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2014年08月05日
首相中南米歴訪 互恵の関係を長期的に築こう
The Yomiuri Shimbun
Reciprocal, sustainable long-term ties with Latin America important
首相中南米歴訪 互恵の関係を長期的に築こう
The task of securing a stable supply of energy and food is an important matter of diplomatic concern for our nation. Given this, strengthening relations with resource-rich nations in Central and South America is extremely significant for Japan.
日本にとって、エネルギーや食糧の安定確保は重要な外交課題だ。資源の豊富な中南米諸国との関係を積極的に強化する意味は大きい。
During his five-nation Latin American tour, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Friday held talks with Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff in which he confirmed Japan would offer technical assistance for deep-sea oil development off southeastern Brazil. Japanese corporations are aiming to win orders for projects to build a floating platform as a base for oil development operations.
中南米５か国を歴訪中の安倍首相がブラジルのルセフ大統領と会談し、ブラジル南東部沖の海底油田開発に関する技術協力を確認した。日本企業は油田開発に必要な浮体式構造物（メガフロート）の受注を目指している。
The two leaders also decided to start talks aimed at improving the efficiency of grain transportation in Brazil. Bilateral talks will likely cover such issues as projects to build and improve road and railway networks extending to seaports from inland grain belts in that nation.
ブラジル国内での穀物輸送を効率化するため、両国の協議を開始することも決めた。内陸部の穀倉地帯から港への道路や鉄道網の整備などが対象となる見通しだ。
In a meeting with Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto, meanwhile, the prime minister agreed that Japan would cooperate in promoting oil and natural gas development programs in Mexico. The agreement will require our nation to extend technical and financial aid to Mexico.
首相はメキシコのエンリケ・ペニャニエト大統領との会談でも、石油・天然ガス開発の協力で一致した。日本が技術、資金両面で支援するという。
All this constitutes an effort to facilitate natural resource-related cooperation with Latin American countries, a task essential for rectifying our nation’s heavy reliance on Middle Eastern nations for oil and other supplies and ensuring it has a diversity of suppliers. Doing so is significant for Japan’s energy security.
日本が中南米との資源協力を進め、中東に偏った石油などの調達先を多角化することは、エネルギー安全保障面で意義がある。
What is important in this endeavor is to respect efforts by Japan’s partner nations to facilitate resource development on their own while also establishing long-term relations under which to enjoy mutual benefits.
大切なのは、相手国の自主的な開発を尊重し、共に利益を享受する長期的な関係を築くことだ。
China has been no less active in increasing ties with Latin American countries, with a view to securing natural resources from them. This was evident, for example, in a visit to Brazil and some other nations in the region by Chinese President Xi Jinping. However, observers have said that China puts its own interests first, paying no attention to its partners’ wishes for development.
中国も、習近平国家主席が７月にブラジルなどを歴訪するなど、資源確保を視野に中南米との関係を強化している。ただ、中国は目先の利益を最優先し、相手国の発展を顧みないとの指摘がある。
Japan should attach great importance to building reciprocal relationships with its Latin American partners, and emphasize its difference from China in dealing with these countries.
日本は互恵関係を重視し、中国との差別化を図るべきだ。
Path to Security Council
Abe’s latest tour included trips to Trinidad and Tobago, Colombia and Chile. He was the first prime minister to make a full-fledged tour of Central and South America in 10 years. The prime minister was accompanied by about 70 others, including corporate executives.
安倍首相は今回、トリニダード・トバゴ、コロンビア、チリも訪問した。首相の本格的な中南米歴訪は１０年ぶりで、約７０人の企業首脳らが同行した。
Latin America is home to about 600 million people. Many nations in that region feel affinity toward Japan. That part of the world has achieved significant economic growth in recent years, combined with an increase in the number of middle-class consumers with a strong motivation to spend money. The Japanese government and the private sector should join hands in encouraging domestic companies to do business in Latin American markets while also boosting two-way trade with these nations.
