OPINION: Is xenophobia damaging Phuket's prosperity? 外国人嫌いの感情がプーケットの繁栄を阻害する？
Is 90 percent of Phuket's beach land really owned by foreigners? 本当に９０％ものプーケットビーチが外国人により買い占められているのだろうか？
A recent front page story in the Bangkok Post claiming foreigners control 90 percent of Phuket’s beach land through Thai nominees stopped many expats in their tracks.
The truth of the claim ? by the authors of a new study into foreign land ownership in Thailand ? is difficult to verify.
The authors of the research, a team from Sukhothai Thammathirat Open University, gathered their evidence from the private sector, local government, the Board of Investment, the Land Office, the Chamber of Commerce, the Industrial Council and Immigration among others.
This is not the kind of research that can be readily repeated by a newspaper interested in getting to the truth of the matter.
But many of those who read the Post’s story will have perceived ? rightly or wrongly ? a tone of xenophobia.
A nuanced 43-page report on foreign ownership of land in Thailand was boiled down to an explosive headline that was bound to put expat residents here on the defensive.
In fact, similar claims are made in the Thai press regularly.
The debate over foreign ownership of land in Thailand is one that has raged for years, and now more so than ever.
Recently, rumors that foreign businessmen from the Middle East were buying up Thai rice paddies received widespread coverage.
The Foreign Business Act forbids foreigners from owning farming businesses, making such purchases, if real, illegal.
The Department of Special Investigations is reported to be investigating the claims, while the Agriculture and Co-operatives Ministry is said to be drafting a bill to prevent such land grabs.
Of course, this is not to say Thailand does not have the right to protect its most vital resources from foreign control.
Food security is likely to become an increasingly pressing issue in a world most experts agree is getting warmer, and everyone agrees is getting crowded.
But so far, rumors of these illegal buyouts have remained just that.
Meanwhile, the authors of the Thailand Research Fund study admitted foreign investment capital was essential for developing Phuket and other tourist resorts in Thailand.
This investment has turned Phuket into the most affluent province in the Kingdom.
Despite reports that Thailand is no longer in recession, the island’s property market ? responsible for so much of that affluence ? is still suffering.
Thailand is now more divided than at any time since the seventies.
The country needs unity, but stoking xenophobia is not the right way to bring Thais together.
It’s the right way to drive away the investment that Thailand, and Phuket in particular, needs. タイ国、特にプーケットが必要と考えるならば、外国資本の投資を閉め出すのも一つの方法である。
Yen Strengthens, Japanese Stocks Drop After DPJ Wins Election 民社党の勝利で日本は円高、株価は下げ
By Masaki Kondo
Aug. 31 (Bloomberg) -- The yen strengthened after the Democratic Party of Japan won yesterday’s national election by a landslide, marking an end to single-party government that lasted almost unbroken for half a century. Japanese stocks fell.
The yen appreciated to 132.26 per euro in Tokyo from 133.85 in New York on Aug. 28, and strengthened to 92.77 per dollar from 93.60. The Nikkei 225 Stock Average fell 0.4 percent to 10,492.53 at the 3 p.m. close on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, reversing an earlier gain of 2.2 percent. Bonds rose.
“Some are saying the market has fully reflected the change of government, but the change is too big to be priced in,” said Hisakazu Amano, who helps oversee the equivalent of $18 billion at T&D Asset Management Co. “The impact of the DPJ victory on company earnings is still uncertain and investors can’t decide what to buy or sell.”
The DPJ routed the Liberal Democratic Party in yesterday’s vote, capturing 308 of 480 lower-house seats. The DPJ has pledged to revive an economy emerging from its deepest recession since World War II by boosting child-care spending, cutting taxes and limiting the power of bureaucrats.
The yen strengthened against all 16 major counterparts, gaining for a fifth day against the euro and rising to its strongest level versus the dollar since July 13. A tumble in Chinese stocks also fueled demand for the relative safety of Japan’s currency. 円は世界の主要１６通貨に対して円高に動いた。 ユーロに対しては5日間連続の円高傾向で、ドルに対しては7月１３日以来、最高値を記録した。 中国株式の不調も日本の円高に拍車をかけている。 （スラチャイ訳）
タイの英字新聞 Bangkok Post より引用 同じ内容でも英語表現は日本の各紙と違いますね。 辞書なしでもほとんど全部理解できますが、難しい単語もあります。 電子辞書で意味と発音をチェックしましょう。 辞書は英英辞典に切り替える必要も感じています。 現在は英和、英英を併用しています。 （スラチャイ）
Revolution at the Japanese polls 日本の選挙で革命が
Published: 30/08/2009 at 09:22 PM
Japanese voters swept to power an untested centre-left party Sunday in an electoral avalanche that ended more than half a century of almost unbroken conservative rule, according to exit polls.
The opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ), led by Yukio Hatoyama, was set to storm home with more than 300 seats in the 480-seat lower house of parliament, according to the exit polls of several television stations.
Voters frustrated with the government's handling of Japan's worst post-war recession punished Prime Minister Taro Aso and forced the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) from office for only the second time since 1955.
The exit polls indicate the soft-spoken Hatoyama, 62, is on course to take over as prime minister at a time when the world's number two economy is just emerging from the recession and still struggling with record unemployment.
"I am thankful for the support shown by the public,'' said Hatoyama, who is expected to take over as prime minister in about two weeks once the new parliament or Diet convenes.
"Looking at the situation so far, I feel extremely grateful,'' he added, stopping short of a full claim of victory. "I think that the public has felt an extreme sense of frustration with the government of the ruling party.''
Aso said he would resign as head of the LDP to "take the responsibility'' for his party's crushing defeat.
"We have to make a fresh start swiftly by holding a presidential (party) election,'' he added in brief comments. "As one member of the party, I must strive for the revival of the LDP.''
Hatoyama, a US-trained engineering scholar and scion of an old political dynasty, campaigned on a promise of change and people-centred politics against the business-friendly LDP, headed by fellow political blueblood Aso.
Recalling US President Barack Obama's election triumph last year, Hatoyama asked voters in a final campaign speech on Saturday at a Tokyo railway station: "Why can't we do what the United States could do?"
"I think we need a change now,'' agreed one voter, pensioner Toshihiro Nakamura, 68, after casting his ballot Sunday at a Tokyo elementary school.
"It's too long for a single party to dominate national politics.''
The DPJ already controlled the upper house with the support of smaller parties, frustrating the LDP's agenda in the lower house.
Now, the DPJ looks set to take the lower house as well with the numbers to push through legislation, ending the deadlock in the previous Diet legislature.
The DPJ has promised better social welfare, which it says would help recession-hit families, boost domestic demand and raise the birth rate to reverse a projected decline of Japan's fast-greying population.
The LDP _ which since 1955 had been out of power for only 10 months, in the early 1990s _ had 303 seats in the outgoing parliament to the DPJ's 112.
(Mainichi Japan) August 31, 2009 Opposition Democratic Party of Japan wins election in landslide 衆院選：民主党が単独で３０８議席獲得 自民は歴史的惨敗
The largest opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) scored a landslide victory in Sunday's general election, capturing more than 300 of the 480 seats in the House of Representatives.
The DPJ is set to take over the reins of government, putting an end to the 10-year-old coalition government comprised of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and Komeito (NKP).
DPJ leader Yukio Hatoyama will be elected prime minister at a special Diet session expected to be called sometime around Sept. 14, and form a DPJ-led Cabinet.
The ruling coalition suffered a humiliating defeat with its pre-election strength plunging from 331 to 140.
The focal point of Sunday's general election was whether the DPJ would take over the reins of government, or would the LDP-NKP coalition stay in power.
Following the massive defeat, Prime Minister Taro Aso said he would resign as LDP president. "I must assume responsibility (for the election outcome)," he said.
Vote counting began immediately after almost all of about 51,000 polling stations across the country closed at 8 p.m.
The DPJ won 308 seats, the LDP 119, NKP 21, the Japanese Communist Party (JCP) nine, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) seven, the People's New Party (PNP) three, the Your Party (YP) five, the New Party Nippon (NPN) one and the New Party Daichi one, while the Japan Renaissance Party (JRP) won no seats. Six independents were also elected to the chamber.
The DPJ suffered a massive defeat in urban areas in the previous Lower House race in 2005. Its current acting leader Naoto Kan was the only winner of a single-seat constituency in Tokyo. But the party won 21 of Tokyo's 25 electoral districts this time.
Of the 480 seats, 300 are allocated to single-seat constituencies (SSC) while the remaining 180 are allocated to proportional representation blocs (PRB).
Voter turnout in single-seat constituencies is estimated to be 69.27 percent, slightly above that in the previous election in 2005, which stood at 67.51 percent. The figure is the highest since the current election system combining the single-seat district and the proportional representation system was introduced in 1996.
Japan Times の社説を抜粋しました。 クリントン前米大統領の北朝鮮訪問、２名の米国記者の釈放 ミヤンマーへの民間外交特使、その戦術などが 記載されています。 米国はミヤンマーの早期民主化を願っていますが、 その道のりは険しいものがあります。 キーロールは北朝鮮と同じく、中国が握っているようです。 かしこく動き始めた米国、日本も北朝鮮やビルマに 特使を派遣するようなことは出来ないのでしょうか。 小泉前首相など最適だと思いますが、いかがでしょうか？ 辞書なしで５０％の理解度です。 使われている語彙がインターナショナルレベルです。 日本の英字新聞は読みやすいですね。 （スラチャイ）
Saturday, Aug. 29, 2009 (extracted from Japan Times) U.S. should engage Burma 米国はミヤンマーとつながりを保つべし
By BRAHMA CHELLANEY
By rendering its sanctions instrument blunt through overuse, Washington has dissipated its leverage against Burma, North Korea and Iran, and run out of viable options. The Obama administration, therefore, has wisely sought to open lines of communication with these countries and review policy options.
The humanitarian imperative to help free jailed Americans in North Korea, Burma and Iran provided the impetus to this political undertaking. The individuals' dangerous exploits came as a blessing in disguise for U.S. diplomacy, presenting an opportunity to try and open the door to engagement while providing the humanitarian shield to deflect attacks by hardline critics at home.
Just this month, even as the White House kept up the pretense that these were "private, humanitarian missions unlinked to U.S. policies," the United States was able to open lines of communication with North Korea and Burma, with ex-President Bill Clinton's trip to Pyongyang winning the release of two American journalists and Sen. James Webb's lower profile mission to Burma securing the release of an American who illegally visited Aung San Suu Kyi.
A formal U.S. opening to Iran, however, will have to await the outcome of the current power struggle there.
U.S. policy increasingly has pushed Burma into China's strategic lap through an uncompromisingly penal approach since the mid-1990s ? to the extent that the Bush administration began turning to Beijing as a channel of communication with the junta, even though the U.S. has maintained non-ambassadorial diplomatic relations with Burma, unlike with Iran and North Korea. A policy that has the perverse effect of weakening America's hand while strengthening China's, clearly, demands a reappraisal.
The weight of the U.S.-led sanctions has fallen squarely on the ordinary Burmese, while the military remains largely unaffected. The sanctions-only approach indeed has made it less likely that the seeds of democracy will sprout in a stunted economy.
The U.S. also cannot forget that democratization of an autocratic state is a challenge that extends beyond Burma. Democracy promotion thus should not become a geopolitical tool wielded only against the weak and the marginalized.
Can one principle be applied to the world's largest autocracy, China ? that engagement is the way to bring about political change ? but an opposite principle centered on sanctions remain in force against impoverished Burma? Going after the small kids on the global block but courting the most-powerful autocrats is hardly the way to build international norms.
Against this background, the Obama administration is doing the right thing by exploring the prospect of a gradual U.S. engagement with Burma, with American diplomats holding two separate meetings with the Burmese foreign minister in recent months. Webb's Burma mission was a big boost in that direction.
Webb, who heads the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on East Asia and Pacific Affairs, held separate face-to-face discussions with the junta's top leader, Gen. Than Shwe, and Prime Minister Gen. Thein Sein. He also was allowed to meet Suu Kyi, just weeks after U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki Moon had been denied such a meeting.
In fact, after Suu Kyi was convicted of violating the terms of her house detention by sheltering the American intruder, the junta instantly commuted her sentence to allow her to return to her villa and not spend time in a jail. If Suu Kyi were to reverse her decision to boycott next year's national elections, the generals might even be willing to lift her house detention. In any case, Suu Kyi remains free to leave the country, but on a one-way ticket.
The elections are unlikely to be free and fair. But make no mistake: By agreeing to hold the polls, the military is implicitly creating a feeling of empowerment among the people. However unintended, the message citizens will draw is that the next government's legitimacy depends on them. Which other entrenched autocracy in the world is offering to empower its citizens to vote on a new government?
The electoral process creates space for the Burmese democracy movement. The regime will have to allow political parties to campaign and take their message to the people. That, in turn, will allow the parties to galvanize support for democratic transition. Getting a foot in is necessary before the door to political change can be forced open.
That is why many parties representing the large ethnic minorities have decided to participate in the elections, even though the polls will be fought on the skewed terms set by the military. If Suu Kyi stays out, she and the aging leadership of her party, the National League for Democracy, will miss an important opportunity for the democracy movement to assert itself under the military's own rules.
Just the way Washington today is reassessing its hard line toward Burma, India was compelled to shift course after a decade of foreign-policy activism from the late 1980s ? but not before paying dearly. In the period New Delhi broke off all contact with the junta and became a hub of Burmese dissident activity, China strategically penetrated Burma, opening a new flank against India. That period's sobering lessons have helped instill greater geopolitical realism in Indian policy. While still seeking political reconciliation and democratic transition in Burma, New Delhi now espouses constructive engagement with the junta.
After all, years of sanctions have left Burma bereft of an entrepreneurial class but saddled with the military as the only functioning institution. That means a "color revolution" is unlikely and that democratic transition will be a painfully incremental process.
Brahma Chellaney, a professor of strategic studies at the New Delhi-based Center for Policy Research, is a regular contributor to The Japan Times. We welcome your opinions. Click to send a message to the editor.
