英字新聞

The Yomiuri Shimbun (Mar. 14, 2013)
Keeping memories of the March 11 disaster alive
震災遺構の保存　記憶の伝承に生かせるのなら（3月13日付・読売社説）

Scars of the massive tsunami triggered by the Great East Japan Earthquake remain all-too-vivid in some affected areas. A large fishing vessel remains stranded ashore, and buildings reduced to their bare frames dot the landscape.
　骨組みだけとなったビル、陸に乗り上げた大型漁船――。東日本大震災の被災地には今なお津波の痕跡が生々しい。

Local governments in these areas face an extremely difficult quandary: Should structures that remain grim reminders of the devastation wrought by the disaster be left where they are, or should they be dismantled and removed?
　震災の惨状を伝える遺構を保存するか、解体撤去するか、自治体にとっては極めて難しい問題である。

In Minami-Sanriku, Miyagi Prefecture, a consensus over whether to preserve the town government's office building for antidisaster measures remains elusive. Many officials in the building died when it was engulfed by the tsunami. In Otsuchi, Iwate Prefecture, opinion is split over whether to conserve the former town government building where the mayor and other officials were swept away by the dark tsunami waters.
　宮城県南三陸町では、多くの町職員らが亡くなった防災対策庁舎の保存の賛否を巡り、調整がついていない。岩手県大槌町でも、町長らが濁流にのみ込まれて犠牲となった町役場旧庁舎の保存で住民の意見が割れている。

Some bereaved families who lost relatives at such sites have demanded the structures be removed, saying, "It's painful just to see them because they remind us of the disaster." Their deep sadness must be taken seriously.
　現場で肉親を奪われた遺族からは「震災を思い出すので見るのもつらい」と強く撤去を求める声が上がっている。その痛切な思いは重く受け止めるべきだろう。

Some observers suggest leaving these wrecked structures as they are will impede the progress of reconstruction.
　無残な姿の建物が街の中に残っていたのでは、復興の妨げとなるとの声もある。

On the other hand, there are strong views that the structures must be preserved so memories of the disaster will not fade. Some bereaved families initially wanted these structures demolished, but as time passed, they changed their view and now favor preservation. "They must be kept to prevent a recurrence of this tragedy," is the reasoning for this change of heart.
　一方で、被災の記憶を風化させないために、遺構を保存すべきだという意見も根強い。遺族の中には当初、解体を求めながら、時間が経過する中で「悲劇を繰り返さないためにも保存することが必要だ」と考え直した人もいる。

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Full community debate vital

Whether to preserve the ruins should be discussed on a community basis from various perspectives, including the pros and cons of keeping the memories alive, promoting antidisaster measures, memorial purposes and future town building. Consideration also must be given fully to the fact that maintenance and administration of the structures will be costly for the local governments concerned.
　遺構の保存の是非について、記憶の伝承、防災、慰霊、将来の街づくりなど、様々な角度から地域で議論を尽くすべきである。維持管理には、自治体に多大の財政負担がかかる点も、十分に考慮しなければならない。

The Miyagi prefectural government has formulated a basic vision on how to deal with disaster remains, and submitted it to municipal governments concerned. The vision calls for studying preservation steps commensurate with their fiscal wherewithal.
　宮城県は震災遺構に対する県の基本的な考え方を取りまとめ、関係市町に通知した。自治体の財政規模に見合った保存のあり方を検討するよう求めている。

The prefectural government also set guidelines for preservation, including such requirements as giving approval for using the structures as centers for antidisaster education, conducting repairs to make them safe to use, and making sure they do not impede reconstruction. We think these requirements are reasonable.
　さらに、防災教育の拠点とするなど活用方針が決まっていて、安全性確保のための補修が可能、しかも復興の妨げとならない、といった保存の目安を挙げている。妥当な内容と言えよう。

Transferring part of the structures to museums or other facilities could be one way to preserve them. Other possible options include taking pictures and preserving other data before they are dismantled.
　遺構の一部を博物館などに移設する方法もある。解体する前に写真やデータに残し、保存する方策も考えていい。

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A symbol of reconstruction

In Rikuzen-Takata, Iwate Prefecture, restoration of the "miracle pine tree" that died after initially surviving the tsunami will be completed shortly. The tree has been reassembled as a symbol of reconstruction after its trunk was hollowed out and filled with a carbon spine.
　岩手県陸前高田市では、津波に耐えながらも枯死した「奇跡の一本松」の復元作業が近く完了する。幹の中をくりぬいてカーボン製の芯を入れるなど工夫し、復興のシンボルとしてよみがえった。

The area surrounding the tree will be developed as a reconstruction memorial park to be used for future development of the city. If the number of visitors to the park increases, it will help revitalize the city.
　「奇跡の一本松」の周辺は復興祈念公園として整備を進め、将来の街づくりに生かす計画だ。公園への来訪者が増えれば、町の活性化にもつながるだろう。

We hope various ideas for keeping records of tsunami damage will be used. It is also essential to work out how lessons learned by academic research on the disaster can be passed to future generations.
　様々なアイデアを生かし、津波被害の記録を残してほしい。学術研究を経て得られた教訓を後世に伝えていく方法も考えたい。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 13, 2013)
（2013年3月13日01時24分 読売新聞）