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2012年11月09日
「第３極」 主導権争いが映す政治の混迷
The Yomiuri Shimbun (Nov. 8, 2012)
Struggles over '3rd force' reflect political disarray
「第３極」 主導権争いが映す政治の混迷（11月7日付・読売社説）
Political struggles are intensifying over who will become the main actor in an emerging "third force" to challenge the Democratic Party of Japan and the Liberal Democratic Party.
民主、自民両党に続く「第３極」での主導権争いが激化している。
If the basic ideas and policy stances continue to differ significantly among those expected to form such a force, there will be little prospect of it emerging before the next House of Representatives election.
基本的な理念、政策で大きく異なるようでは、次期衆院選に向けた勢力結集に展望は開けまい。
First of all, we wonder about the real aims of a third force. Former Tokyo Gov. Shintaro Ishihara has expressed his intention to shortly launch a new party with Takeo Hiranuma, head of the Sunrise Party of Japan, and others, and work to reorganize the political landscape by forming an alliance with Nippon Ishin no Kai (Japan Restoration Party) and other conservative forces.
そもそも、第３極は何を目的とするのか。石原慎太郎前東京都知事はたちあがれ日本の平沼代表らとともに近く新党を結成し、日本維新の会などとの「保守勢力の結集」によって政界再編を目指す考えを示している。
Toru Hashimoto, the head of Ishin no Kai, is positive about forming an alliance with Ishihara, but wants to keep his distance from the Sunrise Party's "genuine conservatism." This must be hard for the public to understand.
維新の会の橋下徹代表も石原氏との連携には前向きだが、たちあがれ日本の「真正保守」とは一線を画したいという。国民にとっては、わかりにくい。
===
Policy differences
Let's look at the policy issues.
個々の政策を見ると、
Ishihara and the Sunrise Party have accepted a consumption tax rate hike to secure fiscal resources for social security. Ishin no Kai and Your Party, on the other hand, want to make the consumption tax a local tax.
消費税について、石原氏とたちあがれ日本は、社会保障財源を確保するための税率引き上げを容認している。維新の会とみんなの党が唱えるのは「消費税の地方税化」だ。
On energy policy, the Sunrise Party has the realistic approach that nuclear energy should be maintained as long as safety management systems are improved. Ishin no Kai and Your Party both want this country to abandon nuclear power.
エネルギー政策でも、たちあがれ日本は、安全管理体制を強化したうえでの原発維持という現実的な立場だ。維新の会とみんなの党は「脱原発」で一致している。
Consumption tax and nuclear energy policies are significant in determining Japan's future course. Ishihara has described the policy stance differences as "minor problems" that will not prevent the formation of a viable political force. But we consider it absurd to bend on policy measures favored by the public.
消費税や原発は、日本の将来を左右する政策だ。石原氏は勢力結集の前には「ささいな問題」と言うが、大衆迎合色の強い政策と折り合おうとするのはおかしい。
Both of these issues will certainly be hot potatoes in the next lower house election. Voters will be puzzled if parties form an alliance or cooperate in the election by covering up their differences on important policies and call for drastic reforms of state organizations and bureaucracy systems. （この部分の英訳は不完全です＾＾）
個々の政策を見ると、消費税について、石原氏とたちあがれ日本は、社会保障財源を確保するための税率引き上げを容認している。維新の会とみんなの党が唱えるのは「消費税の地方税化」だ。
エネルギー政策でも、たちあがれ日本は、安全管理体制を強化したうえでの原発維持という現実的な立場だ。維新の会とみんなの党は「脱原発」で一致している。
消費税や原発は、日本の将来を左右する政策だ。石原氏は勢力結集の前には「ささいな問題」と言うが、大衆迎合色の強い政策と折り合おうとするのはおかしい。
いずれも次期衆院選では争点となる。重要政策の違いを糊塗(こと)して選挙で連携・協力し、国の機構、官僚制度の抜本的な変革を訴えても、有権者は戸惑うだろう。
Ichiro Matsui, secretary general of Ishin no Kai, has indicated the party will officially endorse candidates in the lower house No. 1 single-seat constituency of each prefecture, which includes the prefectural capital. The party apparently aims to win seats in those constituencies, where there are many floating voters, and garner as many votes as possible in the proportional representation segment of the election.
維新の会の松井一郎幹事長は、全都道府県の小選挙区第１区に公認候補を擁立する意向を示している。浮動票が多い１区での議席獲得と比例票掘り起こしを狙う。
===
Fruitless tug-of-war
This seems to be a promising strategy for Ishin no Kai, which lacks organizational strength, but all parties will want to field candidates in the No. 1 constituencies. It is understandable that Ishin no Kai's unilateral approach has caused consternation among other parties.
組織力を欠く維新の会にとって有力な戦術だが、１区に擁立したいのはどの党も同様だ。一方的な維新の会の方針が、他党に違和感を広げたのも無理はない。
The move to forge a third force has been the focus of attention because the DPJ and the LDP have continued a fruitless political tug-of-war that has led the nation's politics to languish in indecisiveness.
第３極の動向が注目されるのは、民主、自民両党が不毛な政争を繰り返し、「決められない政治」に陥っているからである。
In a Yomiuri Shimbun opinion survey conducted earlier this month, respondents who said they support no particular political party rose to 53 percent, up 10 percentage points from the previous survey. Regarding a third force alliance involving Ishihara's new party, Ishin no Kai and others, 52 percent of respondents said they had high expectations for such an alliance.
読売新聞の今月初旬の世論調査では、支持政党のない無党派層が前回調査を１０ポイントも上回り、５３％に上った。「石原新党」や維新の会など第３極の連携については５２％の人が期待すると答えている。
This is probably because of the popularity of Ishihara and Hashimoto, rather than any other factor.
石原氏や橋下氏の人気が先行しているからだろう。
But the rise of a third force likely means there will be a large number of newly elected lawmakers without experience in national politics. What would this portend for Japan's politics? The public must think about this as well.
しかし、第３極が台頭するということは、国政の場に政治経験の乏しい大量の新人議員が登場することでもある。そのことが日本の政治に何をもたらすかも、考えていかなければならない。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 7, 2012)
（2012年11月7日01時20分 読売新聞）
Struggles over '3rd force' reflect political disarray
「第３極」 主導権争いが映す政治の混迷（11月7日付・読売社説）
Political struggles are intensifying over who will become the main actor in an emerging "third force" to challenge the Democratic Party of Japan and the Liberal Democratic Party.
民主、自民両党に続く「第３極」での主導権争いが激化している。
If the basic ideas and policy stances continue to differ significantly among those expected to form such a force, there will be little prospect of it emerging before the next House of Representatives election.
基本的な理念、政策で大きく異なるようでは、次期衆院選に向けた勢力結集に展望は開けまい。
First of all, we wonder about the real aims of a third force. Former Tokyo Gov. Shintaro Ishihara has expressed his intention to shortly launch a new party with Takeo Hiranuma, head of the Sunrise Party of Japan, and others, and work to reorganize the political landscape by forming an alliance with Nippon Ishin no Kai (Japan Restoration Party) and other conservative forces.
そもそも、第３極は何を目的とするのか。石原慎太郎前東京都知事はたちあがれ日本の平沼代表らとともに近く新党を結成し、日本維新の会などとの「保守勢力の結集」によって政界再編を目指す考えを示している。
Toru Hashimoto, the head of Ishin no Kai, is positive about forming an alliance with Ishihara, but wants to keep his distance from the Sunrise Party's "genuine conservatism." This must be hard for the public to understand.
維新の会の橋下徹代表も石原氏との連携には前向きだが、たちあがれ日本の「真正保守」とは一線を画したいという。国民にとっては、わかりにくい。
===
Policy differences
Let's look at the policy issues.
個々の政策を見ると、
Ishihara and the Sunrise Party have accepted a consumption tax rate hike to secure fiscal resources for social security. Ishin no Kai and Your Party, on the other hand, want to make the consumption tax a local tax.
消費税について、石原氏とたちあがれ日本は、社会保障財源を確保するための税率引き上げを容認している。維新の会とみんなの党が唱えるのは「消費税の地方税化」だ。
On energy policy, the Sunrise Party has the realistic approach that nuclear energy should be maintained as long as safety management systems are improved. Ishin no Kai and Your Party both want this country to abandon nuclear power.
エネルギー政策でも、たちあがれ日本は、安全管理体制を強化したうえでの原発維持という現実的な立場だ。維新の会とみんなの党は「脱原発」で一致している。
Consumption tax and nuclear energy policies are significant in determining Japan's future course. Ishihara has described the policy stance differences as "minor problems" that will not prevent the formation of a viable political force. But we consider it absurd to bend on policy measures favored by the public.
消費税や原発は、日本の将来を左右する政策だ。石原氏は勢力結集の前には「ささいな問題」と言うが、大衆迎合色の強い政策と折り合おうとするのはおかしい。
Both of these issues will certainly be hot potatoes in the next lower house election. Voters will be puzzled if parties form an alliance or cooperate in the election by covering up their differences on important policies and call for drastic reforms of state organizations and bureaucracy systems. （この部分の英訳は不完全です＾＾）
個々の政策を見ると、消費税について、石原氏とたちあがれ日本は、社会保障財源を確保するための税率引き上げを容認している。維新の会とみんなの党が唱えるのは「消費税の地方税化」だ。
エネルギー政策でも、たちあがれ日本は、安全管理体制を強化したうえでの原発維持という現実的な立場だ。維新の会とみんなの党は「脱原発」で一致している。
消費税や原発は、日本の将来を左右する政策だ。石原氏は勢力結集の前には「ささいな問題」と言うが、大衆迎合色の強い政策と折り合おうとするのはおかしい。
いずれも次期衆院選では争点となる。重要政策の違いを糊塗(こと)して選挙で連携・協力し、国の機構、官僚制度の抜本的な変革を訴えても、有権者は戸惑うだろう。
Ichiro Matsui, secretary general of Ishin no Kai, has indicated the party will officially endorse candidates in the lower house No. 1 single-seat constituency of each prefecture, which includes the prefectural capital. The party apparently aims to win seats in those constituencies, where there are many floating voters, and garner as many votes as possible in the proportional representation segment of the election.
維新の会の松井一郎幹事長は、全都道府県の小選挙区第１区に公認候補を擁立する意向を示している。浮動票が多い１区での議席獲得と比例票掘り起こしを狙う。
===
Fruitless tug-of-war
This seems to be a promising strategy for Ishin no Kai, which lacks organizational strength, but all parties will want to field candidates in the No. 1 constituencies. It is understandable that Ishin no Kai's unilateral approach has caused consternation among other parties.
組織力を欠く維新の会にとって有力な戦術だが、１区に擁立したいのはどの党も同様だ。一方的な維新の会の方針が、他党に違和感を広げたのも無理はない。
The move to forge a third force has been the focus of attention because the DPJ and the LDP have continued a fruitless political tug-of-war that has led the nation's politics to languish in indecisiveness.
