(Mainichi Japan) April 29, 2011 社説：視点・震災後 慰霊こそ防災の核心だ A March 11 memorial, with a human touch, may prevent future disasters
It was impossible to hold back tears upon reading an article in the Mainichi some two weeks after the massive March 11 earthquake about a 10-year-old girl at an evacuation shelter. 巨大地震の発生から約２週間後、小紙に掲載された写真と記事に涙を禁じえなかった。
It was accompanied by a photo of the girl with a bright grin as she played with friends. 避難所の小学校で１０歳の少女が友達と遊んでいる。彼女は白い歯を見せて笑っている。
According to the article, the tsunami had swallowed up her mother and unborn sister, and her father was still missing. She cried and cried on the day of her mother's burial but hadn't shed a tear since, the girl's grandmother said. だが、母と胎内に宿っていた妹が津波にのまれ、父も安否不明なのだ。母の埋葬の日に思い切り泣き、その後は涙を見せていないと祖母が語る。
The forced smile on the girl's face was a painful sight to behold. 無理に作った少女の笑顔が痛々しい。
That was just one child and her experience. これは一例に過ぎない。
There are many more stories of life and death like hers. 心に突き刺さる生と死の物語が、あまりにも多く残された。
Over 20,000 are dead or missing from the disaster. 一口に「２万数千人の死者・行方不明者」と言う。
"Over 20,000" may be just a number, but each one of that over 20,000 represents a human life, each with their own families and dreams. その一人一人に生活があり、家族があり希望があった。
Naturally, supporting and rebuilding the lives of those who survived is a pressing need. But isn't it the act of sharing those things people left undone when their lives were cut short, and continuing to mourn those people and their losses, that's really going to help us prevent such a tragedy from happening again? 幸運にも生き永らえた被災者への支援と復興事業が急務だが、帰らぬ犠牲者の無念も伝え、悼み続けてこそ、同じ悲劇を繰り返さずにすむのではないか。
Isn't it remembering the victims that will push us become better prepared for disasters in this island nation? この列島に防災の知恵と心構えを広く定着させる力にもなるのではないか。
I want to make a proposal, knowing full well that some will say that it's too early. 時期尚早を承知で提言してみたい。
I want us to build a memorial with the names of all those who were lost in the disaster, putting it on a hill that overlooks the destruction along Japan's northeastern coast. 大津波に襲われた沿岸を見下ろす高台に、いつか犠牲者全員の名前を刻んだ慰霊碑を建立する。
Considering how many names there would be, the memorial could be composed of multiple components, or it could be one long monument. 刻まれる名前の多さを考えれば、慰霊碑は壁状のものを何個も並べたり、長く連結させる形式になるかもしれない。
I've envisioned a memorial like the Heiwa no ishiji -- known in English as the Cornerstone of Peace -- in Okinawa, which commemorates both civilians and military members who died in the Battle of Okinawa during World War II, or the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington D.C., which honors U.S. soldiers who lost their lives during the Vietnam War. 沖縄の「平和の礎（いしじ）」や米ワシントンにある「ベトナム戦争戦没者慰霊碑」のイメージだ。
The names of people lost in the earthquake and tsunami could be organized by where they lived and who their families and relatives were. 名前は居住地域、家族、親族といった区分でまとめる。
A museum could be built nearby with a directory of all those were memorialized, where visitors could easily find out where on the monument particular names were inscribed. 近くに設ける資料館に名簿を備え、それを見れば慰霊碑のどの部分に誰の名前があるか、容易に探せるようにする。
That would help for people wanting to leave offerings such as flowers at particular names. これで参拝者は、特定の縁者に花束などを手向けることもできる。
The museum could display video footage and photos of damage done to the region, as well as, with loved ones' permission, personal items that belonged to the deceased. 資料館には被害の実態を示す映像や写真、関係者の承諾を得た遺留品などを十分に所蔵、展示する。
The facility would fulfill a role similar to that of the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum and the Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum. 広島平和記念資料館や長崎原爆資料館のような役割を果たすことになるだろう。
In addition, to the extent that it is possible, the stories of individuals, where and how they met their tragic ends, under what circumstances they were last sighted by survivors, what their hopes and dreams were -- again with the permission and understanding of their loved ones -- as well as accounts of survivors' searches for their families could be exhibited. そして可能な範囲で、だれがどこで、どんな最期を迎えたのか、その人を生存者が最後に目撃した時の状況はどうだったのか、難を逃れた人々が家族をどのように捜し、あるいは捜せなかったのか、犠牲者はどういう人で、夢は何だったのか、そんな記録も関係者の理解を前提に、備えてはどうだろうか。
The memorial doesn't have to take the exact shape that I've suggested, and multiple memorials could be built in a number of locations. この提言通りにならなくても構わない。慰霊碑が複数の場所に分かれて建立されてもよい。
But I think it's important that any memorials that are built for this disaster be solemn settings where anyone can go to remember the dead and recommit ourselves to action against future tragedies. ただ、そこに行けば誰であれ粛然とし、犠牲者を悼み、防災の努力を誓わざるをえないような雰囲気は不可欠だと思う。
The most important thing is that we do not let the story of the disaster seem removed and unreal, but instead keep it in our hearts and minds as a current lesson to live by. 何より重要なのは、この大震災の経験を決して「昔話」にせず、生きている教訓として守り続けることだ。
That is where the real meaning of mourning the dead can be found. (By Tetsuo Nakajima, Editorial Writer) 国民的な慰霊の意味は、それに尽きる。
The Yomiuri Shimbun (Apr. 29, 2011) Imperial couple's words comfort quake survivors 両陛下東北へ 被災者を励ます温かいお言葉（4月28日付・読売社説）
The Emperor and Empress, who have been visiting evacuees from areas hit by the Great East Japan Earthquake, visited quake-hit Miyagi Prefecture on Wednesday. 東日本大震災の被災者へのお見舞いを続ける天皇、皇后両陛下が２７日、宮城県を訪問された。
It was the Imperial couple's first visit the Tohoku region since the March 11 quake. They are also scheduled to visit Iwate and Fukushima prefectures shortly. 震災後、東北地方に入られるのは初めてで、近日中に岩手、福島両県の訪問も予定されている。
Their words must be a great encouragement to people in or from the quake-hit areas, especially those staying at evacuation centers. 被災地の人々、とりわけ避難所生活を送る人たちに、お二人のお言葉は大きな励ましとなろう。
On Wednesday, the Emperor and Empress visited evacuation centers in Minami-Sanrikucho and Sendai, which suffered great damage in the tsunami caused by the earthquake. 両陛下は、津波で甚大な被害を受けた南三陸町と仙台市内の避難所を訪ねられた。
===
Support for the suffering
Kneeling on the floors of gymnasiums used as evacuation shelters, they talked to many of the evacuees, saying "Any problems with your health?" or "Take care, please." 体育館の床に両ひざをつき、一人一人に「お体は大丈夫ですか」「お大事にね」などと声をかけられた。
According to the Imperial Household Agency, the Imperial couple hoped to visit the quake-hit areas as early as possible, but the visits started more than a month after the quake due to various circumstances. 宮内庁によると、お二人は早期の現地入りを望まれていたが、被災地の状況を考慮し、１か月を過ぎて訪問が開始された。
They visited Asahi, Chiba Prefecture, on April 14 and Kita-Ibaraki, Ibaraki Prefecture, on April 22. Both visits included stops at evacuation centers. １４日に千葉県旭市、２２日は茨城県北茨城市の避難所などを見舞われた。
Ever since the great earthquake took place, the Imperial couple have been following the news from the quake- and tsunami-hit areas, and their wish to support the people and share in their sorrow has grown stronger, according to the agency. ３月１１日の震災発生以来、両陛下は被災地のニュースを見続け、「人々の心の支えになりたい。困難を分かち合いたい」という思いを強くされてきたという。
On March 16, five days after the quake, the Emperor took the unprecedented step of releasing a public video message for the nation. ５日後の１６日には前例のないビデオメッセージを発表された。
"I can only hope that by making every effort to promptly implement relief for evacuees, their conditions will improve, even if gradually, and that their hope for eventual reconstruction will be rekindled," the Emperor said. 「被災者の状況が少しでも好転し、人々の復興への希望につながっていくことを心から願わずにはいられません」
"I believe it extremely important for us all to share with the victims as much as possible, in whatever way we can, their hardship in the coming days." 「苦難の日々を、私たち皆が、様々な形で少しでも多く分かち合っていくことが大切であろうと思います」
We believe that these words, reflecting the Emperor's feelings about the situation, and his soothing manner of speaking must have encouraged the nation's people greatly. 陛下の思いが滲(にじ)むお言葉と、穏やかな語り口に、どれほど国民は勇気づけられたことだろう。
When Tokyo Electric Power Co. carried out a schedule of rolling blackouts, the Imperial Palace was not the subject to it. However, to coincide with the nighttime power outage schedule, the couple reduced their electricity use voluntarily, taking simple meals such as onigiri rice balls by candlelight. 計画停電が実施された際、皇居は対象外だったが、夜の停電時間に合わせ、ろうそくなどの灯を頼りにおにぎりなどの簡単な食事をとられるようになったという。
The Imperial couple also showed tender solicitude to evacuated people. They donated produce from an Imperial livestock farm in Tochigi Prefecture, such as chicken eggs, to evacuees through their farm employees. The hot spring bath for employees at the Nasu Imperial villa in Nasumachi in the prefecture was opened for evacuees. 栃木県の御料牧場の鶏卵などを、職員を通じて避難者用に提供したり、那須御用邸の職員用宿舎の温泉を開放するなど、優しい気遣いも見せられた。
===
Sharing the people's feelings
"They feel the people's happiness and misfortune as if they were their own, think about them and act on them," Grand Steward Shingo Haketa said. In the agency head's comment we can sense how the Imperial couple feel about the current situation. 「人々の幸せも、不幸も、我がこととして受け止め、考え、実践されている」。羽毛田信吾宮内庁長官の短い言葉の中に、両陛下の胸中を察することができる。
Since the Imperial couple visited an area hit by eruptions of Fugendake peak in the Unzen mountain range in 1991 in Nagasaki Prefecture, they have never neglected to visit areas hit by major disasters, including the 1995 Great Hanshin Earthquake and the 2004 Niigata Prefecture Chuetsu Earthquake. Each time, they listened to the thoughts and feelings of the disaster-hit people and offered them encouragement. 両陛下は１９９１年、雲仙・普賢岳噴火の被災地を見舞われて以降、９５年の阪神大震災、２００４年の中越地震など大災害のたびに現地へ足を運び、被災者の話を聞き、励ましてこられた。
The Emperor is 77 years old and the Empress 76. It may be a quite burden for them to visit the quake-hit areas, transferring en route from a small Self-Defense Forces plane to an SDF helicopter. Sufficient consideration must also be given to the couple's physical health. 陛下は７７歳、皇后さまは７６歳。自衛隊機とヘリを乗り継ぐ被災地訪問はご負担だろう。お二人のお体にも十分な配慮が必要だ。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 28, 2011) （2011年4月28日01時06分 読売新聞）
(Mainichi Japan) April 27, 2011 Kan needs to display leadership, show clear vision for disaster relief policy 社説：復興構想会議 首相の指針が見えない
A newly established advisory committee to Prime Minister Naoto Kan, tasked to work out a vision on countermeasures for the Great East Japan Earthquake, is divided over how to secure financial resources for these procedures and other important topics. It is highly doubtful whether the panel, headed by National Defense Academy President Makoto Iokibe, will work out effective and efficient countermeasures. 東日本大震災の復興ビジョンを提言する菅直人首相の諮問機関「復興構想会議」（五百旗頭真議長）が早くも迷走気味だ。財源問題で意見が割れるなど、実効性ある構想を打ち出せるかが危ぶまれている。
The panel is comprised of prominent figures, but its discussions will be too abstract unless the government coordinates views between the committee and ministries and agencies concerned and facilitates the panel's communications with local governments and residents of disaster-hit areas and its discussions with experts from various fields. The prime minister should clarify the purpose and mission of the panel to map out a clear vision. メンバーはそうそうたる顔ぶれだが中央省庁との調整、被災地との意思疎通、各分野での専門家との議論に万全を期さないと会議の存在自体が宙に浮きかねない。百家争鳴の議論に終始しないためにも、首相は会議の目的と使命をより明確に示すべきである。
Iokibe's proposal at the outset of the panel's first meeting that a disaster-relief tax be created stirred controversy between members, forcing the group to shelve the issue of financial resources for the time being. 復興構想会議でまず論議を呼んだのは五百旗頭氏が初会合で「震災復興税」の創設を提言したことだ。結局、会議内でも意見が分かれたため、財源問題は当面棚上げされる方向となった。
It is true that Iokibe's proposal triggered much needed discussions between ruling and opposition parties on how to secure financial resources for quake-relief and restoration measures. However, the panel's primary mission is to show a vision on disaster countermeasures that can persuade taxpayers to accept tax hikes. Kan is to blame for the confusion within the panel because the prime minister, who set up the group, has failed to show his clear policy on the issue in the first place. 五百旗頭氏の発言を受けてようやく財源問題が与野党で議論になり始めたのも事実だが、増税に値する説得力のあるビジョンをまず描くのが構想会議の役割だ。そもそも設置した首相からの指針が明確でない点が混乱を生んだと言えよう。
Concern has been raised that the panel could be isolated within the government. Since no bureaucrat is on the panel, ministries and agencies concerned could question the effectiveness of disaster-relief and restoration measures worked out by the panel and reject it. Although the governors of three quake-hit prefectures in the Tohoku region are members of the committee, it is highly questionable how far they can represent opinions and requests by local municipalities and residents. 構想会議が孤立する懸念もある。有識者メンバーに官僚出身者がいないため青写真を描いた段階で中央省庁に実現性を疑問視され、拒否されるおそれがある。被災した東北３県の知事が参加しているが、地元市町村や住民から出ている意見をどこまで吸収できるかも気がかりだ。
On the other hand, a subcommittee on specific measurers is comprised of many experts in disaster prevention and regional revitalization. 一方で構想会議の下部機関として置かれた検討部会には防災、地域おこしなど実務に通じた人材も多い。
It is feared that the two entities' discussions will overlap as the division of their roles remains unclear. 役割分担があいまいなまま議論が重複することになりはしないか。
In order to prevent the committee from falling apart, it is necessary for the government to not only clarify its role in relevant legislation but also steer it in an appropriate manner. The panel, deputy chief Cabinet secretaries who represent a liaison council between ministries and agencies and top officials of the subcommittee should regularly consult with each other to facilitate their communications and share their common objectives. 空中分解を避けるには復興基本法案など法律で構想会議の位置づけを明確にするだけでなく、運営にも工夫がいる。構想会議、各府省連絡会議を代表する官房副長官、検討部会の代表らがひんぱんに協議し意思疎通や目的の共有に努めるべきだ。
Some constructive discussions are under way, including those on a proposal by Miyagi Gov. Yoshihiro Murai on a specific vision on the restoration of disaster-ravaged areas. The situation varies depending on each disaster-hit area -- from coastal regions and the plains to areas where residents have been evacuated following the crisis at the Fukushima No. 1 Nuclear Power Plant. Panel members as well as government officials are required to reflect these communities' requests and opinions on the disaster's countermeasures. 宮城県の村井嘉浩知事が具体的な被災地再生ビジョンを提起するなど建設的な議論も起きている。被災地は沿岸、平野部、原発事故による住民避難地域などかなり事情が違う。地元の多様な声を構想に反映させる意識が求められる。
The government will draft a second supplementary budget as early as this summer to finance the disaster countermeasures. The committee says it will make proposals on such measures by the end of June, but it is highly doubtful whether it is in time for the government's compilation of the extra budget draft. 政府は今夏にも震災対策の第２弾となる２次補正予算案を編成する予定だ。構想会議は６月末までに提言をまとめるというが２次補正に本当に間に合うのか、現状の体制とスケジュールではこころもとない。
An advisory panel on relief and restoration measures set up following the Great Hanshin Earthquake in January 1995 that devastated Kobe and surrounding areas made its first set of proposals less than two weeks after its first meeting. ９５年の阪神大震災の際に置かれた提言機関「阪神・淡路復興委員会」は初会合から１２日足らずで最初の提言をしている。
Prime Minister Kan must be aware of his responsibility to clearly show the scope and the order of priority of themes that the committee should discuss in order to help it propose effective and efficient countermeasures. 首相は取り組むテーマの範囲や優先順位を示し、構想会議を機動的に活用する責任を自覚しなければならない。
(Mainichi Japan) April 25, 2011 How did Japan's nuclear industry become so arrogant? 記者の目：「原子力ムラ」の閉鎖的体質＝日野行介（大阪社会部）
◇事故の背景に、批判拒む傲慢さ
What has stood out at the countless press conferences by Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency (NISA) of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), and the Cabinet Office's Nuclear Safety Commission (NSC) of Japan that I've attended in covering the crisis at the Fukushima nuclear plant, is the rampant use of cliches such as "unanticipated state of affairs" and "unprecedented natural disaster." 東京電力福島第１原発の事故の取材応援で、東電や経済産業省原子力安全・保安院、内閣府原子力安全委員会の記者会見に何度も出席した。そこで強く疑問に感じたのは、「想定外の事態」や「未曽有の天災」という決まり文句を盾に、決して非を認めようとしない専門家たちの無反省ぶりだ。
The excuses made by the organizations involved go to show that so-called nuclear power experts have no intention to self reflect or admit their shortcomings. It was this self-righteousness -- evidenced over the years in the industry's suppression of unfavorable warnings and criticisms, as well as in their imposition of the claim that the safety of nuclear energy was self evident -- that lay down the groundwork for the accident at the Fukushima No. 1 Nuclear Power Plant. これまで不都合な警告や批判を封じ込め、「安全」を自明のものとして押し付けてきた業界の独善的体質が今回の事故の背景にあると思える。
◇言葉は丁寧だが決して非認めず
At press conferences, TEPCO officials repeatedly express their "deep apologies" for the trouble caused to the Japanese people. However, as soon as reporters' questions turn to the actual safety of nuclear power stations -- about which they had long boasted a multilayered safety system referred to as "defense in depth" -- they begin to act coolly. Their speech may feign civility, but they never admit to any wrongdoing and merely keep insisting the righteousness of their own claims. When particularly unflattering questions are posed to them, some TEPCO executives glower at the reporters who dared to ask and give only a brusque response. 「大変なご心配をおかけして申し訳ありません」。東電の記者会見は必ずと言っていいほど謝罪の言葉が出る。だが、「多重防護」を誇ってきたはずの原発の安全性自体に疑問が及ぶと、会見する幹部の態度は途端に硬くなる。言葉は丁寧だが、非は決して認めず、自分たちの言い分だけを強調する。都合の悪い質問には、記者をにらみつけながら木で鼻をくくったような対応をする幹部もいる。
Video footage of these press conferences, accessible via television broadcasts and the Internet, combined with disappointment with the government for its mishandling of the disaster, has fed the public's skepticism about the reliability and honesty of industry and political leaders. こうした会見の模様はテレビやインターネット動画でそのまま報道され、政府の対応への不信とも相まって、国民は「本当に大丈夫なのか」「うそをついているのではないか」と疑念を募らせている。
Between 2002 and 2005, I was posted to the Fukui Prefecture city of Tsuruga, which hosts 15 nuclear reactors along Wakasa Bay. The area is dubbed Genpatsu Ginza (Nuclear Ginza) -- after the upscale Tokyo shopping district that is home to many shops and department stores -- for the its abundance of nuclear power plants, and a lot of the bureau's important reporting has concerned the nuclear power plants. 私は０２年から３年間、若狭湾に原発１５基が林立する福井県敦賀市に勤務した。「原発銀座」と称される地域で、取材の最重要テーマが原発だった。
The many nuclear power engineers and researchers I met while based in Tsuruga did not leave a good impression on me. They generally did not provide sufficient answers to questions that could put them and nuclear energy in a negative light, and were arrogant enough to turn a deaf ear to any criticism that may be aimed at them. 取材で接した原子力の技術者・研究者たちの印象は決して芳しいものではない。都合の悪い問いにまともに答えず、批判的な意見に耳を貸さない尊大ぶりが印象に残った。
When the Kanazawa branch of the Nagoya High Court handed down a ruling in January 2003 nullifying permission that had previously been given for the construction of the prototype Monju fast breeder reactor (FBR), electrical power companies and researchers involved in the power industry were up in arms. At a debate about the court ruling, a university professor who was a proponent of nuclear energy employed his knowledge of specialized terminology to talk down an opposition-party Diet member. Later on, I witnessed the professor and some cronies smirk in the corner of the room as they muttered, "Take that, you amateurs." 高速増殖原型炉「もんじゅ」（敦賀市）の設置許可を無効とした名古屋高裁金沢支部判決（０３年１月）の際には、電力会社や研究者が業界を挙げて判決を攻撃した。判決に関する討論会で、推進派の大学教授が専門用語を駆使して野党の国会議員をやり込めた後、会場の片隅で「素人のくせに」と仲間内で笑い合っているのを見た。
