新規記事の投稿を行うことで、非表示にすることが可能です。
2012年04月07日
どうなる、停止中の原発の再稼働
停止中の原発の再稼働をめぐり意見が180度別れる。
読売は経済優先で速やかな再稼働を求め、朝日は事の重要さに鑑み早急なる再稼働は控えるよう求める記事を掲載。以下に朝日、読売の順で掲載いたしますので読み比べてください。
毎日は終始一貫して原発廃止の論調です。
http://srachai.dreamlog.jp/archives/5089896.html
スラチャイ
--The Asahi Shimbun, April 5
EDITORIAL: Safety issues shouldn't be rushed to restart reactors
原発暫定基準―再稼働ありきはダメだ
In an April 3 meeting of ministers to discuss whether to restart idled nuclear reactors, Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda put off making a final decision on the issue.
原発の再稼働をめぐる関係閣僚の初会合が３日に開かれ、野田首相は結論を持ち越した。
Noda told the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency (NISA) to work out by the next meeting provisional standards for safety measures based on what has been learned from the disaster at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant last year.
首相は、次回までに福島第一原発事故を踏まえた安全対策の暫定基準を示すよう、原子力安全・保安院に求めた。
The first-stage assessment of stress tests for offline reactors, purported to be carried out to gain baseline information for decisions on whether to bring the reactors back online, came with a strong sense of being a stopgap measure.
「再稼働の基準にする」として実施したストレステストの１次評価は、当座しのぎの色彩が強かった。それだけでは不十分との判断だ。
---------------------------------
The Yomiuri Shimbun (Apr. 6, 2012)
Edano must carefully explain need to restart Oi reactors
原発新安全基準 丁寧な説明で早期に再稼働を（4月5日付・読売社説）
Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda instructed a meeting of ministers related to nuclear power safety to draw up a new set of safety criteria for the restart of the Nos. 3 and 4 reactors at the Oi nuclear power plant in Fukui Prefecture, which is operated by Kansai Electric Power Co.
福井県にある関西電力大飯原子力発電所３、４号機の再稼働に向けた関係閣僚会合で、野田首相は原発の新たな安全基準の策定を指示した。
Noda gave the instruction because Fukui Gov. Issei Nishikawa and others demanded the central government create new guidelines on nuclear plant safety based on lessons learned from the crisis at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant operated by Tokyo Electric Power Co. as a condition for agreeing to the restart of the idle reactors.
福井県知事らが、東京電力福島第一原発の事故を踏まえた安全基準なしでは再稼働に同意できない、としているためだ。
To reactivate suspended reactors, it is essential that the prefecture and municipalities hosting them understand their safety. The central government should compile the new safety guidelines as soon as possible and quickly start to convince them to agree with the restart.
再稼働には、安全性に対する地元の理解が欠かせない。政府は安全基準の策定を急ぎ、速やかに地元の説得を開始すべきである。
読売は経済優先で速やかな再稼働を求め、朝日は事の重要さに鑑み早急なる再稼働は控えるよう求める記事を掲載。以下に朝日、読売の順で掲載いたしますので読み比べてください。
毎日は終始一貫して原発廃止の論調です。
http://srachai.dreamlog.jp/archives/5089896.html
スラチャイ
--The Asahi Shimbun, April 5
EDITORIAL: Safety issues shouldn't be rushed to restart reactors
原発暫定基準―再稼働ありきはダメだ
In an April 3 meeting of ministers to discuss whether to restart idled nuclear reactors, Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda put off making a final decision on the issue.
原発の再稼働をめぐる関係閣僚の初会合が３日に開かれ、野田首相は結論を持ち越した。
Noda told the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency (NISA) to work out by the next meeting provisional standards for safety measures based on what has been learned from the disaster at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant last year.
首相は、次回までに福島第一原発事故を踏まえた安全対策の暫定基準を示すよう、原子力安全・保安院に求めた。
The first-stage assessment of stress tests for offline reactors, purported to be carried out to gain baseline information for decisions on whether to bring the reactors back online, came with a strong sense of being a stopgap measure.
「再稼働の基準にする」として実施したストレステストの１次評価は、当座しのぎの色彩が強かった。それだけでは不十分との判断だ。
---------------------------------
The Yomiuri Shimbun (Apr. 6, 2012)
Edano must carefully explain need to restart Oi reactors
原発新安全基準 丁寧な説明で早期に再稼働を（4月5日付・読売社説）
Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda instructed a meeting of ministers related to nuclear power safety to draw up a new set of safety criteria for the restart of the Nos. 3 and 4 reactors at the Oi nuclear power plant in Fukui Prefecture, which is operated by Kansai Electric Power Co.
福井県にある関西電力大飯原子力発電所３、４号機の再稼働に向けた関係閣僚会合で、野田首相は原発の新たな安全基準の策定を指示した。
Noda gave the instruction because Fukui Gov. Issei Nishikawa and others demanded the central government create new guidelines on nuclear plant safety based on lessons learned from the crisis at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant operated by Tokyo Electric Power Co. as a condition for agreeing to the restart of the idle reactors.
福井県知事らが、東京電力福島第一原発の事故を踏まえた安全基準なしでは再稼働に同意できない、としているためだ。
To reactivate suspended reactors, it is essential that the prefecture and municipalities hosting them understand their safety. The central government should compile the new safety guidelines as soon as possible and quickly start to convince them to agree with the restart.
再稼働には、安全性に対する地元の理解が欠かせない。政府は安全基準の策定を急ぎ、速やかに地元の説得を開始すべきである。
2012年04月06日
インテリア仏像、阿修羅なら仏像 フィギュア のイSム（イスム）
随分昔の話しで恐縮ですが、高校三年生のときの修学旅行が奈良・京都でした。
奈良の大仏はそれは大きくて腰を抜かした思い出があります。三十三間堂というお寺にはたくさんの仏像が安置されており、その中の数体が阿修羅像だったと記憶しています。阿修羅像はお寺に入り込む不届きな盗人や外敵から仏像を守るために配置されたものだと考えられます。阿修羅像には昔からこのような不思議な力があるのを認められていますが、その歴史は千年を軽く超えています。
今朝は、サイトで偶然、仏像 フィギュア のイSム（イスム）を発見しました。
インテリア仏像 の販売を専門としている素敵なお店ですが、なんとここであの阿修羅 の像も購入できるのです。
一つ購入して、家を守らせようかと考えております。
レビューブログからの紹介です。
ミャンマー補選 民主化路線に弾みをつけたい
The Yomiuri Shimbun (Apr. 5, 2012)
Hopes grow for future of democracy in Myanmar
ミャンマー補選 民主化路線に弾みをつけたい（4月4日付・読売社説）
Pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who was kept under house arrest for about 15 years by Myanmar's military junta, is now set to take public office for the first time.
ミャンマーの軍事政権と対立し、約１５年間も自宅軟禁を強いられた民主化運動指導者アウン・サン・スー・チーさんが、初めて国政に参加することになった。
The opposition National League for Democracy won a landslide victory in Myanmar's parliamentary by-election, which was held a year after the junta ceded power. After winning a lower house seat, NLD leader Suu Kyi said, "We hope this [triumph] will be the beginning of a new era."
民政移管から１年がたったミャンマーで行われた議会の補欠選挙で、野党・国民民主連盟（ＮＬＤ）が圧勝した。党首のスー・チーさんも下院議員に当選し、「この勝利が新たな時代の幕開けになることを願っている」と語った。
The vote appears to mark a major turning point for Myanmar's politics. We hope President Thein Sein will speed up the country's democratization.
ミャンマー政治は大きな転機を迎えたと言える。テイン・セイン大統領には、民主化路線を加速してもらいたい。
The by-election was held to fill vacancies created by the resignation of lawmakers due to such reasons as the promotion to Cabinet posts after they won seats in the 2010 general election. The NLD boycotted the general election and was disqualified as a political party. However, approval of its reregistration as a political party paved the way for it to run candidates in the by-election.
補選は、２０１０年総選挙の当選者のうち閣僚就任に伴う辞職などで生じた欠員を補うものだ。ＮＬＤは総選挙を拒否して政党資格を失ったが、政権の政党再登録承認を受けて補選に参加した。
Holding a "free and fair election" was a test of the Myanmar government's commitment to transition to democracy. Although some voting irregularities were reported, the government can be given credit for allowing international observers and completing the vote without confusion.
「自由で公正な選挙」を実現することが、民主化の定着度を占う試金石だった。国際的な選挙監視団を受け入れ、一部で不正も伝えられたものの、選挙が混乱なく終了したことは評価できる。
===
Small but significant force
Even though the NLD swept to victory in the by-election, its seats in both chambers account for less than 10 percent of the total. Members of the Union Solidarity and Development Party, formerly a junta support organization, and unelected lawmakers who were appointed by the military make up 80 percent of the country's legislature.
補選でＮＬＤが勝利したとはいえ、議席は上下両院の１割に満たない。軍政の翼賛組織を継承した与党・連邦団結発展党や軍人枠議員は全体の８割に上る。
Despite its small share, NLD's holding of parliamentary seats could become an important step forward in the country's transition to democracy.
それでも、議会の一角をＮＬＤが占めたことは、民主化の促進に向けた重要な一歩となる。
In preparation for the 2015 general election, the NLD reportedly intends to demand the government realize reconciliation with ethnic minorities and constitutional amendments, including the elimination of the current quota for members of the parliament appointed by the military. Attention will be directed to how much democratization the government will allow while it keeps the old guard in the military in check.
ＮＬＤは１５年の総選挙に向けて、少数民族との和解や、軍人枠撤廃など憲法改正を求めて行く考えだ。政権が軍内の守旧派の動向をにらみながら、どこまで民主化に応じるかが焦点となる。
===
Rebuilding economy key task
Meanwhile, the NLD will be tested for its ability to propose measures in such areas as economic reforms.
ＮＬＤも、経済改革などを巡る提言能力が問われよう。
For Myanmar, the poorest among the Association of Southeast Asian Nations members, rebuilding its economy is an urgent task. The country will serve as ASEAN's chair in 2014. It needs to improve ties with the international community further by making progress in its democratization.