The Yomiuri Shimbun(Aug. 31, 2009) DPJ must be responsible, live up to expectations 民主党政権実現 変化への期待と重責に応えよ（8月31日付・読売社説）
People's dissatisfaction with the Liberal Democratic Party's politics and their expectation that a new administration led by the Democratic Party of Japan can bring "change" has ushered in a historic change in power in this country. 自民党政治に対する不満と、民主党政権誕生による「変化」への期待が歴史的な政権交代をもたらした。
The DPJ romped to a landslide victory in the House of Representatives election Sunday, handing the LDP its most devastating defeat since the party was formed. ３０日投開票の衆院選で民主党が大勝し、自民党は結党以来の惨敗を喫した。
This is the first time since the end of World War II that an opposition party has won a single-party majority in the lower house and brought about a change in administration. 野党が衆院選で単独過半数を獲得し、政権交代を果たしたのは戦後初めてのことである。
DPJ President Yukio Hatoyama, who is expected to be named prime minister in the special Diet session to be convened soon, will bear the heavy responsibility of managing the country. 近く召集される予定の特別国会で、首相に指名される民主党の鳩山代表が、国家経営の重責を担うことになる。
===
Disappointment and weariness
◆自民党への失望と飽き◆ The largest cause of this sea change in public sentiment lies in the LDP itself. このような民意の大変動の要因は、自民党にある。
Policies taken by the administration of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, which espoused the importance of market principles, widened disparities in society, devastated the country's medical and nursing care services and impoverished many rural areas. 小泉内閣の市場原理主義的な政策は、「格差社会」を助長し、医療・介護現場の荒廃や地方の疲弊を招いた。
Koizumi's successors--Shinzo Abe and Yasuo Fukuda--abruptly resigned as prime minister. 小泉後継の安倍、福田両首相は相次いで政権を投げ出した。
Prime Minister Taro Aso, who took over from Fukuda, suffered a string of self-imposed setbacks with verbal gaffes and other blunders that raised questions about his ability to serve as prime minister before he could correct the policy line taken by the Koizumi administration. 麻生首相は、小泉路線の修正も中途半端なまま、首相としての資質を問われる言動を続けて、失点を重ねた。
The LDP lost its status as the largest party in the House of Councillors after a thumping defeat in the 2007 election. Subsequently, the LDP's support organizations and industrial groups that traditionally supported the party began to increasingly distance themselves from the LDP. この間、自民党は、参院選敗北によって参院第１党の座を失い、従来の支持・業界団体も、自民離れを加速させた。
In short, it can be said that the LDP's historic defeat was brought about by the collapse of its structural reforms that went too far, its leaders' failure to live up to their responsibilities and their lack of leadership ability, the alienation of its traditional support base, and weariness and disappointment with the administration that had been in power for a long time. 構造改革路線の行き過ぎ、指導者の責任放棄と力量不足、支持団体の離反、長期政権への失望と飽きが、自民党の歴史的敗北につながったと言えよう。
In addition to criticizing the LDP's failings, the DPJ wooed discontented voters by putting forward policies including support for households, such as a monthly child allowance for families and a gradual phasing out of highway tolls, as well as adopting election campaign tactics that included fielding a diverse range of candidates. 民主党は、こうした自民党の行き詰まりを批判し、子ども手当や高速道路無料化など家計支援策、多様な候補者を立てる選挙戦術で有権者の不満を吸い上げた。
In the previous lower house election, the LDP was blessed with strong and favorable winds whipped up by the postal service privatization debate and the divisions wrought by the party's decision to put "assassin" candidates on the official party ticket to run against those LDP members who opposed the Koizumi-led postal reform drive and were forced off the party ticket. 小泉政権下の前回衆院選では、「郵政民営化」と刺客騒動で、自民党に強い追い風が吹いた。
The winds of change then took a sudden turn, swinging behind the DPJ, which advocates a change in power--and the favorable conditions have remained since the dissolution of the lower house, culminating in heavy damage to the LDP's junior coalition partner, New Komeito, too. 今回、風向きは一転、「政権交代」を唱えた民主党側に変わり、圧勝への勢いを与えた。この結果、自民党だけでなく、連立与党の公明党も大きな打撃を受けた。
This development should be interpreted as meaning that the overwhelming sentiment among voters was to give the DPJ a chance to hold the reins of power, despite anxiety in the electorate about how a DPJ-led administration might fare. 民主党政権に「不安」は感じつつも、一度は政権交代を、との有権者の意識が、それだけ根強かったと見るべきだろう。
Despite the DPJ's landslide victory, however, it does not mean voters have given the party an open-ended mandate. しかし、３００議席を超す勝利は、必ずしも、民主党への白紙委任を意味するものではない。
===
Review election pledges ◆政権公約の見直しを◆
A new cabinet to be formed by Hatoyama is to carry out policy measures based on the schedule presented in the DPJ's election manifesto. However, the new government should not stick to its "election" pledges so much so as to destabilize people's lives. 鳩山新内閣は、政権公約（マニフェスト）で示した工程表に従って、政策を進めることになる。だが、“選挙用”政権公約にこだわるあまり、国民生活を不安定にさせてはならない。
Its most important task is to put the Japanese economy, which is now in the process of recovering from a serious recession, on a steady road to recovery. Given the deteriorating employment situation, public spending on economic pump-priming measures must be continued seamlessly. 最大の課題は、大不況から立ち直りかけている日本経済を着実な回復軌道に乗せることだ。雇用情勢の悪化を考えれば、切れ目のない景気対策が欠かせない。
When drafting the next fiscal year's budget, the new administration needs to give top priority to boosting the economy. 来年度予算編成でも、景気浮揚に最大限の配慮が必要だ。
In the realm of foreign and security policy, the change of government will not be accepted as an excuse to tear up international agreements. The new government must seek to achieve consistency in this country's foreign policy and firmly maintain the Japan-U.S. alliance. 外交・安全保障では、政権交代によって、国際公約を反故(ほご)にすることは許されない。外交の継続性に留意し、日米同盟を堅持しなければならない。
Since it does not have a single-party majority in the upper house, the DPJ will start talks soon with the Social Democratic Party and the People's New Party about the formation of a coalition government. 民主党は、参院では単独過半数を持たないことから、社民、国民新両党と連立政権協議に入る。
One major concern is the huge gap between the DPJ and the SDP regarding their basic policies on foreign and security affairs, including the participation of the Self-Defense Forces in international peacekeeping activities. 懸念されるのは、自衛隊の国際平和協力活動など、外交・安保の基本にかかわる政策をめぐって、民主、社民両党間に大きな隔たりがあることだ。
A political situation in which a small party can use its casting vote to push around a major party would be extremely harmful. The DPJ should approach the talks determined to scrap plans for a coalition with the SDP if they cannot reach an agreement on fundamental policies. 少数党が多数党を振り回すキャスチングボート政治は、弊害が大きい。民主党は、基本政策で合意できなければ、連立を白紙に戻すこともあり得るとの強い決意で、協議に臨むべきだろう。
The DPJ has set a goal of "bidding farewell to bureaucrat-led policy-making." 民主党は、「官僚政治からの脱却」も目標に掲げている。
But the DPJ should not be under the illusion that bureaucrats will dance to the party's tune simply by establishing a politician-led "National Strategy Bureau" or by assigning a bevy of lawmakers to positions within each government agency or ministry. だが、首相直属の「国家戦略局」を設けたり、多数の国会議員を各府省に配置しさえすれば、官僚を動かせるというものではない。
Lawmakers will be scrutinized for their ability to use bureaucrats to serve their purposes, rather than to act hostilely against bureaucrats. Lawmakers should know that only when they win the trust of bureaucrats will they be able to effectively implement policies. 官僚と敵対するのではなく、使いこなす力量が問われる。官僚の信頼を得て初めて、政策の遂行が可能になることを知るべきだ。
===
Can LDP make comeback?
The LDP was formed in 1955 through a marriage of conservative parties to counter the Japan Socialist Party, which in that year merged the rightist and leftist socialist parties. 自民党は１９５５年、左右の社会党の統一に対抗する保守合同によって誕生した。
The ideological clash between the LDP and JSP that was dominant in those days has since evaporated, and the JSP the nation knew then no longer exists. The LDP's crushing defeat in Sunday's election completed the demise of the so-called 1955 political system that centered around the LDP and the socialists. 当時のイデオロギー対決はすでになく、かつての社会党も存在しない。今回の自民党の壊滅的な敗北は、自社主軸の「５５年体制」の完全な終幕を告げるものだ。
◆自民党は立ち直れるか◆ The LDP must brace itself for an extended period in the opposition camp. The party will need to dust itself off and rebuild itself almost from scratch if it wants to be a viable political party that can occupy the position of one of the two major political parties--together with the DPJ. 自民党は、これから野党時代が長くなることを覚悟しなければなるまい。民主党とともに２大政党制の一角を占め続けるには、解党的出直しが必要だ。
The LDP was temporarily ousted from power in 1993 in the wake of money-for-favor political scandals. Since then, it has remained at the helm of the government by forming coalitions with the JSP, Komeito and other parties. ９３年、自民党は金権腐敗から一時期政権を退いた。その後、社会党や公明党などとの連立で政権を維持してきた。
The LDP has been forced by the voters to start over--after having neglected to reform itself. しかし、自己改革を怠り、結局、有権者の手によって、再出発を余儀なくされた。
The party will be pressed to drastically change everything from its political philosophy to its policies and its structure under a new party leader who will replace Aso ahead of the upper house election next summer. 今後は、麻生首相に代わる新総裁の下、来年夏の参院選に向け、党の組織や政策、選挙体制など、すべての面にわたり徹底的な改革が迫られる。
The LDP must present healthy, sound policies and bolster its ability to counter the DPJ-led administration if it wants to be a key player that can level criticism at the government. 説得力のある政策を示し、民主党政権に対する批判勢力として、闘争力を高めねばならない。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 31, 2009) （2009年8月31日05時28分 読売新聞）
(Mainichi Japan) August 30, 2009 Opposition Democratic Party of Japan set to win election in landslide 衆院選：民主単独で３００議席超へ 鳩山政権誕生が確実に
The largest opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) is set to score a landslide victory in Sunday's general election, likely capturing more than 300 of the 480 seats in the House of Representatives, according to Mainichi Shimbun exit polls.
The DPJ is certain to take over the reins of government, putting an end to the 10-year-old coalition government comprised of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and Komeito (NKP).
DPJ leader Yukio Hatoyama will be elected prime minister at a special Diet session that must be called within 30 days after the polling day under the Constitution, and form a Cabinet.
The LDP is expected to suffer a humiliating defeat, possibly falling short of 100 seats.
The focal point of Sunday's general election has been whether the DPJ will take over the reins of government or the LDP-NKP coalition will stay in power.
Vote counting began immediately after almost all of about 51,000 polling stations across the country closed at 8 p.m.
As of 10:40 p.m., the DPJ had won 243 seats, the LDP 62, NKP 11, the Japanese Communist Party (JCP) five, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) two, the People's New Party (PNP) two, the Your Party (YP) three and the New Party Nippon (NPN) one, while the Japan Renaissance Party (JRP) had won no seats. Four independents have also been elected to the chamber.
All winners in the nation's 300 single-seat constituencies (SSC) will be announced by about 1 a.m. on Monday and all those elected in the proportional representation blocs (PRB) will be determined by around 3 a.m.
The voter turnout was 53 percent as of 7:30 p.m., down 2.65 points from the previous election in 2005. However, as the number of those who cast absentee ballots was more than 50 percent more than the previous election, final voter turnout is expected to be above that in the previous election, which stood at 67.51 percent.
A confidence vote among the public for nine Supreme Court justices, who were appointed after the previous Lower House election, was also held simultaneously with the general election.
U.S., Japan need new dimension in bilateral ties 日米両国関係の細目を検討する時期にさしかかってる BY YOICHI KATO ASAHI SHIMBUN SENIOR STAFF WRITER
Tokyo and Washington should move to broaden their concept of security and focus their attention on such issues as global warming and aid to Africa, Daniel I. Okimoto, a professor emeritus at Stanford University, said in a recent interview. Such a bilateral approach would help stabilize a world now polarized by poverty, disease and natural disasters, he believes.
A close friend who advises new U.S. Ambassador to Japan John Roos, Okimoto expressed hope that U.S. President Barack Obama's visit to Tokyo in November will broaden the scope of bilateral cooperation to include areas such as clean technology.
Following are excerpts:
* * *
Question: How do you feel about the current economic situation and its implications for U. S. security policy?
Answer: We probably have hit bottom and are beginning gradually to climb out of the deep financial and economic hole into which we had fallen. We're no longer facing the threat of a collapse of our global financial system.
But, the financial sector in Europe and the United States remains fragile and the economy still requires massive government spending in order to generate and maintain stable economic expansion. American households have had to overcome deeply in-grained patterns of heavy borrowing and profligate spending. Savings have risen from zero to 4 percent. Corporations have reduced capital investments because consumers are buying less. This has forced the government to step into the demand vacuum and prime the pump.
Even after the United States begins to recover, the recovery will be weak. It will be a "sawtooth recovery," not a V-shaped turnaround. It may take two or three years before America returns to robust rates of steady growth--similar to, say, 1993-2000.
Defense budgets will have to be pared back. In 2008, depending on how you define it, the defense budget was around $540 billion or $550 billion. However, if you include supplemental and discretionary budgets, which cover the full costs of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the actual defense budget probably amounted to around $1 trillion. That's huge.
Obama scored a small but noteworthy victory when he and Secretary of Defense Robert Gates defeated the increase of spending for F-22 fighter aircraft in the budget. But they are going to have to do much more paring. There is plenty of room for spending cuts, but the process will take time. Most weapons systems are multi-year projects, and most of the big ticket items can only be pared down gradually. That said, I do think that it is possible to prune defense spending back down to, say, 5 percent of GDP over time. It's about 7 percent now (if you include supplemental and discretionary budgets).
If the Obama administration can do that--a big "if"--the fiscal impact would be exceedingly positive, because precious, finite resources can be freed up and ploughed back into productive infrastructure investments--like smart power grids, a rapid transit system and the upgrading of our energy infrastructure. If we reallocate resources to, say, clean technology and renewable energies, the U.S. economy could get back on to a robust growth trajectory, which will contribute to both global growth and the protection of the global environment.
Q: What are your views on the threats facing the world today?
A: No international system can be stable if the world economy is not growing and if the gap between the rich and the poor is wide. Unfortunately, global growth has been slowing down and economic inequality within and between nations has been widening.
Consider Africa. The continent is adrift. Much of sub-Saharan Africa is caught in a quagmire of grinding poverty, disease and tribal conflict. The dire problems in Africa cannot be ignored. We simply cannot allow the disproportionate number of failed states in Africa to plunge the continent into anarchy, poverty and warfare.
Take Somalia. It is the prototype of a "failed state," where anarchy reigns, where ordinary people are forced to live with poverty, malnutrition, disease and constant fear of death, and where terrorists and jihadists have emerged. The advanced industrial world cannot stand by idly and allow Somalia to become a refuge for terrorist training and terrorist organizations.
We need to pay more attention to the developmental needs of the African sub-Saharan continent as well as to other parts of the developing world, including South Asia, Latin America, the Middle East, East Europe and Central Asia. We cannot afford to allow whole continents to fall into abject poverty and anarchy. That would be a formula for disaster.
The other area where we confront serious security problems, broadly defined, is environmental degradation. Look at the nature of global warming. What you see already looming on the horizon are slowly rising temperatures, leading to changes in rainfall and soil, volatility in weather patterns, floods, drought, famine, infectious diseases and pandemics. These are huge security problems. They are immediate and real, not hypothetical or statistically improbable. The probability of an outbreak of Avian flu, for example, may be as high as, say, a North Korean nuclear attack. Chinese citizens are more apt to suffer from the debilitating, cumulative toll of severe air and water pollution than they are from a sudden war with Taiwan. And it is not just the desperately impoverished regions of Africa which are vulnerable to the problem of natural disasters, compounded by environmental degradation. Even the fastest growing states, such as the BRICs--Brazil, Russia, India and China--are highly susceptible. The BRICs are sprawling land masses, with teeming populations, crammed together in densely-packed megacities, crowded cities and surrounding urban areas.
Q: How is the Obama administration faring on the domestic front?
A: The Republicans are seeking to avoid political marginalization. They're losing their national base of support. Increasingly, the Republican Party is turning into a shrinking base of conservative, older, white voters and the religious right, concentrated in the South. The Republicans are falling behind in the fastest growing segments of the U.S. electorate, especially young voters between the ages of 18-40, women and minority groups, particularly Hispanics and African-Americans. So, what are the Republicans doing? They're embarked on a negative campaign. Republicans in Congress are voting against almost every piece of legislation that the Democrats sponsor, such as the stimulus package, health-care reform, climate change and regulatory reform. It's clear that the Republicans want the Obama administration to fail. For if the Obama administration succeeds in nursing the economy back to health and in pushing through historic reforms, such as the passage of universal health care, the Democratic Party may ensconce itself securely in power for years to come just as it did under President Franklin D. Roosevelt during the Great Depression.
On the health-care issue, we have witnessed a surge of partisan politicking. A great deal of misinformation, exaggerations, distortions and even some outright lies are being spread. For Obama, health-care reform is the defining issue of his administration. Success or failure here will go far in defining Obama's legacy, to say nothing about his chances of re-election for a second term.
If America fails to reform health care, the runaway costs of heath care will threaten to bankrupt the country. It's critical, particularly in the wake of the financial implosion, that we find ways to control our fiscal expenditures. If we don't, American power will be severely impaired.
Q: What are your views on the status of the North Korean nuclear problem?
A: We've been trying to deal with the problem of nuclear proliferation in North Korea since the early years of the first Clinton administration in 1993-94. Unfortunately, we have not gotten very far. Since 2001, in fact, we have backslid. Since 2002, North Korea has developed we don't know how many nuclear weapons, but maybe six to eight. They've further refined their missile delivery capability, the Nodong and Taepodong missiles, and no doubt they have sold nuclear or missile technology--first to Syria, then to Iraq, and now, apparently, to Myanmar (Burma), and maybe to Iran as well.
The nuclear genie has been let out of the bottle. Israel, China, India, Pakistan and now North Korea have entered the ever-expanding circle of nuclear weapons states. Iran is trying to break in, too.
Q: You mean the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty regime is collapsing?