第３極の動向が注目されるのは、民主、自民両党が不毛な政争を繰り返し、「決められない政治」に陥っているからである。
In a Yomiuri Shimbun opinion survey conducted earlier this month, respondents who said they support no particular political party rose to 53 percent, up 10 percentage points from the previous survey. Regarding a third force alliance involving Ishihara's new party, Ishin no Kai and others, 52 percent of respondents said they had high expectations for such an alliance.
読売新聞の今月初旬の世論調査では、支持政党のない無党派層が前回調査を１０ポイントも上回り、５３％に上った。「石原新党」や維新の会など第３極の連携については５２％の人が期待すると答えている。
This is probably because of the popularity of Ishihara and Hashimoto, rather than any other factor.
石原氏や橋下氏の人気が先行しているからだろう。
But the rise of a third force likely means there will be a large number of newly elected lawmakers without experience in national politics. What would this portend for Japan's politics? The public must think about this as well.
しかし、第３極が台頭するということは、国政の場に政治経験の乏しい大量の新人議員が登場することでもある。そのことが日本の政治に何をもたらすかも、考えていかなければならない。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 7, 2012)
（2012年11月7日01時20分 読売新聞）
2012年11月08日
会計検査院報告 不適切な予算執行に猛省を
The Yomiuri Shimbun (Nov. 7, 2012)
Govt offices lack awareness of critical fiscal conditions
会計検査院報告 不適切な予算執行に猛省を（11月6日付・読売社説）
Central government offices, it appears, are unaware that state finances are in a critical situation.
中央省庁には、財政が危機的な状況にあるという認識が欠如しているのではないか。
This is the only deduction that can be made from an annual Board of Audit report on government accounts for fiscal 2011, which lists inappropriate government spending. A total of 529.6 billion yen in state funds were misused, the second-highest on record.
会計検査院がまとめた２０１１年度の決算検査報告書には、そう思うしかない不適切な予算執行が列挙されている。指摘された無駄遣いの総額は、過去２番目に多い５２９６億円に上った。
The report found 89 sewage treatment plants across the country were being poorly operated after being built with subsidies from the Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Ministry. An excessive number of the plants were constructed due to erroneous demographic forecasts, causing spending of 25.7 billion yen to literally go down the drain.
国土交通省からの補助を受けて自治体が整備する下水処理場で、稼働実績の乏しい施設が全国で８９か所あった。人口予測を誤り、施設を造り過ぎたためで、国費２５７億円が無駄になった。
Due to a failure in a screening system development project, the Patent Office suffered a loss of 5.4 billion yen that was paid to contractors. The board blamed this on the Patent Office's inadequate supervision and a lack of technical expertise on the part of the contractors.
特許庁は、審査システム開発事業の失敗で、請負業者に支払った開発費５４億円が損失となる。業者の技術力不足に加え、特許庁の管理態勢が不十分だったことが原因と、報告書は指摘する。
Wasteful spending was also found in the income compensation system for individual farming households, which the Democratic Party of Japan-led administration trumpeted as one of its centerpiece policies. The Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry was found to have provided subsidies to farming families ineligible for the money due to their poor handling of fertilizers.
民主党政権が目玉政策の一つとする農家への戸別所得補償制度でも、農林水産省は肥料の管理が劣悪で補償対象にならない農家にまで交付金を支払っていた。
===
Soul-searching urged
Government ministries and agencies must take seriously what has been pointed out by the board and ensure they spend their budgets properly.
各省庁は検査院の指摘を重く受けとめ、適切な予算執行に努めなければならない。
It has once again been brought to light that not enough financial support has reached disaster-stricken areas to promote projects for reconstruction from the Great East Japan Earthquake.
東日本大震災の復興事業では、被災地に支援が十分行き渡らない実態も改めて浮かび上がった。
Of about 14.9 trillion yen earmarked in the fiscal 2011 budget for reconstruction projects, just 54 percent was spent.
１１年度に計上された約１４兆９０００億円の復興予算のうち、使われたのは５４％にとどまった。
Even allowing for the urgent need to secure budgets for reconstruction, in many cases budgets were formulated without confirming the actual needs of disaster-affected areas and their ability to put this money to work. A classic example was evident in projects for restoring agricultural facilities. Applications for financial support were sluggish because subsidies were limited to projects that would restore these facilities to their original condition.
緊急に予算を確保する必要があったとはいえ、被災地のニーズと対処する能力を把握しないまま、予算を組んだケースも少なくない。その典型例が農業施設復旧事業だ。原状復旧だけを対象としたため、申し込みが低調だった。
The board called for the Reconstruction Agency and other government offices to work out fiscal assistance measures by assessing correctly the conditions of disaster-affected municipalities. This is a natural course of action.
検査院が復興庁などに対し、被災自治体の状況を踏まえた支援を求めたのは当然と言えよう。
===
Meet local needs
A questionnaire survey conducted by the board of 58 affected cities, towns and villages showed they wanted government officials with expertise in civil engineering and construction dispatched to help and long-term personnel support. They also demanded that complicated paperwork be simplified.
被災した５８市町村を対象に検査院が実施したアンケートでは、土木・建築分野の専門職員の派遣や長期的な人材支援、さらに、煩雑な事務手続きの簡略化などを求める声が寄せられている。
There is no doubt that increased burdens placed on local governments due to a shortage of employees are hampering the progress of reconstruction. The government must establish an assistance system that can meet the needs of affected local governments.
自治体職員の不足に伴う負担の増大が、復興の足かせになっていることは間違いない。政府はこうした現地の要望に応える支援態勢を整える必要がある。
Some central government offices were found to have used reconstruction budgets for projects that did not directly help disaster-damaged areas. That the board in the first place never suspected reconstruction budgets might be diverted for other purposes and stopped short of pointing this out is just not good enough.
復興予算を巡っては、各省庁が被災地支援に直接結びつかない事業に「転用」した問題も判明している。検査院に当初、転用を疑問とする視点がなく、指摘に至らなかったのは物足りない。
We want the Board of Audit to check exhaustively whether national spending has been used effectively for reconstruction in affected areas, and scrutinize budgetary appropriations themselves.
予算の内容精査とともに、被災地で使われた国費が復興に有効活用されたかどうかも、検査院はしっかりチェックしてほしい。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 6, 2012)
（2012年11月6日01時32分 読売新聞）
Govt offices lack awareness of critical fiscal conditions
会計検査院報告 不適切な予算執行に猛省を（11月6日付・読売社説）
Central government offices, it appears, are unaware that state finances are in a critical situation.
中央省庁には、財政が危機的な状況にあるという認識が欠如しているのではないか。
This is the only deduction that can be made from an annual Board of Audit report on government accounts for fiscal 2011, which lists inappropriate government spending. A total of 529.6 billion yen in state funds were misused, the second-highest on record.
会計検査院がまとめた２０１１年度の決算検査報告書には、そう思うしかない不適切な予算執行が列挙されている。指摘された無駄遣いの総額は、過去２番目に多い５２９６億円に上った。
The report found 89 sewage treatment plants across the country were being poorly operated after being built with subsidies from the Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Ministry. An excessive number of the plants were constructed due to erroneous demographic forecasts, causing spending of 25.7 billion yen to literally go down the drain.
国土交通省からの補助を受けて自治体が整備する下水処理場で、稼働実績の乏しい施設が全国で８９か所あった。人口予測を誤り、施設を造り過ぎたためで、国費２５７億円が無駄になった。
Due to a failure in a screening system development project, the Patent Office suffered a loss of 5.4 billion yen that was paid to contractors. The board blamed this on the Patent Office's inadequate supervision and a lack of technical expertise on the part of the contractors.
特許庁は、審査システム開発事業の失敗で、請負業者に支払った開発費５４億円が損失となる。業者の技術力不足に加え、特許庁の管理態勢が不十分だったことが原因と、報告書は指摘する。
Wasteful spending was also found in the income compensation system for individual farming households, which the Democratic Party of Japan-led administration trumpeted as one of its centerpiece policies. The Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry was found to have provided subsidies to farming families ineligible for the money due to their poor handling of fertilizers.
民主党政権が目玉政策の一つとする農家への戸別所得補償制度でも、農林水産省は肥料の管理が劣悪で補償対象にならない農家にまで交付金を支払っていた。
===
Soul-searching urged
Government ministries and agencies must take seriously what has been pointed out by the board and ensure they spend their budgets properly.
各省庁は検査院の指摘を重く受けとめ、適切な予算執行に努めなければならない。
It has once again been brought to light that not enough financial support has reached disaster-stricken areas to promote projects for reconstruction from the Great East Japan Earthquake.
東日本大震災の復興事業では、被災地に支援が十分行き渡らない実態も改めて浮かび上がった。
Of about 14.9 trillion yen earmarked in the fiscal 2011 budget for reconstruction projects, just 54 percent was spent.
１１年度に計上された約１４兆９０００億円の復興予算のうち、使われたのは５４％にとどまった。
Even allowing for the urgent need to secure budgets for reconstruction, in many cases budgets were formulated without confirming the actual needs of disaster-affected areas and their ability to put this money to work. A classic example was evident in projects for restoring agricultural facilities. Applications for financial support were sluggish because subsidies were limited to projects that would restore these facilities to their original condition.
緊急に予算を確保する必要があったとはいえ、被災地のニーズと対処する能力を把握しないまま、予算を組んだケースも少なくない。その典型例が農業施設復旧事業だ。原状復旧だけを対象としたため、申し込みが低調だった。
The board called for the Reconstruction Agency and other government offices to work out fiscal assistance measures by assessing correctly the conditions of disaster-affected municipalities. This is a natural course of action.
検査院が復興庁などに対し、被災自治体の状況を踏まえた支援を求めたのは当然と言えよう。
===
Meet local needs
A questionnaire survey conducted by the board of 58 affected cities, towns and villages showed they wanted government officials with expertise in civil engineering and construction dispatched to help and long-term personnel support. They also demanded that complicated paperwork be simplified.
被災した５８市町村を対象に検査院が実施したアンケートでは、土木・建築分野の専門職員の派遣や長期的な人材支援、さらに、煩雑な事務手続きの簡略化などを求める声が寄せられている。
There is no doubt that increased burdens placed on local governments due to a shortage of employees are hampering the progress of reconstruction. The government must establish an assistance system that can meet the needs of affected local governments.
自治体職員の不足に伴う負担の増大が、復興の足かせになっていることは間違いない。政府はこうした現地の要望に応える支援態勢を整える必要がある。
Some central government offices were found to have used reconstruction budgets for projects that did not directly help disaster-damaged areas. That the board in the first place never suspected reconstruction budgets might be diverted for other purposes and stopped short of pointing this out is just not good enough.
復興予算を巡っては、各省庁が被災地支援に直接結びつかない事業に「転用」した問題も判明している。検査院に当初、転用を疑問とする視点がなく、指摘に至らなかったのは物足りない。
We want the Board of Audit to check exhaustively whether national spending has been used effectively for reconstruction in affected areas, and scrutinize budgetary appropriations themselves.
