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2010年07月16日
振興銀首脳逮捕 “改革派”の仮面がはがれた
The Yomiuri Shimbun (Jul. 16, 2010)
Arrest of ex-bank head debunks reformist mask
振興銀首脳逮捕 “改革派”の仮面がはがれた（7月15日付・読売社説）
Former Incubator Bank of Japan Chairman Takeshi Kimura, incumbent President Tatsuya Nishino and three other former and current executives have been arrested on suspicion of violating the Banking Law by obstructing an audit of the Financial Services Agency.
日本振興銀行の木村剛前会長や西野達也社長ら５人が、銀行法違反（検査忌避）の疑いで警視庁に逮捕された。
As financial inspections by the agency loomed last year, the then executives deleted--on Kimura's orders--280 e-mails likely to have been of interest to the inspectors.
金融庁の検査の際、見られては都合の悪い電子メール２８０通を、木村前会長の指示で削除していたという。
Suspicions of other shady behavior by the bank have since emerged. We hope the Metropolitan Police Department uncovers the whole truth of the case through an exhaustive investigation.
振興銀をめぐっては、検査忌避以外にも様々な疑惑が浮上している。警視庁は徹底した捜査で全容を解明してほしい。
Kimura, who started his business career as a Bank of Japan official, served as a brain truster of Heizo Takenaka, who was state minister in charge of economic, fiscal and financial policy in Junichiro Koizumi's administration. Later, Kimura established the Incubator Bank of Japan with like-minded comrades at the Junior Chamber International Tokyo. The bank's motto was to support small and midsize enterprises.
木村前会長は日銀出身で、小泉政権時代に竹中平蔵元金融相のブレーンを務めた。その後、東京青年会議所の有志らと、中小企業支援を掲げ振興銀を旗揚げした。
Against the backdrop of structural reform pushed by Koizumi's administration, market fundamentalism and the "profit-comes-first" principle based on the law-of-the-jungle philosophy had many strong followers among young entrepreneurs.
小泉政権時代、構造改革路線を背景に、市場原理主義や弱肉強食の利益最優先の風潮が若手起業家らの間に強まった。
This excessive worship of money was exemplified by the window-dressing case that battered Livedoor Co., including its former president, Takafumi Horie, and insider trading committed by the so-called Murakami Fund, whose president was Yoshiaki Murakami.
その中で、堀江貴文・ライブドア元社長の粉飾決算や、村上世彰元代表のファンドによるインサイダー取引など拝金主義を象徴する事件が起きた。
===
Unjustifiable actions
During this period, Kimura prided himself as being a standard-bearer of financial reform. In the end, however, he betrayed himself--just like Horie and Murakami did.
同時期に金融改革の旗手を自任した木村前会長も、結局、彼らと同様に馬脚をあらわした。
Despite once being deeply involved in financial administration, Kimura now is a suspect in a criminal case. His alleged actions cannot be justified.
金融行政に深く関与した経験がありながら、自ら事件を起こすとは、言語道断と言わざるを得ない。
Writer Go Egami, who was one of the bank's outside directors, has been appointed as the bank's new president.
逮捕された西野社長の後任には振興銀の社外取締役を務める作家の江上剛氏が就く。
Egami has written about his days as a banker at the defunct Dai-Ichi Kangyo Bank. In one memorable episode, he pressed the Dai-Ichi Kangyo management to terminate its ties with sokaiya corporate racketeers.
The management environment at Incubator Bank is severe. As president, Egami must tread a thorny path.
旧第一勧業銀行の行員時代、総会屋との決別を経営陣に迫った逸話は有名だが、振興銀の経営環境は極めて厳しく、江上新社長は茨(いばら)の道を歩むことになろう。
It has become apparent that the bank put profit-making before all else, while projecting itself as "the friend of small and midsize enterprises."
中小企業の味方という振興銀の看板の裏には、利益のためなら手段を選ばぬ実態があった。
The bank allegedly charged a hefty commission when asking major moneylender SFCG Co. to buy back loan claims. This, in effect, was the equivalent of imposing an illegally high interest rate of about 46 percent, far above the upper limit stipulated in the Investment Deposit and Interest Rate Law, according to investigation sources. SFCG, which earned an unsavory reputation for its strong-arm loan collection methods, is undergoing bankruptcy procedures. The bank disguised the transactions as legitimate trades of loan claims. However, a healthy bank would not make such moves that took away proceeds from a loan shark facing difficulties raising funds.
強引な取り立てで問題になった商工ローン「ＳＦＣＧ」（破産手続き中）に、出資法の上限を上回る年４６％の暴利で融資した。表向きは適法な債権売買を装い、資金繰りに窮した高利貸しの上前をはねる取引と言える。
===
More suspicions remain
Incubator Bank also allegedly recommended a person affiliated with the bank be appointed as an executive to a company that had applied for a loan, and pressed the applicant firm to accept the plan. The person consequently took control of the firm's management. The bank thus had shades of a corporate raider.
融資を頼んできた会社に、振興銀の息のかかった人物を役員に推薦して受け入れを強要し、経営の主導権を奪うなど、乗っ取りまがいの行為もあった。
The FSA inspections that began last year exposed the bank's illegal activities. But we wonder if the agency could have detected the bank's true nature--and penchant for breaking the rules--much earlier.
金融庁は昨年からの検査で違法行為を暴いたが、ルール無視に染まった銀行の実態を、もっと早くつかめなかったのか。
Investigators will try to trace the inner workings of a group of the bank's client companies, a network established under Kimura's presidency. The bank extended loans to these member firms, which in turn accepted requests to boost the bank's capital.
木村前会長を中心に、取引先の中小企業で結成したグループの実態解明も焦点だ。振興銀が会員企業に融資する一方で、会員企業は振興銀の増資に応じていた。
We wonder whether such loans and capital increases were legal. The MPD should get to the bottom of this matter, too.
融資や増資は適正だったのか、警視庁はこうした点についても真相を明らかにすべきだ。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 15, 2010)
（2010年7月15日01時01分 読売新聞）
Arrest of ex-bank head debunks reformist mask
振興銀首脳逮捕 “改革派”の仮面がはがれた（7月15日付・読売社説）
Former Incubator Bank of Japan Chairman Takeshi Kimura, incumbent President Tatsuya Nishino and three other former and current executives have been arrested on suspicion of violating the Banking Law by obstructing an audit of the Financial Services Agency.
日本振興銀行の木村剛前会長や西野達也社長ら５人が、銀行法違反（検査忌避）の疑いで警視庁に逮捕された。
As financial inspections by the agency loomed last year, the then executives deleted--on Kimura's orders--280 e-mails likely to have been of interest to the inspectors.
金融庁の検査の際、見られては都合の悪い電子メール２８０通を、木村前会長の指示で削除していたという。
Suspicions of other shady behavior by the bank have since emerged. We hope the Metropolitan Police Department uncovers the whole truth of the case through an exhaustive investigation.
振興銀をめぐっては、検査忌避以外にも様々な疑惑が浮上している。警視庁は徹底した捜査で全容を解明してほしい。
Kimura, who started his business career as a Bank of Japan official, served as a brain truster of Heizo Takenaka, who was state minister in charge of economic, fiscal and financial policy in Junichiro Koizumi's administration. Later, Kimura established the Incubator Bank of Japan with like-minded comrades at the Junior Chamber International Tokyo. The bank's motto was to support small and midsize enterprises.
木村前会長は日銀出身で、小泉政権時代に竹中平蔵元金融相のブレーンを務めた。その後、東京青年会議所の有志らと、中小企業支援を掲げ振興銀を旗揚げした。
Against the backdrop of structural reform pushed by Koizumi's administration, market fundamentalism and the "profit-comes-first" principle based on the law-of-the-jungle philosophy had many strong followers among young entrepreneurs.
小泉政権時代、構造改革路線を背景に、市場原理主義や弱肉強食の利益最優先の風潮が若手起業家らの間に強まった。
This excessive worship of money was exemplified by the window-dressing case that battered Livedoor Co., including its former president, Takafumi Horie, and insider trading committed by the so-called Murakami Fund, whose president was Yoshiaki Murakami.
その中で、堀江貴文・ライブドア元社長の粉飾決算や、村上世彰元代表のファンドによるインサイダー取引など拝金主義を象徴する事件が起きた。
===
Unjustifiable actions
During this period, Kimura prided himself as being a standard-bearer of financial reform. In the end, however, he betrayed himself--just like Horie and Murakami did.
同時期に金融改革の旗手を自任した木村前会長も、結局、彼らと同様に馬脚をあらわした。
Despite once being deeply involved in financial administration, Kimura now is a suspect in a criminal case. His alleged actions cannot be justified.
金融行政に深く関与した経験がありながら、自ら事件を起こすとは、言語道断と言わざるを得ない。
Writer Go Egami, who was one of the bank's outside directors, has been appointed as the bank's new president.
逮捕された西野社長の後任には振興銀の社外取締役を務める作家の江上剛氏が就く。
Egami has written about his days as a banker at the defunct Dai-Ichi Kangyo Bank. In one memorable episode, he pressed the Dai-Ichi Kangyo management to terminate its ties with sokaiya corporate racketeers.
The management environment at Incubator Bank is severe. As president, Egami must tread a thorny path.
旧第一勧業銀行の行員時代、総会屋との決別を経営陣に迫った逸話は有名だが、振興銀の経営環境は極めて厳しく、江上新社長は茨(いばら)の道を歩むことになろう。
It has become apparent that the bank put profit-making before all else, while projecting itself as "the friend of small and midsize enterprises."
中小企業の味方という振興銀の看板の裏には、利益のためなら手段を選ばぬ実態があった。
The bank allegedly charged a hefty commission when asking major moneylender SFCG Co. to buy back loan claims. This, in effect, was the equivalent of imposing an illegally high interest rate of about 46 percent, far above the upper limit stipulated in the Investment Deposit and Interest Rate Law, according to investigation sources. SFCG, which earned an unsavory reputation for its strong-arm loan collection methods, is undergoing bankruptcy procedures. The bank disguised the transactions as legitimate trades of loan claims. However, a healthy bank would not make such moves that took away proceeds from a loan shark facing difficulties raising funds.
強引な取り立てで問題になった商工ローン「ＳＦＣＧ」（破産手続き中）に、出資法の上限を上回る年４６％の暴利で融資した。表向きは適法な債権売買を装い、資金繰りに窮した高利貸しの上前をはねる取引と言える。
===
More suspicions remain
Incubator Bank also allegedly recommended a person affiliated with the bank be appointed as an executive to a company that had applied for a loan, and pressed the applicant firm to accept the plan. The person consequently took control of the firm's management. The bank thus had shades of a corporate raider.
融資を頼んできた会社に、振興銀の息のかかった人物を役員に推薦して受け入れを強要し、経営の主導権を奪うなど、乗っ取りまがいの行為もあった。
The FSA inspections that began last year exposed the bank's illegal activities. But we wonder if the agency could have detected the bank's true nature--and penchant for breaking the rules--much earlier.
金融庁は昨年からの検査で違法行為を暴いたが、ルール無視に染まった銀行の実態を、もっと早くつかめなかったのか。
Investigators will try to trace the inner workings of a group of the bank's client companies, a network established under Kimura's presidency. The bank extended loans to these member firms, which in turn accepted requests to boost the bank's capital.
木村前会長を中心に、取引先の中小企業で結成したグループの実態解明も焦点だ。振興銀が会員企業に融資する一方で、会員企業は振興銀の増資に応じていた。
We wonder whether such loans and capital increases were legal. The MPD should get to the bottom of this matter, too.
融資や増資は適正だったのか、警視庁はこうした点についても真相を明らかにすべきだ。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 15, 2010)
（2010年7月15日01時01分 読売新聞）
2010年07月15日
税制抜本改革 ひるまず消費税論議を進めよ
The Yomiuri Shimbun (Jul. 15, 2010)
Get cracking on consumption tax talks
税制抜本改革 ひるまず消費税論議を進めよ（7月14日付・読売社説）
The Democratic Party of Japan's crushing defeat in Sunday's House of Councillors election has raised concern that discussions on far-reaching tax reform, including a possible consumption tax hike, will be put on the back burner.
参院選で民主党が敗北し、消費税率引き上げを含む税制改革論議が後退する懸念が出ている。
DPJ Secretary General Yukio Edano has indicated his intention not to stick to Prime Minister Naoto Kan's plan of formulating concrete plans on tax reform by the end of fiscal 2010. "We won't necessarily adhere to the initial deadline," Edano said.
民主党の枝野幹事長は「必ずしも当初想定していた期限にこだわらない」と語り、菅首相が目指していた２０１０年度内の具体案のとりまとめに固執しない意向を示した。
However, the government cannot put off discussions on consumption tax any longer. The nation is mired in an extraordinary fiscal condition in which tax revenue is less than the amount of new government bonds issued. Furthermore, the increasingly creaky social security system needs urgent repair.
