速報

なにをいまさらのコメントです。
中国も北をかばい切れなくなるのが分りこのコメントです。
もう少し早くせんかい！

スーチーさん、あれ依頼鬱状態ですね。
当然です。
良かれと考えての行動が裏目に出たのですからね。
ＨＩＶ患者施設の患者たちは強制的に施設から退去させられます。
スーチーさんは自分の冒した軽率な行為で苦しんでいます。
なんとかならないものでしょうか。
世界の目は冷たいと思いました。

We urge both South and North Korea "to do things conducive to peace and stability in the Korean Peninsula".
about 3 hours ago via web

(ｔｒａｎｓ. ｂｙ ｓｒａｃｈａｉ) ↓
胡錦濤国家主席
北と南は朝鮮半島の平和と安定に寄与すべし。

きょう投票　１票が日本の進路を決める

The Yomiuri Shimbun(Aug. 30, 2009)
An election that will chart Japan's future course
きょう投票　１票が日本の進路を決める（8月30日付・読売社説）

Which political party and which candidates should be entrusted to take the helm of this nation?
Today, Aug. 30, is the polling day for the 45th House of Representatives election. It is an election that will determine Japan's future path.
　日本の舵(かじ)取りを委ねるのにふさわしい政党はどこか、候補者は誰か。有権者の１票が日本の進路を左右する。
　きょう３０日、第４５回衆院選が投票日を迎えた。

Voters must choose whether to continue under the current administration of the Liberal Democratic Party and its coalition partner New Komeito, or to switch to a new administration centered on the Democratic Party of Japan.
　自民、公明両党の現政権の継続か、民主党を基軸とする新政権の誕生か。

The election campaign has focused not only on a straight evaluation of the accomplishments and policies of each party. Voters also have had to weigh up which party most deserves to govern.
今回の選挙戦では、各政党の実績、政策の評価に加えて、選挙後の政権の選択が大きな焦点となった。

The LDP had to fight the election campaign in the face of a strong voter backlash.
　自民党にとっては、強い逆風の下の選挙戦だった。

After an overwhelming victory in the lower house election in 2005 under the administration of then Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, the premiership changed hands three times, passing to Shinzo Abe, Yasuo Fukuda and then Taro Aso. The party was subject to persistent criticism for passing the reins of government from one party head to another.
　小泉政権下の前回衆院選での圧勝の後、安倍、福田、麻生と首相が３度も交代し、「政権たらい回し」の批判は根強かった。

Since taking power in September, Prime Minister Taro Aso showed himself to be inconsistent and indecisive at a number of crucial moments, such as when he failed to explain what the flat-sum cash benefit program was meant to achieve. Each time he floundered, he pushed down the LDP's approval rating.
　麻生首相も、昨年９月の政権発足以来、定額給付金の性格付けを始めとして、節目で発言のぶれや優柔不断さを露呈し、そのたびに自民党の支持率を押し下げた。

For the DPJ, doubts have been raised over its ability to govern due to its composition--a motley collection of politicians from different parties ranging from conservatives on one side of the political spectrum to former members of the now-defunct Japan Socialist Party on the other.
In addition, some observers have expressed caution over the party's desire to form a coalition with the Social Democratic Party, which has very different national security policies from the DPJ.
　民主党に対しても、保守系から旧社会党出身までを党内に抱えた「寄り合い所帯」に起因する統治能力への疑問や、安全保障政策で開きのある社民党との連立を志向することへの不安などが、指摘された。

===

Vote on policies, not feelings

Some observers have said that the vote likely will reflect dissatisfaction with the LDP or anxiety over the DPJ, rather than voters' active decision to continue with an administration formed of the LDP-Komeito coalition or move to one centered on the DPJ.
　有権者にとっては、自公政権か民主基軸政権かの積極的な選択というより、「自民党への不満か、民主党への不安か」の消極的な選択でしかない選挙だという指摘もある。

However, the results of the lower house election will have a direct bearing on this nation's future.
It cannot be correct to decide which party and politician to choose simply on the basis of one's discontent, anxiety or a fleeting emotion.
　しかし、衆院選の結果は、これからの日本の進路に直結する。不満であるとか、不安であるとかいった気分や、一時のムードで、決めていいはずがあるまい。

Policies must, first and foremost, be the key criteria for deciding who to vote for.
　有権者が投票の第一の判断基準とすべきは、やはり政策だ。

　◆政策を冷静に見極めよ◆
Each party conducted its campaign by first drawing up a platform covering the policies each would implement during the four-year House of Representatives term.
　各政党とも、衆院議員の任期である４年間に実施する政策を網羅した政権公約（マニフェスト）を掲げて選挙に臨んだ。

Policies on pensions, health care, child-rearing and education, which are of great interest to voters in this nation that is rapidly aging and has a very low birthrate, as well as funding for those policies, surfaced as major issues in the election campaign.
　中でも、少子高齢化が進む中で、有権者の関心が高い年金・医療、子育て・教育などの政策や、その財源の手当てが、主要な争点に浮上した。

The LDP stressed it would introduce drastic reforms of the taxation system, including an increase of the consumption tax rate, to provide stable financing for the social security system. The LDP did not clarify when it would raise the consumption tax, saying only that it would occur after the nation achieved 2 percent year-on-year economic growth.
　自民党は、社会保障の安定財源として、消費税率引き上げを含む税制抜本改革に取り組むと強調した。引き上げの時期は、年率２％の経済成長が達成されてからとしたが、明示は避けた。