予算の内容精査とともに、被災地で使われた国費が復興に有効活用されたかどうかも、検査院はしっかりチェックしてほしい。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 6, 2012)
（2012年11月6日01時32分 読売新聞）
2012年11月07日
豊作でも高値 矛盾だらけのコメ政策見直せ
The Yomiuri Shimbun (Nov. 6, 2012)
Government should review contradictory rice policy
豊作でも高値 矛盾だらけのコメ政策見直せ（11月5日付・読売社説）
At this time of the autumn harvest, when new rice is being marketed, the contradictions of the country's rice policy have become glaringly apparent. There is no time to waste in carrying out agricultural reform.
新米が出回る実りの秋に、コメ政策の矛盾が噴き出している。農業改革は待ったなしだ。
The Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry has forecast a good harvest for this year's rice crop, the first in four years. The harvest is expected to reach about 8.2 million tons, surpassing demand by more than 200,000 tons.
農林水産省が発表した２０１２年産米の作況予想は４年ぶりの豊作で、収穫量は約８２０万トンと需要を２０万トン超も上回る見通しだ。
However, rice prices have gone up despite the surplus. Interdealer rice prices in September were about 10 percent higher than those in the same month last year. This is because the National Federation of Agricultural Cooperative Associations (Zen-Noh) increased the amount of its advance payments to rice farmers.
ところが、コメ余りなのに価格は上昇した。９月の業者間の取引価格は前年より１０％程度高い。全国農業協同組合連合会（ＪＡ全農）が、農家に払う前渡し金を引き上げたことが要因だ。
Zen-Noh probably aims to maintain its influence over rice farmers by purchasing their grain at high prices because the volume of rice it collects from farmers has been falling as more and more producers sell directly to major consuming areas.
生産地と消費地の直接販売などが増え、全農の集荷量が減少しているため、高値買い取りで影響力維持を狙っているのだろう。
Driving rice prices higher despite a good harvest is logic peculiar to agricultural cooperatives. It will never win the understanding of the public.
豊作で高値を招いているのは、「農協の論理」そのものだ。消費者の理解は得られまい。
===
Imported rice drawing attention
It is also problematic that there is a shortage of reasonably priced rice used by restaurants and bento shops even though there should be enough rice to meet demand. This has made imported rice more attractive. In bidding in September, demand surpassed the 25,000 tons of imported rice to be sold by 3.6 times.
一方、需要は十分まかなえるはずなのに、外食店や弁当業者らの使う手頃な価格のコメが不足していることも問題だ。そこで輸入米が注目され、９月の入札では、２・５万トンの販売数量に対して３・６倍の申し込みがあった。
Due to the deflation that has taken root in the country, demand for cheap rice is becoming stronger year by year. As a result, price competition within the restaurant and bento industries--which currently account for 30 percent of rice demand--has become increasingly fierce. The popularity of imported rice illustrates the reality that domestically produced rice does not meet the market trend toward low-priced rice.
デフレ定着で安いコメを求める動きは年々強まり、需要の３割を占める外食・弁当産業の価格競争は激しさを増している。輸入米人気は、国産米が市場の低価格志向に応えていない実態を示す。
There is also concern over a possible shortage of rice for processing, which is used to make rice snacks and miso, among other things. Despite the fact that the production of rice for livestock feed has jumped, that of rice for processing has not increased. Last year, the production of rice for livestock feed surpassed that of rice for processing.
米菓や味噌(みそ)などの原料となる加工用米の品不足も懸念される。家畜のエサとなる飼料用米は急増しているにもかかわらず、加工用米の生産量は増えない。１１年産は飼料用が加工用を上回った。
As a result, prices of rice for processing surged, and the farm ministry took the emergency measure of marketing about 40,000 tons of old rice produced in 2006 from the government's stockpiled rice. This is an unusual situation.
この結果、加工用米の価格が急騰し、農水省は緊急措置として備蓄米から０６年産の古米を約４万トン放出した。異例の事態である。
===
Subsidies driving crop choices
The government pays rice farmers a subsidy of 80,000 yen for every 0.1 hectare of rice for livestock feed, but only 20,000 yen for rice for processing. This is why planting of rice for livestock feed, which is easy to manage and enables farmers to receive more subsidies, is increasing.
飼料用米は１０アール当たり８万円の補助金が支給されるが、加工用は２万円だ。管理が楽で多額の補助金がもらえる飼料用米の作付けが増えている事情がうかがえる。
Livestock, including cattle and pigs, raised with feed produced overseas is not recognized as having been domestically produced and is therefore not considered in calculating the country's food self-sufficiency rate. The government appears to be trying to raise this rate by giving favorable treatment to rice for livestock feed. However, it is hard to understand why old rice is used for processing and new rice is used as feed for livestock.
外国産飼料で育てた牛や豚などの畜産物は国産と見なされず、食料自給率の計算外だ。政府は飼料用米を優遇し、自給率アップを狙っているようだが、加工用米が古米で、家畜のエサは新米というのは理解しがたい。
What is needed is a rice policy that meets consumer needs. If nothing is done, consumers may shift away from rice even further.
今問われているのは、消費者ニーズに応えるコメ政策である。このままでは、消費者のコメ離れも一段と進みかねない。
A fundamental problem lies in the current system under which the government and agricultural organizations maintain high rice prices through production adjustments and high tariffs on imported rice.
政府と農業団体が生産調整と高関税で、コメ価格を高値で維持する体制に根本的な問題がある。
Simply doling out subsidies to farmers will never strengthen the country's agricultural industry. The government should quickly carry out reform to establish agricultural administration for rice whose policies will focus on farmers.
補助金をばらまく政策では農業の体質強化はできまい。担い手農家に政策を集中するコメ農政への改革を急ぐべきだ。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 5, 2012)
（2012年11月5日01時29分 読売新聞）
Government should review contradictory rice policy
豊作でも高値 矛盾だらけのコメ政策見直せ（11月5日付・読売社説）
At this time of the autumn harvest, when new rice is being marketed, the contradictions of the country's rice policy have become glaringly apparent. There is no time to waste in carrying out agricultural reform.
新米が出回る実りの秋に、コメ政策の矛盾が噴き出している。農業改革は待ったなしだ。
The Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry has forecast a good harvest for this year's rice crop, the first in four years. The harvest is expected to reach about 8.2 million tons, surpassing demand by more than 200,000 tons.
農林水産省が発表した２０１２年産米の作況予想は４年ぶりの豊作で、収穫量は約８２０万トンと需要を２０万トン超も上回る見通しだ。
However, rice prices have gone up despite the surplus. Interdealer rice prices in September were about 10 percent higher than those in the same month last year. This is because the National Federation of Agricultural Cooperative Associations (Zen-Noh) increased the amount of its advance payments to rice farmers.
ところが、コメ余りなのに価格は上昇した。９月の業者間の取引価格は前年より１０％程度高い。全国農業協同組合連合会（ＪＡ全農）が、農家に払う前渡し金を引き上げたことが要因だ。
Zen-Noh probably aims to maintain its influence over rice farmers by purchasing their grain at high prices because the volume of rice it collects from farmers has been falling as more and more producers sell directly to major consuming areas.
生産地と消費地の直接販売などが増え、全農の集荷量が減少しているため、高値買い取りで影響力維持を狙っているのだろう。
Driving rice prices higher despite a good harvest is logic peculiar to agricultural cooperatives. It will never win the understanding of the public.
豊作で高値を招いているのは、「農協の論理」そのものだ。消費者の理解は得られまい。
===
Imported rice drawing attention
It is also problematic that there is a shortage of reasonably priced rice used by restaurants and bento shops even though there should be enough rice to meet demand. This has made imported rice more attractive. In bidding in September, demand surpassed the 25,000 tons of imported rice to be sold by 3.6 times.
一方、需要は十分まかなえるはずなのに、外食店や弁当業者らの使う手頃な価格のコメが不足していることも問題だ。そこで輸入米が注目され、９月の入札では、２・５万トンの販売数量に対して３・６倍の申し込みがあった。
Due to the deflation that has taken root in the country, demand for cheap rice is becoming stronger year by year. As a result, price competition within the restaurant and bento industries--which currently account for 30 percent of rice demand--has become increasingly fierce. The popularity of imported rice illustrates the reality that domestically produced rice does not meet the market trend toward low-priced rice.
デフレ定着で安いコメを求める動きは年々強まり、需要の３割を占める外食・弁当産業の価格競争は激しさを増している。輸入米人気は、国産米が市場の低価格志向に応えていない実態を示す。
There is also concern over a possible shortage of rice for processing, which is used to make rice snacks and miso, among other things. Despite the fact that the production of rice for livestock feed has jumped, that of rice for processing has not increased. Last year, the production of rice for livestock feed surpassed that of rice for processing.
米菓や味噌(みそ)などの原料となる加工用米の品不足も懸念される。家畜のエサとなる飼料用米は急増しているにもかかわらず、加工用米の生産量は増えない。１１年産は飼料用が加工用を上回った。
As a result, prices of rice for processing surged, and the farm ministry took the emergency measure of marketing about 40,000 tons of old rice produced in 2006 from the government's stockpiled rice. This is an unusual situation.
この結果、加工用米の価格が急騰し、農水省は緊急措置として備蓄米から０６年産の古米を約４万トン放出した。異例の事態である。
===
Subsidies driving crop choices
The government pays rice farmers a subsidy of 80,000 yen for every 0.1 hectare of rice for livestock feed, but only 20,000 yen for rice for processing. This is why planting of rice for livestock feed, which is easy to manage and enables farmers to receive more subsidies, is increasing.
飼料用米は１０アール当たり８万円の補助金が支給されるが、加工用は２万円だ。管理が楽で多額の補助金がもらえる飼料用米の作付けが増えている事情がうかがえる。
Livestock, including cattle and pigs, raised with feed produced overseas is not recognized as having been domestically produced and is therefore not considered in calculating the country's food self-sufficiency rate. The government appears to be trying to raise this rate by giving favorable treatment to rice for livestock feed. However, it is hard to understand why old rice is used for processing and new rice is used as feed for livestock.
外国産飼料で育てた牛や豚などの畜産物は国産と見なされず、食料自給率の計算外だ。政府は飼料用米を優遇し、自給率アップを狙っているようだが、加工用米が古米で、家畜のエサは新米というのは理解しがたい。
What is needed is a rice policy that meets consumer needs. If nothing is done, consumers may shift away from rice even further.
今問われているのは、消費者ニーズに応えるコメ政策である。このままでは、消費者のコメ離れも一段と進みかねない。
A fundamental problem lies in the current system under which the government and agricultural organizations maintain high rice prices through production adjustments and high tariffs on imported rice.
政府と農業団体が生産調整と高関税で、コメ価格を高値で維持する体制に根本的な問題がある。
Simply doling out subsidies to farmers will never strengthen the country's agricultural industry. The government should quickly carry out reform to establish agricultural administration for rice whose policies will focus on farmers.