中南米の人口は６億人で、親日的な国が多い。近年は経済成長が著しく、消費意欲が強い中間層も増えている。日本は、官民が連携して企業の進出を図り、貿易拡大に努めることが大切である。
At Friday’s meeting, Abe and Rousseff agreed that Japan and Brazil, both of which aim to gain a permanent seat on the U.N. Security Council, would promote cooperation in this respect as the United Nations marks its 70th anniversary next year. The two leaders confirmed their governments would increase ties with Germany and India in what could be called a “Group of Four nations,” so progress could be made in reforming the most powerful U.N. organ.
日ブラジル首脳会談では、国連創設７０周年の来年に向けて、安全保障理事会改革を進めるため、常任理事国入りを目指す両国にドイツ、インドを加えた「Ｇ４」の連携を強めることで一致した。
Thirty-three Central and South American nations account for somewhat less than 20 percent of the U.N. member states. Japan’s bid to reform the Security Council will require support from these Latin American countries. Japan stands ready to run in an election to choose new nonpermanent members of the council in autumn next year. Abe’s latest tour was aimed, in part, at securing votes in favor of Japan at the U.N. election.
中南米３３か国は国連加盟国全体の２割弱を占める。安保理改革の実現には中南米の支持が欠かせない。日本は、来秋の非常任理事国選挙に立候補する方針で、首相の歴訪には票固めの狙いもある。
During his Latin American tour, Abe met top leaders from member states of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), an organization comprising 14 nations and one territory in the Caribbean Basin. The summit meeting was the first of its kind to be held between Japan and the CARICOM members.
首相は今回、カリブ海の１４か国・１地域で作る「カリブ共同体」との首脳会合を初めて開いた。
Japan should obtain support from the Caribbean nations for its Security Council reform drive. This may be made possible through close cooperation with these countries in the field of disaster damage management, given that they are prone to natural calamities.
ハリケーンなどの被害を受けやすいカリブ諸国とは、防災協力を通じて関係を緊密化し、安保理改革への支持を取り付けたい。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 3, 2014)
Reciprocal, sustainable long-term ties with Latin America important
首相中南米歴訪 互恵の関係を長期的に築こう
The task of securing a stable supply of energy and food is an important matter of diplomatic concern for our nation. Given this, strengthening relations with resource-rich nations in Central and South America is extremely significant for Japan.
日本にとって、エネルギーや食糧の安定確保は重要な外交課題だ。資源の豊富な中南米諸国との関係を積極的に強化する意味は大きい。
During his five-nation Latin American tour, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Friday held talks with Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff in which he confirmed Japan would offer technical assistance for deep-sea oil development off southeastern Brazil. Japanese corporations are aiming to win orders for projects to build a floating platform as a base for oil development operations.
中南米５か国を歴訪中の安倍首相がブラジルのルセフ大統領と会談し、ブラジル南東部沖の海底油田開発に関する技術協力を確認した。日本企業は油田開発に必要な浮体式構造物（メガフロート）の受注を目指している。
The two leaders also decided to start talks aimed at improving the efficiency of grain transportation in Brazil. Bilateral talks will likely cover such issues as projects to build and improve road and railway networks extending to seaports from inland grain belts in that nation.
ブラジル国内での穀物輸送を効率化するため、両国の協議を開始することも決めた。内陸部の穀倉地帯から港への道路や鉄道網の整備などが対象となる見通しだ。
In a meeting with Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto, meanwhile, the prime minister agreed that Japan would cooperate in promoting oil and natural gas development programs in Mexico. The agreement will require our nation to extend technical and financial aid to Mexico.
首相はメキシコのエンリケ・ペニャニエト大統領との会談でも、石油・天然ガス開発の協力で一致した。日本が技術、資金両面で支援するという。
All this constitutes an effort to facilitate natural resource-related cooperation with Latin American countries, a task essential for rectifying our nation’s heavy reliance on Middle Eastern nations for oil and other supplies and ensuring it has a diversity of suppliers. Doing so is significant for Japan’s energy security.
日本が中南米との資源協力を進め、中東に偏った石油などの調達先を多角化することは、エネルギー安全保障面で意義がある。
What is important in this endeavor is to respect efforts by Japan’s partner nations to facilitate resource development on their own while also establishing long-term relations under which to enjoy mutual benefits.