The DPJ listed many schemes that would provide direct payment of benefits to households as a way of boosting spending, such as child-rearing allowances. It said it would fund the measures by cutting spending in other areas, for example suspending nonessential projects. The party said it would not raise the consumption tax rate before the next lower house election.
　民主党は、「子ども手当」など多くの直接給付型の家計支援策を掲げた。財源は、不要不急な事業の中止など徹底した歳出削減で捻出(ねんしゅつ)し、消費税率は次の衆院選まで据え置くとした。

===

Leadership important

Differences among the two key parties in the fields of diplomacy and national security are conspicuous, such as whether to press on with the Maritime Self-Defense Force's refueling mission in the Indian Ocean.
　インド洋における海上自衛隊の給油活動を継続するか否かなど、外交・安全保障政策でも各党の主張の違いは顕著だ。

It is important to calmly assess the persuasiveness of each party's policies. We hope voters will thoroughly examine each party's stance.
　どの主張に説得力があるか、冷静に見極めることが大事だ。有権者には、各党の政策を十分に吟味してもらいたい。

　◆党首力はどちらに軍配◆
Choosing between the party leaders is as important as choosing policies.
　政策の選択と同様に重要なのが、党首の選択である。

If the LDP and Komeito secure a majority in the lower house, Aso will hang on to the premiership. If the DPJ and other opposition parties take a majority of the seats, DPJ President Yukio Hatoyama will be appointed prime minister.
　自公両党が過半数を確保すれば麻生首相が続投する。民主党など野党が過半数を奪えば、「鳩山首相」が誕生するだろう。

Aso has criticized the DPJ's foreign and security policies as lax, stressing at the same time that only the LDP is able to govern responsibly.
　麻生首相は、民主党の外交・安保政策が曖昧(あいまい)であるなどと批判して、自民党こそ「責任力」ある政党だと主張した。

Hatoyama, however, has said that a bureaucrat-led political system would continue if an LDP-led regime continued, and has pointed to the importance of a shift to an administration led by the DPJ, which he said would be more people-focused.
鳩山代表は、自民党政権の下では官僚主導の政治が続くとして、「国民本位」の政権への交代を訴えた。

Unless the lower house is unexpectedly dissolved or the prime minister is replaced, this lower house election will select a leader who will guide this nation for the next four years. We hope that voters will consider the remarks Aso and Hatoyama have made during the election campaign.
　途中で衆院解散や首相交代がなければ、向こう４年間、この国の舵取りを担う指導者を選ぶ選挙である。両党首が選挙戦を通じて、どのような発言をしたかも思い起こしたい。

===

Will the young vote?

In the polling booth, voters have to write down on the ballot paper the name of the political party they wish to vote for in the proportional representation block and the name of their preferred candidate for the single-seat constituency. The qualifications of each candidate to be a lawmaker is an important element to consider when making this judgment.
　比例選は投票用紙に政党名を書き、小選挙区選では候補者名だ。各候補者の政治家としての資質も、大事な判断の要素だ。

If a candidate was an incumbent lower house lawmaker prior to the dissolution of the Diet, his or her past achievements and Diet performance can, of course, be used to make this decision. If a candidate is running for the first time, voters are recommended to carefully study the candidate's political views contained in public bulletins published during campaigning.
　解散まで現職議員だった候補者であれば、これまでの実績や国会での活動ぶりが、一つの手がかりとなろう。新人候補の場合も、選挙公報などから浮かび上がる政見に目を凝らしたい。

In a democracy, ultimate power rests with the people. We hope each voter will cast his or her vote responsibly, after comprehensively judging each party's policies, each party leader's competence and each candidate's insight.
　民主政治では国民が主権者だ。有権者は、各党の政策、党首の力量、各候補の識見を総合的に判断し、自らの１票を責任をもって投じてほしい。

　◆若者こそ選挙に関心を◆
The number of people who already have cast their ballot in early voting prior to Sunday's lower house election has dramatically increased. This indicates high interest in the election. A recent Yomiuri Shimbun survey showed that 79 percent of those polled said they definitely would vote.
　今回の選挙では、期日前投票をした人が飛躍的に増えた。選挙に対する有権者の関心の高さの表れだろう。読売新聞の全国世論調査でも、「必ず投票に行く」と答えた人は７９％に上った。

Among those in their 20s, however, the figure stood at just 56 percent. It is extremely regrettable if younger people feel that "politics won't change even if we vote" and have given up hope.
　だが、２０歳代に限ると、５６％にとどまる。若い世代が「投票しても政治は変わらない」などとあきらめているのだとしたら、きわめて残念だ。

Social security system reform and job-creation measures, which once again emerged as major points of contention in the election, are issues that no one can remain indifferent to.
　今回の選挙でも重要な論点となった社会保障制度改革や雇用対策などは、いずれも無関心ではいられない問題だ。

We hope young people will go to the polls and exercise their right to choose their future.
　若い人たちには、自分たちの将来を自ら選び取る気持ちで、投票所に足を向けてもらいたい。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 30, 2009)
（2009年8月30日01時15分 読売新聞）

journey around the world by yacht

毎日新聞　(2009/03/12)

ヨットで世界一周（はざまかんぺい氏）

Japanese actor, comedian Kampei Hazama celebrates his yacht's arrival in Long Beach, California, on Tuesday, as part of his around-the-world trip. Kampei is crossing the ocean as part of his 37,000-kilometer round-the-world journey that began in December in Osaka. Kampei is crossing the globe as the bid ambassador for Tokyo's 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

