(Aug. 31, 2008) The Yomiuri Shimbun Use natl test questions in regular classes 全国学力テスト 集積データを授業に生かせ（8月31日付・読売社説）
Now that the Education, Science and Technology Ministry has announced the results of this year's nationwide academic achievement examination for primary school sixth-graders and middle school third-graders, test results for two consecutive years are finally available. The exam was resurrected last year after a 43-year hiatus. It tests basic knowledge in Japanese language, arithmetic and mathematics, as well as the ability to apply such knowledge. ようやく２年分のデータがそろった。昨年、復活した文部科学省の全国学力テストの今年分の結果が公表された。
We hope the ministry, prefectural and municipal boards of education and schools will compare and carefully analyze the data to help them formulate education policies and improve the pedagogic content of related subjects. 集まったデータをよく比較・分析し、文科省や各教育委員会の施策、学校の授業の改善に役立ててもらいたい。
Compared with last year, all the average percentages for the number of correct answers decreased both for primary and middle school students in both basic knowledge and applied skills questions in all subjects. 今年は昨年に比べ、小学６年生、中学３年生ともに、国語と算数・数学の知識を問う問題、知識を活用する能力を問う問題の両方で、すべて平均正答率が下がった。
The ministry said this was because test questions this year were more difficult than last year. 文科省では「昨年より問題が難しかったため」としている。
Test results cannot be easily compared if the degree of difficulty greatly differs. 難易度が大きく異なっては、結果が比較しづらくなる。
Also, many pupils and students reportedly complained that they did not have enough time to answer the questions. 「時間が足りなかった」という児童生徒も多い。
These are points that the ministry must improve in future tests. 今後の検討課題だろう。
===
Gaps do exist
The ministry said there were no major variations in the test results for either primary or middle schools according to prefecture. 文科省は、小中学校とも「都道府県で大きなばらつきはない」としている。
But a close look at the results shows that average scores achieved by top-ranking Fukui Prefecture middle school students in the basic and applied mathematics tests were about 20 points higher than those recorded by their peers in bottom-ranking Okinawa Prefecture. A similar situation obtains between Akita Prefecture, top in primary school basic and applied Japanese, and Okinawa, the lowliest placed prefecture in that subject. だが、個別にみると、「知識」「活用」の双方で、中学校・数学トップの福井、小学校・国語トップの秋田と、いずれも最下位の沖縄では、正答率に２０ポイント前後の差がある。
The top- and bottom-ranking prefectures this year are almost the same as those in last year's achievement exam. 上位と下位の顔ぶれは、昨年とほぼ同じだ。
What factors give the top-ranking prefectures' students the edge over those in other prefectures? 上位の県は何が優れているのか。
The government should carry out in-depth surveys of schools in prefectures that chalk up good test results by, for instance, sending officials to study their methods and announcing the results of their surveys with the aim of improving the academic achievement level of the nation as a whole. 学校への実地調査など掘り下げた分析を行い、その結果を公表して全体の学力向上につなげるべきではないか。
What we are concerned about is that only slightly under 50 percent of primary schools and slightly under 40 percent of middle schools are using questions from last year's test in regular classes. 気になるのは、昨年のテストを授業で使っているのが、小学校で５割弱、中学校では４割弱しかないことだ。
Good test questions will be wasted if they are not actually utilized during classroom hours. The ministry should promote the use of the test questions in everyday classes. どんな良問でも、授業に生かされなくては効果が薄れる。もっと利用を促すべきだ。
===
Lifestyle, study habits important
Examining the results of this year's and last year's tests, there are correlations between the students' academic achievement and their lifestyle and study habits at home. 昨年と今年の結果を見ると、学力と家庭での生活・学習習慣には相関関係がある。
Children who indicated in a questionnaire they completed on the day of the test that they lead organized lives, doing such things as "eating breakfast every day" and "checking things to bring to school the previous day or in the morning before school" got good scores in the test. 「朝食を毎日食べる」「学校に持って行くものを前日か当日朝に確かめる」など、規則正しい生活を送る子どもは正答率が高い。
Schools whose students do well academically have some things in common. 学力の高い学校にも、一定の共通点がある。
They train children to acquire reading and writing habits using a variety of measures, for example. 例えば、物を書いたり様々な文章を読んだりする習慣をつける授業をしている。
In addition, they announce their education activities on their school Web sites or set days when local residents may freely observe classes, in an effort to win the understanding and cooperation of their local communities. また、地域に理解と協力を求めるため、教育活動をホームページで公表したり、住民が自由に授業参観できる日を設けたりしている学校だ。
Meanwhile, Tottori Prefecture's information disclosure council became the focus of national attention in July, when it released a report suggesting that academic results for each city, town, village and school in the prefecture should be disclosed. 一方、市町村別・学校別のテスト結果については、鳥取県の情報公開審議会が７月に開示すべきだとの答申を出し、注目された。
However, the prefecture's board of education decided against disclosing such detailed data as those who are involved in the prefecture's education and some students' parents were opposed to the idea, saying such transparency would create a hierarchy of schools and invite excessive competition. しかし、「学校の序列化や過度の競争を招く」などとして、教育関係者や保護者から反対が出たため、県教委は公表を見送った。
It is, of course, quite right that we should avoid creating an academic hierarchy among schools and excessive competition. 序列化や行き過ぎた競争は無論、避けねばならない。
However, an appropriate level of competition among schools would be something to be welcomed. だが、適度な競争はあっていい。
There may be room for the ministry to reexamine the way it announces the test results. 公表のあり方は再検討の余地があろう。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 31, 2008) （2008年8月31日01時38分 読売新聞）
(Aug. 29, 2008) The Yomiuri Shimbun Japan needs to keep up efforts on Afghan stability ＮＧＯ職員殺害 アフガン安定へ協力を続けよ（8月29日付・読売社説）
The worsening security situation in Afghanistan since last year has at last claimed a Japanese victim. 昨年以来、深刻な治安悪化が続くアフガニスタンで、ついに日本人の犠牲者が出てしまった。
The kidnapping of aid worker Kazuya Ito near Jalalabad in eastern Afghanistan ended in tragedy when his body was found Wednesday. アフガン東部ジャララバード近郊で誘拐された民間活動団体（ＮＧＯ）「ペシャワール会」職員、伊藤和也さんが、遺体で発見された。事件は最悪の結末を迎えた。
Ito worked for the nongovernmental organization Peshawar-kai and had been engaged in agricultural training activities, such as cultivation of rice and vegetables, in Afghanistan for five years. With high aspirations, he toiled hard and integrated himself into the local community, building strong relationships of trust with residents. He must have been extremely saddened by how it all ended. 伊藤さんは５年前から、米や野菜の栽培など、農業指導に取り組んでいた。高い志を抱き、異国の地で汗を流す中、現地住民にも溶け込み、強い信頼関係を築いていた。極めて無念だったろう。
===
A sign of Afghanistan's plight (アフガンの状態を如実に示すもの)
The Taliban, which once controlled Afghanistan, have admitted to involvement in the incident. Not only foreign troops stationed in Afghanistan fighting armed insurgents, but also civilians of goodwill who work hard to give humanitarian aid, have been targeted by terrorists. The incident is symbolic of the severity of the current situation in Afghanistan. アフガンの旧支配勢力タリバンが事件への関与を認めている。武装勢力を掃討する駐留外国軍兵ばかりでなく、人道支援に尽力する善意の民間人までが、テロの標的となる。現在のアフガン情勢の厳しさを象徴するものだ。
Out of concerns over the worsening security situation, the Peshawar-kai began to let about 20 Japanese staff members working in Afghanistan and Pakistan return home in stages starting from late last year. But about half of them continued to stay for such reasons as wrapping up their aid activities. ペシャワール会は昨年末から、治安悪化を踏まえて、日本人スタッフ約２０人を順次、帰国させている最中だった。だが、支援活動に区切りをつけるなどの事情から、約半数は滞在を続けていた。
The Foreign Ministry since July last year has been issuing advisory warnings for Japanese nationals in all parts of Afghanistan to leave the country. But about 140 Japanese, including Japan International Cooperation Agency employees and NGO members, are still in Afghanistan. 外務省は昨年７月以降、アフガン全土に退避勧告を出しているが、同国内には、国際協力機構（ＪＩＣＡ）、ＮＧＯ関係者ら１４０人以上がとどまっている。
There are limits to how well unarmed civilians can protect themselves. Given the current situation in Afghanistan, where a spate of suicide attacks by terrorists and the kidnapping of foreigners have taken place, now probably is the time for the workers to think first about their safety and seriously consider returning home or temporarily leaving Afghanistan. 丸腰の民間人の自衛には限界がある。自爆テロや外国人の誘拐が続くアフガンの現状を踏まえれば、安全を優先して一時出国や帰国を検討する時ではないか。
===
A commitment to the world （国際社会の一員として）
Japan, however, needs to continue to play a part in actions with the international community on restoring peace and stability in Afghanistan. 一方で、日本としては、アフガンの平和と安定を回復する国際社会の共同行動の一翼を担う態勢を堅持する必要がある。
Japan has extended 1.45 billion dollars in aid for Afghan reconstruction, and the Maritime Self-Defense Force has been engaged in refueling activities in the Indian Ocean. Economic assistance and humanitarian contributions are like two wheels of one cart; both are indispensable. 日本は従来、１４・５億ドルのアフガン復興支援と、海上自衛隊によるインド洋での給油活動を実施してきた。経済支援と人的貢献は、いわば「車の両輪」であり、どちらも欠かすべきではない。
In reconstruction aid, Japan has focused on not only improvement work for roads and airports but also efforts to improve the security situation through such actions as the disarmament of former soldiers and military cliques. The refueling activities are aimed at supporting multinational naval forces that monitor the movement of terrorists and the trafficking of arms and drugs. 復興支援では、道路、空港の整備のほか、元兵士や軍閥の武装解除など治安改善にも力を注いできた。給油活動は、テロリストの移動や武器・麻薬の輸送を監視する多国籍海軍を支援するものだ。
Troops from 40 nations are now engaged in security enforcement and regional reconstruction activities in Afghanistan, pushing on despite suffering more than 900 casualties. Compared to this, the refueling activities involve extremely low risk. If Japan stops even these activities, the nation's reputation in the eyes of the world will plunge to unprecedented lows. アフガンでは、４０か国の部隊が９００人超の犠牲者に耐えつつ、治安維持や地域復興活動に従事している。それと比べれば、極めて危険が少ない給油活動さえもやめるようでは、日本に対する国際社会の評価は地におちるだろう。
Japan should never be indifferent about the international campaign to help Afghanistan stabilize and eliminate terrorist activities. It is essential for the nation to pass a bill to revise the new Antiterrorism Law to allow the extension of refueling activities in the extraordinary Diet session to be convened next month. アフガンを安定させ、テロを撲滅する戦いは、日本にとって決して人ごとではない。来月召集の臨時国会で、給油活動延長のための新テロ対策特別措置法改正案を成立させることは必須の課題だ。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 29, 2008) （2008年8月29日01時49分 読売新聞）
(Aug. 28, 2008) The Yomiuri Shimbun Don't be deceived by N. Korea's tactics 核無能力化中断 北朝鮮の駆け引きに乗るな（8月28日付・読売社説）
North Korea's tactic of trying to intimidate opponents and win concessions from them by creating a crisis is nothing new. 相手を恫喝し、危機的状況を作り出すことによって、譲歩を引き出そうとする常套戦術だ。
Pyongyang has suspended its disablement of its nuclear facilities in response to the United States' postponement of removing North Korea from a list of states sponsoring terrorism. 北朝鮮が、テロ支援国指定解除を先送りした米国に反発して、核施設の「無能力化」作業を中断する対抗手段に出た。
North Korea's action is irresponsible and once again turns back the process of the six-party talks over the abandonment of its nuclear programs. North Korea should unconditionally resume its disablement work. 北朝鮮の核廃棄に向けた６か国協議のプロセスを再び逆戻りさせる無責任な行動である。北朝鮮は無条件で作業を再開すべきだ。