大切なのは、相手国の自主的な開発を尊重し、共に利益を享受する長期的な関係を築くことだ。
China has been no less active in increasing ties with Latin American countries, with a view to securing natural resources from them. This was evident, for example, in a visit to Brazil and some other nations in the region by Chinese President Xi Jinping. However, observers have said that China puts its own interests first, paying no attention to its partners’ wishes for development.
中国も、習近平国家主席が７月にブラジルなどを歴訪するなど、資源確保を視野に中南米との関係を強化している。ただ、中国は目先の利益を最優先し、相手国の発展を顧みないとの指摘がある。
Japan should attach great importance to building reciprocal relationships with its Latin American partners, and emphasize its difference from China in dealing with these countries.
日本は互恵関係を重視し、中国との差別化を図るべきだ。
Path to Security Council
Abe’s latest tour included trips to Trinidad and Tobago, Colombia and Chile. He was the first prime minister to make a full-fledged tour of Central and South America in 10 years. The prime minister was accompanied by about 70 others, including corporate executives.
安倍首相は今回、トリニダード・トバゴ、コロンビア、チリも訪問した。首相の本格的な中南米歴訪は１０年ぶりで、約７０人の企業首脳らが同行した。
Latin America is home to about 600 million people. Many nations in that region feel affinity toward Japan. That part of the world has achieved significant economic growth in recent years, combined with an increase in the number of middle-class consumers with a strong motivation to spend money. The Japanese government and the private sector should join hands in encouraging domestic companies to do business in Latin American markets while also boosting two-way trade with these nations.
中南米の人口は６億人で、親日的な国が多い。近年は経済成長が著しく、消費意欲が強い中間層も増えている。日本は、官民が連携して企業の進出を図り、貿易拡大に努めることが大切である。
At Friday’s meeting, Abe and Rousseff agreed that Japan and Brazil, both of which aim to gain a permanent seat on the U.N. Security Council, would promote cooperation in this respect as the United Nations marks its 70th anniversary next year. The two leaders confirmed their governments would increase ties with Germany and India in what could be called a “Group of Four nations,” so progress could be made in reforming the most powerful U.N. organ.
日ブラジル首脳会談では、国連創設７０周年の来年に向けて、安全保障理事会改革を進めるため、常任理事国入りを目指す両国にドイツ、インドを加えた「Ｇ４」の連携を強めることで一致した。
Thirty-three Central and South American nations account for somewhat less than 20 percent of the U.N. member states. Japan’s bid to reform the Security Council will require support from these Latin American countries. Japan stands ready to run in an election to choose new nonpermanent members of the council in autumn next year. Abe’s latest tour was aimed, in part, at securing votes in favor of Japan at the U.N. election.
中南米３３か国は国連加盟国全体の２割弱を占める。安保理改革の実現には中南米の支持が欠かせない。日本は、来秋の非常任理事国選挙に立候補する方針で、首相の歴訪には票固めの狙いもある。
During his Latin American tour, Abe met top leaders from member states of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), an organization comprising 14 nations and one territory in the Caribbean Basin. The summit meeting was the first of its kind to be held between Japan and the CARICOM members.
首相は今回、カリブ海の１４か国・１地域で作る「カリブ共同体」との首脳会合を初めて開いた。
Japan should obtain support from the Caribbean nations for its Security Council reform drive. This may be made possible through close cooperation with these countries in the field of disaster damage management, given that they are prone to natural calamities.
ハリケーンなどの被害を受けやすいカリブ諸国とは、防災協力を通じて関係を緊密化し、安保理改革への支持を取り付けたい。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 3, 2014)
2014年08月04日
第１次大戦１００年 今こそ銘記したい悲劇の教訓
The Yomiuri Shimbun
We must heed the tragic lessons of WWI on its 100th anniversary
第１次大戦１００年 今こそ銘記したい悲劇の教訓
This summer marks the centennial of the outbreak of World War I, which ignited in Europe, causing devastation unparalleled by any war the world had witnessed up to that time.
