(Mainichi Japan) October 29, 2011 Gov't should thoroughly explain health risks from internal radiation exposure through food 社説：食品の放射能 説明と測定を徹底せよ
The Japanese government is required to thoroughly explain health risks from overall radiation exposure to the public and ensure that food products are measured for radiation now that the Food Safety Commission (FSC) has shown its safety standards on internal radiation exposure through foods. 食品から受ける内部被ばくの影響を検討してきた食品安全委員会が、評価書をまとめ厚生労働省に答申した。
In a report it submitted to the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry on Oct. 28, the FSC explained that if lifetime cumulative exposure to radiation exceeds roughly 100 millisieverts, excluding natural radiation, it will adversely affect human health. 「自然放射線などを除いた生涯の累積線量が、おおよそ１００ミリシーベルトを超えると健康に影響がある」という内容だ。
Based on that report, the ministry will set upper limits on radiation for each type of food product. この評価を基に厚労省が食品ごとの新たな規制値を決めるが、
The problem is the interpretation of the 100 millisievert upper limit. わかりにくいのはこの１００ミリシーベルトの位置づけだ。
When it released an initial draft of the report in July, the FSC explained that 100 millisieverts refers to the upper limit on the total amount of overall radiation exposure, both internal and external. ７月に評価案が示された時には、「外部被ばくと内部被ばくを合わせた線量」と説明された。
However, the report submitted to the ministry limits it to internal exposure through food. ところが、答申では「食品から受ける内部被ばく」に限定された。
The report has raised questions as to whether the upper limit on internal radiation exposure through food should remain at 100 millisieverts or should be lowered if the amount of external radiation exposure is high. では、外部被ばくが高くても食品の基準は１００ミリシーベルトなのか、それともその分低いのか。
The FSC has declined to answer this question on the grounds that the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry or other government organizations in charge should decide on the matter. 食品安全委は「厚労省などしかるべき管理機関が考えること」として判断を避けた。
The FSC apparently believes that it should stick to its mission of evaluating risks involving food. 食品安全委の使命は食品のリスク評価をすることだという理屈だが、
However, the government should stop such sectionalism and evaluate risks of overall radiation exposure as what members of the public want to know is how their health is affected by both internal and external radiation exposure. １人の人は内部被ばくと外部被ばくの影響をあわせて受ける。知りたいのは全体の影響だ。政府は、こうした縦割りをやめ、被ばく全体のリスク評価をすべきではないか。
The current regulations on food safety set the upper limit on exposure to radioactive cesium at 5 millisieverts per year. 現在の食品の規制値は放射性セシウムによる被ばく線量の上限を年５ミリシーベルトとしている。
However, since this is a provisional limit set following the accident at the tsunami-hit Fukushima No. 1 Nuclear Power Plant, it is an urgent task for the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry to set stricter standards. これはあくまで事故直後の暫定値であり、厚労省はより厳しい新基準を早急に決める必要がある。
In doing so, the ministry should thoroughly explain the basis for the new standards, including health risks involving external radiation exposure and internal exposure to less than 100 millisieverts, in an effort to convince the public. その際には、国民が納得できるよう、外部被ばくや１００ミリシーベルト以下の影響まで含めた基準値の根拠についてよく説明してもらいたい。
The FSC report suggests that children are more vulnerable to radiation than adults. 答申は、子どもの方が放射線に対する感受性が大人より高い可能性があることも指摘した。
However, as it is unrealistic to set separate upper limits for children and adults, it is necessary to set a figure that can protect the health of children as the upper limit on all citizens. 食品の規制値を大人と子どもで分けることは現実的ではなく、子どもに合わせた規制が必要になる。
But even if a stricter upper limit is set, it alone cannot eliminate consumers' anxieties as long as they do not know how much radiation they have been exposed to through food. ただ、規制値が新たに決まっても、実際に食品からどれだけ被ばくしているかがわからなければ、消費者の不安は解消されない。
Sample surveys on food that national and local governments are currently conducting are far from sufficient. 国や自治体が実施しているサンプル調査だけでは不十分だ。
In order to protect the health of citizens and relieve their concerns and mental stress, central and local governments should conduct more thorough and detailed measurements of radiation contained in food. 健康を守り、不安やストレスを減らすために、もっときめ細かい測定を進めてほしい。
Such measurements should cover a wider diversity of food products, as fish and other marine products could later turn out to be contaminated with radiation as a result of bioaccumulation. 今後、生物濃縮によって魚介類などの汚染が新たにわかってくる可能性もあり、幅広く実施すべきだ。
University of Tokyo professor Ryugo Hayano has proposed that the amount of radioactive cesium contained in school lunches should be measured and that the results be released on a daily basis. 東大の早野龍五教授は実際に子どもたちが食べる給食１食分の放射性セシウムの量を測り数値を毎日公表することを提案している。
Tatsuhiko Kodama, professor at the same university, has suggested that all food products should be measured for radiation using belt-conveyer-style measurement devices. 同大の児玉龍彦教授は米袋などをそのまま測るベルトコンベヤー式の計測機器による全品検査を提案している。
A growing number of retailers and citizens are voluntarily measuring food products for radiation. 流通業界や市民が食品を独自に計測する動きも出てきている。
The national and local government should actively support these moves. 政府や自治体にはこうした動きも後押ししてもらいたい。
If the current situation continues, consumers' concerns about food safety cannot be eliminated even if the actual radiation levels remain low. このままでは、たとえ現実の線量が低くても、消費者の不安は収まらない。
(Mainichi Japan) October 22, 2011 Journalists keep close eye on Fukushima nuclear worker radiation exposure (Part 3) 新聞週間特集：「原発事故と報道」報告（その３）◇作業員の線量管理に疑問
The wide perception gap that has surfaced between Tokyo Electric Power Co., the operator of the tsunami-hit Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant, the government and other parties has raised serious questions about the management of plant workers' radiation exposure. （この部分の英訳なし＾＾） 記者たちは避難所や、拠点となっていた福島県いわき市の旅館を回り、作業員の声に耳を傾けた。
Shortly after the plant was stricken with meltdowns and hydrogen explosions in March, Mainichi reporters, mainly those with the Tokyo City News Department, began interviewing workers struggling to bring the crippled facility under control. 東京電力福島第１原発の事故から間もなく、収束作業の実態を探る取材が始まった。中心となったのは東京社会部。
Most of the workers are from Fukushima Prefecture, and many of them commute to the plant from shelters or dorms where they were taking refuge after their homes were badly damaged in March 11's natural disasters. 収束作業に当たる人たちの多くは地元出身者で、避難先から現場に通う人も少なくなかった。
A 30-year-old worker for a sub-subcontractor said he had been told by an employee of the subcontractor, "We won't write down the amount of radiation you were exposed to during the latest work on your radiation management record. You don't have to worry about it." 「今回の作業で受けた被ばく線量は放射線管理手帳に載らない。安心していいから」。ある２次下請けの作業員（３０）は、１次下請けの社員にそう告げられたことを明らかにした。
Radiation exposure amounts and the results of regular medical exams are supposed to be stated clearly on each worker's radiation management record. 放射線管理手帳は作業員一人一人の被ばく線量や健康診断結果を記載する。
If workers suffer from cancer in the future, there will be no proof of the causal relationship between their radiation exposure and the disease unless such data is included in their radiation management records, making them ineligible for workers' accident compensation benefits. 「そこに載せないとなると、将来本人ががんになっても証拠がなく、労災認定（補償）されなくなってしまう。本当か」
Further interviews with the utility, the government organizations concerned including the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry, and other parties have revealed there was a wide perception gap among them over maximum exposure limits for workers. そんな疑問から取材を進めると、背景に線量を巡る混乱があることが分かった。
Health ministry regulations stipulate that nuclear power station workers can be exposed to a maximum of 100 millisieverts over five years, and 50 millisieverts in a single year. 厚生労働省は法令や規則で、作業員の被ばく線量を５年間で１００ミリシーベルト、１年間では５０ミリシーベルトに抑えるよう定めている（通常規則）。
However, in the case of an emergency such as a nuclear accident, they can be exposed to up to 100 millisieverts during work to bring the plant under control. ただし原発事故など緊急時には一連の作業で上限１００ミリシーベルトまで受けることができ、
In the Fukushima nuclear crisis, the ministry raised the upper limit to 250 millisieverts. 今回の原発事故に限ってはこの上限を２５０ミリシーベルトに引き上げていた。
The ministry concluded that workers who are exposed to 100 to 250 millisieverts during efforts to tame the Fukushima nuclear crisis must be withdrawn from further work for five years on the grounds that the conventional regulations apply to the Fukushima crisis. ところが、この２５０ミリシーベルトと通常規則との兼ね合いを巡り、厚労省と東電などとの間で見解が違っていた。厚労省は第１原発の作業でも通常規則が適用されるとして、１００～２５０ミリシーベルトを浴びた場合は今後５年間、作業に従事できないとの見解だった。
However, TEPCO was of the view that the conventional regulations do not apply to the work at the Fukushima plant, arguing that workers should not be deprived of employment for long periods. 一方、「それでは就労の機会を相当年数奪うことになる」として、東電などは「通常規則とは別枠」と考えていた。
Because of this, the subcontractor omitted the levels of radiation workers were exposed to from their radiation management records. これが「線量を手帳に載せない」という運用につながっていた。
"In the end, we are the ones who are going to be left holding the bag," a 28-year-old worker lamented in an interview with the Mainichi. 「最後にババを引くのは自分たち」と別の作業員（２８）は訴えた。
The Mainichi published an article about the omission of exposure data from the 30-year-old worker's radiation management record on the front page of its April 21 morning edition. 「原発作業員 被ばく線量 管理手帳記載せず」との記事は４月２１日朝刊の１面トップに掲載された。
It was subsequently learned that at least one TEPCO employee had been exposed to more than 250 millisieverts, prompting the ministry to step up its radiation management instructions to the utility. その後、２５０ミリシーベルトを超える東電社員の存在も判明し、厚労省は指導を強化した。
There have been some cases of plant workers being exposed to excessive levels of radiation during their work because of sloppy management. ずさんな管理のために作業員が被ばくするケースが目立つ。
We are determined to continue to shed light on how workers' radiation exposure is being handled in an effort to improve their working environment. 最前線の労働環境が少しでも改善されるよう、光を当て続けたい。
October 27, 2011 --The Asahi Shimbun, Oct. 27 EDITORIAL: New cost estimates argue for changing nuclear power policy 発電のコスト―やはり原発は高くつく
New government estimates that factor in the cost of the disaster at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant show that nuclear power generation is actually a relatively expensive way to produce electricity. 原子力発電にかかる費用は、高かった。
The damage from the accident is so vast and wide-ranging that a final figure is not yet available. 福島第一原発事故による損害はあまりに大きく、まだ全体を計算できない。
However, the Cabinet Office’s Japan Atomic Energy Commission has come up with a broad idea of how much the disaster will raise the cost of nuclear power generation. だが、今わかっている範囲で、内閣府の原子力委員会が発電費用への上乗せがどうなるか試算した。
The additional cost due to the accident could be as high as 1.2 yen per kilowatt-hour of electricity, according to the commission’s estimate. 事故のコストは電気１キロワット時あたり最大で１．２円になった。
A core meltdown occurred at three of the six reactors at the disabled plant. 今回、原子炉３基で炉心溶融が起きた。
Based on the total number of years that Japan's 50-odd nuclear power plants have been in operation, divided by the number of crippled reactors, it can be estimated that an accident of this scale occurs once every 500 years per reactor. 日本にある約５０基の原発の運転年数を足し、福島の事故炉の数で割ると、この規模の事故は平均して「原発１基あたりで、ほぼ５００年に１度発生する」確率になる。
This estimation was used to calculate the cost increase. その計算から割り出した。
If the cost of the accident is factored in, the overall tab of nuclear power generation comes to 6.8 yen per kilowatt-hour, compared with 5.7 yen for thermal power generation using coal as fuel or 6.2 yen for generating electricity by burning liquefied natural gas. この事故コストを加えると、原子力発電のコストは１キロワット時あたり６．８円になる。石炭火力の５．７円や、液化天然ガス火力の６．２円を上回る。
The new cost estimates are ball park figures and don’t take account the money needed for the massive-scale decontamination that has yet to be undertaken. いずれも大ざっぱな計算であり、今後は膨大な除染もある。
Another important cost factor concerns the unsolved issue of the final disposal of radioactive waste being produced by nuclear power plants across the nation. また、全国の原発から出る放射性廃棄物の最終処分も残り、
Clearly, the cost of atomic power generation will be much higher than traditional estimates. さらに割高になるのは確実だ。
Nuclear power generation has long been touted as “a cheap and safe way to produce a large amount of electricity.” これまで「安く、安全に大量の発電をする」と宣伝されてきた原発だが、
But the Fukushima disaster has disproved not only the claim of its safety but also that of its economic advantage. 事故の危なさに加え経済面の優位も崩れた。
The Atomic Energy Commission has produced another important cost estimate. 原子力委はもう一つの計算もした。
Japan has adopted the nuclear fuel reprocessing approach, which involves extracting plutonium from spent nuclear fuel for recycling as fuel. 日本は、使用済み燃料を再処理してプルトニウムを取りだし、それを燃やす「再処理路線」をとる。
This process costs 2 yen per kilowatt-hour. これは１キロワット時あたり２円かかる。
In contrast, the direct disposal approach, which involves burning uranium just once and disposing of the radioactive waste produced in the process, costs 1 yen, half of the cost of reprocessing, according to the commission. 一方、ウラン燃料を１回だけ燃やして、廃棄物は捨てる「直接処分」の費用は半分の１円で済むことがわかった。
This is a big difference. この差は大きい。
The total cost of nuclear power generation would be 5.8 yen if the current reprocessing approach is replaced by the direct disposal method. もし、直接処分に変えれば、発電コストは１円安い５．８円になる。
The Atomic Energy Commission made the same cost comparison seven years ago, and the results were roughly the same. 原子力委は７年前にもこの比較をした。結果は今回とほぼ同じだったが、
But it decided against proposing to drop the policy of fuel reprocessing, citing the huge costs that would result from such a major policy shift. 再処理の路線を変えなかった。理由は「政策変更コスト」だった。
There is the argument that changing the policy would negate past investment and require new research while straining the central government’s relations with the local governments of the areas where nuclear power plants are located. 「過去の投資が無駄になり、新たな研究も必要だ。立地自治体との関係も悪くなる」という論法だ。
This argument doesn’t hold water any more. もう同じ手は使えない。
In the wake of the catastrophic accident, there is strong public distrust toward nuclear power. 事故を経験した今は、国民の原発への不信が大きい。
It is almost impossible to win public support for the reprocessing approach, which can only make a small saving of uranium at a high cost. 高い費用をかけて「ウラン燃料を少し節約する」再処理に説得力はない。
The two cost estimates are hard numbers that throw into sharp relief the grim reality of nuclear power generation in Japan. 二つのコスト計算は、数字で日本の原子力の現状を浮かび上がらせた。
It is clearly time for the govrnment to change its nuclear power policy, which has been in place since the end of World War II. 戦後一度も大きく変えることのなかった原子力政策を変更するときだ。
The government’s Energy and Environment Council should lead debate on the issue. 政府のエネルギー・環境会議の責任は大きい。
As such, it bears a heavy responsibility. Japan must face up to the fact it needs to pursue a future without nuclear power. 原発をなくす道に向き合うしかない。
At the same time, we feel debate is also needed on scrapping nuclear fuel reprocessing, the necessity of which has been called into question. 同時に、必要性が疑問になった核燃料再処理から撤退する議論も始めよう。
The time has come for the government to grapple with the cost of changing its nuclear power policy. 政府は今度こそ、政策変更コストに取り組まなくてはいけない。 その準備を始めるときだ。
October 26, 2011 --The Asahi Shimbun, Oct. 26 EDITORIAL: Spending review needed for nuclear-related subsidies 原発と自治体―次の道を考えるときだ
If the Yoshihiko Noda administration is serious about weaning the nation off nuclear power generation, one of the biggest issues it must address is its relationship with local governments with jurisdiction over the nuclear power plants. 野田政権が「脱・原発依存」を進めていくうえで、向き合わなければいけない大きな課題のひとつが、原発を抱える自治体との関係だ。
The oil shocks of the 1970s propelled Japan toward greater dependence on nuclear energy. ７０年代、石油危機をへて、日本は原発の増強へとかじを切った。
Many of the municipalities that agreed to host nuclear plants were experiencing population drains and had no local industry to speak of. 建設地の多くは、これといった産業がなく、過疎に悩む市町村だった。
For taking in what nobody else wanted in their backyards, the municipalities were "rewarded" with huge amounts of government subsidies, even while the plants were still in the planning stages. 迷惑施設を受け入れてもらう見返りに、計画の段階から巨額の交付金が地元に落ちる仕掛けが設けられた。
Roads and public gymnasiums sprang up, funded by the subsidies and property tax revenues. 道路や体育館といった箱モノが、交付金や固定資産税などをもとに次々に整備された。
And from 2003, the municipalities became able to spend their incomes in "soft" fields, such as supporting community activities and footing hospital personnel expenses. ０３年からは町内活動や病院の人件費といったソフト面にも使えるようになった。
As their finances grew stronger, so did their dependence on the nuclear industry. 財政が潤う一方、原発依存度は高まった。
In some municipalities, nuclear-related revenues make up more than 60 percent of the general account. 一般会計に占める原発関連収入の割合が６割を超える自治体もある。
But the March disaster at the Fukushima No. 1 plant has changed things. だが、福島第一原発の事故をへて、変化が起きている。
The town of Namie and the city of Minami-Soma in Fukushima Prefecture, where Tohoku Electric Power Co. has plans to build nuclear plants, have decided to decline government subsidies for the current fiscal year. 東北電力の原発計画がある福島県の浪江町と南相馬市は、今年度の交付金を辞退すると表明した。
And in Ibaraki Prefecture, the head of Tokaimura village--the site of Japan's first nuclear power plant--has recommended to the government that the Tokai No. 2 plant be decommissioned. 原発発祥の地、茨城県東海村の村長は東海第二原発の廃炉を政府に提案した。
This is the first case of a local administrative body voluntarily seeking to end its financial dependence on the nuclear industry. 立地自治体がみずから廃炉を求めたのは初めてだ。
Other municipalities are beginning to expect eventual cuts in government subsidies and are making plans accordingly. 将来的な交付金の減額を想定し、対策を考え始めた自治体もある。
In switching its energy policy, the government needs to be fully receptive to these changing attitudes of local governments. 政府は、エネルギー政策を転換するうえで、こうした自治体の問題意識をきちんと受け止める必要がある。
Specifically, the government needs to take a good, hard look at its subsidy system and ask itself this question: The subsidies were initially meant to promote regional development, but hasn't the system devolved into a means of "buying off" struggling communities, which is actually counterproductive to self-government in the true sense of the term? 交付金の仕組みが、地域振興の名目で、ただのバラマキと化し、本当の意味での自治を壊していないか。
