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2010年04月23日
ゆとりバンク
今から20年くらい前にスラチャイも急なお金が必要になり何度か利用したことがありますが、当時は提携銀行のローンカードや丸井のクレジットカードを利用していました。
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お金を借りるときの注意点は昔も今も変わりません。
計画的に返済できる範囲で借金するということにつきます。
決して無理してはいけません。
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それではここで、クレジットカードのショッピング枠現金化サイト「ゆとりバンク 」の紹介を致します。
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・カード現金化
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当社のキャッシュバック付きオリジナル商品を購入していただきます。
その特典として購入金額に応じた金額をお客様の指定銀行口座に現金で払い戻しをするサービスです。
例えば10万円のキャッシュバック付きオリジナル商品購入すれば、即座に10万円の84％がお客様の銀行口座に振り込まれます。
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一般のローン業者からの借り入れでは、返済期間により異なる金利を支払わなければなりませんが、クレジットカードのショッピング枠現金化サービスでは金利はゼロです。
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ご利用はこのリンクより出来ます。
↓
現金化のゆとりバンク
tel: 0120-297-237
米国進出の自動車業界、明と暗
（暗）
トヨタは米国ムーディーのランクを二つさげてしまってAa2（トップから３番目のランク）。
プリウスの欠陥によるリコールが原因だ。（８００万台）
それでも５月の経常利益は8620億ドルに達する見込み。
ワシントンポストのニュースレターより
↓
Toyota Stock Falls After Moody's Downgrades Credit Rating
トヨタ社ムーディーの格付けランクを下げ株価も下げた
Toyota, which was stripped of the top Aaa rating last year by Moody's Investors Service, has been downgraded again to Aa2, the third-highest grade. Fitch Ratings announced that it too might downgrade the auto giant's rating after it re-examines the company's creditworthiness in the next few months. (Standard & Poor's is due to examine its credit ratings on Toyota in the middle of May.) "A lower credit rating indicates a higher risk of a default and can raise borrowing costs," Bloomberg reported. "The carmaker has 5.45 trillion yen of bonds and loans coming due through 2012." The downgrade was, for the most part, a result of Toyota's recent recalls, which have affected more than 8 million vehicles. With hundreds of lawsuits in the works, Toyota's profit margins for the next few years are very difficult to predict. "We are deeply disappointed with the Moody's downgrade," Mieko Iwasaki, a Toyota spokesman based in Tokyo, told Bloomberg. "We are doing our utmost in prioritizing our customers' trust with our best management efforts and hope to have our rating raised again." After the announcement from Moody's, Toyota shares dropped 1.4 percent to 3,600 yen. A full-year earnings report is expected on May 11, but the auto giant has predicted a net income of $862 million for the year ended March 31.
（明）
日経の記事を引用
↓
ホンダ、営業益９割増
ホンダの業績が一段と上向いている。2010年３月期は、本業のもうけを示す連結営業利益（米国会計基準）が前の期に比べ約９割増の3600億円前後になったようだ。従来予想は69％増の3200億円。新興国での販売好調や円安が寄与した。中国向けの販売増で日産自動車など他の自動車大手も計画を上回りそうで、業績回復が鮮明になってきた。
ホンダの営業利益は、現時点の見込みで国内大手７社で最大。小型車中心の車種構成で経営効率が高く、二輪車で培ったブランドが新興国にも浸透して好調ぶりが目立つ。
トヨタは米国ムーディーのランクを二つさげてしまってAa2（トップから３番目のランク）。
プリウスの欠陥によるリコールが原因だ。（８００万台）
それでも５月の経常利益は8620億ドルに達する見込み。
ワシントンポストのニュースレターより
↓
Toyota Stock Falls After Moody's Downgrades Credit Rating
トヨタ社ムーディーの格付けランクを下げ株価も下げた
Toyota, which was stripped of the top Aaa rating last year by Moody's Investors Service, has been downgraded again to Aa2, the third-highest grade. Fitch Ratings announced that it too might downgrade the auto giant's rating after it re-examines the company's creditworthiness in the next few months. (Standard & Poor's is due to examine its credit ratings on Toyota in the middle of May.) "A lower credit rating indicates a higher risk of a default and can raise borrowing costs," Bloomberg reported. "The carmaker has 5.45 trillion yen of bonds and loans coming due through 2012." The downgrade was, for the most part, a result of Toyota's recent recalls, which have affected more than 8 million vehicles. With hundreds of lawsuits in the works, Toyota's profit margins for the next few years are very difficult to predict. "We are deeply disappointed with the Moody's downgrade," Mieko Iwasaki, a Toyota spokesman based in Tokyo, told Bloomberg. "We are doing our utmost in prioritizing our customers' trust with our best management efforts and hope to have our rating raised again." After the announcement from Moody's, Toyota shares dropped 1.4 percent to 3,600 yen. A full-year earnings report is expected on May 11, but the auto giant has predicted a net income of $862 million for the year ended March 31.
（明）
日経の記事を引用
↓
ホンダ、営業益９割増
ホンダの業績が一段と上向いている。2010年３月期は、本業のもうけを示す連結営業利益（米国会計基準）が前の期に比べ約９割増の3600億円前後になったようだ。従来予想は69％増の3200億円。新興国での販売好調や円安が寄与した。中国向けの販売増で日産自動車など他の自動車大手も計画を上回りそうで、業績回復が鮮明になってきた。
ホンダの営業利益は、現時点の見込みで国内大手７社で最大。小型車中心の車種構成で経営効率が高く、二輪車で培ったブランドが新興国にも浸透して好調ぶりが目立つ。
ミリオンキャッシュ
今から20年くらい前にスラチャイも急なお金が必要になり何度か利用したことがありますが、当時は提携銀行のローンカードや丸井のクレジットカードを利用していました。
クレジットカードのショッピング枠現金化のような便利なサービスは当時ありませんでした。
お金を借りるときの注意点は昔も今も変わりません。
計画的に返済できる範囲で借金するということにつきます。
決して無理してはいけません。
この借金による投資が確実に実る場合にのみ、行動を開始してください。
それではここで、クレジットカードのショッピング枠現金化サイト「ミリオンキャッシュ」の紹介を致します。
■ミリオンキャッシュの特徴
・現金化→指定のキャッシュバック付き商品をご購入いただいたお客様に、特典としてご利用金額に対して最大95.6%までをお客様の指定する金融機関に現金を払い戻しするサービスです。
・即日振り込み(最短５分)
・顧客最優先（リピート利用率８4.8％）
■ご利用の手引き
お客様がお持ちのクレジットカードのショッピング枠をご利用して、
当社のキャッシュバック付きオリジナル商品を購入していただきます。
その特典として購入金額に応じた金額をお客様の指定銀行口座に現金で払い戻しをするサービスです。
例えば10万円のキャッシュバック付きオリジナル商品購入すれば、即座に10万円の80％がお客様の銀行口座に振り込まれます。
購入したキャッシュバック付きオリジナル商品は、宅急便で宅配されて来ますので、必ず受け取らなければなりません。
一般のローン業者からの借り入れでは、返済期間により異なる金利を支払わなければなりませんが、クレジットカードのショッピング枠現金化サービスでは金利はゼロです。
比較検討の余地は十分にあると思います。
ご利用はこのリンクより出来ます。
↓
ミリオンキャッシュ 
日本の宇宙開発 山崎さん活躍でも課題は多い
The Yomiuri Shimbun (Apr. 23, 2010)
Nation's space program faces many challenges
日本の宇宙開発 山崎さん活躍でも課題は多い（4月22日付・読売社説）
Astronaut Naoko Yamazaki has returned to Earth after completing her mission at the International Space Station.
国際宇宙ステーションから、任務を終えた山崎直子さんが帰還した。
Yamazaki is the first Japanese mother to have gone into space. After she returned, she was reunited with her husband and daughter, who supported her from Earth while she was on her 15-day mission aboard the space shuttle Discovery. We would like to thank Yamazaki for her sterling efforts.
日本で初のお母さん宇宙飛行士だ。１５日間のスペースシャトルの飛行中活躍を応援していた夫と長女も再会を喜んだ。まずは、お疲れ様と言いたい。
The space shuttle fleet, which has been in service for about 30 years, will be retired this year. The latest flight was the last to carry a Japanese astronaut into space.
初飛行から約３０年のシャトルは年内で退役する。今回は、日本人として最後の搭乗だった。
Yamazaki assumed a heavy responsibility as a loadmaster charged with delivering supplies to the ISS, as well as conducting experiments to culture rat muscle cells and study the effect of the zero-gravity atmosphere on the cells.
山崎さんは物資輸送の責任者という重責を担い、ネズミの筋肉細胞を育てて無重力の影響を調べるといった実験にも携わった。
She even managed to find the time to put on a kimono and play the koto while she was in orbit.
和服姿や琴の演奏を披露するなどパフォーマンスも次々こなした。
===
Calls for review growing
What does Japan hope to achieve in space? Japan has long considered its involvement in the international partnership behind the ISS to be a central pillar of its manned space activity. But recently, calls for a review of this policy have been getting louder.
こうした努力の先に何を目指すのか。日本は、ステーションでの国際協力を有人宇宙活動の柱に位置づけてきたが、見直しを求める声が出ている。
A typical example is the proposal compiled this week by a panel of experts for Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Minister Seiji Maehara, who is in charge of space development. The panel recommended the government reexamine the benefits of the current space development program.
代表例が、前原国土交通相（宇宙開発担当）の有識者会議が今週まとめた提言だ。改めて計画のメリットを検討すべきだという。
Japan has attached great importance to being part of the international team involved with the ISS, primarily because it is more efficient--in both money and time--than singlehandedly developing a manned craft for space exploration. The government believed this strategy would provide valuable experience in space activities.
日本がステーションを重視してきたのは、独自に有人宇宙船を開発して宇宙を目指すより、費用と時間がかからないためだ。効率良く経験を積めると考えた。
Even so, Japan spends 40 billion yen on ISS-related activities, out of the annual 200 billion yen budget for the space program, excluding national security-related expenses.
それでも、安全保障関連を除く日本の年間宇宙予算２０００億円のうち、ステーション関連は４００億円にのぼる。
Yet there have so far been only a few space experiments that have eventually led to discoveries that can have an industrial application. Applications to conduct tests using the Kibo experiment module--now part of the space station--have only trickled in.
