The Yomiuri Shimbun(Jun. 30, 2009) Nishikawa's return subject to conditions 郵政株主総会 西川社長再任は条件付きだ（6月30日付・読売社説）
Will the reappointment of Japan Post Holdings' incumbent directors improve the corporate culture of the scandal-tainted company? 数々の不祥事を起こした日本郵政の体質が、これで変わるだろうか。
The government, as the company's sole stockholder, approved the reappointment of all of Japan Post Holdings' nine directors, including Yoshifumi Nishikawa as president, at a general meeting of shareholders held at its head office in Kasumigaseki, Tokyo, on Monday. The decision on personnel was then finalized with the approval of Internal Affairs and Communications Minister Tsutomu Sato, who is responsible for overseeing Japan's postal system. ２９日に開かれた日本郵政の株主総会で、国は西川善文社長ら取締役９人全員の再任を承認し、佐藤総務相も人事を認可した。
The government decided to let the current management continue to operate Japan Post after it examined and accepted the company's responses to its business improvement order--imposed after the envisaged sale of Kampo no Yado hotels and resort facilities at unreasonably low prices came to light--and the company's punitive actions against the employees involved, including pay cuts for Nishikawa and the other directors. 「かんぽの宿」売却に関する業務改善命令への回答や、西川社長ら役員の報酬カットなど社内処分を受け入れ、現経営陣にかじ取りを任せた。
However, a majority of the public are very critical of Nishikawa's reappointment, according to several opinion polls. The opposition Democratic Party of Japan said that it would fire Nishikawa if the party wins the upcoming House of Representatives election and takes power. Nishikawa should run the company in a humble manner, considering his reappointment as Japan Post president is subject to conditions. しかし、続投については国民の多くが強く批判しており、民主党も衆院選で勝利して政権を取った場合は、更迭する意向を表明している。西川社長は、あくまで条件付きの再任と受け止め、謙虚に経営にあたらねばならない。
The bidding on the Kampo no Yado hotels was handled in a very suspicious way with higher bids not chosen and no record kept of the negotiation process. 「かんぽの宿」の入札では、高額での購入提案が選ばれず、交渉過程の記録もないなど、極めて不自然だった。
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Staff held accountable
Four of the company's senior officials, who came from Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp. and were known as "Team Nishikawa," have been held responsible for that and will be dismissed soon to return to the bank. But, Nishikawa, too, bears heavy responsibility for letting his staff get out of control. こうした責任を問われ、三井住友銀行出身で、「チーム西川」と呼ばれた幹部４人は近く解任されて、銀行に戻る。部下の暴走を許した西川社長の責任は重い。
According to the company's business improvement plan, Japan Post will establish a new management advisory committee to monitor its problem-plagued management system. The company will also create a new post of chairman and appoint one of the external board members to the post. The chairman will double as head of the committee. To accomplish the improvement plan's aims, the current external board members who overlooked the scandals should not stay, but should be replaced with new members invited from outside the company. 多くの問題が見つかった経営手法を監視するため、経営諮問会議を新設する。議長は社外取締役から選ぶ会長が兼任する。趣旨を生かすには、不祥事を見過ごしてきた現在の社外取締役でなく、外部から新たに招くのが筋だ。
According to Japan Post's plan, the Kampo no Yado enterprise, which is the original cause of the whole problem, posted a deficit of 5.4 billion yen in fiscal 2008 but should move into the black in fiscal 2011. 問題の発端となったかんぽの宿は、２００８年度に５４億円の赤字だった事業を、１１年度に黒字にする計画という。
The turnaround is intended to allow Japan Post to sell the resort facilities at higher prices, but can Japan Post end the hotels' chronic deficits through only such conventional measures as developing a new customer base and reducing labor costs? 高値で売却するためだが、新規顧客の開拓や人件費削減などありきたりの方策で、長年の赤字体質から抜け出せるのだろうか。
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Deadline looming
The Kampo no Yado hotels are required to be either sold or shut down and liquidated by autumn 2012. If business conditions remain tough, such as lingering doldrums in real estate prices, Japan Post should consider the option of disposing of those facilities with huge deficits first, but waiting for better circumstances to sell the others. かんぽの宿は２０１２年の秋までに売却か廃止が義務づけられている。不動産価格の低迷が長引くなど環境が悪ければ、赤字の大きい施設などは処分しつつ、有利な売り時を待つ選択肢もあろう。
In the privatization of postal services, it is necessary to both promote efficiency and and preserve the universality of services such as mail delivery. We must closely monitor the postal service privatization to prevent it from focusing exclusively on efficiency and make it an instance of privatization the public can consider a success as the internal affairs and communication minister said. 民営化では、効率アップと郵便などのサービス維持の両立が求められる。効率一辺倒になっていないか、佐藤総務相の言う「国民が良かったと思う民営化」にできるか厳しく監視せねばならない。
Both Japan Post Bank and Japan Post Insurance will be fully privatized by October 2017. ゆうちょ銀行とかんぽ生命保険は、２０１７年１０月までに完全民営化する。
But, the two companies will be criticized for "oppressing private companies" if they try to expand their businesses to seek sufficient revenues in preparation for full privatization. It is essential for them to sufficiently explain their actions to win the public's understanding. 独り立ちに必要な収益を求めて業務を拡大すれば、「民業圧迫」の批判も出るだろう。理解を得るための説明が欠かせない。
However, Nishikawa seems to be insincere at times as he refused to hold press conferences on some important occasions, such as when he gave the final business improvement report to the Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry. We would like to ask him to be fully accountable as president of Japan Post Holdings. 西川社長は、総務省への最終報告など節目で記者会見に応じないなど、誠実さに欠ける面も見られた。説明責任をしっかり果たすよう求めたい。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 30, 2009) （2009年6月30日01時59分 読売新聞）
The Yomiuri Shimbun(Jun. 29, 2009) United front needed in confronting N. Korea 日韓首脳会談 忍耐強く「北」に圧力をかけよ（6月29日付・読売社説）
As long as North Korea does not change its provocative attitude, it is important for the international community to patiently continue to put pressure on the country. 北朝鮮が挑戦的な姿勢を改めない以上、国際社会は忍耐強く圧力をかけ続けることが肝要だ。
During a summit meeting in Tokyo on Sunday, Prime Minister Taro Aso and South Korean President Lee Myung Bak reaffirmed that "Pyongyang's nuclear development poses a serious threat and is not acceptable." They also agreed on the importance of bilateral cooperation, as well as working with the United States, in dealing with North Korea, aiming for the "faithful implementation" of a U.N. Security Council resolution on sanctions against North Korea. 麻生首相と李明博韓国大統領は２８日の会談で、北朝鮮の核開発は「重大な脅威で容認できない」（麻生首相）と改めて確認した。日米韓が連携し、国連安全保障理事会の制裁決議の「忠実な履行」（李大統領）を目指すことでも一致した。
After North Korea conducted a nuclear test in 2006, the United States lifted its own financial sanctions against North Korea to get the country back to the six-party talks. In addition, the United States continued to take a soft approach by supplying heavy oil and removing the country from its list of state sponsors of terrorism. ３年前の核実験後、北朝鮮を６か国協議に復帰させるため、米国は独自の金融制裁を解除した。さらに、重油支援やテロ支援国指定の解除とアメを与え続けた。
However, the process of verifying that Pyongyang's declared nuclear programs had been halted and all its existing nuclear facilities had been disabled was left unfinished. しかし、北朝鮮の核計画の申告や核施設の無能力化作業は中途半端で、検証も実現しなかった。
The same mistakes should not be repeated. It is natural not to reward North Korea for returning to the six-party talks and it is indispensable to impose harsh punishment on reckless deeds that ignored the warnings of the international community. 今回は、その轍(てつ)を踏んではなるまい。協議への復帰に見返りを与えないのは当然であり、国際社会の警告を無視した暴挙には厳罰で臨むことが不可欠だ。
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China's role vital
The success of the U.N. Security Council resolution on sanctions against North Korea, including cargo inspections, depends on how China deals with North Korea because Beijing has a large influence on Pyongyang through trade and food and energy assistance. 貨物検査など国連決議の履行の成否は、貿易や食糧・エネルギー支援を通じて北朝鮮に影響力を持つ中国の対応にかかっている。
China also clearly said that it will not allow possession of nuclear weapons by North Korea. Strengthening military deterrence among Japan, South Korea and the United States to counter Pyongyang's nuclear and missile threats is not desirable for China. 中国も、北朝鮮の核保有を認めないと明言している。北朝鮮の核とミサイルに対抗するため、日米韓が軍事的抑止力を高める構図は中国に望ましいものではない。
It is extremely important to continue to urge China to make a "responsible response" to North Korea, including putting pressure on the country. 中国に対し、北朝鮮への圧力を含む「責任ある対応」を促し続けることが極めて重要となる。
Many observers pointed out that the aim of Pyongyang's missile launches and nuclear tests is not to just strengthen its bargaining chip against the United States, but also are tied to the domestic situation and the need to solidify the regime of the successor to North Korean leader Kim Jong Il. 北朝鮮のミサイル発射や核実験の狙いが、単なる対米交渉カードの強化ではなく、金正日総書記の後継体制を固めるという国内事情にある、との見方が多い。
If this is true, it is possible North Korea could turn a deaf ear to warnings by relevant countries and dare to launch longer-range missiles. The international community needs to prepare for a long war. 事実なら、北朝鮮が今後も、関係国の働きかけに耳を貸さず、より長射程のミサイル発射などに走る可能性が否定できない。国際社会は長期戦の覚悟が必要だ。
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Deeper discussions
Meanwhile, it is important to discuss a new type of consultation in preparation for a future return of North Korea to the six-party talks. If the talks continue as five-party talks without North Korea, as proposed by Lee, such an occasion would be a good opportunity to deepen the discussion for that purpose. 一方で、北朝鮮がいずれ対話に戻る時に備えて、新たな協議のあり方を検討しておくことが大切だ。李大統領の提唱する日米中韓露の５か国協議が実現すれば、その議論を深める機会となろう。
The framework of the six-party talks itself is reasonable and it should be maintained in terms of the role it affords Japan in handling issues related to North Korea. Furthermore, participating countries should rack their brains for measures to apply the brakes to any future nuclear test by Pyongyang and ways to lead North Korea toward nuclear disarmament . ５か国と北朝鮮による６か国協議の枠組み自体は合理的であり、日本の発言権を確保する観点からも維持したい。さらに、北朝鮮に二度と核実験を行わせないための歯止め措置や、核廃棄に誘導する方法論に知恵を絞るべきだ。
In Sunday's summit meeting, Aso and Lee also agreed to promote cooperation on assistance for Afghanistan and Pakistan, and on antipiracy efforts off Somalia. 首脳会談では、アフガニスタン・パキスタン支援やソマリア沖の海賊対策について、日韓協力を推進することでも合意した。
Since the start of Lee's administration in February 2008, the bilateral relationship between Japan and South Korea has strengthened in a wide range of fields. We hope that the two countries will establish a stronger relationship of trust by achieving tangible results. 昨年２月の李政権発足以来、日韓関係は幅広い分野で強化されてきた。具体的な実績を上げ、より強固な信頼関係を築きたい。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 29, 2009) （2009年6月29日01時43分 読売新聞）
The Yomiuri Shimbun(Jun. 28, 2009) Farmland reform aims to revitalize agriculture 平成農地改革 農業再生の第一歩となれば（6月28日付・読売社説）
The idea of arresting the decline of agriculture by shifting the focus of the farmland system from ownership to effective use informs the revised Agricultural Land Law, which recently passed the Diet. 農地制度の軸足を「所有」から「利用」に移して農業の衰退に歯止めをかける。こんな狙いを込めた改正農地法が、国会で成立した。
This is a major revision in that the owner-cultivator system maintained since the postwar farmland reform, which gave ownership of farmland to those who cultivate it, was overhauled. The revised law allows letting and leasing of farmland in principle and has eased regulations on the entry of corporate entities into agribusinesses. 農地解放以来の「農地は耕作者のもの」とする「自作農主義」を見直す大改正だ。農地の貸借を原則自由とし、企業の農業への参入規制も緩和する。
The biggest problems that the nation's agriculture industry faces are a dearth of farmers and low productivity. It is an urgent task to promote the entry of corporations into the agribusiness sector as a major player in the industry and improve efficiency. The enactment of the revised law should serve as the first step toward revitalizing the nation's agricultural sector, and the so-called Heisei-era farmland reform should be carried out as soon as possible. 日本の農業の最大の課題は、担い手不足と低い生産性にある。企業の農業参入を促して新たな担い手とし、効率化を進めることが急務だ。改正農地法の成立を農業再生の第一歩とし、「平成の農地改革」の実現を急ぐべきだ。
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Fears over rise in land misuse
Farmland that companies may lease had been limited mainly to abandoned land. But under the new system, companies may also lease prime land. Tenure, which had been limited to 20 years, has been extended to 50 years. 企業が借りられる農地はこれまで耕作放棄地などに限られていたが、今後は優良農地も借りられるようになる。最長２０年だった貸借期間も５０年に延長された。
At the same time, consolidation of farmland for lease is expected to be promoted. Regardless of who is the lessee, the government will provide subsidies to farmers who let their land. Municipal governments and agricultural cooperatives will systematically provide information on farmland available for lease to prospective lessees. 同時に、貸し出す農地の集約事業も進める。借り手を問わずに農地を貸し出す農家に国が交付金を出し、市町村や農協が農地をまとめて借り手に紹介する。
It will be easier to improve efficiency with the use of agricultural machinery if farmland is consolidated. It also is expected that abandoned farmland, which totals about 400,000 hectares nationwide, will be reduced by letting it in combination with prime farmland. まとまった農地なら、機械化による効率経営を進めやすい。他の農地と「まとめ貸し」をすることで、全国に約４０万ヘクタールある耕作放棄地を減らす効果も期待できる。
But there still is much work to do to ensure that farmland is used more efficiently. ただ、農地の有効利用には、なお残された課題も多い。
There are concerns that the law revision may lead to an increase in the number of cases in which borrowed land is illegally diverted for such purposes as parking lots and garbage dumps. 心配なのは、借りた農地を駐車場やごみ捨て場などに不正転用するケースが増えることだ。
In 2008 alone, farmland with an area equivalent to 121 Tokyo Domes was illegally diverted for other purposes. In 90 percent of such cases, local governments reportedly rubber-stamped the misuse of the land in question, thus benefiting those acting illegally. ２００８年だけで、東京ドーム１２１個分の農地が不正に転用されている。その９割は自治体が不正転用を追認しており、「やり得」というのが実態だ。
Under the revised law, the upper limit of fines imposed on companies that illicitly use farmland for purposes other than farming has been raised from the previous 3 million yen to 100 million yen. But this toughened penalty will have only a limited effect. 改正法では不正転用した企業に科す罰金の上限を３００万円から１億円に引き上げたが、罰則の強化だけでは限界がある。
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Watchdogs must stay alert
Municipal governments' agricultural committees are in charge of checking whether farmland is being used illegally. But it is indispensable to drastically review the function of these committees. It is said that registries containing such information as the size of farmland and its ownership are not updated in some cases. Concerned officials should first grasp the actual situation in the areas they administer and crack down on the illegal use of farmland. 転用の監視役は市町村の農業委員会だが、その抜本的見直しが不可欠だ。農地面積や権利関係を記した基本台帳すら、過去の記録のまま放置されている例があるという。まず地域の実態を把握し、厳しく転用を取り締まるべきだ。