Several years ago, a regional television broadcaster that featured a researcher critical of nuclear energy in a documentary drew strong protest from a local utility firm, which argued that the show was based on a misunderstanding of nuclear energy. Although the program did not directly criticize the utility firm, the broadcaster was unable to ignore the claims of the company, one of its major sponsors. It was made to promise to dispatch reporters to nuclear power plants on a regular basis. ある地方テレビ局が数年前、原子力に批判的な研究者をドキュメンタリー番組で取り上げたところ、地元電力会社が「原子力を理解していない」と猛烈に抗議した。番組はこの電力会社を直接批判する内容ではなかったが、テレビ局は広告主の抗議を無視できず、記者による定期的な原発見学を約束した。
An executive at the power company whom I interviewed about the case said, "An understanding of how safe nuclear power stations are was lacking. What we wanted was repentance (from the broadcaster)." TEPCO officials that I've recently been observing at press conferences remind me of that pompous power company executive. この件について取材した私に、電力会社の役員は「（原発が）いかに安全か理解していない。『反省しろ』ということだ」と言い放った。その傲慢な態度は、今回の事故を巡る会見で見た東電幹部と重なり合う。
◇官民にまたがる狭い人脈社会
So how did the industry become what it is now? なぜ、こんな体質が醸成されるのだろうか。
Tetsunari Iida, a former nuclear engineer who currently heads the Institute for Sustainable Energy Policies, says that the industry is dominated by a closely-knit nuclear establishment. Those who graduate from universities and graduate from schools with degrees in nuclear power engineering go on to work at power companies, energy-related manufacturers, or municipalities that host nuclear power stations. Everything comes down to personal networks, and who the graduating students go on to work for is largely influenced by the connections and interests of the students' professors. Regardless of whether the employers are public or private organizations, the newly inducted engineers are raised to become full-fledged members of the nuclear establishment. 原子力の技術者だった飯田哲也・環境エネルギー政策研究所長は、業界の実態を「原子力村（ムラ）」と名付けた。大学や大学院で原子力を学んだ学生は、電力会社やメーカーに就職したり、国や立地自治体の技官になる。就職先は担当教官の意向で決まることが多い人脈社会で、彼らは官民に分かれても「ムラ」の一員として育っていく。
Accidents involving nuclear power plants are widely covered by the press, and are subject to intense criticism from citizens' groups. Because the nuclear establishment takes on a victim mentality when subjected to such pressure, it one-sidedly labels criticism from opponents as "opinions of mere laypersons," further reinforcing its self-righteous opinion of itself as the experts. 原発関係の事故はメディアで大きく報じられる。市民団体などの批判にさらされることも多い。“被害者意識”から、彼らは批判を「素人の意見」だと一方的に決めつけ、独善的な専門家意識を強めていくのだろう。
Nuclear safety regulation in Japan is ostensibly covered under a "double-check" system, but in practice, the system has not functioned sufficiently. Since both those in a position to be checked and those in a position to do the checking come from the same establishment, they are motivated to take action that will protect their common interests. As for NISA, there's a fundamental structural problem in that it is but an arm of METI, the government ministry in charge of promoting nuclear power generation. 原発の安全規制は、保安院と原子力安全委員会による「ダブルチェック」体制とされる。しかし現実には十分機能していない。チェックする方も、される方も、同じ「ムラ」の構成員なので、業界全体の利益を守ろうという意識が働く。保安院に至っては、原発を推進する経産省に属するという構造的問題を抱えている。
A comparison of the agencies overseeing nuclear energy in Japan and the U.S., respectively, is also telling. While the U.S. agency is called the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), its Japanese counterpart is called the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency (NISA). The conclusion we can reach from this is that by focusing so much on promoting the "safety" of nuclear energy, "regulation" and "supervision" have been left on the back burner. 組織の名称にしても、米国は「原子力規制委員会（ＮＲＣ）」なのに、日本の機関には「規制」ではなく「安全」が使われている。「原子力は安全」という宣伝を優先するあまり、規制や監視という視点が欠落していたとしか思えない。
The ongoing disaster in Fukushima has finally built momentum behind a discussion to split NISA from METI. There is no question that such a measure is necessary, but mere reshuffling cannot change the fundamental nature of those involved. 今回の事故を受け、保安院を経産省から分離する組織改革がようやく検討される見通しとなった。必要なことだとは思うが、組織いじりだけでは専門家たちの体質を変えていくことはできない。
We are guilty of having relegated -- up until now -- the issue of nuclear energy as a world away, and a field best left to "experts" in the nuclear establishment. But the still unfolding crisis has made us painfully aware how closely linked nuclear energy is to our lives, from concerns over radiation exposure to power shortages. We no longer have the choice to remain apathetic. (By Kosuke Hino, Osaka City News Department) これまで私たちは原子力の問題を「専門家の世界だから」と、直視することを避け、「ムラ」に委ねすぎてきた。だが今回の事故で、放射能への不安から電力不足問題に至るまで、原子力が一人一人の生活に密接にかかわることが明白になった。もう無関心は許されない。
(Mainichi Japan) April 24, 2011 Kaleidoscope of the Heart: Returning to our pre-earthquake selves 香山リカのココロの万華鏡：震災前の自分に戻る ／東京
Since the earthquake, I have called for people to live their lives like they did before the disaster as much as possible. I recently thought about how I myself have done on that front. 震災以来、「なるべくいつも通りの生活を」と呼びかけてきたが、私自身、どうだろうとふと考えてみた。
Thinking about it, I realized a few things. One is that when I've gone to bookstores recently, I haven't been buying novels or medical books like usual. Instead I end up buying nothing but magazines related to the earthquake or the nuclear plant disaster. Another thing I realized was that, even though I've been telling people to "distract themselves for even a little while with a movie or music," I myself haven't set foot in a movie theater. そういえば、本屋さんに寄ってもなかなか小説や医学の専門書を手に取る気にならず、気がつけば地震や原発について書かれた雑誌ばかり買っている。「映画や音楽でひとときでも気をまぎらわせて」と言っているのに、映画館にも行っていない。
And, I realized that when my job at the hospital is over and I get myself ready to write an article like this, I end up writing about the earthquake disaster even if I didn't plan on it. It all showed me that my life is not back to its predisaster ways. 病院での仕事が終わってこうして原稿を書こうとすると、つい震災のことを書いてしまう。「なんだ、私もまだ平常通りの生活に戻ってないじゃないか」とちょっと反省した。
Last week I had a chance to go to Sendai, one month having passed since the earthquake. I met a friend from my high-school years who is now working as a researcher. She said that since the earthquake, she has been busy checking on the safety of her students and getting her lab equipment back in order. Keeping a cheerful mood, she said she was borrowing the bath of her friend's house because the gas line at her own house was still out. 先週、震災から１カ月を経た仙台に行く機会があり、現地の大学で研究生活を送る高校の同級生に会った。彼女は学生の安否確認やめちゃめちゃになった実験設備の修復に追われている、と言う。「ガスもまだ復旧してないから、お風呂は友だちの家で借りてるんだけどね」と明るく笑う彼女に、私は尋ねてみた。
I asked her, "Has your life completely changed because of the earthquake? These days, how much of your time is spent dealing with things like the aftermath of the earthquake and preparing for aftershocks? Around 80 percent or so?" 「震災で生活も一変しちゃった？ 今って、地震の後始末や余震への対応が毎日の何割くらいを占めてるの？ ８割くらいがそんな感じ？」
"Hmm," she thought for a second, tilting her head. Then came an unexpected answer: "Maybe around 20 percent." すると、「うーん」と一瞬、首をひねった彼女から返ってきた答えは、意外なものだった。「２割くらいかな」
She said that, yes, there were lots of earthquake-related things to take care of, but she was also going to international academic conferences and running experiments, just as usual. Her life had not been completely turned upside-down. たしかに震災に関した用事も多いが、その一方でいつも通り、国際学会に出かけたり実験をしたりもしているという。そうか、すべてが変わってしまったわけじゃないんだ、と私は納得した。
Just because the earthquake happened doesn't mean that we no longer like the food we once did, that the job we took pride in is now meaningless, or that a person with a kind, humor-loving personality must change. Thinking back to who we were before the earthquake, we can try to slowly get back into the things we were interested in, and restart the things we had begun. By doing so, we should be able to feel how our pre- and post-earthquake selves are a continuation of the same existence, and our feelings should change for the better. これまで好きだった食べものが、震災が起きたからといってきらいになるわけじゃない。やっていた仕事が、突然、無意味なものに変わるわけじゃない。やさしい、ユーモアが好き、といった性格の特徴も同じはず。「震災の前の私はどうだっけ」と思い出して、そのときにハマっていたもの、手がけていたものを、できればまた少しずつ始めてみる。そうして「自分や心は震災前も後も連続しているんだ」と確認するだけで、気分はずいぶん違うのではないだろうか。
For my part, I've recently started to read a book I bought before the earthquake but had been leaving untouched since. It has been as interesting as I hoped, and it made me feel that my pre-disaster self had returned. 私も、震災前に「読もう」と思って買ったままになっている本を読み始めた。それは期待通りの面白さで、３月以前の自分が戻ってくるような気がした。
Aftershocks will continue for some time, and many people will continue to be occupied with the results of the disaster, but I would like people to try saying to themselves, "Be it last year or this year, the person called 'me' is the same." (By Rika Kayama, psychiatrist) 余震も続きまだまだ落ち着かない生活を送る人も多いが、「私という人間は、去年も今年もちっとも変わってないんだ」とつぶやいてみてほしい。
The Yomiuri Shimbun (Apr. 24, 2011) Quickly pass donations to disaster victims 義援金の支給 善意を早く被災者の手元に（4月23日付・読売社説）
Huge amounts of money have been donated at home and abroad to survivors of the Great East Japan Earthquake. 東日本大震災の被災者に対して、国内や海外から、多くの義援金が寄せられている。
The Japanese Red Cross Society and the Central Community Chest for Japan have collected about 170 billion yen combined, and municipal governments in disaster-stricken areas have directly received donations of more than 20 billion yen. これまで、日本赤十字社と中央共同募金会に合わせて約１７００億円、被災した自治体にも直接、２００億円以上が集まった。
In the about 40 days since the March 11 earthquake and tsunami, the money donated has reached about the same amount as that given after the 1995 Great Hanshin Earthquake. The nuclear power plant crisis that has compounded the quake disaster has apparently stirred up feelings of sympathy in many people in Japan and overseas and convinced them to open their wallets. 発生から４０日余りで、阪神大震災で寄せられた義援金とほぼ同じ金額に達した。原子力発電所事故を併発した今回の震災に、内外の多くの人が心からの支援の気持ちを寄託したということだろう。
This money, however, has yet to reach disaster victims. ところが、このお金が、まだ被災者の手元に渡っていない。
Thousands of people are still living in temporary shelters without any belongings, having lost everything in the tsunami. They urgently need money just to get by. We hope the donated cash will reach them as soon as possible. 津波によって何もかも流され、着のみ着のまま避難所にいる人も多い。当座のお金にも困っているはずだ。一刻も早く義援金を配ってもらいたい。
On April 8, the secretariat of the committee in charge of distributing donations, which has been established in the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry, decided on distribution details of the first batch of donations. Families will receive 350,000 yen for each person who was killed in the disaster or remains missing, and owners of houses that were destroyed will receive 350,000 yen and people whose homes have been severely damaged will get 180,000 yen. 今回、義援金配分割合決定委員会の事務局は厚生労働省が務め、今月８日に第１次配分の基準額を決めた。亡くなった人の遺族や行方不明の人の家族に３５万円、家の被害は全壊が３５万円、半壊が１８万円――などだ。
===
Distribution too slow
The donations will be distributed based of these criteria. Prefectural governments will add some money of their own before handing the cash to disaster victims through city, town and village governments. これをもとに被災各県に配分され、県が独自に金額を上乗せするといった手続きを経て、市町村から被災者に渡される。
The reality, however, is that some disaster-struck municipalities have only just started offering application procedures for receiving donations. だが、ようやく一部自治体で申請手続きが始まったというのが現状である。
After the Great Hanshin Earthquake, the amount of the first distribution of donations was decided 12 days after the disaster, with people whose homes were destroyed receiving 100,000 yen in the initial payouts. Compared with this, decisions on donation distribution criteria and the payment process to victims of last month's quake and tsunami have been pointedly slow. Many people who generously made donations also probably feel frustrated by this situation. 阪神大震災では発生から１２日後に第１次配分額が決まり、家が全半壊した人などにまず１０万円が支給された。それに比べると配分基準の決定も支給も遅い。義援金を託した人の方も、もどかしさを感じているのではないか。
The immense devastation wrought by the disaster has made it all but impossible for many disaster-hit municipalities to accurately assess the damage to individual households. Administrative functions of some city, town and village governments have been so badly eroded that they are unable to address the task of distributing donations. 今回は、被害があまりにも甚大で、世帯ごとの被災状況をまだつかみきれない、という自治体が少なくない。役場の行政機能が大きく損なわれ、義援金の支給まで手が回らない市町村もある。
To alleviate this situation, the central government, prefectural governments outside the disaster zone and other entities should send personnel to lend a hand with clerical work needed to pass donations to disaster survivors. この面での事務作業にも、国や県、他地域の自治体から応援要員が必要だ。
===
Make payments uniform
We think a uniform provisional payment should be given to people with damaged homes, rather than wasting time worrying over whether a house should be categorized as "destroyed" or "partially damaged." 家屋は全壊か半壊かといった厳格な認定はおいて、暫定的な一律支給も検討すべきではないか。
A closer examination of the degree of damage can wait until the second round of donation distributions. 被害の程度については、第２次以降の配分時までに確定すればいい。
Cash will be very helpful to disaster victims. These initial payments should be made flexibly and swiftly. とりあえずの金額だけでも被災者は助かるだろう。柔軟なやり方で支給を急ぐべきだ。
Given the staggering death toll and number of people still unaccounted for, as well as the scale of property damage, much more money will need to be collected. 犠牲者の数や被害の大きさを考えれば、より多くの義援金を集める必要がある。
First of all, the initial batch of donations must be distributed without a hitch to people who desperately need it. This will be a springboard for the next round of support and financial aid. まずは、被災者に最初の義援金を役立ててもらいたい。それが次の支援の原動力になる。
It also will be a message of acknowledgement from Japan to people around the world who have sent their goodwill to disaster victims. 善意を寄せてくれた世界の人たちへ、日本からの感謝のメッセージにもなろう。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 23, 2011) （2011年4月23日01時26分 読売新聞）
The Yomiuri Shimbun (Apr. 23, 2011) Japan should fulfill global responsibility ３・１１後の外交 萎縮せず国際的役割を果たせ（4月22日付・読売社説）
What foreign policy should Japan conduct in the wake of the Great East Japan Earthquake? 東日本大震災を踏まえて、日本はどんな外交を展開すべきか。
We think the government should engage actively with the international community without becoming inward-looking. This will strengthen the nation's vitality and advance reconstruction. 内向き姿勢に陥らず、国際社会に積極的に関与することが、国家の活力を高め、復興を進めるうえでも重要となろう。
Prime Minister Naoto Kan held talks with visiting Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard on Thursday. They agreed to boost bilateral cooperation in areas of energy and disaster relief activities. Japan must use such occasions to clearly express its determination toward reconstruction and revitalization. 菅首相が２１日、来日したギラード豪首相と会談し、エネルギーや災害救援の分野で日豪協力を強化することで一致した。こうした場で、日本は復興・再生への決意を明確に発信することが肝要だ。
The foreign ministers of Japan and of the members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations met in Indonesia on April 9. Indonesia proposed to fellow ASEAN members the idea of holding the special meeting with Japan, saying it was the ASEAN nations' turn to demonstrate solidarity with Japan because it has supported them for many years. 今月９日にはインドネシアで、日本と東南アジア諸国連合の特別外相会議が開かれた。インドネシアが「長年支援してくれた日本に我々が連帯を示す番だ」と開催を呼びかけ、実現したものだ。
Since the March 11 earthquake and tsunami, more than 170 countries and international organizations have offered to help Japan, and many have already provided assistance. All of this is because Japan has developed cooperative ties with them and supported them in the past. 震災後、１７０以上の国や国際機関が日本支援を表明・実施しているのは、日本が各国と連携し、援助してきたからこそだ。
===
Keep a global perspective
Reconstruction of areas devastated by the earthquake and tsunami will require a huge amount of money and manpower. But Japan must not become so preoccupied with domestic concerns that it ignores its role in the international community and fails to look at things from a global viewpoint. 被災地の復興には、膨大な資金と人手を要するだろう。だが、国内だけに気をとられ、国際的な視点と役割を忘れてはなるまい。
First, the government should minimize reduction of official development assistance. まず、政府開発援助（ＯＤＡ）の削減は極力避けたい。
The government initially considered cutting appropriations for ODA, which were set at 572.7 billion yen in total in the initial budget for fiscal 2011, by 20 percent to free up funds for the first supplementary budget aimed at recovery and reconstruction after the earthquake and tsunami. 政府は、復旧・復興対策の第１次補正予算の財源として、５７２７億円のＯＤＡの２割減を検討した。
The idea of cutting money in an area of least resistance seemed like a simple idea. But many voices were raised against it, forcing the government to downsize the reduction to 10 percent. 削りやすい分野を削るという安易な発想だったが、異論が噴出し、削減幅を１割減に抑えた。
The nation's ODA budget has been decreasing for 12 straight years and is now at only half of its peak. Japan's world ranking in terms of ODA budget also declined from first place to fifth. During that period, Japan's international influence has declined as emerging economies rise. 日本のＯＤＡ予算は１２年連続で減少し、今はピーク時の半分だ。かつての世界１位から５位に転落した。この間、新興国の台頭もあり、日本の発言力は低下した。
The nation has to continue international contributions matching its position as the third largest economic power in the world to maintain its international influence. 国際社会での影響力を維持するには、世界３位の経済大国に見合う貢献を続ける必要がある。
Meanwhile, the government should not postpone a decision on whether to participate in negotiations over the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade treaty with the other Asian and Pacific countries. Though the Kan administration said it would make a decision on TPP in June, all the negotiating work in Japan and abroad has been suspended in the wake of the disaster. 環太平洋経済連携協定（ＴＰＰ）への参加問題も、先送りすべきではない。菅政権は６月に結論を出すとしていたが、震災後は国内外の調整作業が止まっている。
Nine countries, including the United States and Australia, are aiming to conclude TPP negotiations in November. We hope Japan will proceed steadily with domestic agricultural reforms and negotiations with concerned countries so that it would not be left behind. １１月の妥結を目指す米豪など９か国に日本が取り残されないように、国内農業改革や関係国との交渉を着実に進めたい。
===
Let SDF help elsewhere
It is also significant for the nation to maintain engagement with U.N. peacekeeping operations. Self-Defense Forces' performance in dealing with the disaster has been remarkable. The government should not limit the activities of the SDF to Japan. It should positively consider sending SDF units to Southern Sudan after independence and to other parts of the world to participate in PKOs. 国連平和維持活動（ＰＫＯ）への関与も大切だ。大震災で自衛隊は大きな実績を上げたが、国内活動だけにとどまらず、南部スーダン独立後のＰＫＯなどへの参加を前向きに検討すべきだ。
Cooperation in disaster preparedness and response as well as measures to secure the safety of nuclear power plants will be important agenda items in diplomacy among major countries this year. Attention will focus particularly on Japan's actions in response to its disasters. 今年の主要国の外交では、防災協力と原子力発電所の安全確保が重要議題となる。特に、被災国の日本の行動は注目されよう。
Japan should learn various lessons from its own experiences with the earthquake, tsunami and the ongoing crisis at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant. Then, it should lead discussions among major nations by making concrete proposals on what form international cooperation should take. That would be one way to return the favor for their assistance to Japan. 震災や原発事故の体験から様々な教訓をくみ取って、あるべき国際協力について具体的に提言し、議論をリードする。それが、各国の支援への恩返しともなる。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 22, 2011) （2011年4月22日01時23分 読売新聞）
(Mainichi Japan) April 21, 2011 TEPCO should incorporate measures to support workers in nuke plant roadmap 社説：原発作業員 工程表に「人」の支援も
