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2013年01月10日
社説:２０１３年を展望する 「外交の勘」を磨きたい
January 07, 2013(Mainichi Japan)
Editorial: Japan should brush up its diplomatic instincts
社説:２０１３年を展望する 「外交の勘」を磨きたい
Japan's diplomatic policy for the New Year is set to begin. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who is responsible for the new agenda, is the grandson of former Prime Minister Nobusuke Kishi, while Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Taro Aso, who supports Abe, is the grandson of former Prime Minister Shigeru Yoshida.
新しい年の外交が始動する。それを担う首相・安倍晋三氏は岸信介元首相の孫、安倍氏を支える麻生太郎副総理兼財務相兼金融担当相は吉田茂元首相の孫だ。
Yoshida signed the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty with the United States, which has served as the foundation for Japan's postwar development and stability, and Kishi revised it into its current form.
戦後日本の発展と安定の基盤をなしてきた日米安保条約は吉田元首相が結び、岸元首相が改定して現在の形にした。
The grandsons of these two former prime ministers are set to work closely in breaking the diplomatic impasse amid growing concern about what is widely perceived as a diplomatic crisis.
外交危機が叫ばれる今、２人の血を受け継ぐ孫がコンビを組んで難局打開にあたることになったわけである。
Kishi based his governing of Japan on the country's security policy.
岸元首相は国家を運営する基礎を安全保障に置いた。
In his book, "Oiso Zuiso" ("Essay from Oiso"), Yoshida quoted Colonel Edward House, a foreign policy adviser to former U.S. President Thomas Woodrow Wilson, as saying that countries that have no diplomatic instincts would fail.
吉田元首相は自著「大磯随想」で「外交の『勘』のない国民は亡（ほろ）びる」とのウィルソン元米大統領側近エドワード・ハウス大佐の言葉を紹介している。
◇対症療法外交は限界だ
Prudent diplomatic policy is indispensable for not only the survival of countries but also to allow governments to put their utmost efforts into domestic policy issues, including economic revitalization, social security and education. Moreover, intensifying friction with other countries could fuel the public's anxiety and eventually give rise to exclusive nationalism. To prevent such a situation, it is necessary for the Japanese government to reconfirm that diplomatic policy is the basis for ensuring the country's stability.
賢明な外交は単に国家の生存にとどまらず、経済再生や社会保障、教育などの内政課題に政権が全力を注ぐためにも不可欠な条件であろう。また、外国との摩擦が激しくなれば国民の不安感が強まり排他的なナショナリズムが勢いを増しかねない。そうした状況を作り出さないためにも、外交が国の安定を支える根幹であることをまず確認したい。
A diplomatic crisis, which should be dubbed a "national crisis," has continued in Japan in recent years as tensions between Japan and its neighbors heightened over territorial issues. The year 2013 must be the year when the wisdom of the whole nation will be fully utilized to break the deadlock.
そのうえでここ数年を振り返るなら、領土で係争を抱えた近隣諸国すべてと緊張が高まり、国難とも言うべき外交危機が続いてきた。今年はその局面転換に国の知恵を総結集する年にしなければならない。
Prime Minister Abe took over the reins of government after bitterly criticizing as a "diplomatic defeat" Japan's friction with China, South Korea and Russia over the Senkaku Islands, the Takeshima Islands and the Northern Territories, respectively, as well as the meandering over the relocation of U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma in Okinawa Prefecture under the previous administration. There is no denying that the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ)-led previous administration that lacked diplomatic instincts brought about the mess. However, no one can tell for sure that Japan would not have suffered the same diplomatic defeat if the LDP had been in power.
尖閣諸島や竹島、北方四島の領土摩擦や普天間飛行場移設をめぐる日米同盟の迷走などを安倍首相は「外交敗北」と厳しく批判し、政権を奪還した。確かに「外交の勘」のない民主党政権の不手際がこうした混乱を招いた面は否定できない。
だが、自民党なら外交敗北はなかったと言い切れるだろうか。
The current diplomatic crisis is attributable to the ambiguous diplomatic policy carried out by the longstanding LDP-led administration. It was when the LDP was in power that China enacted a law on its territorial waters in 1992 to recognize the Senkaku Islands as part of its territory, which was an overture to its provocative acts around the area. The dispute over the relocation of the Futenma base is the result of the past LDP-led administration's longstanding appeasement policy in which it forced Okinawa to host an excessive number of U.S. bases in return for massive financial assistance.
今日の外交危機は、長年の自民党政権のあいまいな外交がもたらしたものでもあろう。中国が９２年に領海法を制定して尖閣諸島を自国の領海に組み込み、今に至る挑発行為の先触れとしたのは自民党政権の時代だった。沖縄の問題も、経済支援を組み合わせて重い米軍基地負担を事実上固定化する懐柔策のツケがここにきて噴出しているのである。
The world is undergoing rapid changes. The current international situation is different from that when the LDP was in power until 2009 when the DPJ took over the reins of government. The United States' influence on the world has relatively declined while China, which has replaced Japan as the No. 2 economic power, is also showing military ambitions. South Korea now needs to rely less on Japan. Russia and India have also been increasing their presence as new regional players. Simply responding to changes in the situation in its neighboring countries and complying with U.S. wishes is no longer effective.
世界の動きは速い。今の国際情勢は自民党が政権を担ってきた数年前までと同じではない。米国の国力が相対的に落ち、日本を抜いて世界第２の経済大国となった中国が軍事面でも野心を隠さず、韓国はかつてほど日本を必要としなくなっている。地域の新しいプレーヤーとしてロシア、インドの存在感も大きくなってきた。周囲の変化や米国の意向に合わせた対症療法的な外交では、もはや日本は立ち行かないのだ。
As such, Prime Minister Abe is required to work toward rearranging and stabilizing Japan's diplomatic policy that fits with the times instead of rehashing the LDP's previous diplomatic policy. He should begin efforts to strengthen the Japan-U.S. alliance by seriously considering the purpose of the agreement.
よって安倍首相は自民党時代の焼き直しではなく、新しい時代に合わせた発想と行動で外交の立て直しと安定に取り組む必要がある。再三強調する日米同盟強化についても、何のための同盟かを常に自問自答することから始めるべきである。
Former Prime Minister Yoshida wrote in his book that both Japan and the United States should hold frank discussions on enforcing the Japan-U.S. security treaty, noting that both countries signed the accord from the standpoint of their respective national policies.
"I think the United States signed the bilateral security treaty out of the need for its Pacific strategy and from the standpoint of a broad U.S. national policy. Japan, for its part, also signed the treaty from the standpoint of its own defense and broad national policy," he wrote. "In enforcing this treaty, our two countries should frankly discuss a wide variety of matters."
吉田元首相は日米安保を「アメリカがただ日本が可愛くて結んだものではないだろう。アメリカの太平洋の戦略的必要から、またアメリカの国策的な見地から結んだものであろうと思う」として、「日本も、日本自身の防衛と、国策的な考え方から結んだものである」「この条約を実施して行く上に、もっと率直にいろいろ話し合っていいのではないか」と書いた（「大磯随想」）。
◇歴史問題でつまずくな
The Japan-U.S. alliance will remain solid as long as the two countries need each other. However, the pact will collapse if either side deems that such cooperative relations detrimentally affect their national interests. Japan should clearly show its policy of responding to the Senkaku Islands issue and the relocation of U.S. bases in Okinawa and pursue a solution that will contribute to both countries' national interests and to the stability in the whole region through frank dialogue. Japan and the United States are required to transform the bilateral alliance from one in which Japan unilaterally follows and relies on the United States.
日米が互いに必要だと考える限り日米同盟は強力であり、どちらかが国益にプラスにならないと判断すればその命運は尽きる。尖閣諸島への対処も沖縄の基地移設も、まずは日本側の方針を明確に示し、率直な話し合いを通じて日米双方の国益と地域全体の平和と安定にプラスとなるような道を探るべきだ。米国の言いなりでも、日本が一方的に頼るのでもない同盟のあり方を、改めて作り上げることが求められよう。
At the same time, Japan should strengthen its solidarity with the entire international community. Media outlets throughout the world have expressed grave concern and criticism of China's provocative acts over the sovereignty of the Senkaku Islands. Japan's position over the issue has been supported by the international community. Behind such support is the world's understanding that Japan is a country that peacefully settles its disputes with other countries through negotiations and that Japan attaches importance to broad-minded nationalism, in which it seeks to peacefully coexist with other countries, rather than narrow-minded nationalism.
同時に、国際社会との連帯をいっそう深めたい。尖閣諸島の問題では中国の乱暴な振る舞いに世界のメディアが「中国が差し控えるべきことは武力で現状を変えることだ」（米紙）、「日本は外交解決を追求し続けているが中国は軍事力の行使を好む」（イタリアの通信社）などとして懸念と批判を強めている。
日本の立場と主張は国際社会に支持されている。その背景にあるのは日本が外国との係争を平和的に話し合いで処理する国であり、偏狭なナショナリズムより、相手と共存を図るナショナリズムを大事にする国だという世界の理解であろう。
Editorial: Japan should brush up its diplomatic instincts
社説:２０１３年を展望する 「外交の勘」を磨きたい
Japan's diplomatic policy for the New Year is set to begin. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who is responsible for the new agenda, is the grandson of former Prime Minister Nobusuke Kishi, while Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Taro Aso, who supports Abe, is the grandson of former Prime Minister Shigeru Yoshida.
新しい年の外交が始動する。それを担う首相・安倍晋三氏は岸信介元首相の孫、安倍氏を支える麻生太郎副総理兼財務相兼金融担当相は吉田茂元首相の孫だ。
Yoshida signed the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty with the United States, which has served as the foundation for Japan's postwar development and stability, and Kishi revised it into its current form.
戦後日本の発展と安定の基盤をなしてきた日米安保条約は吉田元首相が結び、岸元首相が改定して現在の形にした。
The grandsons of these two former prime ministers are set to work closely in breaking the diplomatic impasse amid growing concern about what is widely perceived as a diplomatic crisis.
外交危機が叫ばれる今、２人の血を受け継ぐ孫がコンビを組んで難局打開にあたることになったわけである。
Kishi based his governing of Japan on the country's security policy.
岸元首相は国家を運営する基礎を安全保障に置いた。
In his book, "Oiso Zuiso" ("Essay from Oiso"), Yoshida quoted Colonel Edward House, a foreign policy adviser to former U.S. President Thomas Woodrow Wilson, as saying that countries that have no diplomatic instincts would fail.
吉田元首相は自著「大磯随想」で「外交の『勘』のない国民は亡（ほろ）びる」とのウィルソン元米大統領側近エドワード・ハウス大佐の言葉を紹介している。
◇対症療法外交は限界だ
Prudent diplomatic policy is indispensable for not only the survival of countries but also to allow governments to put their utmost efforts into domestic policy issues, including economic revitalization, social security and education. Moreover, intensifying friction with other countries could fuel the public's anxiety and eventually give rise to exclusive nationalism. To prevent such a situation, it is necessary for the Japanese government to reconfirm that diplomatic policy is the basis for ensuring the country's stability.
賢明な外交は単に国家の生存にとどまらず、経済再生や社会保障、教育などの内政課題に政権が全力を注ぐためにも不可欠な条件であろう。また、外国との摩擦が激しくなれば国民の不安感が強まり排他的なナショナリズムが勢いを増しかねない。そうした状況を作り出さないためにも、外交が国の安定を支える根幹であることをまず確認したい。
A diplomatic crisis, which should be dubbed a "national crisis," has continued in Japan in recent years as tensions between Japan and its neighbors heightened over territorial issues. The year 2013 must be the year when the wisdom of the whole nation will be fully utilized to break the deadlock.
そのうえでここ数年を振り返るなら、領土で係争を抱えた近隣諸国すべてと緊張が高まり、国難とも言うべき外交危機が続いてきた。今年はその局面転換に国の知恵を総結集する年にしなければならない。
Prime Minister Abe took over the reins of government after bitterly criticizing as a "diplomatic defeat" Japan's friction with China, South Korea and Russia over the Senkaku Islands, the Takeshima Islands and the Northern Territories, respectively, as well as the meandering over the relocation of U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma in Okinawa Prefecture under the previous administration. There is no denying that the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ)-led previous administration that lacked diplomatic instincts brought about the mess. However, no one can tell for sure that Japan would not have suffered the same diplomatic defeat if the LDP had been in power.
尖閣諸島や竹島、北方四島の領土摩擦や普天間飛行場移設をめぐる日米同盟の迷走などを安倍首相は「外交敗北」と厳しく批判し、政権を奪還した。確かに「外交の勘」のない民主党政権の不手際がこうした混乱を招いた面は否定できない。
だが、自民党なら外交敗北はなかったと言い切れるだろうか。
The current diplomatic crisis is attributable to the ambiguous diplomatic policy carried out by the longstanding LDP-led administration. It was when the LDP was in power that China enacted a law on its territorial waters in 1992 to recognize the Senkaku Islands as part of its territory, which was an overture to its provocative acts around the area. The dispute over the relocation of the Futenma base is the result of the past LDP-led administration's longstanding appeasement policy in which it forced Okinawa to host an excessive number of U.S. bases in return for massive financial assistance.
今日の外交危機は、長年の自民党政権のあいまいな外交がもたらしたものでもあろう。中国が９２年に領海法を制定して尖閣諸島を自国の領海に組み込み、今に至る挑発行為の先触れとしたのは自民党政権の時代だった。沖縄の問題も、経済支援を組み合わせて重い米軍基地負担を事実上固定化する懐柔策のツケがここにきて噴出しているのである。
The world is undergoing rapid changes. The current international situation is different from that when the LDP was in power until 2009 when the DPJ took over the reins of government. The United States' influence on the world has relatively declined while China, which has replaced Japan as the No. 2 economic power, is also showing military ambitions. South Korea now needs to rely less on Japan. Russia and India have also been increasing their presence as new regional players. Simply responding to changes in the situation in its neighboring countries and complying with U.S. wishes is no longer effective.
世界の動きは速い。今の国際情勢は自民党が政権を担ってきた数年前までと同じではない。米国の国力が相対的に落ち、日本を抜いて世界第２の経済大国となった中国が軍事面でも野心を隠さず、韓国はかつてほど日本を必要としなくなっている。地域の新しいプレーヤーとしてロシア、インドの存在感も大きくなってきた。周囲の変化や米国の意向に合わせた対症療法的な外交では、もはや日本は立ち行かないのだ。
As such, Prime Minister Abe is required to work toward rearranging and stabilizing Japan's diplomatic policy that fits with the times instead of rehashing the LDP's previous diplomatic policy. He should begin efforts to strengthen the Japan-U.S. alliance by seriously considering the purpose of the agreement.
よって安倍首相は自民党時代の焼き直しではなく、新しい時代に合わせた発想と行動で外交の立て直しと安定に取り組む必要がある。再三強調する日米同盟強化についても、何のための同盟かを常に自問自答することから始めるべきである。
Former Prime Minister Yoshida wrote in his book that both Japan and the United States should hold frank discussions on enforcing the Japan-U.S. security treaty, noting that both countries signed the accord from the standpoint of their respective national policies.
"I think the United States signed the bilateral security treaty out of the need for its Pacific strategy and from the standpoint of a broad U.S. national policy. Japan, for its part, also signed the treaty from the standpoint of its own defense and broad national policy," he wrote. "In enforcing this treaty, our two countries should frankly discuss a wide variety of matters."