If this is the case, the system must be overhauled. きちんと検証し、資金の使い方を見直さなければならない。
Some local governments are still pushing nuclear power generation, 引き続き原発の推進を掲げる自治体もある。
but their neighboring municipalities are becoming increasingly cautious. ただ、周りの市町村は慎重な姿勢を強めている。
Now that conventional disaster control zones are being considered for expansion, keeping or scrapping a nuclear power plant is no longer a decision that can be left only to the community where the plant is situated. 防災区域の拡大が検討されるなか、原発の存廃は立地自治体だけでは決められない。
We believe the time has come to include all communities in the vicinity in the decision-making process. 周辺市町村と一緒になって、次の道を考えるときではないか。
We are fully aware, of course, that any abrupt nuclear plant closure and withdrawal of government subsidies would be devastating to the regional economy. もちろん、脱原発で交付金などを突然打ち切られては地域経済も立ちゆくまい。
How should the transition take place? どのような移行措置をとるべきか。
What role can the region play in the nation's shift to greater energy diversity? 分散型のエネルギー社会への転換に地域が果たせる役割とは何か。
In order for the region to think these things through and come up with practicable solutions, the government must provide occasions for thorough debate. 自治体自身が考え、アイデアを実現していくためにも、政府は話し合いの場を用意すべきだ。
And this is not something people in the big cities can shrug aside as none of their business. 都市部の住民も「知らぬ話」で済まされない。
After all, the government subsidies for municipalities that host nuclear power plants are financed by the so-called power resources development promotion tax, which is collected from all taxpayers as part of their electricity bills. 交付金の原資は電源開発促進税として、電気料金に上乗せされて徴収されている税金だからだ。
To review how money is being spent for nuclear power generation is to explore a new rule for the redistribution of our tax money, 原発マネーのあり方を見直すことは、税金をどう使うかという「再分配」の新しいルールを模索する作業でもある。
and this is something all citizens need to think about. 国民みんなで考えたい。
The Yomiuri Shimbun (Oct. 26, 2011) Investors not fully reassured by moves to settle Greek crisis 欧州首脳会議 危機対策に市場の目は厳しい（10月25日付・読売社説）
Leaders of eurozone nations have moved a step closer to settling the region's financial crisis after reaching a broad agreement on a set of measures to prevent the crisis from spreading further--although their actions were slow and taken reluctantly. 欧州が重い腰を上げ、金融危機の拡大を封じ込める包括策で大筋合意したのは一歩前進だ。
However, the leaders still face a long, winding road to conquer the crisis and dispel the market's anxiety. しかし、危機を克服し、市場の不安を払拭する道のりは険しい。
It is necessary for them to work on the details of issues left unresolved and act promptly in dealing with the crisis. 欧州は積み残した課題を詰め、迅速に行動することが求められよう。
At the recent summit meeting, leaders of the European Union and 17 eurozone countries discussed measures to settle the debt crisis of Greece, the nation where the trouble first broke out before spilling over to other European nations, as well as measures to prevent the crisis from spreading to still more countries. 欧州連合（ＥＵ）とユーロ圏１７か国の首脳会議は、発端となったギリシャ危機の収束と、波及防止策を協議し、
After difficult negotiations, the countries have drawn up some remedies. 難航した末、ひとまず処方箋をまとめた。
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'Managed default'
The measures have three pillars: bank recapitalization, significant reduction of Greece's debt burden and reinforcement of the European Financial Stability Facility (EFSF). 大筋合意した包括策は、銀行の資本増強、ギリシャ債務の大幅削減、欧州金融安定基金（ＥＦＳＦ）の強化が３本柱である。
The eurozone leaders have decided to ask banks that own Greek government bonds for a recapitalization of more than 100 billion euros (about 10.5 trillion yen), which seems to be appropriate for the time being. ギリシャ国債を保有する銀行に総額１０００億ユーロ（約１０兆５０００億円）超の資本増強を要請することになった。当面の措置としては妥当だろう。
At the same time, the leaders will ask banks to bear further burdens to relieve Greece's debt problems, such as giving up 50 percent to 60 percent of the Greek government bond principal they have. その一方、ギリシャの債務削減では、国債元本の５０～６０％カットを軸に、銀行に追加負担を求める。
This measure is a de facto approval of Greece making a virtual default on its debts to some degree, as it is now apparent that the country lacks the ability to repay. 返済能力を欠くギリシャの事実上のデフォルト（債務不履行）を容認するものと言える。
In July, eurozone monetary authorities announced results of stress tests on major eurozone banks, but the assessment was too lenient. 欧州当局が７月に公表した銀行のストレステスト（特別検査）は甘く、
One particular problem is that the tests failed to check deterioration of bank assets caused by the rapid price fall of Greek government bonds. 急落するギリシャ国債による資産劣化を十分にチェックしなかったのは問題だった。
This time, bank recapitalization will be conducted to prepare for debt relief for the Greek government and the expected further price fall of the country's bonds--a process that seems like a "managed default." これに対し、あらかじめ銀行資本を強化し、ギリシャの債務カットや国債下落に対応できるようにする今回の措置は、「管理されたデフォルト」に相当する。
We hope the measures will contribute to preventing markets from panicking and to stabilizing the financial system. 市場の混乱を防ぎ、金融システム安定に役立つことを期待したい。
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Investors still skeptical
It will be an encouraging message to the investment market that eurozone leaders have agreed to strengthen the EFSF, an institution that supports eurozone nations marred by fiscal deficits, and to move forward the launch of the European Stability Mechanism, envisaged as a European version of the International Monetary Fund. 欧州各首脳が、域内の財政赤字国を支援するＥＦＳＦをさらに強化すると合意した点や、欧州版の国際通貨基金（ＩＭＦ）である「欧州安定メカニズム（ＥＳＭ）」の設立前倒しも、市場へのメッセージとなろう。
However, as the Greek crisis has already triggered credit uncertainty regarding Italian and Spanish bonds, it is unclear whether the measures agreed by eurozone leaders will be enough to deal with the financial crisis. だが、ギリシャ危機がイタリアやスペインなどの信用不安に広がる中、こうした包括策で十分に対応できるかは予断を許さない。
Market players still worry that the amount of bank recapitalization is too small. 銀行の資本増強規模が少額すぎるとの懸念が市場でくすぶり、
The process of recapitalization also remains unclear, and it is uncertain whether the banks would agree to the significant reduction of Greece's debt burden. 増強策の手順もあいまいだ。ギリシャ債務の大幅カットに銀行が応じるかどうかも不透明である。
If eurozone leaders decide to ask for the financial help of the IMF to strengthen the EFSF, it will provoke angry responses from Japan, the United States and emerging economies that want the eurozone nations to step up their self-help efforts to deal with the financial crisis. 欧州がＥＦＳＦを強化する方策として、ＩＭＦの支援を求めた場合、欧州の一層の自助努力を求める日米や新興国などからの反発が予想されよう。
Market players are looking with icy disapproval at the eurozone nations, whose measures against the financial crisis have always been one step behind. 危機対応が後手に回ってきた欧州に対し、市場の見方は厳しい。
Eurozone leaders need to specify the details of the agreed measures against the crisis at the next summit meeting Wednesday and present the details at the Group of 20 summit meeting of major economies scheduled early next month. 欧州は２６日に改めて開く首脳会議で、包括策をより具体化させ、来月上旬の主要２０か国・地域（Ｇ２０）首脳会議に示すべきだ。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 25, 2011) （2011年10月25日01時05分 読売新聞）
The Yomiuri Shimbun (Oct. 25, 2011) Japan, France must heighten cooperation on nuclear safety 日仏共同宣言 原発の安全向上へ連携深めよ（10月24日付・読売社説）
To make nuclear power generation as safe as it can possibly be, it is important to examine ways to enhance the development of nuclear engineers and establish a system to promptly respond to nuclear accidents. 原子力発電の安全性を最高水準に高めるため、技術者の育成強化や事故時の即応体制を検討することの意義は大きい。
Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda and visiting French Prime Minister Francois Fillon issued a joint statement on nuclear and energy policies following their meeting Sunday. 野田首相と来日したフィヨン仏首相が会談し、原子力とエネルギー政策に関する日仏首脳共同宣言を発表した。
The focal point of the joint statement is a set of specific principles aimed at bolstering nuclear power safety through cooperation between Japan and France, a leading country in the field of nuclear power, based on lessons learned from the crisis at Tokyo Electric Power Co.'s Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant. 宣言は、東京電力福島第一原発事故を教訓に、日本と原発大国であるフランスが連携し、原発の安全強化を図る具体的な方針を盛り込んだのがポイントだ。
Following the outbreak of the crisis, France offered a variety of assistance to Japan, sending experts and providing equipment. 事故後、フランスは専門家派遣や機材提供などで日本を支援した。
The joint statement stipulates further cooperation between the two countries to decontaminate areas around the Fukushima power plant tainted by radioactive substances. 宣言は、原発周辺地域に放出された放射性物質の除染についても、一層の協力を明記した。
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Calming health fears
As for radiation's impact on human health, the two leaders agreed it will be important to continue investigations, based on objective scientific data. 放射能による人体への影響については、客観的な科学的データに基づき、調査していくことが重要であるとの認識で一致した。
High levels of radioactive substances have been detected not only in Fukushima Prefecture but also in the Tokyo metropolitan area and elsewhere. 福島県だけでなく、首都圏などでも、高濃度の放射性物質が検出されている。
We hope the necessary decontamination work will be furthered by making use of the knowledge of the two countries. 日仏両国の知見を生かし、必要な除染作業が進展することが期待される。
To prevent needless worry from spreading among the public, the government must properly ensure safety with the help of French experts and provide the public with careful explanations. いたずらに不安が広がらないよう、政府はフランスの協力も得て安全性をしっかり確認し、国民に丁寧に説明すべきだ。
To improve nuclear safety, the two leaders also agreed to establish a committee on nuclear energy. 原発の安全性に関して、両国は原子力エネルギーに関する委員会を創設することになった。
It will be vital for the two countries to deepen relationships in a wide range of fields, putting together experts from academia, industry and government in both countries. 互いに産官学の専門家らを集め、幅広い分野で関係を深化させることが肝要である。
The joint statement also called for considering the establishment of an international force that could mobilize rapidly in response to nuclear accidents around the globe and an international center for developing human resources for nuclear crisis management. 世界各地での原発事故に備え、「国際緊急対応チーム」の設置や、原子力の危機管理に関する人材育成を目的とした国際的なセンター創設も検討するという。
With these agreements, the two leaders acknowledged the importance of the action plan on nuclear safety endorsed by the International Atomic Energy Agency in September. 国際原子力機関（ＩＡＥＡ）が９月に決めた行動計画の重要性を確認したものだ。
===
Looking to the future
We find it quite appropriate for the two leaders to share the view that the current crisis management system must be improved. 両首相が、現行の危機管理体制を改善すべきだとの見解を共有したのは妥当である。
Emerging economies, such as China and India, are promoting construction of nuclear power plants. 中国やインドなど新興国は、原発建設を進めている。
For its part, Japan must bolster nuclear safety and step up efforts to cultivate experts who can be dispatched overseas in case of emergencies at other nuclear plants around the world. 日本は原発の安全性を高め、事故が起きた場合の緊急事態に対応するため、海外に派遣する専門家の養成に力を入れねばならない。
Exports of nuclear power plants and other infrastructure are an important part of Japan's growth strategy. 日本の成長戦略を推進するうえで、原発などインフラの輸出は重要だ。
However, Diet approval of nuclear cooperation agreements with Vietnam and other countries has been delayed. だが、ベトナムなどとの原子力協定の承認が遅れている。
The nuclear cooperation accords, which stipulate peaceful use of nuclear materials and acceptance of IAEA inspections, are a prerequisite to exporting nuclear technologies. 原子力協定は、核物質の平和利用やＩＡＥＡの査察受け入れなどを定めており、原発輸出の前提となる。
The government and ruling parties will need to make efforts to get the accords approved during the current extraordinary Diet session. 政府・与党は、今臨時国会で承認を得られるよう努力する必要がある。
This further underlines the importance of urgently boosting nuclear safety and restoring trust in Japan's technology. そのためにも、原発の安全性を高め、日本の技術への信頼回復を図ることが急務だ。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 24, 2011) （2011年10月24日01時33分 読売新聞）
(Mainichi Japan) October 24, 2011 Questioning the way Japanese media report on the Thai flooding 金言：「タイ洪水」の伝え方＝西川恵 ＜ｋｉｎ－ｇｏｎ＞
I feel there is something wrong with the way Japanese newspapers and TV networks have been reporting on the flooding in Thailand. タイの洪水についての日本の新聞、テレビの報道に違和感がある。
As Japan suffered from its own major disasters only seven months ago, I believe the Japanese media have a lot to report on, such as our interest in the extent of the damage, our concern for the people, how our government is helping Thailand and whether or not it is sufficient. ７カ月前に３・１１を体験したばかりの日本であればこそ、タイの被害の状況への関心と配慮、我々の政府はタイに何をしているか、それは十分なのかなど、もっと伝えるべき事柄があるのではないだろうか。
It's true that there are some Japanese media which have been reporting properly on conditions in Thailand. 現地の状況をきちんと伝えているメディアもあることを認めた上で、
But I feel like asking the majority, "Is your self-centered reporting really OK?" and, "Does Japan want to become an economic animal again?" as I see reports focusing only on damage to Japanese companies and its effects on the Japanese economy. 「そんな自己中心的な報道でいいのですか」「日本はエコノミック・アニマルに逆戻りしたのですか」と問いたくなるような、日本企業の被害や、日本経済への影響だけに焦点をあてた報道が目につく。
I come across such reports despite the fact that Thailand has suffered serious damage. タイに深刻な被害が出ているのにである。
According to the Thai government, flooding has left 315 people dead and three missing as of Oct. 18. タイ政府によると、１８日時点で洪水の死者は３１５人、行方不明３人。
The number of people affected has reached 2.5 million. 被災者は２５０万人に上る。
Twenty-seven provinces have suffered damage and water in the rivers that run from the north to the south is rising, spreading the damage south. 被災した県は２７県に及び、北から南に流れる河川は水量を増加させながら被害を南部へ広げている。
The Gulf of Thailand is bracing for a spring tide at the end of October and caution is still in order. タイ湾では今月末、大潮を迎えるため、まだ要警戒だ。
So what has Japan done? この間、日本政府は何をしたのだろう。
Emperor Akihito has sent a message of condolences to Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej, and Japan supplied 55 million yen in emergency supplies such as outboard motors for boats, tents and water filters through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). 天皇陛下がプミポン国王にお見舞いのメッセージを出され、国際協力機構（ＪＩＣＡ）を通じ計５５００万円相当の緊急援助物資（ボート用の船外機、仮設トイレ、テント、浄水器など）を供与。
Japan also dispatched experts on Oct. 19 to the flood assessment team of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in response to a request from ASEAN Secretary-General Surin Pitsuwan. また東南アジア諸国連合（ＡＳＥＡＮ）事務総長からの要請で１９日、ＡＳＥＡＮの洪水アセスメントチームに専門家を派遣した。
The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and JICA have sent investigative missions to Thailand to gauge the effects to the Japanese economy and the extent of flood damage, respectively. 経済産業省は日本経済への影響を、ＪＩＣＡは洪水被害状況を調査するため、調査団を現地に出している。
It is essential for the Japanese media to report damage to Japanese firms and its effects on the Japanese economy, as well as whether Japanese nationals are among the flood victims. 日本企業への被害や、それが及ぼす日本経済の打撃、また日本人に犠牲者はいるのかは、日本のメディアとして欠かせない視点だろう。
But they are likely to act in a highly Japan-centric manner unless they make efforts to cover news from a big picture perspective. しかし一方で、大きな構図の中でニュースを相対化、普遍化する努力をしないと独善に陥る。
If there had been any country that reported only on the March 11 disasters' effects on its companies and economy, how would Japanese nationals in that country have reacted? もし東日本大震災の時、「自国企業と経済への影響」といった視点からのみの報道であふれた国があったとしたら、その国にいる日本人たちはどう受け取っただろう。
In light of massive outpourings of support and assistance from around the world in the aftermath of the March disasters, we should expect calls for support for Thailand. 大震災で世界からあれほどの温かい支援と援助が寄せられたことを思えば、「タイに支援の手を」の声が起こってもいいし、
The Japanese media can stimulate Japanese people's goodwill by reporting on Thailand's dire situation in minute detail. タイの困難な実情をより細かに伝えることでメディアは日本の人々の善意を掘り起こすこともできる。
Thailand is not the only country which has suffered hardship. これはタイだけのことではなく、
Famine triggered by serious drought is spreading in East Africa. いま東アフリカでは深刻な干ばつによる飢饉（ききん）が広がっている。
Africa is connected with Japan in various spheres in this era of globalization. グローバル化した世界にあって、アフリカもさまざまな面で日本とつながっている。
It is necessary for the Japanese media to deliver news of Japan-related issues, but they also have an important role to play to connect Japan with the rest of the world on a more human level. 日本に絡む事柄を伝えることも必要だが、日本のメディアは日本と世界を結ぶ大切な役割ももっているはずだ。
The Yomiuri Shimbun (Oct. 23, 2011) Libya must pursue national reconciliation for democracy カダフィ氏殺害 国民和解を優先し民主化を（10月22日付・読売社説）
Moammar Gaddafi, who reigned as supreme leader in Libya for 42 years, has been killed. 北アフリカのリビアで４２年にわたり最高権力者として君臨してきたカダフィ氏が殺害された。
The Arab Spring wave of protests and revolutionary change across North Africa and the Middle East has at last brought an end to the age of Gaddafi, eight months after the outbreak of civil war in Libya. 内戦勃発から８か月、「アラブの春」と呼ばれる中東・北アフリカの変革の波は、ついにカダフィ時代の終わりをもたらした。
Libya's National Transitional Council (NTC), an organization of anti-Gaddafi forces, has announced Gaddafi was killed in a gunfight after being captured by anti-Gaddafi fighters in his hometown of Sirte, where he had been hiding. 反カダフィ派組織の国民評議会は、出身地シルテに潜伏していたカダフィ氏が反カダフィ派兵士に拘束された後、銃撃戦で死亡したと説明している。
Although an arrest warrant had been issued by the International Criminal Court against Gaddafi on charges of crimes against humanity as he cracked down relentlessly on his opponents, he died without being brought to justice in a courtroom. 反対派を容赦なく弾圧してきたカダフィ氏に対しては、国際刑事裁判所から「人道に対する罪」で逮捕状が出ていたが、結局、法廷に立つことはなかった。
Gaddafi's demise will likely influence the situations in such countries as Syria and Yemen, where iron-fisted presidents have been clinging to power in a bid to keep their dictatorial regimes alive in the face of popular opposition. その死は、強権をふるう大統領が権力を手放さないでいるシリアやイエメンにも、何らかの影響を及ぼすだろう。
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Start from scratch
Having achieved control over almost all of the country, the NTC is expected to release a declaration of the entire nation's liberation as early as Saturday. ほぼ全土を掌握したのを受け、リビアの国民評議会は２２日にも全土解放を宣言する。