しかし、税収が新規国債発行額を下回る異常な財政事情や、将来不安が高まる社会保障制度の現状を直視すれば、消費税論議を先送りする余裕はないはずだ。
The Kan Cabinet must swiftly resuscitate the economy, which in turn will boost tax revenue, and knuckle down to reform the tax system--including consumption, corporate and income taxes.
菅内閣は、税収増につながる日本経済の再生を急ぎ、消費税、法人税、所得税など税制全般の改革にも取り組まねばならない。
The election defeat has stung Kan. But the prime minister must dust himself off and start full-fledged efforts to coordinate intraparty opinions on consumption tax and continue inviting opposition parties to start suprapartisan discussions on the issue.
首相は選挙の敗北にひるまず、消費税についての党内調整を本格化させると同時に、野党に対し、引き続き超党派の協議を呼びかける必要がある。
We urge the opposition camp to take up the prime minister's offer of discussions on a new consumption tax system.
野党側も、これに応じ、制度設計に踏み込んだ議論を進めるべきである。
===
Tax not reason for defeat
◆消費税が敗因ではない
At Tuesday's Cabinet meeting, Kan suggested the consumption tax dispute contributed to the ruling bloc's failure to retain its majority in the upper house, saying his remarks on the issue just before the election likely caught the public by surprise.
首相は１３日の閣議で、参院選での与党の過半数割れについて「唐突な感じを与えてしまった」と述べ、消費税問題が敗因につながったとの認識を示した。
However, the main opposition Liberal Democratic Party increased its number of upper chamber seats, despite proposing raising the consumption tax rate to 10 percent in its election platform.
だが、「消費税率１０％」を参院選公約に明記した自民党は議席を伸ばした。
A Yomiuri Shimbun survey taken after Sunday's election showed more than 60 percent of the public believe a consumption tax hike will be necessary. This figure barely changed from a similar survey conducted before the election.
読売新聞が参院選後に実施した世論調査では、消費税率の引き上げが必要と答えた人は６割以上に上っている。消費税率アップの必要性についての意識は、今回の選挙の前後で全く変化がない。
In the election, voters did not give a verdict on a consumption tax hike per se, but rather on Kan's inconsistent remarks on the matter.
有権者が問題にしたのは、消費税率引き上げそのものではなく、一貫性を欠いた首相の言動だ。
During the campaign, Kan failed to present clear principles on fundamental questions about a consumption tax hike, such as why an increase is necessary and how the extra tax revenue it brings in would be used.
首相は、なぜ消費税率を上げるのか、増税分を何に使うのか、といった根本的な問題に明確な方針を示すことができなかった。
When Kan found himself being boxed in by criticism over the consumption tax issue, he tweaked his previous statement, saying he would not raise "even yen1" in consumption tax until the next general election. This gave the impression that Kan was uncertain what to do.
増税批判で苦境に立たされると「次の総選挙まで１円たりとも上げない」と発言を修正するなど、最後まで軸が定まっていない印象も与えた。
===
Get cracking on consumption tax talks
税制抜本改革 ひるまず消費税論議を進めよ（7月14日付・読売社説）
The Democratic Party of Japan's crushing defeat in Sunday's House of Councillors election has raised concern that discussions on far-reaching tax reform, including a possible consumption tax hike, will be put on the back burner.
参院選で民主党が敗北し、消費税率引き上げを含む税制改革論議が後退する懸念が出ている。
DPJ Secretary General Yukio Edano has indicated his intention not to stick to Prime Minister Naoto Kan's plan of formulating concrete plans on tax reform by the end of fiscal 2010. "We won't necessarily adhere to the initial deadline," Edano said.
民主党の枝野幹事長は「必ずしも当初想定していた期限にこだわらない」と語り、菅首相が目指していた２０１０年度内の具体案のとりまとめに固執しない意向を示した。
However, the government cannot put off discussions on consumption tax any longer. The nation is mired in an extraordinary fiscal condition in which tax revenue is less than the amount of new government bonds issued. Furthermore, the increasingly creaky social security system needs urgent repair.
しかし、税収が新規国債発行額を下回る異常な財政事情や、将来不安が高まる社会保障制度の現状を直視すれば、消費税論議を先送りする余裕はないはずだ。
The Kan Cabinet must swiftly resuscitate the economy, which in turn will boost tax revenue, and knuckle down to reform the tax system--including consumption, corporate and income taxes.
菅内閣は、税収増につながる日本経済の再生を急ぎ、消費税、法人税、所得税など税制全般の改革にも取り組まねばならない。
The election defeat has stung Kan. But the prime minister must dust himself off and start full-fledged efforts to coordinate intraparty opinions on consumption tax and continue inviting opposition parties to start suprapartisan discussions on the issue.
首相は選挙の敗北にひるまず、消費税についての党内調整を本格化させると同時に、野党に対し、引き続き超党派の協議を呼びかける必要がある。
We urge the opposition camp to take up the prime minister's offer of discussions on a new consumption tax system.
野党側も、これに応じ、制度設計に踏み込んだ議論を進めるべきである。
===
Tax not reason for defeat
◆消費税が敗因ではない
At Tuesday's Cabinet meeting, Kan suggested the consumption tax dispute contributed to the ruling bloc's failure to retain its majority in the upper house, saying his remarks on the issue just before the election likely caught the public by surprise.
首相は１３日の閣議で、参院選での与党の過半数割れについて「唐突な感じを与えてしまった」と述べ、消費税問題が敗因につながったとの認識を示した。
However, the main opposition Liberal Democratic Party increased its number of upper chamber seats, despite proposing raising the consumption tax rate to 10 percent in its election platform.
だが、「消費税率１０％」を参院選公約に明記した自民党は議席を伸ばした。
A Yomiuri Shimbun survey taken after Sunday's election showed more than 60 percent of the public believe a consumption tax hike will be necessary. This figure barely changed from a similar survey conducted before the election.
読売新聞が参院選後に実施した世論調査では、消費税率の引き上げが必要と答えた人は６割以上に上っている。消費税率アップの必要性についての意識は、今回の選挙の前後で全く変化がない。
In the election, voters did not give a verdict on a consumption tax hike per se, but rather on Kan's inconsistent remarks on the matter.
有権者が問題にしたのは、消費税率引き上げそのものではなく、一貫性を欠いた首相の言動だ。
During the campaign, Kan failed to present clear principles on fundamental questions about a consumption tax hike, such as why an increase is necessary and how the extra tax revenue it brings in would be used.
首相は、なぜ消費税率を上げるのか、増税分を何に使うのか、といった根本的な問題に明確な方針を示すことができなかった。
When Kan found himself being boxed in by criticism over the consumption tax issue, he tweaked his previous statement, saying he would not raise "even yen1" in consumption tax until the next general election. This gave the impression that Kan was uncertain what to do.
増税批判で苦境に立たされると「次の総選挙まで１円たりとも上げない」と発言を修正するなど、最後まで軸が定まっていない印象も与えた。
===
2010年07月14日
菅首相続投 経済再生へ政治の機能回復を
The Yomiuri Shimbun (Jul. 14, 2010)
Restore Diet function to revive economy
菅首相続投 経済再生へ政治の機能回復を（7月13日付・読売社説）
Prime Minister Naoto Kan's administration suffered a crushing defeat in Sunday's House of Councillors election. The result has created a serious problem for his government--a so-called divided Diet, in which the opposition parties control the upper house and the ruling parties the lower house.
参院選で敗北した菅政権にとって、新たな衆参ねじれ国会の状況は深刻だ。
Given this situation, the prime minister should drastically review the handout measures contained in the manifesto created by the Democratic Party of Japan last year and seek cooperation from the opposition parties.
昨年の民主党政権公約のバラマキ政策を大胆に見直し、野党に協力を求めることが肝要である。
The results of the upper house election, which was a chance for voters to give their interim assessment of the change of administration, were more severe than expected for the ruling coalition parties.
政権交代の中間評価の機会となった参院選の結果は、事前の予想以上に厳しかった。
The DPJ won only 44 seats, 10 seats less than its preelection strength, and the People's New Party, the DPJ's junior coalition partner, could not obtain any seats at all. Consequently, the coalition parties--including an independent who was backed by the coalition parties--now hold a total of 110 seats, 12 short of 122, a majority in the upper house.
民主党は改選前に比べ１０減の４４議席で、連立与党の国民新党は１議席も獲得できなかった。与党全体でも、過半数の１２２議席に１２議席も足りない状況に至った。
===
High-handedness backfired
◆バラマキ政策を見直せ◆
The Kan administration has postponed making changes to the Cabinet and the DPJ leadership until the DPJ presidential election is held in September, when Kan's term as party president will expire.
But the road ahead is rocky.
菅政権は内閣改造・党役員人事を９月の党代表選後に先送りしたが、その前途は多難だ。
At an extra Diet session to be convened at the end of this month, the prime minister is planning only to elect the president and vice president of the upper house. However, if his administration fails to cooperate with any opposition party before the next extraordinary Diet session in autumn, the prime minister will not be able to pass any important bills and will have difficulty managing the government.
今月末召集の臨時国会は、参院の正副議長の選出などにとどめる予定だ。だが、どの野党とも連携できないまま、秋の臨時国会を迎えれば、重要法案が成立せず、政権運営は行き詰まるだろう。
After a major victory in the 2007 election, the DPJ and other opposition parties controlled the upper house. The DPJ employed hard-nosed tactics as it faced off against the Liberal Democratic Party-led government and its ruling coalition regarding the appointment of a Bank of Japan governor and other important issues, focusing on creating a favorable political situation for itself.
民主党は２００７年参院選後のねじれ国会で、野党として日銀総裁の同意人事などで政府・与党と徹底的に対決する「政局至上主義」とも言える戦術をとった。
Even after becoming the ruling party, the DPJ repeatedly used its numerical strength to ignore traditional practices concerning Diet deliberations during this year's ordinary Diet session. The party used high-handed methods worse than those the LDP had employed to steer Diet business and deepened its split with the opposition parties.
与党になった後も、今年の通常国会では、衆院の「数の力」を頼みに国会審議の慣例を再三無視するなど、かつての自民党以上に強引な国会運営を行い、野党との亀裂を深めた。
Now that the opposition controls the upper house, however, the Kan administration will have to acknowledge that the opposition parties may seek "revenge," so he must manage Diet affairs in a nonconfrontational manner based on reaching consensus.
菅政権は今後、野党から“意趣返し”を受ける可能性も自覚し、合意重視の円満な国会運営を心がける必要がある。
In the latest upper house election, voters decided to prevent the DPJ from running wild rather than support the DPJ-led coalition government. However, that does not mean they want a lame-duck government unable to pass important bills in a divided Diet.
今回の参院選で、有権者は、もっぱら民主党が主導する政権ではなく、民主党の“独走”に歯止めをかける道を選択した。だが、ねじれ国会の下で法案が成立せず、政治が機能不全に陥る事態を決して容認しているわけではない。
===
Restore Diet function to revive economy
菅首相続投 経済再生へ政治の機能回復を（7月13日付・読売社説）
Prime Minister Naoto Kan's administration suffered a crushing defeat in Sunday's House of Councillors election. The result has created a serious problem for his government--a so-called divided Diet, in which the opposition parties control the upper house and the ruling parties the lower house.
参院選で敗北した菅政権にとって、新たな衆参ねじれ国会の状況は深刻だ。
Given this situation, the prime minister should drastically review the handout measures contained in the manifesto created by the Democratic Party of Japan last year and seek cooperation from the opposition parties.
昨年の民主党政権公約のバラマキ政策を大胆に見直し、野党に協力を求めることが肝要である。
The results of the upper house election, which was a chance for voters to give their interim assessment of the change of administration, were more severe than expected for the ruling coalition parties.
政権交代の中間評価の機会となった参院選の結果は、事前の予想以上に厳しかった。
The DPJ won only 44 seats, 10 seats less than its preelection strength, and the People's New Party, the DPJ's junior coalition partner, could not obtain any seats at all. Consequently, the coalition parties--including an independent who was backed by the coalition parties--now hold a total of 110 seats, 12 short of 122, a majority in the upper house.
民主党は改選前に比べ１０減の４４議席で、連立与党の国民新党は１議席も獲得できなかった。与党全体でも、過半数の１２２議席に１２議席も足りない状況に至った。
===
High-handedness backfired
◆バラマキ政策を見直せ◆
The Kan administration has postponed making changes to the Cabinet and the DPJ leadership until the DPJ presidential election is held in September, when Kan's term as party president will expire.
But the road ahead is rocky.