吉田元首相は日米安保を「アメリカがただ日本が可愛くて結んだものではないだろう。アメリカの太平洋の戦略的必要から、またアメリカの国策的な見地から結んだものであろうと思う」として、「日本も、日本自身の防衛と、国策的な考え方から結んだものである」「この条約を実施して行く上に、もっと率直にいろいろ話し合っていいのではないか」と書いた（「大磯随想」）。
◇歴史問題でつまずくな
The Japan-U.S. alliance will remain solid as long as the two countries need each other. However, the pact will collapse if either side deems that such cooperative relations detrimentally affect their national interests. Japan should clearly show its policy of responding to the Senkaku Islands issue and the relocation of U.S. bases in Okinawa and pursue a solution that will contribute to both countries' national interests and to the stability in the whole region through frank dialogue. Japan and the United States are required to transform the bilateral alliance from one in which Japan unilaterally follows and relies on the United States.
日米が互いに必要だと考える限り日米同盟は強力であり、どちらかが国益にプラスにならないと判断すればその命運は尽きる。尖閣諸島への対処も沖縄の基地移設も、まずは日本側の方針を明確に示し、率直な話し合いを通じて日米双方の国益と地域全体の平和と安定にプラスとなるような道を探るべきだ。米国の言いなりでも、日本が一方的に頼るのでもない同盟のあり方を、改めて作り上げることが求められよう。
At the same time, Japan should strengthen its solidarity with the entire international community. Media outlets throughout the world have expressed grave concern and criticism of China's provocative acts over the sovereignty of the Senkaku Islands. Japan's position over the issue has been supported by the international community. Behind such support is the world's understanding that Japan is a country that peacefully settles its disputes with other countries through negotiations and that Japan attaches importance to broad-minded nationalism, in which it seeks to peacefully coexist with other countries, rather than narrow-minded nationalism.
同時に、国際社会との連帯をいっそう深めたい。尖閣諸島の問題では中国の乱暴な振る舞いに世界のメディアが「中国が差し控えるべきことは武力で現状を変えることだ」（米紙）、「日本は外交解決を追求し続けているが中国は軍事力の行使を好む」（イタリアの通信社）などとして懸念と批判を強めている。
日本の立場と主張は国際社会に支持されている。その背景にあるのは日本が外国との係争を平和的に話し合いで処理する国であり、偏狭なナショナリズムより、相手と共存を図るナショナリズムを大事にする国だという世界の理解であろう。
2013年01月09日
フラワーエッセンスを使って身体に優しいストレス解消を
グローバル化がますます加速する世界の国々の中で、今の日本ほどストレスフルな環境に溢れている国はありません。
３年前に、私たちの夢を託した民主党はあえなくその正体を暴露。裏切られた気がしたのは、私だけではないでしょう。
昨年１２月の選挙ですが、棄権する人たちが多かったそうですね。今度は大丈夫でしょうか。
こんなストレスフルな社会情勢なので、ストレス解消方法が大切になります。
男性だったら手っ取り早いのはお酒を飲むことではないでしょうか。
でも、アルコールは習慣になりやすく、身体にも負担がかかります。
久しぶりに、フラワーレメディーサイトを覗いて見ました。
私が気に入った商品は、やはり、あのバッチフラワーレメディ です。
これはお薬ではないので身体にまったく負担がかかりません。
それでいて、こころの平安を取り戻せるのは、その香りにあると睨んでいます。
バッチフラワーレメディ を使うストレス治癒法のコンセプトは花の香りと自然界に存在する不思議な治癒力です。
美しい自然の草花から、太陽法や煮沸法にてエッセンスを時間を掛けて抽出いたします。
それであの素晴らしいレスキューレメディ が出来るのです。
1日わずか数滴のレスキューレメディ を服用するという簡単な方法で、心に平安を取り戻すことが出来ます。
大人から、小さなお子さんやお年寄りに至るまで安心して使用できるのが魅力です。
フラワーエッセンス には、現代科学でまだ解明されていない不思議な力が存在するのです。
心の平和を取り戻すためにレスキューレメディをおすすめいたします。
レビューブログからのお知らせです。
アジアの国境―繁栄わかちあう知恵を
--The Asahi Shimbun, Jan. 6
EDITORIAL: East Asian countries must overcome hardships to share peace, prosperity
アジアの国境―繁栄わかちあう知恵を
Nearly 100 years ago, the saga of a territorial dispute began over the Aland Islands in the northern part of the Baltic Sea.
今から１００年近く前、北欧を舞台に始まった話である。
バルト海の北方に浮かぶオーランド諸島。
The combined land area of the small islands is slightly larger than that of the main island of Okinawa Prefecture.
小さな島を全部あわせれば、沖縄本島をひとまわり大きくした広さになる。
Finland based its sovereignty claim over the Aland Islands on the historical fact that they had been under its control for long periods, while neighboring Sweden pointed to the sentiment among residents of the islands, who spoke Swedish in their daily lives. The sovereignty dispute was submitted to the League of Nations.
この島々の領有権をめぐってフィンランドと隣国スウェーデンとの間で争いがおきた。フィンランドは古くからの統治の実績を言い、スウェーデンは自国語を日常生活で使う住民の思いを理由にあげた。両国の対立は国際連盟に持ち込まれた。
‘DEMILITARIZED ISLANDS’ IN NORTH EUROPE
■北欧の「非武の島」
In June 1921, the League of Nations decided that Finland should retain sovereignty over the islands but they should be made an autonomous, demilitarized and politically neutral region.
１９２１年６月、連盟の裁定が下った。フィンランドへの帰属を認めるかわりに、島を非武装中立とし、住民の自治を認めるべし――。
Both countries accepted the ruling and concluded an international treaty to make Aland “demilitarized islands.”
両国はこれを受け入れ、オーランドを「非武の島」とする国際協定が結ばれた。
Inazo Nitobe (1862-1933), a Japanese educator who was an undersecretary general of the league at that time, said the settlement over the Aland Islands will establish a precedent for dealing with future territorial problems that may disturb amicable relations of countries, whether large or small. But the significance of the ruling goes beyond that.
当時の国際連盟事務次長、新渡戸（にとべ）稲造は「将来、諸国間の友好関係を妨げる類似の問題が生じた場合、大小にかかわらずその処置の先例を確立することになる」と語った。だが裁定の意義はそれにとどまらない。
National borders, by nature, separate nations from nations, people from people.
For the 28,000 residents of the Aland Islands, however, the national border now exists only by name, and it works to link countries and people.
国境はもともと、国と国、人と人を隔てる。しかし２万８千人の島民にとって、いまや国境はあってなきがごとき存在だ。
むしろ国と国、人と人とをつなぐものにさえなっている。
The passengers of ferries traveling between the islands and Sweden are not required to carry passports. Seventy percent of young people who have graduated from high school on the islands go on to universities in Sweden. Camilla Gunell, current premier of the autonomous government of Aland, says the economy of the islands benefits from an increase in people who cross the border. The decision by the League of Nations that settled the dispute has helped make the islanders richer, Gunell says.
海を渡るフェリーの乗客にパスポートは必要ない。島の高校を出た若者の７割が隣国スウェーデンの大学に進む。自治政府のカミラ・グネル首相は「国境を越える人が増えれば島の経済も潤う。あの裁定が私たちを豊かにしてくれた」と話す。
An important undertaking to change the meaning of a national border has been also made in Germany, which faces the southern part of the Baltic Sea.
バルト海南方にあるドイツでも国境の持つ意味を変えようとする努力が払われてきた。
Frankfurt (Oder) is a town located on the German-Polish border, a one-hour train ride from Berlin. Before World War II, the whole region around the town was part of Germany. Following Germany’s defeat in the war, however, the area on the opposite side of the Oder River became Polish territory. Many Germans, driven out of the area that had become part of the Soviet bloc, crossed the Oder River into Germany.
首都ベルリンから電車で１時間の国境の街フランクフルト・オーデル。第２次世界大戦前、一帯はドイツ領だった。しかし敗戦によってオーデル川の対岸はポーランド領となった。多くのドイツ人が旧ソ連陣営となった地域から追われ、オーデル川を越えてきた。
SETTLING HISTORY ISSUES
■歴史問題の清算
An attempt to make the border less of a barrier to exchanges between people of the two countries started in 1970.
国境の壁に穴をあけようという試みは１９７０年に始まる。
In that year, Willy Brandt (1913-1992), chancellor of West Germany, visited Poland and other countries in the Soviet bloc and announced his country’s acceptance of the borderline drawn after the war. There was opposition to Brandt’s decision within West Germany, but he made the move to ensure the coexistence and the stability of Western and Eastern Europe.
旧西ドイツのブラント首相がポーランドなど旧ソ連陣営を訪問し、敗戦後に引かれた国境線を受け入れた。国内には不満があったが、東西欧州の共存と安定を手にするためだ。
Viadrina European University, on the German side of the Oder River, was established in 1991, after the Cold War ended. The university has started a program to help people visit their hometowns in the former German territory. The project is part of the university’s efforts to accomplish its mission of serving as a bridge between the East and the West in Europe. Under the program, students at the university make necessary arrangements for people’s trips to their hometowns in the Polish side of the Oder River, including finding interpreters. It is an attempt to build links between people living on both sides of the border.
オーデル川沿いのドイツ領にあるヨーロッパ大学を訪ねた。冷戦が終わった後の９１年に創設された。「東西のかけ橋」になるとの校是の下に取り組んでいるのが、故郷訪問プロジェクトだ。旧ドイツ領へ帰郷する人々の旅行や通訳の手配を学生たちが引き受ける。国境を超えて人と人とをつなぐ取り組みだ。
These developments in Europe are different from the path that has led to the current situation in East Asia.
欧州がたどってきた歩みと、東アジアの現状は異なる。
Last year, tensions flared between Japan and its two neighbors--China and South Korea--over islands. The differences between the governments’ sovereignty claims seem unbridgeable. The conditions are not right for the kind of settlement worked out through diplomatic efforts in which Nitobe was involved.
日本は昨年、領土問題で中国や韓国との対立を深めた。政府間の主張はすれ違ったままだ。新渡戸が関わった裁定をあてはめる条件は整っていない。
Despite increased interdependence among countries due to economic globalization, territorial disputes in areas around Japan continue to generate acute international tension because of history issues related to World War II.
経済グローバル化による相互依存の深まりにもかかわらず、日本の近隣で領土をめぐる緊張が高まる背景には、先の戦争をめぐる歴史問題がある。
After the end of the war, Germany totally admitted to the war crimes committed by the Nazis. This made it possible for Germany to cooperate with neighboring countries in leading Europe toward regional integration.
ドイツはナチスの戦争犯罪を全面的に認め、周辺国とともに欧州の統合を引っ張ってきた。
On various occasions, Japan has also expressed its regret and apologies for its past invasion of neighboring countries. As a result, Japan has managed to obtain an understanding from Southeast Asian nations.
日本も、過去の侵略に対する反省と謝罪の意をさまざまな機会に表し、東南アジアでは日本への理解が広がった。
But mutual trust between Japan and its close neighbors has been eroded repeatedly by some Japanese politicians’ indiscreet remarks and actions related to history issues.
ところが肝心の近隣国との信頼関係は、歴史認識をめぐる一部政治家の浅慮な言動によって何度も揺るがされた。
The shift in the balance of power between Japan and China, caused by China’s rise, has also widened the gaps in perceptions of people in both countries.
中国の台頭による日中の力関係の変化も、双方の人々の意識の溝を広げている。
EDITORIAL: East Asian countries must overcome hardships to share peace, prosperity
アジアの国境―繁栄わかちあう知恵を
Nearly 100 years ago, the saga of a territorial dispute began over the Aland Islands in the northern part of the Baltic Sea.
今から１００年近く前、北欧を舞台に始まった話である。
バルト海の北方に浮かぶオーランド諸島。
The combined land area of the small islands is slightly larger than that of the main island of Okinawa Prefecture.
小さな島を全部あわせれば、沖縄本島をひとまわり大きくした広さになる。
Finland based its sovereignty claim over the Aland Islands on the historical fact that they had been under its control for long periods, while neighboring Sweden pointed to the sentiment among residents of the islands, who spoke Swedish in their daily lives. The sovereignty dispute was submitted to the League of Nations.
この島々の領有権をめぐってフィンランドと隣国スウェーデンとの間で争いがおきた。フィンランドは古くからの統治の実績を言い、スウェーデンは自国語を日常生活で使う住民の思いを理由にあげた。両国の対立は国際連盟に持ち込まれた。
‘DEMILITARIZED ISLANDS’ IN NORTH EUROPE
■北欧の「非武の島」
In June 1921, the League of Nations decided that Finland should retain sovereignty over the islands but they should be made an autonomous, demilitarized and politically neutral region.
１９２１年６月、連盟の裁定が下った。フィンランドへの帰属を認めるかわりに、島を非武装中立とし、住民の自治を認めるべし――。
Both countries accepted the ruling and concluded an international treaty to make Aland “demilitarized islands.”
両国はこれを受け入れ、オーランドを「非武の島」とする国際協定が結ばれた。
Inazo Nitobe (1862-1933), a Japanese educator who was an undersecretary general of the league at that time, said the settlement over the Aland Islands will establish a precedent for dealing with future territorial problems that may disturb amicable relations of countries, whether large or small. But the significance of the ruling goes beyond that.
当時の国際連盟事務次長、新渡戸（にとべ）稲造は「将来、諸国間の友好関係を妨げる類似の問題が生じた場合、大小にかかわらずその処置の先例を確立することになる」と語った。だが裁定の意義はそれにとどまらない。
National borders, by nature, separate nations from nations, people from people.
For the 28,000 residents of the Aland Islands, however, the national border now exists only by name, and it works to link countries and people.
国境はもともと、国と国、人と人を隔てる。しかし２万８千人の島民にとって、いまや国境はあってなきがごとき存在だ。
むしろ国と国、人と人とをつなぐものにさえなっている。
The passengers of ferries traveling between the islands and Sweden are not required to carry passports. Seventy percent of young people who have graduated from high school on the islands go on to universities in Sweden. Camilla Gunell, current premier of the autonomous government of Aland, says the economy of the islands benefits from an increase in people who cross the border. The decision by the League of Nations that settled the dispute has helped make the islanders richer, Gunell says.
海を渡るフェリーの乗客にパスポートは必要ない。島の高校を出た若者の７割が隣国スウェーデンの大学に進む。自治政府のカミラ・グネル首相は「国境を越える人が増えれば島の経済も潤う。あの裁定が私たちを豊かにしてくれた」と話す。
An important undertaking to change the meaning of a national border has been also made in Germany, which faces the southern part of the Baltic Sea.
バルト海南方にあるドイツでも国境の持つ意味を変えようとする努力が払われてきた。
Frankfurt (Oder) is a town located on the German-Polish border, a one-hour train ride from Berlin. Before World War II, the whole region around the town was part of Germany. Following Germany’s defeat in the war, however, the area on the opposite side of the Oder River became Polish territory. Many Germans, driven out of the area that had become part of the Soviet bloc, crossed the Oder River into Germany.
首都ベルリンから電車で１時間の国境の街フランクフルト・オーデル。第２次世界大戦前、一帯はドイツ領だった。しかし敗戦によってオーデル川の対岸はポーランド領となった。多くのドイツ人が旧ソ連陣営となった地域から追われ、オーデル川を越えてきた。
SETTLING HISTORY ISSUES
■歴史問題の清算
An attempt to make the border less of a barrier to exchanges between people of the two countries started in 1970.