The deadline for the disablement, which includes the removal of spent nuclear fuel rods from a halted nuclear reactor and is aimed at making North Korea's nuclear facilities at least temporarily unusable, was initially set for the end of last year. Pyongyang failed to meet this and the deadline was extended until the end of October. 停止した原子炉から使用済み核燃料棒を抜き取るなど、核施設を当分使用不能にする「無能力化」作業の期限は、本来、昨年末だった。約束は守られず、今年１０月末に延期されている。
===
U.S. should stand firm （米国はもっと強く要求すべし）
If North Korea continues to sit on its hands regarding disablement work, the deadline might be further put off. But Pyongyang has gone a step further, saying it would consider restoring its nuclear facilities in Yongbyon to their original states. 北朝鮮がこのまま作業中断を続ければ、期限はさらに延びることになりかねない。核施設の「原状復旧」を検討する、と第二の対抗措置をとる構えも見せている。
These moves apparently are aimed at shaking up the administration of U.S. President George W. Bush, whose term ends in less than five months, and pressing it hard for concessions. 任期満了まであと５か月を切ったブッシュ米政権を揺さぶり、譲歩を迫る狙いがあるのだろう。
The Bush administration must not make easy concessions in the hope of accomplishing something before Bush's term is up. The United States should be firm in negotiating with North Korea and urge it to accept strict verification procedures. ブッシュ政権は、実績作りを急ぐ余り、安易な妥協をしてはならない。厳密な検証手続きを受け入れるよう、毅然として北朝鮮と交渉すべきだ。
The United States has repeatedly said that North Korea's agreeing to verification procedures, which are for checking Pyongyang's declarations on its nuclear program, is essential for being delisted as a state sponsor of terrorism. 米国は、核計画申告書を提出した北朝鮮に、その内容を確かめる検証手続きに合意するのがテロ支援国指定解除の発効条件だ、と再三強調している。
This is a justified demand. 当然の要求だ。
The United States presented a draft on verification procedures at the six-party talks in July. If North Korea wants to be delisted as a state sponsor of terrorism, it must first hold talks based on the draft and agree to it. 米国は７月の６か国協議で検証草案を示している。北朝鮮が指定解除を望むのであれば、草案をもとに協議し、合意することが先決である。
===
Verification is paramount （まず核の検証作業を）
In a statement issued Tuesday, North Korea claimed that an agreement on verification procedures is not a condition for being delisted from the terrorism sponsor list. It also accused the United States of trying to apply an "international standard" to the verification process. だが、北朝鮮は２６日の声明で、検証合意は指定解除の条件ではない、と強弁した。さらに、「国際的基準」の検証適用を求めたとして、米国を非難している。
These arguments are self-centered as they appear to regard the verifying of the declaration itself as wrong. Verification work without permission to collect samples and measure them cannot be considered verification. まるで申告の中身を検証することが間違っているかのような身勝手な言い分ではないか。「サンプルの採取や測定」を認めないような検証は成り立たない。
The verification process should at the very least confirm the amount of plutonium North Korea possesses as material for nuclear weapons. If that point remains unclear, it would be tantamount to allowing North Korea to hide its nuclear arms. 申告の検証では、少なくとも北朝鮮が核兵器の材料に使用しているプルトニウムの保有量を確認しなければならない。そこをあいまいにすれば、北朝鮮に核の隠匿を許すことになる。
Unless the verification system is strictly adhered to, North Korea's suspected uranium enrichment program and nuclear proliferation will continue to be covered up. 堅固な検証体制でなければ、ウラン濃縮計画や核拡散の解明も進められない。
It is imperative that the five other nations in the six-party talks--Japan, China, Russia, South Korea and the United States--are united in pressing North Korea hard into accepting the verification procedures as soon as possible. 日米韓中露の５か国は、連携して、検証手続きの早期受け入れを迫ることが肝要だ。
Japan also needs to carefully assess the impact this latest move could have on the abduction issue, which North Korea has pledged to reinvestigate. 日本はまた、北朝鮮が再調査を約束した拉致問題にどんな影響が出てくるのかを、慎重に見極める必要がある。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 28, 2008) （2008年8月28日01時52分 読売新聞）
(Mainichi Japan) August 27, 2008 Kirin unveils 'Strong Seven' beer with higher alcohol content キリン：アルコール度７％、第３のビール発売へ
Kirin Breweries on Tuesday unveiled a new type of beer with 7 percent alcohol content -- higher than most beers -- in a bid to gain a bigger share of the market. The company announced that it will begin selling its "Strong Seven" third-category beer on Oct. 22. Over the past few years demand has been increasing for light-tasting beer with low alcohol content, but Kirin decided to develop a new genre targeting male beer drinkers aged from their 30s to 50s. The price of the new beverage will be set around 141 yen for a 350ml can, and 197 yen for a 500ml can. The regular alcohol content for beer is 5 percent, but over the past few years, beer manufacturers have been selling third-category beer and low-malt beer with an alcohol content of 3 to 4 percent to attract young people and women as customers. However, this year Kirin and Suntory had hits with high alcohol-content shochu liquor-based drinks, and Kirin decided to boost its share with low-priced, high-alcohol third-category beer.
Words and Phreases: unveiled a new type of beer with 7 percent alcohol content＝アルコール度数７％の新しいタイプのビールを発表した in a bid to＝～するために demand has been increasing for light-tasting beer with low alcohol content＝低いアルコール度数の軽いタイプのビールの需要が高まっていた new genre＝新しいジャンル、種類 targeting male beer drinkers aged from their 30s to 50s＝30～５０代の男性ビール愛好家をターゲットとして beverage＝飲み物 The regular alcohol content for beer is 5 percent＝ふつうのビールのアルコール度数は５度である。 third-category beer＝第三のビール low-malt beer with an alcohol content of 3 to 4 percent=アルコール度数3～４パーセントの低いアルコール度数の低モルトビール to attract young people and women as customers＝若者や女性をターゲットとして hits with high alcohol-content shochu liquor-based drinks＝アルコール度の高いチューハイが好調である boost＝売上を伸ばす
(Aug. 26, 2008) The Yomiuri Shimbun Expanding rice demand key to sustaining industry 新規需要米 増産で農業の基盤を守れ（8月26日付・読売社説）
New sources of demand for rice are attracting attention as the key to the thorny problem of how to lower the production of rice used as a staple food while at the same time raising the nation's food self-sufficiency rate. 主食用米の生産は減らし、食料自給率は引き上げるという難題を解くカギとして「新規需要米」が注目されている。
Demand is sharply rising for different varieties of rice that can be used for livestock feed or as rice flour for making bread or noodles in place of regular flour made from wheat. 急激に需要が伸びている家畜の飼料や、小麦粉代わりにパンやめんに使う米粉用のコメのことだ。
The production of rice for livestock feed or rice flour still only constitutes less than 1 percent of the output of rice as a staple food. But the Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry intends to take advantage of rice produced for livestock feed or rice flour to help it raise the nation's food self-sufficiency rate from its current level of 40 percent to 50 percent. 生産量はまだ主食用米の１％にも満たないが、農林水産省は自給率を今の４０％から５０％に引き上げる一助にしたいという。
From fiscal 2009, the ministry will subsidize farmers who stop growing rice for consumption as a staple and instead switch to producing rice for other purposes, and also those farmers who grow rice for these purposes on idle farmland. The system of subsidies will make it possible to limit the surplus production of rice as a staple while at the same time ensuring that a sufficient number of people continue to farm rice. It could also be an effective way of maintaining the existence of paddy fields. 来年度からは、主食用米から新規需要米に転作したり、休耕田に作付けたりした農家に助成金を出す。余っている主食用米の生産を抑えつつ、米作の担い手を確保できる。水田を残すためには有効な手段といえるだろう。
Due to soaring grain prices, the price gap between imported wheat or corn, and rice for livestock feed or rice flour is narrowing. Therefore, if rice for these other purposes can be produced in sufficiently large quantities, it might be possible to decrease the level of grain imports. The government should come up with bold support measures. 穀物価格の高騰で輸入小麦やトウモロコシと新規需要米の価格差は縮小しており、量産につながれば、穀物輸入も減らせる。思い切った支援策を打ち出すべきだ。
===
Encourage 'rice returnees' （米食奨励）
As the price of wheat continues to rise, the number of people "returning" to rice consumption is on the increase. As a result, rice consumption per person in Japan rose to 61.4 kilograms in fiscal 2007, 0.4 kilograms more than the previous year. This increase in rice consumption per person was the first in 45 years if we exclude past cases in which per capita rice consumption rose temporarily in years following a dip in consumption due to poor harvests. 度重なる小麦の値上げで消費者の「ご飯回帰」が進み、２００７年度の国民１人あたりのコメ消費量は６１・４キロと、前年度より０・４キロ増えた。大凶作の反動などを除けば、増加は４５年ぶりだ。
Nevertheless, annual total rice consumption is still only about 8.3 million tons. The current year is expected to see a rich harvest of rice, with production for staple use likely to exceed 8.5 million tons. While consumers' growing reluctance to eat rice seems to have temporarily abated, the current situation is still far from likely to resolve the problem of Japan's rice glut. だが、それでも年間消費量は８３０万トン前後だ。０８年産の主食用米は豊作が見込まれ、生産量は８５０万トンを超える可能性がある。一時的に消費者のコメ離れに歯止めはかかったが、国内のコメ余りの解消にはほど遠い状況だ。
More than 40 percent of paddy fields nationwide, or 1 million hectares, have already been taken out of rice production as an adjustment measure to maintain rice prices. But if we keep on reducing rice production for use as a staple food, the nation's rice producing industry will merely continue to shrink. コメの価格維持のための生産調整（減反）は、すでに水田の４割超にあたる１００万ヘクタールに及んでいる。さらに主食用米の生産を減らすだけでは、日本の米作は縮む一方になってしまう。
The area of planted land devoted to the production of rice for livestock feed has been rapidly increasing since last year and now exceeds 10,000 hectares. The demand for rice flour has been mounting, leading to a major convenience store chain launching sales of bread made from rice flour and more stores stocking the flour for household use. 飼料米の作付けは昨年から急増し、１万ヘクタールを超えた。大手コンビニチェーンが米粉パンを発売し、家庭用米粉を扱う店も増えるなど米粉の需要も急増している。
===
Golden opportunity （好機をのがすな）
As consumers are again paying attention to rice, now is a good opportunity to promote its wider usage. To ensure the present situation does not prove to be a temporary blip, we hope the government will quickly try to promote the research and development of high-yielding rice strains and the improvement of distribution routes for rice destined to be used for livestock feed or rice flour. 消費者の目がコメを向いている今が普及の好機だ。一時のブームに終わらせぬよう、高収量の専門品種などの研究開発や、流通経路の整備なども急いでほしい。
In tandem with this, it is absolutely necessary for measures to be taken to strengthen the management options of rice-producing farmers, such as policies to allow them more flexibility in leasing paddy fields. あわせて、水田の賃貸借を柔軟に認める農地政策など、コメ農家の体質強化策も欠かせまい。
However, even if the production of rice for livestock feed or rice flour increases, there will be no change in the predominance of rice production as a staple food. It will be difficult for Japan to strengthen its international competitiveness merely by adjusting rice production levels in an effort to maintain price levels. ただ、新規需要米が増えても、コメ生産の主力が主食用米であることに変わりはない。生産調整による価格維持を続けるだけでは、日本のコメが国際競争力をつけることは難しいだろう。
Amid concerns over food shortages worldwide, strong doubts have been aired about Japan's ongoing attempts to lower its production of rice as a staple food. In the long term, the government should discuss a radical review of its rice policies, including the abolition of the current rice production adjustments aimed at maintaining prices. 世界的な食料不足が懸念される中で、日本が主食のコメの生産を抑え続けることには疑問の声が強い。長期的には、生産調整の廃止も含めたコメ政策の抜本見直しも検討すべきではないか。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 26, 2008) （2008年8月26日01時24分 読売新聞）