東南アジア諸国連合（ＡＳＥＡＮ）の最貧国ミャンマーにとって、急務は経済再建だ。１４年にはＡＳＥＡＮ議長国を務める。民主化進展をテコに、国際社会との関係改善をさらに進める必要がある。
The European Union plans to decide whether it will lift sanctions against Myanmar when EU foreign ministers meet late this month. The EU set a free and fair by-election as a key condition for lifting the sanctions. The United States also likely will ease sanctions gradually.
補選の公正な実施を制裁解除の条件としていた欧州連合（ＥＵ）は、今月下旬の外相理事会で解除の是非を判断する。米国も、段階的な制裁緩和へ動くだろう。
Ahead of its Western counterparts, the Japanese government has extended assistance to Myanmar. It plans to host Myanmar's president in late April, and Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda intends to announce the resumption of yen loans to help the country build major infrastructure.
日本政府は、欧米に先駆けて支援に乗り出した。今月下旬には大統領を招き、野田首相は、大型インフラ支援につながる円借款の供与再開を表明する方針だ。
Meanwhile, Japanese companies have high hopes for the business potential of Myanmar as a new investment destination after Thailand and Vietnam. The government should cooperate in Myanmar's efforts to improve the climate for investment and back the country's reforms further.
タイやベトナムに続く新たな投資先として、日本企業はミャンマー・ビジネスの将来性に期待する。政府は、投資環境改善につながるような協力を進め、改革を一層後押しすべきである。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 4, 2012)
（2012年4月4日01時48分 読売新聞）
Hopes grow for future of democracy in Myanmar
ミャンマー補選 民主化路線に弾みをつけたい（4月4日付・読売社説）
Pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who was kept under house arrest for about 15 years by Myanmar's military junta, is now set to take public office for the first time.
ミャンマーの軍事政権と対立し、約１５年間も自宅軟禁を強いられた民主化運動指導者アウン・サン・スー・チーさんが、初めて国政に参加することになった。
The opposition National League for Democracy won a landslide victory in Myanmar's parliamentary by-election, which was held a year after the junta ceded power. After winning a lower house seat, NLD leader Suu Kyi said, "We hope this [triumph] will be the beginning of a new era."
民政移管から１年がたったミャンマーで行われた議会の補欠選挙で、野党・国民民主連盟（ＮＬＤ）が圧勝した。党首のスー・チーさんも下院議員に当選し、「この勝利が新たな時代の幕開けになることを願っている」と語った。
The vote appears to mark a major turning point for Myanmar's politics. We hope President Thein Sein will speed up the country's democratization.
ミャンマー政治は大きな転機を迎えたと言える。テイン・セイン大統領には、民主化路線を加速してもらいたい。
The by-election was held to fill vacancies created by the resignation of lawmakers due to such reasons as the promotion to Cabinet posts after they won seats in the 2010 general election. The NLD boycotted the general election and was disqualified as a political party. However, approval of its reregistration as a political party paved the way for it to run candidates in the by-election.
補選は、２０１０年総選挙の当選者のうち閣僚就任に伴う辞職などで生じた欠員を補うものだ。ＮＬＤは総選挙を拒否して政党資格を失ったが、政権の政党再登録承認を受けて補選に参加した。
Holding a "free and fair election" was a test of the Myanmar government's commitment to transition to democracy. Although some voting irregularities were reported, the government can be given credit for allowing international observers and completing the vote without confusion.
「自由で公正な選挙」を実現することが、民主化の定着度を占う試金石だった。国際的な選挙監視団を受け入れ、一部で不正も伝えられたものの、選挙が混乱なく終了したことは評価できる。
===
Small but significant force
Even though the NLD swept to victory in the by-election, its seats in both chambers account for less than 10 percent of the total. Members of the Union Solidarity and Development Party, formerly a junta support organization, and unelected lawmakers who were appointed by the military make up 80 percent of the country's legislature.
補選でＮＬＤが勝利したとはいえ、議席は上下両院の１割に満たない。軍政の翼賛組織を継承した与党・連邦団結発展党や軍人枠議員は全体の８割に上る。
Despite its small share, NLD's holding of parliamentary seats could become an important step forward in the country's transition to democracy.
それでも、議会の一角をＮＬＤが占めたことは、民主化の促進に向けた重要な一歩となる。
In preparation for the 2015 general election, the NLD reportedly intends to demand the government realize reconciliation with ethnic minorities and constitutional amendments, including the elimination of the current quota for members of the parliament appointed by the military. Attention will be directed to how much democratization the government will allow while it keeps the old guard in the military in check.
ＮＬＤは１５年の総選挙に向けて、少数民族との和解や、軍人枠撤廃など憲法改正を求めて行く考えだ。政権が軍内の守旧派の動向をにらみながら、どこまで民主化に応じるかが焦点となる。
===
Rebuilding economy key task
Meanwhile, the NLD will be tested for its ability to propose measures in such areas as economic reforms.
ＮＬＤも、経済改革などを巡る提言能力が問われよう。
For Myanmar, the poorest among the Association of Southeast Asian Nations members, rebuilding its economy is an urgent task. The country will serve as ASEAN's chair in 2014. It needs to improve ties with the international community further by making progress in its democratization.
東南アジア諸国連合（ＡＳＥＡＮ）の最貧国ミャンマーにとって、急務は経済再建だ。１４年にはＡＳＥＡＮ議長国を務める。民主化進展をテコに、国際社会との関係改善をさらに進める必要がある。
The European Union plans to decide whether it will lift sanctions against Myanmar when EU foreign ministers meet late this month. The EU set a free and fair by-election as a key condition for lifting the sanctions. The United States also likely will ease sanctions gradually.
補選の公正な実施を制裁解除の条件としていた欧州連合（ＥＵ）は、今月下旬の外相理事会で解除の是非を判断する。米国も、段階的な制裁緩和へ動くだろう。
Ahead of its Western counterparts, the Japanese government has extended assistance to Myanmar. It plans to host Myanmar's president in late April, and Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda intends to announce the resumption of yen loans to help the country build major infrastructure.
日本政府は、欧米に先駆けて支援に乗り出した。今月下旬には大統領を招き、野田首相は、大型インフラ支援につながる円借款の供与再開を表明する方針だ。
Meanwhile, Japanese companies have high hopes for the business potential of Myanmar as a new investment destination after Thailand and Vietnam. The government should cooperate in Myanmar's efforts to improve the climate for investment and back the country's reforms further.
タイやベトナムに続く新たな投資先として、日本企業はミャンマー・ビジネスの将来性に期待する。政府は、投資環境改善につながるような協力を進め、改革を一層後押しすべきである。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 4, 2012)
（2012年4月4日01時48分 読売新聞）
2012年04月05日
社説：南海トラフ津波 想定受け止め対策を
(Mainichi Japan) April 3, 2012
Editorial: Catastrophic quake, tsunami projections demand policy rethink
社説：南海トラフ津波 想定受け止め対策を
If a major earthquake hits the "Nankai Trough" off central and western Japan's Pacific coast, the resulting tsunami could tower two to three times higher than previously estimated, according to an expert government panel announcement on March 31.
これまで想定された２〜３倍の津波高が公表された。西日本の太平洋沖に延びる「南海トラフ」で発生が懸念される巨大地震に伴うものだ。
The panel assumed a magnitude-9.1 temblor -- close to the same strength as the Great East Japan Earthquake of March last year -- and put together maximum damage estimates based on the latest scientific data.
内閣府の有識者検討会が、地震の規模を示すマグニチュード（Ｍ）を東日本大震災なみの９・１に設定し、最新の科学的知見に基づき、考えられる最大級の被害を試算した。
The result: a quake measuring a high-6 on the Japanese 7-point intensity scale and destruction to 395 municipalities in 21 prefectures -- more than five times greater than was projected in a 2003 study. Moreover, if the quake hit at high-tide, the resulting tsunami would top 20 meters when they slammed into 23 municipalities in the Tokyo islands and Shizuoka, Aichi, Mie, Tokushima and Kochi prefectures. The largest projected wave, at 34.4 meters high, would hit the town of Kuroshio, Kochi Prefecture.
震度６強以上は２１府県３９５市町村で、０３年に被害想定した際の５倍以上に拡大した。また、満潮時の津波高は、東京の島しょ部や静岡、愛知、三重、徳島、高知の６都県２３市町村で２０メートルを超えると予測した。最大は３４・４メートルの高知県黒潮町だ。
Of especially serious note in the estimates is the maximum 21-meter-high tsunami projected for Chubu Electric Power Co.'s Hamaoka nuclear power plant in Omaezaki, Shizuoka Prefecture. After the meltdowns at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant -- triggered when backup generators powering the reactors' cooling systems were flooded by tsunami -- Chubu Electric began building an 18-meter-tall, 1.6-kilometer-long tsunami breakwater to guard the Hamaoka plant.
深刻なのは、中部電力浜岡原発が最大２１メートルの津波に襲われる可能性が指摘されたことだ。東京電力福島第１原発事故を受けて、中部電は緊急安全対策の一環で高さ（海抜）１８メートル、長さ１・６キロの防波壁を年内完成を目指して建設中である。
The projected tsunami, however, would get over the barrier and swamp the station. Obviously, Chubu Electric's tsunami countermeasures need a drastic rethink.
だが、想定に従えば津波は防波壁を越え、浸水は原発敷地にまで及ぶ。当然のことながら、津波対策を含めた抜本的な見直しが必要だ。
Then there are the tsunami estimates for major urban centers. A wave over 20 meters high is projected for Toyohashi, Aichi Prefecture, and waves over 10 meters for the cities of Shizuoka, Hamamatsu, Kochi and Miyazaki.
注目されるのは、人口が多い都市部でも相当な津波高が予想されることだ。愛知県豊橋市は２０メートルを超え、静岡、浜松、高知、宮崎の各市でも１０メートルを超える地点がある。
Starting this month, the expert panel will begin releasing flood projections based on the estimated tsunami heights. Meanwhile, the Cabinet Office's Central Disaster Prevention Council is scheduled to announce total damage projections, including the number of dead and total buildings destroyed, in June this year.
検討会は４月以後、津波高予測に基づく浸水想定区域を公表する。中央防災会議も死者数や全壊棟数など被害想定を６月に公表予定だ。
The foundation of any anti-tsunami damage policy must be the lessons learned from the experience of last year's terrible waves, which took the lives of many who could not flee in time. Municipalities along Japan's Pacific coast, menaced by three projected catastrophic quakes -- Tokai, Tonankai and Nankai -- along the Nankai Trough, must formulate such policies especially quickly.