欧州を発火点に、それまでにない戦禍を引き起こした第１次世界大戦の勃発から、この夏で１００年を迎えた。
We must learn from the tragedy, whose protracted battles left about 13 million people dead.
泥沼の長期戦で約１３００万人もの犠牲者を出した悲劇に学ばねばならない。
World War I was triggered in June 1914 by the assassination of the heir presumptive to the Austrian throne by a young Serbian man who fired two shots. In retaliation, Austria declared war on Serbia.
第１次大戦の発端は、１９１４年６月、セルビア人の青年が２発の銃弾を撃ち、オーストリア皇太子の命を奪った事件だった。オーストリアは報復として、セルビアに宣戦を布告した。
Early in August of that year, Germany launched a military campaign based on its military alliance with Austria, leading to an all-out war between the Germany-led Central Powers and the Allies that included Britain, France and Russia.
８月初め、ドイツはオーストリアとの同盟を根拠に軍事行動を開始し、ドイツを中心とした同盟国側と、英仏露など連合国側との全面戦争に発展した。
In those days, many people predicted an early conclusion to the war and believed their own country’s side would be victorious.
当時は多くの人々が戦争の短期終結を予想していた。しかも自国側の勝利を確信していた。
This war left a weighty lesson that a war should never be launched.
かりそめにも戦端を開くことがあってはならない。大戦が残した重い教訓と言えよう。
U.S. President John F. Kennedy was a leader who acted based on what he learned from studying the failures of World War I when he dealt with the Cuban missile crisis of October 1962, in which confrontation between the United States and the Soviet Union escalated to the verge of nuclear war.
米ソ対立が核戦争の一歩手前まで先鋭化した１９６２年１０月の「キューバ危機」の際、こうした先人の失敗を鑑かがみとしたのが、ケネディ米大統領である。
An eye on history
Having read “The Guns of August” by Barbara Tuchman, which chronicled in detail the developments leading to the opening of World War I, Kennedy reportedly said he did not want somebody writing a book called “The Missiles of October” in the future.
大統領は、第１次大戦が開戦に至った経過を詳細に綴つづったバーバラ・タックマンの「八月の砲声」を読み、誰かが将来、「十月のミサイル」という本を書くことは望んでいないと語ったという。
Based on unbridled discussions with his aides, Kennedy worked on possible Soviet actions and considered responses to each scenario, as well as the likely resulting outcomes. He put priority on averting a military clash and decided on a maritime blockade of Cuba, instead of launching attacks on Cuba.
側近の自由な議論を踏まえ、ソ連の出方と、それに対する米側の行動のもたらす結果を検討し、衝突回避を優先して、キューバ攻撃でなく海上封鎖を選んだ。
While confirming the Soviet intentions, Kennedy entered negotiations with the Soviet Union for it to withdraw its missiles from Cuba, nipping a potential World War III in the bud. We should never forget what the president accomplished.
さらに、ソ連の意思を確認しながら、ミサイル撤去交渉に入り、「第３次世界大戦」の芽を摘み取ったことを忘れてはならない。
It is important to bear in mind that peace is at risk when an international balance of power crumbles. World War I occurred just as the power of Britain declined from its hegemonic status, which coincided with the rise of Germany.
銘記すべきは、国際的な力の均衡が崩れる時に平和が危うくなることだ。大戦前は、覇権国家だった英国の力が低下し、新興国ドイツが台頭する時期だった。
The present-day world is confronting a shift similar to the changing power balance in Europe 100 years ago.
現代の世界も、１００年前の欧州とも似たパワーバランスの変化に直面している。
In January, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe likened today’s relationship between Japan and a rising China to that of Britain and Germany before the first world war, stirring widespread controversy and putting him on the defensive. Nonetheless, it is true that stabilizing the bilateral relationship has emerged as a major issue.