国境の壁に穴をあけようという試みは１９７０年に始まる。
In that year, Willy Brandt (1913-1992), chancellor of West Germany, visited Poland and other countries in the Soviet bloc and announced his country’s acceptance of the borderline drawn after the war. There was opposition to Brandt’s decision within West Germany, but he made the move to ensure the coexistence and the stability of Western and Eastern Europe.
旧西ドイツのブラント首相がポーランドなど旧ソ連陣営を訪問し、敗戦後に引かれた国境線を受け入れた。国内には不満があったが、東西欧州の共存と安定を手にするためだ。
Viadrina European University, on the German side of the Oder River, was established in 1991, after the Cold War ended. The university has started a program to help people visit their hometowns in the former German territory. The project is part of the university’s efforts to accomplish its mission of serving as a bridge between the East and the West in Europe. Under the program, students at the university make necessary arrangements for people’s trips to their hometowns in the Polish side of the Oder River, including finding interpreters. It is an attempt to build links between people living on both sides of the border.
オーデル川沿いのドイツ領にあるヨーロッパ大学を訪ねた。冷戦が終わった後の９１年に創設された。「東西のかけ橋」になるとの校是の下に取り組んでいるのが、故郷訪問プロジェクトだ。旧ドイツ領へ帰郷する人々の旅行や通訳の手配を学生たちが引き受ける。国境を超えて人と人とをつなぐ取り組みだ。
These developments in Europe are different from the path that has led to the current situation in East Asia.
欧州がたどってきた歩みと、東アジアの現状は異なる。
Last year, tensions flared between Japan and its two neighbors--China and South Korea--over islands. The differences between the governments’ sovereignty claims seem unbridgeable. The conditions are not right for the kind of settlement worked out through diplomatic efforts in which Nitobe was involved.
日本は昨年、領土問題で中国や韓国との対立を深めた。政府間の主張はすれ違ったままだ。新渡戸が関わった裁定をあてはめる条件は整っていない。
Despite increased interdependence among countries due to economic globalization, territorial disputes in areas around Japan continue to generate acute international tension because of history issues related to World War II.
経済グローバル化による相互依存の深まりにもかかわらず、日本の近隣で領土をめぐる緊張が高まる背景には、先の戦争をめぐる歴史問題がある。
After the end of the war, Germany totally admitted to the war crimes committed by the Nazis. This made it possible for Germany to cooperate with neighboring countries in leading Europe toward regional integration.
ドイツはナチスの戦争犯罪を全面的に認め、周辺国とともに欧州の統合を引っ張ってきた。
On various occasions, Japan has also expressed its regret and apologies for its past invasion of neighboring countries. As a result, Japan has managed to obtain an understanding from Southeast Asian nations.
日本も、過去の侵略に対する反省と謝罪の意をさまざまな機会に表し、東南アジアでは日本への理解が広がった。
But mutual trust between Japan and its close neighbors has been eroded repeatedly by some Japanese politicians’ indiscreet remarks and actions related to history issues.
ところが肝心の近隣国との信頼関係は、歴史認識をめぐる一部政治家の浅慮な言動によって何度も揺るがされた。
The shift in the balance of power between Japan and China, caused by China’s rise, has also widened the gaps in perceptions of people in both countries.
中国の台頭による日中の力関係の変化も、双方の人々の意識の溝を広げている。
2013年01月08日
靖国放火容疑者 韓国の引き渡し拒否は不当だ
The Yomiuri Shimbun (Jan. 7, 2013)
South Korean refusal to extradite Yasukuni arson suspect unjust
靖国放火容疑者 韓国の引き渡し拒否は不当だ（1月6日付・読売社説）
An unjust decision by the South Korean judicial authorities could seriously affect relations with Japan.
日韓関係を損なう韓国司法の不当な決定だ。
Japan's request to the South Korean government to extradite a Chinese suspected of setting fire to the Shinmon main gate of Yasukuni Shrine was turned down by the Seoul High Court, which called the arson attack a "political crime." The suspect is now back in China.
東京の靖国神社の神門に放火した疑いで日本政府が韓国政府に身柄引き渡しを求めていた中国人容疑者について、ソウル高裁が「政治犯」と認定して引き渡しの拒否を決定し、容疑者は中国に帰国した。
Beijing openly requested that the suspect be repatriated to China, arguing that he should be handled like a "political prisoner." The South Korean decision to comply with that request indicates the country shows more consideration to China than Japan.
容疑者の身柄引き渡しを巡っては、中国が政治犯としての処遇を求めて強制送還を公然と要求していた。日本より中国への配慮が強くにじみ出た決定と言えよう。
It was natural for Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to say: "South Korea effectively ignored the bilateral treaty on extradition. It is extremely regrettable and I would like to strongly protest."
安倍首相が「韓国の対応は日韓犯罪人引き渡し条約を事実上、まったく無視したものだ。極めて遺憾で、強く抗議したい」と述べたのも当然である。
The suspect was sentenced to 10 months in South Korea for throwing a Molotov cocktail at the Japanese Embassy in Seoul in January last year. During questioning, he reportedly confessed to setting a fire at Yasukuni in December 2011.
この容疑者は、昨年１月にソウルの日本大使館に火炎瓶を投げ込んだ罪で韓国で懲役１０月の実刑判決が確定し服役した。取り調べ中に、一昨年１２月の靖国神社への放火についても自供していた。
===
'Comfort woman' motive
Asked for a motive for the series of attacks on Japanese facilities, the suspect reportedly said his grandmother was a so-called comfort woman and he was angry over the Japanese government's views on history and its responses.
日本の施設を連続して狙った犯行の動機について、容疑者は、祖母がいわゆる従軍慰安婦で、日本政府の歴史認識や対応への怒りからだと供述していたという。
The Seoul High Court said Yasukuni enshrines war criminals convicted for leading a war of aggression and the shrine is a "political symbol" as it is used as a national facility and is visited by cabinet ministers and other people.
ソウル高裁は、靖国神社について、「侵略戦争を主導し、有罪判決を受けた戦犯が合祀(ごうし)」され、閣僚らが参拝するなど国家施設として使用されている「政治的象徴性がある」と指摘した。
The court ruled that the arson attack on Yasukuni was a crime with the political purpose of changing Japan's policies. It turned down extradition on the grounds that the arson was tantamount to a "political crime."
そのうえで、放火は日本の政策変更を狙った政治的な目的による犯行で、引き渡しを拒否できる「政治犯罪」にあたるとした。
This is a surprising ruling, as it equates the exoneration of an arsonist with absolving a person who commits a serious crime in the name of a political cause based on historical events. This is the same as saying that anything can be done to Yasukuni Shrine.
驚くべき判断だ。これでは、過去の歴史と絡めて、放火という重大な犯罪に“政治的大義”を認め、放免したに等しい。靖国神社には何をしても許されると言ったも同然ではないか。
We are concerned that the court ruling may induce other people to commit similar crimes.
同種の犯罪を誘発しないかと危惧せざるを得ない。
===
Gap in historical views
A huge gap exists in the views on historical events between Japan and South Korea. However, it is totally unreasonable to imply that arson is a political crime.
日本と韓国の間に過去認識を巡って大きな溝が存在するのはまぎれもない事実だ。だが、放火という犯罪に政治的な意味合いを持たせるのは明らかにおかしい。
The South Korean judicial authorities have ruled on other historical issues.
歴史問題に絡んだ韓国の司法当局の判断は他にもある。
In August 2011, the South Korean Constitutional Court ruled it was unconstitutional for the South Korean government to have failed to make an effort to solve the issue of compensation rights of former comfort women.
一昨年８月に憲法裁判所は、韓国政府が元慰安婦の賠償請求権について解決に努力しないのは憲法違反にあたると判断した。
In May last year, the South Korean Supreme Court ruled that the individual compensation rights of former Korean laborers who were brought to work at Japanese companies during World War II were valid.
昨年５月には最高裁が、第２次大戦中に日本企業に徴用された韓国人元労働者の個人の賠償請求権は有効とする判断を示した。
The issue of such compensation rights was settled "completely and finally" under one of the bilateral agreements concluded when bilateral relations were normalized. The Japanese government should continue to firmly maintain this position.
請求権問題は国交正常化の際の協定で「完全かつ最終的に」解決されている。その立場を、日本政府は今後も堅持すべきである。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 6, 2013)
（2013年1月6日01時21分 読売新聞）
South Korean refusal to extradite Yasukuni arson suspect unjust
靖国放火容疑者 韓国の引き渡し拒否は不当だ（1月6日付・読売社説）
An unjust decision by the South Korean judicial authorities could seriously affect relations with Japan.
日韓関係を損なう韓国司法の不当な決定だ。
Japan's request to the South Korean government to extradite a Chinese suspected of setting fire to the Shinmon main gate of Yasukuni Shrine was turned down by the Seoul High Court, which called the arson attack a "political crime." The suspect is now back in China.
東京の靖国神社の神門に放火した疑いで日本政府が韓国政府に身柄引き渡しを求めていた中国人容疑者について、ソウル高裁が「政治犯」と認定して引き渡しの拒否を決定し、容疑者は中国に帰国した。
Beijing openly requested that the suspect be repatriated to China, arguing that he should be handled like a "political prisoner." The South Korean decision to comply with that request indicates the country shows more consideration to China than Japan.
容疑者の身柄引き渡しを巡っては、中国が政治犯としての処遇を求めて強制送還を公然と要求していた。日本より中国への配慮が強くにじみ出た決定と言えよう。
It was natural for Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to say: "South Korea effectively ignored the bilateral treaty on extradition. It is extremely regrettable and I would like to strongly protest."
安倍首相が「韓国の対応は日韓犯罪人引き渡し条約を事実上、まったく無視したものだ。極めて遺憾で、強く抗議したい」と述べたのも当然である。
The suspect was sentenced to 10 months in South Korea for throwing a Molotov cocktail at the Japanese Embassy in Seoul in January last year. During questioning, he reportedly confessed to setting a fire at Yasukuni in December 2011.
この容疑者は、昨年１月にソウルの日本大使館に火炎瓶を投げ込んだ罪で韓国で懲役１０月の実刑判決が確定し服役した。取り調べ中に、一昨年１２月の靖国神社への放火についても自供していた。
===
'Comfort woman' motive
Asked for a motive for the series of attacks on Japanese facilities, the suspect reportedly said his grandmother was a so-called comfort woman and he was angry over the Japanese government's views on history and its responses.
日本の施設を連続して狙った犯行の動機について、容疑者は、祖母がいわゆる従軍慰安婦で、日本政府の歴史認識や対応への怒りからだと供述していたという。
The Seoul High Court said Yasukuni enshrines war criminals convicted for leading a war of aggression and the shrine is a "political symbol" as it is used as a national facility and is visited by cabinet ministers and other people.
ソウル高裁は、靖国神社について、「侵略戦争を主導し、有罪判決を受けた戦犯が合祀(ごうし)」され、閣僚らが参拝するなど国家施設として使用されている「政治的象徴性がある」と指摘した。
The court ruled that the arson attack on Yasukuni was a crime with the political purpose of changing Japan's policies. It turned down extradition on the grounds that the arson was tantamount to a "political crime."
そのうえで、放火は日本の政策変更を狙った政治的な目的による犯行で、引き渡しを拒否できる「政治犯罪」にあたるとした。
This is a surprising ruling, as it equates the exoneration of an arsonist with absolving a person who commits a serious crime in the name of a political cause based on historical events. This is the same as saying that anything can be done to Yasukuni Shrine.
驚くべき判断だ。これでは、過去の歴史と絡めて、放火という重大な犯罪に“政治的大義”を認め、放免したに等しい。靖国神社には何をしても許されると言ったも同然ではないか。
We are concerned that the court ruling may induce other people to commit similar crimes.
同種の犯罪を誘発しないかと危惧せざるを得ない。
===
Gap in historical views
A huge gap exists in the views on historical events between Japan and South Korea. However, it is totally unreasonable to imply that arson is a political crime.
日本と韓国の間に過去認識を巡って大きな溝が存在するのはまぎれもない事実だ。だが、放火という犯罪に政治的な意味合いを持たせるのは明らかにおかしい。
The South Korean judicial authorities have ruled on other historical issues.
歴史問題に絡んだ韓国の司法当局の判断は他にもある。
In August 2011, the South Korean Constitutional Court ruled it was unconstitutional for the South Korean government to have failed to make an effort to solve the issue of compensation rights of former comfort women.
一昨年８月に憲法裁判所は、韓国政府が元慰安婦の賠償請求権について解決に努力しないのは憲法違反にあたると判断した。
In May last year, the South Korean Supreme Court ruled that the individual compensation rights of former Korean laborers who were brought to work at Japanese companies during World War II were valid.
昨年５月には最高裁が、第２次大戦中に日本企業に徴用された韓国人元労働者の個人の賠償請求権は有効とする判断を示した。
The issue of such compensation rights was settled "completely and finally" under one of the bilateral agreements concluded when bilateral relations were normalized. The Japanese government should continue to firmly maintain this position.
請求権問題は国交正常化の際の協定で「完全かつ最終的に」解決されている。その立場を、日本政府は今後も堅持すべきである。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 6, 2013)
（2013年1月6日01時21分 読売新聞）
2013年01月07日
転機の日本政治 試される安倍政権の統治能力
The Yomiuri Shimbun (Jan. 6, 2013)
Abe administration's ability to tackle problems faces test
転機の日本政治 試される安倍政権の統治能力（1月5日付・読売社説）
◆参院選前に着実に成果を示せ◆
With the change of government, positive signs have emerged for the nation's prospects for this year.
政権交代して迎えた今年を展望すれば、やや明るい兆しも見える。
Since just before the administration of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was launched, the super-strong yen has weakened and stock prices have jumped, apparently reflecting high hopes for the Abe administration's economic measures. On Friday, the first trading day of 2013, most stocks on the Tokyo Stock Exchange climbed, recovering levels seen before the Great East Japan Earthquake of March 11, 2011.
安倍政権の発足前後から、超円高が修正され、株価も急上昇した。経済政策への期待感がうかがえる。新年初日の取引だった４日の大発会は、ほぼ全面高で東日本大震災前の水準を回復した。
Can Abe restore a "strong Japan" and put an end to the nation's revolving-door politics, which has seen the prime minister change about once a year?
安倍首相は「強い日本」を取り戻し、ほぼ１年ごとに首相が代わる政治に終止符を打てるのか。
If the public's high hopes turn into disappointment, the Abe Cabinet is expected to face a strict verdict in the House of Councillors election scheduled for July. The prime minister must produce results swiftly.
期待が失望に変わると７月の参院選でたちまち国民から厳しい審判が下されよう。首相は迅速に成果を上げていかねばならない。
===
End practice of handouts
◆バラマキ復活させるな◆
Referring to 2013 as the Year of the Snake, Abe said at his first press conference Friday: "The snake symbolizes prosperous business. I'll work hard for the nation so we can take a big step forward toward boosting and reviving the economy."
安倍首相は年頭の記者会見で「巳年(みどし)のヘビは商売繁盛のシンボルでもある。景気が上向いていくよう、経済再生の大きな一歩をしるせるよう頑張る」と語った。
His government plans to draw up emergency economic measures and submit a large-scale supplementary budget for fiscal 2012 to the Diet. It has also said it intends to work out bold monetary measures in cooperation with the Bank of Japan.
緊急経済対策をとりまとめ、大規模な補正予算案を国会に提出する。日銀と連携して大胆な金融政策を打ち出す意向も表明した。
First of all, the government needs to put the teetering economy on a recovery track.