津波対策は、避難の遅れから多数の被害者が出た東日本大震災の教訓をどう生かすのかが基本だ。南海トラフを震源域とする東海、東南海、南海地震が想定される太平洋側の市町村は、特に対策が急がれる。
An expert investigative committee under the disaster prevention council concluded last year that communities should be built such that anyone could walk to safety within about five minutes in case of a tsunami. However, the latest estimates warn of one-meter tsunami hitting the coast in about 2 minutes after a major quake. There are some local governments that have taken concrete tsunami safety measures, such as designating tall buildings as evacuation sites, building evacuation towers and demarking evacuation routes to high ground. In light of the new estimates, however, a re-evaluation of these measures -- including minimum evacuation times -- is required.
中央防災会議の専門調査会は昨年、津波が発生した場合、原則として歩いて５分程度で安全な場所に避難できるまちづくりを提言した。だが、今回の想定では高さ１メートルの津波が最短２分で到達する。津波避難ビルの新たな指定や津波避難タワー建設、高台への避難路確保など具体的に動き出した地域もあるが、避難時間も含め見直しを迫られよう。
Finally, the state's financial support cannot be ignored. The government is set to draw up measures to deal with current difficulties this summer. What's essential, however, is that the central, prefectural and municipal governments build a unified policy on this issue. We call for deep discussion on what should be given priority in building such policy.
最終的には、国の財政面での支援が欠かせない。国は今夏にも当面実施すべき対策をまとめるが、重要なのは国と都道府県、さらには市町村が一体的に対応することだ。どう優先度をつけて対策を進めるのか、互いに議論を深めてほしい。
Furthermore, the countermeasures laid out in the special measures law for the projected Tokai earthquake are different than those for Tonankai or Nankai quakes. Prefectural governors and other people in the areas likely to be affected, however, have begun calling for a united countermeasures law. If changes in the law are required, then the central government should get working on them as soon as possible.
また、東南海・南海地震と、予知を前提とした東海地震では、対策を規定した特別措置法の内容が異なっている。しかし、広域での避難や減災対策が求められる現状では、一本化が望ましいとの声が知事会議などから出ている。必要な法改正ならば、国は早急に取り組むべきだ。
毎日新聞 2012年4月3日 東京朝刊
Editorial: Catastrophic quake, tsunami projections demand policy rethink
社説：南海トラフ津波 想定受け止め対策を
If a major earthquake hits the "Nankai Trough" off central and western Japan's Pacific coast, the resulting tsunami could tower two to three times higher than previously estimated, according to an expert government panel announcement on March 31.
これまで想定された２〜３倍の津波高が公表された。西日本の太平洋沖に延びる「南海トラフ」で発生が懸念される巨大地震に伴うものだ。
The panel assumed a magnitude-9.1 temblor -- close to the same strength as the Great East Japan Earthquake of March last year -- and put together maximum damage estimates based on the latest scientific data.
内閣府の有識者検討会が、地震の規模を示すマグニチュード（Ｍ）を東日本大震災なみの９・１に設定し、最新の科学的知見に基づき、考えられる最大級の被害を試算した。
The result: a quake measuring a high-6 on the Japanese 7-point intensity scale and destruction to 395 municipalities in 21 prefectures -- more than five times greater than was projected in a 2003 study. Moreover, if the quake hit at high-tide, the resulting tsunami would top 20 meters when they slammed into 23 municipalities in the Tokyo islands and Shizuoka, Aichi, Mie, Tokushima and Kochi prefectures. The largest projected wave, at 34.4 meters high, would hit the town of Kuroshio, Kochi Prefecture.
震度６強以上は２１府県３９５市町村で、０３年に被害想定した際の５倍以上に拡大した。また、満潮時の津波高は、東京の島しょ部や静岡、愛知、三重、徳島、高知の６都県２３市町村で２０メートルを超えると予測した。最大は３４・４メートルの高知県黒潮町だ。
Of especially serious note in the estimates is the maximum 21-meter-high tsunami projected for Chubu Electric Power Co.'s Hamaoka nuclear power plant in Omaezaki, Shizuoka Prefecture. After the meltdowns at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant -- triggered when backup generators powering the reactors' cooling systems were flooded by tsunami -- Chubu Electric began building an 18-meter-tall, 1.6-kilometer-long tsunami breakwater to guard the Hamaoka plant.
深刻なのは、中部電力浜岡原発が最大２１メートルの津波に襲われる可能性が指摘されたことだ。東京電力福島第１原発事故を受けて、中部電は緊急安全対策の一環で高さ（海抜）１８メートル、長さ１・６キロの防波壁を年内完成を目指して建設中である。
The projected tsunami, however, would get over the barrier and swamp the station. Obviously, Chubu Electric's tsunami countermeasures need a drastic rethink.
だが、想定に従えば津波は防波壁を越え、浸水は原発敷地にまで及ぶ。当然のことながら、津波対策を含めた抜本的な見直しが必要だ。
Then there are the tsunami estimates for major urban centers. A wave over 20 meters high is projected for Toyohashi, Aichi Prefecture, and waves over 10 meters for the cities of Shizuoka, Hamamatsu, Kochi and Miyazaki.
注目されるのは、人口が多い都市部でも相当な津波高が予想されることだ。愛知県豊橋市は２０メートルを超え、静岡、浜松、高知、宮崎の各市でも１０メートルを超える地点がある。
Starting this month, the expert panel will begin releasing flood projections based on the estimated tsunami heights. Meanwhile, the Cabinet Office's Central Disaster Prevention Council is scheduled to announce total damage projections, including the number of dead and total buildings destroyed, in June this year.
検討会は４月以後、津波高予測に基づく浸水想定区域を公表する。中央防災会議も死者数や全壊棟数など被害想定を６月に公表予定だ。
The foundation of any anti-tsunami damage policy must be the lessons learned from the experience of last year's terrible waves, which took the lives of many who could not flee in time. Municipalities along Japan's Pacific coast, menaced by three projected catastrophic quakes -- Tokai, Tonankai and Nankai -- along the Nankai Trough, must formulate such policies especially quickly.
津波対策は、避難の遅れから多数の被害者が出た東日本大震災の教訓をどう生かすのかが基本だ。南海トラフを震源域とする東海、東南海、南海地震が想定される太平洋側の市町村は、特に対策が急がれる。
An expert investigative committee under the disaster prevention council concluded last year that communities should be built such that anyone could walk to safety within about five minutes in case of a tsunami. However, the latest estimates warn of one-meter tsunami hitting the coast in about 2 minutes after a major quake. There are some local governments that have taken concrete tsunami safety measures, such as designating tall buildings as evacuation sites, building evacuation towers and demarking evacuation routes to high ground. In light of the new estimates, however, a re-evaluation of these measures -- including minimum evacuation times -- is required.
中央防災会議の専門調査会は昨年、津波が発生した場合、原則として歩いて５分程度で安全な場所に避難できるまちづくりを提言した。だが、今回の想定では高さ１メートルの津波が最短２分で到達する。津波避難ビルの新たな指定や津波避難タワー建設、高台への避難路確保など具体的に動き出した地域もあるが、避難時間も含め見直しを迫られよう。
Finally, the state's financial support cannot be ignored. The government is set to draw up measures to deal with current difficulties this summer. What's essential, however, is that the central, prefectural and municipal governments build a unified policy on this issue. We call for deep discussion on what should be given priority in building such policy.
最終的には、国の財政面での支援が欠かせない。国は今夏にも当面実施すべき対策をまとめるが、重要なのは国と都道府県、さらには市町村が一体的に対応することだ。どう優先度をつけて対策を進めるのか、互いに議論を深めてほしい。
Furthermore, the countermeasures laid out in the special measures law for the projected Tokai earthquake are different than those for Tonankai or Nankai quakes. Prefectural governors and other people in the areas likely to be affected, however, have begun calling for a united countermeasures law. If changes in the law are required, then the central government should get working on them as soon as possible.
また、東南海・南海地震と、予知を前提とした東海地震では、対策を規定した特別措置法の内容が異なっている。しかし、広域での避難や減災対策が求められる現状では、一本化が望ましいとの声が知事会議などから出ている。必要な法改正ならば、国は早急に取り組むべきだ。
毎日新聞 2012年4月3日 東京朝刊
2012年04月04日
風知草：宙に浮く燃料プール＝山田孝男
一体いつまでこの泥試合は続くのでしょうか。
僅か４６０トンの使用済み燃料ですが、もしも爆発すれば東京にも人が住めなくなる。
ここは官民一体となって４号機に残されている使用済み燃料を取り出すべきでしょう。
で、取り出した（取り出せたらの話ですが）使用済み燃料はモンゴルに輸出するというのでしょうか。
それなら、大反対します。日本国内で処理すべきですね。
スラチャイ
(Mainichi Japan) April 2, 2012
In light of further nuclear risks, economic growth should not be priority
風知草：宙に浮く燃料プール＝山田孝男
The government continues to take regressive steps in spite of the torrent of criticism it has received and the lessons that should have been learned since the Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami triggered a nuclear disaster.
大震災以来のおびただしい批判、検証、反省もむなしく、原発の安全をチェックする行政は後退し続けている。
This is evidenced in the fact that starting this week, which marks the beginning of a new fiscal year, the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency (NISA) and the Nuclear Safety Commission of Japan (NSC) have no budget. The new nuclear regulatory agency that was supposed to begin operations on April 1 in NISA's stead is now floundering amid resistance in the Diet from opposition parties. In other words, government agencies overseeing nuclear power now have an even more diminished presence.
その証拠に、今週から原子力安全・保安院と原子力安全委員会の予算はゼロ。取って代わるはずの「原子力規制庁」は法案が国会に滞留し、発足できない。つまり、監督官庁の存在感がさらに薄らいだ。
According to Japan's general budget provisions, funds for a new government organization can be diverted to existing government organizations if the money is being used for its original purpose. The situation doesn't do much for morale, however. Back-scratching relationships between government ministries, the indecision of both the ruling and opposition parties, and the unchanging fact that much of the current crisis is still left in the hands of plant operator Tokyo Electric Power Co. (TEPCO) remains the same.