安倍首相は１月、台頭する中国を念頭に、今日の日中関係を第１次大戦前の英独関係になぞらえて物議を醸し、釈明に追われた。だが、日中関係の安定化が大きな課題となっているのは事実だ。
It is necessary for the two nations to prevent accidental military clashes by establishing a hotline between the leaders and between defense units. The two nations should urgently build a mechanism to be used in the event of a clash to prevent it from escalating into a full-blown conflict.
首脳間や部隊間のホットライン設置など、偶発的な衝突を防ぎ、仮に衝突が起きた場合でも本格的な紛争につなげないための仕組みを早急に構築する必要がある。
History proves that a war, once started, will play out without restraint. Once again, the impor-tance of striving to prevent war has come to the fore.
戦争は、いったん始まれば自制が利かなくなることは歴史が証明している。戦争回避の努力の重要性が改めて問われている。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 2, 2014)
We must heed the tragic lessons of WWI on its 100th anniversary
第１次大戦１００年 今こそ銘記したい悲劇の教訓
This summer marks the centennial of the outbreak of World War I, which ignited in Europe, causing devastation unparalleled by any war the world had witnessed up to that time.
欧州を発火点に、それまでにない戦禍を引き起こした第１次世界大戦の勃発から、この夏で１００年を迎えた。
We must learn from the tragedy, whose protracted battles left about 13 million people dead.
泥沼の長期戦で約１３００万人もの犠牲者を出した悲劇に学ばねばならない。
World War I was triggered in June 1914 by the assassination of the heir presumptive to the Austrian throne by a young Serbian man who fired two shots. In retaliation, Austria declared war on Serbia.
第１次大戦の発端は、１９１４年６月、セルビア人の青年が２発の銃弾を撃ち、オーストリア皇太子の命を奪った事件だった。オーストリアは報復として、セルビアに宣戦を布告した。
Early in August of that year, Germany launched a military campaign based on its military alliance with Austria, leading to an all-out war between the Germany-led Central Powers and the Allies that included Britain, France and Russia.
８月初め、ドイツはオーストリアとの同盟を根拠に軍事行動を開始し、ドイツを中心とした同盟国側と、英仏露など連合国側との全面戦争に発展した。
In those days, many people predicted an early conclusion to the war and believed their own country’s side would be victorious.
当時は多くの人々が戦争の短期終結を予想していた。しかも自国側の勝利を確信していた。
This war left a weighty lesson that a war should never be launched.
かりそめにも戦端を開くことがあってはならない。大戦が残した重い教訓と言えよう。
U.S. President John F. Kennedy was a leader who acted based on what he learned from studying the failures of World War I when he dealt with the Cuban missile crisis of October 1962, in which confrontation between the United States and the Soviet Union escalated to the verge of nuclear war.
米ソ対立が核戦争の一歩手前まで先鋭化した１９６２年１０月の「キューバ危機」の際、こうした先人の失敗を鑑かがみとしたのが、ケネディ米大統領である。
An eye on history
Having read “The Guns of August” by Barbara Tuchman, which chronicled in detail the developments leading to the opening of World War I, Kennedy reportedly said he did not want somebody writing a book called “The Missiles of October” in the future.
大統領は、第１次大戦が開戦に至った経過を詳細に綴つづったバーバラ・タックマンの「八月の砲声」を読み、誰かが将来、「十月のミサイル」という本を書くことは望んでいないと語ったという。
Based on unbridled discussions with his aides, Kennedy worked on possible Soviet actions and considered responses to each scenario, as well as the likely resulting outcomes. He put priority on averting a military clash and decided on a maritime blockade of Cuba, instead of launching attacks on Cuba.
側近の自由な議論を踏まえ、ソ連の出方と、それに対する米側の行動のもたらす結果を検討し、衝突回避を優先して、キューバ攻撃でなく海上封鎖を選んだ。
While confirming the Soviet intentions, Kennedy entered negotiations with the Soviet Union for it to withdraw its missiles from Cuba, nipping a potential World War III in the bud. We should never forget what the president accomplished.
さらに、ソ連の意思を確認しながら、ミサイル撤去交渉に入り、「第３次世界大戦」の芽を摘み取ったことを忘れてはならない。
It is important to bear in mind that peace is at risk when an international balance of power crumbles. World War I occurred just as the power of Britain declined from its hegemonic status, which coincided with the rise of Germany.