（日本語翻訳 by srachai )
ヨットで世界一周を目指しているコメディアンのはざまかんぺい氏がカリフォルニアのロングビーチに到着した（火曜日）。
１２月に大阪を出発し、３７０００kmにおよぶ世界一周旅行に挑戦している。
２０１６年東京オリンピックとパラリンピックの使節として、世界各地を寄航する。

ようこそいらしゃいませ

ようこそいらっしゃいませ。

スラチャイの運営するサイトの数もすでに１００サイト近くにふくらんでしまっています。お手数ですが、英字新聞、英字速報の購読は下記のリンクよりお願いいたします。

●本日翻訳したての新鮮な英字新聞、英字速報をどうぞ！
   (英字新聞→読売英字社説、英字速報→毎日英字速報）

srachai from khonkaen, thiland

金融崩壊危機連鎖

(Mainichi Japan) October 1, 2008
Financial collapse: Chain of crises that started in the U.S. (Part 1)
金融崩壊：米発・危機の連鎖／上　「悪夢」世界を巡る

　◇ワシントンの連中は市場を壊す気か
　◇一時取引停止市場も　米大統領声明、新提案なく

"I'm disappointed by the outcome, but I assure our citizens and citizens around the world that this is not the end of the legislative process," President George W. Bush stated on Tuesday. The vote the day before by the United States Congress to deny the financial rescue plan to put an end to the financial crisis has resulted in a record New York stock market plunge. The president made the statement requesting Congress to work on the legislation without delay.
　「（法案否決に）失望したが、これで法制化の道が断たれたわけではない。世界中の市民のために法案成立への作業を止めてはならない」。金融危機の収束を図る金融安定化法案を米下院が否決し、ニューヨーク株式市場が史上最大の下げ幅を記録した悪夢の月曜日から一夜明けた３０日午前８時４５分（日本時間同日午後９時４５分）。ブッシュ米大統領はホワイトハウスで声明を読み上げ、議会側に一刻も早い法案可決を求めた。

He stressed that "the consequences will worsen each day if we do not act. If our nation continues on this course, the economic damage will be painful and lasting." He also pleaded to Congress in a strong voice, "and for the financial security of every American, Congress must act."
　ブッシュ大統領は「議会が何もしないでいる間に、状況は日々悪化している。この法案が成立しなければ、それに伴う損失は長期の痛みを伴うものとなる」と危機感を強調。「すべての米国民のために議会は即刻行動しなければならない」と強い調子で下院の議員らに訴えかけた。

However, the less-than-four-minute statement had no new approach, and the market reaction was quite chilly. "At least the atmosphere of crisis got through," said an American economist. Congress has no prospects to reassume talks. Both presidential nominees Democrat Senator Barack Obama and Republican Senator John McCain urged Congress to reassume discussion on the bill, but lacked dynamics. The general view is uncertainty about the future has not been dissolved, and the chain of financial crises seems to be inexhaustible.
　しかし、わずか４分足らずの演説に新たな提案はなく、市場の受け止め方は「危機感だけは伝わってきた」（米エコノミスト）と冷ややかで、議会が協議を再開するめども立っていない。大統領候補のオバマ上院議員（民主党）とマケイン上院議員（共和党）も３０日、相次いで法案審議再開を促したが、議会を動かす決定力はない。「先行きの不透明感は解消されていない」との見方は強く、金融危機の連鎖は底なし沼の様相だ。

The New York stock market was hit with a shock wave on Monday afternoon. News that Congress voted down the legislation made the rounds, and it took less than 10 minutes to plunge the average 30 Dow industrial stocks down some 400 dollars. "Is Washington trying to destroy the market?" the market shrieked. The public thought why should it save well-paid people's financial institutions with their tax money? The taxpayer's discontent was reflected through the rejection by Congress.
　ニューヨーク株式市場に衝撃が走ったのは前日の２９日午後（日本時間３０日未明）だった。「下院が法案を否決した」とのニュースが伝わり、ダウ工業株３０種平均は１０分足らずで約４００ドルも下落。「ワシントンの（政治家）連中は市場を壊す気か」。市場から悲鳴にも似たどよめきが起こった。「高給取りの金融機関を巨額の税金で救うのか」。国民の間に広がっていた不満がそのまま下院の法案否決という形で表れた。

With the Nov. 4 presidential and congressional elections drawing near, world economics were not a part of most lawmakers' vocabulary. Congressman Dean Heller of Nevada huffed, "I cannot with good conscience put Nevada's taxpayers on the line for the foolish excesses of Wall Street."
　米大統領選と議会選が１１月４日に迫り、大半の議員は世界経済のことなど眼中にない。ヘラー下院議員（共和党、ネバダ州選出）は「ウォール街の連中が、行き過ぎたバカげた行為で作った問題に、ネバダの納税者を巻き込むのは良心が許さない」と息巻いた。

The plunge in the New York stock market rippled around the world. Brazil's Sao Paulo market had to be temporarily closed down because of the unforeseen substantial drop. President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva did not hide his anger, "It's not fair for healthy emergent nations and poor countries to pay for the casino built by the American economy." The Tokyo market also suffered a knock down on Tuesday. All Asian markets plunged too, except for the Shanghai market that was closed that day. The Russian market also went into a free fall, and had to be suspended.
　ニューヨーク株式市場の急落は世界に波及、ブラジルのサンパウロ市場も想定を超えた大幅安となり、一時取引停止に。ルラ大統領は「健全な新興国や貧困国はカジノのような米国の経済政策の代償を負うべきではない」と憤りをあらわにした。３０日の東京市場も全面安となり、株価ボードは下落を示す緑色に染まった。同日は休場だった上海市場を除き、アジア株も軒並み下落。ロシア株式市場も値下がりに歯止めがかからず、取引一時停止に追い込まれた。