The increase in the maximum tenure period raises the risk that leased farmland will not be returned within the due period, or that it will be misused. If farmers, feeling concerned about such potential problems, become reluctant to let their land, the entry of companies into the agribusiness industry will not be facilitated. Companies will not be able to win trust from landowners if they withdraw from agribusinesses just because they failed to make a quick profit. 貸借期間が長期化すれば、期限が来ても返されなかったり、改廃されたりする恐れが高まる。農家がこれを嫌って貸し出しを渋れば企業の参入は進まない。企業が目先の収益だけで撤退するようでも貸し手の信頼は得られない。
To ensure that the revised law does not end up pie in the sky, it is important for farmland letters and lessees to have mutual understanding. Pursuing efficiency and cost-effectiveness alone is unlikely to lead to the stable management of the agribusiness sector. Companies, as a vital player in the industry, must bear this in mind as they seek synergy with regional agriculture. 改正法を絵に描いたモチに終わらせないためには、貸し手と借り手の相互理解が重要だ。効率化やコスト意識だけでは、安定した農業経営はできない。担い手の一人として、企業は地域農業との共生を忘れてはならない。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 28, 2009) （2009年6月28日01時36分 読売新聞）
The Yomiuri Shimbun(Jun. 27, 2009) Take every step to fight deflation 物価大幅下落 デフレ退治に最善を尽くせ（6月27日付・読売社説）
Are we seeing the start of a vicious circle in which both the economy and prices decline simultaneously? 景気と物価が同時に落ち込むデフレの悪循環が始まったのだろうか。
The nationwide consumer price index fell 1.1 percent in May, year on year, recording the largest drop since the end of World War II. ５月の全国消費者物価は前年同月比１・１％低下して、戦後最大の下落率を更新した。
The previous biggest fall in the CPI was 1 percent, recorded in May 2001. At that time, the Bank of Japan was fighting deflation, using the quantitative easing policy for the first time. これまで最大の下落率は１・０％、記録したのは２００１年５月だった。当時、日銀は初の量的金融緩和でデフレと戦っていた。
Prices have dropped more steeply than those at that time, and the pace of decline is expected to quicken. その時より物価は下がり、今後さらに下落率は拡大が見込まれる。
In the summer of 2000, the central bank lifted its zero-interest-rate policy on the strength of its optimistic view on the outlook for the economy. The move aggravated deflation. ２０００年夏、日銀は景気の先行きを楽観してゼロ金利政策を解除し、デフレを悪化させた。
This time, one misstep could lead to deflationary spiral. Now that the economy has shown slight signs of recovery, every measure needs to be taken to fight deflation. 今回も一歩誤れば、連鎖が止まらぬ「デフレスパイラル」を招きかねない。景気に薄日が差す今こそ、デフレ退治に最善を尽くすべきだ。
The effects of falls in crude oil and grain prices, which skyrocketed last year, are huge. However, prices of items excluding gasoline and food are increasingly falling. Even disregarding these special factors, current circumstances will tend to push the economy further into deflation. 前年に高騰した原油や穀物の価格が、一転して下がった影響は大きい。だが、ガソリンや食料を除いた物価も下げ幅の拡大が続いている。特殊要因を除いても、デフレ圧力は強いと見た方がいい。
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Domestic demand anemic
One major factor is the slump in domestic demand, including consumption. 主な原因は、消費をはじめとした内需の低迷である。
Department store sales have posted declines for 15 months in a row, and supermarket sales have fallen for six straight months. 百貨店は１５か月連続、スーパーも６か月連続で売上高が減った。
Many stores have cut the prices of items they sell and brought forward summer sales. This is because goods tend not to sell unless they are marked down. Department stores are struggling to sell clothing items, but low-price brand stores are doing good business. 夏のセールの前倒しなど、値下げの動きが広がるのは、安くしないと売れないからだ。百貨店で不振の衣料品も、低価格ブランドの専門店は売れ行き好調という。
With shrinking incomes due to corporate restructuring and cuts in overtime work, households are have been sharply reining in their spending. As a result, companies are engaged in price wars, leading to a decline in profits. This in turn translates into wage cuts. リストラや残業カットで収入が減り、家計は少しでも安い商品を選ぶようになる。その結果、企業は値下げ競争に走って利益が減り、さらなる賃下げを招く。
Curtailing spending is the right choice for individuals, but at the macroeconomic level, it prolongs a slump. In this regard, deflation is an intractable disease that robs an economy of dynamism. 節約は個人の正しい選択だが、経済全体の停滞は長く深くなる。デフレは、経済の活力を奪う「難病」なのだ。
One major problem is the 45 trillion yen demand-supply shortfall. So that the effects of current economic measures can kick in, the government must come up with new policies seamlessly. 問題は日本経済全体で４５兆円の需要不足にある。景気対策の効果が息切れしないよう、切れ目ない政策対応が必要となる。
Measures that can boost demand--such as programs to fight unemployment, aid for medical and nursing care, and promotion of growing businesses, such as those in the environmental and energy-saving fields--must be given priority. Belt-tightening polices such as across-the-board cuts in social security spending are a no-no under deflation. 失業対策や医療・介護現場への支援、環境・省エネなど成長産業の振興など、高い需要創出が見込める事業を優先したい。社会保障費の一律カットなど緊縮政策は、デフレ下では禁物である。
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Quantitative easing needed
If pessimistic views that deflation will deepen prevail, the economic situation may drastically deteriorate. 「デフレが深刻になる」という悲観論が広がると、事態が急激に悪化する恐れが出てくる。
To combat the financial crisis that started in autumn, the Bank of Japan has supplied a large amount of funds to the market by purchasing long-term government bonds and corporate bonds, and the market has calmed down. 日銀は昨秋からの金融危機を沈静化させるため、長期国債や社債の買い入れで資金を大量供給し、市場は落ち着きを取り戻した。
The main battlefield of monetary policy likely will shift to deflation. The central bank would be advised to come up with comprehensive quantitative easing measures with numerical targets and pledge those measures will be maintained until prices start to rise. 今後はデフレが金融政策の主戦場となろう。数値目標を掲げる全面的な量的緩和に踏み切り、物価がプラスになるまで続けると約束してはどうか。
The Bank of Japan needs to show its determination to fight against the malignancy of deflation. 日銀は、悪性のデフレを防ぐ決意を示してほしい。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 27, 2009) （2009年6月27日01時28分 読売新聞）
The Yomiuri Shimbun(Jun. 26, 2009) Transport ministry needs to recheck its checks 官製談合 あきれ果てた国交省の体質（6月26日付・読売社説）
Another bid-rigging case involving officials at the Construction and Transport Ministry has bubbled to the surface. The ministry needs to seriously reflect on the preventive measures it has taken following previous scandals. またも国土交通省の官製談合が発覚した。これまでの再発防止策は、一体何だったのか。国交省は猛省すべきだ。
Suspecting that ministry officials were involved in bid-rigging practices related to official vehicle services for the ministry's Hokkaido Regional Development Bureau, the Fair Trade Commission issued the ministry with a remedial action under a law that forbids collusive bidding by government officials. 公正取引委員会は、国交省の出先機関、北海道開発局が発注した公用車の運転・管理業務の談合に職員が関与していたとして、官製談合防止法に基づき、国交省に改善措置を求めた。
The FTC issued the order, citing a violation of the Antimonopoly Law, to stop bid-rigging practices by 10 companies that had won contracts for official vehicle services for the ministry's Hokkaido Regional Development Bureau and eight other regional bureaus, slapping the firms with a total of about 2.6 billion yen in penalties. 北海道開発局と八つの地方整備局の公用車業務を受注した１０社には、独占禁止法違反で排除措置命令を出し、計２６億円の課徴金納付を命じた。
Former ministry officials who landed lucrative posts at these private companies are said to be involved in bid-rigging concerning contracts of the Hokkaido Regional Development Bureau and five regional bureaus. 開発局と５地方整備局の発注分では、ＯＢも再就職先で談合にかかわっていたという。
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Flawed logic
Collusive bid-rigging practices by government officials have occurred repeatedly at the Construction and Transport Ministry. Not only is it the only ministry that has been ordered to take remedial action, it is also the second time it has been ordered to do so, the first coming after a bid-rigging scandal concerning floodgate construction projects in 2007. 国交省では官製談合が繰り返されてきた。中央官庁で改善措置要求を受けたのは、国交省だけだ。しかも、２００７年の水門設備工事談合に続き、２回目である。
In 2008, the then director general of the ministry's Hokkaido Bureau was arrested on suspicion of interfering with a public tender by preadjusting the prices on bids for improvement work on the Ishikarigawa river during his time as a department chief of the ministry's Hokkaido Regional Development Bureau. He was convicted on the charges. ０８年には、現職の北海道局長が北海道開発局の部長時代に談合に加担したとして競売入札妨害容疑で逮捕され、有罪が確定した。
Behind all of this lies the collusion and cozy ties of former bureaucrats who work for private companies after leaving the ministry. A pattern forms in which current ministry officials leak information on public biddings and award orders to companies at which their former superiors and colleagues now work. 背景にあるのは、天下りしたＯＢとのなれ合い、癒着だ。現役職員が、かつての先輩や同僚が再就職した会社に入札情報を漏らし、受注させる構図である。
In this latest bid-rigging story, more than 50 former ministry officials took on jobs at the three companies that were awarded most of the orders. 今回の談合で受注の多い３社には、一時、計５０人を超すＯＢがいた。
The 2008 bid-rigging case involving the head of the ministry's Hokkaido Bureau was partly aimed at ensuring that bureaucrats would have lucrative jobs when they enter the private sector. However, the Sapporo District Court in its verdict criticized this as a selfish motive based on the institution's flawed logic. 北海道局長の事件でも職員の再就職先確保が一因だったが、札幌地裁判決は「組織の論理に基づく身勝手な動機」と批判した。
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Outside oversight a good start
In response to the 2007 bid-rigging scandal concerning floodgate projects and the 2008 scandal of the Hokkaido Bureau chief, the Construction and Transport Ministry on both occasions compiled reports through committees that included outside experts examining the cases. The committees proposed reviews of bid contract methods and the nature of reemployment for retired ministry officials, as well as a strengthening of compliance. 水門談合や北海道局長の事件を受けて、国交省はその都度、第三者を交えた対策検討委員会で報告書をまとめた。入札契約方式や再就職のあり方の見直し、法令順守の強化などを打ち出した。
The committee said in a report submitted at the end of April that the management of ministry staff, including any reemployment at private companies, should be handled in an integrated manner by the development administration department of the Hokkaido Regional Development Bureau. ４月末に出した報告書では、北海道開発局について、「再就職を含む職員管理は開発監理部で一元的に実施する」とした。
The report aims to prevent senior officials at each operating division, such as rivers and ports and harbors projects, from engaging in bid-rigging in an attempt to secure jobs in private companies after retirement. 河川や港湾など各事業部門の幹部が、職員の再就職先確保のため、談合に関与するのを防ぐ狙いだ。
However, in the bid-rigging related to ministerial vehicle services, it was the chief and deputy chief of the development administration department of the Hokkaido Regional Development Bureau who relayed bidding information to former bureaucrats working at private companies. だが、公用車談合でＯＢの社長らに情報を漏らしていたのは、この開発監理部の部長や次長らだった。
The ministry again set up a committee to examine this case. However, there also needs to be a look into past preventive measures. 国交省は今回も対策検討委を設けているが、こうした過去の再発防止策も見直す必要がある。
Ensuring the efficacy of preventative measures is crucial. Just this month, the Hokkaido Regional Development Bureau appointed an FTC official for the newly created post of bid contract inspector. This move--the hiring of an outside expert--is one of the ways to help ensure the strength of the inspection department. 肝心なのは、対策の実効性をどう担保するかだ。北海道開発局は今月、新設の入札契約監察官に公取委職員を起用したが、外部の専門家を拡充するなど監察部門の強化もその一つだろう。
With the move to decentralize administrative power, the review of branch ministerial offices, including regional development bureaus, has become an important task. The current situation in which these matters lie beyond the reach of local assemblies and residents should be changed. 地方分権改革で、地方整備局など国の出先機関の見直しは重要なテーマになっている。議会や住民の監視の目が届きにくい現状は、変えていかねばなるまい。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 26, 2009) （2009年6月26日01時59分 読売新聞）
The Yomiuri Shimbun(Jun. 25, 2009) New archive law marks start of major change 公文書管理 法律はできたが課題も多い（6月25日付・読売社説）
The nation's national archive system, which has not performed as well as those of other countries, is set to fundamentally change. 諸外国と比べ不備が目立つ公文書館制度が根本から改められる。
A law on management and preservation of official state documents was enacted Wednesday that sets out the procedures for drawing up and managing documents by administrative authorities as well as rules covering their transfer to the National Archives of Japan. The law is expected to come into effect in April 2011. 行政にかかわる文書の作成、管理から国立公文書館への移管までの手続きを包括的に定めた公文書管理法が成立した。２０１１年４月から施行される見込みだ。
As a democratic nation, it is the government's responsibility to preserve documents detailing policy decision-making processes and to fulfill its responsibility to make such information available to the public. 政策決定の過程を伝える文書を着実に保存し、国民に対し説明責任を果たすことは、民主主義国家として当然の責務である。
The law makes it clear that state documents are intellectual resources to be shared by all citizens to support the foundations of a healthy democracy. It also stipulates that people are allowed to proactively use such documents. 公文書は「健全な民主主義の根幹を支える国民共有の知的資源」であり、「国民が主体的に利用し得るものである」ことが法律に明記された。
To meet the aims stated under the law, we must steadily work to better preserve and manage state documents. 法の趣旨を踏まえ、公文書の保存・管理を着実に進めていかなければならない。
Ministries and agencies currently preserve administrative documents for at least one year and up to 30 years. In the final fiscal year of the preservation period, a decision on whether to discard the information, transfer it to the National Archives of Japan, or extend the preservation period have been determined at the initiative of the relevant ministry or agency. 省庁が行政文書を保存する期間は１年から最長３０年で、最終年度に、廃棄か、国立公文書館に移管か、保存期限を延長するかが各省庁の主導で決められてきた。
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Logbooks, lists lost
National archives management has been so poor, however, that the logbooks of a Maritime Self-Defense Force vessel were discarded before their preservation term had expired, and a Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry document listing patients suspected of being infected with hepatitis C through tainted blood products was left in a storage area. 管理体制もずさんで、海上自衛隊の航海日誌が保存期限前に破棄されたり、厚生労働省の薬害肝炎の症例リストが倉庫に放置されたりする問題もおきている。
The new law stipulates that the consent of the prime minister is needed before documents are discarded and that administrative documents, which are valuable as historical materials, will be transferred to the National Archives of Japan in almost all cases. 新法では、廃棄には首相の同意が必要なことや、歴史資料として重要な行政文書は原則として国立公文書館に移管されることなどが定められた。
However, the law, which was proposed by the government, does not cover Diet and court documents. 政府が提案したこの法律では、国会と裁判所の文書については対象外とされた。
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Archives law must be debated
A report compiled by an expert government panel in November sought to promote the transfer of documents drawn up by the Diet and courts to the National Archives of Japan. For that purpose, the panel has proposed a reorganization of the body that oversees the archives, changing it from its current status as an independent administrative corporation to a special administrative corporation. 昨年１１月に政府の有識者会議がまとめた報告書は、国会と裁判所の文書の国立公文書館への移管を促進することを求めている。そのため、国立公文書館を現在の独立行政法人から「特別の法人」に改組するよう提言した。