A: Yes. It's awfully hard to denuclearize a country, or even to cap the number of nuclear weapons of a country, once it has crossed the threshold. The question is: Can the Obama administration find ways of persuading North Korea to give up the nuclear capability that it now possesses? I doubt it. From North Korea's perspective, this is the one weapon of last resort that is indispensable. It is true that with nearly 1 million soldiers and with a hardened heavy artillery capable of inflicting considerable damage, North Korea possesses a formidable conventional force. Yet, with limited supplies and reserves of energy, and with scant financial resources, North Korea would not be able to carry on a conventional war for an extended period, not unless China provides substantial energy supplies. Nuclear weapons also represent a visible symbol of power, perhaps North Korea's sole symbol of "accomplishment," and it is an instrumental means of exercising diplomatic leverage. North Korea's powerful and entrenched military would not be inclined to give up what has taken decades to develop.
Q: What would you suggest the United States should do?
A: First of all, America has to maintain the credibility of its extended deterrence.
If North Korea were to attack, say, South Korea or Japan, we would have to retaliate. We'd have to maintain our credibility in Northeast Asia. Otherwise, our credibility around the world, particularly in the Middle East, would be called into question.
Q: Should the United States do something tangible to enhance the credibility of extended deterrence?
A: Japan and the United States are already taking steps to strengthen the extended deterrence in Northeast Asia, by joint development of ballistic missile defense. This is an expensive and long-term undertaking, but it is essential for Japan to have a system of defense in place against the possibility of a pre-emptive strike from North Korea.
The threat posed by North Korean nuclear capability is not just that of an attack on neighboring nations, it is also the great danger of North Korea's transfer of technology, and possibly nuclear materials, to non-state actors and terrorist groups. Now that is deeply worrisome. It is exceedingly difficult to forestall or prevent the transfer of fissionable materials and missile technology. This is what gives the North Korean nuclear issue an added sense of urgency.
The humanitarian mission undertaken by former President Bill Clinton to secure the release of two American journalists was, in my mind, a very positive development. I believe that the criticism that his visit to Pyongyang represented a kowtowing to North Korea is misplaced. The successful release of the two American journalists doesn't mean that the United States has made a secret promise to repay North Korea in some way. Nor does it mean that the United States has retreated from the imposition of strong U.N. sanctions. Even though the efficacy of sanctions is unclear, the United States is prepared to move forward with the fairly stringent sanctions that the United Nations has approved. The release of those hostages is welcome, but we shouldn't run to the table with North Korea. And we should do it within the six-party talks and not just on a simple bilateral basis.
Q: How should six-party talks function?
A: What we need in the six-party talks is to come up with concrete contingency plans for North Korea, should a major crisis unfold, say, a succession crisis. We need to have an understanding of what steps will be taken (as well as what actions to avoid), with South Korea, Japan, China and Russia. It also would be desirable for the five powers to sit down and discuss the basic framework for a new security architecture in Asia.
Q: How do you think Japan's political situation will affect Japan-U.S. relations if the Democratic Party of Japan takes power on Aug. 30?
A: It will take two elections for any new ruling party to establish an enduring base of power. If there is a change in the political party in power, there will be a period of several years of fluidity before a new structure of political party alignment takes hold.
Q: The DPJ says it would change policies vis-a-vis the United States, for example, re-examining the planned relocation of the Marine Corps Air Station Futenma in Ginowan to Henoko in Nago, Okinawa Prefecture.
A: What I've noticed over the past several weeks is that the DPJ statements have stepped back from commitments to make immediate and far-reaching changes.
They've been backtracking from the positions of ending the refueling mission in the Indian Ocean and of moving quickly out of Futenma. What the DPJ leaders appear to be seeking is a smooth, seamless transition, where bilateral issues don't get entangled with domestic reform priorities.
They may be taking on too much, if they try to renegotiate the Status of Forces Agreement, while at the same time trying to reduce the power of the bureaucracy or to remedy the problems of Japan's pension system. That would be a formula for over-extension.
I think they will probably come into office and assess the political and economic situation, engaging in a dialogue with the Obama administration, and, over time, develop a concrete plan of action.
Q: What are your views on the overall status of our bilateral relations?
A: I think that it's in satisfactory shape. Of course, there are areas where it could be upgraded. What I would like to see is a broader concept of security agreed upon by both states. It would be desirable for more attention and resources to be devoted jointly to environmental issues, clean technology and the alleviation of international poverty, hunger, infectious disease, natural disasters, anarchy, piracy and genocide. Bilateral cooperation in these areas could be strongly stabilizing as well as good for the global political economy.
Q: What is the primary objective of Obama's visit to Japan in November?
A: He has only one day in Japan. I think that the main goal would be to introduce himself to the Japanese leadership--whomever is in power at the time, and to reach out and connect with the Japanese people.
Obama is one of those once-in-a-lifetime political figures who possesses the rare gift of charisma. This enables him to galvanize public support, and indeed, widespread enthusiasm and passion everywhere he travels, whether it be to Europe, Africa, the Middle East, or in Asia. It would be great to see him weave his charismatic magic in Japan. If he does, it would expand the degrees of operating freedom. Obama could propose a vision of bilateral cooperation in, say, clean technology, and this could open up multiple avenues of bilateral cooperation, both in the public and private sectors.(IHT/Asahi: August 25,2009)
THE ASAHI SHIMBUN POINT OF VIEW/ Kayo Nobayashi: Train people with disabilities to be caregivers 視点論点／かよこ なかばやし： 障害者を介護士に育成しよう
Japan's dire shortage of nursing care providers is drawing much attention.
Measures aimed at alleviating the shortage include importing care workers and nurses from Indonesia from last year and the Philippines from May. The Indonesian group began working this year after receiving language and other training.
Moreover, Japanese workers who lost jobs in the recession have been invited to recruitment sessions by welfare facilities hoping they will consider working in nursing care. Wages for caregivers are expected to be raised.
Still, it remains to be seen how effective such moves will be to meet the growing need for care workers.
As a social worker, I have long experience in the fields of medical care and nursing. One thing I have learned is that having an aptitude for the job is important for anyone doing such work.
As the director of an elder-care home, for whom I have great respect, once said to a group of prospective employees: "Regrettably, nursing-care work is not for everyone. Some people are just not cut out for the job."
I agree. Caring for others in need of help is a vocation. It is not the sort of work that job-hoppers should do if they simply want to earn enough to make ends meet while they look around for something that pays better.
Speaking of aptitude, when I look around, I notice many disabled people who are vigorous, sincere and considerate. Many such people have varying levels of disabilities, and of course, some are unable to work because of their disability.
However, many others are strong enough and capable of handling the job of nursing-care worker.
Generally speaking, people with disabilities are socially vulnerable. For that reason, they tend to be able to better understand the pain that others feel and are inclined to be kind and caring.
With some support, I believe many such people can be hired to work in nursing-care services.
Society today mistakenly believes that all people with disabilities are incompetent and unable to handle the work of a caregiver. This is definitely not true.
For example, in the Kansai region, people with hearing impairments, known as "deaf-mute helpers," are employed as caregivers for the elderly. People with intellectual disabilities also work alongside certified care workers after undergoing training to be an assistant. Still, there are only a few such cases.
Unfortunately, most disabled persons find no opportunities to receive training to become home-care workers or certified care workers, and few facilities hire them. While there are many relatively energetic, young disabled people who could easily do such work, nursing is not a career option for most of them.
In Sweden, the state-backed company Samhall AB employs people with disabilities. It trains such employees to work as care workers and runs services for the elderly staffed by disabled people. Japan would be wise to adopt a similar system of support.
Under the Services and Support for Persons With Disability Law that came into force in April 2006, employment support for disabled persons is an important theme.
If the government is serious about this, I urge it to create more opportunities for disabled persons to acquire the qualifications needed to become care workers and to support places where they too can work as members of the nursing workforce.
Moreover, care workers can also learn much from their disabled colleagues. Disabled people deserve wider career choices and opportunities for self-realization.
* * *
The author is a certified social worker.(IHT/Asahi: August 29,2009)
(Mainichi Japan) August 30, 2009 Japan needs distance from U.S., China -- not U.S. military might 日本は米中と距離を保つべし--米国の軍事力にたよるのでなく
There is no question about the fact that the Japan-U.S. alliance is the core of Japan's diplomacy. However, the structure of current Japan-U.S. relations is distorted, with too much emphasis placed on the military aspect.
The new administration formed following Sunday's House of Representatives election will be required to redesign the Japan-U.S. ties that form the basis of Japan's diplomacy, based on the international situation at the beginning of the 21st century, which is characterized by both multi-polarization and non-polarization.
Japan has been unable to reshape its relations with the United States owing to the destabilized domestic political situation in the 1990s, following the end of the Cold War, followed by the rise of China and the coordinated terrorist attacks on the United States in 2001.
Tokyo has strengthened its military relations with Washington on the grounds that it has no choice but to follow in U.S. footsteps, which put Japan in confrontation with China. However, the United States has chosen "constructive engagement" rather than confrontation when it dealing with the China itself. Therefore, Washington will find value in Japan if it is trusted by all of Asia, including China.
Japan is required to not strengthen its martial relations with the United States but place an appropriate distance from the U.S. and China, while clearly asserting its own standpoint. To that end, Japan should create a specific plan to gradually reduce the number of U.S. bases in Japan and revise the bilateral status-of-forces agreement without creating a military vacuum in Northeast Asia.
The Cold War structure has collapsed and 64 years have passed since the end of World War II. We are supposed to come back to the common notion that it is abnormal that foreign forces are continuing to stay in Japan. (By Jitsuro Terashima, honorary chairman of the Japan Research Institute) 戦後64年経過して東西の冷戦状況は崩壊した。 日本に未だに外国部隊が駐留しているのはおかしい状態である。 （スラチャイ訳）
The Yomiuri Shimbun(Aug. 30, 2009) An election that will chart Japan's future course きょう投票 １票が日本の進路を決める（8月30日付・読売社説）
Which political party and which candidates should be entrusted to take the helm of this nation? Today, Aug. 30, is the polling day for the 45th House of Representatives election. It is an election that will determine Japan's future path. 日本の舵(かじ)取りを委ねるのにふさわしい政党はどこか、候補者は誰か。有権者の１票が日本の進路を左右する。 きょう３０日、第４５回衆院選が投票日を迎えた。
Voters must choose whether to continue under the current administration of the Liberal Democratic Party and its coalition partner New Komeito, or to switch to a new administration centered on the Democratic Party of Japan. 自民、公明両党の現政権の継続か、民主党を基軸とする新政権の誕生か。
The election campaign has focused not only on a straight evaluation of the accomplishments and policies of each party. Voters also have had to weigh up which party most deserves to govern. 今回の選挙戦では、各政党の実績、政策の評価に加えて、選挙後の政権の選択が大きな焦点となった。
The LDP had to fight the election campaign in the face of a strong voter backlash. 自民党にとっては、強い逆風の下の選挙戦だった。
After an overwhelming victory in the lower house election in 2005 under the administration of then Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, the premiership changed hands three times, passing to Shinzo Abe, Yasuo Fukuda and then Taro Aso. The party was subject to persistent criticism for passing the reins of government from one party head to another. 小泉政権下の前回衆院選での圧勝の後、安倍、福田、麻生と首相が３度も交代し、「政権たらい回し」の批判は根強かった。
Since taking power in September, Prime Minister Taro Aso showed himself to be inconsistent and indecisive at a number of crucial moments, such as when he failed to explain what the flat-sum cash benefit program was meant to achieve. Each time he floundered, he pushed down the LDP's approval rating. 麻生首相も、昨年９月の政権発足以来、定額給付金の性格付けを始めとして、節目で発言のぶれや優柔不断さを露呈し、そのたびに自民党の支持率を押し下げた。
For the DPJ, doubts have been raised over its ability to govern due to its composition--a motley collection of politicians from different parties ranging from conservatives on one side of the political spectrum to former members of the now-defunct Japan Socialist Party on the other. In addition, some observers have expressed caution over the party's desire to form a coalition with the Social Democratic Party, which has very different national security policies from the DPJ. 民主党に対しても、保守系から旧社会党出身までを党内に抱えた「寄り合い所帯」に起因する統治能力への疑問や、安全保障政策で開きのある社民党との連立を志向することへの不安などが、指摘された。
===
Vote on policies, not feelings
Some observers have said that the vote likely will reflect dissatisfaction with the LDP or anxiety over the DPJ, rather than voters' active decision to continue with an administration formed of the LDP-Komeito coalition or move to one centered on the DPJ. 有権者にとっては、自公政権か民主基軸政権かの積極的な選択というより、「自民党への不満か、民主党への不安か」の消極的な選択でしかない選挙だという指摘もある。
However, the results of the lower house election will have a direct bearing on this nation's future. It cannot be correct to decide which party and politician to choose simply on the basis of one's discontent, anxiety or a fleeting emotion. しかし、衆院選の結果は、これからの日本の進路に直結する。不満であるとか、不安であるとかいった気分や、一時のムードで、決めていいはずがあるまい。
Policies must, first and foremost, be the key criteria for deciding who to vote for. 有権者が投票の第一の判断基準とすべきは、やはり政策だ。
◆政策を冷静に見極めよ◆ Each party conducted its campaign by first drawing up a platform covering the policies each would implement during the four-year House of Representatives term. 各政党とも、衆院議員の任期である４年間に実施する政策を網羅した政権公約（マニフェスト）を掲げて選挙に臨んだ。
Policies on pensions, health care, child-rearing and education, which are of great interest to voters in this nation that is rapidly aging and has a very low birthrate, as well as funding for those policies, surfaced as major issues in the election campaign. 中でも、少子高齢化が進む中で、有権者の関心が高い年金・医療、子育て・教育などの政策や、その財源の手当てが、主要な争点に浮上した。
The LDP stressed it would introduce drastic reforms of the taxation system, including an increase of the consumption tax rate, to provide stable financing for the social security system. The LDP did not clarify when it would raise the consumption tax, saying only that it would occur after the nation achieved 2 percent year-on-year economic growth. 自民党は、社会保障の安定財源として、消費税率引き上げを含む税制抜本改革に取り組むと強調した。引き上げの時期は、年率２％の経済成長が達成されてからとしたが、明示は避けた。
The DPJ listed many schemes that would provide direct payment of benefits to households as a way of boosting spending, such as child-rearing allowances. It said it would fund the measures by cutting spending in other areas, for example suspending nonessential projects. The party said it would not raise the consumption tax rate before the next lower house election. 民主党は、「子ども手当」など多くの直接給付型の家計支援策を掲げた。財源は、不要不急な事業の中止など徹底した歳出削減で捻出(ねんしゅつ)し、消費税率は次の衆院選まで据え置くとした。
===
Leadership important
Differences among the two key parties in the fields of diplomacy and national security are conspicuous, such as whether to press on with the Maritime Self-Defense Force's refueling mission in the Indian Ocean. インド洋における海上自衛隊の給油活動を継続するか否かなど、外交・安全保障政策でも各党の主張の違いは顕著だ。
It is important to calmly assess the persuasiveness of each party's policies. We hope voters will thoroughly examine each party's stance. どの主張に説得力があるか、冷静に見極めることが大事だ。有権者には、各党の政策を十分に吟味してもらいたい。
◆党首力はどちらに軍配◆ Choosing between the party leaders is as important as choosing policies. 政策の選択と同様に重要なのが、党首の選択である。
If the LDP and Komeito secure a majority in the lower house, Aso will hang on to the premiership. If the DPJ and other opposition parties take a majority of the seats, DPJ President Yukio Hatoyama will be appointed prime minister. 自公両党が過半数を確保すれば麻生首相が続投する。民主党など野党が過半数を奪えば、「鳩山首相」が誕生するだろう。
Aso has criticized the DPJ's foreign and security policies as lax, stressing at the same time that only the LDP is able to govern responsibly. 麻生首相は、民主党の外交・安保政策が曖昧(あいまい)であるなどと批判して、自民党こそ「責任力」ある政党だと主張した。
Hatoyama, however, has said that a bureaucrat-led political system would continue if an LDP-led regime continued, and has pointed to the importance of a shift to an administration led by the DPJ, which he said would be more people-focused. 鳩山代表は、自民党政権の下では官僚主導の政治が続くとして、「国民本位」の政権への交代を訴えた。
Unless the lower house is unexpectedly dissolved or the prime minister is replaced, this lower house election will select a leader who will guide this nation for the next four years. We hope that voters will consider the remarks Aso and Hatoyama have made during the election campaign. 途中で衆院解散や首相交代がなければ、向こう４年間、この国の舵取りを担う指導者を選ぶ選挙である。両党首が選挙戦を通じて、どのような発言をしたかも思い起こしたい。
===
Will the young vote?