In Europe, the London market bounced back, but British Prime Minister Gordon Brown maintained his vigilance and pledged that he would take all necessary steps to guarantee the stability of the British banking system. Although the Frankfurt market also made a kickback, the inferno of the European financial market is far from cooled down.
　欧州もロンドン市場は反発したが、ブラウン英首相は警戒を緩めず「英国の安定維持のため、中央銀行総裁や財務相と必要なすべての行動を取る」と表明。フランクフルト市場なども値を戻したものの、金融市場の動揺は収まったとはいえない。

Ireland announced on Tuesday a sweeping guarantee of all deposits in the country's banks in a bid to stabilize the Irish financial sector.
　アイルランド政府は３０日朝、国内の金融システム安定化を図るため今後２年間、国内銀行の預金を全額保護する異例の措置を発表した。

毎日新聞　2008年10月1日　東京朝刊

大阪個室ビデオ店火災

(Mainichi Japan) October 1, 2008
Fifteen killed, 10 injured in fire at Osaka video shop
個室ビデオ店火災：１５人死亡　放火で男客に逮捕状　大阪

OSAKA -- Fifteen people were killed and 10 others injured in a fire at a video shop here in the early hours of Wednesday, police said.

The fire broke out at Video DVD Cat's, on the first floor of a seven-story building in Naniwa-ku, Osaka, and burned 37 square meters of the establishment, according to investigators.

Fifteen men, believed to be customers, were found dead in individual video rooms. Ten other men and women were injured, some seriously.

The shop manager was quoted as telling police that the fire started in one of its 32 individual rooms, each equipped with a bed and a television set. At the time, there were 26 customers and three employees on the premises. Most of the customers were apparently asleep.

"Shortly after 2:30 a.m., I smelled something burning, and opened the door to find the corridor filled with smoke. It was dark, but I managed to get out of the shop after bumping into a few people," said one customer. "I was just about to go to bed. It's horrifying to imagine that I would have died if I had fallen asleep."

Local police are trying to identify the victims, and are investigating the cause of the blaze.


毎日新聞速報（日本語ｵﾘｼﾞﾅﾙ版）↓

個室ビデオ店火災：１５人死亡　放火で男客に逮捕状　大阪

　１日午前２時５５分ごろ、大阪市浪速区難波中３の雑居ビル「檜（ひのき）ビル」（鉄筋コンクリート造り７階建て）１階にある個室ビデオ店「ビデオＤＶＤキャッツなんば店」＝島本和典店長（３２）＝から煙が出ているのを店員が見つけ、１１９番通報した。大阪市消防局によると、同店約２２０平方メートルのうち約４０平方メートルが焼け、約５時間半後に鎮火した。この火事で同店の男性客１５人が死亡、男女１０人が重軽症で、うち３人が重症という。死因はほとんどが、一酸化炭素中毒とみられる。大阪府警捜査１課は、業務上過失致死傷などの疑いもあるとみて浪速署に捜査本部を設置。死亡者の身元確認を急ぐとともに、出火元の部屋にいた４０歳代の無職の男が火をつけた疑いが強まったとして現住建造物放火、殺人、殺人未遂容疑で逮捕状を取った。総務省消防庁も職員７人を現地に派遣した。

　同課や大阪市消防局によると、店内にはビデオを観賞する部屋が３２室あり、出火当時は客２６人と店員３人がいた。店長は「このうちの１室から出火した」と話しているという。

　出火元の部屋にいた男にけがはなかった。店内にいた客によると、店側の避難誘導はなかったという。

　店は２４時間営業で、１～２畳ほどの個室にはＤＶＤデッキや簡易ベッドなどがある。終電に遅れるなどしてホテル代わりに利用する客も多かった。出火当時は客の大半が眠っており、逃げ遅れて煙に巻かれたとみられる。死亡者のほとんどが部屋で見つかり、数人は通路で倒れていた。

　仮眠のために同店を利用していた兵庫県伊丹市の男性会社員（３７）は「午前２時半過ぎに何かが燃えるようなにおいがした。『何やこれ』という声がして、個室のドアを開けたら煙が充満していた。真っ暗で、廊下で２、３人にぶつかりながら外に出た。火は見なかったが、煙がすごく、店を出た直後に『ジリジリ』と火災報知機が鳴った。眠っていたら死んでいたのかと思うとぞっとする」と唇を震わせた。

　現場は南海難波駅南西約１００メートルの雑居ビルなどが建ち並ぶ地域。消防車など４０台が出て、一時は騒然となった。

　「キャッツ」運営会社のホームページによると、同社は大阪で４店、京都、神戸で各１店の計６店を展開。なんば店の利用料金は１時間５００円、午後１１時から午前１０時までのナイトコースは１５００円。

　大阪府警保安課によると、個室ビデオ店はアダルト作品を主に貸し出している場合は風営法の該当施設となる。警察庁の運用基準では、アダルト作品が７、８割以上を占める場合は店舗型性風俗特殊営業と判断され、管轄の警察署への届け出が必要。ただ、大阪府内で届け出のある店は３店（８月末現在）のみで、キャッツなんば店は届け出がなく、府警は実態を調べる。

　大阪市消防局が昨年５月、同店を立ち入り検査した際、報告漏れなどの不備はあったが、消防法上の重大な違反はなかったという。同局は１日、市内約５０カ所の個室ビデオ店、約３５０カ所のカラオケボックス店などの緊急立ち入り検査を始める。