菅政権は内閣改造・党役員人事を９月の党代表選後に先送りしたが、その前途は多難だ。
At an extra Diet session to be convened at the end of this month, the prime minister is planning only to elect the president and vice president of the upper house. However, if his administration fails to cooperate with any opposition party before the next extraordinary Diet session in autumn, the prime minister will not be able to pass any important bills and will have difficulty managing the government.
今月末召集の臨時国会は、参院の正副議長の選出などにとどめる予定だ。だが、どの野党とも連携できないまま、秋の臨時国会を迎えれば、重要法案が成立せず、政権運営は行き詰まるだろう。
After a major victory in the 2007 election, the DPJ and other opposition parties controlled the upper house. The DPJ employed hard-nosed tactics as it faced off against the Liberal Democratic Party-led government and its ruling coalition regarding the appointment of a Bank of Japan governor and other important issues, focusing on creating a favorable political situation for itself.
民主党は２００７年参院選後のねじれ国会で、野党として日銀総裁の同意人事などで政府・与党と徹底的に対決する「政局至上主義」とも言える戦術をとった。
Even after becoming the ruling party, the DPJ repeatedly used its numerical strength to ignore traditional practices concerning Diet deliberations during this year's ordinary Diet session. The party used high-handed methods worse than those the LDP had employed to steer Diet business and deepened its split with the opposition parties.
与党になった後も、今年の通常国会では、衆院の「数の力」を頼みに国会審議の慣例を再三無視するなど、かつての自民党以上に強引な国会運営を行い、野党との亀裂を深めた。
Now that the opposition controls the upper house, however, the Kan administration will have to acknowledge that the opposition parties may seek "revenge," so he must manage Diet affairs in a nonconfrontational manner based on reaching consensus.
菅政権は今後、野党から“意趣返し”を受ける可能性も自覚し、合意重視の円満な国会運営を心がける必要がある。
In the latest upper house election, voters decided to prevent the DPJ from running wild rather than support the DPJ-led coalition government. However, that does not mean they want a lame-duck government unable to pass important bills in a divided Diet.
今回の参院選で、有権者は、もっぱら民主党が主導する政権ではなく、民主党の“独走”に歯止めをかける道を選択した。だが、ねじれ国会の下で法案が成立せず、政治が機能不全に陥る事態を決して容認しているわけではない。
===
2010年07月13日
参院選民主敗北 バラマキと迷走に厳しい審判
The Yomiuri Shimbun (Jul. 13, 2010)
Voters give DPJ policy the thumbs-down
参院選民主敗北 バラマキと迷走に厳しい審判（7月12日付・読売社説）
Voters have passed a stinging judgment on the Democratic Party of Japan's 10 months in government since it came to power following last summer's general election.
昨年夏の衆院選で政権交代を果たし、その後の政権運営の評価を問う民主党に対し、有権者は厳しい審判を下した。
The DPJ suffered a crushing defeat in Sunday's House of Councillors election and fell far short of the 54 seats targeted by Prime Minister Naoto Kan, who also is DPJ president. Justice Minister Keiko Chiba lost her seat. The DPJ and its tiny coalition partner, the People's New Party, failed to hold their majority in the 242-seat upper house, including uncontested seats.
１１日投開票の参院選で民主党は、菅首相が目標に掲げた改選５４議席を大きく下回り、敗北した。千葉法相も落選した。連立与党の議席も、非改選を含め過半数に届かなかった。
The election has led to a divided Diet in which the House of Representatives is controlled by the ruling camp and the upper chamber by opposition parties. To gain a majority in the upper house, the DPJ has no alternative but to stitch together a coalition with one or more opposition parties.
この結果、衆参両院で多数派が異なる「ねじれ国会」になる。民主党は、参院の過半数を確保するため、野党との連立を模索せざるを得ない状況だ。
At a news conference after the election, Kan insisted he would stay on, saying, "I would like to continue to responsibly manage the government." However, Kan's political clout has undeniably been weakened. Political chaos is all but certain as moves grow within the DPJ demanding the party leadership--including Kan--take responsibility for the election loss.
菅首相は記者会見で「責任ある政権運営を続けたい」と、続投の意向を表明したが、求心力の低下は否めない。首相を含めた党執行部の責任問題が浮上する可能性もあり、混乱は避けられまい。
Kan's handling of the consumption tax issue was the biggest factor behind the DPJ's setback.
民主党の最大の敗因は、菅首相の消費税問題への対応だ。
Kan hinted the rate could be lifted to 10 percent, a move echoing the Liberal Democratic Party's campaign pledge. But Kan failed to properly explain the purpose of the tax increase and how the revenue would be used. He compounded his problems by making inconsistent remarks on tax refunds for low-income earners.
自民党の消費税率１０％への引き上げ公約に乗る形で税率引き上げに言及したが、税率アップの狙いや使途などについて十分説明を尽くさず、低所得者対策に関する発言も揺らいだ。
The DPJ was not unified on the consumption tax. Some party members openly opposed Kan's tax policy.
首相の方針に対して、民主党内から公然と批判が出るなど、党内不一致も露呈した。
Of course, other factors also contributed to the election defeat, including political funding scandals that tainted former Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama and former party Secretary General Ichiro Ozawa; the Hatoyama administration's bumbling of the relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station in Okinawa Prefecture; and deadlock over handout policies such as child-rearing allowances.
無論、鳩山前首相、小沢一郎・前幹事長の「政治とカネ」の問題をはじめ、米軍普天間飛行場移設問題の迷走、子ども手当などバラマキ政策の行き詰まりなど、前政権の失政も響いた。
===
LDP's strategy successful
◆自民が改選第１党に◆
The LDP won the most seats contested Sunday, topping the number snared by the DPJ. The LDP's election tactics, such as fielding rookie candidates handpicked from public applicants, proved successful.
自民党は、今回の改選議席では民主党を上回った。公募による新人候補の擁立など選挙戦術も功を奏したとみられる。
Nevertheless, it is premature to conclude the LDP has made a full recovery.
もっとも、自民党が本格的に復調したと考えるのは早計だ。
The LDP rode to victory largely thanks to the DPJ's shortcomings. The LDP fared worse than the DPJ in the proportional representation bloc elections. Many voters probably were counting on the LDP to prevent the DPJ from "running wild."
民主党の敵失に乗じた面が大きく、比例選では民主党に及ばなかった。有権者は、民主党の“独走”を阻む役割を自民党に期待したのではないか。
Your Party made major gains by attracting voters disillusioned with both major parties. The party called for slashing the number of government employees and abolishing amakudari--a practice in which high-ranking government officials parachute into cushy jobs after retirement.
みんなの党は、公務員の大幅削減や天下り根絶などを唱えて、２大政党にあきたらない人々の票を吸い上げ、躍進した。
The party now has a responsibility to act in a manner befitting the number of seats it holds. The party might have to rethink some of its policies and behavior that smack of populism.
しかし、今後は、その議席数にふさわしい責任を果たさねばならない。ポピュリズム（大衆迎合主義）的な政策や言動は、改めざるを得ないだろう。
Party leader Yoshimi Watanabe, who had set the goal of positioning his party to hold a decisive say in the Diet, should not whip up political turmoil by taking advantage of the seats his party gained in Sunday's election.
キャスチングボートを握ることを目指していた渡辺代表は、今回の獲得議席を基に、政局を混乱させることがあってはなるまい。
===
Voters give DPJ policy the thumbs-down
参院選民主敗北 バラマキと迷走に厳しい審判（7月12日付・読売社説）
Voters have passed a stinging judgment on the Democratic Party of Japan's 10 months in government since it came to power following last summer's general election.
昨年夏の衆院選で政権交代を果たし、その後の政権運営の評価を問う民主党に対し、有権者は厳しい審判を下した。
The DPJ suffered a crushing defeat in Sunday's House of Councillors election and fell far short of the 54 seats targeted by Prime Minister Naoto Kan, who also is DPJ president. Justice Minister Keiko Chiba lost her seat. The DPJ and its tiny coalition partner, the People's New Party, failed to hold their majority in the 242-seat upper house, including uncontested seats.
１１日投開票の参院選で民主党は、菅首相が目標に掲げた改選５４議席を大きく下回り、敗北した。千葉法相も落選した。連立与党の議席も、非改選を含め過半数に届かなかった。
The election has led to a divided Diet in which the House of Representatives is controlled by the ruling camp and the upper chamber by opposition parties. To gain a majority in the upper house, the DPJ has no alternative but to stitch together a coalition with one or more opposition parties.
この結果、衆参両院で多数派が異なる「ねじれ国会」になる。民主党は、参院の過半数を確保するため、野党との連立を模索せざるを得ない状況だ。
At a news conference after the election, Kan insisted he would stay on, saying, "I would like to continue to responsibly manage the government." However, Kan's political clout has undeniably been weakened. Political chaos is all but certain as moves grow within the DPJ demanding the party leadership--including Kan--take responsibility for the election loss.
菅首相は記者会見で「責任ある政権運営を続けたい」と、続投の意向を表明したが、求心力の低下は否めない。首相を含めた党執行部の責任問題が浮上する可能性もあり、混乱は避けられまい。
Kan's handling of the consumption tax issue was the biggest factor behind the DPJ's setback.
民主党の最大の敗因は、菅首相の消費税問題への対応だ。
Kan hinted the rate could be lifted to 10 percent, a move echoing the Liberal Democratic Party's campaign pledge. But Kan failed to properly explain the purpose of the tax increase and how the revenue would be used. He compounded his problems by making inconsistent remarks on tax refunds for low-income earners.
自民党の消費税率１０％への引き上げ公約に乗る形で税率引き上げに言及したが、税率アップの狙いや使途などについて十分説明を尽くさず、低所得者対策に関する発言も揺らいだ。
The DPJ was not unified on the consumption tax. Some party members openly opposed Kan's tax policy.
首相の方針に対して、民主党内から公然と批判が出るなど、党内不一致も露呈した。
Of course, other factors also contributed to the election defeat, including political funding scandals that tainted former Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama and former party Secretary General Ichiro Ozawa; the Hatoyama administration's bumbling of the relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station in Okinawa Prefecture; and deadlock over handout policies such as child-rearing allowances.
無論、鳩山前首相、小沢一郎・前幹事長の「政治とカネ」の問題をはじめ、米軍普天間飛行場移設問題の迷走、子ども手当などバラマキ政策の行き詰まりなど、前政権の失政も響いた。
===
LDP's strategy successful
◆自民が改選第１党に◆
The LDP won the most seats contested Sunday, topping the number snared by the DPJ. The LDP's election tactics, such as fielding rookie candidates handpicked from public applicants, proved successful.
自民党は、今回の改選議席では民主党を上回った。公募による新人候補の擁立など選挙戦術も功を奏したとみられる。
Nevertheless, it is premature to conclude the LDP has made a full recovery.
もっとも、自民党が本格的に復調したと考えるのは早計だ。
The LDP rode to victory largely thanks to the DPJ's shortcomings. The LDP fared worse than the DPJ in the proportional representation bloc elections. Many voters probably were counting on the LDP to prevent the DPJ from "running wild."
民主党の敵失に乗じた面が大きく、比例選では民主党に及ばなかった。有権者は、民主党の“独走”を阻む役割を自民党に期待したのではないか。
Your Party made major gains by attracting voters disillusioned with both major parties. The party called for slashing the number of government employees and abolishing amakudari--a practice in which high-ranking government officials parachute into cushy jobs after retirement.
みんなの党は、公務員の大幅削減や天下り根絶などを唱えて、２大政党にあきたらない人々の票を吸い上げ、躍進した。
The party now has a responsibility to act in a manner befitting the number of seats it holds. The party might have to rethink some of its policies and behavior that smack of populism.
しかし、今後は、その議席数にふさわしい責任を果たさねばならない。ポピュリズム（大衆迎合主義）的な政策や言動は、改めざるを得ないだろう。
Party leader Yoshimi Watanabe, who had set the goal of positioning his party to hold a decisive say in the Diet, should not whip up political turmoil by taking advantage of the seats his party gained in Sunday's election.
キャスチングボートを握ることを目指していた渡辺代表は、今回の獲得議席を基に、政局を混乱させることがあってはなるまい。
===
2010年07月12日
安保理議長声明 北朝鮮への警戒を怠るな
The Yomiuri Shimbun (Jul. 12, 2010)
Maintain vigilance against North Korea
安保理議長声明 北朝鮮への警戒を怠るな（7月11日付・読売社説）
The U.N. Security Council on Friday unanimously adopted a presidential statement that condemned "an attack that led to the sinking" of the South Korean Navy corvette Cheonan in March.
韓国海軍の哨戒艦沈没事件について、国連安全保障理事会が、「沈没につながった攻撃」を非難する議長声明を全会一致で採択した。
South Korea referred the incident to the Security Council early last month. Although long overdue, it was a welcome development that the Security Council was unanimous in expressing its will to thwart any attack or other hostile action that would further aggravate the situation.