In the polling booth, voters have to write down on the ballot paper the name of the political party they wish to vote for in the proportional representation block and the name of their preferred candidate for the single-seat constituency. The qualifications of each candidate to be a lawmaker is an important element to consider when making this judgment. 比例選は投票用紙に政党名を書き、小選挙区選では候補者名だ。各候補者の政治家としての資質も、大事な判断の要素だ。
If a candidate was an incumbent lower house lawmaker prior to the dissolution of the Diet, his or her past achievements and Diet performance can, of course, be used to make this decision. If a candidate is running for the first time, voters are recommended to carefully study the candidate's political views contained in public bulletins published during campaigning. 解散まで現職議員だった候補者であれば、これまでの実績や国会での活動ぶりが、一つの手がかりとなろう。新人候補の場合も、選挙公報などから浮かび上がる政見に目を凝らしたい。
In a democracy, ultimate power rests with the people. We hope each voter will cast his or her vote responsibly, after comprehensively judging each party's policies, each party leader's competence and each candidate's insight. 民主政治では国民が主権者だ。有権者は、各党の政策、党首の力量、各候補の識見を総合的に判断し、自らの１票を責任をもって投じてほしい。
◆若者こそ選挙に関心を◆ The number of people who already have cast their ballot in early voting prior to Sunday's lower house election has dramatically increased. This indicates high interest in the election. A recent Yomiuri Shimbun survey showed that 79 percent of those polled said they definitely would vote. 今回の選挙では、期日前投票をした人が飛躍的に増えた。選挙に対する有権者の関心の高さの表れだろう。読売新聞の全国世論調査でも、「必ず投票に行く」と答えた人は７９％に上った。
Among those in their 20s, however, the figure stood at just 56 percent. It is extremely regrettable if younger people feel that "politics won't change even if we vote" and have given up hope. だが、２０歳代に限ると、５６％にとどまる。若い世代が「投票しても政治は変わらない」などとあきらめているのだとしたら、きわめて残念だ。
Social security system reform and job-creation measures, which once again emerged as major points of contention in the election, are issues that no one can remain indifferent to. 今回の選挙でも重要な論点となった社会保障制度改革や雇用対策などは、いずれも無関心ではいられない問題だ。
We hope young people will go to the polls and exercise their right to choose their future. 若い人たちには、自分たちの将来を自ら選び取る気持ちで、投票所に足を向けてもらいたい。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 30, 2009) （2009年8月30日01時15分 読売新聞）
--The Asahi Shimbun, Aug. 28(IHT/Asahi: August 29,2009) EDITORIAL: Revamping education ０９総選挙・人づくり―明日へ大胆な投資を
The basis of economic strength is "people." It was also hardworking, competent personnel who supported Japan's postwar growth. 経済力の基盤は「人」だ。戦後日本の成長を支えたのも、勤勉で質の高い人材だった。
When students finish school, they get jobs. Once they join companies as full-time employees, they are taught the basics of work. It was a matter of course for workers to stay with the same company until they reached retirement age. 学校を卒業し就職する。職場で仕事を一から教わり、一つの会社で正社員として定年まで働くのが当然だった。
However, there is no way young people today can follow such a life model--even if they want to. Forty percent of university graduates who find jobs quit within three years. The ratio is 50 percent for those who start working after high school. Ten percent of university graduates neither land jobs nor go on to a graduate school and remain unemployed. This is the harsh reality of recent years. いまの若者に、そんな人生モデルはまねしたくてもできるはずもない。大卒で就職しても４割が３年以内に辞める。高卒だと５割にのぼる。大卒者の１割は、就職も進学もしない無業者となる。昨今の冷厳な現実だ。
Companies can no longer afford to train young people on their own. With economic globalization, desired skills have become diversified. In order for Japan to survive, society as a whole needs to train people who can support the next generation and break new ground. For that, educational systems need to be drastically re-examined. 企業は社内で若者を育てる余裕を失ってしまった。経済のグローバル化で、求められる能力も多様化している。日本が生き残るためには、次代を支え、切り開く人材を社会全体で育てあげねばならない時代になった。そのためには教育システムの根本的な見直しが必要だ。
Also due to intense competition from newly rising countries, Western industrialized nations are allocating a large portion of their budgets for education. The average educational budget for members of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development is 5 percent of gross domestic product. The ratio for Japan is only 3.4 percent. 欧米先進国は新興の国々の激しい追い上げも受け、教育に思い切った予算を割いている。経済協力開発機構（ＯＥＣＤ）平均の教育予算は国内総生産（ＧＤＰ）比で５％。日本の予算は３．４％に過ぎない。
In many Western countries, high school tuition is free. Scholarship systems are also available to university and graduate students. 欧米諸国の多くでは高校の授業料は無償で、大学生や大学院生には給付金付きの奨学金制度がある。
In particular, Finland, which produces good results in the OECD's Program for International Student Assessment, carried out a major educational system reform and provides high-level education for almost free from the elementary to university levels. The country is also known for its narrow gaps in children's academic performance. なかでもＯＥＣＤによる生徒の学習到達度調査（ＰＩＳＡ）で好成績をおさめるフィンランドは、教育制度の大改革を進め、初等教育から大学までほとんど無償で高いレベルの教育が受けられる。子どもたちの学力格差が小さいことでも知られる。
In Japan, gaps in children's scholastic abilities and the schools they attend are getting wider, depending on the income of the parents. If the gaps become fixed, it would greatly undermine the vitality of society. 日本では、親の収入によって子どもの学力や進学先に差が広がっていることが指摘されている。格差が固定することは社会の活力を大きく損なう。
To provide adequate educational opportunities to children from poor families, the quality of public education must be raised as a first step. In order to provide detailed instructions to meet the needs of individual students, classes need to be small. The number of teachers and their skills must also be raised. 豊かでない家庭の子どもも十分な教育を受けられるようにするためには、まず公教育の質を引き上げなければならない。きめ細かな指導をするには少人数学級が必要で、教師の数も能力の向上も求められる。
While there are differences in national circumstances and educational systems among countries, Japan is urged to at least raise the ratio of its educational budget to GDP to the average level of industrialized countries. While fiscal demand for welfare also keeps swelling, politicians need the determination to make a bold investment for the future. 国情や教育システムには国によって違いがあるとはいえ、教育予算のＧＤＰ比をせめて先進国の平均的水準に高めたい。福祉の財政需要も膨らむ一方だが、将来のための大胆な投資を惜しまない決意が政治には要る。
Money is not the only thing needed for development of human resources. The awareness of schools and teachers must also change. They need to change their inward-looking mind-set and turn out young people who can challenge the world. 人づくりに必要なのは資金だけではない。教育現場の意識も変わらねばならない。内向き志向を改め、世界に挑戦する若者を育てることだ。
For Japan to build an economic bloc to live together with Asia, the country should drastically promote internationalization of universities and increase the number of foreign students they accept. 日本がアジアとともに生きていく経済圏を築くためには、大学の国際化を思い切って進め、受け入れる留学生も増やさねばならない。
In many industrialized nations, it is possible for workers to return to university and graduate school and advance their careers, making use of the knowledge, skills and qualifications they gained. Japanese society also needs to develop such mobility and flexibility. 多くの先進諸国では、一度社会に出てからまた大学や大学院に戻り、身につけた知識や技能、資格を武器にしてキャリアアップすることが可能だ。日本でもそうした流動性、柔軟性を社会が備えることが必要だ。
--The Asahi Shimbun, Aug. 28(IHT/Asahi: August 29,2009) EDITORIAL: Thaw in Korean tensions 南北対話―「核」の進展あってこそ
The recent death of former South Korean President Kim Dae Jung, the Nobel Peace Prize winner who devoted himself to reconciliation and peaceful coexistence with North Korea, has led to a resumption of dialogue between the two countries. The development would have pleased Kim. 北朝鮮との和解と共存を目指した金大中元大統領の思いが通じたのだろうか。その死去を機に、韓国と北朝鮮の対話が復活した。
North Korean leader Kim Jong Il sent a delegation led by a close aide to South Korea to offer condolences. South Korean President Lee Myung Bak met with it. 金正日総書記は側近を名代として弔問に送り、李明博大統領が会談に応じた。
Currently, Red Cross officials from both countries are trying to arrange reunions of families separated by the division of the Korean Peninsula. The family reunion program was put on hold last year. いま、南北離散家族の再会事業の２年ぶりの実施へ、双方の赤十字が協議を続けている。
We will be delighted if progress on this humanitarian issue serves as a catalyst for better North-South relations, which had been steadily deteriorating since the inauguration of the Lee administration. 人道問題が進展を見せ、李政権が発足して以来、悪化する一方だった南北関係の空気が変わるきっかけになるなら好ましい。
North Korea reacted angrily to the U.N. Security Council's decision in June to impose new sanctions to protest Pyongyang's second underground nuclear test. As tensions escalated, fears were voiced of a possible military clash between the two Koreas. 核実験で国連安全保障理事会が制裁を科して以来、北朝鮮は反発を強め、南北間で軍事衝突も起きかねない緊迫した状況にあった。
Earlier this month, however, Pyongyang welcomed former U.S. President Bill Clinton's flying visit to secure the release of two American journalists sentenced to 12 years of hard labor for illegally crossing over into North Korea from China. The reclusive regime has also released a South Korean worker it had detained. 北朝鮮は今月、クリントン元米大統領の訪朝を受け入れ、不法入国したとして懲役刑を科した米人記者２人を釈放してもいる。拘束していた韓国の会社員も解放した。
North Korea has shown a willingness to allow regular visits by South Korean tourists to Mount Kumgang on its eastern coast and the ancient city of Kaesong. The North stopped permitting such visits last year. 昨年から中断している金剛山と開城への観光も、再開させる用意があるという。
It would appear that North Korea has ulterior motives for its "smile diplomacy." こうした「微笑外交」には思惑がある。
Economic progress is needed to lay a solid foundation for the leadership of Kim Jong Il's successor. 金総書記の後継体制を固めるには、経済的な成果も必要だ。
North Korea can earn precious foreign exchange by promoting tourism and revitalizing the Kaesong Industrial Park, which was developed to attract South Korean investment. 観光再開や韓国が投資する開城工業団地の活性化は、貴重な外貨稼ぎの一助になる。
Pyongyang is also aiming to entice the United States into holding bilateral talks by improving its ties with Seoul. 韓国を引き込むことで、米朝協議を実現させる誘い水にもしたいのだろう。
Despite these positive moves, we cannot welcome North Korea's attempts to alter the situation unless it takes specific steps toward abandoning its nuclear weapons program. だが、北朝鮮が核の放棄に向けて何の動きも見せないまま状況を変えようとしても、とうてい受け入れることはできない。
Things have changed dramatically since Kim Dae Jung promoted his "sunshine policy" of engagement with the North. In the ensuing years, North Korea conducted two nuclear tests and continued its development of ballistic missiles. In addition, suspicions have surfaced that it provided nuclear arms technology to Syria and Myanmar (Burma). The situation now is far more serious. 金大中時代の「太陽政策」の時とは違って、北朝鮮はその後２度の核実験を行い、弾道ミサイルの開発を進め、シリアやミャンマーへの核技術の拡散疑惑まで表面化した。事態ははるかに深刻になっている。
So Lee only did what he was expected to do when he made it clear to the North Korean delegation that large-scale economic cooperation between the two countries was possible only if the North made a significant move toward abandoning its nuclear ambitions. その意味で、北朝鮮が核放棄に動いてこそ大規模な経済協力ができる、と李大統領が弔問団にはっきりとクギを刺したのは当然のことだ。
There was nothing new in the North Korean leader's message to Lee conveyed by the delegation. Pyongyang is making no significant concession by agreeing to the resumption of the family reunion and tourist programs, which won't cost the regime a thing. 今回、弔問団が李大統領に伝えた金総書記のメッセージに新味はなかったという。離散家族の再会や観光の再開にしても、北朝鮮側には大きな負担感もなしに実現できるものだ。譲歩と言えるものではあるまい。
Meanwhile, North Korea reiterated its refusal to return to six-party talks on its nuclear program when Wu Dawei, China's vice foreign minister, who chairs the talks, visited the country earlier this month to persuade the regime to change its stance. ６者協議の議長である中国外務次官が先週訪朝し、協議への復帰を求めたのに対し、北朝鮮は改めて拒否した。
North Korea should be criticized for making absolutely no effort to make a positive response to international calls for it to scrap its nuclear weapons program. 核放棄、不拡散に向けた国際社会の要請に全く応えようとしていないと言うしかない。
It should realize there can be no change in the basic situation unless it demonstrates a commitment to returning to the table of six-party negotiations and honoring the promises it made in the past. 少なくとも６者協議の場に戻り、以前の約束を履行する姿勢を明確にしない限り、基本的な状況に変化はありえない。 それを北朝鮮は認識すべきだ。
There should be solid consensus among Japan, the United States and South Korea on this point. The three allies should also seek closer cooperation with China and Russia on issues concerning North Korea. この基本線で日米韓が結束を固めることだ。そして中ロとも連携を深めていく。
With the likelihood of a change of government in Japan, Tokyo will need to develop a robust and coherent diplomatic strategy for dealing with the unpredictable regime while monitoring its moves for any important change. 間もなくできる日本の新政権は、北朝鮮の変化に目をこらしつつ、したたかで腰をすえた外交を考えなければならない。
24日付け朝日新聞の社説より引用しました。 これは辞書なしでも９０％以上理解できます。 遠心力 centrifugal forces 重心 center of gravity などの単語も覚えてください 読解力をつけるために多読は必要不可欠です。 近道はありません。 ↓ --The Asahi Shimbun, Aug. 22(IHT/Asahi: August 24,2009) EDITORIAL: Bolt flashes to more world records さらなるボルトの世界記録に期待
The man was in a totally different league from the other competitors. He ran with unparalleled speed down the bright blue track.
At the World Athletics Championships, Jamaican Usain Bolt won the men's 200 meters in 19.19 seconds, soundly beating his own world record of 19.30 seconds by 0.11 second.
This was his second victory following his world record of 9.58 seconds in the 100 meters. The American silver medalist at the Beijing Olympics, Shawn Crawford, who finished fourth, called Bolt a gift to the world and a blessing to the sport of track.
Even his competitors cannot help but forget their bitterness and sing his praises. Bolt is that astounding.
His amazing run in the 100 meters was stunning, but his performance in the 200 meters was also spectacular.
While the 100 meters record had been broken frequently over the years, it had been difficult to establish a new world record in the 200 meters. New records have been established about once a decade.
This is because in the 200 meters, the athletes must run the first 120 meters around a bend and then finish with a straight sprint. They are required to cope with centrifugal forces from the start, while accelerating at the same time, which requires incredible skill.
In 1996, Michael Johnson of the United States ran the 200 meters in 19.66 seconds, beating the previous world record for the first time in 17 years. One month later at the Atlanta Olympics, he beat his own record, clocking 19.32 seconds in front of 80,000 people. Johnson's performance was simply awesome. People called him "superhuman," and said his record wouldn't be broken for a century.
However, Bolt beat Johnson's record at the Beijing Olympics last year, and beat it mightily yet again at the latest games.
Johnson is 185 centimeters tall, but has a long torso and his center of gravity is quite low. His physique was thought to be ideal to resist the centrifugal forces while running the curve, and therefore perfect for the 200 meters race. In contrast, Bolt is 196 centimeters tall and has long legs. Yet his physique, thought to be unsuited for the race, caused him no problems at all, and he blazed to the finish line.
Before the start Bolt kids around, making faces and funny gestures. So much so that we worry that he's too relaxed. But being relaxed is exactly the source he taps to unleash fully all of his powers.
The Jamaican sprinter's running form is different from the conventional style that keeps the upper body still. From the front, we can see Bolt swaying his upper body first in an S-curve, then swaying backward in a counter-S curve. As a result, his four limbs lithely snap forward. It is as if he is a wild animal. His running style presumably converts his form into propulsion in a highly effective manner.
Bolt said that he sets no limits and that anything is possible.
Despite his height, which was believed to be unsuitable for short races, Bolt established world records, defying conventional wisdom.
After Bolt, there will come a time when it is not unusual to see sprinters over 190 centimeters tall take their marks at the starting line. And the day will come when Bolt's own record, which seems so amazing now, will be broken.
Sprints starkly highlight the abilities and limitations of humans. Bolt's running reminds us of the unlimited possibilities in human beings.