(Aug. 25, 2008) The Yomiuri Shimbun Olympic baton must pass to next generation 北京五輪閉幕 次世代にバトンをどうつなぐ（8月25日付・読売社説）
The Beijing Olympics left Japan's sporting world with a huge assignment: How should it go about encouraging a new generation of sporting stars to emerge in time for the next Summer Games four years from now? ４年後までに、どのように世代交代を進めるか。日本のスポーツ界に大きな宿題が残った。
The Beijing Olympics ended Sunday. We would like to congratulate the athletes of every country for the great excitement they presented us with. 北京五輪が幕を閉じた。感動を与えてくれた各国選手の健闘をたたえたい。
Standing out among the numerous new records established during the Games were those of Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt, who set amazing new world records in the men's 100 and 200 meters, and Michael Phelps of the United States, who grabbed eight gold medals in the swimming events, blazing a magnificent trail in Olympic history. 多くの記録が生まれたが、中でも陸上男子百メートルと二百メートルで驚異的な世界新記録を樹立したウサイン・ボルト選手（ジャマイカ）、競泳で８冠を達成したマイケル・フェルプス選手（米国）は、五輪史に大きな足跡を残した。
In the sprints, Jamaican athletes performed impressively with Bolt at the forefront of their team. They monopolized the podium in the women's 100 meters. Thanks to improved training facilities in their country, Jamaican athletes with superlative physical abilities have been able to develop their talents. 陸上の短距離では、ボルト選手に代表されるジャマイカ勢の活躍がめざましかった。女子百メートルでは表彰台を独占した。国内の練習施設が整備された結果、優れた身体能力を持つ選手たちが、その才能を開花させたといえるだろう。
===
9 golds an acceptable result （9個の金メダルでは不足）
In terms of the number of gold medals, China, which collected 51 of them, came top, leaving the United States trailing far behind in its wake. 国別の金メダル数では、５１個の中国が、米国を引き離してトップとなった。
Japan, which garnered 25 medals, including nine golds, failed to meet its target of 30 medals or more, including at least 10 golds. However, the result is not as bad as it might seem if we compare it with the results from other Olympic games in recent memory, apart from the 2004 Athens Olympics, in which Japan won a remarkable 16 gold medals. 日本の金メダルは９個、メダル総数は２５個で、目標に届かなかった。しかし、金メダル１６個と突出して好成績だった前回のアテネ大会を除けば、近年の五輪では悪くない成績といえる。
In particular, the performance of Japan's female athletes was impressive in softball, judo, wrestling, soccer and other events. ソフトボールや柔道、レスリング、サッカーなどで、女子選手の健闘が光った。
Among the nine gold medals, seven represented successful defences of events won in Athens. The efforts made by Japanese athletes over the last four years to maintain their top international level are admirable. ９個の金メダルのうち、アテネ大会に続く連覇が７個を占めた。この４年間、世界のトップレベルの力を維持してきた選手たちの努力は見事である。
However, we were unable to see the emergence of younger athletes looking to take over from their veteran teammates. It is therefore an urgent task to improve the performance of athletes of the next generation in each sport. だが一方で、ベテランを追い越す若手が台頭してこなかったともいえる。各競技とも、次世代の選手の強化が急務である。
Many people applauded Japan's 400-meter relay team, which won the bronze medal. The team's flowing baton-passing brought Japan its first track medal in 80 years. This achievement is sure to greatly inspire young Japanese athletes. 陸上男子四百メートルリレーの銅メダルに拍手を送った人も多いことだろう。流れるようなバトンパスが、トラック種目で８０年ぶりのメダルをもたらした。 若い選手たちの大きな励みとなるに違いない。
===
Questions must be asked （なぜ欠場する事態になったのか？）
In the marathon, Mizuki Noguchi and Satoshi Osaki withdrew from the women's and men's races, respectively. It is necessary to examine whether their training regimes in the immediate buildup to their races were appropriate. 女子マラソンの野口みずき選手に続き、男子でも大崎悟史選手が出場を回避した。直前のコンディション管理のあり方に問題はなかったのか、検証が必要だ。
Japan's baseball team, which people had high expectations for, finished in fourth place. Japan should squarely face up to the fact that the team was unable to win even one game against South Korea, Cuba and the United States, and devise strategies ahead of the second World Baseball Classic to be held in March. 期待された野球は４位に終わった。韓国、キューバ、米国に一度も勝てなかった現実を直視し、来年３月の第２回ワールド・ベースボール・クラシック（ＷＢＣ）に向け対策を練らねばならない。
The Olympics, which have become bloated in size, are expected to be scaled back with the 2012 London Olympics and thereafter under the leadership of International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge. 肥大化した五輪は、国際オリンピック委員会（ＩＯＣ）のロゲ会長の下、２０１２年のロンドン五輪からスリム化の道を歩むと言われている。
Tokyo is among the cities bidding to host the Olympics in 2016. But can Tokyo come up with a vision of an Olympics that will become a model for the future form of the Games? Surely that will be the key to securing the winning bid. 東京は１６年の五輪開催に名乗りを上げている。将来の範となる五輪像を東京が提示できるか。それが招致実現のカギを握る。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 25, 2008) （2008年8月25日01時49分 読売新聞）
(Aug. 24, 2008) The Yomiuri Shimbun Credit rating agencies can't be left unregulated 格付け会社 もう野放しにしておけない（8月24日付・読売社説）
Recent developments have demonstrated that we can no longer leave credit rating agencies, which have enormous influence on financial markets and corporate activities, unregulated. 金融市場や企業活動に大きな影響を与える格付け会社を、もう野放しにしておけないということだろう。
Criticism has been mounting against U.S. and European credit rating agencies over the subprime fiasco, which continues to rock financial markets around the world. 世界の金融市場を揺るがし続けるサブプライムローン問題で、欧米の大手格付け会社に対する批判が高まっている。
The criticism stems from the fact that these firms gave high ratings for financial products incorporating loans with a high risk of defaulting. 焦げ付く恐れが強いローンを組み込んだ金融商品に、高い格付けを与えていたためだ。
The prices of those financial products later nosedived, causing huge financial losses for investors who had placed their faith in these ratings. これらの金融商品は大幅に値下がりし、格付けを信じた投資家は大きな損害を受けた。
The United States last year moved to require that rating agencies be registered with the authorities. But there is no system currently in place in Japan or Europe that allows the authorities to monitor whether ratings are reasonable. だが、格付け会社の登録制を昨年導入した米国は別として、日本と欧州には格付けが適正かどうか当局が監視する仕組みがない。
===
Japan, EU move to regulate (日本とヨーロッパ連合は格付け会社の統制をする見込み)
To rectify this situation, the European Union and Japan are moving to put such agencies under closer scrutiny, with the EU having agreed in July to introduce a registration system for ratings firms and Japan due to start discussions in earnest in the autumn to introduce a similar registration system. このため、欧州連合（ＥＵ）は７月、登録制の導入で合意した。日本も登録制の導入に向け、秋から本格的な議論を始める。
International coordination is required to regulate major credit rating agencies operating across borders. Japan, for its part, should implement effective regulations by adopting a registration system. 国境を超えて活動する大手格付け会社の規制には、国際的な整合性が求められる。日本も登録制の採用で足並みをそろえ、効果的な規制に乗り出すべきである。
Credit ratings are widely used as indicators for gauging the credibility of corporate bonds and other financial products. 信用格付けは、企業などが発行する債券のほか、さまざまな金融商品の信用度を測る指標として、幅広く活用されている。
Japan has two major credit rating agencies, though U.S. and European firms are far more influential. Lowering of firms' ratings results in sharp declines in their stock prices, difficulty in their procuring of funds and, in some cases, financial crises that push them to the verge of bankruptcy. 日本にも有力な２社があるが、とりわけ欧米の大手格付け会社の影響力は大きい。格下げされた会社が株価の急落や資金調達難に見舞われ、経営危機に陥るケースも珍しくない。
Against a backdrop of accelerating financial globalization, credit rating agencies have dramatically beefed up their presence. But the way in which they rate financial products or corporations has frequently come under fire. 金融のグローバル化を背景に、格付け会社は急速に存在感を増した。その一方で、格付け手法に対する批判は絶えない。
===
Impartiality under spotlight
In many cases, these rating agencies have given low ratings to companies that did not asked to be rated, but have then raised their ratings once they have become fee-paying clients. 依頼を受けずに出す「勝手格付け」は低いのに、その会社が手数料を払ってくれる顧客になったとたんに格付けを上げる。そんなケースが少なくないからだ。
Also, in connection with the subprime woes, speculation has been rife that credit rating firms gave financial products engineered by security firms higher ratings than they actually deserved at the request of the brokerages. サブプライムローン問題を巡っても、金融商品を作り上げた証券会社が求めるままに、本来より高い格付けを出していたのではないかとの疑惑が浮上した。
Investigations by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission have found serious problems, such as collusion between rating firms and securities brokerages--their clients. 米証券取引委員会（ＳＥＣ）が調べたところ、依頼主である証券会社との癒着など、「深刻な問題があった」という。
If the ratings agencies have distorted their ratings simply because they wanted to gain lucrative fees, this could gravely undermine the credibility of the whole system of financial transactions. 高額の手数料欲しさに、格付けを歪めていたとすれば、金融取引全体の信用にかかわる重大事だ。
Therefore some kind of regulation is necessary to eliminate such suspicions. こうした疑念を払拭するためにも何らかの規制が欠かせまい。
If Japan adopts a registration system, the Financial Services Agency will be able to oblige rating agencies to regularly submit reports and establish if their ratings are appropriate. 登録制を導入すれば、金融庁が格付け会社に定期的な報告を義務づけ、格付けが適正かどうかなどをチェックすることができる。
To ensure such regulations have teeth, it also is necessary to empower the FSA to conduct on-the-spot inspections and mete out administrative punishments, including the removal of violating firms from the registered list. 立ち入り検査や、登録取り消しなどの行政処分も導入し、規制の実効性を高める必要もあろう。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 24, 2008) （2008年8月24日02時15分 読売新聞）
(Mainichi Japan) August 23, 2008 Self-service checkouts spreading across supermarkets in Japan セルフレジ：導入のスーパー増 コンビニなどに拡大も
The number of self-service supermarket checkouts, allowing customers scan and pay for goods themselves, is increasing across Japan, with convenience stores and other retailers also looking to introduce them. The checkouts work by using bar code information to get product weight as well as price. Customers scan the items and place them in a shopping bag mounted on a set of scales, which checks that the total weight of the bag matches that of the scanned goods. And should there be any problems with the process, common store policy requires one staff member to attend four self-service checkouts. Aeon introduced self checkouts at 82 stores by the end of fiscal 2007, which expanded to 149 stores by Aug. 20, and the company plans to introduce them at another 50 or so stores by the end of fiscal 2008. Okuwa, a supermarket operating in the Kansai area, plans to have 44 stores, or about one-third of all its stores fitted with self-service checkouts by the financial year. Other businesses that have started using them this year include Uny Co., Life Corp. and Tokyu Store Corp. The new checkouts reduce waiting times for those in a hurry, or only needing to purchase a few items, and stores benefit from reduced labor costs. "They're easy to use, so many elderly people use them, and the ratio of use of self checkouts is good," said a spokesperson for supermarket chain Aeon. However, the cost of a set of four self-service checkouts is between about 10 million and 15 million yen, roughly two to three times the price of regular checkouts. "We need to assess whether they are cost-effective," an official at supermarket chain Ito-Yokado said. Convenience store chains such as Lawson and ampm are set to introduce them on a trial basis, and they look likely to become more widespread in the future.