毎日新聞　2008年10月1日　5時09分（最終更新　10月1日　14時06分）

首相国連演説

(Mainichi Japan) September 29, 2008
Prime Minister Aso needs to consider the weight of his words
社説：麻生外交　発言の重みを自覚すべきだ

Prime Minister Taro Aso delivered a speech to the United Nations General Assembly on Thursday. He is the first Japanese prime minister to address that body in three years.
　麻生太郎首相が２５日（日本時間２６日）、ニューヨークでの国連総会で演説した。日本の首相の国連総会出席は３年ぶりのことだ。

There is a reason that Prime Minister Aso chose the U.N. Headquarters as the venue for his first official act as prime minster. The leaders of U.N. member countries deliver speeches there annually around this time of year, but during the past two years, Japan's two previous prime ministers, Shinzo Abe and Yasuo Fukuda, stayed away because the timing conflicted with the launch of their own administrations.
　就任したばかりの麻生首相が初仕事の場として国連本部を選んだのにはわけがある。国連では毎年この時期に加盟各国の首脳クラスが一般討論演説を行うが、日本の首相は昨年も一昨年も出席を見合わせた。安倍、福田両政権の発足と時期が重なったためだ。

If Japan's prime minister had missed this opportunity to address the U.N. for three years in a row, even though Japan attaches great importance to that organization, it would have had repercussions for Japan's international stature. This thought probably occurred to Prime Minister Aso, so although it is unusual for a prime minister to address the U.N. before delivering his own policy speech to the Diet, his decision to give priority to the U.N. by working this trip into his schedule was a good one.
　「国連重視」を掲げながら３年続けての首相欠席となれば日本の国際信用にかかわる。麻生首相もそう思ったのだろう。国会での所信表明演説の前に国連で演説するのは異例だが、強行日程をおして国連総会を優先したことは是としたい。

The prime minister gave his speech an Aso color by stating that Japan is committed to growing its own economy in order to contribute to the stability of the global economy.
　演説で麻生首相は、世界経済の安定に向け日本は経済を成長させることによって貢献していきたいとの考えを表明した。麻生カラーを出した部分だ。

He explained that Japan has carried out refueling operations in the Indian Ocean in cooperation with the campaign against terrorism and as part of the effort to assist in the reconstruction of Afghanistan, and said that Japan will "continue to proactively participate in unison with the international community in the fight against terrorism."
　テロ対策への協力では、アフガニスタン復興支援の一環としてインド洋での給油活動を行ってきたことを説明し、「今後とも国際社会と一体となりテロとの闘いに積極参画していく」と述べた。

His speech could be interpreted as signaling his resolve to continue the refueling operations. Given that the House of Representatives is expected to be dissolved soon, and that the outcome of the general election is uncertain, there is a possibility that the refueling operations may not be sustained. But even if that were to be the case, the prime minister has made an international pledge to "proactively participate" in the war against terrorism. Japan will have to pursue a policy that takes sufficient account of the importance of this pledge.
　給油活動継続への決意を示したものと受け取れる。早期に予想される衆院解散・総選挙の結果次第で給油継続が不可能になる可能性があるが、そうなっても首相が表明したテロ対策への「積極参画」は国際公約として残る。その重要性を十分に認識して対応していく必要がある。

One thing should be said with regard to the weight that the prime minister's words carry. After his speech, Prime Minister Aso stated, in reference to the Constitution's prohibition against the exercise of the right of collective defense, that it "basically should be changed." He might have thought that he was simply voicing his personal views in response to a question from the press, but this is probably not a topic that should be handled so casually.
　首相発言の重みに関し、ひとこと言っておきたい。麻生首相は演説後、集団的自衛権の行使を禁じた憲法解釈について「基本的に変えるべきものだ」と述べた。記者団に質問されたから持論を述べただけ、と思っているのかもしれないが、それほど軽々しく扱うべき話ではないだろう。

A committee of wisemen inaugurated by former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe had issued a report on this topic that called for a change in the interpretation of the Constitution, but former Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda shelved the report. And even Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada has stated politicians "need to settle into their seats to talk over the issue." An issue that affects the foundation of Japan's national security policy needs to be debated in a calm environment.
　この問題では安倍晋三元首相が発足させた政府の有識者会議が憲法解釈の変更を求める報告書を出したが、福田康夫前首相が棚上げにした経緯がある。浜田靖一防衛相も「腰を落ち着けてゆっくり話した方がいい」と言っている。国の安全保障政策の根幹にかかわる問題は冷静な環境のもとで議論されるべきである。

In regard to Japan's diplomacy with its neighbors, Aso said that Japan would make an effort to strengthen its relations with its important partners China and South Korea. We hope that he treats Japan's relations with China and South Korea, which have gotten on track again, with great care and revives the summit diplomacy that involves alternating visits by the leaders of these countries.
　近隣外交について麻生首相は演説で、中国と韓国を重要なパートナーと位置づけ「関係強化に努める」と述べた。首脳往来が復活するなど軌道に乗り出した対中韓関係を大事にしてもらいたい。