Libya's top priority from now on will be swiftly building a post-Gaddafi political system. カダフィ後の政治体制を速やかに構築することが最優先課題である。
Since the country lacks such fundamental political elements as a constitution and an elected parliament, Libya must start almost from scratch. 憲法や選挙による議会制度を持たないリビアは、いわばゼロからの出発だ。
The NTC itself, a group cobbled together from a variety of forces, is far from cementing the unity of its participants. 国民評議会自体、寄り合い所帯でまとまりがない。
Although the NTC attempted to launch a provisional government in September, the effort failed because of differing views about how to form a cabinet lineup. ９月には暫定政権発足を目指したが、閣僚人事の調整ができず、失敗した。
Conflicts have already been seen between secular forces that favor Europe and the United States, and Islamist forces, along with power struggles stemming from deep-rooted rifts between regions and tribes. 親欧米の世俗勢力とイスラム勢力の軋轢(あつれき)や、根強い地域・部族対立に起因する権力争いがすでに始まったとの指摘もある。
If those who were involved in Gaddafi's rule are too strictly excluded from the process of forming a new Libyan political system, the country's confusion could deepen all the more. カダフィ政権関係者を過度に排除すれば、混乱が広がる恐れもある。
National reconciliation is now of the utmost importance for the sake of establishing a provisional government as quickly as possible in the runup to setting democratic time schedules, including dates for elections. 国民和解を優先し、暫定政権をまず発足させ、選挙など民主化日程を決めていく必要がある。
The restoration of public security in the conflict-torn country is also vitally important. 治安の回復も重要だ。
The NTC must incorporate militiamen, police and military forces from various factions under its umbrella into a unified system of command and help develop their human resources. 評議会は、傘下各派の民兵を軍や警察の指揮系統に組み入れ、育成していかねばならない。
Another concern is that large quantities of firearms, including portable ground-to-air missiles, were scattered across the country during the civil war. 内戦中、携行型地対空ミサイルなどの火器類が散逸したことも懸念される。
There is an urgent need to collect and properly dispose of such weapons. 大量に拡散した小火器を含め、武器回収が急務だ。
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Roles of Britain, France
Libya is a resource-rich country, ranking eighth worldwide in confirmed oil deposits. リビアは石油の確認埋蔵量世界８位の資源国だ。
We strongly hope that Libya, on the strength of this natural wealth, will take the path toward a political system guaranteeing freedom and fundamental human rights so the Libyan people will be able to truly enjoy the fruits of democracy. その富を有効に生かし、自由や基本的人権も保障して、国民が民主化の果実を実感できる政治体制が求められる。
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization played a crucial role in the fall of the Gaddafi regime, especially through British and French air strikes. カダフィ政権の崩壊には、北大西洋条約機構（ＮＡＴＯ）が英仏主導による空爆などで決定的な役割を果たした。
Britain and France, therefore, should act responsibly in the forthcoming process of creating a new Libyan government and in shoring up the process of the country's democratization. 英仏は責任を持って、新体制作り、民主化プロセスを支えなくてはならない。
Japan, too, should contribute to helping Libya rebuild. 日本もリビア再建に貢献すべきだ。
Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba has expressed Japan's readiness to extend humanitarian assistance in the field of medical services. 玄葉外相は医療分野で人道支援を行うと表明した。
Japan, in contrast to Europe and the United States, is not burdened by a legacy of complicated relations with Libya, leaving it significant room to work out aid to that country in its own unique way. 歴史的なしがらみが薄いからこそ、欧米とは違った支援も工夫できよう。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 22, 2011) （2011年10月22日01時04分 読売新聞）
(Mainichi Japan) October 21, 2011 Journalists strived to get truth about nuclear fallout to public (Part 2) 新聞週間特集：「原発事故と報道」報告（その２止） 放射線知る一助に
◇累積線量、独自算出し掲載
The question of how much and where radioactive materials were dispersed by the hydrogen explosions at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant have been of the utmost importance to residents of both Fukushima Prefecture and beyond, and one we began to pursue soon after the nuclear disaster started to unfold. 福島第１原発事故から水素爆発などにより放出された放射性物質は、どのような範囲にどれくらい広がったのか。周辺地域の住民にとって最大の関心事であり、事故直後から力を入れて取材した。
The government initially designated the area within a 20-kilometer radius of the power plant an evacuation zone, while those living between 20 kilometers and 30 kilometers from the plant were instructed to remain indoors. 政府は当初、原発から半径２０キロを避難区域、２０～３０キロを屋内退避区域に指定していたが、
However, high levels of radiation were being detected even beyond those areas. その外側でもかなり高い放射線量が計測されていた。
A long-term advisory to stay indoors had not been a part of the government's disaster preparedness guidelines, and would pose too great a burden on residents. 長期間の屋内退避は防災指針でも想定していない事態で、住民への負担が大きすぎる。
It seemed to us that a designation of evacuation zones based on actual radiation measurements was necessary. 実際の放射線量に応じた避難区域の設定が必要だと感じていた。
That was when we came up with the idea of calculating cumulative radiation levels at various locations. そこで考えついたのが、各地の累積放射線量の算出だった。
At the time, radiation monitoring results released by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) and municipal governments were limited to the amount of radiation detected in the atmosphere per hour (dosage rate). 当時、文部科学省や自治体の放射線モニタリング結果は、１時間当たりの大気中の放射線量（線量率）しか公表されていなかった。
But since local residents would continue to be exposed to radiation, we felt it far more important to provide information on cumulative radiation levels. しかし、放射線を浴び続けることを考えれば、積算した線量の情報こそが重要だ。
When we appealed to MEXT to provide this information, we were told it was not something they could do right away. 文科省に取材したが、「すぐには出せない」との回答だったため、
It was decided then that the Mainichi would crunch the cumulative radiation level numbers by adding together dosage rates released by public sources. 線量率を足し合わせて独自に算出した。
Between March 14 and March 21, the cumulative radiation level in the city of Fukushima reached 1770.7 microsieverts. ３月１４～２１日の積算値が福島市で１７７０・７マイクロシーベルトになったほか、
The figure was 299.7 microsieverts for the Fukushima prefectural city of Iwaki and 34.1 microsieverts for the Tochigi Prefecture capital of Utsunomiya for the same period, and 33.2 microsieverts in the Ibaraki Prefecture capital city of Mito between March 15 and March 21. 福島県いわき市２９９・７マイクロシーベルト▽宇都宮市３４・１マイクロシーベルト▽水戸市３３・２マイクロシーベルト（同市のみ１５～２１日）－－などとなった。
Having found the cumulative radiation in the city of Fukushima to exceed the average 1500 microsieverts of natural background radiation that we are normally exposed to annually, the Mainichi's Science and Environment News Department debated what to do with the information, concerned about the public response the information could spark. 特に福島市の値は、１年間に自然に浴びる放射線量（平均約１５００マイクロシーベルト）を上回っていたため、住民の不安感情を考え、部内で議論した。
Ultimately, we decided to release the information along with the explanation that cumulative radiation levels indicate how much radiation one would be exposed to if they stayed outdoors all day, and that radiation levels in general were trending downwards. その結果、あくまで一日中屋外にいた場合の数値であり、線量は減少傾向にあることなどを明記し、
We also added commentary from multiple experts that the radiation levels posed no health risks for people "stepping out to shop" for groceries, and published the information in the March 23 morning issue of the Mainichi's Japanese edition. 「買い物などに出るのは問題ない」などという複数の専門家の見方を付け加えて、３月２３日の朝刊に掲載した。
Following publication, we received inquiries from various municipal governments in Fukushima Prefecture, and were criticized by some readers for "causing panic among Fukushima city residents." 掲載後、福島県内の自治体担当者から問い合わせがあったほか、読者の一部から「福島市民を動揺させる」との批判も受けた。
We maintain, however, that by contributing information on cumulative radiation levels -- which until then had been largely ignored -- we helped residents come to their own conclusions on what to do next. しかし、それまであまり考慮されていなかった累積放射線量の情報を提供し、住民自身に自分の行動を判断してもらう一助になったのではないかと思っている。
On March 25, MEXT began releasing cumulative radiation figures. ３月２５日になって文科省は累積放射線量の公表を開始。
Since then, it has gone on to conduct detailed monitoring of radiation levels, and has posted predicted cumulative radiation levels through March 2012. その後、詳細なモニタリングを実施、来年３月までの１年間の累積線量予測値も公表した。
◇的確な警告できず悔い
We still regret not having been able to predict that radioactive contamination would spread to the extent that it has. 一方、放射性物質の汚染がこれほど広がることを予測できなかったことに悔いが残る。
We keep asking ourselves if there was any way we could've sounded a more precise alarm when large volumes of radioactive materials were released on March 14 and March 15, as we continue working toward protecting the public from unnecessary exposure. 特に３月１４、１５日の大量放出の際、もっと的確に警告を発することができなかっただろうか。住民の無用な被ばくを防ぐという視点を忘れず、取材を続けたい。
＜東京科学環境部・西川拓＞ (By Taku Nishikawa, Science and Environment News Department)
(This is part two of a six-part series on coverage of the Fukushima nuclear crisis.) 毎日新聞 2011年10月18日 東京朝刊
(Mainichi Japan) October 20, 2011 Journalists' responsibilities heavy in face of unprecedented crisis (Part 1) 新聞週間特集：「原発事故と報道」報告（その１） 被災者の視点重く ＜新聞週間代表標語 上を向く 力をくれた 記事がある＞
The unprecedented disaster at the Fukushima No. 1 Nuclear Power Plant, in which fuel meltdowns were found to have taken place simultaneously at three reactors, poses a massive challenge to the media. ３基の原子炉が同時期に炉心溶融するという世界でも例のない東京電力福島第１原発事故は、報道する側にも重い課題を突きつけた。
Looking back, did we promptly deliver accurate information that could save the lives of the public? 国民の命を守るため、事実を正確に迅速に伝えられたか。
Reflecting upon our experiences gathering information from the disaster areas, as well as from the Prime Minister's Office, plant operator Tokyo Electric Power Co. (TEPCO), the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry's Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency (NISA), and other groups and individuals, what can we say about our coverage of the ongoing crisis? 被災地や官邸、東京電力、経済産業省原子力安全・保安院などで悩みながら取材した記者の体験を通して、原発と報道について考えた。（肩書はすべて当時、紙面イメージは東京本社朝刊最終版）
-----
◇「どう裏付け、どう伝える」迷い 東電・保安院、二転三転
Press conferences were held intermittently by TEPCO and NISA beginning March 11, when the nuclear disaster was triggered by the Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami. 事故発生日の３月１１日から東京電力と経済産業省原子力安全・保安院で断続的に開かれる会見を取材した。
As the safeguards meant to guarantee the safety of the nuclear power plant failed one after another, it was our task as reporters to discern the state of the plant with the limited information we had, motivated by a sense of impending danger to residents living in close proximity to the power plant. 原発の安全を守るはずの機能が次々と失われていく中、限られた情報で、何とか原発の状態を見極めようとした。 周辺住民の命に関わるとの危機感があったからだ。
At the mercy of backtracking government and TEPCO officials, however, we were often at a loss as to how to confirm the legitimacy of the information we were given and how the information should be relayed to the public. だが、二転三転する情報に振り回され、どう裏付けを取り、どう伝えるべきか迷うことも多かった。
A little after 3:30 p.m. on March 12, images of the Fukushima No. 1 Nuclear Power Plant appeared on the screen of a television at TEPCO's head office in Tokyo's Uchisaiwaicho district. １２日午後３時半過ぎ、東京・内幸町の東電本店のテレビに、福島第１原発が映っていた。
It appeared as though just the steel frame of the upper part of the No. 1 reactor building remained. １号機の原子炉建屋の上部は鉄骨しか残っていないように見えた。
The reporters grew alarmed. "Something's not right," one said. 「何か変だ」。集まっていた記者が騒ぎ出した。
However, even after seeing the footage, TEPCO's public relations officer stubbornly insisted: "We don't know what's going on. しかし、東電の広報担当者は映像を見ても「分かりません。
We're trying to confirm with those on the scene." 現地に確認します」の一点張りだった。
Finally, at a press conference held four hours later, TEPCO admitted that there had been a hydrogen explosion at the plant's No. 1 reactor. ようやく４時間後に開かれた会見で、水素爆発と認めた。
By that afternoon, radioactive cesium and iodine were detected in the power plant's surrounding areas. 午後には原発周辺で放射性セシウムやヨウ素が検出された。
Koichiro Nakamura, then deputy director-general of NISA and the press officer for the agency, explained that it was possible that a reactor meltdown had taken place. 広報担当だった保安院の中村幸一郎審議官は１号機について「炉心溶融の可能性がある」と説明した。
Soon thereafter, Nakamura stopped appearing in press conferences. その直後に中村氏は会見から姿を消した。
The new press officer refused to offer any further information, sticking to the line: "We can't discuss anything until the Prime Minister's Office has made an announcement." 新たな広報担当は、「官邸が発表した後でないと話せない」と口が堅くなった。
Subsequently, NISA avoided using the phrase "core meltdown," replacing it with either "fuel damage" or "core damage." 保安院はその後、深刻な事態を物語る「炉心溶融」という言葉を避け、「燃料破損」や「炉心損傷」という言葉を頻繁に使った。
However, several months later, it emerged that NISA had previously asked power companies to fake support for nuclear power at a symposium, and on Aug. 10, approximately five months after the onset of the nuclear crisis, then NISA director Nobuaki Terasaka announced: "We recognized the possibility of a core meltdown soon after the incident began." ところが、保安院による原発シンポジウムのやらせ問題の発覚などを受け、事故発生から約５カ月後の８月１０日に会見に応じた寺坂信昭保安院長は「炉心溶融の可能性を事故直後に認識していた」と発言した。
On March 12, NISA designated the Fukushima disaster a level 4 on the International Nuclear and Radiological Event Scale (INES), but a month later upgraded it to level 7, the worst level on the scale, which had until then been given only to Chernobyl. 保安院は３月１２日に国際評価尺度（ＩＮＥＳ）で事故をレベル４と発表したが、１カ月後にはチェルノブイリ事故と並ぶ最悪のレベル７に切り替えた。
An understated announcement would be made, followed later by a revision. 事態を過小に見積もった後、訂正する。
Statements concerning the nuclear disaster simply repeated this pattern. 事故にまつわる発表はその繰り返しだった。
So did TEPCO and the government respond appropriately to the crisis? 事故以降、東電や政府の事故対応は適切だったのか。
I cannot shake the feeling that the damage could have been reined in far more than it has been. もっと被害を防ぐ方法があったのではないかという疑問をずっと持ち続けている。
And slowly, through the efforts of the "Investigation Committee on the Accidents at the Fukushima Nuclear Power Station of Tokyo Electric Power Company" set up by the government, it's become clear what prevented officials from being more effective. 最近、少しずつだが分かり始めた。カギの一つは政府が設置した事故調査・検証委員会にあった。
In preparation for a midterm report to be submitted by the end of the year, the committee has been conducting interviews with TEPCO and government officials. 東京科学環境部 調査・検証委は年内の中間報告に向け、東電や政府関係者のヒアリングを続けている。
These interviews have revealed that it occurred to neither NISA nor to the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) to use a computer system called the System for Prediction of Environmental Emergency Dose Information (SPEEDI), in coming up with an evacuation plan. その中で明らかになったのは、放射性物質の拡散を予測する「緊急時迅速放射能影響予測システム」（ＳＰＥＥＤＩ）について、保安院をはじめ、文部科学省などに予測結果を避難に役立てようという発想がなかったということだった。
Furthermore, no one in NISA had even recognized the necessity of contacting neighboring countries, let alone raising the issue, before low-level radioactive water was dumped into the Pacific Ocean on April 4. また、４月４日に低濃度の汚染水を海に放出する際、近隣諸国に事前通報をせず、批判を招いたが、保安院の担当者の中には、事前通報の必要性を認識し、指摘した人すらいなかったことも分かった。
What I've gathered from my experiences trying to understand the disaster is that both TEPCO and the government have failed to look at the crisis from the point of view of the victims. 事故の背景を探るこうした独自取材を重ねて感じたのは、東電や政府には被害を受ける側の視点が足りなかったということだ。
Norio Kanno, the mayor of the Fukushima Prefecture village of Iitate, lamented that he did not receive any information from the central government for a month or two after the nuclear disaster began, and suggested that it was because "hearts (of government officials) lacked concern for the disaster areas." 福島県飯舘村の菅野典雄村長は、「事故から１、２カ月は政府から情報が届かなかった」と憤ったが、その理由を「心が被災地に向いていないからではないか」と話していた。
There is anger directed toward media, too, which we as journalists must accept and learn from. 怒りの矛先は我々マスメディアにも向けられている。率直に受け止めたいと思う。
The basic mission of newspapers is to collect information in the field and deliver it accurately to the public. 新聞の基本は現場取材を重ね、確実な情報を伝えることだ。
At the beginning of the nuclear crisis, however, we had no idea whether the information we had to work off of was accurate. だが、事故発生時は基となる情報が正しいかどうかがわからないうえ、
In addition, many experts were divided on what they believed. 専門家の評価も分かれた。
Requests for permission to go on-site to the power plant to report were denied by TEPCO. 東電には福島第１原発の現地取材を申し入れているが、「対応が難しい」と断られている。
When reporters haven't looked at the scene themselves, how are they to communicate the very limited information that they do have? 記者が現場を見ていない中、限られた情報をどのように伝えたらいいかと迷いは尽きない。
Settling of the ongoing crisis, including decontamination beyond the plant's borders, is expected to take many years. 除染も含めた事故収束には、まだ長い年月がかかるとみられる。
The investigation into the disaster's cause has just begun. 事故原因の調査も始まったばかりだ。
The responsibility to stand on the side of those who receive the news, and write articles that will contribute to reconstruction and to shed light on the cause of the disaster weighs squarely on our shoulders. 情報を受け取る側の立場に立って、復興や事故原因の解明に役立つ記事を書く。その重みをかみしめている。
(By Junko Adachi, Science and Environment News Department) ＜東京科学環境部・足立旬子＞
(This is part one of a six-part series on coverage of the Fukushima nuclear crisis.) 毎日新聞 2011年10月18日 東京朝刊
(Mainichi Japan) October 19, 2011 Spirit of journalism shines through in times of devastation 火論：紙とペンがあれば＝玉木研二 ＜ｋａ－ｒｏｎ＞
At a round-table talk held last month at the Mainichi's Sendai bureau by a panel of third-party experts comprising the Open Newspaper Committee, Koichi Omi, the president of the publisher of the Ishinomaki Hibi Shimbun, explained what motivated the paper's staff to continue providing news with pen and poster paper in the immediate aftermath of the Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami. １６日の本紙朝刊に掲載された新聞週間特集「開かれた新聞」委員会の座談会。大震災で発行手段を失いながら手書きの「壁新聞」で報道を続け、世界的に称揚された石巻日日（ひび）新聞の近江弘一社長がこう語っている。
"Our papers are on display at an American museum and we've been awarded a prize by the International Press Institute, but what we did is not a heartwarming story at all," said Omi, of the "newspapers" that the disaster-stricken Miyagi-based paper continued to post on walls in evacuation centers and other public spaces. 「米国の博物館に展示され国際的な賞も受賞したが、美談でも何でもない。
