滞りがちな基礎研究から臨床研究への移行を円滑に進めたい。
Following the enforcement of the revised Pharmaceutical Affairs Law in November, the time needed to put cells and tissues for regenerative medicine into a practical use will be shortened from the current six years to about three years. If the safety of only a few trials is confirmed and their effectiveness deemed reliable, the ministry will give the go-ahead for practical use, although with conditions attached.
１１月の改正薬事法施行後は、約６年かかっている再生医療用の細胞・組織の実用化が、３年程度に短縮される。治験数が少なくても安全性が確認でき、有効性が推定できれば条件付きで承認する。
Takahashi has established her own venture firm for producing retina cells derived from iPS cells. Her firm plans to start clinical trials in 2016, with the aim of winning the ministry’s approval in 2018.
高橋氏はｉＰＳ細胞由来の網膜細胞を製造するベンチャー企業を設立している。１６年に治験を始め、１８年の承認取得が目標だ。
A faster approval system must function effectively so patients can receive treatment as quickly as possible.
患者が一日でも早く治療を受けられるよう、迅速な承認制度を有効に機能させることが求められる。
The RIKEN Center for Developmental Biology, where the clinical trial was conducted, is scheduled to undergo a drastic shakeup. This will include halving the number of research labs due to fraudulent research articles over the so-called stimulus-triggered acquisition pluripotency (STAP) cells.
臨床研究の舞台である理研の発生・再生科学総合研究センターは、ＳＴＡＰ細胞論文不正により、研究室の半減など解体的な出直しが決まっている。
We hope RIKEN proceeds with its research on regenerative medicine steadily and makes an effort to regain public trust.
再生医療の研究をしっかりと進め、信頼回復に努めてもらいたい。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 15, 2014)Speech
Clinical trial using iPS cells litmus test for promoting regenerative medicine
ｉＰＳ細胞移植 再生医療普及への試金石だ
The latest clinical trial is the first step of epoch-making research that could evolve into regenerative medicine. After careful safety assessment, putting the latest result into practical use should be promoted.
画期的な研究成果を再生医療に発展させる第一歩である。安全性を慎重に評価し、患者への実用化を進めたい。
A team led by RIKEN ophthalmologist Masayo Takahashi transplanted retina cells produced from induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells into the eyes of a woman suffering from age-related macular degeneration. The patient is said to be doing well.
理化学研究所の高橋政代・プロジェクトリーダーらが、ｉＰＳ細胞（人工多能性幹細胞）から網膜の細胞を作製し、目の難病である加齢黄斑変性の患者に移植する手術を行った。術後の経過は順調だという。
It was the world’s first clinical trial of transplanting iPS cells, which can develop into the cells of various types of tissues, into a human body.
様々な組織の細胞に変化するｉＰＳ細胞を人間の体に移植し、治療に使う世界初の試みだ。
This clinical trial can be considered a litmus test for regenerative medicine using iPS cells, which could eventually be used widely.
ｉＰＳ細胞による再生医療の普及に向けた試金石とも言えよう。
About 700,000 people are estimated to be suffering from the age-related macular degeneration, the symptoms of which include distorted vision.
視界がゆがむ加齢黄斑変性の国内の患者は、約７０万人に上る。
The current treatment is symptomatic therapy to prevent the patient’s condition from further deteriorating. With the transplant of retina cells, the patient could make a full recovery. Expectations among patients over the effectiveness of such a transplant are believed to be running high.
現在の治療は、症状の悪化を止める対症療法だが、網膜細胞の移植手術なら完治できる可能性がある。患者の期待は大きいだろう。
Over the past seven years, since Prof. Shinya Yamanaka of Kyoto University successfully produced human iPS cells, the risk of the iPS cells becoming cancerous — a key issue to be tackled — has almost been resolved, while the efficiency of production has been enhanced.
山中伸弥・京都大教授が、人のｉＰＳ細胞の作製に成功してから７年、課題とされた細胞のがん化のリスクはほぼ解消され、作製効率も向上した。
The latest surgical procedure carries important implications as a clinical study to confirm the safety of medical technology using iPS cells. Is there an absolute guarantee the iPS cells will not turn cancerous? Are there any unknown risks? These issues will be examined over the next four years.
今回の手術は、技術の安全性を確かめる臨床研究として重要な意味を持つ。ｉＰＳ細胞から作った網膜細胞は本当にがん化しないのか、未知のリスクはないのか。４年間にわたり検査を続ける。
In an effort to have research results using iPS cells linked to regenerative medicine, the Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Ministry plans to spend ¥110 billion from fiscal 2012 to 2022.
文部科学省はｉＰＳ細胞の研究成果を再生医療につなげるため、２０１２～２２年度に計１１００億円を投じる方針だ。
Faster approval needed
Clinical research using iPS cells in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease and serious cardiac failure are planned from next fiscal year.
来年度以降には、ｉＰＳ細胞を使ったパーキンソン病や重症心不全の治療の臨床研究が計画されている。
Also under way is research to determine the mechanisms behind intractable diseases and develop new medicines for such diseases by producing iPS cells from patients with incurable diseases and transforming them into nerve and muscle cells.
難病患者からｉＰＳ細胞を作って神経や筋肉の細胞に変化させ、病気のメカニズムの解明や、創薬につなげる研究も進む。
It is hoped that with the successful retina cell operation, the transition from basic research to clinical research in regenerative medicine — in which Japan tends to lag behind other major countries — will advance smoothly.
今回の手術を契機に、日本では滞りがちな基礎研究から臨床研究への移行を円滑に進めたい。
Following the enforcement of the revised Pharmaceutical Affairs Law in November, the time needed to put cells and tissues for regenerative medicine into a practical use will be shortened from the current six years to about three years. If the safety of only a few trials is confirmed and their effectiveness deemed reliable, the ministry will give the go-ahead for practical use, although with conditions attached.
１１月の改正薬事法施行後は、約６年かかっている再生医療用の細胞・組織の実用化が、３年程度に短縮される。治験数が少なくても安全性が確認でき、有効性が推定できれば条件付きで承認する。
Takahashi has established her own venture firm for producing retina cells derived from iPS cells. Her firm plans to start clinical trials in 2016, with the aim of winning the ministry’s approval in 2018.
高橋氏はｉＰＳ細胞由来の網膜細胞を製造するベンチャー企業を設立している。１６年に治験を始め、１８年の承認取得が目標だ。
A faster approval system must function effectively so patients can receive treatment as quickly as possible.
患者が一日でも早く治療を受けられるよう、迅速な承認制度を有効に機能させることが求められる。
The RIKEN Center for Developmental Biology, where the clinical trial was conducted, is scheduled to undergo a drastic shakeup. This will include halving the number of research labs due to fraudulent research articles over the so-called stimulus-triggered acquisition pluripotency (STAP) cells.
臨床研究の舞台である理研の発生・再生科学総合研究センターは、ＳＴＡＰ細胞論文不正により、研究室の半減など解体的な出直しが決まっている。
We hope RIKEN proceeds with its research on regenerative medicine steadily and makes an effort to regain public trust.
再生医療の研究をしっかりと進め、信頼回復に努めてもらいたい。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 15, 2014)Speech
September 15, 2014(Mainichi Japan)
Editorial: Time to pick up a book
社説:読書の秋 若者よ、本を開こう
The autumn book-reading season is again upon us. Reading not only boosts our knowledge, hones our sensitivities and nurtures our ability to think, but it also helps to broaden our perspective and develop our imagination. It's been said people today are spending less time reading. Now is a good time to take a fresh look at the benefits of books and call upon the young to turn to reading.
灯火親しむ季節になった。読書は知識を蓄え、感覚を磨き、考える力を養うだけでなく、視野を広げ、想像力を鍛える。「読書離れ」がいわれて久しいが、今こそ、書物の効用を見直し、特に若者が本に向かうように呼びかけたい。
The Japanese publishing industry has suffered recently from slumping sales. According to Shuppan Nenkan, an almanac published by Shuppan News Co., sales in the domestic publishing industry stood at some 1.77 trillion yen last year. Of that amount, books accounted for roughly 843 billion yen, and magazines 928.1 billion yen. Last year's sales stood at just two-thirds of the peak figure of 2.698 trillion yen recorded in 1996.
日本の出版不況が続いている。「出版年鑑」（出版ニュース社）によると、昨年の出版界の売り上げは約１兆７７１１億円。内訳は書籍が約８４３０億円、雑誌が９２８１億円だった。出版界全体のピークは１９９６年の２兆６９８０億円で、３分の２に減ってしまったことになる。
Declining sales are especially serious in the magazine industry. Most likely, this is largely due to the prevalence of smartphones and other devices. Sagging magazine sales lead to declining ad revenues for publishers, which adversely affects bookstores and eventually pushes their numbers down. Today's Internet-oriented society calls into question the roles magazines can play.
特に雑誌の落ち込みがひどい。スマートフォンなどの普及が大きな理由だろう。雑誌の不況は、出版社にとっては広告収入の減少になり、街の書店の不振や書店数の減少も招く。ネット社会において雑誌に何ができるかが問われている。
That said, Japanese people as a whole are not necessarily turning away from books. In fact, the number of books lent out at libraries across the country remains high. According to the Japan Library Association, there are at least 3,200 public libraries nationwide, which lent out a total of over 710 million books, CDs and DVDs to individuals in fiscal 2012. Compared to a decade earlier, the number of libraries in Japan has increased by at least 400. As a result, the number of books lent out has risen by more than 100 million.
だが、日本人全体が読書から離れているのかというと、そうとばかりもいえない。図書館の貸出数は多い。日本図書館協会によると現在、全国に３２００以上の公共図書館があり、２０１２年度の館外個人貸し出しは７億１０００万点以上（ＣＤやＤＶＤを含む）だった。１０年前に比べて館数が４００以上増えたが、貸し出しも１億数千万点増加した。
According to a survey jointly conducted by the Mainichi Shimbun and the School Library Association (SLA), children today are not reading less. Rather, the average number of books read by children slightly increased over the past decade. At the same time, the ratio of children who don't read any books in the month of May -- a gauge for determining the level of book-reading -- has been on the decline. The next challenge, many say, is having children read higher quality books.
毎日新聞と全国学校図書館協議会（全国ＳＬＡ）が合同で実施している学校読書調査でも、子供たちは読書離れをしていない。この１０年間でも、平均読書量は微増傾向だし、不読率（その年の５月に本を読まなかった人の割合）も減っている。ただ、「読む本の質を高めることが今後の課題」という声はよく聞く。
In the meantime, one particular trend requires serious attention. According to a survey by the National Federation of University Co-operative Associations, the number of university students who said they didn't read any books reached 40.5 percent last year, topping 40 percent for the first time since the survey was first conducted in 2004. The revealing survey sent shockwaves through society, as university students are expected to read piles of books.
一方、深刻な数字もある。全国大学生活協同組合連合会の昨年の調査によると、「まったく本を読まない」という学生が４０．５％に達し、調査を始めた０４年以降、初めて４割を超えた。書物に親しむべき大学生の実態は衝撃的だった。
At elementary and junior high schools, teachers' efforts to encourage reading have been producing results. Morning reading time in classes has played a part in this. However, high school and university students are apparently spending more time on games, the Internet, entrance exam preparations, part-time jobs and other activities, and less time on reading. It can be said that teachers' efforts at high schools and universities are insufficient in encouraging students to read. The trend among those in their late teens of not reading books apparently continues when they grow older.