The Diet resolution accompanying enactment of the law stated that an examination must be made of how the National Archives of Japan should be reformed. Thorough discussion of the issue is indeed needed to ensure the new plan quickly takes shape. こうした国立公文書館のあり方についての検討は、国会の付帯決議に盛り込まれた。議論を深め、具体化を急ぐ必要がある。
The expansion of the National Archives of Japan will be a big task. It has been pointed out that the capacity of the main building, located in Kitanomaru Garden in Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo, will be reached within a decade. The current number of staffers is merely 42 people, in contrast to the 2,500 employed in the United States and 800 in Germany. 国立公文書館の拡充も大きな課題だ。東京・北の丸公園内にある本館は、１０年以内に満杯になると指摘されている。職員数もわずか４２人で、米国の２５００人、ドイツの８００人に遠く及ばない。
Archivists must be quickly trained. A change in the current mindset of officials at ministries and agencies toward preserving documents also should be promoted. 文書管理の専門家の養成が急務だ。各省庁の職員の文書保存に対する意識改革も、併せて進めていくべきだろう。
With progress of IT, the number of electronic documents has greatly increased in recent years, making it necessary to draw up rules for the efficient management of electronic documents. ＩＴ化の進展で、近年は電子文書も増えている。効率的な電子文書の管理が出来るようルール作りも必要だろう。
Many tasks need to be tackled, but we must steadily promote the preservation of documents by taking a long-term view and seeing this project as one concerning the very basis of our nationhood. 課題は山積しているが、国の根本にかかわる事業として、長期的な視野から、着実に推進していかなければならない。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 25, 2009) （2009年6月25日01時33分 読売新聞）
The Yomiuri Shimbun(Jun. 24, 2009) Public won't accept Nishikawa reappointment 西川社長続投 理解得られぬ甘い「けじめ」（6月24日付・読売社説）
A settlement has been reached, but it will not satisfy most of the public. こんな決着で、国民の多くは果たして納得するだろうか。
It has effectively been decided that Japan Post Holdings Co. President Yoshifumi Nishikawa will stay in his post. 日本郵政の西川善文社長の続投が、事実上、決まった。
Internal Affairs and Communications Minister Tsutomu Sato said Monday he had decided to authorize the proposed reappointment of Nishikawa after the president informed him that Japan Post's five executives, including himself, would take self-disciplinary pay cuts. Sato also said Prime Minister Taro Aso had approved the decision. 佐藤総務相が２２日、西川社長から本人を含む役員５人の報酬を自主返上する社内処分の報告を受けて続投を認め、麻生首相も総務相の判断を了承したという。
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Questions remain unanswered
The biggest issue now facing Japan Post are questions revolving around the attempted sale of its Kampo no Yado nationwide network of resort hotels. 日本郵政をめぐる最大の疑問は「かんぽの宿」の売却問題だ。
Why did Japan Post attempt to sell 70 resort facilities developed at the hefty cost of 240 billion yen for a mere 10.9 billion yen? ２４００億円もかけて整備した７０施設を日本郵政はなぜ１０９億円の安値で売ろうとしたのか。
The process behind Japan Post's sloppy procedures for the attempted sale of the facilities, which went unchallenged, must be fully explained. The firm even admitted a lack of records concerning the process of selecting a buyer, which is unthinkable for a private company. 売却先を選ぶ過程の記録が欠落するなど、民間では考えられない杜撰(ずさん)な手続きがまかり通った経緯も詳しく知りたい。
The ministry issued Japan Post with a business improvement order in April, asking it to explain these points. However, Sato endorsed Nishikawa's reappointment after only being given a brief explanation of what occurred. Japan Post was scheduled to submit its final report on the matter Wednesday. 総務省は業務改善命令でこうした疑問への説明を求め、２４日にも日本郵政が最終報告する予定だった。しかし、総務相は概要の説明を聞いただけで続投を認めた。
Many questions remain unresolved. The impression cannot be easily dismissed that Sato, having judged that prolonged confusion is damaging, rushed to draw a line under the issue. 数々の疑問は、まだ解消されていない。混乱の長期化は得策ではないとみて、幕引きを急いだ印象がぬぐえない。
Many problems also remain in terms of Japan Post's disciplinary action against its top management. 経営陣に対する社内処分にも問題が多い。
Nishikawa promised Sato he would immediately dismiss executives he had recruited from Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp. where he once served as president. But Nishikawa himself will do no more than give up 30 percent of his pay over the next three months. This is too lenient. 西川社長は、自身が頭取を務めた三井住友銀行から連れてきた幹部たちを「速やかに辞めさせる」と総務相に約束した。一方で、社長自らは報酬の３０％を３か月間、自主返上するだけで済ませるというのでは、甘過ぎるだろう。
Questions were raised over the disciplinary measures proposed by Nishikawa, even from within the Liberal Democratic Party, with LDP General Council Chairman Takashi Sasagawa saying, "Resignation is his best option if he's admitted responsibility [by taking a pay cut]." Criticism of Nishikawa is growing within the opposition parties, who are demanding a thorough debate of the matter. 自民党からも、笹川総務会長が「（報酬返上で）自分の責任を認めたのなら辞めた方がよい」と述べるなど、疑問を呈する声が出ている。野党各党もこの問題の集中審議を要求するなど、批判は強まる一方だ。
After all that has occurred, only one outcome would be satisfactory--Nishikawa should voluntarily resign. やはり西川社長は、自発的に辞任するのが筋だろう。
The business improvement measures presented so far by Japan Post also are questionable in terms of their likely effectiveness. 日本郵政が示した改善策も、実効性に疑問がある。
Japan Post said that to strengthen supervision of its management it will establish the post of chairman, above the post of president. The chairman also would concurrently chair a newly set up management advisory council. 経営への監視を強めるため、西川社長の上に会長を置き、新設する経営諮問会議の議長を兼任させるという。
However, Japan Post plans to appoint the chairman from the ranks of its outside directors. Can this cosy system, formed of the firm's unchanged current top management lineup, be sure to strengthen oversight of the company? だが、会長は現在の社外取締役から充てる案だ。顔ぶれが変わらぬ「内輪同士」で、チェック機能は強まるだろうか。
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Responsibility rests with PM
The final responsibility for approving Nishikawa's reappointment rests with Aso. 西川社長の続投を決めた最終責任者は麻生首相である。
The prime minister dismissed former Internal Affairs and Communications Minister Kunio Hatoyama earlier this month for having confused matters regarding the reappointment of Nishikawa--a decision that lacked any sense of balance. 一方で首相は、鳩山邦夫・前総務相を「事態を混乱させた」として更迭した。著しくバランスを欠く対応だ。
With a view to replacing Nishikawa, Aso several months ago handed Hatoyama a list of candidates to succeed the president. Hasn't the confusion been caused by Aso's about-face rather than actions of Hatoyama? 首相は数か月前、社長交代を前提に後継候補のリストを鳩山氏に渡していた。事態を混乱させたのは、心変わりした首相自身ではないのか。
It appears inevitable that Aso will face growing criticism over his role in this affair. 首相に対する批判が高まるのは避けられないだろう。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 24, 2009) （2009年6月24日01時36分 読売新聞）
The Yomiuri Shimbun(Jun. 23, 2009) JAL should end dependence on govt 日航公的支援 「親方日の丸」から脱却せよ（6月23日付・読売社説）
The government has officially decided to provide financial support to Japan Airlines, which has been suffering from poor business results, since it apparently can no longer allow Japan's flag-carrier to further decline. 失速しかけた日本の翼を、これ以上放置できないということだろう。政府は、業績不振が続く日本航空の本格支援に乗り出すことを決めた。
Support for JAL will include an emergency loan worth 100 billion yen to be extended jointly by the government-backed Development Bank of Japan and three major private banks with the government guaranteeing 80 percent of the loan. Along with securing the loan, the government also will directly supervise the reconstruction of the airline. 日本政策投資銀行が危機対応融資を活用し、大手銀行と共同で日航に約１０００億円を融通する。政投銀融資の８０％は政府が保証する――というのが支援の中身だ。それに伴い、政府は日航の経営再建を直接指導・監督する。
It is unusual for the government to support a private company with such a huge loan, but taking into account the importance of the service JAL provides to the public and the impact it has on the national economy, the government may deem it imperative to act. JAL should fundamentally review its management, considering this its last opportunity to reform itself. 国が民間企業にこれほどまとまった融資をして経営を支えるのは異例だ。国民生活や経済への影響を考えれば、やむを得まい。日航は改革の最後の機会ととらえ、経営を根本から見直すべきだ。
JAL reported post-tax losses of 63.1 billion yen for the business year ending in March 2009. The airline is expected to declare almost the same amount of losses in the business year to end March 2010, too. It climbed into the black in the business year ending March 2008 for the first time in three years, but returned to the red only one year later. 日航の２００９年３月期決算は税引き後の損益が６３１億円の赤字となった。１０年３月期もほぼ同額の赤字となる見通しだ。０８年３月期には３年ぶりに黒字になったが、１年で赤字に逆戻りした。
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Combination hurt bottom line
The company's poor performance is attributed to the aftereffects of high fuel prices last year and a sharp decrease in passengers due to the global recession. The decrease in passengers on domestic routes, a major revenue source for All Nippon Airways Co., which is JAL's rival, was small. However, the number of passengers on international routes, a major revenue source for JAL, decreased by more than 10 percent compared to the previous period. 不振の原因は、昨年の燃料高の後遺症と、世界同時不況による旅客の急減だ。ライバルの全日本空輸が主力とする国内線の落ち込みは小さかったが、日航が収益源とする国際線旅客は前期より１割以上も減った。
JAL has succeeded in cutting labor costs to a certain degree. But the airline has failed to reduce interest-bearing debts quickly and been slow in improving its balance sheet. The company also has delayed in changing its planes to smaller, more fuel-efficient aircraft and investing money in a strategic manner. 人件費の圧縮はある程度進んだが、有利子負債の削減など、財務体質の改善が遅れ、燃費の良い小型機への切り替えや戦略的な投資が進んでいない。
It can no longer expect a turnaround through mere stopgap cost-cutting measures. JAL should study whether to continue unprofitable businesses, including the option of transferring them to other companies, while it needs to consider not just reducing the number of flights on money-losing routes, but dropping those routes altogether. Such drastic restructuring measures are essential for JAL. もはや付け焼き刃の経費削減では、業績の好転は期待できまい。不採算の事業分野は他社への譲渡も含めて存廃を検討し、不採算路線は減便で済まさず、一気に撤退するなど、より踏み込んだリストラ策が不可欠だ。
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Long history of bail-outs
The airline had received emergency loans from the DBJ to help it weather the poor business results it suffered due to the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States and other incidents in the past. With the addition of the latest loans, the total extended by the DBJ to JAL would exceed 300 billion yen. 日航はこれまでも、米同時テロなどで業績が悪化するたびに、政投銀の緊急支援を受けてきた。今回の融資で、政投銀の日航への融資額は３０００億円を超える水準まで膨れあがる。
JAL probably cannot refute criticism that the airline has not yet completed sufficient corporate restructuring, but has no qualms about relying on government-backed bank loans because it has not yet ended its dependence on the government stemming from its days as a government-affiliated company. 経営改革が不十分なまま、政府系金融機関の融資に頼るのは、特殊法人時代の「親方日の丸」気分から抜け切っていないため、と見られても仕方ないだろう。
JAL cannot win the approval of the public for the government assistance it is to receive without reforming its corporate structure. Some observers point out that eight trade-specific unions at JAL are obstructing restructuring. It is also necessary to stick the knife of reform into such complicated labor-management relations. 企業体質の改革も進めなければ、公的支援に対する国民の理解は得られまい。職種別組合が八つもあり、リストラの足かせとの指摘もある。この複雑な労使関係にもメスを入れる必要がある。
Meanwhile, aviation authorities are partly responsible for JAL's poor performance because they have built nearly 100 airports around the country and put political pressure on the airline to open unprofitable routes. 日航の業績不振は、全国に１００近くも空港を建設し、政治的な圧力をかけて不採算路線を開設させてきた航空行政にも責任の一端がある。
In supporting JAL once again, the government and the ruling parties should take this opportunity to closely review past aviation policy. 政府・与党は日航の経営支援を機に、これまでの航空行政も再検証すべきだ。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 23, 2009) （2009年6月23日01時33分 読売新聞）
The Yomiuri Shimbun(Jun. 22, 2009) Decentralization needs strong local pols, audits 地方制度答申 分権へ議会と監査を強化せよ（6月22日付・読売社説）
To promote decentralization, it is essential to improve the local government systems to which administrative work and authority are to be transferred. In addition to municipal mergers, it is important to strengthen local assemblies as well as auditing and oversight of local governments. 地方分権の推進には、事務や権限を譲り受ける自治体の体制充実が欠かせない。市町村合併に加え、地方議会や監査機能の強化が重要である。
An advisory panel to the prime minister on local government has proposed that the incentives for the so-called Heisei-era megamergers end in March. The panel also suggested that the megamerger campaign be followed by voluntary mergers, regional cooperation among municipalities and the establishment of administrative support systems by prefectural governments for small municipalities. 第２９次地方制度調査会が、「平成の大合併」を来年３月に終結させることを答申した。その後は、自主的な合併のほか、複数の市町村の広域連携や、都道府県による小規模市町村への行政支援の制度を用意するよう提言している。
The government's megamerger campaign that started in 1999 has decreased the number of municipalities with populations of fewer than 10,000 by nearly 70 percent, with about 470 such municipalities remaining. The financial situation of municipal governments in depopulated mountainous areas or on remote islands is serious. １９９９年以来の合併運動の結果、人口１万人未満の自治体は７割近く減少したが、なお４７０前後が残る。過疎の山間地や離島の自治体の財政状況は厳しい。
Tokyo, Osaka and other metropolitan areas have seen few municipal mergers. Even if it is not so problematic at this stage, financial burdens are expected to sharply rise in the mid- to long-term due to rapid aging of the population and renovation of public facilities. 東京、大阪など大都市圏では合併がほとんど進まなかった。今は問題がなくても、中長期的には、急速な高齢化や公共施設の更新で財政負担の急増が見込まれる。
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Continue voluntary mergers
To strengthen administrative and fiscal bases of municipal governments, mergers remain a promising option. Voluntary mergers of municipalities should be encouraged, and systems for the central and prefectural governments to extend support for municipal mergers should remain in the future. 市町村の行財政基盤を強固にするには、今後も、合併が有力な選択肢であることに変わりはない。今回は見送っても、将来、市町村が自主的に合併する道と、国や都道府県が合併を側面支援する制度は残すべきだろう。
The panel called for widening the scope of public works projects and other matters for which assembly approval is required to conclude contracts, as well as the target of semipublic sector entities required to submit financial reports to local assemblies. These measures are expected to strengthen the oversight functions of local assemblies. 答申は、地方議会の監視機能を強めるため、公共事業などの契約締結の議決対象や、議会に経営状況を報告する第３セクターなどの対象を拡大するよう求めた。
When decentralization moves forward, the role of local assemblies will become significantly larger. While universal criteria for setting up day care centers set by the central government are to be minimized, criteria that could be stipulated through ordinances passed by local assemblies are to significantly increase. 地方分権が進めば、地方議会の役割は一段と大きくなる。国が定める全国統一の保育所の設置基準などは必要最小限のものに限る一方で、地方議会が条例で定められる基準が大幅に増える。
In such processes, it is unacceptable that local assembly members continue acting as go-betweens for particular interests or practicing pork-barrel politics. そうした中で、地方議員が従来通りの口利き行為や地元への利益誘導に走ることは許されない。
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Local government must change