だが、宇宙実験が産業化につながった例はまだ少ない。日本の宇宙実験棟「きぼう」を使う実験を募っても応募は低調だ。
The panel's proposal has been worked out based on these realities. The proposal did not rule out that Japan might withdraw from the ISS program in the future, and suggested that this budget could then be diverted to satellite development or other projects.
提言は、こうした実態を踏まえている。将来的にステーションから撤退し、予算を人工衛星開発などに充てることも視野に置く。
===
U.S. sets new goals
The new space strategy announced this spring by the United States, a leading power in space development, has added to the pressure on Japan to review its space program.
宇宙開発大国の米国が今春、新たな宇宙戦略を打ち出したことも日本に計画再考を迫っている。
The U.S. government has decided to entrust the private sector with developing manned spacecraft to replace the space shuttles, and canceled the manned lunar exploration that had been a recent pet project in Washington.
米政府は、シャトル退役後の有人宇宙船は民間に開発を任せ、これまで主要な目標に掲げてきた月の有人探査を取りやめた。
The new goal is manned exploration to Mars in the 2030s. The United States also decided to extend the operation of the ISS by five years until 2020.
新たな目標は２０３０年代の有人火星探査だが、同時にステーションの運用を２０年まで５年間延長した。
Accordingly, the international agreement concerning operation of the space station, which is good until 2015, will be extended by five years. Will Japan join the extended program?
ステーション運用に関する１５年までの国際協定も延長されるが、日本は従来通り、これに加わるのか。
Russia is now the only nation that can provide manned transport of equipment and supplies to the ISS for the time being. But will the cost of these missions increase as a result?
有人輸送は当面、ロシアに頼るが、その分費用は増えないか。
Should Japan pull out of the ISS, the country will lag behind in space development. Japan must make some difficult choices.
撤退すれば世界の動きから取り残されてしまう。日本は極めて難しい選択を迫られることになる。
The current administration, however, has not held a single meeting of the space development strategy headquarters of the Prime Minister's Office, which is supposed to be the control tower on the matter. This is quite irresponsible.
しかし、現政権は、総合司令塔であるべき首相官邸の宇宙開発戦略本部の会合さえ全く開いていない。無責任だろう。
We hope the administration will become more constructively involved in this issue.
もっと前向きに取り組んでほしい。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 22, 2010)
（2010年4月22日01時19分 読売新聞）
Nation's space program faces many challenges
日本の宇宙開発 山崎さん活躍でも課題は多い（4月22日付・読売社説）
Astronaut Naoko Yamazaki has returned to Earth after completing her mission at the International Space Station.
国際宇宙ステーションから、任務を終えた山崎直子さんが帰還した。
Yamazaki is the first Japanese mother to have gone into space. After she returned, she was reunited with her husband and daughter, who supported her from Earth while she was on her 15-day mission aboard the space shuttle Discovery. We would like to thank Yamazaki for her sterling efforts.
日本で初のお母さん宇宙飛行士だ。１５日間のスペースシャトルの飛行中活躍を応援していた夫と長女も再会を喜んだ。まずは、お疲れ様と言いたい。
The space shuttle fleet, which has been in service for about 30 years, will be retired this year. The latest flight was the last to carry a Japanese astronaut into space.
初飛行から約３０年のシャトルは年内で退役する。今回は、日本人として最後の搭乗だった。
Yamazaki assumed a heavy responsibility as a loadmaster charged with delivering supplies to the ISS, as well as conducting experiments to culture rat muscle cells and study the effect of the zero-gravity atmosphere on the cells.
山崎さんは物資輸送の責任者という重責を担い、ネズミの筋肉細胞を育てて無重力の影響を調べるといった実験にも携わった。
She even managed to find the time to put on a kimono and play the koto while she was in orbit.
和服姿や琴の演奏を披露するなどパフォーマンスも次々こなした。
===
Calls for review growing
What does Japan hope to achieve in space? Japan has long considered its involvement in the international partnership behind the ISS to be a central pillar of its manned space activity. But recently, calls for a review of this policy have been getting louder.
こうした努力の先に何を目指すのか。日本は、ステーションでの国際協力を有人宇宙活動の柱に位置づけてきたが、見直しを求める声が出ている。
A typical example is the proposal compiled this week by a panel of experts for Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Minister Seiji Maehara, who is in charge of space development. The panel recommended the government reexamine the benefits of the current space development program.
代表例が、前原国土交通相（宇宙開発担当）の有識者会議が今週まとめた提言だ。改めて計画のメリットを検討すべきだという。
Japan has attached great importance to being part of the international team involved with the ISS, primarily because it is more efficient--in both money and time--than singlehandedly developing a manned craft for space exploration. The government believed this strategy would provide valuable experience in space activities.
日本がステーションを重視してきたのは、独自に有人宇宙船を開発して宇宙を目指すより、費用と時間がかからないためだ。効率良く経験を積めると考えた。
Even so, Japan spends 40 billion yen on ISS-related activities, out of the annual 200 billion yen budget for the space program, excluding national security-related expenses.
それでも、安全保障関連を除く日本の年間宇宙予算２０００億円のうち、ステーション関連は４００億円にのぼる。
Yet there have so far been only a few space experiments that have eventually led to discoveries that can have an industrial application. Applications to conduct tests using the Kibo experiment module--now part of the space station--have only trickled in.
だが、宇宙実験が産業化につながった例はまだ少ない。日本の宇宙実験棟「きぼう」を使う実験を募っても応募は低調だ。
The panel's proposal has been worked out based on these realities. The proposal did not rule out that Japan might withdraw from the ISS program in the future, and suggested that this budget could then be diverted to satellite development or other projects.
提言は、こうした実態を踏まえている。将来的にステーションから撤退し、予算を人工衛星開発などに充てることも視野に置く。
===
U.S. sets new goals
The new space strategy announced this spring by the United States, a leading power in space development, has added to the pressure on Japan to review its space program.
宇宙開発大国の米国が今春、新たな宇宙戦略を打ち出したことも日本に計画再考を迫っている。
The U.S. government has decided to entrust the private sector with developing manned spacecraft to replace the space shuttles, and canceled the manned lunar exploration that had been a recent pet project in Washington.
米政府は、シャトル退役後の有人宇宙船は民間に開発を任せ、これまで主要な目標に掲げてきた月の有人探査を取りやめた。
The new goal is manned exploration to Mars in the 2030s. The United States also decided to extend the operation of the ISS by five years until 2020.
新たな目標は２０３０年代の有人火星探査だが、同時にステーションの運用を２０年まで５年間延長した。
Accordingly, the international agreement concerning operation of the space station, which is good until 2015, will be extended by five years. Will Japan join the extended program?
ステーション運用に関する１５年までの国際協定も延長されるが、日本は従来通り、これに加わるのか。
Russia is now the only nation that can provide manned transport of equipment and supplies to the ISS for the time being. But will the cost of these missions increase as a result?
有人輸送は当面、ロシアに頼るが、その分費用は増えないか。
Should Japan pull out of the ISS, the country will lag behind in space development. Japan must make some difficult choices.
撤退すれば世界の動きから取り残されてしまう。日本は極めて難しい選択を迫られることになる。
The current administration, however, has not held a single meeting of the space development strategy headquarters of the Prime Minister's Office, which is supposed to be the control tower on the matter. This is quite irresponsible.
しかし、現政権は、総合司令塔であるべき首相官邸の宇宙開発戦略本部の会合さえ全く開いていない。無責任だろう。
We hope the administration will become more constructively involved in this issue.
もっと前向きに取り組んでほしい。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 22, 2010)
（2010年4月22日01時19分 読売新聞）
2010年04月22日
上海万博“盗作” 海外の知的財産を守る契機に
The Yomiuri Shimbun (Apr. 22, 2010)
China must protect intellectual property
上海万博“盗作” 海外の知的財産を守る契機に（4月21日付・読売社説）
In response to a rising chorus of accusatory voices from Hong Kong and Japan, organizers of the 2010 World Expo in Shanghai apparently had no choice but to suspend the use of the event's promotional theme song, which critics have said is plagiarized.
盗作だと指摘する声が香港や日本で高まったことで、一時、使用を停止せざるを得なかったということだろう。
The expo's secretariat took the step after it was pointed out that the official song for the event, which opens May 1, has a melody extremely similar to that of a song by Japanese singer-songwriter Mayo Okamoto, titled "Sono Mama no Kimi de Ite" (Stay the way you are).
５月１日に開幕する上海万博の公式ＰＲ曲が、シンガー・ソングライター、岡本真夜(まよ)さんの自作ヒット曲「そのままの君でいて」のメロディーに酷似している――。そう指摘された万博事務局の対応のことだ。
After soliciting works from the public to choose a promotional song for the exposition, the secretariat reportedly selected a piece submitted by a popular Chinese composer after screenings by experts.
中国では万博ＰＲ曲が一般公募され、専門家の審査を経たうえで中国人の人気作曲家による楽曲が選ばれたという。
After its release in China at the end of March, the song helped popularize and boost awareness of the exposition, partly because of a number of celebrities singing the song.
ＰＲ曲は、３月末に中国国内で発表され、有名タレントが歌ったことなどで、万博の人気盛り上げに一役買っていた。
===
It had a familiar ring
Some time later, however, messages began to be posted on the Internet, alleging that the piece was plagiarized.
ところが、しばらくして、インターネット上に盗作との書き込みが出始めた。
Apparently in a flurry, the exposition secretariat secretly contacted Okamoto's office in the middle of this month, asking for permission to use her work as an official PR song for the event.
これにあわてた万博事務局が今月中旬、水面下で岡本さんの所属事務所に接触し、公式のＰＲ曲として使用したいと、申請してきたという。
In response, Okamoto expressed her intention to accept the proposal. As a result, the organizers may once again use the PR song, but this time as Okamoto's work.
岡本さんはこの申し出を受諾する意向を明らかにした。この結果、ＰＲ曲は、岡本さんの楽曲として再登場する可能性が出てきた。
Details about how the song will be used reportedly will be finalized later. But the exposition secretariat must take procedures in line with international rules on creative works while taking into consideration Okamoto's intentions.
詳細な条件は今後、詰めるというが、万博事務局は、岡本さんの意向も踏まえ、著作物に関する国際的なルールに従って対応すべきである。
In China, production of goods bearing counterfeit brands as well as pirated music, films and game software is flourishing as a full-blown industry.