朝日新聞社の論説を引用しました。 スラチャイは辞書なしでも５０％くらいは理解できますが、 辞書を使えばほぼ全部理解できます。 電子辞書を活用すれば、辞書引きの時間も大幅に短縮されますよ。 どんどん英文を読んで、英文読解力を高めましょう。 ↓ The author is an Asahi Shimbun reporter covering the economy.(IHT/Asahi: August 27,2009) POINT OF VIEW/ Tetsuya Nozawa: We must tear down barriers and help each other THE ASAHI SHIMBUN 垣根をとり払い、お互いに助け合いの出来る社会を
Prime Minister Taro Aso, who insisted "the economy comes before Diet dissolution," will finally see his government tested by voters in Sunday's Lower House election.
Aso surely had hoped his government's generous pump-priming measures would eventually bolster his Cabinet's public approval ratings from their dismal levels.
But to the contrary, most people apparently feel that lavish handouts, while good for temporarily improving the economy, will not be enough to ensure good times return. This wide gap in perception is likely what is behind Aso's slumping approval ratings.
As a reporter for a series called "Kohin Shakai" (society with collapsing public systems), which focused on mutual support across our society, I spoke with many people struggling to make ends meet amid the recession. It has run in the vernacular Asahi Shimbun for slightly more than a year.
A hungry 33-year-old man who lost his job at Oita Canon Inc. was walking on the street near the company dormitory complex that he would soon have to leave. "If I collapsed inside my room, I would not be saved," he said.
A 66-year-old man, on welfare and living with other homeless people at a shelter run by a nonprofit organization, had this to say: "All I can do is merely try to stay alive until I die."
At the other end of the spectrum were parents devoting themselves to their children's junior high school entrance examinations, hoping to ensure their offspring are "winners in life," and rich people intent on saving inheritance taxes.
While a growing number of people are out on the streets with no means to support themselves, those who live comfortably in "safety zones" are building higher walls around themselves.
Our society has lost its mutual support systems. What it needs most is not a government that doles out fixed benefits to encourage spending or tax reductions to encourage people to take out housing loans. What Japan needs is to transform itself from a nation that believes in the "growth myth" to a nation that can sustain itself.
We need to recover our spirit of mutual aid and cooperation, establish an environmentally friendly, sustainable economy and work to build a society in which our children can have hope. In short, we need to place precedence on sustainability, even at the cost of forgoing immediate growth.
What concrete steps will help us reach this goal?
The top policy priority of politicians must be to fight poverty. Instead of simply shoring up the social safety nets, lawmakers must take positive steps to ensure poverty does not become entrenched. Such steps include, for example, upgrading and expanding public education and job support for young people.
If the budgets needed for such measures are covered by increases in inheritance and gift taxes, it would also help ease the "inheritance of disparities" passed down from parents to children.
Generous support for child care is also important. To help finance such programs, outdated tax systems--
including deductions for spouses that benefit workers whose spouse is a full-time homemaker or works part-time more than it helps double-income households--should be reviewed or scrapped.
The current business world exploits workers and deprives them of happiness and the chance to earn a reasonable living, and thus needs transformation. If "sustainability" is the new yardstick of values, it would also be reasonable to apply the brakes from time to time.
For example, if businesses in the same trade take turns to stay open late at night or on holidays, we can be one step closer to becoming a user- and eco-friendly society.
The manufacturing industry can absorb the impact of economic downturns by shortening work hours instead of slashing jobs. In Germany, workers can bank their overtime work as "savings" that can be "withdrawn" a few years later as holidays. Perhaps Japan can consider a similar program.
What about individuals? In view of Japan's rapidly aging society, tax increases may be inevitable.
However, to avoid drastic tax hikes, people in the private sector also need to take the initiative to share public functions by chipping in what they can. For example, people who volunteer to work in nursing, child care and other areas to help others should be rewarded with points that they can later use when they find themselves in need of nursing and medical services.
Such a system of mutual exchange is well worth considering.
We can all help by using our free time to tutor neighborhood children with their homework or to shop for elderly neighbors, for example. We should tear down our fences and do what we can to help each other.
(Mainichi Japan) August 28, 2009 Nova ruling puts spotlight on Japan's consumer affairs 社説：ＮＯＶＡ判決 消費者被害に歯止めを
Nozomu Sahashi, the former president of collapsed English language school operator Nova, was recently handed a three-year six month prison sentence in a ruling at the Osaka District Court. 経営破綻（はたん）した英会話学校最大手「ＮＯＶＡ」の元社長、猿橋望被告に大阪地裁は懲役３年６月の実刑判決を言い渡した。
Sahashi was convicted of embezzlement in the conduct of business, by misappropriating money from an employees' fund to cover payments for cancelled contracts. Nova had collected some 56 billion yen in advance from around 300,000 students, in one of the biggest cases of consumer damage in Japan's postwar history. 約３０万人の受講生から約５６０億円の前払い受講料を集めた戦後最大級の消費者被害をめぐり、社員積立金を解約料の支払いに流用した業務上横領罪に問われた。
The former president has no assets, and even if bankruptcy proceeding are undertaken, there appears to be no prospect of students having their lesson fees returned. The fact that relief from the damage cannot be obtained by pursuing the criminal responsibility of the company's operator is a consumer problem -- and a governmental lapse. 元社長に資産はなく、破産手続きでも受講料の返還は見込めないという。経営者の刑事責任の追及だけでは被害の救済につながらないのが消費者問題だ。
If Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, which has jurisdiction over the industry, had taken a more serious view of the problem of canceled contracts and had quickly issued an administrative order against Nova, it is possible the damage could have been reduced. However, the ministry, the government body responsible for nurturing industry, was not greatly concerned with the damage caused to consumers and left the problem unaddressed. 業界を指導する立場の経済産業省が解約トラブルを重く見て早急に行政指導していれば、これだけの被害を生まなかったのではないか。産業育成官庁ゆえに消費者保護の観点が薄く、問題を放置してきたことが被害を拡大させたといえよう。
The imminent formation of a consumer agency is based on reflection on this kind of problem. The agency is designed to be a kind of consumer administration control tower, intended to aggregate information on consumer problems like fraudulent sales methods and accidents involving common products -- such as the carbon monoxide poisonings caused by water heaters produced by Paloma -- and solve these issues. 消費者庁の発足もそうした反省を踏まえている。詐欺的商法のほか、パロマ工業製湯沸かし器による一酸化炭素中毒事故など日常使う製品による事故、食品偽装といった消費者問題の情報を一元化し、被害を食い止めるための消費者行政の司令塔と位置づけられている。
The National Consumer Affairs Center of Japan had received complaints from students about Nova's handling of cancelled contracts, such as its lowering of the amount of lesson fees returned, for more than a decade. In 2002, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government issued an administrative order to the company, but the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry sided with Nova's claim that cancellation of contracts was made at the convenience of consumers. This effectively gave Nova an official stamp of approval and the company expanded its business while receiving lesson fees in advance without taking profit into consideration. ＮＯＶＡに関して言えば、受講生が途中解約を求めても返還額を抑えるなどした返金方法への苦情は１０年以上前から国民生活センターに寄せられていた。０２年には東京都が行政指導したが、経産省は「解約は消費者の都合」とするＮＯＶＡの主張を容認した。官庁がお墨付きを与えた格好となり、同社は採算を度外視して事業を広げていった。
Later, the company was hit with a succession of lawsuits from students who demanded the return of their lesson fees. In April 2007, the Supreme Court ruled that provisions demanding heavy compensation for terminated contracts are invalid. その後の受講料の返還訴訟で受講生勝訴の地裁判決が続き、最高裁は０７年４月、「中途解約時に高額な対価を求める規定は無効」と判断した。
Just before the ruling, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry had finally carried out a spot inspection at Nova on suspicion that the company was violating the Specified Commercial Transaction Law. In June 2007, the ministry judged that Nova had violated 18 provisions of the law, which pertain to procedures for cancelled contracts, and issued a business suspension order against the company. The move was an echo of the judicial decision. その直前に経産省はようやく特別商取引法違反の疑いで立ち入り検査に入った。さらに、解約手続きに関する１８項目の違反を認定し業務停止命令を出したのは、受講生勝訴の最高裁判決が確定した後の０７年６月で、司法判断を追認した形だった。
The government's consumer promotion administration council, which had been considering the series of incidents involving the company, had made recommendations regarding establishment of a system to quickly transmit information on damage and a mechanism enabling administrative authorities to respond swiftly. It is envisioned that Japan's new consumer agency will have the authority to quickly conduct spot inspections at businesses and issue warnings and other administrative instructions, while bringing together information that had previously been held by various related government ministries and agencies. 一連の事件を検討した国の消費者行政推進会議でも、被害情報の早期発信のシステムづくり、行政の早急な対応を可能にする仕組みづくりなどの指摘があった。消費者庁は、事業者への速やかな立ち入り検査や勧告など行政指導できる権限を持ち、関係省庁で縦割り的に保有された事故情報は一本化される予定だ。
The Liberal Democratic Party's House of Representatives election manifesto promises that the party will radically strengthen regional consumer administration, while the opposition Democratic Party of Japan promises to improve working conditions for regional consumer affairs consultants. Due to economic difficulties, the budget for consultation counters at consumer affairs centers is decreasing, along with the number of staff. Reinforcement of consultation counters is indispensable for the task of comprehensively releasing information and responding quickly to the issue, and the new government administration must quickly implement support measures. 衆院選のマニフェストを見ると、自民党が地方消費者行政の抜本的強化、民主党は地方消費生活相談員の待遇改善を約束している。市民に最も身近な消費生活センターの相談窓口は財政難で予算も人も減っている。情報の徹底公開と素早い対応に窓口の充実は不可欠で、新政権はその支援策を急がねばならない。
The Yomiuri Shimbun(Aug. 29, 2009) Deflationary pressures must be nipped in bud 雇用と物価 デフレに至る悪循環を防げ（8月29日付・読売社説）
Utmost caution must be exercised to prevent falling prices and the worsening employment situation from allowing deflation to take a vicelike grip on the nation's economy. 物価下落と雇用情勢の悪化が、深刻なデフレを招かぬよう、細心の注意が必要だろう。
The nation's key consumer price index in July fell 2.2 percent from a year earlier, marking the first fall in the 2 percent range in the postwar period. ７月の全国消費者物価指数が、前年同月比２・２％下がり、下落率は戦後初めて２％台をつけた。
Meanwhile, the unemployment rate in July climbed to a postwar high of 5.7 percent, up 0.3 percentage point from the previous month. 一方、７月の完全失業率は前月より０・３ポイント悪化して５・７％となり、戦後最悪を更新した。
The worsening employment situation is eroding workers' incomes. Tightening the purse strings at home leads to sluggish sales of products and, in turn, to falling prices. As companies struggle with falling sales, they resort to restructuring and other measures to cut costs, exacerbating the grim employment situation. The latest government figures on prices and employment show that a vicious cycle of deflationary pressures is becoming increasingly real. 雇用の悪化で労働者の収入が減ると、物が売れなくなって価格が下がる。このため企業の売り上げが減り、リストラなどで雇用はさらに厳しくなる。物価と雇用の統計は、デフレの悪循環が現実味を増してきたことを示している。
Whichever party takes power after Sunday's House of Representatives election, the new administration must do everything it can to arrest these deflationary pressures and boost the economy. 衆院選後の政権がどうあれ、デフレ阻止と景気浮揚に全力を挙げねばならない。
The sharp price falls are due mainly to the drop in oil prices that soared last year. Gasoline prices fell as much as 30 percent from last year, lowering overall prices about 1 percent. 物価の大幅下落は、前年に高騰した原油の値下がりが主因だ。ガソリン価格は３０％も下がり、物価全体を約１％押し下げた。
But prices, excluding those of energy-related products, fell 0.9 percent. The rate of fall was about the same as that in fiscal 2001 during a serious deflationary period. だが、エネルギー関連を除いた物価も０・９％下がり、下落率は深刻なデフレ期の２００１年度とほぼ同水準だ。
===
Domestic demand weak
The current deflationary trend should not be waved off as a temporary phenomenon caused by the correction in oil prices after they skyrocketed last year. Rather, weak domestic demand should be considered the major cause of falling prices. 現在のデフレ傾向を、原油高の反動による一時的な現象だと軽視してはなるまい。 物価下落の核心は、内需の不足にあると見るべきだ。
The nation's real gross domestic product for the April-June period returned to positive growth for the first time in five quarters. However, the improvement was mainly attributed to a recovery in exports and policy initiatives under the government's stimulus package that, for example, increased sales of energy-saving home appliances. Worryingly, overall domestic demand remains weak. ４～６月期の実質国内総生産（ＧＤＰ）は、５四半期ぶりにプラス成長に転じた。だが、輸出回復と、経済対策による省エネ家電の販売増加など政策効果が中心で、内需全体の足腰は弱い。
Boosting consumption is critical for a full economic recovery. However, sales at department stores and supermarkets have been lethargic for a prolonged period, and sales at convenience stores, which had been brisk, registered a record plunge in July. 本格回復のカギを握る消費は、百貨店とスーパーの販売不振が長期化し、好調だったコンビニの売上高も、７月には過去最大の下げを記録した。
Consumers are cutting back spending on foods and other daily necessities. Both the number of shoppers and the amount each shopper spent at convenience stores decreased last month. 消費者は、食品や日用品など必需品への支出を切りつめ、コンビニでは来客数と１人あたりの購入額が、ともに減った。
===
BOJ has role to play
Fierce price wars might be good news for consumers, but excessive discounting would add to a deflationary spiral, in which the economy heads south while prices fall. 安売り競争も激しい。消費者にはうれしいことだが、行き過ぎれば物価と景気が連鎖的に落ち込むデフレスパイラルにつながる。
For the time being, we think it is necessary to bolster domestic demand through economic pump-priming and employment support measures. 当面は、景気・雇用対策で内需を支える必要がある。
The Democratic Party of Japan has indicated it will overhaul the supplementary budget compiled for boosting the economy if it takes power. We agree that it is important to eliminate wasteful spending, but austerity measures such as drastic cuts in spending on public works projects should be avoided. 民主党は、景気対策のための補正予算を組み直すという。無駄の見直しは大切だが、公共事業の大幅カットなど緊縮策は避けねばならない。
The Bank of Japan's monetary policy has a crucial role to play. Although the central bank has kept its key interest rate near zero, real interest rates will rise if prices fall. This would sap the impact of the bank's low interest rate policy. 日銀の金融政策も重要だ。政策金利はゼロ％に近い低さだが、物価下落率の分だけ、実質金利は上昇する。低金利政策の効果はかなり減殺されていよう。
If the deflationary trend gets stronger, the central bank should consider taking additional measures, such as increased purchases of long-term government bonds and the introduction of a quantitative easing policy setting a target for the outstanding balance of current account deposits held by private financial institutions at the central bank. デフレ傾向が強まるようなら、長期国債の買い入れ増額や、日銀当座預金残高を目標とした量的金融緩和策の導入など、追加策を検討すべきだ。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 29, 2009) （2009年8月29日01時03分 読売新聞）
日本語の対訳記事がありませんのでスラチャイが翻訳しました。 英文を読んで頭に残った内容を日本語で表現しました。 翻訳は概要です。逐語訳ではありません。 srachai from khonkaen, thailand