Members of local assemblies must be well aware of the gravity of their responsibilities and are expected to change their attitudes. Local residents, for their part, should pay attention not only to local governments but also to local assemblies. 地方議員は、その責任の重みを自覚し、意識改革を図ることが求められる。住民も、自治体だけでなく、地方議会の動向にも、もっと関心を持つべきだろう。
The panel's proposal included measures to strengthen auditing functions. The panel called for joint establishment of an auditing committee office by a number of municipalities and the introduction of a system under which local governments would undergo external auditing once in a couple of fiscal years. 答申には、自治体の監査機能の強化策も盛り込まれた。複数の市町村による監査委員会事務局の共同設置や、外部監査を複数年度に１回受ける方式の導入である。
These measures are aimed at helping small municipalities, which have difficulty in setting up an independent audit office or conducting external auditing every fiscal year, to expand their auditing functions. 独立した監査委事務局を設置したり、外部監査を毎年度実施したりするのが財政的に困難な小規模市町村が、監査体制を拡充しやすくするのが目的だ。
To prevent another case of municipal bankruptcy like the city of Yubari in Hokkaido, local governments from this fiscal year under the law on local government fiscal health are obliged to make fiscal reconstruction plans in certain cases based on financial settlements in previous fiscal years. 今年度からは「第二の夕張」を出さないため、地方自治体財政健全化法に基づき、前年度決算を踏まえた財政再生・健全化計画の義務付けが始まる。
It is important that each local government try to streamline administrative work without losing the substance of auditing functions but by incorporating third-party perspectives generated from external auditing. 各自治体は、監査を形骸(けいがい)化させず、外部監査による第三者の視点を活用し、行政の合理化に努めることが大切だ。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 22, 2009) （2009年6月22日01時26分 読売新聞）
The Yomiuri Shimbun(Jun. 21, 2009) Anti-child porn bills should be unified 児童ポルノ 与野党で法案の一本化を急げ（6月21日付・読売社説）
Diet deliberations on a bill to revise the law punishing acts related to child prostitution and child pornography have been delayed. 児童買春・児童ポルノ禁止法改正案の国会審議が遅れている。
The ruling coalition of the Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito last June submitted to the Diet a revised bill that would prohibit the possession of child pornography and punish violators, even if they do not sell such images. But since then, no substantive discussions on the issue have been held at the Diet. The main opposition Democratic Party of Japan also presented its own bill to revise the law during the current Diet session. 児童ポルノを私的に利用する「単純所持」禁止を盛り込んだ自民、公明の与党案は、昨年６月の提出以来、実質的な審議はなく、今国会には民主党案も提出された。
There is little to tell between both bills, which are intended to strengthen regulations protecting children from sexual abuse. The ruling and opposition parties should make efforts to quickly pass a revised bill into law, such as by unifying their respective bills. 両案は、子供たちを性的虐待から守るための規制強化では一致しており、大きな隔たりはない。法案を一本化するなどして、早期の成立を図るべきだ。
Under the current law, the possession of child pornography for the purpose of offering it to others for profit or without charge is illegal. 現行法は、児童ポルノを他人に有償無償を含め提供する目的で所持することなどを禁じている。
When the law was enacted in 1999, prohibiting the possession of child pornography and punishing violators, even if they do not sell such images, was discussed. But eventually, such a provision was shelved on the ground that it would encroach on personal preferences and could violate privacy rights. 単純所持禁止は、１０年前の法制定の際にも検討されたが、個人の嗜好(しこう)やプライバシーの侵害につながるなどとして見送られた。
However, with the spread of the Internet, child pornography has been rapidly proliferating. Under the current circumstances, in which the possession of child pornography is not prohibited as long as the holder does not proliferate such images, it is difficult to charge providers of child pornography in many cases, even if police confiscate their personal computers. しかし、インターネットの普及で児童ポルノの拡散は急速に進んでいる。単純所持が禁止されていない場合、警察がパソコンを押収しても、児童ポルノ提供者を摘発するのは難しい場合が多い。
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International probes stymied
Among the Group of Eight countries, Japan and Russia are the only two nations that do not criminalize the possession of child pornography if the holders do not sell such images. The fact that Japan allows the possession of child pornography hampers international police investigations into child pornography. 主要８か国（Ｇ８）で単純所持を禁止していないのは、日本とロシアだけだ。日本が単純所持を容認していることが、国際捜査協力の支障となっている。
The revised bill drafted by ruling parties would prohibit the possession of child pornography for "indecent purposes" and would penalize violators if they possessed such images for the purpose of "satisfying their sexual curiosity." 与党案は、児童ポルノを「みだりに」所持することを禁止し、「性的好奇心を満たす目的」で所持した場合に限り罰則を設けた。
Meanwhile, the DPJ's bill would make it a crime to obtain child pornography by paying for it or to obtain it repeatedly, imposing a heavier penalty than the ruling parties' bill. 民主党案は、代金を払うか、繰り返して取得することを禁じた取得罪を設け、与党案の単純所持罪より重い罰則を設けた。
It should not be so difficult to find common ground between the two bills. 一致点を見いだすことは、それほど難しくないはずだ。
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ISPs have key role to play
To strengthen controls on child pornography, cooperation by organizations in the private sector, such as Internet service providers, is indispensable. 児童ポルノの規制を進めていくためには、ネット事業者など民間団体の協力も欠かせない。
The National Police Agency has launched a liaison council with private sector ISPs with the aim of cracking down on online child pornography by persuading the ISPs to install blocking software that prevents access to illegal Web sites. The council will discuss the technical issues involved. 警察庁は、プロバイダーが違法なサイトへの接続を遮断する「ブロッキング」制度の導入に向け、ネット事業者らと児童ポルノ流通防止協議会を発足させた。今後、技術面などの検討が行われる。
An increasing number of countries, including the United States and European nations, have imposed regulations on comics, anime and other materials that contain material that could be construed as child pornography. 児童ポルノに類したマンガやアニメなどについても、欧米では規制する国が増えている。
Recently, a Japanese-produced personal computer game featuring the rape of three women, including two girls, who are made pregnant and then forced to abort, was circulated worldwide and was condemned by the British Parliament and others. 最近は、少女らをレイプして妊娠・中絶させる過程を疑似体験する日本製パソコンゲームソフトが国際的に出回り、英国議会などで批判された。
In response to such protests, industry organizations decided to prohibit the production and sales of game software featuring sexual violence. この問題を受けて業界団体は、性暴力を扱うゲームソフトの製造販売を禁止することを決めた。
In the bill drafted by the ruling parties, regulations on the usage of child pornography in game software is included as a subject to be examined in the future. It is an issue that should be actively discussed in terms of protecting children from child pornography, while respecting freedom of expression. 児童ポルノのゲームなどに対する規制も、与党案は今後の検討課題として盛り込んでいる。「表現の自由」とのかねあいもあるが、児童保護の観点から積極的に議論すべきだ。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 21, 2009) （2009年6月21日01時43分 読売新聞）
The Yomiuri Shimbun(Jun. 20, 2009) Ozawa should explain 'voice from heaven' 「西松献金」公判 小沢氏は「天の声」を説明せよ（6月20日付・読売社説）
It is Ichiro Ozawa's responsibility as a politician to explain the situation after prosecutors claimed at a court hearing--a very public occasion--that the office of the former Democratic Party of Japan president issued "voices from heaven" intended to sway decisions over which firms would win public works project orders. 公共工事の受注で、小沢事務所から「天の声」が出ていた――。法廷という公開の場で検察がこう指摘したのだから、その実態を説明するのが政治家の責務だろう。
The first hearing of the trial of a former president of Nishimatsu Construction Co. and another person, who have been indicted on a charge of violating the Political Funds Control Law and another charge was held at the Tokyo District Court on Friday. 政治資金規正法違反などの罪に問われた西松建設前社長らの初公判が、東京地裁で開かれた。
In their opening statement, the prosecutors said Ozawa's office issued "voices from heaven" that instructed which construction company should get orders for public works projects in Iwate Prefecture--Ozawa's home turf--and others in neighboring Akita Prefecture. The prosecutors named five such projects in which Nishimatsu was involved. 検察側は冒頭陳述で、民主党の小沢一郎前代表の地元岩手県の公共工事と、隣の秋田県の一部工事で、小沢事務所が受注業者を決定する「天の声」を出していたとして、西松建設が絡んだ５件の工事名を挙げた。
Of them, four were won by consortiums that included Nishimatsu. The bidding prices for them exceeded 12.2 billion yen. The prosecutors also identified a case in which Ozawa's state-funded first secretary, who has been indicted in connection with the political donation scandal, allegedly issued a "voice from heaven." このうち４件は、西松建設を含む共同企業体が受注し、落札額は１２２億円に上った。起訴された公設第１秘書が天の声を出したケースもあった、としている。
If political donations from the Nishimatsu side to the Ozawa side were made with the intention of getting the "voice from heaven" to speak, as the prosecutors argued, the donations would be tantamount to bribes. Some argue that parties involved in the scandal therefore sought to hide the donations. 検察側が主張するように「天の声」を得るための金だったとすれば、西松建設からの献金は賄賂(わいろ)に近いことになる。だからこそ、当事者は献金を隠したかったのではないかとの見方も出ている。
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Case appears watertight
The Political Funds Control Law bans corporate donations to lawmakers' political fund management organizations. Nishimatsu evaded this regulation by making donations to the Ozawa side through two dummy political organizations led by former Nishimatsu officials. 政治資金規正法は、政治家の資金管理団体への企業献金を禁じている。西松建設は、ＯＢを代表とする二つのダミーの政治団体を通じて小沢氏側に献金することで、この規制を逃れていた。
The former Nishimatsu president confirmed the claims in the indictment and said, "I shouldn't have acted in a way that broke the law." 前社長はこうした起訴事実を認めるとともに、被告人質問で「法を犯してまでやるべきではなかった」と述べた。
In addition to the arguments advanced during Friday's hearing, Ozawa's secretary, who will be tried at a separate trial, has been charged with falsely booking donations worth 35 million yen in political fund reports filed by Ozawa's political fund management organization and two local DPJ chapters. 分離公判となる小沢氏の秘書はこれに加え、資金管理団体と政党支部の収支報告書に３５００万円分の虚偽を記入したとされる。
According to a record of the questioning of the secretary read by prosecutors, the secretary "was aware the donations in question were from the Nishimatsu side." This statement could indicate the secretary knew the donations were illegal. 検察側が明らかにした秘書の供述調書では、秘書は「西松建設側の献金と知っていた」という。違法性を認識していたとも受け取れる供述である。
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Many questions to answer
Ozawa has said,"It's impolite to ask a donor political organization how it raised political funds, and I won't stick my nose into such business." 小沢氏はこれまで、「寄付をいただく政治団体に、資金をどう捻出(ねんしゅつ)したかを尋ねるのは失礼で、詮索(せんさく)しない」と説明してきた。
But Ozawa is not only being asked whether his secretary violated the Political Funds Control Law. だが、小沢氏が問われているのは、秘書の政治資金規正法違反の有無だけではない。
During Friday's first hearing, prosecutors pointed out an apparent link between political donations to Ozawa's side and public works orders. Why did he receive a large amount of political donations from one specific general contractor? How did he spend the money? Ozawa should provide detailed answers to such questions. 初公判では、献金と公共工事の受注に密接な関係があったと指摘された。なぜ特定のゼネコンから多額の献金を受けたのか。それを何に使ったのか。こうした疑問にきちんと答えるべきだ。
Almost three months have passed since Ozawa's secretary was indicted. Has Ozawa made efforts to uncover the facts of the scandal during this period? This is not a matter that can be settled with his resignation from the top post of the main opposition party. 秘書が起訴されて約３か月たった。この間、小沢氏はどこまで事実関係の把握に努めたのか。代表を辞任して済む問題ではない。
The party itself should not imagine it can draw a line under the scandal with a report issued by a third-party committee it set up. The DPJ also should provide accounts that satisfy the public. 民主党も、第三者委員会が出した報告書で幕を引くことなく、党として国民が納得できる説明をしなければなるまい。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 20, 2009) （2009年6月20日01時26分 読売新聞）
The Yomiuri Shimbun(Jun. 19, 2009) Vote a step forward for more organ donations 移植法衆院通過 臓器提供の拡大へ踏み出した（6月19日付・読売社説）
Current rules place tight restrictions on organ transplants in Japan, often forcing Japanese to travel abroad to receive transplants. This has to stop. 日本国内では臓器移植を厳しく制限しながら、海外で臓器をもらう。こんな状況を、続けるわけにはいかない。
Thursday's vote in the House of Representatives signifies that many lawmakers recognize this fact and intend to expand opportunities for organ donations within Japan. 多くの衆院議員がそう認識し、国内での臓器提供の拡大を図る意思を明確に示したと言えるだろう。
The lower house scheduled votes on four different bills in a plenary session on Thursday to revise the Organ Transplant Law. Plan A--which clears the way for more organ transplants within the country--passed the lower house. 臓器移植法改正案は１８日、四つの案が衆院本会議にかけられ、国内で臓器移植の道を大きく広げる「Ａ案」が可決された。
With the exception of the Japanese Communist Party, which decided to abstain from voting, each party allowed its lawmakers to vote freely on the bills. Lawmakers therefore voted according to their own beliefs. 棄権を決めた共産党以外は党議拘束をはずし、議員一人ひとりが自らの信念で記名投票した。
Of the 430 votes cast in the lower house, 263 were for Plan A, easily exceeding the 167 votes against it. With the approval of Plan A, voting for the remaining three proposals was called off. 賛成が２６３票で、反対１６７票を大きく上回った。最初にＡ案が可決されたため、他の３案は採決されなかった。
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More in line with WHO
Plan A recognizes brain death as legal death per se and stipulates that if a person has not given clear permission to undergo a brain-death diagnosis or to become an organ donor if declared brain-dead, the decision will be entrusted to that person's family. Ａ案は、脳死を「人の死」と位置付けた上で、脳死判定を受けるかどうか、脳死とされた後に臓器提供するかどうかは、本人の意思が不明なら家族に委ねる、という内容である。
This is almost the same as the World Health Organization's guiding principles as well as the organ transplant laws of other major industrialized nations. これは世界保健機関（ＷＨＯ）の指針や主要各国の臓器移植法とほぼ同じものだ。
The nation's current Organ Transplant Law is the strictest in the world regarding the conditions for becoming an organ donor. Firstly, it requires a brain-dead person to have left in writing his or her intention to donate, such as in the form of an organ donor card. Even with this, however, organ donation can still be stopped if the family of the brain-dead person opposes it. 日本の現行の臓器移植法は、臓器提供の条件が世界の中で突出して厳しい。まず本人がカードなど書面で提供意思を残していることが絶対条件だ。それでも家族が反対すれば移植はできない。
As a result, only 81 transplants using organs from brain-dead persons have been carried out in the about 12 years since the current Organ Transplant Law came into force in October 1997. In contrast, several thousand organ transplants are conducted in the United States every year, and several hundred in major European nations. その結果、法律の施行から約１２年で、脳死移植は８１例にとどまっている。米国では毎年数千例、欧州の主要国でも年間数百例あるのにあまりにも少ない。
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Allow access for children
Under the Civil Code, the will to donate organs is legally recognized only when a donor is aged 15 or older. Therefore, organ transplants for infants and young children within the country are practically impossible due to the differences in organ sizes from donor to recipient. また、提供意思を示す能力があるのは民法上１５歳からとされ、臓器の大きさが合わない乳幼児は、国内移植の道が事実上、閉ざされている。