The Fukushima No. 1 Nuclear Power Plant, hit hard by a massive tsunami generated by the March 11 earthquake, has managed to avoid catastrophe thanks to the efforts of workers who are trying hard to place the power station under control. 福島第１原発がなんとか事態の悪化を免れているのは、現場で必死の作業をしている人々のおかげだ。
More than 40 days have passed since the plant was hit by the disaster, and workers' fatigue and stress have certainly reached an alarming level. 事故発生から４０日を過ぎ、彼らの疲れもストレスも、ぎりぎりのところまで高まっているに違いない。
It is expected to take six to nine months before the plant can be placed under control, according to a roadmap released earlier this week by its operator, Tokyo Electric Power Co. (TEPCO). 東電が今週公表した工程表では、原発が一定の安定を保つ「冷温停止」までに６～９カ月かかるという。
However, it is feared that the work will actually take far longer. しかし、実際にはもっと長期間かかる可能性が高い。
Photos taken by remote-controlled robots illustrate severe conditions in the buildings housing the crippled reactors. ロボットを使った建屋の撮影などでも厳しい環境が改めて明らかになっている。
Many of the workers are crying out for help. こうした状況の中で一歩ずつ歩みを進めていくには、現場で作業する人々への支援がなにより大事だ。 しかし、現場から聞こえてくるのは胸の痛むような実態だ。
It is extremely important for TEPCO and the government to step up support for employees who are working hard under such severe conditions. 東京電力や政府は、もっと強力な支援体制作りを急がなくてはいけない。
A doctor who inspected TEPCO employees working at the plant has revealed that they are forced to sleep at a gymnasium attached to the Fukushima No. 2 Nuclear Power Plant after working at the No. 1 plant. 東電社員を現場で診察した産業医によると、福島第１で作業を終えた人は第２原発の体育館で雑魚寝している。
They cannot take a bath everyday and eat mostly canned and instant food. 入浴できる日も限られ、食事は缶詰やレトルトが中心だという。
Furthermore, many of them have been evacuated from their home situated in disaster-hit areas or had their residences damaged, and are mentally distressed. 自らが被災者の人も多く、精神的にも厳しい状況に置かれている。
TEPCO subcontract workers are also engaged in efforts to place the crippled plant under control. 現場では下請け会社の人々も働く。
The company should ensure that all its workers have proper food and can take a bath on a daily basis, and that they can receive mental care. すべての人に、食事や入浴といった基本的生活に加え、心理面のケアを提供してほしい。
A system should be created to allow workers to receive treatment from mental health specialists. 誰もが産業医の診察を受けられる体制も必要だ。
The severity of the labor that the workers are engaged in while being dressed in sealed-up protective gear is beyond imagination. 目張りした防護服に身を包んでの作業の厳しさも並大抵ではない。
The rainy season will begin in June, which will be followed by summer. これから梅雨に入り、その後には夏がくる。
An urgent task is to consider how work can be carried out in a suitable manner that reflects the climate and seasons. 気候に合わせた作業の在り方の検討も急を要する。
It is the job of TEPCO management as well as its task force to implement measures to improve the working environment for the workers. こうした体制作りは、東電本社や対策本部の仕事だ。
They must promptly take action before the workers start making demands. 現場からの要求を待つのではなく、先回りして手を打っていかなくてはいけない。
The lack of management's understanding of the working environment at the plant could lead to a blunder or a delay in the work. 現場に対する想像力の欠如は、作業のミスや停滞につながる。
Even after TEPCO manages to place the plant under control, it does not mean an end to the work. 原発を冷温停止に持ち込めても、作業は終わらない。
It will take many years to decontaminate the facility and remove radioactive substances and fuel from the plant. 施設の除染や放射性廃棄物の撤去、燃料の取り出しなどに長い年月がかかる。
Similar work lasted for 14 years following the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant crisis that occurred in the United States in 1979. ７９年に米国で起きたスリーマイル島原発事故では、こうした作業が終わるまでに１４年かかった。
It is anticipated the work at the Fukushima plant will take longer. 福島第１ではさらに長くかかるだろう。
Considering the need to secure help from skilled workers, it is necessary to monitor the level of radiation exposure. 長期にわたって熟練した作業員の力を借りる必要があることを思えば、放射線管理も注意深く行わなくてはいけない。
It must be ensured that all workers carry dosimeters. 被ばく量を測る線量計が個人個人に行きわたらないようなことがあってはならない。
If the work is prolonged, the power supplier will be forced to suspend workers at the plant one after another to prevent them from being exposed to radiation in excess of the legal limit, causing a serious shortage of personnel. 作業が長引けば、被ばく量が限度を超える人が続出し、人手が足りなくなることもありうる。
To avoid such a situation, TEPCO must work out a plan on personnel management from a long-term perspective. そうしたことがないよう、長期的視点で計画を立てるべきだ。
It may also have to train new workers. 新たに人材を育成する必要もあるかもしれない。
TEPCO's roadmap only mentions equipment at the plant. 工程表には設備のことしか書かれていない。
However, it is human resources that will place the plant under control. しかし、事故を収束させるのは人だ。
Therefore, measures to extend support for workers should be incorporated in the roadmap. 作業員の支援は工程表に盛り込んでしかるべきだ。
2011/04/20 --The Asahi Shimbun, April 19 EDITORIAL: TEPCO must prepare for additional risks in taming Fukushima crisis 原発工程表―これ以上悪くせず前へ
Tokyo Electric Power Co. (TEPCO) has set a specific time frame for its long battle to end the nuclear crisis. The company on April 17 unveiled a road map for stabilizing the dangerous situation at its Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant, which was severely damaged by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami. 「長い闘い」の長さが、数字で見えてきた。福島第一原発の事故収束をめぐって、東京電力が発表した工程表である。
In the first stage of the plan, which will take about three months, measures will be taken to ensure stable and safe cooling of the damaged reactors and spent fuel pools. ３カ月くらいかけて、事故炉や燃料プールを安定して冷却できるようにする。
In the second stage, steps will be made to bring the reactors to a stable state of cold shutdown in a process expected to require three to six months to complete. その後３～６カ月ほどで、炉を冷温停止状態に落ち着かせる。
It will take even longer to rebuild the lives of people living in areas around the ravaged nuclear power plant. TEPCO admitted for the first time that it will take as many as six to nine months just to put the sources of radioactivity under control, which is a prerequisite for Fukushima evacuees to return home and restart their lives. 原発周辺の人々の生活再建はさらに長い闘いになるが、その前提である放射能源の制圧だけでも６～９カ月かかることを、東電は初めて認めた。
The continuous pouring of water on the reactors and the pools have prevented the No. 1 to No. 4 units at the plant from running out of control. 福島第一の１～４号機は今、炉やプールに水を注ぎ続けることで小康が保たれている。
If this makeshift measure fails, the risk of a massive release of radioactive materials will grow sharply, forcing the government to reconsider again its policy concerning the evacuation of residents in the surrounding areas. これが破綻（はたん）したら、放射性物質のさらなる大量放出の恐れが高まり、周辺地域の避難のあり方を再び見直すことにもなろう。
That would place far severer strains on the residents than the already heavy burdens they are bearing now. そうなれば、住民が背負う重荷は今の比ではない。
The utility needs to execute its plan for containing the crisis under such circumstances. What is the most important is to prevent the situation from becoming any worse. こうしたなかでの収束作戦である。なによりも強く求められているのは、これ以上悪い状態にしない、ということだ。
First and foremost, the company needs to be properly prepared for unpredictable events that may occur. まず備えるべきは、不測の出来事だ。
The biggest fear is a possible disruption in external power supply that causes the water injection to stop, which happened after a recent huge aftershock. とりわけ怖いのは、先日の大きな余震のときのように外部電源が途絶え、注水が止まることである。
TEPCO's blueprint refers to such risks as aftershocks and lightning strikes, indicating that the company is trying to figure out ways to enhance the external power supply system. This should be done swiftly. 工程表も余震や落雷などのリスクに触れ、外部電源系の補強を考えているようだ。この対策は急務といえよう。
Easing this emergency requires working on reactors and fuel pools that cannot be inspected from up close due to high levels of radiation. 事故収束に向けた作業は、近づいて中をのぞくことのできない炉やプールを相手にする。
It is certain that the fix-it plan will have to be reviewed after each step is taken. 工程を一歩進めるごとに見直しを迫られるのは必至だ。
The company must not be so focused on carrying out the scheduled plan that it overlooks a big problem. 期限にばかり気をとられて急ぐあまり、大きな問題点を見逃すことがあってはならない。
The road map raises concerns about whether the number of workers needed to carry through the lengthy process can be secured. 工程表を見て気にかかるのは長丁場に必要な人力だ。
The plan requires a raft of tough and risky tasks, like sealing the container vessel of the No. 2 reactor and reinforcing the structure supporting the fuel pool for the No. 4 reactor. We wonder how many workers will be needed to perform these jobs. ２号機格納容器の密閉や、４号機の燃料プール周辺の補強など難しい作業が列挙されているが、それらにどれだけの作業員がかかわるのだろうか。
Workers will face the risk of being exposed to high levels of radiation. 現場は、放射線を浴びる危険が大きい。
At the entrance to the building housing the No. 1 reactor, for instance, a level of radiation recently detected was so high that working for just an hour at the location would expose the worker to more radiation than the upper limit. １号機建屋の入り口では、作業員が１時間いるだけで被曝（ひばく）線量限度を超える放射線が測定された。
TEPCO's plan duly acknowledges the risk by pointing out the concern that long-term work at places with high levels of radiation may be required. 工程表にも「放射線レベルの高い場所で、作業が長期化する恐れ」が明記されている。
Workers must be replaced regularly before they are exposed to excessive amounts of radiation. 同じ人にずっと働いてもらうわけにはいかない。
In addition, all of the damaged No. 1 to No. 4 reactor buildings are releasing radiation. That means the measures prescribed must be taken simultaneously at all the four buildings. さらに、放射能源を封じなくてはならないのは１～４号機のすべてで、これらの作業を同時に進めなくてはならない。
The manpower that can be provided by TEPCO, the reactor makers and their affiliates may be far from enough to carry out all these tasks. 東電や原子炉メーカー、関連会社の人たちだけでは、とても追いつかないかもしれない。
Two key challenges in the mission are how to secure a sufficient number of workers, including reinforcements, and how to protect the health of these workers. 応援を含め、要員をどうやって確保するか。一線で働く人たちの健康をどう守っていくか。
The government is also taking on a heavy responsibility by accepting TEPCO's road map to safety at the crippled nuclear power plant. 政府も、この工程表を受け入れる以上は責任が重い。
(Mainichi Japan) April 17, 2011 Kaleidoscope of the Heart: Emotions on the one-month anniversary of the earthquake 香山リカのココロの万華鏡：震災から１カ月 ／東京
More than one month has now passed since the devastating earthquake and tsunami. 震災から１カ月。
We have all spent the time since then in our own ways, but there may be those who recently found themselves vividly remembering that day one month ago, once again being assaulted by fear or sadness. それぞれの人が、それぞれのすごし方をしたはずだ。 中には、１カ月前のあの日のことが生々しく思い出され、恐怖、悲しみが再び襲ってきた、という人もいるのではないだろうか。
There may even be those who have become physically ill, even as they were just getting their lives back on track. 生活がやっと元のリズムに戻りつつあったのに、また体調が悪くなったという人もいるかもしれない。
A person's emotional state becoming highly unsettled on the weekly, monthly, or yearly anniversary of some big event is a known phenomenon in psychiatry, and it in itself is neither a disease nor is it abnormal. 大きなできごとから１週間、１カ月、１年など節目節目のときに、感情が激しく揺れてしまう。これは、精神医学の世界で「記念日反応」と呼ばれる現象で、それ自体は異常でも病気でもない。
One cause of it can be emphasis placed on such anniversaries by television programs and newspapers. テレビや新聞が「あれから１カ月」と強調するのも、この反応の引き金になることがある。
However, as much as one tells oneself that "this is not abnormal," the emotional disturbance itself can be very hard to bear, and some people may take a further emotional hit by seeing a reversal in themselves after they thought they had made progress in recovering. ただ、いくら「異常ではないのだ」と思っても、それ自体はとてもつらく、「少しは立ち直ったはずだったのに」と感情の揺り戻しにショックを受ける人もいるだろう。
In the case of the recent disasters, the continuing aftershocks and developments at the nuclear power plant may have aggravated this anniversary phenomenon. とくに、繰り返す余震や原発事故への不安が、１カ月目の心の反応をよりシビアなものにしているおそれがある。
Preventing the occurrence of this anniversary reaction might not be possible. この記念日反応自体が起こらないようにするのは、正直言ってむずかしい。
However, just knowing of its existence should take away some of the emotional burden of those experiencing it. ただ、そういうものがあると知っておくだけでも、心は少しラクになるはずだ。
If you find yourself thinking, "Lately, I feel somehow anxious, and I'm often crying," you can then think, "Ah wait, this may be my reaction to the one-month anniversary. It can happen to anyone, and it's OK," and it may become easier to let those bad feelings pass. 「最近、なんだかまた心がざわつくな。涙もよくこぼれるし。そうか、これが１カ月目あたりの記念日反応なのか」と思うと、「誰でもなることなんだから、だいじょうぶ」とやり過ごしやすくなるのではないか。
Furthermore, if one intentionally makes oneself aware of anniversaries and then passes them with an activity like offering a silent prayer, then I think one can reduce the feelings of uneasiness. また節目の時を自分であえて「あれから半年か」などと意識して、静かに祈りの時をすごすなどすれば、えたいの知れない感情による動揺を減らせると思う。
Thinking about it, after a disaster this huge, it is only natural that the path to recovery will not be a simple and straight one. 考えてみれば、これだけの大災害なのだから、立ち直りの道のりが一直線でないのも、あたり前。
It is extremely normal that people would feel anxiety during anniversary periods, going from having somewhat positive attitudes back to gloomy ones, and from having energy to losing it. 節目の時期に気持ちが揺れるのは、ごく自然のことだ。少し前向きになったかと思うとまた落ち込み、やる気があふれてきたはずなのに突然、無気力になる。
Even if there are ups and downs, as long as the end result is recovery, there is no problem. 山あり谷ありでだんだん、元気になっていけばそれでいいのだ。
No one should feel bad about themselves if they experience stalls or setbacks on their road to recovery. 復興の歩みの中で、停滞したりまた心が逆戻りしたりすることを、後ろめたく思わないでほしい。
In fact, I worry about those who have made themselves consistently positive and optimistic since the disaster, and whether built up exhaustion won't at some point overcome them, coming out all at once. むしろ、発生直後から一貫して前向きで元気いっぱい、という人のほうが、いつかその疲れが一気に出るのでは、と心配だ。
Amidst all of this, I don't expect that anyone can completely be their normal selves, and it's no mystery if something happens to our emotional states. こんな中、誰もがいつもの自分でなんかいられるはずがない。
Without being surprised or caught off-guard by any changes we find in ourselves, we should move forward, doing what we can, while not trying to do the impossible. 心にも何が起きても不思議ではない。驚かずうろたえず、自分の変化を受けとめながら、できることをできる分だけやっていく。できないときには無理をしない。
There is nothing wrong with such a path to recovery, even if it's a bit of a zigzag. (By Rika Kayama, psychiatrist) そんなジグザグの歩みでいいはずだ。
(Mainichi Japan) April 16, 2011 Japan should change energy policy following nuclear power plant crisis 社説：震災後 地震国の原発 政策の大転換を図れ
Events that have occurred since the March 11 Great East Japan Earthquake have reminded us of the reality Japan faces -- another powerful earthquake could occur anytime and anywhere, and we have no way to predict it. いつ、どこで、どれほど大きな地震や津波が起きても不思議はない。しかも、それを予測するすべを私たちは持たない。
日本列島の現実を改めて思い知らされる１カ月だった。
予測不能な大地震だけでも日本が抱える大きなリスクである。
Fifty-four nuclear reactors are situated in coastal areas of Japan. Many experts have repeatedly pointed out how difficult it is to ensure the safety of nuclear power plants in this earthquake-prone country. その海岸沿いに５４基の原発が建ち並ぶ。地震と原発の共存がいかにむずかしいか。警告は何度も発せられてきた。
Some scientists had predicted that radiation could leak from a nuclear power plant if it was damaged by a powerful quake and ensuing tsunami. One of them, Kobe University professor emeritus Katsuhiko Ishibashi, called such a potential accident an "earthquake-triggered nuclear power plant disaster." 石橋克彦・神戸大名誉教授のように「原発震災」という言葉で惨事を予見してきた科学者もいる。
However, electric power suppliers as well as the government had dismissed such warnings as a "minority opinion." The consequences of this attitude are the serious crisis at the crippled Fukushima No. 1 Nuclear Power Plant operated by Tokyo Electric Power Co. (TEPCO). しかし、電力会社も政府も「少数派」として退けてきた。その帰結が今、私たちが直面する東京電力福島第１原発の深刻な事故である。
◇「想定外」許されぬ
The distortion of the earth's crust caused by the powerful quake has had a huge impact on various areas of Japan. No optimism can be justified for future seismic activity in the Japanese archipelago. 大地震がもたらした地殻のゆがみは各地に影響を与えている。今後の地震活動は、予断を許さない。
The government has no choice but to seriously consider whether quake-prone Japan can coexist with nuclear power stations, take prompt countermeasures and drastically change its nuclear energy policy. 地震国日本は原発と共存できるのか。真摯（しんし）に検証した上で、早急に打つべき手を打ちながら、原発政策の大転換を図るしかない。
The biggest problem with nuclear power plants is their lack of measures against tsunami. Measures to protect nuclear plants from tsunami are incorporated in the government's guidelines for the quake-resistance of nuclear power plants that were revised in 2006, but priority has not been given to anti-tsunami measures. Moreover, power suppliers have been slow to re-examine their nuclear plants in accordance with the amended guidelines. TEPCO has not even completed its re-examination. まず、誰もが問題だと思うのは津波対策の不備だ。０６年に改定された原発耐震指針に盛り込まれているが、扱いは非常に軽い。新指針に基づく再点検も後回しにされ、東電は点検を終えていない。
On the other hand, some electric power companies strengthened measures to protect their nuclear plants from tsunami following the Chuetsu Offshore Earthquake in Niigata Prefecture in 2007. One of them is the Tokai No. 2 Nuclear Power Plant in central Japan. 一方で、東海第２原発のように新潟県中越沖地震の後に津波対策を一部強化していたところもある。
It is not permissible to conclude that the crisis at the Fukushima plant was caused by an unexpected massive tsunami. 「想定外の津波」という言葉で事故を総括することは許されない。
TEPCO's responses to the crisis are highly questionable. TEPCO was unprepared for a situation in which all external power sources were lost and it became impossible to cool down nuclear reactors for a long time. This is despite the fact that following the 1979 crisis at the Three Mile Island nuclear power station in the United States, countermeasures against serious nuclear power plant accidents were worked out in Japan to cope with the possibility of more catastrophic nuclear plant disasters. 事故対応にも疑問は多い。７９年の米スリーマイル島原発事故をきっかけに、設計の想定を超える事態への対応として「過酷事故対策」が日本でも用意された。 ところが、今回のようにすべての電源が失われ、原子炉が長期間にわたって冷却不能に陥った場合の具体的備えが東電にはなかった。
Initial responses to a nuclear power station accident are extremely crucial. Nevertheless, TEPCO was slow in introducing power-supply vehicles to the crippled plant, ventilating the reactors and pouring sea water into the reactors to cool them down. This shows that TEPCO was unprepared to implement serious accident countermeasures. 事故対応には初動が何より大事だ。にもかかわらず、電源車の用意や、原子炉の換気、海水注入などに手間取った。過酷事故対策を運用する準備があったとは思えない。
Power suppliers should put priority on securing electric power sources at their nuclear power stations in case of emergency. Guidelines for measures to protect nuclear plants from tsunami and their quake-resistance need to be promptly reviewed. 当面の課題は、全国の原発で電源確保を確実にすることだ。津波対策や耐震強化の見直しも急がねばならない。
The government has also come under mounting pressure to review its regulations on nuclear power plants and the system to supervise them. 国の規制や監視体制も改革を迫られている。
We have repeatedly pointed out that it is contradictory that the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency that regulates and supervises nuclear power plants comes under the umbrella of the Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry that is promoting nuclear power generation. The government's responses to the accident have illustrated this contradiction. Furthermore, the accident has called into question the raison d'etre of the Cabinet Office's Nuclear Safety Commission (NSC). The government should reorganize these bodies into a completely independent regulatory organization. 監督官庁である原子力安全・保安院が原発推進の立場にある経済産業省に属する矛盾はこれまでも指摘してきた。今回の対応にもその矛盾を感じる。原子力安全委の存在意義も問われている。完全に独立した規制機関を再構築すべきだ。
But the implementation of these measures alone is not enough. ただし、こうした「手当て」を施して良しとするわけにはいかない。