まずは、もたつく景気を回復軌道に乗せることが必要だ。
It reportedly aims to decide on a draft budget for next fiscal year by late this month. It must ensure smooth Diet deliberations and prevent delays in implementing the budget. We want the government and ruling parties to make every effort to pass the budget early.
来年度予算編成については１月中の政府原案決定を目指すという。国会審議の難航で予算執行が遅れてはなるまい。政府・与党は、本予算の早期成立にも全力を挙げてもらいたい。
Meanwhile, the Abe administration has announced in rapid succession a series of policy changes. They include dropping an income guarantee for individual farming households and a review of a program to end tuition for high schools. Both are key measures of the Democratic Party of Japan. We regard the new administration's decision to correct such handout measures as reasonable.
安倍政権は、民主党の目玉政策だった「高校授業料無償化」の見直しや、農家に対する戸別所得補償制度の廃止など、矢継ぎ早に政策転換の方針を打ち出している。バラマキ政策を修正するのは妥当な判断だと言える。
However, it would be problematic if the Abe administration continued handout policies in different forms. It is vital for the government to recreate a growth strategy to boost the nation's industrial competitiveness.
ただし、形を変えたバラマキの復活になっては困る。産業競争力を高める成長戦略を再構築することが肝要である。
Taro Aso, deputy prime minister and finance minister, has indicated the new government has no intention to stick to the 44 trillion yen cap on new bond issuance set under the DPJ-led government. However, he should not forget the government needs to balance its policy measures with fiscal discipline.
麻生副総理・財務相は、新規国債発行額を４４兆円以下に抑えるとする民主党政権の目標にはこだわらない意向のようだが、財政規律との両立を忘れてはならない。
===
Focus on electoral system reform
◆選挙制度改革に本腰を◆
During the ordinary Diet session that will start late this month, the Abe administration will be tested on its ability to manage the Diet, which will continue to be divided at least until the July upper house election. The government and ruling parties should focus on passing legislation by trying to form alliances with opposition parties on a policy-by-policy basis.
今月末に召集される通常国会では、国会運営能力が問われる。参院選までは衆参のねじれが続く。政府・与党は、政策ごとに部分連合を実現し、法案を成立させることに専念する必要がある。
One task that cannot wait is reform of the electoral system of the House of Representatives.
もはや待ったなしの課題が、衆院の選挙制度改革である。
The Liberal Democratic Party, New Komeito and the DPJ have agreed to discuss drastic reform, including a reduction in the number of lower house seats. With regard to the current system that combines single-seat constituencies and proportional representation blocs, many problems have been pointed out, such as the huge gap between votes and seats won. These problems tend to destabilize politics.
自民、公明、民主３党は、定数削減を含む抜本改革を検討することで一致している。現行の小選挙区比例代表並立制では、得票数と獲得議席数の隔たりが大きく、政治が安定しないなど、様々な問題点が指摘されている。
Political parties should start to discuss as quickly as possible how to improve the current electoral system.
制度をどう改善するか、各党は早急に議論を開始すべきだ。
If they cannot discuss the issue because of partisan interests involved in the electoral system, we propose a forum be established for experts to discuss the matter.
選挙制度には党利党略が絡むため、政党協議で議論を出せないのであれば、有識者による議論の場を設けることも考えたい。
Meanwhile, the Abe administration faces many pending issues that require coordination within the LDP, between the ruling and opposition parties or with local governments.
一方、安倍政権は、自民党内あるいは与党間、自治体との間で調整が必要な懸案も抱えている。
One of the issues is participation in negotiations on the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade framework.
その一つは環太平洋経済連携協定（ＴＰＰ）への参加問題だ。
The LDP is divided over participation in the TPP talks due to strong opposition from agricultural organizations. With this in mind, LDP Secretary General Shigeru Ishiba said, "We have to decide some kind of party policy [on the TPP issue] before the House of Councillors election."
自民党内では、農業団体が強く反対していることもあって、参加への賛否が割れている。これを念頭に、石破幹事長は「参院選までに党として何らかの対処方針を決めないといけない」と述べた。
However, it will be too late if the LDP does not take the issue seriously, saying only it must come up with a policy "before the upper house election." It is urgent for the LDP to coordinate opinions within the party with the aim of joining the TPP talks.
だが、「参院選まで」と悠長に構えていては手遅れになる。交渉参加へ党内をまとめることは急務だ。
Japan will not get anywhere unless it sits down at the negotiating table with the 11 countries that will participate in the TPP. The government should exercise its negotiation ability and promote the creation of trade rules that will serve the national interests.
ＴＰＰに参加する１１か国との交渉の席につかなければ何も始まらない。交渉力を発揮し、国益にかなう貿易ルール作りを進めるべきである。
For economic growth, it is indispensable to restart idled nuclear reactors once they have been confirmed to be safe. The Abe administration must clear many hurdles such as persuading local governments hosting nuclear power plants.
経済成長のために、安全性が確認された原子力発電所の再稼働は欠かせない。安倍政権は、自治体の説得など様々なハードルを越えなければならない。
If the ruling parties win a majority in the upper house election, an environment will be created in which they can take their time to face such issues as constitutional revisions and exercising the right to collective self-defense. At that time, the LDP's ability to coordinate opinions with Komeito will be put to the test again.
参院選で与党が過半数の議席を獲得すれば、憲法改正や集団的自衛権の行使を巡る問題にじっくりと向き合う環境が整うだろう。その際には、改めて公明党との調整力が試される。
Abe administration's ability to tackle problems faces test
転機の日本政治 試される安倍政権の統治能力（1月5日付・読売社説）
◆参院選前に着実に成果を示せ◆
With the change of government, positive signs have emerged for the nation's prospects for this year.
政権交代して迎えた今年を展望すれば、やや明るい兆しも見える。
Since just before the administration of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe was launched, the super-strong yen has weakened and stock prices have jumped, apparently reflecting high hopes for the Abe administration's economic measures. On Friday, the first trading day of 2013, most stocks on the Tokyo Stock Exchange climbed, recovering levels seen before the Great East Japan Earthquake of March 11, 2011.
安倍政権の発足前後から、超円高が修正され、株価も急上昇した。経済政策への期待感がうかがえる。新年初日の取引だった４日の大発会は、ほぼ全面高で東日本大震災前の水準を回復した。
Can Abe restore a "strong Japan" and put an end to the nation's revolving-door politics, which has seen the prime minister change about once a year?
安倍首相は「強い日本」を取り戻し、ほぼ１年ごとに首相が代わる政治に終止符を打てるのか。
If the public's high hopes turn into disappointment, the Abe Cabinet is expected to face a strict verdict in the House of Councillors election scheduled for July. The prime minister must produce results swiftly.
期待が失望に変わると７月の参院選でたちまち国民から厳しい審判が下されよう。首相は迅速に成果を上げていかねばならない。
===
End practice of handouts
◆バラマキ復活させるな◆
Referring to 2013 as the Year of the Snake, Abe said at his first press conference Friday: "The snake symbolizes prosperous business. I'll work hard for the nation so we can take a big step forward toward boosting and reviving the economy."
安倍首相は年頭の記者会見で「巳年(みどし)のヘビは商売繁盛のシンボルでもある。景気が上向いていくよう、経済再生の大きな一歩をしるせるよう頑張る」と語った。
His government plans to draw up emergency economic measures and submit a large-scale supplementary budget for fiscal 2012 to the Diet. It has also said it intends to work out bold monetary measures in cooperation with the Bank of Japan.
緊急経済対策をとりまとめ、大規模な補正予算案を国会に提出する。日銀と連携して大胆な金融政策を打ち出す意向も表明した。
First of all, the government needs to put the teetering economy on a recovery track.
まずは、もたつく景気を回復軌道に乗せることが必要だ。
It reportedly aims to decide on a draft budget for next fiscal year by late this month. It must ensure smooth Diet deliberations and prevent delays in implementing the budget. We want the government and ruling parties to make every effort to pass the budget early.
来年度予算編成については１月中の政府原案決定を目指すという。国会審議の難航で予算執行が遅れてはなるまい。政府・与党は、本予算の早期成立にも全力を挙げてもらいたい。
Meanwhile, the Abe administration has announced in rapid succession a series of policy changes. They include dropping an income guarantee for individual farming households and a review of a program to end tuition for high schools. Both are key measures of the Democratic Party of Japan. We regard the new administration's decision to correct such handout measures as reasonable.
安倍政権は、民主党の目玉政策だった「高校授業料無償化」の見直しや、農家に対する戸別所得補償制度の廃止など、矢継ぎ早に政策転換の方針を打ち出している。バラマキ政策を修正するのは妥当な判断だと言える。
However, it would be problematic if the Abe administration continued handout policies in different forms. It is vital for the government to recreate a growth strategy to boost the nation's industrial competitiveness.
ただし、形を変えたバラマキの復活になっては困る。産業競争力を高める成長戦略を再構築することが肝要である。
Taro Aso, deputy prime minister and finance minister, has indicated the new government has no intention to stick to the 44 trillion yen cap on new bond issuance set under the DPJ-led government. However, he should not forget the government needs to balance its policy measures with fiscal discipline.
麻生副総理・財務相は、新規国債発行額を４４兆円以下に抑えるとする民主党政権の目標にはこだわらない意向のようだが、財政規律との両立を忘れてはならない。
===
Focus on electoral system reform
◆選挙制度改革に本腰を◆
During the ordinary Diet session that will start late this month, the Abe administration will be tested on its ability to manage the Diet, which will continue to be divided at least until the July upper house election. The government and ruling parties should focus on passing legislation by trying to form alliances with opposition parties on a policy-by-policy basis.
今月末に召集される通常国会では、国会運営能力が問われる。参院選までは衆参のねじれが続く。政府・与党は、政策ごとに部分連合を実現し、法案を成立させることに専念する必要がある。
One task that cannot wait is reform of the electoral system of the House of Representatives.
もはや待ったなしの課題が、衆院の選挙制度改革である。
The Liberal Democratic Party, New Komeito and the DPJ have agreed to discuss drastic reform, including a reduction in the number of lower house seats. With regard to the current system that combines single-seat constituencies and proportional representation blocs, many problems have been pointed out, such as the huge gap between votes and seats won. These problems tend to destabilize politics.
自民、公明、民主３党は、定数削減を含む抜本改革を検討することで一致している。現行の小選挙区比例代表並立制では、得票数と獲得議席数の隔たりが大きく、政治が安定しないなど、様々な問題点が指摘されている。
Political parties should start to discuss as quickly as possible how to improve the current electoral system.
制度をどう改善するか、各党は早急に議論を開始すべきだ。
If they cannot discuss the issue because of partisan interests involved in the electoral system, we propose a forum be established for experts to discuss the matter.
選挙制度には党利党略が絡むため、政党協議で議論を出せないのであれば、有識者による議論の場を設けることも考えたい。
Meanwhile, the Abe administration faces many pending issues that require coordination within the LDP, between the ruling and opposition parties or with local governments.
一方、安倍政権は、自民党内あるいは与党間、自治体との間で調整が必要な懸案も抱えている。
One of the issues is participation in negotiations on the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade framework.
その一つは環太平洋経済連携協定（ＴＰＰ）への参加問題だ。
The LDP is divided over participation in the TPP talks due to strong opposition from agricultural organizations. With this in mind, LDP Secretary General Shigeru Ishiba said, "We have to decide some kind of party policy [on the TPP issue] before the House of Councillors election."
自民党内では、農業団体が強く反対していることもあって、参加への賛否が割れている。これを念頭に、石破幹事長は「参院選までに党として何らかの対処方針を決めないといけない」と述べた。
However, it will be too late if the LDP does not take the issue seriously, saying only it must come up with a policy "before the upper house election." It is urgent for the LDP to coordinate opinions within the party with the aim of joining the TPP talks.
だが、「参院選まで」と悠長に構えていては手遅れになる。交渉参加へ党内をまとめることは急務だ。
Japan will not get anywhere unless it sits down at the negotiating table with the 11 countries that will participate in the TPP. The government should exercise its negotiation ability and promote the creation of trade rules that will serve the national interests.
ＴＰＰに参加する１１か国との交渉の席につかなければ何も始まらない。交渉力を発揮し、国益にかなう貿易ルール作りを進めるべきである。
For economic growth, it is indispensable to restart idled nuclear reactors once they have been confirmed to be safe. The Abe administration must clear many hurdles such as persuading local governments hosting nuclear power plants.
経済成長のために、安全性が確認された原子力発電所の再稼働は欠かせない。安倍政権は、自治体の説得など様々なハードルを越えなければならない。
If the ruling parties win a majority in the upper house election, an environment will be created in which they can take their time to face such issues as constitutional revisions and exercising the right to collective self-defense. At that time, the LDP's ability to coordinate opinions with Komeito will be put to the test again.
参院選で与党が過半数の議席を獲得すれば、憲法改正や集団的自衛権の行使を巡る問題にじっくりと向き合う環境が整うだろう。その際には、改めて公明党との調整力が試される。
2013年01月06日
試練の世界経済 欧州危機の収束はまだ途上だ
The Yomiuri Shimbun (Jan. 5, 2013)
Deeper EU integration needed as European crisis drags on
試練の世界経済 欧州危機の収束はまだ途上だ（1月4日付・読売社説）
◆財政再建緩めずに「統合深化」を◆
Europe's protracted fiscal and financial crises appear to have escaped their worst phases, but there is no knowing what lies ahead. Indications are that difficult times for the world economy will most likely continue this year as well.
長期化している欧州の財政・金融危機は、最悪期を脱したかのように見えるが、先行きは不透明である。世界経済の試練が今年も続くだろう。
The European crisis must be overcome by every possible means, to enable the global economy to get on track for a full-fledged recovery.
欧州危機を封じ込め、本格的な景気回復を実現しなければならない。
The World Economic Outlook released last autumn by the International Monetary Fund reduced its world growth forecast for 2013 to 3.6 percent after inflation, and it seems the pace of the recovery in the world economy will remain sluggish.
国際通貨基金（ＩＭＦ）は昨秋、２０１３年の世界経済見通しを実質３・６％成長に下方修正した。緩慢な回復にとどまりそうだ。
The biggest factor behind this is that growth in the eurozone will likely be a meager 0.2 percent from the year before, meaning growth will be close to zero. Some observers even say Europe's growth may fall below zero for the second consecutive year.
最大の要因は、ユーロ圏が前年比０・２％増とほぼゼロ成長に低迷することだ。２年連続でマイナス成長に陥る観測すらある。
===
Break the negative chain
◆負の連鎖を断ち切れ◆
The European crisis, which has lasted for more than three years, has had a harmful influence on the economies of Japan, the United States and other countries, while slowing growth in newly emerging economies, too, as shown by conspicuous declines in China's exports to Europe.
３年以上続く欧州危機は、米国や日本経済に悪影響を及ぼし、中国の欧州向け輸出が減少するなど新興国経済も減速させた。
As long as these negative chain reactions continue, there can be no prospects for the world economy to regain its buoyancy.
こうした「負の連鎖」を断ち切らない限り、世界経済が再浮上する展望は開けない。
It was a welcome development that the European Central Bank and the European Union beefed up steps, though belatedly, to contain the crisis from last autumn through the year-end.
欧州中央銀行（ＥＣＢ）と欧州連合（ＥＵ）が昨秋から年末にかけ、遅ればせながら、危機封じ込め策を強化したのは前進だ。
The ECB has decided to employ the extraordinary measure of purchasing government bonds of crisis-stricken countries without limitations, in addition to a bold monetary easing policy.