予算は「その目的の実質に従い、執行できる」（予算総則１４条２）から、暫定存続の旧組織は新組織の予算を流用できるとはいえ、士気は上がらない。各府省のもたれ合い、与野党の不決断、何ごとも東京電力任せの実態は相変わらずだ。
One of the biggest issues that we face is the possibility that the spent nuclear fuel pool of the No. 4 reactor at the stricken Fukushima No. 1 Nuclear Power Plant will collapse. This is something that experts from both within and outside Japan have pointed out since the massive quake struck. TEPCO, meanwhile, says that the situation is under control. However, not only independent experts, but also sources within the government say that it's a grave concern.
福島第１原発４号機の核燃料貯蔵プールが崩壊する可能性について考えてみる。震災直後から国内外の専門家が注視してきたポイントである。
東電は大丈夫だというが、在野の専門家のみならず、政府関係者も「やはり怖い」と打ち明ける。どう怖いか。
The storage pool in the No. 4 reactor building has a total of 1,535 fuel rods, or 460 tons of nuclear fuel, in it. The 7-story building itself has suffered great damage, with the storage pool barely intact on the building's third and fourth floors. The roof has been blown away. If the storage pool breaks and runs dry, the nuclear fuel inside will overheat and explode, causing a massive amount of radioactive substances to spread over a wide area. Both the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and French nuclear energy company Areva have warned about this risk.
４号機は建屋内のプールに合計１５３５本、４６０トンもの核燃料がある。建屋は崩れかけた７階建てビル。プールは３、４階部分にかろうじて残り、天井は吹っ飛んでいる。
プールが壊れて水がなくなれば、核燃料は過熱、崩壊して莫大（ばくだい）な放射性物質が飛び散る。アメリカの原子力規制委員会もフランスの原子力企業アレバ社もこの点を強く意識した。
A report released in February by the Independent Investigation Commission on the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Accident stated that the storage pool of the plant's No. 4 reactor has clearly been shown to be "the weakest link" in the parallel, chain-reaction crises of the nuclear disaster. The worse-case scenario drawn up by the government includes not only the collapse of the No. 4 reactor pool, but the disintegration of spent fuel rods from all the plant's other reactors. If this were to happen, residents in the Tokyo metropolitan area would be forced to evacuate.
「福島原発事故独立検証委員会」（いわゆる民間事故調）報告書は、原発事故の「並行連鎖型危機」の中でも４号機プールが「もっとも『弱い環』であることを露呈させた」と書く。政府がまとめた最悪シナリオ（同報告書に収録）も４号機プール崩壊を予測。さらに各号機の使用済み燃料も崩壊し、首都圏住民も避難を迫られるというのが最悪シナリオだ。
Former Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Sumio Mabuchi, who was appointed to the post of then Prime Minister Naoto Kan's advisor on the nuclear disaster immediately after its outbreak, proposed the injection of concrete from below the No. 4 reactor to the bottom of the storage pool, Chernobyl-style. An inspection of the pool floor, however, led TEPCO to conclude that the pool was strong enough without additional concrete. The plans were scrapped, and antiseismic reinforcements were made to the reactor building instead.
震災直後、原発事故担当の首相補佐官に起用された馬淵澄夫元国土交通相（５１）は、４号機の地下からプールの底までコンクリートを注入し、チェルノブイリの「石棺」のように固めようとした。が、プール底部の調査で「強度十分」と見た東電の判断で見送られ、支柱の耐震補強工事にとどめた。
"Because sea water was being pumped into the reactor, the soundness of the structure (concrete corrosion and deterioration) was questionable. There also were doubts about the calculations made on earthquake resistance as well," said one government source familiar with what took place at the time. "It's been suggested that the building would be reinforced, and spent fuel rods would be removed from the pool under those conditions. But fuel rod removal will take three years. Will the structure remain standing for that long? Burying the reactor in a concrete grave is like building a dam, and therefore expensive. I think that it was because TEPCO's general shareholders' meeting was coming up (in June 2011) that the company tried to keep expenses low."
当時の事情を知る政府関係者に聞くと、こう答えた。
「海水を注入しており、部材の健全性（コンクリートの腐食、劣化）が問題。耐震強度の計算にも疑問がある。応急補強の間にプールから核燃料を抜くというけど、３年かかる。それまでもつか。（石棺は）ダムを一つ造るようなもので高くつく。株主総会（昨年６月）前だったから、決算対策で出費を抑えようとしたと思います」
Promotion of nuclear power is a national policy, and yet the operation of nuclear reactors lies in the hands of private corporations. The government pushes the blame on TEPCO, while TEPCO dodges responsibility with the excuse that nuclear energy promotion is a government policy. This system of irresponsibility hasn't changed.
原発推進は国策だが、運営は私企業が担う。政府は東電を責め、東電は「国策だから」と開き直る。「国策民営」の無責任体制は変わらない。
In the three weeks after the Independent Investigation Commission on the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Accident's report became available to the public, 95,000 copies had been sold; this, despite the fact that they run 1,575 yen a piece. It's a testament to the public's thirst for a systematic explanation that is not affected by appearances or interests.
民間事故調の報告書は市販開始３週間で９万５０００部出たそうだ。１冊１５７５円もするというのに。体面や営利に左右されない体系的説明に対する国民の飢えを感じる。
Earthquakes in the neighborhood of level-5 on the seismic intensity scale continue to occur even now in the Tohoku and Kanto regions. We cannot accept the absurd condescension of those who fear the worse-case scenario, labeling them as "overreacting." We have no time to humor the senseless thinking that instead, those who downplay the risks for the sake of economic growth are "realistic."
東北・関東で震度５級の地震が続いている。最悪の事態を恐れる者を「感情的」と見くだす不見識を受け入れることはできない。リスク軽視で経済発展を夢想する者こそ「現実的」という非常識に付き合うわけにはいかない。
（毎週月曜日掲載）
(By Takao Yamada, Expert Senior Writer)
毎日新聞 2012年4月2日 東京朝刊
僅か４６０トンの使用済み燃料ですが、もしも爆発すれば東京にも人が住めなくなる。
ここは官民一体となって４号機に残されている使用済み燃料を取り出すべきでしょう。
で、取り出した（取り出せたらの話ですが）使用済み燃料はモンゴルに輸出するというのでしょうか。
それなら、大反対します。日本国内で処理すべきですね。
スラチャイ
(Mainichi Japan) April 2, 2012
In light of further nuclear risks, economic growth should not be priority
風知草：宙に浮く燃料プール＝山田孝男
The government continues to take regressive steps in spite of the torrent of criticism it has received and the lessons that should have been learned since the Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami triggered a nuclear disaster.
大震災以来のおびただしい批判、検証、反省もむなしく、原発の安全をチェックする行政は後退し続けている。
This is evidenced in the fact that starting this week, which marks the beginning of a new fiscal year, the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency (NISA) and the Nuclear Safety Commission of Japan (NSC) have no budget. The new nuclear regulatory agency that was supposed to begin operations on April 1 in NISA's stead is now floundering amid resistance in the Diet from opposition parties. In other words, government agencies overseeing nuclear power now have an even more diminished presence.
その証拠に、今週から原子力安全・保安院と原子力安全委員会の予算はゼロ。取って代わるはずの「原子力規制庁」は法案が国会に滞留し、発足できない。つまり、監督官庁の存在感がさらに薄らいだ。
According to Japan's general budget provisions, funds for a new government organization can be diverted to existing government organizations if the money is being used for its original purpose. The situation doesn't do much for morale, however. Back-scratching relationships between government ministries, the indecision of both the ruling and opposition parties, and the unchanging fact that much of the current crisis is still left in the hands of plant operator Tokyo Electric Power Co. (TEPCO) remains the same.
予算は「その目的の実質に従い、執行できる」（予算総則１４条２）から、暫定存続の旧組織は新組織の予算を流用できるとはいえ、士気は上がらない。各府省のもたれ合い、与野党の不決断、何ごとも東京電力任せの実態は相変わらずだ。
One of the biggest issues that we face is the possibility that the spent nuclear fuel pool of the No. 4 reactor at the stricken Fukushima No. 1 Nuclear Power Plant will collapse. This is something that experts from both within and outside Japan have pointed out since the massive quake struck. TEPCO, meanwhile, says that the situation is under control. However, not only independent experts, but also sources within the government say that it's a grave concern.
福島第１原発４号機の核燃料貯蔵プールが崩壊する可能性について考えてみる。震災直後から国内外の専門家が注視してきたポイントである。
東電は大丈夫だというが、在野の専門家のみならず、政府関係者も「やはり怖い」と打ち明ける。どう怖いか。
The storage pool in the No. 4 reactor building has a total of 1,535 fuel rods, or 460 tons of nuclear fuel, in it. The 7-story building itself has suffered great damage, with the storage pool barely intact on the building's third and fourth floors. The roof has been blown away. If the storage pool breaks and runs dry, the nuclear fuel inside will overheat and explode, causing a massive amount of radioactive substances to spread over a wide area. Both the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and French nuclear energy company Areva have warned about this risk.
４号機は建屋内のプールに合計１５３５本、４６０トンもの核燃料がある。建屋は崩れかけた７階建てビル。プールは３、４階部分にかろうじて残り、天井は吹っ飛んでいる。
プールが壊れて水がなくなれば、核燃料は過熱、崩壊して莫大（ばくだい）な放射性物質が飛び散る。アメリカの原子力規制委員会もフランスの原子力企業アレバ社もこの点を強く意識した。
A report released in February by the Independent Investigation Commission on the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Accident stated that the storage pool of the plant's No. 4 reactor has clearly been shown to be "the weakest link" in the parallel, chain-reaction crises of the nuclear disaster. The worse-case scenario drawn up by the government includes not only the collapse of the No. 4 reactor pool, but the disintegration of spent fuel rods from all the plant's other reactors. If this were to happen, residents in the Tokyo metropolitan area would be forced to evacuate.
「福島原発事故独立検証委員会」（いわゆる民間事故調）報告書は、原発事故の「並行連鎖型危機」の中でも４号機プールが「もっとも『弱い環』であることを露呈させた」と書く。政府がまとめた最悪シナリオ（同報告書に収録）も４号機プール崩壊を予測。さらに各号機の使用済み燃料も崩壊し、首都圏住民も避難を迫られるというのが最悪シナリオだ。
Former Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Sumio Mabuchi, who was appointed to the post of then Prime Minister Naoto Kan's advisor on the nuclear disaster immediately after its outbreak, proposed the injection of concrete from below the No. 4 reactor to the bottom of the storage pool, Chernobyl-style. An inspection of the pool floor, however, led TEPCO to conclude that the pool was strong enough without additional concrete. The plans were scrapped, and antiseismic reinforcements were made to the reactor building instead.