補助金をばらまく政策では農業の体質強化はできまい。担い手農家に政策を集中するコメ農政への改革を急ぐべきだ。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 5, 2012)
（2012年11月5日01時29分 読売新聞）
2012年11月06日
大学新設不認可 文科相の独断が混乱を招いた
The Yomiuri Shimbun (Nov. 5, 2012)
Education minister's outrageous decision generates chaos
大学新設不認可 文科相の独断が混乱を招いた（11月4日付・読売社説）
It was a baffling decision. What we feared might happen has come to pass.
理解に苦しむ判断である。
危惧していたことが起きてしまった。
Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Minister Makiko Tanaka has rejected the applications for government approval to establish three new universities. Tanaka has overturned, on her own judgment, a report by the council for university chartering and school juridical persons--an advisory body to the minister--that favored endorsing the establishment of the three schools. This is apparently the first time in 30 years that an education minister has reversed the council's approval for setting up a university.
田中文部科学相が、３大学の新設申請を不認可とした。文科相の諮問機関である大学設置・学校法人審議会が「新設を認可する」とした答申を独断で覆した。過去３０年で初のケースという。
At a news conference Friday, Tanaka said, "A large number of universities have been established, but the quality of education in universities has been in alarming decline." She added that the approval system for setting up universities needs to be reviewed from top to bottom.
田中文科相は記者会見で、「大学はたくさん作られてきたが、教育の質自体が低下している」と述べ、現行の大学設置認可制度を見直す考えを明らかにした。
Tanaka, however, did not give any explicit reason why the government will not allow approval for the three universities.
だが、なぜ、この３校の新設を認めないのか、という明確な理由は示さなかった。
Some ministry officials said Tanaka "simply made a policy decision as minister." However, we think it can only be described as an outrageous decision stemming from the misguided concept of "politician-led decision-making."
文科省は「大臣の政策的判断」と説明するが、政治主導をはき違えた、あまりに乱暴な判断と言うほかない。
===
Lack of consistency
The council's report was compiled after extensively examining the planned schools' faculty and other education arrangements and their management and financial planning based on university establishment guidelines set by the education ministry.
そもそも、設置審の認可答申は、文科省が定めた大学設置基準などに基づいて、３校の教育体制や財務計画を精査した末に出された結論である。
Admittedly, the minister has the final say when it comes to accepting or rejecting the applications. But Tanaka's refusal to go along with the establishment of three new schools that the council said met the guidelines could be criticized as an abuse of power.
文科相が最終的な認可権限を持つとはいえ、基準を満たした３校の新設を大臣の判断で認めなかったことは、「裁量権の乱用」と批判されても仕方がない。
On top of this, the education minister gave the go-ahead to new departments and postgraduate courses at other universities--as endorsed by the advisory council. Can she clearly explain the inconsistency between these approvals and her rejection of the establishment of the three universities?
しかも、田中文科相は、設置審が認可答申を出した、他大学の学部や大学院の新設については認可している。大学新設だけを不認可としたこととの整合性をきちんと説明できるのだろうか。
The minister's arbitrary decision will unleash immeasurable confusion.
文科相の独断と暴走がもたらす混乱は計り知れない。
The three universities that had been preparing to open next spring had secured teachers and constructed facilities. Mayor Motomu Hozumi of Akita city, which was planning to open one of the schools, to be named Akita Municipal College of Fine Arts, has unsurprisingly expressed his intention to urge Tanaka to rescind her decision.
来春開校予定だった大学側は校舎整備を進め、教員も確保している。３校の一つ、秋田公立美術大の開校を目指す穂積志・秋田市長が、不認可の撤回を求める方針を表明したのは当然と言える。
Understandably, people wishing to enroll at these schools have been caught off guard at being told that the schools have been rejected so soon before they were scheduled to open.
入学希望者から「直前に言われても困る」といった声が上がるのも無理はない。
===
Review of universities needed
Conditions at universities are becoming increasingly stringent.
一方で、大学を取り巻く状況は厳しさを増している。
Despite fewer students due to the chronically low birthrate, new universities have been established one after another since regulations were eased. As a result, the number of universities has swollen 50 percent more than the figure of 20 years ago.
少子化で学生が減少しているにもかかわらず、規制緩和により大学の新設が続き、大学の数は２０年前の１・５倍にまで膨らんだ。
Some universities have been struggling to stay afloat financially as enrollment falls below quotas. Just last month, the education ministry decided to order an education corporation running a university in Gunma Prefecture to be disbanded because of sloppy management.
大学の中には、定員割れで経営難に陥るところもあり、先月には群馬県内で大学を運営する学校法人に文科省が解散命令を発動することを決めたばかりだ。
The government's university policy needs to be reviewed. But this overhaul must be kept separate from the issue of approving or disapproving the establishment of individual universities, and be discussed in detail by such entities as the ministry's Central Council for Education from medium- and long-range perspectives.
大学政策の見直しは必要だが、その際には、個別の大学の認可とは切り離し、中長期的な視点から、中央教育審議会などの場でしっかりと議論すべきである。
That a conclusion reached in line with existing rules on an important matter is reversed because of grandstanding by a trouble-making minister will only deprive the administration of its continuity and generate confusion at education facilities.
問題閣僚のスタンドプレーで現行ルールに沿った結論が覆されるようでは行政の継続性は失われ、教育現場が混乱するだけだ。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 4, 2012)
（2012年11月4日01時34分 読売新聞）
Education minister's outrageous decision generates chaos
大学新設不認可 文科相の独断が混乱を招いた（11月4日付・読売社説）
It was a baffling decision. What we feared might happen has come to pass.
理解に苦しむ判断である。
危惧していたことが起きてしまった。
Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Minister Makiko Tanaka has rejected the applications for government approval to establish three new universities. Tanaka has overturned, on her own judgment, a report by the council for university chartering and school juridical persons--an advisory body to the minister--that favored endorsing the establishment of the three schools. This is apparently the first time in 30 years that an education minister has reversed the council's approval for setting up a university.
田中文部科学相が、３大学の新設申請を不認可とした。文科相の諮問機関である大学設置・学校法人審議会が「新設を認可する」とした答申を独断で覆した。過去３０年で初のケースという。
At a news conference Friday, Tanaka said, "A large number of universities have been established, but the quality of education in universities has been in alarming decline." She added that the approval system for setting up universities needs to be reviewed from top to bottom.
田中文科相は記者会見で、「大学はたくさん作られてきたが、教育の質自体が低下している」と述べ、現行の大学設置認可制度を見直す考えを明らかにした。
Tanaka, however, did not give any explicit reason why the government will not allow approval for the three universities.
だが、なぜ、この３校の新設を認めないのか、という明確な理由は示さなかった。
Some ministry officials said Tanaka "simply made a policy decision as minister." However, we think it can only be described as an outrageous decision stemming from the misguided concept of "politician-led decision-making."
文科省は「大臣の政策的判断」と説明するが、政治主導をはき違えた、あまりに乱暴な判断と言うほかない。
===
Lack of consistency
The council's report was compiled after extensively examining the planned schools' faculty and other education arrangements and their management and financial planning based on university establishment guidelines set by the education ministry.
そもそも、設置審の認可答申は、文科省が定めた大学設置基準などに基づいて、３校の教育体制や財務計画を精査した末に出された結論である。
Admittedly, the minister has the final say when it comes to accepting or rejecting the applications. But Tanaka's refusal to go along with the establishment of three new schools that the council said met the guidelines could be criticized as an abuse of power.
文科相が最終的な認可権限を持つとはいえ、基準を満たした３校の新設を大臣の判断で認めなかったことは、「裁量権の乱用」と批判されても仕方がない。
On top of this, the education minister gave the go-ahead to new departments and postgraduate courses at other universities--as endorsed by the advisory council. Can she clearly explain the inconsistency between these approvals and her rejection of the establishment of the three universities?
しかも、田中文科相は、設置審が認可答申を出した、他大学の学部や大学院の新設については認可している。大学新設だけを不認可としたこととの整合性をきちんと説明できるのだろうか。
The minister's arbitrary decision will unleash immeasurable confusion.
文科相の独断と暴走がもたらす混乱は計り知れない。
The three universities that had been preparing to open next spring had secured teachers and constructed facilities. Mayor Motomu Hozumi of Akita city, which was planning to open one of the schools, to be named Akita Municipal College of Fine Arts, has unsurprisingly expressed his intention to urge Tanaka to rescind her decision.
来春開校予定だった大学側は校舎整備を進め、教員も確保している。３校の一つ、秋田公立美術大の開校を目指す穂積志・秋田市長が、不認可の撤回を求める方針を表明したのは当然と言える。
Understandably, people wishing to enroll at these schools have been caught off guard at being told that the schools have been rejected so soon before they were scheduled to open.
入学希望者から「直前に言われても困る」といった声が上がるのも無理はない。
===
Review of universities needed
Conditions at universities are becoming increasingly stringent.
一方で、大学を取り巻く状況は厳しさを増している。
Despite fewer students due to the chronically low birthrate, new universities have been established one after another since regulations were eased. As a result, the number of universities has swollen 50 percent more than the figure of 20 years ago.
少子化で学生が減少しているにもかかわらず、規制緩和により大学の新設が続き、大学の数は２０年前の１・５倍にまで膨らんだ。
Some universities have been struggling to stay afloat financially as enrollment falls below quotas. Just last month, the education ministry decided to order an education corporation running a university in Gunma Prefecture to be disbanded because of sloppy management.
大学の中には、定員割れで経営難に陥るところもあり、先月には群馬県内で大学を運営する学校法人に文科省が解散命令を発動することを決めたばかりだ。
The government's university policy needs to be reviewed. But this overhaul must be kept separate from the issue of approving or disapproving the establishment of individual universities, and be discussed in detail by such entities as the ministry's Central Council for Education from medium- and long-range perspectives.
大学政策の見直しは必要だが、その際には、個別の大学の認可とは切り離し、中長期的な視点から、中央教育審議会などの場でしっかりと議論すべきである。
That a conclusion reached in line with existing rules on an important matter is reversed because of grandstanding by a trouble-making minister will only deprive the administration of its continuity and generate confusion at education facilities.
問題閣僚のスタンドプレーで現行ルールに沿った結論が覆されるようでは行政の継続性は失われ、教育現場が混乱するだけだ。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 4, 2012)
（2012年11月4日01時34分 読売新聞）
2012年11月04日
電機大手赤字 大胆な成長戦略で復活目指せ
The Yomiuri Shimbun (Nov. 3, 2012)
Electronics makers must retool with bold new growth strategies
電機大手赤字 大胆な成長戦略で復活目指せ（11月2日付・読売社説）
The performance of leading electronics makers continues to deteriorate. Faced with intensifying competition from South Korean and other overseas rivals, Japanese firms urgently need to retool their corporate comeback strategies.