ＥＣＢは大胆な金融緩和策に加えて、危機国の国債を無制限に買い取るという異例の方針を決めた。
As a permanent safety net for extending assistance to crisis-ridden nations, the European Stabilization Mechanism has been launched. On top of this, an additional bailout package for Greece has also been put in place.
危機国支援の恒久的な安全網として欧州安定メカニズム（ＥＳＭ）も発足した。ギリシャに対する追加支援も実施された。
It is highly commendable that Europe's credit unrest has eased and the market has begun to regain stability.
信用不安が和らぎ、市場が落ち着いてきたことは評価できる。
===
Still many things to do
Optimism that the eurozone crises have ended, however, should not be allowed.
だが、「ユーロ危機は終わった」と楽観するのは禁物だ。
For one thing, Greece has yet to emerge from a serious recession. The path to slashing its government debts as planned is very treacherous.
ギリシャは深刻な景気後退から抜け出せない。計画通りに政府債務を削減する道は険しい。
In Spain, the bursting of a property bubble has caused banks to suffer from a mountain of nonperforming loans, while government finances have kept deteriorating. It is problematic that the Spanish government is still hesitant about whether to officially request assistance from the EU.
スペインでも、不動産バブル崩壊で銀行が不良債権を抱え、国家財政は悪化した。ＥＵへの支援要請を躊躇(ちゅうちょ)しているのは問題だ。
As Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti has expressed his intention to step down, a general election scheduled for February may be turbulent.
イタリアで財政再建を主導してきたモンティ首相が辞意を表明したため、２月に実施される総選挙も波乱要素になりうる。
Under the circumstances, every European country must avoid the folly of easing measures to cope with the crisis. In order not to rekindle the crisis, steady, continuous efforts should be made to rebuild government finances. At the same time, policies should be implemented to place priority on reinvigorating business activities by making the most of the framework for extending assistance to countries in trouble.
各国がここで対応を緩めるのは愚策だ。危機が再燃しないよう、財政再建を着実に進め、支援の枠組みを活用するとともに、景気を重視する政策も肝要である。
Efforts to deepen the integration of the eurozone must continue in order to solve its structural problem of having a single currency but different fiscal policies among member countries.
「通貨は一つで財政はバラバラ」という構造問題の解決へ、ユーロ圏は「統合深化」の取り組みを足踏みさせてはならない。
A policy to unify banking supervision in the region has been decided. However, concrete measures for fiscal integration have been postponed. The key to the issue is what Germany decides.
域内の銀行監督を一元化する方針は決まったが、財政統合の具体策は先送りされている。カギを握るのは大国ドイツの決断だ。
Within the European economic giant, there is strong opposition to giving further assistance to southern European nations struggling with fiscal crises and fiscal integration.
ドイツでは、財政危機に陥った南欧諸国への一層の支援や財政統合に反対論が根強い。
Germany's general election in autumn this year will be a focal point for whether the eurozone can deepen its integration.
ユーロ圏が統合深化にさらに踏み込めるかどうかは、今秋のドイツの総選挙が焦点になる。
===
Fiscal cliff avoided
For U.S. President Barack Obama, whose second term in office is to start soon, fiscal rehabilitation and economic revitalization will continue to be weighty pending issues.
２期目がスタートするオバマ米大統領にとって、引き続き、財政再建と経済再生が重い課題だ。
◆回避された米財政の崖◆
Negotiations between Obama and congressional leaders to avoid the fiscal cliff, a term describing the expiration of major tax cuts and large automatic spending cuts, went into the New Year. However, they finally reached an agreement on an extension of tax cuts for middle-class earners and a tax increase for the rich.
大型減税失効と予算の強制削減が重なる「財政の崖」を巡る大統領と議会の協議は、越年した末、中間所得層の減税延長や富裕層増税などでようやく決着した。
Avoiding falling off the cliff brought relief to financial markets. However, there are many issues still pending, such as drastic fiscal rehabilitation measures and an increase in the U.S. debt ceiling--the quota for issuing U.S. government bonds.
崖からの転落を土壇場で回避できたことは市場に安心感を与えたが、抜本的な財政再建策や米国債発行枠（債務上限）引き上げなど先送りされた課題も多い。
As the confrontation between Obama and Congress is still dragging on, there will probably be twists and turns ahead.
大統領と議会の対立は尾を引いており、波乱含みである。
The U.S. economy has been on a moderate recovery path with the housing market picking up. However, the unemployment rate is still hovering at a high level of just under 8 percent, and thus it is still difficult to find jobs.
米国経済は住宅市場が好転し、緩やかに持ち直しつつあるとはいえ、失業率は８％弱に高止まりして雇用情勢は厳しい。
In a rare move, the U.S. Federal Reserve Board has decided to keep interest rates near zero until the jobless rate is stabilized at 6.5 percent or below. We hope the U.S. government and the FRB will strengthen their cooperation to improve employment and realize a powerful U.S. economy.
米連邦準備制度理事会（ＦＲＢ）は、失業率が６・５％程度に安定するまで、ゼロ金利政策を継続する異例の金融緩和策を決めた。政府とＦＲＢが一段と連携を強化し、雇用改善と力強い米国経済を実現してもらいたい。
Expectations are running high for the "shale gas revolution," development of the nontraditional natural gas that has been going on in North America. When shale gas is used on a regular basis, the U.S. manufacturing industry likely will revive, making U.S. industries more competitive.
北米で非在来型天然ガスの開発が進む「シェールガス革命」への期待が高まっている。本格的に普及すれば米製造業が復活し、産業競争力の強化につながろう。
Deeper EU integration needed as European crisis drags on
試練の世界経済 欧州危機の収束はまだ途上だ（1月4日付・読売社説）
◆財政再建緩めずに「統合深化」を◆
Europe's protracted fiscal and financial crises appear to have escaped their worst phases, but there is no knowing what lies ahead. Indications are that difficult times for the world economy will most likely continue this year as well.
長期化している欧州の財政・金融危機は、最悪期を脱したかのように見えるが、先行きは不透明である。世界経済の試練が今年も続くだろう。
The European crisis must be overcome by every possible means, to enable the global economy to get on track for a full-fledged recovery.
欧州危機を封じ込め、本格的な景気回復を実現しなければならない。
The World Economic Outlook released last autumn by the International Monetary Fund reduced its world growth forecast for 2013 to 3.6 percent after inflation, and it seems the pace of the recovery in the world economy will remain sluggish.
国際通貨基金（ＩＭＦ）は昨秋、２０１３年の世界経済見通しを実質３・６％成長に下方修正した。緩慢な回復にとどまりそうだ。
The biggest factor behind this is that growth in the eurozone will likely be a meager 0.2 percent from the year before, meaning growth will be close to zero. Some observers even say Europe's growth may fall below zero for the second consecutive year.
最大の要因は、ユーロ圏が前年比０・２％増とほぼゼロ成長に低迷することだ。２年連続でマイナス成長に陥る観測すらある。
===
Break the negative chain
◆負の連鎖を断ち切れ◆
The European crisis, which has lasted for more than three years, has had a harmful influence on the economies of Japan, the United States and other countries, while slowing growth in newly emerging economies, too, as shown by conspicuous declines in China's exports to Europe.
３年以上続く欧州危機は、米国や日本経済に悪影響を及ぼし、中国の欧州向け輸出が減少するなど新興国経済も減速させた。
As long as these negative chain reactions continue, there can be no prospects for the world economy to regain its buoyancy.
こうした「負の連鎖」を断ち切らない限り、世界経済が再浮上する展望は開けない。
It was a welcome development that the European Central Bank and the European Union beefed up steps, though belatedly, to contain the crisis from last autumn through the year-end.
欧州中央銀行（ＥＣＢ）と欧州連合（ＥＵ）が昨秋から年末にかけ、遅ればせながら、危機封じ込め策を強化したのは前進だ。
The ECB has decided to employ the extraordinary measure of purchasing government bonds of crisis-stricken countries without limitations, in addition to a bold monetary easing policy.
ＥＣＢは大胆な金融緩和策に加えて、危機国の国債を無制限に買い取るという異例の方針を決めた。
As a permanent safety net for extending assistance to crisis-ridden nations, the European Stabilization Mechanism has been launched. On top of this, an additional bailout package for Greece has also been put in place.
危機国支援の恒久的な安全網として欧州安定メカニズム（ＥＳＭ）も発足した。ギリシャに対する追加支援も実施された。
It is highly commendable that Europe's credit unrest has eased and the market has begun to regain stability.
信用不安が和らぎ、市場が落ち着いてきたことは評価できる。
===
Still many things to do
Optimism that the eurozone crises have ended, however, should not be allowed.
だが、「ユーロ危機は終わった」と楽観するのは禁物だ。
For one thing, Greece has yet to emerge from a serious recession. The path to slashing its government debts as planned is very treacherous.
ギリシャは深刻な景気後退から抜け出せない。計画通りに政府債務を削減する道は険しい。
In Spain, the bursting of a property bubble has caused banks to suffer from a mountain of nonperforming loans, while government finances have kept deteriorating. It is problematic that the Spanish government is still hesitant about whether to officially request assistance from the EU.
スペインでも、不動産バブル崩壊で銀行が不良債権を抱え、国家財政は悪化した。ＥＵへの支援要請を躊躇(ちゅうちょ)しているのは問題だ。
As Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti has expressed his intention to step down, a general election scheduled for February may be turbulent.
イタリアで財政再建を主導してきたモンティ首相が辞意を表明したため、２月に実施される総選挙も波乱要素になりうる。
Under the circumstances, every European country must avoid the folly of easing measures to cope with the crisis. In order not to rekindle the crisis, steady, continuous efforts should be made to rebuild government finances. At the same time, policies should be implemented to place priority on reinvigorating business activities by making the most of the framework for extending assistance to countries in trouble.
各国がここで対応を緩めるのは愚策だ。危機が再燃しないよう、財政再建を着実に進め、支援の枠組みを活用するとともに、景気を重視する政策も肝要である。
Efforts to deepen the integration of the eurozone must continue in order to solve its structural problem of having a single currency but different fiscal policies among member countries.
「通貨は一つで財政はバラバラ」という構造問題の解決へ、ユーロ圏は「統合深化」の取り組みを足踏みさせてはならない。
A policy to unify banking supervision in the region has been decided. However, concrete measures for fiscal integration have been postponed. The key to the issue is what Germany decides.
域内の銀行監督を一元化する方針は決まったが、財政統合の具体策は先送りされている。カギを握るのは大国ドイツの決断だ。
Within the European economic giant, there is strong opposition to giving further assistance to southern European nations struggling with fiscal crises and fiscal integration.
ドイツでは、財政危機に陥った南欧諸国への一層の支援や財政統合に反対論が根強い。
Germany's general election in autumn this year will be a focal point for whether the eurozone can deepen its integration.
ユーロ圏が統合深化にさらに踏み込めるかどうかは、今秋のドイツの総選挙が焦点になる。
===
Fiscal cliff avoided
For U.S. President Barack Obama, whose second term in office is to start soon, fiscal rehabilitation and economic revitalization will continue to be weighty pending issues.
２期目がスタートするオバマ米大統領にとって、引き続き、財政再建と経済再生が重い課題だ。
◆回避された米財政の崖◆
Negotiations between Obama and congressional leaders to avoid the fiscal cliff, a term describing the expiration of major tax cuts and large automatic spending cuts, went into the New Year. However, they finally reached an agreement on an extension of tax cuts for middle-class earners and a tax increase for the rich.
大型減税失効と予算の強制削減が重なる「財政の崖」を巡る大統領と議会の協議は、越年した末、中間所得層の減税延長や富裕層増税などでようやく決着した。
Avoiding falling off the cliff brought relief to financial markets. However, there are many issues still pending, such as drastic fiscal rehabilitation measures and an increase in the U.S. debt ceiling--the quota for issuing U.S. government bonds.
崖からの転落を土壇場で回避できたことは市場に安心感を与えたが、抜本的な財政再建策や米国債発行枠（債務上限）引き上げなど先送りされた課題も多い。
As the confrontation between Obama and Congress is still dragging on, there will probably be twists and turns ahead.
大統領と議会の対立は尾を引いており、波乱含みである。
The U.S. economy has been on a moderate recovery path with the housing market picking up. However, the unemployment rate is still hovering at a high level of just under 8 percent, and thus it is still difficult to find jobs.
米国経済は住宅市場が好転し、緩やかに持ち直しつつあるとはいえ、失業率は８％弱に高止まりして雇用情勢は厳しい。
In a rare move, the U.S. Federal Reserve Board has decided to keep interest rates near zero until the jobless rate is stabilized at 6.5 percent or below. We hope the U.S. government and the FRB will strengthen their cooperation to improve employment and realize a powerful U.S. economy.
米連邦準備制度理事会（ＦＲＢ）は、失業率が６・５％程度に安定するまで、ゼロ金利政策を継続する異例の金融緩和策を決めた。政府とＦＲＢが一段と連携を強化し、雇用改善と力強い米国経済を実現してもらいたい。
Expectations are running high for the "shale gas revolution," development of the nontraditional natural gas that has been going on in North America. When shale gas is used on a regular basis, the U.S. manufacturing industry likely will revive, making U.S. industries more competitive.
北米で非在来型天然ガスの開発が進む「シェールガス革命」への期待が高まっている。本格的に普及すれば米製造業が復活し、産業競争力の強化につながろう。
2013年01月05日
高校生の皆さんへ―支え合いに取り組もう
--The Asahi Shimbun, Jan. 3
EDITORIAL: A letter to high school students
高校生の皆さんへ―支え合いに取り組もう
To the 214 first-year students at Kagawa Prefectural Takamatsu-Kougei High School:
香川県立高松工芸高校１年生２１４人の皆さんへ。
Thank you for writing essays on our editorial about the issue of integrated tax and social security reform in Contemporary Social Studies classes.
現代社会の授業で「社会保障と税の一体改革」に関する社説に感想文を書いていただき、ありがとうございました。
The editorial titled "Do adults understand?" was published on Dec. 28, 2011. It was written from the point of view of a member of a future generation who was lamenting the fact that their generation would be forced to pay for the huge debt the Japanese government had piled up to finance its spending.
おととし１２月２８日付の「オトナはわかってる？」という社説でした。日本の政府が大きな借金をしていることを、そのツケを回される将来世代になりかわって嘆く内容でした。
When we responded to your essays on the article, you all again took the trouble of writing what you felt. We were very happy because we found in this correspondence great hope for the future of this country.
返事を出したら、また一人ひとりが感想を書いてくれて。
とてもうれしく思いました。この交流を通して、大きな希望を見いだせたからです。
IT'S NO LONGER SOMEONE ELSE'S PROBLEM
■「お任せ」はもう限界
One of you wrote, "It is important for us all to think about 'what today's adults have failed to do' instead of simply complaining about their selfishness."
こんな一文がありました。
《大人は自分勝手だと文句をいうだけでなく「今の大人ができなかったこと」を考えることが、私たちにとって大切だ》
What is it exactly that today's adults have failed to do?
今の大人ができなかったことって、何だろう。
Sociologist Shinji Miyadai offers good insight into this question.
社会学者の宮台真司さんの言葉がヒントになります。
"Japan is a society where people complain and leave matters to others, not a society where people take on matters and think about them," he writes.
「日本は、引き受けて考える社会でなく、任せて文句を言う社会」
Here are some typical examples of how Japanese tend to think:
具体的には、こんな考え方じゃないだろうか。
* It is the responsibility of bureaucrats and politicians to make policy decisions on such difficult issues as social security and tax. All we ordinary people can do is gripe about how things stand.