(Mainichi Japan) August 28, 2009 Japan's unemployment rate hits record high in July 失業率過去最高
TOKYO (AP) -- Japan's unemployment rate rose to an all-time high in July and prices fell at a record pace -- both threatening to undermine a nascent recovery for the world's No. 2 economy. 7月に失業率が最悪を記録した。同時に記録的な物価下落も同時進行している。
The jobless rate hit a seasonally adjusted 5.7 percent, the highest level in Japan's post-World War II era and worsening from 5.4 percent in June, according to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications. 総務省の発表。7月の失業率は6月の５．４％をしのぐ５．７％で戦後最悪となる。
The previous record was 5.5 percent, last hit in April 2003. 前回の戦後最悪レコードは５．５％であるが、2003年の4月に記録されたもの。
Japan's economy climbed out of a yearlong recession in the second quarter, expanding at an annual pace of 3.7 percent. But economists note that exports served as the main driver of growth and that domestic demand remains fragile. 1年にわたる不況の中で２四半期連続で3.8％の景気回復をしめしているが、輸出と国内需要は低迷している。
The result comes just two days before the country holds parliamentary elections, widely seen as a referendum on the ruling party's handling of the economy. Recent polls predict that the Liberal Democratic Party, in power for most of the last half-century, is headed toward a historic defeat at the hands of the opposition Democratic Party of Japan. 衆院選の2日前の世論調査では、50年の歴史をもつ自民党は歴史的敗北を喫し、民社党に政権の座をあけ渡す。
Under a mantra of "Putting People's Lives First," the Democrats are offering a platform heavy on social welfare initiatives, including cash handouts for job seekers in training and families with children. 政権公約は社会保障制度の強化に重点をおく。 失職者や職業訓練生に対する補助金、子供のいる家庭に対する補助金などが含まれる。
The total number of jobless in July jumped 40.2 percent from a year earlier to 3.59 million. Those with employment fell 2.1 percent to 62.7 million. 7月の失業率は一年前の失業者359万人より40.2％も跳ね上がっている。 雇用者数は2.1％下がって627万人に留まる。
The labor ministry also reported Friday that the ratio of job offers to job seekers in July fell to an all-time low of 0.42. That means there were 42 jobs available for every 100 job seekers. 労働省金曜日発表では、有効求人倍率も過去最低の0.42を記録した。 職を求める100人のうち、職にありるけるのは、僅か42人だけである。
The unprecedented drop in global demand triggered by last year's financial crisis have forced Japanese companies to slash output and jobs. A recent rise in exports is fueling an emerging recovery among manufacturers, but many continue to cut costs. 昨年発生した未曾有の世界経済同時不況により、日本企業も生産量を調整したり、人員削減をしなければならなかった。 最近の輸出の伸びは景気回復を下支えするものではあるが、多くの企業が省コストを余儀なくされている。
Toyota Motor Corp. said Wednesday that it plans to reduce production capacity at one of its factories in Japan. Japan Airlines Corp. plans to cut about 10 percent of its workforce over the next three years, news reports said this week. トヨタ自動車は水曜日発表した。日本の生産工場のうち一つが減産体制に突入する。 JALは3年間で10％の人員削減を発表した。（今週）
Kyohei Morita, chief economist at Barclays Capital in Tokyo, expects the unemployment rate to reach 5.9 percent in the first half of 2010. 2010年の上半期で失業率が５．９％になるという見通しもある。
The specter of deflation intensified amid the labor market worries. デフレ恐慌が不振の雇用環境の中で、現実味をおびてきている。
Japan's key consumer price index, which excludes volatile fresh food prices, tumbled a record 2.2 percent in July from a year earlier, the government said. 7月の日本の消費者物価指数は生鮮食料品を除いて一年前の同時期に比較して2.2％下落している。
Lower prices may seem like a good thing, but deflation can hamper growth by depressing company profits and causing consumers to postpone purchases, leading to production and wage cuts. It can also increase debt burdens. 物価が安いのは良いことのように思える。しかしながらデフレは低迷する企業の成長を阻害し、消費者は者を買い控えるようになるし、企業は減産、給与のカットをせざるをえなくなる。それで借金は膨らむいっぽうとなる。
The nationwide core CPI, which excludes volatile fresh food prices, has dropped for five straight months. The figure marks steepest decline since the officials began compiling comparable data in 1971. 消費者物価指数は生鮮食料品を除いて、５ヶ月連続で下落を続けている。 1971年に統計をとりはじめてから最悪の下落の率である。
The core CPI for Tokyo retreated 1.9 percent in August, suggesting that prices nationwide are headed further south. Prices in the nation's capital are considered a leading barometer of price trends across Japan. 東京の8月の消費者物価指数は1.9％下落した。全国レベルでも下降線をたどる傾向にある。 一国の首都の物価は全国の物価変動を左右するほど影響力が強い。
Meanwhile, a separate government report showed that families spent less. Average household spending, a key barometer of individual consumption, in July declined 2 percent from a year earlier. 一方世帯あたりの消費は1年前の同時期と比較して２％の落ち込みを記録している。
"Japanese households are becoming increasingly defensive as the environment surrounding wages and employment turns severe," Morita said in a note to clients. それは日本の家庭が守りの体勢に入ってしまっていることを示している。給与の雇用環境の悪化に伴って。
--The Asahi Shimbun, Aug. 27(IHT/Asahi: August 28,2009) EDITORIAL: Consumption tax hike ０９総選挙・消費税―増税論議をすみやかに
During the campaign for Sunday's Lower House election, Japanese voters have heard little serious debate among the parties on one issue that has huge implications for the nation's future: the proposed increase in the consumption tax rate. 「国のかたち」を決める大事な論戦が低調なまま、総選挙の投票日がやってこようとしている。消費税の増税問題である。
Both the ruling Liberal Democratic Party and the opposition Democratic Party of Japan have admitted that the consumption tax will have to be raised sooner or later to finance social security spending, which will keep swelling in the years to come as the population ages rapidly. 自民党も民主党も、高齢社会のなかで今後膨らみ続ける社会保障財源として、消費税率引き上げが必要になることは認めている。
If so, the two main parties have a responsibility to present a clear tax-hike plan to voters as part of their quest for a public mandate to govern the nation. ならばその見取り図を有権者に示すことが政権を争う政党としての責任のはずだ。
Unfortunately, however, both parties have ducked the issue in the election debate. ところが両党とも総選挙の争点から外してしまった。これは国民にとっても不幸なことではないか。
Annual social security outlays will balloon to 140 trillion yen in 2025 from the current 90 trillion yen, according to a government estimate. 政府の推計では、いま年間９０兆円の社会保障給付費が２０２５年には１４０兆円に膨らむ。
If lowering the levels of pension, healthcare and nursing-care benefits is not a policy option, it is a political imperative to figure out ways to secure necessary funds from taxes and premiums. 年金や医療、介護の水準を下げる選択肢がないとすれば、財源を税や保険料で確保していくことが政治のつとめである。
A tax hike is always unpopular among the people. That's why the history of the consumption tax in Japan is littered with serious setbacks for successive LDP administrations. 増税は不人気な政策だ。だから消費税の歴史は歴代自民党政権にとって試練の連続だった。
In 1979, the Cabinet of Prime Minister Masayoshi Ohira made a failed attempt to introduce a consumption tax into Japan. In 1989, the Cabinet of Prime Minister Noboru Takeshita finally introduced the consumption tax. In 1997, the Cabinet of Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto raised the tax rate to 5 percent from 3 percent. ７９年に大平内閣の一般消費税構想が挫折。８９年に竹下内閣が消費税を導入し、９７年に橋本内閣が税率５％にした。
All these moves were followed by an electoral drubbing for the LDP. その代償は、いずれも国政選挙での大敗だった。
In recent years, the LDP government has been carefully avoiding this political third rail on the pretext that wasteful expenditures must be eliminated first before considering a tax hike. 近年の自民党政権は「歳出の無駄削減が先」という大義の陰で、消費増税の試練から逃げてきた。
Former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi vowed not to raise the tax during his tenure. His three successors--Shinzo Abe, Yasuo Fukuda and incumbent Taro Aso--set time frames for radical tax reform. But they all eschewed tackling the hot-button issue of the consumption tax head-on by ruling out a rate increase under their administrations. 小泉首相は「自分の任期中には消費税を上げない」と宣言。安倍、福田、麻生の３首相は税制抜本改革の目標時期を設けたが、在任中は増税しないという「先送り」策を続けた。
DPJ chief Yukio Hatoyama has promised to keep the consumption tax rate unchanged for at least four years. This also sounds like an evasive tactic. 民主党の鳩山代表は「４年間は消費税は上げない」と公約したが、それも逃げ口上のように響く。
The two parties are treating the issue of a consumption tax hike as a political taboo probably because of fear about a possible public backlash. But how does the public actually feel about the issue? 両党が消費税をタブー視するのは世論の増税批判を恐れてのことだろうが、国民の方はどうか。
An Asahi Shimbun survey earlier this month found that 83 percent of the respondents felt anxiety about how the LDP and the DPJ would finance the policy measures promised in their election manifestoes. 朝日新聞が今月中旬に実施した世論調査では自民、民主両党の公約を実現するための財源に８３％の人が「不安を感じる」と答えた。
It seems voters are well aware that eliminating wasteful spending won't create unlimited sources of revenue. They also appear to know that the government can neither rely on "buried money," or reserves in special budget accounts, for long-term financing of social security programs nor keep postponing a tax hike forever. 予算の無駄を省けば財源が泉のようにわいてくるというものではなく、「埋蔵金」頼みや増税先送りでは済まないことを、有権者はとっくに見抜いているのではないか。
Of course, the government must wait until the end of the global economic crisis to actually raise the levy. もちろん、実際に増税するのは世界経済危機の克服後でなければならない。
But debate must start at an early stage on such key questions as how large the hike should be or whether different tax rates should be applied to certain kinds of goods and services. だが、どのくらいの規模の増税が必要か。消費税は複数税率にするのか、といった議論も早い段階から積み重ねておく必要がある。
Debate on a tax increase should involve sweeping reviews of the three main revenue sources--the income, corporate and consumption taxes. その場合、税源の中核である所得税、法人税、消費税のあり方を全般的に見直す必要はある。
Yet what must be centermost in the debate is the consumption tax rate, which at 5 percent is far lower than comparative sales tax rates in other major industrial nations. それにしても増税論議の中心となるのは、やはり税率５％と主要国のなかで際だって低い水準の消費税だろう。
Another reason for focusing on the consumption tax is that this tax revenue is stable and less susceptible to economic conditions, which means the levy is suitable as a source of funds to finance social security programs. 税収が景気にあまり左右されずに安定しており、社会保障財源に向いていることもある。
The new government should act swiftly to start serious tax reform debate focusing on the consumption tax while starting efforts to reduce wasteful outlays. 新政権は、歳出の無駄減らしを進めるとともに、税制抜本改革の議論にすみやかに入るべきである。
--The Asahi Shimbun, Aug. 27(IHT/Asahi: August 28,2009) EDITORIAL: Rise in child abuse cases 児童虐待増加―問題の芽を摘む態勢を
The number of children dying at the hands of abusive parents and guardians is rising. Slightly more than 100 children are losing their lives to abuse each year. The figure, which includes those caught up in family murder-suicides, means that on average two children are being killed each week. 虐待で亡くなる子が減らない。心中も含めると年１００人余。１週間に２人の子の命が失われている計算だ。
Cases into which child guidance centers investigate are also on the rise. In fiscal 2008, centers across Japan handled some 43,000 cases, a record high and a six-fold increase from 10 years before. We are appalled at the number of parents who use force against their children or neglect to properly care for them. 児童相談所が乗り出す案件も増え続けている。虐待について昨年度に受けた相談は約４万３千件と過去最多になった。１０年前の６倍だ。わが子に暴力を振るったり養育を放棄したりする親の多さに、心が凍る思いだ。
Since the child abuse prevention law went into effect in 2000, the government has strengthened the authority of child guidance centers in phases. Since 2004, abused children can be admitted to child welfare facilities without the consent of parents so long as the action has court approval. Starting spring 2008, in cases where child abuse is suspected and guardians refuse to cooperate with authorities, the centers have been empowered to break locks and enter homes with court permission. 児童虐待防止法は、００年の施行以来、段階的に相談所の権限を強めてきた。０４年からは裁判所の承認があれば、保護者の同意なしで子どもを施設に入所させられるようになった。昨春からは、父母らが話し合いに応じない場合、裁判所の許可を受け、錠を壊してでも家に立ち入れるようになった。
There were two such cases in fiscal 2008. In the Tohoku region, a girl of lower grade of elementary school age was taken into protective custody. Although she had not been to school at all, in two months after entering a children's home, she was able to read and write hiragana. Her parents reacted with hostility at first, but eventually relented and agreed to her admittance to the children's home. 強制立ち入りは昨年度で２件あった。東北地方の例では、小学校低学年の女の子が保護された。学校に全く通っていなかったが、施設に入って２カ月でひらがなの読み書きができるようになった。父母もその後、攻撃的な態度をやわらげ、施設入所に同意した。
The local child guidance center had been in contact with the girl's family for several years but was unable to even meet with them. That prompted officials to raid the house. この相談所は女の子の家族に数年間接触していたが、面会すら出来なくなったことから強制立ち入りを決断した。警察の指導で予行演習もした。
"When we use force, relations with guardians tend to deteriorate. We try to avoid it as much as possible but we made an agonizing choice for the sake of the child," the director of the center said. 「実力行使をすると、保護者と関係が悪くなることが多い。できるだけ避けたいが、子どものため苦渋の選択をした」と所長は話す。
However, for children to recover from the trauma of abuse, welfare facilities do not always provide adequate settings. Nationwide, such facilities are nearly full and in some areas, they are packed beyond capacity. There are only 31 medical facilities across the nation that can provide intensive care to children suffering from the trauma of abuse. だが虐待を受けた子が後遺症から回復するには、施設も十分な環境とはいえない。全国的に施設は満杯に近く、地域によっては定員を上回る。心に傷を負った子らに集中的に対処できる治療施設は全国で３１カ所しかない。
Child welfare facilities need to drastically increase their staff numbers, especially with regard to psychologists and psychiatrists who specialize in treating abused children. Each caseworker at child guidance centers handles about 100 cases. The figure is more than double that of the United States and Europe. Even though the number of staff has increased over the past 10 years, it has yet to catch up with the steep rise in child abuse cases. 多くの子が入る養護施設では、心理職や児童精神科医など専門家の大幅増が必要だろう。児童相談所の児童福祉司らは１人で１００件ほどを担当している。欧米の倍以上だ。この１０年で職員数が増えているとはいえ、件数の急増には追いついていない。
While action must be taken to separate and protect such children from their parents, the important thing is to work toward providing support until children and parents can be reunited. Society must help by supporting neighbors facing family problems and poverty. 親と引き離して保護するだけでなく、親子が再び一緒に暮らせるようになるまで支援を続けることが重要であることは、言うまでもない。親たちが抱える家族や貧困などの問題を探り、解決する社会的努力も不可欠だ。
In cases of death resulting from causes other than murder-suicides in families, 80 percent of the victims were children 3 years old or younger. Nearly half of them were not even 1 year old. In many cases, they are children of unwanted pregnancies or the mothers have mental problems, officials say. 心中以外で死亡した事例を見ると、３歳までの子が８割で、ゼロ歳児が半数近い。母親が望まぬ妊娠をしていたり、精神的に問題があったりすることが多いという。
As a measure to prevent child abuse, local governments across Japan are initiating programs to ensure that all families of newborns are visited by an official within four months of birth. Officials speak to parents and listen to their anxieties and problems concerning child care and, if necessary, refer them to nonprofit organizations, welfare programs, hospitals or other organizations that specialize in child-care problems. Such systems will prove more effective if they are put to practice from pregnancy. 虐待の予防策として各地の自治体が、赤ちゃんが生まれて４カ月以内に全家庭を訪問する事業を始めている。育児の不安や悩みを聞き、ＮＰＯや福祉事業、病院などにつなげる目的だ。この態勢を妊娠期から始めれば、より効果的だろう。
Local community networks should watch over young parents with problems in an effort to reduce as many victims of child abuse as possible. 問題を抱えた若い親を地域のネットワークで見守り、傷つく子を一人でも減らしたい。
The Yomiuri Shimbun(Aug. 28, 2009) Vaccine isn't the only weapon against new flu 新型インフル ワクチンだけには頼れない（8月28日付・読売社説）
Expectations are rising that infections of the H1N1 strain of influenza A and further outbreaks could be prevented once the vaccine for the new flu becomes available. ワクチンがあれば新型インフルエンザの感染を防ぎ、急拡大も抑えられるのではないか――。 こんな期待が高まっているが、そうした思惑通りに行くだろうか。
However, it is far from a foregone conclusion that things will pan out as expected. Even past epidemics of seasonal influenza have not been repulsed by a vaccination program. 例年のインフルエンザでも、ワクチンの接種で流行を抑え込めたという例はないからだ。
