The Yomiuri Shimbun (Aug. 31, 2010) Time to capitalize on 'Cool Japan' boom クール・ジャパン 海外の人気を成長に生かせ（8月30日付・読売社説）
Japanese pop culture--widely referred to as "Cool Japan"--has taken off overseas. The government should take advantage of this boom in all things Japanese to push domestic businesses' advance into foreign markets. 海外での日本ブームは「クール（かっこいい）・ジャパン」と呼ばれている。これを企業の海外進出につなげることに、もっと知恵を絞りたい。
Japanese anime and manga have become immensely popular among young people overseas. Japanese fashion grabs plenty of headlines, and foods such as sushi are a hit with health-conscious diners. 日本のアニメや漫画は海外の若者から絶大な人気を得ている。ファッションの注目度も高い。すしなどの和食は「健康にいい」と好評だ。
But this popularity has not necessarily led to overseas expansion by domestic companies involved in these industries. The domestic animation industry remains dominated by small and midsize companies, and exports of textiles have slackened. Japanese restaurants have been mushrooming the world over, but many are operated by non-Japanese. しかし、その人気が、必ずしも日本の関連産業の海外展開に結びついていない。アニメ産業は中小零細企業が圧倒的で、繊維産業の輸出も伸びていない。世界で急増する和食レストランも、その多くが日本人以外の経営だ。
While Japan fails to transform its overseas popularity into economic growth, South Korea has been increasing its presence in other Asian countries. 日本がせっかくの人気を経済成長に生かせないのとは対照的に、アジア各地で存在感を増しているのが韓国である。
According to a report by the Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry, CD and DVD stores in Hong Kong, Bangkok and Singapore brim with South Korean dramas and K-pop albums by South Korean singers. In China, the sales of a South Korean apparel maker often compared with Japan's Uniqlo brand operator are going through the roof. 経済産業省の報告書によると、香港、バンコク、シンガポールなどのＣＤ・ＤＶＤ売り場は、韓国ドラマや韓国人歌手らのＫポップがあふれている。中国では「韓国のユニクロ」と言われるファッション企業が売り上げを急速に伸ばしている。
Public-private sales model
As Korean dramas gain popularity, South Korean makers follow up by promoting fashion brands worn by actors and actresses starring in the programs. The South Korean private and public sectors seem to be jointly building a business model that uses Korean brands to expand sales in targeted countries. 韓国ドラマが人気を得ると、韓流スターの着こなすファッションを売り込み、「韓国ブランド」の向上をテコに、韓国製品の売り上げにつなげる――というビジネススタイルを、官民挙げて築きつつあるようだ。
The government seems content for Japan to just be extolled overseas as "cool." However, we think the government has not tried hard enough, or been imaginative enough, in taking advantage of this popularity for the benefit of business expansion. 日本は、海外で「クール」ともてはやされることに満足して、ビジネスに生かす発想と努力を欠いていたのではないか。
In June, the trade ministry released its "strategy to promote a culture-oriented industry." This plan to harness "Cool Japan" to revitalize the national economy seemingly reflects an awareness that more must be done to tap this industry. 経産省が６月、クール・ジャパンを日本経済活性化の起爆剤の一つと位置づける「文化産業立国戦略」を策定したのも、そうした反省に立ったものだろう。
The strategy calls for an integrated support system--from product development to the signing of overseas sales contracts--for small and midsize companies that lack the expertise and funds needed to develop their business abroad. We hope the ministry's strategy will be steadily implemented. 戦略では、海外展開に必要なノウハウも資金も不足している中小企業を対象に、商品開発から海外での販売契約まで一貫して支援する仕組みを整えることを盛り込んだ。着実に実施してほしい。
Get on same page
The government's administration of overseas activities has been divided among its ministries--the trade ministry fosters "Cool Japan" industries, the Foreign Ministry looks after cultural exchanges and the Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry promotes Japanese foods. 政府は従来、クール・ジャパンの関連産業の育成は経産省、文化交流は外務省、和食の海外ＰＲは農林水産省という具合に、各省庁が縦割りで対応してきた。
South Korean products could dominate rapidly growing Asian markets, but they are less likely to do so in European and U.S. markets, where Japanese brands' reputation for high quality is well entrenched. これでは、「日本製イコール高品質」というブランドイメージが確立する欧米市場はまだしも、成長著しいアジア市場は韓国勢に席巻されかねない。
Japan should emulate the Korean formula of ensuring cooperation transcends fields such as fashion, movies, food and manga, instead of promoting business through separate government ministries and agencies. If the "fences" between these government offices remain too high, the Cabinet minister and other politicians who head each ministry must step up and exercise leadership to make this cooperation a reality. 韓国に倣い、省庁別でなく、ファッションと映画、食文化と漫画といった分野横断型の連携を強化すべきだ。省庁の“垣根”が依然高いなら、閣僚など政務三役が政治主導で進める必要があろう。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 30, 2010) （2010年8月30日01時26分 読売新聞）
The Yomiuri Shimbun (Aug. 30, 2010) Japan, ROK must partner, compete for future 日韓併合１００年 協調と競争の未来へ向けて（8月29日付・読売社説）
People of the Korean Peninsula, who were ruled by a different people, must regret the fact that their country was taken away and their pride was trampled upon. These feelings apparently are a source of the Korean people's strong sense of rivalry with and resentment against Japan. 異民族に支配された朝鮮半島の人々には、国を奪われ、誇りを踏みにじられた無念の思いがあるだろう。それが日本への強烈な対抗心や反発をうむ源泉となっている。
Without Japan truly understanding these sentiments, its good-neighbor diplomacy will never come to fruition. その気持ちを理解せずして、日本の善隣外交は成り立つまい。
The Japan-Korea Annexation Treaty became effective 100 years ago, on Aug. 29, 1910. The world was in an age of imperialism at the time and Japan, like other imperialist countries, kept up with the tide of the times and colonized the peninsula. 日韓併合条約が発効したのは、今から１００年前の１９１０年８月２９日である。当時は帝国主義の時代であり、日本もその流れに乗って朝鮮半島を植民地にした。
It is an undeniable fact that Japan's 35-year colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula, until Japan's World War II defeat, still casts a shadow over the present-day Japan-South Korea relationship. 敗戦まで３５年間の植民地統治が今日の日韓関係に影を落としているのは、否定しえない事実だ。
Earlier this month, ahead of the Aug. 29 centenary, Prime Minister Naoto Kan issued a statement expressing "deep remorse and heartfelt apology." This is because he places importance on the Japan-Korea relationship. 菅首相が日韓併合１００年の談話で、「痛切な反省と心からのおわびの気持ち」を表明したのも日韓関係を重視してのことだ。
Japan must build a relationship with South Korea in which the two countries cooperate and compete each other. 韓国とは、協調し競争しあう関係を築いていかなければならない。
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Impressive postwar growth
When Japan and South Korea normalized diplomatic ties in 1965, the two countries confirmed the Japan-Korea Annexation Treaty to be "already null and void" and thereby entered a new relationship. １９６５年の日韓国交正常化の際、日韓併合条約を「もはや無効である」としたことによって、両国は新たな関係に入った。
Using funds provided by Japan, South Korea built dams, ironworks and expressways, and threw its energy into exports. 韓国は、日本からの資金を使ってダムや製鉄所、高速道路を建設し、輸出に力を注いだ。
South Korea has transformed into an economically advanced country, achieving political democratization and affluence. Its society has diversified, and the now wealthy nation has changed from being a recipient of assistance to a country that provides it to others. いまや経済先進国に変貌(へんぼう)し、政治の民主化も果たした。社会も多様化し、豊かになった韓国は援助される国から援助する国になっている。
Japan and South Korea are trade partners, and each maintains an alliance with the United States as its main axis of national security. The two countries also share values such as the market economy and democracy. 日韓両国は、それぞれが米国との同盟を安全保障の軸に、互いを主要な貿易相手国とする、また市場経済や民主主義などの価値観を共有する関係にある。
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International leadership
In November, South Korea will host a Group of 20 summit meeting while Japan will host a summit gathering of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum. １１月には、韓国が世界２０か国・地域（Ｇ２０）首脳会議を、日本がアジア太平洋経済協力会議（ＡＰＥＣ）首脳会議を主宰する。
Tokyo and Seoul play increasingly greater roles and have larger responsibilities when it comes to ensuring the world's stability and prosperity. 世界の安定と繁栄のために、日韓が担う役割と責任は大きくなっている。
The two countries should never miss mutual opportunities and should strengthen their cooperation. この機を逃さず、日韓協力を強化すべきだ。
How to establish a stable relationship with economic and military superpower China is a heavy task for both Japan and South Korea. 経済・軍事大国となった中国とどう向き合い、安定した関係を作っていくかということも日韓共通の重い課題である。
The two countries also must appropriately respond to North Korea--a destabilizing factor in the region. 地域の不安定要因である北朝鮮には適切に対処していかなければならない。
It appears increasingly necessary that Japan and South Korea build a future-oriented bilateral relationship that is not mired in the past. 過去にとらわれない「未来志向の日韓関係」を構築していく必然性は高まっている。
However, difficulties remain. Japan and South Korea, because they are neighbors, have deep relations rooted in history, and their sentiment toward each other tends to be complex. Japanese people feel increasingly more kinship with South Korea every year, but South Koreans still have a deep-seated distrust of Japan. だが、難題もある。日韓は隣り合うだけに歴史的なかかわりは深く、感情ももつれがちだ。日本国民の韓国への親近感は年々強まっているが、韓国にはまだ日本への根強い不信感がある。
In fact, pending issues between Japan and South Korea such as the territorial dispute over the Takeshima islets remain unresolved and a source of repeated diplomatic tension between the two countries. 事実、竹島問題などの２国間の懸案は、解決しないまま衝突が繰り返されてきた。
Overcoming those difficulties is an assignment for both Japan and South Korea as they head into the next 100 years of their relationship. その難しさを克服していくことが、新たな１００年に向けての日韓両国の宿題だろう。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 29, 2010) （2010年8月29日01時19分 読売新聞）
The Yomiuri Shimbun (Aug. 29, 2010) More death penalty info should be disclosed 死刑刑場公開 まだ開示すべき情報は多い（8月28日付・読売社説）
The execution chamber at the Tokyo Detention House was shown to the media for the first time Friday. 死刑が執行される東京拘置所の刑場が報道機関に初めて公開された。
With the introduction of the lay judge system, ordinary citizens now have a chance of being called to participate in the process of sentencing someone to death. The Justice Ministry, which had been reluctant to disclose information related to executions, has likely realized the need to change its earlier stance. 裁判員制度が始まり、国民が死刑判決にかかわる可能性がある時代になった。これまで情報公開に消極的だった法務省も、姿勢を転換する必要性を認めたのだろう。
The ministry should make further efforts to disclose information on the death penalty. 今後も死刑に関する情報の開示に努めるべきだ。
Media organizations were allowed to film or photograph certain areas, such as the room in which hangings take place, and the button control room, where prison officers push buttons to activate the trapdoor. 報道機関には撮影も許可され、密室の様子が初めて外部に知らされた。絞首刑が行われる執行室や刑務官が執行ボタンを押す部屋などが公開された。
Debate requires data
Justice Minister Keiko Chiba this month set up a study panel within the ministry to discuss the death penalty system. Chiba, who had been calling for the abolition of capital punishment, expressed her intention to start discussions on whether the system should be maintained and stressed the need for national debate on the issue. 千葉法相は今月、死刑制度のあり方を議論する勉強会を省内に作った。もともと死刑廃止論者だった法相は、制度の存廃論議を始める方針も示し、国民的な議論の必要性を強調している。
But the public in fact has been given little information that would help people think about the death penalty. しかし、国民には死刑制度を考える材料が、ほとんど明らかにされていないのが現状だ。
An execution must be carried out within six months after a death sentence is finalized, according to the Criminal Procedure Code. But this rule has not been followed. Over the past decade, the period from the finalization of a sentence to actual execution stood at five years and 11 months on average. Some death row inmates have been detained for more than two decades since their sentences were finalized. What has caused this situation? 刑事訴訟法で定められている、死刑確定から６か月以内の刑の執行は守られていない。過去１０年の執行までの期間は平均で５年１１か月だ。確定から２０年以上拘置されている死刑囚もいる。なぜこうした事態が生じるのか。
In 1998, the Justice Ministry began to publicly announce when it had carried out executions and how many inmates were executed on each occasion. In 2007, it also began disclosing the names of the inmates who were executed. But it has not provided information on how decisions are made about which inmates are to be executed. １９９８年以降、執行の事実と人数のみを公表していた法務省は、０７年から死刑囚の氏名も公表するようになった。だが、執行順の決定過程は説明していない。
It also is hard to know anything about how death row inmates live in their cells and whether they regret what they have done. 死刑囚が独房でどのような生活を送り、反省しているかどうかを知ることも難しい。
The Penal Code stipulates that executions are to be carried out by hanging. But we wonder whether arguments on this point have ever been raised. 執行方法は刑法で絞首と定められているが、これに対する議論は一度もなかったのだろうか。
In the United Sates, where the death penalty exists in 35 of the 50 states, members of the media and relatives of crime victims can be present to watch executions. They also can be briefed by authorities about developments before actual executions. ７割の州に死刑制度がある米国では、被害者遺族やメディアが執行に立ち会える。当局から執行までの経緯の説明も受けられる。
We think the Justice Ministry should provide as much information as possible while giving consideration to the privacy of death row inmates and the wishes of victims. 法務省は死刑囚のプライバシーに配慮しつつ、被害者側の意向も踏まえた上で、可能な限り説明を尽くすべきではないか。