小・中学校では学校での読書指導（朝の一斉読書など）が効果を上げている。しかし、高校、大学と進むにつれて、ゲームやネット通信、受験勉強、アルバイトなどで、読書がおろそかにされているのだろう。高校や大学での読書指導も不十分なのではないか。この傾向が２０代以降にもつながっていると思われる。
It is no easy task to change the status quo, but SLA counselor Isao Kobayashi proposes expanding the drive to distribute book coupons at coming-of-age ceremonies, following in the footsteps of the so-called Bookstart movement that offers books to babies and infants. We embrace his idea.
現状への対策は難しい。全国ＳＬＡの小林功参事は、乳幼児に本を配る「ブックスタート運動」にならって、成人式に図書カードを配ることをさらに広めるなどして、読書を勧めてはどうかと提案する。面白い考えではないだろうか。
Educational institutions, society and households are urged to exercise their ingenuity in providing younger generations with more opportunities to enjoy reading.
教育機関や社会、家庭を挙げて、若者たちが大いに読書に親しむ工夫を考えたい。
毎日新聞 2014年09月15日 02時30分
Editorial: Time to pick up a book
社説:読書の秋 若者よ、本を開こう
The autumn book-reading season is again upon us. Reading not only boosts our knowledge, hones our sensitivities and nurtures our ability to think, but it also helps to broaden our perspective and develop our imagination. It's been said people today are spending less time reading. Now is a good time to take a fresh look at the benefits of books and call upon the young to turn to reading.
灯火親しむ季節になった。読書は知識を蓄え、感覚を磨き、考える力を養うだけでなく、視野を広げ、想像力を鍛える。「読書離れ」がいわれて久しいが、今こそ、書物の効用を見直し、特に若者が本に向かうように呼びかけたい。
The Japanese publishing industry has suffered recently from slumping sales. According to Shuppan Nenkan, an almanac published by Shuppan News Co., sales in the domestic publishing industry stood at some 1.77 trillion yen last year. Of that amount, books accounted for roughly 843 billion yen, and magazines 928.1 billion yen. Last year's sales stood at just two-thirds of the peak figure of 2.698 trillion yen recorded in 1996.
日本の出版不況が続いている。「出版年鑑」（出版ニュース社）によると、昨年の出版界の売り上げは約１兆７７１１億円。内訳は書籍が約８４３０億円、雑誌が９２８１億円だった。出版界全体のピークは１９９６年の２兆６９８０億円で、３分の２に減ってしまったことになる。
Declining sales are especially serious in the magazine industry. Most likely, this is largely due to the prevalence of smartphones and other devices. Sagging magazine sales lead to declining ad revenues for publishers, which adversely affects bookstores and eventually pushes their numbers down. Today's Internet-oriented society calls into question the roles magazines can play.
特に雑誌の落ち込みがひどい。スマートフォンなどの普及が大きな理由だろう。雑誌の不況は、出版社にとっては広告収入の減少になり、街の書店の不振や書店数の減少も招く。ネット社会において雑誌に何ができるかが問われている。
That said, Japanese people as a whole are not necessarily turning away from books. In fact, the number of books lent out at libraries across the country remains high. According to the Japan Library Association, there are at least 3,200 public libraries nationwide, which lent out a total of over 710 million books, CDs and DVDs to individuals in fiscal 2012. Compared to a decade earlier, the number of libraries in Japan has increased by at least 400. As a result, the number of books lent out has risen by more than 100 million.
だが、日本人全体が読書から離れているのかというと、そうとばかりもいえない。図書館の貸出数は多い。日本図書館協会によると現在、全国に３２００以上の公共図書館があり、２０１２年度の館外個人貸し出しは７億１０００万点以上（ＣＤやＤＶＤを含む）だった。１０年前に比べて館数が４００以上増えたが、貸し出しも１億数千万点増加した。
According to a survey jointly conducted by the Mainichi Shimbun and the School Library Association (SLA), children today are not reading less. Rather, the average number of books read by children slightly increased over the past decade. At the same time, the ratio of children who don't read any books in the month of May -- a gauge for determining the level of book-reading -- has been on the decline. The next challenge, many say, is having children read higher quality books.
毎日新聞と全国学校図書館協議会（全国ＳＬＡ）が合同で実施している学校読書調査でも、子供たちは読書離れをしていない。この１０年間でも、平均読書量は微増傾向だし、不読率（その年の５月に本を読まなかった人の割合）も減っている。ただ、「読む本の質を高めることが今後の課題」という声はよく聞く。
In the meantime, one particular trend requires serious attention. According to a survey by the National Federation of University Co-operative Associations, the number of university students who said they didn't read any books reached 40.5 percent last year, topping 40 percent for the first time since the survey was first conducted in 2004. The revealing survey sent shockwaves through society, as university students are expected to read piles of books.
一方、深刻な数字もある。全国大学生活協同組合連合会の昨年の調査によると、「まったく本を読まない」という学生が４０．５％に達し、調査を始めた０４年以降、初めて４割を超えた。書物に親しむべき大学生の実態は衝撃的だった。
At elementary and junior high schools, teachers' efforts to encourage reading have been producing results. Morning reading time in classes has played a part in this. However, high school and university students are apparently spending more time on games, the Internet, entrance exam preparations, part-time jobs and other activities, and less time on reading. It can be said that teachers' efforts at high schools and universities are insufficient in encouraging students to read. The trend among those in their late teens of not reading books apparently continues when they grow older.
小・中学校では学校での読書指導（朝の一斉読書など）が効果を上げている。しかし、高校、大学と進むにつれて、ゲームやネット通信、受験勉強、アルバイトなどで、読書がおろそかにされているのだろう。高校や大学での読書指導も不十分なのではないか。この傾向が２０代以降にもつながっていると思われる。
It is no easy task to change the status quo, but SLA counselor Isao Kobayashi proposes expanding the drive to distribute book coupons at coming-of-age ceremonies, following in the footsteps of the so-called Bookstart movement that offers books to babies and infants. We embrace his idea.
現状への対策は難しい。全国ＳＬＡの小林功参事は、乳幼児に本を配る「ブックスタート運動」にならって、成人式に図書カードを配ることをさらに広めるなどして、読書を勧めてはどうかと提案する。面白い考えではないだろうか。
Educational institutions, society and households are urged to exercise their ingenuity in providing younger generations with more opportunities to enjoy reading.
教育機関や社会、家庭を挙げて、若者たちが大いに読書に親しむ工夫を考えたい。
毎日新聞 2014年09月15日 02時30分
September 14, 2014(Mainichi Japan)
Kaleidoscope of the Heart: The meaning of a 'perspective unique to women'
香山リカのココロの万華鏡:「女性ならでは」の意味 ／東京
The new Cabinet of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was launched on Sept. 3. He appointed a record-tying five women to ministerial positions, and has established a new post -- minister in charge of promoting women's active participation. He told a news conference that he hopes the new women ministers make creative changes from a "perspective unique to women." I think the latest ministerial appointment reflects the prime minister's policies on encouraging women in the workforce.
第２次安倍改造内閣が発足した。女性閣僚は過去最多の５人、新たに「女性活躍担当相」も置かれることになり、安倍晋三首相は記者会見で「女性ならではの目線で旋風を巻き起こしてほしい」と語った。「輝く女性応援会議」を開催するなど、女性の活用に積極的な首相ならではの人事だと思う。
In addition, the Cabinet Office has recently invited women of different ages to a meeting to discuss women's participation in the workplace.
But what I don't quite understand is what Prime Minister Abe means by a "perspective unique to women."
ただここで気になるのは、首相の言う「女性ならでは」とはどういう意味だろう、ということだ。
Abe's wife First Lady Akie talked passionately about "peace-making from a women's perspective" at a seminar last year in Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi Prefecture, which was hosted by a local women's group. She went on to say, "Women are straightforward, driven by their instincts. Men want to rationalize themselves."
首相自身の発言ではないが、夫人の昭恵さんは昨年、山口県下関市で行われた女性団体主催の講演で「女性ならではの平和の作り方をしていきたい」と意気込みを語った。同じ講演では「私のように直感で一直線にいけるのが女性。理屈が必要なのが男性」とも述べており、
I believe what First Lady Akie meant by "women's peace-making" was that women "don't want wars, but want to protect lives and get along with foreign countries" -- a straightforward way of thinking about peace -- and I am all for that.
おそらく「女性ならではの平和」は「戦争はイヤ、命は大切、外国とも仲良くしたい、とストレートに感じて求める平和」と考えてよいのだろう。それには全面的に賛成したい。
So, when her husband says making "creative changes from a perspective unique to women," is he saying that he means what she said?
安倍首相の言う「女性ならではの目線での旋風」も、同じ意味なのだろうか。
Women in general value people's lives and health, as well as community and solidarity, and they care for the weak. They feel that what they need is a feeling of security, rather than surviving through fierce competition, and that people of all kinds need to get along. Those are the beliefs that are unique to women, as women have been forced into a socially vulnerable position and struggled for a long time in a man's world.
外交のかけ引き、経済戦略や各分野とのしがらみを度外視してでも、「厳しい競争より、安心して生活できるのがいちばん」「どんな人たちとも分け隔てなく、仲良くやっていきましょうよ」などと命や健康、人との交流や連帯、弱者への配慮を理屈抜きに大切にする。それが、いわゆる“男社会”で長い間、弱い立場に置かれ、苦労してきた女性たちならではの視点と言えるはずだ。
Some of the new women ministers, however, have made bitter remarks toward neighboring Asian countries. At least one minister has said she became a politician to "defend Japan's honor." Of course, I'm not saying that these comments would directly affect their duties as ministers, but I can't help questioning their position, because they don't necessarily appear to care about the weak or minorities. They seem to lack a cooperative attitude of "let's get along and help each other."
ところが、今回入閣した女性大臣たちの中には、地方での講演で「私が議員になったのは、日本の名誉を守りたいから」と断言したり、アジアの国々に手厳しい発言を繰り返したりする人もいる。もちろんそれが直接、大臣としての執務に影響するとは言えないが、決してその目が、少数者や弱者のほうを向いているとは言えなかったり、「みんな仲良く」「助け合って」という協調路線ではなかったりするように思うのだ。
I wonder what kind of "perspective" Prime Minister Abe expects from these women ministers.
首相は、そういった女性閣僚たちにどんな「女性ならではの目線」を期待しようとしているのだろう。
I see many women at my clinic who suffer from problems that particularly affect women, such as poverty, domestic violence and enduring stress from taking care of their elderly parents. I sincerely hope that these women ministers take notice of less fortunate women and help them survive in difficult times.
診察室には、貧困や夫からの暴力、介護ストレスなど「女性ならではの問題」で苦しむ人が大勢やって来る。今回、入閣した女性大臣たちの目が少しでも彼女たちのほうに向けられ、その苦しみが解決に向かうようサポートしてもらいたい、と願っている。（精神科医）
(By Rika Kayama, psychiatrist)
毎日新聞 2014年09月09日 地方版
Kaleidoscope of the Heart: The meaning of a 'perspective unique to women'
香山リカのココロの万華鏡:「女性ならでは」の意味 ／東京
The new Cabinet of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was launched on Sept. 3. He appointed a record-tying five women to ministerial positions, and has established a new post -- minister in charge of promoting women's active participation. He told a news conference that he hopes the new women ministers make creative changes from a "perspective unique to women." I think the latest ministerial appointment reflects the prime minister's policies on encouraging women in the workforce.