Of course, vaccination can work to a certain extent. During ordinary flu seasons, vaccinated people will develop only relatively mild symptoms even if they become infected with the disease. 一定の効果はあるだろう。例年の流行でもワクチンを接種すれば症状は軽い、と言われてきた。
Medical experts also point out that the spread of infection could slow if a large number of people are vaccinated. If the number of patients falling into critical condition is reduced thanks to a vaccination program, front-line doctors and hospitals would have more time to treat flu patients in general. 大勢が接種すると、感染拡大のペースが遅れるという効能も指摘されている。ワクチンで重症化する患者が減れば、その分、医師や病院も治療に余裕が持てる。
However, the flu vaccine has the major drawback of providing only weak preventive effects. This is different from the vaccine for measles, which can prevent the disease developing once a person is inoculated. Furthermore, vaccination in general has very minor side effects. 問題は、インフルエンザワクチンの予防効果が低いことだ。接種すれば発症を防げる「はしかワクチン」などと異なる。しかも一般的にワクチン接種には、ごくわずかだが、副作用がある。
The government must explain the limited effectiveness of the flu vaccination to the public. The most important thing is to help people understand that inoculation is not the only countermeasure against the new influenza strain. 政府は、インフルエンザワクチンの限界を国民に丁寧に説明する必要がある。特に大切なのは、ワクチンだけが対策ではない、と理解してもらうことだ。
===
Prevention better than cure
Obviously, preventing infection is the best way to defang the new-flu threat. Regularly washing one's hands and gargling are quintessential rules for preventing infection. Members of the public also must bear in mind that they will be unable to avoid infection if the virus spreads widely because most people are not immune to the new flu. まず予防する。手洗い、うがいは鉄則だ。ほとんどの人に免疫がないので、流行が拡大すれば、感染を免れることはできないという自覚も必要になる。
However, it also should be remembered that most people, excluding small children and people with kidney and other chronic diseases, would likely display only mild symptoms even if they catch the new flu. Of course, people with mild symptoms should be careful not to spread this disease. その際、腎臓病などの持病を抱えた人や幼児を除き、通常はほとんどが軽症で済む、ということも覚えておきたい。無論、軽症でも感染を広げない注意は要る。
Meanwhile, the shortage of vaccine for the seasonal influenza has often caused widespread consternation. ただ、例年のインフルエンザでも、ワクチン不足は各地に不安を広げることが、よくある。
Worryingly, the same problem has become apparent regarding the new-flu strain. Domestic manufacturers are working flat-out to produce a vaccine for the new flu, but they are unable to produce enough to meet the nation's requirements. Japan reportedly faces a shortage of about 20 million doses. However, panic over the new-flu vaccine must be avoided. まして、今回は新型だ。新型用ワクチン製造は本格化しているが必要量に追いつかない。国内で約２０００万人分が不足する、とも言われている。新型のワクチンを巡る混乱は避けたい。
===
Govt must pull out all stops
The government must immediately discuss and decide who should be given priority in receiving vaccinations. It makes perfect sense that medical workers and people likely to develop serious symptoms should they catch the new flu be given priority. However, the current projected supply of vaccine is not sufficient even to cover these high-risk groups. そのためにも、ワクチンをだれに接種するか、優先順位の論議を急ぐ必要がある。医療従事者や新型感染で重症化しやすい人は当然だろう。それでも、現在の供給見通し量では追いつかない。
The government should take every possible measure to acquire enough vaccine to combat the new flu. 政府は、新型用のワクチン確保に全力を挙げるべきだ。
Importing vaccine from the United States and European countries has been touted as the best solution to meet this shortfall. However, the government has not yet settled on measures to confirm the safety of imported vaccine and detailed procedures to deal with possible side effects. その切り札として、欧米などからのワクチン輸入が有力視されている。ただ、安全性を確認する方法や副作用が出た時の詳細な対応が決まっていない。
Until 15 years ago, the government required every primary and middle school student to be vaccinated against influenza. However, mandatory vaccination was terminated because of lingering doubts about its effectiveness and possible side effects. 国内では１５年前まで、小中学生全員にインフルエンザワクチン接種を義務づけていた。だが、副作用被害に加え効果を疑問視する意見も出て、廃止された。
The government must tread carefully to ensure a sense of mistrust against flu vaccine does not take hold among the public once again. 再びワクチンへの不信感を広げることがない対応が重要だ。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 28, 2009) （2009年8月28日01時16分 読売新聞）
(Mainichi Japan) August 27, 2009 Kaleidoscope of the Heart: Striving for excellence can be a double-edged sword 香山リカのココロの万華鏡：世間との闘いの難しさ ／東京
I suspect that there have been many sleepy-eyed sports enthusiasts determined to overcome the time difference between Japan and far-off Berlin to take in the World Championships in Athletics recently. 今年もおおいに盛り上がった「世界陸上」。ベルリンとの時差に眠い目をこすりながら、テレビにかじりついていた人も多いのではないだろうか。
The astounding display of speed put on by Jamaica's Usain Bolt in particular captured not just the people in the stands, but many of us around the world. One announcer, when seeing Bolt on the track, exclaimed "How fast can a human being go!" Even after breaking his own 100 meter world record, Bolt was ready to try for an even faster time, declaring, "I always say anything is possible." 特に世界記録を連発したジャマイカのウサイン・ボルト選手の驚異的な走りは、スタジアムの観客ばかりではなく世界中の人々を熱狂させた。競技を中継するアナウンサーは、「人はどこまで速くなれるのでしょうか！」と絶叫していた。ボルト選手も「人間には何だって可能なんだ」とまだまだ記録に挑戦する姿勢を見せている。
But while I stand in wonder at Bolt's physical ability and psychological strength, I also find myself thinking: Is there a need to go any faster? その身体能力や精神力に驚嘆しながらも、頭の片隅にふと、「これ以上、速くなる必要があるのだろうか」といった問いが生じる。
At the news conference held after winning the 200 meter race, the topic of doping came in repeatedly. Furthermore, questions about South African runner Caster Semenya's gender continued to arise after she won the women's 800 meter race, paining her father, who said, "She is my little girl. ... I raised her and I have never doubted her gender. She is a woman and I can repeat that a million times." ２００メートルで優勝した後、ボルト選手の会見ではドーピングを問う声が次々に上がった。女子８００メートルでは、優勝者に対する性別疑惑も浮上し、その父親が「私の娘をそっとしておいて欲しい」と苦しい胸の内を明らかにする一幕もあった。
"Faster! Faster!" the world demands, and athletes respond by training to the limits of mind and body. And when these athletes fulfill our expectations, getting ever stronger and setting ever faster times, we look at them askance and say, "That's too fast. Something must be up." Thus is the fate of all world athletics champions, and I must admit I feel a little sorry for them. 選手たちは、「もっと速く！」という世界中の期待にこたえようとして、心身をギリギリまで追い込んで過酷な練習を続ける。そして期待通りの結果を出すと、今度は「強すぎておかしい」と疑われる。これも覇者の宿命と言えばそれまでだが、なんだか気の毒だ。
The athletes themselves probably wonder if they wouldn't be the subject of doubts if they had failed our expectations. They may feel they have to push themselves to the limit every time out, knowing that they would be attacked if they didn't put their all into their training. 本人たちも、「じゃあ、みんなの期待を裏切るような結果なら、疑われることはなかったのか。そうなったらなったで、今度は限界だ、練習不足だと非難するくせに」と言いたいところなのではないだろうか。
This kind of thinking also often appears in our everyday lives. We try our best to meet the expectations of those around us and, when successful, are either told "Next time, aim higher," or suspected of cheating somehow. If this kind of treatment is kept up long enough, even those among us with remarkable abilities will retreat into their shells, slowly coming to distrust those around them and the world in general. Perhaps those celebrities recently caught up in drug use are among those who have "lost" to that kind of pressurized existence. これは、私たちの日常でもしばしば起きることだと思う。周りの期待に応えるために頑張って成果を上げたとたん、「次はもっと上を目指して」とさらなるプレッシャーをかけられたり、「不正があったのでは」と疑われたりする。そういうことが繰り返されると、能力のある人も次第に他人や世の中を信用できなくなり、自分の殻に閉じこもるようになってしまう。覚せい剤などに手を出した芸能人たちも、もしかするとそんな“世間”に負けたのかもしれない。
To prevent falling into this performance pressure spiral, the best thing to do is to think to yourself, "Well, this will do," neither letting yourself be driven by others' expectations or betraying them. Saying that, I wonder if we would be shocked if Bolt strung together a series of narrow wins instead of record-shattering performances? それを防ぐためには、周囲の期待にこたえすぎず裏切りもせず、「まあ、これくらいならいいんじゃないの」と思われるような“ほどほどの結果”を出しておくのがいちばんだ。とはいえ、「世界陸上」のような大イベントで「ボルト、また“ほどほどの記録”でかろうじて優勝です」といった試合が続くと、みんながっかりするのだろうか。
For the athletes in Berlin --and for the rest of us -- far more difficult than challenging records or rivals is challenging society itself. That's what I understood from watching the World Championships in Athletics. (By Rika Kayama, psychiatrist) 記録やライバルとの闘いよりむずかしいのが、世間との闘い。そう感じた９日間だった。
--The Asahi Shimbun, Aug. 26(IHT/Asahi: August 27,2009) EDITORIAL: Review of top justices 最高裁国民審査―開かれた選任こそ課題だ
Nine of the 15 Supreme Court justices are up for a people's review when voters head to the polls for Sunday's Lower House election. The occasion provides voters with their only opportunity to directly express their approval or disapproval of the current state of the judiciary. 最高裁裁判官を信認するかどうかを問う国民審査が、総選挙と同時に行われる。司法への信頼を国民が直接表明できる唯一の機会だ。
Amid expectations for a regime change, debate is heating up over the government system. However, we should also think about the top court's personnel system. 政権選択を機に国や政府の形が議論されている今、最高裁の人事についても考えたい。
The Constitution stipulates that Supreme Court justices are to be "reviewed" by the public, but no one has been dismissed under this system so far. 憲法に基づく制度だが、これまでに国民審査で辞めさせられた人は一人もいない。
Justices are subject to a review at the time of the first Lower House election after their appointment. Their next review will be during the first Lower House election "after a lapse of 10 years." 審査の対象になるのは任命後に初めて行われる総選挙の時で、次の機会は１０年を経過したあとの総選挙までない。
However, since many justices are older than 60 at the time of their appointment and their mandatory retirement age is 70, there is effectively no second review for anyone. Consequently, justices who come under the review are fairly new to the job. ところが、就任年齢は通例６０歳を過ぎていて、７０歳の定年までに再度、審査の対象になることは事実上ない。結局、対象の裁判官は就任から間がない人が多くなる。
Of the nine justices up for review this time, five, including Chief Justice Hironobu Takesaki, have never made a decision related to the Constitution, nor have they participated in a Grand Bench ruling that can reverse established precedents. 今回、対象の９人のうち竹崎長官を含む５人は、まだ一度も違憲判断や判例変更ができる大法廷判決に関与していない。
In short, these justices have too meager a track record, if any, on which the people can form their opinions. 判断の材料が乏しすぎる。
But perhaps the more fundamental problem than the people's review system, which serves no practical purpose, is that Supreme Court justices are appointed behind closed doors. いや、国民審査の形骸（けいがい）化より基本的な問題は、彼らが国民からまったく見えない密室の中で選ばれてきていることではあるまいか。
The chief justice is named by the Cabinet and appointed by the emperor. The remaining 14 justices are appointed by the Cabinet. In reality, however, the sitting chief justice picks his successor and recommends his choice to the prime minister, and the Cabinet respects the choice. 最高裁長官は内閣の指名に基づいて天皇が任命し、１４人の最高裁判事は内閣が任命する。しかし実際は、長官については現職が後任を首相に推薦し、内閣が尊重する。
As for the other justices, the custom is that the Supreme Court picks candidates when a justice who is about to retire is a former judge, while the Cabinet puts together its shortlist of candidates when the retiring justice is a former bureaucrat. That is an accepted practice. 判事については、法律家出身者の後任は最高裁が推薦し、官僚出身者の後任は内閣が候補者を絞る。それが慣例となってきた。
The public is kept completely in the dark about the screening process, and the Cabinet merely announces the result. 選考過程は一切国民の前に明らかにされず、ある日突然、内閣が「決まりました」と発表するのだ。
Including Takesaki, we have so far had nine consecutive chief justices who were former judges. The backgrounds of other members of the bench are rigidly predetermined, too, with fixed quotas in place for former judges, prosecutors, lawyers, bureaucrats and legal scholars. All these individuals are invariably preceded and succeeded by their peers in their respective professions. その結果、最高裁長官は現長官まで９代続いて裁判官出身。判事も裁判官、検察官、弁護士、官僚、法学者の人数枠が固定され、出身母体からの順送り人事となってきた。
The public is not informed of the professional histories of Supreme Court justices, nor why they were chosen. This is the fundamental factor that renders the people's review system a mere formality. どんな仕事をしてきた人がどんな理由で選ばれたのか、国民は知らされない。国民審査が形骸化している根本的な原因はこうしたことにある。
Bringing transparency to the selection process is of critical importance if the will of the people is to be reflected in the Supreme Court, which is supposed to protect the Constitution and keep the Diet and the administration in check. 密室人事を透明にすることは、憲法の番人として国会や政府をチェックする最高裁を、国民的な合意に立って作り上げていくうえで極めて重要だ。
The Justice System Reform Council recommended in its 2001 report that studies be conducted to bring transparency and objectivity to the process of appointing Supreme Court justices. 司法制度改革審議会も０１年の意見書で、最高裁人事について「選任過程に透明性・客観性を持たせることを検討すべきだ」と提言した。
A reform plan was once presented to the Diet, proposing an advisory panel of jurists, members of both houses of the Diet and academics, who would recommend several candidates for the Cabinet to consider. 法曹界や衆参両院、学識経験者らで構成する諮問委員会を設け、複数の候補者を内閣に答申する。そんな改革案が国会に提出されたこともあった。
Our elected representatives should be deeply committed to tangible reform. But political parties are apparently not particularly interested, which is most regrettable. 改革の具体化は、政治が真剣に取り組むべきテーマだ。政党側にこの問題を真剣に取り組もうという気配がないのは、残念としかいいようがない。
The citizen judge system was introduced in May to make the judiciary more open to the people. If the judiciary is to be supported by the public, full disclosure of the process of nominating and appointing the chief and other justices at the top court is now needed. That would give the people enough information on which to form their opinions of justices up for review. 司法を国民に開かれたものにするため、裁判員裁判が始まった。司法を支える国民的基盤を築くために、最高裁長官と判事の選任過程を公開する。それを通じて、国民審査にも十分な情報を開示することだ。
--The Asahi Shimbun, Aug. 26(IHT/Asahi: August 27,2009) EDITORIAL: Pension reform debate ０９総選挙 年金再建―対立超え安心の制度を
The ruling and opposition camps have been at loggerheads over the issue of pension reform. The main bone of contention has been whether the system should be maintained in its current form or reconfigured into one financed by taxes. However, both sides are showing signs of changing their stances ahead of Sunday's election. 現在の制度を維持するか、税方式に転換するかで与野党が対立してきた年金制度改革。総選挙を通じて、論争に変化の兆しが出てきた。
The ruling bloc had until recently insisted that the current system will be financially viable for 100 years. But it has finally admitted the program is fraying at the edges. The ruling camp has promised to shorten the minimum required period of enrollment to 10 years from the current 25 years. It has also pledged to tackle the problem of people who are not eligible to receive pension benefits, or are eligible for only a very small amount. 「今の制度は百年安心」としてきた与党側が、さすがに制度のほころびを認め、年金を受けるのに必要な最低加入期間を現行の２５年から１０年に短縮することや、無年金・低年金者対策に取り組むと言い出した。
The main opposition Democratic Party of Japan, which has offered to guarantee minimum pension benefits financed by tax, has made it clear the system it envisions basically offers universal coverage as a social insurance program with premiums and benefits proportional to income. The proposed minimum guaranteed benefits would only serve as an income supplement for low-benefit recipients. The DPJ says it would create a new revenue agency to ensure premiums are collected from everybody obliged to pay. 一方、税財源による最低保障年金を主張してきた野党側も、民主党が基本はあくまでも全国民が入る所得比例年金であり、社会保険方式であることを明確にした。最低保障年金は、年金額の少ない人のための補完的な役割で、新たに歳入庁をつくって保険料の徴収を徹底する、との考えだ。
Through their pension proposals, both camps seem to be aware of the need to stem the rise in people failing to pay into the system and providing support for people with no benefits, or small ones at best. 共通しているのは、広がる保険料の未納を食い止めなければいけない、無年金・低年金の人への手立てが必要だ、という問題意識だ。