Some in the ministry were cautious about releasing detailed information on the final moments death row inmates face, being concerned that discussions of how executions are carried out and how inmates are treated would eventually lead to arguments supporting the abolition of the death penalty. 法務省の内部には、死刑囚の最後の局面に関する詳細な情報を公開すると、執行方法や処遇などを巡る議論が、いずれ死刑廃止論議に結びついてしまうという警戒感があった。
It is necessary for the ministry to provide the public with information about the actual situation regarding the death penalty and to allow discussions as to whether practical details of the death penalty system, including the execution method, should be reviewed. 死刑の現状を国民に知らせ、執行方法や制度の運用に見直すべき点がないのかどうか、問題提起する姿勢も必要だろう。
Seek the best system
An opinion survey conducted by the Cabinet Office showed that more than 80 percent of respondents were in favor of the death penalty. Many victims' relatives demand capital punishment as a penalty matching the seriousness of the crimes committed. 内閣府の世論調査では、死刑制度容認派が８割を超えている。罪に見合う処罰として極刑を求める被害者遺族は多い。
We do not advocate rushing discussions on whether the death penalty should be maintained or abolished. Rather, we hope that discussions are held from the viewpoint of improving the existing system's operation. 「存続か廃止か」の議論を急ぐのではなく、現行制度の運用を改善する視点の議論が望まれる。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 28, 2010) （2010年8月28日01時13分 読売新聞）
to fend off a barrage of questions from the opposition camp ＝野党側の厳しい追及を乗り切っていく 英語はほとんど大丈夫、理解できる。 理解不能の日本語発見。 右顧左眄(うこさべん) =右を見たり左を見たりして迷うこと。左顧右眄。 Kokugo Dai Jiten Dictionary. Shinsou-ban (Revised edition) ｩ Shogakukan 1988/国語大辞典（新装版）ｩ小学館 1988 （スラチャイ）
The Yomiuri Shimbun (Aug. 28, 2010) DPJ election should be battle over policy 小沢氏出馬表明 日本の針路を競う代表選に（8月27日付・読売社説）
The Democratic Party of Japan's upcoming presidential election is almost certain to be a two-man race between Prime Minister Naoto Kan, who is seeking reelection as DPJ chief, and former party Secretary General Ichiro Ozawa. 民主党代表選は、再選をめざす菅首相と小沢一郎前幹事長との、事実上の一騎打ちになることが固まった。
Selecting the leader of the largest ruling party is effectively synonymous with choosing the next prime minister. 与党第１党の党首選は首相選びに直結する。
We hope the DPJ will choose the winner of the race through a serious battle of words concerning the course this country should take. The election should not be reduced to a race in which its two opposing camps struggle to win party members over to their respective sides, thus determining which can seize power: the bloc that wants Ozawa removed from the center of the party and the government, or the side that supports him. 「脱小沢」か「親小沢」かという権力争奪の多数派工作に堕することなく、あるべき日本の針路を論じ合って雌雄を決してほしい。
◆分裂、政界再編の芽も◆ Ozawa has expressed his intention to run in the Sept. 14 election, campaigning for which will start Wednesday. 小沢氏は、９月１日告示、１４日投開票の党代表選に出馬する意向を表明した。
His move comes after he secured the support of former Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama; Ozawa had been considering entering the race if he could receive support from a wide range of DPJ lawmakers. 党内の幅広い支持を得られることを前提に出馬を検討していた小沢氏は、鳩山前首相の支持をとりつけた上で立候補に踏み切った。
However, this does not mean Ozawa has been guaranteed support from most DPJ members. だが、支持の大勢が固まっているわけではない。
Attempt at truce failed
A key factor behind the Kan-Ozawa showdown is the bitter discord between the former DPJ secretary general and senior party leaders seeking to eliminating his influence within the party, including the prime minister, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshito Sengoku and party Secretary General Yukio Edano. 今回の対決の背景には、小沢氏と、「脱小沢」を掲げる菅首相や仙谷官房長官、枝野幹事長らとの強い軋轢(あつれき)がある。
Ozawa's announcement of his decision to run was preceded by Hatoyama's attempt to broker a compromise between Kan and Ozawa, in the hope of averting a deepening schism among intraparty groups. 鳩山氏は、党の亀裂が深まる事態を避けるため、菅首相と小沢氏との仲介に動いた。
However, Kan was reluctant to accept Hatoyama's request to ensure key figures from each intraparty group, including Ozawa, were represented in the party's leadership and the Cabinet, in what could be called a whole-party approach. だが、鳩山氏が小沢氏の要職起用を含む挙党態勢の構築を求めたのに対して、菅首相は難色を示した。
This bitterly antagonized Ozawa. A decision by Ozawa not to run would have enabled Kan to win unopposed, a development that would cost the veteran DPJ kingpin support among a number of party members. Ozawa's decision to run can be seen as a last-resort measure to avoid this. 小沢氏は反発し、菅首相の無投票再選を容認すれば、党内で孤立しかねず、窮余の決断になったものとみられる。
Kan's rejection of Hatoyama's request caused the former prime minister to shift his support from Kan to Ozawa. Hatoyama earlier said he would back Kan's bid to be reelected as DPJ president, provided he adopts a whole-party approach. 挙党態勢を条件に「菅氏支持」を表明していた鳩山氏は、一転して「小沢氏支持」に変わった。
Hatoyama's obvious change of heart must be criticized as unacceptable. It is disconcerting that he has endorsed Ozawa's bid to become DPJ leader--we should remember that Hatoyama stepped down as party head and prime minister before the House of Councillors election in July to take the blame for the turmoil arising from his poorly thought-out approach to politically divisive issues, at the same time urging Ozawa to resign as party secretary general. 参院選前、政局混迷の責任をとってともに辞任した小沢氏を代表に推すのは、納得し難い行動だ。
Ozawa's decision to run in the wake of Hatoyama's failed peacemaking means he has concluded that taking the DPJ's top post will be the best way for him to escape the damned-if-he-does-and-damned-if-he-doesn't situation he is in. All this likely will turn the upcoming election into a battle that will divide the ruling party. The DPJ could be broken up into different groups and this could eventually result in a new round of political realignment--that is, new splits and mergers among both ruling and opposition parties. 鳩山氏の調停失敗を受け、小沢氏が正面突破を図ったことで、代表選は党を二分する争いになる見込みだ。党分裂含みの展開も予想され、今後、野党を巻き込んだ政界再編の動きも出てこよう。
Back to basics ◆「政治とカネ」説明を◆
Some groups of pro-Ozawa DPJ legislators have insisted their party "return to square one" in policy administration, saying the party's defeat in the upper house election was the result of its failure to honor its manifesto for last year's general election. These groups also have criticized Kan for stating his administration would explore the possibility of raising the consumption tax rate during campaigning for the upper house election. 小沢支持グループは、参院選の敗北が衆院選の政権公約（マニフェスト）から逸脱した結果だとして、「原点回帰」を唱えている。菅首相の消費税率引き上げ検討発言も批判してきた。
However, it is easy to see that lavish handout policies such as child-rearing allowances cannot be carried out as initially pledged, given the extremely optimistic estimate drawn up by the DPJ regarding the necessary financial resources. しかし、子ども手当などのバラマキ政策は、当初の極めて甘い財源見通しにより、公約通りに実行できないのは明らかだ。
If Ozawa truly believes in a back-to-square-one approach, he must show what kind of realistic measures would be implemented to raise the funds necessary for promised policies, while also presenting a timetable for each policy as soon as possible. 小沢氏が原点回帰路線に立つなら、公約実施に向けた現実的な財源と、工程表を早急に提示することが肝要だ。
This is not the only thing on Ozawa's must-do list; he must also fulfill his duty to answer questions about the political funding scandal surrounding him. 小沢氏がなすべきことは、それだけではない。「政治とカネ」の問題について、きちんと説明責任を果たすことが欠かせない。
Ozawa's politics-and-money scandal includes alleged violations of the Political Funds Control Law in connection with a shady land purchase by his funds management organization. During the last ordinary Diet session, Ozawa refused to attend the House of Representatives' Deliberative Council on Political Ethics and state his position on the issue. He also escaped being forced to testify under oath in the Diet. 自らの資金管理団体の土地購入をめぐる政治資金規正法違反事件について、小沢氏は先の通常国会では、衆院政治倫理審査会で弁明せず、証人喚問からも逃れた。
However, it will be extremely difficult for Ozawa to fend off a barrage of questions from the opposition camp in the divided Diet. The upper house is at the mercy of the opposition bloc due to the ruling coalition's loss of its majority in the July election, while the ruling parties have an overwhelming majority in the lower house. しかし、参院選の結果、与党が過半数を失ったことによる「衆参ねじれ国会」の下で、野党側の厳しい追及を乗り切っていくことは極めて難しい。
Ozawa seeking escape?
Ozawa will be automatically indicted in connection with his alleged funding irregularities if a Tokyo independent inquest-of-prosecution panel decides in autumn that his case merits indictment, after reconsidering prosecutors' earlier decision not to do so. 今秋、検察審査会が再び、「起訴すべき」と議決すれば、本来なら小沢氏の強制起訴は免れない。
The Constitution contains an article that stipulates ministers of the state "shall not be subject to legal action without the consent of the Prime Minister" during their time in office. ただ、憲法には「国務大臣は在任中、総理大臣の同意がなければ訴追されない」との規定がある。
Some DPJ members who support Kan have said Ozawa may be seeking to become prime minister in the hope of taking advantage of this constitutional provision to escape indictment. 菅支持派からは「小沢氏は起訴を逃れるため、首相をめざすのではないか」との声も聞かれる。
What will Ozawa actually do, if and when the judiciary panel concludes he should be indicted? Well before the committee reaches its eventual decision on the case in question, Ozawa should tell the public how he will deal with such a situation. 実際、「起訴議決」の場合、小沢氏はどう対処するのか。事前に明らかにする責任もあろう。
Meanwhile, Kan must take seriously Ozawa's candidacy for their party's leadership. 一方、菅首相は、小沢氏の出馬が確定したことを、重く受け止めなければならない。
The DPJ's top echelon, including the prime minister, has done little to settle the dispute over their responsibility for the party's electoral setback. Neither have they fully analyzed why the ruling party was defeated in the upper house race. This failure has done much to foster discontent among many DPJ members. 菅首相以下、民主党執行部は、参院選敗北について明確な責任をとらず、敗因についても十分な総括をしてこなかった。これらが党内に不満を醸成した。
◆政治空白の余裕はない◆ There is no denying that many DPJ lawmakers feel uneasy about Kan's ability--or lack thereof--to manage his own party and make decisions about government policies. 党運営や政策遂行をめぐる首相の指導力や判断力に、民主党の多くの議員が不安を抱いていることも否定できない。
Take this nation's current economic crisis--including the recent surge in the value of the yen and falling stock prices. The Kan administration has been slow to address these problems. Despite having to campaign for his reelection as DPJ chief, Kan must fulfill his duties to run the country as prime minister. 最近の円高や株安など、経済危機への対応一つとっても、菅内閣の動きは鈍い。代表選の最中にあっても、首相は国政を預かる責任を果たさなければならない。
Kan must speak clearly
If he hopes to amend the manifesto, the prime minister should reexamine the policies the DPJ-led government has implemented since the party took power, while also clearly showing the public which policies will be changed and which will be kept in place. 首相は、政権公約の修正を図ろうとするなら、政権交代以降の政策を再点検し、今後、何を変え、何を継続するのかを明確にすることが大事だ。
This also applies to Kan's approach to the consumption tax issue. He should be resolute in stating his opinions about the matter. 消費税率の引き上げ問題も、右顧左眄(うこさべん)せず、所信を正面から訴えるべきである。
The current DPJ came into being in 2003, when Kan and Ozawa agreed to merge their respective parties, with the aim of toppling the then Liberal Democratic Party-led ruling coalition from power and establishing a DPJ-led administration. In those days, the DPJ was headed by Kan and the defunct Liberal Party by Ozawa. 現在の民主党は２００３年、当時の菅民主党代表と小沢自由党党首が、政権交代を旗印に、両党を合併して生まれた。
Even since its inauguration, the current DPJ has been described as a "mutual aid society" aimed at ensuring its two constituent parties help each other in elections. The DPJ-LP integration also has been dismissed as a merger that lacks political goals and principles. 当初から「選挙互助会」とか、「理念なき合併」との指摘があった。
In fact, the DPJ has yet to lay out guiding principles for such fundamental policies as constitutional amendment, national security and reform of the consumption tax. 憲法改正や安保政策、消費税問題など党の基本政策は、今もって確立していない。
The ruling party's inadequacy in this has hindered progress in implementing such key policies. これが、政権担当政党として政策を進める上の障害になっている。
Kan and Ozawa should lock horns in a debate over their party's basic policies, instead of fearing that their battle in the DPJ leadership race could lead to a rupture in the party or renewed alignment of political parties and groups. この際、両氏は、党分裂や政界再編に至る可能性に臆することなく、党の基本政策について徹底した議論を展開すべきだ。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 27, 2010) （2010年8月27日01時23分 読売新聞）
The Yomiuri Shimbun (Aug. 27, 2010) Govt, BOJ should move on yen--now 円高加速 政府・日銀は具体策を急げ（8月26日付・読売社説）
There seem to be no brakes on the rise of the yen as speculators apparently take advantage of the sluggish response of the government and the Bank of Japan to the yen's appreciation. 政府・日銀の対応の鈍さに投機筋が付け込み、円高に歯止めがかからなくなっている。