This has resulted in a constant stream of Japanese children being taken overseas to receive organ transplants, often after their parents have made pleas for funds. Japanese adults also have gone abroad for operations, with some seeking organ transplants in China, where it is said that most organs come from executed criminals. Other nations have criticized Japan for these circumstances. このため、多くの子どもが支援金を募って海外で移植を受けてきた。大人も、中国で死刑囚から摘出されたと見られる臓器の移植を受けるなどしている。こうした日本の現状に対して、海外の視線は厳しい。
Plan A--which enables organ donation through family consent--also scraps the age limit for organ donation, which means young children will be able to receive transplants in Japan. Organ donations from adults also are expected to increase significantly. 家族の同意で移植を可能にするＡ案は、１５歳の壁を取り払い、乳幼児に国内移植の道を開く。大人の臓器提供もかなり増えると予想されている。
One of the three bills that did not make it to vote would have partially eased conditions on organ donation, including those aged 14 or younger only being allowed to donate with family consent. However, it is difficult to fundamentally change the current situation. 採決されなかった３案には、１５歳未満に限り家族同意で移植を可能とするなど、提供条件を部分的に緩和する案もあったが、現状を根本的に改めることは難しい。
Deliberations on the bill to revise the Organ Transplant Law will move on to the House of Councillors. There also is a move to seek the submission of a new proposal. 臓器移植法改正案の審議は、舞台を参院に移す。さらに新たな提案を模索する動きもある。
This is a difficult issue involving viewpoints on life and death, but we cannot delay any longer in reaching a decision. 死生観を問われる難しい問題だが、これ以上、結論を先送りすることはできない。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 19, 2009) （2009年6月19日01時48分 読売新聞）
The Yomiuri Shimbun(Jun. 18, 2009) Aso unconvincing on Japan Post plans 党首討論 首相の「郵政」弁明は苦しい（6月18日付・読売社説）
Prime Minister Taro Aso and Democratic Party of Japan leader Yukio Hatoyama faced off Wednesday in the Diet in their second head-to-head debate as ruling and opposition party leaders. The debate mainly focused on the disputed reappointment of Yoshifumi Nishikawa as president of Japan Post Holdings Co. and the fiscal resources needed to meet social security and other costs. 麻生首相と鳩山民主党代表による２度目の党首討論は、日本郵政の西川善文社長の再任問題と社会保障費などの財源問題を軸に展開された。
Though the two talked at cross-purposes at times, the debate seemed to shed light on contentious policy issues in the run-up to the House of Representatives election. 議論にかみ合わない部分はあったものの、衆院選に向けて政策上の論点が浮かび上がってきたのではないか。
In connection with the dispute over Nishikawa's reappointment, Hatoyama harshly criticized Aso on his handling of a series of problems involving Japan Post Holdings, saying the prime minister "can't reach judgements, is inconsistent and makes mistakes." 西川社長の再任問題では、鳩山代表が首相の一連の対応について「判断ができない。ぶれる。間違える」と酷評した。
Aso was accused of being incapable of good judgement because he had left a series of Japan Post-related scandals unaddressed, such as the proposed bundled sale of the firm's Kampo no Yado inns. The charge of inconsistency apparently referred to the fact that the prime minister had handed over a list of potential candidates to take over from Nishikawa as Japan Post Holdings president to then Internal Affairs and Communications Minister Kunio Hatoyama on the premise Nishikawa would be replaced. 「判断ができない」は、かんぽの宿の売却問題など不祥事が続発しても事態を放置したこと、「ぶれる」は、首相が社長交代を前提に後継候補のリストを鳩山前総務相に渡していたことを指すのだろう。
The mistake referred to Aso's de facto dismissal of Hatoyama while keeping Nishikawa in his post. 「間違える」は、前総務相だけを更迭したことだ。
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Pressed to fire Nishikawa
In the Diet debate, Yukio Hatoyama pressed Aso to fire Nishikawa, saying the DPJ is ready to replace the president if it takes power. 鳩山代表は、「民主党が政権を取れば社長を交代させる」と断言し、首相に社長更迭を迫った。
Regrettably, Aso's response to Hatoyama's demand was far from convincing. これに対する首相の弁明は、いかにも苦しいものだった。
The prime minister simply repeated his previous explanation that the government needs to be cautious about intervening in personnel affairs regarding the private sector. He also said he had decided to dismiss only the communications minister because the prime minister's authority to make personnel changes covers only Cabinet members, not employees such as Japan Post Holdings staff. 「民間に対する政府の人事介入は慎重であるべきだ」と従来の見解を繰り返し、前総務相だけを更迭したのも、首相の人事権が及ぶのは閣僚で、日本郵政には直接及ばないから、と説明した。
Yet, Japan Post Holdings is virtually a state-owned company, as all of the firm's shares are held by the government. The law stipulates that the internal affairs and communications minister holds the right to approve or veto personnel decisions taken by the company. 日本郵政は、政府が全株式を保有する「国有企業」である。法律にも人事の認可権を総務相が持つと明記されている。
If the company fails to respond appropriately to a business improvement order it was given by the Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry, the government should not allow Nishikawa to stay on as the firm's president. 業務改善命令に対する対応が不十分なら、認可しなければよい。
To act in this way is the administrative body's "responsibility," rather than an "intervention." それは「介入」どころか、行政の「責務」であろう。
We urge the prime minister to put his foot down regarding Nishikawa's managerial responsibilities. 首相は西川社長の経営責任に明確なけじめをつけるべきだ。
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DPJ head branded irresponsible
The prime minister did, however, take the lead in the debate on fiscal resources for key projects. 一方、財源を巡る議論は首相がリードした。
In response to Hatoyama's calls for improved medical services, Aso called the DPJ leader's proposal irresponsible unless clear fiscal-resource options were presented. Aso also stressed that debate on a consumption tax hike could not be avoided. 医療の充実を掲げる鳩山代表に「財源の話がなければ無責任だ」と切り返し、「消費税の論議は避けて通れない」と強調した。
Hatoyama stated clearly that his party would not raise the consumption tax rate for at least four years. He explained that the 20 trillion yen that would be needed to achieve his party's policies would be generated from general and special accounts totaling 210 trillion yen by eliminating wasteful spending in the budget. 鳩山代表は、４年間は消費税は上げないと明言した。その代わりに、予算の無駄遣いを徹底的に排除し、民主党の政策を実現するための２０兆円は、一般・特別会計を合わせた２１０兆円から捻出(ねんしゅつ)すると説明したが、説得力のあるものとは言えなかった。
Hatoyama's argument, however, was not persuasive. Of the 210 trillion yen he would target, debt-servicing costs and other expenses that would prove hard to trim total 180 trillion yen. ２１０兆円のうち、国債費など削減が困難な費目は計１８０兆円に上る。
Aso criticized the proposal, saying it would be unrealistic to squeeze 20 trillion yen out of the remaining 30 trillion yen. We find the prime minister quite right on this point. 残り３０兆円から２０兆円を出すとの主張は非現実的、と首相が批判したのは当然だろう。
At Aso's behest, it was decided that the two leaders will hold another Diet debate, with the focus to be on tax and fiscal policies, and diplomatic and security issues. 首相の提案で、税財政や外交・安全保障に絞って党首討論を改めて開催することが決まった。
If the two leaders frequently lock horns in the Diet, it will help clarify contentious issues prior to the next lower house election. We welcome this development. 党首同士の論戦が頻繁に行われれば、おのずと衆院選の争点も明確になろう。この流れを歓迎したい。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 18, 2009) （2009年6月18日01時32分 読売新聞）
The Yomiuri Shimbun(Jun. 17, 2009) Aso must act to resolve Nishikawa issue 内閣支持率下落 日本郵政人事で誤断したツケ（6月17日付・読売社説）
The results of The Yomiuri Shimbun's latest survey might have come as a shock to Prime Minister Taro Aso--it indicates he has been driven into a ditch. 麻生首相も驚く数字だったのではないか。まさに進退窮まると言えるような状況だ。
In the snap survey, the approval rating for the Aso Cabinet was shown to have dropped to 22.9 percent, down 6.6 percentage points from a similar survey conducted just a week ago. Opinion polls by other newspapers show a similar dive. 読売新聞の緊急世論調査で、麻生内閣の支持率が２２・９％に下落した。１週間前の調査と比べて、６・６ポイントも低下した。他紙の世論調査でも、同様の傾向である。
One key cause for the decline in public support is apparent. It is the dismissal of Internal Affairs and Communications Minister Kunio Hatoyama who was opposed to allowing Yoshifumi Nishikawa staying on as president of Japan Post Holdings Co. 原因は明らかだ。日本郵政の西川善文社長の続投に異を唱えていた鳩山前総務相の更迭にある。
Sixty-five percent of those surveyed by The Yomiuri Shimbun said it had been unnecessary to oust Hatoyama. 本紙の調査では、「更迭する必要はなかった」が６５％に上った。
It means the prime minister must now make a clear judgment on management responsibility at Japan Post Holdings if he is to get out of this pinch. とすれば、首相がこの窮地から脱するには、まず、日本郵政の経営責任について明確なけじめをつけることである。
Aso said he had dismissed Hatoyama because the minister had caused confusion for the government in its dealings with Japan Post Holdings, and because the government should avoid intervening directly in the personnel affairs of a private company. 更迭の理由について首相は、政府と日本郵政との間に混乱が生じたこと、民間会社の人事に国が直接介入するのは避けるべきことを挙げていた。
But the public evidently is not satisfied with this explanation. だが、世論はこれに納得していない。
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Lack of leadership
According to the Yomiuri survey, many of the respondents attributed the confusion over whether Nishikawa should continue as president to a lack of leadership on Aso's behalf. The prime minister bears a great weight of responsibility for delaying judgment on this issue while seeking a replacement for Nishikawa. 本紙調査では、今回の人事がこれほど混乱したのは、「首相の指導力不足」にあるとみている人が多い。首相が西川社長交代を模索しながら、ずるずると判断を先延ばしした責任は大きい。
The prime minister's delay in reaching a judgment appears to have worsened the already poor political situation spanning many other issues. Aso should take a long hard look at himself concerning this state of affairs. 今回に限らず、首相の判断の遅れが政治の停滞に輪をかけているケースが目立つ。大いに反省してもらいたい。
However, the latest political confusion cannot be attributed solely to the prime minister, since the real substance of this problem relates to the management responsibility of Japan Post Holdings, particularly its president, Nishikawa. しかし混迷の原因を首相だけに帰すわけにはいかない。問題の本質は、日本郵政とりわけ西川社長の経営責任にあるからである。
The company has been tainted by several scandals including its questionable attempt to sell its Kampo no Yado resort facilities, the nonpayment of Kampo postal life insurance benefits and abuse of a direct-mail discount system meant only for disabled people's organizations. 保養宿泊施設「かんぽの宿」売却問題はもとより、簡易生命保険の保険金不払い、障害者団体向け郵便料金割引制度を悪用した事件などが相次いでいる。
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67% want Nishikawa to go
According to the survey, 80 percent of the respondents said there were problems with the attempted bundled sale of the Kampo no Yado hotels, and 67 percent said it was not acceptable for Nishikawa to remain in his position. The figures indicate there is a great sense of dissatisfaction that action has not been taken against those responsible for the above scandals. 国民の８割が「かんぽの宿」の一括売却には「問題があった」とみている。６７％が西川社長の続投について「納得できない」と答えている。不祥事に対する責任が不問に付されていることに、釈然としないのだろう。
"Based on severe self-criticism, it's my duty to accelerate the necessary reforms," Nishikawa said. But, his remark is not sufficient to bring down the curtain on this issue. 西川社長は、「厳しい反省の上に立って必要な改革を加速していくのが私の責務」と語っている。だが、ちょっと待ってほしい。
Why were the Kampo no Yado facilities, public property in a sense, nearly sold at throwaway prices? Can Japan Post Holdings recover public confidence under the current management? なぜ、国民の共有財産といえる施設が二束三文で売られようとしたのか。現体制のままで、日本郵政は、国民の信頼を回復することができるのか。
First of all, Nishikawa has a responsibility to clearly answer these questions. 西川社長には、何よりも、これに明確に答える責任がある。
Aso said he would make a final judgment on what to do with Nishikawa based on how Japan Post Holdings responds to an operational improvement order it received from the Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry. After carefully examining the response, the prime minister must settle this matter once and for all. 麻生首相は、西川社長の処遇に関し、総務省の業務改善命令に対する日本郵政の回答に基づいて、最終判断すると言ってきた。きちんと吟味して、この問題に決着をつけねばならない。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 17, 2009) （2009年6月17日01時34分 読売新聞）
The Yomiuri Shimbun(Jun. 16, 2009) Use proposals as basis for social peace of mind 「安心会議」報告 提言を建設的議論の出発点に（6月16日付・読売社説）
The direction Japan's social security system should take has been sorted out to a large degree. 日本が目指す社会保障の方向性が、かなり整理されたのではないか。
A government panel, which has been discussing ways to realize a society that feels secure about its future, came out with its final report Monday. 政府の「安心社会実現会議」が１５日、最終報告をまとめた。
The final report was worked out through discussions on Japan's future among experts in a variety of fields. It presented a set of goals that a future administration, whatever its political framework, should tackle. 幅広い顔ぶれで日本の将来像を議論し、練り上げたものだ。今後、政権がどのような枠組みになったとしても取り組むべき基本線を示したと言えよう。
The report takes as its foundation the idea of "realizing both peace of mind and vitality" in Japanese society. 最終報告が根底に据えたものは「安心と活力の両立」という考え方である。
Although the structural reform spearheaded by former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi had some successes, including the disposal of bad loans held by financial institutions, its policy management, which is characterized as market fundamentalism, caused various institutions, including the social security system, to fray around the edges and fall into disarray. The report suggested that these problems be corrected in a balanced manner. 小泉構造改革は不良債権処理に成果を上げるなどしたものの、市場原理主義的な政策運営により、社会保障など、さまざまな分野で綻(ほころ)びや混乱を生じさせた。これをバランスよく軌道修正する、ということだろう。
The report discusses social security with a slightly wider concept it describes as "peace-of-mind security." 報告書は、社会保障の概念をもう少し幅広くした「安心保障」という造語を用いている。
The new concept stresses that the people's sense of security must be pursued in five fields--employment, child-raising, education, health care and retirement--which should be linked seamlessly. In particular, it puts employment security at the center. 雇用、子育て、教育、医療、老後の５分野で、国民の安心を追求し、切れ目なく連動させる。中心には「雇用の安心」を置く。
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Steady jobs mean stable society
A stable household economy leads to security in the other four fields and they will all in turn create a foundation that supports the country's economic vitality. There can be no objection to this understanding. 家計の安定が他の４分野の安心につながり、経済の活力を支える土台となる。この認識に異論はあるまい。
The panel also lists 10 urgently needed measures, which should be implemented by fiscal 2011, a symbolic year that marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the universal public health insurance and public pension systems. 安心社会実現会議は、２０１１年度を国民皆保険・皆年金の実現から５０年の象徴的節目ととらえ、それまでに行うべき、１０の緊急施策も挙げた。
The panel also made various proposals, including, financial assistance to families with small children, expansion of application of social insurance to nonregular workers, improvement of scholarship, guaranteeing of housing for the elderly, introduction of a social security number system, and reorganization of administrative bodies to carry out reforms. 子育て世帯への経済支援、非正規労働者への社会保険適用拡大、奨学金の充実、高齢者に対する住宅保障、社会保障番号の導入、改革に取り組むための行政組織の再編などが提言されている。
It is necessary to secure funds to implement these urgently required measures on a permanent basis and improve them even further.