韓国がこの問題を安保理に付託したのは先月初めのことだった。やや遅きに失した感はあるが、安保理が結束して、これ以上、事態を悪化させる攻撃や敵対行為を阻止する意思を表明したのは歓迎できる。
However, diplomatic bargaining rendered the presidential statement unsatisfactory because of its opacity on the crucial point of who attacked the South Korean vessel.
だが、声明の内容には不満がある。だれが攻撃したのかという肝心な点が、外交的な駆け引きの末にぼかされてしまったからだ。
The presidential statement expressed "deep concern" over the incident following South Korea's investigation into it that found North Korea responsible for the sinking. At the same time, the statement also "took note" of North Korea's assertion stating "it had nothing to do with the incident."
議長声明は、北朝鮮に責任があるとした韓国の調査結果を受けて「深い懸念」を表明した。同時に「事件と無関係」とする北朝鮮などの主張にも「留意」した。
===
Equivocal statement
Behind the presidential statement is the assumption that China would not have given its approval unless the document incorporated the opinions of both sides.
両論併記でなければ中国が支持しなかったという事情がある。
South Korea's joint military-civilian investigation team concluded that the cause of the Cheonan sinking was a torpedo attack by North Korea. Based on that conclusion, Japan and the United States have given full support to South Korea, which has denounced North Korea's responsibility.
事件をめぐり、韓国の軍民合同調査団は、「沈没の原因は北朝鮮の魚雷攻撃」と断定した。それを踏まえ、日本と米国は、北朝鮮の責任を糾弾する韓国政府を全面的に支持してきた。
In response, China, which has deep relations with North Korea, rejected the investigation's conclusion and was cautious over the Security Council's handling of the issue.
これに対し、北朝鮮とつながりが深い中国は、調査団の結論を受け入れず、安保理で扱うこと自体に慎重な姿勢だった。
China reportedly was strongly opposed to condemning North Korea by name, saying such a move could provoke Pyongyang militarily. There also is no doubt that China took a negative view of a planned joint naval exercise by the United States and South Korea on the Yellow Sea as a reaction against North Korea.
安保理で中国は、北朝鮮を名指しして非難すれば暴発する恐れがある、と強く反対したという。北朝鮮に対抗して、米韓が黄海で合同訓練を予定していることへの拒否感もあったに違いない。
The problem now is North Korea's next move. Soon after the Security Council's unanimous adoption of a presidential statement condemning North Korea's test-firing of a ballistic missile last year, an enraged Pyongyang conducted its second nuclear test since 2006.
問題は今後の北朝鮮の出方だ。昨年、安保理が北朝鮮の弾道ミサイル発射を非難する議長声明を全会一致で採択するや、北朝鮮は激高し再度の核実験を強行した。
If North Korea takes another provocative action that threatens regional safety in response to the current situation, Japan, South Korea and the United States will need to further strengthen their coordination in a determined, resolute manner to block such action. China and Russia also should act in concert with Tokyo, Seoul and Washington.
今回も、北朝鮮が地域の安全を脅かす挑発に出るようなら、日米韓はこれを断固阻止する決意で連携を一層強化する必要がある。中国とロシアも協調すべきだ。
===
North Korea at crossroads
Conversely, if North Korea chooses the road toward abolishing its nuclear weapons, the international community will cooperate in rehabilitating Pyongyang's economy. First and foremost, North Korea unconditionally must return to the six-party talks on scrapping its nuclear ambitions.
北朝鮮が逆に核廃棄への道を選択するなら、経済再建へ国際社会も協力できる。無条件で６か国協議に復帰することが先決だ。
North Korea has been rocked by anxiety over the declining health of its leader Kim Jong Il and the country's economic collapse.
北朝鮮は金正日総書記の健康不安や経済破綻(はたん)で揺らいでいる。
In May, Kim Il Chol, former minister of the North Korean People's Armed Forces, suddenly was dismissed from the country's National Defense Commission and as first vice minister of the People's Armed Forces. Last month, during a session of the Supreme People's Assembly, which is normally held only once a year but was convened twice this year, Kim Jong Il's brother-in-law was promoted to a powerful position in the leadership. Also, in September, North Korea plans to hold a meeting of delegates of its ruling communist Workers' Party of Korea for the first time in 44 years. The moves apparently are related to the eventual transfer of power from Kim Jong Il.
最近も、前人民武力相が突然要職を解任された。異例の年内２度招集の最高人民会議では総書記の義弟が昇進した。９月には４４年ぶりに労働党代表者会を開く。いずれも権力継承に絡む動きだ。
The sinking of the South Korean naval vessel occurred in the context of these dangerous times. Given North Korea's nuclear weapons and missiles, we must never omit precautions for unexpected contingencies. Now is the time for Japan, South Korea and the United States to first start discussions on contingency planning.
この危険な時期に哨戒艦事件は起きた。核兵器とミサイルを持つ北朝鮮だけに、この先も不測の事態へ警戒を怠ってはならない。まず日米韓の３か国が有事を想定した協議を始める時ではないか。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 11, 2010)
（2010年7月11日01時09分 読売新聞）
Maintain vigilance against North Korea
安保理議長声明 北朝鮮への警戒を怠るな（7月11日付・読売社説）
The U.N. Security Council on Friday unanimously adopted a presidential statement that condemned "an attack that led to the sinking" of the South Korean Navy corvette Cheonan in March.
韓国海軍の哨戒艦沈没事件について、国連安全保障理事会が、「沈没につながった攻撃」を非難する議長声明を全会一致で採択した。
South Korea referred the incident to the Security Council early last month. Although long overdue, it was a welcome development that the Security Council was unanimous in expressing its will to thwart any attack or other hostile action that would further aggravate the situation.
韓国がこの問題を安保理に付託したのは先月初めのことだった。やや遅きに失した感はあるが、安保理が結束して、これ以上、事態を悪化させる攻撃や敵対行為を阻止する意思を表明したのは歓迎できる。
However, diplomatic bargaining rendered the presidential statement unsatisfactory because of its opacity on the crucial point of who attacked the South Korean vessel.
だが、声明の内容には不満がある。だれが攻撃したのかという肝心な点が、外交的な駆け引きの末にぼかされてしまったからだ。
The presidential statement expressed "deep concern" over the incident following South Korea's investigation into it that found North Korea responsible for the sinking. At the same time, the statement also "took note" of North Korea's assertion stating "it had nothing to do with the incident."
議長声明は、北朝鮮に責任があるとした韓国の調査結果を受けて「深い懸念」を表明した。同時に「事件と無関係」とする北朝鮮などの主張にも「留意」した。
===
Equivocal statement
Behind the presidential statement is the assumption that China would not have given its approval unless the document incorporated the opinions of both sides.
両論併記でなければ中国が支持しなかったという事情がある。
South Korea's joint military-civilian investigation team concluded that the cause of the Cheonan sinking was a torpedo attack by North Korea. Based on that conclusion, Japan and the United States have given full support to South Korea, which has denounced North Korea's responsibility.
事件をめぐり、韓国の軍民合同調査団は、「沈没の原因は北朝鮮の魚雷攻撃」と断定した。それを踏まえ、日本と米国は、北朝鮮の責任を糾弾する韓国政府を全面的に支持してきた。
In response, China, which has deep relations with North Korea, rejected the investigation's conclusion and was cautious over the Security Council's handling of the issue.
これに対し、北朝鮮とつながりが深い中国は、調査団の結論を受け入れず、安保理で扱うこと自体に慎重な姿勢だった。
China reportedly was strongly opposed to condemning North Korea by name, saying such a move could provoke Pyongyang militarily. There also is no doubt that China took a negative view of a planned joint naval exercise by the United States and South Korea on the Yellow Sea as a reaction against North Korea.
安保理で中国は、北朝鮮を名指しして非難すれば暴発する恐れがある、と強く反対したという。北朝鮮に対抗して、米韓が黄海で合同訓練を予定していることへの拒否感もあったに違いない。
The problem now is North Korea's next move. Soon after the Security Council's unanimous adoption of a presidential statement condemning North Korea's test-firing of a ballistic missile last year, an enraged Pyongyang conducted its second nuclear test since 2006.
問題は今後の北朝鮮の出方だ。昨年、安保理が北朝鮮の弾道ミサイル発射を非難する議長声明を全会一致で採択するや、北朝鮮は激高し再度の核実験を強行した。
If North Korea takes another provocative action that threatens regional safety in response to the current situation, Japan, South Korea and the United States will need to further strengthen their coordination in a determined, resolute manner to block such action. China and Russia also should act in concert with Tokyo, Seoul and Washington.
今回も、北朝鮮が地域の安全を脅かす挑発に出るようなら、日米韓はこれを断固阻止する決意で連携を一層強化する必要がある。中国とロシアも協調すべきだ。
===
North Korea at crossroads
Conversely, if North Korea chooses the road toward abolishing its nuclear weapons, the international community will cooperate in rehabilitating Pyongyang's economy. First and foremost, North Korea unconditionally must return to the six-party talks on scrapping its nuclear ambitions.
北朝鮮が逆に核廃棄への道を選択するなら、経済再建へ国際社会も協力できる。無条件で６か国協議に復帰することが先決だ。
North Korea has been rocked by anxiety over the declining health of its leader Kim Jong Il and the country's economic collapse.
北朝鮮は金正日総書記の健康不安や経済破綻(はたん)で揺らいでいる。
In May, Kim Il Chol, former minister of the North Korean People's Armed Forces, suddenly was dismissed from the country's National Defense Commission and as first vice minister of the People's Armed Forces. Last month, during a session of the Supreme People's Assembly, which is normally held only once a year but was convened twice this year, Kim Jong Il's brother-in-law was promoted to a powerful position in the leadership. Also, in September, North Korea plans to hold a meeting of delegates of its ruling communist Workers' Party of Korea for the first time in 44 years. The moves apparently are related to the eventual transfer of power from Kim Jong Il.
最近も、前人民武力相が突然要職を解任された。異例の年内２度招集の最高人民会議では総書記の義弟が昇進した。９月には４４年ぶりに労働党代表者会を開く。いずれも権力継承に絡む動きだ。
The sinking of the South Korean naval vessel occurred in the context of these dangerous times. Given North Korea's nuclear weapons and missiles, we must never omit precautions for unexpected contingencies. Now is the time for Japan, South Korea and the United States to first start discussions on contingency planning.
この危険な時期に哨戒艦事件は起きた。核兵器とミサイルを持つ北朝鮮だけに、この先も不測の事態へ警戒を怠ってはならない。まず日米韓の３か国が有事を想定した協議を始める時ではないか。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 11, 2010)
（2010年7月11日01時09分 読売新聞）
2010年07月11日
参院のあり方 「政局の府」から脱する時だ
House of Councillors needs clearer role
The Yomiuri Shimbun (Jul. 11, 2010)
参院のあり方 「政局の府」から脱する時だ（7月10日付・読売社説）
Voters cast ballots Sunday in the House of Councillors election.
参院選は、あす投開票が行われる。
Most major parties proposed in their campaign platforms that the number of lawmakers be reduced, a proposal that strongly smacks of populism. But the more substantial issue of the role of the upper house was hardly discussed.
各党の公約はこぞって大衆迎合色の強い議員定数削減を掲げたが、より本質的な参院の役割に関する議論はまるで低調だった。
Once considered "the chamber of wisdom," the upper house is now dubbed "the chamber of political maneuvers" because it has become a venue for power struggles between parties. Originally, the upper house was expected to have "restraining" and "supplementary" functions in relation to the House of Representatives. But we have witnessed in recent years confusion arising from interparty confrontation in the upper chamber just as is seen in the lower house.
参院は最近、「良識の府」でなく「政局の府」と言われる。本来は、衆院に対する「抑制」や「補完」の機能が期待されながら、衆院と同様の政党間対立が持ち込まれ、混乱する例が目立つからだ。
Since the Liberal Democratic Party's major setback in the 1989 upper house election, no single party has secured a majority in the chamber, causing political instability. To control the upper house, it has become a common practice since the late 1990s to form a coalition government.
１９８９年参院選での自民党大敗以来、どの政党も参院で単独過半数を獲得できず、政局の不安定要因となっている。９０年代末以降は参院での多数確保のために連立政権を組むことが恒常化した。
===
Needless confrontations
A divided Diet from 2007 to 2009 resulted in dysfunctional politics as we continually witnessed needless confrontation over such matters as the appointment of the Bank of Japan governor and the extension of the provisionally higher gasoline tax rate.
２００７〜０９年の衆参ねじれ国会では、日銀総裁人事やガソリン税の暫定税率などをめぐり、不毛な対立が繰り返され、政治の機能不全ぶりを露呈した。
Reform of the upper house is not a new issue. It has been nearly 40 years since Kenzo Kono, who held the post of upper house president, raised the issue in 1971, saying, "The upper house is now merely a carbon copy of the lower house."