Beijing in particular is alarmed by the "arc of freedom and prosperity" policy that Aso set forth while foreign minister, which it sees as a policy intended to contain China. Aso did not touch on this policy in his speech, but he asserted his belief in pursuing a "values diplomacy" that places a priority on building solidarity with countries that share the same basic values. He will need to provide a careful explanation of this point in order to avoid leaving the international community with a mistaken impression.
　首相が外相時代に新機軸として打ち出した「自由と繁栄の弧」構想には、特に中国が「対中包囲網だ」と警戒心を抱いている。演説ではこの構想には触れなかったが、基本的価値を共有する諸国との連帯を重視し、価値観外交を進める考えを表明した。この点については国際社会に誤解を与えないよう、ていねいな説明が必要になる。

毎日新聞　2008年9月27日　0時28分

原子力空母配備

(Mainichi Japan) September 27, 2008
Japan, U.S. must adopt impeccable safety measures for nuclear carrier deployment
社説：原子力空母配備　「安全」に日米政府は万全策を

The U.S. nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS George Washington has arrived at its new home port of Yokosuka in Kanagawa Prefecture, the first U.S. nuclear carrier to be deployed to a home port outside the U.S.
　米国の原子力空母ジョージ・ワシントン（ＧＷ）が２５日、神奈川県の米軍横須賀基地に配備された。原子力空母が米国外を母港とするのは初めてである。

The Navy published a 200-page comic book on the George Washington in April this year, aimed at assuaging the concerns of local residents. The comic book provides descriptions of the interior of the George Washington, its training regimen, and daily life on the aircraft carrier as it cruises from the U.S. to Yokosuka, and its hero is a Japanese-American sailor.
　在日米海軍はＧＷを紹介する２００ページの漫画を作成、地元で配布した。発行は今年４月。日系米国人の新兵を主人公にし、米国から横須賀に向かうＧＷ艦内や訓練の様子、日常生活を描いたもので、原子力空母の配備に対する地元住民の不安を和らげるのが目的のようだ。

In one scene, the hero helps to extinguish a fire on board. The ship did in fact experience a fire off the coast of South America as it was bound for Japan -- but while the comic-book version of the fire had no effect on the vessel's operations, the real George Washington suffered 37 injuries to crew and was forced to undergo repairs, delaying its arrival at Yokosuka for over a month. The cause of the comic-book fire was an overheating washer-dryer, but the cause of the actual fire was more insidious -- a discarded cigarette.
　漫画には、航行中のＧＷで火災が発生、主人公が消火に活躍する場面もある。
本物のＧＷは、日本に向けて南米沖を航行中の５月に実際に火災が発生し、３７人がけがをした。漫画では航行に影響はなかったが、本物は修理のため横須賀到着が予定より１カ月以上遅れる事態となった。原因も、漫画では洗濯乾燥機の過熱だったが、現実の火災はたばこの投げ捨てという悪質なものだった。

Since small problems and accidents on nuclear-powered vessels can potentially escalate into major crises involving local residents, it's only natural that the fire should have prompted the Japanese and U.S. governments to adopt a framework for preventing and responding to accidents.
　原子力艦船は、小さなトラブルや事故が周辺住民を巻き込む重大事態に発展する可能性がある。火災事故を踏まえ、日米両政府が事故防止と発生に備えた十分な体制をとるのは当然だ。

In laying the groundwork for the deployment of the George Washington, the U.S. presented a fact sheet to the Japanese government in 2006 regarding the safety of nuclear-powered vessels. This document states repeatedly that accident scenarios including leaks of radioactive material are improbable, and adheres to the position that accidents will not happen. It also stresses that past port calls in Japan have never triggered spikes in radiation levels in the environment.
　米国はＧＷ配備を控え、０６年に原子力軍艦の安全性に関する「ファクトシート」を日本政府に提示した。この文書は放射性物質の放出などの「事故が起こるシナリオは極めて非現実的」などと繰り返し、事故は起きないという立場に貫かれている。日本への過去の寄港で、環境中の「放射能の増加をまったく引き起こしていない」とも強調している。

But such statements are viewed with a strong dose of skepticism. In May 1968, when the nuclear submarine USS Swordfish called at the port of Sasebo in Nagasaki, a Japanese radiation monitoring boat detected radiation near the submarine 10 to 20 times above normal levels; and after the nuclear submarine USS Honolulu departed from Yokosuka Naval Base in September 2006, cobalt-58 and cobalt-60 were detected in the seas nearby.
　しかし、これを疑問視する声は強い。６８年５月、原潜ソードフィッシュが長崎・佐世保港に入港時、日本の放射能監視艇が原潜周辺で通常の１０～２０倍の放射能を測定した。０６年９月には、原潜ホノルルが横須賀基地を出港後、周辺海域でコバルト５８とコバルト６０が検出された。

In both cases, the U.S. denied that the radiation had any connection to the nuclear submarines, and efforts to get at the truth have been sidetracked. Last month, it was learned that the nuclear submarine USS Houston had also leaked radioactive coolant water when it was docked off White Beach in Okinawa, and when it visited Sasebo Port between June 2006 and July 2008.
いずれも、米国側は原潜との関係を否定し、真相の究明はうやむやになっている。先月には、沖縄・ホワイトビーチ沖に停泊し、佐世保港に寄港した原潜ヒューストンで、０６年６月から今年７月にかけて放射性物質を含む冷却水が漏れていたことも判明した。

The Japanese response has been muffled by the U.S. military's wall of secrecy. When a nuclear submarine visited Japan for the first time in 1964, the U.S. government issued a statement declaring that it "would not provide technological information," and not allow "boarding of the submarine for the purpose of acquiring technological information." Japan's Foreign Ministry had no alternative but to rely on U.S. statements when providing information on leaks from the Houston.
　日本側の対応を制約しているのが、米軍の軍事機密の壁である。原潜が初めて日本に寄港した６４年、米政府は声明で「技術上の情報を提供しない」し、「技術情報入手の目的で乗船するのを許可しない」と宣言している。ヒューストンの放射能漏れに関する情報も、外務省は米側の連絡をそのまま発表する以外に手だてはなかった。