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Covering costs
The report presents a method for transforming the consumption tax into a tax to support social security in which a social security account would be created in the national budget and funded with all the revenues from the consumption tax. The report says such a method is worth discussing. こうした緊急施策を恒久化し、さらに充実していくには確固とした財源が必要だ。 報告書は、国の予算に「社会保障勘定」を作り、そこに消費税をすべて繰り入れて社会保障目的税化する方法を示した上で、「検討に値する」とした。
The problem is whether there exists the political will to make such changes. In this respect, the report proposes establishment of "a roundtable council" in which the ruling and opposition party members discuss the matter in a suprapartisan fashion and reach consensus. 問題は、実現させる政治の意思である。この点については、与野党が党派を超えて議論と合意形成をすすめるための「円卓会議」の設置を提唱している。
The Diet established a similar joint council of both chambers to discuss social security reform four years ago. Suprapartisan lawmakers at the council attempted to carry out the reform, but failed to hold fruitful discussions, apparently because they simply insisted on their positions without sorting out a compromise they could agree upon. 国会は４年前にも社会保障改革のための衆参合同会議を設置し、超党派による改革を試みたが、実りある議論にならなかった。一致できる基本線がまったく整理されないまま、主張をぶつけ合ったからではないか。
The latest proposals by the panel could promote constructive discussions on the matter in politics and serve as a starting point for building national consensus. We hope deeper discussions will be held based on these proposals. 安心社会実現会議の提言は、政治に建設的議論を促し、国民的な合意を形成するための出発点となりうる。これをたたき台に議論を深めたい。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 16, 2009) （2009年6月16日01時33分 読売新聞）
(Mainichi Japan) June 14, 2009 New wave of 'history girls' wooed by warlords' masculinity 戦国史跡：「歴女」急増中 武将の男らしさに…
Young women are flocking to significant landmarks from the Warring States period, and college girls are buying up samurai-themed products. Sales of historical books are up, and there have been efforts to revive the publication of paperbacks on warlords. Behind this craze is the surge in "reki-jo" or "history girls." But why now? 歴史をテーマにした書店「時代屋」には「歴女」と呼ばれる女性たちが足を運ぶ＝東京都千代田区で２００９年５月２６日午後、佐々木順一撮影 戦国時代の史跡が若い女性たちでにぎわい、武将をテーマにしたグッズも女子大生らに人気だ。背景にあるのは、歴史好きの女性「レキジョ」（歴女）の増加。歴史を扱う本の売れ行きも好調で、武将を取り上げた文庫本を復刊する動きも出ている。なぜ、いまレキジョなのか。【田村彰子、遠藤拓】
On weekends, Jidai Shobo, a bookstore specializing in historical books in Tokyo's Chiyoda Ward, is packed with groups of young women. Most of the shop's customers were men when it first opened in February 2006, but by last year, half were women, of which around 90 percent are in their 20s and 30s. ０６年２月に開店した書店「歴史時代書房・時代屋」（東京都千代田区）は、週末になると若い女性のグループであふれかえる。開店当初は男性客が中心だったが、昨年は男女ほぼ同数に。女性客の９割は２０～３０代という。
Stationery and mobile phone accessories with family crests of feudal lords line the shelves, with figurines of Sanada Yukimura, the most popular of the warlords, and others also for sale. "I like Kato Kiyomasa," says customer Izumi Sekine, 34, of a warlord who served the shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu. "There's an almost picture-perfect masculinity about him." 店内には、大名家の家紋をあしらった文具やストラップなどがズラリ。武将の中で一番人気という真田幸村などのフィギュアも人気を集める。江東区の会社員、関根いずみさん（３４）は「加藤清正が好き。絵に描いたような男らしさにひかれます」と笑顔を見せた。
In August 2008, the Kojuro Plaza opened in the city of Shiroishi in Miyagi Prefecture, home of Katakura Kojuro, a senior retainer of the 17th century warlord Date Masamune. Sales of Kojuro-related goods subsequently exceeded 100,000 yen on some days. Visitors to Shiroishi Castle during the week-long holiday in May jumped to 135 percent compared to the previous year, and most recent visitors have been young women, according to city officials. The tourist center in Ueda, Sanada Yukimura's hometown in Nagano Prefecture, has also enjoyed a jump in sales. 一方、伊達政宗の側近、片倉小十郎の地元・宮城県白石市。昨年８月、ＪＲ白石駅前に小十郎プラザを開設したところ、グッズの売り上げが１０万円以上に達した日もある。白石城の大型連休の入場者数は前年比１３５％。市によると、若い女性ばかりが訪れているという。幸村の地元・長野県上田市の市観光会館でも、関連グッズの売れ行きが好調だ。
The publishing business has felt the effects of this boom as well. Monthly magazine "Rekishi kaido" ("History way") had a circulation of less than 70,000 copies five years ago; now it sees sales of 120,000 copies. 出版界でも影響が広がる。月刊誌「歴史街道」は５年前には７万部未満だったが、１２万部に伸びた。
"The proportion of female readers has gone up from 15 percent of total readers to 40 percent," says editor-in-chief Kiyotaka Tatsumoto. The magazine's publisher, PHP Institute, revived publication of the biographies of warlords Date Masamune (1567-1636) and Uesugi Kenshin (1530-1578) in late March this year, and plans to revive publication of the biographies of Hosokawa Tadaoki (1563-1646) and Gamo Ujisato (1556-1595) due to popular demand. 辰本清隆編集長は「読者の女性比率が１５％から４０％に上がった」。ＰＨＰ研究所は絶版となっていた「伊達政宗」や「上杉謙信」などの伝記を今年３月末に復刊。好評のため「細川忠興（ただおき）」「蒲生氏郷（がもううじさと）」なども近く復刊する。
More unorthodox products have seen a boost in sales as well. There is a constant shortage in stock of Sido brand underwear or men's "armor" underwear, which cost a considerable 9,240 a pair. According to Tokyo-based manufacturer Rogin, about 80 percent of buyers are women. "As a result of the history boom, our underwear seems to have gained popularity as gifts," says Rogin president Shiro Nogi. "We're planning to come out with a women's line, too." 変わったものも売れる。男性用の「甲冑（かっちゅう）パンツ」。９２４０円もするが常に品薄状態で、客の８割は女性だという。制作・販売会社「ログイン」（東京都）の野木志郎社長は「ブームの影響もあり、贈答用で人気が出たらしい。今後は女性用も手がける予定です」。
◇生き様のかっこよさ求める女性たち
So how do "reki-jo" differ from the original history buffs, who were mostly middle-aged men? "In general, men relate battles and the management styles of warlords back to their own corporate environments, and try to use whatever they lessons they can to improve their own work lives," says Tetsuo Owada, a professor emeritus at Shizuoka University who has written over 100 books on the Warring States period. "But for women, it's more about the admiration they feel towards the warlords' approach to their lives." Owada adds that this may be a backlash against what they see as the selfishness of political and financial leaders today. 歴女は元祖・歴史ファンの中高年男性とはどう違うのか。ＮＨＫ大河ドラマ「天地人」で時代考証を担当、戦国時代を巡る著書が１００冊を超える静岡大名誉教授、小和田哲男さんは言う。 「一般的に、男性は合戦や人の使い方を企業社会に結びつけて理解し、実際に役立てようとする。女性は武将の生き様のかっこよさに焦点を当てていく」 歴女が歴史上の人物に首ったけになる理由について、小和田さんはこうみる。 「政界でも財界でも、現代の指導者といわれる人々は、自分さえよければとの考えを持った人々が多い。女性たちはそこを嫌っているのかもしれない」
Meanwhile, researcher Tetsuaki Higashida from the Dentsu Communication Institute suggests that women are attracted to the masculinity of these warlords, compared to the more passive modern men that they know. "Gender role reversals have been taking place, with men cooking and women playing golf," he says. "It's not unacceptable nowadays for women to take an interest in warlords, which used to be an area of interest reserved for men." 一方、電通総研の東田哲明リサーチャーは「男性が『草食化』していると言われ、反動で女性たちは『力強さ』などを持つ戦国武将にひかれるのでは」と分析。「男性が料理をする、女性がゴルフをするなど『男女の逆転現象』も起きている。昔は男性の領域だった戦国武将を女性が趣味にしても、世間に受け入れられやすいことも背景にあるのでは」と話している。
The Yomiuri Shimbun(Jun. 14, 2009) Consumption tax hike is elephant in the room 財政再建新目標 消費税引き上げから逃げるな（6月14日付・読売社説）
Japan's serious fiscal deficits are in the spotlight again. 日本が抱える財政赤字の深刻さが、改めて浮き彫りになった形だ。
A new target for fiscal reconstruction was included in a draft of basic policies for economic and fiscal reform in 2009. 政府の経済財政運営の指針となる「骨太の方針２００９」原案に、財政再建に関する新しい目標が盛り込まれた。
The pillar of the new target is achieving a surplus in the primary balance at both central and local government levels by the end of fiscal 2019, according to the draft of the government's annual fiscal policy guidelines. 財政の健全度を示す国と地方の基礎的財政収支を、１９年度に黒字化するのが新目標の柱である。
The government earlier said it would try to attain the goal during fiscal 2011. But as the deficit in the primary balance likely will have swollen to about 40 trillion yen by the end of fiscal 2009, mainly due to repeated implementation of fiscal stimulus measures, the government has been forced to put off the target year for realizing the goal to fiscal 2019. これまでは１１年度での実現を目指していた。だが、度重なる財政出動などで、基礎的財政収支の赤字が０９年度末で４０兆円近くに膨らむ見通しとなり、一気に８年後へ先送りせざるを得なくなった。
An official estimate showed that it would be impossible to achieve a surplus in the primary balance on the back of a yearly economic growth rate of 1 to 2 percent or by resorting to conventional methods of reining in government spending. This means, according to the estimate, that the government needs to hike the consumption tax to 12 percent from the current 5 percent by raising the rate by a total of seven percentage points--one percentage point every year from fiscal 2011--to accomplish its goal. しかも黒字化は、年１～２％の経済成長や従来の歳出削減努力だけでは不可能で、消費税率を１１年度から毎年１％ずつ合計７％引き上げて、１２％にする必要があるとの試算が公表された。
Another estimate showed that if the rate is raised by only five percentage points, to 10 percent, the government will have to wait until fiscal 2021 to see its goal achieved. 税率を５％引き上げて１０％にするだけでは、黒字化は２１年度にずれ込んでしまうという。
Although these are estimates, in the face of such a stern reality, neither the ruling nor the opposition parties can afford to put off any longer discussing the issue of raising the consumption tax rate. 試算とはいえ、これだけ厳しい現実が明らかになった以上、消費税率の引き上げから、与野党とも逃げるわけにはいくまい。
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Public debt skyrocketing
Under such critical national fiscal conditions, the government has no choice but to require the public to shoulder heavier burdens in the future. 将来的に重い負担を国民に求めざるを得ない背景には、危機的なわが国の財政事情がある。
In the fiscal 2009 main and supplementary budgets, the government set bond issuances totaling 44 trillion yen. This almost matches the amount of yearly tax revenues. The outstanding balance of national bonds will approach 600 trillion yen by the end of fiscal 2009. ０９年度の国の予算は、補正を合わせ４４兆円もの国債を発行する計画だ。年間税収に匹敵する規模である。０９年度末の国債残高は６００兆円に近づく。
Outstanding public debt at both national and local levels is about 170 percent of gross domestic product, far higher than the level in other advanced nations, such as United States and European countries, where it lies between 60 and 80 percent. 国と地方を合わせた債務残高の国内総生産（ＧＤＰ）比は約１７０％に及ぶ。欧米の主要国が６０～８０％にとどまっているのに比べ、際だって高い。
If this situation is left unresolved, it could cause a plunge in government bond prices and rising interest rates, shaking the foundations of the economy. It is a matter of course for the government to propose a new target for fiscal rehabilitation and work toward realizing it. この状況を放置すれば、国債の暴落と金利上昇を招き、経済的な大混乱を引き起こしかねない。新しい目標を立て、財政再建に向けて努力するのは当然のことだ。
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DPJ should face reality
The government and ruling parties should begin paving the way for raising the consumption tax rate soon if the economy recovers, while carefully watching the economic trends. 政府・与党は、景気の動向を注視しながら、景気が回復すればすぐ消費税率の引き上げに取りかかれるよう、今から準備を進める必要がある。
Meanwhile, if the main opposition Democratic Party of Japan touts itself as ready to take over the administration of the nation, it should realize anew the nation's harsh fiscal conditions and face head-on the issue of raising the consumption tax. 民主党も、政権奪取を標榜(ひょうぼう)する以上、財政の厳しさを再認識し、消費税率引き上げに、正面から向き合うべきではないか。
The consumption tax is increasingly seen not only as a means for fiscal reconstruction, but also as an indispensable financial resource to cover ballooning social security costs resulting from the declining birthrate and the growing population of elderly people. 消費税に焦点が当たるのは、財政再建のためばかりではない。少子高齢化の進展で膨らみ続ける社会保障費を賄う財源として欠かせないからだ。
The key to simultaneously undertaking fiscal reconstruction and reinforcing the social security framework lies in the consumption tax. The public should keep in mind the fact that a hike in the consumption tax will stabilize their livelihood. 財政再建と社会保障充実という二つの問題を同時に解くカギは、消費税が握っている。税率の引き上げが、むしろ生活の安定につながることを、国民は頭に入れておく必要があろう。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 14, 2009) （2009年6月14日01時41分 読売新聞）
The Yomiuri Shimbun(Jun. 9, 2009) Fix laws to implement U.N. resolution 対「北」船舶検査 決議実施へ法の不備を正せ（6月9日付・読売社説）
While calling on all U.N. member nations to inspect the cargo of vessels plying to and from North Korea, Japan itself faces a legal barrier to doing so. This is not logical. 北朝鮮に出入りする船舶などの貨物検査を全国連加盟国に求めながら、日本自身は法の不備で対応できない――。これでは筋が通らない。
A revised draft resolution expected to be adopted soon by the U.N. Security Council in response to North Korea's second nuclear test likely will incorporate such cargo inspections. Under the new resolution, U.N. member nations would stop vessels plying to and from North Korea and conduct inspections to check whether they are carrying arms and other embargoed goods at sea. 北朝鮮の核実験を受け国連安全保障理事会が近く採択する制裁決議案に、貨物検査の実施が盛り込まれる見通しとなった。海上では、北朝鮮に出入りする船舶が武器など禁輸品を積んでいないか、船舶を止めて検査する。
The United States is calling for such cargo inspections and Japan supports the measure. On the high seas, however, the new resolution likely will require U.N. member nations to obtain approval from the flag state of the vessels being searched out of consideration for China, which is cautious toward compulsory inspections. 米国が実施を求め、日本も支持している。ただ、中国の慎重姿勢に配慮し、公海では、船舶の所属する「旗国」の同意が実施の条件となりそうだ。
Japan's Ship Inspection Operations Law is related to the law to deal with contingencies in areas surrounding the country and can only be applied in instances that could develop into a situation under which Japan comes under attack. 日本の船舶検査活動法は、周辺事態法の関連法であり、武力攻撃に発展する恐れがある「周辺事態」の認定時しか適用できない。
A law on restrictions of maritime transportation of foreign military supplies is limited to being applied in situations where Japan is under military attack, while the Japan Coast Guard Law limits areas in which the JCG can operate to Japan's territorial waters only. 外国軍用品等海上輸送規制法は武力攻撃事態に限られ、海上保安庁法は活動範囲が領海に限定される。
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Difficult to meet legal threshold
Among those laws, the Ship Inspection Operations Law is relatively easy to apply for cargo inspections on the high seas, but it is a little far-fetched to conclude that the current situation regarding North Korea is a contingency in areas surrounding Japan. The law needs to be revised to enable Japan to conduct the inspections in situations other than contingencies. 公海で検査活動するなら船舶検査活動法が適用しやすいが、現在の北朝鮮情勢を周辺事態と言い切るのはやや無理があろう。法改正し、周辺事態以外でも活動できるようにする必要がある。
There are other problems. ほかにも問題点がある。
The law to deal with contingencies in areas surrounding Japan is designed to provide logistic support to the U.S. military and therefore Japan is currently unable to conduct inspections in cooperation with countries other than the United States. The use of weapons by Self-Defense Force personnel during such inspections is strictly limited to self-defense and even firing a warning shot is not permitted. 周辺事態法は米軍の後方支援を目的とした法律であるため、米国以外の国と共同して検査活動を行うことができない。武器の使用も自己防衛目的に限られ、警告射撃さえ認められていない。
These restrictions obviously make it difficult for Japan to act in cooperation with other countries. Establishing a new law is an option that could fix all these problems. これでは、各国と協調して行動するのは困難だ。これらの問題点をすべて是正するには、新法制定も一つの方法だ。
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Problem put off
The Japanese government discussed cargo inspections based on the U.N. Security Council sanctions resolution on North Korea after Pyongyang conducted its first nuclear test in 2006. The Cabinet of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe looked into a plan to participate in inspection activities by acknowledging the situation at the time as a contingency in areas surrounding Japan. Former Democratic Party of Japan leader Seiji Maehara and other DPJ members insisted that establishment of a new law be discussed. 北朝鮮制裁決議に基づく船舶検査は、２００６年の核実験の際にも議論された。当時の安倍内閣は、周辺事態と認定して活動に参加することを模索した。民主党でも、前原誠司・元代表らが新法制定を検討すべきだと主張した。
However, those initiatives later faded away after North Korea returned to the six-party talks on its nuclear program. だが、その後、北朝鮮が６か国協議に復帰したこともあって、立ち消えになった。
Pointing out that it is still uncertain whether cargo inspections will be conducted under the new resolution, some people say there is no rush for Japan to deal with the matter. 今回の決議について、実際に公海で船舶検査を実施するかどうかは流動的で、対応を急ぐ必要はない、という声がある。
However, North Korea is once again poised to launch a ballistic missile. There is a possibility that the U.N. Security Council may adopt a resolution that stipulates even stricter enforcement of the embargo against North Korea, depending on Pyongyang's next move. Fixing the legal pitfall should not be delayed. しかし、北朝鮮は弾道ミサイルを再発射する構えをみせている。北朝鮮の出方次第で、より厳格な禁輸執行決議が採択される可能性もある。法的不備の手当てを先延ばしすべきではない。