Ｗｏｒｄｓ and Phrases: looking to introduce them＝それらのシステムを導入しようとしている should there be any problems with the process＝実行の過程で問題がある場合には（仮定を表す倒置構文） by the end of fiscal 2008＝２００８年度までには reduce waiting times for those in a hurry＝急いでいる人たちにとっては時間が節約できる roughly two to three times the price of regular checkouts＝概ね普通のレジのセットにくらべると２倍から３倍の値段がする cost-effective＝ペイする、投資に見合う効果効率がある are set to introduce them on a trial basis＝試験的に採用してみる、つかってみる、システムを導入してみる look likely to become more widespread in the future＝将来はこの無人のシステムが大きく広がっていくであろうと思われる
(Aug. 22, 2008) The Yomiuri Shimbun Solar power subsidy offers ray of hope 太陽光発電 世界一の座をどう奪回する（8月22日付・読売社説）
Solar power generation is a well-known energy source that does not emit carbon dioxide. 二酸化炭素（ＣＯ２）を排出しない身近なエネルギーの一つに太陽光発電がある。
Japan used to be the world leader in solar power output, but three years ago that status was lost to Germany. The government is considering reviving assistance for solar power generation in a bid to boost its popularity and use in the nation, which has stalled as of late. 日本はかつて世界一の太陽光発電国だったが、３年前にドイツに抜かれてしまった。停滞気味の国内での普及に弾みをつけようと、政府が補助制度の復活を検討している。
Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda has come up with a policy for increasing solar power generation 40-fold by 2030 from the current level as one of the measures to fight global warming. 福田首相は、地球温暖化対策として、太陽光発電を２０３０年に今の４０倍にする方針を掲げた。
To realize this, the government has to map out an assistance system that makes it easy for the public to tap solar power generation. この際、国民に使い勝手のいい補助制度を打ち出し、太陽光発電の普及を図るべきである。
Typical solar power generation devices produce about three kilowatts each, which is enough to cover about half the annual energy use for a typical household. When output is ample, on a sunny day for example, surplus electricity could be sold to electric power companies. 太陽光発電装置の多くは、出力３キロ・ワット程度だ。一般家庭なら、年間電気使用量のほぼ半分を賄える。晴れた日中など発電量が多い時は、余った電気を電力会社に売ることも可能だ。
===
Old subsidy ended too soon （早すぎた補助金の打ち切り）
In Japan, solar power generation started to be used in the early 1990s. At that time, a single power generation system cost more than 10 million yen. The government introduced a subsidy of 900,000 yen per kilowatt in fiscal 1994, igniting a boom in solar power use. 日本では１９９０年代初頭から普及し始めたが、当時は装置が１０００万円以上した。そこで、政府が９４年度から１キロ・ワットあたり９０万円の補助金をつけたことで、人気が一気に高まった。
Prices for solar power systems eventually declined to about one fifth of the original price, and the level of government subsidies were cut to follow suit. その後、装置の価格が５分の１程度まで値下がりし、補助金も引き下げられた。
In fiscal 2005, the subsidy was reduced to 20,000 yen per kilowatt, and then later abolished. ０５年度は１キロ・ワットあたり２万円になり、それを最後に打ち切られた。
The abolishment put the brakes on the wider use of solar power. The government decision to stop the subsidy came too soon. これで急ブレーキがかかった。補助金打ち切りは時期尚早だったのではないか。
Learning from this, the government is expected to introduce a two-tier assistance system of subsidies and tax incentives. これを反省し、今回、政府が打ち出すのが、補助金と税制上の優遇策の２本立ての支援策だ。
Subsidy amounts have not been determined, but the government previously earmarked more than 10 billion yen in the budget in one fiscal year. 補助金の額は未定だが、年間予算で総額１００億円以上出していたこともある。
Some believe the new subsidy needs to be at least 100,000 yen per kilowatt. A minimal subsidy would yield minimal results. 少なくとも１キロ・ワットあたり１０万円以上必要だ、とする声もある。確かに、あまり少額では効果も期待できまい。
Tax-wise, the government is considering exempting from income taxes a portion of the cost of setting up solar power generation units. 税制では、装置にかかった費用の一部を、所得税から差し引くことなどを検討している。
===
Learn from Germany （ドイツのやり方に学ぶ）
Some also believe the fee power companies pay to purchase surplus output from solar generation should drastically be increased, as is done in Germany. 一方、ドイツのように、電力会社に余った電気を売る場合の単価を、大幅に引き上げるべきだとの指摘もある。
Currently the price at which electric power companies buy electric power from others is about 23 yen per kilowatt, about the same amount power customers pay to electric companies. In Germany in 2004, the fee electric power companies paid for surplus solar power was raised to about 90 yen per kilowatt, about three times higher than electric power companies charge users. The increase triggered the wider use of solar power generation in Germany. 日本の売電単価は、電気使用料とほぼ同じ１キロ・ワット時あたり２３円程度だが、ドイツでは０４年から使用料の約３倍の９０円程度に引き上げられた。これがドイツで太陽光発電が一気に普及した要因だ。
However, this system has a downside. Electric power companies have to procure electricity at higher costs. To offset this, power companies in Germany pass the increased costs onto bills for electric power use, averaging about an extra 500 yen per month for each household. だが、この仕組みにも難点がある。電力会社にとっては、電気を高値で仕入れることになる。その分をドイツでは電気料金に反映させており、一般家庭で月５００円程度の負担増になっている。
This is no small burden for homes that do not use solar power. 太陽光発電に関係ない家庭にとって、少ない額ではあるまい。
Should households bear such burdens? If the level of fees for power companies to be charged when buying surplus power from households and others is to be reviewed, it should include debates involving all members of the public. こうした負担を受け入れるべきか。日本で売電単価を見直す場合、国民的な議論が必要になろう。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 22, 2008) （2008年8月22日02時20分 読売新聞）
(Aug. 21, 2008) The Yomiuri Shimbun Medical safety panels should be set up soon 産科医無罪 医療安全調査委の実現を急げ（8月21日付・読売社説）
How should causes of medical mishaps be determined and how should responsibility be determined? Wednesday's court ruling on an obstetrician who allegedly caused a woman's death following a cesarean section in a sense offered an answer to these questions. 医療事故の原因究明や責任追及は、どのような形で行われるべきか。それにひとつの答えを出した判決とも言えよう。 medical mishaps＝医療事故 cesarean section＝帝王切開の部署
The Fukushima District Court acquitted the obstetrician, who had been arrested and indicted over the death. 福島県立大野病院で帝王切開を受けた女性が死亡し、執刀した産婦人科医が逮捕・起訴された事件で、福島地裁は被告の医師を無罪とした。
The woman died of massive bleeding after undergoing a procedure at the prefecture-run Ono Hospital in Fukushima Prefecture, to remove the placenta attached to her uterine wall. Prosecutors and police charged the doctor with professional negligence resulting in death saying that removing the patient's uterus instead of just the placenta was the standard course of action. 女性は、子宮に癒着した胎盤をはがす処置で大量出血し、亡くなった。検察と警察は、胎盤をはがさずに子宮ごと摘出するのが「医学的準則」だった、として業務上過失致死罪などに問うた。 placenta＝胎盤 uterine＝子宮の
The court said the general medical standard must be a procedure determined by a majority of doctors who face similar incidents, but that there was no proof the Ono Hospital case fell into this category. The court ruling seems to imply criticism of investigators that sought criminal responsibility against the doctor, despite divided medical viewpoints. しかし判決は、「医学的準則」とは同じ場面に直面した医師のほとんどが選択するものでなければならず、今回のケースはその証明がない、とした。医学的見解が分かれる中で刑事責任を追及した捜査当局への批判が読み取れる。
This incident has had an extremely grave impact on medical circles. After the doctor was arrested, a number of hospitals nationwide stopped obstetrics services and medical students avoided pursuing not only obstetrics but also other fields such as surgery that would entail operations that could risk patients' lives. 事件が医療界に与えた衝撃は極めて大きかった。医師が逮捕された後に、全国で多数の病院が出産の取り扱いを中止した。医学生は産科のみならず、外科など命にかかわる手術を行う分野を避けるようになった。 obstetrics＝産科学 entail＝～を伴なう、～をひきおこす
===
Too quick to judge （あまりに早急な決断）
First of all, was it necessary to arrest the doctor? We cannot help but be skeptical of this. そもそも、医師を逮捕までする必要があったのだろうか。疑問を禁じ得ない。
The present ruling was determined by a lower court and the doctor's acquittal has yet to be finalized. But it is a worrying situation that police can so quickly launch investigations into medical mishaps. まだ１審であり、医師の無罪が確定したわけではない。だが、医療事故に関して、警察がいきなり捜査に入る現状は危うい。 acquittal＝無罪、釈放、放免
It would be better that a neutral and specialized entity first decide whether criminal responsibility should be pursued in each case. The creation of medical safety investigation committees, which the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry is considering, should be realized as soon as possible. 刑事責任を問うべきほどの事案かどうかは、まず中立的な専門機関で判断した方がいい。厚生労働省が検討中の「医療安全調査委員会」の創設を急ぐべきだ。
The ministry envisages that such committees should be central and regional and that committee members should include not only doctors but also lawyers and experts in other areas, so that neutrality can be maintained. 厚労省の構想では、医療安全調査委は中央と地方ブロックごとに設ける。メンバーは医師だけでなく、法律家や他分野の有識者も加え、中立性を図る。 so that neutrality can be maintained＝中立性を保つために
Under the plan, medical institutions would be obliged to report certain cases--a patient dying in an unexpected way, for example--to the committees. The committees also would accept requests from patients' families to conduct investigations. The committees would make public its reports after giving due consideration to personal information and present recommendations on measures to prevent recurrence. 予期せぬ形で患者が死亡した場合などに、医療機関から調査委への届け出を義務づけ、遺族からの調査依頼も受け付ける。調査委は個人情報に配慮しつつ報告書を公表し、再発防止策を提言する。
===
Deciding what's malicious （何が重大な過失であるのか？）
The committees would only notify the police regarding malicious cases such as intentional or serious negligence, or falsification of medical records. Police would investigate cases giving respect to judgments made by the committees and taking into account whether the committees have alerted them of the cases. 故意や重大な過失、カルテの改ざんといった悪質な事例のみ、警察に「通知」する。警察は調査委の判断を尊重し、通知の有無を踏まえて対応する。
This plan has already been worked out in detail so that it can quickly be made into a bill. But some in medical circles have said they would oppose the plan as long as it includes the police notification system. The plan has thus been stalled. 調査委構想は法案化目前まで煮詰まってきた。ところが医療界の中に、警察に通知する仕組みがある限り反対するとの声が強く、足踏みしている。
It is a matter of course that malicious cases be notified to police. If the committees do not notify incidents, even though they might possibly be constituted as crimes, there will be no change in the situation in which police directly initiate investigations even if committees are set up. 悪質な事例を通知するのは当然だろう。犯罪の可能性があるのに通知しないのならば、調査委ができたとしても、警察が直接捜査に乗り出す状況は変わるまい。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 21, 2008) （2008年8月21日01時51分 読売新聞）
(Aug. 20, 2008) The Yomiuri Shimbun Assisting war on terror obligation for Japan 臨時国会 給油継続は最低限の責務だ（8月20日付・読売社説）
The continuation of refueling operations by the Maritime Self-Defense Force in the Indian Ocean is the very least Japan should do as part of its international obligations. The current Antiterrorism Law must therefore be revised and extended during the next extraordinary Diet session. 海上自衛隊によるインド洋での給油活動を継続することは、日本が今、最低限果たすべき国際的責務だ。臨時国会で新テロ対策特別措置法を改正、延長する必要がある。
The government and the ruling coalition parties have agreed that an extraordinary Diet session will be convened in mid-September. 政府・与党は、臨時国会の召集時期を９月中旬と決めた。
However, the main opposition Democratic Party of Japan opposes an extension of the duration of the Antiterrorism Law, which is set to expire in January. 来年１月に期限が切れる新テロ特措法の改正には、民主党が反対している。
With the opposition bloc holding a majority in the House of Councillors, the bill likely will be rejected in the upper house, necessitating a second vote in the House of Representatives, where the ruling coalition can use a two-thirds majority to ram the bill through--a Diet process already used in January. 衆参ねじれ国会では最終的に、今年１月と同様、衆院の３分の２以上の多数による再可決が必要となる公算が大きい。 ram＝法案を強引に通過させる
However, New Komeito, the Liberal Democratic Party's junior coalition partner, has expressed reluctance about forcing the bill through with a second vote in the lower house. New Komeito has cautioned that using such a vote could be seen by voters as high-handed, and could therefore impact on the coalition parties' performance in the next lower house election. 問題なのは、公明党が再可決に消極的な姿勢を示していることだ。再可決が「強引な手法」と受け止められ、次期衆院選に悪影響を及ぼすと警戒するためだ。 high-handed＝強硬な、強引な