The yen is surging, hitting a 15-year high in the 83 yen range against the U.S. dollar on foreign markets Tuesday. There are whispers in the markets that the yen could soon even reach a record high in the 79 yen range versus the dollar. ２４日の海外市場で、１５年ぶりに１ドル＝８３円台をつけるなど、急ピッチで円が上昇している。市場には、やがて史上最高値の７９円台が視野に入るとの見方もある。
With the yen's surge set to batter the Japanese economy, the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average dropped below the 9,000 mark Wednesday to close at the year's low of 8,845.39. 日本経済への打撃を見越して、東京市場の平均株価は９０００円を割り、２５日の終値は今年最安値の８８４５円となった。
Unless the sharp appreciation of the yen is checked, business sentiment and the willingness of households to spend may cool, stalling the economy. 円の急騰を止めないと、企業や家計の心理が冷え込み、景気が腰折れしかねない。
The government and the central bank should resolutely act to deal with this worrying situation, and consider intervening in the market to stem the yen's rise. 政府・日銀は、円高阻止に向け市場介入も選択肢に、断固たる姿勢で臨むべきである。
The recent responses of the government and the Bank of Japan have been missing the mark. このところ、政府と日銀の対応は、誤算が続いている。
On Aug. 10, the central bank held off adding measures to expand liquidity. Soon after, the U.S. Federal Reserve Board took additional money-easing steps, triggering the latest rise in the yen. 今月１０日、日銀は追加の金融緩和を見送ったが、その直後に米連邦準備制度理事会（ＦＲＢ）が追加の緩和策を実施した。それが今回の円急騰につながった。
Talks fall flat
A discussion over the telephone between Prime Minister Naoto Kan and Bank of Japan Gov. Masaaki Shirakawa on Monday, which set tongues wagging that steps would be taken to deal with the yen's rise, ended in just 15 minutes. 円高対策で注目された菅首相と白川方明日銀総裁の２３日の会談は、１５分間の電話会談に終わった。
Contrary to what policymakers had intended, the talks ended with little substance and led to a further advance of the yen and offloading of stocks as disappointment spread among market players. 内容も乏しかったため、政策当局の狙いに反し、一層の円高と株の失望売りを誘った。
There have been striking inconsistencies in messages sent by Cabinet members to the market. 閣僚らによる「市場との対話」も、ちぐはぐさが目立つ。
At a hastily arranged press conference Tuesday evening, Finance Minister Yoshihiko Noda indicated he would closely watch the market. He failed to offer any concrete response to the situation, which only fueled the yen's rise. 野田財務相が２４日夕に開いた緊急記者会見は、市場を注視する考えを示しただけで具体策がなく、むしろ円高に拍車をかけた。
On Wednesday, Noda finally hinted the government might intervene in the market, saying, "When necessary, we will take appropriate measures." 財務相は２５日、「必要な時は適切な対応を取る」と、やっと市場介入の可能性を示唆した。
During meetings with Democratic Party of Japan members of the House of Representatives the same day, Kan said, "We'll respond properly in the not-so-distant future." 菅首相もこの日、民主党衆院議員らとの会合で、「そう遠くない時期にちゃんと対応する」と述べた。
None of this changed the tide in the financial markets. だが、いずれも流れを変える材料にならなかった。
The halfhearted response by policymakers probably has speculators believing the government will not take any specific action to stem the yen's rise for the time being. これまでの及び腰の姿勢から、「日本政府はまだ動かない」と、投機筋は踏んでいるのだろう。
No time to waste
The government could be keeping an ace up its sleeve, which it will play when the yen stands on the brink of rising above 80 yen to the dollar. But this is no time for the government to be sitting on its hands. We think the government should discuss in earnest the possibility of going it alone in intervening in the currency market. 政府は、円がさらに上昇し、１ドル＝８０円突破をうかがうまで「奥の手」を温存したい気持ちもあろうが、そろそろ潮時ではないか。日本単独での市場介入を、真剣に検討すべき段階と言えよう。
The United States and European countries embrace the depreciation of their currencies against the yen. But it is difficult to put a finger on why only the yen is rising against other major currencies, despite the fact that Japan is plagued by deflation and sluggish growth. 米欧は自国通貨安を容認しているが、デフレと成長鈍化に悩む日本の円が独歩高なのは説明がつかない。
Japan will probably not be strongly criticized by other nations even if it moves to correct the yen's excessive appreciation. 日本が円高修正に動いても海外から強い批判は受けまい。
The Bank of Japan is reportedly considering taking additional money easing measures ahead of the next Monetary Policy Meeting set for early September. We hope the central bank will both check the yen's rise and stimulate the economy. 日銀も、９月上旬の金融政策決定会合に向け、追加金融緩和の検討に入ったという。円高阻止、景気浮揚の両面で期待したい。
Depending on market developments, the central bank should promptly ease the money supply by holding an extraordinary meeting, rather than wait until the regular policy meeting. 市場動向によっては、定例会合を待たずに臨時会合を開き、金融緩和を急ぐべきである。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 26, 2010) （2010年8月26日01時03分 読売新聞）
Barack Obama: The letters I receive do more to keep me in touch with what’s happening around the country than just about anything else. Some of them are funny, some of them are angry, and a lot of them are sad or frustrated about their current situation. It ends up being a powerful motivator. 私が最近受け取る多くの手紙を読んで、この国で今何が起こっているかを実感させられた。 手紙のあるものは可笑しく、あるものは怒りに満ちている、けれども一番多い手紙の内容は現在の米国が置かれている状況に対する米国民の悲しみ、フラストレーションに関するものばかり。（オバマ大統領は）すっかりやる気をなくさせられてしまっている。（スラチャイ訳）
Kiyoshi Matsui: I feel so sad to hear that. Is there anything I can do for you? （励ましにはならないと思いますが、居ても立っても居られなくて送りました）
The Yomiuri Shimbun (Aug. 26, 2010) English necessary to cope with globalization 企業の国際化 英語が社内公用語となる時代（8月25日付・読売社説）
The United Nations has six specified official languages: English, French, Russian, Chinese, Spanish and Arabic; but in the world of business, English has effectively established itself as the common language. 国連では英語、仏語、ロシア語、中国語、スペイン語、アラビア語の６言語が公用語として定められている。
しかし、ビジネスの世界に限って言えば、英語が事実上の共通語としての地位を既に確立している。
Recently, some Japanese firms have decided to make English their official language. 日本では、英語を社内共通言語とする企業が相次いでいる。
Internet company Rakuten Inc. announced it will adopt English as its official language by the end of 2012. インターネットサービス大手の楽天は、２０１２年中に、英語を「社内公用語」にするという。
Fast Retailing Co., operator of Uniqlo, the nation's largest clothing chain, and with several outlets around the world, also announced a policy of using English at meetings where non-Japanese staff are present. 世界各地にユニクロの店舗を展開しているファーストリテイリングも、外国人社員を交えた会議は原則英語で統一する計画だ。
Both companies are aggressively expanding their global operations by increasing overseas bases and taking other steps. They are also reportedly planning to drastically increase their number of non-Japanese employees. 両社とも、海外拠点を増やすなど、国際事業を積極的に展開している。外国人社員の採用も大幅に増やしていくという。
Such moves are vital to make best use of a workforce with diverse mother tongues and enable smooth communication. 様々な言語を母語とする社員の能力を引き出し、コミュニケーションを円滑にするためにも、そのような措置は避けて通れまい。
English ability will be an important attribute for employees of global firms so they can share the latest information instantly through e-mail and efficiently take part in negotiations with clients. 電子メールで取得した世界の最新情報を社員が瞬時に共有し、商談をスピーディーに進めていく上でも、社員の英語力は重要だ。
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Adapt to a changing world
As society becomes more globalized, Japanese companies must respond to the changing world by using English as their official language. Such efforts are needed to meet the needs of the times. グローバル化が進む中で、日本企業が必要に応じて英語を社内の共通言語とするのは、時代の要請と受け止めるべきだ。
Rakuten said it will ask Japanese employees to use English when communicating about work-related matters. 楽天の場合は、日本人社員同士のビジネス上のやりとりも、すべて英語にするという。
At a press conference earlier this month to release its midterm financial report, Rakuten President Hiroshi Mikitani spoke in English to reporters and analysts from around the globe. Simultaneous interpretation was provided. 今月開かれた楽天の決算会見でも、国内外の記者やアナリストに対し英語で説明が行われ、同時通訳が付けられた。
The company is making a thorough effort to promote the use of English inside the company, with even its cafeteria menu written in English. さらに、社員食堂のメニューまでが、英語で表示されるほどの徹底ぶりである。
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A wake-up call
However, some people have criticized the language policies as going too far, saying, "It's absurd to force people working in Japan to use English." 「日本国内で英語使用を強いるなんて」と、“行き過ぎ”を批判する声も上がっている。
It is, of course, necessary to treasure the Japanese language, which represents our sensibility as a people and is the basis of our culture. 無論、日本人の感性を表し、文化の基本でもある日本語は、大切にしなければならない。
Attempts to make English the official language of a company may seem like an extremely radical idea. But it can be looked at as a kind of "shock therapy," to completely change employees' state of mind. ただ、ある意味で極端とも言える「英語公用語化」は、社員の意識改革を徹底させる“ショック療法”と見ることも出来る。
How much English needs to be used at each firm is debatable, but individual companies should be left to make this decision in consideration of their specific circumstances. 果たしてどこまで英語を社内言語として導入すべきかは、それぞれの企業が、状況に応じて判断していくべき事柄だろう。
Apart from Rakuten and Fast Retailing, more than a few companies use English at board meetings and other occasions to cope with the growing diversity of their board members. 楽天やユニクロ以外でも、役員の国籍の多様化に伴い、役員会などで英語を使用する日本企業は少なくない。
Companies trying to access the global market likely have no choice but to introduce English, or some other foreign tongue, as an official language. 国際展開する企業は、今後ますます、英語などの外国語を企業の共通言語として導入していかざるを得なくなるのではないか。
Rakuten's moves to make English its official language is symbolic of the changing environment Japanese companies face. 楽天の英語公用語化は、日本企業を取り巻く環境の変化を示す象徴的な出来事だ。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 25, 2010) （2010年8月25日01時31分 読売新聞）
The Yomiuri Shimbun (Aug. 25, 2010) Coordinate policy to ward off slowdown 菅・白川会談 政策協調で景気の失速防げ（8月24日付・読売社説）
What policy measures will the government and the Bank of Japan take to deal with the sharp slowdown in the economy and the overvaluation of the yen? Their capabilities are being put to the test. 景気の急激な減速や、経済の実力以上に進んだ円高にどう手を打つか。政府・日銀の政策が問われている。
Prime Minister Naoto Kan and Bank of Japan Gov. Masaaki Shirakawa spoke on the phone Monday morning. They reportedly exchanged views on the recent economic situation, including currency exchange rates, for 15 minutes and agreed that it was important to maintain close communications with each other. 菅首相と白川日銀総裁が２３日午前、電話で会談した。為替を含め、経済情勢について１５分間ほど意見交換し、「緊密なコミュニケーションが重要」との認識で一致したという。
The government is planning to compile additional economic measures soon. To boost their effectiveness, the government apparently tried to trumpet its coordination with the central bank by arranging the talks between Kan and Shirakawa. 政府は近く追加経済対策をまとめる方針で、その効果を高めるため、日銀との連携をアピールする狙いがあるのだろう。
Unfortunately, however, exchange rates and stock prices hardly reacted to their dialogue. The markets apparently decided it lacked substance. だが、為替も株価もほとんど反応しなかった。実質的な内容が乏しいと市場は判断したようだ。
Rethink unhelpful policies
The strong yen and deflation are depriving the Japanese economy of its vitality. The government and the central bank must pursue policy coordination in a flexible manner to prevent the economy from slowing down further. 円高とデフレが日本経済の体力を奪っている。政府・日銀は機動的に政策協調し、景気の失速を防がねばならない。
The real economic growth rate in the April-June quarter was almost flat and the nominal rate, which is closer to the public mood, went into the negative. More and more economists believe the Japanese economy has entered a temporary stagnant period. ４～６月の経済成長率は実質でほぼ横ばい、実感に近い名目ではマイナスとなり、景気が足踏みする「踊り場」入りしたとの見方が強まっている。
To deal with the situation, the government has decided to use reserve funds and other spare money in this fiscal year's budget to continue its eco-point program for housing and to help jobless people find new jobs. このため政府は、今年度予算の予備費などを活用し、住宅版エコポイント制度の延長や失業者の就職支援などを行うことにした。
We think that stimulation of consumption and job placement assistance are appropriate measures to prevent the economy from losing its momentum. However, the scale of these measures is likely to be a little less than 2 trillion yen. 消費喚起や雇用対策は、景気の腰折れを防ぐ妥当な政策だろう。だが、対策の規模は２兆円足らずにとどまると見られる。
Though some members of the ruling coalition parties have called for larger economic measures, the government should avoid issuing additional government bonds for that purpose, given the nation's tough fiscal condition. It is also not realistic to suddenly raise tax rates. 与党内に対策の規模拡大を望む声はあるが、厳しい財政事情に照らせば国債増発は避けるべきだ。急な増税も現実的ではない。
Under such circumstances, the only possible course for the government is to eke out the necessary funds by scaling down low-priority policy projects. The government and the ruling coalition parties should screen policy measures with dubious economic effects, including child-rearing allowances, based strictly on their impact on the economy, and make a zero-based review of how to use the budget more wisely. ならば、優先度の低い政策を縮小し、財源をひねり出すほかあるまい。子ども手当をはじめ、経済効果に疑問のある政策を「景気優先」の物差しで仕分けし、もっと賢い予算の使い方はないか、ゼロベースで見直すべきである。
No talk of intervention?