Implementing effective sanctions against North Korea is the objective. In light of this, the ruling parties and the DPJ should cooperate in formulating a new law. Given that the Diet session has been extended by a significant amount, there should be ample time to take on this task. 北朝鮮に効果的な制裁を実施することが目的だ。この際、与党と民主党は協力して法案づくりに入るべきだ。国会も長期間延長された。法案を成立させるための時間は十分あるだろう。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 9, 2009) （2009年6月9日01時37分 読売新聞）
The Yomiuri Shimbun(Jun. 6, 2009) The buck stops with Japan Post management 日本郵政人事 核心は不祥事の経営責任だ（6月6日付・読売社説）
Internal Affairs and Communications Minister Kunio Hatoyama has been making waves with his increasingly vocal opposition to Japan Post Holdings Co.'s
plan to reappoint Yoshifumi Nishikawa as its president. 日本郵政の西川善文社長の再任に鳩山総務相が反対姿勢を強め、波紋を広げている。
Some are supportive of Hatoyama, saying he has every right to state his position on the issue because as internal affairs and communications minister he
has approval authority over personnel affairs. Hatoyama has been upping the ante on the issue, saying he will stick to his position even at the cost of his
But the fuss serves only to derail discussion over the reappointment. If political considerations color the debate, the essential point of the discussion will
be lost. これでは議論が拡散するばかりだ。議論に政局的な思惑が重なると事の本質を見失いかねない。
The thrust of the criticism against Hatoyama is that politicians should not interfere in decisions made by private corporations. 総務相への批判で多いのが「民間の決定に政治が介入すべきではない」というものだ。
But Japan Post Holdings is a special case, in that all its shares are held by the government. In this regard, it would be problematic if the government were
to remain silent at a time when questions have emerged over the operation of Japan Post Holdings. だが、日本郵政は政府が全株式を保有する特殊会社だ。業務内容に疑義があるのに何も口を挟まないようでは、かえって問題だろう。
There is also an argument that the process of postal privatization will be set back if Nishikawa, who led preparations for the establishment of the company,
is ousted as its president. But this argument is illogical. The fact is that Hatoyama has repeatedly said he wants to see Nishikawa replaced precisely because he wishes to speed up
the privatization. 「郵政民営化を後退させる」という指摘も、論理に飛躍がある。総務相は「社長交代は民営化推進のため」と繰り返している。
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Sale of inns was opaque
The main bone of contention in the wrangling over Nishikawa's reappointment is the lack of transparency in the process of Japan Post Holdings deciding to
sell Kanpo no Yado inns to an Orix Group company. この問題の核心は、「かんぽの宿」をオリックスに売却しようとした手続きに不明朗な部分があったことだ。
An investigation by the communications ministry found a large number of irregular practices in the process of selecting the Orix real estate company,
including verbal reporting of important matters. A third-party panel set up at the request of Japan Post Holdings also identified a long list of problems in
connection with the sale of the Kanpo no Yado inns, including inadequate safekeeping of documents related to the bidding for the inns. The panel
criticized these failings as "extremely inappropriate." 総務省の調査で、重要事項が口頭で伝達されていたなど数多くの不備が明るみに出ている。日本郵政が設置した第三者検討委員会も文書管理の杜撰(ずさ
ん)さなどを列挙し、「著しく不適切」と断じた。
Those who call for Nishikawa's reappointment point out that the investigations did not uncover any illegalities. But putting to one side the question of whether there was any illegality in the process of selling the Kanpo no Yado inns, the buck stops with Nishikawa,
the top manager of Japan Post. 西川社長の再任を支持する人たちは、これらの調査で違法行為がはっきりしなかったことを理由に挙げるが、違法行為の有無とは別に、経営者としての責任は
厳然として残る。
The Democratic Party of Japan and two other opposition parties have filed a criminal complaint against Nishikawa, claiming he was complicit in the sale of
the Kanpo no Yado inns at knockdown prices. The Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office has accepted the complaint. Debates over whether there is
evidence of illegality in the process of deciding on the sale of the inns can wait until the prosecutors conclude their investigation. 民主党など野党３党が「売却額が不当に廉価だった」として西川社長を刑事告発し、東京地検が受理している。違法性の有無は今後の捜査を見守ればよい。
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Firm must put house in order
In addition to the controversy over the sale of the inns, the Japan Post group has become engulfed in other scandals, including the abuse of the postal
discount system for disabled people and Japan Post's delayed investigation into the nonpayment of postal life insurance when it was a public corporation. If such scandals surfaced in an ordinary company, the top manager would be forced to resign. ほかにも障害者向け割引制度を悪用した不正ダイレクトメール事件や、簡易生命保険金の不払い調査を放置した問題など、不祥事が次々と発覚している。普
通の企業なら、経営者は引責辞任に追い込まれているところだ。
Japan Post Holdings has not yet responded to a business improvement order issued by the communications ministry. Deciding on the reappointment of
Nishikawa at such a time is mixing up business priorities. At its own initiative, Japan Post Holdings should take the logical step of putting the presidential
appointment issue on the back burner and respond quickly to the business improvement order. 総務省の業務改善命令にも、日本郵政は回答していない。そんな段階で西川社長再任の人事案を決めたのは、手順としておかしいのではないか。人事案は
The Yomiuri Shimbun(Jun. 5, 2009) Fresh DNA test results open can of legal worms 足利事件 決め手となったＤＮＡ再鑑定（6月5日付・読売社説）
Prosecutors have agreed to a retrial for a man serving a life sentence for the 1990 murder of a 4-year-old girl, and who was freed from prison Thursday
afternoon. As the evidence that had led to his conviction had crumbled, this was certainly the right thing to do. 検察が再審の開始を認め、受刑者を釈放した。無期懲役となった根拠が崩れた以上、当然の対応である。
The Tokyo High Public Prosecutors Office submitted to the Tokyo High Court a written opinion in which prosecutors unprecedentedly approved a retrial
of the case. 東京高検が、「足利事件」の再審開始を容認する異例の意見書を東京高裁に提出した。
After the high court conducted fresh DNA tests, it was found that Toshikazu Sugaya's DNA did not match that of dried body fluid found on the murdered
girl's shirt. It is becoming increasingly likely that Sugaya, whose life sentence was finalized long ago, is not the culprit. 高裁がＤＮＡの再鑑定を行ったところ、無期懲役が確定した男性の型と、殺害された女児のシャツから検出された型が一致しなかったためだ。男性は犯人では
ない可能性が極めて高くなった。
The prosecutors agreed to halt Sugaya's sentence and released him. This is an unprecedented situation and it indicates that Sugaya will be acquitted. 検察は、男性の刑の執行を停止し、釈放した。前例のない事態である。検察が事実上、無罪を認めたものといえよう。
The court should swiftly decide on the start of a retrial. 裁判所は速やかに男性の再審開始を決定すべきである。
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Old tests too unreliable
The murder occurred in Ashikaga, Tochigi Prefecture, in 1990. The following year, police conducted DNA tests on Sugaya, who had been a presence on
the police's investigative radar. The police concluded the DNA found on the victim's shirt matched that of Sugaya's. When told of the DNA match, Sugaya
confessed to the killing. 事件は１９９０年に栃木県足利市で起きた。警察は翌年、捜査線上に浮かんだ男性のＤＮＡ鑑定を実施した。結論は、女児のシャツから検出されたＤＮＡ型と一
致するというものだった。結果を聞き、男性は犯行を自供していた。
In 2000, the Supreme Court dismissed Sugaya's appeal--the first case in which the Supreme Court acknowledged a DNA test as admissible evidence. 最高裁は２０００年、男性の上告を棄却した。ＤＮＡ鑑定に証拠能力があると認めた初めてのケースだった。
There is no doubt that investigative authorities and courts overestimated the accuracy of the DNA test. There also are doubts regarding the police
interrogations. A thorough probe should be conducted. 捜査当局や裁判所に、ＤＮＡ鑑定への過信があったことは間違いあるまい。取り調べにも疑問が残る。徹底した検証が必要だ。
The murder occurred shortly after DNA testing had been introduced and accuracy was considerably less reliable than it is now. Accuracy was dramatically
improved with the introduction of a new DNA analyzer in 2003. It is thought that more than 4,000 DNA tests were carried out before this new device went
into use. 事件当時は、ＤＮＡ鑑定が導入されて間もないころだった。精度は今より格段に低かった。精度が飛躍的に向上したのは、新たな分析装置が導入された０３年
以降だ。それ以前に実施されたＤＮＡ鑑定は４０００件を超えるという。
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New precedent set
This case may influence other criminal cases as doubts over the credibility of past DNA tests could surface. Courts and prosecutors should be flexible in
conducting fresh DNA tests and other necessary measures. 今回の問題により、他の事件でも、鑑定の信ぴょう性に疑念が生じることもあるだろう。裁判所や検察は、再鑑定の実施などについて柔軟に対応していくべきだ
。
It remains a fact that DNA tests, with their improved accuracy, serve as an important instrument in criminal investigations. As well as helping to find
suspects, it should not be forgotten that DNA tests also serve as a fail-safe against false convictions. 精度が向上したＤＮＡ鑑定が、捜査の有力な武器であることに変わりはない。犯人の割り出しとともに、冤罪(えんざい)を防ぐ防波堤の役割を持つことも忘れては
ならない。
It is crucial that police incorporate increasingly advanced scientific technology into their investigations with the aim of obtaining definitive evidence. 警察が、決定的な証拠を得るために、進歩する科学技術を捜査に取り入れるのは欠かせない。
However, it is risky to rely excessively on forensic results. In particular, the credibility of a fledgling technology needs to be carefully assessed. Sugaya's
case has taught us this much. だが、科学捜査の結果に過度に依存するのは危うい。特に、導入間もない技術については、信用性を慎重に判断する必要がある。今回の問題の教訓といえよ
う。
Forensic results have the potential to become points of contention in trials. With the beginning of the lay judge system late last month, lay judges might
be pressed to decide on the credibility of forensic results. Lay judges need to comprehensively weigh all the facts before them without being constrained by
just one form of evidence. 科学捜査による鑑定結果が、公判の争点となることもある。裁判員制度が始まり、裁判員も鑑定結果が信用できるかどうか、判断を迫られる局面があるだろう。
一つの証拠にとらわれず、すべての証拠を総合判断する。裁判員にはそれが求められている。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 5, 2009) （2009年6月5日02時09分 読売新聞）
The Yomiuri Shimbun(Jun. 4, 2009) More support needed to increase fertility rate 出生率１・３７ 確かな回復軌道に乗せるには（6月4日付・読売社説）
The nation's fertility rate has edged up, continuing a trend. 日本の出生率が少し上昇した。
According to Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry statistics for 2008, the estimated number of children a woman will bear in her lifetime stood at an average 1.37, up 0.03 points from the previous year. ２００８年の人口動態統計によると、女性が生涯に産む子どもの数の推計値である「合計特殊出生率」は前年を０・０３ポイント上回り、１・３７になった。
The figure has now risen for three straight years. ３年連続の上昇だ。
Last year, 1.09 million babies were born and about 730,000 couples got married, both figures showing a small increase from the previous year. 昨年は約７３万組が結婚し、１０９万人の赤ちゃんが生まれた。いずれも前年より、わずかながら増えている。
However, the fertility rate still remains at an extremely low level of below 1.4. In addition, the increased number of babies born in 2008 is mainly attributable to the extra day gained due to it being a leap year. ただし、１・３台という出生率の水準が極めて低いことに変わりはない。出生数の増加も、昨年がうるう年で１日多かったことが要因である。
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Recession may see births fall
The drastic economic deterioration that began in the second half of last year may prove a major obstacle to improving the fertility rate in the future. また、昨年後半からの急激な経済情勢の悪化は、今後の出生率の回復に、大きな足かせとなるかもしれない。
The National Institute of Population and Social Security Research has projected that the fertility rate will remain around the 1.2 level over the next 50 years or so, and the nation's population will continue to decline. 国立社会保障・人口問題研究所は、これから半世紀の間、出生率はほとんど１・２台で推移し、総人口は減り続けるとの見通しを示している。
Is it possible to reverse this projected fall? この予測を覆せるかどうか。
Now that the fertility rate has somehow recovered to nearly 1.4 after hitting a record low of 1.26 in 2005, we are at a crossroads. ０５年に１・２６まで落ち込んでいた出生率を、ともかく１・４近くまで戻した今が正念場だろう。
Breakdowns of the 2008 data on births showed that the number of couples having a third child rose. We believe this is a positive sign--an increasing number of parents who already had two children decided to have one more to realize their dreams. ０８年の出生を細かく見ると、第３子として生まれた赤ちゃんが増加した。すでに２人の子を育てつつ、「もう１人」との望みをかなえる親が増えているのは、明るい兆しである。
On the other hand, the number of the first and second children declined from the previous year. This drop can mainly be attributed to population shrinkage in the age demographic in which a woman might be expected to have a baby. We suspect, however, that the current social and economic situations are making many young people reluctant to marry, and even if they do so, they find they are barely able to raise one child due to social and economic reasons. 一方で第１子、第２子は前年より減った。その時期の若い親にあたる世代の減少が要因だが、結婚をためらったり、結婚しても子どもは１人が精いっぱいだったりする社会的、経済的状況が、依然としてあるからではないか。
It will be necessary to extend more support in the fields where policy measures have proven to be effective, while taking bold new steps in areas where effects are yet to be seen. 施策の効果が表れ始めたところは一段と後押しし、効果の見えないところは新たな手を大胆に講じていくことが必要だ。
Nevertheless, the budgets allocated to measures to address the declining birthrate have been far from sufficient. にもかかわらず、少子化対策の予算は乏しい。
While member states of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development earmark, on average, 2 percent of their gross domestic product for child- and family-related assistance, the figure is a mere 0.8 percent in Japan. 経済協力開発機構の加盟国は平均してＧＤＰ（国内総生産）の２％を子育て支援や家族関連に支出しているのに、日本は０・８％にとどまる。
The government has determined that more than 2 trillion yen in fiscal resources will be needed to pay for much-needed support measures for child-rearing. 政府は、子育て支援を充実するには２兆円強の財源が必要だとしている。
This amount could be secured with the revenue raised by a one percentage-point consumption tax rate rise. In this respect, the consumption tax should be renamed the social security tax as soon as possible, with a view to tackling the declining birthrate. これは１％の消費税で確保できる。少子化対策からも社会保障税の実現が急務である。
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Give minister increased powers
The current administrative system in place to address the declining birthrate does not function well, either. 行政の体制も現状は機能的ではない。
Although the state minister in charge of declining birthrate answers to the Cabinet Office, the current minister has both a limited budget and number of officials at her disposal. The minister, in effect, plays the role of coordinator of opinions among the concerned ministries and agencies, including the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry. 内閣府に少子化相が置かれてはいるが、独自の予算やスタッフは少なく、厚生労働省はじめ多くの関連官庁の調整役にとどまっているのが実態だ。
If the government intends to regard taking measures to stem the declining birthrate as a key agenda for the nation, it will be necessary to create a strong organization that has the power and means to tackle all of the various issues involved. 少子化対策を国の最重要課題と位置づけるならば、関連施策に一体となって取り組む、強力な組織が必要だろう。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 4, 2009) （2009年6月4日01時30分 読売新聞）
The Yomiuri Shimbun(Jun. 3, 2009) Earnest debate vital in extended Diet session 延長国会 衆院選へ実のある政策論戦を（6月3日付・読売社説）
The current Diet session has been extended by 55 days through July 28, and it looks highly likely that Prime Minister Taro Aso will dissolve the House of Representatives before the extended session ends. 国会会期が７月２８日まで５５日間延長された。 この期間中に麻生首相が衆院解散に踏み切る公算が大きいとみられている。
We hope the ruling and opposition parties will earnestly engage in policy debates during the extended session, including holding discussions on securing stable funding for the social security system and national security. Such debates would provide voters with a basis for considered judgment of each party's platform ahead of the coming general election. 次の総選挙に向け有権者に正しい判断材料を示すためにも、延長国会で、与野党は、財源論や安全保障など政策論戦に努めてほしい。
The Diet will discuss important bills, including those related to the fiscal 2009 supplementary budget, an antipiracy bill and a bill to revise the National Pension Law. The ruling parties must ensure these bills are passed during the current Diet session. 国会では２００９年度補正予算関連法案、海賊対処法案、国民年金法改正案などが積み残されている。いずれも重要法案ばかりだ。与党は、今国会で確実に成立させなければならない。
Aso sought the extension of the current Diet session in an apparent attempt to expand his options regarding the timing of the dissolution of the lower house for the general election and to keep the political initiative. 首相が長期の会期延長を図ったのは、それだけ衆院解散・総選挙の時期の選択肢を広げ、政局の主導権をとる狙いからだろう。
The Democratic Party of Japan, on the other hand, is seeking the dissolution of the lower house at an early date. 民主党は、早期の解散を求めている。
We hope the main opposition party, which has said it will not resort to employing tactics to unnecessarily prolong Diet 審議引き延ばし戦術は取らないとしている以上、粛々と法案の審議を進めてもらいたい。 deliberations, will commit itself to holding straightforward deliberations on the bills.