中国では、海外ブランド品の模倣品や音楽、映画、ゲームソフトなどを違法にコピーした「海賊版」作りが、ひとつの産業として成立するほど盛んだ。
Given this situation, Japan, the United States and European countries have been asking China to take effective measures to protect their intellectual property rights, such as through copyrights and patent rights. Following such requests, relevant legislation has been established to a certain degree, but as a matter of fact, it has proved barely effective.
日本や欧米諸国は、著作権や特許権などの知的財産権について、実効性ある保護策を中国に求めてきた。このため、法整備はある程度進んできたが、効果はほとんど上がっていないのが実態だ。
Even if one demands compensation for copyright infringement in a trial in China, one will be able to win only a minimum amount of money, a pattern that apparently fails to deter infringement of intellectual property.
著作権の侵害で損害賠償を求めても、裁判で取れる補償金は少額で歯止めにならない。
===
China should fall into step
In addition, because creators in China, such as lyricists and composers, do not receive sufficient reward for their own works, they are believed to have little sense of guilt in copying other people's works.
作詞、作曲家らの創作者も十分に利益を得ているとは言えず、他人の作品をまねることに罪悪感は薄いとも言われる。
In the latest plagiarism dispute, however, the Chinese side in effect admitted it was at fault, an extremely rare step taken by the country.
しかし、今回の盗作騒ぎでは、事実上、中国側が非を認めた形だ。
We assume the authorities in China finally found it impossible to ignore the rising public voices against the alleged plagiarism because the exposition is an international event.
極めて異例の対応で、万博が国際的な催しであることから、盗作との指摘を無視できなくなったのではないか。
The Shanghai Expo will be held under the theme of "Better city, better life." Through the event, China is trying to publicize its economic development and boost its image.
上海万博は「より良い都市、より良い生活」がテーマだ。中国は経済発展をアピールし、イメージアップを狙っている。
If that is the case, the country also needs to more seriously tackle the protection of intellectual property rights and bring its system into conformity with common practices in the rest of the world.
そうであるなら、知的財産権の保護についても、世界の常識に沿うよう、より真剣に取り組まなければならない。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 21, 2010)
（2010年4月21日01時43分 読売新聞）
China must protect intellectual property
上海万博“盗作” 海外の知的財産を守る契機に（4月21日付・読売社説）
In response to a rising chorus of accusatory voices from Hong Kong and Japan, organizers of the 2010 World Expo in Shanghai apparently had no choice but to suspend the use of the event's promotional theme song, which critics have said is plagiarized.
盗作だと指摘する声が香港や日本で高まったことで、一時、使用を停止せざるを得なかったということだろう。
The expo's secretariat took the step after it was pointed out that the official song for the event, which opens May 1, has a melody extremely similar to that of a song by Japanese singer-songwriter Mayo Okamoto, titled "Sono Mama no Kimi de Ite" (Stay the way you are).
５月１日に開幕する上海万博の公式ＰＲ曲が、シンガー・ソングライター、岡本真夜(まよ)さんの自作ヒット曲「そのままの君でいて」のメロディーに酷似している――。そう指摘された万博事務局の対応のことだ。
After soliciting works from the public to choose a promotional song for the exposition, the secretariat reportedly selected a piece submitted by a popular Chinese composer after screenings by experts.
中国では万博ＰＲ曲が一般公募され、専門家の審査を経たうえで中国人の人気作曲家による楽曲が選ばれたという。
After its release in China at the end of March, the song helped popularize and boost awareness of the exposition, partly because of a number of celebrities singing the song.
ＰＲ曲は、３月末に中国国内で発表され、有名タレントが歌ったことなどで、万博の人気盛り上げに一役買っていた。
===
It had a familiar ring
Some time later, however, messages began to be posted on the Internet, alleging that the piece was plagiarized.
ところが、しばらくして、インターネット上に盗作との書き込みが出始めた。
Apparently in a flurry, the exposition secretariat secretly contacted Okamoto's office in the middle of this month, asking for permission to use her work as an official PR song for the event.
これにあわてた万博事務局が今月中旬、水面下で岡本さんの所属事務所に接触し、公式のＰＲ曲として使用したいと、申請してきたという。
In response, Okamoto expressed her intention to accept the proposal. As a result, the organizers may once again use the PR song, but this time as Okamoto's work.
岡本さんはこの申し出を受諾する意向を明らかにした。この結果、ＰＲ曲は、岡本さんの楽曲として再登場する可能性が出てきた。
Details about how the song will be used reportedly will be finalized later. But the exposition secretariat must take procedures in line with international rules on creative works while taking into consideration Okamoto's intentions.
詳細な条件は今後、詰めるというが、万博事務局は、岡本さんの意向も踏まえ、著作物に関する国際的なルールに従って対応すべきである。
In China, production of goods bearing counterfeit brands as well as pirated music, films and game software is flourishing as a full-blown industry.
中国では、海外ブランド品の模倣品や音楽、映画、ゲームソフトなどを違法にコピーした「海賊版」作りが、ひとつの産業として成立するほど盛んだ。
Given this situation, Japan, the United States and European countries have been asking China to take effective measures to protect their intellectual property rights, such as through copyrights and patent rights. Following such requests, relevant legislation has been established to a certain degree, but as a matter of fact, it has proved barely effective.
日本や欧米諸国は、著作権や特許権などの知的財産権について、実効性ある保護策を中国に求めてきた。このため、法整備はある程度進んできたが、効果はほとんど上がっていないのが実態だ。
Even if one demands compensation for copyright infringement in a trial in China, one will be able to win only a minimum amount of money, a pattern that apparently fails to deter infringement of intellectual property.
著作権の侵害で損害賠償を求めても、裁判で取れる補償金は少額で歯止めにならない。
===
China should fall into step
In addition, because creators in China, such as lyricists and composers, do not receive sufficient reward for their own works, they are believed to have little sense of guilt in copying other people's works.
作詞、作曲家らの創作者も十分に利益を得ているとは言えず、他人の作品をまねることに罪悪感は薄いとも言われる。
In the latest plagiarism dispute, however, the Chinese side in effect admitted it was at fault, an extremely rare step taken by the country.
しかし、今回の盗作騒ぎでは、事実上、中国側が非を認めた形だ。
We assume the authorities in China finally found it impossible to ignore the rising public voices against the alleged plagiarism because the exposition is an international event.
極めて異例の対応で、万博が国際的な催しであることから、盗作との指摘を無視できなくなったのではないか。
The Shanghai Expo will be held under the theme of "Better city, better life." Through the event, China is trying to publicize its economic development and boost its image.
上海万博は「より良い都市、より良い生活」がテーマだ。中国は経済発展をアピールし、イメージアップを狙っている。
If that is the case, the country also needs to more seriously tackle the protection of intellectual property rights and bring its system into conformity with common practices in the rest of the world.
そうであるなら、知的財産権の保護についても、世界の常識に沿うよう、より真剣に取り組まなければならない。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 21, 2010)
（2010年4月21日01時43分 読売新聞）
2010年04月21日
創新党旗揚げ 首長連合らしい具体策を示せ
The Yomiuri Shimbun (Apr. 21, 2010)
New party must propose concrete policies for nation
創新党旗揚げ 首長連合らしい具体策を示せ（4月20日付・読売社説）
Another new party aiming to become the third major political force in the Diet has been formed, reflecting disappointment and frustration toward the Democratic Party of Japan and the Liberal Democratic Party, this country's two leading political parties.
民主、自民２大政党への失望や不満を背景に、第３極をめざす新党が、またも誕生した。
Current and former heads of local governments--including Hiroshi Yamada, mayor of Tokyo's Suginami Ward, and Hiroshi Nakada, a former mayor of Yokohama--have formed Nippon Soshinto (party aiming to create a new Japan).
山田宏・東京都杉並区長、中田宏・前横浜市長ら自治体の首長と首長経験者が、「日本創新党」を結成した。
Nippon Soshinto is led by Yamada, who has expressed a strong sense of crisis concerning the current political situation in this country.
"Japan will collapse if things remain as they are," Yamada said.
党首に就任した山田氏は、「このままでは日本が崩壊する」と述べ、政治の現状に対する強い危機感を表明した。
He criticized the economic policy of Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama's Cabinet, saying it lacks cost-consciousness and management sense.
Yamada also said the Hatoyama Cabinet is shaking up the Japan-U.S. security alliance and upsetting the peace by brandishing empty ideals.
鳩山内閣の経済政策については「コスト意識と経営感覚が欠落している」と批判、外交政策も「空想的な理念を振りかざして日米同盟を揺るがし、平和を攪乱(かくらん)している」と厳しく指摘した。
===
Critical of DPJ despite ties
As both Yamada and Nakada are former members of the defunct Japan New Party, they have close ties with members of the DPJ. As a result, a recently formed alliance of local government chiefs supporting the new party includes many former DPJ members, including Saitama Gov. Kiyoshi Ueda.
山田、中田両氏は旧日本新党出身で、人脈的には民主党に近い。新党を支援する「首長応援連合」にも、上田清司・埼玉県知事ら民主党出身の首長が名を連ねる。
However, Yamada and the others--who could be expected to support the DPJ--have instead started a new party and are criticizing DPJ policies. This indicates how frustrated they are with the current administration's management of national politics.
本来なら民主党を支援してよいはずの山田氏らが新党を旗揚げして、民主党の政策を批判していることは、現政権の政治運営に対する不満の強さを示すものだ。
Although regional economies are sluggish, the DPJ-led government considers public investment to be villainous and has frozen even projects necessary for local communities. It also has not yet finalized the details of its promised child-rearing allowances, although time is running short before local governments are scheduled to begin distributing the allowances in June.
地方経済が疲弊しているにもかかわらず、公共投資を罪悪視し、地元が必要とする事業を凍結してしまう。子ども手当は、６月の支給事務開始を目前にして、いまだに細部が詰まっていない。
Local government heads are supporting the new party apparently due to their strong reaction to such negligence toward local governments. The DPJ should take their criticism seriously.
地方の首長が、創新党の支援に駆けつけたのも、こうした地方軽視の政治への反発によるものだろう。民主党は、批判に真摯(しんし)に耳を傾けるべきだ。
However, the LDP also cannot afford to stay on the sidelines. A spate of new parties has been formed because the main opposition LDP lacks the aggressiveness to take power back from the ruling party and has failed to capitalize on criticism of the DPJ.