"We simply wanted to keep delivering information to people. 何としても情報を届けようという気持ち。
We felt there would be no point for us to continue living if we didn't fulfill our duty." 職務をまっとうしないと自分たちは生きる意味はないと考えていた」
Anyone involved in the newspaper industry is bound to find these words moving. 同じ新聞界にあれば、この言葉に熱くならない人はいないだろう。
When the company lost the usual tools for issuing and delivering its papers, they remembered that they still had pen and paper. 発行のすべを奪われた時、まだそこにペンと紙があった。
In "Rokumai no Kabe Shimbun" (Six wall newspapers), a newly-published book recording the Ishinomaki Hibi Shimbun's efforts in the seven days following the quake and tsunami, Omi says that he had been reminded of the "kabe shimbun" (literally meaning "wall newspapers") he wrote and received praise for in elementary school. 近江さんは角川ＳＳＣ新書「６枚の壁新聞」の中で、小学校の時に作って褒められた壁新聞がふと頭に浮かんだと記している。
Speaking of handwritten newspapers, there's another one that has left an indelible impression on me. 手書き新聞といえば、私は思い起こす一枚がある。
It was July 1982, when heavy rains and flooding in Nagasaki led to 299 people dead or missing in one night. ３０年近く前になる。１９８２年７月、一夜にして死者・行方不明者２９９人を出した長崎大水害。
The hardest-hit areas became physically isolated, making regular newspaper distribution virtually impossible. 地域は孤立して新聞輸送が困難になった。
The Nagasaki bureau chief of the Mainichi was determined to continue delivering information to those areas where it was still possible, however, and prepared copies of a one-page handwritten "newspaper" with headlines that read: "Nagasaki suffers great damage from heavy rains," and "116 dead or missing, while 95 buried alive," using a felt-tip pen to fill the page with information that the staff could obtain by the pre-dawn hours. 毎日新聞長崎支局長は、配れる範囲内でも情報を伝えたいと、手書き新聞を用意した。Ｂ４サイズの紙１枚である。 「豪雨 長崎に大被害」「死者・不明１１６ 生き埋め９５」と大きな見出しをつけ、明け方までに判明した限りの情報を整理し、フェルトペンで書き連ねた。
Ultimately, a Mainichi head office helicopter braved the poor weather conditions to deliver the regular morning edition of the newspaper, and the handwritten version never made it into the hands of readers. 結局本社からのヘリが悪天候を突いて朝刊を届け、手書きの新聞は配布されることはなかった。
However, a copy of the handwritten extra edition is still posted on the wall of the bureau office, and the accompanying story is passed down even today to and by the staff posted to the bureau. しかし、今もこの幻の号外は支局の壁に張られ、新人や初めて長崎に勤務する記者に伝えられている。
Following the floods, the local Nagasaki page of the Mainichi continued to provide readers with information on how they could secure food, clothing and shelter, supporting the public in their efforts to rebuild their lives. また、災害後、長崎の地域面は、衣食住確保などに関する細かな生活情報に徹し、被災者が日々の暮らしに必要とするものに応えた。
Compared to 30 years ago, we now have a wider range of means to disperse information, and the speed by which we can do so has risen immensely. 当時に比べ、情報通信の手段や広がり、速度は革命的に激変した。
And yet, the sense of responsibility and passion that a handwritten newspaper represents still touches the hearts of its readers. だが手書き新聞に象徴される使命感、つまり「熱さ」は、変わりなく読む者に訴えかけてくる。
This same can also be said of forms of media other than the handwritten newspaper. もちろんそれはあらゆるメディアに共通していえることだろう。
Take, for example, what the Chugoku Shimbun did in August 1945. こんな例もある。
After the company headquarters were completely destroyed by the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, the paper set up a "word-of-mouth" team that went around the city yelling information through megaphones. ４５年８月、原爆で広島市中心部の本社が壊滅した中国新聞は、新聞に代わる「口伝（くでん）隊」を編成し、メガホンで情報を伝えて回ったという。
Inspired by the paper's efforts, the late playwright Hisashi Inoue wrote the play "Shonen kudentai 1945" (Boys' word-of-mouth squad). これに想を得て故井上ひさしさんは朗読劇「少年口伝隊一九四五」を書いた。
The following is a line from the play, spoken in the Hiroshima dialect: "It's a bit pathetic when a newspaper publisher can't issue any newspapers, isn't it?" その中に広島弁でこんな言葉が出てくる。 「新聞社が新聞をよう出せんいうんは、いかにも不細工な話ですけえ」
It may be a line that originated in a writer's imagination. But I can't help but feel that it epitomizes the inexhaustible spirit of the journalist. 創作のせりふとしても、私はこれがあくなき報道人魂を言い表しているように思えてならない。（専門編集委員）
The Yomiuri Shimbun (Oct. 19, 2011) Japan should help Thailand recover from floods タイ大洪水 早期復旧に日本の支援が必要（10月18日付・読売社説）
Thailand is suffering terrible damage in its worst flooding in 50 years. タイが過去５０年で最悪の大洪水に襲われ、深刻な被害が出ている。
Japan must join hands with the United States and other countries to help Thailand quickly recover from the disaster. 日本は米国などと連携し、早期復旧を支援することが求められよう。
Heavy rain that has fallen since July in northern Thailand and elsewhere has caused major flooding in the upper reaches of the Chao Phraya River, which runs from north to south through the country. ７月からタイ北部などで豪雨が降った影響で、国土を縦断するチャオプラヤ川上流で洪水が発生した。
About 300 people have been killed and one-third of Thailand's provinces have been flooded. 全国で３分の１の県が冠水して約３００人が死亡し、
Part of the capital, Bangkok, also has been inundated. 首都バンコクの一部も浸水した。
Flood damage is estimated to top 100 billion baht (about 250 billion yen), which will have an enormous impact on the Thai economy. 被害額は少なくとも１０００億バーツ（約２５００億円）に上り、タイ経済への影響は甚大だ。
Heavy rain is forecast to continue and threatens to coincide with high tides. 今後も大雨が続く見通しで、海の大潮と重なり、
Caution must be taken to prevent the damage from spreading and getting worse. 被害の一層の拡大を警戒しなければならない。
How can the floodwaters be stemmed? 大洪水をどう食い止めるのか。
Thailand's flood control measures are not up to scratch. 治水対策は大幅に遅れている。
The new administration led by Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra is facing its first serious challenge. ８月に発足したインラック政権にとって、最初の試練である。
===
Carmakers, others affected
The flooding has caused extensive damage to Japanese firms operating in Thailand. 大洪水は、現地の日系企業にも大きな被害をもたらしている。
Principal industrial complexes in the central province of Ayuttaya have all been submerged, hindering the operations of about 320 Japanese companies, including automakers and electrical appliance makers. 中部アユタヤ県では、主要工業団地がすべて水没し、自動車や電機など日系の被災企業は約３２０社に達した。
Honda Motor Co. has suspended operations there, and Toyota Motor Corp. has extended the suspension of operations at three factories due to difficulties in procuring parts. ホンダが操業を停止したほか、タイでの部品調達が困難となり、トヨタ自動車は３工場の操業停止を延長した。
Thailand, which has been touted as "the Detroit of the Orient," is an overseas production base for Japanese carmakers along with China and the United States. 「東洋のデトロイト」と言われるタイは、日本の自動車産業にとって中国、米国と並ぶ重要な海外生産拠点だ。
Many Japanese auto parts makers operate in Thailand, which also is a key link in the international parts supply network for various companies. 日系の部品メーカーなどが集積し、企業各社の国際的なサプライチェーン（部品供給網）の拠点でもある。
If the parts supply in Thailand grinds to a halt, it will lead to production cuts in other countries. タイでの部品供給が滞ると、タイ以外でも減産が広がろう。
Disruption of the supply chain in Thailand, it may be said, has exposed a weak point of Japanese makers that had increased their presence in that country. 日系企業のタイ進出は加速してきたが、弱点を突かれたといえる。
Japanese firms hit by the floods will need to expedite parts procurement from Japan. 各社は日本からの部品調達などの対応策を急がねばならない。
Japanese carmakers have been getting back on their feet after taking a pounding in the March 11 disaster. 自動車各社は、東日本大震災の打撃から立ち直りつつあったが、
However, if the floods in Thailand continue for some time, there are fears the automakers' business performance could suffer another blow. 大洪水が長期化すれば、業績への悪影響も懸念されよう。
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Intl aid framework needed
This makes it all the more important for Japan to take the lead in offering assistance to help Thailand recover from the flooding. それだけに日本が率先し、大洪水からの早期復旧に協力することが重要である。
Tokyo has decided to provide tents and other emergency relief goods and send experts of the Japan International Cooperation Agency to join an assistance team from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. 政府は、テントなどの緊急援助物資を供与するほか、国際協力機構（ＪＩＣＡ）の専門家を東南アジア諸国連合（ＡＳＥＡＮ）のチームに派遣することを決めた。
The U.S. government has sent Marine Corps personnel and aid goods to Thailand. 米国政府も、海兵隊を現地入りさせ、支援物資を送った。
But given the vast damage wrought by the flooding, establishing a larger-scale international assistance framework will be crucial. しかし、被害は甚大だけに、もっと大規模で国際的な支援態勢が不可欠だろう。
Japan dispatched Self-Defense Forces personnel to join relief activities after the massive Indian Ocean tsunami in December 2004. 日本は２００４年のインド洋大津波で自衛隊を派遣し、支援に当たった実績がある。
We hope lessons learned during the recovery from the Great East Japan Earthquake also can be used to help Thailand. 東日本大震災の復旧の教訓も生かしたい。
The government must quickly study additional assistance measures to help Thailand's reconstruction and cooperate in efforts to prevents disasters. 政府は速やかに支援策の拡充を検討し、復興や防災協力でもタイに手を差し伸べるべきだ。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 18, 2011) （2011年10月18日01時30分 読売新聞）
2011/10/18 --The Asahi Shimbun, Oct. 16 EDITORIAL: Noda should have broad perspective for debate on TPP ＴＰＰ論議―大局的視点を忘れるな
A project team of the ruling Democratic Party of Japan has started debate on Japan's participation in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement. 環太平洋経済連携協定（ＴＰＰ）の参加問題について、民主党のプロジェクトチームが議論を始めた。
Party members will discuss the topic in various meetings until early November, when the government is to make the final decision on whether Japan should take part in the ongoing talks over the trade liberalization pact. 政府が参加の是非を判断する予定の１１月上旬に向けて、党内で様々な会合が開かれる見込みだ。
An Oct. 12 meeting of DPJ lawmakers opposed to or skeptical about this proposal focused on issues related to the health-care and pharmaceutical industries. 反対・慎重派の１２日の会合では医療・製薬分野が取り上げられた。
At the meeting, senior executives of the Japan Medical Association warned that the deregulation of these industries resulting from Japan's participation in the accord would cause the health-care system in Japan to collapse. 日本医師会の幹部らが、ＴＰＰ参加に伴う規制緩和で国内の制度が崩壊すると訴えたのに対し、
Foreign Ministry officials in charge of the TPP pointed out that a public health-care insurance program is not covered by the TPP negotiations, but the participating legislators refused to be reassured. 外務省の担当者は「公的な医療保険制度はＴＰＰでは議論の対象外」と説明したが、参加議員は納得しなかった。
The TPP talks deal with a wide range of areas, from farm trade, the touchiest topic, to labor, environment and food safety regulations. ＴＰＰでは最大の懸案である農業のほか、労働、環境、食品安全など幅広い分野が対象になる。
The government should give the public detailed explanations about how the negotiations are going. 政府は交渉状況を丁寧に説明してほしい。
Opponents claim they are trying to protect the livelihoods of the people. 反対派が唱える「国民の生活を守る」という大義名分の陰に、
But it is important to find out whether such a claim is simply used as a pretext to protect the vested interests of related industries. 関連業界の既得権益を守る狙いがないか、見極めることが重要だろう。
At the same time, the broad viewpoint of Japan's position in the world economy must not be missing from any debate on the TPP. 同時に、国際経済の中で日本が置かれた状況という大局的な視点を忘れてはなるまい。
With the domestic market shrinking due to a declining number of children, it is vital for Japan to expand its economic cooperation with other countries, especially in the fast-growing Asia-Pacific region. 少子化で国内市場が縮小するなか、成長著しいアジア太平洋地域を中心に経済連携を深めることは欠かせない。
Few would dispute this argument. この点で異論は少ないはずだ。
Japan has been striking bilateral economic partnership agreements with trade partners in Southeast Asia and other parts of the world. 日本も東南アジア諸国などと２国間の経済連携協定（ＥＰＡ）を積み重ねているが、
But these agreements have failed to produce significant effects because Tokyo, in an attempt to limit their impacts on domestic agriculture, has made sure through the negotiations that many items are exempted from the liberalization of bilateral trade. 農業への配慮から、相手国との間で自由化の例外品目を数多く設けてきたため、効果に乏しい。
While Japan has been dithering and waffling on how to tackle this policy challenge, however, the rest of the world has been taking action. 日本がもたつく間も、世界は動いている。
Typifying the trend is South Korea, which has emerged as a main rival for Japan in its mainstay industries, such as the auto and electronics sectors. 自動車や電機といった日本の主力産業でライバルとなった韓国が典型だ。
Following the coming into effect in July of South Korea's free trade agreement with the European Union, Seoul's trade deal with the United States has also been approved by the Congress and is now on track to come into force early next year. 欧州連合（ＥＵ）との自由貿易協定（ＦＴＡ）が７月に発効したのに続き、米国とのＦＴＡも米議会が法案を可決し、来年早々の発効に近づいた。
The United States will phase out tariffs on South Korean products, including a 2.5-percent duty on passenger cars and a 25-percent tariff on trucks. 米国は乗用車に２．５％、トラックに２５％など関税をかけているが、韓国製品には順次撤廃される。
The European Union will also gradually eliminate import duties on products from South Korea, such as a 10-percent duty on passenger vehicles and a 14-percent tariff on flat-panel TVs. ＥＵでも乗用車の１０％、薄型テレビの１４％といった関税が、対韓国では削減・撤廃されていく。
Japanese industries are worried that these deals will put them at a serious disadvantage in competition with their South Korean rivals and may accelerate their shift of production to the United State and Europe or areas that have free trade agreements with the Western industrial nations. 日本の産業界は危機感を強めており、欧米や欧米とＦＴＡを結ぶ地域への工場移転に拍車がかかりかねない。
In the late 1990s, South Korea decided that its long-term economic fortunes ride on external demand and started pursuing free trade agreements with its key trade partners while developing measures to protect its agriculture. 韓国は９０年代末、「外需が国の生き残りのカギ」と見定め、農業の保護策をまとめつつＦＴＡ推進へかじを切った。
There are certainly some significant differences between the two countries. South Korea is a much smaller economy than Japan and depends even more on trade for economic growth. 日本と比べて経済規模が小さく、貿易への依存度が極めて高いなど、事情に違いはある。
But Japan can learn a lot from the way its neighbor has mapped out a clear strategy for its economic future and pursued the strategy effectively. ただ、明確な戦略と実行力に学ぶべき点は少なくない。
The TPP offers the best possible opportunity for Japan to catch up with its rivals in the race to strike free trade agreements. ＴＰＰへの参加は、経済連携戦略での遅れを取り戻す、またとない機会だ。
Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda needs to hatch a grand trade strategy and provide the effective leadership needed to put it into action. 野田首相に問われるのも、大きな戦略とリーダーシップである。
The Yomiuri Shimbun (Oct. 17, 2011) U.S.-South Korea pact should spur Japan on TPP 米韓首脳会談 日本のＴＰＰ参加促すＦＴＡ（10月16日付・読売社説）
The alliance between the United States and South Korea can be said to have deepened to a new dimension with the latest reinforcement of their bilateral economic relations. 経済関係の強化によって米韓同盟は新たな次元へ深化したと言える。
South Korean President Lee Myung Bak and U.S. President Barack Obama held talks in Washington on Thursday and agreed that a free trade agreement between the two countries would take effect soon. 韓国の李明博大統領がワシントンでオバマ米大統領と会談し、米韓の自由貿易協定（ＦＴＡ）の早期発効を目指すことで一致した。
South Korea and the United States agreed on the free trade accord four years ago, but ratification was delayed in both countries. 米韓ＦＴＡは４年前にいったん合意したのに、批准が遅れていた。
The U.S. Congress approved the agreement Wednesday, and the South Korean National Assembly is expected to do so this year. 首脳会談の前日、米議会が実施法案を可決し、韓国も年内の国会承認を目指している。
The U.S.-South Korea FTA is expected to take effect as early as next January. 来年１月にも発効する見通しだ。
Once it is in effect, 95 percent of goods traded between the two countries will be duty-free within five years. 発効から５年以内に、９５％の物品で両国の関税はゼロとなる。
The Obama administration expects the U.S.-South Korea FTA to boost U.S. exports by 11 billion dollars (about 850 billion yen) a year and create more than 70,000 jobs in the United States. オバマ政権は、米韓ＦＴＡによる経済効果を、年間１１０億ドル（約８５００億円）、７万人以上の雇用創出と見込んでいる。
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Jobs top priority for Obama
With a U.S. presidential election scheduled for November 2012, employment has become the highest priority for the Obama administration, as the jobless rate remains high at 9 percent. 来年１１月の米大統領選に向け、失業率が９％に高止まりする中、雇用は米政権の最優先課題だ。
The administration has high hopes for the FTA with South Korea, the biggest such deal since the North American Free Trade Agreement with Canada and Mexico in 1994. カナダ、メキシコとの北米自由貿易協定（ＮＡＦＴＡ）以来の大型ＦＴＡにかける期待は大きい。
South Korea expects the FTA to push up its gross domestic product by 5.7 percent and create 350,000 jobs. 韓国も、国内総生産（ＧＤＰ）を５・７％押し上げ、３５万人の雇用増につながると試算する。
South Korea, which already has an FTA in effect with the European Union, will gain a further boost to its exports as a result of an expanded market. 欧州連合（ＥＵ）とすでにＦＴＡを発効させた韓国は、市場圏拡大で輸出に一段と弾みがつこう。
More than 60 percent of South Korea's trade is conducted with its FTA partner countries and regions, including those with which it is currently negotiating trade deals. 韓国は、交渉中のものまで含めるとＦＴＡ相手国・地域との貿易額は全体の６割以上に達する。
Japan lags South Korea in this regard--its trade with FTA partners accounts for less than 40 percent of the total. ４割に満たない日本の出遅れが目立つ。
It is understandable that export-oriented business sectors, including the automobile industry, are becoming increasingly alarmed, as this could put them at a disadvantage with South Korean rivals. 日本の自動車など輸出産業界が、韓国企業との競争で不利な条件を強いられることに危機感を募らせるのも当然だ。
Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda should swiftly decide that Japan will participate in talks on the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade accord. 野田首相は、環太平洋経済連携協定（ＴＰＰ）への参加を、速やかに決断すべきである。
Obama hopes to reach a broad agreement with other participants in the TPP talks at the summit meeting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in Hawaii next month. オバマ大統領は来月、ハワイでのアジア太平洋経済協力会議（ＡＰＥＣ）首脳会議を機に、ＴＰＰの大枠合意を目指している。
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Check on China
The TPP will help the United States create a U.S.-led economic zone in Asia--a base for global economic growth--and serve as a check on China, which is increasing its influence. 米国にとってＴＰＰは、世界経済の成長拠点であるアジアで、米国が主導する経済圏を作り、影響力を強めようとする中国を牽制(けんせい)する狙いがあろう。
Also, stronger relations with South Korea, a U.S. ally and neighbor of China, are geopolitically significant for the United States. 地政学的にも、中国に近接する同盟国・韓国との関係強化は大きな意味を持つ。