第２次安倍改造内閣が発足した。女性閣僚は過去最多の５人、新たに「女性活躍担当相」も置かれることになり、安倍晋三首相は記者会見で「女性ならではの目線で旋風を巻き起こしてほしい」と語った。「輝く女性応援会議」を開催するなど、女性の活用に積極的な首相ならではの人事だと思う。
In addition, the Cabinet Office has recently invited women of different ages to a meeting to discuss women's participation in the workplace.
But what I don't quite understand is what Prime Minister Abe means by a "perspective unique to women."
ただここで気になるのは、首相の言う「女性ならでは」とはどういう意味だろう、ということだ。
Abe's wife First Lady Akie talked passionately about "peace-making from a women's perspective" at a seminar last year in Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi Prefecture, which was hosted by a local women's group. She went on to say, "Women are straightforward, driven by their instincts. Men want to rationalize themselves."
首相自身の発言ではないが、夫人の昭恵さんは昨年、山口県下関市で行われた女性団体主催の講演で「女性ならではの平和の作り方をしていきたい」と意気込みを語った。同じ講演では「私のように直感で一直線にいけるのが女性。理屈が必要なのが男性」とも述べており、
I believe what First Lady Akie meant by "women's peace-making" was that women "don't want wars, but want to protect lives and get along with foreign countries" -- a straightforward way of thinking about peace -- and I am all for that.
おそらく「女性ならではの平和」は「戦争はイヤ、命は大切、外国とも仲良くしたい、とストレートに感じて求める平和」と考えてよいのだろう。それには全面的に賛成したい。
So, when her husband says making "creative changes from a perspective unique to women," is he saying that he means what she said?
安倍首相の言う「女性ならではの目線での旋風」も、同じ意味なのだろうか。
Women in general value people's lives and health, as well as community and solidarity, and they care for the weak. They feel that what they need is a feeling of security, rather than surviving through fierce competition, and that people of all kinds need to get along. Those are the beliefs that are unique to women, as women have been forced into a socially vulnerable position and struggled for a long time in a man's world.
外交のかけ引き、経済戦略や各分野とのしがらみを度外視してでも、「厳しい競争より、安心して生活できるのがいちばん」「どんな人たちとも分け隔てなく、仲良くやっていきましょうよ」などと命や健康、人との交流や連帯、弱者への配慮を理屈抜きに大切にする。それが、いわゆる“男社会”で長い間、弱い立場に置かれ、苦労してきた女性たちならではの視点と言えるはずだ。
Some of the new women ministers, however, have made bitter remarks toward neighboring Asian countries. At least one minister has said she became a politician to "defend Japan's honor." Of course, I'm not saying that these comments would directly affect their duties as ministers, but I can't help questioning their position, because they don't necessarily appear to care about the weak or minorities. They seem to lack a cooperative attitude of "let's get along and help each other."
ところが、今回入閣した女性大臣たちの中には、地方での講演で「私が議員になったのは、日本の名誉を守りたいから」と断言したり、アジアの国々に手厳しい発言を繰り返したりする人もいる。もちろんそれが直接、大臣としての執務に影響するとは言えないが、決してその目が、少数者や弱者のほうを向いているとは言えなかったり、「みんな仲良く」「助け合って」という協調路線ではなかったりするように思うのだ。
I wonder what kind of "perspective" Prime Minister Abe expects from these women ministers.
首相は、そういった女性閣僚たちにどんな「女性ならではの目線」を期待しようとしているのだろう。
I see many women at my clinic who suffer from problems that particularly affect women, such as poverty, domestic violence and enduring stress from taking care of their elderly parents. I sincerely hope that these women ministers take notice of less fortunate women and help them survive in difficult times.
診察室には、貧困や夫からの暴力、介護ストレスなど「女性ならではの問題」で苦しむ人が大勢やって来る。今回、入閣した女性大臣たちの目が少しでも彼女たちのほうに向けられ、その苦しみが解決に向かうようサポートしてもらいたい、と願っている。（精神科医）
(By Rika Kayama, psychiatrist)
毎日新聞 2014年09月09日 地方版
September 13, 2014(Mainichi Japan)
Editorial: LDP's selfishness exposed in friction over electoral reform
社説:参院選挙改革 自民の身勝手さに驚く
It has been said that achieving consensus over reform of the electoral system for the House of Councillors is no easy task. But the utter confusion within the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) leaves us dumbfounded.
元々、合意は難しいと言われていたが、ここまで混乱するとはあきれるばかりだ。参院の選挙制度改革をめぐる自民党の話だ。
Masashi Waki, an LDP legislator who heads a consultative body on electoral reform for the upper house, laid out a new reform plan at a meeting of the panel on Sept. 11. The consultative body comprises both ruling and opposition party members, focusing on how to correct vote-value disparities among upper house constituencies.
経過はこうである。参院選挙区の「１票の格差」是正策を与野党で検討している参院選挙制度協議会の１１日の会合で脇雅史座長（自民党）が新たな案を各党に提示した。
Waki's proposal, however, met a backlash from within the LDP. The following day, the party decided to dismiss him from the post of secretary-general of its upper house caucus. Waki is also expected to be ousted as head of the consultative body.
ところが足元の自民党の反発は収まらず、１２日には脇氏を参院自民党幹事長から外す更迭人事を決定。協議会の座長も交代する見通しで、
The ruling and opposition camps are now likely to face difficulties reaching an agreement over the issue by the end of the year -- the initial target deadline. The incident exposes the LDP's selfishness and reluctance to engage in electoral reform.
この結果、目標としていた年内の与野党合意は難しい状況となっている。自民党の身勝手さとやる気のなさが明らかになったといっていいだろう。
At the Sept. 11 meeting, Waki proposed a plan to merge 10 prefectural constituencies into five electoral districts -- modifying an original plan to integrate 22 prefectural constituencies into 11 electoral zones. However, LDP legislators -- especially those whose electoral districts were to be affected by the plan -- expressed dissatisfaction with the proposal.
脇氏が１１日提示したのは参院選挙区の１０県を５区に合区する案で、２２府県を１１選挙区に統合するとの当初案を修正したものだ。しかし、肝心の自民党は議席減となる関係選挙区の議員を中心に合区案そのものに対する不満は変わらなかった。
When Waki first presented the proposal of merging upper house constituencies, Kensei Mizote, head of the LDP's upper house caucus, reportedly resisted, saying, "This is the first that I've heard of it." His response reveals a fundamental lack of intra-party coordination within the LDP.
今春、脇氏が合区案を最初に示した際、同じ参院自民党幹部の溝手顕正参院議員会長は「初めて聞いた」と反発したという。当初から党内調整はずさんだったということだ。
So far, the party has produced no workable alternative. It cannot escape criticism that its legislators, with their vested interests, are inherently reluctant to implement electoral reform.
しかも現状では自民党に合区案に代わる有力案があるわけでもない。これではそもそも自分たちが不利益をこうむる選挙制度改革自体に後ろ向きだと見られても仕方があるまい。
Ahead of the recent Cabinet reshuffle, there was a move within the LDP's upper house caucus to have Waki appointed as a Cabinet minister, in order to unseat him from the head of the consultative body on electoral reform. The attempt to oust Waki failed after he refused the proposed appointment. The idea of linking a ministerial appointment to legislators' own electoral interests leaves us astonished.
合区案に突き進む脇氏を外すためだったのだろう。先の内閣改造に際しては一時、参院自民党内に脇氏を入閣させ協議会座長から降ろす動きがあった。脇氏が入閣を拒否して見送られたが、議員自らの選挙事情と閣僚人事をからめる発想にも驚く。
The merger proposal may not be the best plan, but it is one possible method to rectify vote-value disparities among electoral districts. Some opposition party members have voiced support for the plan. Even within the LDP, a number have reportedly endorsed the plan, saying they may have no other choice. Waki, on the other hand, doesn't seem to have made sufficient efforts to ease conflict within the LDP, as all he did was to denounce Mizote and other opponents of the plan.
合区案は私たちもベストとは考えていないが、格差是正の一つの方法ではある。野党の中には賛成する意見も出ており、実は自民党内にも「結局、合区案しかないのでは」との声があるという。一方の脇氏も溝手氏らを非難するだけで党内の取りまとめに努力したとは思えない。
The Supreme Court has ruled that the 2010 upper house election was held "in a state of unconstitutionality." A supplementary provision was subsequently added to the revised Public Offices Election Law, stating that a drastic review of the electoral system would be carried out ahead of the next upper house election to be called in 2016. However, the Diet has thus far only taken the stop-gap measure of reducing the number of seats in the most sparsely populated constituencies by four and increasing that in the most densely populated districts by four. There is little time left to conduct drastic electoral reform for the upper chamber.
参院選挙区の１票の格差に関しては最高裁が４年前の参院選挙について「違憲状態」との判断を下している。これを受け再来年の次の参院選までに制度の抜本的な見直しを図ることが改正公職選挙法の付則に記された。だが、これまで選挙区定数を「４増４減」する応急措置にとどまっており、抜本改革は待ったなしだ。
In the meantime, a third-party advisory panel to the speaker of the House of Representatives has started discussing reform of the lower house electoral system. This has sparked criticism from Waki and other LDP members. They say it is irresponsible for lawmakers to leave their own electoral system in the hands of a third-party organization. The members stressed that upper house legislators were carrying out reforms "on their own."
衆院の選挙制度改革では議長の諮問機関による協議がスタートした。脇氏ら参院側は「自らの選挙制度について第三者機関に委ねるのは国会議員として無責任だ」と衆院を批判し、「自前」の改革をアピールしていたはずだ。
Now, however, it seems that the upper chamber will also end up having to outsource the task to a third-party body, as the LDP is making no ground in coordinating the opinions of its members.
自民党が意見をまとめられないとすれば、参院も第三者に委ねるしかなくなるだろう。
毎日新聞 2014年09月13日 02時32分
Editorial: LDP's selfishness exposed in friction over electoral reform
社説:参院選挙改革 自民の身勝手さに驚く
It has been said that achieving consensus over reform of the electoral system for the House of Councillors is no easy task. But the utter confusion within the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) leaves us dumbfounded.
元々、合意は難しいと言われていたが、ここまで混乱するとはあきれるばかりだ。参院の選挙制度改革をめぐる自民党の話だ。
Masashi Waki, an LDP legislator who heads a consultative body on electoral reform for the upper house, laid out a new reform plan at a meeting of the panel on Sept. 11. The consultative body comprises both ruling and opposition party members, focusing on how to correct vote-value disparities among upper house constituencies.
経過はこうである。参院選挙区の「１票の格差」是正策を与野党で検討している参院選挙制度協議会の１１日の会合で脇雅史座長（自民党）が新たな案を各党に提示した。
Waki's proposal, however, met a backlash from within the LDP. The following day, the party decided to dismiss him from the post of secretary-general of its upper house caucus. Waki is also expected to be ousted as head of the consultative body.
ところが足元の自民党の反発は収まらず、１２日には脇氏を参院自民党幹事長から外す更迭人事を決定。協議会の座長も交代する見通しで、
The ruling and opposition camps are now likely to face difficulties reaching an agreement over the issue by the end of the year -- the initial target deadline. The incident exposes the LDP's selfishness and reluctance to engage in electoral reform.