An even more pressing issue is the yen's appreciation, which will not only reduce the volume of exports but also harm a wide variety of other areas. It will accelerate the drain of domestic companies from Japan to other countries and further worsen deflation. さらに緊急の課題が、円高だ。弊害は輸出の減少にとどまらず、企業の海外流出やデフレの悪化など広範に及ぶ。
During their recent telephone conversation, Kan and Shirakawa did not discuss a currency intervention to stem the yen's rise against other major currencies, according to Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshito Sengoku. But we are not sure if this is true. 今回の電話会談で、為替介入に関する話題は「全く出なかった」（仙谷官房長官）というが、真偽のほどはわからない。
If Japan is viewed as acting weak in currency intervention, speculators will try to capitalize on that. If the yen rises further in the near future, the prime minister should meet the central bank governor in person to discuss countermeasures. 日本が為替介入に弱腰と見られれば、投機筋につけ込まれかねない。今後、さらに円高が進むようなら、首相は日銀総裁と直接会談し、対策を協議すべきだろう。
A key factor in dealing with the rising yen is what action the Bank of Japan will take. The central bank should introduce further quantitative monetary easing because monetary relaxation not only helps alleviate the upward pressure on interest rates caused by increased public spending, it also promotes the depreciation of the yen. カギを握るのが日銀の対応である。金融緩和は、財政出動による金利上昇圧力を抑え、円安を促す効果もある。日銀は一段の量的金融緩和に踏み切るべきだ。
The Bank of Japan should consider a method that has worked well in the past--heightening the effects of monetary easing by not absorbing funds the government funnels into the market as yen-selling intervention. 政府が円売り介入で市場に放出した資金を日銀が吸い上げず、緩和効果を高める手法も、過去に実績がある。検討に値しよう。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 24, 2010) （2010年8月24日01時00分 読売新聞）
2010/08/24 --The Asahi Shimbun, Aug. 23 EDITORIAL: U.S. pullout from Iraq. 米軍のイラク撤兵―重い教訓に向き合うとき
U.S. President Barack Obama has set the end of 2011 as the deadline for the withdrawal of all U.S. forces from Iraq. The midterm goal of the plan is to end combat operations in the country by Aug. 31. In line with the schedule, the last U.S. combat unit left Iraq to move into neighboring Kuwait last week. 米国のオバマ大統領は２０１１年末までに、イラク駐留米軍の完全撤退をめざす。中間目標は、今月末までの戦闘任務終了だ。この方針に沿い、戦闘部隊が隣国クウェートに撤兵した。
The number of U.S. troops remaining in Iraq will be reduced to 50,000, about one-third of the peak level, at the end of this month. Their main mission will be training Iraqi security forces that will take over the role of the U.S. troops. 米軍は今月末、ピーク時の約３分の１の５万人に減り、後を引き継ぐイラク治安部隊の訓練が主な任務となる。
The death toll of American troops in Iraq has surpassed 4,400, while estimates put the number of Iraqi civilians killed at more than 100,000. すでに、イラクでの米軍の死者は４４００人を超え、イラクの民間人の死者は１０万人以上とも言われる。
Answering to an embedded foreign journalist, a U.S. soldier who has left Iraq said the best thing would be for no one to get hurt anymore. The U.S. forces have just done their duties, but many of them probably have mixed feelings, wondering if they fought a just war. イラクを離れた兵士が外国の従軍記者に答えた。「何がいいかって？ 第一に、もう誰も傷つかないこと」。この戦争は正しかったのか。任務とはいえ、兵士たちにも複雑な思いが去来したのではないだろうか。
Immediately after the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks in the United States, many countries and people around the world supported U.S. plans for a war against terrorism. But the U.S. government's push to topple the regime of Saddam Hussein bitterly divided the world and provoked deep anger within the Islamic world. As a result, terrorism has spread widely both within and outside Iraq. 同時多発テロが起きた時、多くの国々、人々がテロに立ち向かう米国を後押しした。だが、強引にサダム・フセイン政権打倒に突き進む米国のやり方は世界を分裂させ、イスラム世界の反発も強めることになり、むしろテロはイラク内外に拡散した。
What was the meaning of the Iraq war? It is time for both the United States, which started the war, and Japan, which supported the U.S. action, to ask themselves some serious questions about what they did. この戦争は何だったのか。開戦した米国も、戦争を支持した日本も、深く自問自答すべきときだ。
A 'preventive war' ■「予防戦争」の深い傷
Let us look back. 少し振り返ってみよう。
Suspicions arose that Iraq had a secret cache of weapons of mass destruction. If these weapons found their way into the hands of terrorists, the U.S. administration of President George W. Bush argued, they would pose a serious security threat. The Bush administration used these concerns as justification for starting the war against Iraq despite a lack of definite evidence to support these claims. イラクが大量破壊兵器を隠し持っている疑いがある。テロ組織に渡ると大きな脅威になる。それが、時のブッシュ米大統領が戦端を開く「大義」だったが、決定的な証拠を欠いていた。
The U.S.-led invasion of Iraq started with willing allies, such as Britain and Italy, flying in the face of opposition from Germany, France and other countries. The U.N. Security Council did not issue a resolution that clearly sanctioned the use of armed forces against Iraq. それでも、独仏などの反対を押し切り、英伊などとの有志連合で攻撃を始めた。武力行使を明確に容認する国連安保理決議はないままだった。
A "preventive war" to nip a potential threat in the bud by a country solely on its own judgment violates the U.N. Charter, which permits a country's use of force only for self-defense against an imminent security threat to the country or when the Security Council has passed a resolution to approve military action. 脅威の芽を独断的に先に摘みとる「予防戦争」は、差し迫った脅威への自衛と国連安保理決議に基づく武力行使しか認めない国連憲章に反する。
The international community struggled to persuade the United States to restrain itself from heading into a preventive war. Before the Iraq war began, a French diplomat said it was a U.S. problem, not an Iraq problem. 「予防戦争」へと進む米国にどう自制を促すか。国際社会は腐心した。仏外交官は開戦前に語っていた。「これはイラク問題ではなく米国問題だ」
The U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell warned the president that invading Iraq would be very costly for both the United States and the world. He pointed out that occupying Iraq would mean the United States would have to own the hopes, aspirations and problems of all Iraqi people. Still, Bush decided to start the attack, true to his pledge to combat terrorism by all possible measures. 米国務長官だったパウエル氏は大統領に、イラク侵攻は米国にも世界にも「高くつく」と直言したという。占領すればイラク国民の希望も問題も、すべて引き受けなければならない、と。それでも大統領は開戦に動いた。「あらゆる手段でテロを根絶する」というブッシュ流を持ち込んだ戦争、それがイラク戦争であった。
Lack of support
The U.S. administration was apparently driven by the shock of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. It was, however, difficult for Washington to win support from people in Iraq or the international community for a fight against terrorism when it was actually an attempt to use force to upset an anti-U.S. regime without offering any clear rationale. 同時多発テロの衝撃に突き動かされたのだろう。だが、いくら米国の意に沿わない国でも、あいまいな根拠に基づいて武力行使で政権転覆するやり方では、イラクの人心も国際世論も「対テロ」での結束は困難だ。
But the Bush administration couldn't understand this obvious truth. そんな自明のことにさえ理解が及ばなかった。
The search after the collapse of the Saddam regime found no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, making the war even more questionable. 侵攻後に調べてみると大量破壊兵器などなく、戦争への疑問はさらに拡大した。
The U.S. billed the overthrow of Saddam as part of its fight against terrorism and continued operations to eliminate the remnants and supporters of the regime. This provoked strong anti-American sentiment and a wave of terrorist attacks in Iraq. The U.S. invasion gave extremist groups like al-Qaida a justification for jihad in Iraq, setting off an endless chain of violence. 米国が政権打倒を「対テロ戦争」と同一視し、旧政権の残党や支持勢力の根絶作戦を続けたことはイラク内で強い反米意識とテロを誘発した。アルカイダなど過激派にイラクでの聖戦実施という「大義」を与え、暴力の連鎖をまねく事態ともなった。
■軍事力過信への戒め Iraq remains deeply mired in political turmoil. Parliamentary elections in March have triggered a political standoff between religious groups, failing to establish a new government and leaving the country in a political vacuum. イラクは今も混乱の中にある。３月の国民議会選挙後も宗派対立などで新政権ができず、政治空白が続く。
Meanwhile, the United States under President Obama, who harshly criticized Bush over the Iraq war, has dramatically changed its policy. Now, Washington is trying to rebuild war-devastated Iraq through efforts supported by the United Nations and the international community. ブッシュ路線を批判してきたオバマ氏が大統領となった米国は大きく方針を転換した。今は、国連や国際社会を説得してイラク再建を目指している。
As the country that destroyed Iraq and created chaos in the country through its preventive war, the United States has a grave responsibility. それは、「予防戦争」でイラクを壊し乱した米国の、国家としての重い責任でもある。
President Obama, however, has called the conflict in Afghanistan a "necessary war" and has tripled the number of U.S. troops deployed in the country since he took office. そのオバマ大統領が、アフガニスタンについては「必要な戦争」と呼び、就任後、駐留米軍を３倍に増やした。
But the United States has failed to win the hearts of the people in Afghanistan even though it has overthrown a regime linked to al-Qaida. The current situation in Afghanistan, where the United States is struggling badly in its efforts to help rebuild the nation and eliminate terrorism, is reminiscent of Washington's plight in Iraq. だが、アルカイダとつながった政権を打倒しても人心をつかめず、国の復興・再建やテロ対策が難航している現状は、イラクでの苦悩を想起させる。
David Miliband, a former British foreign secretary, has cited overconfidence in military power as one of the mistakes made in the war against terrorism. Expanding the war front, which inevitably leads to a larger number of war victims, doesn't help increase allies for efforts to prevent terrorism. The United States should keep this lesson in mind for its operations in Afghanistan as well. 英国のミリバンド前外相は、「対テロ戦争」の過ちのひとつに軍事力への過信をあげる。戦火と犠牲者の拡大は、テロを防ぐ味方を必ずしも増やせない。この教訓を米国はアフガニスタンでも強く認識しておいて欲しい。
Japan supported the U.S.-led war against Iraq and dispatched Self-Defense Forces troops to what the government described as a "noncombat zone" in the country. It was a move to demonstrate its solid commitment to its alliance with the United States. But how should we judge the Japanese government's decision to back a war that was started on the basis of inaccurate information? 日本はイラク戦争を支持し、イラクの「非戦闘地域」に自衛隊を派遣した。同盟国・米国に寄り添う動きだった。不確かな情報に基づく戦争を支持したことをどう総括するのか。
"There is obviously no way for me to know at this moment which parts (of Iraq) are combat areas and which are noncombat zones," then Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi said during a Diet session. Didn't the government make a wrong choice when it decided to send SDF troops to Iraq when it had no accurate information, as Koizumi's remarks indicated? 「どこが戦闘地域で、どこが非戦闘地域か、いまこの私に聞かれたって、わかるわけない」（小泉純一郎首相の国会答弁）といった状態での自衛隊派遣は、誤った選択ではなかったのか。
Review decision-making process ■日本の意思決定検証を
The North Korea problem influenced the policy decisions of the ruling party and the government concerning Iraq. 与党・政府内では、イラク問題の背後で北朝鮮問題が見え隠れした。
A senior lawmaker of then ruling Liberal Democratic Party said, "Can we afford to allow Japan's alliance with the United States to be damaged by walking away (from the Iraq war) when Japan is facing a threat from North Korea?" 「北朝鮮問題があるのに、（イラクから）いち抜けたと言って日米同盟が悪くなっていいのか」（自民党幹部）との声も聞こえた。
But how was the Iraq war actually linked to the North Korea problem in policy debate within the Koizumi administration? 実際のところ、政権の中でイラクと北朝鮮の問題をどのように関連づけていたのか。
At that time, as chief of the opposition Democratic Party of Japan, Naoto Kan, the current prime minister, argued that sending SDF troops to Iraq, most parts of which were combat areas, was unconstitutional. The current DPJ-led government must now make clear what it has learned from the episode. 菅直人首相は、民主党代表として、大半が戦闘地域のイラクへの自衛隊派遣は違憲状態だと指摘していた。民主党政権はこの歴史から何を学びとるのか、今こそ明確に示す必要がある。
Government decisions about war must be rigorously scrutinized. Otherwise, the experience will leave no useful lesson for the governance of the nation, especially for its diplomatic and national security policies. 戦争に関する国家の意思、判断は、厳しい検証を受けなければならない。さもなくば、今後の国家運営、とりわけ外交と安全保障政策に何の教訓も残さないことになる。
The time has come for the Diet to take a fresh and hard look at the process in which Japan made its decisions concerning the Iraq war through such efforts as intensive debate at an Upper House fact-finding committee. 参議院の調査会で集中的に審議するなど、国会でイラク戦争をめぐる意思決定の検証作業をすべきである。
The Yomiuri Shimbun (Aug. 24, 2010) Open discussion needed on taping interrogations 取り調べ可視化 海外調査を論議の出発点に（8月23日付・読売社説）
The Justice Ministry will send prosecutors overseas to study the feasibility of introducing a system to make audio and video recordings of investigators' interrogations of suspects. The prosecutors will conduct research for a year on how recording systems function in the countries they visit. 捜査官が容疑者を取り調べる過程を録音・録画する可視化について研究するため、法務省が今後１年かけて欧米を中心に検事を派遣し、実情を調査することになった。
The mission represents this nation's first comprehensive overseas research of such systems. Prosecutors will visit countries including the United States, Britain and France, as well as Germany, which has yet to adopt a recording system, and South Korea, which just introduced one. 国による初の本格的な海外調査だ。対象は米国、英国、フランスなどのほか、可視化を取り入れていないドイツ、開始まもない韓国も含まれる。
The ministry should widely publicize the results of the research and consider what would be the most desirable form of recording system for this country. 調査結果を広く国民に公表し、可視化の望ましいあり方などを考えていく必要がある。
Police and prosecutors have begun making partial audio and video recordings of interrogations conducted in connection with criminal cases tried jointly by lay and professional judges. Such records are meant to prove that confessions are not forced but voluntary. 警察・検察は、裁判員裁判の対象事件で、部分的な録音・録画を始めている。自白が強制されたものではないことを裁判員に立証する目的からだ。
As of June, DVD recordings of interrogations had been shown in six cases tried under the lay judge system. ６月までに６件の裁判員裁判の法廷で実際に録画したＤＶＤが再生されている。
The Japan Federation of Bar Associations is calling for the entire interrogation process to be recorded, to prevent false charges from being brought. The Democratic Party of Japan called for the adoption of a full recording system in its campaign platform for the general election last August, and since the launch in September of the DPJ-led government, it has urged the ministry and the National Police Agency to look further into the feasibility of adopting such a system. これに対し、日本弁護士連合会は冤罪(えんざい)を防止するには取り調べの一部ではなく、全過程の可視化が必要だと主張している。全面可視化を公約とした民主党政権の誕生で、法務省と警察庁はさらなる検討を迫られているのが現状だ。
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Different situation overseas
But the situation in Japan is different from that of the countries where recording systems are in place. ただ、可視化が定着している諸外国の事情は、日本と異なる。
In Britain, suspects are usually interrogated once after being arrested and the questioning is said to finish within 30 minutes in many cases. Defendants also have a good chance of being acquitted in jury trials. 英国では逮捕後の取り調べ回数は１回程度で、３０分以内で終わることが多いという。陪審裁判で無罪になる確率も高い。
Furthermore, there is a plea bargain system under which suspects can receive lighter sentences if they admit crimes at early stages of investigations. Wiretapping and undercover operations are also permitted. 一方、早い時期に罪を認めると刑を軽減する司法取引があり、通信傍受やおとり捜査も認められている。
Plea bargains are common in the United States, where about one-third of the states record interrogations. 約３分の１の州が可視化を取り入れている米国でも、司法取引は活発に行われている。
In Japan, investigators face suspects for long hours in investigation rooms, to conduct detailed questioning that spans from suspects' childhoods to the motives for their alleged crimes. In cases involving organized crime syndicates, investigators try to win over suspects and obtain statements implicating gang leaders. 日本では捜査官が取調室で長時間にわたり容疑者と向き合いながら、生い立ちから犯行の動機に至るまで詳細に調べる。暴力団などがかかわる組織犯罪では、容疑者を説得して上層部の関与の供述を引き出すこともする。
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Give investigators more tools
Many investigators have expressed concern about making audio and video recordings of the entire interrogation process. 取り調べの全過程を録音・録画することに対する懸念は、捜査関係者に多い。
It is important to prevent false charges. But at the same time, public safety should not be threatened because criminal cases are left unsettled with authorities unable to indict the real culprits. It is essential to reconcile these two goals when considering the introduction of a recording system. 冤罪を防ぐことは大切だ。同時に、真犯人を起訴できず事件が未解決に終わるなどして、治安が揺らぐことがあってはならない。可視化を考える上で、その両立をどう図るかが重要になる。
Before the full-scale adoption of such a system, it may be necessary to consider the introduction of a new investigative process that facilitates such methods as court-approved wiretapping and sting operations, so police and investigators can collect material evidence in addition to statements from suspects. 可視化を本格導入する場合、例えば裁判所の許可に基づき、通信傍受やおとり捜査などを用いやすくして、警察・検察が供述以外の物的証拠を集められるようにするなど、新たな捜査手法を検討する必要もあるだろう。
As the lay judge system is now in its second year of operation, public interest in the judiciary has been increasing. Discussions about the introduction of an interrogation recording system should be conducted in the public eye. 裁判員裁判が２年目を迎え、司法に対する国民の関心は高まっている。国民の目に見える形で、可視化論議を重ねてほしい。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 23, 2010) （2010年8月23日01時18分 読売新聞）
The outrageous cover-up by the Japan Coast Guard over a recent fatal helicopter accident is nothing but an attempt to obstruct the investigation. 海上保安庁の言語道断の隠蔽(いんぺい)行為が明るみに出た。原因調査の妨害行為にほかならない。
The 6th Regional Coast Guard Headquarters' helicopter Akizuru hit power lines and crashed in the Seto Inland Sea off Kagawa Prefecture on Wednesday afternoon, killing all five aboard. 第６管区海上保安本部のヘリコプターが瀬戸内海上空で送電線に触れて墜落、乗員５人が死亡する事故が起きたのは、１８日午後のことだった。
For more than a day after the accident, the coast guard concealed the fact that one of the purposes of the helicopter's flight was a demonstration for a group of legal trainees who were aboard a JCG patrol boat to experience coast guard missions at sea. それからまる１日以上も、飛行目的の一つが、海保の巡視艇に体験乗船している司法修習生向けのデモンストレーション飛行だったことを隠していたのだ。
The JCG initially said the helicopter was on a patrol flight and only changed its story when the media brought up the demonstration flights. それまではパトロールのためとだけ説明し、報道機関からの指摘を受けてデモ飛行を公表した。
It is not surprising that Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Minister Seiji Maehara strongly criticized the JCG, saying, "The coast guard's concealment is serious, and it should reflect deeply on its conduct." 前原国土交通相が「隠していたことは問題だ。厳しく反省してもらわないといけない」と強く批判したのも当然である。
There is nothing wrong with carrying out demonstration flights. It is meaningful to give legal trainees an opportunity to observe the JCG's activities to help them understand the coast guard's mission. デモ飛行そのものが悪いのではない。海保の業務を理解してもらうために、司法修習生などに見学してもらうことは意味がある。
However, the coast guard even concealed the demonstration flights from an official of the ministry's Japan Transport Safety Board who visited the crash site. In a broad sense, the JCG's conduct appears to be an attempt to destroy evidence related to the crash. しかし、デモ飛行は事故の原因調査のため現地に出向いた国交省運輸安全委員会の調査官にも伏せられていた。広い意味で証拠の隠滅のようなものだろう。
Systematic deception
What makes the latest case heinous is that senior JCG officials, including the chief of the 6th Regional Coast Guard Headquarters, systematically decided not to disclose the demonstration flights. さらに今回のケースが悪質なのは、６管の本部長ら幹部が集まって、デモ飛行は公表しないと組織ぐるみで決めていたことだ。
In addition, when the JCG first acknowledged conducting the demonstration flights, the chief of the headquarters' general affairs division said, "I intentionally decided it was better not to disclose [the demonstration flights]," indicating that it was his decision. The coast guard covered up another fact by saying the head of the headquarters and other senior JCG officials were not involved in the decision. しかも、最初にデモ飛行を認めた際には、総務課長が「自分が意図的に判断して発表しない方がいいと考えた」と、個人の判断であることを強調していた。これでは本部長らは無関係だったとする二重の隠蔽である。
The coast guard would never have acted in this manner if it had considered those who lost their lives in the line of duty and their bereaved families. The ministry should closely question the headquarters' chief and other senior JCG officials to lay the blame at the right door. 任務遂行中に殉職した職員や遺族のことを考えれば、決してできない行為である。国交省としても６管の本部長以下の責任を厳しく問うべきだろう。
Commenting on the cover-up, the headquarters explained it did not mention the demonstration flights "because the site of the accident and the [area of the] demonstration flights were 17 kilometers apart and, therefore, they were unrelated." 隠蔽について６管は「デモ飛行の場所と事故現場は１７キロ離れており、事故と関係なかったため」と釈明している。
Problem with flight plan?