――社会保障と税なんて難しい問題は、官僚や政治家が決めること。普通の私たちは文句をいうことしかできない。
* We left the problem for politicians to handle when we cast our ballots at the polls. In the end, people in power will work things out, right?
――選挙で政治家に任せた。最後はエライ人がつじつまを合わせてくれるんでしょ。
For many years in Japan, the amount of money the government spends and distributes has been bigger than the amount of money collected by the government through taxes. To make up the difference, the government has been piling up more and more debt.
日本では、税金で集めるお金より、国が使ったり配ったりするお金が多いので、つじつま合わせに借金をしてきました。
Obviously, however, the government cannot continue running up debt forever. But it is not easy to increase taxes, either, whether the consumption tax or other levies.
でも、借金はいつまでも続けられない。消費税とか、税金を増やすのも簡単じゃない。
Meanwhile, the number of elderly people who need social security services like nursing care and pensions continues to grow at an alarming pace.
一方で、介護や年金など社会保障を必要とするお年寄りはどんどん多くなる。
It seems that we can no longer afford to leave this important problem for people in power to deal with. As a first step toward abandoning this attitude, let us learn how the social security system works.
「お任せ」は、もう限界みたい。そこから脱するために、まず社会保障がどうやって成り立つのか、考えてみる。
BUILDING TIES
■つながりをつくる
When you look around you, don't you find that there is a growing number of lonely people in your neighborhood?
君たちが暮らすご近所を見回してみると、孤独な人が増えてませんか？
Take old people, for instance. As they grow physically weaker, they find it increasingly difficult to go out. They also feel sad as their memory dims, making it harder for them to keep following what is happening around them.
お年寄り。体力がなくなって外出が難しくなる。記憶力が衰え、周りのことがわからなくなると悲しいだろう。
Young people who have quit their jobs or left school usually see their circles of acquaintances shrink, and those who have withdrawn from society after being bullied at school must endure solitude.
若者。仕事や学校をやめてしまうと、つきあいが減る。いじめられて、引きこもったりしたら、孤独だろう。
Parents of young children feel lonely and frustrated if they have to spend all of their time at home with their children.
子育て中の親。家の中で、子どもとだけ過ごしていたら寂しく、イライラすることもある。
The most unfortunate thing that can happen to a person is probably to become isolated from society. It is, therefore, vital to help people avoid such a situation by building ties with others.
人とのつながりがなくなるのが一番、不幸せじゃないかな。 そこをなんとかする。人と人のつながりをつくっていく。
Your writings included some heartening comments on this problem.
《ああ、そんなことでいいんだ。ふだんからできそう》
One of you wrote, "Such simple things will help. I can probably do them in my daily life." Another said, "I think more people will become happy if we fix the problems one by one." "I have realized that my surroundings are also part of the country," commented a third.
《一つひとつ直していけば、幸せな人が増えるのでは》
《自分の身のまわりも国の一部なんだ、と気づきました》
The spirit of mutual aid and support expressed in these remarks is the very foundation of social security.
君たちが感想文に書いた、こんな「支え合いの思い」。これこそ、社会保障の土台です。
If we understand the importance of mutual aid and support, we should first do what we can do immediately, either on our own or together with our neighbors. Then, we need to contribute money to pay for the professional medical and nursing-care services that some people need.
支え合いが必要だと思えば、まず自分たちやご近所で、できることをやる。専門的な医療や介護は、プロにやってもらうため、お金を出し合う。
But people generally develop a tendency to think from a standpoint of profits and losses as they grow older.
ところが、オトナになると、損得勘定に敏感になる。
Many adults say they are having a hard time trying to make ends meet and demand that people in better financial conditions pay for social security. Others say they deserve to receive more aid because they are so badly off. Still others argue that people should not be given a "free ride" under the system of mutual support.
――自分は生活が苦しい。お金は、もっと余裕がある人に払ってもらいたい。
――こんなに困ってるのだから、もっと助けてほしい。
――支え合いに「ただ乗り」している人を甘やかすな。
There are various conflicting opinions on social security issues, and it is difficult to find solutions acceptable to a majority of people.
対立する意見があり、あちらが立てば、こちらが立たず。この調整が難しい。
EVERYBODY HAS A ROLE TO PLAY
■みんなに出番がある
"Politicians who appear on TV don't listen to what others say at all once they start stating their own opinion," one of you wrote. That's exactly true and unfortunately so because working out compromises between people with conflicting opinions and interests is what politics is all about.
《テレビに出る政治家は、自分の意見を言い始めたら、人の意見をまったく聞かない》
なるほど、そうだ。政治とは本来、対立する意見を調整する仕事なのにね。
Some politicians promise to improve the social security system without increasing the financial burden on the public.
――みなさんの負担を増やさず、社会保障をよくします。
そういう政治家もいる。
But there can never be such a magic solution to the problem.
でも、そんな夢のような解決策はありっこない。
EDITORIAL: A letter to high school students
高校生の皆さんへ―支え合いに取り組もう
To the 214 first-year students at Kagawa Prefectural Takamatsu-Kougei High School:
香川県立高松工芸高校１年生２１４人の皆さんへ。
Thank you for writing essays on our editorial about the issue of integrated tax and social security reform in Contemporary Social Studies classes.
現代社会の授業で「社会保障と税の一体改革」に関する社説に感想文を書いていただき、ありがとうございました。
The editorial titled "Do adults understand?" was published on Dec. 28, 2011. It was written from the point of view of a member of a future generation who was lamenting the fact that their generation would be forced to pay for the huge debt the Japanese government had piled up to finance its spending.
おととし１２月２８日付の「オトナはわかってる？」という社説でした。日本の政府が大きな借金をしていることを、そのツケを回される将来世代になりかわって嘆く内容でした。
When we responded to your essays on the article, you all again took the trouble of writing what you felt. We were very happy because we found in this correspondence great hope for the future of this country.
返事を出したら、また一人ひとりが感想を書いてくれて。
とてもうれしく思いました。この交流を通して、大きな希望を見いだせたからです。
IT'S NO LONGER SOMEONE ELSE'S PROBLEM
■「お任せ」はもう限界
One of you wrote, "It is important for us all to think about 'what today's adults have failed to do' instead of simply complaining about their selfishness."
こんな一文がありました。
《大人は自分勝手だと文句をいうだけでなく「今の大人ができなかったこと」を考えることが、私たちにとって大切だ》
What is it exactly that today's adults have failed to do?
今の大人ができなかったことって、何だろう。
Sociologist Shinji Miyadai offers good insight into this question.
社会学者の宮台真司さんの言葉がヒントになります。
"Japan is a society where people complain and leave matters to others, not a society where people take on matters and think about them," he writes.
「日本は、引き受けて考える社会でなく、任せて文句を言う社会」
Here are some typical examples of how Japanese tend to think:
具体的には、こんな考え方じゃないだろうか。
* It is the responsibility of bureaucrats and politicians to make policy decisions on such difficult issues as social security and tax. All we ordinary people can do is gripe about how things stand.
――社会保障と税なんて難しい問題は、官僚や政治家が決めること。普通の私たちは文句をいうことしかできない。
* We left the problem for politicians to handle when we cast our ballots at the polls. In the end, people in power will work things out, right?
――選挙で政治家に任せた。最後はエライ人がつじつまを合わせてくれるんでしょ。
For many years in Japan, the amount of money the government spends and distributes has been bigger than the amount of money collected by the government through taxes. To make up the difference, the government has been piling up more and more debt.
日本では、税金で集めるお金より、国が使ったり配ったりするお金が多いので、つじつま合わせに借金をしてきました。
Obviously, however, the government cannot continue running up debt forever. But it is not easy to increase taxes, either, whether the consumption tax or other levies.
でも、借金はいつまでも続けられない。消費税とか、税金を増やすのも簡単じゃない。
Meanwhile, the number of elderly people who need social security services like nursing care and pensions continues to grow at an alarming pace.
一方で、介護や年金など社会保障を必要とするお年寄りはどんどん多くなる。
It seems that we can no longer afford to leave this important problem for people in power to deal with. As a first step toward abandoning this attitude, let us learn how the social security system works.
「お任せ」は、もう限界みたい。そこから脱するために、まず社会保障がどうやって成り立つのか、考えてみる。
BUILDING TIES
■つながりをつくる
When you look around you, don't you find that there is a growing number of lonely people in your neighborhood?
君たちが暮らすご近所を見回してみると、孤独な人が増えてませんか？
Take old people, for instance. As they grow physically weaker, they find it increasingly difficult to go out. They also feel sad as their memory dims, making it harder for them to keep following what is happening around them.
お年寄り。体力がなくなって外出が難しくなる。記憶力が衰え、周りのことがわからなくなると悲しいだろう。
Young people who have quit their jobs or left school usually see their circles of acquaintances shrink, and those who have withdrawn from society after being bullied at school must endure solitude.
若者。仕事や学校をやめてしまうと、つきあいが減る。いじめられて、引きこもったりしたら、孤独だろう。
Parents of young children feel lonely and frustrated if they have to spend all of their time at home with their children.
子育て中の親。家の中で、子どもとだけ過ごしていたら寂しく、イライラすることもある。
The most unfortunate thing that can happen to a person is probably to become isolated from society. It is, therefore, vital to help people avoid such a situation by building ties with others.
人とのつながりがなくなるのが一番、不幸せじゃないかな。 そこをなんとかする。人と人のつながりをつくっていく。
Your writings included some heartening comments on this problem.
《ああ、そんなことでいいんだ。ふだんからできそう》
One of you wrote, "Such simple things will help. I can probably do them in my daily life." Another said, "I think more people will become happy if we fix the problems one by one." "I have realized that my surroundings are also part of the country," commented a third.
《一つひとつ直していけば、幸せな人が増えるのでは》
《自分の身のまわりも国の一部なんだ、と気づきました》
The spirit of mutual aid and support expressed in these remarks is the very foundation of social security.
君たちが感想文に書いた、こんな「支え合いの思い」。これこそ、社会保障の土台です。
If we understand the importance of mutual aid and support, we should first do what we can do immediately, either on our own or together with our neighbors. Then, we need to contribute money to pay for the professional medical and nursing-care services that some people need.
支え合いが必要だと思えば、まず自分たちやご近所で、できることをやる。専門的な医療や介護は、プロにやってもらうため、お金を出し合う。
But people generally develop a tendency to think from a standpoint of profits and losses as they grow older.
ところが、オトナになると、損得勘定に敏感になる。
Many adults say they are having a hard time trying to make ends meet and demand that people in better financial conditions pay for social security. Others say they deserve to receive more aid because they are so badly off. Still others argue that people should not be given a "free ride" under the system of mutual support.
――自分は生活が苦しい。お金は、もっと余裕がある人に払ってもらいたい。
――こんなに困ってるのだから、もっと助けてほしい。
――支え合いに「ただ乗り」している人を甘やかすな。
There are various conflicting opinions on social security issues, and it is difficult to find solutions acceptable to a majority of people.
対立する意見があり、あちらが立てば、こちらが立たず。この調整が難しい。
EVERYBODY HAS A ROLE TO PLAY
■みんなに出番がある
"Politicians who appear on TV don't listen to what others say at all once they start stating their own opinion," one of you wrote. That's exactly true and unfortunately so because working out compromises between people with conflicting opinions and interests is what politics is all about.
《テレビに出る政治家は、自分の意見を言い始めたら、人の意見をまったく聞かない》
なるほど、そうだ。政治とは本来、対立する意見を調整する仕事なのにね。
Some politicians promise to improve the social security system without increasing the financial burden on the public.
――みなさんの負担を増やさず、社会保障をよくします。
そういう政治家もいる。
But there can never be such a magic solution to the problem.
でも、そんな夢のような解決策はありっこない。
2013年01月04日
社会保障政策 全世代で応分の負担が必要だ
The Yomiuri Shimbun (Jan. 3, 2013)
Sustaining social security system requires all generations to chip in
社会保障政策 全世代で応分の負担が必要だ（12月31日付・読売社説）
◆活力回復へ少子化に歯止めを◆
Japan's rapidly aging population and chronically low birthrate have cast a dark shadow on the nation's social security system--it has become unclear whether pension, health care, elderly care and other services can be maintained in the future.
急速な少子高齢化で、年金、医療、介護など社会保障制度の維持に黄信号がともっている。
Due to anxiety about the future, the public has become caught up in a mentality to curb spending and increase savings, which has been one reason for the economic slump. We urge Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his Cabinet to speed up their efforts to rebuild public trust in the social security system.
将来への不安から、消費を控えて貯蓄に回そうとする心理が、景気低迷にもつながっている。安倍内閣は、社会保障制度に対する信頼の回復を急がねばならない。
The Cabinet must give top priority to steadily implementing integrated reform of the social security and tax systems, centering on raising the consumption tax rate. Additional tax revenues will become a funding source for basic pension payments, health care and other welfare services. It will be a major step toward maintaining the social security system.
最優先すべきは、消費税率の引き上げを柱とする社会保障と税の一体改革を着実に進めることだ。消費増税分は、基礎年金や医療などの財源に充てられる。制度を維持していくための大きな一歩になるだろう。
◆改革は長期的な視点で◆
However, it is obvious that such reform--although necessary--is not sufficient to resolve the problem. It will be crucial to implement steps to turn around the low birthrate as a part of long-term reform based on a farsighted viewpoint.
無論、これだけでは不十分だ。将来を見据えた長期的な改革として、少子化対策が重要である。
===
Spend more on children
Japan's social security programs have so far provided solid services to the elderly, such as substantial pension payments. On the other hand, measures to tackle the low birthrate have been poor.
これまでの日本の社会保障は、年金額などで高齢者に手厚い反面、少子化対策が貧弱だった。
The state coffers are expected to collect an additional 13.5 trillion yen due to the consumption tax increase, and under the integrated reform, 700 billion yen will be used to support child-rearing. However, the money to be spent on child-rearing is nowhere near what was spent by France, Sweden and other nations that successfully conquered their own low birthrate problems.
社会保障と税の一体改革によって、消費増税分１３兆５０００億円のうち、７０００億円が子育て支援策の財源となる。それでも、フランスやスウェーデンなど、少子化の克服に成功した国々に比べると相当見劣りする。
Japan's most recent total fertility rate--the average number of children each woman has in her lifetime--was 1.39, one of the lowest among advanced nations. Due to the low birthrate, the nation's population is expected to drop by more than 30 percent over the next 50 years, and by about two-thirds in 100 years.
日本は、１人の女性が産む子供の数を示す合計特殊出生率が１・３９で、先進国では最低のレベルだ。出生率の低下で、人口は今後５０年間に３割以上も減り、１００年後には３分の１の規模に縮むと予測されている。
If the government is unable to increase the birthrate, the labor force will drop significantly. As a result, the working generation will have to bear a heavier burden to keep social security programs running. It also will hurt economic growth and diminish social vitality.
少子化に歯止めがかからなければ、労働力人口が減少し、現役世代の社会保障費負担は重くなる。経済成長にもマイナスで、社会の活力をそぐことにもなる。
Many women are still forced to quit their jobs when they have babies. This situation must be changed. Concern about losing their jobs has become one reason some women hesitate to have children. The government must urgently create an environment in which women can work without anxieties, such as by boosting child care services and increasing income compensation for women taking child care leave.
出産を機に退職を余儀なくされる女性が多い現状を改善したい。失職への不安が、出産をためらう一因だ。保育サービスの拡充や育児休業中の所得保障の強化など、安心して働き続けられる環境を整えることが急務だろう。
During a recent press conference, Abe said one of his administration's tasks is to make Japan a nation where more women can have successful careers and feel comfortable having and raising children. During the administrations of the Democratic Party of Japan, 10 politicians held the post of state minister for measures for the declining birthrate in three years and three months. We urge the Abe administration to learn from this awful example and powerfully promote measures to rectify the low birthrate.