Following the crisis at the Fukushima plant, NSC Chairman Haruki Madarame remarked, "Nuclear power stations can't be designed without discarding the potential for some problems, but the accident shows the way the potential problems were disregarded was wrong." 事故発生後、原子力安全委の班目春樹委員長は「割り切らなければ原発は設計できないが、割り切り方が正しくなかった」と述べた。安全委員長の発言として納得できないが、それに加えて疑問が浮かぶ。
His remarks have raised questions as to whether a catastrophic accident can be prevented if problems are conveniently disregarded and whether it is enough to strengthen safety regulations, improve equipment and work out measures to respond to any emergency situation. 割り切り方を間違えなければ大事故は起きないのか。安全規制を厳しくし、設備や緊急時の対応策を整えれば、事足りるのかという点だ。
Both the government and power suppliers had emphasized for many years that nuclear power plants are safe because they are protected by multiple safety devices. However, the latest crisis has illustrated the fragileness of the multiple protective devices. これまで、電力会社も政府も、原発は安全装置を何重にも重ねた「多重防護」に守られ、安全だと強調してきた。しかし、今回の事故で多重防護のもろさがわかった。
In other words, the accident has demonstrated that complete safety can not be achieved even if far more protective devices are installed at nuclear plants, and that serious accident countermeasures, implemented following the Three Mile Island disaster, have been unable to quickly bring the potential for nuclear disaster under control. どこまで安全装置を重ねても絶対の安全はなく、過酷事故対策も事故を収拾できなかったというのが現実だ。
◇依存度下げる決意を
There are arguments that aircraft and trains pose similar safety risks. However, a catastrophic accident involving a nuclear power plant has a far more serious and far-reaching impact over a far lengthier period. The risks posed by the coexistence of unpredictable major earthquakes and nuclear power plants should not be tolerated. リスクがあるのは飛行機や列車も同じだという議論もあるだろう。しかし、原発は大事故の影響があまりに大きく、長期に及ぶ。地震国であるという日本の特性も無視できない。予測不能な地震と原発の掛け算のようなリスクを、このまま許容できるとは思えない。
Considering such risks, extreme prudence should be exercised in considering whether to resume the operations of other nuclear power plants in quake-hit areas, such as the Onagawa plant in Miyagi Prefecture. It will be almost impossible to build new nuclear power stations from now on. 大震災の影響を考えれば、女川原発など被災した原発の再開も非常に慎重に考えざるをえない。今後の原発の新設は事実上不可能だろう。
Based on these realities, we recommend that Japan take the opportunity of the Fukushima disaster to launch efforts to decrease its reliance on nuclear power plants from a long-term perspective. It is unrealistic to simultaneously dismantle all the existing nuclear power plants. Rather, Japan should gradually decrease its reliance on nuclear power generation by prioritizing the dismantling of nuclear power plants that are considered more vulnerable to disasters. こうした現実を踏まえ、大災害を転機に、長期的な視点で原発からの脱却を進めたい。既存の原発を一度に廃止することは現実的ではないが、危険度に応じて閉鎖の優先順位をつけ、依存度を減らしていきたい。
Top priority should be placed on decommissioning the Hamaoka Nuclear Power Plant in Shizuoka Prefecture that sits just above the probable focus of a Tokai quake that is believed certain to occur sooner or later. 第一に考えるべきは浜岡原発だ。近い将来、必ず起きると考えられる東海地震の震源域の真上に建っている。
In the latest disaster, the focus of several quakes simultaneously moved and caused a massive quake. The possibility cannot be ruled out that the focus of Tokai and Tonankai and Nankai earthquakes in central and western Japan will simultaneously move, causing a huge quake and tsunami. 今回、複数の震源が連動して巨大地震を起こした。東海・東南海・南海が連動して巨大地震・大津波を起こす恐れは見過ごせない。
Aging nuclear power plants are particularly vulnerable to earthquakes because the most advanced technology for ensuring safety of such power stations is not incorporated in them and the most advanced knowledge of seismology is not taken into account in their design. 老朽化した原発も危険度は高い。原発の安全性の知識も地震の知識も進展している。古い原発にはその知識を反映しにくい。
Japan has relied on nuclear power generation for 30 percent of the total electric power consumed across the country. Many people think that nuclear power plants should be maintained as a stable source of electric power. Some have expressed concern that the Japanese economy could not survive without such power generators. 日本は電力の３割を原発に依存してきた。安定した電源として擁護論は強い。原発なくして日本の経済が成り立たないのではないかという懸念もある。
Still, we should understand that the "quake-triggered nuclear power plant disaster" occurred as a result of putting priority on the economy over safety. It is hoped that we will come up with ways to live affluent lives without relying on nuclear power plants even though the pros and cons of maintaining such plants should be decided by the whole nation. しかし、経済と安全をてんびんにかけた結果としての原発震災を直視したい。最終的には国民の判断ではあるが、原子力による電源に頼らなくても、豊かに暮らすための知恵を絞りたい。
The promotion of recyclable energy sources -- to which close attention is being paid as measures to prevent global warming -- and the achievement of a low-energy consumption society will be a key to breaking away from Japan's dependence on nuclear power. Now is the time for Japan to pursue electric power sources that are suitable for such an earthquake-prone country and adopt lifestyles that match the supply of electricity. そのためには、温暖化対策で注目された再生可能エネルギーの促進や低エネルギー社会の実現がひとつの鍵となるはずだ。地震国日本に適した電源と、それに基づく暮らし方を、今こそ探っていく時だ。
The Yomiuri Shimbun (Apr. 16, 2011) Govt, TEPCO must share compensation burdens 原発事故賠償 国と東電が分担して救済を（4月15日付・読売社説）
There is no sign yet of when the crisis at Tokyo Electric Power Co.'s Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant in Fukushima Prefecture will be brought under control. Compensation for damages stemming from the accident is bound to be tremendous. 東京電力福島第一原子力発電所の事故は依然、収束のめどが立たない。被害に対する賠償は巨額となろう。
Under the current system, TEPCO in principle bears the entire responsibility for paying damages, but the private firm's resources are finite. Consequently, the government must help ensure that people who suffered as a result of the crisis are fully and fairly compensated. 現行制度では、東電が基本的に賠償責任を負うが、民間企業としての限界もある。最終的には政府が責任を持って被害救済にあたるべきだ。
The government has established a headquarters to deal with economic damage due to the nuclear power plant crisis, with all Cabinet ministers as members. It has also set up a dispute reconciliation committee for such damage compensation, an expert panel assigned to draft compensation guidelines. We hope the government will come up with concrete measures on the issue. 政府は、全閣僚による原発事故の「経済被害対応本部」と、賠償に当たっての指針を作る有識者の「原子力損害賠償紛争審査会」を設けた。早急に具体的な対策作りを進めてもらいたい。
===
Huge compensation needed
TEPCO plans to provide provisional compensation payments as early as this month, of 1 million yen per household to evacuated families and those living in zones where people have been advised to keep indoors. Many such people are facing financial difficulties in everyday life as a result of their hasty evacuations. We hope TEPCO will make the payments as soon as possible. 東電は月内にも、避難した世帯などへ、１００万円ずつ賠償金を仮払いする方針だ。急な避難で生活資金に困っている人も多い。東電は、実施を急いでほしい。
After the provisional payments, work toward realizing full-fledged compensation, such as calculating an appropriate sum for each household, should be treated as an urgent task. 仮払いの後には、被害者ごとの賠償額を算定するなど、本格的賠償に向けた取り組みが急務だ。
In the case of the 1999 criticality accident at JCO Co.'s nuclear fuel conversion facility in Tokaimura, Ibaraki Prefecture, 150 people evacuated for three days, resulting in total compensation of 15 billion yen for business and personal damages. 茨城県東海村の核燃料加工施設で、１９９９年に起きた臨界事故では、１５０人が３日間避難し、賠償額は計１５０億円だった。
The number of evacuees concerned this time is far greater, currently estimated at about 80,000, and is expected to increase further. Damage to farms and fisheries caused by radioactive substances is also expanding and serious. 今回の避難者は約８万人とケタ違いで、さらに増えそうだ。放射性物質による農業、漁業の被害も深刻化している。
The Law on Compensation for Nuclear Damage stipulates that the state will pay up to 120 billion yen per nuclear power plant in the case of an accident caused by an earthquake or tsunami. That is probably far short of the amount necessary this time. 原子力損害賠償法では、地震や津波による原発事故は、国が発電所１か所ごとに、最大１２００億円補償することになっているが、とても足りまい。
But the law also stipulates that, if the damage is caused by "an abnormally large natural disaster," the central government will shoulder the entire cost of compensation. However, the government and TEPCO have different views on the meaning of "an abnormally large natural disaster," making a settlement of the issue likely to take considerable time. 原因が「異常に巨大な天災地変」とされた場合には、国が全面的に負担するとの規定もあるが、「天災地変」の解釈を巡って国と東電の見解は異なっており、決着がつくまで時間がかかりそうだ。
===
Follow basic principle
To accelerate the work of extending compensation to evacuated residents, it would be appropriate to follow the basic principle of the law: TEPCO accepts a certain degree of burden and the central government assists by paying the rest. 被害者救済を急ぐには、東電が一定の負担を受け入れ、それ以上は国が支援するという、原賠法の原則による解決が妥当だろう。
In that case, an important point will be how to decide the amount of compensation to be shouldered by TEPCO. If the company's financial strength is so depleted that it has difficulty maintaining service and is unable to invest in programs to beef up its power supply capacity, it could lead to serious problems in the future. その場合、東電の負担額をどう決めるかが焦点となる。東電が経営的に追い込まれ、財務力が低下して電力供給力の増強などの投資に支障が出るようでは、将来に禍根を残す。
While taking necessary steps on one hand, such as clarifying TEPCO's degree of corporate responsibility for failing to prevent the accident, the government has to decide on a compensation amount that would leave the utility firm solvent. 東電の経営責任の明確化など必要な措置を講じつつ、支払い能力の範囲内で決めるべきである。
Recently a new compensation plan surfaced. According to the plan, in addition to burdens to be paid by TEPCO, other power companies will offer financial contributions in a mutual aid system, according to the number of nuclear reactors each company possesses. ここに来て、新たな賠償案も浮上した。東電の負担に加え、他の電力会社も原発の保有数に応じて資金を出す、というものだ。
The Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant crisis is a serious problem, not only for TEPCO but for the entire power industry. To prepare for an emergency, it may be better for the industry to adopt a mechanism such as the mutual aid system, under which the companies help each other. 福島第一原発の事故は、電力業界全体にとって深刻な問題だ。万が一に備え、電力各社が助け合う「共済制度」のような仕組みがあっていいのではないか。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 15, 2011) （2011年4月15日01時19分 読売新聞）
(Mainichi Japan) April 15, 2011 Japan eternally grateful for international support following disaster 社説：世界の支援 はげましを忘れない
Kenji Miyazawa, a poet and author of children's books, was born in Iwate Prefecture in 1896, the year when the Meiji Sanriku earthquake and tsunami hit, and died at the age of 37 in 1933, the year the Showa Sanriku earthquake and tsunami struck. 岩手出身の詩人・童話作家、宮沢賢治は明治三陸大津波の年（１８９６）に生まれ、昭和三陸大津波の年（１９３３）に３７歳の生涯を閉じた。
Miyazawa loved the Tohoku region and heaped infinite love on his poor and humble countrymen and women. 東北の大地に住む、貧しくつつましい人たちに、限りない愛情を注いだ賢治。
In his masterpiece "Night on the Milky Way Train," Giovanni, the lead character of the book, lowers his head and murmurs, "What should I do for the sake of that person's happiness." 代表作「銀河鉄道の夜」には、主人公の心やさしい少年ジョバンニが「ぼくはそのひとのさいわいのためにいったいどうしたらいいのだろう」と、こうべをたれてつぶやく場面がある。
Many people from around the world have supported Japan since the Great East Japan Earthquake. The U.S. military implemented "Operation Tomodachi," a mission in which 20,000 personnel delivered supplies and engaged in search and rescue efforts. Other foreigners provided materials such as canned food and underwear for people at shelters. 東日本大震災が起きてから、世界中が日本を支えてくれた。２万人態勢の「トモダチ作戦」で物資輸送、救助・捜索にあたった米軍をはじめ、缶詰や下着など避難生活に必要な物資を送ったり、医療活動などにあたった多くの国。
Foreign governments were not alone in providing support and offered words of encouragement. Kenyan girls sang a song together mourning the victims of the tsunami. Nurse and nursing care candidates in Jakarta donated 140,000 yen out of their own pockets despite their less well-off lives. 涙を流しながら、津波犠牲者を悼む歌を合唱したケニアの少女たち。決して裕福ではない生活の中から１４万円を寄付してくれた、ジャカルタの看護師・介護福祉士候補者のみなさん。
We want to say a big thank you to the numerous tender-hearted Giovannis who sympathized with disaster victims and did all these things for the sake of their happiness. We will not forget your acts of kindness. 遠い異国の被災者のつらさをわがものと受け止め、他者のしあわせを自分のしあわせに置きかえる無数のやさしいジョバンニに、私たちはこう伝えたい。ありがとう、あなたがたの気持ちは忘れません、と。
Foreign residents in Japan also prepared meals and removed debris in the battered areas. Goodwill and consideration beyond national borders and nationalities has encouraged the Japanese who have been absorbed in grief. 日本に住む外国人も、被災地に行って炊き出しなどのボランティアをしている。震災で悲しみに沈む日本人にとり、国境や国籍を超えた思いやりは大きなはげましだった。
After the big earthquake, the huge tsunami and the nuclear power plant catastrophe, we had been at a loss as to what to do over the series of unmitigated disasters but are now feeling firsthand the bonds of friendship. 大地震と大津波と原発事故。容赦ない災害の連鎖にぼうぜんとなりながらも、私たちは今、世界との絆を感じている。
Japan is not alone. We firmly believe this as we face a long road to reconstruction and revival. 日本は一人じゃない。復興と再生への遠い道のりを前にしながら、そう思う。
Until this recent disaster, Japan had been a provider of support. We are now on the receiving end of support from around the world. 私たちはこれまで、支援を与える側にいた。その私たちが、支援を受ける側に立った。
Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva who mapped out an emergency support budget worth as much as 550 million yen said, "Japan has played an important role in the development of Thailand over the last 50 years. This is an opportunity to return the favor." 約５億５０００万円の緊急支援予算を組んだタイのアピシット首相は「日本はこの５０年間、タイの発展に重要な役割を担ってきた。タイが恩に報いるのはこの機会だ」と語った。
Many countries and international organizations say this is their turn to help Japan, which has long helped them. 多くの国や国際機関が、いままで助けてくれた日本を今度は私たちが助ける番だ、と言ってくれる。
International support, coexistence, co-prosperity, global citizens... we are touched by these words, which we had long just used like a recital. We recognize anew that goodwill beyond national borders is so heart-warming on the receiving side. 国際支援、共存共栄、地球市民。お題目のように使ってきたこうした言葉が、抽象的ではなく、生き生きとした実感を伴って、私たちの胸に響く。外国から寄せられる善意が、困難な環境にいる人たちにとって、どれほど心温まるものかを、私たちは今さらながらに知った。
Big aftershocks continue and it is not clear as to when the hardship of disaster victims will end. There are no estimates as to when the nuclear accident will be under control. 大きな余震が続き、震災被災者たちの苦境は、いつ終わるともしれない。原発事故が収束するかどうかもなお、予測がつかない。
It will take a little more time before a fully vibrant Japanese society will re-emerge. But we will come back as a strong and striking nation to respond to the encouragement from the international community and transform ourselves into a nation that can host many visitors from abroad once again. 再び活力あふれる日本社会が戻ってくるまでには、もう少し時間がかかるだろう。だが私たちは、強じんで魅力ある国として、必ず復活する。国際社会からの温かいエールに応えるためにも。世界中からまた、たくさんの人がやってくる国にするためにも。
Japan is not alone. At the same time, it means Japan cannot live alone. We are a nation that is destined to depend on other countries for energy resources and food and live on as a trading nation. A peaceful existence is essential for Japan's survival. 日本は一人じゃない。それは、同時に、日本は一人では生きられないということでもある。エネルギー資源や食料を海外に依存し、外国と交易しながら生きていくことを、運命づけられた国である。平和な日常は、日本の生存にとって不可欠である。
Accordingly, we want to be a compassionate country -- more than ever considerate of others' pain. There are many people in the world who have lost their jobs and families and live in poverty and suffer from diseases due to unjust external forces such as natural disasters and conflicts. であればこそ私たちは、他者の痛みに、よりいっそう敏感な国でありたい。自然災害や紛争など、不条理な外部からの力によって仕事や家族や大切な人を失い、貧困や疾病に苦しむ人たちが、世界にはおおぜいいるのだから。
We will place the utmost importance on the opening of our eyes to the world and the protection of individual dignity. That is the path we will take to show our appreciation for the support from the international community during this devastating disaster. 外に目を開き、この地球に住む一人一人の人間の尊厳を守ることを何よりも大切にする－－。それが、震災でいただいた世界の支援に、私たちが応える道ではないだろうか。
(Mainichi Japan) April 13, 2011 Japan must prevent another Level 7 nuclear plant crisis by all means 社説：レベル７ 「最悪」の更新を防げ
The Chernobyl disaster in 1986, which was rated Level 7 on the International Nuclear and Radiological Event Scale (INES), is still regarded as the world's worst nuclear power plant accident in history. Level 7 crises are accidents that lead to "major releases of radioactive materials." 世界の原発史上最悪の事故は８６年に旧ソ連で起きたチェルノブイリ原発事故と考えられてきた。国際評価尺度（ＩＮＥＳ）では、「放射性物質の重大な外部放出」を伴うレベル７と評価されている。
Just recently, the government has raised the level of the crisis at the Fukushima No. 1 Nuclear Power Plant that was hit hard by a massive tsunami generated by the March 11 Great East Japan Earthquake to Level 7 on the INES. 政府は、東京電力福島第１原発で続いている事故もまた、レベル７に相当すると認めた。
The decision will not cause any change in the work underway to place the crippled nuclear plant under control. Now, there is no choice but to take all possible measures to cool down the cores of the affected reactors. これによって事故収束に向けた作業が変わるわけではない。今は安定した冷却に向け、あらゆる対策をとっていくしか選択肢はない。
Still, questions remain as to why the crisis level was raised at this time. It would be a problem if it reflects the government's underestimation of the seriousness of the crisis and reluctance to fully release information on the accident. しかし、なぜ今ごろになって評価を引き上げたのか、疑問は残る。事故に対する認識の甘さや、情報公開への及び腰な態度を反映してのことなら、問題だ。
The government raised the crisis level of the Fukushima nuclear accident from 4 to 5 on March 18. By that time, explosions and fires had occurred near the affected reactors one after another. It was obvious that a considerable amount of radioactive substances had been leaking from the reactors, judging from the levels of radiation around the plant. 政府は福島原発の事故を３月１８日にレベル４から５に引き上げている。この時すでに、原子炉周辺では次々と爆発や火災が起きていた。周囲の放射線レベルを見ても、かなりの量の放射性物質が放出されているのは明らかだった。
Nevertheless, an estimation of the total amount of radiation leaked from the plant, based on which the crisis level was rated 7, had not been released until recently. The government explained that it took a long time to increase the accuracy of the data. However, it will lose the public's confidence if it had been aware that the accident should be rated Level 7 but delayed the announcement by saying it was still analyzing figures. ところが、レベル７の判断材料となる放出総量の試算はなかなか公開されなかった。精度を上げるのに時間がかかったというのが政府の説明だが、レベル７を認識しつつ、毎日「試算中」と答えるにとどまったとすれば信頼を損なう。
The government was also slow in releasing the cumulative radiation levels, based on which evacuation plans are worked out. The data, which is indispensable in ensuring the safety of residents near the plant, must be transparent and released promptly. 計画避難の判断基準となる積算線量の公開にも、もたつきが見られた。積算線量は住民の安全を守るために不可欠なデータで、情報公開に不透明さや遅れがあってはならない。
The government has also emphasized the differences between the Fukushima plant accident and the Chernobyl crisis. It is true that the Fukushima accident is different from Chernobyl in which massive levels of radiation were released in a short period of time and that some people died of acute radiation exposure. The amount of radiation that has leaked from the Fukushima plant is estimated at one-tenth of that which leaked from the Chernobyl plant. 政府は、チェルノブイリと福島原発の事故の違いも強調している。確かに、放射性物質が一時に大量放出され、被ばくによる急性放射線障害で死者が出たチェルノブイリとは状況が異なる。これまでのところ放出量も１０分の１と見積もられている。
At the same time, the Fukushima crisis is unprecedented in that four of its reactors simultaneously became out of control. Slow but constant radiation leaks from the plant have confused local residents. No one can tell how long the crisis will continue or whether it will develop into a more serious catastrophe. 一方で、福島原発では４基が一度に制御不能に陥るという前代未聞の事態が起きた。だらだら続く放出は、周辺住民を翻弄（ほんろう）している。それがいつまで続くのか、もっと深刻な事態が起きるのか。予測はつかない。