However, the accident occurred between two demonstration flights when the helicopter was investigating an abandoned ship. Was there some problem with the helicopter's flight plan? A thorough investigation must be carried out before deciding on the relationship between the demonstration flights and the accident. しかし、事故はデモ飛行の合間の廃船調査中に起きた。飛行計画に無理はなかったのか。デモ飛行と事故との関係も、調査を尽くしたうえで結論づけることだ。
The transport safety board needs to look into the case thoroughly to determine the real reason behind the cover-up and the cause of the accident. 運輸安全委は、隠蔽の理由や事故の真相を徹底的に解明する必要がある。
In investigating the 2005 JR Fukuchiyama Line derailment accident, a member of the then Aircraft and Railway Accidents Investigation Commission, a predecessor of the board, leaked information related to its investigation to West Japan Railway Co. before the commission compiled a report on the accident--a monstrous mistake that investigative authorities should have prevented. ＪＲ西日本の脱線事故の調査では、調査情報をＪＲ西に事前に漏らすという、調査機関にあるまじき失態があった。
The transport safety board will lose public trust if it treats the coast guard with kid gloves during its investigation simply because the board and the JCG are organizations under the same ministry. 海保と同じ国交省内の組織だからといって、少しでも手加減するようでは信頼は地に落ちる。
Merely keeping an eye on the piloting of aircraft is not enough to prevent such an accident from recurring. The board must investigate the JCG and the headquarters from all possible angles, including flight safety. 再発防止のためには乗務員の操縦にだけ目を向けず、飛行の安全体制など、海保や６管に対する調査も厳正に行うべきである。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 22, 2010) （2010年8月22日01時20分 読売新聞）
(Mainichi Japan) August 22, 2010 Gov't to open website on shut down schools to help public use facilities 文科省：廃校活用へＨＰを９月開設 ９９９校手つかず
The Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Ministry is set to open a website by the end of September that will provide detailed information on facilities at shut down schools to help companies and other organizations use such amenities, officials said. 少子化で急増する小中高校の廃校を民間団体や企業にもっと活用してもらおうと、文部科学省は立地条件や築年数、延べ床面積など全国にある廃校の情報を掲載したホームページを９月中に設ける。
◇００年度以降急増 According to the ministry, the number of public elementary, junior high and high schools that are closed due to a decline in the number of students has been sharply increasing since fiscal 2000. A combined 3,134 schools were shut down over the fiscal 2002-2008 period. 文科省によると、公立の小中高校の廃校数は００年度以降に急増し、０２～０８年度には計３１３４校が廃校した。
The ministry has encouraged local governments to transform the buildings at closed public schools into nursing care homes for the aged, nursery schools, eco tourism-related facilities and offices for private companies. However, facilities at 999 of the closed schools remain unused as of May 2009, ministry officials said. 文科省は各自治体に老人介護施設や保育所、自然体験施設、企業のオフィスなどへの転用を促しているが、うち９９９校が０９年５月時点でまったく活用されていない。
The Board of Audit conducted a survey on how closed schools' facilities are used on the grounds that it is a waste of taxpayers' money that facilities built using national government subsidies are not efficiently used. The move has prompted the ministry to set up a website on such facilities so that they will be fully utilized. It plans to post on the website detailed information on each closed school's facilities and conditions for using them, such as it's possible to use only part of school buildings or gymnasiums. 国の補助金で建設された施設が有効に使われていないのは問題として、会計検査院が廃校の利用状況を今年調査しており、文科省も活用促進のためホームページ作成に乗り出した。
By the end of July, 26 local governments had provided information on about 50 closed schools under their jurisdiction to the ministry to be carried on the new website. 既に７月末で２６自治体から約５０校の情報が寄せられ、「校舎の一部や、体育館だけの利用もできる」など民間団体が校舎を使う際の詳細な条件も掲載する。
Moreover, the Education Ministry will provide information to local bodies on government subsidies they can receive to refurbish closed schools' buildings to help reduce expenses. 資金面の負担をできるだけ減らしてもらうため、校舎を改修する際に受けられる厚生労働省や総務省など各省庁の補助金も合わせて掲示。
The ministry will also introduce selected welfare facilities and companies that utilize closed schools' facilities to the public as successful cases. さらに、廃校を使い成功している福祉施設や企業を全国から選んで紹介し、活用法の参考例にしてもらう考えだ。
"There may be closed schools in your neighboring administrative districts that meet your requirements. Some schools are conveniently located, such as those near railway stations," a ministry official said. "We'd like as many companies and organizations as possible to make good use of the website to look for such facilities." 文科省施設助成課の担当者は「探している希望の物件が、廃校として近くの自治体にあるかもしれない。駅近くなど立地条件の良い学校もある。多くの団体、企業にぜひホームページを活用してほしい」と話している。【桐野耕一】
The Yomiuri Shimbun (Aug. 22, 2010) Japan must lose no time in getting aid to Pakistan パキスタン洪水 対テロ前線国に支援を急げ（8月21日付・読売社説）
Pakistan has been hit by devastating floods said to be the worst in 80 years. パキスタンが８０年ぶりという甚大な洪水被害に見舞われている。
It is feared flood damage will continue to spread as monsoon rains are expected to continue through the end of this month. 雨を降らせるモンスーン（季節風）は今月末まで続き、今後も被害の拡大が懸念される。
In a special meeting Thursday, the U.N. General Assembly unanimously adopted a resolution urging member nations to extend emergency relief to the flood-ravaged nation. The meeting was called as international assistance had been insufficient despite the wide extent of the disaster-stricken areas and the seriousness of damage there. 国連総会が特別会合を開催し、加盟国にパキスタン支援を促す決議を満場一致で採択した。被災地域が広範囲に及び、深刻な被害になっているにもかかわらず、国際的な支援が集まらないためだ。
The United States, which pressed for the U.N. meeting and had already extended 100 million dollars (about 8.5 billion yen) in relief funds for Pakistan, announced that it would contribute an additional 60 million dollars. 国連会合の開催を主導した米国は、拠出済みの１億ドル（約８５億円）に加え、６０００万ドル（約５１億円）の追加支援をすると表明した。
Pakistan has been at the forefront of the war on terrorism. Islamist militant terrorist groups operating there are trying to seize the opportunity to increase their influence under the guise of disaster relief efforts. The international community must offer immediate relief to prevent this natural disaster from helping the terrorists flourish. パキスタンは対テロ戦争の最前線国だ。国内のイスラム系武装テロ組織は、災害支援を口実に影響力を拡大しようと動いている。自然災害がテロを助長することのないよう、国際社会の早急な支援が求められる。
Millions affected
The flood damage was caused by torrential rain that hit the Indus River basin in northwestern Pakistan in late July. Mud slides and flash floods washed away houses and bridges, and roads were submerged across the affected area. 水害は、パキスタン北西部のインダス川流域を７月下旬に襲った集中豪雨が原因だった。土砂崩れや鉄砲水で、家屋や橋などが流され、道路は各地で水没した。
Damage spread to the middle and lower reaches of the river, killing more than 1,500 people and affecting 20 million people. This means that more than 10 percent of Pakistan's population has been hit by the floods. 影響は中流や下流域にも及び、死者は１５００人余り、被災者は全体で２０００万人に上る。国民の１割超が被災した勘定だ。
Three weeks after the initial damage, more than 8 million people still need emergency relief as they have lost their homes and possessions. 発生から３週間を経た今も、全国で８００万人余りが住まいを失うなど支援を必要としている。
Evacuees reportedly are having difficulty obtaining enough food, water and tents. Besides having to endure hot and humid weather, many--especially children and the elderly--are suffering from cholera caused by worsening sanitary conditions. Many are also suffering from malaria. 避難民は食料や水、テントなどが十分に届かないと訴えている。高温多湿に加え、悪化した衛生状態のため、子供や老人らにコレラやマラリアが発生している。
Given the scale of damage, the United Nations is calling on member nations and relief organizations to extend 460 million dollars in aid. But a number of nations, with their ailing economies, are slow to respond. Aid money offered by the United States, Europe, Australia and some others totals only half the targeted amount. 国連は今回の被災規模から、４億６０００万ドル（約３９１億円）の支援を各国・機関に呼びかけている。しかし、経済不況のもと、各国とも反応は鈍い。米国、欧州、豪州などを合わせても半分にしかならない。
GSDF to help
Japan's state secretary for foreign affairs, Osamu Fujimura, announced at the meeting that Japan would not only extend 14.4 million dollars but also dispatch a helicopter unit of the Ground Self-Defense Force. 日本は、国連会合で藤村修外務副大臣が１４４０万ドル（約１２億３０００万円）の支援に加え、陸上自衛隊のヘリコプター部隊を派遣することを表明した。
The helicopter mission is expected to transport relief materials and rescue people isolated in areas where transport systems have been cut off. This aid measure probably will be the best match for the needs in the disaster-hit areas. 救援物資の輸送や、交通網の寸断で孤立した被災者の救助が期待できる。被災地のニーズに最も合致した支援策といえよう。
The problem is that SDF personnel cannot carry arms with them as the mission is based on the law governing the dispatch of the disaster relief teams. Given the security situation in Pakistan, it cannot be said there is no risk at all for SDF personnel to carry out their mission there. 課題は国際緊急援助隊派遣法に基づく派遣のため、自衛隊員が武器を携行できないことだ。パキスタンの治安状況を考えれば、全く危険がないとは言い切れない。
We consider it problematic that the law is based on the idea that weapons are unnecessary for natural disaster relief activities. In cooperation with the Liberal Democratic Party, which had been calling for revision of the law in this regard, and others, the government should revise the law so SDF personnel could carry weapons with them during any mission in which security concerns exist. 「自然災害での支援だから武器は不要のはず」という発想の援助隊法に問題がある。以前から法改正を主張している自民党などと協力し、治安の悪い場所には武器を携行できるよう改めるべきだ。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun,Aug. 21, 2010) （2010年8月21日01時33分 読売新聞）
北方四島国後、択捉、色丹、歯舞は日本固有の領土です。 Northern islands-Kunashiri, Etorofu, Shikotan and Habomai Islands are historically an integral part of Japan.
1945年８月９日に日ソ中立条約（日露不可侵条約）を破って満州（現中国東北部）に侵攻を始めたソ連軍は、１５日以降も進撃を続けた。 The Soviet troops that had invaded Japanese-held Manchuria in northeastern China just a week earlier on Aug. 9, in violation of a neutrality pact with Japan, continued their combat operations even after Aug. 15.