電機大手の業績悪化に歯止めがかからない。韓国企業などとの競争は激しく、復活に向けた戦略立て直しが急務だ。
Panasonic Corp. has announced it expects to post a consolidated net loss of 765 billion yen in fiscal 2012, a downward revision of its projected business performance. Although the company initially estimated a net profit of 50 billion yen, it now faces a situation as serious as when it posted a colossal loss in fiscal 2011.
パナソニックは、２０１３年３月期連結決算の業績予想を下方修正し、税引き後利益が７６５０億円の赤字になると発表した。当初、５００億円の黒字を見込んでいたが、前期の巨額赤字に匹敵する深刻な事態である。
According to Panasonic President Kazuhiro Tsuga, "In digital consumer electronics, we've been in the losing group. Even though we went through structural reform, things only improved temporarily. It's a highly unusual situation." His remarks underline the firm's grim situation.
津賀一宏社長は、「デジタル家電で負け組となっている。構造改革を実施しても一時的に良くなるだけで普通の状態でない」と述べた。発言に込めた意味は重い。
The primary factor behind Panasonic's sizable loss is poor performance in its main product lines--flat-screen TVs, digital cameras and cell phones.
巨額赤字の主因は、薄型テレビ、デジタルカメラ、携帯電話などの本業が低迷したことだ。
===
Major merger was a misstep
In a major merger in 2009, Panasonic acquired Sanyo Electric Co. as part of its strategy to replace its TV business with solar and lithium-ion batteries as its core sectors. The purchase, however, turned out to be a miscalculation.
パナソニックは０９年に三洋電機を買収した。テレビ事業に代わる中核として太陽電池やリチウムイオン電池事業に期待した戦略だったが、誤算に終わった。
The firm's performance this fiscal year was greatly affected by its decision to make a sizable write-off in sectors including solar batteries. The decision was prompted by the realization that the investment made to acquire Sanyo had been a flop.
三洋買収による巨額投資を事実上、失敗と認め、今期中に太陽電池事業などの減損処理に踏み切ることも業績に大きく響いた。
To rebuild, Panasonic plans to expedite moves away from money-losing product lines, such as by liquidating overseas flat-screen TV factories. Although we see such moves as appropriate, the company's biggest problem is the lack of a clear growth plan.
パナソニックが経営立て直しへ、海外の薄型テレビの組み立て拠点を清算するなど、不採算事業の縮小を急ぐのは妥当だ。最大の問題は、明確な成長シナリオが描けていないことにある。
How will the electronics giant make progress in its strategic shift toward emphasizing profitability over a focus on sales numbers? It also remains to be seen how quickly it can implement managerial reforms.
売り上げ規模の追求ではなく、採算を重視していくという戦略転換をどう進めるか。経営改革のスピードが問われよう。
Meanwhile, the losses continue for Sharp Corp., which is currently going through a corporate rebuilding process.
一方、経営再建途上にあるシャープも、赤字が止まらない。
Sharp has announced it expects to log a record net loss of 450 billion yen in fiscal 2012, a sizable downward revision of its initial projection.
１３年３月期決算の税引き後赤字を過去最大の４５００億円とし、当初見込みから大幅に下方修正した。
The outlook is rocky for the firm's small and midsize liquid crystal display business, which the company has seen as its trump card in its overall corporate reconstruction.
再建の切り札と位置づける中小型の液晶パネル事業は、前途多難だ。
With an urgent need for cash, the company must quickly conclude a capital partnership agreement with Hon Hai Precision Industry Co. of Taiwan.
自己資本の増強も必要で、台湾・鴻海(ホンハイ)精密工業との資本提携交渉の早期妥結が求められる。
===
Conditions are tough for all
Sony, on the other hand, is projected to post a profit in the current fiscal year, though its TV business continues to be sluggish. The firm needs to find a new core business that can support continued growth.
ソニーは今期の黒字を確保する見通しだが、テレビ事業の不振は続いており、成長の柱となる新たな事業を求めて模索が続く。
All Japanese manufacturers, not only electronics makers, have been exposed to the adverse winds of economic slowdowns overseas, a strongly appreciating yen, and ever-intensifying competition with foreign rivals.
電機など製造業各社はそろって海外経済の減速、超円高、競争激化などの逆風にさらされている。
Damage has also been done by declining sales in China, a consequence of the diplomatic tension between Japan and China.
日中関係の悪化に伴い、中国での販売減少も打撃になってきた。
The keys to revival appear to be in discerning the needs of emerging markets with strong growth potential and developing strategically important products through originality and ingenuity.
成長が見込まれる新興国市場などのニーズを各社が発掘し、創意工夫で戦略的な商品を開発することが復活のカギを握るだろう。
We find it encouraging that start-up companies producing Japan-made appliances that primarily cater to emerging countries have appeared. These firms possess technological prowess and unique designs.
技術力とデザインを生かし、新興国向けの“日の丸家電”を製造しようとするベンチャー企業がでてきたことは心強い。
We hope Japanese electronics makers large and small can shrug off adversity and wield their latent power.
大手も含めて各社が逆境をはね返し、底力を発揮してもらいたい。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 2, 2012)
（2012年11月2日01時43分 読売新聞）
Electronics makers must retool with bold new growth strategies
電機大手赤字 大胆な成長戦略で復活目指せ（11月2日付・読売社説）
The performance of leading electronics makers continues to deteriorate. Faced with intensifying competition from South Korean and other overseas rivals, Japanese firms urgently need to retool their corporate comeback strategies.
電機大手の業績悪化に歯止めがかからない。韓国企業などとの競争は激しく、復活に向けた戦略立て直しが急務だ。
Panasonic Corp. has announced it expects to post a consolidated net loss of 765 billion yen in fiscal 2012, a downward revision of its projected business performance. Although the company initially estimated a net profit of 50 billion yen, it now faces a situation as serious as when it posted a colossal loss in fiscal 2011.
パナソニックは、２０１３年３月期連結決算の業績予想を下方修正し、税引き後利益が７６５０億円の赤字になると発表した。当初、５００億円の黒字を見込んでいたが、前期の巨額赤字に匹敵する深刻な事態である。
According to Panasonic President Kazuhiro Tsuga, "In digital consumer electronics, we've been in the losing group. Even though we went through structural reform, things only improved temporarily. It's a highly unusual situation." His remarks underline the firm's grim situation.
津賀一宏社長は、「デジタル家電で負け組となっている。構造改革を実施しても一時的に良くなるだけで普通の状態でない」と述べた。発言に込めた意味は重い。
The primary factor behind Panasonic's sizable loss is poor performance in its main product lines--flat-screen TVs, digital cameras and cell phones.
巨額赤字の主因は、薄型テレビ、デジタルカメラ、携帯電話などの本業が低迷したことだ。
===
Major merger was a misstep
In a major merger in 2009, Panasonic acquired Sanyo Electric Co. as part of its strategy to replace its TV business with solar and lithium-ion batteries as its core sectors. The purchase, however, turned out to be a miscalculation.
パナソニックは０９年に三洋電機を買収した。テレビ事業に代わる中核として太陽電池やリチウムイオン電池事業に期待した戦略だったが、誤算に終わった。
The firm's performance this fiscal year was greatly affected by its decision to make a sizable write-off in sectors including solar batteries. The decision was prompted by the realization that the investment made to acquire Sanyo had been a flop.
三洋買収による巨額投資を事実上、失敗と認め、今期中に太陽電池事業などの減損処理に踏み切ることも業績に大きく響いた。
To rebuild, Panasonic plans to expedite moves away from money-losing product lines, such as by liquidating overseas flat-screen TV factories. Although we see such moves as appropriate, the company's biggest problem is the lack of a clear growth plan.
パナソニックが経営立て直しへ、海外の薄型テレビの組み立て拠点を清算するなど、不採算事業の縮小を急ぐのは妥当だ。最大の問題は、明確な成長シナリオが描けていないことにある。
How will the electronics giant make progress in its strategic shift toward emphasizing profitability over a focus on sales numbers? It also remains to be seen how quickly it can implement managerial reforms.
売り上げ規模の追求ではなく、採算を重視していくという戦略転換をどう進めるか。経営改革のスピードが問われよう。
Meanwhile, the losses continue for Sharp Corp., which is currently going through a corporate rebuilding process.
一方、経営再建途上にあるシャープも、赤字が止まらない。
Sharp has announced it expects to log a record net loss of 450 billion yen in fiscal 2012, a sizable downward revision of its initial projection.
１３年３月期決算の税引き後赤字を過去最大の４５００億円とし、当初見込みから大幅に下方修正した。
The outlook is rocky for the firm's small and midsize liquid crystal display business, which the company has seen as its trump card in its overall corporate reconstruction.
再建の切り札と位置づける中小型の液晶パネル事業は、前途多難だ。
With an urgent need for cash, the company must quickly conclude a capital partnership agreement with Hon Hai Precision Industry Co. of Taiwan.
自己資本の増強も必要で、台湾・鴻海(ホンハイ)精密工業との資本提携交渉の早期妥結が求められる。
===
Conditions are tough for all
Sony, on the other hand, is projected to post a profit in the current fiscal year, though its TV business continues to be sluggish. The firm needs to find a new core business that can support continued growth.
ソニーは今期の黒字を確保する見通しだが、テレビ事業の不振は続いており、成長の柱となる新たな事業を求めて模索が続く。
All Japanese manufacturers, not only electronics makers, have been exposed to the adverse winds of economic slowdowns overseas, a strongly appreciating yen, and ever-intensifying competition with foreign rivals.
電機など製造業各社はそろって海外経済の減速、超円高、競争激化などの逆風にさらされている。
Damage has also been done by declining sales in China, a consequence of the diplomatic tension between Japan and China.
日中関係の悪化に伴い、中国での販売減少も打撃になってきた。
The keys to revival appear to be in discerning the needs of emerging markets with strong growth potential and developing strategically important products through originality and ingenuity.
成長が見込まれる新興国市場などのニーズを各社が発掘し、創意工夫で戦略的な商品を開発することが復活のカギを握るだろう。
We find it encouraging that start-up companies producing Japan-made appliances that primarily cater to emerging countries have appeared. These firms possess technological prowess and unique designs.
技術力とデザインを生かし、新興国向けの“日の丸家電”を製造しようとするベンチャー企業がでてきたことは心強い。
We hope Japanese electronics makers large and small can shrug off adversity and wield their latent power.
大手も含めて各社が逆境をはね返し、底力を発揮してもらいたい。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 2, 2012)
（2012年11月2日01時43分 読売新聞）
2012年11月03日
衆院代表質問 懸案先送りでは展望開けない
The Yomiuri Shimbun (Nov. 2, 2012)
Key pending issues suffering neglect in new Diet session
衆院代表質問 懸案先送りでは展望開けない（11月1日付・読売社説）
Debate has begun in the Diet. However, it seems that we cannot expect constructive developments in which the ruling and opposition parties actively seek common ground through Diet deliberations and move politics forward.