震災直後、原発事故担当の首相補佐官に起用された馬淵澄夫元国土交通相（５１）は、４号機の地下からプールの底までコンクリートを注入し、チェルノブイリの「石棺」のように固めようとした。が、プール底部の調査で「強度十分」と見た東電の判断で見送られ、支柱の耐震補強工事にとどめた。
"Because sea water was being pumped into the reactor, the soundness of the structure (concrete corrosion and deterioration) was questionable. There also were doubts about the calculations made on earthquake resistance as well," said one government source familiar with what took place at the time. "It's been suggested that the building would be reinforced, and spent fuel rods would be removed from the pool under those conditions. But fuel rod removal will take three years. Will the structure remain standing for that long? Burying the reactor in a concrete grave is like building a dam, and therefore expensive. I think that it was because TEPCO's general shareholders' meeting was coming up (in June 2011) that the company tried to keep expenses low."
当時の事情を知る政府関係者に聞くと、こう答えた。
「海水を注入しており、部材の健全性（コンクリートの腐食、劣化）が問題。耐震強度の計算にも疑問がある。応急補強の間にプールから核燃料を抜くというけど、３年かかる。それまでもつか。（石棺は）ダムを一つ造るようなもので高くつく。株主総会（昨年６月）前だったから、決算対策で出費を抑えようとしたと思います」
Promotion of nuclear power is a national policy, and yet the operation of nuclear reactors lies in the hands of private corporations. The government pushes the blame on TEPCO, while TEPCO dodges responsibility with the excuse that nuclear energy promotion is a government policy. This system of irresponsibility hasn't changed.
原発推進は国策だが、運営は私企業が担う。政府は東電を責め、東電は「国策だから」と開き直る。「国策民営」の無責任体制は変わらない。
In the three weeks after the Independent Investigation Commission on the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Accident's report became available to the public, 95,000 copies had been sold; this, despite the fact that they run 1,575 yen a piece. It's a testament to the public's thirst for a systematic explanation that is not affected by appearances or interests.
民間事故調の報告書は市販開始３週間で９万５０００部出たそうだ。１冊１５７５円もするというのに。体面や営利に左右されない体系的説明に対する国民の飢えを感じる。
Earthquakes in the neighborhood of level-5 on the seismic intensity scale continue to occur even now in the Tohoku and Kanto regions. We cannot accept the absurd condescension of those who fear the worse-case scenario, labeling them as "overreacting." We have no time to humor the senseless thinking that instead, those who downplay the risks for the sake of economic growth are "realistic."
東北・関東で震度５級の地震が続いている。最悪の事態を恐れる者を「感情的」と見くだす不見識を受け入れることはできない。リスク軽視で経済発展を夢想する者こそ「現実的」という非常識に付き合うわけにはいかない。
（毎週月曜日掲載）
(By Takao Yamada, Expert Senior Writer)
毎日新聞 2012年4月2日 東京朝刊
2012年04月03日
香山リカのココロの万華鏡：「悲しみの家」があれば ／東京
(Mainichi Japan) April 1, 2012
Kaleidoscope of the Heart: Having one's own sanctuary for grief
香山リカのココロの万華鏡：「悲しみの家」があれば ／東京
At a recent symposium that I attended, I learned some shocking information from Yasuyuki Shimizu, the head of a suicide prevention nonprofit organization called Lifelink.
「自殺対策支援センター ライフリンク」というＮＰＯ法人がある。その代表である清水康之さんとシンポジウムで同席したのだが、その話が衝撃的だった。
Among those who call the group for help, there are many bereaved family members who lost their loved ones to last year's devastating earthquake and tsunami. What was particularly significant for me was that, according to Mr. Shimizu, one year after the disasters, not much has changed for many of those grieving.
清水さんたちは大震災で家族を失った方たちの電話相談にも応じているのだが、その内容が１年前もいまもほとんど変わらないのだという。
The bereaved family members often describe their conditions as "being at a loss as to what to do." The feeling of being completely stumped by how to start to heal their emotional wounds lingers even a year after the disasters.
遺族たちの言葉、それは「どうしてよいのかわかりません」。途方に暮れ、立ち直りのためにどこから手をつけてよいのかわからない状況が、ずっと続いているということだ。
As I was listening to Mr. Shimizu, part of me was surprised, but part of me also thought that such a state of mind is rather natural. In fact, it is rather impossible to expect people who have lost a loved one to suddenly be healed in a year or so.
驚きを感じると同時に、「そうかもしれないな」という気もした。大切な人を失って、１年やそこらで元気になれ、というほうが無理だ。
We often hear words along the lines of "The clock has stopped since then," or "Since that day, I haven't moved a single step forward." However, if one comes to think about it, this is a rather normal human response -- and it is not only limited to those who lost a dear one in last year's disasters.
「時計が止まったまま」「あの日から一歩も前に進めていない」という言葉もよく聞くが、ちょっと考えてみれば、それはあたりまえの話だ。
In our lives we are always surrounded by countless possibilities of unexpected personal loss, disease and major failure. When something devastating like this happens to us, we are often told by others to fight on and not give in to it, but the reality is that it always takes time to overcome such incidents.
大震災で家族を失った人ばかりではない。私たちの人生には、想像もしていなかったつらいできごと、病気、大きな失敗などがいくらでも待ち受けている。それらを経験しても「負けるな」「乗り越えろ」と言われるが、それには時間がかかる。
There will be a certain period of time -- sometimes half a year, sometimes a year, or even longer -- when we won't be able to do anything but blankly stare into space. Sometimes it can take years before we once again become aware of the changing seasons.
半年、１年、あるいはもっと長い時間、何も手につかずぼーっとしてすごし、「ああ、春が来たな」と季節の変化に気づくようになるまでに何年もかかる、という場合もある。
In my consultation room, I often wonder whether a period of grief should be as short as possible. Whenever we treat patients who have suffered a major shock in their lives, we psychiatrists always tell them the following: "You must have suffered a great deal. However, if you take this medicine, you will feel a bit better. It will shorten the grief period and help you get better soon."
診察室にいていつも疑問に思うのは、「本当につらい時期は短いほうがいいのか」ということだ。ショックなできごとがあって落ち込んでいる人に、私たち精神科医は判で押したように言う。「たいへんでしたね。でも、このお薬を飲むとつらさが少しやわらいで、元気になるまでの時間も短縮されると思いますよ」。
While this is not a lie per se, that is how we prescribe anti-depressants and other medications, while we sometimes also think that what the person really needs is to embrace the grief and take as much time as he or she needs to deal with the emotional pain.
それはウソではないのだが、そう言って抗うつ剤などを出しながら、「この人にとって必要なのは、十分な時間をかけてゆっくりと悲しむことなのではないか」とも思ってしまうのだ。
Unfortunately, however, modern society does not allow people the privilege of a long recovery from a sad and painful event in life. If people tell their employers that they are in need of a half year's leave to recover from a personal loss, they will most likely be recommended to quit their job or see a doctor and do something about it as soon as possible.
ただ、現代の社会は悲しみやつらさにゆっくり時間をかけることを許さない。「大切なものを失ったので、半年ほど会社を休みます」と言ったら、すぐに退職を勧められるか、「病院に行って何とかしてもらえ」と命じられるだろう。
I sometimes think how wonderful it would be if people had their own "sanctuary for grief" -- a place far away from daily house chores and work, where they can be free to think about their grief as much as they need.
悲しい人が、仕事や家事から離れて、ゆっくり時間をかけて悲しめるような場所。そんな「悲しみの家」を作れたらいいのにな、などとときどき考える。
Perhaps, at the moment, Lifelink is the closest thing we have to such a place.
今のところは、ライフリンクが行っているような電話相談が、その「悲しみの家」の役割を果たしているのかもしれない。
(By Rika Kayama, psychiatrist)
毎日新聞 2012年3月27日 地方版
Kaleidoscope of the Heart: Having one's own sanctuary for grief
香山リカのココロの万華鏡：「悲しみの家」があれば ／東京
At a recent symposium that I attended, I learned some shocking information from Yasuyuki Shimizu, the head of a suicide prevention nonprofit organization called Lifelink.
「自殺対策支援センター ライフリンク」というＮＰＯ法人がある。その代表である清水康之さんとシンポジウムで同席したのだが、その話が衝撃的だった。
Among those who call the group for help, there are many bereaved family members who lost their loved ones to last year's devastating earthquake and tsunami. What was particularly significant for me was that, according to Mr. Shimizu, one year after the disasters, not much has changed for many of those grieving.
清水さんたちは大震災で家族を失った方たちの電話相談にも応じているのだが、その内容が１年前もいまもほとんど変わらないのだという。
The bereaved family members often describe their conditions as "being at a loss as to what to do." The feeling of being completely stumped by how to start to heal their emotional wounds lingers even a year after the disasters.
遺族たちの言葉、それは「どうしてよいのかわかりません」。途方に暮れ、立ち直りのためにどこから手をつけてよいのかわからない状況が、ずっと続いているということだ。
As I was listening to Mr. Shimizu, part of me was surprised, but part of me also thought that such a state of mind is rather natural. In fact, it is rather impossible to expect people who have lost a loved one to suddenly be healed in a year or so.
驚きを感じると同時に、「そうかもしれないな」という気もした。大切な人を失って、１年やそこらで元気になれ、というほうが無理だ。
We often hear words along the lines of "The clock has stopped since then," or "Since that day, I haven't moved a single step forward." However, if one comes to think about it, this is a rather normal human response -- and it is not only limited to those who lost a dear one in last year's disasters.
「時計が止まったまま」「あの日から一歩も前に進めていない」という言葉もよく聞くが、ちょっと考えてみれば、それはあたりまえの話だ。
In our lives we are always surrounded by countless possibilities of unexpected personal loss, disease and major failure. When something devastating like this happens to us, we are often told by others to fight on and not give in to it, but the reality is that it always takes time to overcome such incidents.