Therefore, Japan is required by the international community to reconfirm the seriousness of the Fukushima nuclear plant crisis and respond to it rather than compare the degree of the accident with that of the Chernobyl crisis. Tokyo Electric Power Co. (TEPCO) that operates the crippled Fukushima No. 1 Nuclear Power Plant as well as the government should reflect on their overly optimistic thinking that an accident like the Chernobyl crisis would never happen in Japan, which led to the serious situation at the Fukushima plant. そう考えると、事故の程度を比較するより、改めて福島原発の深刻さを受け止め、対処することが国際的にも求められる。日本ではチェルノブイリのような事故は起こり得ないと考えた東電や政府の甘さが過酷な事故につながったことも再確認すべきだ。
Powerful aftershocks following the March 11 earthquake have been occurring in not only Fukushima Prefecture but also many other areas. The crisis has illustrated the vulnerability of nuclear power plants -- they tend to lose external electric power sources necessary to cool down the reactor cores if hit by powerful temblors. It is also obvious that some of the nuclear power plants across the country face risks of being paralyzed by powerful quakes and ensuing tsunami. 福島だけでなく各地で大きな余震が続いている。地震で外部電源が失われやすいという原発施設の弱点も浮き彫りになった。全国の原発の中に巨大地震や津波のリスクを抱えているものがあることも明らかだ。
While working to place the plant under control, the government and power suppliers must inspect nuclear power plants across the country and take measures to prevent major earthquakes and tsunami from causing major crises at these facilities. Another Level 7 nuclear power plant catastrophe must be prevented by all means. 福島の事態収拾とは別に点検と対策を急ぐべきだ。レベル７をもうひとつ抱えるような事態は、決して引き起こしてはならない。
(Mainichi Japan) April 12, 2011 Politicians must put aside differences, join hands to overcome disaster 社説：政治の１カ月 責任感がなお乏しい
April 11 marked one month since a massive earthquake and tsunami devastated northeastern Japan, claiming thousands of lives. The administration of Prime Minister Naoto Kan remains in a difficult position, burdened with the tasks of supporting and restoring disaster-hit areas, while trying to overcome the crisis at Tokyo Electric Power Co. (TEPCO)'s Fukushima No. 1 Nuclear Power Plant. 東日本大震災の発生から１１日で１カ月となる。被災地の支援・復興と東京電力福島第１原発の危機回避。同時進行の対応を求められる菅直人政権にとって依然として苦しい状況が続く。
At the same time, the presence of the Diet in the crisis has been weak. Now is the time for the ruling and opposition parties to jointly exercise their wisdom and utilize the power of politics. 一方で国会の影も薄いままだ。政治の力をどう結集するか。与野党は改めて知恵を出し合う時だ。
Looking back on the month since the earthquake and tsunami, it is lamentable that the initial response to the crisis at the nuclear power plant was so slow. １カ月を振り返り、今さらながらに悔やまれるのは福島第１原発の「複合事故」に対する初動の遅れだ。
Why, for example, didn't officials quickly open vents to release pressure in the nuclear reactor containment vessels? 例えば原子炉格納容器の弁を開けて圧力を下げる「ベント」に、なぜもっと早く踏み切れなかったのか。
The Mainichi and other media outlets have been probing the handling of the crisis, and it seems that there was a lack of mutual understanding between the government and TEPCO. In fact there was even a degree of mistrust -- a factor that no doubt hampered the response to the disaster. 毎日新聞をはじめ既に検証を試みているが、政府と東京電力との間に意思疎通がなく、逆に不信感さえ生んで、その後の対応にも悪影響を及ぼしたのは確かだろう。
Naturally, top priority must now be given to bringing the crisis under control as soon as possible. People in Japan and across the world are closely watching the handling of the crisis, and the government must conduct its own investigation to flush out any problems. もちろん今は原発危機を一刻も早く回避するのが最優先だが、今回の原発事故対応には国民は当然のこと、世界中が注視している。政府自身が詳細に検証し、問題点を洗い出すのが今後の大きな課題となる。
Still, government bureaucrats have been complaining that information isn't being shared and that it is unclear where reports should be filed. These issues remain a point of concern. １カ月が経過するというのに、なお懸念されるのは各府省の官僚側から「情報が共有されていない」「誰に報告したらいいか分からない」などの不満が漏れていることだ。
Since the March 11 earthquake, more than 20 headquarters, councils and affiliated teams have been set up to boost the response by the Prime Minister's Office to the disaster. 大震災後、官邸の態勢強化のため設置された「本部」や「会議」は傘下のチームも含めると２０を超える。
Administrative vice ministers from all government ministries have also joined a liaison council helping government agencies communicate on support measures for people affected by the disaster. 被災者生活支援各府省連絡会議には全府省の事務次官も集めた。
But the chain of command remains unclear -- an issue that is said to have caused confusion. ところが指揮系統が不明確で混乱の要因となっているという。
The prime minister apparently harbors his own sense of distrust toward bureaucrats, but leadership involves putting administrative organizations to use. 首相には官僚に対する不信感もあるようだ。だが、行政組織を使いこなすのも指導力だ。
What Kan needs to do now is clearly state: "I'll leave you to do the things that you can do, but I'll take the final responsibility." 今必要なのは「任せるところは任せる。しかし最後の責任は私が取る」という姿勢をもっと明確にすることだ。
Without such a stance he will not be able to win the public's trust. それがなければ国民の信頼も得られない。
Opposition parties also have a big role to play. 野党にも大きな役割が求められている。
The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) has hinted it will not form a grand coalition government with the ruling Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ). Instead, the party says, it will aim to become a "responsible opposition party," cooperating on issues that it should combine forces on. However, this has probably left many people with the impression that the LDP is only backing away from the front lines. 自民党は連立政権に加わるのは拒否する考えを示し、協力すべき点は協力する「責任野党」を目指すというが、多くの国民には腰が引けていると映っているのではないか。
The Mainichi has called for the formation of a "recovery Cabinet" with the ruling and opposition parties working in unison to help Japan recover from the disaster. The reason for this is that we believe now is not the time for parties to spend all their efforts engaged in their longstanding political bickering. 毎日新聞が日本の再生・復興に向け与野党が一致協力する「日本再生内閣」を樹立するよう求めているのは、与野党が昔ながらの政争に明け暮れている場合ではないと考えるからだ。
One comment that recently emerged from political circles was that Kan should have been more humble in soliciting LDP leader Sadakazu Tanigaki's cooperation when he asked Tanigaki to join the Cabinet, as this would have altered the situation. 「菅首相が自民党の谷垣禎一総裁に入閣を求めた際、もっと謙虚に協力をお願いすべきだった。そうすれば様相は変わっていた」という声も聞く。
To look at this another way, we would like to think that there is still room for the DPJ and the LDP to come together. 裏を返せば民主党と自民党が歩み寄る素地はまだ残っていると考えたい。
At the same time, the DPJ and the LDP are not the only two players. 民主、自民両党だけではない。
We also want the other opposition parties to serious think about how they can create an "All-Japan" disaster response team. 他の野党も「オールジャパン」体制をどう構築するか、真剣に考えてほしい。
Now is the time for Diet members to transform their mindsets. 国会議員こそ発想を大きく転換する時期である。
2011/04/10 --The Asahi Shimbun, April 9 EDITORIAL: Japan needs to brace for period of big quakes Ｍ７級余震―揺れても守れる態勢を
Mother Nature is merciless. 無情というほかない。
It is still less than a month since the Great East Japan Earthquake devastated so many coastal cities and towns in northeastern Japan. 東日本大震災からまだひと月もたたない。
The victims of the massive quake and tsunami are struggling to come to terms with their painful losses and trying to take steps toward rebuilding their shattered lives. 人々が喪失と向き合い、生活を取り戻すために動きだそうというときである。
But late Thursday night, the ravaged Tohoku region was rocked by another big quake, which registered an upper 6 on the Japanese intensity scale. 深夜の東北地方を、最大震度６強の揺れが襲った。
The Thursday quake, centered off Miyagi Prefecture, measured magnitude 7.1. This is a powerful earthquake in its own right, the kind that rarely occurs. But it is an aftershock of the March 11 temblor, which measured magnitude 9.0. 震源は宮城県沖でマグニチュード（Ｍ）７．１。それだけでもめったにない大地震だが、Ｍ９だった３月１１日の本震の余震だという。
Experts say we should brace for aftershocks of magnitude 7 or so for at least half a year after that mega-quake. Ｍ９の地震後、少なくとも半年はＭ７級の余震を覚悟する必要があるという専門家の指摘もある。
A period of tension and anxiety will continue for a while. まだまだ気をやすめることができない状態が続く。
Under such circumstances, what is most important is to ensure people in the disaster areas will not suffer additional damage. こうしたなかで、なによりも気を配るべきは、被災地の人々が二重、三重の被害に遭わないようにすることだ。
When the Thursday aftershock hit, lighting equipment at a gymnasium in the city of Sendai that is used as an evacuation center shook wildly and made ominous sounds. Some of the evacuees reportedly feared that the equipment could fall on them. 余震がきたとき、仙台市内の体育館では、照明が音を立てて揺れ「落ちてきそうで怖かった」と感じる住民がいたという。被災者がどれほど揺れにおびえているかがわかる。
The first thing to do is to take sufficient safety measures at the evacuation centers. 避難所の安全策にまず心を用いたい。
In the quake-stricken areas, various efforts for rebuilding have started. These efforts should be made under the assumption that more big aftershocks could occur. 被災地では、復興に向けたさまざまな作業が始まっている。これらの仕事も、大きな余震が今後も起こる可能性を織り込みながら進めてほしい。
What is most worrisome is the damage the aftershock has done to nuclear power plants in the region. 一方、最も気がかりなのは原子力発電所である。
An emergency generator was activated at the Higashidori Nuclear Power Station, operated by Tohoku Electric Power Co., after its external power was knocked out by the aftershock. この余震で、東北電力の東通原発では外部電源が切れて、非常用発電機を動かすことになった。
The company's Onagawa Nuclear Power Station lost two of its three external power systems. 女川原発でも一部の外部電源しか使えなくなった。
These facts are frightening, given that the ongoing crisis at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant was triggered by the loss of all power sources. 福島第一原発の事故のきっかけが電源喪失だったことを思い返すと、背筋が寒くなる。
If external power sources are so vulnerable to earthquakes, all the emergency diesel generators at nuclear power plants must be checked now to see if they will kick in immediately. In addition, power generation vehicles should be readied as a second backup to have multiple fail-safes in place. 外部電源がこれほどもろいなら、非常用発電機がすぐ働くかどうかを改めて確かめ、それもだめなときは電源車を使うという多重の態勢を万全にする必要がある。
The disastrous failure at the Fukushima No. 1 plant must never be repeated again. 「福島第一」の失敗を、絶対に再現してはならない。
Nuclear power plants in the Tohoku region have been shaken repeatedly by the March 11 quake and its aftershocks. We fear that some parts of them may have been weakened. They all should be checked for safety. 東北地方の原発は、本震や余震で何度も揺すられてきた。弱くなっているところがないか心配だ。点検を急ぐべきだ。
A mega-quake that occurs at the boundaries of sea-floor plates, like the one that hit northeastern Japan on March 11, could be followed by another giant quake that is too big to be categorized as an aftershock. ３月１１日の本震のように海底のプレート（岩板）境界で起こる巨大地震は、余震の域を超えた大地震も伴うことがある。
For instance, two years after the 1944 Tonankai earthquake, with an estimated magnitude of 7.9, struck off the city of Owase, Mie Prefecture, the magnitude-8.0 Nankai earthquake took place off nearby Wakayama Prefecture. たとえば、１９４４年の東南海地震の２年後には南海地震が起こっている。
The 1854 Ansei Tokai earthquake was followed by the Ansei Nankai earthquake the next day. The two are called twin earthquakes. １８５４年には安政東海地震の翌日に安政南海地震が続いた。双子地震と呼ばれる。
A massive movement on the boundaries of plates could also stimulate inland active faults. さらに、プレート境界の大きな動きが影響して、内陸の活断層が刺激されることもある。
We should assume that the Japanese archipelago is now facing a high risk of major seismic events. 日本列島は今、地震リスクが高いとみるべきだろう。
Effective measures should be taken to prepare for an earthquake not just in the Tohoku region but also in the rest of the nation. 東北だけでなく全国で、地震への備えを強めたい。
(Mainichi Japan) April 10, 2011 Kaleidoscope of the Heart: Don't be afraid to seek professional help 香山リカのココロの万華鏡：無理にがんばらない ／東京
Whenever I speak at lectures, I remind my audience not to hesitate to seek professional assistance when they have problems. ときどき講演に出かけることがある。そこでいつも強調するのが、「遠慮なく専門家を頼ってください」ということだ。
At my consultation room, I sometimes see people who tried to endure suffering for a lengthy period of time before they finally decided to receive counseling. In one case, it took nearly two years for a patient with insomnia to seek professional help. 診察室でもときどき、「不眠になったのは２年前」などと長期間、受診しないでがまんしてきた人に出会う。
"I felt my problem was too small and I should not go to hospital. I was trying to face up to the situation on my own," one patient said. その人たちは、「これくらいで病院に来てはいけない、自分でなんとかしなくちゃ、と思っていました」と語る。
Actually though, you don't have to push yourself too hard. Feel free to turn to a specialist for advice as soon as you notice something is wrong with you. 本当は、そんなにがんばる必要はない。「あれ、いつもと違うな」と思った時点で、遠慮なく専門医のところを訪れてよいのだ。
The same holds true for other problems, but a lot of people tend to avoid seeking professional help until the very last minute. 「ギリギリまでがまんする」というのは、精神科の診察室だけで見られることではない。
I often hear various institutions, such as a law firm specializing in debt problems and a consumer affairs center fighting against scams, say, "They should have come to talk to us much earlier." 借金の相談を得意とする弁護士事務所、悪徳商法の相談を受ける消費者センターなど、どの専門機関でも「もっと早く相談に来てくれればいいのに」という声を聞く。
It seems that a lot of people are feeling hesitant about sharing their problems with experts and believe that they must solve their problems on their own. 相談者は、「私の問題だから、私がなんとかしなきゃ」と思って遠慮しているようだ。
"Some clients said they were worried that we would blame them for their troubles. We would never do that," said a worker at a nonprofit organization that supports individuals with financial difficulties. 「“自分のせいでしょう”と怒られるんじゃないか、と怖がっていた人もいます。そんなはずはないのに……」。生活苦の相談に応じるＮＰＯ法人で、こんな声を聞いたこともある。
Experts and institutions specializing in fields such as welfare, medicine, law, etc. are there to help you when your problems got out of control. So, I have always asked my patients to stop blaming themselves and ask professionals for help. しかし、福祉、医療、法律などの専門家や専門機関は、一般の人が自分の力でどうにもできない問題を片づけるためにいるのだ。がまんしたり「私が悪いんだ」と思い込んだりしないで、「なんとかしてくださいよ」と頼ってほしい。私はそう、訴えてきた。
I wonder if the victims of the recent earthquake and tsunami are reaching out for help. 今回の災害の被災者たちは、どうなのだろう。
It's been nearly one month since the disaster, and I wonder if residents in the region have recovered a little peace of mind and begun to seek support from specialized organizations as they struggle to restore their lives. ひと月近くがたち、少し落ち着いてきた人たちは、今後の生活の再建に向けていろいろな専門機関を利用し始めているのだろうか。
I'm afraid those in areas without essential utilities have no emotional leeway to consult with experts about their future. ただ、いまだにライフラインも復旧しないところでは、とても専門家に相談する余裕もないかもしれない。
Recently, an increasing number of professional workers, who have realized that merely waiting for clients to visit their office is not helping at all, are proactively meeting with people in need of help as part of their outreach efforts. 昨今、専門家たちは「オフィスに座っているだけではダメ」と気づき、“御用聞き”のように積極的に人々のあいだに出て行くようになりつつある。これを「アウトリーチ」と呼んでいる。
The demand for "delivery services" by medical and legal experts is expected to increase in areas affected by the disaster. これから必要になるのは、専門家による被災地での“出前診療所”や“出前法律事務所”などだろう。
I would also like to visit evacuation shelters when I don't have appointments with regular patients. 私も、日常の診療の合間に、気軽に“出前”に行きたいと思っている。
At the same time, I hope more residents in areas hit by the disaster will tell us what kind of assistance they are looking for. 被災地のみなさんも、ぜひ「こんな出前が必要です」と遠慮せずに声をあげてほしい、と思う。
It goes without saying that those who were not affected by the earthquake should also be more open to contact professional advisors. もちろん、被災地以外の人たちも、これからも「自分でなんとかしなきゃ」などと遠慮せずに、気軽に専門家を頼ってほしい。
Now is the time to stop hesitating. (By Rika Kayama, psychiatrist) 遠慮は無用。古くからある言葉だが、今こそそう言いたい。
(Mainichi Japan) April 9, 2011 A society that depends on nuclear energy is just like a house of cards 風知草：特別編 津波が剥ぎ取ったもの＝山田孝男
A tsunami triggered by the March 11 Great East Japan Earthquake not only destroyed towns and ports in northeastern Honshu, but also demonstrated various problems involving Japan's post-war energy policy. 津波が剥ぎ取ったものは三陸の街や港だけではない。
The nuclear power policy that the government had disguised as rock-solid has actually proved so vulnerable. Prosperity built around such a policy is fragile. This has illustrated a wide perception gap between people on the seriousness of the crisis. 無力なのに盤石を装ってきた原子力行政の虚妄。その砂上に築かれた繁栄の危うさ、事態の深刻さに対する国民の認識ギャップもあらわになった。
Even though people are calling for solidarity and collective efforts to overcome the disaster, nobody apparently has the impression that the groundwork has been laid for the restoration of Japan. 一致団結、総力結集と言葉は躍るが、日本復活の基盤が整ったという実感はない。
Late last week, I visited quake- and tsunami-ravaged areas in the Sanriku district along the Pacific coast of the Tohoku region -- Rikuzen-Takata in Iwate Prefecture, Kesennuma, Minami-Sanriku and Ishinomaki in Miyagi Prefecture, as well as the Fukushima Prefecture city of Soma. Many of these areas have been left in ruins. A large part of Kesennuma has been reduced to ashes by quake-triggered fires. 先週末、遅ればせながら三陸を見てきた。陸前高田、気仙沼、南三陸、石巻。福島では相馬に入った。津々浦々が廃虚であり、火災を伴った気仙沼は焦土だった。
In sharp contrast, inland areas of quake-hit cities and towns remain intact. Residents of the Tokyo metropolitan area are losing their sense of crisis. No wonder that there is a wide perception gap on the seriousness of the disaster. だが、被災県も海岸から少し内陸に入れば無傷。まして首都圏の緊張はゆるみつつある。国民の意識に差が出るのも無理はない。
In an interview, former Fukushima Gov. Eisaku Sato emphasized that the nuclear accident is a man-made disaster. Sato, 71, is known as a staunch opponent of nuclear power generation. 福島へ南下したついでに郡山まで足を延ばし、いまや原子力行政批判の代表的論客となった佐藤栄佐久・前同県知事（７１）に会った。
The former governor pointed out that the biggest problem involving the national government's nuclear power policy is that bureaucrats and power suppliers are under the wrong impression that nuclear power generation is absolutely safe and should be promoted by all means and that they keep problems involving such plants a secret. He thus asserted that efforts to invite electric power companies to build nuclear power plants in sparsely populated areas in a bid to create jobs for local residents are nothing but addictive drugs for regional communities. 事故は人災です、と前知事は明快だ。「原発は安全。推進あるのみ」という官僚と電力会社の思い込みと秘密主義こそが問題であり、地域にとって原発誘致は麻薬でしかないと言い切った。
Sato served five terms as governor from 1988. Initially, he promoted the introduction of nuclear power plants, but a wide gap emerged between him and the national government as well as Tokyo Electric Power Co. (TEPCO), the operator of the tsunami-crippled Fukushima No. 1 Nuclear Power Plant. After he resigned during his fifth tenure, he was arrested for accepting bribes and later indicted. He was convicted by the district and high courts, and has appealed the ruling to the Supreme Court. この人は８８年から知事を５期務めた。はじめは原発推進派だったが、しだいに国・東京電力との溝を深めた。５期目の半ばで辞任した直後、収賄容疑で逮捕・起訴。１、２審とも有罪で上告中の身だ。
It is inappropriate to jump to the conclusion that he was arrested as a result of a politically motivated investigation aimed at suppressing anti-nuclear power movements, but what he pointed out has been proven by various news reports. それが「反原発」つぶしの「国策捜査」だったかどうか、速断はできないが、前知事の指摘はすでに多くの報道で裏づけられている。
The government's Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency (NISA) learned that a U.S. research institute had pointed to the possibility that the loss of an electric power source could lead to a reactor core meltdown, but disregarded it. The Fukushima Prefecture town of Futaba, which hosts the plant's No. 5 and 6 reactors, still suffers from huge budget deficits even though 30 years have passed since the power station was built. 原子力安全・保安院は、電源喪失による炉心溶融の可能性を指摘した米国の研究機関の調査を把握していながら軽視した。原発のある双葉町は誘致３０年を経て巨額の財政赤字に苦しんでいる。