国会審議を通じて、与野党が積極的に接点を探り、政治を動かす。
そんな前向きの展開は期待できそうにない論戦のスタートである。
Liberal Democratic Party President Shinzo Abe faced off with Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda for the first time Wednesday during interpellations on Noda's policy speech by party representatives in the plenary session of the House of Representatives.
野田首相の所信表明演説に対する各党の代表質問が衆院本会議で行われ、自民党の安倍総裁が首相と初めて対決した。
Concerning Noda's promise to dissolve the lower house for a general election "sometime soon," Abe pressed him to dissolve the lower house by the end of this year, saying Noda "must bear the responsibility for his words."
安倍氏は、首相が約束した「近いうち」の衆院解散・総選挙について、「その言葉に責任を持たねばならない」として、年内の解散を決断するよう迫った。
Noda only said, "I'll make a decision properly if conditions [for the dissolution] are met." As those conditions, he referred to the enactment of a bill that will allow the government to issue deficit-covering bonds and rectification of vote-value disparities in lower house elections.
首相は、赤字国債の発行を認める特例公債法案の成立や衆院選の「１票の格差」是正など、解散の「条件が整えば、きちんと判断をしたい」と語るにとどめた。
With Democratic Party of Japan members leaving the party one after another, the foundation of Noda's administration is crumbling away beneath him.
民主党の離党者が続き、野田政権の基盤は一層揺らいでいる。
The DPJ will inevitably suffer a crushing defeat if it goes into the lower house election amid its current low approval ratings. Noda probably wants to delay the lower house dissolution with an eye out for the timing that would best help the party minimize its loss of seats. However, there is no prospect for that.
支持率が低迷する中で衆院選を迎えた場合、民主党の大敗は免れない。首相にすれば、解散を先延ばしし、議席減少を極力抑えられる時期を模索したいのだろうが、その展望は開けていない。
===
Local govts await bond bill
The delay in the enactment of the bill to issue deficit-covering bonds currently seriously affects local governments' finances. Noda should not shy away from an early dissolution of the lower house and needs to take action on his own to obtain cooperation from the opposition parties.
特例公債法案の成立の遅れは、地方財政に深刻な影響を及ぼしている。首相は、早期解散から逃げることなく、野党の協力取り付けに自ら動く必要がある。
Abe, for his part, should immediately end his party's self-righteous boycott of the current extraordinary Diet session based on a censure resolution against Noda and cooperate in the enactment of the bill to issue deficit-covering bonds since he said he fully realizes the importance of the bill and other key issues.
安倍氏も、特例公債法案などの「重要性は十分認識している」と言う以上、首相問責決議に基づく独善的な審議拒否を早急に撤回して、法案成立に協力すべきだ。
Regarding the rebuilding of Japan's diplomacy, Abe called for changing the government's interpretation of the Constitution so that Japan will be able to exercise the right to collective self-defense, a stance that aims to rebuild the Japan-U.S. alliance. Noda rejected a change in the government's interpretation of the Constitution for the moment, but said, "There should be various discussions."
日本外交の再建に関して安倍氏は、「日米同盟を再構築」するため、集団的自衛権の行使を可能にするよう政府の憲法解釈の変更を求めた。首相は、当面の解釈変更を否定しつつ、「様々な議論があってしかるべきだ」と述べた。
Strengthening the Japan-U.S. alliance is crucial for protecting the nation's territory and improving relationships with China and South Korea. Because the right to collective self-defense is an issue that concerns the very basis of the nation's security, it is desirable for a cross-party consensus to be formed. We hope the ruling and opposition parties will deepen discussions on the issue to enable the government to exercise the right.
領土を守り、中国、韓国との関係を改善するうえで、日米同盟の強化は欠かせない。集団的自衛権は安全保障の根幹にかかわる問題だけに、超党派の合意形成が望ましい。与野党は、行使を可能にする方向で議論を深めてほしい。
===
Trade deal sadly neglected
As for the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade framework, Abe stressed that he "opposes Japan's participation in its negotiations as long as it [the TPP] presupposes the elimination of tariffs with no exceptions." Noda only said he will decide on Japan's official participation in the TPP negotiations based on developments in discussions both within Japan and with countries concerned.
環太平洋経済連携協定（ＴＰＰ）について、安倍氏は、「聖域なき関税撤廃を前提にする限り、交渉参加に反対する」と強調した。首相も、国内の議論や関係国との協議の進展を踏まえて、正式参加を判断するとだけ語った。
It is regrettable that both Abe and Noda are so reticent on the issue, although Japan's participation in the TPP negotiations is an urgent task for the revitalization of the economy.
経済再生のためにも交渉参加が急務なのに、両者とも消極姿勢だったのは残念である。
It is also problematic that the ruling parties are cautious about convening the Budget Committee, which is normally opened after the interpellations by party representatives. It is said this is because they want to duck the opposition parties' questions on Noda's responsibility in appointing former Justice Minister Keishu Tanaka to the post. Such an attitude only worsens the stagnation of the nation's politics.
問題なのは、代表質問後に通常開かれる予算委員会に与党が慎重なことだ。田中慶秋前法相の任命責任など野党の追及を避けたいためとされる。そんな姿勢では政治が一層停滞してしまう。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 1, 2012)
（2012年11月1日08時23分 読売新聞）
Key pending issues suffering neglect in new Diet session
衆院代表質問 懸案先送りでは展望開けない（11月1日付・読売社説）
Debate has begun in the Diet. However, it seems that we cannot expect constructive developments in which the ruling and opposition parties actively seek common ground through Diet deliberations and move politics forward.
国会審議を通じて、与野党が積極的に接点を探り、政治を動かす。
そんな前向きの展開は期待できそうにない論戦のスタートである。
Liberal Democratic Party President Shinzo Abe faced off with Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda for the first time Wednesday during interpellations on Noda's policy speech by party representatives in the plenary session of the House of Representatives.
野田首相の所信表明演説に対する各党の代表質問が衆院本会議で行われ、自民党の安倍総裁が首相と初めて対決した。
Concerning Noda's promise to dissolve the lower house for a general election "sometime soon," Abe pressed him to dissolve the lower house by the end of this year, saying Noda "must bear the responsibility for his words."
安倍氏は、首相が約束した「近いうち」の衆院解散・総選挙について、「その言葉に責任を持たねばならない」として、年内の解散を決断するよう迫った。
Noda only said, "I'll make a decision properly if conditions [for the dissolution] are met." As those conditions, he referred to the enactment of a bill that will allow the government to issue deficit-covering bonds and rectification of vote-value disparities in lower house elections.
首相は、赤字国債の発行を認める特例公債法案の成立や衆院選の「１票の格差」是正など、解散の「条件が整えば、きちんと判断をしたい」と語るにとどめた。
With Democratic Party of Japan members leaving the party one after another, the foundation of Noda's administration is crumbling away beneath him.
民主党の離党者が続き、野田政権の基盤は一層揺らいでいる。
The DPJ will inevitably suffer a crushing defeat if it goes into the lower house election amid its current low approval ratings. Noda probably wants to delay the lower house dissolution with an eye out for the timing that would best help the party minimize its loss of seats. However, there is no prospect for that.
支持率が低迷する中で衆院選を迎えた場合、民主党の大敗は免れない。首相にすれば、解散を先延ばしし、議席減少を極力抑えられる時期を模索したいのだろうが、その展望は開けていない。
===
Local govts await bond bill
The delay in the enactment of the bill to issue deficit-covering bonds currently seriously affects local governments' finances. Noda should not shy away from an early dissolution of the lower house and needs to take action on his own to obtain cooperation from the opposition parties.
特例公債法案の成立の遅れは、地方財政に深刻な影響を及ぼしている。首相は、早期解散から逃げることなく、野党の協力取り付けに自ら動く必要がある。
Abe, for his part, should immediately end his party's self-righteous boycott of the current extraordinary Diet session based on a censure resolution against Noda and cooperate in the enactment of the bill to issue deficit-covering bonds since he said he fully realizes the importance of the bill and other key issues.
安倍氏も、特例公債法案などの「重要性は十分認識している」と言う以上、首相問責決議に基づく独善的な審議拒否を早急に撤回して、法案成立に協力すべきだ。
Regarding the rebuilding of Japan's diplomacy, Abe called for changing the government's interpretation of the Constitution so that Japan will be able to exercise the right to collective self-defense, a stance that aims to rebuild the Japan-U.S. alliance. Noda rejected a change in the government's interpretation of the Constitution for the moment, but said, "There should be various discussions."
日本外交の再建に関して安倍氏は、「日米同盟を再構築」するため、集団的自衛権の行使を可能にするよう政府の憲法解釈の変更を求めた。首相は、当面の解釈変更を否定しつつ、「様々な議論があってしかるべきだ」と述べた。
Strengthening the Japan-U.S. alliance is crucial for protecting the nation's territory and improving relationships with China and South Korea. Because the right to collective self-defense is an issue that concerns the very basis of the nation's security, it is desirable for a cross-party consensus to be formed. We hope the ruling and opposition parties will deepen discussions on the issue to enable the government to exercise the right.
領土を守り、中国、韓国との関係を改善するうえで、日米同盟の強化は欠かせない。集団的自衛権は安全保障の根幹にかかわる問題だけに、超党派の合意形成が望ましい。与野党は、行使を可能にする方向で議論を深めてほしい。
===
Trade deal sadly neglected
As for the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade framework, Abe stressed that he "opposes Japan's participation in its negotiations as long as it [the TPP] presupposes the elimination of tariffs with no exceptions." Noda only said he will decide on Japan's official participation in the TPP negotiations based on developments in discussions both within Japan and with countries concerned.
環太平洋経済連携協定（ＴＰＰ）について、安倍氏は、「聖域なき関税撤廃を前提にする限り、交渉参加に反対する」と強調した。首相も、国内の議論や関係国との協議の進展を踏まえて、正式参加を判断するとだけ語った。
It is regrettable that both Abe and Noda are so reticent on the issue, although Japan's participation in the TPP negotiations is an urgent task for the revitalization of the economy.
経済再生のためにも交渉参加が急務なのに、両者とも消極姿勢だったのは残念である。
It is also problematic that the ruling parties are cautious about convening the Budget Committee, which is normally opened after the interpellations by party representatives. It is said this is because they want to duck the opposition parties' questions on Noda's responsibility in appointing former Justice Minister Keishu Tanaka to the post. Such an attitude only worsens the stagnation of the nation's politics.
問題なのは、代表質問後に通常開かれる予算委員会に与党が慎重なことだ。田中慶秋前法相の任命責任など野党の追及を避けたいためとされる。そんな姿勢では政治が一層停滞してしまう。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 1, 2012)
（2012年11月1日08時23分 読売新聞）
2012年11月02日
追加金融緩和 政府・日銀は効果的な連携を
The Yomiuri Shimbun (Nov. 1, 2012)
Govt, BOJ must cooperate effectively on monetary policy
追加金融緩和 政府・日銀は効果的な連携を（10月31日付・読売社説）
The government and the Bank of Japan are clearly strengthening their cooperation in tackling deflation. What they must do now is implement effective policies.