自民党も、他人(ひと)事(ごと)ではいられない。「反民主」を掲げる新党の結成が相次ぐのは、最大野党の自民党が、政権奪還の気迫を欠いて、民主党批判の受け皿になり得ていないからだ。
The LDP also must appreciate the grave fact that local government heads are rejecting the current management of national politics.
地方の首長から国政にノーを突き付けられた重みを、自民党も受け止めなければならない。
===
Clear policies required
If Soshinto is aiming to be part of national politics, it must propose concrete solutions to various problems both within and outside this country. If it is concerned about the possible bankruptcy of the national government, it must state by how many percentage points the consumption tax rate needs to be raised.
It should also clarify one of the key policies named in the new party's basic philosophies--"self-reliance of the nation" is ambiguous. How is this different from the "fifty-fifty relationship" between Japan and the United States sought by the DPJ?
創新党は、国政進出をめざす以上、内外の諸課題について具体論を提示することが求められる。
財政破綻(はたん)を憂えるなら、消費税率は、どの程度引き上げる必要があると考えるのか。基本理念に掲げる「国家の自立」は、意味があいまいだ。民主党の言う「対等な日米関係」とどう違うのか。
Also, the self-reliance of local governments mentioned in the basic philosophies sounds similar to the regional sovereignty advocated by the DPJ. Soshinto will be able to fully capitalize on its strengths only when the party makes detailed proposals on decentralization, based on its members' administrative experience as heads of local governments.
「地方の自立」も、民主党が唱える「地域主権」に似通った主張に受け取れる。首長としての行政経験に裏打ちされた、地方分権の具体的なアイデアを示してこそ、創新党の持ち味を発揮することができよう。
Soshinto members must present their policies and help deepen discussions in the Diet so they will not be criticized as forming a new party just to hold the deciding votes in the Diet.
単なるキャスチングボート狙いの新党結成と言われぬよう、政策を高く掲げ、論争を深める役割を果たしてほしい。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 20, 2010)
（2010年4月20日01時28分 読売新聞）
New party must propose concrete policies for nation
創新党旗揚げ 首長連合らしい具体策を示せ（4月20日付・読売社説）
Another new party aiming to become the third major political force in the Diet has been formed, reflecting disappointment and frustration toward the Democratic Party of Japan and the Liberal Democratic Party, this country's two leading political parties.
民主、自民２大政党への失望や不満を背景に、第３極をめざす新党が、またも誕生した。
Current and former heads of local governments--including Hiroshi Yamada, mayor of Tokyo's Suginami Ward, and Hiroshi Nakada, a former mayor of Yokohama--have formed Nippon Soshinto (party aiming to create a new Japan).
山田宏・東京都杉並区長、中田宏・前横浜市長ら自治体の首長と首長経験者が、「日本創新党」を結成した。
Nippon Soshinto is led by Yamada, who has expressed a strong sense of crisis concerning the current political situation in this country.
"Japan will collapse if things remain as they are," Yamada said.
党首に就任した山田氏は、「このままでは日本が崩壊する」と述べ、政治の現状に対する強い危機感を表明した。
He criticized the economic policy of Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama's Cabinet, saying it lacks cost-consciousness and management sense.
Yamada also said the Hatoyama Cabinet is shaking up the Japan-U.S. security alliance and upsetting the peace by brandishing empty ideals.
鳩山内閣の経済政策については「コスト意識と経営感覚が欠落している」と批判、外交政策も「空想的な理念を振りかざして日米同盟を揺るがし、平和を攪乱(かくらん)している」と厳しく指摘した。
===
Critical of DPJ despite ties
As both Yamada and Nakada are former members of the defunct Japan New Party, they have close ties with members of the DPJ. As a result, a recently formed alliance of local government chiefs supporting the new party includes many former DPJ members, including Saitama Gov. Kiyoshi Ueda.
山田、中田両氏は旧日本新党出身で、人脈的には民主党に近い。新党を支援する「首長応援連合」にも、上田清司・埼玉県知事ら民主党出身の首長が名を連ねる。
However, Yamada and the others--who could be expected to support the DPJ--have instead started a new party and are criticizing DPJ policies. This indicates how frustrated they are with the current administration's management of national politics.
本来なら民主党を支援してよいはずの山田氏らが新党を旗揚げして、民主党の政策を批判していることは、現政権の政治運営に対する不満の強さを示すものだ。
Although regional economies are sluggish, the DPJ-led government considers public investment to be villainous and has frozen even projects necessary for local communities. It also has not yet finalized the details of its promised child-rearing allowances, although time is running short before local governments are scheduled to begin distributing the allowances in June.
地方経済が疲弊しているにもかかわらず、公共投資を罪悪視し、地元が必要とする事業を凍結してしまう。子ども手当は、６月の支給事務開始を目前にして、いまだに細部が詰まっていない。
Local government heads are supporting the new party apparently due to their strong reaction to such negligence toward local governments. The DPJ should take their criticism seriously.
地方の首長が、創新党の支援に駆けつけたのも、こうした地方軽視の政治への反発によるものだろう。民主党は、批判に真摯(しんし)に耳を傾けるべきだ。
However, the LDP also cannot afford to stay on the sidelines. A spate of new parties has been formed because the main opposition LDP lacks the aggressiveness to take power back from the ruling party and has failed to capitalize on criticism of the DPJ.
自民党も、他人(ひと)事(ごと)ではいられない。「反民主」を掲げる新党の結成が相次ぐのは、最大野党の自民党が、政権奪還の気迫を欠いて、民主党批判の受け皿になり得ていないからだ。
The LDP also must appreciate the grave fact that local government heads are rejecting the current management of national politics.
地方の首長から国政にノーを突き付けられた重みを、自民党も受け止めなければならない。
===
Clear policies required
If Soshinto is aiming to be part of national politics, it must propose concrete solutions to various problems both within and outside this country. If it is concerned about the possible bankruptcy of the national government, it must state by how many percentage points the consumption tax rate needs to be raised.
It should also clarify one of the key policies named in the new party's basic philosophies--"self-reliance of the nation" is ambiguous. How is this different from the "fifty-fifty relationship" between Japan and the United States sought by the DPJ?
創新党は、国政進出をめざす以上、内外の諸課題について具体論を提示することが求められる。
財政破綻(はたん)を憂えるなら、消費税率は、どの程度引き上げる必要があると考えるのか。基本理念に掲げる「国家の自立」は、意味があいまいだ。民主党の言う「対等な日米関係」とどう違うのか。
Also, the self-reliance of local governments mentioned in the basic philosophies sounds similar to the regional sovereignty advocated by the DPJ. Soshinto will be able to fully capitalize on its strengths only when the party makes detailed proposals on decentralization, based on its members' administrative experience as heads of local governments.
「地方の自立」も、民主党が唱える「地域主権」に似通った主張に受け取れる。首長としての行政経験に裏打ちされた、地方分権の具体的なアイデアを示してこそ、創新党の持ち味を発揮することができよう。
Soshinto members must present their policies and help deepen discussions in the Diet so they will not be criticized as forming a new party just to hold the deciding votes in the Diet.
単なるキャスチングボート狙いの新党結成と言われぬよう、政策を高く掲げ、論争を深める役割を果たしてほしい。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 20, 2010)
（2010年4月20日01時28分 読売新聞）
2010年04月20日
海外美術品展示 国家補償制度は検討に値する
The Yomiuri Shimbun (Apr. 20, 2010)
State backup needed to open art doors
海外美術品展示 国家補償制度は検討に値する（4月19日付・読売社説）
Museums, regardless of their size or location, are often crowded with visitors on the weekend. Many people will go on museum tours during the holiday-studded Golden Week starting late this month.
週末ともなれば、各地の美術館は、その規模の大小を問わず入場者でにぎわいを見せる。大型連休には、美術館巡りを楽しみにしている人も多いことだろう。
Exhibitions of foreign masterpieces, which are rarely available to the general public here, are magnets for huge crowds. An incredible 1.47 million visitors took in the Louvre Museum exhibitions held last year at the National Museum of Western Art and elsewhere.
日頃接することの出来ない海外の名作を集めた企画展にも人気が集まる。昨年、国立西洋美術館などで開かれたルーヴル美術館展の入場者は１４７万人を数えた。
Introducing outstanding foreign artwork to a wide spectrum of the population helps foster a rich cultural environment. But it requires painstaking negotiations with foreign museums before they will consent to loaning the precious exhibits under their care.
優れた海外の作品が広く国民に紹介されることで、豊かな文化環境も育まれるに違いない。
しかし、作品を所蔵する外国の美術館に対してねばり強く交渉を重ね、貸し出しの同意をとりつけるのは大変な作業だ。
Japanese museums have fewer works that are worthy of being loaned in exchange for foreign art pieces. Furthermore, their location far from Europe and the United States also counts against them.
日本の美術館には、交換条件として貸し出せるような、相手国にとって魅力のある作品は少ない。欧米から地理的に遠いことも弱点となっている。
===
Joint sponsorships
Many Japanese museums lack the financial muscle and staff numbers of many of their U.S. and European counterparts. This makes it very difficult to singlehandedly organize and hold an art exhibition of a collection of foreign works in one place. Because of this, museums often turn to newspapers or TV networks--with their extremely public nature and established negotiation channels--to jointly sponsor such exhibitions.
運営資金や職員数で欧米に劣る日本の美術館が、単独で海外の作品を一堂に集めて紹介する美術展を開くのは、簡単ではない。公共性があり、交渉ルートも持っている新聞社やテレビ局との共催事業として行われる例が多い。
These partnerships have forged a strong track record of bringing quality artwork to Japan and add credibility to the exhibitions.
こうした共催事業は、実績と信用を積み重ねてきた。
But the government could be doing more to help grease the wheels of negotiation on the loaning of national-treasure class works. One such step would be guaranteeing state compensation if any loaned work is stolen or accidentally damaged.
しかし、事故や盗難にあった場合の国家補償を約束するのであれば、国宝級の作品などを借りる交渉の上でも大きな支えとなる。
This would also resolve the problem of the huge insurance premiums that museums must pay to borrow foreign masterpieces, an expense that can often derail planned exhibitions.
高額な保険金が作品を借りる上での障害にもなっていたが、その問題も解消される。
In its recommendation adopted in 1978 concerning the protection of movable cultural property, UNESCO showed its awareness of this point when it referred to the importance of ensuring state compensation for works of art.