However, passing a bill with a second vote in the lower house is both democratic and permissible under the Constitution. The parties should explain to the public why they are resorting to using a second vote in the lower house to pass the bill, but there is no reason the ruling parties should hesitate to use this process. だが、再可決は、憲法の定める正当かつ民主的な手続きである。国民への丁寧な説明は必要だろうが、躊躇する理由はない。
===
Failure would bring criticism （世界の国々の注目の中で）
If the government and the ruling coalition parties fail to pass the bill into law, despite it being possible to do so, Japan could not help but face accusations from the international community that it had made a political decision to exit from the "war on terror." 改正案を成立させる手段があるのに、行使しなければ、日本は「テロとの戦い」を自ら離脱する政治的な判断を下した、と国際社会に見なされても仕方がない。
Last year, New Komeito strongly advocated extending the refueling mission, saying it was important to do so. The importance has not diminished, but rather increased. 公明党は昨年、給油活動の継続の重要性を強く主張していた。その重要性は今、減じるどころか、一段と増している。
The International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), which has deployed in Afghanistan, has seen more than 900 of its personnel killed as the security situation worsens in the country. アフガニスタンに展開する国際治安支援部隊（ＩＳＡＦ）は、現地の治安が悪化する中、累計９００人超の犠牲者を出している。
Despite the growing risk, North Atlantic ISAF troop numbers increased in the past 12 months to 52,700 from 40 countries, up from 36,600 from 37 countries. The increase is result of the international community's recognition that the war against terrorism is at a crucial juncture. それでも、過去１年間で、３７か国の３万６６００人から４０か国の５万２７００人へと大幅に部隊を増強した。「テロとの戦い」が正念場にある、との認識からだ。 juncture＝時点､時期
===
Japan-U.S. relations at stake （危機に瀕している日米関係）
Japan has been repeatedly requested to put SDF troops on the ground in Afghanistan, but has so far rejected the requests. In addition, if Japan withdraws from the Indian Ocean, which is far less dangerous than Afghan soil, it would run counter to the efforts of the international community. 日本も再三、アフガン本土への自衛隊派遣を要請されているが、断っている。そのうえ、はるかに危険の小さいインド洋からさえ撤収するようでは、国際社会の動きに完全に逆行する。
Such a withdrawal also would have a significant impact on the Japan-U.S. alliance. The days when postwar relations between Japan and the United States were said to be at their best due to U.S. appreciation for Japan's dispatch of the SDF to the Indian Ocean and Iraq, which served as a bank of goodwill, are now history. 日米同盟への影響も大きい。インド洋やイラクへの自衛隊派遣に対する米国の評価が“貯金”となり、日米関係が戦後最良と言われたのは、もう過去の話だ。
In Japan, some say the current situation is that Japan has "emptied the bank and is now in the red." 日本側には「今は、貯金を使い果たし、赤字状態だ」との見方もある。
Refueling activities in the Indian Ocean also are necessary to secure the sea lanes used for crude oil imports to Japan, making them a lifeline for this nation. 給油活動は、日本の生命線である原油輸入のシーレーン確保にも深くかかわる。
When a Japanese tanker was attacked by pirates off Yemen in April, a German military ship and other vessels rushed to the scene to effect a rescue. In this instance, the actions were said to have been prompted by an appreciation for Japan's refueling operations in the Indian Ocean. 日本のタンカーが今年４月、イエメン沖で海賊に襲われた際、ドイツ艦船などが積極的に救助に動いたのも、海自の給油活動があればこそだ。
Some LDP members have mooted the idea of having MSDF vessels escort Japanese tankers. But this operation would not serve as an alternative to the refueling activities. 自民党の一部には、海自でタンカーを護衛する案があるが、給油活動の代替策にはなるまい。
It is vital that Japan participates in joint international actions. Unilateral activities are limited in scope and cannot boost our reputation in the eyes of the international community. 国際共同行動への参加が重要なのであって、日本単独の行動では評価もされず、効果も限定的だ。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 20, 2008) （2008年8月20日01時52分 読売新聞）
Has the crude oil bubble started to collapse? 原油価格下落 逃げ出し始めた投機マネー（8月19日付・読売社説） “原油バブル”の崩壊が始まったと見ていいのだろうか。
Crude oil prices, which had soared to record highs, have changed direction in dramatic fashion. 原油価格の急激な上昇傾向に、大きな変化が生じている。
After the international benchmark New York crude oil futures price peaked at about 147 dollars per barrel on July 11, the price started to decline. The price is now hovering above 110 dollars a barrel, having dropped more than 30 dollars. 国際指標であるニューヨーク市場の原油先物価格は、７月１１日に１バレル＝１４７ドルの最高値をつけたあと下落し、このところ１１０ドル台前半で推移している。下落幅は３０ドルを超えた。
The steep rise in crude oil prices caused increases in prices of other fuels and grains, leading to international inflation. 原油価格の高騰は、他の燃料や穀物価格に飛び火し、国際的なインフレを引き起こしてきた。
In this regard, the sudden decline in crude oil prices can be seen as a welcome development that should help stabilize the international economy. それが一転しての価格下落は、世界経済の安定につながる動きとして歓迎できよう。
Though crude oil prices have dropped recently, they are still high--about twice what they were 18 months ago. Advanced nations must work together to realize further decline in crude oil prices with such measures as tightened regulations on investment funds which have created increase in crude oil prices. 下落したとはいえ、原油価格は１年半前の約２倍の高水準だ。先進各国は、価格高騰を演出してきた投資ファンドへの規制を一層強化するなど、原油価格のさらなる下落で協調すべきだ。
Crude oil prices stayed within a 20 dollars range in the early 2000s. However, in anticipation of increased crude oil prices due to heightened demand resulting from the economic development of China, India and other nations, speculative money flooded into the oil market, leading to a steep price increase. 原油価格は、２０００年代の初めごろは２０ドル台だった。だが、中国やインドなどの経済発展で原油需給が引き締まり、先行き値上がりすると読んだ投機マネーが流入したことで、一気に高騰した。
===
Speculation driving increase （見通しは暗い）
In its 2008 white paper on international trade and economy issued in July, the Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry estimated that 50 dollars of the 125 dollars-per-barrel price of crude oil in May was the result of speculation rather than the actual supply-demand situation. ７月に公表された経済産業省の通商白書は、今年５月時点の原油価格１バレル＝１２５ドルのうち、実需に基づかない投機マネーによる上乗せ分が５０ドルあると分析した。
With global criticism against excessive actions by investment funds, the United States, which had been cautious about tightening regulations on investment funds, finally took action, helping to change the trend in crude oil prices. 投資ファンドの行き過ぎた行動に対する国際的な批判が高まり、規制に慎重だった米国が、重い腰を上げたことが流れを変えた。
Late last month, the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission charged one investment fund saying it gained illicit profits by manipulating crude oil and other markets. Bills to tighten controls on futures trading have been circulating in Congress. 商品先物取引に関する米国の規制当局が７月下旬、原油市場などで不正な利益をあげたとして、投資ファンドの一つを摘発した。
With such moves to rein in investment funds, speculative money seems to have started to exit from the markets. 米議会には、先物取引の規制を強化する法案も提出された。こうした“包囲網”で、投機マネーが市場から逃避し始めたようだ。
===
Slowing demand （景気の悪化）
In addition, as the global economy has become bearish, views have emerged that crude oil demand will not increase as fast as it has been, leading to drops in crude oil prices. このほか、世界的に景気が弱含みとなり、原油需要が伸び悩むとの見方が浮上してきたことも、原油価格の下落につながった。 bearish＝相場が下がり気味の
However, it remains uncertain whether crude oil prices will continue their downward trend. ただし、今後も一本調子で原油価格が値下がりするかどうかは不透明だ。
There are signs that the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries will reduce oil production. In addition, if the Iran situations grows strained, crude oil prices will certainly rise again. 石油輸出国機構（ＯＰＥＣ）には、減産の動きも見られる。イラン情勢などが緊迫すれば、再上昇は必至とされる。
Promotion of energy-saving measures and development of alternative energy sources must not be slowed down. 省エネルギーの推進や、代替エネルギーの開発などの手をゆるめてはなるまい。
In Japan, which suffered from high fuel costs recently, lower-priced crude oil soon will arrive from the Middle East and other locations. The reduced crude oil prices must be translated into retail prices of oil products immediately. 燃料費の高騰に苦しんできた日本にも、いずれ値下がりした原油が中東などから到着する。その値下がり分を、速やかに小売価格に反映させるべきだ。
A decline in the prices of gasoline and heating oil should help to warm up cooled consumer sentiment. ガソリンや灯油などの価格が下がれば、冷え込んだ消費心理も、少しはやわらぐのではないか。 heating oil＝灯油
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 19, 2008) （2008年8月19日02時12分 読売新聞）
(Mainichi Japan) August 18, 2008 Hibakusha: Passing the peace torch to American high school students 被爆者： 平和への思いをアメリカンスクールの生徒たちに
Tsutomu Yamaguchi comes near to tears while talking about his experiences both in Hiroshima and Nagasaki before a group of American high school students in Nagasaki on July 5, 2008. 7月5日長崎のアメリカンハイスクールで被爆者の山口勤（漢字未確認です）さんが体験談を涙ながらに生徒たちに伝える。
When 92-year-old Tsutomu Yamaguchi* walked into the room on trembling legs, leaning on a cane, about 40 high school students from the United States greeted him with hearty applause. ９２歳になる山口勤さんが震える脚をひきずり、杖をつきながら部屋に入って来たときに、約４０名の生徒たちは暖かい拍手で山口さんを迎えた。
"Thank you for coming all the way from America to see me," said Yamaguchi, almost tearful with emotion. 『遠く離れたアメリカからようこそいらっしゃいました』、涙ながらに話しをする山口さんであった。
This was on July 5 at the Nagasaki National Peace Memorial Hall for Atomic Bomb Victims, located near Nagasaki's ground zero. The students had been sent to Japan as part of an American NPO project and were there to hear the story of Yamaguchi, a twice-over bomb victim at both Hiroshima and Nagasaki. 7月5日、ここは被爆犠牲者を追悼するための長崎平和記念ホールで爆心地の近くに位置している。 これらの生徒たちはアメリカのＮＰＯプロジェクトの活動の一環としてアメリカから日本に送られてきたもので、山口さんの広島と長崎における2回の原爆体験を聞くために集められた。
"Please think deeply about the people who were indiscriminately vaporized in a matter of seconds. Please think about the importance of peace." Yamaguchi seemed to be recalling the devastation of that day when he faltered as he spoke, sometimes allowing a moan or a sob to escape. 『無差別に全く瞬時に命を奪われた人々のことを深く考えてほしい。平和の尊さを考えて欲しい。』 と、山口さんはときどき声をつまらせながらあの日の悲惨な状況を思い出しているようであった。
He felt a need to come to this place; he must have told himself that the best way to make a difference would be to speak to people from the United States, the only nation that has ever used an atomic bomb and the greatest nuclear power in the world. He believed strongly that Japanese and Americans are part of the same humanity and can talk to each other. 山口さんは個々に来て人々に体験を語る必要性を感じていた。人類史上はじめて原爆を投下して多くの人々の命を奪った国、アメリカの人々の前で山口さんの体験を語り継ぐことが一番大切で効果的な方法であると感じていたからだ。 山口さんはアメリカ人も日本人も同じ人間、話せばわかると理解している。
After the talk, a 17-year-old girl walked up to him and asked to shake his hand. "I'll go back to America and tell people what you have told us," she said. Yamaguchi was so overcome with emotion that the girl momentarily had to support him in a hug. People clapped and some of the students had tears in their eyes. 山口さんは講演の直後、17歳のアメリカンスクールの女学生が歩み寄ってきて、山口さんとの握手を求めた。『アメリカに戻ったら、今日山口さんが話されたことをアメリカの人々に伝えます』と語った。 山口さんはこの女生徒が山口さんを抱きしめたときに胸を熱くした。 人々（生徒たち）は盛大な拍手を山口さんにおくった。生徒の数人は感動して涙を流していた。
Yamaguchi's memories will surely be carried back across the Pacific. "You have passed the torch of peace on to us," the girl assured him. 山口さんの体験（思い出）は世界中に伝えられることであろう。 『あなたは平和のトーチを私たちに与えてくれました』 と､女性とは確信していた。
* Tsutomu Yamaguchi: 92 years old. Engineer at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries shipbuilding plant at time of attack. Encountered atomic attack in city of Hiroshima while on business trip. Badly burned on upper left torso. Returned to Nagasaki and encountered second attack while reporting to superior at work on devastation at Hiroshima. 山口勤さん、９２歳、三菱造船の技術者（被爆当時）、 広島で被爆、広島出張中の出来事であった。 体の左半分に大きなやけどを被った。 すぐに長崎にもどり広島の惨状を会社の幹部たちに報告中２度目の原爆を受けた。
Translated into English by Srachai from Khonkaen, Thailand.