デフレ脱却を目指し、政府・日銀が連携を強化する姿勢を明確にした。肝心なのは効果的な政策の実行である。
The central bank has decided to take additional monetary steps, including a boost to 91 trillion yen, up 11 trillion yen, in its fund to buy government bonds and other financial assets. The bank also hammered out a new system to provide funds at low interest rates to banks that have increased lending. It said it would refrain from setting an upper limit on lending to ensure an ample supply of funds.
日銀が国債などを買い入れる基金を１１兆円上積みし、９１兆円とする追加金融緩和策を決めた。貸し出しを増やした銀行に、日銀が低利で資金供給する新制度も打ち出した。総額に上限を設けず、手厚く供給するという。
Due to slowdowns in overseas economies and the deterioration of Japan-China relations, the nation's economy has started to cool off. The Bank of Japan was wise to take additional steps for the second consecutive month to prevent the economy from worsening.
海外経済の減速や日中関係の悪化の影響で、景気は冷え込み始めた。腰折れを防ぐため、日銀が２か月連続で追加策に踏み切ったのは妥当な判断と言えよう。
Previous increases in the central bank's fund have not been effective in pumping sufficient funds into companies and other entities. We hope the new system will be more productive in increasing bank lending.
基金を積み増す従来の手法では企業などに資金が十分に行き渡らない。新制度によって貸し出しが増加することに期待したい。
===
Joint statement important
For the first time, the government and the Bank of Japan issued a joint statement saying they would "work together and make utmost efforts" to overcome deflation.
政府・日銀がデフレ脱却に向けて「一体となって最大限の努力を行う」という、初めての共同文書も発表した。
Seiji Maehara, state minister for economic and fiscal policy, who attended the central bank's monetary policy-setting meeting, stressed at a press conference that the statement was an important step forward in combating deflation. It is essential that the touting of cooperation between the government and the central bank does not end up as empty talk.
金融政策決定会合に出席した前原経済財政相は記者会見で、「重要な一歩になる」と強調した。政府・日銀の協調を「かけ声倒れ」に終わらせないことが大切だ。
The central bank decided to take the additional measures--including introduction of the new system--apparently because it feared its projection of overcoming deflation "as early as fiscal 2014, in the not-too-distant future" was not feasible.
日銀が新制度を含む追加策に動いた背景には、「２０１４年度以降、遠からず」としていたデフレ脱却の時期が遅れることへの危機感があるのだろう。
On the same day as the announcement of additional monetary steps, the Bank of Japan forecast that consumer prices would increase 0.8 percent in fiscal 2014, below the 1 percent yardstick for overcoming deflation.
日銀が追加策とあわせて発表した１４年度の物価上昇率の見込みは「０・８％」で、デフレ脱却のメドとなる「１％」を下回った。
The consumption tax rate is scheduled to be raised to 8 percent in April 2014. Efforts must be accelerated to overcome deflation through all available measures, so no obstacles will be thrown in the way of integrated reform of social security and tax systems.
１４年４月には消費税率が８％に引き上げられる予定である。社会保障・税一体改革に支障の出ないよう、政策を総動員し、デフレ脱却を急がねばならない。
===
Nurture new industries
Some government officials and lawmakers from the ruling and opposition parties have called on the Bank of Japan to purchase foreign bonds to correct the yen's appreciation and to introduce an inflation target. The government and central bank should further deepen their discussions on these matters.
政府や与野党には、円高是正を目指した外債購入や、インフレ目標の導入などを日銀に求める声もある。政府と日銀がさらに論議を深めることが求められる。
It is primarily the government's task to address structural problems, such as the shrinking population, declining potential growth rate and industrial hollowing-out. The small emergency economic measures decided by the Cabinet last week are far from satisfactory.
人口減少や潜在成長率の低下、産業空洞化など、構造問題への対応は主として政府の役割である。先週に閣議決定された小規模な緊急経済対策では全く不十分だ。
We hope new industries will be nurtured in such growth areas as nursing care and medicine as well as environment-related industries to accelerate the creation of jobs.
介護・医療や環境などの成長分野で新産業を育成し、雇用の創出も加速させてもらいたい。
It also is necessary to support economic revitalization by securing a stable supply of electricity through the reactivation of nuclear power plants after their safety has been confirmed.
安全を確認できた原子力発電所を再稼働して電力の安定供給を図り、経済再生を後押しする態勢を整える必要もある。
More importantly, a bill to enable the government to issue deficit-covering bonds, which will secure resources for this fiscal year's initial budget, should be passed by the Diet as soon as possible. If state coffers become depleted and administrative functions suspended, sudden and severe deflationary pressures will deal the Japanese economy a deadly blow. Such confusion must be avoided.
何より、今年度当初予算の財源を確保する特例公債法案の成立を急ぐべきだ。国庫が底をつき、行政機能が停止すれば、急激なデフレ圧力で日本経済は致命的な打撃を受ける。こうした混乱は回避しなければならない。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 31, 2012)
（2012年10月31日01時16分 読売新聞）
Govt, BOJ must cooperate effectively on monetary policy
追加金融緩和 政府・日銀は効果的な連携を（10月31日付・読売社説）
The government and the Bank of Japan are clearly strengthening their cooperation in tackling deflation. What they must do now is implement effective policies.
デフレ脱却を目指し、政府・日銀が連携を強化する姿勢を明確にした。肝心なのは効果的な政策の実行である。
The central bank has decided to take additional monetary steps, including a boost to 91 trillion yen, up 11 trillion yen, in its fund to buy government bonds and other financial assets. The bank also hammered out a new system to provide funds at low interest rates to banks that have increased lending. It said it would refrain from setting an upper limit on lending to ensure an ample supply of funds.
日銀が国債などを買い入れる基金を１１兆円上積みし、９１兆円とする追加金融緩和策を決めた。貸し出しを増やした銀行に、日銀が低利で資金供給する新制度も打ち出した。総額に上限を設けず、手厚く供給するという。
Due to slowdowns in overseas economies and the deterioration of Japan-China relations, the nation's economy has started to cool off. The Bank of Japan was wise to take additional steps for the second consecutive month to prevent the economy from worsening.
海外経済の減速や日中関係の悪化の影響で、景気は冷え込み始めた。腰折れを防ぐため、日銀が２か月連続で追加策に踏み切ったのは妥当な判断と言えよう。
Previous increases in the central bank's fund have not been effective in pumping sufficient funds into companies and other entities. We hope the new system will be more productive in increasing bank lending.
基金を積み増す従来の手法では企業などに資金が十分に行き渡らない。新制度によって貸し出しが増加することに期待したい。
===
Joint statement important
For the first time, the government and the Bank of Japan issued a joint statement saying they would "work together and make utmost efforts" to overcome deflation.
政府・日銀がデフレ脱却に向けて「一体となって最大限の努力を行う」という、初めての共同文書も発表した。
Seiji Maehara, state minister for economic and fiscal policy, who attended the central bank's monetary policy-setting meeting, stressed at a press conference that the statement was an important step forward in combating deflation. It is essential that the touting of cooperation between the government and the central bank does not end up as empty talk.
金融政策決定会合に出席した前原経済財政相は記者会見で、「重要な一歩になる」と強調した。政府・日銀の協調を「かけ声倒れ」に終わらせないことが大切だ。
The central bank decided to take the additional measures--including introduction of the new system--apparently because it feared its projection of overcoming deflation "as early as fiscal 2014, in the not-too-distant future" was not feasible.
日銀が新制度を含む追加策に動いた背景には、「２０１４年度以降、遠からず」としていたデフレ脱却の時期が遅れることへの危機感があるのだろう。
On the same day as the announcement of additional monetary steps, the Bank of Japan forecast that consumer prices would increase 0.8 percent in fiscal 2014, below the 1 percent yardstick for overcoming deflation.
日銀が追加策とあわせて発表した１４年度の物価上昇率の見込みは「０・８％」で、デフレ脱却のメドとなる「１％」を下回った。
The consumption tax rate is scheduled to be raised to 8 percent in April 2014. Efforts must be accelerated to overcome deflation through all available measures, so no obstacles will be thrown in the way of integrated reform of social security and tax systems.
１４年４月には消費税率が８％に引き上げられる予定である。社会保障・税一体改革に支障の出ないよう、政策を総動員し、デフレ脱却を急がねばならない。
===
Nurture new industries
Some government officials and lawmakers from the ruling and opposition parties have called on the Bank of Japan to purchase foreign bonds to correct the yen's appreciation and to introduce an inflation target. The government and central bank should further deepen their discussions on these matters.
政府や与野党には、円高是正を目指した外債購入や、インフレ目標の導入などを日銀に求める声もある。政府と日銀がさらに論議を深めることが求められる。
It is primarily the government's task to address structural problems, such as the shrinking population, declining potential growth rate and industrial hollowing-out. The small emergency economic measures decided by the Cabinet last week are far from satisfactory.
人口減少や潜在成長率の低下、産業空洞化など、構造問題への対応は主として政府の役割である。先週に閣議決定された小規模な緊急経済対策では全く不十分だ。
We hope new industries will be nurtured in such growth areas as nursing care and medicine as well as environment-related industries to accelerate the creation of jobs.
介護・医療や環境などの成長分野で新産業を育成し、雇用の創出も加速させてもらいたい。
It also is necessary to support economic revitalization by securing a stable supply of electricity through the reactivation of nuclear power plants after their safety has been confirmed.
安全を確認できた原子力発電所を再稼働して電力の安定供給を図り、経済再生を後押しする態勢を整える必要もある。
More importantly, a bill to enable the government to issue deficit-covering bonds, which will secure resources for this fiscal year's initial budget, should be passed by the Diet as soon as possible. If state coffers become depleted and administrative functions suspended, sudden and severe deflationary pressures will deal the Japanese economy a deadly blow. Such confusion must be avoided.
何より、今年度当初予算の財源を確保する特例公債法案の成立を急ぐべきだ。国庫が底をつき、行政機能が停止すれば、急激なデフレ圧力で日本経済は致命的な打撃を受ける。こうした混乱は回避しなければならない。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 31, 2012)
（2012年10月31日01時16分 読売新聞）
2012年11月01日
演説拒否の参院 不要論を加速させる愚行だ
The Yomiuri Shimbun (Oct. 31, 2012)
After turning Noda away, can upper house justify existence?
演説拒否の参院 不要論を加速させる愚行だ（10月30日付・読売社説）
For the first time in the postwar era, a prime minister has not made a policy speech in the House of Councillors. This leaves an indelible stain on the history of constitutional government.
戦後初の事態である。
憲政史上に汚点を残す愚行と言うほかない。
Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda delivered his policy speech only in the House of the Representatives plenary session on the opening day of an extraordinary Diet session Monday. He could not do so in the upper house because the opposition parties controlling the chamber refused to comply with a request to hold a plenary session.