In an indication of the importance the United States attaches to South Korea, it is backing South Korea's bid to host a meeting of Group of 20 leaders in Seoul and regards the U.S.-South Korea alliance as a cornerstone for the security of the Pacific region. 米国が主要２０か国・地域（Ｇ２０）首脳会議のソウル開催を後押しし、米韓同盟を「太平洋地域の安全保障の礎」と位置づけるのも韓国重視の表れだ。
During their latest talks, the leaders of the United States and South Korea also agreed to strengthen cooperation so their countries could respond promptly and effectively to North Korea, which is continuing its nuclear and missile development. 米韓首脳は今回、核・ミサイル開発を続ける北朝鮮に対し、迅速で実効性ある対応ができるよう連携を強化する点でも一致した。
Noda, who will visit South Korea on Tuesday, must work to strengthen bilateral ties with South Korea from a strategic viewpoint, through such means as early resumption of talks on a bilateral economic partnership and a coordinated response to North Korea. １８日に訪韓する野田首相は、北朝鮮への対処は無論、経済連携協定（ＥＰＡ）交渉の早期再開も含めて、戦略的な観点から日韓関係の強化に努める必要がある。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 16, 2011) （2011年10月16日01時09分 読売新聞）
(Mainichi Japan) October 15, 2011 Editorial: Reflecting on the relation between the media and the March 11 disasters 社説：新聞週間 震災と向き合い続ける
Mainichi Shimbun photographer Koichiro Tezuka happened to be on a company helicopter near the coast of Miyagi Prefecture when the massive tsunami hit the area on March 11. 本社ヘリに乗っていた毎日新聞東京写真部の手塚耕一郎記者は、無我夢中でシャッターを切り続けたという。
He recalls losing himself in his work as, aboard a company helicopter, he snapped photographs of ravaging waters that overcame a windbreak forest and engulfed residents' houses one after another. 土ぼこりを巻き上げながら宮城県沿岸部を襲い、防風林を越えて住宅をのみ込んでいく大津波。
His photos of the tsunami, dispatched to the world through the Kyodo News service, were run by 50 domestic newspapers and around 400 overseas ones, transmitting the impact of the disasters to the world. 共同通信社を通じて配信された手塚記者の写真は、国内５０紙、海外約４００紙に掲載され、東日本大震災の衝撃を世界に伝えた。
Tezuka won a Japan Newspaper Publishers & Editors Association award for his exclusive photos. このスクープ写真は今年度の新聞協会賞に選ばれた。
As an eyewitness, he shared the reality he saw in front of him, which is the basis of news reporting. 目撃者として、ありのままの現場を伝えることは、報道の原点と言っていいだろう。
The March 11 quake, unprecedented tsunami damage and crisis at the Fukushima No. 1 Nuclear Power Plant tested the raison d'etre of news organizations including newspapers. 未曽有の津波被害と、福島第１原発事故を引き起こした３月１１日の大震災によって、新聞を含めた報道機関はその存在意義を問われた。
The Mainichi Shimbun also won a Japan Congress of Journalists prize for articles written by reporters who visited disaster-hit areas and interviewed people there to find out whether the disaster preparations and responses of those areas had been enough. 総力を挙げて大震災の現場に足を運んだ検証報道で、毎日新聞は日本ジャーナリスト会議（ＪＣＪ）賞にも選出された。
Clarifying society's problems and showing lessons learned to the public is one important duty of the media. 関係者をつぶさに取材し、多角的な視点で問題点を洗い出し、教訓を提示するのも報道に課せられた重要な使命である。
We were happy that, when electricity was cut and electronic communication means were paralyzed immediately after the disasters, newspapers delivered to evacuation shelters were able to serve as vital sources of information. 震災直後、電気の供給が止まり、通信機能がまひした。そのような中、避難所に届けられた新聞が被災者の重要な情報源として役に立ったのはうれしい。
We have great respect for local newspaper publishers that continued to turn out newspapers even after being hit themselves by the earthquake and tsunami. 被災しながら新聞発行を続けた地元紙の奮闘に頭が下がる。
The Sendai-based Kahoku Shimpo, the Iwate Nippo headquartered in Iwate Prefecture, and the Ibaraki Shimbun in Ibaraki Prefecture are all local newspaper publishers that lost their electricity. 河北新報や岩手日報、茨城新聞などは停電でコンピューターが作動しなくなり新聞製作に支障が出た。
Nevertheless, they continued to create and release their papers with the help of other paper publishers who, under mutual agreement to assist each other during disasters, handled page design and printing for them. それぞれ災害協定を結ぶ他紙に紙面製作や印刷の代行をしてもらい、乗り切った。
Meanwhile, the Ishinomaki Hibi Shimbun, based in Ishinomaki, Miyagi Prefecture, even released handwritten newspapers for several days, posting them up at evacuation shelters, while its printing press was offline from lack of electricity. 宮城県石巻市の地元紙「石巻日日新聞」にも驚かされた。停電で輪転機が動かない中、手書きの壁新聞を作って避難所などに張り出した。
Some of those hand-written papers are on display at Newseum, a news museum in Washington. この壁新聞は米ワシントンのニュース博物館に展示され、
The Ishinomaki Hibi Shimbun won a special prize for the papers at the latest general assembly of the International Press Institute. 同紙は先月、国際新聞編集者協会年次総会で特別賞を受賞した。
That kind of journalistic spirit sets an example for us. そのジャーナリズム魂を見習いたいと思う。
The March 11 disasters reminded us how important detailed information on people's needs and well-being is in times of disaster. 大災害に際して、きめ細かい安否情報や生活情報が大切であることも改めて認識した。
Helpers need to know what supplies are in short supply and what kind of assistance survivors need. 被災地では何が不足し、どんな手助けが必要なのか。
The Mainichi Shimbun inserted a page in its morning editions called "Kibo Shimbun" (hope newspaper) that provides information on the disaster areas in an attempt to match help from the rest of Japan to disaster-area needs. 毎日新聞は、「希望新聞」を通じ、被災地と全国をつなぐマッチングを試みた。
Many traditional media organizations, such as newspaper companies and TV broadcasters, also notably tried to widely disseminate such information via the Internet, including Twitter. 新聞やテレビなど既存メディアが、ネットやツイッターを利用し、そうした情報をより広く伝えようとした姿勢も目立った。
Traditional media choosing to coexist with social media networks appears to be a trend of the times. いわゆるソーシャルメディアとの共存は、時代の流れだろう。
Meanwhile, the crisis-hit nuclear power plant is still not under control. 原発事故はいまだに収束しない。
With even experts divided over what damage could be caused by the leaking radiation, for example, media outlets have no choice but to rely on trial and error as they try to process the information and relay it in an easily understandable form. 放射線被害一つとっても専門家によって解釈が異なる。どうかみくだいて分かりやすく報道するか。試行錯誤しながら考え続けるしかない。
The slogan of the annual week-long Newspaper Week that began on Oct. 15 is "Ue o Muku Chikara o Kureta Kiji ga Aru" ("There is an article that gave me courage"). 「上を向く 力をくれた 記事がある」。 １５日から始まった新聞週間の代表標語だ。
We want to dispatch not only news about dangers and problems, but also encouraging news that can contribute to the rebuilding of disaster-hit areas and survivors' lives. 復興の力になる明るいニュースも発信を続けたい。
The Yomiuri Shimbun (Oct. 15, 2011) Pension reform talks mustn't ignore jobs for elderly 年金支給年齢 引き上げは雇用確保と一体で（10月14日付・読売社説）
Given the rapidly graying society and declining birthrate, discussions on raising the pensionable age cannot be avoided. 少子高齢化の進行を考えれば、避けられない議論だろう。
The Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry has presented three plans on raising the pensionable age for the corporate employee pension program to the pension committee of the Social Security Council. 厚生労働省は、会社員が加入する厚生年金について、支給開始年齢の引き上げに関する３通りの案を社会保障審議会年金部会に示した。
The government already has decided to increase the eligibility age of corporate employees from the current 60 to 65 in stages, by raising the pensionable age by one year every three years until it reaches 65, the same eligibility age as in the basic pension program. 厚生年金の支給開始年齢は、すでに、現在の６０歳から「３年ごとに１歳」のペースで遅らせ、段階的に、基礎年金（国民年金）と同じ６５歳にまで引き上げることが決まっている。
The three plans proposed by the ministry are: 厚労省が示したのは、
-- Accelerating the pace of the current schedule by raising the pensionable age by one year every two years until it reaches the age of 65. 〈１〉６５歳への引き上げペースを「２年ごとに１歳」に速める
-- Keeping the current schedule until the pensionable age reaches 65, and then raising the age by one year every three years until 68. 〈２〉ペースは現状通り維持しながら、支給開始年齢をさらに６８歳まで遅らせる
-- Accelerating the pace of the current schedule by raising the pensionable age by one year every two years until 68. 〈３〉ペースを速めるとともに支給開始年齢も６８歳にする――の３案だ。
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Recipients to increase
Discussions on raising the eligibility age for the public pension program became a significant part of pension reform in the comprehensive plan for overhauling the social security and taxation systems, which were compiled by the government and ruling parties in June. 「支給開始年齢の引き上げの検討」は、政府・与党が６月にまとめた社会保障と税の一体改革案の中で、年金改革の柱の一つに掲げられていた。
The graying society means the number of pension recipients will continue to increase, while the period during which people receive pension payments will lengthen. 高齢化により年金の受給者は増え、受け取る期間も延び続けている。
On the other hand, the number of people supporting the pension system will decrease as the birthrate declines. 一方で、少子化によって支える側の人数は減少していく。
Therefore, it is unavoidable for the government to raise the pensionable age to ensure the pension system remains stable. 年金制度を安定的に運営するため、支給開始年齢の引き上げを目指すのはやむを得ない。
However, the major premise for raising the eligibility age is to ensure people remain employed until they reach pensionable age. ただし、引き上げるには、その年齢まできちんと雇用が確保されることが大前提だ。
While the government is raising the pensionable age to 65 in stages, companies are obliged to keep their workers employed until they reach 65 by advancing the retirement age and reemployment, following the enactment of a law on the stabilization of elderly people's employment. 現在、支給開始を６５歳へと段階的に引き上げている途中だが、一方で高年齢者雇用安定法が定められ、企業は定年延長や再雇用などで６５歳までの雇用確保を義務づけられた。
Both measures must be handled together. 両者はセットである。
===
Companies not doing their bit
Under the current system, however, companies can use management-labor negotiations to flexibly manage their employment system. しかし、現行の雇用確保義務には労使協定で柔軟に運用できる面があり、
As a result, only about 48 percent of companies continue to employ all the people wishing to work until 65. 希望者全員が６５歳まで働ける企業は約４８％にとどまる。
If this situation continues, many people will be faced with a "blank period," during which they will receive nothing after they retire until they reach pensionable age. このままでは、退職してから年金をもらえるまで、多くの人に空白期間が生じてしまう。
As things stand now, it can hardly be said people's employment through the age of 65 is secure. ６５歳までの雇用が定着したとは言えない状況下で、
If the public is simply presented with the plan to raise the pensionable age to 68 under these circumstances, few people are likely to accept it. さらに年金支給年齢を６８歳まで引き上げるという案だけを示されても、国民の多くは容易には受け入れまい。
The ministry is expected to appeal to the public about the dire situation surrounding the pension program. 厚労省とすれば、それほど年金財政は深刻だとアピールする意図もあったのだろう。
But the latest proposal gives us the impression the ministry is expediting moves to raise the pensionable age without adequately ensuring the employment of elderly people. だが、今回の提案は、雇用対策を置き去りにしたまま、年金支給年齢の引き上げだけを急ぐ印象を与えている。
As was seen in the dispute over the medical insurance program for people aged 75 and older, the public will be frustrated if the authorities fail to take steps to win their understanding. 後期高齢者医療の例を引くまでもなく、社会保障改革は理解を得る努力を怠ると、感情的な反発が先行してしまう。
Despite the need to revise the pension system, the government should not conduct discussions hastily. いくら必要な改革でも、議論を拙速に進めることはできない。
It must carefully draw up a precise plan on employment of the elderly, and present it along with the pension reform plan. 高齢者雇用の充実策を練り上げ、セットで国民に示すべきである。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 14, 2011) （2011年10月14日01時20分 読売新聞）
The Yomiuri Shimbun (Oct. 14, 2011) 100 years on, China far from democracy 辛亥革命１００年 「民主化いまだ成らず」の中国（10月13日付・読売社説）
This year is the 100th anniversary of the Xinhai Revolution, led by Sun Yat-sen and other revolutionaries, which overthrew the Qing dynasty's imperial rule in China in 1911. 孫文らが主導し、清朝を打倒した辛亥革命から１００年を迎えた。
At an official event commemorating the centennial in Beijing on Sunday, Chinese President Hu Jintao said the Communist Party is "the most faithful successor" to the spirit of the Xinhai Revolution. 中国の胡錦濤国家主席は、革命１００周年記念大会で演説し、共産党を革命の「最も忠実な継承者」と位置づけた。
His remark was probably meant to argue the legitimacy of the Communist Party, which in 1949 overthrew the Nationalist government after a civil war and built a new China on the mainland, forcing the Nationalists to flee to Taiwan. 国民党との内戦を制し新中国を建国した共産党の正統性を訴える狙いがあるのだろう。
Hu then called on Taiwan to work toward reunification, urging China and Taiwan to "heal the wounds of the past and work together to achieve the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation." その上で胡主席は「中華民族の偉大な復興を実現するため共に努力しよう」と、台湾に統一を呼びかけた。
By emphasizing "the Chinese nation," which links China and Taiwan together, Hu apparently intended to heighten momentum toward reunification. 中台を一つに結ぶ「中華民族」を前面に掲げることで統一機運を盛り上げる思惑がある。
===
3 fundamental principles
Sun, whose original name was Sun Wen, advocated "the Three Principles of the People: nationalism, democracy and the people's livelihood." 孫文は「三民（民族、民権、民生）主義」を掲げた。
Regarding nationalism, Sun aimed to guarantee people's political rights, including the right to vote, establish parliamentary democracy and ensure the separation of administrative, legislative and judicial powers. その一つである「民権主義」では、選挙権などの政治的権利を国民に保障し、議会制民主主義を定着させ、行政、立法、司法などの権力分立を確立することを目指していた。
Yet the reality is that 100 years after the revolution, Chinese society is far from realizing the ideal of democracy. しかし、１００年たってなお、この「民権主義」の理想の実現にほど遠いのが中国の実情だ。
For instance, it has been a year since the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to Liu Xiaobo, a pro-democracy activist in prison on charges of calling for the end of communist one-party rule, but China's treatment of him has not improved. たとえば、一党独裁廃止などを求めたことが罪に問われて服役中の民主活動家、劉暁波氏は、ノーベル平和賞の受賞から約１年後の今も、処遇は改善されないでいる。
Even his wife has effectively been placed under house arrest. 妻ですら事実上の自宅軟禁状態に置かれているのは問題だ。
If the Communist regime regards itself as the successor to the revolution, it has to advance further toward democracy and political reform. 共産党政権が革命の継承者を自任するのなら、もっと民主化や政治改革に踏み出す必要がある。
With regard to people's livelihoods, Sun sought to narrow economic inequalities, but the Communist regime has brought about new inequalities in the shadow of high economic growth, namely a disparity in wealth and assets. 孫文が経済的な不平等の改善を目指した「民生主義」でも、共産党政権は高成長の裏で、富の格差という新たな不均衡を招いた。
Popular uprisings stemming from people's resentment against official corruption and social injustice have occurred frequently in various parts of the country, illustrating the strains in China's society. 汚職や不公正に反発して各地で多発する民衆暴動は、社会のひずみの表れにほかならない。
The recent series of major accidents, including those involving high-speed train and subway systems, have apparently stemmed from the administration's making light of safety while prioritizing economic growth. 高速鉄道や地下鉄などの大型事故が相次いでいるのも、経済成長優先で安全性を軽視したことが原因だ。
===
Dangerous nationalism
Nationalism was a driving force for the founding of a new China, and gave rise to extreme anti-Japan movements fueled by a nationalistic education under the Communist regime. 新中国建国の原動力となった「民族主義」は、共産党政権の愛国主義教育によって過激な反日行動を生んだ。
Japan needs to continue paying close attention to this trend. その動向を日本は引き続き注視する必要がある。
Overheated nationalism and China's military buildup pose a threat to neighboring countries. 民族主義の過熱は軍拡と相まって周辺国に脅威を与えている。
On the other hand, Ma Ying-jeou, the president of Taiwan's Nationalist Party, said in his speech at the ceremony to celebrate the centennial of the Republic of China, "The aspiration of our founding father Sun Yat-sen to establish a free, democratic nation with equitable distribution of wealth has been completely realized in Taiwan." 一方、台湾では、国民党の馬英九総統が、「中華民国建国１００年」の式典で、「孫文が理想とした、自由で民主的で国民が等しく富める国家の建設は、台湾で完全に実現された」と演説した。
To China's call for reunification, Ma urged China to embrace more democracy, apparently because he has strong confidence in Taiwan's having realized the Three Principles of the People. 中国側の統一の呼びかけに対しては、逆に、民主化を中国に促した。三民主義を実践したとの強い自負があるからだろう。
The Xinhai Revolution, in which many Japanese were involved and extended their support, is a bond that links Japan with China and Taiwan. 多くの日本人がかかわって支援した辛亥革命は、日本と中国、台湾を結ぶ絆でもある。
These historic developments led to the current bilateral relations between Japan and China and those between Japan and Taiwan. その歴史的経緯を抜きに、今日の日中、日台関係を考えることはできない。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 13, 2011) （2011年10月13日01時11分 読売新聞）
The Yomiuri Shimbun (Oct. 13, 2011) Dexia's downfall adds urgency to fixing European finances 欧金融大手解体 独仏の主導で連鎖危機を防げ（10月12日付・読売社説）
Greece's fiscal crisis has led to an agreement on the dismantling of a financially strapped major European banking institution under state guarantees. ギリシャの財政危機が波及し、資金繰りに行き詰まった欧州の金融大手が、公的支援下で、解体されることになった。
This is the first time for a leading financial institution to be taken apart since the Greek debt issue emerged two years ago. ２年前にギリシャ債務問題が表面化して以来、金融大手の処理は初めてだ。
The European financial crisis, it may be said, has entered a new phase. 新たな局面に入ったと言えよう。
Efforts must be made to prevent the financial crisis from expanding and exerting a further adverse effect on the world economy. 金融危機の拡大と、世界経済への悪影響を食い止めなければならない。
Germany and France must take the initiative in strengthening European unity to work toward a stabilization of the financial system. 金融システム安定に向け、独仏両国が主導して、欧州の結束を強化すべきである。
The troubled bank in question is Dexia, which has business footholds in France and Belgium. 問題の金融機関は、フランスとベルギーに拠点を持つデクシアだ。
The bank faced a management crisis due to the drop in the price of the Greek bonds it holds in great quantities. 大量保有のギリシャ国債が値下がりし、経営危機に陥った。
A rescue package agreed upon by the governments of France, Belgium and Luxembourg calls for dismantling Dexia and placing Dexia Bank Belgium temporarily under state ownership with an injection of public funds. フランス、ベルギー、ルクセンブルクの３か国政府が決めた処理策は、デクシアを解体し、このうちベルギーの銀行部門に公的資金を投入して一時国有化する。
The package also includes a plan to separate bad loans and provide state-guaranteed loans to support its fund management. 不良債権は切り離し、巨額の政府保証で資金繰りを支援する内容だ。
The announcement of the bailout package led to a rise in stock prices in Europe, the United States, Japan and elsewhere. 欧米や日本など世界の株式市場の株価は上昇している。
A sense of relief seems to have prevailed globally. ひとまず安心感が広がったようだ。
===
Which bank is next?