安倍首相は記者会見で、女性が活躍し、子供を産み育てやすい国を作っていくことが政権の責務だと強調した。３年３か月で少子化相が計１０人も入れ替わった民主党政権を反面教師とし、強力に少子化対策を進めてもらいたい。
===
Help nonregular workers
◆非正規雇用対策が課題◆
The increase in nonregular workers has also become another problem for social security. The ranks of nonregular workers, such as part-time and temporary workers, recently exceeded 18 million--35 percent of the total workforce.
少子化と並び、非正規雇用の増大も社会保障を危うくしている。パート、契約社員などの非正規労働者は１８００万人を超え、被用者の３５％に達した。
Many businesses do not apply social insurance programs--such as pension, medical and employment insurance--to their nonregular employees. The increase in the number of workers not obliged to pay social insurance premiums undermines the foundation of the social security system that is sustained by these premiums.
非正規労働者については、年金、医療、雇用など社会保険を適用していない企業が多い。社会保険料の徴収対象でない労働者の増加は、保険料収入で成り立つ社会保障制度の根幹を揺るがす。
There is wide concern these nonregular workers will face severe lifestyle constraints if they lose their jobs or become ill, and will end up being entitled to only a small pension--or no pension at all.
失業や病気が生活困窮に直結し、将来は無年金・低年金になる恐れも強い。
Nonregular workers are more likely to be axed first in corporate restructuring. Many find it difficult to get married due to financial reasons. The proportion of married nonregular workers in their 30s is about half that of regular employees in the same age bracket. This causes a vicious circle that accelerates the decline in the birthrate.
非正規労働者は、リストラの対象にもなりやすい。経済的な理由で結婚が難しく、３０歳代男性の既婚者の割合は正社員の半分ほどにとどまる。それが少子化を加速させる悪循環を招いている。
Expanding employee pension plans and social insurance programs to nonregular workers and correcting the gap in wages between regular and nonregular workers are major challenges.
非正規労働者に対する厚生年金など社会保険の適用拡大や、正社員との賃金格差の是正は大きな課題である。
At a news conference after his recent appointment as health, labor and welfare minister, Norihisa Tamura said his ministry "will also deal with the employment issue wholeheartedly" to revitalize the economy. This is a reasonable statement. We hope the labor ministry will knuckle down to the task of improving the treatment of nonregular workers.
田村厚生労働相が記者会見で、経済再生のため「雇用についてもしっかり対応したい」と述べたのは妥当だ。非正規労働者の処遇改善にも積極的に取り組んでもらいたい。
===
Bearing appropriate burdens
To ensure the social security system is sustainable, every member of the population--young and old, regardless of generation--will need to bear a burden commensurate with their financial abilities. In particular need of an overhaul is the pension system.
社会保障制度を持続可能にするには、若者から高齢者まで、世代を問わず、能力に応じて負担することも求められる。特に見直しが必要なのは、年金税制である。
Tax deductions from public pensions are considerable, so pensioners pay far less tax than do employees whose income is around the same as that of pensioners. It will be necessary to rectify this gap by strengthening taxation on pensioners.
公的年金は税額控除が大きく、年金生活者の納税額は、同じ収入の勤労所得者に比べて大幅に少ない。年金課税を強化し、現役世代との格差を是正すべきだ。
This is not the sole problem. Patients aged 70 to 74 have been temporarily allowed to pay 10 percent of their medical bills from their own pocket, instead of the legally set rate of 20 percent. As a consequence, the proportion of income people in this age bracket use for medical expenses is smaller than that used by people in age groups on either side of them. We think the burden should be raised to 20 percent for people in the 70-74 bracket, as is legally provided for.
問題はそれだけではない。７０〜７４歳の医療費の窓口負担は、法定では２割のところ、１割に抑えられている。その結果、前後の年代に比べ、収入に占める負担額の割合が小さい。本来の２割負担に引き上げることが求められる。
Sustaining social security system requires all generations to chip in
社会保障政策 全世代で応分の負担が必要だ（12月31日付・読売社説）
◆活力回復へ少子化に歯止めを◆
Japan's rapidly aging population and chronically low birthrate have cast a dark shadow on the nation's social security system--it has become unclear whether pension, health care, elderly care and other services can be maintained in the future.
急速な少子高齢化で、年金、医療、介護など社会保障制度の維持に黄信号がともっている。
Due to anxiety about the future, the public has become caught up in a mentality to curb spending and increase savings, which has been one reason for the economic slump. We urge Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his Cabinet to speed up their efforts to rebuild public trust in the social security system.
将来への不安から、消費を控えて貯蓄に回そうとする心理が、景気低迷にもつながっている。安倍内閣は、社会保障制度に対する信頼の回復を急がねばならない。
The Cabinet must give top priority to steadily implementing integrated reform of the social security and tax systems, centering on raising the consumption tax rate. Additional tax revenues will become a funding source for basic pension payments, health care and other welfare services. It will be a major step toward maintaining the social security system.
最優先すべきは、消費税率の引き上げを柱とする社会保障と税の一体改革を着実に進めることだ。消費増税分は、基礎年金や医療などの財源に充てられる。制度を維持していくための大きな一歩になるだろう。
◆改革は長期的な視点で◆
However, it is obvious that such reform--although necessary--is not sufficient to resolve the problem. It will be crucial to implement steps to turn around the low birthrate as a part of long-term reform based on a farsighted viewpoint.
無論、これだけでは不十分だ。将来を見据えた長期的な改革として、少子化対策が重要である。
===
Spend more on children
Japan's social security programs have so far provided solid services to the elderly, such as substantial pension payments. On the other hand, measures to tackle the low birthrate have been poor.
これまでの日本の社会保障は、年金額などで高齢者に手厚い反面、少子化対策が貧弱だった。
The state coffers are expected to collect an additional 13.5 trillion yen due to the consumption tax increase, and under the integrated reform, 700 billion yen will be used to support child-rearing. However, the money to be spent on child-rearing is nowhere near what was spent by France, Sweden and other nations that successfully conquered their own low birthrate problems.
社会保障と税の一体改革によって、消費増税分１３兆５０００億円のうち、７０００億円が子育て支援策の財源となる。それでも、フランスやスウェーデンなど、少子化の克服に成功した国々に比べると相当見劣りする。
Japan's most recent total fertility rate--the average number of children each woman has in her lifetime--was 1.39, one of the lowest among advanced nations. Due to the low birthrate, the nation's population is expected to drop by more than 30 percent over the next 50 years, and by about two-thirds in 100 years.
日本は、１人の女性が産む子供の数を示す合計特殊出生率が１・３９で、先進国では最低のレベルだ。出生率の低下で、人口は今後５０年間に３割以上も減り、１００年後には３分の１の規模に縮むと予測されている。
If the government is unable to increase the birthrate, the labor force will drop significantly. As a result, the working generation will have to bear a heavier burden to keep social security programs running. It also will hurt economic growth and diminish social vitality.
少子化に歯止めがかからなければ、労働力人口が減少し、現役世代の社会保障費負担は重くなる。経済成長にもマイナスで、社会の活力をそぐことにもなる。
Many women are still forced to quit their jobs when they have babies. This situation must be changed. Concern about losing their jobs has become one reason some women hesitate to have children. The government must urgently create an environment in which women can work without anxieties, such as by boosting child care services and increasing income compensation for women taking child care leave.
出産を機に退職を余儀なくされる女性が多い現状を改善したい。失職への不安が、出産をためらう一因だ。保育サービスの拡充や育児休業中の所得保障の強化など、安心して働き続けられる環境を整えることが急務だろう。
During a recent press conference, Abe said one of his administration's tasks is to make Japan a nation where more women can have successful careers and feel comfortable having and raising children. During the administrations of the Democratic Party of Japan, 10 politicians held the post of state minister for measures for the declining birthrate in three years and three months. We urge the Abe administration to learn from this awful example and powerfully promote measures to rectify the low birthrate.
安倍首相は記者会見で、女性が活躍し、子供を産み育てやすい国を作っていくことが政権の責務だと強調した。３年３か月で少子化相が計１０人も入れ替わった民主党政権を反面教師とし、強力に少子化対策を進めてもらいたい。
===
Help nonregular workers
◆非正規雇用対策が課題◆
The increase in nonregular workers has also become another problem for social security. The ranks of nonregular workers, such as part-time and temporary workers, recently exceeded 18 million--35 percent of the total workforce.
少子化と並び、非正規雇用の増大も社会保障を危うくしている。パート、契約社員などの非正規労働者は１８００万人を超え、被用者の３５％に達した。
Many businesses do not apply social insurance programs--such as pension, medical and employment insurance--to their nonregular employees. The increase in the number of workers not obliged to pay social insurance premiums undermines the foundation of the social security system that is sustained by these premiums.
非正規労働者については、年金、医療、雇用など社会保険を適用していない企業が多い。社会保険料の徴収対象でない労働者の増加は、保険料収入で成り立つ社会保障制度の根幹を揺るがす。
There is wide concern these nonregular workers will face severe lifestyle constraints if they lose their jobs or become ill, and will end up being entitled to only a small pension--or no pension at all.
失業や病気が生活困窮に直結し、将来は無年金・低年金になる恐れも強い。
Nonregular workers are more likely to be axed first in corporate restructuring. Many find it difficult to get married due to financial reasons. The proportion of married nonregular workers in their 30s is about half that of regular employees in the same age bracket. This causes a vicious circle that accelerates the decline in the birthrate.
非正規労働者は、リストラの対象にもなりやすい。経済的な理由で結婚が難しく、３０歳代男性の既婚者の割合は正社員の半分ほどにとどまる。それが少子化を加速させる悪循環を招いている。
Expanding employee pension plans and social insurance programs to nonregular workers and correcting the gap in wages between regular and nonregular workers are major challenges.
非正規労働者に対する厚生年金など社会保険の適用拡大や、正社員との賃金格差の是正は大きな課題である。
At a news conference after his recent appointment as health, labor and welfare minister, Norihisa Tamura said his ministry "will also deal with the employment issue wholeheartedly" to revitalize the economy. This is a reasonable statement. We hope the labor ministry will knuckle down to the task of improving the treatment of nonregular workers.
田村厚生労働相が記者会見で、経済再生のため「雇用についてもしっかり対応したい」と述べたのは妥当だ。非正規労働者の処遇改善にも積極的に取り組んでもらいたい。
===
Bearing appropriate burdens
To ensure the social security system is sustainable, every member of the population--young and old, regardless of generation--will need to bear a burden commensurate with their financial abilities. In particular need of an overhaul is the pension system.
社会保障制度を持続可能にするには、若者から高齢者まで、世代を問わず、能力に応じて負担することも求められる。特に見直しが必要なのは、年金税制である。
Tax deductions from public pensions are considerable, so pensioners pay far less tax than do employees whose income is around the same as that of pensioners. It will be necessary to rectify this gap by strengthening taxation on pensioners.
公的年金は税額控除が大きく、年金生活者の納税額は、同じ収入の勤労所得者に比べて大幅に少ない。年金課税を強化し、現役世代との格差を是正すべきだ。
This is not the sole problem. Patients aged 70 to 74 have been temporarily allowed to pay 10 percent of their medical bills from their own pocket, instead of the legally set rate of 20 percent. As a consequence, the proportion of income people in this age bracket use for medical expenses is smaller than that used by people in age groups on either side of them. We think the burden should be raised to 20 percent for people in the 70-74 bracket, as is legally provided for.
問題はそれだけではない。７０〜７４歳の医療費の窓口負担は、法定では２割のところ、１割に抑えられている。その結果、前後の年代に比べ、収入に占める負担額の割合が小さい。本来の２割負担に引き上げることが求められる。
2013年01月03日
３２レッドカジノ VS ジパングカジノ
はじめに、
オンラインカジノ遊びは期間が長期に渡ると必ず負けます。（収支決算で）
私の得意なのはルーレットの赤黒勝負だけです。
小さく賭けていけば、かなり長い時間遊べます。
ただし、これで生計が立つかというと、答えはノーです。（人によりますが＾＾）
オンライカジノ遊びは気分転換、リフレッシュの目的で遊ぶのが正しいやり方です。
たった一回の赤黒勝負に１５００万円相当の金額を賭けた男性のビデオもみました。
この男性は運が良かったのでしょう。
３０００万円相当を懐にいれて、さっさと帰宅いたしました。
オンラインカジノは夢を買う遊びなのですが、宝くじと似ています。
実際、スロットマシンゲームではジャックポットを引き当てて、一躍、億万長者になった人だって多いのです。その中には日本人も含まれます。
公営ギャンブル、宝くじ、パチンコなどで遊ぶよりは、ペイアウトで考えれば多少ましな遊びだと言うことが出来ます。
所詮遊びです。深入りは身の破滅を招きます。
３２レッドカジノ
当代、世界一の評判が高い（各種賞の獲得）
ロンドン証券所上場のエリート企業
抜群のペイアウト（還元率）
日本人担当者はいない
若干の英語力が必要
多少の英語力のある人だったらこちらです
ジパングカジノ
カジノライセンス保有（フィリピン）
日本人担当者がいるようだ
２４時間、日本語で対応（日本語サポート）
英語力は不要
その分、ペイアウトは落ちるものと推定される（経費がかかるので）
英語がまったく出来ない人はこちらになります
社説:２０１３年を展望する 骨太の互恵精神育てよ
January 01, 2013(Mainichi Japan)
Editorial: Japan's 2013 to be shaped by power of its economy, power of peace
社説:２０１３年を展望する 骨太の互恵精神育てよ
2013 will be a year of new approaches for Japan, and we believe the nation's new ways of being will come in two facets.
２０１３年は、戦後日本の生き方が、二つの意味で試される年になるのではないだろうか。
The first: Japan's latent economic power. Economic policy will grapple with ways to enlarge the economic pie, and then decide how that pie will be sliced.
一つは、日本経済の底力だ。経済政策には、全体のパイをどう増やしていくか、という側面と、それをどう分配するか、と２通りある。
The previous Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) administration put the most emphasis on the latter half of that equation, distributing generous support to young people and those in agriculture in the form of child allowances, free high school tuition, and farming household subsidies.
民主党政権は後者の分配政策を重視、子ども手当、高校授業料無償化、農家への戸別所得補償といった形で若年層、第１次産業に手厚く予算を配分した。
The newly minted Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)-led administration of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, on the other hand, is intensely focused on the size of the pie, championing sweeping monetary easing and public investment under the name of breaking away from deflation.
これに対し安倍政権は、前者の成長政策を前面に押し立て、デフレ脱却の名の下に大胆な金融緩和と公共投資の必要性を唱えている。
◇若者へ所得移転を
Of course, just about everyone ought to be happier if there's more pie to go around, and here at the outset we have no intention of speaking ill of the idea.
確かに、全体のパイが大きくなれば誰もがハッピーになるはずで、のっけからくさすつもりは毛頭ない。
However, we must point out that it's not as if preceding administrations have done nothing towards that goal in the 20 plus years since the economic bubble burst.
They pushed zero interest rates, went ahead with major monetary easing measures of their own, and poured money into mostly public works projects as emergency economic measures on numerous occasions.
ただし、指摘すべきは、バブル崩壊後の２０年余り、歴代政権は何もしてこなかったのではなく、金融政策としてはゼロ金利や量的緩和、財政政策としては公共事業を中心とした数次に及ぶ緊急経済対策を打ってきた。
In the end, quite similar strategies were piled one atop the other, amassing a quadrillion yen national debt in the process.