この結果、目標としていた年内の与野党合意は難しい状況となっている。自民党の身勝手さとやる気のなさが明らかになったといっていいだろう。
At the Sept. 11 meeting, Waki proposed a plan to merge 10 prefectural constituencies into five electoral districts -- modifying an original plan to integrate 22 prefectural constituencies into 11 electoral zones. However, LDP legislators -- especially those whose electoral districts were to be affected by the plan -- expressed dissatisfaction with the proposal.
脇氏が１１日提示したのは参院選挙区の１０県を５区に合区する案で、２２府県を１１選挙区に統合するとの当初案を修正したものだ。しかし、肝心の自民党は議席減となる関係選挙区の議員を中心に合区案そのものに対する不満は変わらなかった。
When Waki first presented the proposal of merging upper house constituencies, Kensei Mizote, head of the LDP's upper house caucus, reportedly resisted, saying, "This is the first that I've heard of it." His response reveals a fundamental lack of intra-party coordination within the LDP.
今春、脇氏が合区案を最初に示した際、同じ参院自民党幹部の溝手顕正参院議員会長は「初めて聞いた」と反発したという。当初から党内調整はずさんだったということだ。
So far, the party has produced no workable alternative. It cannot escape criticism that its legislators, with their vested interests, are inherently reluctant to implement electoral reform.
しかも現状では自民党に合区案に代わる有力案があるわけでもない。これではそもそも自分たちが不利益をこうむる選挙制度改革自体に後ろ向きだと見られても仕方があるまい。
Ahead of the recent Cabinet reshuffle, there was a move within the LDP's upper house caucus to have Waki appointed as a Cabinet minister, in order to unseat him from the head of the consultative body on electoral reform. The attempt to oust Waki failed after he refused the proposed appointment. The idea of linking a ministerial appointment to legislators' own electoral interests leaves us astonished.
合区案に突き進む脇氏を外すためだったのだろう。先の内閣改造に際しては一時、参院自民党内に脇氏を入閣させ協議会座長から降ろす動きがあった。脇氏が入閣を拒否して見送られたが、議員自らの選挙事情と閣僚人事をからめる発想にも驚く。
The merger proposal may not be the best plan, but it is one possible method to rectify vote-value disparities among electoral districts. Some opposition party members have voiced support for the plan. Even within the LDP, a number have reportedly endorsed the plan, saying they may have no other choice. Waki, on the other hand, doesn't seem to have made sufficient efforts to ease conflict within the LDP, as all he did was to denounce Mizote and other opponents of the plan.
合区案は私たちもベストとは考えていないが、格差是正の一つの方法ではある。野党の中には賛成する意見も出ており、実は自民党内にも「結局、合区案しかないのでは」との声があるという。一方の脇氏も溝手氏らを非難するだけで党内の取りまとめに努力したとは思えない。
The Supreme Court has ruled that the 2010 upper house election was held "in a state of unconstitutionality." A supplementary provision was subsequently added to the revised Public Offices Election Law, stating that a drastic review of the electoral system would be carried out ahead of the next upper house election to be called in 2016. However, the Diet has thus far only taken the stop-gap measure of reducing the number of seats in the most sparsely populated constituencies by four and increasing that in the most densely populated districts by four. There is little time left to conduct drastic electoral reform for the upper chamber.
参院選挙区の１票の格差に関しては最高裁が４年前の参院選挙について「違憲状態」との判断を下している。これを受け再来年の次の参院選までに制度の抜本的な見直しを図ることが改正公職選挙法の付則に記された。だが、これまで選挙区定数を「４増４減」する応急措置にとどまっており、抜本改革は待ったなしだ。
In the meantime, a third-party advisory panel to the speaker of the House of Representatives has started discussing reform of the lower house electoral system. This has sparked criticism from Waki and other LDP members. They say it is irresponsible for lawmakers to leave their own electoral system in the hands of a third-party organization. The members stressed that upper house legislators were carrying out reforms "on their own."
衆院の選挙制度改革では議長の諮問機関による協議がスタートした。脇氏ら参院側は「自らの選挙制度について第三者機関に委ねるのは国会議員として無責任だ」と衆院を批判し、「自前」の改革をアピールしていたはずだ。
Now, however, it seems that the upper chamber will also end up having to outsource the task to a third-party body, as the LDP is making no ground in coordinating the opinions of its members.
自民党が意見をまとめられないとすれば、参院も第三者に委ねるしかなくなるだろう。
毎日新聞 2014年09月13日 02時32分
September 12, 2014(Mainichi Japan)
Editorial: Nuclear plants cannot rely on luck
社説:吉田調書公開 次は「幸運」に頼れない
A document detailing testimony by the late former head of the tsunami-hit Fukushima No. 1 Nuclear Power Plant conveys the terror of the serious accident at the atomic power station that occurred 3 1/2 years ago.
原発過酷事故の恐ろしさが３年半たった今も生の言葉から伝わってくる。
The record of the government fact-finding panel's hearing of Masao Yoshida, former head of the power plant, over the accident has been released along with those on interviews with 18 others.
東京電力福島第１原発の事故当時の所長、吉田昌郎氏が政府の事故調査・検証委員会のヒアリングに答えた「吉田調書」が、他の１８人分の調書とともに公開された。
The document quotes Yoshida as saying, "Nobody came to help us," "Necessary supplies didn't reach us," and "there was a wide perception gap between the plant, the Tokyo Electric Power Co. (TEPCO) headquarters and the prime minister's office."
「誰も助けにこなかった」「必要な物資が届かない」「現場と東電本店や官邸の認識の差が大きい」。
Both power companies including TEPCO and the government should pay close attention to Yoshida's testimony and clarify whether each problem he pointed out has been improved.
電力会社も政府も、吉田氏の訴えに再度耳を傾け、それが改善されているか、ひとつずつチェックすべきだ。
When the nuclear disaster broke out, the biggest challenge Yoshida and other workers encountered was to inject water into the plant's reactors, and they were asking for outside help. However, no one extended substantive or effective assistance to the plant. A lot of equipment that plant workers needed, such as power-supply vehicles, batteries, fire engines and diesel fuel, reached a nearby supply depot, but there was nobody who was able to transport the supplies to the power station. As a result, workers at the plant were forced to come to the depot to pick up the supplies despite a serious shortage of personnel at the power station. Such a frustrating situation is apparently attributable to high radiation levels inside the plant.
事故当時、吉田氏らの最大の課題は原子炉に水を入れることであり、外からの支援も求めていた。しかし、実質的で効果的な助けはなかなかこなかった。電源車、バッテリー、消防車、軽油など現場が必要とする資材も途中の基地まではくるが、運ぶ人がいない。結果的に人手が足りない現場から取りに行かざるを得なかった。こうしたもどかしい状況が生じた理由は、現場の放射線量が高かったためと考えられる。
Power companies are primarily responsible for dealing with any accident at power plants they operate. Regardless, it is imperative to address in advance how to support workers at a nuclear power plant where radiation levels have surged in case of a serious nuclear accident and how the national and local governments, the Self-Defense Forces and firefighters should cooperate in responding to the accident.
事故対策は一義的には電力会社の責任だとしても、過酷事故が起きた場合、放射線量の高い現場をどう支援するのか。政府や自治体、自衛隊、消防などがどう連携するのか。きちんと解決しておかなくてはならない重要課題だ。
During the hearing, Yoshida repeatedly pointed out a perception gap between plant workers, the TEPCO headquarters and the prime minister's office. The headquarters and the prime minister's office did not understand the situation of the plant at the time of the accident. As such, the headquarters ordered plant workers to stop injecting sea water in the reactors at the strong urging of the prime minister's office, obstructing worker's efforts to bring the crisis under control instead of extending support to the workers. The central government and utilities should clearly show whether they have implemented remedial measures to prevent a recurrence of such a problem.
東電本店や官邸との認識の隔たりについても、吉田氏は繰り返し述べている。本店や官邸は現場の状況を理解せず、支援するどころか、官邸の意向をくんだ本店が海水注入の停止を命じるなど妨害さえした。そんなことが起きないための改善策をきちんと講じているのか、政府や電力会社は明確に示してほしい。
The government stiffened regulatory standards for nuclear plants following the accident but emphasis is primarily placed on the hardware aspect. It is necessary to verify how far countermeasures in the software aspect, such as information and personnel, the flow of supplies and the chain of command, have been taken.
事故後、規制基準は厳しくなったが、主としてハード面に重きが置かれてきた。情報や人、物資の流れ、指揮命令系統といったソフト面の対策がどこまできちんとなされたか、さらなる検証が必要だ。
Yoshida, who faced a difficult response to the crisis in which the plant's No. 1 to 4 reactors fell into critical condition, pointed out problems involving the concentration of nuclear plants in small areas. However, Japan still faces risks arising from multiple nuclear plants in many areas, and it is necessary to seriously consider how to rectify the situation.
１〜４号機が次々に危機的状況に陥る中で困難な対応を迫られた吉田氏は、原発の集中立地の問題も指摘している。しかし、現実には日本の原発は複数立地のリスクを抱えたままであり、もっと真剣に改善策を考えなくてはならない。
Yoshida's testimony suggests that the Fukushima No. 1 plant barely evaded a further catastrophe thanks to good luck.
調書からは、これほどの惨事もある意味で「幸運」に支えられており、さらなる大惨事を紙一重で免れたことも感じとれる。
Recalling the critical situation in which workers had been unable to inject water into the No. 2 reactor over an extended period, Yoshida was quoted as saying, "We were afraid that all radioactive substances would leak and spread. We visualized all of eastern Japan being devastated."
水が入れられない状況が続いた２号機について吉田氏は、「放射性物質が全部出て、まき散らしてしまう。我々のイメージは東日本壊滅」とさえ述べている。
Keeping in mind that the worst-case scenario cannot be prevented by good luck, the government and power suppliers that are aiming to reactivate idled nuclear plants should learn lessons from the Yoshida testimony and all documents released by the government's fact-finding panel.
原発再稼働を目指す政府や電力会社は、「次の幸運はない」と肝に銘じてほしい。その上で、吉田調書をはじめとする事故調の資料からあらゆる教訓を学びとるべきだ。
毎日新聞 2014年09月12日 02時30分
Editorial: Nuclear plants cannot rely on luck
社説:吉田調書公開 次は「幸運」に頼れない
A document detailing testimony by the late former head of the tsunami-hit Fukushima No. 1 Nuclear Power Plant conveys the terror of the serious accident at the atomic power station that occurred 3 1/2 years ago.
原発過酷事故の恐ろしさが３年半たった今も生の言葉から伝わってくる。
The record of the government fact-finding panel's hearing of Masao Yoshida, former head of the power plant, over the accident has been released along with those on interviews with 18 others.
東京電力福島第１原発の事故当時の所長、吉田昌郎氏が政府の事故調査・検証委員会のヒアリングに答えた「吉田調書」が、他の１８人分の調書とともに公開された。
The document quotes Yoshida as saying, "Nobody came to help us," "Necessary supplies didn't reach us," and "there was a wide perception gap between the plant, the Tokyo Electric Power Co. (TEPCO) headquarters and the prime minister's office."
「誰も助けにこなかった」「必要な物資が届かない」「現場と東電本店や官邸の認識の差が大きい」。
Both power companies including TEPCO and the government should pay close attention to Yoshida's testimony and clarify whether each problem he pointed out has been improved.