大震災で家族を失った人ばかりではない。私たちの人生には、想像もしていなかったつらいできごと、病気、大きな失敗などがいくらでも待ち受けている。それらを経験しても「負けるな」「乗り越えろ」と言われるが、それには時間がかかる。
There will be a certain period of time -- sometimes half a year, sometimes a year, or even longer -- when we won't be able to do anything but blankly stare into space. Sometimes it can take years before we once again become aware of the changing seasons.
半年、１年、あるいはもっと長い時間、何も手につかずぼーっとしてすごし、「ああ、春が来たな」と季節の変化に気づくようになるまでに何年もかかる、という場合もある。
In my consultation room, I often wonder whether a period of grief should be as short as possible. Whenever we treat patients who have suffered a major shock in their lives, we psychiatrists always tell them the following: "You must have suffered a great deal. However, if you take this medicine, you will feel a bit better. It will shorten the grief period and help you get better soon."
診察室にいていつも疑問に思うのは、「本当につらい時期は短いほうがいいのか」ということだ。ショックなできごとがあって落ち込んでいる人に、私たち精神科医は判で押したように言う。「たいへんでしたね。でも、このお薬を飲むとつらさが少しやわらいで、元気になるまでの時間も短縮されると思いますよ」。
While this is not a lie per se, that is how we prescribe anti-depressants and other medications, while we sometimes also think that what the person really needs is to embrace the grief and take as much time as he or she needs to deal with the emotional pain.
それはウソではないのだが、そう言って抗うつ剤などを出しながら、「この人にとって必要なのは、十分な時間をかけてゆっくりと悲しむことなのではないか」とも思ってしまうのだ。
Unfortunately, however, modern society does not allow people the privilege of a long recovery from a sad and painful event in life. If people tell their employers that they are in need of a half year's leave to recover from a personal loss, they will most likely be recommended to quit their job or see a doctor and do something about it as soon as possible.
ただ、現代の社会は悲しみやつらさにゆっくり時間をかけることを許さない。「大切なものを失ったので、半年ほど会社を休みます」と言ったら、すぐに退職を勧められるか、「病院に行って何とかしてもらえ」と命じられるだろう。
I sometimes think how wonderful it would be if people had their own "sanctuary for grief" -- a place far away from daily house chores and work, where they can be free to think about their grief as much as they need.
悲しい人が、仕事や家事から離れて、ゆっくり時間をかけて悲しめるような場所。そんな「悲しみの家」を作れたらいいのにな、などとときどき考える。
Perhaps, at the moment, Lifelink is the closest thing we have to such a place.
今のところは、ライフリンクが行っているような電話相談が、その「悲しみの家」の役割を果たしているのかもしれない。
(By Rika Kayama, psychiatrist)
毎日新聞 2012年3月27日 地方版
2012年04月02日
消費税法案提出 首相は審議入りへ環境整えよ
The Yomiuri Shimbun (Apr. 1, 2012)
Set the stage for deliberations on consumption tax hike bill
消費税法案提出 首相は審議入りへ環境整えよ（3月31日付・読売社説）
◆野党と「政策スクラム」形成を◆
The government has adopted a bill to raise the consumption tax rate at a Cabinet meeting and submitted it to the Diet. We commend Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda for working hard to realize the government decision within the current fiscal year, and sticking to his personal pledge from beginning to end.
政府が、消費税率引き上げ関連法案を閣議決定し、国会に提出した。
野田首相が終始ぶれずに、年度内に法案を決定したことは評価したい。
Noda renewed his call to opposition parties to cooperate in getting the bill passed. "If we look at this issue from a grand perspective, this is a good chance for us to join forces with the opposition bloc over policies," he said at a press conference Friday.
首相は、記者会見で、「大局に立つなら、野党と、政策のスクラムを組むことは十分可能である」と語り、野党に改めて協力を呼び掛けた。
However, there is no prospect that the government will be able to pass--or even start Diet deliberations on--the bill, a step on which Noda openly said he would stake his political life.
だが、首相が「政治生命をかける」とまで公言した法案は、成立どころか、審議入りのメドさえ立っていない。
As an initial step, the government and the ruling Democratic Party of Japan must make utmost efforts to create an environment in which the main opposition Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito will agree to enter negotiations on the bill.
政府と民主党はまず、自民、公明両党が法案を巡る協議に応じるための環境作りに、全力を注がなければならない。
===
Consider multiple tax rates
◆複数税率も検討課題だ◆
The bill's main pillar is to raise the consumption tax rate in two stages to 8 percent in April 2014 and to 10 percent in October 2015.
法案は、消費税率を２０１４年４月に８％、１５年１０月に１０％へ２段階で引き上げることが柱だ。
Eighteen years have passed since the Diet decided to raise the consumption tax rate to the current 5 percent. Over that time, the outstanding debt of both the central and local governments has ballooned due to deteriorating fiscal conditions. This debt is projected to reach about 900 trillion yen--a record high--at the end of fiscal 2011, which ends Saturday.
国会が現行の５％への引き上げを決めてから１８年。この間、財政の悪化で、国と地方の債務残高は膨れあがり、１１年度末には過去最悪の約９００兆円に達する。
Deep spending cuts will be essential for fiscal reconstruction, but this cannot be achieved simply by streamlining administrative bodies and services.
財政再建には徹底的な歳出削減が不可欠だが、行政のスリム化だけでは到底追いつかない。
In the end, it will be unavoidable to raise the rate of the consumption tax, which provides a stable source of revenue for the government.
結局、安定財源である消費税の税率引き上げは避けて通れない道である。
The bill's supplementary provision stipulates that the government will carry out measures aiming for a nominal economic growth rate of about 3 percent and a real economic growth rate of about 2 percent, as an elastic clause linking the tax hike to the state of the economy. This makes an economic turnaround a condition for implementing a higher consumption tax rate.
法案には、景気弾力条項として「名目３％程度、実質２％程度」の経済成長率を目指す施策を実施する、と明記された。
The prime minister stated these figures in the clause are not preconditions for the tax hike. We think Noda's position is appropriate.
首相が、これに関連し、「税率引き上げの前提条件ではない」と述べたのは当然である。
Over the past 20 years, the country's nominal growth rate has remained almost zero. Given this, it will not be easy to achieve such growth targets. It is of course necessary for the government to try to generate economic growth. However, it must not allow opponents to exploit these figures to justify their attempts to stop the tax increase.
この２０年間の名目成長率はほぼゼロであり、達成は容易ではない。無論、政府は経済成長に努力すべきだ。しかし、この目標を、反対派が増税阻止の根拠に使おうとしても認めてはなるまい。
As steps to alleviate the burden that a higher consumption tax rate would impose on low-income earners, the bill incorporates a so-called negative income tax, which combines tax exemptions and benefit provisions. It also sets a limit on the total amount of social security-related payments to be shouldered by low-income earners.
低所得者対策として、法案は、減税や現金給付を行う「給付付き税額控除」や、社会保障の合計自己負担額に上限を設ける「総合合算制度」などを盛り込んだ。
Though some DPJ members are calling for taking bolder measures, it is important that the government not expand such systems to an unnecessary scale. Doing so would leave the door open to characterizing them as dole-out policies.
民主党内には、大規模な対策を求める声があるが、必要以上に規模を膨らませ、ばらまき色の強い内容にしないことが大切だ。
European countries have introduced a so-called multiple tax rate system, under which tax rates on food and other daily necessities are kept low to lesson burdens on family finances. In many countries, tax rates are set at zero or extremely low for newspapers and books. We believe implementing a multiple tax rate system is worth consideration in Japan, too.
欧州では、家計負担を軽くするため、食料品など生活必需品の税率を低く抑える複数税率を採用している。新聞や書籍も税率をゼロや大幅に低くする国が多い。複数税率導入も検討すべきだろう。
◆民主は大胆に歩み寄れ◆
When the Cabinet gave approval to the consumption tax hike bill, Shizuka Kamei, the head of the People's New Party, declared his party would split from the ruling coalition.
法案の閣議決定にあたり、国民新党は、亀井代表が連立離脱を宣言した。
However, Shozaburo Jimi, state minister for postal reform and financial services, and a majority of other PNP members refused to obey Kamei's decision and opted to stay with the Noda administration. The de facto split of the DPJ's junior ruling coalition partner at this point was inevitable.
これに同調しない自見金融相らは政権に残留した。分裂状態に陥ったのはやむを得ない。
===
DPJ must back off boldly
Some members of the group led by former DPJ leader Ichiro Ozawa also have bristled at the Cabinet decision on the tax increase, handing in letters of resignation from their government and party posts. The incident has revealed afresh the depth of the split within the DPJ.
民主党の小沢一郎・元代表のグループの一部議員は、「閣議決定は認められない」として、政府や党の役職の辞表を提出した。民主党内の亀裂の深さを改めて浮き彫りにしたと言える。
A politically key phase of the consumption tax issue will come when the bill is put to a vote in the House of Representatives.
衆院での法案採決が、政治的には大きなヤマ場となる。
The DPJ leadership should take every possible step to tighten unity within the party. The party also must do its utmost to earn the backing of the LDP and Komeito, as this will be essential for the bill's legislation.
党執行部は、衆院での採決に向け、党内の引き締めを図ることが重要だ。
同時並行で、法案成立に不可欠な自民、公明両党の協力を得る努力を尽くさねばならない。
If the two major opposition parties oppose the bill in lower house deliberations, chances would be very slim of the LDP and Komeito throwing their support behind the bill in the House of Councillors.
自公両党が衆院段階で法案に反対すれば、参院で賛成に転じる可能性は小さいからだ。
The opposition parties have been strongly opposed to DPJ plans to create a new pension program aimed at guaranteeing a minimum pension benefit. This program would require enormous revenue sources.
膨大な財源が必要な「最低保障年金」導入など、民主党の新年金制度案に対しては野党から強い批判がある。
The DPJ initiative to abolish the medical care system for people aged 75 and older--a system introduced when the LDP and Komeito were in power--has become bogged down because of a backlash from local governments that favor keeping the system intact.
自公政権で導入された後期高齢者医療制度を廃止するとの方針も、制度の継続を望む自治体の反発で行き詰まっている。
These were two key DPJ policy pledges for the 2009 general election in which it came to power. The party, nevertheless, should not be fastidious about implementing them. The DPJ should instead be flexible enough to decide to offer concessions to the opposition on these matters, including dropping them entirely or making drastic modifications.