野田首相の所信表明演説が衆院本会議だけで行われた。参院では、多数を占める野党が、本会議開会に応じなかったためだ。
Making a policy speech during a plenary session provides an important opportunity for a prime minister to present basic policies on international and domestic issues. In response to the speech, representatives from the ruling and opposition parties interpellate the government as full-scale parliamentary debate is launched. This procedure has been customarily observed in the Diet.
所信表明演説は、首相が外交、内政にわたって基本方針を示す重要な機会だ。これを受けて与野党の代表質問で論戦が本格化するのが国会の慣例となっている。
The upper house caucuses of the Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito, two major opposition parties, insist they refused to have Noda appear in the upper house plenary session because a censure motion against him had been approved in the same chamber during the previous ordinary session of the Diet.
参院の自民、公明両党などは、先の通常国会で野田首相問責決議を可決した以上、首相を本会議場に迎えられないと主張する。
===
Unreasonable excuse
"It was the desire of the upper house caususes not to invite him to make a policy speech," they said. "This does not mean we refuse to enter deliberations." Such sophistry is inexcusable.
「参院の意思で所信表明を求めなかった。審議拒否ではない」と釈明するが、こんな詭弁(きべん)は通らない。
Upper house censure motions against former Prime Ministers Yasuo Fukuda and Taro Aso were approved and they stepped down as a result. But they did so before the next Diet session convened. So Noda is the first prime minister to enter a Diet session after a censure motion had been approved.
過去に問責された福田、麻生両首相は結果的に次の国会審議前に退陣した。問責された首相が次の国会に臨むのは初めてとなる。
The opposition camp must discontinue its pernicious tactics of refusing to enter Diet deliberations following approval of the censure motion and bring to an end its fruitless struggle with the ruling parties.
野党は、問責決議に伴う審議拒否戦術という悪弊を断ち、不毛な応酬に終止符を打つべきだ。
In the first place, a censure motion in the upper house is not legally binding, unlike a no-confidence motion against the cabinet in the lower house. This is because a prime minister is not permitted to take any counteraction in the upper house, while a no-confidence motion in the lower house can lead to dissolution of that chamber. It also runs counter to the constitutional principle that gives the lower house precedence over the upper chamber.
そもそも、参院の問責決議は、衆院の内閣不信任決議と違って、法的な拘束力はない。首相は参院に対し、衆院解散のような対抗手段がなく、衆院の優越を定めた憲法の理念にも反するからだ。
It is natural for the upper house not to be given the means to make a prime minister resign because members of that house serve six-year terms.
６年間の安定した任期がある参院に首相を辞任させる手立てが認められないのは当然である。
===
LDP's move baffling
The LDP's behavior on the matter is incomprehensible.
理解し難いのは自民党だ。
As a reason for submitting the censure motion in question, the opposition parties cited the bill to increase the consumption tax rate as "betraying the will of the people." But the LDP, based on an agreement with the Democratic Party of Japan and Komeito, voted for the bill in the Diet. It is appalling that the LDP is brandishing the censure motion approved in the previous Diet session as a political tool in the current extraordinary session to attack the government.
この問責決議は、消費増税法が「国民の声に背く」ことを理由に挙げたが、自民党は民自公３党合意に基づいて法案に賛成し、成立させた当事者である。自己否定する決議を今国会でも振りかざす理不尽さには唖然(あぜん)とさせられる。
Under the divided Diet, the opposition-controlled upper house has abused its powers repeatedly, throwing Diet business into chaos. It is lamentable for the LDP and Komeito to apparently take revenge on the DPJ-led government for the hardships they suffered in the upper house when they formed a coalition government.
衆参ねじれ国会では、野党の制する参院が再三、権限を乱用し、国会を混乱させてきた。与党として参院に苦しめられた自民、公明両党が野党転落後、意趣返しを繰り返しているのは嘆かわしい。
An upper house Budget Committee session is scheduled to be held. This is because the opposition parties want to question the government on scandals involving Cabinet ministers. They plan to ask Noda to attend the session to take him to task for appointing Keishu Tanaka, who resigned as justice minister before the extraordinary Diet session convened.
一方で、参院は予算委員会を開催する方向だ。閣僚の不祥事を追及するとともに、首相の出席を求めて田中慶秋前法相を起用した任命責任をただすためだという。
If they do this, how will the LDP and Komeito explain their inconsistency between refusing to allow the prime minister to deliver a policy speech in the upper house and holding a Budget Committee session with Noda in attendance?
それが事実ならば、本会議での首相演説を拒否したこととの整合性をどう説明するのか。
Moreover, the LDP and Komeito upper house caucuses said they would refuse in principle to enter deliberations on government-proposed bills in other upper house committees. We wonder why the LDP is adopting such an opportunistic and inconsistent policy toward Diet business while it is trying to regain power?
しかも、参院は、他の委員会での政府提出法案審議は原則、拒否するとしている。政権復帰を目指す自民党までが、このようなご都合主義で、ちぐはぐな国会対応を採用するつもりなのか。
If the upper chamber becomes a political football, it will inevitably inflame the smoldering argument under the divided Diet that the upper house is unnecessary.
参院が「政争の府」に堕するようでは、ねじれ国会の下でくすぶる「不要論」が加速するのは避けられないだろう。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 30, 2012)
（2012年10月30日01時18分 読売新聞）
After turning Noda away, can upper house justify existence?
演説拒否の参院 不要論を加速させる愚行だ（10月30日付・読売社説）
For the first time in the postwar era, a prime minister has not made a policy speech in the House of Councillors. This leaves an indelible stain on the history of constitutional government.
戦後初の事態である。
憲政史上に汚点を残す愚行と言うほかない。
Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda delivered his policy speech only in the House of the Representatives plenary session on the opening day of an extraordinary Diet session Monday. He could not do so in the upper house because the opposition parties controlling the chamber refused to comply with a request to hold a plenary session.
野田首相の所信表明演説が衆院本会議だけで行われた。参院では、多数を占める野党が、本会議開会に応じなかったためだ。
Making a policy speech during a plenary session provides an important opportunity for a prime minister to present basic policies on international and domestic issues. In response to the speech, representatives from the ruling and opposition parties interpellate the government as full-scale parliamentary debate is launched. This procedure has been customarily observed in the Diet.
所信表明演説は、首相が外交、内政にわたって基本方針を示す重要な機会だ。これを受けて与野党の代表質問で論戦が本格化するのが国会の慣例となっている。
The upper house caucuses of the Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito, two major opposition parties, insist they refused to have Noda appear in the upper house plenary session because a censure motion against him had been approved in the same chamber during the previous ordinary session of the Diet.
参院の自民、公明両党などは、先の通常国会で野田首相問責決議を可決した以上、首相を本会議場に迎えられないと主張する。
===
Unreasonable excuse
"It was the desire of the upper house caususes not to invite him to make a policy speech," they said. "This does not mean we refuse to enter deliberations." Such sophistry is inexcusable.
「参院の意思で所信表明を求めなかった。審議拒否ではない」と釈明するが、こんな詭弁(きべん)は通らない。
Upper house censure motions against former Prime Ministers Yasuo Fukuda and Taro Aso were approved and they stepped down as a result. But they did so before the next Diet session convened. So Noda is the first prime minister to enter a Diet session after a censure motion had been approved.
過去に問責された福田、麻生両首相は結果的に次の国会審議前に退陣した。問責された首相が次の国会に臨むのは初めてとなる。
The opposition camp must discontinue its pernicious tactics of refusing to enter Diet deliberations following approval of the censure motion and bring to an end its fruitless struggle with the ruling parties.
野党は、問責決議に伴う審議拒否戦術という悪弊を断ち、不毛な応酬に終止符を打つべきだ。
In the first place, a censure motion in the upper house is not legally binding, unlike a no-confidence motion against the cabinet in the lower house. This is because a prime minister is not permitted to take any counteraction in the upper house, while a no-confidence motion in the lower house can lead to dissolution of that chamber. It also runs counter to the constitutional principle that gives the lower house precedence over the upper chamber.
そもそも、参院の問責決議は、衆院の内閣不信任決議と違って、法的な拘束力はない。首相は参院に対し、衆院解散のような対抗手段がなく、衆院の優越を定めた憲法の理念にも反するからだ。
It is natural for the upper house not to be given the means to make a prime minister resign because members of that house serve six-year terms.
６年間の安定した任期がある参院に首相を辞任させる手立てが認められないのは当然である。
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LDP's move baffling
The LDP's behavior on the matter is incomprehensible.
理解し難いのは自民党だ。
As a reason for submitting the censure motion in question, the opposition parties cited the bill to increase the consumption tax rate as "betraying the will of the people." But the LDP, based on an agreement with the Democratic Party of Japan and Komeito, voted for the bill in the Diet. It is appalling that the LDP is brandishing the censure motion approved in the previous Diet session as a political tool in the current extraordinary session to attack the government.
この問責決議は、消費増税法が「国民の声に背く」ことを理由に挙げたが、自民党は民自公３党合意に基づいて法案に賛成し、成立させた当事者である。自己否定する決議を今国会でも振りかざす理不尽さには唖然(あぜん)とさせられる。
Under the divided Diet, the opposition-controlled upper house has abused its powers repeatedly, throwing Diet business into chaos. It is lamentable for the LDP and Komeito to apparently take revenge on the DPJ-led government for the hardships they suffered in the upper house when they formed a coalition government.
衆参ねじれ国会では、野党の制する参院が再三、権限を乱用し、国会を混乱させてきた。与党として参院に苦しめられた自民、公明両党が野党転落後、意趣返しを繰り返しているのは嘆かわしい。
An upper house Budget Committee session is scheduled to be held. This is because the opposition parties want to question the government on scandals involving Cabinet ministers. They plan to ask Noda to attend the session to take him to task for appointing Keishu Tanaka, who resigned as justice minister before the extraordinary Diet session convened.
一方で、参院は予算委員会を開催する方向だ。閣僚の不祥事を追及するとともに、首相の出席を求めて田中慶秋前法相を起用した任命責任をただすためだという。
If they do this, how will the LDP and Komeito explain their inconsistency between refusing to allow the prime minister to deliver a policy speech in the upper house and holding a Budget Committee session with Noda in attendance?
それが事実ならば、本会議での首相演説を拒否したこととの整合性をどう説明するのか。
Moreover, the LDP and Komeito upper house caucuses said they would refuse in principle to enter deliberations on government-proposed bills in other upper house committees. We wonder why the LDP is adopting such an opportunistic and inconsistent policy toward Diet business while it is trying to regain power?
しかも、参院は、他の委員会での政府提出法案審議は原則、拒否するとしている。政権復帰を目指す自民党までが、このようなご都合主義で、ちぐはぐな国会対応を採用するつもりなのか。
If the upper chamber becomes a political football, it will inevitably inflame the smoldering argument under the divided Diet that the upper house is unnecessary.
参院が「政争の府」に堕するようでは、ねじれ国会の下でくすぶる「不要論」が加速するのは避けられないだろう。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 30, 2012)
（2012年10月30日01時18分 読売新聞）