電力会社も政府も、吉田氏の訴えに再度耳を傾け、それが改善されているか、ひとつずつチェックすべきだ。
When the nuclear disaster broke out, the biggest challenge Yoshida and other workers encountered was to inject water into the plant's reactors, and they were asking for outside help. However, no one extended substantive or effective assistance to the plant. A lot of equipment that plant workers needed, such as power-supply vehicles, batteries, fire engines and diesel fuel, reached a nearby supply depot, but there was nobody who was able to transport the supplies to the power station. As a result, workers at the plant were forced to come to the depot to pick up the supplies despite a serious shortage of personnel at the power station. Such a frustrating situation is apparently attributable to high radiation levels inside the plant.
事故当時、吉田氏らの最大の課題は原子炉に水を入れることであり、外からの支援も求めていた。しかし、実質的で効果的な助けはなかなかこなかった。電源車、バッテリー、消防車、軽油など現場が必要とする資材も途中の基地まではくるが、運ぶ人がいない。結果的に人手が足りない現場から取りに行かざるを得なかった。こうしたもどかしい状況が生じた理由は、現場の放射線量が高かったためと考えられる。
Power companies are primarily responsible for dealing with any accident at power plants they operate. Regardless, it is imperative to address in advance how to support workers at a nuclear power plant where radiation levels have surged in case of a serious nuclear accident and how the national and local governments, the Self-Defense Forces and firefighters should cooperate in responding to the accident.
事故対策は一義的には電力会社の責任だとしても、過酷事故が起きた場合、放射線量の高い現場をどう支援するのか。政府や自治体、自衛隊、消防などがどう連携するのか。きちんと解決しておかなくてはならない重要課題だ。
During the hearing, Yoshida repeatedly pointed out a perception gap between plant workers, the TEPCO headquarters and the prime minister's office. The headquarters and the prime minister's office did not understand the situation of the plant at the time of the accident. As such, the headquarters ordered plant workers to stop injecting sea water in the reactors at the strong urging of the prime minister's office, obstructing worker's efforts to bring the crisis under control instead of extending support to the workers. The central government and utilities should clearly show whether they have implemented remedial measures to prevent a recurrence of such a problem.
東電本店や官邸との認識の隔たりについても、吉田氏は繰り返し述べている。本店や官邸は現場の状況を理解せず、支援するどころか、官邸の意向をくんだ本店が海水注入の停止を命じるなど妨害さえした。そんなことが起きないための改善策をきちんと講じているのか、政府や電力会社は明確に示してほしい。
The government stiffened regulatory standards for nuclear plants following the accident but emphasis is primarily placed on the hardware aspect. It is necessary to verify how far countermeasures in the software aspect, such as information and personnel, the flow of supplies and the chain of command, have been taken.
事故後、規制基準は厳しくなったが、主としてハード面に重きが置かれてきた。情報や人、物資の流れ、指揮命令系統といったソフト面の対策がどこまできちんとなされたか、さらなる検証が必要だ。
Yoshida, who faced a difficult response to the crisis in which the plant's No. 1 to 4 reactors fell into critical condition, pointed out problems involving the concentration of nuclear plants in small areas. However, Japan still faces risks arising from multiple nuclear plants in many areas, and it is necessary to seriously consider how to rectify the situation.
１〜４号機が次々に危機的状況に陥る中で困難な対応を迫られた吉田氏は、原発の集中立地の問題も指摘している。しかし、現実には日本の原発は複数立地のリスクを抱えたままであり、もっと真剣に改善策を考えなくてはならない。
Yoshida's testimony suggests that the Fukushima No. 1 plant barely evaded a further catastrophe thanks to good luck.
調書からは、これほどの惨事もある意味で「幸運」に支えられており、さらなる大惨事を紙一重で免れたことも感じとれる。
Recalling the critical situation in which workers had been unable to inject water into the No. 2 reactor over an extended period, Yoshida was quoted as saying, "We were afraid that all radioactive substances would leak and spread. We visualized all of eastern Japan being devastated."
水が入れられない状況が続いた２号機について吉田氏は、「放射性物質が全部出て、まき散らしてしまう。我々のイメージは東日本壊滅」とさえ述べている。
Keeping in mind that the worst-case scenario cannot be prevented by good luck, the government and power suppliers that are aiming to reactivate idled nuclear plants should learn lessons from the Yoshida testimony and all documents released by the government's fact-finding panel.
原発再稼働を目指す政府や電力会社は、「次の幸運はない」と肝に銘じてほしい。その上で、吉田調書をはじめとする事故調の資料からあらゆる教訓を学びとるべきだ。
毎日新聞 2014年09月12日 02時30分
September 11, 2014(Mainichi Japan)
Editorial: Move to restart reactors without sufficient debate a huge mistake
社説:川内原発再稼働 なし崩し的に進めるな
The Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) has approved a screening document giving the No. 1 and 2 reactors at Kyushu Electric Power Co.'s Sendai Nuclear Power Plant a pass under new screening standards -- a first in Japan.
九州電力川内（せんだい）原発１、２号機（鹿児島県薩摩川内市）の安全審査で、原子力規制委員会は新規制基準への合格証となる審査書を決定した。全国の原発で初めてだ。
The power company is now stepping up efforts to gain local consent to restart the reactors. But many issues have been left unaddressed, and we cannot accept reactivation without proper debate on these issues.
九電は再稼働に向け、地元への同意手続きを本格化させる。しかし、多くの課題が残されたままで、なし崩し的に再稼働を進めることは認められない。
Two months before the screening document was adopted, the Mainichi Shimbun proposed two minimum conditions for restarting the reactors: preparing a way to curb damage to residents based on lessons learned from the Fukushima nuclear disaster, and having the government outline a roadmap for eliminating dependence on nuclear power and clarify where the reactivation of nuclear reactors is positioned within the nation's overall energy strategy.
私たちは審査書案がまとまった２カ月前に、次の二つを再稼働の最低条件として挙げた。福島第１原発事故を教訓に、住民の被害を食い止める手立てを整えておくこと。政府が脱原発依存の道筋を描いた上で、エネルギー政策全体の中に再稼働をどう位置付けるか明示することだ。
This month the government sent workers to Kagoshima Prefecture, among other areas, to help formulate evacuation plans that would be implemented in the event of a nuclear accident. It is also considering making power companies present maintenance plans for aging reactors and urging utilities to reach a decision on whether to decommission or extend the life of their reactors.
政府は今月に入り、鹿児島県などに職員を派遣し、事故に備えた避難計画の策定支援に乗り出した。電力会社に老朽化した原発の整備計画を提出させ、稼働延長か廃炉かの決断を促すことも検討している。
But these measures have come too late, and even if they guarantee the effectiveness of evacuation plans, we still have no outline of how the nation can free itself from reliance on nuclear power.
だが、これらの対応は遅すぎたほどで、避難計画の実効性確保も、脱原発依存の道筋を描くこともできていない。
The government says it plans to proceed with restarting nuclear power plants that have passed NRA screening. But it has not explained how it plans to obtain the consent it needs from local bodies for the plants to go into operation.
政府は、規制委の審査に合格した原発の再稼働を進める方針を掲げるが、そのために必要な地元同意を得る手順も示さないままだ。
Under current rules, power companies must obtain consent from prefectural governments, as well as cities, towns or villages, where the nuclear power plants are located. But that leaves restarting nuclear reactors entirely in the hands of power companies and local bodies.
現行ルールでは、電力会社が原発立地県や立地市町村の同意を得れば再稼働できる。しかし、それでは、再稼働の判断を電力会社と地元自治体に丸投げすることになる。
Kagoshima Gov. Yuichiro Ito has asked the government to state in writing why it is necessary to reactivate the Sendai plant's nuclear reactors. In doing so he has expressed the position that the government bears responsibility for restarting the reactors. The government intends to comply, but this must not end up a mere ceremony.
鹿児島県の伊藤祐一郎知事は政府に、再稼働の必要性を文書で示すよう要請した。再稼働を判断する責任は国にあるという態度表明だ。政府も応じる考えだが、単なるセレモニーに終わらせてはならない。
It is feared that if nuclear power plants are not restarted, then imports of fossil fuels will be pushed up, which could negatively affect the economy. But the risk of accidents that goes hand in hand with reactivation of nuclear reactors remains. So why are officials deciding to restart these reactors? Are we perfectly prepared for any accident that could occur?
原発が稼働しなければ化石燃料の輸入増加が続き、経済への影響が懸念される。だが、原発稼働に伴う事故のリスクは残ったままだ。そうした中で再稼働をなぜ決断するのか。事故が起きた時の態勢は万全か。
The government has a responsibility to spend time explaining the issue to the public, deepen discussion, and reflect this in its policies.
政府は国民に説明を重ね、議論を深め、政策に反映する責務がある。
When proceeding to gain consent for reactivation from local bodies, the government must deeply respect the opinions not only of the municipalities where the reactors are located, but also those within a 30-kilometer radius of the nuclear power plant, where evacuation plans must be prepared.
再稼働の同意手続きに際しては、立地市町村に加え、避難計画の策定を義務付けられた原発３０キロ圏の市町村の意見を最大限尊重すべきだ。
In July, the municipal assembly of the city of Aira, which lies within 30 kilometers of the Sendai Nuclear Power Plant, expressed opposition to restarting the plant's reactors, stating that residents felt uneasy about evacuation plans. It approved a document calling for the reactors to be decommissioned. In the Kagoshima Prefecture city of Ichikikushikino, meanwhile, more than half of the city's residents signed a petition opposing reactivation.
川内原発から３０キロ圏の姶良（あいら）市議会は７月、「住民は避難計画に不安を持っている」として川内原発の再稼働に反対し、廃炉を求める意見書を可決した。いちき串木野市では住民の半数を上回る再稼働反対署名が集まった。
However, as is the case with the Sendai Nuclear Power Plant and many other nuclear facilities, there exists no mechanism enabling the opinions of residents in these neighboring municipalities to be reflected in decisions on whether or not nuclear reactors should be restarted.
しかし、川内をはじめ多くの原発では、こうした近隣市町村の意見を再稼働の判断に反映する仕組みがない。
Municipalities hosting nuclear power plants tend to favor reactivation due to the strong economic ties they have to those plants. If the government and power companies are hoping they can restrict consent for activation of nuclear power plants to as small a sphere as possible, then they are making a huge mistake.
経済面で原発との結びつきが強い立地市町村は再稼働を望みがちだ。同意の範囲をなるべく狭く抑えたいと政府や電力会社が考えているとしたら、大きな間違いだ。
毎日新聞 2014年09月11日 02時35分
Editorial: Move to restart reactors without sufficient debate a huge mistake
社説:川内原発再稼働 なし崩し的に進めるな
The Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) has approved a screening document giving the No. 1 and 2 reactors at Kyushu Electric Power Co.'s Sendai Nuclear Power Plant a pass under new screening standards -- a first in Japan.
九州電力川内（せんだい）原発１、２号機（鹿児島県薩摩川内市）の安全審査で、原子力規制委員会は新規制基準への合格証となる審査書を決定した。全国の原発で初めてだ。
The power company is now stepping up efforts to gain local consent to restart the reactors. But many issues have been left unaddressed, and we cannot accept reactivation without proper debate on these issues.
九電は再稼働に向け、地元への同意手続きを本格化させる。しかし、多くの課題が残されたままで、なし崩し的に再稼働を進めることは認められない。
Two months before the screening document was adopted, the Mainichi Shimbun proposed two minimum conditions for restarting the reactors: preparing a way to curb damage to residents based on lessons learned from the Fukushima nuclear disaster, and having the government outline a roadmap for eliminating dependence on nuclear power and clarify where the reactivation of nuclear reactors is positioned within the nation's overall energy strategy.