A historian who heard inconsistent announcements that the government and TEPCO made in their separate news conferences said the crisis is just like the "Nomonhan Incident," an armed conflict that broke out between Japanese and Soviet forces along the border between Mongolia and Manchuria, currently part of northeastern China, in 1939. 話を聞きながら、先週、高名な現代史家からいただいた電話を思い出した。政府と東電のちぐはぐな記者会見を観察した歴史家の口から、「これはノモンハン事件じゃないですかね」という感想が飛び出した。 ノモンハン事件とは１９３９（昭和１４）年、当時の満州国（現中国東北部）国境で起きた日ソ両軍の衝突だ。
Japan, which was overconfident of its military might after its victory in the Japanese-Russo War, underestimated Russia and went into another armed conflict with it. Even though Japanese soldiers on the battlefront were outstanding, Japan suffered a humiliating defeat because of inadequate instructions given by elite officers who did not know actual warfare. 日露戦争勝利で慢心した日本は不当にソ連を侮り、前線の奮闘にもかかわらず、実戦を知らないエリート将校たちの拙劣な指揮・指導で惨敗した。
The Japanese military covered up their defeat in the battle, and fought in the Pacific War without analyzing the cause of its failure in the incident, leading to its catastrophic defeat in World War II. 日本軍は敗北を隠し、敗因を追究せず、続く太平洋戦争を同じ体制で戦い、亡国の結末を迎えた。
The Nomonhan incident raised questions as to whether Japan should seek to restore disaster-ravaged areas under the leadership of elite bureaucrats -- who were overly proud of Japan's prosperity as an economic and technological superpower -- without clarifying the cause of their mistake that led to the crisis. 経済技術大国の栄光におごった秀才たちの失敗を問わず、同じ陣容で漠然と復興を目指していいのかという疑問がわく。
At the time of the Nomonhan Incident, the Cabinet of Prime Minister Kiichiro Hiranuma was unable to control the Imperial Japanese Army and he was forced to step down after being tossed about in a complex international situation. ノモンハン事件当時の首相は平沼騏一郎だった。内閣は陸軍を制御できず、平沼は国際情勢にほんろうされて去った。
There are now calls urging the two major political parties -- the Democratic Party of Japan and the Liberal Democratic Party -- to form a grand coalition in order to facilitate their cooperation in overcoming the disaster. However, there is no point in forming a large ruling bloc that cannot control bureaucrats. ひるがえって今日、大連立もけっこうだが、官僚の手綱をさばけない、形ばかりの総力体制を敷いたところで無意味ではないかという疑問をぬぐえない。
At Rikuzen-Takata, which has been left in ruin, work is under way to install new utility polls along National Route 45. The public has agreed that it is an urgent task to quickly restore utilities, but there is no consensus about a vision on what kind of society should be created after rebuilding destroyed infrastructure. 見渡す限り廃虚の陸前高田市で、国道４５号沿いに新しい電柱を植え込む作業が進んでいた。ライフラインの復旧を急げという合意はあるが、それから先、どんな社会を築くのかという確かな合意はどこにもない。
The crisis has clarified that a society that depends heavily on electricity generated largely by nuclear power plants -- which Japan as a post-war economic and technological superpower has achieved -- is just like a house of cards. Japanese leaders as well as members of the general public should be aware of this. (By Takao Yamada, Expert Senior Writer) 戦後の経済技術大国がたどりついた原発依存の「オール電化社会」は砂上の楼閣にすぎなかった。その現状認識が重要ではないか。
(Mainichi Japan) April 8, 2011 Clear outlook for nuclear crisis necessary for residents to move on with their lives 社説：原発震災 中長期の見通しも示せ
There appears to be no immediate end in sight for the crisis at the Fukushima No. 1 Nuclear Power Plant damaged by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami. Never before in history has a nuclear accident dragged on for so long, leading the Nuclear Safety Commission (NSC) of Japan to say that the crisis has "surpassed the range and magnitude anticipated under pre-existing disaster-prevention schemes." 原発災害は収束の時期がみえてこない。これほど長く続く原発事故は世界にも例がない。原子力安全委員会は「既存の防災対策の枠を超えている」との見方を示している。
Both Tokyo Electric Power Co. (TEPCO) and the government are now at a point where they must devise and implement measures that take mid- to long-term prospects into consideration. In doing so, they must consider carefully the lives of the many people who have evacuated from communities located close to the power plant. 東京電力も政府も、中長期的な見通しを踏まえ、さまざまな対応策を立てていく時期にきている。その際には、原発周辺から避難している多数の人々の今後の暮らしに、きちんと思いをはせてほしい。
Workers on site have their hands full trying to deal with radiation-tainted water and injecting nitrogen into the No. 1 reactor to stave off an explosion in the reactor containment vessel. Such measures, however, aim to subdue what can be characterized as "side effects" that get in the way of attempts to deal with the primary problem. 今、現場は、汚染水対策や格納容器の爆発を防ぐための窒素封入作業に追われている。こうした作業は、事故対策を妨げる「副作用」を抑えているようなものだ。
Meanwhile, the real first step in bringing the crisis under control requires cooling the reactors down to stabilize temperatures, and stopping the leakage of radioactive materials. 本来の事故収束の第１段階は、すべての原子炉を安定した冷却に持ち込み、放射性物質の外部への漏えいを止めることだ。
To achieve this, a closed system that removes the heat in the reactors without relying on the injection of water from an external source must be established. Ordinarily, the residual-heat-removal system installed in the reactors would carry out this task, but radiation leaks have frustrated efforts to restore the system. As such, the situation calls for discussions on possibly instituting a new heat-removal system. そのためには、外部から注水せずに核燃料の熱を取り除く閉じた循環系を確立しなくてはならない。通常は「残留熱除去系」がその役目を果たすが、放射性物質の汚染に阻まれ復旧作業が進まない。状況を見極め、新たな熱除去系を外から導入することも検討した方がいい。
Regardless of the cooling method, it will not be an easy job, and may take longer than the "several months" the government has predicted for a resolution. ただ、いずれにしても、簡単な作業ではない。数カ月という政府の見通しを上回ることもあるだろう。
Even after progress is made in this first step, we are still faced with the task of cooling spent nuclear fuel for years to come. Beyond that, moreover, lies the problem of how the reactors will be decommissioned. 収束の第１段階が達成されても、核燃料はさらに何年も冷やし続けなくてはならない。その先には、どのように廃炉を進めるかという課題が待ち受ける。
As we find ourselves only at the beginning of a long road ahead, the government's emergency measures are no longer relevant to the current state of affairs. こうした長い対策の入り口にあって、政府の緊急時対応はすでに実態にあわなくなっている。
For example, because the government's advisory for residents living between a 20-kilometer and a 30-kilometer radius from the Fukushima power station was not issued with the intention of lasting for months, it is only natural that the government is now deliberating a new plan of action. The government must make a prompt decision -- that should then be thoroughly explained to residents -- and provide ongoing support for those who are affected. そもそも、２０～３０キロ圏内の住民に出されている屋内退避の指示は、何カ月も続くことを前提にしていない。政府が新たな指針を検討しているのは当然だ。すみやかに決定し、住民に丁寧に説明した上で、その暮らしを支えていってもらいたい。
Some residents who evacuated from homes within a 20-kilometer radius are seeking permission to return temporarily, an understandable request from people who escaped with just the clothes on their back after being hit with the triple punch of the earthquake, tsunami and nuclear crisis. We hope that all safety precautions are taken to grant their wish. 避難指示が出ている２０キロ圏内では一時帰宅の要望がある。二重三重の災害に見舞われ着の身着のままで避難した人々の願いはよくわかる。安全に十分注意しつつ、かなえたい。
In addition, local residents need to be given a mid- to long-term outlook: Will they be able to return permanently to their homes in several months' time, or will it take years? Will some residents have to prepare themselves for the possibility that they will never be able to return? さらに、住民にとって必要なのは、その先の中長期的な見通しだ。本当に自宅に戻れるのは数カ月後なのか、それとも数年後なのか。場合によっては再び戻れないという覚悟がいるのか。
We understand that such forecasts are difficult to make, as they are contingent upon whether or not the situation worsens, and how restoration efforts progress. これらの見通しは、今後、事態が悪化することがあるかどうかにも、作業の進み具合にもかかっている。予測が難しいことはわかる。
Still, unless both TEPCO and the government release forecasts that account for a margin of error, people cannot move on with their lives or plan for the future. It must not be forgotten that ambiguity -- and not bad news -- can at times deliver a stronger blow on morale. しかし、幅をもたせた上で、東電も政府も、見通しを語るべきだ。そうしなければ、人々は将来の生活設計が立てられない。悪い情報より、あいまいな状況が、人々の気持ちをくじくことがあるのを忘れてはならない。
The Yomiuri Shimbun (Apr. 8, 2011) Excessive self-restraint may hinder recovery 試練の１か月 行きすぎた自粛は活力を奪う（4月7日付・読売社説）
◆産品の購入や旅行で東北に支援を◆
It will soon be one month since the Great East Japan Earthquake struck the nation on March 11. The prevailing atmosphere in Japan is one of serious and somber jishuku (self-restraint). 東日本大震災の発生から間もなく１か月。今、日本中を覆っているのは「自粛」という名の重苦しい空気である。
Various artistic activities, sports events and even traditional festivals have been canceled or postponed. 各種芸術活動やスポーツイベント、伝統的な祭りまでが中止や延期になっている。
A great many people died in the earthquake and subsequent tsunami. An even larger number are still missing, and many people are being forced to endure difficult living conditions at evacuation facilities. 震災で多くの人が亡くなり、それを上回る数の人が行方不明のままだ。避難所で苦しい生活を強いられている人も数多い。
In the Tokyo metropolitan area, there is a serious power shortage due to the accidents at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power station operated by Tokyo Electric Power Co. 東京電力・福島第一原子力発電所の事故の影響で、首都圏でも電力不足が問題になっている。
We understand how, given these circumstances, people tend to think everything should be conducted in a subdued manner. こうした状況に配慮して、何事も控えめに、と考えたくなる気持ちは理解できる。
However, too much self-restraint will strip away peace of mind and plenitude from everyday life, and destroy the nation's vitality. This will drag down economic activity, which will hinder recovery efforts in areas hit by the disaster. だが、それが行き過ぎると、生活の場で潤いがなくなり、国の活力まで失われてしまう。回り回って経済活動の足を引っ張り、被災地の復興にも悪影響を与える。
For the entire nation to recover its energy, it is important to return to the normal rhythms of everyday life. 国全体が元気を取り戻すには、生活のリズムを普段通りにすることが肝要だ。
===
Blossom viewing discouraged ◆花見や祭りが中止に◆
While taking care to save power, we must cast off this atmosphere of excessive self-restraint and proceed with scheduled events. That is the quickest way to facilitate Japan's recovery from the disaster, despite the great damage we have suffered. 節電に十分配慮しながら、過度な自粛ムードは排し、予定されたイベントは普段通りに実施する。それが大震災に負けずに、日本の復興を早める近道であろう。
The cherry blossom season is now advancing from south to north, but moves to refrain from cherry blossom viewing have been spreading throughout the country. The Tokyo metropolitan government has been asking people to refrain from holding cherry blossom-viewing parties in parks under its administration, including Ueno Park, one of the most famous cherry blossom-viewing spots in the nation. 日本列島は桜の季節を迎えつつあるが、花見を自粛する動きが全国に広がっている。東京都は、桜の名所である上野公園など、都が管理する公園内での宴会を控えるよう求めている。
It would of course be out of the question for people to sing loudly and display shameful behavior at such parties, under unnecessary bright lights at night. 夜間にライトを照らし、酒宴で高歌放吟して醜態を演じるのは論外だ。
However, what is wrong with families and friends gathering in daytime to view the flowers? しかし、昼間に家族や友人が集い、観桜することに何の問題があろうか。
Throughout the country, traditional festivals have been canceled or reduced in scale, including the Sanja Matsuri festival in the Asakusa district of Taito Ward, Tokyo, and the grand spring festival at Toshogu shrine in Nikko, Tochigi Prefecture. Events planned during the festivals have mostly been canceled. 各地で祭りの中止も相次いでいる。５月に予定されていた東京・浅草の三社祭や栃木県・日光東照宮の春季例大祭も、行事のほとんどが取りやめになった。
However, some festivals are being held as scheduled, so prayers can be said for the recovery of disaster-hit areas and the repose of victims' souls. One example is the Inuyama Matsuri festival held in Inuyama, Aichi Prefecture, on Saturday and Sunday. Donations to help survivors were collected at the event. 一方で、愛知県犬山市で４月２、３日に開かれた犬山祭のように、被災地の復興や犠牲者の鎮魂の祈りを込めて、予定通り祭りを開催した例もある。会場で被災者への義援金も集められた。
===
Events would cheer survivors
We believe holding festivals in such a manner will boost the significance of the events. こうした形で開催することは、祭りの意義を高めることになるのではないか。
The Sendai Philharmonic Orchestra, based in Sendai, temporarily suspended its regular concerts after the quake. Since late last month, however, it has been giving small ensemble performances of music on street corners and other places in Sendai. It plans to perform in the worst-hit areas as well. 仙台市に拠点を置く仙台フィルハーモニー管弦楽団は、震災後、通常のコンサートを中止した。だが、先月末からは、仙台市内の街角などで、少人数による演奏活動を開始した。今後、被災地での演奏活動も計画している。
The start of this year's professional baseball season has been delayed, and Tokyo Dome is studying how to save electricity by adjusting lighting and air-conditioning. プロ野球の開幕は延期になったが、東京ドームも、照明や空調を調整するなど、節電に配慮した対応策を検討している。
Even in adverse situations, culture, art and sporting activity enrich people's minds. They will certainly provide great encouragement to those who have suffered as a result of the quake and tsunami. 困難な状況にあっても、文化や芸術、スポーツは人々の心を豊かにする。被災者への大きな励ましにもなるに違いない。
Nevertheless, the cases of the Inuyama festival and the Sendai Philharmonic are exceptional. The mood of self-restraint remains strong, hindering people from buying things or traveling. ただ、犬山祭や仙台フィルのようなケースは例外だ。自粛ムードはまだ根強く、これが消費行動に影響して買い控え・遠出控えにつながっている。
Even though the spring sightseeing season has arrived, many individuals and groups have reportedly called off trips and canceled their bookings at hotels. 春の観光シーズンを迎えたのに、個人や団体の旅行が相次いで中止され、ホテルの宿泊予約もキャンセルが続出している。
In the Tohoku region, in particular, even tourist spots and business sectors not directly hit by the quake and tsunami are being affected seriously. Some are calling these developments secondary damage following the direct impact of the massive quake. 特に東北地方では、直接、地震や津波の被害を受けなかった観光地や様々な産業にも、深刻な影響が及んでいる。大震災による直接の打撃に続く「二次被害」と指摘する声もあるほどだ。
How should we support these regions and industries? こうした地域や産業を支援するにはどうすべきか。
===
Kan must appeal to people ◆首相が国民に訴えよ◆
Yoshiyasu Ono, an economist and adviser to Prime Minister Naoto Kan, has said excessive restraint will hinder post-quake reconstruction efforts. He advocates what he calls a "Buy Tohoku" campaign to actively purchase goods produced in the Tohoku region. 菅首相のブレーンで経済学者の小野善康氏は、行き過ぎた自粛は復興の妨げになると指摘し、東北産品を積極的に購入する「バイ東北」運動を提唱している。
Abundant in both marine and agricultural products, the Tohoku region is also known for its rice production. It produces many traditional crafts with rich local color. If people actively buy these products, it will provide a marked boost to the economy. 東北地方は、海や山の幸が豊富で、コメどころだ。郷土色豊かな伝統工芸品なども多い。国民が積極的に購入すれば、かなりの経済効果が期待できよう。
Kan should take the lead in sweeping away the mood of self-restraint. 自粛ムードの一掃には、菅首相が先頭に立つことだ。
He must call on the people to stop being overly sensitive to the situation in the wake of the disaster and resume their normal lives. 過剰な配慮をやめ、通常の生活を取り戻すよう国民に呼びかけるべきである。
(Mainichi Japan) April 7, 2011 Gov't, TEPCO should release more information on radiation contamination 社説：震災と国際社会 世界への発信足りない
The government and Tokyo Electric Power Co. (TEPCO) appear to be too insensitive to global criticism over their response to the crisis at the crippled Fukushima No. 1 Nuclear Power Plant that the power supplier operates. 政府も東京電力も、原発事故に向けられる世界からの視線に鈍感すぎはしないか。
It should be regarded as a diplomatic blunder that the government has come under fire for failing to provide a detailed explanation to not only local governments concerned and fishermen's cooperatives but also neighboring countries before discharging water contaminated with low levels of radiation from the plant into the sea. 福島第１原発から低濃度放射性物質を含む汚染水を海に放出する際、自治体や漁業関係者だけでなく、近隣諸国にていねいな事前説明をせず反発を招いたことは、外交上の失態である。
The administration of Prime Minister Naoto Kan should keep in mind that the crisis at the tsunami-hit nuclear power plant could have a huge impact on a global scale and that many countries share the same concerns and interests with Japan regarding nuclear power generation. 今回の原発事故が、日本一国を超えて地球規模で影響を与えかねないこと、そして世界の多くの国が日本と同じ懸念と利害を共有していることを、菅直人政権は改めて認識すべきだ。
The South Korean Foreign Affairs and Trade Ministry expressed deep displeasure at Japan's failure to notify Seoul before discharging radioactive water into the sea, while the Russian government has voiced concern that radiation could adversely affect fishing resources. 汚染水の放出に、韓国外交通商省は「事前通報」がなかったと強い不満を表明した。ロシア政府からも魚類に危険が及ぶことを心配する声が出ている。
It is a matter of course that Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano expressed regret over Tokyo's failure to provide an explanation before releasing contaminated water into the ocean, saying, "We must take seriously the opinions that we should've provided a detailed explanation in advance." 枝野幸男官房長官が６日の記者会見で「あらかじめ詳細な説明が必要だったとの指摘は、真摯（しんし）に受け止めていかなければならない」と語ったのは当然である。
The U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea, to which Japan is a signatory, obligates parties to prevent the contamination of sea water and minimize the release of toxic or harmful substances into the sea from ground-based sources. 日本も署名している国連海洋法条約は、海洋汚染を防止する一般的義務を締約国に負わせるとともに、毒性または有害な物質の陸にある発生源からの放出を最小にするよう求めている。
Foreign Minister Takeaki Matsumoto denied that TEPCO's discharge of radioactive water into the sea from the Fukushima nuclear plant constitutes a breach of duties specified by the convention, suggesting that whether to release information on the discharge of radioactive water is left to the discretion of the government. 松本剛明外相は「国際法上の義務との関係でただちに問題になるものではない」と語り、情報提供はあくまで自発的な判断によるものとの見解を示した。
His judgment may be in line with the widely accepted interpretation of the treaty. However, this is more than a matter of obligations written on paper. It is rather a matter of responsibility and common sense that Japan should have shown to the world as a country that has caused grave anxiety to the international community as a result of the nuclear power plant accident. 国際法の解釈はそうかもしれない。だがこれは、紙に書かれた義務うんぬんではなく、原発事故で世界に大きな不安を与えてしまった国の最低限の責務、良識の問題ではなかろうか。
Once released into the sea or atmosphere, radioactive substances spread regardless of territorial water and airspace. いったん海洋や大気中に出た放射性物質は、領海や領空とはかかわりなく拡散していく。
Even though the amount of radiation is said to be minimal and will have no impact on people's health, continuing to release radioactive materials means continuing to pollute the planet. 薄められて健康に害はないとされてはいるものの、それを放出し続けることは、この地球を日々汚染しているということである。
If the government and TEPCO are aware of that, they should consider the weight of their accountability to the world. その自覚があるのなら、国際社会に対する説明責任の重みをもう一度かみしめてほしい。
Since the March 11 Great East Japan Earthquake struck, 134 countries and territories have offered to extend relief to Japan, and 32 countries, territories and international organizations have provided relief supplies to disaster-hit areas. 東日本大震災発生以来、１３４の国・地域から支援の申し出があり、３２カ国・地域・国際機関から物資の提供を受けている。
The U.S. and other rescue teams played an important role in searching for missing people and recovering the bodies of victims. 行方不明者や遺体の捜索には米軍や各国救助チームの協力が大きな助けになった。
The calm behavior of survivors and the maintenance of law and order in society have greatly impressed the world. 被災者たちの落ち着いた言動や秩序立った社会の様子は、世界に強い感銘をもたらした。
These incidents have reminded us that Japan is closely linked to the rest of the world. 震災後、日本と世界は一つとの思いを深くする。
At the same time, however, the governments of many other countries as well as overseas media outlets have become increasingly critical of the Japanese government and TEPCO for releasing too little information on the crisis at the Fukushima nuclear plant and in a late manner. その一方、各国政府やメディアは原発事故をめぐる日本政府や東電の情報公開に「遅い」「少ない」との不信を強めている。