But in the event of an accident, or if there is suspicion that an accident has occurred, it would be inadequate to simply rely on notices from the U.S. military. The Japanese government should discuss sufficient responses with the U.S. government including boarding of the vessels. Otherwise, the concerns of local residents cannot be sufficiently addressed.
　事故が発生したり、その疑いがある場合には、米軍からの通報だけに頼るのでは不十分である。日本政府は、「立ち入り」を含めた十分な対応を米政府と取り決めるべきだ。そうでなければ、住民の不安に応えることはできない。

毎日新聞　2008年9月26日　0時06分

中山国交相辞任か？

中山国交相の失言に関する報道はめずらしく各社で足並みが揃っていない。
最初は２７日の朝日社説、それから２８日の日経社説と毎日英語版で記事をみかけた。
最初にこの朝日社説の日本語版を読むと、その下の毎日英語版の記事が理解しやすいと思います。（スラチャイ）

朝日社説：

中山国交相―首相の門出にこの放言　晴れの大臣就任で、つい口が滑らかになりすぎたのか。中山成彬国土交通相が、就任２日目の報道機関のインタビューで驚くべき発言を連発した。

　成田空港の整備の遅れにどう対応するかを問われ、中山氏はこう答えた。

　「ごね得というか戦後教育が悪かったと思うが、公のためにはある程度自分を犠牲にしてでもというのがなくて、自分さえよければという風潮のなかで空港拡張もできなかった」

　整備が遅れた理由に住民らの反対運動があるのはその通りだ。だが、その背景に、住民らに十分な説明をしないまま機動隊を使って強制的に土地収用を繰り返した政府の重い失政があったことを、いまは政府も認めている。

　そんな政界の常識さえ身につけていないことにあきれる。しかも中山氏は空港行政の最高責任者だ。

　大分県教委の汚職事件については、こう言い放った。「日教組の子供は成績悪くても先生になる。だから大分県の学力は低いんだよ。私がなぜ全国学力テストを提唱したかといえば、日教組の強いところは学力低いんじゃないかと思ったから。現にそうだよ」

　中山氏は文部科学相当時、全国学力調査を導入する旗を振った。その目的を「競い合う心を育てるため」などと説明してきたが、どうやらそれはごまかしだったようだ。

　それにしても、毎年ざっと６０億円もの費用がかかる全国学力調査を日教組憎しで導入したというのだから、自民党政権というのは豪儀なものである。

　外国人旅行者をどう増やすかの質問に関連しては、こんな発言もあった。「日本はずいぶん内向きな、単一民族といいますか……」

　わずか３カ月前、アイヌ民族を日本の先住民族として認めるべきだという歴史的な国会決議が全会一致で採択された。国会の総意として、先住民族の名誉と尊厳を守っていこうと誓ったのだが、中山氏は反対だったのか。

　中山氏はこれらの発言を「誤解を招いた」と撤回した。だが、どれも閣僚としてという前に、国会議員としての資質を疑わせる発言である。

　中山氏は文科相時代にも「歴史教科書から従軍慰安婦や強制連行という言葉が減ってきたのは本当によかった」「そもそも従軍慰安婦という言葉はなかった」などの発言を連発した。

　そんな中山氏を閣僚に任命した麻生首相自身、数々の失言で物議をかもした過去を持つ。総裁選の際「いつも寸止めで踏みとどまってきた」と冗談交じりに語ったが、寸止めならいいということではあるまい。

　堂本暁子千葉県知事をはじめ、きのうの国交省は抗議ラッシュの様相だった。内閣支持率は４８％。首相が国連で外交デビューを飾ったその日にこの体たらくでは、先が思いやられる。

毎日英語版：

(Mainichi Japan) September 28, 2008

Nakayama's foot-in-mouth antics already casting doubt on Aso's Cabinet
Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Minister Nariaki Nakayama remarked that some residents near Narita Airport refused to sell their land for the airport construction because they thought there would be more gain by holding out. He later retracted and apologized for his remarks, but it's not enough to settle the controversy he sparked.

His misconceptions and lack of proper understanding of the role of the ministry he supervises has raised questions as to whether he is qualified to serve as a Cabinet minister, and over the insight of Prime Minister Taro Aso, who appointed him.

Regarding Narita Airport, Nakayama remarked: "When I came home in 1978, I landed at the airport. Since then, there had been only one lane (runway) for many years, and it's a pity for Japan. Many held out, expecting more gain. I think it's one of the problems of post-war education. They lack public-mindedness. They have no desire to make a certain self-sacrifice for the benefit of the public, and think only of their own benefit, making it hard to expand the airport. It's a real shame."

Local residents opposing the Narita Airport construction project, which began in 1960s, were in bitter conflict with the national government from the start. Through negotiations with local residents at round-table talks and other places, the government admitted in 1995 that it was at fault for attempting to force the project through, and offered an apology.

In the apology, the government admitted its responsibility for the problem, and local residents have no reason to be criticized for holding out for more.

He failed to probe relations between the lack of public-mindedness and problems involving post-war education, and the dispute over the airport, and apparently made the remarks based on his groundless impressions -- and which could damage the mutual trust that local residents and the ministry have nurtured for many years through their efforts.