国連教育・科学・文化機関（ユネスコ）が１９７８年に採択した文化財保護のための勧告の中で、美術品の国家補償制度の重要性に言及したのも、こうした意義を踏まえてのことだろう。
===
Lagging behind
The Cultural Affairs Agency is indeed contemplating introducing a state compensation system.
文化庁も、この国家補償制度の導入を検討している。
Among the Group of Eight major powers, only Japan and Russia have yet to adopt such a system. The United States introduced a compensation system in 1975. Since then, it has approved about 40 exhibitions annually to be protected with state compensation. As of just recently, compensation totalling the equivalent of about 10 million yen had reportedly been paid in two cases.
主要８か国（Ｇ８）の中で、国家補償制度を導入していないのは日本とロシアだけだ。
例えば米国では、７５年に制度を導入して以来、年間約４０件の展覧会を国家補償の対象として認定してきた。最近までに補償された事例は２件で、合わせて約１０００万円相当が支払われたという。
Of course, exhibition organizers themselves must primarily bear the responsibility of paying for any damage that might occur to borrowed works. The scope of exhibitions subject to state compensation must be screened strictly. A ceiling must be set on the amount of compensation, too.
無論、作品を借り入れるに当たって、美術展の主催者が一義的にリスクを負担するのは、当然だろう。国家補償の対象となる事業は厳選されなければならない。補償限度額も設けるべきだ。
The introduction of a state compensation system, which would reassure overseas museums that loaning their treasures will not cost them anything, would likely increase opportunities for the Japanese public to see highly artistic works from overseas with their own eyes. It could even become a new cultural promotion measure.
貸出先に安心を与える国家補償制度の導入は、国民が海外の質の高い美術作品に触れる機会を増やすことになるだろう。それは新しい文化振興策にもなる。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 19, 2010)
（2010年4月19日01時11分 読売新聞）
State backup needed to open art doors
海外美術品展示 国家補償制度は検討に値する（4月19日付・読売社説）
Museums, regardless of their size or location, are often crowded with visitors on the weekend. Many people will go on museum tours during the holiday-studded Golden Week starting late this month.
週末ともなれば、各地の美術館は、その規模の大小を問わず入場者でにぎわいを見せる。大型連休には、美術館巡りを楽しみにしている人も多いことだろう。
Exhibitions of foreign masterpieces, which are rarely available to the general public here, are magnets for huge crowds. An incredible 1.47 million visitors took in the Louvre Museum exhibitions held last year at the National Museum of Western Art and elsewhere.
日頃接することの出来ない海外の名作を集めた企画展にも人気が集まる。昨年、国立西洋美術館などで開かれたルーヴル美術館展の入場者は１４７万人を数えた。
Introducing outstanding foreign artwork to a wide spectrum of the population helps foster a rich cultural environment. But it requires painstaking negotiations with foreign museums before they will consent to loaning the precious exhibits under their care.
優れた海外の作品が広く国民に紹介されることで、豊かな文化環境も育まれるに違いない。
しかし、作品を所蔵する外国の美術館に対してねばり強く交渉を重ね、貸し出しの同意をとりつけるのは大変な作業だ。
Japanese museums have fewer works that are worthy of being loaned in exchange for foreign art pieces. Furthermore, their location far from Europe and the United States also counts against them.
日本の美術館には、交換条件として貸し出せるような、相手国にとって魅力のある作品は少ない。欧米から地理的に遠いことも弱点となっている。
===
Joint sponsorships
Many Japanese museums lack the financial muscle and staff numbers of many of their U.S. and European counterparts. This makes it very difficult to singlehandedly organize and hold an art exhibition of a collection of foreign works in one place. Because of this, museums often turn to newspapers or TV networks--with their extremely public nature and established negotiation channels--to jointly sponsor such exhibitions.
運営資金や職員数で欧米に劣る日本の美術館が、単独で海外の作品を一堂に集めて紹介する美術展を開くのは、簡単ではない。公共性があり、交渉ルートも持っている新聞社やテレビ局との共催事業として行われる例が多い。
These partnerships have forged a strong track record of bringing quality artwork to Japan and add credibility to the exhibitions.
こうした共催事業は、実績と信用を積み重ねてきた。
But the government could be doing more to help grease the wheels of negotiation on the loaning of national-treasure class works. One such step would be guaranteeing state compensation if any loaned work is stolen or accidentally damaged.
しかし、事故や盗難にあった場合の国家補償を約束するのであれば、国宝級の作品などを借りる交渉の上でも大きな支えとなる。
This would also resolve the problem of the huge insurance premiums that museums must pay to borrow foreign masterpieces, an expense that can often derail planned exhibitions.
高額な保険金が作品を借りる上での障害にもなっていたが、その問題も解消される。
In its recommendation adopted in 1978 concerning the protection of movable cultural property, UNESCO showed its awareness of this point when it referred to the importance of ensuring state compensation for works of art.
国連教育・科学・文化機関（ユネスコ）が１９７８年に採択した文化財保護のための勧告の中で、美術品の国家補償制度の重要性に言及したのも、こうした意義を踏まえてのことだろう。
===
Lagging behind
The Cultural Affairs Agency is indeed contemplating introducing a state compensation system.
文化庁も、この国家補償制度の導入を検討している。
Among the Group of Eight major powers, only Japan and Russia have yet to adopt such a system. The United States introduced a compensation system in 1975. Since then, it has approved about 40 exhibitions annually to be protected with state compensation. As of just recently, compensation totalling the equivalent of about 10 million yen had reportedly been paid in two cases.
主要８か国（Ｇ８）の中で、国家補償制度を導入していないのは日本とロシアだけだ。
例えば米国では、７５年に制度を導入して以来、年間約４０件の展覧会を国家補償の対象として認定してきた。最近までに補償された事例は２件で、合わせて約１０００万円相当が支払われたという。
Of course, exhibition organizers themselves must primarily bear the responsibility of paying for any damage that might occur to borrowed works. The scope of exhibitions subject to state compensation must be screened strictly. A ceiling must be set on the amount of compensation, too.
無論、作品を借り入れるに当たって、美術展の主催者が一義的にリスクを負担するのは、当然だろう。国家補償の対象となる事業は厳選されなければならない。補償限度額も設けるべきだ。
The introduction of a state compensation system, which would reassure overseas museums that loaning their treasures will not cost them anything, would likely increase opportunities for the Japanese public to see highly artistic works from overseas with their own eyes. It could even become a new cultural promotion measure.
貸出先に安心を与える国家補償制度の導入は、国民が海外の質の高い美術作品に触れる機会を増やすことになるだろう。それは新しい文化振興策にもなる。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 19, 2010)
（2010年4月19日01時11分 読売新聞）
2010年04月19日
国連公開討論会 平和構築へ人的支援の拡充を
The Yomiuri Shimbun (Apr. 19, 2010)
Govt should up physical peace-building support
国連公開討論会 平和構築へ人的支援の拡充を（4月18日付・読売社説）
It is important that the international community provide support without interruption to strife-hit countries until regional conflicts, including civil war, end and peace settles.
内戦など地域紛争が終結した後も、当事国に平和が定着するまで、国際社会が切れ目なく支援することが重要だ。
Japan should, first and foremost, increase its physical support for peace-building activities, which apparently compares poorly with that offered by other countries, if the government is to call for expanding assistance to conflict-torn countries.
こうした支援の拡充を日本として呼びかけるなら、まず、他国に比べ見劣りする人的支援を増やすべきだろう。
Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada chaired a U.N. Security Council open meeting on peace-building in New York on Friday.
岡田外相が訪米し、国連安全保障理事会の公開討論会の議長役を務めた。
Open debates, in which U.N. member countries other than Security Council members can also participate, are held one to three times a month. The Security Council president can select some of the topics to be discussed and Japan, the rotating president this month, chose "postconflict peace-building" as the theme.
安保理メンバー以外の国連加盟国も参加できる公開討論会は、月に１〜３回程度のペースで開かれている。一部討論のテーマは安保理の議長の裁量で設定でき、今月が議長の日本が選んだのは、「紛争後の平和構築」である。
===
Risk of reversion to conflict
Conflict-ravaged countries, including Afghanistan and Somalia, share a common trait in the fragility of their newly established governments, a situation that continues even after an antiterrorism war or civil war comes to an end. As a result, the reconstruction process in such countries is unable to get solidly on track, resulting in a reversion to conflict.
アフガニスタンやソマリアなどの破綻(はたん)国家に共通するのは、対テロ戦争や内戦がいったん終結しても、その後に樹立した政府の基盤が脆弱(ぜいじゃく)なことだ。この結果、復興プロセスが軌道に乗らず、再び紛争状態に逆戻りしている。
To have peace firmly take root, it is critical that the international community uninterruptedly provide support, including emergency humanitarian assistance in the beginning, followed by peacekeeping operations to restore security and development assistance to reduce poverty.
平和をしっかりと根づかせるには、初動の緊急人道支援から、治安回復のための平和維持活動（ＰＫＯ）、貧困を減らす開発援助まで、国際社会の支援が途切れないことが肝要となる。
In the open debate, Okada stressed the importance of a comprehensive strategy that organically coordinates each country's support measures, including peacekeeping operations to ensure security. He apparently wants Japan to play a leading role by actively committing to crafting the peace-building strategy.
岡田外相も討論で、ＰＫＯによる治安確保を含め、各国の支援策を有機的に連携させる「包括的な戦略」の重要性を強調した。戦略づくりに積極的に関与し、この分野で指導的な役割を果たしたいと外相は考えているのだろう。
To this end, Japan needs to further strengthen the physical support it provides for peace-building activities.
そのためにも、日本は人的支援を一段と強化する必要がある。
Until recently, participation in peacekeeping operations by the Self-Defense Forces was limited to 39 personnel in the Golan Heights in the Middle East and elsewhere. About 350 Ground Self-Defense Force members were urgently dispatched to earthquake-devastated Haiti to engage in a humanitarian reconstruction, but that mission lasts only for six months. Civilians currently dispatched overseas total only 23, and no police officers are included.
ＰＫＯへの自衛隊の参加は、つい最近まで中東のゴラン高原などへの３９人にとどまっていた。ハイチ地震で陸上自衛隊約３５０人を急派したが、これも当面半年間の措置だ。文民の派遣も現在は２３人で、警察官に至ってはゼロだ。
Other than utilizing the SDF for peacekeeping operations, the government also should discuss measures to boost police officers and civilians to be dispatched for peace-building.