その結果、日本軍将兵ら約６０万人が捕虜としてシベリアなどの収容所に送られ、過酷な強制労働を強いられた。約６万人が飢えや寒さにより死亡した。 As a result, about 600,000 Japanese officers, soldiers and others were captured and sent to concentration camps in Siberia and other parts of the Soviet Union as prisoners of war and forced to engage in harsh labor. About 60,000 of them are believed to have died in concentration camps due to hunger and cold.
許しがたい残虐な行為です。 It is unpardonable cruel and outrageous activity.
ソ連軍は侵攻を続け、日本固有の領土である国後島など北方４島を占拠した。 The Soviet troops continued their invasion and occupied four islands off Hokkaido, including Kunashiri Island, that are historically an integral part of Japan.
With less than two weeks until campaigning for the Democratic Party of Japan's presidential election gets underway on Sept. 1, each DPJ group has been engaged in an increasing amount of intraparty wheeling and dealing. 来月１日の民主党代表選の告示まで２週間を切り、各グループの駆け引きが活発化している。
On Thursday, former Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama held a seminar for members of his group. The meeting was attended by former DPJ Secretary General Ichiro Ozawa, who heads the ruling party's largest segment. １９日には鳩山前首相がグループ研修会を開き、党内最大勢力を率いる小沢一郎・前幹事長も出席した。
Ozawa is reportedly considering running in the presidential race, provided he can receive support from a wide range of DPJ members, including those of the Hatoyama group. This has given rise to speculation that Ozawa's attendance at the Thursday meeting may have been part of his preparations for the election. 小沢氏は、鳩山グループなど党内の幅広い支持が得られることを条件に、出馬を検討しているという。研修会への出席も、そのための布石とみられている。
The seminar, which attracted about 150 DPJ lawmakers, served to display Hatoyama's continuing influence within the party. After stepping down as prime minister in early June, Hatoyama at one time expressed his intention to retire from politics. 一時は政界引退を表明していた鳩山氏も、約１５０人の国会議員を研修会に集め、党内への影響力を誇示した。
Hatoyama's move could be seen as an attempt to regain his lost political privileges, by taking advantage of the obvious advances being made toward him by both Prime Minister Naoto Kan and Ozawa. Kan is apparently trying to woo Hatoyama to his side, in the hope of ensuring his reelection as DPJ chief and consequently prime minister. Ozawa is behaving in a similar fashion as he explores the possibility of running in the Sept. 14 election. 再選をめざす菅首相、出馬の可能性を探る小沢氏の双方から秋波を送られる状況を利用し、政治的復権を果たすつもりなのだろう。
DPJ chiefs must fulfill duties
During Thursday's seminar, Hatoyama reiterated his assertion that the DPJ must be firmly united in running the country as the ruling party. He has said he will support Kan's bid to win reelection as DPJ leader if all the party's groups close ranks with each other. 挙党一致を条件に首相続投を支持している鳩山氏は、研修会でも、挙党態勢の構築を求めた。
However, we believe both Ozawa and Hatoyama must look squarely at their respective must-do lists, instead of engaging in calculated activities tied to their party's election. しかし、小沢氏も鳩山氏も、代表選をにらんで動く前に、なすべきことがあるのではないか。
Hatoyama bears a heavy responsibility for the rift created in the Japan-U.S. relationship as a result of the turmoil that arose from his inconsistent approach to the dispute over the relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station in Okinawa Prefecture. Both Hatoyama and Ozawa have yet to fulfill their duty to fully explain about their connections with politics-and-money scandals. 鳩山氏には、米軍普天間飛行場の移設問題の迷走で、日米関係に亀裂を生じさせた重い責任がある。「政治とカネ」をめぐる問題では、両氏とも十分な説明責任を果たしていない。
How do Hatoyama and Ozawa appear to the public in these circumstances? These DPJ heavyweights are obviously resorting to an alliance as a political expedient, instead of reflecting on the scandals that erupted when the former was head of the DPJ and the latter was the party's secretary general. 「小鳩」政権時代への反省と厳しい総括をしないまま、合従連衡に走る姿が、国民の目にどう映るだろうか。
Ozawa deserves particular reproach as a Tokyo inquest of prosecution panel continues to reconsider the pros and cons of prosecutors' earlier decision not to indict him over the politics-and-money scandal. If Ozawa enters the DPJ election, he should explain what he will do to settle the dispute over the scandal politically, morally and otherwise. 特に小沢氏の場合、「政治とカネ」の問題で検察審査会の審議が継続中だ。代表選に出馬するなら、どうけじめをつけるのか、具体的に語る必要があろう。
Use election opportunity
Meanwhile, Kan's attitude is no less problematic. 一方、菅首相の対応も、問題なしとは言えない。
During a press conference in late July, he said the list of pledges he would prepare for the DPJ race would not include a rise in the consumption tax rate. Is it acceptable for Kan to use his party's setback in the last House of Councillors election as a reason for retracting his promise to restore fiscal health? 先月末の記者会見で、消費税率引き上げを代表選の公約に掲げないとの考えを示したが、参院選で敗北したからといって、財政健全化の旗まで降ろしてよいのか。
We believe the prime minister should more actively use the DPJ race as an opportunity to deepen intraparty discussions about the controversy over the consumption tax rate. むしろ代表選を機に、消費税問題の党内論議を深めるぐらいの攻めの姿勢が求められよう。
Another important issue to be taken up in campaigning for the race is how to treat the DPJ manifesto for last year's House of Representatives election. 昨年の衆院選の政権公約（マニフェスト）をどう扱うかも重要な論点である。
It is easy to see the DPJ-led government will be unable to continue such lavish handouts as child-rearing allowances and toll-free services on expressways, when one considers the need to raise a massive amount of funds for such measures. 子ども手当の支給や高速道路無料化といったバラマキ政策を続けることが財政的に不可能であることは明らかだ。
The DPJ government cannot avoid fundamentally reconsidering the electoral manifesto, given its year-end budget compilation. 年末の予算編成を考えれば、政権公約の大胆な見直しは避けて通れない。
Last year's change in administration means the DPJ race is comparable to the Liberal Democratic Party's earlier presidential elections in that the winner will, in effect, gain a passport to the premiership. 昨年の政権交代で民主党代表選は、かつての自民党総裁選のように首相選びに直結する。
The DPJ should take this to heart. The upcoming presidential race must provide its candidates with an opportunity to compete to discuss what shape our country should take and present policies that would affect people's lives. 民主党はそれを強く自覚し、今回の党首選びを、国家ビジョンや国民生活にかかわる政策を競う場としなければならない。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 20, 2010) （2010年8月20日01時25分 読売新聞）
農家への個別所得補償制度には反対です。農産物の貿易自由化の足かせとなるからです。結局は国民の税金から負担される訳ですから。農産物の貿易自由化は世界の潮流です。日本だけ特別扱いは許されないでしょう。 所得補償制度を漁業や他の産業に拡大する動きに対しても同じ理由で反対します。 (srachai from khonkaen, thailand)
The Yomiuri Shimbun (Aug. 20, 2010) Get wheels turning on S. Korea trade talks 日韓ＦＴＡ 未来志向で早期妥結をめざせ（8月19日付・読売社説）
Japanese and South Korean industrial circles both hope talks between their governments over a free trade agreement will be concluded soon, according to a recent survey conducted by The Yomiuri Shimbun and a leading South Korean business daily. 日本と韓国の産業界は共に、自由貿易協定（ＦＴＡ）に関する交渉の早期妥結を望んでいることがわかった。
Responding to the poll taken by the Yomiuri and The Korea Economic Daily, more than 80 percent of 200 major Japanese and South Korean corporations said they thought a free trade accord between the two countries was "necessary." However, bilateral negotiations on a trade deal have been suspended since 2004. 読売新聞社と韓国経済新聞社が実施したアンケート調査で、双方の主要企業２００社の８割超が、２００４年から交渉が中断している日韓ＦＴＡについて、「必要だ」と答えている。
We welcome the readiness expressed by these corporations to deepen relations in a future-oriented manner while competing yet coexisting in observing this year's centennial of Japan's annexation of the Korean Peninsula. 日韓併合１００年という節目を迎え、両国の企業が未来志向で関係を深め、競争と共存を図ろうとする姿勢を歓迎したい。
A free trade agreement is a treaty between two or more nations and territories seeking to reduce or abolish tariffs on industrial, agricultural and other products. Such an accord can do much to expand trade. ＦＴＡは、特定の国や地域間で鉱工業品や農産物の関税を引き下げたり、撤廃したりすることだ。貿易を拡大する効果がある。
The current round of multilateral trade talks under the World Trade Organization has been stalled due to conflicting interests among WTO member nations. This has given rise to a sharp increase in the number of free trade pacts and economic partnership agreements aimed at expanding the scope of cooperation to include increased investment and other activities. In fact, about 200 FTA and EPA accords have come into effect around the world. 世界貿易機関（ＷＴＯ）の多国間の貿易自由化交渉は、利害の対立で暗礁に乗り上げた。そこで世界で急増しているのが、ＦＴＡや投資拡大などに協力分野を広げた経済連携協定（ＥＰＡ）で、すでに約２００が発効した。
Japan lagging others
However, free trade agreement negotiations between Tokyo and Seoul have been left behind by the trend of the times. The gridlock in bilateral talks can be attributed to Japan's objection to market liberalization targeting farm and marine products, as well as South Korea's concern that its trade deficit with Japan could widen. ところが、日韓交渉はそうした流れに取り残され、行き詰まっている。日本が農水産物の市場開放に抵抗し、韓国は対日赤字全体の拡大を警戒しているためだ。
A six-year hiatus in bilateral talks is too long. The Japanese and South Korean governments should live up to the expectations of their respective industrial circles when they meet for working-level talks aimed at resuming the negotiations, probably in September. 約６年にも及ぶ中断は余りにも長い。両国は９月にも、交渉再開に向けた実務協議を開くが、産業界の期待に応える必要がある。
Japan's slowness in forming economic partnerships with other countries is exemplified not only by its failure to break the impasse in trade talks with South Korea. This lack of progress is also evident in Tokyo's delay in forming similar ties with other nations and territories. 日本の経済連携の動きは、対韓国ばかりでなく、他国・地域との間でも出遅れが目立つ。
Japan has signed economic partnership agreements with 11 economies, including Singapore and Mexico, that have already taken effect. This nation is struggling to make headway in striking EPA deals with such agricultural powers as Australia and India. It is unknown whether or when the Japanese government will be able to sit at the negotiating table for trade pact talks with the United States and the European Union. ＥＰＡ発効・署名国は、シンガポール、メキシコなど１１か国・地域にとどまり、農業大国の豪州やインドとの交渉も難航中だ。米国や欧州連合（ＥＵ）については、交渉のメドさえたたない。
DPJ policy won't help
Dogged resistance from the domestic agricultural sector has been a stumbling block to efforts to open this country's market for farm imports. 農業分野の市場開放について、日本国内の抵抗が強いことが、いつも足かせになっている。
The Democratic Party of Japan-led government has introduced an income compensation system for individual rice farming households. However, this lavish handout policy will do nothing to increase the nation's agricultural competitiveness in preparation for trade liberalization. 民主党政権は、コメ農家を対象にした戸別所得補償制度を導入した。しかし、バラマキ政策では、貿易自由化に備えた農業の競争力強化にはつながらない。
The government likely will expand the income compensation program to include fishermen and other workers. This kind of protective policy must be wisely used to help pry open the domestic market. 政府は所得補償制度を漁業などにも拡充する方針だが、こうした保護策を市場開放に向けて活用する道を探らねばなるまい。
Japanese Ambassador to China Uichiro Niwa, an envoy chosen from the private sector, has expressed a desire to kick off free trade talks between Tokyo and Beijing. Progress in negotiations between Tokyo and Seoul could jump-start similar talks between Japan and China--and even free trade talks involving all three nations. 民間出身の丹羽中国大使は、日中ＦＴＡ交渉の開始に意欲を表明した。日韓ＦＴＡを前進できれば、日中や「日中韓」のＦＴＡ交渉の足がかりにもなる。
South Korea has reached free trade agreements with the United States and the EU. If Seoul gets a head start on Tokyo in starting talks with China, it would deal a blow to Japan. 韓国は米国やＥＵとＦＴＡで合意した。韓国が中国とのＦＴＡで先行すれば、日本には痛手だ。
The administration of Prime Minister Naoto Kan has put together a new growth strategy that would utilize the vitality of emerging economies in Asia. If it truly seeks to accomplish that aim, the government should expedite free trade talks. 菅政権は、アジアの活力を取り込む新成長戦略をまとめた。それならば、自由貿易を加速する政治的な行動が求められよう。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 19, 2010) （2010年8月19日01時59分 読売新聞）
読売・朝日・日経は日本の新聞を代表する、いわば優等生。 優等生の記事は円高によるマイナス面だけ報道しているのではないかと思えるほどだ。 トヨタやホンダは、為替レートが１円円高に振れると３００億円や１６０億円も経常利益が減になるといった類の報道ばかりなので、少々うんざり。 毎日新聞の記事を読んですっきりしたのは私だけではないはずだ。 円高にはマイナスの面とプラスの面とが混在する。 自動車業界の肩を一方的に持ち、政府に日銀の為替介入を迫るような記事の掲載は極力避けるべきだ。 （srachai from khonkaen, thailand）
(Mainichi Japan) August 18, 2010 High yen a boon for consumers, manufacturers, but a bust for exporters 「円高効果」に商機 輸入品還元セール、旅行会社に追い風
While the sudden jump in the yen on foreign exchange markets has Japan's export companies worried, it is also expected to be a boon for consumers and domestic manufacturers. 外国為替市場で急激な円高が進行し、輸出企業への影響が懸念されている一方で、消費者や内需産業への恩恵が期待されている。
As the yen prices of goods valued in U.S. dollars and euros drop, Japan's retail outlets are holding special "high-yen sales" and other promotions to draw more customers through their doors. ドル建てやユーロ建ての輸入品は値下がりするため、小売業界では円高還元セールなどの動きも活発化している。
Foreign travel is also getting cheaper, and the travel industry -- stagnant since the Lehman Shock of 2008 -- is finally picking up steam. 海外旅行の費用も円換算で下落させ、リーマン・ショック後、下落していた旅行者数を押し上げている。
Furthermore, firms that import goods or parts used in domestic manufacturing are also seeing a boost to their bottom line. また、輸入品を加工販売する内需関連産業でもプラスの効果が出ている。【井出晋平、三沢耕平】