私たちは審査書案がまとまった２カ月前に、次の二つを再稼働の最低条件として挙げた。福島第１原発事故を教訓に、住民の被害を食い止める手立てを整えておくこと。政府が脱原発依存の道筋を描いた上で、エネルギー政策全体の中に再稼働をどう位置付けるか明示することだ。
This month the government sent workers to Kagoshima Prefecture, among other areas, to help formulate evacuation plans that would be implemented in the event of a nuclear accident. It is also considering making power companies present maintenance plans for aging reactors and urging utilities to reach a decision on whether to decommission or extend the life of their reactors.
政府は今月に入り、鹿児島県などに職員を派遣し、事故に備えた避難計画の策定支援に乗り出した。電力会社に老朽化した原発の整備計画を提出させ、稼働延長か廃炉かの決断を促すことも検討している。
But these measures have come too late, and even if they guarantee the effectiveness of evacuation plans, we still have no outline of how the nation can free itself from reliance on nuclear power.
だが、これらの対応は遅すぎたほどで、避難計画の実効性確保も、脱原発依存の道筋を描くこともできていない。
The government says it plans to proceed with restarting nuclear power plants that have passed NRA screening. But it has not explained how it plans to obtain the consent it needs from local bodies for the plants to go into operation.
政府は、規制委の審査に合格した原発の再稼働を進める方針を掲げるが、そのために必要な地元同意を得る手順も示さないままだ。
Under current rules, power companies must obtain consent from prefectural governments, as well as cities, towns or villages, where the nuclear power plants are located. But that leaves restarting nuclear reactors entirely in the hands of power companies and local bodies.
現行ルールでは、電力会社が原発立地県や立地市町村の同意を得れば再稼働できる。しかし、それでは、再稼働の判断を電力会社と地元自治体に丸投げすることになる。
Kagoshima Gov. Yuichiro Ito has asked the government to state in writing why it is necessary to reactivate the Sendai plant's nuclear reactors. In doing so he has expressed the position that the government bears responsibility for restarting the reactors. The government intends to comply, but this must not end up a mere ceremony.
鹿児島県の伊藤祐一郎知事は政府に、再稼働の必要性を文書で示すよう要請した。再稼働を判断する責任は国にあるという態度表明だ。政府も応じる考えだが、単なるセレモニーに終わらせてはならない。
It is feared that if nuclear power plants are not restarted, then imports of fossil fuels will be pushed up, which could negatively affect the economy. But the risk of accidents that goes hand in hand with reactivation of nuclear reactors remains. So why are officials deciding to restart these reactors? Are we perfectly prepared for any accident that could occur?
原発が稼働しなければ化石燃料の輸入増加が続き、経済への影響が懸念される。だが、原発稼働に伴う事故のリスクは残ったままだ。そうした中で再稼働をなぜ決断するのか。事故が起きた時の態勢は万全か。
The government has a responsibility to spend time explaining the issue to the public, deepen discussion, and reflect this in its policies.
政府は国民に説明を重ね、議論を深め、政策に反映する責務がある。
When proceeding to gain consent for reactivation from local bodies, the government must deeply respect the opinions not only of the municipalities where the reactors are located, but also those within a 30-kilometer radius of the nuclear power plant, where evacuation plans must be prepared.
再稼働の同意手続きに際しては、立地市町村に加え、避難計画の策定を義務付けられた原発３０キロ圏の市町村の意見を最大限尊重すべきだ。
In July, the municipal assembly of the city of Aira, which lies within 30 kilometers of the Sendai Nuclear Power Plant, expressed opposition to restarting the plant's reactors, stating that residents felt uneasy about evacuation plans. It approved a document calling for the reactors to be decommissioned. In the Kagoshima Prefecture city of Ichikikushikino, meanwhile, more than half of the city's residents signed a petition opposing reactivation.
川内原発から３０キロ圏の姶良（あいら）市議会は７月、「住民は避難計画に不安を持っている」として川内原発の再稼働に反対し、廃炉を求める意見書を可決した。いちき串木野市では住民の半数を上回る再稼働反対署名が集まった。
However, as is the case with the Sendai Nuclear Power Plant and many other nuclear facilities, there exists no mechanism enabling the opinions of residents in these neighboring municipalities to be reflected in decisions on whether or not nuclear reactors should be restarted.
しかし、川内をはじめ多くの原発では、こうした近隣市町村の意見を再稼働の判断に反映する仕組みがない。
Municipalities hosting nuclear power plants tend to favor reactivation due to the strong economic ties they have to those plants. If the government and power companies are hoping they can restrict consent for activation of nuclear power plants to as small a sphere as possible, then they are making a huge mistake.
経済面で原発との結びつきが強い立地市町村は再稼働を望みがちだ。同意の範囲をなるべく狭く抑えたいと政府や電力会社が考えているとしたら、大きな間違いだ。
毎日新聞 2014年09月11日 02時35分
September 10, 2014(Mainichi Japan)
Editorial: Nishikori makes history at U.S. Open
社説:全米テニス 歴史を刻んだ錦織選手
In an essay shortly before he graduated from elementary school and moved to the United States at age 13, Kei Nishikori wrote that his dream was to be the world champion in tennis. Nishikori has added a new page in the history of tennis although he will have to wait a bit longer for his dream to maybe come true.
１３歳で単身渡米する前、少年は小学校の卒業作文に「ぼくの夢」は「世界チャンピオン」と書いた。その夢は持ち越しとなったが、歴史に新たなページを刻んだ。
Nishikori, 24, was overwhelmed by the powerful serve of Croatia's 25-year-old Marin Cilic in the final of the U.S. Open. After the match, Nishikori said "it wasn't my best tennis," and apologized for failing to win the trophy. However, he does not have to apologize. He should be proud that he became the first Japanese tennis player to advance to the final of a singles event at one of the four major tennis championships -- the Australian Open, the French Open, Wimbledon and the U.S. Open.
テニスの全米オープン最終日。男子シングルス決勝に進んだ２４歳の錦織圭選手は２５歳のチリッチ選手（クロアチア）の強烈なサーブに圧倒された。試合後、錦織選手は「自分のテニスができなかった。（優勝）トロフィーを獲得できず申し訳ない」と話した。頭を下げる必要はない。４大大会（全豪、全仏、ウィンブルドン、全米）でシングルスの決勝コートに日本選手として初めて立ったことを誇りに思ってほしい。
Nishikori was not highly evaluated before the tournament began. He underwent surgery to his right big toe in early August, and expressed concern about the condition of the toe at a news conference prior to the event. However, he won his more than four-hour-long fourth match by beating one of the world's top-ranked players and won the quarterfinal with his tenacious play, becoming the first Japanese tennis player in 96 years to advance to the semifinal. He then won the semifinal by stunning favorite Novak Djokovic of Serbia.
大会前の評判は高くなかった。８月初旬、右足親指にメスを入れ、開幕前の記者会見では本人も不安をもらしていた。世界ランキング上位の相手に４時間を超える戦いとなった４回戦と準々決勝は粘り強いプレーでものにした。日本選手として全米では９６年ぶりの進出となった準決勝では世界ランク１位のジョコビッチ選手（セルビア）を破った。
In recent years, the men's tennis world has been dominated by top four players led by Djokovic. This time, Nishikori joined the top-ranked players along with Cilic, who won a major championship for the first time, possibly changing the rankings in the men's tennis world dramatically.
男子テニス界は近年、ジョコビッチ選手を中心に４強時代が続いてきた。錦織選手はそこに、準決勝で世界ランク３位のフェデラー選手（スイス）を倒すなどして４大大会で初優勝したチリッチ選手とともに割って入った格好だ。世界の勢力図が変わるかもしれない。
Nishikori told a news conference following the final that he hopes to advance to the finals of a major tournament again. His international ranking has risen from 11th prior to the game to eighth. The public can place high expectations on the possibility that his dream will come true next season or beyond.
記者会見で錦織選手は「また４大大会の決勝に戻ってきたい」と言った。世界ランクは大会前の１１位から自己最高の８位に上がった。来季以降、夢の実現に期待したい。
Nishikori's outstanding performance at the U.S. Open has also shed light on the great Japanese players of yesteryear. 歴史に埋もれていた日本の偉大なプレーヤーたちに光を当てたことも錦織選手の功績だろう。
Many people have learned that Japanese tennis had its golden age from the late 1910s to the 1930s. Ichiya Kumagai became the first Japanese player to advance to the semifinal of the U.S. Open in 1918. Zenzo Shimizu played in the semifinals of Wimbledon while Jiro Sato made it to the semifinals of the French Open, Wimbledon and the Australian Open.
日本選手が４大大会でベスト４に進んだのは１９１８（大正７）年全米の熊谷一弥が初めて。その後、清水善造がウィンブルドン、佐藤次郎が全仏、ウィンブルドン、全豪で４強入りするなど日本テニス界は１９３０年代にかけて黄金期を迎えていたことを多くの人たちが知った。
Nishikori is not the only Japanese player who performed outstandingly in the latest U.S. Open. Kimiko Date-Krumm, 43, advanced to the semifinals of women's doubles for the first time, and made it to the semifinals of women's singles -- for the third time in a major championship. Date retired from tennis at the age of 26 but made a comeback in 2008 at age 37 after getting married. Many people apparently sympathize with Date who says she enjoys both tennis and her private life.
今大会は錦織選手だけではない。４３歳のクルム伊達公子選手は女子ダブルスで４大大会自身初のベスト４に。４大大会のシングルスで３度の４強入りを果たし、２６歳で現役引退した後、結婚を経て２００８年、３７歳でカムバックした。「テニスと人生を楽しんでいる」という彼女の姿に共感を覚える人も多いだろう。
Shingo Kunieda, 30, won the championship in wheelchair men's singles -- for the first time in three years and fifth time overall -- while Yui Kamiji, 20, won her first championship in wheelchair women's singles. Both of them also won doubles. Their performances tended to be overwhelmed by Nishikori's play during the competition, but their achievements should also be highly praised.
車いすの部ではシングルスで男子の国枝慎吾選手（３０）が３年ぶり５回目、女子の上地結衣（かみじ・ゆい）選手（２０）が初優勝を果たしている。２人はダブルスも制し、２冠を達成した。錦織選手の活躍の陰に隠れがちだったが、その快挙を改めてたたえたい。
毎日新聞 2014年09月10日 02時32分
Editorial: Nishikori makes history at U.S. Open
社説:全米テニス 歴史を刻んだ錦織選手
In an essay shortly before he graduated from elementary school and moved to the United States at age 13, Kei Nishikori wrote that his dream was to be the world champion in tennis. Nishikori has added a new page in the history of tennis although he will have to wait a bit longer for his dream to maybe come true.
１３歳で単身渡米する前、少年は小学校の卒業作文に「ぼくの夢」は「世界チャンピオン」と書いた。その夢は持ち越しとなったが、歴史に新たなページを刻んだ。
Nishikori, 24, was overwhelmed by the powerful serve of Croatia's 25-year-old Marin Cilic in the final of the U.S. Open. After the match, Nishikori said "it wasn't my best tennis," and apologized for failing to win the trophy. However, he does not have to apologize. He should be proud that he became the first Japanese tennis player to advance to the final of a singles event at one of the four major tennis championships -- the Australian Open, the French Open, Wimbledon and the U.S. Open.