About 40 percent of the people covered by the national pension program, which was originally designed for self-employed people, are now employees, mainly nonregular ones. The fixed-sum premiums for the program represent a heavy financial burden for these employees. This is believed to be one factor behind the growing nonpayment of premiums. 自営業者が中心と考えられてきた国民年金は今や、加入者の４割が非正社員を中心として雇われている人たちだ。こうした人たちには定額保険料の負担感は大きく、保険料の未納が広がる一因と言われている。
The average of the monthly benefits under the program is 48,000 yen, well below the full benefit of 66,000 yen. Under the current system, monthly benefits are reduced if the overall revenue falls due to a contraction of the working-age population or if the total payouts grow because of prolonged life expectancy. There is actually no guarantee of minimum pension benefits. 一方、満額で月６万６千円と言われる国民年金の平均受給額は４万８千円。現役世代が減って収入が減ったり、平均寿命が延びて給付総額が膨らんだりすれば、毎月の受給額はさらに目減りする仕組みになっていて、最低保障の底が抜けている状態だ。
What is the best remedy for these problems with the current system? There is undoubtedly room for constructive bipartisan talks since the ruling and opposition camps are proposing changes basically in the same direction, even though there are still differences in their approaches. 今の制度が抱えるこうした問題点をどう解決していくのか。手法になお隔たりはあるものの、大きな見直しの方向は同じなのだから、話し合いの余地はあるはずだ。
But the reform blueprints of both camps leave many important questions unanswered. As for promised relief for people facing retirement with no or scant pension benefits, the ruling camp has yet to say how much would be provided to whom. The DPJ's reform plan says nothing about what to do with the premiums paid by self-employed workers. The opposition party also leaves it unclear what would be done for people with no benefits or small ones during the transition to the new system. 与野党とも、詰め切れていない問題が目立つ。与党の無年金・低年金対策は、どんな人たちにどれくらいの年金額を保障するのか。民主党の改革案は、自営業の人たちの保険料をどうするのか。新制度への移行期間中、すでに無年金・低年金の人たちをどうするか。いずれもあいまいだ。
To ensure fairness in the burdens and benefits, it is necessary to introduce a taxpayer identification number system to track people's income accurately. As the nation's population ages further, public spending on health and nursing care is bound to keep growing. The crucial question of how much taxpayer money should be devoted to pension reform requires an answer based on a comprehensive perspective that takes into consideration the future prospect of social security spending. 負担と給付の公平性を担保するには、納税者番号制を導入して正確な所得を把握することも必要だ。また、これから超高齢社会を迎え、医療や介護の費用も膨らむ。そうした社会保障費の見通しも踏まえて、年金改革にどれだけの財源を充てるのか。総合的な判断が求められる。
That makes it all the more important for all parties to make efforts to swiftly set up a forum so that national debate on pension reform can be started soon after the Lower House election. だからこそ各党は、選挙後に国民的な議論を始められるよう、早期に協議の場をつくる方向で努力すべきだ。
A pension system demands long-term stability. The people's interests would not be served if every national election results in radical changes to the system. 年金制度は長期にわたる安定が必要だ。選挙のたびに仕組みが変わるのでは、国民が不利益をこうむる。
Whichever party wins a public mandate in Sunday's Lower House election, it is the political responsibility of the entire legislature to build a pension system that can serve as a solid foundation for social security in this aging society. We hope to hear constructive, nonpartisan debate. どの政党が政権を担うにせよ、高齢社会の安心の土台となる年金制度をつくることは政治全体の責任だ。対立を超えた建設的な議論を望みたい。
The Yomiuri Shimbun(Aug. 27, 2009) New regulatory system needed for airwaves 放送・通信融合 新たなルール整備が必要だ（8月27日付・読売社説）
Through technological innovations, new types of services that are not covered by existing regulations targeting broadcast and communications services have emerged. To make such new "buds" part of the industry's growth strategy, related rules and regulations need to be reviewed. 技術革新によって、従来の放送・通信に対する規制の枠に収まらないサービスが登場している。新たな芽を成長戦略につなげるには、ルールの見直しが必要だろう。
The Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry's advisory panel on information and communications services has compiled a proposal to drastically review regulations on broadcast and communications services. 総務省の情報通信審議会が、放送と通信の規制を抜本的に改める答申をまとめた。
The proposal calls for reviewing the current regulatory categorization of services based on the type of operation, such as wired or wireless services, and instead recategorizing the services based on function, such as program production and radio transmission. 通信か放送か、無線か有線か、といった業態別の区分を見直し、番組制作や電波送信といった機能別に組み直す内容である。
There are as many as nine major laws governing information and communications services. The laws include a number of regulations that do not match the actual situation. It therefore is of great significance to remove barriers between broadcast and communications services, eyeing the integration of those services. 情報通信関連の法律は主なものだけで九つもあり、実態にそぐわない規制も多い。今回、放送と通信の融合をにらみ、垣根を取り払う意義は大きい。
===
Function key under plan
Under the envisaged new regulatory framework, there would be no distinction between communications and broadcast services. Services would instead be categorized into three areas--program contents offered to viewers; transmission infrastructure such as communications networks and transmitting stations; and transmission services for conveying information to viewers. 新たな規制の枠組みでは、通信と放送の区分はなくなり、〈１〉視聴者に提供する「番組の内容」〈２〉通信網や送信所などの「伝送設備」〈３〉視聴者に情報を届けるための「伝送サービス」――の３分野にくくり直される。
The regulations on radio waves, which separately target broadcast and communications services, would be relaxed so that broadcast stations could distribute their programs on cell phones and broadcast their programs via cell phone antennas. 放送用、通信用に分かれている電波の規制も緩和され、放送局が携帯電話に番組を配信したり、携帯電話のアンテナを使って放送したりできるようになる。
By reforming regulatory categories so they are based on functions, it would become easier for broadcasters to operate their program production and transmission services in separate corporate entities. Local broadcasters would be able to improve management efficiency by jointly using transmission equipment. It also would be possible for outside businesses to enter the broadcasting services field by renting other companies' equipment. 規制が機能別になることで、放送局は番組制作と送信業務を別会社で実施しやすくなる。複数の地方局が送信設備を共用すれば経営の効率化に役立とう。他社の設備を借りる形での異業種からの放送事業への参入も可能になる。
An invigorated business environment would result in expanded and cheaper communications and broadcasting services. The industry should strive to create new services by putting consumers' interests first. 放送・通信の活性化は、サービスの多様化や通信料の値下げにつながる。業界は利用者の利便向上を最優先に、新サービスの創出に努めてほしい。
Some observers have pointed out that under the new regulatory framework it would be easier for the government to intervene in the content of programs, a situation that would threaten the independence of broadcasters. 新たな規制の枠組みに対しては、国が番組内容に口出ししやすくなり、放送局の自立性が脅かされるとの指摘もある。
The proposal says there would be no new regulations imposed on information on the Internet, and that editorial freedom in respect of broadcast programs would be stipulated under the law. It is essential to give due consideration to freedom of expression during the process of drafting related bills. 答申は、インターネット上の情報には新たな規制は設けず、放送番組の編集の自由は法律に明記するとしている。今後の法案化作業で、表現の自由に対する十分な配慮は不可欠だろう。
===
Fix administrative structure
The Democratic Party of Japan, in its policy pledges for the upcoming House of Representatives election, suggested that administration of broadcast and communications services be taken out of the Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry's jurisdiction to prevent the government from intervening in broadcast services. 民主党は衆院選に向けた政策集で、放送への国の介入を排除するため、放送・通信行政を総務省から分離させるとしている。
The main opposition party called for the creation of an independent administrative commission, modeled after the U.S. Federal Communications Commission, to which administrative power would be devolved from the ministry. The DPJ apparently intends not only to revise the current regulations, but to reform administrative structures as well. 米国の連邦通信委員会（ＦＣＣ）をモデルにした独立行政委員会を新設し、権限を移管する案だ。規制の見直しと同時に、行政組織のあり方についても再検討するということだろう。
But transplanting a U.S. model alone would not ensure the smooth operation of broadcast and communications administrative services. What is necessary first and foremost is to review the current administrative structure that involves the Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry, the Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry and a cabinet member whose portfolio includes information technology policy. しかし、米国型の移植だけで放送・通信行政は円滑に進むまい。総務省や経済産業省、ＩＴ（情報技術）担当大臣が並立する今の行政の見直しが先決ではないか。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 27, 2009) （2009年8月27日01時30分 読売新聞）
--The Asahi Shimbun, Aug. 25(IHT/Asahi: August 26,2009) EDITORIAL: Improving education 科学五輪―理科好き生徒増やしたい
Japanese teens shone at the International Science Olympiads for high school students this summer, winning a record 12 gold medals in five subjects. Every one of the 23 Japanese participants ended up with a medal. 世界の高校生が競う国際科学オリンピックでこの夏、日本の代表が大活躍した。５科目に２３人の選手が参加、金メダルは過去最高の１２個となり、全員がメダルを獲得した。
We hope these results will generate momentum for improvement of science education in Japan. 好成績をはずみに、日本の科学教育をよりよいものに変えていきたい。
At the International Science Olympiads, gold medals are awarded to the top 10 percent of students and silver and bronze to the next 20 percent and 30 percent, respectively. この大会では、上位約１割に金メダルが与えられる。次の２割に銀メダル、次の３割なら銅メダルだ。
This year's International Biology Olympiad was held in Japan for the first time, with four Japanese students participating. One of the four won Japan's first gold medal in this category, and the rest won silver medals. まず、初めて日本で開かれた生物学五輪で日本勢では初の金メダルを１人が獲得、残る３人も銀メダルだった。
Next, in the International Physics Olympiad, two of the five Japanese contestants won gold medals. In Mathematics, five of the six contestants won gold medals, and one had a perfect score. In overall performance, Japan placed second after China. 続く物理でも５人のうち２人が金メダルをとった。数学では６人中５人が金メダルで、うち１人は満点でトップ、全体の成績でも中国に次ぐ２位に入った。
As for Chemistry and Informatics, two of the four Japanese participants won gold medals. 化学、情報でも４人のうち２人が金メダルを手にした。
The International Science Olympiad started with Mathematics in 1959. Physics, Chemistry and Informatics were added later. The first Biology Olympiad was held in 1990. 科学五輪は１９５９年に数学から始まった。それに物理、化学、情報が加わり、生物学は９０年からだ。
Lately, top-ranked nations, territories and regions include China, South Korea, Taiwan, the United States and Russia. China has made participation a national priority. Students chosen to represent China are given many perks. Nearly every Chinese student brings home a gold medal. このところ成績上位を占める国・地域は中国や韓国、台湾、米国やロシアなどだ。とくに中国は国を挙げて取り組んでいる。代表に選ばれると特典も多く、ほぼ全員が金メダルをとる勢いだ。
Japan is a latecomer among advanced nations. It first participated in the Mathematics Olympiad of 1990, followed by Biology in 2005 and Physics in 2006. Until then, Japanese education authorities worried that Japanese students could not compete with their overseas peers because of the low level of science education here. 日本の参加は９０年の数学から。生物学は０５年、物理は０６年と先進国の中では遅い。理科教育の水準が低く、歯が立たないことを心配したためだ。
Nowadays, Japanese contestants use global-standard textbooks to relearn their subjects. They prepare for the big day with special lab training rarely provided at Japanese high schools. 日本の代表選手たちは、世界で標準的に使われている教科書で学び直し、国内の高校ではあまりやらない実験の特訓などを受けて本番に挑む。
These efforts clearly paid off this year. Also, many of the participants were experienced. Another factor was that more teens have participated in the preliminary rounds since the government began supporting the Olympiads in fiscal 2004. 今年の好成績は、経験を積んだ代表が多かったうえ、こうした特訓が成果を上げたためだろう。０４年度から政府が科学五輪の支援を始め、予選の参加者が増えてきた効果もありそうだ。
But we should not become complacent. Participation in international competition has reminded us again of the flaws in our education system. 喜んでばかりはいられない。国際大会に参加することで、改めて日本の教育の弱点が浮かび上がっている。
A bronze medalist at a past Chemistry Olympiad scored less than 10 out of a maximum 60 points on a test right after returning to Japan. We believe this was because Japan's chemistry education stresses textbook knowledge rather than a fundamental understanding of the subject. 過去の化学五輪で銅メダルをとったある高校生は、帰国直後の模擬試験で、６０点満点で１０点も取れなかったそうだ。日本の化学教育は本質的な理解を求めるより、知識を蓄えることに重点が置かれているためだろう。
By teaching science systematically and raising the nation's overall level of science education to global standards, we hope more teens will come to love science. 体系的に科学を学ぶ、国際水準の教育へと底上げしていくことで、日本の高校生の力を伸ばし、理科好きのすそ野を広げていきたい。
At the week-long International Biology Olympiad in Tsukuba, Ibaraki Prefecture, high school students from around the world spent more than 10 hours grappling with theoretical and practical problems. But the teens also got to experience Japanese culture and enjoy outdoor activities by going to a summer festival and traveling to Nikko, a well-known tourist resort. 茨城県つくば市で約１週間にわたって開かれた生物学五輪では、世界の高校生たちが１０時間以上もかけて理論と実験の問題に取り組んだ。その一方で、夏祭りや日光旅行などで日本の文化や自然にも触れた。
We believe it was greatly significant that young people from around the world competed intellectually in Japan and made new friends. 世界中の若者たちが日本を舞台に考える力を競い、友情の輪を広げた。大きな意味があったと思う。
Tokyo is scheduled to host next year's International Chemistry Olympiad. We hope it will prompt high school students to take a greater interest in the world. 来年は化学五輪が東京で開かれる。高校生たちの目を、さらに世界に向けるきっかけにもなってほしい。
(Mainichi Japan) August 26, 2009 New company aims to have cheap and efficient electric vehicles on road in 2013 電気自動車：産学タッグで量産計画 技術供与へ慶大、ベネッセなど新会社
Major correspondence education firm Benesse Corp. and used car giant Gulliver International Co. are teaming up with a Keio University professor to put affordable electric vehicles on the road in 2013, it has been announced. The firms and Keio University professor Hiroshi Shimizu have established a new company, named SIM-Drive, to propagate electric vehicle technology pioneered by Shimizu. 慶応大環境情報学部の清水浩教授と通信教育大手「ベネッセコーポレーション」、中古車事業「ガリバーインターナショナル」は２４日、清水教授が開発した電気自動車（ＥＶ）製造技術の普及を目指す新会社「ＳＩＭ－Ｄｒｉｖｅ（シムドライブ）」を設立したと発表した。産学連携によるＥＶ市場への新規参入として注目を集めそうだ。
SIM-Drive will license its designs to automobile and parts manufacturers, and aims to bring a mass-produced five-person passenger car that can run for 300 kilometers on a single charge to market in 2013. シムドライブは自動車メーカー、部品メーカーなどにＥＶ製造技術のライセンスを供与。１３年をめどに、１回の充電で約３００キロ走れる５人乗りＥＶを量産・販売することを目指す。
At present, even with government subsidies electric vehicles cost upwards of 3 million yen and have a range of less than 160 kilometers. ＥＶは政府補助を加味しても購入価格は３００万円以上、１回の充電で走行できる距離も１６０キロ以下にとどまる。
The company plans to overcome the high cost of batteries by leasing them to buyers, allowing the electric vehicles to be sold at a sticker price in the range of 1.5 million yen. 価格が高いバッテリーはリース方式とすることで、ユーザーのＥＶ取得時の初期費用は車両価格のみで１５０万円程度に抑える方針。
Shimizu, who was named president of SIM-Drive, developed the in-wheel motor -- a small electric motor that drives each wheel of a four-wheel vehicle. According to Shimizu, this system allows a car twice the single-charge range of vehicles with one, centrally-mounted electric motor, as far less energy is lost in transferring power from the motor to the wheels. 社長に就任した清水教授は四つの車輪に電動モーターを直接取り付けて動かす「インホイールモーター」システムを開発。清水教授によると、車体の中央にモーターを１基だけ設置し各車輪に動力を伝える既存のＥＶシステムに比べ動力のロスが少なく、同じ容量の電池で走行距離を最大２倍に伸ばせるという。
SIM-Drive also received investment from major trading firm Marubeni Corp. and has initial capital of 44 million yen. 資本金は４４００万円で、ベネッセやガリバーのほか、大手商社の丸紅も出資している。
"We hope to gain the approval of most (automotive) companies, and bring a practical electric vehicle with twice the range of previous models to market at the earliest possible date," said Shimizu at a news conference to announce the new company. 清水教授は２４日の会見で「多くの企業の賛同を得て、従来の２倍の距離を走れる新型ＥＶの早期実用化を目指したい」と語った。【大久保渉】