参院改革は、古くて新しいテーマだ。７１年に河野謙三議長が「参院の現状は、衆院のカーボンコピーに過ぎない」と問題提起してから４０年近くが経過している。
Since then, a variety of reform plans have been floated, such as one that would drop the requirement for party members to vote along party lines and another under which upper house members would be elected through a new regional representation system.
投票時の党議拘束を外すとか、参院議員を地域代表制にするとか、様々な改革案が浮上した。
In an attempt to make the upper house "the chamber of reconsideration," a panel of experts suggested in a report it compiled in 2000 that the chamber be stripped of the right to vote for the nomination of prime minister and that its functions to monitor administrative affairs be strengthened. But these proposals failed to take form.
００年には、参院を「再考の府」とするため、首相指名権を廃止する一方、行政監視機能を強化するという有識者会議の報告書がまとまったが、具体化しなかった。
Only some changes have been implemented. For example, an electronic push-button voting system was introduced, and budget auditing processes were improved and expedited.
結局、実現したのは、押しボタン式投票や、決算審査の充実・迅速化などにとどまっている。
Given that the lower house has final say in budget deliberations, it is not a bad idea to let the upper house focus on budget auditing and ensuring that audit results are reflected in budget compilation.
衆院は予算審議で優越権を持つため、参院は決算審査を重視し、その結果を予算編成にきちんと反映する、との狙いは悪くない。
===
End duplication of functions
If the upper house continues to claim "distinctive" roles for itself but only repeats deliberations held in the lower house, it will ignite stronger calls to eliminate it because it is unnecessary. The roles of the upper house must be distinguished from those of the lower house.
「参院の独自性」の名の下、衆院と同様の審議を繰り返すだけでは、参院無用論が強まろう。重要なのは衆院との役割分担だ。
For example, the upper house could be stripped of its right to vote to appoint prime ministers. Also, legislation from the lower house that is rejected by the upper house currently becomes law only if it receives a two-thirds majority in a revote in the lower house; this requirement could also be eased.
But at the same time, the power of the upper house to audit budgets should be enhanced, and the upper chamber should be given the right to first deliberate legislation in certain areas. Considering which powers should be curtailed or expanded could lead to a new shape of the upper house.
例えば、参院の首相指名権を廃止し、衆院の再議決要件を緩和する。一方で、参院の決算審査権を拡充し、特定分野の法案の先議権を認める――。どの権限を縮小し、どの権限を拡大するかによって、新たな参院像が見えてくる。
Little progress would be made if the upper house were left to itself to reduce its own powers. To come up with concrete measures to this end, it would be appropriate to appoint a deliberative panel that includes third-party members.
参院に自らの権限縮小を委ねても、成果は期待できない。具体策の検討は、第三者を含めた審議会で検討するのが適切だろう。
In doing so, it is imperative to separate mid- to long-term issues, which would require constitutional revisions such as easing the requirement for revoting, from others that could be handled only through revisions of laws.
その際、再議決要件の緩和など憲法改正を要する中長期的課題と法律改正で可能な課題を分けて、取り組むことが大切となる。
Ruling and opposition parties intend to review proposed changes to the election system to be applied from the next upper house election in 2013 to correct the disparity in the value of votes. How the upper house should function is linked to its election system. Deep and comprehensive discussions are called for in this regard.
参院各党は、「１票の格差」是正のため、１３年の次回選挙から選挙制度を見直す方針だ。参院のあり方は選挙制度とも関連する。一体で議論を深めてもらいたい。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 10, 2010)
（2010年7月10日01時19分 読売新聞）
The Yomiuri Shimbun (Jul. 11, 2010)
参院のあり方 「政局の府」から脱する時だ（7月10日付・読売社説）
Voters cast ballots Sunday in the House of Councillors election.
参院選は、あす投開票が行われる。
Most major parties proposed in their campaign platforms that the number of lawmakers be reduced, a proposal that strongly smacks of populism. But the more substantial issue of the role of the upper house was hardly discussed.
各党の公約はこぞって大衆迎合色の強い議員定数削減を掲げたが、より本質的な参院の役割に関する議論はまるで低調だった。
Once considered "the chamber of wisdom," the upper house is now dubbed "the chamber of political maneuvers" because it has become a venue for power struggles between parties. Originally, the upper house was expected to have "restraining" and "supplementary" functions in relation to the House of Representatives. But we have witnessed in recent years confusion arising from interparty confrontation in the upper chamber just as is seen in the lower house.
参院は最近、「良識の府」でなく「政局の府」と言われる。本来は、衆院に対する「抑制」や「補完」の機能が期待されながら、衆院と同様の政党間対立が持ち込まれ、混乱する例が目立つからだ。
Since the Liberal Democratic Party's major setback in the 1989 upper house election, no single party has secured a majority in the chamber, causing political instability. To control the upper house, it has become a common practice since the late 1990s to form a coalition government.
１９８９年参院選での自民党大敗以来、どの政党も参院で単独過半数を獲得できず、政局の不安定要因となっている。９０年代末以降は参院での多数確保のために連立政権を組むことが恒常化した。
===
Needless confrontations
A divided Diet from 2007 to 2009 resulted in dysfunctional politics as we continually witnessed needless confrontation over such matters as the appointment of the Bank of Japan governor and the extension of the provisionally higher gasoline tax rate.
２００７〜０９年の衆参ねじれ国会では、日銀総裁人事やガソリン税の暫定税率などをめぐり、不毛な対立が繰り返され、政治の機能不全ぶりを露呈した。
Reform of the upper house is not a new issue. It has been nearly 40 years since Kenzo Kono, who held the post of upper house president, raised the issue in 1971, saying, "The upper house is now merely a carbon copy of the lower house."
参院改革は、古くて新しいテーマだ。７１年に河野謙三議長が「参院の現状は、衆院のカーボンコピーに過ぎない」と問題提起してから４０年近くが経過している。
Since then, a variety of reform plans have been floated, such as one that would drop the requirement for party members to vote along party lines and another under which upper house members would be elected through a new regional representation system.
投票時の党議拘束を外すとか、参院議員を地域代表制にするとか、様々な改革案が浮上した。
In an attempt to make the upper house "the chamber of reconsideration," a panel of experts suggested in a report it compiled in 2000 that the chamber be stripped of the right to vote for the nomination of prime minister and that its functions to monitor administrative affairs be strengthened. But these proposals failed to take form.
００年には、参院を「再考の府」とするため、首相指名権を廃止する一方、行政監視機能を強化するという有識者会議の報告書がまとまったが、具体化しなかった。
Only some changes have been implemented. For example, an electronic push-button voting system was introduced, and budget auditing processes were improved and expedited.
結局、実現したのは、押しボタン式投票や、決算審査の充実・迅速化などにとどまっている。
Given that the lower house has final say in budget deliberations, it is not a bad idea to let the upper house focus on budget auditing and ensuring that audit results are reflected in budget compilation.
衆院は予算審議で優越権を持つため、参院は決算審査を重視し、その結果を予算編成にきちんと反映する、との狙いは悪くない。
===
End duplication of functions
If the upper house continues to claim "distinctive" roles for itself but only repeats deliberations held in the lower house, it will ignite stronger calls to eliminate it because it is unnecessary. The roles of the upper house must be distinguished from those of the lower house.
「参院の独自性」の名の下、衆院と同様の審議を繰り返すだけでは、参院無用論が強まろう。重要なのは衆院との役割分担だ。
For example, the upper house could be stripped of its right to vote to appoint prime ministers. Also, legislation from the lower house that is rejected by the upper house currently becomes law only if it receives a two-thirds majority in a revote in the lower house; this requirement could also be eased.
But at the same time, the power of the upper house to audit budgets should be enhanced, and the upper chamber should be given the right to first deliberate legislation in certain areas. Considering which powers should be curtailed or expanded could lead to a new shape of the upper house.
例えば、参院の首相指名権を廃止し、衆院の再議決要件を緩和する。一方で、参院の決算審査権を拡充し、特定分野の法案の先議権を認める――。どの権限を縮小し、どの権限を拡大するかによって、新たな参院像が見えてくる。
Little progress would be made if the upper house were left to itself to reduce its own powers. To come up with concrete measures to this end, it would be appropriate to appoint a deliberative panel that includes third-party members.
参院に自らの権限縮小を委ねても、成果は期待できない。具体策の検討は、第三者を含めた審議会で検討するのが適切だろう。
In doing so, it is imperative to separate mid- to long-term issues, which would require constitutional revisions such as easing the requirement for revoting, from others that could be handled only through revisions of laws.
その際、再議決要件の緩和など憲法改正を要する中長期的課題と法律改正で可能な課題を分けて、取り組むことが大切となる。
Ruling and opposition parties intend to review proposed changes to the election system to be applied from the next upper house election in 2013 to correct the disparity in the value of votes. How the upper house should function is linked to its election system. Deep and comprehensive discussions are called for in this regard.
参院各党は、「１票の格差」是正のため、１３年の次回選挙から選挙制度を見直す方針だ。参院のあり方は選挙制度とも関連する。一体で議論を深めてもらいたい。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 10, 2010)
（2010年7月10日01時19分 読売新聞）
2010年07月09日
ゆうパック遅配 顧客第一の視点を忘れるな
The Yomiuri Shimbun (Jul. 9, 2010)
Japan Post Service must put customers first
ゆうパック遅配 顧客第一の視点を忘れるな（7月8日付・読売社説）
If a door-to-door delivery company cannot deliver parcels to customers on the promised delivery day, it has little prospect of survival amid the fierce competition in the industry.
荷物を約束の期日に届けられないようでは、宅配業界の厳しい競争を勝ち残るのは難しい。
Major delivery delays have occurred in the operations of Yu-Pack, a nationwide home delivery service offered by Japan Post Group.
日本郵政グループが全国展開する宅配便「ゆうパック」で、大規模な配達の遅れが発生した。
Japan Post Service Co. integrated its Yu-Pack program with the Pelican parcel delivery service of Nippon Express Co. on July 1. But mishaps involving the operation of newly introduced information processing terminals occurred frequently, due to employees' inexperience in using the devices, among other reasons. Since it is the summer gift-giving season, parcel deliveries were peaking, further complicating the problem.
７月１日に日本通運のペリカン便と統合したが、新たに導入した情報処理端末などに不慣れなため操作ミスが多発した。お中元のシーズンで、荷物が多かったことも混乱に拍車をかけた。
Consequently, more than 300,000 parcels were delayed by periods ranging from 12 hours to more than two days. It took a full week for Japan Post Service to bring the situation almost under control.
結局、３０万個を超える荷物が予定より半日から２日以上も遅れ、混乱がほぼ収拾するまでに１週間もかかった。
===
Unforgivable blunder
This is a major blunder by a professional distributor that cannot be easily overlooked. Internal Affairs and Communications Minister Kazuhiro Haraguchi summoned Japan Post Service President Shinichi Nabekura to the ministry to express disappointment over the delays. Haraguchi demanded Nabekura submit a report outlining the hows and whys of the problem and specifying actions the company will take to improve the situation.
物流のプロとして、あまりの失態である。原口総務相も郵便事業会社の鍋倉真一社長を呼んで遺憾の意を伝え、経緯や今後の対応などを報告するよう求めた。
Japan Post Service must thoroughly investigate why these problems happened and take all necessary steps to prevent their recurrence.
郵便事業会社は、原因を徹底解明し、再発防止に万全を期さねばならない。
Japan Post Service planned to catch and surpass Yamato Transport Co. and Sagawa Express Co., the two giants in the industry, by integrating Yu-Pack and Pelican services to boost earning capacity. Yet Japan Post Service's plan fell apart from the beginning.
ゆうパックはペリカン便との統合で収益力を高め、ヤマト運輸と佐川急便という業界の２強を追撃する構えだったが、出足からつまずいた形となった。
Japan Post Service had stated that its preparations were more than sufficient. However, there is no question the company failed to properly train its employees in the new work process.
会社側は、準備は万全だったと釈明しているが、研修による作業手順の徹底など、備えが足りなかった面は否めない。
It has been reported that Japan Post Service proceeded with the July 1 integration, fully aware it was in a busy season, to speed streamlining of the deficit-plagued Pelican service. Thus, the company deserves criticism for lacking a "customer-first" perspective.
赤字続きのペリカン便の合理化を急ぐため、繁忙期を承知で７月の事業統合を強行したとされる。「顧客第一」の視点が欠けていたと言われても仕方あるまい。
Japan Post Service management took lightly the problems that began on July 1 and did not even acknowledge them until Sunday. This attitude has resulted in the loss of consumer trust. It is important the company strictly examine where the blame lies as it assesses the problems. That will be the first step to enable the company to make a fresh start.