Nakayama then trained his sights on the Japan Teachers Union (JTU), and said: "The children of JTU members can become teachers even if their grades (in recruitment exams) are poor. Therefore, academic ability in Oita Prefecture is low," in an apparent reference to a bribery scandal involving recruitment of public school teachers in the prefecture.

"I proposed a nationwide academic aptitude test because I thought academic levels in areas where the JTU hold sway are low. Now I know it's true, so there's no longer any point in conducting such tests," he continued.

Nakayama proposed the test during his tenure as education, culture, sports, science and technology minister in the Cabinet of Junichiro Koizumi. Such an examination should be aimed at improving the academic levels of schoolchildren as a whole. However, he wanted to use it to prove a correlation between the JTU and low academic levels; which he failed to do. Claiming that "there is no longer any point in conducting such tests" -- as the minister who introduced the scheme, costing the government billions of yen a year -- is incredibly imprudent and irresponsible.

Regarding tourism policy, his remark that Japan is an ethnically homogeneous country has also been criticized for being a misconception.

This is not the first time that Nakayama's remarks have stirred controversy. One cannot help but wonder whether, Prime Minister Aso thought carefully about the selection of his Cabinet members and whether he really placed the right people in the right posts, as he said when he announced his Cabinet lineup.

This latest string of gaffes has raised doubts among a disappointed public. The government is faced with many outstanding issues, and Cabinet members are required to do their best to fulfill their duties, regardless of whether a general election will be called in the near future.

With the revolving-door nature of the top ministry posts in recent years, the Cabinet's trustworthiness as the top body of the executive branch of the government has been called into question.

The prime minister should instruct Cabinet ministers to properly understand policy issues they are supposed to tackle, and take a resolute action against any problem like the recent gaffe.

吉田茂

(Mainichi Japan) September 25, 2008
Which politician will be the next cartoon hero?
余録：風刺漫画の主人公

Former Prime Minister Shigeru Yoshida was looking for the house of an acquaintance while visiting Kamakura when a child playing baseball on a vacant lot saw him, and shouted, "The prime minister's here!"
吉田茂元首相が鎌倉の知人を訪ね、家を探していると、空き地で野球をしていた子供が見つけて叫んだ。「総理大臣がいるよ！」。

One of his playmates, not taking him seriously, shouted back, "Why would the prime minister come here?" But the child who had seen Yoshida said, "But he looks just like the cartoon character." Yoshida himself was fond of retelling this story.
仲間がバカにしたように「こんなとこに総理大臣がいるもんか」と言うと、見つけた子は「けど、漫画にそっくりだよ」吉田本人が好んで語っていた話という。

Indeed, Yoshida was caricatured in countless cartoons, and when he retired, one cartoonist came out with a cartoon in which cartoonists express their gratitude to the prime minister.
実際、風刺漫画に数限りなく描かれ、引退時には漫画家がこぞって元首相に感謝している漫画まで描かれたという人だ。

His grandson, Liberal Democratic Party President and Prime Minister Taro Aso, who is himself a cartoon fan, has finally acquired the throne that allows him to become the hero of a political cartoon. In a crowded field of five, Aso won two-thirds of the votes cast in the LDP presidential election, and cruised to a landslide victory.
その孫で、自身が漫画ファンという麻生太郎自民党新総裁も、ようやく念願の風刺漫画の主人公の座を手中に収めた
５人の候補乱立となった自民党総裁選で、投票総数の３分の２を集めて圧勝した麻生新総裁だった。

Aso takes the helm of a party that has been peering over the precipice because its two previous leaders abandoned the reins of government. But the new prime minister's plans for opposing Democratic Party of Japan leader Ichiro Ozawa, who on the previous day had unveiled his own platform, are falling into place. Without a doubt, the LDP is reading from a playbook that calls for the selection of a new party president to jumpstart the party's sagging approval ratings, and the pumping up of the new leader's popularity as he heads into the general election.
２代続けてトップが政権を投げ出したガケっぷちの党を率い、前日に政権構想を発表した民主党・小沢一郎代表と対決する構図が固まった
もともと新総裁選びで党の支持率低下をリセットし、新リーダーの人気をもり立てて総選挙に臨むのが自民党のシナリオに違いない。

But in the interim, the U.S. financial crisis and the tainted rice scandal have snowballed. Holding the party presidential election in the midst of these events left people with the impression that Japanese politics was incapable of mustering a response.
だがこの間の米金融危機、汚染米問題の拡大である。そのさなかの総裁選は状況に対応できない日本政治を象徴するかのように国民の目に映った

Shigeru Yoshida hated election campaigns. When his campaign strategists urged him to deliver speeches on the street, he refused, saying, "How can I speak on affairs of state where there is constant horse and car traffic!" But today, the LDP's popularity depends on the constant traffic of new party presidents. It just so happens that Ozawa's father, Saeki Ozawa, a masterful politician, was a close associate of Yoshida's. So of these two party leaders with a connection to Yoshida, who will survive to become the hero of a political cartoon? ("Yoroku," a front page column in the Mainichi Shimbun)
選挙運動嫌いだった吉田茂は、選挙参謀が街頭演説を求めると「車馬絡繹（らくえき）で国事が語れるか」と言って応じなかった。「絡繹」とは人馬の往来が絶えないさまを示した古い言葉だが、今や自民党には新総裁の絡繹での人気が頼りのようである
ちなみに小沢代表の父親、小沢佐重喜（さえき）も吉田茂の側近としてらつ腕を振るった政治家だった。ではこの吉田ゆかりの与野党リーダー２人、どちらが風刺漫画の主人公として生き残るだろう。