Japan should cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency and other international bodies in creating a system to promptly dispatch detailed information to the world on radiation contamination and how to respond to the crisis. 放射能汚染の情報や対処方針を早く、詳細に世界に向け発信する態勢を、国際原子力機関（ＩＡＥＡ）などとも連携して作り直すべきだ。
The government and TEPCO's inward-looking responses to the crisis could cause friction with other countries and damage cooperative relations Japan has nurtured with the international community. 内向きな対応は海外諸国との無用なあつれきを生み、せっかく築かれた国際社会との連帯にもヒビを生じさせかねない。
2011/04/07 --The Asahi Shimbun, April 6 EDITORIAL: Kan owes world explanation for pumping radioactive water in sea 低汚染水放出―政治がもっと責任担え
The government's decision to pump radioactive water out of the damaged Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant into the ocean was far too grave to be explained simply as "unavoidable." 「やむを得ない」という一言で片づけるには、あまりにも重大な事態である。
We saw little indication of the administration's dilemma over it. Moreover, the administration did an appallingly sloppy job of explaining its decision to the nation as well as the rest of the world. それにしては決断した政権の苦渋が見えず、内外への説明も到底足りない。
Work has begun at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant to pump out low-level radioactive water into the ocean. The stated purpose of this exercise is to "prevent greater damage" by getting rid of low-level radioactive water to secure space for storage and containment of high-level radioactive water at the plant. But under normal circumstances, resorting to such a measure would be simply out of the question. 原子炉の冷却作業が難航している福島第一原発で、低濃度の放射能汚染水の海への放出が始まった。高濃度の汚染水の保管場所を確保し、「より大きな被害を防ぐための措置」とされるが、平時では決して許されない行為だ。
Tokyo condemned Moscow in the past, when Russia dumped into the Sea of Japan low-level nuclear waste generated at a nuclear submarine base. 日本政府はかつて、ロシアが原子力潜水艦基地の低レベル廃棄物を日本海で投棄した際、厳しく批判した経緯がある。
And Japan supported the revision of the "London Convention," which was aimed at preventing maritime pollution and the dumping of waste, and later amended to include low-radioactive waste in the list of banned substances. それを受けて、ロンドン条約が、船舶などからの海洋投棄の禁止対象に低レベルも含むよう改正した際にも賛成した。
This is all the more reason why the Japanese government definitely owes the international community a detailed explanation of how it reached its latest decision and what further measures it intends to take. それだけに今回、放出に踏み切った理由と今後の対策について、国際的にもより厳しい説明責任が求められるはずだ。
Japan has deeply offended its neighbor, South Korea, by not consulting with it beforehand. 隣国の韓国は「事前の協議がなかった」と反発している。
But more to the point, the government was too insensitive to the international community's growing concerns about the unfolding nuclear crisis in Fukushima. それでなくとも厳しさを増す国際社会の視線に鈍感すぎるのではないか。
Prime Minister Naoto Kan and others should have called an immediate news conference and explained in detail the circumstances and the reasons that led to the decision. 菅直人首相自らが会見し、経緯や状況、決断の根拠を詳しく説明すべきだった。
With any hope of an early containment of the nuclear crisis now gone, the Kan administration's crisis management ability is being severely tested. 長期化が避けられない今回の原発危機で、問われているのは政権の危機管理能力である。
The prime minister's job is to expect every contingency, double- and triple-check the soundness of his plans, provide speedy and accurate information to the nation and the rest of the world, and establish a comprehensive strategy to ensure that all available resources are put to effective use. あらゆる事態を想定し、二重三重に備えを図る。国内外に迅速で的確な情報を発信する。その総合戦略を組み立て、持てる力を結集する態勢を構築することこそ、首相の仕事である。
Reportedly, the idea of pumping contaminated water from the Fukushina plant into the ocean was suggested by Tokyo Electric Power Co., and the government decided to proceed with it after consulting the Nuclear Safety Commission. 今回の汚染水放出は、東京電力の打診を受けた政府が、原子力安全委員会の助言を得て決断したという。
Was the final decision reached after every possible option had been examined thoroughly? The nuclear emergency response headquarters is headed by Kan, and the government and TEPCO have formed an ad hoc joint headquarters to deal with the crisis. Did all the members concerned share and examine carefully their expert opinions? 首相が本部長を務める原子力災害対策本部や、政府と東電が一体で危機管理にあたる統合本部で、関係者が十二分に問題意識を共有し、可能な限りの選択肢を考え抜いたうえで、最終判断を下したのだろうか。
The opinions of on-site personnel matter a lot, but our impression is that the government took a back seat even though it is ultimately responsible for a decision of this magnitude. From what we understand, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano left it to TEPCO to provide a detailed plan of action, and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, which overseas the fishing industry, was left completely out of the loop. 現場の考えは大切だが、最終的な責任を負うべき政治の影が薄い。枝野幸男官房長官は詳細な説明を東電に任せ、漁業を所管する農林水産省には事前の連絡はなかったという。
And the support system of nuclear experts to assist the administration is not adquate. Besides government organs, there should also be businesses, universities and public research institutes--such as the Japan Atomic Energy Agency and the National Institute of Radiological Sciences--participating actively in a comprehensive support system. 政治を支える専門家の支援態勢も、いまだ十分とはいえない。政府機関だけでなく、日本原子力研究開発機構や放射線医学総合研究所などの公的研究機関や産業界、大学など、国をあげた強力な態勢が必要だ。
But the Nuclear Safety Commission should still occupy center stage. The commission's presence has been dimmed since the accident at the Fukushima plant, but it must live up to its intended role as the nation's nuclear safety watchdog. その際、前面に立つべきは、やはり原子力安全委であろう。事故発生以来、その存在感は薄いが、安全のお目付け役としての本来の役割を果たしてもらわなければならない。
(Mainichi Japan) April 6, 2011 TEPCO has responsibility for creating jobs in areas hit by crisis at nuclear plant 記者の目：福島第１原発事故と地方経済＝森禎行
Workers who are trying to repair reactors at the Fukushima No. 1 Nuclear Power Plant, which was hit by a massive tsunami triggered by the March 11 killer quake, are drawing worldwide attention. I have covered their work and their sense of mission in which they are working hard to cool down the reactors and prevent radiation leaks while risking their own lives is indeed respectable. 東京電力福島第１原発（福島県大熊町、双葉町）の事故で、作業にあたる「フクシマの労働者」が世界的に注目されている。私はその作業員たちの取材を続けてきた。命を張った「使命感」はあまりにも尊い。
At the same time, the crisis at the plant demonstrates that the workers have to engage in such dangerous work because the local community relies heavily on the nuclear plant for job opportunities. The regional economy is in such a serious situation. 同時に、その背景に、原発に雇用を頼るがゆえに危険な作業に向かわざるをえない地方経済の深刻さも感じ、胸が痛む。
People living far away from areas affected by the nuclear crisis should also consider ways to create regional communities in which residents can lead their lives without relying on nuclear power plants. 原発に頼らず普通の市民が息づく町づくりを、原発被災地から離れた私たちも考えなければならない。
◇地元雇用が東電と国の責務
I went to the Fukushima Prefecture city of Iwaki -- a core city in the Hamadori district along the Pacific coast -- in late March. Many residents in areas around the plant had traveled to the city in order to take shelter there, and workers who were stuck inside the plant were taking brief breaks there. 私は３月下旬、同県いわき市に入った。太平洋に面した浜通り地方の中核都市だ。原発の周辺住民が避難先として目指し、発電所内に缶詰めだった労働者が休息する場所の一つにもなっていた。
Workers who were allowed to leave the plant after long, harsh work were all tight-lipped. Their long beards and deep wrinkles between their eyebrows illustrated the tough work they were engaged in. The purple-red jerseys they were wearing in place of their contaminated work clothes looked like proof that they were taking a break in a safe place. 発電所からようやく出てきた労働者は、一様に口が重かった。伸び放題のひげと、険しい眉間（みけん）のしわが作業の過酷さを物語っていた。汚染された作業服に代わって着る赤紫色のジャージーが“安息の地”に移った証しに見えた。
Workers at the plant are based in its special quake-resistant building. They cannot enjoy decent meals or sleep properly in such a building. They also confront invisible radiation at the plant. 発電所内の彼らは、免震重要棟という閉ざされた建物を拠点とする。満足な食事や睡眠は望むべくもない。そして、目に見えない放射能と向き合う作業。現実を少しずつだが聞いた。
They say they were unable to promptly grasp the situation at the plant because it was changing so often following the disaster. When a hydrogen explosion occurred in the building housing one of the reactors the day after the quake, a 47-year-old employee of Tokyo Electric Power Co. (TEPCO), who was in the special quake-resistant building, only felt that the vibrations caused by the blast were different from those of a quake. He said he was unable to see through buildings housing reactors that were hundreds of meters away, and learned of the explosion from NHK TV news. 現場でも、刻々と変化する事態はのみ込めなかったという。震災翌日の水素爆発では、免震重要棟にいた東電社員（４７）は「地震とは揺れが違うな」と感じる程度だった。数百メートル離れた原子炉建屋が見通せず、つけっ放しのＮＨＫテレビで「これだったのか」と知ったという。
◇ここで働く使命感と不安
What struck me was that workers range in age from those in their 20s to 60s. It was about 15 years ago that I, a native of Tokyo, met with a worker at a nuclear power plant for the first time. When I talked with a homeless man, he told me proudly, "I previously worked at a nuclear power plant. I was exposed to radiation, but I'm all right." That encounter gave me the impression that single, middle-aged or elderly people work at nuclear plants. 印象深かったのは、年齢が２０代から６０代まで幅広いことだった。東京出身の私が原発労働者に初めて接したのは約１５年前。首都圏の野宿者と話す機会があり、「原発で働いた。被ばくしたけど体は大丈夫」と誇らしげに話した。その話から、単身の中高年が作業するイメージが強かった。
This time, I met with many workers who belong to the same generation as mine and are raising children. A 35-year-old TEPCO employee, who was urged to flee the city of Minami-Soma, said he moved shelters three times. "Still, I was relocated on fewer occasions than many others." 今回、私と同じ子育て世代に多く出会った。南相馬市からの避難を求められた東電社員（３５）は「避難所は３カ所移り、私は少ない方」と申し訳なさそうに話した。
When asked why he chose to return to the crippled plant, he said, "I've been engaged in this work," expressing a sense of mission he harbors. 避難先から職場に戻った理由を尋ねると「この仕事に携わってきた」とはっきりした口調で使命感を語った。
At an evacuation shelter in Iwaki, I interviewed many workers who were at the plant when the disaster struck. There are many offices of subcontractors on the premises of the plant, and a total of some 10,000 people were working at TEPCO's Fukushima No. 1 and No. 2 nuclear power plants. I felt that nuclear plants are at the center of many huge towns. The plants are not just dry machines, but need the support of many people to function. いわき市内の避難所では、震災当日に発電所にいた多くの労働者を取材した。所内は下請け業者の事務所棟が建ち並ぶ。福島第１、第２を合わせて原発関連で約１万人が働く。巨大な“町”だと改めて感じた。原発は無味乾燥な機械でなく、多くの人の支えで動いていた。
There have been discussions about the risks of radiation leaks from nuclear plants for nearly half a century. Those in favor of nuclear power plants have pointed out that such plants are indispensable in Japan, which is short of natural resources. Opponents have cited their concern about radiation leaks and called for the introduction of substitute energy sources. 「放射能の危険性」の議論は半世紀近く続いてきた。「原発必要派」は、資源の乏しい日本で不可欠だと強調。「不要派」は「放射能の不安が絶えない」と、代替エネルギーの導入を訴えてきた。
A 37-year-old former employee of a subcontractor, who had worked at Fukushima No. 1 Nuclear Power Plant for nearly 20 years, said he is relieved because he will likely find a new job at another nuclear plant. "Without nuclear power plants, I would lose my job. I now feel relieved because I've learned I'll probably get a new job at another plant," he said at an evacuation shelter. 避難所での取材では、福島第１で２０年近く勤務した元請け会社社員（３７）は「原発が無ければ、仕事は無い。何とか別の原発で働けそうでほっとしている」と話した。
Another employee of a subcontractor in his 30s expressed concern about being forced to work to repair the damaged reactors. "If I'm asked to assist in the work, I'll have no choice but to comply." 別の３０代の下請け会社社員は「応援要請を受けたら行かざるをえない」と不安げに話した。
Their statements demonstrate the serious reality of the regional community -- many local residents have no choice but to work at nuclear plants despite fears of radiation exposure. TEPCO has three nuclear power stations -- Fukushima No. 1 and No. 2 and Kashiwazaki-Kariwa in Niigata Prefecture. All three plants are situated in Tohoku Electric Power Co.'s service area. Nevertheless, all power generated at these plants is sent to TEPCO's service area around Tokyo. TEPCO built its nuclear power plants far away from its headquarters in the capital while claiming that the facilities are safe, and won support from the communities that host the plants by creating many jobs for local residents. However, its claim has collapsed. そんな労働者の話を聞き、原発問題の本質は、「放射能の危険を承知で原発で働く」という地方の重い現実だと感じた。東電は福島第１、第２、新潟県の柏崎刈羽の３原発を持つ。いずれも東電の電力供給エリアではなく、東北電力のエリアだ。この３原発で作った電気はすべて首都圏に送られる。東電は「原発は安全」と胸を張りながら東京の本社から遠い地方に立地し、多大な雇用で地元の支持をつなぎとめてきた。今回、その構図は破綻した。
Ironically, TEPCO is required to play an important role in efforts to restore disaster-hit areas. It is one of a few companies that can create numerous job opportunities in rural areas. Since it is clear that the employment situation will worsen in quake- and tsunami-hit areas, TEPCO has a responsibility to create more jobs for local residents. It remains to be seen how the management of the power supplier will be restructured but in any case, it cannot be recognized that the company has fulfilled its responsibility for the crisis at the nuclear plant even if it uses its own money and public funds to pay compensation to those affected. In addition to paying compensation, TEPCO must create work opportunities. 皮肉にも、今後の復興においても東電の役割は極めて大きい。地方で大きな雇用を生み出せる企業は少ないのだ。現地の雇用情勢が深刻化するのは必至で、東電には雇用に関する責務がある。東電の経営形態がどうなるか不透明だが、公的資金と同社の資金で賠償を行えば済むという話ではない。被災地の未来像を描くためには、補償だけではなく「雇用」が不可欠だ。
◇次世代送電網のモデル地区に
TEPCO should cooperate with the national government and other businesses in creating jobs in a bid to help restore quake-hit communities in Fukushima Prefecture. The power supplier has no choice but to dismantle the disaster-hit nuclear power plant that has caused anxiety to local residents. It should create jobs through its work to dismantle the plant, and become a global model of a next-generation power supplier as a symbol of the restoration of disaster-hit areas. 東電は国や他の産業とも協力し、フクシマの復興に新たな雇用創出で応えてほしい。不安のある原発は、もはや廃炉にするしかない。その作業で雇用をつなぎ、同時に新たな電気産業を、この地から世界に発信することが大きな復興メッセージになる。
Specifically, TEPCO should consider making the region a model area for the introduction of a smart grid -- a next-generation network for efficiently transmitting electric power generated by recyclable energy. The possibility should be pursued that the area will be made a base for the research and development of electric vehicles in a bid to help the regional community that relies heavily on automobiles despite a shortage of gasoline. 具体的には、例えば再生可能エネルギーの効率的な送電が期待されるスマートグリッド（次世代送電網）のモデル地区にしたらどうだろう。ガソリン不足に直面した地方のクルマ社会を克服すべく電気自動車に関する研究開発拠点にすることも考えられる。
I would like to emphasize to TEPCO, "You are needed for the restoration of Fukushima. ("As I see it" by Sadayuki Mori, City News Department) 東電に求めたい。「フクシマの再生には、東電の力が必要だ」
(Mainichi Japan) April 5, 2011 Protection of communities must take priority in quake restoration efforts 社説：住民の集団避難 共同体を全力で守ろう
An evacuation order affecting residents near the crippled Fukushima No. 1 Nuclear Power Plant looks likely to be prolonged. Residents of the Miyagi Prefecture town of Minami-Sanriku, which was devastated by the March 11 tsunami, have also begun to move to other administrative districts to take shelter until temporary housing is completed in the town. 福島第１原発の周辺で放射性物質漏れ被害から逃れるため居住地を集団で離れた住民の避難生活が長期化の様相をみせている。津波で大きな被害を受けた宮城県南三陸町も仮設住宅ができるまでの間、他自治体への集団避難を開始した。
The government should take all possible measures to ensure evacuated residents maintain their communities while they are taking shelter. Even in cases where residents in the same neighborhoods have been forced to flee to separate shelters, the central government needs to uphold residents' relations with their local governments and prevent them from being isolated. 住民が避難前とできるだけ同じようなコミュニティーを維持しつつ生活できるよう、政府は手を尽くさねばならない。住民が離ればなれに避難せざるを得なかった場合も、故郷の自治体と関係を絶たず、孤立を防ぐ仕組みを検討すべきである。
Eight towns and villages situated around the quake- and tsunami-hit nuclear power plant are particularly threatened by radiation leaking from the power station. These municipalities have not only evacuated their residents or urged them to voluntarily flee their neighborhoods, but also temporarily relocated their municipal government headquarters to other administrative districts. 原発の放射性物質漏れ事故の影響でとりわけ深刻な事態に直面しているのは周辺８町村だ。避難指示や自主避難で住民だけでなく、役場の機能までほかの自治体に移さざるを得ない状況となっている。
The Fukushima Prefecture town of Futaba, which is home to the nuclear plant, has shifted its municipal government headquarters, as well as many of its residents, three times: to the prefecture's town of Kawamata, to Saitama Super Arena and to the building of a now defunct high school in Kazo, Saitama Prefecture. The municipal government of Okuma, Fukushima Prefecture, has decided to collectively relocate its residents to Aizu-Wakamatsu in the same prefecture. 第１原発がある双葉町の場合、多くの住民が役場の機能ごと同県川俣町、さいたまスーパーアリーナ、埼玉県加須市の旧県立高校と３度にわたり移転した。福島県大熊町は会津若松市への集団移転を進めている。
Residents of these areas were forced to flee their homes and take shelter in the wake of devastation caused by the massive March 11 killer quake and tsunami and the ongoing threat of radiation leaks from the nuclear plant. Their plight is immeasurable. 津波被害に追い打ちをかけるような原発事故で着の身着のまま避難し、移転生活を強いられている苦難は察してあまりある。
More than 1,300 residents of Futaba, who are taking shelter in Kazo, are aiming to maintain their communities. The national government has a responsibility to provide housing to these evacuees and take other steps to support their livelihoods and help them maintain their communities, as their time away from home is likely to be prolonged. In fact, it may be better to say that the responsibility lies on the entire nation. １３００人以上が移り住んだ加須市で双葉町民は従来のコミュニティーを維持しながらの生活を目指すという。集団移転した住民に対し、政府は避難が相当長期化する場合も念頭に置き、住宅確保をはじめとする生活の維持と共同体の存続に取り組む責任がある。それは、私たち国民の責務と言い換えてもいいはずだ。
The national government must eliminate vertically divided administrative functions and be prepared to support education, nursing care, medical services and employment for evacuees as a whole. The local governments of disaster-hit areas from which residents have been evacuated and those in areas where the evacuees are taking shelter need to fully cooperate with each other in ensuring that both groups of residents can get along with each other. The national government should also help lessen the burdens on the local governments, by assisting in the management of data on residents, for example. 教育、医療、介護、雇用の確保などさまざまな分野でタテ割りにならぬよう、一体支援を展開する体制が必要だ。移転先の住民と融和しつつ生活をともにするには被災地、移転先両自治体の連携も欠かせない。住民データの管理など、役場機能の負担軽減策も導入すべきだ。
At the same time, questions remain as to how to maintain the connections between those who have fled their quake- and tsunami-ravaged neighborhoods on an individual basis and the local governments of their hometowns. The central government has not grasped how many residents from disaster-hit areas have fled to other areas. It is an urgent task for the national government to gather such information with the help of the local governments concerned. 一方で、震災で個人や家族単位で他市町村に受け入れられた人をどう故郷の自治体とつなぐかも課題となる。それぞれの被災地から住民が他自治体にどう避難したか、現状では把握しきれていない。政府は移転先の自治体の協力を得て、情報収集を急がねばならない。