ともに民主党が政権公約（マニフェスト）で掲げた政策だが、その実現にこだわるべきではない。撤回や大幅修正など、野党側に大胆に歩み寄る決断が必要だ。
===
LDP must show flexibility
Meanwhile, consultations between the DPJ, the LDP and Komeito have led to agreements on establishing a new child benefit program to replace the current child-rearing allowance plan, as well as a bill to revise the Postal Service Privatization Law.
民自公３党の話し合いで、子ども手当に代わる新児童手当創設や郵政民営化法改正が決まった。
Broadening consensus-building efforts among the parties will surely help quicken moves to start Diet deliberations on the consumption tax bill.
こうした合意形成を広げることが、消費税率引き上げ法案の審議入りにもプラスに働く。
◆自民も協議に応じよ◆
The DPJ and the LDP are in step as far as the idea of raising the consumption tax rate to 10 percent is concerned. The parties must not miss the opportunity that is before their very eyes.
消費税率の１０％への引き上げでは、民主党と自民党が足並みをそろえている。この機をみすみす逃してはならない。
Set the stage for deliberations on consumption tax hike bill
消費税法案提出 首相は審議入りへ環境整えよ（3月31日付・読売社説）
◆野党と「政策スクラム」形成を◆
The government has adopted a bill to raise the consumption tax rate at a Cabinet meeting and submitted it to the Diet. We commend Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda for working hard to realize the government decision within the current fiscal year, and sticking to his personal pledge from beginning to end.
政府が、消費税率引き上げ関連法案を閣議決定し、国会に提出した。
野田首相が終始ぶれずに、年度内に法案を決定したことは評価したい。
Noda renewed his call to opposition parties to cooperate in getting the bill passed. "If we look at this issue from a grand perspective, this is a good chance for us to join forces with the opposition bloc over policies," he said at a press conference Friday.
首相は、記者会見で、「大局に立つなら、野党と、政策のスクラムを組むことは十分可能である」と語り、野党に改めて協力を呼び掛けた。
However, there is no prospect that the government will be able to pass--or even start Diet deliberations on--the bill, a step on which Noda openly said he would stake his political life.
だが、首相が「政治生命をかける」とまで公言した法案は、成立どころか、審議入りのメドさえ立っていない。
As an initial step, the government and the ruling Democratic Party of Japan must make utmost efforts to create an environment in which the main opposition Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito will agree to enter negotiations on the bill.
政府と民主党はまず、自民、公明両党が法案を巡る協議に応じるための環境作りに、全力を注がなければならない。
===
Consider multiple tax rates
◆複数税率も検討課題だ◆
The bill's main pillar is to raise the consumption tax rate in two stages to 8 percent in April 2014 and to 10 percent in October 2015.
法案は、消費税率を２０１４年４月に８％、１５年１０月に１０％へ２段階で引き上げることが柱だ。
Eighteen years have passed since the Diet decided to raise the consumption tax rate to the current 5 percent. Over that time, the outstanding debt of both the central and local governments has ballooned due to deteriorating fiscal conditions. This debt is projected to reach about 900 trillion yen--a record high--at the end of fiscal 2011, which ends Saturday.
国会が現行の５％への引き上げを決めてから１８年。この間、財政の悪化で、国と地方の債務残高は膨れあがり、１１年度末には過去最悪の約９００兆円に達する。
Deep spending cuts will be essential for fiscal reconstruction, but this cannot be achieved simply by streamlining administrative bodies and services.
財政再建には徹底的な歳出削減が不可欠だが、行政のスリム化だけでは到底追いつかない。
In the end, it will be unavoidable to raise the rate of the consumption tax, which provides a stable source of revenue for the government.
結局、安定財源である消費税の税率引き上げは避けて通れない道である。
The bill's supplementary provision stipulates that the government will carry out measures aiming for a nominal economic growth rate of about 3 percent and a real economic growth rate of about 2 percent, as an elastic clause linking the tax hike to the state of the economy. This makes an economic turnaround a condition for implementing a higher consumption tax rate.
法案には、景気弾力条項として「名目３％程度、実質２％程度」の経済成長率を目指す施策を実施する、と明記された。
The prime minister stated these figures in the clause are not preconditions for the tax hike. We think Noda's position is appropriate.
首相が、これに関連し、「税率引き上げの前提条件ではない」と述べたのは当然である。
Over the past 20 years, the country's nominal growth rate has remained almost zero. Given this, it will not be easy to achieve such growth targets. It is of course necessary for the government to try to generate economic growth. However, it must not allow opponents to exploit these figures to justify their attempts to stop the tax increase.
この２０年間の名目成長率はほぼゼロであり、達成は容易ではない。無論、政府は経済成長に努力すべきだ。しかし、この目標を、反対派が増税阻止の根拠に使おうとしても認めてはなるまい。
As steps to alleviate the burden that a higher consumption tax rate would impose on low-income earners, the bill incorporates a so-called negative income tax, which combines tax exemptions and benefit provisions. It also sets a limit on the total amount of social security-related payments to be shouldered by low-income earners.
低所得者対策として、法案は、減税や現金給付を行う「給付付き税額控除」や、社会保障の合計自己負担額に上限を設ける「総合合算制度」などを盛り込んだ。
Though some DPJ members are calling for taking bolder measures, it is important that the government not expand such systems to an unnecessary scale. Doing so would leave the door open to characterizing them as dole-out policies.
民主党内には、大規模な対策を求める声があるが、必要以上に規模を膨らませ、ばらまき色の強い内容にしないことが大切だ。
European countries have introduced a so-called multiple tax rate system, under which tax rates on food and other daily necessities are kept low to lesson burdens on family finances. In many countries, tax rates are set at zero or extremely low for newspapers and books. We believe implementing a multiple tax rate system is worth consideration in Japan, too.
欧州では、家計負担を軽くするため、食料品など生活必需品の税率を低く抑える複数税率を採用している。新聞や書籍も税率をゼロや大幅に低くする国が多い。複数税率導入も検討すべきだろう。
◆民主は大胆に歩み寄れ◆
When the Cabinet gave approval to the consumption tax hike bill, Shizuka Kamei, the head of the People's New Party, declared his party would split from the ruling coalition.
法案の閣議決定にあたり、国民新党は、亀井代表が連立離脱を宣言した。
However, Shozaburo Jimi, state minister for postal reform and financial services, and a majority of other PNP members refused to obey Kamei's decision and opted to stay with the Noda administration. The de facto split of the DPJ's junior ruling coalition partner at this point was inevitable.
これに同調しない自見金融相らは政権に残留した。分裂状態に陥ったのはやむを得ない。
===
DPJ must back off boldly
Some members of the group led by former DPJ leader Ichiro Ozawa also have bristled at the Cabinet decision on the tax increase, handing in letters of resignation from their government and party posts. The incident has revealed afresh the depth of the split within the DPJ.
民主党の小沢一郎・元代表のグループの一部議員は、「閣議決定は認められない」として、政府や党の役職の辞表を提出した。民主党内の亀裂の深さを改めて浮き彫りにしたと言える。
A politically key phase of the consumption tax issue will come when the bill is put to a vote in the House of Representatives.
衆院での法案採決が、政治的には大きなヤマ場となる。
The DPJ leadership should take every possible step to tighten unity within the party. The party also must do its utmost to earn the backing of the LDP and Komeito, as this will be essential for the bill's legislation.
党執行部は、衆院での採決に向け、党内の引き締めを図ることが重要だ。
同時並行で、法案成立に不可欠な自民、公明両党の協力を得る努力を尽くさねばならない。
If the two major opposition parties oppose the bill in lower house deliberations, chances would be very slim of the LDP and Komeito throwing their support behind the bill in the House of Councillors.
自公両党が衆院段階で法案に反対すれば、参院で賛成に転じる可能性は小さいからだ。
The opposition parties have been strongly opposed to DPJ plans to create a new pension program aimed at guaranteeing a minimum pension benefit. This program would require enormous revenue sources.
膨大な財源が必要な「最低保障年金」導入など、民主党の新年金制度案に対しては野党から強い批判がある。
The DPJ initiative to abolish the medical care system for people aged 75 and older--a system introduced when the LDP and Komeito were in power--has become bogged down because of a backlash from local governments that favor keeping the system intact.
自公政権で導入された後期高齢者医療制度を廃止するとの方針も、制度の継続を望む自治体の反発で行き詰まっている。
These were two key DPJ policy pledges for the 2009 general election in which it came to power. The party, nevertheless, should not be fastidious about implementing them. The DPJ should instead be flexible enough to decide to offer concessions to the opposition on these matters, including dropping them entirely or making drastic modifications.
ともに民主党が政権公約（マニフェスト）で掲げた政策だが、その実現にこだわるべきではない。撤回や大幅修正など、野党側に大胆に歩み寄る決断が必要だ。
===
LDP must show flexibility
Meanwhile, consultations between the DPJ, the LDP and Komeito have led to agreements on establishing a new child benefit program to replace the current child-rearing allowance plan, as well as a bill to revise the Postal Service Privatization Law.
民自公３党の話し合いで、子ども手当に代わる新児童手当創設や郵政民営化法改正が決まった。
Broadening consensus-building efforts among the parties will surely help quicken moves to start Diet deliberations on the consumption tax bill.
こうした合意形成を広げることが、消費税率引き上げ法案の審議入りにもプラスに働く。
◆自民も協議に応じよ◆
The DPJ and the LDP are in step as far as the idea of raising the consumption tax rate to 10 percent is concerned. The parties must not miss the opportunity that is before their very eyes.