政府は、ＰＫＯへの自衛隊の活用は無論、警察官や文民の派遣増員策も検討すべきである。
===
Addressing Afghan shortcomings
In particular, Japan significantly lags behind other countries in its assistance to Afghanistan.
特に他国との差が著しいのが、アフガニスタンへの支援だ。
Forty-four countries, including the United States and European nations, have dispatched nearly 90,000 personnel to join the International Security and Assistance Force, which stands at the forefront of maintaining security in war-torn Afghanistan. Of those countries, 14 also have sent many police officers and civilians to Afghanistan as members of Provincial Reconstruction Teams engaged in activities to rebuild the country.
欧米など４４か国は、現地で治安維持の最前線に立つ国際治安支援部隊（ＩＳＡＦ）に計９万人近い部隊を派遣している。このうちの１４か国は、復興事業にあたる地方復興チーム（ＰＲＴ）にも警察官や文民を多数派遣している。
The Cabinet of Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama in January ended the Maritime Self-Defense Force's Indian Ocean antiterrorism refueling mission, which had enjoyed a highly favorable reputation among the countries concerned.
鳩山内閣は、各国から高い評価を得ていたインド洋での海上自衛隊の給油活動を終了させた。
Surely, Hatoyama does not think that peace can be built merely by giving other nations money.
「カネさえ出せば、平和を構築できる」と思っているわけではあるまい。
The government should seriously consider physical assistance measures to serve as an alternative to the discontinued refueling mission.
政府は、給油活動に代わる人的支援策を真剣に探るべきだ。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 18, 2010)
（2010年4月18日01時09分 読売新聞）
Govt should up physical peace-building support
国連公開討論会 平和構築へ人的支援の拡充を（4月18日付・読売社説）
It is important that the international community provide support without interruption to strife-hit countries until regional conflicts, including civil war, end and peace settles.
内戦など地域紛争が終結した後も、当事国に平和が定着するまで、国際社会が切れ目なく支援することが重要だ。
Japan should, first and foremost, increase its physical support for peace-building activities, which apparently compares poorly with that offered by other countries, if the government is to call for expanding assistance to conflict-torn countries.
こうした支援の拡充を日本として呼びかけるなら、まず、他国に比べ見劣りする人的支援を増やすべきだろう。
Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada chaired a U.N. Security Council open meeting on peace-building in New York on Friday.
岡田外相が訪米し、国連安全保障理事会の公開討論会の議長役を務めた。
Open debates, in which U.N. member countries other than Security Council members can also participate, are held one to three times a month. The Security Council president can select some of the topics to be discussed and Japan, the rotating president this month, chose "postconflict peace-building" as the theme.
安保理メンバー以外の国連加盟国も参加できる公開討論会は、月に１〜３回程度のペースで開かれている。一部討論のテーマは安保理の議長の裁量で設定でき、今月が議長の日本が選んだのは、「紛争後の平和構築」である。
===
Risk of reversion to conflict
Conflict-ravaged countries, including Afghanistan and Somalia, share a common trait in the fragility of their newly established governments, a situation that continues even after an antiterrorism war or civil war comes to an end. As a result, the reconstruction process in such countries is unable to get solidly on track, resulting in a reversion to conflict.
アフガニスタンやソマリアなどの破綻(はたん)国家に共通するのは、対テロ戦争や内戦がいったん終結しても、その後に樹立した政府の基盤が脆弱(ぜいじゃく)なことだ。この結果、復興プロセスが軌道に乗らず、再び紛争状態に逆戻りしている。
To have peace firmly take root, it is critical that the international community uninterruptedly provide support, including emergency humanitarian assistance in the beginning, followed by peacekeeping operations to restore security and development assistance to reduce poverty.
平和をしっかりと根づかせるには、初動の緊急人道支援から、治安回復のための平和維持活動（ＰＫＯ）、貧困を減らす開発援助まで、国際社会の支援が途切れないことが肝要となる。
In the open debate, Okada stressed the importance of a comprehensive strategy that organically coordinates each country's support measures, including peacekeeping operations to ensure security. He apparently wants Japan to play a leading role by actively committing to crafting the peace-building strategy.
岡田外相も討論で、ＰＫＯによる治安確保を含め、各国の支援策を有機的に連携させる「包括的な戦略」の重要性を強調した。戦略づくりに積極的に関与し、この分野で指導的な役割を果たしたいと外相は考えているのだろう。
To this end, Japan needs to further strengthen the physical support it provides for peace-building activities.
そのためにも、日本は人的支援を一段と強化する必要がある。
Until recently, participation in peacekeeping operations by the Self-Defense Forces was limited to 39 personnel in the Golan Heights in the Middle East and elsewhere. About 350 Ground Self-Defense Force members were urgently dispatched to earthquake-devastated Haiti to engage in a humanitarian reconstruction, but that mission lasts only for six months. Civilians currently dispatched overseas total only 23, and no police officers are included.
ＰＫＯへの自衛隊の参加は、つい最近まで中東のゴラン高原などへの３９人にとどまっていた。ハイチ地震で陸上自衛隊約３５０人を急派したが、これも当面半年間の措置だ。文民の派遣も現在は２３人で、警察官に至ってはゼロだ。
Other than utilizing the SDF for peacekeeping operations, the government also should discuss measures to boost police officers and civilians to be dispatched for peace-building.
政府は、ＰＫＯへの自衛隊の活用は無論、警察官や文民の派遣増員策も検討すべきである。
===
Addressing Afghan shortcomings
In particular, Japan significantly lags behind other countries in its assistance to Afghanistan.
特に他国との差が著しいのが、アフガニスタンへの支援だ。
Forty-four countries, including the United States and European nations, have dispatched nearly 90,000 personnel to join the International Security and Assistance Force, which stands at the forefront of maintaining security in war-torn Afghanistan. Of those countries, 14 also have sent many police officers and civilians to Afghanistan as members of Provincial Reconstruction Teams engaged in activities to rebuild the country.
欧米など４４か国は、現地で治安維持の最前線に立つ国際治安支援部隊（ＩＳＡＦ）に計９万人近い部隊を派遣している。このうちの１４か国は、復興事業にあたる地方復興チーム（ＰＲＴ）にも警察官や文民を多数派遣している。
The Cabinet of Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama in January ended the Maritime Self-Defense Force's Indian Ocean antiterrorism refueling mission, which had enjoyed a highly favorable reputation among the countries concerned.
鳩山内閣は、各国から高い評価を得ていたインド洋での海上自衛隊の給油活動を終了させた。
Surely, Hatoyama does not think that peace can be built merely by giving other nations money.
「カネさえ出せば、平和を構築できる」と思っているわけではあるまい。
The government should seriously consider physical assistance measures to serve as an alternative to the discontinued refueling mission.
政府は、給油活動に代わる人的支援策を真剣に探るべきだ。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 18, 2010)
（2010年4月18日01時09分 読売新聞）
2010年04月18日
消費税論議 首相が逃げては話が進まぬ
The Yomiuri Shimbun (Apr. 18, 2010)
Hatoyama must join consumption tax debate
消費税論議 首相が逃げては話が進まぬ（4月17日付・読売社説）
Leading members of Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama's Cabinet have recently spoken in favor of increasing the consumption tax rate. The Hatoyama administration should not let their remarks simply be gestures to attract voters' attention for the upcoming House of Councillors election in summer; it must lead the way toward full-scale debate aimed at actually increasing the tax.
鳩山内閣の主要閣僚から、消費税率の引き上げに前向きな発言が相次いでいる。夏の参院選をにらんだポーズに終わらせず、具体化に向けた本格的な議論につなげるべきだ。
It was Finance Minister Naoto Kan who first spoke on the issue.
口火を切ったのが菅財務相だ。
"As long as there are no problems with the way we use the increased revenue from a tax rate increase, the economy will improve," Kan said.
National Policy Minister Yoshito Sengoku made similar comments later.
"It'd be an insult to voters if we went into an election ignoring budget revenue reform," Sengoku stressed.
「増税しても使い道を間違えなければ景気がよくなる」と指摘し、仙谷国家戦略相も「歳入改革を掲げて選挙しなければ、国民に失礼だ」と強調する。
===
'Nation will go broke'
There is a subtle difference between Kan and Sengoku's arguments for a tax hike: Kan's top priority is fiscal action to help get this country out of its deflationary spiral, while Sengoku sees fiscal rehabilitation as his key concern.
デフレ脱却に向けた財政出動を念頭に置く菅氏、財政再建を重視する仙谷氏と、増税論の立場は微妙に異なる。
They share a sense of crisis, however: If the situation is left as it is, the economy will not recover and the nation's finances will starve to death, as it were. It was rather late in the day for Kan and Sengoku to take the bold step of arguing for drastic reform of tax revenues, including reform of the consumption tax system, but it was a natural action for ministers tasked with guarding the economy.
だが、このままでは景気は回復せず、財政が破綻(はたん)するとの危機感は共通する。両氏が消費税を含む税財政の抜本改革に踏み込んだのは遅きに失した感はあるが、経済担当閣僚として当然であろう。
In contrast, Hatoyama simply repeated he would not raise the consumption tax rate for four years while he heads the government during his current term as a member of the House of Representatives. The dominant opinion within Hatoyama's Democratic Party of Japan also is wishy-washy about a tax hike; the party feels the consumption tax rate should not be raised as it was not in the party's manifesto for the lower house election last year.
これに対し、鳩山首相は４年間の任期中、消費税を上げないと繰り返し、民主党内の大勢も「衆院選公約になかった消費税増税をすべきではない」と及び腰だ。
However, the government cannot get round an increase in the consumption tax rate if it wants to cover social security spending, which is increasing by 1 trillion yen annually, and rehabilitate the nation's finances at the same time.
しかし、年１兆円ずつ増える社会保障費を賄いつつ、財政を立て直すには消費税率の引き上げが避けて通れない。それは多くの国民が受け入れつつある。
Much of the public is coming to accept this, as clearly shown by the results of a March opinion poll by The Yomiuri Shimbun. In the survey, 66 percent of respondents said they approved of the government's decision to study the possibility of raising the consumption tax rate, well above the 28 percent who did not approve.