Ito-Yokado supermarkets, part of the Seven & i Holdings Co. group which also operates the 7-11 convenience store chain, is holding high-yen sales at 161 stores across Japan through Aug. 22. The supermarket has discounted some 30 import items, such as South African grapefruits, valued in U.S. dollars by as much as 50 percent. セブン＆アイ・ホールディングス（ＨＤ）傘下のイトーヨーカ堂は、２２日まで全国１６１店舗で円高還元セールを開催。米ドル建てで輸入する南アフリカ産グレープフルーツなど約３０品目を最大５割値下げした。
"It's definitely tied to a jump in sales," one assistant manager of an Ito-Yokado branch in Tokyo's Ota Ward said of the high-yen discounts. 大森店（東京都大田区）の奥田正巳副店長は「売り上げ増につながっている」と手応えを語る。
Aeon Co. is also holding high-yen sales at about 300 of its Jusco supermarkets through Aug. 22, with discounts of 10 to 30 percent on some 50 food items such as American broccoli. イオンも２２日まで、ジャスコ約３００店舗の円高還元セールで、アメリカ産ブロッコリーなど食品を中心に約５０品目を１～３割値下げした。
In fact, importers sign exchange rate contracts with foreign suppliers, meaning the importers won't in fact see savings from the high yen until further down the road. However, with consumers expecting lower prices dealers in imported goods have held sales anyway, looking to reap the financial rewards later. 足元は為替予約が入っているため、実際に輸入価格が下がるのはまだ先だが、消費者の期待が高まっており、先取りして実施した。
The price-cutting trend is also spreading through the world of Internet commerce, including shopping portal giant Rakuten, Inc., which set up a special high-yen sale section on its site on Aug. 18. The sale corner features about 50 items such as fashion accessories and designer bags for as much as 50 percent off. こうした動きは、ネット上にも広がる。ネット市場を運営する楽天は、１８日からサイト内に円高還元特設コーナーを設置。約５割引きのアクセサリーや高級ブランドバッグなど約５０商品を展示する。
The yen has also risen against the euro, prompting import furniture chain Otsuka Kagu to hold a "Euro Furniture Fair" sale through Aug. 29. また円はユーロに対しても、高くなっており、輸入家具大手の大塚家具は、２９日まで「ユーロ家具フェア」を開く。
The Yomiuri Shimbun (Aug. 19, 2010) Intl cooperation vital in South China Sea 南シナ海 中国進出の抑止は国際連携で（8月18日付・読売社説）
China is using its powerful navy to aggressively advance into the South China Sea, a key junction of international sea-lanes. The United States and countries in Asia are increasingly wary of China's moves. 国際的な海上輸送の要衝である南シナ海で、中国が海軍力を背景に高圧的な姿勢で進出しつつあり、米国やアジア諸国が警戒感を強めている。
The U.S. Defense Department said Monday in its annual report to Congress that "current trends in China's military capabilities are a major factor in changing East Asian military balances," referring to its moves in the South China Sea. 米国防総省は１６日に発表した年次報告書で、南シナ海などでの中国の軍事力拡大を「東アジアの軍事バランスを変える主要な要因」と位置づけた。
Japan also cannot overlook China's moves given the fact that it relies on marine transportation for imports of 90 percent of its energy and 60 percent of its food. The government must deepen cooperation with the United States, Vietnam, India and other countries concerned to resolve the problem. エネルギーの９割、食糧の６割を海上輸送に依存する日本にとっても、看過できない動きだ。政府は、問題解決に向けて米国やベトナム、インドなど関係各国と連携を深めるべきだ。
Territorial disputes
The South China Sea, dotted with more than 200 islands and reefs, including the Spratly Islands, is the stage for several territorial disputes involving China, Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia and other countries. 南シナ海は、スプラトリー（南沙）諸島を中心に、２００を超える島や岩礁が点在し、中国やベトナム、フィリピン、マレーシアなどが領有権を主張している。
In recent years, China has been causing friction with other countries by dispatching its warships in the area on the pretext of protecting its fishing boats. ところが、中国が近年、自国の漁船保護を名目に海軍艦艇をこの海域に派遣するなど、各国と摩擦を繰り返している。
China is currently building a large submarine base on Hainan Island in the South China Sea. A recent series of such moves can be interpreted as the country's attempt to bring the entire South China Sea under its control, not only for the sake of protecting its interests in oil and maritime resources but also for military reasons, such as to deter any possible intervention by U.S. forces in the event of an emergency involving Taiwan. 海南島では、大規模な潜水艦基地を建設中だ。石油などの海洋権益の確保だけでなく、台湾有事の際に米軍の介入を阻止するなど、軍事的な理由からも、南シナ海全域を中国の勢力下に置こうとしているとみるべきだろう。
China has used the expression "core interests" in regard to its sovereignty and territorial integrity when it refers to Taiwan and Tibet. Recently, the country said it considered the South China Sea part of its "core interests" as well, a move that underlines concerns over China's possible intentions behind its latest moves. 中国が、台湾やチベット問題で使ってきた「核心的利益」という表現を、最近は南シナ海にも使い始めたことも、そうした懸念を裏付けるものだ。
The South China Sea is crossed by vital international sea-lanes that connect the Middle East with the Northeast Asia. No country can be allowed to make exclusive moves in the area. We strongly urge China to restrain itself. 南シナ海は、中東と北東アジアを結ぶ海上交通路（シーレーン）である。この海域で排他的な動きを取ることは認められない。中国には強く自制を求めたい。
Multilateralism a must
Vietnam and other Asian countries are calling on China to resolve territorial disputes through multinational negotiations. But China is unwilling to relax its position that countries claiming sovereignty should separately hold bilateral negotiations. ベトナムなどアジア各国は、多国間協議で問題解決を図るよう求めている。これに対し中国は、領有権を主張する国同士が２国間協議で話し合うべきだ、という立場を崩していない。
However, if territorial disputes develop into military conflicts, they would significantly affect all countries that use the area's sea-lanes. Given that, it will be reasonable to hold multinational negotiations among countries with interests in the area to discuss ways to ease tensions and measures to build trust. 領有権争いが軍事的な衝突などに発展すれば、この海域をシーレーンとして利用する国々にも甚大な影響が及ぶ。懸念を共有する国も参加する多国間協議で、緊張緩和策や信頼醸成措置を検討するのが筋だろう。
It may also be a good idea to take up the issue at the East Asia Summit, which the United States also plans to join. 新たに米国も加わる予定の東アジア首脳会議（ＥＡＳ）で討議するのも一案ではないか。
In order to persuade China to sit down for multinational negotiations, it will be essential for countries sharing concerns to cooperate with each other. 多国間協議に中国を呼び込むためには、懸念を共有する国が相互に協力し合うことが肝要だ。
The Japanese government launched dialogues on a strategic partnership with India at the end of last year and with Vietnam last month, with the participation of both foreign and defense authorities. We urge the government to proactively take advantage of such dialogues and promote joint actions to alleviate tensions in the South China Sea. 政府は昨年末にはインド、先月にはベトナムとの間で、外務、防衛両省が参加する戦略対話を発足させた。こうした協議の場を積極的に活用し、緊張緩和に向けた共同行動を進めてもらいたい。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 18, 2010) （2010年8月18日01時43分 読売新聞）
毎日新聞の視点論点は他の優等生（読売・朝日・日経）と違っていて面白い。 ものごとの本質をついた記事は人々を感動させる力を有する。 大変に参考になります。ありがとうございます。 herbivorous 発音注意 アービヴォラス 草食の proactively=anticipatory=acting in advance to deal with an expected difficulty=起こり得る困難を想定し前もって対策をたてるような… （スラチャイ）
(Mainichi Japan) August 17, 2010 Corporate executives' lack of aggression may be behind slowdown in economic growth 社説：ＧＤＰ伸び鈍化 経営者まで草食系では
Japan's economic growth slowed down in the April-June period. Preliminary figures announced by the Cabinet Office show that Japan's real-term gross domestic product (GDP) in the second quarter of this year managed to post positive growth from the previous quarter. Even though it represented an expansion for the third consecutive quarter, the growth rate declined more sharply from the January-March period than market insiders had expected. 経済成長率の伸びが４～６月期に鈍化した。内閣府が発表した国内総生産（ＧＤＰ）の速報値によると、物価変動の影響を除いた実質ＧＤＰの対前期伸び率は、３四半期連続のプラスとなったが、１～３月期に比べ、市場の予想以上に縮小した。
Figures in each quarter tend to be volatile. Moreover, the slowdown is largely a repercussion from a sharp surge in the purchase of electric appliances in March in anticipation of the narrowing down of items subject to the eco-point incentive program aimed at encouraging consumers to switch to eco-friendly appliances. Therefore, it would be unwise for the government to take additional economic stimulus measures in reaction to the short-term fluctuation. 四半期の数値はブレやすいうえ、今回は家電のエコポイント対象商品の絞り込みを見越した３月の駆け込み購入の反動が影響している。短期的な変動に動揺して追加の景気対策に走るのは賢明ではない。
The slowdown appears to be rooted in fundamental problems involving Japanese corporate management. Many companies have been shying away from taking risks and have opted for overly cautious approaches. In other words, corporate executives are becoming "herbivorous," a term often used in Japan to refer to men who are not aggressive toward women. Japanese companies obviously cannot compete with their Chinese and South Korean counterparts in aggressiveness. 問題は目先の数値より、根源的なところにありそうだ。多くの企業が極端にリスクを敬遠し、守りの経営を続けていることである。経営者の草食系化と呼んでもよさそうだ。成長への貪欲（どんよく）さ、“アニマル・スピリッツ”で中国や韓国の企業に負けていないだろうか。
The government's stimulus measures such as those aimed at stimulating demand for eco-friendly products should be discontinued as they have fulfilled their roles. It is now the private sector's turn to play a leading role in spurring economic recovery. To fulfill their role, companies are urged to increase their investments in plants and equipment. An increase in such investments will result in a rise in orders for machinery and construction materials for factories, and help create jobs. It is difficult to ensure a sustainable recovery in consumer spending unless the employment situation improves and wages increase. エコ需要刺激策など政府による景気の後押しは、一定の役目を果たしたら打ち切るのが筋だ。回復のけん引役は民間にバトンタッチされなければいけない。そこで期待されるのが企業の設備投資である。設備投資が盛んになれば機械や工場の建設資材などへの注文が増え、雇用にも貢献する。雇用や賃金が改善しない限り、持続的な消費の回復は難しい。
However, investments in plants and equipment, which should be the driving force behind the economic recovery chain, have shown almost no signs of improvement. It is true that growing uncertainty in the world economy as well as destabilizing factors such as the yen's rapid appreciation have discouraged corporate executives from aggressively investing their capital. In an era of uncertainty, however, those who proactively take risks and are successful in stimulating demand will reap the benefits. Companies cannot improve the situation if they remain on the defensive. ところが、改善の連鎖の原動力となるべき設備投資がなかなか勢いづかない。確かに、世界経済の先行きが不透明になってきたことや、円高など不安な要素が経営者を慎重にさせている面はあろう。とはいえ、不確実な時こそ、率先してリスクをとり新しい需要を掘り起こした者が大きな報いの切符を手にする。守り一辺倒では事態を好転させられまい。
It is not true that companies have no money to invest. Statistics by the Bank of Japan show that the amount of cash reserves that companies across the country possess had risen to 202 trillion yen by the end of March. Unlike Western companies that need to set aside a certain amount of money to repay debts and prepare for possible financial unrest, many Japanese companies have improved their financial standing and face no imminent financial turmoil. 投資に回す資金が足りないわけではない。日銀の統計によると、企業の手元資金は３月末で２０２兆円と過去最大に膨らんだ。米欧でも似た現象が見られるが、借金返済のための資金確保や金融不安への備えが必要な米欧企業に対し、多くの日本企業の財務体質はすでに改善済みで、差し迫った金融不安もない。
In other words, many Japanese firms have massive amounts of reserve funds that they could divert to new investments and human resources, but have failed to utilize them for their own growth. The appreciation of the yen has made it easier for Japanese firms to take over foreign companies. Nonetheless, Japanese companies only complain that they have been hit hard by the strong yen, but have failed to take advantage of it to aggressively expand their businesses. 新たな投資や人材に振り向けられる余裕資金を大量に抱えながら、それを成長のために活用しないでいる。円高にも海外企業を買収しやすくする利点があるが、悲鳴が聞こえるばかりで、攻めの追い風にしようという積極性は見えてこない。
Amid such circumstances, it has emerged that China's gross domestic product surpassed Japan's GDP for the April-June quarter. The news did not come as a surprise because it had been regarded as only a matter of time before China would overtake Japan as the world's No. 2 economy. Rather, the stable growth of China, whose population is 10 times that of Japan, will bring advantages to Japan. そんな中、４～６月期のＧＤＰがドル換算で中国に抜かれた。「世界２位」のタイトルを渡すのは時間の問題だっただけに、驚きはない。むしろ、人口が日本の約１０倍もある国が隣で安定成長を遂げることは、日本にとってメリットといえよう。
To turn that advantage into profits, Japanese companies should be prepared to take risks. They have entered a crucial period. そのメリットを実現するうえでも、企業にはリスクに挑む経営と創意が必要だ。頑張りどころである。
5) The mosque debate イスラム教モスク論争 PRESIDENT OBAMA over the weekend walked head-on into the debate over a Muslim community center planned for a site two blocks from Ground Zero in Lower Manhattan. Unfortunately, rather than provide clarity and leadership, he muddled his stance and appeared to backtrack in the face of criticism. オバマ大統領は先週末までイスラム教モスクを世界貿易センターに隣接して建設するのに前向きな姿勢を示していたが、高まる米国市民の反発を目の当たりにして、方向転換をする動き。
8) Sacrilege at Ground Zero America is a free country where you can build whatever you want -- but not anywhere. アメリカは自由の国、何でも建設できるが、どこにでも建設できるわけではない。（スラチャイ訳）
9) Obama's mosque duty オバマ大統領のムスリムに対する責務 A president has duties to the citizens he serves -- including Muslim citizens. オバマ大統領はムスリムの人々を含む市民のためにその責務を遂行すべし。（スラチャイ訳）
Newt Gingrich Compares Mosque Backers to Nazis ナチスの犯した大罪を許すのに等しい！
"Nazis don't have the right to put up a sign next to the Holocaust museum," he says, and "there is no reason for us to accept a mosque next to the World Trade Center." ユダヤ人大量虐殺の部隊となったホロコースト博物館の横に大罪を犯したナチスは掲示物を掲示する権利はない。世界貿易センターの横にイスラム教寺院（モスク）を建設させるわけにはいかない。（スラチャイ訳）
The Yomiuri Shimbun (Aug. 18, 2010) Govt must prevent economic slowdown ＧＤＰ急減速 景気腰折れへ警戒を強めよ（8月17日付・読売社説）