１日に始まったトラブルを軽視し、４日まで発表しなかった経営陣の姿勢も信頼を損なった。こうした判断のどこに問題があったのか、厳しく検証することが、出直しの第一歩となる。
===
Establish stable system
Due to the delays, some catalog retailers were forced to change from using Yu-Pack to other home delivery services to send their goods to customers. The high degree of accuracy--delivering parcels to the minute--is the hallmark of the home delivery business.
遅配をきっかけに、商品の配送をゆうパックから別の宅配便に切り替えた通販業者もある。時間通りに配達する精度の高さが、宅配便の命である。
To prevent customers from taking their business elsewhere, Japan Post Service must establish a stable collection and delivery system as soon as possible. It is also important the company take sincere steps to compensate customers for damages brought about by the delays, such as for the costs of parcel reshipment.
顧客離れを防ぐため、安定した集配体制の確立を急がねばならない。商品の再発送など、遅配によって生じた被害への誠実な対応も重要である。
With the wide use of e-mail, the use of postcards and letters has decreased, causing dwindling revenue for the postal business. Amid this backdrop, we see no end to postal service-related scandals such as a large quantity of undelivered mail.
電子メールの普及で、はがきや手紙の利用が減って、郵便事業はじり貧になりつつある。にもかかわらず、郵便物の放置など不祥事が後を絶たない。
The Yu-Pack delays took place under these circumstances. Some analysts point out the problems might greatly damage the operations of Japan Post Service.
その中で起きた今回の遅配問題だ。経営に大きなダメージを与える恐れも指摘されている。
Not only Japan Post Service management, but all its employees, should be fully aware of their responsibility to unerringly operate the important distribution network and redouble efforts to tighten up their corporate discipline.
経営陣はもとより、全社員が大事なネットワークを担う責任を改めて自覚し、緩んだタガを締め直してほしい。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 8, 2010)
（2010年7月8日01時58分 読売新聞）
Japan Post Service must put customers first
ゆうパック遅配 顧客第一の視点を忘れるな（7月8日付・読売社説）
If a door-to-door delivery company cannot deliver parcels to customers on the promised delivery day, it has little prospect of survival amid the fierce competition in the industry.
荷物を約束の期日に届けられないようでは、宅配業界の厳しい競争を勝ち残るのは難しい。
Major delivery delays have occurred in the operations of Yu-Pack, a nationwide home delivery service offered by Japan Post Group.
日本郵政グループが全国展開する宅配便「ゆうパック」で、大規模な配達の遅れが発生した。
Japan Post Service Co. integrated its Yu-Pack program with the Pelican parcel delivery service of Nippon Express Co. on July 1. But mishaps involving the operation of newly introduced information processing terminals occurred frequently, due to employees' inexperience in using the devices, among other reasons. Since it is the summer gift-giving season, parcel deliveries were peaking, further complicating the problem.
７月１日に日本通運のペリカン便と統合したが、新たに導入した情報処理端末などに不慣れなため操作ミスが多発した。お中元のシーズンで、荷物が多かったことも混乱に拍車をかけた。
Consequently, more than 300,000 parcels were delayed by periods ranging from 12 hours to more than two days. It took a full week for Japan Post Service to bring the situation almost under control.
結局、３０万個を超える荷物が予定より半日から２日以上も遅れ、混乱がほぼ収拾するまでに１週間もかかった。
===
Unforgivable blunder
This is a major blunder by a professional distributor that cannot be easily overlooked. Internal Affairs and Communications Minister Kazuhiro Haraguchi summoned Japan Post Service President Shinichi Nabekura to the ministry to express disappointment over the delays. Haraguchi demanded Nabekura submit a report outlining the hows and whys of the problem and specifying actions the company will take to improve the situation.
物流のプロとして、あまりの失態である。原口総務相も郵便事業会社の鍋倉真一社長を呼んで遺憾の意を伝え、経緯や今後の対応などを報告するよう求めた。
Japan Post Service must thoroughly investigate why these problems happened and take all necessary steps to prevent their recurrence.
郵便事業会社は、原因を徹底解明し、再発防止に万全を期さねばならない。
Japan Post Service planned to catch and surpass Yamato Transport Co. and Sagawa Express Co., the two giants in the industry, by integrating Yu-Pack and Pelican services to boost earning capacity. Yet Japan Post Service's plan fell apart from the beginning.
ゆうパックはペリカン便との統合で収益力を高め、ヤマト運輸と佐川急便という業界の２強を追撃する構えだったが、出足からつまずいた形となった。
Japan Post Service had stated that its preparations were more than sufficient. However, there is no question the company failed to properly train its employees in the new work process.
会社側は、準備は万全だったと釈明しているが、研修による作業手順の徹底など、備えが足りなかった面は否めない。
It has been reported that Japan Post Service proceeded with the July 1 integration, fully aware it was in a busy season, to speed streamlining of the deficit-plagued Pelican service. Thus, the company deserves criticism for lacking a "customer-first" perspective.
赤字続きのペリカン便の合理化を急ぐため、繁忙期を承知で７月の事業統合を強行したとされる。「顧客第一」の視点が欠けていたと言われても仕方あるまい。
Japan Post Service management took lightly the problems that began on July 1 and did not even acknowledge them until Sunday. This attitude has resulted in the loss of consumer trust. It is important the company strictly examine where the blame lies as it assesses the problems. That will be the first step to enable the company to make a fresh start.
１日に始まったトラブルを軽視し、４日まで発表しなかった経営陣の姿勢も信頼を損なった。こうした判断のどこに問題があったのか、厳しく検証することが、出直しの第一歩となる。
===
Establish stable system
Due to the delays, some catalog retailers were forced to change from using Yu-Pack to other home delivery services to send their goods to customers. The high degree of accuracy--delivering parcels to the minute--is the hallmark of the home delivery business.
遅配をきっかけに、商品の配送をゆうパックから別の宅配便に切り替えた通販業者もある。時間通りに配達する精度の高さが、宅配便の命である。
To prevent customers from taking their business elsewhere, Japan Post Service must establish a stable collection and delivery system as soon as possible. It is also important the company take sincere steps to compensate customers for damages brought about by the delays, such as for the costs of parcel reshipment.
顧客離れを防ぐため、安定した集配体制の確立を急がねばならない。商品の再発送など、遅配によって生じた被害への誠実な対応も重要である。
With the wide use of e-mail, the use of postcards and letters has decreased, causing dwindling revenue for the postal business. Amid this backdrop, we see no end to postal service-related scandals such as a large quantity of undelivered mail.
電子メールの普及で、はがきや手紙の利用が減って、郵便事業はじり貧になりつつある。にもかかわらず、郵便物の放置など不祥事が後を絶たない。
The Yu-Pack delays took place under these circumstances. Some analysts point out the problems might greatly damage the operations of Japan Post Service.
その中で起きた今回の遅配問題だ。経営に大きなダメージを与える恐れも指摘されている。
Not only Japan Post Service management, but all its employees, should be fully aware of their responsibility to unerringly operate the important distribution network and redouble efforts to tighten up their corporate discipline.
経営陣はもとより、全社員が大事なネットワークを担う責任を改めて自覚し、緩んだタガを締め直してほしい。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 8, 2010)
（2010年7月8日01時58分 読売新聞）
2010年07月08日
大相撲中継中止 ファンの落胆に再生で応えよ
The Yomiuri Shimbun (Jul. 8, 2010)
Sumo's fight to regain fans' trust starts now
大相撲中継中止 ファンの落胆に再生で応えよ（7月7日付・読売社説）
Public broadcaster NHK has decided it will not broadcast live coverage of the upcoming Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament after revelations of widespread illegal gambling on professional baseball games by sumo wrestlers and officials, a scandal that has rocked this country's traditional sport.
野球賭博問題で揺れる大相撲名古屋場所について、ＮＨＫは中継放送をしないことを決めた。
This will be the first time NHK has dropped live broadcasts of sumo tournaments since it began the service on TV in 1953 and on radio in 1928, except for a period during World War II. The decision will certainly disappoint many sumo fans.
テレビは１９５３年から、ラジオは２８年から続く中継が戦時中を除き、初めて中止になる。がっかりした相撲ファンは多いことだろう。
NHK will air daily wrapups after each day's action has finished. However, this will offer viewers little of the excitement that comes with watching a live broadcast.
取組終了後にダイジェスト番組を放送するというが、生放送の醍醐(だいご)味とはほど遠い。
Knowing their bouts were being aired live greatly encouraged sumo wrestlers as they put themselves through grueling practice to prepare for each tournament. Wrestlers who had nothing to do with the gambling scandal will undoubtedly be extremely frustrated by NHK's decision.
日々稽古(けいこ)に汗を流す力士たちにとっても中継は大きな励みだったろう。賭博問題とかかわりのない力士たちは、さぞ悔しい思いをしているに違いない。
NHK President Shigeo Fukuchi said two factors led to the station's decision: The Japan Sumo Association has yet to present concrete steps to reform itself; and more than 60 percent of 12,000 viewers who contacted NHK about the gambling scandal wanted the plug pulled on live broadcasts.
中止の理由についてＮＨＫの福地茂雄会長は、日本相撲協会の改革の取り組みに「具体的な道筋が見えていない」こと、１万２０００件に上る視聴者からの意見の６割以上が「中継をやめるべきだ」と言っていることを挙げた。
===
Viewers split
But many other people felt strongly that the tournament should be broadcast live, and the majority of wrestlers were not involved in the gambling. Given these factors, NHK certainly had the option of broadcasting the tournament live.
一方で、中継を強く望む声があり、賭博と無縁の力士も多いことを考えれば、中継に踏み切る選択肢もあったはずだ。
NHK nevertheless has made a decision that reflects its position as a public broadcaster, as it cannot ignore viewers' strict opinions and given the fact that the JSA's efforts to reform itself remain tenuous at best.
それでも中止を決めたのは、相撲協会の改革の姿勢になお疑念が残り、視聴者の厳しい声を無視できない、公共放送としてのやむを得ない判断だったのだろう。
The JSA must be held responsible for allowing such a disturbing situation to happen.
この事態を招いた責任は、言うまでもなく相撲協会にある。
The association has dismissed ozeki Kotomitsuki and stablemaster Otake (former sekiwake Takatoriki). The Nagoya tournament will start under extraordinary circumstances--six other wrestlers in the top makuuchi division as well as JSA Chairman Musashigawa and several other stablemasters have been suspended.
相撲協会は、大関琴光喜と大嶽親方（元関脇貴闘力）を解雇処分にした。幕内だけでも、琴光喜以外に６人の力士が出場停止、武蔵川理事長ら多数の親方も謹慎という異常な事態の中で名古屋場所を迎えることになった。
With these punitive measures, the JSA appeared to have made efforts to resolve the problem. When appointing an acting chairman, however, some stablemasters reportedly were opposed to naming Hiroyoshi Murayama, a former Tokyo High Public Prosecutors Office chief, to the post. They insisted the acting chairman should have a sumo background.
相撲協会として一定のけじめをつけた格好だが、理事長代行の人選では、村山弘義・元東京高検検事長の就任に難色を示し、あくまで角界内部からの選出を求める声が一部の親方から上がった。
We are disappointed with the association's inability to shed its self-centered nature in a situation like this.
この期に及んでも、内向きの論理を捨てきれない体質には、あきれるばかりだ。
===
Not the 1st time
The JSA has been battered by a string of scandals in recent years, including the fatal assault of a junior sumo wrestler by fellow wrestlers, illegal drug use, and, most recently, gangsters being broadcast on TV while sitting in prime ringside seats after allegedly receiving tickets from a stablemaster. Each time, the association promised to clean up its act. Unfortunately, it has failed to do so.
力士暴行死や大麻事件、土俵近くの特別席に座る暴力団関係者が中継に映った問題など、不祥事の度に相撲協会は再発防止を誓ってきたものの、自浄能力は発揮できなかった。
The JSA will set up a reform committee tasked with reviewing the organization. The committee reportedly will consider ways to sever sumo's ties with organized crime syndicates and improve the association's crisis management. We hope the committee will be formed from third-party members and exert strong leadership in overhauling sumo's governing body.
相撲協会は、組織の見直しを進める改革委員会の設置を決めた。暴力団との決別や危機管理のあり方などを検討するという。改革委は外部メンバーで構成し、強力なリーダーシップを発揮して抜本改革に取り組んでほしい。
The sumo world must quickly start trying to revive itself. Sumo wrestlers will only be able to satisfy sumo fans by competing hard in the ring.
大相撲再生の第一歩を踏み出すために、改革の推進は待ったなしだ。土俵でもファンが納得する熱戦を繰り広げるしかない。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 7, 2010)
（2010年7月7日01時51分 読売新聞）
Sumo's fight to regain fans' trust starts now
大相撲中継中止 ファンの落胆に再生で応えよ（7月7日付・読売社説）
Public broadcaster NHK has decided it will not broadcast live coverage of the upcoming Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament after revelations of widespread illegal gambling on professional baseball games by sumo wrestlers and officials, a scandal that has rocked this country's traditional sport.