消費税率の１０％への引き上げでは、民主党と自民党が足並みをそろえている。この機をみすみす逃してはならない。
2012年04月01日
春のパチンコ・パチスロファン感謝デー開催（東京都内）
私は今から４０年ほど前ですが、大学時代に手動式のパチンコを覚えました。
左手の人差し指と親指を上手に使って、玉を一つずつリズムよく放り込み、右手の親指でレバーをはじくのです。今は電動式になっているので玉をいれる手間がはぶけますし、一秒間に打ち出せる玉の数だって昔とは比べものにならないくらい発射できますよね＾＾。
こんな訳でパチンコが懐かしくなり、パチンコサイトを検索していました。
たった今ですが、あるサイトで、「春のパチンコ・パチスロファン感謝デー」というのに遭遇いたしました。
残念ながら東京都内限定みたいですが、できれば全国規模で展開して欲しいなと思いました。
東京都内の加盟パチンコ・パチスロ店にて、今週末の3日間（4月6・7・8日）開催されます。
この感謝デーの期間にご来店いただけた方々には、豪華景品が抽選で当たるということです。
都内のパチンコ、パチスロの愛好家は、この期間パチンコ・パチスロ店にお出かけしてみたらどうでしょうか。
都内高級ホテルの宿泊券やデジタル家電などが当たるかも知れませんよ。
レビューブログからの紹介です。
死刑執行 法相が重い職責を果たした
The Yomiuri Shimbun (Mar. 31, 2012)
Justice minister fulfills heavy responsibility
死刑執行 法相が重い職責を果たした（3月30日付・読売社説）
Three death-row inmates were executed Thursday. They were the first executions under the Democratic Party of Japan-led government in 20 months since two inmates were executed in July 2010.
３人の死刑が２９日、執行された。民主党政権では、一昨年７月の２人以来、１年８か月ぶりの執行となる。
Regarding the death penalty, which is the ultimate punishment, the Criminal Procedure Code stipulates that executions of death-row inmates are carried out at the order of the justice minister. Executions are not performed unless the justice minister signs an execution order.
究極の刑罰である死刑について、刑事訴訟法は「執行は法務大臣の命令による」と定めている。法相が執行命令書に署名しなければ、行われない。
Justice Minister Toshio Ogawa said at a press conference after Thursday's executions, "It's a painful duty, but it's my responsibility." Ogawa fulfilled a heavy responsibility imposed on the justice minister to maintain order in the nation.
署名した小川法相は執行後の記者会見で、「つらい職務だという気持ちは持っているが、職責だ」と心境を語った。国の秩序を維持する上で、法相に課せられた重い責務を果たしたと言えよう。
Among the six justice ministers so far under the DPJ-led government, former Justice Minister Satsuki Eda did not order executions because of his position that capital punishment should be abolished. Former Justice Minister Hideo Hiraoka also was cautious about executions.
民主党政権で法相を務めた６人のうち、江田五月元法相は死刑廃止の立場から執行せず、平岡秀夫前法相も執行に慎重な姿勢を崩さなかった。
No executions were carried out last year, the first time that had happened in 19 years. The number of death-row convicts had increased to 135, the highest in the postwar period.
昨年１年間は１９年ぶりに執行がゼロとなり、死刑確定者は戦後最多の１３５人に増えていた。
===
Duty defined by law
As a country ruled by law, it is naturally impermissible for a justice minister not to perform a duty defined by law because of his or her thoughts and beliefs, and for this to influence the pace of executions.
法相が個人の思想・信条から法律で定められた職責を果たさず、その結果、執行のペースが左右されることは、法治国家として本来許されないことである。
If the former justice ministers who did not order executions oppose the death penalty system and had decided from the first not to order executions, as politicians they should not have accepted the post.
死刑制度に否定的で初めから執行しないと決めているのなら、政治家として法相の職を引き受けるべきではなかっただろう。
The inmates executed Thursday committed heinous crimes, including random attacks in which one inmate murdered five people and injured 10 at JR Shimonoseki Station in 1999.
今回、死刑が執行されたのは、１９９９年にＪＲ下関駅で５人を殺害し、１０人に重軽傷を負わせた通り魔殺人など、いずれも凶悪事件を起こした死刑囚だ。
Bereaved families who one day suddenly had their loved ones' lives taken away strongly desire harsh punishment for death-row inmates.
ある日突然、大切な家族の命を奪われた遺族の死刑囚に対する処罰感情には峻烈(しゅんれつ)なものがある。
Ogawa said at the press conference, "The right to decide how crimes should be punished rests with the people."
小川法相は記者会見で、「犯罪に対して、どのような刑罰で臨むかを決める権利は国民にある」と述べた。
There is strong opposition against the death penalty system from some groups, including the Japan Federation of Bar Associations, which has submitted a request to the justice minister urging the ministry to start discussions on abolishment of the system.
死刑制度を巡っては、日本弁護士連合会が制度廃止についての議論を始めるよう求める要請書を法相に提出するなど、一部に強い反対論もある。
===
Widespread support for system
According to a Cabinet Office survey, however, as many as 85.6 percent of respondents support the death penalty system. Many people are concerned that the bereaved families of crime victims will not be healed if capital punishment is abolished and that heinous crimes may increase. This is a weighty fact.
だが、内閣府の世論調査では、死刑制度を容認する国民が８５・６％に達している。多くの国民が、死刑を廃止すれば、遺族の感情が癒やされず、凶悪犯罪が増えると懸念している事実は重い。
In addition, the lay judge system that began in 2009 and in which ordinary citizens participate in trying cases has so far handed death sentences to 13 defendants. As long as the system requires citizens to make a tough decision on whether to choose capital punishment, it is proper and appropriate for the justice minister to fulfill his or her responsibility.
加えて、２００９年から一般の市民が参加する裁判員裁判が始まり、これまで１３人に死刑判決を言い渡している。市民に死刑を選択するかどうかの苦渋の決断を求める以上、法相が自らの責務を全うするのは当然である。
Carefully and strictly checking rulings in which capital punishment has been finalized and implementing the death penalty system calmly in accordance with law will help increase the people's faith in justice.
確定判決を詳細かつ厳正にチェックした上で、法に従って粛々と制度を運用していくことが、国民の司法に対する信頼を高めていくことにつながるだろう。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 30, 2012)
（2012年3月30日01時39分 読売新聞）
Justice minister fulfills heavy responsibility
死刑執行 法相が重い職責を果たした（3月30日付・読売社説）
Three death-row inmates were executed Thursday. They were the first executions under the Democratic Party of Japan-led government in 20 months since two inmates were executed in July 2010.
３人の死刑が２９日、執行された。民主党政権では、一昨年７月の２人以来、１年８か月ぶりの執行となる。
Regarding the death penalty, which is the ultimate punishment, the Criminal Procedure Code stipulates that executions of death-row inmates are carried out at the order of the justice minister. Executions are not performed unless the justice minister signs an execution order.
究極の刑罰である死刑について、刑事訴訟法は「執行は法務大臣の命令による」と定めている。法相が執行命令書に署名しなければ、行われない。
Justice Minister Toshio Ogawa said at a press conference after Thursday's executions, "It's a painful duty, but it's my responsibility." Ogawa fulfilled a heavy responsibility imposed on the justice minister to maintain order in the nation.
署名した小川法相は執行後の記者会見で、「つらい職務だという気持ちは持っているが、職責だ」と心境を語った。国の秩序を維持する上で、法相に課せられた重い責務を果たしたと言えよう。
Among the six justice ministers so far under the DPJ-led government, former Justice Minister Satsuki Eda did not order executions because of his position that capital punishment should be abolished. Former Justice Minister Hideo Hiraoka also was cautious about executions.
民主党政権で法相を務めた６人のうち、江田五月元法相は死刑廃止の立場から執行せず、平岡秀夫前法相も執行に慎重な姿勢を崩さなかった。
No executions were carried out last year, the first time that had happened in 19 years. The number of death-row convicts had increased to 135, the highest in the postwar period.
昨年１年間は１９年ぶりに執行がゼロとなり、死刑確定者は戦後最多の１３５人に増えていた。
===
Duty defined by law
As a country ruled by law, it is naturally impermissible for a justice minister not to perform a duty defined by law because of his or her thoughts and beliefs, and for this to influence the pace of executions.
法相が個人の思想・信条から法律で定められた職責を果たさず、その結果、執行のペースが左右されることは、法治国家として本来許されないことである。
If the former justice ministers who did not order executions oppose the death penalty system and had decided from the first not to order executions, as politicians they should not have accepted the post.
死刑制度に否定的で初めから執行しないと決めているのなら、政治家として法相の職を引き受けるべきではなかっただろう。
The inmates executed Thursday committed heinous crimes, including random attacks in which one inmate murdered five people and injured 10 at JR Shimonoseki Station in 1999.
今回、死刑が執行されたのは、１９９９年にＪＲ下関駅で５人を殺害し、１０人に重軽傷を負わせた通り魔殺人など、いずれも凶悪事件を起こした死刑囚だ。
Bereaved families who one day suddenly had their loved ones' lives taken away strongly desire harsh punishment for death-row inmates.
ある日突然、大切な家族の命を奪われた遺族の死刑囚に対する処罰感情には峻烈(しゅんれつ)なものがある。
Ogawa said at the press conference, "The right to decide how crimes should be punished rests with the people."
小川法相は記者会見で、「犯罪に対して、どのような刑罰で臨むかを決める権利は国民にある」と述べた。
There is strong opposition against the death penalty system from some groups, including the Japan Federation of Bar Associations, which has submitted a request to the justice minister urging the ministry to start discussions on abolishment of the system.
死刑制度を巡っては、日本弁護士連合会が制度廃止についての議論を始めるよう求める要請書を法相に提出するなど、一部に強い反対論もある。
===
Widespread support for system
According to a Cabinet Office survey, however, as many as 85.6 percent of respondents support the death penalty system. Many people are concerned that the bereaved families of crime victims will not be healed if capital punishment is abolished and that heinous crimes may increase. This is a weighty fact.
だが、内閣府の世論調査では、死刑制度を容認する国民が８５・６％に達している。多くの国民が、死刑を廃止すれば、遺族の感情が癒やされず、凶悪犯罪が増えると懸念している事実は重い。
In addition, the lay judge system that began in 2009 and in which ordinary citizens participate in trying cases has so far handed death sentences to 13 defendants. As long as the system requires citizens to make a tough decision on whether to choose capital punishment, it is proper and appropriate for the justice minister to fulfill his or her responsibility.
加えて、２００９年から一般の市民が参加する裁判員裁判が始まり、これまで１３人に死刑判決を言い渡している。市民に死刑を選択するかどうかの苦渋の決断を求める以上、法相が自らの責務を全うするのは当然である。
Carefully and strictly checking rulings in which capital punishment has been finalized and implementing the death penalty system calmly in accordance with law will help increase the people's faith in justice.
確定判決を詳細かつ厳正にチェックした上で、法に従って粛々と制度を運用していくことが、国民の司法に対する信頼を高めていくことにつながるだろう。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 30, 2012)
（2012年3月30日01時39分 読売新聞）