いわば類似政策を積み重ねてきた結果が、１０００兆円にものぼる借金財政を生んだ、という事実だ。
Behind Japan's lack of growth are its low birthrate and aging population, the rise of emerging economies, and environmental limitations on our supply and use of energy and resources. These are all structural causes, and we want to see the Abe administration tackle them head-on.
成長できない背景には、少子化による人口減と高齢化、新興国の台頭、資源・エネルギーの環境制約があるのだが、安倍政権にはこういった構造的要因にも手をつけてほしい。
Japan's population is greying at the fastest rate in the world, and already one in four Japanese is 65 or older. This fact makes a well-considered and solid plan to deal with the aging society especially important.
特に、すでに４人に１人が６５歳以上となっている世界最速の高齢化には、腰を据えた対策が必要だ。
Furthermore, to create an environment where young people are confident they have the financial wherewithal to have and raise children of their own, we believe it's time that a part of our limited economic pie -- employment and income -- be shifted to those young people from the older, wealthier segment of society.
若い人たちが自分たちの子どもを産み育てることのできる環境を整備するためには、限られたパイの中で、豊かな高齢者層から雇用も所得も不安定な若年者層へのより明確な所得移転が必要になるのではないだろうか。
What we'd like people to bear in mind here is the importance of mutual concessions and reciprocity.
その際に心がけたいのは、互譲と互恵の精神である。
We need to think that, in yielding to another, we ourselves are blessed and enriched. We also need to make this a mutual process, repeated many times.
相手に譲ることで自らが恩恵を受ける、豊かになる、それを相互に繰り返す、そういった心の持ちようだ。
To make use of Japan's young people to the full extent of their abilities will in turn revitalize all of society, the benefits of which will flow back to the elderly.
若い人たちを生かすことが社会全体の活力につながり、めぐりめぐって高齢者層の利益になる。
Even if the economic pie does not grow, can we not create such a positive redistribution cycle?
全体のパイが増えなくてもそんなプラスの分配サイクルはできないか。
To that end, we'd like to see some of the DPJ's policies that never got off the ground pushed forward by the new administration.
民主政権では踏み込めなかった政策をぜひ前に進めてほしい。
As Japan has held to its postwar focus on light armament and economy-first policy, its economy has managed to survive the calamities of the currency crisis, the oil shock and the end of the bubble economy.
戦後軽軍備・経済重視路線を堅持する中で、為替危機、石油ショック、バブル崩壊などいくつもの激変を乗り切ってきた日本経済である。
Now is the time to use the economic potential so evident in this resilience to shift gears, to deal with the mature economy that Japan enjoys.
今こそ、その底力を発揮して成熟経済対応にギアチェンジする時である。
The spirit of reciprocity must not only be applied to intergenerational relations, but to foreign relations as well.
互恵の精神は、世代間対立だけでなく、国と国との関係にも応用できる。
The second facet of Japan's new way of life in 2013 lies here, in the power of peace bound up in a national government that has never pursued war.
二つ目に試される日本政治の平和力とも関わってくる。
The greatest issue facing Japanese diplomacy is how to deal with the rising power of China.
日本外交の当面の最大の課題は、台頭する中国とどう向き合うか、にある。
There is talk in international circles that Chinese incursions into Japanese territorial waters and airspace over the Senkaku Islands dispute could lead to an armed clash.
尖閣諸島をめぐる対立は、中国側の領海、領空侵犯で武力紛争の可能性まで取りざたされるに至っている。
As a country that hasn't fired a shot in anger in some 67 years, all Japanese must now reconfirm the peace power of our nation and discuss how we can avoid Japan-China relations from worsening.
戦後６７年間一回も戦争をせずにこられた我が国の平和力を今一度点検し、どうすれば最悪の事態を回避できるか、国民的議論が必要だ。
Japanese postwar pacifism is built on two main premises: a vow grounded in reflection on World War II to never again launch a war of aggression, and on the deterrent embodied in the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty.
戦後の平和を支えてきたのは、あの戦争に対する反省からきた二度と侵略戦争はしないという誓いと、現実的な抑止力として機能する日米安保体制であろう。
Japan strives to solve all its international disputes through dialogue.
係争はあくまでも話し合いで解決する。
Of course for the sake of deterring potential enemies, Japan must prepare itself militarily.
もちろん、適正な抑止力を維持するための軍事上の備えは怠らない。
For this reason, we must reconfirm the meaning and the function of the security treaty.
そのためには、日米安保体制の意義、機能を再確認しておくことが大切だ。
On top of this, we believe it important to study the history of the 1920s.
そのうえで１９２０年代の歴史から学びたい。
◇あくまで国際協調で
The Taisho period (1912-1926) saw the formation of two major political parties, and the national discourse rang with the voices of democracy.
日本で初めて２大政党が定着し大正デモクラシーが高らかに宣言された時代である。
In the end, however, party politics couldn't protect the peace.
だが、結果的に政党政治は平和を守り切れなかった。
The Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923 combined with a global financial crisis sent the Japanese economy into turmoil. Calls for imperial expansion on the Asian continent intensified, and bellicose, xenophobic hardliners drowned out the good sense of those calling for international cooperation and compromise. Militarism took over, and in the name of supporting Imperial rule, the government led our nation into reckless war.
関東大震災や世界恐慌で経済が混乱し中国大陸に対する帝国主義的な領土拡張競争が激化する中、排外主義的対外強硬路線の大声が、妥協主義的国際協調路線の良識をかき消し、軍部独走、大政翼賛政治が私たちを無謀な戦争に追いやった。
What our very own history teaches us is that when two countries cannot compromise over a territorial or sovereignty dispute, useless escalation follows.
領土や主権をめぐる争いは双方がどちらも譲歩できないことにより、いたずらに対立がエスカレートするのも歴史が教えるところである。
We believe Japan must discard cheap anti-foreign sentiment and seek big-picture international cooperation.
安直な排外主義を排し、大局的な国際協調路線に立ちたい。
Japan is doing its best now to deal with the Senkaku dispute with China through dialogue based on legal principles. China, meanwhile, which had it examined the history of the Senkaku dispute ought to have shelved its claims to the islands, is obviously trying to change the present reality with a show of sheer power.
尖閣を巡る一連の経緯を振り返ると、棚上げされてきたはずのこの問題に対して、力による現状変更を仕掛けてきているのは明らかに中国側であり、日本はあくまで対話と法理で問題解決を図ろうとしている。
Japan must explain carefully and persistently what's going on to the world and to Asian nations in particular, and thereby make friends and allies in its confrontation with China. We should not end up alone in this.
こういった日本の立場と主張をアジア諸国を中心に世界に対し粘り強く丁寧に説明し理解を得て仲間を作る。決して孤立化しないことだ。
Editorial: Japan's 2013 to be shaped by power of its economy, power of peace
社説:２０１３年を展望する 骨太の互恵精神育てよ
2013 will be a year of new approaches for Japan, and we believe the nation's new ways of being will come in two facets.
２０１３年は、戦後日本の生き方が、二つの意味で試される年になるのではないだろうか。
The first: Japan's latent economic power. Economic policy will grapple with ways to enlarge the economic pie, and then decide how that pie will be sliced.
一つは、日本経済の底力だ。経済政策には、全体のパイをどう増やしていくか、という側面と、それをどう分配するか、と２通りある。
The previous Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) administration put the most emphasis on the latter half of that equation, distributing generous support to young people and those in agriculture in the form of child allowances, free high school tuition, and farming household subsidies.
民主党政権は後者の分配政策を重視、子ども手当、高校授業料無償化、農家への戸別所得補償といった形で若年層、第１次産業に手厚く予算を配分した。
The newly minted Liberal Democratic Party (LDP)-led administration of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, on the other hand, is intensely focused on the size of the pie, championing sweeping monetary easing and public investment under the name of breaking away from deflation.
これに対し安倍政権は、前者の成長政策を前面に押し立て、デフレ脱却の名の下に大胆な金融緩和と公共投資の必要性を唱えている。
◇若者へ所得移転を
Of course, just about everyone ought to be happier if there's more pie to go around, and here at the outset we have no intention of speaking ill of the idea.
確かに、全体のパイが大きくなれば誰もがハッピーになるはずで、のっけからくさすつもりは毛頭ない。
However, we must point out that it's not as if preceding administrations have done nothing towards that goal in the 20 plus years since the economic bubble burst.
They pushed zero interest rates, went ahead with major monetary easing measures of their own, and poured money into mostly public works projects as emergency economic measures on numerous occasions.
ただし、指摘すべきは、バブル崩壊後の２０年余り、歴代政権は何もしてこなかったのではなく、金融政策としてはゼロ金利や量的緩和、財政政策としては公共事業を中心とした数次に及ぶ緊急経済対策を打ってきた。
In the end, quite similar strategies were piled one atop the other, amassing a quadrillion yen national debt in the process.
いわば類似政策を積み重ねてきた結果が、１０００兆円にものぼる借金財政を生んだ、という事実だ。
Behind Japan's lack of growth are its low birthrate and aging population, the rise of emerging economies, and environmental limitations on our supply and use of energy and resources. These are all structural causes, and we want to see the Abe administration tackle them head-on.
成長できない背景には、少子化による人口減と高齢化、新興国の台頭、資源・エネルギーの環境制約があるのだが、安倍政権にはこういった構造的要因にも手をつけてほしい。
Japan's population is greying at the fastest rate in the world, and already one in four Japanese is 65 or older. This fact makes a well-considered and solid plan to deal with the aging society especially important.
特に、すでに４人に１人が６５歳以上となっている世界最速の高齢化には、腰を据えた対策が必要だ。
Furthermore, to create an environment where young people are confident they have the financial wherewithal to have and raise children of their own, we believe it's time that a part of our limited economic pie -- employment and income -- be shifted to those young people from the older, wealthier segment of society.
若い人たちが自分たちの子どもを産み育てることのできる環境を整備するためには、限られたパイの中で、豊かな高齢者層から雇用も所得も不安定な若年者層へのより明確な所得移転が必要になるのではないだろうか。
What we'd like people to bear in mind here is the importance of mutual concessions and reciprocity.
その際に心がけたいのは、互譲と互恵の精神である。
We need to think that, in yielding to another, we ourselves are blessed and enriched. We also need to make this a mutual process, repeated many times.
相手に譲ることで自らが恩恵を受ける、豊かになる、それを相互に繰り返す、そういった心の持ちようだ。
To make use of Japan's young people to the full extent of their abilities will in turn revitalize all of society, the benefits of which will flow back to the elderly.
若い人たちを生かすことが社会全体の活力につながり、めぐりめぐって高齢者層の利益になる。
Even if the economic pie does not grow, can we not create such a positive redistribution cycle?
全体のパイが増えなくてもそんなプラスの分配サイクルはできないか。
To that end, we'd like to see some of the DPJ's policies that never got off the ground pushed forward by the new administration.
民主政権では踏み込めなかった政策をぜひ前に進めてほしい。
As Japan has held to its postwar focus on light armament and economy-first policy, its economy has managed to survive the calamities of the currency crisis, the oil shock and the end of the bubble economy.
戦後軽軍備・経済重視路線を堅持する中で、為替危機、石油ショック、バブル崩壊などいくつもの激変を乗り切ってきた日本経済である。
Now is the time to use the economic potential so evident in this resilience to shift gears, to deal with the mature economy that Japan enjoys.
今こそ、その底力を発揮して成熟経済対応にギアチェンジする時である。
The spirit of reciprocity must not only be applied to intergenerational relations, but to foreign relations as well.
互恵の精神は、世代間対立だけでなく、国と国との関係にも応用できる。
The second facet of Japan's new way of life in 2013 lies here, in the power of peace bound up in a national government that has never pursued war.
二つ目に試される日本政治の平和力とも関わってくる。
The greatest issue facing Japanese diplomacy is how to deal with the rising power of China.
日本外交の当面の最大の課題は、台頭する中国とどう向き合うか、にある。
There is talk in international circles that Chinese incursions into Japanese territorial waters and airspace over the Senkaku Islands dispute could lead to an armed clash.
尖閣諸島をめぐる対立は、中国側の領海、領空侵犯で武力紛争の可能性まで取りざたされるに至っている。
As a country that hasn't fired a shot in anger in some 67 years, all Japanese must now reconfirm the peace power of our nation and discuss how we can avoid Japan-China relations from worsening.
戦後６７年間一回も戦争をせずにこられた我が国の平和力を今一度点検し、どうすれば最悪の事態を回避できるか、国民的議論が必要だ。
Japanese postwar pacifism is built on two main premises: a vow grounded in reflection on World War II to never again launch a war of aggression, and on the deterrent embodied in the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty.
戦後の平和を支えてきたのは、あの戦争に対する反省からきた二度と侵略戦争はしないという誓いと、現実的な抑止力として機能する日米安保体制であろう。
Japan strives to solve all its international disputes through dialogue.
係争はあくまでも話し合いで解決する。
Of course for the sake of deterring potential enemies, Japan must prepare itself militarily.
もちろん、適正な抑止力を維持するための軍事上の備えは怠らない。
For this reason, we must reconfirm the meaning and the function of the security treaty.
そのためには、日米安保体制の意義、機能を再確認しておくことが大切だ。
On top of this, we believe it important to study the history of the 1920s.
そのうえで１９２０年代の歴史から学びたい。
◇あくまで国際協調で
The Taisho period (1912-1926) saw the formation of two major political parties, and the national discourse rang with the voices of democracy.
日本で初めて２大政党が定着し大正デモクラシーが高らかに宣言された時代である。
In the end, however, party politics couldn't protect the peace.
だが、結果的に政党政治は平和を守り切れなかった。
The Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923 combined with a global financial crisis sent the Japanese economy into turmoil. Calls for imperial expansion on the Asian continent intensified, and bellicose, xenophobic hardliners drowned out the good sense of those calling for international cooperation and compromise. Militarism took over, and in the name of supporting Imperial rule, the government led our nation into reckless war.
関東大震災や世界恐慌で経済が混乱し中国大陸に対する帝国主義的な領土拡張競争が激化する中、排外主義的対外強硬路線の大声が、妥協主義的国際協調路線の良識をかき消し、軍部独走、大政翼賛政治が私たちを無謀な戦争に追いやった。
What our very own history teaches us is that when two countries cannot compromise over a territorial or sovereignty dispute, useless escalation follows.
領土や主権をめぐる争いは双方がどちらも譲歩できないことにより、いたずらに対立がエスカレートするのも歴史が教えるところである。
We believe Japan must discard cheap anti-foreign sentiment and seek big-picture international cooperation.
安直な排外主義を排し、大局的な国際協調路線に立ちたい。
Japan is doing its best now to deal with the Senkaku dispute with China through dialogue based on legal principles. China, meanwhile, which had it examined the history of the Senkaku dispute ought to have shelved its claims to the islands, is obviously trying to change the present reality with a show of sheer power.
尖閣を巡る一連の経緯を振り返ると、棚上げされてきたはずのこの問題に対して、力による現状変更を仕掛けてきているのは明らかに中国側であり、日本はあくまで対話と法理で問題解決を図ろうとしている。
Japan must explain carefully and persistently what's going on to the world and to Asian nations in particular, and thereby make friends and allies in its confrontation with China. We should not end up alone in this.
こういった日本の立場と主張をアジア諸国を中心に世界に対し粘り強く丁寧に説明し理解を得て仲間を作る。決して孤立化しないことだ。