But a matter of concern is the fact that Dexia is not the only European bank holding huge amounts of government bonds issued by deficit-ridden countries, which include Italy and Spain on top of Greece. しかし、懸念されるのは、ギリシャのほか、イタリア、スペインなどの財政赤字国の国債を大量に保有している欧州の銀行は、デクシアに限らないことだ。
The ratings of government bonds issued by Italy and Spain have been lowered, following that of Greece. ギリシャに続き、イタリアやスペイン国債の格付けが引き下げられた。
If European financial authorities do not succeed in dealing with the crisis soon, doubts and fears may grow stronger, with people wondering which bank will be the next to crumble. 欧州当局が対応を誤れば、「デクシアの次はどこか」という疑心暗鬼が広がりかねない。
According to an estimate by the International Monetary Fund, it will require 200 billion euros (about 20 trillion yen) to recapitalize banking institutions laden down with government bonds of the deficit-laden European countries. 国際通貨基金（ＩＭＦ）の推計によると、欧州財政赤字国の国債保有に伴う損失に必要な資本増強額は、２０００億ユーロ（約２０兆円）規模にも上る。
The European Union announced in mid-July the results of stress tests on major eurozone banks. 欧州連合（ＥＵ）は主要銀行のストレステスト（特別検査）の結果を７月に公表した。
But as Dexia passed these tests, it cannot be denied that the EU's examination was lax. だが、デクシアが「合格」していたように、検査の甘さは否定できまい。
===
Early recapitalization vital
The EU must reexamine the financial conditions of each bank more strictly. ＥＵは、各銀行の財務内容を厳しく再査定すべきだ。
Each bank is urged to expedite early recapitalization so that it can prepare in advance should it suffer losses from the government bonds it holds. たとえ保有国債に損失が発生しても対応できるよう、各行があらかじめ資本増強を急ぐことが求められる。
German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy held talks and agreed to shore up banks through capital reinforcement. メルケル独首相とサルコジ仏大統領が会談し、銀行の資本増強で一致した。
This resulted from their increased sense of crisis about Dexia. デクシアに危機感を強めた結果で、
Their decision was quite right. 当然の判断だ。
(no equivelent part in English version) （英字紙はこの部分翻訳抜けです＾＾） 焦点は、両首脳が月内にまとめると表明した銀行の資本増強策を含む包括的な安定策である。
The Group of 20 principal economies will hold a meeting of their financial ministers and central bank governors in Paris later this week. 今週末にパリで主要２０か国・地域財務相・中央銀行総裁会議（Ｇ２０）が開かれ、
A summit meeting of EU and eurozone leaders is scheduled for Oct. 23. ２３日にＥＵとユーロ圏の首脳会議が予定される。
The European countries must put forth definite measures, including the bold injection of public funds and the further expansion of its European Financial Stability Facility bailout fund. 欧州金融安定基金（ＥＦＳＦ）の一層の拡充や、公的資金の大胆な投入など、欧州は明確な方策を打ち出さねばならない。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 12, 2011) （2011年10月12日01時05分 読売新聞）
2011/10/12 --The Asahi Shimbun, Oct. 9 EDITORIAL: A perfect opportunity for Japan, China to strengthen ties. 辛亥革命１００年―新たな日中交流の機に
On Oct. 10, 1911, a military uprising against China's Qing Dynasty broke out in Wuchang, a city on the bank of the Yangtze River's middle reaches. 干支（えと）で辛亥（かのとい）の年にあたる１００年前の１０月１０日、中国の長江中流域、武昌で清朝に対する蜂起が勃発した。
The uprising triggered a revolution that overthrew China's last imperial dynasty and established the Republic of China, the first such political system in Asia. これが引き金になって、アジアで初の共和国である中華民国が誕生し、清朝は倒れた。
It is called the Xinhai Revolution because 1911 was a "xinhai" year in the sexagenary cycle of the Chinese calendar. 辛亥（しんがい）革命である。
Sun Yat-sen, a revolutionary who played a leading role in those events, also called the Chinese Revolution, sought to create a nation based on a political philosophy known as the Three Principles of the People: the principle of nationalism, the principle of civil rights and the principle of people's livelihood. 革命を主導した孫文の理想は、民族、民権、民生という三民主義の実現だった。
Although he continued the struggle to realize his political vision, punctuated by strife with Yuan Shi-kai, a general and politician who attempted to become emperor of China, and years of living in exile, Sun didn't live to see the Kuomintang, the nationalist party he founded, consolidate its power and establish a unified government. 孫文は袁世凱との対立、亡命などの苦闘を続けたものの、国民党による統一政権は見ることはできずに世を去った。
As his last words uttered on his deathbed, Sun said, "The revolution has not yet succeeded." 遺言は「革命未（いま）だ成らず」だった。
The Kuomintang government, however, lost control of the nation to the Communists in civil war and retreated to Taiwan in 1949. その国民党政権も共産党との内戦に敗れ、１９４９年に台湾に逃れる運命をたどった。
A century later, the Xinhai Revolution is still celebrated as a glorious moment in Chinese history because it ended more than 2,000 years of monarchic autocracy in China. そんな辛亥革命が１００年たっても輝きを失わないのは、やはり、中国大陸で連綿と続いた専制王朝を崩壊に導いたという歴史的意義があるからだろう。
The Chinese Communist Party, which has cast itself as "the most solid supporter of the revolution and its most faithful successor," organized a variety of events to commemorate the 100th anniversary with an eye toward future unification with Taiwan. 「革命の最も堅固な支持者であり、最も忠実な継承者」とする共産党は、台湾との統一を見据えて様々な記念行事を開く。
But the Communist Party has not embraced the principle of civil rights and the separation of powers such as government and legislation advocated by Sun. しかし、孫文が訴えた民主制を求める「民権」や、行政と立法などの権力分立は受け入れていない。
The ruling party's failure to adopt these key principles of democracy has been hindering the country's healthy development and created widespread discontent among the Chinese people. そこが健全な発展の足かせとなっていて、国民の不満の原因でもある。
The party cannot claim to be a "faithful successor" to the revolution. とても、革命の忠実な継承者とは誇れまい。
Meanwhile, Taiwan has become a democracy. 一方で、台湾は民主化を果たした。
The island's democratization has guaranteed the Taiwanese people's freedom of speech. 民主化は言論の自由を保障し、
Some politicians in the opposition camp even argue that Sun, who was born in mainland China, has nothing to do with Taiwan. 野党からは「大陸で生まれた孫文と台湾は関係ない」との声も聞かれるほどだ。
The Xinhai Revolution still claims attention in Japan because many Japanese provided broad support to the movement. 日本で辛亥革命が関心を集めるのは、多くの人々が幅広い支援をしたからだ。
Another factor behind Japanese interest in the event is that Chinese who studied in Japan played the central role in the revolution. また、日本留学経験者が革命の主力を担ったことも注目される一因だ。
But Japan's relationship with China has yet to shake off the damaging effects of a collision in September last year between a Chinese trawler and Japan Coast Guard vessels off the disputed Senkaku Islands, which triggered a bitter diplomatic row. しかし、現実の日中関係は昨年秋の尖閣諸島沖衝突事件の影響から抜け出せていない。
When he became prime minister, Naoto Kan said in his policy speech at the Diet that Sun had many Japanese friends who supported his cause. 菅直人・前首相は施政方針演説で「孫文には、彼を支える多くの日本の友人がいました」と語った。
Kan's reference to Sun's ties with Japan probably reflected his desire to use the centennial of the revolution as an opportunity to start the process of fixing the strained bilateral relations. これは、革命１００年を日中関係改善の糸口にしたい意欲の表れだったのだろう。
Some of the Japanese who supported the Chinese Revolution did so as a selfless, purely altruistic act. しかし、革命の日本人関係者には無私無欲の人もいたが、
But many of the Japanese who helped the Chinese revolutionaries were ambitious persons driven by prospects of winning monetary gain in China. 中国利権を目指した野心家が多かった。
The Japanese government at that time adopted an indifferent attitude toward Sun mainly out of consideration to the Qing Dynasty. 清朝への配慮などから当時の政府は孫文に冷淡だった。
Two decades after the revolution, the Manchurian Incident took place. そして革命から２０年後には満州事変が起きた。
Japan chose the rule of might instead of the rule of right that Sun called for and invaded China. 日本は孫文の求めた「王道」ではなく覇道で中国を侵略した。
Japan cannot hope to build stable, friendly relations with China if it fails to take a hard look at its past behavior and focuses only on the facts concerning the revolution that are convenient to it. そんな歴史を凝視せず、辛亥革命のいいとこ取りをしただけでは、安定した友好関係は築けまい。
Next year will mark the 40th anniversary of the establishment of the formal diplomatic relationship between Japan and China. 来年は中華人民共和国と国交樹立して４０年を迎える。
Both the Japanese government and the country's private sector should use the landmark year as an opportunity to launch fresh efforts to build multilayered relations with China for the next 100 years. 節目の年に次の１００年を視野に入れ、政府と民間は重層的な関係構築につとめるべきだし、
We urge China, which has regained its status as a great power, to adopt a future-oriented attitude in its relations with Japan. 大国の地位に戻った中国も未来志向で臨んでもらいたい。
2011/10/11 --The Asahi Shimbun, Oct. 9 EDITORIAL: Wall Street demonstrations manifest resilience of U.S. society. ウォール街デモ―「９９％」を政治の力に
Demonstrations against corporate greed that have targeted Wall Street, the pinnacle of financial capitalism, in recent weeks are gaining widespread momentum. 金融資本主義の総本山であるニューヨーク・ウォール街でのデモが勢いを増している。
"The rich are the 1 percent. We are the 99 percent." "Tax the rich, feed the poor." These are among slogans that are gaining currency. 「金持ちは１％／われわれは９９％」「富める者に税金を／貧しい者に食べものを」――
The protesters are mainly unemployed people, small business owners battling to survive because banks are reluctant to provide loans and students who are unable to pay back their student loans. People, whose lives nosedived in the post-Lehman Brothers crash recession, are raising their voices nationwide. 失業者、銀行の貸し渋りで経営難の中小事業者、学資のローンが返せない学生など、リーマン・ショック後の不況で生活が暗転したままの人々が声をあげた。
The demonstrations have spread to the capital, Washington D.C. And now, major labor unions have also decided to take part. 首都ワシントンにも波及し、主要労組も参加に踏み切った。
The bubble economy crashes and the ensuing pressures of excessive debt pushes the entire economy into stagnant growth. バブル崩壊後の過重な債務の圧力で経済全体が低成長を強いられ、国民の間で格差が広がっている。
The result is a widening disparity in income levels. The pattern is the same in Japan and in Europe. 日本や欧州にも共通する構図だ。
President Barack Obama, who took office after the Lehman crash, immediately implemented a major stimulus package. リーマン・ショック後に登場したオバマ大統領は就任するやすぐに大型の景気対策に踏み切ったが、
Even so, he suffered a defeat in last year's mid-term elections. 昨年の中間選挙に敗れ、
Thus, the path of supporting the poor by raising taxes on the rich has been blocked. 富裕層への増税で貧困層を支える道は阻まれた。
A huge amount of capital was injected into the Wall Street megabanks to avoid a financial crisis. 金融危機を避けるためウォール街の大銀行には巨額の資本が注入された。
But the banks, disliking government control, secured their profits by cutting back on their lending, and returned the public funds quickly enough. しかし、各銀行は政府の管理を嫌って貸し渋りなどで利益を確保し、早々に公的資金を返済した。
This was followed by a recurrence of enormous bonuses for the bank executives. 再び巨額ボーナスを懐にする幹部が相次ぐ。
The quantitative easing by the Federal Reserve Board, aimed at bolstering the economy, pushed up stock values for a while and was hailed by Wall Street. 景気浮揚を狙った米連邦準備制度理事会による金融の量的緩和政策は、株価を一時的に浮揚させてウォール街から歓迎されたものの、
But it just ended up raising gas prices among other things. 結局はガソリンなどの値上がりを招き、
There has been no improvement in the housing market, the major source of malaise in the American economy. 米国経済の最大の病根である住宅市場には改善効果が見られない。
Unemployment now exceeds 9 percent, and the percentage of impoverished households is also increasing. 失業率は９％を超え、貧困世帯の割合も上がる一方。
People in disadvantaged positions have, in effect, been left to fall by the wayside. 弱い立場の人々は放置され、
This is in stark contrast with the tea party movement, with its base consisting of a relatively well-off conservative middle class. The movement is against higher taxes, and its demands are sending Washington politics into a tailspin. 相対的に余裕のある保守中間層を基盤とした増税反対の「茶会」運動がワシントンの政治を振り回しているのとは対照的だ。
However, a backlash is spreading against the radical argument pushed by the tea party based on the theory of the "survival of the fittest." ただ、優勝劣敗を旨とする茶会の極端な主張には疑問も広がる。
That reaction is evident in billionaire Warren Buffet's call for raising taxes on the rich, when he said, "Stop coddling the super-rich." それは、大富豪のウォーレン・バフェット氏が「金持ちを甘やかすのはやめよう」と富裕層への増税を求めたことにも表れている。
The Wall Street demonstrations can also probably be seen as a manifestation of the resilience of American society to regain its balance. ウォール街のデモも、米国社会が持つバランスの復元力を具現化しているとみることができよう。
The demonstrators are now at the stage where they are desperate for politicians to hear the voices of the 99 percent. デモはいま、政治に「９９％の人々の肉声を聞いてほしい」と切望している段階だろう。
The demonstrators are nearly at the point of despair. The crucial question is how the politicians will respond. これが失望に変わる前に、政治がどうこたえていくのか。
Obama said the demonstrations reflected deep frustrations felt by the American people. オバマ大統領はデモを「不満の表れ」と評したが、
But surely he should see this as an opportunity to restore his leadership. He ought to seize on these frustrations and incorporate them into his policies, which are aimed at achieving improved employment and better fiscal health in the mid- to long-term. 当面の雇用対策と中長期の財政健全化を両にらみしている自らの政策にこの「不満」をすくい上げ、求心力の再生につなげる好機を見るべきではないか。
We cannot afford to let the United States falter when the world economy is under duress from Europe's debt crisis. 欧州の債務危機で世界経済が動揺する折、米国までぐらついては困る。
We hope Washington will respond quickly so that things will emerge better and stronger from this state of confusion. 機敏な対応で「雨降って地固まる」としてほしい。
The Yomiuri Shimbun (Oct. 10, 2011) Govt must collect remains of soldiers in reliable way 旧日本兵遺骨 着実な収集こそ国の責務だ（10月9日付・読売社説）
Many bereaved families of the war dead must have been profoundly troubled to hear the news: The ashes from about 4,500 sets of remains that were collected in the Philippines and kept at the Chidorigafuchi National Cemetery in Tokyo are suspected to have been mixed with remains of people other than Japanese soldiers, according to investigations by the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry. やりきれない思いで事態を受け止めた戦没者遺族も多いことだろう。 フィリピンで収集され千鳥ヶ淵戦没者墓苑に納められた遺骨約４５００柱に、旧日本兵以外の遺骨が混入した可能性があることが厚生労働省の調査で明らかになった。
Two years ago, the ministry commissioned the task of searching for and collecting the remains of Japanese soldiers who perished in the Philippines during World War II to a Japanese nonprofit organization. フィリピンでの遺骨収集は、２年前から日本のＮＰＯ法人に委託されていた。
DNA tests conducted on some of the remains before they were transported to Japan, however, showed about 50 percent of the bones may have been those of Filipinos. ところが、日本に移送前の遺骨を抽出しＤＮＡ鑑定したところ、約５割はフィリピン人の遺骨らしいことが判明した。
The ministry says it will thoroughly revamp how remains are recovered, a process that has largely been left up to the private-sector body. 厚労省は今後、半ば民間任せとなっていたフィリピンでの遺骨収集を全面的に改めるという。
About 2.2 million Japanese soldiers perished overseas during the war. 先の大戦中、異国で亡くなった戦没者は約２２０万人に上る。
Remains of half of them have yet to be repatriated. その半数の約１１０万人の遺骨がいまだ日本に帰還していない。
===
Bones of Filipinos 'sold'
The collection of those remains is definitely the government's responsibility and must be done in a way that is beyond reproach. これらの遺骨収集は国の責務である。疑惑を招くことがないよう、着実な方法で収集作業を進めていくことが大事だ。
Collection in the Philippines was initially undertaken directly by the government, with officials from the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry supervising the operations. フィリピンでの収集は、当初は国が直接行い、厚労省職員が立ち会った。
At one time, about 10,000 sets of remains a year were recovered in this manner, but the figure gradually dwindled to no more than 24 in fiscal 2005. 一時期は年間１万柱以上にのぼったが、次第に減少し２００５年度には２４柱となった。
Subsequently, the management of the search and collection project was delegated to the nonprofit organization. その後、現地に詳しいＮＰＯ法人に収集が委託された。
One reason for this was that many remains were left in mountainous regions with poor security conditions. After delegating the operation to the NPO, the ministry began identifying Japanese soldiers' remains based on witness accounts of local residents and verification by local experts. 治安が悪い山岳地帯に遺骨が残されているためで、住民の証言や現地専門家の鑑定をもとに旧日本兵の遺骨と認定する方法に改めた。
Locals were paid cash for discovering remains. 遺骨の発見者には、労賃が支払われた。
Subsequently, the number of remains collected increased sharply, with 6,289 sets collected in fiscal 2010. 収集される遺骨は急増し、昨年度は６２８９柱に上っている。
However, according to eyewitness reports, bones of Filipinos were being sold to the Japanese side. しかし、現地では「フィリピン人の骨を日本側に売った」という住民の証言が相次いだ。
There also were reports that graves of Filipinos were being robbed for the bones. フィリピン人墓地が荒らされ、人骨が盗まれる事件もあったという。
Under the circumstances, it is very difficult to determine if the "discoverers" of remains were lying. 現状では、遺骨の発見者がうその証言をしてもチェックは難しい。
The suspicion that remains of people other than Japanese soldiers have been collected and handed over to the government must be addressed. 旧日本兵以外の遺骨が引き渡されているという疑惑を、これ以上放置してはならない。
===
Direct confirmation
The ministry says there is no firm evidence that repatriated Japanese soldiers' remains were mixed with those of Filipinos. 厚労省は日本に帰還した遺骨にフィリピン人のものが混入している事実は確認できなかったとしているが、
But it cannot be denied that the way remains have been collected is highly problematic. 収集方法に大きな問題があったのは確かだ。
From now on, officials from the ministry and local experts in the Philippines will authenticate remains at the sites where they are found, according to the ministry. 今後は厚労省職員とフィリピンの専門家が、遺骨発見現場を直接確認するという。