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Paying for pensions
With the lower house election now in sight, each political party likely will move to shape their respective campaign platforms. 衆院選が射程に入る中で、各党の公約づくりも本格化しよう。
In the lower house election, the parties should debate basic policy differences and their vision for the future of this nation. 衆院選で争われるべきは、各党の基本政策や、国の将来ビジョンである。
To pull this country out of the worst postwar economic crisis, it is right and proper to actively carry out fiscal stimulus measures in the short term and make all-out efforts to prop up the economy. 戦後最悪の経済危機を脱するには、当面、積極的な財政出動で景気の回復に全力を挙げるのは当然だ。
In the medium- to long-term, however, the question of how to secure stable resources to fund the social security system and other spending must be addressed. ただ、中長期的に社会保障費などの安定財源をどう確保するかは極めて重要な課題である。
The Liberal Democratic Party, which has said it expects it will take three years for the country's economy to fully recover, has said it will raise the consumption tax rate to fund the social security system while trimming government expenditure at the same time after this three-year period ends. 自民党は、景気回復に「全治３年」を見込み、その後は歳出削減と同時に消費税率の引き上げで対応する方針を示している。
The DPJ, for its part, maintains it will secure 20 trillion yen by eliminating wasteful spending--a policy that lacks precision and detail. 民主党は、「税金の無駄遣いの一掃」で２０兆円を確保するというが、具体性に欠ける。
Concerning the consumption tax, DPJ President Yukio Hatoyama said there is no need to debate a consumption tax hike for the next four years. This stance can only serve to heighten concerns over the prospects for the nation's social security system. 消費税の問題も、鳩山代表のように「４年は議論する必要はない」というのでは、社会保障制度の先行きへの懸念を高めるだけだ。
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Security a key issue
Discussion focusing on the specifics of national security policy also is necessary. 安全保障政策も、もっと具体論に踏み込んだ議論が必要だ。
DPJ Secretary General Katsuya Okada has, for example, proposed an international treaty that would make Japan and the Korean Peninsula a nuclear weapon-free zone. Okada has urged the United States to abandon the preemptive use of nuclear weapons and said Japan will step out from under the U.S. nuclear umbrella if such a treaty comes about. 例えば、民主党の岡田幹事長は朝鮮半島と日本を「非核兵器地帯」とする条約を提唱している。米国に核の先制不使用を求め、条約が実現すれば「日本は米国の核の傘から出ることになる」という。
Okada also said North Korea's abandonment of nuclear weapons is a precondition. However, Pyongyang has thrown the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty into the garbage bin. Simply proposing a treaty can never remove this nuclear threat. 北朝鮮の核放棄が前提だともいうが、相手は核拡散防止条約まで反故(ほご)にした国だ。条約を唱えるだけでは核の脅威は解消しない。
Furthermore, China and Russia are nuclear-armed. China's missiles are locked on Japan as well. Japan's peace and security would not be guaranteed should the country unilaterally step out from beneath the U.S. nuclear umbrella. しかも、中国とロシアは核を保有したままだ。中国のミサイルは日本にも照準を合わせている。米国の「核の傘」から日本が一方的に脱して、日本の平和と安全が本当に保てるだろうか。
If Aso and Hatoyama make clear their differences on these matters through head-to-head debates in the Diet, these differences likely would become key points of contention in the lower house election campaign. 首相と鳩山代表による党首討論などを通じ、これらの主張の違いが明確になれば、それが衆院選の争点にもなるだろう。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 3, 2009) （2009年6月3日01時34分 読売新聞）
The Yomiuri Shimbun(Jun. 2, 2009) Building new top seller key to GM recovery ＧＭ破綻 “売れる車”が再建のカギだ（6月2日付・読売社説）
General Motors Corp., the giant automaker that has long been a symbol of the United States, finally collapsed. Though it will be effectively nationalized, the biggest of the Big Three auto companies still faces a rocky road ahead toward rehabilitation. 米国の象徴だった巨大自動車会社が、ついに経営破綻(はたん)に追い込まれた。国有化されて再建を目指す前途も多難だろう。
GM filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection Monday. This marks the largest manufacturing corporate failure in history. 米ゼネラル・モーターズ（ＧＭ）が、連邦破産法１１章の適用を申請した。製造業として史上最大の倒産だ。
GM's bankruptcy filing followed a similar step taken by Chrysler LLC at the end of April. It is a historic situation that two of the Big Three automakers are in bankruptcy. ４月末のクライスラーを含め、米３大自動車（ビッグスリー）の２社が、相次いで法的整理される。歴史的な事態である。
GM has reigned over the world auto industry for nearly 80 years. However, the Detroit-based company has been in the red for several years since it got a slow start in the race to develop fuel-efficient small cars and lost competitiveness. The financial crisis and the global recession apparently finished off the ailing company. ＧＭは８０年近くも世界の業界トップに君臨した。だが、燃費の良い小型車の開発に出遅れ、競争力を失って、赤字経営が続いていた。金融危機と世界不況にとどめを刺された形だ。
Although even U.S. President Barack Obama could not rescue GM, he did engineer a softer landing for the company with a set of measures to alleviate the bankruptcy shock as much as possible. オバマ米大統領も救済できなかった。しかし、破綻ショックを少しでも回避しようと、軟着陸に向けた手を打った。
First, the federal government led the drafting of a restructuring plan and helped convince the United Auto Workers union to agree with GM's proposals to reduce labor costs. The government also helped the company obtain agreements from a majority of creditors in negotiations to greatly reduce its debts. まず、政府が再建計画作りを主導し、全米自動車労組（ＵＡＷ）と労務費削減で合意させた。巨額債務の削減交渉でも、大半の債権者の合意を取り付けた。
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Swift resurrection
Obama is said to have set up a scenario in which GM will go through the court process in 60 to 90 days and be rehabilitated quickly with the help of the arrangement his government has made. 大統領は、こうした事前調整をテコに、６０～９０日間で法的整理を終え、スピード再生させるシナリオを描いている。
The point of the restructuring plan is the establishment of a new GM that would inherit only the company's prime assets, including profitable brands, and jettison underperforming operations from the bankrupt company. The federal government will temporarily place GM under state ownership by acquiring 60 percent of new stocks in a recapitalized company. 再建計画のポイントは、不採算事業を切り離し、収益が見込めるブランドなど、優良資産だけを引き継ぐ新ＧＭを設立することだ。政府が新ＧＭ株の６割を保有し、一時的に国有化する。
At the same time, the federal government will invest an additional 30 billion dollars (2.8 trillion yen) into GM. The amount of government financial support will reach 5 trillion yen in total. This shows Washington's strong determination to rehabilitate the automaker as quickly as possible. 政府は同時に、約３００億ドル（２・８兆円）を追加融資して支援する。支援の総額は約５兆円に達する。早期再建に向けた米政権の強い意志の表れといえよう。
But, a leaner GM as a result of drastic restructuring warrants no optimism that the company would be quickly rehabilitated. U.S. taxpayers also are wary of injecting a huge amount of public money into the automaker. しかし、大規模なリストラでＧＭをスリム化しても、速やかに再建できるかどうかは楽観できない。巨額の公的資金投入に対して、米国民の視線も厳しい。
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Future cloudy
The biggest challenge is whether GM can regain competitiveness by developing popular sellers such as ecologically friendly cars. Automakers around the world are in fierce competition. Sales of automobiles in the United States are declining. The new GM will have to tread a thorny path. 最大の問題は、エコカーなどの「売れる車」を開発し、競争力を回復することができるかどうかだ。世界各社との競争は激しい。北米での販売台数も急減している。新ＧＭにはいばらの道だ。
There is concern the GM bankruptcy may cause a chain reaction of collapses among connected companies such as auto parts manufacturers since the auto industry has a wide variety of affiliated industries. Japanese auto parts manufacturers, too, will be unable to avoid adverse impacts. 自動車産業はすそ野が広く、部品メーカーなど取引先企業の連鎖破綻も懸念される。日系部品メーカーへの影響も避けられまい。
To avoid economic confusion, the U.S. government needs to strengthen official support for companies connected to GM. The Japanese government could be asked to assist Japanese parts makers. 混乱の回避へ、米国政府は、関連企業への公的支援を強化することが必要だ。日本政府も、日系部品メーカーへの救済策を求められる局面もあるのではないか。
If corporate failures and joblessness increase in the United States, it will be another blow to the U.S. economy, which is just getting out of the worst period of the economic crisis. It will be an ordeal for the world economy, too. 米国で企業倒産や失業が増大すれば、ようやく最悪期を脱しつつあるとされる米国経済に、再び打撃を与える。世界経済にとっても試練となろう。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 2, 2009) （2009年6月2日01時32分 読売新聞）
The Yomiuri Shimbun(Jun. 1, 2009) P-3C aircraft vital boost for antipiracy mission 海自Ｐ３Ｃ派遣 海賊対策で他国を助ける番だ（6月1日付・読売社説）
Japan's antipiracy efforts off Somalia are set to enter a new stage. ソマリア沖の海賊対策が新たな段階に入る。
Two Maritime Self-Defense Force P-3C patrol aircraft were dispatched to Djibouti. The two planes are expected to start warning and surveillance flights as soon as early this month in conjunction with the protective activities of the two MSDF destroyers convoying Japan-linked commercial ships in the Gulf of Aden. 海上自衛隊のＰ３Ｃ哨戒機２機がジブチに派遣された。６月上旬にも、アデン湾での護衛艦２隻による日本関係船舶の警護活動と連動して、上空からの警戒監視飛行を開始する予定だ。
The destroyers have been active in the area since late March. But the two vessels can only actually properly protect three vessels at a time on average and so have been able to convoy fewer than a quarter of all the Japan-related ships sailing in the area. 護衛艦の活動は３月末に始まった。ただ、実際に警護した船舶は１回平均３隻強で、現地を航行する日本関係船舶全体の４分の１以下にとどまっている。
If cargo ships arrive at their destinations behind schedule, expenses can mount up for the operator. Many ships likely are forced to sail through the area without escort despite the risk posed by pirates, when their schedule cannot be matched to that of the MSDF destroyers. 民間船舶は、目的地への到着が遅れれば費用がかさむ。護衛艦の航行日程と合わない場合、多少の危険を承知のうえで警護なしで航行する例が多いようだ。
With their higher mobility, the P-3C planes can surveil a wider swath of ocean in support of the destroyers' activities. Ｐ３Ｃは、その機動力でより広い海域をカバーし、護衛艦の活動を補完する意義を持つ。
More importantly, the P-3C activities can contribute to ensuring the safety of foreign ships by tracking pirate ships and providing the information via radio to both cargo ships and the appropriate naval vessels in the area. さらに重要なのは、海賊船の動向を監視し、関係国の艦船や民間船舶に無線で情報提供することで、他国の船舶の安全確保にも貢献できるということだ。
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Dispatch slowed
Due to problems in coordinating the mission domestically, the departure of the destroyers was delayed. Until their dispatch, Japan had been totally dependent on other countries to protect Japan-linked ships 日本は、国内調整の遅れから、護衛艦の派遣までに時間を要し、その間は、日本関係船舶の警護は他国任せという状態が続いた。
Currently, four other countries--France, Germany, Spain and the United States--have three to five P-3C flying patrols off the coast of Somalia. The participation of the two MSDF planes in their activities would strengthen the antipiracy forces. 現在、日本以外では、米仏独スペインの４か国が現場海域で３～５機のＰ３Ｃを飛行させている。海自の２機が加わることは、大きな“戦力”強化となる。
The MSDF has about 100 P-3Cs and the planes have an established reputation as capable patrol aircraft. The government intends to dispatch two P-3C planes in four-month shifts. The international community will welcome Japan's activities. 海自はＰ３Ｃを１００機近く保有し、その哨戒能力の高さは定評がある。今後も４か月交代で２機を派遣し続ける方針で、国際社会からも歓迎されよう。
Ｐ３Ｃの警戒監視区域を他国と分担するとか、より効果的な活動に向けての選択肢も広がろう。
At the same time, the number of pirate incidents off Somalia this year was 125, already exceeding the 111 recorded for all of 2008. The damage done by pirates has been rapidly increasing, especially off the eastern coast of Somalia where the security is relatively poor. 一方で、今年のソマリア沖での海賊被害は１２５件で、すでに昨年１年間の１１１件を上回った。警護の手薄なソマリア東方沖での被害が急増している。
More than 20 countries have dispatched navy ships to the area, but their effectiveness has been limited. Relevant countries need to be ready for a long battle with pirates and get serious about antipiracy measures. ２０か国以上が艦船を派遣しているが、その効果が出ているとは言えない状況だ。関係国は長期戦の覚悟で、海賊対策に本腰を入れる必要がある。
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New laws vital
For the MSDF to operate more effectively, it is important to pass into law earlier an antipiracy bill under deliberation at the House of Councillors. 海自がより効率的な活動を行うためには、参院で審議中の海賊対処法案の早期成立が重要だ。
As Japan has sent the destroyers to the Gulf of Aden on an antipiracy mission under the authority of the maritime police action provision of the Self-Defense Forces Law, their duties are basically limited to the protection of Japan-linked ships. The passage of the bill would expand the mission's scope by enabling the Self-Defense Forces to protect foreign vessels and broaden the rules on the use of weapons by the SDF. 現在は、自衛隊法の海上警備行動に基づく派遣のため、任務は日本関係船舶の警護に基本的に限定される。法案が成立すれば、日本だけでなく、他国の船舶も守れるし、武器使用権限も拡大する。
With the enactment of the bill, when the destroyers are asked for help by other countries' ships, they would be allowed to respond more appropriately by firing warning shots or even by opening fire on suspicious vessels in addition to simply warning them off with loudspeakers. 護衛艦が他国の船から救援要請を受けた際も、大音響発生装置で不審船を追い払うという対応にとどまらず、警告・船体射撃を含め、より的確な対応ができる。
Under the new law, there would be a wider range of alternatives for more effective activities, such as coordinating the warning and surveillance work of the P-3Cs with other countries. Ｐ３Ｃの警戒監視区域を他国と分担するとか、より効果的な活動に向けての選択肢も広がろう。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 1, 2009) （2009年6月1日01時41分 読売新聞）