(Mainichi Japan) August 18, 2008 Most female university students say restaurant air-conditioning set too low: survey 飲食店冷房：女子大生の８割「利きすぎ」…共立の学生卒論
Eighty percent of female university students said they feel chilly inside restaurants because the air-conditioning is set too low, a survey has found. Rieko Uozumi, 21, a senior student at Kyoritsu Women's University, surveyed 305 students aged 18 to 22 at her university in Tokyo's Chiyoda-ku in July about how they feel about the temperatures inside university classrooms, trains, apparel shops, restaurants and places they work part-time. As a result, a whopping 249 respondents, or 81.6 percent, said they feel "too cold" or "cold" inside restaurants. Other places they feel "too cold" or "cold" were: trains (74.7 percent), apparel shops (70.6 percent) and classrooms (64.8 percent). Meanwhile, only 34.3 percent of respondents said they feel "cold" or "too cold" at places where they work part-time, such as restaurants and apparel shops, while more than 40 percent said they feel "hot" or "too hot" at such places.
Words and Phrases: feel chilly＝寒く感じる the air-conditioning is set too low＝エアコンの温度設定が低くなされている apparel shops＝洋品店 whopping＝非常に大きい（形容詞） Meanwhile＝一方（副詞） at places where they work part-time＝パートタイムの職場では
(Aug. 18, 2008) The Yomiuri Shimbun Review fund allocation among SDF branches 防衛大綱改定 陸海空の予算配分を見直せ（8月18日付・読売社説）
To make the Self-Defense Forces a "functioning organization," it is essential to review how funding is allocated among the Ground, Maritime and Air Self-Defense Forces, given that the budget share for each has been almost fixed for many years. 自衛隊を「機能する組織」にするには、長年ほぼ固定されてきた陸海空３自衛隊の予算配分の見直しが欠かせない。
The government's planned revision at the end of next year of the National Defense Program Outline, which stipulates basic guidelines for security policy, will provide a good opportunity for such a review. The government should set up an expert panel at an early date to kick-start fundamental discussions on defining the course of the SDF for the next 10 years. 政府が来年末、日本の安全保障の基本方針を定めた「防衛計画の大綱」を改定するのは、その好機である。今後１０年間の自衛隊のあり方をどうするのか。早期に有識者会議を設置し、根本的な議論を始めるべきだ。
The way the SDF's funds have been budgeted among the three branches over the last 20 years was almost fixed, with the GSDF receiving 41-45 percent of the money, the MSDF 27-29 percent and the ASDF 26-31 percent. 過去２０年間の３自衛隊の歳出予算配分を見ると、陸上自衛隊が４１～４５％、海上自衛隊が２７～２９％、航空自衛隊が２６～３１％で、ほとんど変わっていない。
During the Cold War, the SDF pushed ahead with the formation of GSDF, MSDF and ASDF units and the procurement of key weaponry mainly to counter a possible landing and invasion of Soviet troops. Within this context, four GSDF divisions were deployed in Hokkaido and tanks and artillery were regarded as important weaponry. 冷戦時代は、ソ連による着上陸侵攻にいかに対処するかを主軸に、陸海空の部隊編成や主要装備の整備を進めてきた。北海道に陸自の４個師団が配置され、戦車や火砲も重視されていた。
After the Cold War, the National Defense Program Outline was revised twice--in 1995 and 2004--to deal with a change in the nation's security situation--namely the elimination of threats posed by the Soviet Union and the emergence of new threats, such as terrorism and missiles. 冷戦後、防衛大綱は１９９５年と２００４年に見直された。ソ連の脅威の消滅という安全保障環境の変化や、テロ、ミサイルなど新たな脅威に対応するためだ。
===
Shifting needs
The two revisions of the defense outline promoted the streamlining of units and reduction of weapons, but stopped short of redistributing funding among the three SDF branches. Sectionalism between the branches as well as protectionist movements among officials of each branch wanting to keep their organization intact reportedly served as obstacles to changing the budget distribution. 部隊のコンパクト化や装備の削減は進んだが、３自衛隊の予算配分の見直しには至らなかった。陸海空の縦割り意識と組織防衛の動きが障害になったとされる。
Japan's defense budget has been slightly reduced, standing now at 4.78 trillion yen per year. To use the limited budget effectively, redistribution of funds among the three branches is unavoidable. 防衛費は最近、年４兆７０００億円余で、微減傾向にある。限られた予算を有効活用するには、配分の見直しは避けられない。
It is not reasonable to allocate money among the three branches in almost the same way as during the Cold War years. For now, it is advisable to discuss reducing the GSDF budget, while increasing the MSDF and ASDF budgets. 現在の陸海空の予算配分が、冷戦時とほぼ同じというのはおかしい。当面は、陸自の予算を減らし、海自と空自を増やす方向で議論を進めるべきだろう。
Under the current defense outline, the GSDF was reduced to 155,000 troops and the numbers of tanks and artillery pieces were each reduced to 600. 現防衛大綱では、陸自の定員は１５万５０００人、戦車と火砲は各６００両・門に減らされたが、一層の削減を検討する必要がある。
===
Further change required （更なる改革が求められる）
Further reductions must be discussed, however. And a reduction in the size of the GSDF means the reorganization and streamlining of units, including integration of some of the 157 GSDF camps across the nation. 定員削減には、全国に１５７ある駐屯地の統合を含め、部隊の再編と合理化が避けられまい。
On the other hand, the GSDF's antiterrorism measures and international peacekeeping activities should be expanded and strengthened. 一方で、陸自のテロ対策や国際平和協力活動は充実させたい。
The collision earlier this year between an Aegis-equipped destroyer and a fishing boat served to underscore a chronic shortage of seagoing personnel in the MSDF. It may merit consideration to increase the size of the MSDF. 海自では、イージス艦衝突事故の際、慢性的な艦船の乗員不足が指摘された。海自全体の定員増を検討していいのではないか。
The ASDF's transport role in international missions, such as the airlifting of goods and personnel to Iraq, has increased in significance. It is an urgent task to introduce next generation transport planes as soon as possible and strengthen the C-130 transport plane unit. 空自は、イラクへの空輸など国際協力活動での輸送業務の重要性が増している。次期輸送機（ＣＸ）の早期導入やＣ１３０輸送機部隊の増強が急務である。
One major stated task in reforming the Defense Ministry is the unification of divisions responsible for procurement in internal bureaus of the ministry and each of the SDF staff offices into a single entity. If these divisions are unified, it will weed out sectionalism, making it easier to change the distribution of SDF funds, according to those pushing such ministry reforms. 防衛省改革では、内局と３自衛隊の防衛力装備部門の一元化が課題となっている。一元化すれば、縦割りを排し、予算配分見直しが容易になるという理屈だ。
If that is one of the purposes of ministry reform, it is all the more reasonable to directly tackle the redistribution of SDF funds than the organizational reform. もし目的がそうなら、組織改革よりも、予算配分の見直しに直接取り組むのが本筋だろう。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 18, 2008) （2008年8月18日01時49分 読売新聞）
(Aug. 17, 2008) The Yomiuri Shimbun Juki Net key to better social security system 社会保障カード 住基ネットの活用が現実的だ（8月17日付・読売社説）
The process of designing a new social security card is gradually coming down to practical points, such as how it will be issued and what it will be used for. 社会保障カードを、どのような形で発行し、活用するか。構想が次第に煮詰まってきた。
The discovery of poor pension record management has increased the need for the new card, which will enable cardholders to access personal information about their pension, health care and nursing care programs in one place. The government plans to introduce the card as early as fiscal 2011. 年金や医療、介護などの情報を一体的に、常時確認できるカードの必要性は、杜撰な年金記録が発覚したことで強まった。政府は２０１１年度をめどに導入する方針だ。
The Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry's study panel on the social security card will soon compile a preliminary report based on discussions so far. これを受けて、厚生労働省の有識者会議「社会保障カードの在り方に関する検討会」が議論してきた。近く中間報告をまとめる。
The panel envisages that the social security card will be equipped with an integrated circuit to make it difficult to forge, and that it will allow cardholders to access data on computer. The plan is for the new card to store only the bare minimum of necessary data on a person, such as an identification number. これまでの検討では、偽造困難なＩＣカードを採用し、これを使ってパソコン画面でデータを確認できるようにする。カード自体には、識別番号など最小限の情報しか記録しない。
According to previous panel discussions, data related to the pension, health care and nursing care program would not be combined, and instead would be managed separately, as it is now. The identification number, or the social security number, could then be used as a "key" for linking the separate data. 年金、医療、介護など各制度のデータも一元化はせず、これまで通り別々に管理する。識別番号すなわち社会保障番号を“鍵”として、各データをつなぐ。
The access and use of the data by administrative organizations and health insurance associations would be recorded. 本人以外の行政機関や健康保険組合がデータを使用すれば記録が残る。
The panel also envisages that a new card will be issued by municipalities, making it more accessible than a centrally administered card. また、カードは身近な行政窓口である市町村が交付することを想定している。 envisages＝思い描く、心に描く
===
Juki Net should be utilized （住民基本台帳カードの活用すべき）
However, the panel is not expected to go further in exploring the details of a separate new card, apparently considering the possibility of using the same card as is used for Juki Net, the national computerized resident registry network. 検討会はそれ以上、踏み込まない見通しだが、これは住民基本台帳カードの活用を念頭に置いたものであろう。
Building a new social security card system within three years would be inefficient, as it would likely have some overlap with Juki Net, and anyway would be difficult. Allowing the Juki Net card to double as the social security card makes sense, and the government should make a decision on the matter as soon as possible. 住基ネットがあるのに、新たなシステムを３年以内に構築するのは非効率の上に難しい。住基カードを社会保障カードとして使うのが現実的ではないか。政府は早く結論を出すべきだ。
Introducing a social security card and social security number could be extremely beneficial. 社会保障カードと社会保障番号を導入するメリットは大きい。
With the card and number, members of the public could check on their information whenever they wanted, including premiums paid, medical care and other public services received, and anticipated pension benefits. 各制度の保険料をこれまでにいくら納付し、医療などの公的サービスをどれだけ受けてきたか、年金は将来いくら受け取れるのか、といった情報をいつでも確認することができる。
In addition, allowing proper disclosure of information about revenue, expenditures, benefits and liabilities would help people gain a better understanding of the social security system. It would also mean erroneous records could be fixed quickly. これまでの収支や将来の受益見通しの情報がきちんと提供されれば、社会保障制度への理解は深まるだろう。記録に誤りがあれば、迅速に正すこともできる。
===
Increasing scrutiny （高まる安全性）
Allowing the public to see information themselves, and providing a more interactive method of record keeping, would mean management of the social security system would be under constant scrutiny. 「可視化」と「双方向性」が生まれることは、社会保障制度の運営状況を国民が常時監視できるということだ。
Such a system also would remove one of the bureaucratic evils of the "apply first" policy, which places the onus on members of the public to point out problems. It would also streamline the administrative process by meaning cross-system calculations, such as adding up medical and nursing care expenses and issuing refunds, would be carried out automatically. This would save money. 医療と介護にかかった費用を合算して負担が重すぎる分を払い戻すといった、制度をまたがる措置も自動的に行われ、申請主義の弊害はかなり解消する。事務の簡素化で、経費も節減できる。
By utilizing tax payment information, it also would be possible to provide relief for low-income earners, including exempting them from pension premium payments based on a detailed assessment of their income levels. 納税情報を活用することで、所得に応じてきめ細かに年金保険料を免除するといった低所得者対策も可能になるだろう。
The introduction of the social security card system should be promoted steadily and without delay. 着実に、遅滞なく導入を進めるべきである。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 17, 2008) （2008年8月17日02時05分 読売新聞）
(Mainichi Japan) August 16, 2008 Nakamura takes second bronze for women's 200m backstroke 五輪競泳：中村礼子が銅 女子二百背
BEIJING -- Swimmer Reiko Nakamura won the bronze medal in the women's 200-meter backstroke at the Beijing Olympic Games on Saturday, achieving the feat in two consecutive Olympics and setting a new national record time. Nakamura, 26, finished third in the event in 2:07.13, to win Japan's third-ever medal in the event, including the bronze medal won by Miki Nakao at the Sydney Olympic Games in 2000. "I expected the race to be very competitive, but I committed myself to keeping calm and doing my own race," Nakamura said after the competition. "Now that I could largely renew my own record and win the medal that I had aimed at, I'd like to thank people who cheered me and supported me. I learned the importance of challenging," she said. Nakamura is only the second Japanese female competitive swimmer to win two-straight Olympic medals, following Hideko Maehata, who won the silver medal at the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics and the gold medal at the 1936 Berlin Olympics. Nakamura was a favored medal candidate after she recorded a national record time of 2:08.21 and finished fourth during the semifinal of the event on Friday. Kirsty Coventry of Zimbabwe won Saturday's final, setting a world record of 2:05.24.