読売新聞が３月に実施した世論調査で、消費税について引き上げの検討を「評価する」とした回答が６６％にのぼり、「評価しない」の２８％を大きく上回ったことでも明らかだろう。
Economic organizations have also proposed a major increase in the consumption tax rate.
経済団体も消費税率の大幅な引き上げを提言している。
===
Don't evade discussion
Given this country's fiscal situation, it will be very difficult to suppress discussion of consumption tax reform. In the fiscal 2010 budget, tax revenue accounts for only 40 percent of the total expenditures of 92 trillion yen. The situation is truly critical.
わが国の財政事情は、消費税論議を封印できるほど甘くはない。２０１０年度予算は、９２兆円の歳出を賄う税収が４割しかない危機的な状況だ。
The combined public debt of the central and local governments is estimated to be 862 trillion yen at the end of fiscal 2010, or 181 percent of the estimated gross domestic product. This is in stark contrast to other major nations, whose percentages of public debts account for between 60 and 70 percent of their GDPs.
国と地方の債務残高は１０年度末で８６２兆円、国内総生産（ＧＤＰ）に対する割合は１８１％に達する。６０〜７０％にとどまる先進国の中では突出している。
The Hatoyama Cabinet is scheduled to come up with new policies on various economic issues by the end of June, including midterm fiscal targets, pension system reform and details of its new growth strategy. Whether these policies prove trustworthy will depend on whether the government can secure stable revenue sources. It has no hope of doing so without a consumption tax hike.
鳩山内閣は６月までに中期財政目標、年金制度改革、成長戦略など様々な経済テーマについて新方針を打ち出す。その内容が信頼に値するかどうかは、安定財源の確保にかかる。消費税抜きでは、それも期待できまい。
The government's Tax Commission has begun studying how to reform the consumption tax but has not yet started discussing whether the tax rate should be raised. It has just been waiting for politicians to decide what to do.
政府税制調査会も消費税の扱いについて検討を始めたが、引き上げの是非などには踏み込まず、政治の決断待ちの状態だ。
Opposition parties have criticized the Hatoyama Cabinet for "taking fiscal policy too lightly." Thus it is inevitable that the consumption tax issue will become a focal issue in the upper house election.
野党は鳩山内閣の姿勢を「財政軽視」と批判しており、消費税問題が参院選の争点に浮上するのは必至の情勢だ。
We hope Hatoyama will not look away from the consumption tax issue, but join in the debate openly and boldly.
鳩山首相は消費税から目をそらさず、堂々と論戦に臨んでほしい。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun,April 17, 2010)
（2010年4月17日01時30分 読売新聞）
Hatoyama must join consumption tax debate
消費税論議 首相が逃げては話が進まぬ（4月17日付・読売社説）
Leading members of Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama's Cabinet have recently spoken in favor of increasing the consumption tax rate. The Hatoyama administration should not let their remarks simply be gestures to attract voters' attention for the upcoming House of Councillors election in summer; it must lead the way toward full-scale debate aimed at actually increasing the tax.
鳩山内閣の主要閣僚から、消費税率の引き上げに前向きな発言が相次いでいる。夏の参院選をにらんだポーズに終わらせず、具体化に向けた本格的な議論につなげるべきだ。
It was Finance Minister Naoto Kan who first spoke on the issue.
口火を切ったのが菅財務相だ。
"As long as there are no problems with the way we use the increased revenue from a tax rate increase, the economy will improve," Kan said.
National Policy Minister Yoshito Sengoku made similar comments later.
"It'd be an insult to voters if we went into an election ignoring budget revenue reform," Sengoku stressed.
「増税しても使い道を間違えなければ景気がよくなる」と指摘し、仙谷国家戦略相も「歳入改革を掲げて選挙しなければ、国民に失礼だ」と強調する。
===
'Nation will go broke'
There is a subtle difference between Kan and Sengoku's arguments for a tax hike: Kan's top priority is fiscal action to help get this country out of its deflationary spiral, while Sengoku sees fiscal rehabilitation as his key concern.
デフレ脱却に向けた財政出動を念頭に置く菅氏、財政再建を重視する仙谷氏と、増税論の立場は微妙に異なる。
They share a sense of crisis, however: If the situation is left as it is, the economy will not recover and the nation's finances will starve to death, as it were. It was rather late in the day for Kan and Sengoku to take the bold step of arguing for drastic reform of tax revenues, including reform of the consumption tax system, but it was a natural action for ministers tasked with guarding the economy.
だが、このままでは景気は回復せず、財政が破綻(はたん)するとの危機感は共通する。両氏が消費税を含む税財政の抜本改革に踏み込んだのは遅きに失した感はあるが、経済担当閣僚として当然であろう。
In contrast, Hatoyama simply repeated he would not raise the consumption tax rate for four years while he heads the government during his current term as a member of the House of Representatives. The dominant opinion within Hatoyama's Democratic Party of Japan also is wishy-washy about a tax hike; the party feels the consumption tax rate should not be raised as it was not in the party's manifesto for the lower house election last year.
これに対し、鳩山首相は４年間の任期中、消費税を上げないと繰り返し、民主党内の大勢も「衆院選公約になかった消費税増税をすべきではない」と及び腰だ。
However, the government cannot get round an increase in the consumption tax rate if it wants to cover social security spending, which is increasing by 1 trillion yen annually, and rehabilitate the nation's finances at the same time.
しかし、年１兆円ずつ増える社会保障費を賄いつつ、財政を立て直すには消費税率の引き上げが避けて通れない。それは多くの国民が受け入れつつある。
Much of the public is coming to accept this, as clearly shown by the results of a March opinion poll by The Yomiuri Shimbun. In the survey, 66 percent of respondents said they approved of the government's decision to study the possibility of raising the consumption tax rate, well above the 28 percent who did not approve.
読売新聞が３月に実施した世論調査で、消費税について引き上げの検討を「評価する」とした回答が６６％にのぼり、「評価しない」の２８％を大きく上回ったことでも明らかだろう。
Economic organizations have also proposed a major increase in the consumption tax rate.
経済団体も消費税率の大幅な引き上げを提言している。
===
Don't evade discussion
Given this country's fiscal situation, it will be very difficult to suppress discussion of consumption tax reform. In the fiscal 2010 budget, tax revenue accounts for only 40 percent of the total expenditures of 92 trillion yen. The situation is truly critical.
わが国の財政事情は、消費税論議を封印できるほど甘くはない。２０１０年度予算は、９２兆円の歳出を賄う税収が４割しかない危機的な状況だ。
The combined public debt of the central and local governments is estimated to be 862 trillion yen at the end of fiscal 2010, or 181 percent of the estimated gross domestic product. This is in stark contrast to other major nations, whose percentages of public debts account for between 60 and 70 percent of their GDPs.
国と地方の債務残高は１０年度末で８６２兆円、国内総生産（ＧＤＰ）に対する割合は１８１％に達する。６０〜７０％にとどまる先進国の中では突出している。
The Hatoyama Cabinet is scheduled to come up with new policies on various economic issues by the end of June, including midterm fiscal targets, pension system reform and details of its new growth strategy. Whether these policies prove trustworthy will depend on whether the government can secure stable revenue sources. It has no hope of doing so without a consumption tax hike.
鳩山内閣は６月までに中期財政目標、年金制度改革、成長戦略など様々な経済テーマについて新方針を打ち出す。その内容が信頼に値するかどうかは、安定財源の確保にかかる。消費税抜きでは、それも期待できまい。
The government's Tax Commission has begun studying how to reform the consumption tax but has not yet started discussing whether the tax rate should be raised. It has just been waiting for politicians to decide what to do.
政府税制調査会も消費税の扱いについて検討を始めたが、引き上げの是非などには踏み込まず、政治の決断待ちの状態だ。
Opposition parties have criticized the Hatoyama Cabinet for "taking fiscal policy too lightly." Thus it is inevitable that the consumption tax issue will become a focal issue in the upper house election.
野党は鳩山内閣の姿勢を「財政軽視」と批判しており、消費税問題が参院選の争点に浮上するのは必至の情勢だ。
We hope Hatoyama will not look away from the consumption tax issue, but join in the debate openly and boldly.
鳩山首相は消費税から目をそらさず、堂々と論戦に臨んでほしい。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun,April 17, 2010)
（2010年4月17日01時30分 読売新聞）
2010年04月17日
独法事業仕分け 「政治劇場」の再現では困る
The Yomiuri Shimbun (Apr. 17, 2010)
Budget screening no place for theatrics
独法事業仕分け 「政治劇場」の再現では困る（4月16日付・読売社説）
The government is preparing to conduct a new round of budget screening, the second of its kind to be staged to identify wasteful items of government spending in what is known as jigyo shiwake. The upcoming jigyo shiwake process will target dozens of independent administrative corporations and public-utility foundations.
政府が、独立行政法人と公益法人を対象とする事業仕分け第２弾の準備を進めている。
The government should ensure the next budget screening does not degenerate into a mere attempt by politicians to play to the gallery. In this regard, there are lessons to be learned from last year's inaugural jigyo shiwake session.
昨秋の第１弾の反省を踏まえ、政治パフォーマンスに陥らないようにすべきだ。
The second screening process has been preceded by interviews conducted by some senior government officials--including Yukio Edano, state minister in charge of government revitalization--with officials from the Cabinet Office and other ministries that govern independent administrative corporations and government-affiliated public-interest foundations. This task was aimed at drawing up a list of institutions to be targeted in the upcoming budget screening process. The next round of jigyo shiwake will comprise two parts, the first of which will take place in late April, followed by the second one in late May.
枝野行政刷新相らは、仕分けの対象となる独法と政府系の公益法人を選ぶため、所管する府省などから聞き取り調査を実施した。本番の仕分け作業は、今月下旬と来月下旬に行われる予定だ。
Many institutions subject to the next budget screening honor the so-called amakudari (descent from heaven) practice in which retired high-ranking bureaucrats take up executive posts at such corporations and foundations. They receive grants-in-aid from the government. They also can win orders for government-funded and other projects to be carried out under terms highly favorable to them.
独法や公益法人の多くは、各府省から職員の天下りを受け入れつつ、政府の補助金を受け、有利な条件で事業を受注している。
In some cases, such institutions then farm out these projects to other government-affiliated and private corporations. This means these projects can be subcontracted at lower costs than those incurred by independent administrative corporations and public-service foundations. The money saved through this scheme has been used to pay salaries to amakudari employees at these institutions.