野球賭博問題で揺れる大相撲名古屋場所について、ＮＨＫは中継放送をしないことを決めた。
This will be the first time NHK has dropped live broadcasts of sumo tournaments since it began the service on TV in 1953 and on radio in 1928, except for a period during World War II. The decision will certainly disappoint many sumo fans.
テレビは１９５３年から、ラジオは２８年から続く中継が戦時中を除き、初めて中止になる。がっかりした相撲ファンは多いことだろう。
NHK will air daily wrapups after each day's action has finished. However, this will offer viewers little of the excitement that comes with watching a live broadcast.
取組終了後にダイジェスト番組を放送するというが、生放送の醍醐(だいご)味とはほど遠い。
Knowing their bouts were being aired live greatly encouraged sumo wrestlers as they put themselves through grueling practice to prepare for each tournament. Wrestlers who had nothing to do with the gambling scandal will undoubtedly be extremely frustrated by NHK's decision.
日々稽古(けいこ)に汗を流す力士たちにとっても中継は大きな励みだったろう。賭博問題とかかわりのない力士たちは、さぞ悔しい思いをしているに違いない。
NHK President Shigeo Fukuchi said two factors led to the station's decision: The Japan Sumo Association has yet to present concrete steps to reform itself; and more than 60 percent of 12,000 viewers who contacted NHK about the gambling scandal wanted the plug pulled on live broadcasts.
中止の理由についてＮＨＫの福地茂雄会長は、日本相撲協会の改革の取り組みに「具体的な道筋が見えていない」こと、１万２０００件に上る視聴者からの意見の６割以上が「中継をやめるべきだ」と言っていることを挙げた。
===
Viewers split
But many other people felt strongly that the tournament should be broadcast live, and the majority of wrestlers were not involved in the gambling. Given these factors, NHK certainly had the option of broadcasting the tournament live.
一方で、中継を強く望む声があり、賭博と無縁の力士も多いことを考えれば、中継に踏み切る選択肢もあったはずだ。
NHK nevertheless has made a decision that reflects its position as a public broadcaster, as it cannot ignore viewers' strict opinions and given the fact that the JSA's efforts to reform itself remain tenuous at best.
それでも中止を決めたのは、相撲協会の改革の姿勢になお疑念が残り、視聴者の厳しい声を無視できない、公共放送としてのやむを得ない判断だったのだろう。
The JSA must be held responsible for allowing such a disturbing situation to happen.
この事態を招いた責任は、言うまでもなく相撲協会にある。
The association has dismissed ozeki Kotomitsuki and stablemaster Otake (former sekiwake Takatoriki). The Nagoya tournament will start under extraordinary circumstances--six other wrestlers in the top makuuchi division as well as JSA Chairman Musashigawa and several other stablemasters have been suspended.
相撲協会は、大関琴光喜と大嶽親方（元関脇貴闘力）を解雇処分にした。幕内だけでも、琴光喜以外に６人の力士が出場停止、武蔵川理事長ら多数の親方も謹慎という異常な事態の中で名古屋場所を迎えることになった。
With these punitive measures, the JSA appeared to have made efforts to resolve the problem. When appointing an acting chairman, however, some stablemasters reportedly were opposed to naming Hiroyoshi Murayama, a former Tokyo High Public Prosecutors Office chief, to the post. They insisted the acting chairman should have a sumo background.
相撲協会として一定のけじめをつけた格好だが、理事長代行の人選では、村山弘義・元東京高検検事長の就任に難色を示し、あくまで角界内部からの選出を求める声が一部の親方から上がった。
We are disappointed with the association's inability to shed its self-centered nature in a situation like this.
この期に及んでも、内向きの論理を捨てきれない体質には、あきれるばかりだ。
===
Not the 1st time
The JSA has been battered by a string of scandals in recent years, including the fatal assault of a junior sumo wrestler by fellow wrestlers, illegal drug use, and, most recently, gangsters being broadcast on TV while sitting in prime ringside seats after allegedly receiving tickets from a stablemaster. Each time, the association promised to clean up its act. Unfortunately, it has failed to do so.
力士暴行死や大麻事件、土俵近くの特別席に座る暴力団関係者が中継に映った問題など、不祥事の度に相撲協会は再発防止を誓ってきたものの、自浄能力は発揮できなかった。
The JSA will set up a reform committee tasked with reviewing the organization. The committee reportedly will consider ways to sever sumo's ties with organized crime syndicates and improve the association's crisis management. We hope the committee will be formed from third-party members and exert strong leadership in overhauling sumo's governing body.
相撲協会は、組織の見直しを進める改革委員会の設置を決めた。暴力団との決別や危機管理のあり方などを検討するという。改革委は外部メンバーで構成し、強力なリーダーシップを発揮して抜本改革に取り組んでほしい。
The sumo world must quickly start trying to revive itself. Sumo wrestlers will only be able to satisfy sumo fans by competing hard in the ring.
大相撲再生の第一歩を踏み出すために、改革の推進は待ったなしだ。土俵でもファンが納得する熱戦を繰り広げるしかない。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 7, 2010)
（2010年7月7日01時51分 読売新聞）
2010年07月07日
著作権の制限 知的財産は厳格に守るべきだ
The Yomiuri Shimbun (Jul. 7, 2010)
Copyrights must be strictly protected
著作権の制限 知的財産は厳格に守るべきだ（7月6日付・読売社説）
We are concerned that a proposal by a government panel may destroy the basic premise of the Copyright Law that intellectual property rights must be strictly protected.
知的財産権は厳格に守る、という著作権法の大前提が崩れていくのではないか。そんな懸念を抱かせる提言だ。
A subcommittee of the Cultural Affairs Council of the Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Ministry has proposed in an interim report the introduction of general provisions that would limit the exclusive rights of copyright holders--a Japanese version of the so-called fair use doctrine.
文化審議会の小委員会は、著作者の権利を制約する「権利制限の一般規定」（日本版フェアユース規定）の導入を求める「中間まとめ」を発表した。
Japan's Copyright Law stipulates cases in which copyrighted materials may be used without the permission of the rights holders, such as the copying of materials by an individual for private use or citing them for reporting or research purposes.
著作権法は、許諾を得ずに著作物を利用できる事例として、個人が私的目的で行う複製や、報道・研究目的での引用などを具体的に列挙している。
===
For the greater good?
Under U.S. law, however, copyrighted materials can be used freely as long as it is considered fair use. This system is based on the idea that it will be of greater benefit to society if the abridgment and other utilization of copyrighted materials are allowed as fair use.
これに対し米国では、「公正な利用」ならば、著作物を自由に利用することができる。いわゆるフェアユースの制度だ。著作物の要約などを公正な利用として許容することが、社会のより大きな利益になるとの考えが根底にある。
Whether a certain type of use is fair is decided by courts based on a comprehensive analysis of four factors, including the purpose of the utilization and its effect upon the potential market for the copyrighted work. There are more than 100 years of judicial precedents on fair use in the United States.
公正か否かは、裁判所が著作物の使用目的や市場への影響などから総合的に判断する。１００年以上に及ぶ判例の蓄積もある。
For instance, Google Inc. has begun digitizing publications based on the fair use doctrine without acquiring permission from their copyright holders. The Authors Guilds and the Association of American Publishers in the United States have filed a lawsuit against this digital database project.
例えばグーグル社は、フェアユースを根拠に、無断で書籍のデジタル複製を進めた。全米作家組合などが裁判に訴え、一時は日本の著作者への影響も懸念された。
There were fears initially that the project might infringe on the rights of Japanese authors and publishers, but Google later excluded Japan publications from its database.
The fair use system is disadvantageous to copyright holders.
権利者には不利な制度である。
The development of Internet technology is quickly changing how copyrighted materials are utilized. Some experts have said the introduction of U.S.-type general provisions would facilitate the use of copyrighted materials more than revising relevant provisions as needed would.
ネット技術の発展により、著作物の利用形態は急速に変化している。必要に応じて個別規定を改正するよりも、米国型の一般規定を設けた方が、著作物の利用が円滑に進むとの意見もある。
===
Abstract language risky
In the latest interim report, the subcommittee rejected the introduction of U.S.-style provisions on fair use. At the same time, it urged the introduction of general provisions to ease copyrights, so as to allow such practices as the inclusion of artwork in the background of portrait photos or the copying of musical works as needed to develop better technology for music reproduction.
今回の「中間まとめ」は、米国型フェアユース規定の導入は退けた。一方で、人物写真の背景に美術作品が写り込む場合や、音楽再生技術の開発の際に必要な複製などに限って認める「権利制限の一般規定」を設けることとした。
The subcommittee is apparently envisioning provisions stated in abstract terms, such as allowing "incidental" use of copyrighted works, and probably aims to first introduce general provisions in fields where it is possible. 例えば、著作物の「付随的」利用を認めるといった、抽象的表現の規定を想定しているようだ。可能な分野から一般規定を導入するということなのだろう。
However, provisions that can be interpreted in various ways risk leading to infringement of intellectual property rights.
しかし、様々に解釈されかねない規定は、知的財産権の侵害につながる恐れがある。
We believe that the use of copyrighted materials without acquiring the permission of the copyright holders should be limited in principle only to highly public fields such as education or journalism. It is reasonable to first acquire permission from copyright holders if something is to be used for business purposes.
やはり、著作物の利用は学校教育や報道など公共性の高い分野に原則として限られるべきだ。ビジネスのための利用なら、まず権利者の了解を得るのが筋だろう。
If the contents of the Copyright Law do not correspond to reality, each provision should be revised as necessary. Laws can be revised quickly these days.
著作権法の内容が現実に合わなければ、必要に応じ個別規定を改めればよい。近年は、法改正も迅速に行われるようになった。
Among European countries, Germany and France have not introduced general provisions on limitations of copyrights.
欧州の独仏なども「権利制限の一般規定」は導入していない。
Intellectual property rights are a boon for the creative activities of human beings. Legal revisions that could facilitate infringement of that will lead to serious problems in the future.
知的財産は人間の創造活動の賜物(たまもの)でもある。その侵害を助長するような法改正は、将来に大きな禍根を残しかねない。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 6, 2010)
（2010年7月6日01時43分 読売新聞）
Copyrights must be strictly protected
著作権の制限 知的財産は厳格に守るべきだ（7月6日付・読売社説）
We are concerned that a proposal by a government panel may destroy the basic premise of the Copyright Law that intellectual property rights must be strictly protected.
知的財産権は厳格に守る、という著作権法の大前提が崩れていくのではないか。そんな懸念を抱かせる提言だ。
A subcommittee of the Cultural Affairs Council of the Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Ministry has proposed in an interim report the introduction of general provisions that would limit the exclusive rights of copyright holders--a Japanese version of the so-called fair use doctrine.
文化審議会の小委員会は、著作者の権利を制約する「権利制限の一般規定」（日本版フェアユース規定）の導入を求める「中間まとめ」を発表した。
Japan's Copyright Law stipulates cases in which copyrighted materials may be used without the permission of the rights holders, such as the copying of materials by an individual for private use or citing them for reporting or research purposes.
著作権法は、許諾を得ずに著作物を利用できる事例として、個人が私的目的で行う複製や、報道・研究目的での引用などを具体的に列挙している。
===
For the greater good?
Under U.S. law, however, copyrighted materials can be used freely as long as it is considered fair use. This system is based on the idea that it will be of greater benefit to society if the abridgment and other utilization of copyrighted materials are allowed as fair use.
これに対し米国では、「公正な利用」ならば、著作物を自由に利用することができる。いわゆるフェアユースの制度だ。著作物の要約などを公正な利用として許容することが、社会のより大きな利益になるとの考えが根底にある。
Whether a certain type of use is fair is decided by courts based on a comprehensive analysis of four factors, including the purpose of the utilization and its effect upon the potential market for the copyrighted work. There are more than 100 years of judicial precedents on fair use in the United States.
公正か否かは、裁判所が著作物の使用目的や市場への影響などから総合的に判断する。１００年以上に及ぶ判例の蓄積もある。
For instance, Google Inc. has begun digitizing publications based on the fair use doctrine without acquiring permission from their copyright holders. The Authors Guilds and the Association of American Publishers in the United States have filed a lawsuit against this digital database project.
例えばグーグル社は、フェアユースを根拠に、無断で書籍のデジタル複製を進めた。全米作家組合などが裁判に訴え、一時は日本の著作者への影響も懸念された。
There were fears initially that the project might infringe on the rights of Japanese authors and publishers, but Google later excluded Japan publications from its database.
The fair use system is disadvantageous to copyright holders.