Words and Phrases: won the bronze medal＝銅メダルを獲得した women's 200-meter backstroke＝女200メートル背泳 achieving the feat in two consecutive Olympics＝二年連続のオリンピックで（メダル獲得の）偉業を成し遂げた setting a new national record time＝日本新記録を樹立した competitive＝競争が激しい I committed myself to keeping calm and doing my own race＝落ち着いて自分のレースをすることができた that I had aimed at＝私が目標としていた、狙っていた cheered＝応援する（過去形） challenging＝挑戦、チャレンジ following Hideko Maehata＝前畑秀子に続いて favored medal candidate＝メダル獲得が有望視されている選手
(Aug. 16, 2008) The Yomiuri Shimbun Negative GDP growth a setback for business ＧＤＰ速報 景気後退示すマイナス成長（8月16日付・読売社説）
The economy has shrunk for the first time in 12 months, according to a preliminary report issued by the Cabinet Office on the nation's gross domestic product. 経済成長率が１年ぶりにマイナスとなった。
The government had already in effect admitted in its August monthly economic report that the economy is in a contraction phase. The latest figures provide concrete evidence for that assertion. 政府が８月の月例経済報告で事実上認めた景気後退が、数字でも裏付けられた。 contraction＝縮小、収縮
The government must draw up stimulus measures to enhance growth minimize the depth and length of the economic downturn. 景気悪化の「深さ」と「長さ」を最小限にとどめるため、成長力強化の取り組みが必要だ。
GDP slumped 2.4 percent in the April-June period from the previous quarter on an annualized basis. The margin of decrease was as large as that for the July-September quarter of 2001, during the last period of economic doldrums. ４～６月期の国内総生産（ＧＤＰ）実質成長率は、年率換算の前期比でマイナス２・４％だった。落ち込み幅は、前回の景気後退期だった２００１年７～９月期以来の大きさとなった。 doldrums＝景気の不振、沈滞
The economy contracted because individual consumption, the main pillar for domestic demand, fell for the first time in almost two years, and the nation's exports, which had been supporting the business boom, also lost momentum. マイナスに転落したのは、内需の柱である個人消費がほぼ２年ぶりに減少に転じ、景気を支えてきた輸出も失速したためだ。 contracted＝景気が失速する momentum＝勢い
Despite the fact that incomes have not risen, import prices of crude oil and grains have surged, causing spikes in the price of food products and daily necessities that have dampened household spending. 収入が増えないのに、原油や穀物の輸入価格高騰で食品や日用品が値上がりし、家計が消費を手控えた。
As a result of the slowdown in the U.S. economy due to the subprime loan problem, exports also fell sharply. The framework under which external demand compensated for weak domestic demand has collapsed. サブプライムローン問題で米国経済が減速した影響で、輸出にも急ブレーキがかかった。ふらつく内需を外需がカバーしてきた構図が崩れてしまった。
===
No positive factors in sight （見通しは暗い）
Since factors other than consumption give little cause for optimism, there is no locomotive for boosting the economy. 消費以外も低調で、景気の牽引役は見当たらない。 locomotive＝機関車、ここでは景気を牽引する要素
Housing starts have declined for the first time in two quarters, directly affected by a jump in the cost of construction materials. 住宅投資は、建設資材の高騰が響いて２期ぶりのマイナスだった。
Spending on public works also has dipped substantially, the first such decline in two years. 公共投資も２年ぶりの大きな落ち込み幅となった。
This came largely as a result of the move by many local governments to freeze construction orders after the suspension for the month of April of the provisionally higher tax on gasoline and other provisional taxes that provide fiscal resources for road construction and maintenance. ４月に道路財源であるガソリン税などの暫定税率が期限切れとなり、多くの地方自治体が工事の発注などを一時的に抑えた影響が大きい。
Fearing a decline in sales, companies cannot pass on to consumers the rise in prices of raw materials to the extent they would like to. 企業は原材料が上がっても売れ行きの減少が心配で、思ったように販売価格に転嫁できない。
This squeezes their profits. It is expected that companies listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange's First Section will see decreases in profits--the first in seven years--for the business year ending March 2009. 利益は圧縮され、東証１部上場企業の来年３月期決算は、７年ぶりに減益に転じる見込みだ。
Recently, signs that unfavorable factors are receding can be seen, as crude oil prices have fallen and the yen has stopped appreciating against the dollar. However, financial markets are still facing uncertainty, so there is no ground for complacency. このところ、原油高や急速な円高に一服感が出るなど、悪材料に解消の兆しも見える。しかし、マーケットの先行きは不透明で、油断はできない。 receding＝後退する complacency＝安心感
Many economists predict the economy will recover in the July-September quarter, posting modest growth. A rapid deterioration in the economy may be avoidable for now, but we have to be prepared for low growth to continue for the foreseeable future. エコノミストの多くは、７～９月期は小幅なプラス成長に回復すると予想する。今のところ、加速度的な景気の悪化は回避できそうだが、しばらくは低成長が続くと覚悟した方がいい。 deterioration＝悪化
===
Quick fiscal fixes not answer （こてさきの景気浮揚策はやめたほうが良い）
The government is expected to map out a comprehensive economic pump-priming package within this month. Members of the ruling parties have increasingly been calling for stimulus measures, such as an income tax cut, and for the government to put back its deadlines for realizing fiscal health. 政府は月内にも総合経済対策をまとめる。与党内では、所得税減税などの景気てこ入れ策や、財政健全化目標の先送りを求める声が強まっている。
Economic stimulus measures such as tax cuts and additional public works projects may work as temporary remedies, but they will do little to strengthen the economy's fundamentals and boost growth in the long term. だが、減税や公共事業の追加などの景気浮揚策は、一時的なカンフル剤とはなっても、日本経済の体質を強化し、成長力を高める効果は期待しにくい。
The government should focus on measures to ameliorate the effects of high raw materials prices that have aggravated the economic situation and on assistance to help industry carry out structural reforms. It should not resort to quick-fix fiscal measures. 景気悪化を招いた原材料高ショックを和らげる緊急措置や、産業構造の転換支援などに絞り、安易な財政出動は避けるべきだ。 ameliorate＝改善する resort＝～にたよる、～に訴える
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 16, 2008) （2008年8月16日01時59分 読売新聞）
(Mainichi Japan) August 15, 2008 Satoshi Ishii takes heavyweight judo gold at Beijing Olympics 五輪柔道：「勝利にこだわる」…石井が有言実行の金
BEIJING (AP) -- Satoshi Ishii won Japan's fourth gold medal as the Olympic judo competition ended Friday, defeating Uzbekhistan's Abdullo Tangriev in the men's over 100-kilogram division. Ishii, making his Olympic debut, went ahead on points and held on to the bell as Tangriev fought a defensive match and failed to mount any serious offensives. Ishii took the lead with a koka point, and nearly ended it with 1 minute, 30 seconds left when he executed a sweep that narrowly failed to fall his opponent. He got a yuko to widen the margin and Tangriev could find no room to fight back. Winning bronze were Cuba's Oscar Brayson, who defeated Mohammad Reza Rodaki of Iran, and France's Teddy Riner, who pinned Georgia's Lasha Gujejiani. Judo awards two bronze medals in each weight class.
Words and Phrases: defeating＝打ち破る、打ち負かす、やっつける fought a defensive match＝守りに徹した戦いをする failed to mount any serious offensives＝積極的な攻撃をしかけることが出来なかった he executed a sweep that narrowly failed to fall his opponent＝（終了間際に）すばやい技で相手を倒そうとしたが（完全には）決まらなかった got a yuko＝（柔道の）有効ポイントを得た widen the margin＝（勝利のための）幅（可能性）をひろげる no room to fight back＝（戦況を逆転するための）手段を失った Judo awards two bronze medals in each weight class＝オリンピック柔道では各クラスで２名に銅メダルを授与する
(Mainichi Japan) August 15, 2008 Fukuda apologizes as Japan marks 63rd anniversary of end of war 終戦記念日：恒久平和貢献誓う 戦没者追悼式で福田首相
Japan marked the 63rd anniversary of the end of World War II on Friday, with Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda apologizing for Japan's attacks on Asian countries during the war. At a ceremony held at the Nippon Budokan in Tokyo's Chiyoda-ku, about 6,000 people -- including the families of the war dead -- mourned those who died in the war. Also in attendance at the government-led ceremony were Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko and representatives of various sectors. Fukuda, who attended the ceremony for the first time as prime minister, apologized in his address for Japan's responsibility for atrocities in Asian countries and pledged that Japan will contribute to lasting peace in the world. During the ceremony, those in attendance offered a one-minute silent prayer for the war dead, which was followed by addresses by the Emperor, speakers of both Houses of the Diet and a representativs of the bereaved families of the war dead. About 70 percent of the families of the war dead in attendance were children and grandchildren of the war dead. Across Japan, about 46,000 people were to attend events held in 34 prefectures to mourn the war dead on Friday, according to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare. A total of about 3.1 million Japanese -- about 2.3 million military and paramilitary personnel and about 800,000 civilians -- died in the Sino-Japanese War and World War II. There has been a spate of ongoing lawsuits filed across the nation over the war. The survivors of the atomic bombings in Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August 1945 have been seeking a further review of standards in recognizing them as suffering from A-bomb-related diseases. The bereaved families of the victims of the Great Tokyo Air Raids in March 1945 and survivors have filed class action suits against the government seeking over 1.4 billion yen in compensation.