It is feared that some residents have lost contact with the local governments of their hometowns after shifting their resident registrations to areas where they are taking shelter, and cannot receive information on relief measures in their hometowns. The central government should implement measures to allow evacuees to receive administrative services from the authorities of the areas where they are taking shelter while maintaining their resident status in their hometown even if their time in shelter is prolonged. やむを得ず移転先に住民票を移した結果、旧住所の自治体と連絡が途絶え、救援情報が届かなくなる事態が懸念される。本人が希望すれば長期間であっても住民票を移さず、しかも移転先の行政サービスを受けられるような制度を工夫すべきだ。
Evacuees' resident registries will serve as important bonds with the local governments of their hometowns until they return and begin to restore their communities. The central government should regard the protection of the communities in quake- and tsunami-hit areas as the core of its disaster recovery efforts. 住民がやがて舞い戻り、故郷の再建に取り組むまで、住民票は大事な「きずな」となる。政府は共同体の保護を震災の復興政策の一環と位置づけ、特に留意してほしい。
Early in the morning on March 12, the day after a massive earthquake and tsunami struck Japan's Tohoku region, I arrived at the Gamo district of Sendai. 震災発生翌日の１２日早朝。私は仙台市宮城野区の蒲生地区に入った。
"There are dead bodies everywhere," people said. 「そのあたりでいっぱい死んでいる」。人々が口々に訴えていた。
What used to be a residential area of about 300 households had disappeared. Mud covered the first and second floors of a nearby elementary school. Pallid locals who had survived by escaping to the roof of the building said that it was "hell." Bodies lay across the rubble as firefighters searched for survivors. Aftershocks and tsunami continued, one after another. Waves about a meter high surged upstream on the Nanakitagawa River. 約３００戸の住宅街は消えていた。近くの小学校は２階部分まで泥だらけ。「地獄だ」。屋上で難を逃れた人たちが青ざめていた。遺体がそばにあるのに、消防隊員は生存者の捜索で手いっぱい。余震が続き、津波が次々に来る。目の前の七北田川では高さ１メートルほどの波がはるか上流までさかのぼっていった。
That afternoon, I made my way to nearby Sendai port, where any traces of it being a bustling weekend shopping area were now gone. Remnants of trucks and buildings blocked the roads, and people carrying their belongings under both arms formed long lines. 午後、近くの仙台港に移動した。週末ににぎわうショッピングエリアの変わり果てた姿。トラックや建物の残骸が道路をふさぎ、両手に荷物を抱えた人の行列が続く。
I found the body of a man, naked from the waist up, in the rubble. People hurried on their way, and did not stop to look at the man. I took several photos of him, but didn't send them in to the office. 上半身裸の男性の遺体が、がれきの中であらわになっていた。人々は見向きもせず、先を急ぐ。私は男性の写真を数枚撮ったが、送稿はしなかった。
It was in my fifth year as a reporter at the paper that I decided that I wanted to show the public exactly what I was seeing in the field, and switched to being a photographer. Now stationed at the Sendai Bureau, I call Sendai home. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine that such destruction would strike my city. I just can't make any sense of it, and there have been moments when I just don't want to see any of this anymore. 「自分の目で現実を見て、そのまま伝えたい」。そう考えた私は入社５年目、記者から写真記者になった。いまは仙台支局に駐在してこの街で暮らす。自分の街がこんなことになるとは。気持ちの整理がつかない。「もうこれ以上見たくない」とも思った。
On March 13, I headed to Higashi-Matsushima, where over 200 bodies had been found. I had just been in the city the day before the earthquake to cover ice-fish fishing, which was in its high season. Just a few days later, I watched as Self-Defense Force (SDF) members carried body after body wrapped in blankets. I clicked away on my camera from a distance. A photographer from another newspaper followed the SDF troops, but I refused to entertain ideas of where they were headed. I told myself that it was getting too dark, anyway, and left to go home. 翌１３日。２００人以上の遺体が見つかった宮城県東松島市に向かった。まさに震災前夜、最盛期のシラウオ漁を取材するため訪れた場所だった。自衛隊員が毛布に包んだ遺体を次々に運ぶ。私は遠くからシャッターを切った。他社のカメラマンは遺体を追いかけて行った。その先に何があるのかを、私は考えようとしなかった。「もう日が暮れるから」などと自分に言い聞かせ、その場を離れた。
Meanwhile, my colleagues had been covering what lay beyond what I had been willing to see. It was their photos of mud-covered bodies being laid on the floor of gymnasiums used as makeshift morgues with family members collapsing in tears next to them that captured the true essence of the tsunami. The real tragedy of the monstrous waves is not that entire cities were reduced to rubble, but that many people died. I had been trying to avert my eyes from those deaths. その日、同僚は「その先」で取材していた。泥まみれの遺体が並ぶ「安置所」の体育館。泣き崩れる遺族を写した写真は、今回の津波の本質を切り取っていたと思う。震災の本当の悲惨さは、街ががれきと化したことではなく、多くの人が死んだことにあるのだ。私は「死」から目を背けていたのだ。
How am I supposed to share what's actually happening at the disaster sites with our readers? There are weekly magazines that have published photos of dead bodies, and some argue that newspapers should do the same. Right now, though, I don't know what the right answer is. Since the tsunami, I've had bad dreams numerous times. In those dreams, I try frantically to run to safety, but my legs refuse to move. Just as I'm about to be swallowed by a tidal wave, I wake up. I worry that readers would also suffer from nightmares if certain photos were to be published in the paper. この現場の本当の姿を伝えるにはどうしたらいいのだろう。一部の週刊誌は遺体そのものを掲載し、新聞にも載せるべきだという議論がある。だが、いまの私には分からない。私は最近、津波に襲われる夢を何度も見る。必死に逃げようとするが足が動かず、津波にのみ込まれそうになる場面で目が覚める。新聞の写真を見て読者が悪夢に襲われたらと思ってしまう。
Regardless, I still recognize the significance of photography. On March 22, 11 days after the quake, I flew into Miyagi Prefecture's Tashiro Island, located off the coast of Ishinomaki, on an SDF helicopter. Residents of the island were at a loss for words when they saw the newspaper I had brought with me. Radios had been their single source of information for over 10 days, and only when they saw the images of destruction were they able to fully comprehend how bad the situation was. ただ、写真は大切だと強く思う。震災発生から１１日後の２２日、宮城県石巻市の沖合にある田代島に自衛隊ヘリで入った。持参した新聞の写真を見た住民は、「こんなひどいのか」と絶句していた。１０日以上情報源はラジオだけだったという。写真で見て初めて、各地の惨状が理解できたのだ。
Three weeks have passed since the massive temblor and ensuing tsunami, and many people are still making the rounds at morgues in search of missing family members. There have been signs of hope, too, however. One morning when temperatures plunged to subzero, I met Kyoko Kato, a 59-year-old woman taking refuge at an evacuation shelter in the city of Kesennuma. Washing clothes in ice-cold water with her bare hands, Kato smiled and said, "Feeling the cold is proof that I'm alive." I captured her chapped skin with my camera. 発生から３週間たっても多くの人が遺体安置所を回り、肉親を捜し続けている。その一方で、少しずつ変化も見られる。宮城県気仙沼市の避難所。氷点下の気温となった朝、真水で黙々と洗濯する人がいた。加藤京子さん（５９）。「冷たいと感じるのは生きている証しだっちゃ」と笑った。そのあかぎれの手を写真に収めた。
Later that day, I ran into Kato in the hallway of the shelter. "You don't have any food with you, do you? Wait right here," Kato said, and came back with a cream-filled roll and tomato juice that had been distributed to the evacuees. I told her that I couldn't accept something so precious, but she would have none of that. その昼、避難所の廊下で会った加藤さんは、私を覚えていてくれた。「あんた、ご飯ないんでしょ。ちょっと待ってなさい」と言って、配給されたクリームパンとトマトジュースを差し出す。「そんな貴重な物、もらえません」と固辞しても押しつける。
"Yesterday, some volunteers sang for us. It went something like 'Let us be thankful for hearts more than for things,' and it made me cry," Kato said, and with a smile, she left. Cream oozed out of the roll as I bit into it, and melted in my mouth. "Delicious," I thought, as tears streamed down my face. 「昨日ね、ボランティアの人の歌を聞いたの。物より心に感謝しようって。泣けちゃってさ」。小さな笑い声を残し、加藤さんは立ち去った。遠慮しつつパンをほおばる。クリームが口の中でとろけ、「うまいなー」と思った瞬間、涙がぼろぼろこぼれてきた。
What are we human beings doing here on earth? What is the meaning of life? These are questions that I've ruminated on before, but find myself asking again. The sight of disaster victims trying to get on with their lives -- despite having seen so many people die senseless deaths -- makes me realize that I can't look away. I have to keep confronting this reality, and capturing it with my camera. (By Hiroshi Maruyama, Photo Department) 人間ってなんだろう。命ってなんだろう。今まで何度も考えてきたはずのことを自問している。多くの理不尽な死に直面し、そしてそれでも生活を始めた被災者の姿。私はやはり、見なくてはならないと思う。見て、撮り続けなければと。
(Mainichi Japan) April 3, 2011 Kaleidoscope of the Heart: Disaster anxiety disrupts judgment 香山リカのココロの万華鏡：不安が判断力を奪う ／東京
In addition to the giant earthquake on March 11 and the tsunami it generated, more and more problems have occurred at the quake-hit nuclear power plant in Fukushima Prefecture. Although their homes may have been spared from the tsunami, it is difficult to imagine the feelings of those who have had to evacuate from areas around the plant because of radiation. 地震や津波に加えて、原発の被害が拡大している。震災で家がなくなったわけではないのに、地元を離れて避難しなければならない人たちの無念さは、どれほどのものであろう。
One result of the plant crisis was that residents in the Tokyo metropolitan area were advised to not to allow infants to drink tap water. Levels of radioactive substances over health standards had been detected at a water filtration plant in the capital, spreading anxiety among many people. Because of all this, I am now seeing patients visit my consultation room saying they are worried about radiation. 首都圏でも「乳児には水道水を飲ませないで」という呼びかけが行われ、多くの人が不安を感じている。
One said, "No matter how much I wash my hands, I can't shake the worry that they might be tainted with radioactive substances."
"I felt nauseated after drinking tea made with tap water," another said. 診察室には早くも、「手を洗っても洗っても放射性物質がついている気がして」「水道水でいれたお茶を飲んだら吐き気がした」などと訴える人が訪れ始めている。
In one extreme case, a person had been refraining from deep breathing out of fear of inhaling radiation, and they panicked after feeling a pain in their chest. 「呼吸するだけで放射能に汚染されるのでは」と深い呼吸を控えているうちに、胸が苦しくなりパニック状態に陥った人もいた。
Although these people are probably overly worried, the effects of these worries should not be taken lightly. The worries themselves can make people feel ill, adversely affecting their work and daily lives. おそらくそれらは“気のせい”なのだが、だからといって軽く考えることはできない。場合によっては、本当に体調に変化が生じ、仕事や生活に支障が出てくることもある。
Overly worrying can make it impossible for us to make calm judgments, discouraging us from doing something, or conversely making us act impulsively. These worries can be more harmful than the reality that has spawned them. 「こうなったらどうしよう」と悪いことを先取りして感じる「不安」は、私たちにとって最大の敵だ。気持ちを萎縮させ、冷静な判断ができなくなり、動きを止めたり衝動に走らせたりする。考えようによっては、実際に起きている困難以上に有害だともいえるのだ。
The other day, I had an opportunity to talk with people in quake- and tsunami-hit areas. 先日、被災地の方と直接、話をする機会があった。
"Many people in Tokyo who are scared that tap water might be contaminated with radiation have stocked up on mineral water," I told them. "We here are glad just to have our tap water running again," one of them responded. 「東京では水道水を怖れる人がミネラルウオーターの買い占めている」と話すと、「こっちは水道が復旧しただけで大喜びなのに」と言われた。
It is true that the crisis at the nuclear plant does not paint a pretty picture. It is feared that radioactive contamination of air and soil could continue for a long time. However, it is a big problem that some people outside of the disaster-hit areas, who need to support those in them, have stricken by panic and cannot lead their lives normally. たしかに、原発の状況は予断を許さず、今後、長期にわたって大気や土壌の汚染が続くことが懸念される。しかし、いま被災地を支えなければならない人たちまでが、不安からパニック状態に陥り、自分の生活を送ることさえできなくなる、というのは大きな問題だ。
Close attention should be paid to the crisis at the nuclear power plant. However, I would like everyone to keep in mind that worry can breed more worry, robbing us of our judgment. We should continually ask ourselves if our worry is constructive, and try to stay calm when we can. 原発の問題は、これからも目を見張り、耳をすまして注意を続けたい。ただ、ひとつ、覚えておいてほしいことがある。それは、いったん「不安」にとりつかれると、それは雪だるま式に増大し続け、私たちから思考力や判断力を奪ってしまう可能性がある、ということだ。「私の感じている『不安』は、必要以上に膨れすぎてはいないか」と、常に自分に問いかけて冷静さを取り戻す必要がある。
There are many people in the disaster-hit areas who can't wonder about whether or not to drink tap water because it's not running in the first place. While keeping that in mind, let us continue to keep watch over the development of the crisis and live our lives. (By Rika Kayama, psychiatrist) 「水道水を飲んでよいかどうかという前に、その水がまだ出ないのだ」と言っている人たちも、いまだに被災地には大勢いる。そのことを心にとめながら、事態の推移を見守り、自分の態度を決めていきたい。
2011/04/02 --The Asahi Shimbun, April 1 EDITORIAL: Worried international community offers support for Fukushima operation 福島原発危機―世界から力を借りて
Foreign countries have started to offer substantial support to the effort to contain the disaster at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant. 福島第一原子力発電所の事故に対する国際社会の支援がいよいよ本格的に動き出した。
President Nicolas Sarkozy of France, host of this year's Group of Eight summit, has traveled to Japan, and traces of radioactive material believed to be from the Fukushima plant are now being detected outside the country. The effort to contain the nuclear disaster had taken on an international aspect. 主要国首脳会議（Ｇ８）の議長国であるフランスのサルコジ大統領も来日した。 海外でも第一原発からとみられる放射性物質が検出され始めた。
At Fukushima, a large volume of radioactive water is hampering work to regain control of the crippled nuclear reactors. High levels of radioactive materials are leaking into the sea. 現場では、原子炉の制御を回復する作業を大量の汚染水が阻み、海水にも高濃度の放射性物質が漏れ出ている。
There is some distrust in the international community of Japan's effort to deal with the crisis. International support is being offered in the context of that concern. 日本はこの危機に対処できていないのではないか、という不信感も生まれている。支援の機運が高まるのは、各国に危機感があるからだ。
It looks like the operation at Fukushima will continue for a long time. It is natural that the government and Tokyo Electric Power Co., which operates the plant, should accept international assistance. Japan should draw on the expertise of foreign countries. 事故の対応は長期戦の様相にある。政府や東京電力が受け入れに踏み出したのは当然だ。諸外国の知恵を借り、その好意を成果に結びつけたい。
Cooperation with the United States, which has significant nuclear know-how, is crucial. In addition to offering expert advice, the United States has decided to dispatch a military unit equipped to deal with radioactive pollution. 軸になるのは、原子力のノウハウを蓄積している米国の協力だ。専門家による助言に加え、放射能汚染に対応できる米軍の専門部隊も派遣される。
Among the other equipment provided by the United States is a remote-control robot that could work inside the plant. Technology to replace personnel in dangerous locations is likely to be particularly useful to the workers at Fukushima. とりわけ期待したいのが、危険な現場にいる作業員の仕事を肩代わりする技術だ。米国からの機材には、原発内で遠隔操作できるロボットが含まれる。
France, which relies heavily on nuclear power, has sent measuring equipment as well as large quantities of protective clothing and masks. French experts who might be able to help with the problem of shifting contaminated water in the plant have arrived in Japan. Britain and Germany have also offered to dispatch their own specialists. 欧州の原発大国フランスからは大量の防護服や防護マスク、測定器が届き、汚染水処理の専門家も来日した。英国やドイツからも専門家派遣などの申し入れが届いている。
The International Atomic Energy Agency is urging the government to conduct a detailed survey of radioactive pollution around the No. 1 plant to inform its decisions on evacuating residents. 国際原子力機関（ＩＡＥＡ）も、住民避難とのからみで第一原発周辺の放射性物質の詳しい調査を政府に促している。
The 1986 disaster at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant in the former Soviet Union is a major factor in the sensitivity of international society to the current situation in Japan. 国際社会が敏感に反応する背景には、１９８６年の旧ソ連チェルノブイリ原発事故がある。
Radioactive substances from Chernobyl spread across a large area of Europe. The Chernobyl disaster was even described as causing "global radiation exposure." Chernobyl taught the world that nuclear disasters cannot be properly dealt with by an individual country. 当時、事故炉から出た放射性物質が欧州の広い地域に飛び散って、「地球被曝（ひばく）」とさえいわれた。その経験から、原発災害には一国では立ち向かえない、という認識が培われてきたのである。
The Fukushima case will be the first time that international society has cooperated to deal with a catastrophic nuclear disaster. 今回は、国際社会が連携して原発の一大事に臨む最初の例となろう。
The important thing is to combine foreign support effectively with Japan's own personnel, equipment and know-how. 大事なことは、国外の支援を国内の人材や機材、ノウハウとうまく組み合わせることだ。
What will have to be done to stabilize the reactors and stop them from leaking radioactive substances? What technology and personnel from which countries will be most effective? These points need to be considered. If necessary, Japan should ask foreign countries to help in specific areas. 炉を落ち着かせ、放射性物質の放出を抑えるには何が求められ、どの国の技術や人材が最適かを見極める。場合によっては「こんなところに力を貸して」と要望してもいい。
Instead of acting separately, the Foreign Ministry and TEPCO should work together to deal with the situation as a single unit. The prime minister's office should serve as the command post and make the key decisions, while listening to the opinions of experts. 外務省や東京電力はばらばらに対応するのではなく、首相官邸が司令塔となって専門家の意見を聴きながら判断することが大切だ。
Japan also needs to be more forthcoming with accurate information to help dispel distrust in other countries. 国際社会の不信を解消するために的確な情報を発信することにも積極的でありたい。
(Mainichi Japan) April 1, 2011 Compassion seen on all sides seen after Japan's disasters 余録：やさしさの輪
U.S. rescue teams dispatched to the tsunami-ravaged Iwate Prefecture cities of Ofunato and Kamaishi were taken aback by the devastating scene in front of them. 岩手県の大船渡と釜石に入った米救援隊の消防士はその惨状に驚く。
But what they found more striking were their encounters with the locals. "I haven't got much," said a woman whose shop had been reduced to rubble, as she offered rice crackers to the workers. それにもまして印象深かったのは倒壊したある店の女性主人だった。その人は「何もありませんが」とせんべいを差し出したのだ
Likewise, a member of a Chinese rescue team in Ofunato recalls being thanked by local passersby for traveling such a long way to help, receiving candy and snacks from them. 同じく大船渡市で捜索活動をした中国の援助隊員は、通りがかりの住民に「遠くからわざわざありがとう」と声をかけられ、アメや菓子を手渡された。
Another worker who tried to buy food at a convenience store said payment was refused when the shop staff realized the customer was helping in relief efforts. The worker ended up being given instant noodles and rice balls for free. 別の隊員は現地コンビニで「援助隊なら」と代金の受け取りを拒まれ、カップ麺やおにぎりの提供を受けたという
Such acts of compassion among the Japanese in the face of hardship have touched the hearts of many overseas, but those in other countries have been showing plenty of compassion themselves. 苦境にあっても思いやりを失わぬ被災者の姿は外国人に感銘を与えた。だが、外国の人々も負けてはいない。
Present and former residents of an orphanage in Malaysia, for example, raised money through a donation drive. The money, along with a message of encouragement, was delivered to the Japanese Embassy in Malaysia. マレーシアのある孤児院では孤児が修道女らに働きかけて被災地への募金活動を始め、自分らと卒業生の分も含む義援金と激励の言葉を日本大使館に寄せた
Meanwhile, 40 Pakistani children with thalassemia, a blood disease also known as Mediterranean anemia, and the head of a welfare organization donated 10 soccer balls to a Japanese Consulate for Japanese children in the disaster areas. パキスタンの地中海性貧血を患う子供たち４０人は福祉団体代表と共に日本の領事館へ被災地の子供たちにとサッカーボール１０個を寄贈した。
Japan has received words of gratitude and encouragement as well as monetary donations from developing countries in Asia grateful for the support Japan has provided them in the past, both during normal times and after disasters have struck. アジアの途上国からは過去の日本の援助や災害支援への感謝と共に寄せられる義援金やお見舞いのメッセージが相次いでいる
Elsewhere, poor students living in Brazil's impoverished regions have offered change they collected in empty cans, while an 8-year-old from Sweden was talking about wanting to use allowance money to send water to Japan. There was also a taxi driver in Poland who refused to accept fare from Japanese passengers, and a Russian gentleman who disappeared after dropping off a massive amount of money and wishing Japan well. 空き缶に小銭を集めたブラジルの貧しい地区の生徒たち、お小遣いで被災者に水を送りたいというスウェーデンの８歳の子、日本人からは代金を取れないと言ったポーランドのタクシー運転手、巨額の金と「がんばって」との一言だけを残していったロシアの紳士－－
In the post-earthquake days, people's kindness and compassion have been seen in small acts everywhere. We hope that with these acts, the sadness enveloping the areas affected by the earthquake, tsunami and other crises will be healed. ("Yoroku," a front-page column in the Mainichi Shimbun) 人へのやさしさや思いやりが地球のあちこちで小さな奇跡を起こし続けている「３・１１」後である。今は被災地を覆う深い悲しみも、いつかはこの奇跡の輪の中でいやされる日が来るよう祈る。