銘記すべきは、国際的な力の均衡が崩れる時に平和が危うくなることだ。大戦前は、覇権国家だった英国の力が低下し、新興国ドイツが台頭する時期だった。
The present-day world is confronting a shift similar to the changing power balance in Europe 100 years ago.
現代の世界も、１００年前の欧州とも似たパワーバランスの変化に直面している。
In January, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe likened today’s relationship between Japan and a rising China to that of Britain and Germany before the first world war, stirring widespread controversy and putting him on the defensive. Nonetheless, it is true that stabilizing the bilateral relationship has emerged as a major issue.
安倍首相は１月、台頭する中国を念頭に、今日の日中関係を第１次大戦前の英独関係になぞらえて物議を醸し、釈明に追われた。だが、日中関係の安定化が大きな課題となっているのは事実だ。
It is necessary for the two nations to prevent accidental military clashes by establishing a hotline between the leaders and between defense units. The two nations should urgently build a mechanism to be used in the event of a clash to prevent it from escalating into a full-blown conflict.
首脳間や部隊間のホットライン設置など、偶発的な衝突を防ぎ、仮に衝突が起きた場合でも本格的な紛争につなげないための仕組みを早急に構築する必要がある。
History proves that a war, once started, will play out without restraint. Once again, the impor-tance of striving to prevent war has come to the fore.
戦争は、いったん始まれば自制が利かなくなることは歴史が証明している。戦争回避の努力の重要性が改めて問われている。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 2, 2014)
2014年08月03日
（社説）原発事故原因 究明求める声を聴け
August 01, 2014
EDITORIAL: Public demands the truth about Fukushima accident
（社説）原発事故原因 究明求める声を聴け
What is the whole truth about the nuclear disaster that hit this nation three years ago? We have yet to hear a satisfactory answer to this question.
３年前の原発事故は何だったのか。私たちは納得いく答えをまだ得ていないではないか。
Public discontent about this fact was clearly reflected in a recent decision by an independent judicial panel of citizens concerning the criminal liability of three former executives of Tokyo Electric Power Co. for the accident at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant.
そんな国民の不満が反映された議決とみるべきだろう。
The Tokyo No. 5 Committee for the Inquest of Prosecution said July 31 that the three should be indicted over the 2011 disaster, rejecting a decision by prosecutors against prosecuting them.
福島第一原発の事故をめぐり検察審査会が、東京電力の元幹部３人について、「起訴相当」とする議決書を公表した。
The panel’s action forces the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office to reconsider its decision to drop the case against the three former executives of the electric utility, which operates the stricken nuclear power plant.
いったん不起訴処分とした東京地検は、起訴するかどうか改めて判断することになった。
Regardless of whether the three are actually indicted, there is no doubt that the panel’s call is a sign of public exasperation about the lack of serious efforts to get to the bottom of the nuclear disaster on the part of the government, the Diet and the utility.
刑事責任の追及がどうなるかはさておき、この議決には、事故について徹底究明しようとしない政府と国会、東電に対する社会のいらだちが映し出されているのは確かだろう。
Both the government and the Diet have the power and ability to gather huge amounts of information about the accident and glean lessons from what happened. The authority is vested in the two institutions by the people.
政府と国会には、事故に関する膨大な情報を集めて、教訓を引き出す権限と能力がある。国民が与えているのである。
But both the government and the Diet have failed to make a serious response to the people’s calls for a clarification of the causes of the accident.
にもかかわらず、政府も国会も、原因究明を求める国民の思いにまったく応えていない。
This discontent has also been indicated by a recent opinion poll.
その不満は、世論調査からも読み取れる。
In a national poll conducted by The Asahi Shimbun in July, 59 percent of the respondents voiced opposition to the plan to restart reactors at Kyushu Electric Power Co.’s Sendai nuclear power plant in Kagoshima Prefecture, against 23 percent who supported it.