Ｗｏｒｄｓ and Phrases: anniversary of the end of World War II＝終戦記念日（第二次世界大戦の終結記念日） government-led＝政府主催の Japan will contribute to lasting peace in the world＝日本は世界の恒久平和に貢献します（努力します） a one-minute silent prayer for the war dead＝戦没者のための一分間の黙祷 a representativs of the bereaved families of the war dead＝戦没者の遺族代表 to mourn the war dead＝戦没者の死をいたむため about 2.3 million military and paramilitary personnel＝230万人の軍人および関係者（軍属） about 800,000 civilians＝万人の民間人 Sino-Japanese War and World War II＝日中戦争と第二次世界大戦（第二次大戦） a spate of＝～であふれている seeking a further review of standards＝さらなる基準のみなおしを求めて bereaved families＝遺族 the Great Tokyo Air Raids＝東京大空襲 class action suits seeking over 1.4 billion yen in compensation＝総額１４億円の賠償を求めて
Related articles Hibakusha: Passing down the warmth of Dr. Nagai 6 high school 'peace ambassadors' to head to UN Europe to seek elimination of nukes Thousands remember atomic bombing of Nagasaki on 63rd anniversary Full text of 2008 Nagasaki Peace Declaration Hibakusha tells story of how atomic bombing led to life of suffering for unborn sister Thousands mark 63rd anniversary of atomic bombing of Hiroshima Full text of 2008 Hiroshima Peace Declaration
(Aug. 15, 2008) The Yomiuri Shimbun Aug. 15, a day for peaceful prayer ８月１５日 静かな追悼の日としたい（8月15日付・読売社説）
It is once again Aug. 15, the day when national memorial services are held for the war dead. As the years have gone by, this date marking the end of the war in 1945 is becoming a historical memory. 平成２０年８月１５日。今年もまた、全国戦没者追悼式の日を迎えた。時代は巡り、昭和２０年の「あの日」は遠い歴史の記憶となりつつある。
However, despite the passage of time, the significance of paying tribute to the memory of those who sacrificed their lives for this country and of pledging peace on this day has not changed. だが、歳月は流れても、国のために犠牲となった人々を追悼し、平和を誓うこの日の意義は、いささかも変わらない。
The memorial service to be held today at the Nippon Budokan in Kudan, Tokyo, is the nation's supreme event as it is attended by the Emperor, the Empress and the heads of the three branches of state power: the prime minister, the heads of both chambers of the Diet and the chief justice of the Supreme Court. 東京・九段の日本武道館で行われる全国戦没者追悼式は、天皇、皇后両陛下をはじめ、首相、衆参両院議長、最高裁長官という三権の長がそろって出席する国家としての最高の行事である。
This date also is a day on which heated debates are held over Yasukuni Shrine, which enshrines Class-A war criminals along with war dead. この日は「Ａ級戦犯」が合祀されている靖国神社をめぐり、熱い議論が交わされる日でもある。
"Yasukuni," a documentary film by a Chinese director that received much attention earlier this year, focused on military swords known as Yasukuni-to crafted on the shrine's premises. 先ごろ話題になった中国人監督によるドキュメンタリー映画「靖国」は、かつて靖国神社の境内で作られた「靖国刀」と呼ばれる軍刀に焦点をあてている。
The movie appears to have depicted the shrine by overlapping it with the image of militarism. 靖国神社の存在を、軍国主義と重ね合わせて描いているようだ。
But ordinary Japanese can never imagine militarism being revived in this country. しかし、普通の日本人ならば、軍国主義が復活するなどということは、およそ想像もできないことだろう。
Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda has explicitly said he will not visit Yasukuni Shrine. Before assuming the post of prime minister, Fukuda said, "In relations between a country and another country, it's unnecessary to dare do something that the other would dislike." Those remarks were made with China and other countries in mind. 福田首相は靖国神社に参拝しないと明言している。「国と国の関係で、相手の嫌がることをあえてする必要はない」と、首相就任の前から語っている。中国などを念頭に置いての発言だ。
Last year, then Prime Minister Shinzo Abe did not visit Yasukuni Shrine. Abe took an "ambiguous strategy" of not mentioning whether he would or would not visit the shrine. 昨年、安倍前首相も靖国神社参拝を見送ったが、「参拝する」か「しない」かについては明言しない“あいまい戦略”をとった。
Recently, the former prime minister spoke of this strategy, saying he thought he did not need to do something that would provoke China and worsen relations with Beijing, but that he also thought he should not abandon the "possibility and right to visit Yasukuni Shrine." いたずらに中国との関係を悪化させ、無用な刺激を与えるようなことをする必要はないが、「靖国神社に行く可能性と権利」まで手放してはならないと考えた。最近になって、安倍前首相はこう述懐している。
===
The dissenting tribunal judge （問題のある戦争裁判）
In his visit to India in late August last year, Abe met with the eldest son of the late Radhabinod Pal. Pal served as a judge representing India in the International Military Tribunal for the Far East, which is better known as the Tokyo Tribunal. 安倍前首相は、昨年８月末にインドを訪問した際に、極東国際軍事裁判（東京裁判）でインド代表判事を務めたパル判事の遺族と面会している。
Pal was the only justice among 11 judges to present not guilty verdicts to all accused in the tribunal. １１人の裁判官の中でただ一人、被告全員を無罪としたのがパル判事だった。
Biographies and other books on Pal have been published recently, leading to a renewed interest in the man. パル判事については、その評伝などが相次いで刊行され、改めて注目が集まっている。
Publishing Pal's dissenting opinion was banned under the occupation of GHQ. 「パル判決書」は、連合国軍総司令部（ＧＨＱ）の占領下では、公刊が禁じられていた。 dissenting＝異議を唱える
On April 28, 1952, the San Francisco Peace Treaty took effect and Japan regained its sovereignty. Immediately after the treaty took effect, Pal's decision was published as "Nihon Muzairon" (On Japan's Innocence: The Truth on Trial) in abridged translation and became an instant best seller. １９５２年４月２８日にサンフランシスコ講和条約が発効して、日本の主権が回復された直後、「日本無罪論」のタイトルで刊行された抄訳は、たちまちベストセラーとなった。 abridged＝話を要約する
However, there was debate at that time whether the expression "Nihon Muzairon," which is directly translated as "Japan innocence theory," was appropriate. In recent years, a similar debate has taken place. ただ、「日本無罪論」という表現を、疑問視する議論も一部にあった。最近、そうした論争が再燃している。
The Pal decision does not deny that barbaric and cruel actions such as the killing of civilians and other violent acts took place in Imperial Japanese Army-occupied areas. パル判決は、日本軍の占領地で民間人の殺戮、暴行などの蛮行が伴ったことは否定していない。
However, the main point of the Pal decision is that it is impossible to deliver judgement on the defendants in light of international law at that time. しかし、パル判決の核心は、当時の国際法に照らし、被告たちを裁くことは出来ないと判断した点にある。 defendants＝被告人
He thought the Tokyo Tribunal was a "sham employment of legal process for satisfaction of a thirst for revenge" by the victorious against the defeated. In light of their history of imperialism and colonial rule, the United States and Europe were not qualified to try Japan, he argued. 東京裁判は、勝者の敗者に対する「儀式化された復讐」であるとし、欧米諸国にはその帝国主義と植民地支配の歴史に照らして、日本を裁く資格などないとした。 sham＝偽の、まがいものの
Should the indiscriminate destruction of lives and property of noncombatants be an issue, he pointed out, the decision to use atomic bombs "is the only near approach to the directives...of the Nazi leaders." 非戦闘員の生命財産の無差別破壊を問題とするなら、原爆使用の決定こそ「ナチス指導者たちの指令に近似した唯一のもの」とも指摘している。 noncombatants＝非戦闘員
===
War responsibilities （戦争責任）
However, separately from the issue whether war crimes existed under international law, responsibility surely exists. しかし、国際法上の戦争犯罪の有無とは別個に、戦争責任の問題は存在する。
Why did Japan start a reckless, unwinnable war and leave huge numbers of victims at home and abroad? 日本はなぜ勝算もないまま無謀な戦争を始め、国内外に多大の犠牲者を出してしまったのか。 reckless＝むちゃな、無謀な
Was it impossible for the country to prevent the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki through actions to end the war peacefully beforehand? 終戦工作を積極的に進めることで、広島と長崎への原爆投下を防ぐことは出来なかったのか。
Starting in the summer of 2005, the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II, The Yomiuri Shimbun spent a year reexamining the responsibilities of Japan's wartime political and military leaders. 読売新聞は、戦後６０年の節目を迎えた２００５年の夏から１年間にわたって、日本の政治、軍事指導者たちの戦争責任についての検証を行った。
The Yomiuri reexamination committee concluded that those whom it judged responsible for war crimes were indeed many of the Class-A war criminals of the Showa War at the Tokyo Tribunal, including former Prime Minister Hideki Tojo. 結果としては、東条英機元首相ら多くの東京裁判「Ａ級戦犯」が昭和戦争の責任者と重なった。
The committee also deemed certain Class-A war criminals as not severely responsible, and also judged others that were not subject to the Tokyo Tribunal as having bore heavy responsibilities in the Sino-Japanese War and in starting the war against the United States. しかし、重大な戦争責任があったとは思われない「Ａ級戦犯」もいた。一方では、日中戦争や日米開戦などについて重い責任を有しながら、裁判の対象にはならなかった人もいた。
===
Shifting attitudes on Yasukuni （安国問題は議論が分かれる）
Opinion on the so-called separate enshrinement issue of Class-A war criminals at Yasukuni Shrine has changed since a memorandum describing the feelings of late Emperor Showa by former Imperial Household Agency Grand Steward Tomohiko Tomita was found in 2006. いわゆる「Ａ級戦犯」の靖国合祀・分祀問題については、２００６年、富田朝彦元宮内庁長官のメモが発見され、昭和天皇の気持ちが明らかにされて以来、議論の流れが変わった。
The memo revealed that Emperor Showa was displeased with the enshrinement of Class-A criminals with the war dead at the shrine. （昭和天皇はＡ級戦犯の靖国神社への合祀をよろこんでおられなかった…translated by srachai）
It has been learned that the separate enshrinement issue has been talked about recently even among members of the Japan War Bereaved Families Association (Nippon Izokukai), an association of families of the war dead. 最近では日本遺族会の中でも、分祀論が出ているという。
At present, it is most likely that the government again will not earmark in next fiscal year's budget costs for a preliminary investigation into constructing a national, nonreligious memorial for the purpose of resolving this issue. 国立追悼施設の建設に向けた調査費は来年度予算案でも計上が見送られる模様だ。 earmark=予算化する、予算をとっておく
However, if the Yasukuni side does not take appropriate action, the argument will gain momentum for expanding the Chidorigafuchi National Cemetery for the War Dead in central Tokyo so that it can be the main facility for the Emperor to offer prayers. しかし、靖国神社側が、適切な対応をしなければ、千鳥ヶ淵戦没者墓苑を拡充するなどして天皇参拝の中心施設にすべきだという議論が、今後勢いを増していくことになるのではないか。 momentum＝いきおい
We hope the issue of a national memorial facility will be settled at the earliest possible date to make Aug. 15 the day for all Japanese people to commemorate peacefully the nation's war dead. 追悼施設の問題に一日も早く決着をつけ、国民が一致して静かに戦没者を追悼する８月１５日となってほしい。 commemorate＝追悼する
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 15, 2008) （2008年8月15日02時20分 読売新聞）
}