テニスの全米オープン最終日。男子シングルス決勝に進んだ２４歳の錦織圭選手は２５歳のチリッチ選手（クロアチア）の強烈なサーブに圧倒された。試合後、錦織選手は「自分のテニスができなかった。（優勝）トロフィーを獲得できず申し訳ない」と話した。頭を下げる必要はない。４大大会（全豪、全仏、ウィンブルドン、全米）でシングルスの決勝コートに日本選手として初めて立ったことを誇りに思ってほしい。
Nishikori was not highly evaluated before the tournament began. He underwent surgery to his right big toe in early August, and expressed concern about the condition of the toe at a news conference prior to the event. However, he won his more than four-hour-long fourth match by beating one of the world's top-ranked players and won the quarterfinal with his tenacious play, becoming the first Japanese tennis player in 96 years to advance to the semifinal. He then won the semifinal by stunning favorite Novak Djokovic of Serbia.
大会前の評判は高くなかった。８月初旬、右足親指にメスを入れ、開幕前の記者会見では本人も不安をもらしていた。世界ランキング上位の相手に４時間を超える戦いとなった４回戦と準々決勝は粘り強いプレーでものにした。日本選手として全米では９６年ぶりの進出となった準決勝では世界ランク１位のジョコビッチ選手（セルビア）を破った。
In recent years, the men's tennis world has been dominated by top four players led by Djokovic. This time, Nishikori joined the top-ranked players along with Cilic, who won a major championship for the first time, possibly changing the rankings in the men's tennis world dramatically.
男子テニス界は近年、ジョコビッチ選手を中心に４強時代が続いてきた。錦織選手はそこに、準決勝で世界ランク３位のフェデラー選手（スイス）を倒すなどして４大大会で初優勝したチリッチ選手とともに割って入った格好だ。世界の勢力図が変わるかもしれない。
Nishikori told a news conference following the final that he hopes to advance to the finals of a major tournament again. His international ranking has risen from 11th prior to the game to eighth. The public can place high expectations on the possibility that his dream will come true next season or beyond.
記者会見で錦織選手は「また４大大会の決勝に戻ってきたい」と言った。世界ランクは大会前の１１位から自己最高の８位に上がった。来季以降、夢の実現に期待したい。
Nishikori's outstanding performance at the U.S. Open has also shed light on the great Japanese players of yesteryear. 歴史に埋もれていた日本の偉大なプレーヤーたちに光を当てたことも錦織選手の功績だろう。
Many people have learned that Japanese tennis had its golden age from the late 1910s to the 1930s. Ichiya Kumagai became the first Japanese player to advance to the semifinal of the U.S. Open in 1918. Zenzo Shimizu played in the semifinals of Wimbledon while Jiro Sato made it to the semifinals of the French Open, Wimbledon and the Australian Open.
日本選手が４大大会でベスト４に進んだのは１９１８（大正７）年全米の熊谷一弥が初めて。その後、清水善造がウィンブルドン、佐藤次郎が全仏、ウィンブルドン、全豪で４強入りするなど日本テニス界は１９３０年代にかけて黄金期を迎えていたことを多くの人たちが知った。
Nishikori is not the only Japanese player who performed outstandingly in the latest U.S. Open. Kimiko Date-Krumm, 43, advanced to the semifinals of women's doubles for the first time, and made it to the semifinals of women's singles -- for the third time in a major championship. Date retired from tennis at the age of 26 but made a comeback in 2008 at age 37 after getting married. Many people apparently sympathize with Date who says she enjoys both tennis and her private life.
今大会は錦織選手だけではない。４３歳のクルム伊達公子選手は女子ダブルスで４大大会自身初のベスト４に。４大大会のシングルスで３度の４強入りを果たし、２６歳で現役引退した後、結婚を経て２００８年、３７歳でカムバックした。「テニスと人生を楽しんでいる」という彼女の姿に共感を覚える人も多いだろう。
Shingo Kunieda, 30, won the championship in wheelchair men's singles -- for the first time in three years and fifth time overall -- while Yui Kamiji, 20, won her first championship in wheelchair women's singles. Both of them also won doubles. Their performances tended to be overwhelmed by Nishikori's play during the competition, but their achievements should also be highly praised.
車いすの部ではシングルスで男子の国枝慎吾選手（３０）が３年ぶり５回目、女子の上地結衣（かみじ・ゆい）選手（２０）が初優勝を果たしている。２人はダブルスも制し、２冠を達成した。錦織選手の活躍の陰に隠れがちだったが、その快挙を改めてたたえたい。
毎日新聞 2014年09月10日 02時32分
September 09, 2014(Mainichi Japan)
Editorial: Emperor Showa's annals important material for modern history
社説:昭和天皇実録 国民に開く近現代史に
The Imperial Household Agency has released the annals of Emperor Showa that records his words and deeds throughout his 87-year-long life. The official record has provided an important temporal axis for research on the history of Emperor Showa, but it is still necessary to clarify the true meaning of, and evaluate the significance of his words and deeds. The release of the annals should be an important step toward fruitful research on the history of the Showa Era that is open to the public.
８７年の生涯にわたり、日々の動静や言行を記録した「昭和天皇実録」を宮内庁が公開した。昭和史研究は重要な「時間軸」を得たが、個々の事象の意義づけや実態解明にはまだ余地を残している。これを大きなステップとして、国民に開かれた実り豊かな研究へとつなげたい。
Modern history, including the history of the Showa Era, is complex just like a maze in a deep forest. The annals of Emperor Showa were expected to shed light on how he made decisions at various stages of that era, what he said and how he changed, or was unable to change, certain situations.
昭和史など近現代史は深い森に分け入る迷路のように複雑だ。昭和天皇がその中のさまざまな局面でどう判断し、何を語り、事態を動かしたか、あるいは動かし得なかったか。こうしたことに新たに光を当てる期待も担った実録だった。
However, the 60-volume annals contain nothing that could overturn what are regarded as established historical facts.
だが、６０巻に上る記録には、これまで定説とされてきた史実や構図を大きく変えるものはなかった。
◇平和求める像変わらず
Based on constitutional monarchy under the Meiji Constitution, Emperor Showa was wary of the military's tyrannical behavior and had some feuds with the military because he hoped for peace, according to the annals. As such, the record confirms the well-established image of Emperor Showa.
立憲君主制の自制的ルールに立ちつつ、軍部の専横を警戒し、平和を求めて確執もあったという、これまでの昭和天皇像を改めて示したといえるだろう。
Still, it may be somewhat disappointing to those who expected the annals to reveal Emperor Showa's anguish and wavering as well as other details.
しかし、その苦悩や迷い、錯誤も含め、もっと具体的に細部にわたる内情や事態の推移がここに明らかになることを求めていたなら、「期待はずれ」の感を持った人も少なくないだろう。
The annals quote Emperor Showa and describe how he expressed his views in a restrained manner.
この実録は、昭和天皇の肉声や見解表明の記述について抑制的姿勢を通している。
None of Emperor Showa's words were blacked out, as opposed to the annals of his father Emperor Taisho. However, some researchers have pointed to the possibility that the editor of the annals of Emperor Showa may have chosen to use non-committal descriptions instead of blacking out any of his words it quotes.
大正天皇実録で公開時に一部を伏せて批判された「黒塗り」はしない、としていたが、むしろそれで当たり障りのない記述に傾いたきらいはないか、と指摘する研究者もいる。
Regarding this point, the Imperial Household Agency explained, "Once the details of his remarks are written in his annals, the words have wings. We cautiously considered each of his words and chose mainly to write the points of his remarks instead of directly quoting him."
この点について宮内庁は「発言内容にしても、いったん書いてしまうと、実録に書かれているということでひとり歩きする。個別に慎重に検討し、原則、（昭和天皇の）ご発言についてはその趣旨を記述して、直接引用しない傾向となった」と説明している。
However, the editor could have made up for a lack of direct quotes from Emperor Showa by explaining what he said in notes. Moreover, some of what are widely regarded as his well-known words are omitted in his annals.
しかし、注釈などで工夫の余地はあるはずだ。これまで定説とされてきたような発言でも実録に用いられなかったものもある。
Some critics say that the standards for selecting historical materials and deciding whether to record events in his annals remain obscure, with one of them saying, "The selection appears arbitrary and is hard to understand."
また、史料の選択、採否の線引き、基準があいまいで、「恣意（しい）的なようで、とてもわかりにくい」という批判が出ている。
There are problems with the way the sources of information are identified. The annals do not show the dates, pages and chapters of books from which it quotes information, making it difficult for researchers to assess the official record or conduct further research on the history of Emperor Showa.
典拠の示し方についても問題がある。列記してある文献の日付やページ、章、節などがないため、それがどの部分によっているのか判然としない。これでは後に検証や発展的な研究をしようとしても、大きなネックになる。
One of the most important achievements in the annals is the discovery of new historical materials, which will certainly contribute to future research activities.
今回の実録の大きな収穫の一つは新史料の発見である。これは今後の研究発展に寄与するに違いない。
A total of 3,152 historical materials were used to compile the official record, which took nearly a quarter of a century to complete, according to the Imperial Household Agency. About 40 of these materials are believed to be documents that had not been publicized before the release of the annals.
宮内庁によると、四半世紀近い年月を費やした実録の作成過程で、使った史料は３１５２件に上った。そのうち、約４０件がこれまで公になっていなかったとみられる。
For example, the diary and other materials kept by former Grand Chamberlain Saburo Hyakutake, who served Emperor Showa during World War II, can be important research objects. Moreover, diaries kept by other chamberlains shed light on Emperor Showa's daily activities.
例えば、戦時期に側近として仕え、昭和天皇の信頼を得ていた百武三郎侍従長の日記や関係資料など、新史料自体が重要な研究対象になり得る。また侍従日誌なども日常の動静記録に大きな役割を果たした。
Measures to release these materials to the public and effectively use them for research should be implemented without being bound by precedent. The Imperial Household Agency intends to withhold chamberlains' diaries without designating them as official documents. Still, the annals are important records.
その公開や研究協力などによって生かす方策を、前例にとらわれることなく講じるべきだろう。侍従日誌などは皇室が管理する「お手元文書」として公文書扱いせず、公開されないというが、今回その貴重な記録性は証明された。
◇なぜいま昭和史なのか
The Showa Era is already part of history. What happened in that era has been regularly discussed in the past, and the annals of Emperor Showa have drawn extensive attention from the public.
「昭和」は既に歴史である。
その時代が後世も絶えず論じられてきた。そうした中で今回は実録が広く注目された。
Why do we look back on the history of the Showa Era and try to learn from that period? It is because many challenges we face now are rooted in that era. The challenges involve not only politics, diplomacy and the economy but also a wide diversity of matters including lifestyles and values.
なぜ私たちが昭和史を絶えず振り返り、そこから学び取ろうとするのだろうか。今の時代が抱える大きな課題の根っこが、昭和にあるからだ。政治、外交、経済のみならず、生活様式や価値観まで多岐にわたる。
Moreover, we must continue to ask why Japan was unable to avoid the catastrophic war. In the annals, one of the important points that have drawn special attention from the public is the change in the situation concerning Japan before and after the war broke out. However, the matter is far from being clarified.