時には、受注事業をより安値で別の法人や企業に再発注し、その差額で天下り職員の給料を捻出(ねんしゅつ)する。
===
Cut collusive ties
The government should sever its collusive relations with independent administrative and public-interest corporations. Doing so is extremely important for reducing overall government expenditures and promoting administrative reform.
そんな持ちつ持たれつの関係に大胆にメスを入れることは、政府全体の歳出削減と行政改革を進めるうえで、極めて大切だ。
Efforts to drastically curtail amakudari appointments must be complemented by an attempt to reconsider the current national government personnel system as a whole, including the early-retirement program.
ただ、独法や公益法人への天下りを大幅に減らすのであれば、早期勧奨退職を含む、現在の国家公務員制度全体の見直しにも同時に取り組むことが欠かせない。
In December 2007, the Cabinet of then Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda put together a consolidation plan targeting independent administrative corporations, which number 104 at present. However, minimal progress has been made in achieving the goal stipulated in the plan, which called for abolishing or privatizing six of these corporations. Only three institutions have been consolidated.
現在１０４ある独法については２００７年１２月に福田内閣が整理合理化計画をまとめた。だが、廃止・民営化とされた６法人のうち、実現したのは３法人だけで、進捗(しんちょく)ははかばかしくない。
The fundamental idea behind jigyo shiwake screening is that unnecessary projects conducted by such institutions must be scrapped while also privatizing those that could be carried out in the private sector, and that operations for which the national government should bear responsibility must be carried out directly by the government. The upcoming screening process will be tested over whether these guiding principles will be thoroughly adhered to in examining the projects of each independent administrative corporation.
不要不急または民間で可能な事業は廃止・民営化する。国が責任を負うべき事業は国が直接実施する。仕分け作業を通じて各独法の事業を吟味し、この方針をどこまで徹底できるかが問われる。
In July 2008, Fukuda ordered a 30 percent cut in government subsidies to public-utility corporations. The target has been accomplished.
公益法人については、０８年７月に福田首相が政府支出の３割削減を指示し、目標は達成された。
However, it is difficult to keep a close check on the hefty 6,625 government-supervised public-interest corporations and the necessity of each project they conduct, as well as the propriety of the number of board members at each institution and the salaries paid to them. Given this, jigyo shiwake bears immense significance as a new tool for reforming the system governing such institutions.
しかし、国所管の公益法人は６６２５にも上り、個別事業の必要性や役員の人数・報酬の妥当性に監視の目が届きにくい。事業仕分けという新たな手法で改革に取り組む意義は小さくない。
===
No room for populism
However, the government should not repeat the method it adopted in last autumn's budget screening. Inspectors assigned to the first round of jigyo shiwake frequently lambasted bureaucrats without allowing them to state their opinions and decided on budget cuts. Discussions on each budget item had to be wrapped up within one hour.
Such an approach must be dismissed as a mere form of populism. More careful discussions are desired.
一方で、昨秋の第１弾のように、１案件にわずか１時間という制約の中、問答無用で官僚をたたき、予算を切る、というポピュリズム（大衆迎合主義）的なやり方を繰り返すべきではあるまい。もっと丁寧な議論が求められる。
During last year's budget screening, inspectors were apparently preoccupied with the immediate cost-effectiveness of each project. They failed to look at the whole issue from the standpoint of a medium- and long-term national strategy. Inspectors should realize they would fail to see the whole picture if they discussed projects to be conducted in sectors where a high degree of expertise is involved--for instance, science and technology, national security and cultural advancement--exclusively from the viewpoint of cost-effectiveness.
第１弾では、目先の費用対効果だけに固執し、中長期的な国家戦略という視点が欠けていた。科学技術や安全保障、文化振興といった専門性が要求される分野で、効率論一辺倒では大局を見失う。
Care and caution also should be exercised in choosing jigyo shiwake inspectors. Private citizens and foreign residents should not be asked to play a role in making decisions about key policies and changes in administrative systems, as they lack credentials in the form of an official appointment.
仕分け人の選任も、慎重を期す必要がある。民間人や外国人が、正式な辞令交付もないまま、政府の重大な政策や制度の変更に関与することは避けるべきだ。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 16, 2010)
（2010年4月16日01時15分 読売新聞）
Budget screening no place for theatrics
独法事業仕分け 「政治劇場」の再現では困る（4月16日付・読売社説）
The government is preparing to conduct a new round of budget screening, the second of its kind to be staged to identify wasteful items of government spending in what is known as jigyo shiwake. The upcoming jigyo shiwake process will target dozens of independent administrative corporations and public-utility foundations.
政府が、独立行政法人と公益法人を対象とする事業仕分け第２弾の準備を進めている。
The government should ensure the next budget screening does not degenerate into a mere attempt by politicians to play to the gallery. In this regard, there are lessons to be learned from last year's inaugural jigyo shiwake session.
昨秋の第１弾の反省を踏まえ、政治パフォーマンスに陥らないようにすべきだ。
The second screening process has been preceded by interviews conducted by some senior government officials--including Yukio Edano, state minister in charge of government revitalization--with officials from the Cabinet Office and other ministries that govern independent administrative corporations and government-affiliated public-interest foundations. This task was aimed at drawing up a list of institutions to be targeted in the upcoming budget screening process. The next round of jigyo shiwake will comprise two parts, the first of which will take place in late April, followed by the second one in late May.
枝野行政刷新相らは、仕分けの対象となる独法と政府系の公益法人を選ぶため、所管する府省などから聞き取り調査を実施した。本番の仕分け作業は、今月下旬と来月下旬に行われる予定だ。
Many institutions subject to the next budget screening honor the so-called amakudari (descent from heaven) practice in which retired high-ranking bureaucrats take up executive posts at such corporations and foundations. They receive grants-in-aid from the government. They also can win orders for government-funded and other projects to be carried out under terms highly favorable to them.
独法や公益法人の多くは、各府省から職員の天下りを受け入れつつ、政府の補助金を受け、有利な条件で事業を受注している。
In some cases, such institutions then farm out these projects to other government-affiliated and private corporations. This means these projects can be subcontracted at lower costs than those incurred by independent administrative corporations and public-service foundations. The money saved through this scheme has been used to pay salaries to amakudari employees at these institutions.
時には、受注事業をより安値で別の法人や企業に再発注し、その差額で天下り職員の給料を捻出(ねんしゅつ)する。
===
Cut collusive ties
The government should sever its collusive relations with independent administrative and public-interest corporations. Doing so is extremely important for reducing overall government expenditures and promoting administrative reform.
そんな持ちつ持たれつの関係に大胆にメスを入れることは、政府全体の歳出削減と行政改革を進めるうえで、極めて大切だ。
Efforts to drastically curtail amakudari appointments must be complemented by an attempt to reconsider the current national government personnel system as a whole, including the early-retirement program.
ただ、独法や公益法人への天下りを大幅に減らすのであれば、早期勧奨退職を含む、現在の国家公務員制度全体の見直しにも同時に取り組むことが欠かせない。
In December 2007, the Cabinet of then Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda put together a consolidation plan targeting independent administrative corporations, which number 104 at present. However, minimal progress has been made in achieving the goal stipulated in the plan, which called for abolishing or privatizing six of these corporations. Only three institutions have been consolidated.
現在１０４ある独法については２００７年１２月に福田内閣が整理合理化計画をまとめた。だが、廃止・民営化とされた６法人のうち、実現したのは３法人だけで、進捗(しんちょく)ははかばかしくない。
The fundamental idea behind jigyo shiwake screening is that unnecessary projects conducted by such institutions must be scrapped while also privatizing those that could be carried out in the private sector, and that operations for which the national government should bear responsibility must be carried out directly by the government. The upcoming screening process will be tested over whether these guiding principles will be thoroughly adhered to in examining the projects of each independent administrative corporation.
不要不急または民間で可能な事業は廃止・民営化する。国が責任を負うべき事業は国が直接実施する。仕分け作業を通じて各独法の事業を吟味し、この方針をどこまで徹底できるかが問われる。
In July 2008, Fukuda ordered a 30 percent cut in government subsidies to public-utility corporations. The target has been accomplished.
公益法人については、０８年７月に福田首相が政府支出の３割削減を指示し、目標は達成された。
However, it is difficult to keep a close check on the hefty 6,625 government-supervised public-interest corporations and the necessity of each project they conduct, as well as the propriety of the number of board members at each institution and the salaries paid to them. Given this, jigyo shiwake bears immense significance as a new tool for reforming the system governing such institutions.
しかし、国所管の公益法人は６６２５にも上り、個別事業の必要性や役員の人数・報酬の妥当性に監視の目が届きにくい。事業仕分けという新たな手法で改革に取り組む意義は小さくない。
===
No room for populism
However, the government should not repeat the method it adopted in last autumn's budget screening. Inspectors assigned to the first round of jigyo shiwake frequently lambasted bureaucrats without allowing them to state their opinions and decided on budget cuts. Discussions on each budget item had to be wrapped up within one hour.
Such an approach must be dismissed as a mere form of populism. More careful discussions are desired.
一方で、昨秋の第１弾のように、１案件にわずか１時間という制約の中、問答無用で官僚をたたき、予算を切る、というポピュリズム（大衆迎合主義）的なやり方を繰り返すべきではあるまい。もっと丁寧な議論が求められる。
During last year's budget screening, inspectors were apparently preoccupied with the immediate cost-effectiveness of each project. They failed to look at the whole issue from the standpoint of a medium- and long-term national strategy. Inspectors should realize they would fail to see the whole picture if they discussed projects to be conducted in sectors where a high degree of expertise is involved--for instance, science and technology, national security and cultural advancement--exclusively from the viewpoint of cost-effectiveness.
第１弾では、目先の費用対効果だけに固執し、中長期的な国家戦略という視点が欠けていた。科学技術や安全保障、文化振興といった専門性が要求される分野で、効率論一辺倒では大局を見失う。
Care and caution also should be exercised in choosing jigyo shiwake inspectors. Private citizens and foreign residents should not be asked to play a role in making decisions about key policies and changes in administrative systems, as they lack credentials in the form of an official appointment.
仕分け人の選任も、慎重を期す必要がある。民間人や外国人が、正式な辞令交付もないまま、政府の重大な政策や制度の変更に関与することは避けるべきだ。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 16, 2010)
（2010年4月16日01時15分 読売新聞）