The Japanese economy, which has been recovering thanks to external demand and the effects of the government's economic stimulus measures, has suddenly slowed. The government must ensure that the adverse effects of this do not prevent economic growth. 外需と政策効果を支えに回復してきた景気が急減速した。成長を腰折れさせぬよう、警戒を怠ってはならない。
The nation's real gross domestic product increased in the April-June quarter by 0.1 percent from the previous period. This represents the third consecutive quarter of growth, but the annualized growth rate is extremely low--only 0.4 percent. ４～６月期の実質国内総生産（ＧＤＰ）は、前期比０・１％増と、３四半期連続でプラスだった。だが、成長率は年換算で０・４％と、極めて低い。
Although domestic demand has shrunk, growth in the GDP had finally been maintained through exports and other forms of external demand. But the future of external demand is uncertain because of the rising yen and fears of economic downturns in other countries. In their policy management, the government and the Bank of Japan should give priority to stimulating the economy. 内需はマイナスに転じ、輸出などの外需で、やっとプラス成長を維持した。円高や、海外経済の減速懸念で、外需の先行きも不透明である。政府・日銀は景気最優先で政策運営すべきだ。
Sharp drops feared
The sluggish domestic demand is the result of previously robust personal consumption that slumped in the April-June quarter to an almost flat level. Government measures such as eco points for purchases of energy-saving home electrical appliances and subsidies for buying environmentally friendly cars seem to be finally losing their impact. 内需低迷の主因は、これまで堅調だった個人消費が、４～６月期はほぼ横ばいまで減速したことにある。省エネ家電のエコポイントやエコカー補助金もさすがに効果が薄れてきたようだ。
These are only a few economic stimulus measures, but the government is planning to terminate its subsidies for eco-friendly cars at the end of September. Car dealers and auto parts manufacturers are concerned about possible declines in sales and production as a result. Many predict that a sharp decrease in orders cannot be avoided from October. とはいえ、数少ない下支え役である。政府は９月末でエコカー補助金を打ち切るという。自動車の販売店や部品工場などは、「１０月からは受注の大幅減が避けられない」などと、販売や生産の落ち込みを心配している。
This summer's heat wave is boosting sales of air conditioners and other summer-related products. However, more than a few electronics retail stores fear sales will drop sharply in reaction after the end of the seasonal demand caused by the blazing temperatures. 夏の猛暑でエアコンなどは売れている。だが、“猛暑特需”の後に厳しい反動減がこないか、恐れる家電量販店も少なくない。
The government has said that its child-rearing allowances, which began in June, and other measures will eventually stimulate the economy. However, past handout policies such as the flat-sum allowance show that a significant economic boost cannot be expected from such steps. 政府は、給付の始まった子ども手当などが、いずれ景気を刺激するというが、定額給付金など過去のばらまき政策の例から見て、大きな効果は期待できまい。
Instead, the government should use the reserve fund of this fiscal year's budget to implement measures to prevent the economy from slowing down, such as continuing part of the government subsidy program for purchases of eco-friendly cars. 今年度予算の予備費を使って、エコカー補助金の一部を継続するなど、景気の減速を避ける手を打つべきだ。
Block further yen rise
Lower budget allocations for public works projects are apparently affecting the economy. Public investments dropped by a drastic 3.4 percent in the April-June quarter from the previous period. This in particular will deal a heavy blow to regional economies that lack powerful local industries. 公共事業削減の影響も鮮明だ。４～６月期の公共投資は、前期比３・４％減と大きく落ち込んだ。有力な地場産業のない地方などでは、特に打撃となろう。
Apart from the reserve fund, the budget contains 1 trillion yen as a special allocation for future economic measures. Couldn't this money be used efficiently now to improve the economy? 予備費とは別に、将来の景気対策に備えた、１兆円の予算枠もある。うまく活用できないか。
External demand maintained growth, but the growth rate has slowed. Domestic industries are affected significantly by the yen's appreciation--if it rises by just 1 yen against the dollar, Toyota Motor Corp. will lose 30 billion yen in annual profits and Honda Motor Co. will lose 17 billion yen. This may dampen recovering investment on plant and equipment. 一方、外需はプラスを維持したが、伸びが鈍った。足もとでは円高の影響が大きい。円高が１円進めば、トヨタ自動車で年３００億円、ホンダも１７０億円の利益が減るという。回復してきた設備投資にも、水をさしかねない。
The latest appreciation of the yen was triggered by additional steps taken by the U.S. government to ease the supply of money. To alleviate this influence, this nation's central bank must adopt a more proactive stance toward monetary relaxation. 今回の円高は、アメリカの追加金融緩和がきっかけだ。その影響を和らげるには、日銀も金融緩和の姿勢を強める必要があろう。
A strong yen lowers the prices of imported goods and fuels deflation. Sharp appreciation must be avoided. 円高は輸入物価を下げて、デフレにも拍車をかける。急激な進行は避けねばならない。
If the yen soars toward 80 yen to the dollar, the government should stress its willingness to intervene in foreign exchange, if necessary, to prevent further appreciation. 円相場が８０円に向けて急騰するようなら、政府は円高阻止に向けて、為替介入も辞さない強い姿勢を見せるべきだ。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 17, 2010) （2010年8月17日01時22分 読売新聞）
albeit 発音注意、アルバイトではなくてオールビートと発音される。=although, even though albeit belatedly 遅ればせながら
The Yomiuri Shimbun (Aug. 17, 2010) Give hub ports the tools they need 港の国際競争 上海や釜山が遠くに見える（8月16日付・読売社説）
The government plans to enhance the allure of Japanese ports, which have been increasingly bypassed by gigantic containerships in recent years, so they can recapture cargo currently heading straight for rival ports in neighboring countries, such as Shanghai and Busan, South Korea. 世界の巨大コンテナ船が素通りしている日本の港の魅力を高め、上海や釜山など周辺国のライバル港に奪われた荷物を取り戻す――。
The Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Ministry will promote a plan to build "international container strategic ports." The plan has designated the Keihin and Hanshin port areas as candidates to become major hubs that will receive priority investment to transform them into two of Asia's five major shipping centers by 2020. Keihin consists of Tokyo, Yokohama and Kawasaski ports, and Hanshin covers Osaka and Kobe ports. こんな目標を掲げ、国土交通省が、「国際コンテナ戦略港湾」に京浜港（東京、横浜、川崎）と阪神港（大阪、神戸）の２地域を指定した。重点投資で２０２０年にはアジアで五指に入る物流拠点に育てるという。
Boosting Japanese ports' competitiveness by lowering transport charges and offering around-the-clock service would cheer domestic manufacturers, whose profitability often hinges on shipment costs. It would not be a bad idea to flexibly divert the limited state budget for ports to priority projects. 低料金や２４時間サービスなどで港の競争力を高めることは、物流コストが収益を左右する日本の製造業にとって大きな恩恵となる。限られた港湾予算にメリハリを付けるのは悪くない。
However, we doubt that reinforcing port facilities alone will increase the freight volume passing through Japanese ports. Rather, the entire operation of Japanese ports, which have been shunned by the international shipping industry as "costly and slow," needs to be overhauled. しかし、施設整備を優先するだけで荷物が増えるとは思えない。世界の海運界から「コストが高く、搬出入に時間もかかる」と敬遠されてきた港の運営全般を改革することが重要である。
Japan falling behind
Three decades ago, Kobe, Tokyo and Yokohama stood among the world's top 20 ports in terms of volume of freight containers handled. In 2009, Tokyo was the top Japanese port in this category, but ranked 26th in the world. The world's top five ports were all in Asia--Singapore, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Shenzhen and Busan. ３０年前、世界のコンテナ取扱量の上位２０港には神戸、東京、横浜が名を連ねていたが、０９年は最上位の東京でも２６位だ。トップ５はシンガポール、上海、香港、深セン、釜山とアジア勢が独占した。（深センの「セン」は土ヘンに「川」）
Large containers transporting auto parts and machine products account for a large portion of international shipments. 自動車部品や機械製品などを運搬する大型のコンテナが、国際物流の主役を担うようになった。
Consequently, ports with piers capable of mooring ultralarge containerships and low entry and usage charges and convenient access to key land routes have become indispensable. それに対応して、多数のコンテナを一度に運ぶ超大型船が横付けできる岸壁があり、入港料や施設使用料が安く、陸路との連絡もよい港が不可欠となっている。
Japan lags other Asian countries that have heavily invested in ports boasting such characteristics. Instead, Japan has continued pork-barrel investments in ports across the country to meet local needs, a strategy that has done little to improve the ports' convenience. アジア各国がこうした要素を取り込んだ特定港湾に集中投資する間、日本は完全に出遅れた。地方の意向に配慮してばらまき型の港湾投資を続けた結果、使い勝手の悪さが改善されないまま放置されてしまった。
Even Japanese cargo owners are opting for shipping routes from domestic ports to U.S. and European destinations via hub ports in other Asian countries. Transshipment costs at Busan Port, for example, are 40 percent cheaper than those charged by some Japanese ports. It is little wonder that an increasing number of shipping companies sail past Japanese ports. 今では、日本の荷主でさえ地方港からアジアの巨大港に運び、欧米航路に乗せている。釜山を使えば、積み替えのコストは日本より４割も安くて済むという。これでは日本に寄港しない海運会社が増えるのも無理はない。
No easy task
The so-called strategic port plan calls, albeit belatedly, for integrating and privatizing port terminal corporations to streamline port operations. 戦略港湾は、遅ればせながら、埠頭(ふとう)公社の統合、民営化などで港の効率運営を目指す方針だ。
But as long as port operations are conducted separately by shipping and cargo handling companies through their vertical administrations, improving the ports' efficiency will be easier said than done. だが、港湾作業が船会社や荷役会社ごとの縦割りとなっている現状では、効率化を図ろうとしても容易にはいかない。
In 2004, the infrastructure ministry designated six ports, including Yokohama and Kobe, as "super hub ports." But the plan was half-baked. This time, too, the ministry did not select just one hub port, possibly to avoid upsetting one of the two major urban areas. 国交省は０４年に「スーパー中枢港湾」として横浜や神戸など６港を指定したが、中途半端な整備に終わった。今回も２大都市圏に配慮し、１地域に絞り込めなかったのが実態だろう。
This latest port reform plan should go the extra step by learning from rival ports. 今度こそ、ライバル港に学んで大胆に改革すべきだ。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 16, 2010) （2010年8月16日01時34分 読売新聞）
(Mainichi Japan) August 15, 2010 Kaleidoscope of the Heart: The tragedy of the forgotten 香山リカのココロの万華鏡：抹消される立場の人 ／東京
Recently, a startling number of centenarians in Japan have been discovered missing, with authorities unable to confirm the whereabouts of many or even whether they are alive or dead. 全国で、たくさんの高齢者が所在不明になっていることが明らかになった。中には、居場所どころか生存さえ確認できない人もいる。
While attention is now focused on the missing centenarians, countless similar cases -- with people saying, "We haven't contacted them in years" or "I have no idea what they're doing now" -- are bound to come out among the elderly that have not yet reached their 100th birthday. いま問題になっているのは１００歳以上の人たちだが、もっと年齢が下でも「何年も連絡を取っていない」「どうしているかわからない」というケースは無数に出てきそうだ。
"But they have brothers and sisters and children. It's unthinkable!" one might say, but can we be so certain? Years ago, when I was working at a psychiatric hospital, I knew of a lot of patients who had been there for 20 or 30 years -- many of whom had been cut off by their families and lived their lives in hospital alone. 「実の兄弟や子どもがいたのに考えられない」という声もあるが、そうだろうか。かつて勤務していた精神科の病院には、２０年、３０年といった長期入院者が多かったのだが、患者さんの多くは肉親との縁も切れ、ひとりぼっちで病院生活を送っていた。
たまに主治医の私が見るに見かねて実家に電話するのだが、弟らしき男性が出て「そんな兄はいません！」とガチャンと切られたこともあった。自分の妻や子どもには、「入院中の兄がいる」という事実さえ伝えていないのかもしれない。(この部分の英文はありません by srachai)
For example, there was one young man who was institutionalized after continued acts of violence against his family. After many years he was close to recovery and we began a rehabilitation program to prepare him for release. However, when his mother heard this she came flying to the hospital, begging with tears in her eyes, "Please don't release him. Our neighbors will see! If he comes back home, we won't be able to live there anymore!" こんなケースもあった。家族に暴力を振るい続けて入院した青年が何年かたって落ち着いてきたので、退院を目指してリハビリを開始した。すると母親が飛んで来て、「退院だけは勘弁して。近所の目もあるし、この子が戻ってきたらもうあそこに住めない」と泣いて拒んだことがあった。
Hearing this story, you may wonder at how cold the young man's family could be to one of their own, but they were probably struggling in their own daily lives as it was. Another patient's family member told me, "But I have to live, too." While these people probably feel remorse, they also don't have the space in their lives to accept their mentally ill kin. Then, one day, they decide their sick family member never existed, forcibly erasing their memory. 話だけ聞くと「家族なのになんと冷酷な」と思うかもしれないが、この弟も母も必死に日々の生活を送っているのだろう。別の家族は、「私だって生きていかなきゃならないんですから」と言っていた。彼らは、心のどこかでは「申し訳ない」と思いながらも、病気を抱えた家族を受け入れる余裕はない。そしてある日、「いなかったことにしてしまおう」とその存在を無理やり記憶から消してしまうのだ。
How many people are there in Japanese society to have been erased from the hearts and minds of family and friends like this? Most are the sick, the elderly, those with crushing debt loads -- essentially the weak of our society. Recently there have even been parents who have tried to forget their children, to erase the fact of their existence. そうやって、家族や友人の記憶から抹消されてしまう人たちは、この社会でどれくらいいるのだろう。多くが、高齢者、病気を持つ人、借金を抱えた男性など、社会的に弱い立場に追いやられた人たちだ。最近では、子どもを「いなかったこと」にしようとする親さえいる。
Those who are deliberately forgotten, and those who feel compelled to forget are both tragic. There is no need to be overflowing and effusive with one's affection. A simple call to ask, "What are you up to?" and hear the other person say, "I'm doing this and that" is enough. Is there something special required to keep even this finest of threads from snapping? We all need to think about this question. (By Rika Kayama, psychiatrist) せっかく生まれてきたのに「いなかったこと」にされる人、またそうせざるをえない家族、両方ともあまりに悲しい。あふれんばかりの愛情で結びつく必要はない。「どうしてる？」「うん、なんとかやってる」。これくらいの細い糸だけは切れないようにするためには、何が必要なのか。みんなで考えたい。