権利者には不利な制度である。
The development of Internet technology is quickly changing how copyrighted materials are utilized. Some experts have said the introduction of U.S.-type general provisions would facilitate the use of copyrighted materials more than revising relevant provisions as needed would.
ネット技術の発展により、著作物の利用形態は急速に変化している。必要に応じて個別規定を改正するよりも、米国型の一般規定を設けた方が、著作物の利用が円滑に進むとの意見もある。
===
Abstract language risky
In the latest interim report, the subcommittee rejected the introduction of U.S.-style provisions on fair use. At the same time, it urged the introduction of general provisions to ease copyrights, so as to allow such practices as the inclusion of artwork in the background of portrait photos or the copying of musical works as needed to develop better technology for music reproduction.
今回の「中間まとめ」は、米国型フェアユース規定の導入は退けた。一方で、人物写真の背景に美術作品が写り込む場合や、音楽再生技術の開発の際に必要な複製などに限って認める「権利制限の一般規定」を設けることとした。
The subcommittee is apparently envisioning provisions stated in abstract terms, such as allowing "incidental" use of copyrighted works, and probably aims to first introduce general provisions in fields where it is possible. 例えば、著作物の「付随的」利用を認めるといった、抽象的表現の規定を想定しているようだ。可能な分野から一般規定を導入するということなのだろう。
However, provisions that can be interpreted in various ways risk leading to infringement of intellectual property rights.
しかし、様々に解釈されかねない規定は、知的財産権の侵害につながる恐れがある。
We believe that the use of copyrighted materials without acquiring the permission of the copyright holders should be limited in principle only to highly public fields such as education or journalism. It is reasonable to first acquire permission from copyright holders if something is to be used for business purposes.
やはり、著作物の利用は学校教育や報道など公共性の高い分野に原則として限られるべきだ。ビジネスのための利用なら、まず権利者の了解を得るのが筋だろう。
If the contents of the Copyright Law do not correspond to reality, each provision should be revised as necessary. Laws can be revised quickly these days.
著作権法の内容が現実に合わなければ、必要に応じ個別規定を改めればよい。近年は、法改正も迅速に行われるようになった。
Among European countries, Germany and France have not introduced general provisions on limitations of copyrights.
欧州の独仏なども「権利制限の一般規定」は導入していない。
Intellectual property rights are a boon for the creative activities of human beings. Legal revisions that could facilitate infringement of that will lead to serious problems in the future.
知的財産は人間の創造活動の賜物(たまもの)でもある。その侵害を助長するような法改正は、将来に大きな禍根を残しかねない。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 6, 2010)
（2010年7月6日01時43分 読売新聞）
2010年07月06日
雇用対策 意欲ある若者や女性に仕事を
The Yomiuri Shimbun (Jul. 6, 2010)
Job security essential for growth strategy
雇用対策 意欲ある若者や女性に仕事を（7月5日付・読売社説）
The growth of the elderly population and contraction of the working-age population of people aged 15 to 64 are progressing at an alarming pace.
高齢者の増加と１５歳から６４歳までの生産年齢人口の減少が、猛烈な勢いで進んでいる。
To boost domestic consumption and ensure sustainable economic growth, society must enable young people and women who are keen to work to do so--and under fair conditions, including regarding payment.
消費を盛り上げ、経済の持続的な成長を可能とするためには、若者や女性が意欲的に働き、賃金面などでも適切に処遇されるような社会にしていくことが重要だ。
The employment situation is still grim, with the jobless rate staying stubbornly around the 5 percent level.
ところが、失業率が５％台で高止まりするなど、足元の雇用情勢は依然として厳しい。
Faced with ferocious competition and intense price wars, many companies have opted not to increase their number of regular workers, but instead to hire nonregular workers and pile more overtime work on regular workers. This trend has become prevalent in various industries.
過当競争、値下げ競争の激化から、正社員は増やさず、従業員の残業や非正規雇用で対応する傾向も様々な業界で広がっている。
Given the seriousness of the situation, it is natural that political parties--in their campaign platforms for the forthcoming House of Councillors election--have devised growth strategies aimed at creating jobs.
こうした問題の深刻さを踏まえれば、参院選公約で各政党が成長戦略による雇用創出策を打ち出したのは、当然のことだ。
The Democratic Party of Japan aims to pursue a "third way" that does not center on public works projects nor lean too far toward overly free market principles. In concrete terms, the ruling party plans to create about 5 million new jobs in the coming decade by resolving pressing issues, thereby generating economic growth.
民主党は、「公共事業中心」でも「偏った市場原理主義」に基づく政策でもない「第三の道」に取り組むという。具体的には、喫緊の課題の解決策を通じて１０年間に約５００万人の雇用を創出し、成長につなげるとしている。
===
Fresh perspective lacking
The DPJ plans to increase employment in the environment/energy and medical/nursing care fields. However, this policy is nothing new. It echoes many measures churned out by Liberal Democratic Party-led administrations whenever an employment crisis loomed.
要は、環境・エネルギーや、医療・介護サービスの分野で新たな雇用を増やそうというのだが、雇用危機のたびに打ち出されてきた自民党政権時代の対策と大同小異で、新味に乏しい。
The DPJ has failed to spell out a clear path to growth. The party has worked out measures to be implemented in the current and next fiscal years, but this will not be enough. The DPJ should explain more precisely the job creation effect each measure will bring for each fiscal year, as well as how the measures will be funded.
成長への道筋も曖昧(あいまい)だ。一応、今年度や来年度に実施すべき施策を定めてはいるが、それぞれの施策が生み出す単年度ごとの雇用創出効果や財源の裏づけなどを、もっと具体的に示すべきだ。
The government's growth strategy includes a goal of raising the nation's lowest minimum hourly wage to 800 yen as quickly as possible, thereby boosting the national average minimum hourly wage to 1,000 yen. These are lofty targets when considering that the lowest hourly wage is currently 629 yen and the national average 713 yen.
政府の成長戦略には、最低賃金について、時間給で「できる限り早期に全国最低８００円を確保し全国平均１０００円を目指す」ことも盛り込まれた。現在の最低６２９円、全国平均７１３円からみれば、極めて高い目標だ。
In some regions, people on the minimum wage earn less than people receiving welfare benefits. With the number of nonregular workers increasing, the minimum wage needs to be raised. But if a minimum wage increase is introduced without due consideration of the conditions in different regions and industries, the additional costs could hurt employers to the extent that the workers lose their jobs.
最低賃金の方が生活保護より低い地域がある。非正規労働者も増加する中で、賃金の底上げは必要だが、地域や業界の実態を顧みずに強行すれば、かえって雇用の場が失われてしまう。
===
Drop dispatch law revision
Only through harnessing growth industries and overhauling its industrial structure can this nation come close to attaining the goals laid out by the government.
成長産業を育て、産業構造の転換を進めてこそ、目標に近づくこともできるのではないか。
A bill to revise the Worker Dispatch Law, which would prohibit temporary workers in the manufacturing industry, has been carried over to the next Diet session from the ordinary session that ended in mid-June. However, we suggest the revision be called off altogether. Introducing such a ban could spell disaster for many workers. If the dispatch ban deals a blow to the management of small and midsize companies, the damage could be irreparable.
製造業派遣などを禁じる労働者派遣法改正案は、先の通常国会で継続審議となったが、もう白紙に戻してはどうか。雇用への悪影響が懸念されている。中小企業の経営にも打撃を与える事態になっては取り返しがつかない。
The government must craft economic measures by looking more squarely at the circumstances of each industry. The government and industrial circles should work in concert to improve the quantity and quality of jobs available.
政府は、各産業の置かれた状況をもっと直視して対策を考えるべきだ。量と質の両面で雇用を改善するには、政府と産業界の一致協力が不可欠だ。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 5, 2010)
（2010年7月5日01時35分 読売新聞）
Job security essential for growth strategy
雇用対策 意欲ある若者や女性に仕事を（7月5日付・読売社説）
The growth of the elderly population and contraction of the working-age population of people aged 15 to 64 are progressing at an alarming pace.
高齢者の増加と１５歳から６４歳までの生産年齢人口の減少が、猛烈な勢いで進んでいる。
To boost domestic consumption and ensure sustainable economic growth, society must enable young people and women who are keen to work to do so--and under fair conditions, including regarding payment.
消費を盛り上げ、経済の持続的な成長を可能とするためには、若者や女性が意欲的に働き、賃金面などでも適切に処遇されるような社会にしていくことが重要だ。
The employment situation is still grim, with the jobless rate staying stubbornly around the 5 percent level.
ところが、失業率が５％台で高止まりするなど、足元の雇用情勢は依然として厳しい。
Faced with ferocious competition and intense price wars, many companies have opted not to increase their number of regular workers, but instead to hire nonregular workers and pile more overtime work on regular workers. This trend has become prevalent in various industries.
過当競争、値下げ競争の激化から、正社員は増やさず、従業員の残業や非正規雇用で対応する傾向も様々な業界で広がっている。
Given the seriousness of the situation, it is natural that political parties--in their campaign platforms for the forthcoming House of Councillors election--have devised growth strategies aimed at creating jobs.
こうした問題の深刻さを踏まえれば、参院選公約で各政党が成長戦略による雇用創出策を打ち出したのは、当然のことだ。
The Democratic Party of Japan aims to pursue a "third way" that does not center on public works projects nor lean too far toward overly free market principles. In concrete terms, the ruling party plans to create about 5 million new jobs in the coming decade by resolving pressing issues, thereby generating economic growth.
民主党は、「公共事業中心」でも「偏った市場原理主義」に基づく政策でもない「第三の道」に取り組むという。具体的には、喫緊の課題の解決策を通じて１０年間に約５００万人の雇用を創出し、成長につなげるとしている。
===
Fresh perspective lacking
The DPJ plans to increase employment in the environment/energy and medical/nursing care fields. However, this policy is nothing new. It echoes many measures churned out by Liberal Democratic Party-led administrations whenever an employment crisis loomed.
要は、環境・エネルギーや、医療・介護サービスの分野で新たな雇用を増やそうというのだが、雇用危機のたびに打ち出されてきた自民党政権時代の対策と大同小異で、新味に乏しい。
The DPJ has failed to spell out a clear path to growth. The party has worked out measures to be implemented in the current and next fiscal years, but this will not be enough. The DPJ should explain more precisely the job creation effect each measure will bring for each fiscal year, as well as how the measures will be funded.
成長への道筋も曖昧(あいまい)だ。一応、今年度や来年度に実施すべき施策を定めてはいるが、それぞれの施策が生み出す単年度ごとの雇用創出効果や財源の裏づけなどを、もっと具体的に示すべきだ。
The government's growth strategy includes a goal of raising the nation's lowest minimum hourly wage to 800 yen as quickly as possible, thereby boosting the national average minimum hourly wage to 1,000 yen. These are lofty targets when considering that the lowest hourly wage is currently 629 yen and the national average 713 yen.
政府の成長戦略には、最低賃金について、時間給で「できる限り早期に全国最低８００円を確保し全国平均１０００円を目指す」ことも盛り込まれた。現在の最低６２９円、全国平均７１３円からみれば、極めて高い目標だ。
In some regions, people on the minimum wage earn less than people receiving welfare benefits. With the number of nonregular workers increasing, the minimum wage needs to be raised. But if a minimum wage increase is introduced without due consideration of the conditions in different regions and industries, the additional costs could hurt employers to the extent that the workers lose their jobs.
最低賃金の方が生活保護より低い地域がある。非正規労働者も増加する中で、賃金の底上げは必要だが、地域や業界の実態を顧みずに強行すれば、かえって雇用の場が失われてしまう。
===
Drop dispatch law revision
Only through harnessing growth industries and overhauling its industrial structure can this nation come close to attaining the goals laid out by the government.
成長産業を育て、産業構造の転換を進めてこそ、目標に近づくこともできるのではないか。
A bill to revise the Worker Dispatch Law, which would prohibit temporary workers in the manufacturing industry, has been carried over to the next Diet session from the ordinary session that ended in mid-June. However, we suggest the revision be called off altogether. Introducing such a ban could spell disaster for many workers. If the dispatch ban deals a blow to the management of small and midsize companies, the damage could be irreparable.
製造業派遣などを禁じる労働者派遣法改正案は、先の通常国会で継続審議となったが、もう白紙に戻してはどうか。雇用への悪影響が懸念されている。中小企業の経営にも打撃を与える事態になっては取り返しがつかない。
The government must craft economic measures by looking more squarely at the circumstances of each industry. The government and industrial circles should work in concert to improve the quantity and quality of jobs available.
政府は、各産業の置かれた状況をもっと直視して対策を考えるべきだ。量と質の両面で雇用を改善するには、政府と産業界の一致協力が不可欠だ。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 5, 2010)
（2010年7月5日01時35分 読売新聞）