そして、続けなければならないのは「なぜ、あの破滅的な戦争は回避できなかったのか」という問いかけである。この実録の中でも、開戦前後の事態の推移がとりわけ注目されたポイントの一つだった。しかし解明にはまだ遠い。
The annals should be open to the public as a source that allows people to learn lessons from the Showa Era and put them to good use in the future all the more because the number of those who were involved in or experienced the war, which brought unprecedented hardships and changes to both Japan and the world, have significantly decreased.
まして、国内外に空前の苦難と大転換をもたらした戦争の当事者や体験者が少なくなった今、実録を、昭和に学び、未来に生かす基礎史料として国民に開かれたものとしたい。
The process of Japan snowballing from crisis to crisis and eventually collapsing in the war is complex and difficult to clarify. However, clarifying this process would provide important lessons for us.
あの戦争で、坂道を転じるように、雪だるま式に危機を膨らませ破綻したプロセスは、決して単線的ではなく、その解明は容易ではない。しかし、それは今極めて重要な教訓になるものである。
There are various ways of utilizing the annals.
実録の活用法はさまざまにある。
It records the names of those who were allowed to meet with Emperor Showa as well as the details of their meetings. Although the purposes of their meetings are summarized or omitted, the names of individuals who met with Emperor Showa, the timing of their meetings and the frequency and how much time was spent on the meetings could be a clue to in-depth research.
実録は、日々の昭和天皇の「謁を賜った」さまざまな会見者、会話者を、時間とともに詳しく記録している。その用件は略記、あるいは省略されていても、時期と人物、回数、費やした時間などを指標に深層探究の糸口となり得るという。
The writings of Emperor Showa in his childhood, as well as the wide variety of Japanese and overseas films he enjoyed, which the annals introduce to its readers, shed more light on his human side. This is also an important achievement of the annals.
また、今回、実録で紹介された昭和天皇の幼少期の文章、鑑賞した数多い内外の映画などから、人間的な側面もより多彩になった。こうした側面も成果といえよう。
It goes without saying that journalism has the responsibility to ensure that information recorded in the annals is open to the public so that researchers study the Showa Era from various angles and people can share the information as common property.
開かれた情報のもと、実録の多様な切り口から研究を豊かにし、国民共有の財産とする。
その責任が研究者のみならず、ジャーナリズムにあることはいうまでもない。
毎日新聞 2014年09月09日 05時15分（最終更新 09月09日 06時48分）
Editorial: Emperor Showa's annals important material for modern history
社説:昭和天皇実録 国民に開く近現代史に
The Imperial Household Agency has released the annals of Emperor Showa that records his words and deeds throughout his 87-year-long life. The official record has provided an important temporal axis for research on the history of Emperor Showa, but it is still necessary to clarify the true meaning of, and evaluate the significance of his words and deeds. The release of the annals should be an important step toward fruitful research on the history of the Showa Era that is open to the public.
８７年の生涯にわたり、日々の動静や言行を記録した「昭和天皇実録」を宮内庁が公開した。昭和史研究は重要な「時間軸」を得たが、個々の事象の意義づけや実態解明にはまだ余地を残している。これを大きなステップとして、国民に開かれた実り豊かな研究へとつなげたい。
Modern history, including the history of the Showa Era, is complex just like a maze in a deep forest. The annals of Emperor Showa were expected to shed light on how he made decisions at various stages of that era, what he said and how he changed, or was unable to change, certain situations.
昭和史など近現代史は深い森に分け入る迷路のように複雑だ。昭和天皇がその中のさまざまな局面でどう判断し、何を語り、事態を動かしたか、あるいは動かし得なかったか。こうしたことに新たに光を当てる期待も担った実録だった。
However, the 60-volume annals contain nothing that could overturn what are regarded as established historical facts.
だが、６０巻に上る記録には、これまで定説とされてきた史実や構図を大きく変えるものはなかった。
◇平和求める像変わらず
Based on constitutional monarchy under the Meiji Constitution, Emperor Showa was wary of the military's tyrannical behavior and had some feuds with the military because he hoped for peace, according to the annals. As such, the record confirms the well-established image of Emperor Showa.
立憲君主制の自制的ルールに立ちつつ、軍部の専横を警戒し、平和を求めて確執もあったという、これまでの昭和天皇像を改めて示したといえるだろう。
Still, it may be somewhat disappointing to those who expected the annals to reveal Emperor Showa's anguish and wavering as well as other details.
しかし、その苦悩や迷い、錯誤も含め、もっと具体的に細部にわたる内情や事態の推移がここに明らかになることを求めていたなら、「期待はずれ」の感を持った人も少なくないだろう。
The annals quote Emperor Showa and describe how he expressed his views in a restrained manner.
この実録は、昭和天皇の肉声や見解表明の記述について抑制的姿勢を通している。
None of Emperor Showa's words were blacked out, as opposed to the annals of his father Emperor Taisho. However, some researchers have pointed to the possibility that the editor of the annals of Emperor Showa may have chosen to use non-committal descriptions instead of blacking out any of his words it quotes.
大正天皇実録で公開時に一部を伏せて批判された「黒塗り」はしない、としていたが、むしろそれで当たり障りのない記述に傾いたきらいはないか、と指摘する研究者もいる。
Regarding this point, the Imperial Household Agency explained, "Once the details of his remarks are written in his annals, the words have wings. We cautiously considered each of his words and chose mainly to write the points of his remarks instead of directly quoting him."
この点について宮内庁は「発言内容にしても、いったん書いてしまうと、実録に書かれているということでひとり歩きする。個別に慎重に検討し、原則、（昭和天皇の）ご発言についてはその趣旨を記述して、直接引用しない傾向となった」と説明している。
However, the editor could have made up for a lack of direct quotes from Emperor Showa by explaining what he said in notes. Moreover, some of what are widely regarded as his well-known words are omitted in his annals.
しかし、注釈などで工夫の余地はあるはずだ。これまで定説とされてきたような発言でも実録に用いられなかったものもある。
Some critics say that the standards for selecting historical materials and deciding whether to record events in his annals remain obscure, with one of them saying, "The selection appears arbitrary and is hard to understand."
また、史料の選択、採否の線引き、基準があいまいで、「恣意（しい）的なようで、とてもわかりにくい」という批判が出ている。
There are problems with the way the sources of information are identified. The annals do not show the dates, pages and chapters of books from which it quotes information, making it difficult for researchers to assess the official record or conduct further research on the history of Emperor Showa.
典拠の示し方についても問題がある。列記してある文献の日付やページ、章、節などがないため、それがどの部分によっているのか判然としない。これでは後に検証や発展的な研究をしようとしても、大きなネックになる。
One of the most important achievements in the annals is the discovery of new historical materials, which will certainly contribute to future research activities.
今回の実録の大きな収穫の一つは新史料の発見である。これは今後の研究発展に寄与するに違いない。
A total of 3,152 historical materials were used to compile the official record, which took nearly a quarter of a century to complete, according to the Imperial Household Agency. About 40 of these materials are believed to be documents that had not been publicized before the release of the annals.
宮内庁によると、四半世紀近い年月を費やした実録の作成過程で、使った史料は３１５２件に上った。そのうち、約４０件がこれまで公になっていなかったとみられる。
For example, the diary and other materials kept by former Grand Chamberlain Saburo Hyakutake, who served Emperor Showa during World War II, can be important research objects. Moreover, diaries kept by other chamberlains shed light on Emperor Showa's daily activities.
例えば、戦時期に側近として仕え、昭和天皇の信頼を得ていた百武三郎侍従長の日記や関係資料など、新史料自体が重要な研究対象になり得る。また侍従日誌なども日常の動静記録に大きな役割を果たした。
Measures to release these materials to the public and effectively use them for research should be implemented without being bound by precedent. The Imperial Household Agency intends to withhold chamberlains' diaries without designating them as official documents. Still, the annals are important records.
その公開や研究協力などによって生かす方策を、前例にとらわれることなく講じるべきだろう。侍従日誌などは皇室が管理する「お手元文書」として公文書扱いせず、公開されないというが、今回その貴重な記録性は証明された。
◇なぜいま昭和史なのか
The Showa Era is already part of history. What happened in that era has been regularly discussed in the past, and the annals of Emperor Showa have drawn extensive attention from the public.
「昭和」は既に歴史である。
その時代が後世も絶えず論じられてきた。そうした中で今回は実録が広く注目された。
Why do we look back on the history of the Showa Era and try to learn from that period? It is because many challenges we face now are rooted in that era. The challenges involve not only politics, diplomacy and the economy but also a wide diversity of matters including lifestyles and values.
なぜ私たちが昭和史を絶えず振り返り、そこから学び取ろうとするのだろうか。今の時代が抱える大きな課題の根っこが、昭和にあるからだ。政治、外交、経済のみならず、生活様式や価値観まで多岐にわたる。
Moreover, we must continue to ask why Japan was unable to avoid the catastrophic war. In the annals, one of the important points that have drawn special attention from the public is the change in the situation concerning Japan before and after the war broke out. However, the matter is far from being clarified.
そして、続けなければならないのは「なぜ、あの破滅的な戦争は回避できなかったのか」という問いかけである。この実録の中でも、開戦前後の事態の推移がとりわけ注目されたポイントの一つだった。しかし解明にはまだ遠い。
The annals should be open to the public as a source that allows people to learn lessons from the Showa Era and put them to good use in the future all the more because the number of those who were involved in or experienced the war, which brought unprecedented hardships and changes to both Japan and the world, have significantly decreased.
まして、国内外に空前の苦難と大転換をもたらした戦争の当事者や体験者が少なくなった今、実録を、昭和に学び、未来に生かす基礎史料として国民に開かれたものとしたい。
The process of Japan snowballing from crisis to crisis and eventually collapsing in the war is complex and difficult to clarify. However, clarifying this process would provide important lessons for us.
あの戦争で、坂道を転じるように、雪だるま式に危機を膨らませ破綻したプロセスは、決して単線的ではなく、その解明は容易ではない。しかし、それは今極めて重要な教訓になるものである。
There are various ways of utilizing the annals.
実録の活用法はさまざまにある。
It records the names of those who were allowed to meet with Emperor Showa as well as the details of their meetings. Although the purposes of their meetings are summarized or omitted, the names of individuals who met with Emperor Showa, the timing of their meetings and the frequency and how much time was spent on the meetings could be a clue to in-depth research.
実録は、日々の昭和天皇の「謁を賜った」さまざまな会見者、会話者を、時間とともに詳しく記録している。その用件は略記、あるいは省略されていても、時期と人物、回数、費やした時間などを指標に深層探究の糸口となり得るという。
The writings of Emperor Showa in his childhood, as well as the wide variety of Japanese and overseas films he enjoyed, which the annals introduce to its readers, shed more light on his human side. This is also an important achievement of the annals.
また、今回、実録で紹介された昭和天皇の幼少期の文章、鑑賞した数多い内外の映画などから、人間的な側面もより多彩になった。こうした側面も成果といえよう。
It goes without saying that journalism has the responsibility to ensure that information recorded in the annals is open to the public so that researchers study the Showa Era from various angles and people can share the information as common property.
開かれた情報のもと、実録の多様な切り口から研究を豊かにし、国民共有の財産とする。
その責任が研究者のみならず、ジャーナリズムにあることはいうまでもない。
毎日新聞 2014年09月09日 05時15分（最終更新 09月09日 06時48分）
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■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)
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[ 名前 ]
松井 清 （スラチャイ）
[ 略歴 ]
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