DNA profiling will also be conducted on remains, and discoverers will no longer be paid, the ministry says. 遺骨のＤＮＡ鑑定も行われる。発見者に、謝礼や労賃は支払われない。
The ashes of the 4,500 sets of remains that were earlier stored at the Chidorigafuchi National Cemetery dedicated to the war dead have been moved into the mortuary in the ministry's building. 千鳥ヶ淵戦没者墓苑にいったん納められた約４５００柱の遺骨は厚労省の霊安室に移された。
As the remains have already been cremated, however, it is very hard to conduct DNA tests on them. だが、既に焼却されているためＤＮＡ鑑定による判定は困難だ。
To prevent such things from happening again, the government must exercise great care in future search and collection activities. このような事態が繰り返されることのないよう、慎重に収集を進めていかなければならない。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 9, 2011) （2011年10月9日01時21分 読売新聞）
(Mainichi Japan) October 9, 2011 Kaleidoscope of the Heart: Seek your parents' attention, but also learn to be an adult 香山リカのココロの万華鏡：いくつになっても ／東京
There are many people who hold grudges against their parents all their lives. 「親子問題」をいつまでも引きずる人が目立つ。
In my consultation room, I often encounter cases when patients in their -- let's say 60s -- discuss issues they have with their parents. 診察室でも、「８０代の親への不満、怒りを訴える６０代」に会う機会はめずらしくない。
"I understand that you were deeply hurt by what your parents told you in the past, but, see, your mother is getting quite old, isn't it time to bury the hatchet?," I used to say, but one time it struck me that I wasn't perfectly grasping the situation. Those people are not blaming their parents -- they are just seeking their attention. 「昔、言われた言葉に傷つけられたのが忘れられないというのはわかりますが、まあ、お母さんも高齢なんだからそろそろ許してあげても……」などと常識的なことを口にしようとして、あるとき、気づいた。「この人は、親を責めたいのではなくて、親に甘えたいのではないだろうか……」。
I realized that behind the anger in their faces, every time they talk against their parents, there is a child who says, "Mom, please look at me!" 親への怒りを語り続ける人の顔に、「ねえねえ、お母さん、こっち見てよ」と親の気を引こうとする子どもが見えた気がしたからだ。
As much as it sounds unbelievable that people in their 60s would still seek their parents' attention, it may be that such feelings are rather deeply rooted. ６０歳にもなって「親に甘えたい」だなんて、とあきれる人もいるかもしれないが、この感情は思いのほか根が深い。
After all, we all need someone to whom we could totally rely on, someone who would listen and understand us, someone who would always protect us. 親に限らなくてもいいかもしれないのだが、私たちはいくつになっても誰かに全面的に頼りたい、わかってもらいたい、守ってもらいたい、と望むものなのではないか。
As I was thinking about this topic, I became interested in up to what age people long for their parents' attention. いったい人は、何歳まで「親に甘えたい」と思うものなのか。
In search of an answer, I began reading Toyo Shibata's most recent publication, "Hyakusai" (100 years old). そんなことを考えながら、柴田トヨさんの新刊「百歳」を読んだ。
Last year, Shibata published her first book -- a poem anthology -- at the age of 99 and it quickly became a bestseller. トヨさんは昨年、９９歳で初の詩集を刊行し、それがいきなりミリオンセラーとなった。
In her second book, "Hyakusai," apart from poems, she has also written a few biographical essays, where she often refers to her late mother. In one of the essays, Shibata writes about a dream she had of talking to her mother about this and that, while her mother was standing beside her sleeping bed. 「百歳」には詩以外にも自伝的エッセーも載っているのだが、そこに亡くなった母親が夢枕に立つ話が書かれていた。黙って自分を見つめている母親に、トヨさんはあれこれ語りかける。
Shibata then concluded the essay with these words -- "No matter how old I get, I'll always miss my mother." そして、こうきっぱり述べているのだ。「いくつになっても親は恋しいのです」
So, in the end, even at the age of 100 people would still miss their parents and would still want to be heard by them. そうか、百歳になっても、人は親が恋しい、親にあれこれ聞いてもらいたい、と思うものなのだ。
If Shibata feels this way, then there is nothing abnormal about my elderly patients. トヨさんでさえそうなのだとしたら、診察室で６０代の人たちが、「先生、私の親ったらひどいんですよ」と思慕の裏返しのような不満、怒りを語ったとしても、おかしくないかもしれない。
The next time when a patient comes to me and complains about their parents, I will tell them the following: "I understand, after all you are only 67 -- you are still at the age when your parents' words mean so much to you." 次にそういう人がやって来たら、こう言ってあげようか。「そうですよね、あなたはたった６７歳ですものね。まだまだ親の言葉が気になる年齢ですよ」
Having said that, I think people should acknowledge that there is a time when we all need to start growing up. とはいえ、やっぱり私たちはどこかでおとなにならなければならないのも、たしかだ。
We can still miss our parents and still long for their attention, but at the same time we should be ready to step out on our own feet as adults. 「親が気になる、親が恋しい」という自分は認めつつも、きちんとひとり立ちしていく。
Then, if the situation requires it, we should shift roles and become our parents' caregivers. さらには、必要があれば今度は親を守る立場を引き受ける。そんな覚悟も必要なのだ。
Becoming an adult is not an easy thing to do. おとなになるって、たいへんなことだ。
(Mainichi Japan) October 7, 2011 Editorial: Former DPJ chief Ozawa must come clean in light of aides' guilty verdicts 社説：小沢元代表初公判 冷静に審理を尽くせ
Former Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) chief Ichiro Ozawa, who is at the center of a political funding scandal, claimed his innocence when his trial opened on Oct. 6. "There is no reason for me to be charged with a crime," he said. "The trial should be aborted." 民主党の小沢一郎元代表が「罪に問われる理由はない」「裁判を打ち切るべきだ」と無罪を主張した。
Criminal charges of violating the Political Funds Control Law had been brought against Ozawa for conspiring with aides to falsify funding reports over the 2004 purchase of land in Tokyo's Setagaya Ward made by his fundraising organization, Rikuzankai. 資金管理団体「陸山会」を巡る政治資金規正法違反事件の初公判だ。 ０４年に東京都世田谷区の土地を陸山会が購入した際の金銭の出入りに絡み、元秘書らと共謀して政治資金収支報告書にうその記載をしたとして刑事責任を問われた。
Prosecutors eventually dropped the case against Ozawa, but the Committee for the Inquest of Prosecution selected by members of the public twice decided that Ozawa should be indicted. 検察が不起訴としたのに対し、市民から選ばれた検察審査会が２回の審査を経て「起訴すべきだ」との結論を出した。
This marked the first instance of a politician's "mandatory indictment" under a revised prosecution inquest law that went into effect in 2009. 政治家が強制起訴された初めてのケースでもある。
The public trial takes place under the new system of "mandatory indictment," and it goes without saying that it should be conducted according to the rules of criminal cases. 強制起訴という新制度の下での公判だが、刑事裁判のルールに基づくのは当然だ。
The responsibility of proving Ozawa's guilt lies with court-appointed lawyers who will serve as prosecutors. 元代表の有罪を立証する責任は検察官役の指定弁護士にある。
The former DPJ leader has the right to remain silent, and can refuse to provide testimony in response to individual questions. 元代表には黙秘権があり、個々の質問に証言を拒むこともできる。
Despite such allowances, however, we would like to see Ozawa testify head on in this public trial, for there is no doubt that he has caused members of the public to harbor distrust over political fundraising, which should be a transparent process. それを前提とした上で、元代表には公判の場で正面から証言することを期待したい。透明であるべき政治資金について国民の不信感を招いたのは間違いないからだ。
At the opening of the trial on Oct. 6, Ozawa lambasted the court-appointed lawyers. 元代表は初公判で、激烈な検察批判を展開した。
And while he refused to answer any specific questions about the allegations at a press conference following the hearing, it is hoped that a levelheaded battle based on evidence unfolds in court. その後の記者会見でも、事実関係を問う質問に正面から答えなかったが、法廷では証拠に基づいた冷静な攻防こそ望まれる。
First, let us take a look at the source of the 400 million yen Ozawa supplied in the 2004 land purchase. 土地購入のために元代表が提供した４億円の原資にまず注目したい。
In the trials of his three former secretaries, the unusual nature of their land-purchase transactions were deemed efforts to cover up illicit activity, and provided the basis for their guilty sentences in September. 元秘書３人の公判では、土地取引を巡る資金操作の不自然さが「隠蔽（いんぺい）工作」とみなされ、有罪の根拠となった。
Ozawa's 400 million yen is the starting point for it all. 元代表の４億円提供はその出発点だ。
At the ruling of the former aides at the Tokyo District Court, the presiding judge pointed out, "Even the former DPJ leader (Ozawa) has been unable to provide a clear explanation (on the source of the 400 million yen)." 東京地裁は３人の判決で、４億円の原資について「元代表ですら、明快な説明ができていない」と、厳しく指摘した。
At Ozawa's first hearing, his lawyers made no mention of the source of the 400 million yen, and at the subsequent press conference, Ozawa simply said, "It was my money." 元代表の弁護側は初公判で４億円の原資に言及せず、元代表は会見で「私のお金です」と言うにとどまった。
Ozawa's claims have changed over time, with him saying at one point that the money came from bank loans, and at others saying the money had been inherited. 銀行融資、相続遺産など元代表の原資の説明は変遷した。
We'd like to ask him once again where exactly the money came from. 実際はどういう金なのか改めて聞きたい。
Takanori Okubo, one of Ozawa aides found guilty over the land purchase scandal, was also found guilty of falsifying reports on donations from general contractor Nishimatsu Construction Co. at the sentencing in September. 先月の判決で、元秘書の大久保隆規被告は、西松建設の違法献金事件でも有罪を認定された。
What became a focal point of criticism in that ruling was the longtime collusion between Ozawa's office and general contractors. 判決が指弾したのは、「天の声」を背景とした小沢事務所とゼネコンとの長年の癒着だ。
As such, it can be said that the trial that began on Thursday may cover only one facet of a much greater scandal involving politics and money. 今回の公判で裁かれるのは、元代表を巡る「政治とカネ」疑惑の一断面に過ぎないとも言える。
Even granting that his former aides' guilty verdicts were handed down by a lower court, they still carry significant implications for Ozawa. １審とはいえ、元秘書３人の有罪認定は重い。
At the very least, Ozawa should provide an explanation to the Political Ethics Hearing Committee as the politician who had a supervisory role over the three aides. 少なくとも政治倫理審査会の場で、秘書を監督する政治家としての説明責任を果たすべきだと改めて指摘したい。
The ability of the Diet to govern itself is also in question. 国会の自浄力も問われる。
Two years ago, New Komeito submitted a political funding law revision bill that would prevent politicians from evading responsibility by saying that their aides had conducted illicit activity without their knowledge. If implemented, lawmakers would be removed from public office if their funding reports are found to have been falsified. 公明党が一昨年、「秘書がやった」と言い逃れできないように、報告書の虚偽記載の際は議員の公民権を停止させる政治資金規正法改正案を国会に提出した経緯もある。
We hope that further discussion takes place. さらに議論を深めてもらいたい。
2011/10/07 --The Asahi Shimbun, Oct. 5 EDITORIAL: It's time to put fears about TPP to rest. ＴＰＰ参加―丁寧な説明で再起動を
One important trade policy question facing the government is whether Japan should participate in talks on a Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement. 環太平洋経済連携協定（ＴＰＰ）の交渉に日本も加わるかどうか。
Nine Pacific Rim countries, including the United States and Australia, are currently engaged in negotiations with an eye to striking a deal on an outline of the agreement in November. 米国や豪州など参加９カ国は１１月の大枠合意を目指しており、
This target date sets a timeframe for Japan to decide whether to join the TPP talks. 日本にとってもここが判断の節目となりそうだ。
We have been calling on the government to join the talks. 私たちは、まず交渉に参加するよう主張してきた。
The TPP accord has the potential to become the foundation for free flows of goods and services in the fast-growing Asia-Pacific region. ＴＰＰは成長著しいアジア太平洋地域の自由化の土台となる可能性がある。
Japan has an obvious interest in helping to develop the TPP rules if it wants to avoid being at a disadvantage in regional trade. 日本が不利にならないためには、ルール作りからかかわった方が得策だ。
It should at least join the negotiations. 交渉に加わり、
If it then concludes the trade pact doesn't serve its interest, it can simply decide not to sign it. 国益に沿わないと判断すれば協定締結を見送ればよい。
The government had said it would wait until June to announce whether it will join the talks. 政府は「６月に参加の是非を決める」としてきたが、
But the decision was put off due to March 11 Great East Japan Earthquake. 東日本大震災もあって遅れている。
In the meantime, a broad array of concerns about the TPP has been raised by various people and businesses in Japan. その間、ＴＰＰについて様々な懸念が広がった。
To put the process of developing Japan's policy for the trade talks on track, the government needs to explain the current state of negotiations so that cool-headed, fact-based debate on the issue can be held. 検討作業を軌道に乗せるには、今の交渉状況について政府が情報を整理・発信し、冷静に議論できる環境を整えることが第一歩となる。
The main obstacle to Tokyo's participation in the TPP negotiations lies in the agricultural sector, where many products are protected by high tariffs from international competition in the domestic market. Rice is the most notable example. 最大の課題は、コメなど高関税品目を抱える農業分野だ。
One of the TPP's basic principles calls for trade liberalization without an exception. ＴＰＰは「例外なき自由化」が原則だが、
In the actual negotiations, however, the participating countries are seeking to exempt certain items to ease opposition to free trade in the products from related industries. 実際の交渉では各国とも関連業界の反発から、建前と本音がある。
The United States, which is leading the talks, has had some farm products, including sugar, exempted from its bilateral free trade agreement with Australia. 交渉の中心にいる米国は豪州との自由貿易協定（ＦＴＡ）で砂糖などを対象から外しており、
Washington has also made sure that the process of phasing out the tariffs on many other products will be stretched over a period longer than the 10-year limit imposed by the principles for trade talks. 関税撤廃の原則である「１０年以内」を超える段階的自由化にとどめた品目も目立つ。
The United States has adopted a similar strategy for the TPP negotiations. ＴＰＰでも同様の方針で臨んでいる。
Japanese farmers and others in the agricultural sector have voiced concern that participation in the TPP could lead to the immediate scrapping of tariffs on all products. But that fear is unfounded. 日本の農業関係者は「ＴＰＰに参加すると、すべての品目でただちに関税が撤廃されかねない」と危うさを訴えるが、正確さを欠く。
Japan should adopt a strategic approach to deal with the challenge. The government should act swiftly to put together a package of policy measures to bolster the international competitiveness of Japanese agriculture, including steps to promote larger-scale farming. It also should seek through the negotiations to secure the time and terms that allow it to implement such measures. 大規模化など農業の強化策を早急にまとめ、交渉でそのための時間と条件を確保する。そんな戦略性を持ちたい。
But concerns over the trade pact are not limited to the abolition of tariffs. 関税以外にも様々な懸念が聞かれる。
Some TPP critics warn that the agreement would lead to massive inflows of unskilled foreign workers, while others predict that Japan would be forced to fundamentally revamp its public health care system. 「単純労働者が大量に入ってくる」「医療制度の抜本改革を強いられる」
Opponents also argue that the pact would undermine Japan's efforts for environmental protection while forcing the nation to import food products from countries that don't adopt food safety standards that are as strict as those in Japan. 「環境保護が犠牲になる」「安全基準が緩い食品の輸入を迫られる」といった具合だ。
These opponents are raising issues of so-called social regulation, or government regulation that addresses specific social problems such as pollution and product safety. These issues should be discussed from viewpoints other than the revitalization of the economy, which is the principal justification for most arguments for deregulation. 社会的規制と呼ばれ、経済活性化が狙いの規制緩和論議とは異なる視点が求められる分野である。
Based on information they have collected, Japanese trade officials claim that many of the concerns that have been raised in relation to the TPP are not founded in the actual topics at the negotiation table. 日本政府の通商担当者は、集めた情報をもとに「懸念の多くはＴＰＰ交渉でテーマになっていない」と反論する。
To allay unnecessary anxiety about the TPP, the government should offer detailed explanations about how the talks are going and its own thoughts about the trade agreement. その点でも、交渉状況や政府の考え方を丁寧に説明するべきだ。
With the yen stuck at historically high levels against other major currencies, there is mounting concern about the hollowing-out of Japanese industries. 円高が定着し、空洞化への懸念が一層強まっている。
Besides the elimination of tariffs, the TPP talks are also addressing many issues that are important from the viewpoint of promoting Japanese exports, such as the simplification of trade procedures. ＴＰＰには、関税交渉以外にも貿易手続きの簡素化など日本からの輸出促進につながる項目が少なくない。
Policymakers should explore ways to overcome the differences in domestic opinion over the TPP, which are simplified as conflict between agriculture and manufacturing. 「農業対製造業」という単純な対立の図式を乗り越え、
They need to figure out a formula for using the TPP as a means to re-energize Japanese industry. 産業全体の活性化にＴＰＰを活用する道を探らなければならない。
That is a key trade policy mission for the administration of Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda. それが野田政権の使命である。
2011/10/06 --The Asahi Shimbun, Oct. 5 EDITORIAL: It's still the job of police to crack down on yakuza. 暴力団の排除―警察こそ前面に立て
Life has suddenly just got tougher for Japan's yakuza organized crime syndicates. (日本の暴力団にとっては住みにくい世の中になった。 この部分の翻訳 by srachai)
Anti-yakuza ordinances came into effect in Tokyo and Okinawa on Oct. 1. They are the last two prefectures to enforce such measures. 東京都と沖縄県で今月、暴力団排除条例が施行され、同様の条例が全国で出そろった。
Yakuza can no longer subcontract public works projects, nor open new "offices." 公共工事の下請け、孫請けから排除され、組事務所を新たに開くことも事実上できない。
Printers can now refuse to print "meishi" business cards bearing the names of gang groups, hotels can cancel reservations for banquets hosted by yakuza, and banks can refuse to open accounts for gang members. 組の名前が入った名刺の印刷はお断り。ホテルで宴会を開こうにも、暴力団とわかればキャンセルされる。組員は銀行口座を開けず、子どもの給食代も引き落とせない――。
となれば、ヤクザなんかやってられねぇ、となるだろう。
The ordinances aim to shut yakuza out of all social and economic activities and stop their cash flows. 社会・経済のあらゆる場から暴力団を締め出し、資金源を断つ。
But this cannot be done unless private citizens and businesses are willing to sever their relations with yakuza. そのため市民や企業に決別を求める。
Anyone who "patronizes" gangsters or pays for their "services" will be warned, or such practices will be publicly unmasked, depending on specific cases. 威力を借りたり、活動を助長したりする目的で暴力団に利益を与えた場合は、指導や摘発の対象にする。
More local governments are now moving toward including provisions in their ordinances that will enable people to cancel their business contracts with parties who are found to be associated with yakuza. その態勢が整いつつある。 組員とわかれば契約を解除できる条項を設ける動きも広がる。
How best to tighten the net? この包囲網を、いかに強く丈夫なものにするか。
Many people are unsure exactly what constitutes "patronizing" yakuza or how to determine whether their business partners have yakuza connections. 「どんなケースが利益供与に当たるか」「暴力団関係者だとどうやって判断するのか」と、戸惑いの声は大きい。
The law enforcement authorities need to give specific examples and educate the public thoroughly, and ensure the law is not enforced arbitrarily. 警察は実例を示して説明を重ね、恣意（しい）的な運用は戒めるべきだろう。
The purpose of the anti-gang legislation is definitely not to cause unnecessary concern to ordinary law-abiding citizens. 善意の市民を不安にさせるのが目的ではないはずだ。
But there are certain segments of society that have maintained relations with yakuza, willingly or not. 他方、様々な利害やしがらみで暴力団と腐れ縁を続けてきた世界もある。
Such people should understand that what was marginally legit in the past is now a crime. そうした人はこれまでの「セーフ」は「アウト」になると覚悟した方がいい。
Beat Takeshi, who partially revealed his relationship with yakuza in an interview with a weekly magazine, noted, "I'm glad I can now say 'No' (to gangsters) by law." ビートたけしさんは、週刊誌で芸能界と暴力団とのつきあいの一端を明かし、「これからは条例を盾に断れるんだから、ありがたい」と語っていた。
But the police face a tougher test than the showbiz industry. 芸能界以上に正念場を迎えるのは、実は警察だ。
Law enforcement authorities have been vowing to eradicate crime syndicates since the enforcement of the Anti-Organized Crime Law in 1992. １９９２年の暴力団対策法の施行以降、「壊滅を」とかけ声を続けてきたにもかかわらず、
But it hasn't had much effect. 暴力団の勢力は衰えていない。
In fact, it has grown increasingly difficult for investigators to obtain information from those with yakuza connections. 関係者と接触して情報をとる捜査手法も難しくなった。
Unable to crack down successfully on organized crime, the police have tended to dump the responsibility on society at large. 取り締まりがどうにも行き詰まる中、市民社会の側に責任を課した面がある。
But the ultimate responsibility of manning the frontline in the nation's fight against organized crime lies with the police. だが、暴力団対策の最前線に立つのは、やはり警察をおいてない。
It is their mission to protect citizens who are being threatened by yakuza to maintain their ties. 関係を絶とうとする市民を、脅しから守り抜く。
In Fukuoka Prefecture, the police have yet to nab the perpetrator of shooting incidents against anti-yakuza companies and others. 福岡県では暴力団排除を進めてきた企業などを狙った発砲事件の犯人が、捕まらないままだ。
The police campaign to eradicate organized crime is doomed to fail if the public cannot trust or rely on law enforcement officers. 事件解決にも全力を注がねばならない。どうせ警察は何もしてくれないと不信がぬぐえぬようでは、この作戦は失敗に終わる。
With society becoming much less yakuza-friendly, some gangs may burrow deeper underground. 追いつめられた暴力団が、闇に潜る恐れもある。
A new challenge now is how to deal with former gangsters who have nowhere else to go. 居場所がなくなる者たちの受け皿をどうするかも、今後の課題だ。
The authorities will have to remain attuned to new developments while cracking down harder on organized crime. そうした動向を見すえつつ、対策を強めてゆかねばなるまい。
(Mainichi Japan) October 5, 2011 Efforts needed to prevent 'Occupy Wall Street' demonstrations from splitting U.S. society 社説：米金融街デモ 社会の分断なら危険だ
Intensifying anti-Wall Street demonstrations, which started in New York, are threatening to split U.S. society. 米ニューヨークで「反ウォール街」を掲げ始まった抗議デモが、拡大の様相を見せている。
About 700 protesters were arrested on Oct. 1 and the demonstrations, which are now in their third week, have spread to Chicago, Los Angeles and other cities in the country. 今月１日には約７００人が逮捕される騒ぎとなったが、３週目の今も続き、シカゴやロサンゼルスなどニューヨーク以外の都市にも飛び火している。
One cannot help but wonder what participants in the demonstrations titled, "Occupy Wall Street," are pursuing as they are not led by a charismatic leader and demands vary from person to person. カリスマ的指導者が存在するわけでもなく、参加者の要求もばらばらで、何を目指しているのかはっきりしない。
It still remains to be seen if the movement will develop into a major political force that will confront conservatives who have organized the so-called tea-party movement. 保守派「茶会（ティーパーティー）」の対極となる強力な政治勢力に成長するか否かも現段階では不明である。
Still, close attention should be paid to the development because it could influence the U.S. presidential race next year and the U.S. government's foreign policy. とはいえ、来年の米大統領選挙や米国の対外政策に影響を及ぼす可能性はあり、注視したい。
The protests appeared to have spread through social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter and rapidly gained support mainly from the younger generations. 抗議運動はフェイスブックやツイッターといったソーシャルメディアを経由し、若者を中心に賛同者が急膨張したようだ。
As the campaign's title shows, the demonstrators' anger is directed at executives of financial institutions. 「ウォール街を占拠せよ」との活動名が示すように、原動力となった怒りの矛先は、大手金融機関の経営者らに向いている。
Many U.S. citizens still feel that their livelihoods have not improved although three years have passed since the collapse of Lehman Brothers, which triggered the financial crisis, as is shown by the unemployment rates that remain at the 9 percent level. リーマン・ショックから３年が経過したというのに、９％を下回らない失業率など、一般の人々の暮らしはいっこうに改善が実感されない。
Bank executives, who sowed the seeds of the crisis, continue to keep their wealth without being seriously penalized. 他方で窮状の原因を作った銀行経営者らは、重い制裁を受けることなく、引き続き富を占有している。
U.S. Congress, in which conservatives have increased their influence, is leaning toward giving preferential treatment to the rich and major businesses and cutting social welfare spending. 政治に目をやれば、保守派が影響力を増した連邦議会は、「富裕層・大企業優遇」「福祉切り捨て」に傾斜し、
The administration of President Barack Obama has failed to find an effective solution to his country's economic problems. オバマ政権も有効な解決策を打ち出せない－－。
Such a situation is apparently amplifying people's anger. そんな現状認識が人々の憤りを膨らませているようだ。
Participants in the "Occupy Wall Street" demonstrations are not only poor or unemployed people who are dissatisfied with the current economic situation. デモ参加者は必ずしも貧困層や失業者ではなく、
The demonstrations occasionally become festive as some participants carry out street performances. 街頭パフォーマンスなどお祭り的要素も見受けられる。
It is inappropriate to fear that the demonstrations are posing a threat to U.S. society because lawful protests are widely accepted in a free society. 合法的な抗議活動は、自由社会が価値を認めているもので、直ちに懸念の材料とみなすのも適切でない。
However, if the tea-party movement and the anti-Wall Street demonstrations mark the beginning of a split in U.S. society, it would pose serious risks to the country and close attention should be paid to their future development. ただ、茶会現象と今回の反ウォール街デモが、米社会の本格的分断の始まりであるとすれば、危うさをはらんでいて注意が必要だ。
If confrontations intensify and it becomes difficult to solve problems though dialogue, the possibility cannot be ruled out that it could trigger social unrest. 対立が深まり、対話による解決がより困難になれば、社会不安を招く可能性も決して排除できないからである。
Those outside the United States, including those in Japan, are particularly concerned that the U.S. may become increasingly inward-looking and lean toward protectionism. 日本を含め国外の者にとって最も心配なのは、米国が一段と内向きになったり、保護主義の傾向を強めたりすることだ。
The U.S. Senate has decided to begin deliberating on a bill targeting anti-China sanctions with the country's manipulation of the yuan in mind. 議会上院が中国の人民元を念頭に置いた制裁法案の審議入りを決めた。
Ruling and opposition parties in the U.S. tend to join hands in condemning China. 対中批判は与野党が一致しやすい。
Caution is needed if both leftists and rightists in the United States work together to build China's image as "a country that deprives Americans of job opportunities by manipulating exchange rates" and making China into a common enemy. 「為替操作で米国の雇用を奪う国」として、左派、右派が中国を共通の敵に仕立て上げるような事態になるのなら要注意だ。
If the United States imposes sanctions on China, Beijing will retaliate by imposing fresh sanctions on Washington, increasing tensions in U.S.-China relations and possibly triggering protectionism on a global scale. 制裁は新たな制裁を招き、米中関係の緊張のみならず、保護主義が世界的に連鎖するきっかけとなりかねないからである。
Nobody benefits from splits in society or over politics. 政治・社会の分断に勝者はない。
Both the Obama administration and Congress should overcome economic challenges in the U.S. through dialogue and explanations to the public. オバマ政権も議会も、対話と国民への説明を通し、米経済の難局を乗り切ってもらいたい。
note: congress 1 《C-》《通例無冠詞》（米国の）連邦議会,国会(?上院(the Senate)と下院(the House of Representatives)からなる)
たった今、washington postより届いた速報 ↓ ---------------------------------------- News Alert: Poll sees a new low in Americans' approval of Congress October 5, 2011 12:25:17 AM ----------------------------------------
Just 14 percent of the public approves of the job Congress is doing, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll, more than at any point in more than two decades.
The poll also shows that 61 percent of Americans disapprove of the way President Obama is handling the economy. But with only 13 months remaining until Election Day and Congress's approval ratings even lower, the president is taking a more combative approach.
President Obama is in Dallas today urging Americans who support the American Jobs Act to demand that Congress pass it already.
Though it's been nearly a month since he laid out this plan, House Republicans haven't acted to pass it. And House Majority Leader Eric Cantor is out there actually bragging that they won't even put the jobs package up for a vote -- ever.
It's not clear which part of the bill they now object to: building roads, hiring teachers, getting veterans back to work. They're willing to block the American Jobs Act -- and they think you won't do anything about it.
But here's something you can do: Find Republican members of Congress on Twitter, call them out, and demand they pass this bill.
Be the first to use our new tool and tweet for jobs.
Here's why we built this new tool, and why it's important.
If you've written letters or sent email to Congress before, you know it can be a frustrating experience -- sometimes it takes them weeks to respond, and sometimes they don't respond at all.
But many members of Congress personally receive the messages sent to them on Twitter, so you have a better chance of getting your message directly to them.
And even if they don't respond, your message will be public -- front and center for everyone who follows you or your representative. That means their staff, other constituents, and the media will see the mounting pressure.
So tweet for jobs now:
http://my.barackobama.com/Tweet-for-Jobs
If you don't use Twitter, you can also contact someone else who needs to hear from you about this bill: The editor of your local paper. We have a tool that lets you send a letter to the editor, and even gives you facts and tips to help you write the most effective note you can. Write one now:
http://my.barackobama.com/Letters-for-Jobs
The American Jobs Act is not controversial legislation.
Ideas like rebuilding our roads and bridges, repairing our public schools, and keeping teachers in our classrooms are all ideas the Republicans have said they would support or have even proposed themselves.
But they're so dead set on preventing anything from getting done on President Obama's watch that they will reverse, deny, or ignore what they've said and done in the past -- even if it costs more American jobs.
And remember: They're willing to cost you and any other American your job, or your chance at a new job, because they think that doing nothing won't cost them theirs. Tweet at Republican members of Congress now and tell them you want a vote on the jobs bill right away:
http://my.barackobama.com/Tweet-for-Jobs
Or write a letter to the editor:
http://my.barackobama.com/Letters-for-Jobs
I know we've been asking a lot of you lately, and all of us here would have loved to give you a break this week after all the emails we've been sending. But the reality is that we're building a grassroots organization from the ground up even as we're supporting the President in battles that need to be won right now. And that means we've got to be willing to stay focused week after week from now through the election.
Thanks again to all of you who donated to the campaign before the end of the third quarter, and for everything else you do to have the President's back.
The Yomiuri Shimbun (Oct. 4, 2011) Myanmar's democratization efforts deserve support ミャンマー改革 民主化の前進を後押ししたい（10月3日付・読売社説）
President Thein Sein of the new administration of Myanmar, which has shifted to civilian control after 22 years of rule by a military junta, has launched an extensive reform drive in politics, the economy and other fields. 今春、２２年続いた軍政に終止符を打ち民政移管したミャンマーで、新政権を率いるテイン・セイン大統領が、政治、経済など幅広い分野で改革に乗り出した。
We hope he will be able to achieve stability and democratization for his country. 体制の安定と民主化を実現してもらいたい。
The president began with a dialogue with government opponents, called for peace with ethnic minority guerrilla groups and took a stance of welcoming exiles home. 大統領はまず反政府派との対話に臨み、少数民族武装勢力に和解を呼びかけ、亡命者の帰国を歓迎する姿勢を示した。
He is believed to recognize the importance of national reconciliation for the sake of political stability. 国民融和に配慮することで、政情の安定化を図りたいという狙いがあろう。
He released political prisoners, albeit in small numbers, in May. ５月に少数ながら政治犯を釈放し、
He had his first meeting with pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who was released from house arrest last autumn, in the capital city of Napyidaw in August. ８月には首都ネピドーで、昨年秋に自宅軟禁を解いた民主化運動指導者アウン・サン・スー・チーさんと初めて会談した。
The president approved a pro-democracy rally of about 100 people in Yangon, the country's biggest city, on Sept. 26, the fourth anniversary of the junta's crackdown on 2007 antigovernment demonstrations. ９月２６日には、民主化運動支持者ら約１００人が、２００７年の反政府デモ鎮圧から４年を迎えて最大都市ヤンゴンで行ったデモを容認している。
===
Reform drive far-reaching
Since its inauguration this spring, the new Myanmar administration has relaxed its censorship of political articles in newspapers and magazines and dramatically reduced Internet restrictions. 新聞や雑誌の政治記事への検閲を緩和し、インターネットの規制も大幅に解除した。
This made it possible, at least in Napyidaw and Yangon, to access Internet services including video-sharing sites, which was impossible under the junta rule. 軍政時代に接続不可能だった動画投稿サイトなどがネピドーやヤンゴンで閲覧できるようになった。
These changes could not be imagined under military rule. 軍政時代には想像できなかった変化である。
We hope for the further promotion of freedom of speech. 言論自由化の進展に期待したい。
As for the country's economic reform drive, legislative steps are being prepared to promote a foreign exchange system and introduce foreign capital. こうした改革は、為替制度や外資導入を推進するための法整備など経済分野にも及ぶ。
Behind such moves is the fact that the new administration has put itself forward as a candidate to chair the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in 2014. 背景には、新政権が、東南アジア諸国連合（ＡＳＥＡＮ）の３年後の議長国に立候補している事情がある。
Myanmar aims to strengthen its position in ASEAN by emphasizing its promotion of reform. 改革の進展をアピールすることで、ＡＳＥＡＮの一角に確たる地位を得る。
The country seeks to realize the lifting of economic sanctions imposed by the United States and European countries as a step toward reconstructing its economy. 欧米諸国から科せられた経済制裁の解除も実現させ、経済を立て直そうとしている。
China, which deepened relations with Myanmar during junta rule, has been ramping up its economic influence over the country. 軍政時代にミャンマーとの関係を深めた中国は経済的な影響力をさらに強化している。
A railway construction project is likely to start before the end of this year, following those already under way to build oil and natural gas pipelines linking the two countries. 両国を連結する石油・天然ガスのパイプライン敷設に続いて、年内には鉄道建設も始まる見通しだ。
===
Great potential
With a population of about 50 million people and rich natural resources, Myanmar has great potential. 人口約５０００万人、豊富な資源に恵まれたミャンマーは大きな潜在力を秘めている。
If democratization progresses in the country, it will become possible to lure foreign capital and promote trade. 民主化が進めば、資本投下や貿易発展をもたらし、
This is expected to bring about a virtuous circle of improving people's livelihoods and supporting regional stability. 民生向上と地域の安定につながる好循環が生まれよう。
Taking note of Myanmar's potential, the United States, which took a stern stance against the junta, began to move toward improving bilateral relations. 将来性に着目して、軍政に厳しかった米国が民政移管後、関係改善へ動き出した。
In September, a U.S. government special envoy visited Myanmar, and Myanmar's foreign minister visited Washington. ９月には、米政府特別代表がミャンマーを訪れ、ミャンマー外相も訪米した。
Japan, for its part, has resumed official development assistance to Myanmar. 日本も新規の政府開発援助（ＯＤＡ）を再開した。
And an increasing number of Japanese firms have been sending inspection missions to the country. 日本企業の視察も急増している。
Japan must provide further support to help the country establish a market economy, to say nothing of promoting democratization. 民主化はもとより市場経済体制の構築を、一層支援していくべきである。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 3, 2011) （2011年10月3日01時12分 読売新聞）