朝日新聞社による７月の全国世論調査では、九州電力川内（せんだい）原発（鹿児島県）の再稼働について「賛成」が２３％、「反対」が５９％だった。
When asked whether they thought that the lessons from the Fukushima accident had been incorporated into Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s energy policies, only 19 percent of the respondents said “yes,” while 61 percent answered negatively.
安倍首相の政策に事故の教訓が生かされていると思うかとの問いには、そう思う人が１９％、否定が６１％だった。
The committees set up separately by the government and the Diet to investigate the accident both ended their inquiries after about one year of work. Both panels called for continued efforts to reveal the whole truth about the triple meltdown at the Fukushima plant. But virtually no specific step has been taken to do so.
政府と国会が事故直後、別々につくった事故調査委員会は、いずれも１年前後で活動を終えた。どちらも引き続き究明を求めたが、今に至るまで具体的な動きはないに等しい。
Given the scale and severity of the accident, it is obvious that the hasty investigations conducted by the two panels are far from sufficient. The records of testimonies and the massive materials produced by their inquiries have not been made available for wide use.
これだけの事故を起こしながら、駆け足の調査で済ませていいわけがない。両事故調が集めた証言録や資料も死蔵されたままである。
A full-scale probe into the accident should be resumed to make clear the lessons that should be learned before the relevant memories of people involved begin to fade.
関係者の記憶が薄れぬ前に、早く本格的な調査を再開して教訓をきちんと示すべきだ。
The three former executives at TEPCO are facing possible charges of professional negligence resulting in death and injury. Legal action has been taken against them by survivors of the accident in Fukushima Prefecture and others. The plaintiffs are seeking to hold the three liable for damage caused by the disaster, such as the deaths of hospitalized patients and the exposure of local residents to radiation during evacuations.
東電元幹部が問われている容疑は、業務上過失致死傷罪である。事故の避難途中に入院患者が死亡し、住民が被曝（ひばく）したなどとして、福島県内の被災者らが告訴・告発したものだ。
Important for proving their criminal liability are issues like whether the possibility of a powerful earthquake and huge tsunami triggering such a severe accident could be foreseen.
刑事責任を問ううえでは、地震や津波の予見可能性などの立証が重みをもつ。
But efforts to draw lessons from the accident should not be focused only on such judicial viewpoints. The probe should be done from a broader perspective.
だが、教訓を引き出すうえでは、そうした司法の視点だけでなく、幅広い視野からの検証も重要である。
Whether local residents can be safely evacuated in nuclear emergencies is one of the key questions for the decision on whether to restart an idled nuclear power plant. But the criteria for deciding on whether to bring a reactor back online do not include the existence of an effective and workable evacuation plan.
住民が安全に避難できるかどうかは、原発を再び動かすかどうかをめぐる最大の焦点のひとつだ。なのに、再稼働の前提となる基準には今も、避難態勢の整備は含まれていない。
What happened to local residents during the nuclear crisis? How did the electric utility respond to the crisis?
あのとき、住民に何が起きたのか、電力会社の対応はどうだったのか。
In order to answer these and other key questions, it is vital to examine afresh the accident in an exhaustive manner from all possible angles.
あらゆる角度から、事故の徹底検証を進めることが不可欠である。
--The Asahi Shimbun, Aug. 1
EDITORIAL: Public demands the truth about Fukushima accident
（社説）原発事故原因 究明求める声を聴け
What is the whole truth about the nuclear disaster that hit this nation three years ago? We have yet to hear a satisfactory answer to this question.
３年前の原発事故は何だったのか。私たちは納得いく答えをまだ得ていないではないか。
Public discontent about this fact was clearly reflected in a recent decision by an independent judicial panel of citizens concerning the criminal liability of three former executives of Tokyo Electric Power Co. for the accident at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant.
そんな国民の不満が反映された議決とみるべきだろう。
The Tokyo No. 5 Committee for the Inquest of Prosecution said July 31 that the three should be indicted over the 2011 disaster, rejecting a decision by prosecutors against prosecuting them.
福島第一原発の事故をめぐり検察審査会が、東京電力の元幹部３人について、「起訴相当」とする議決書を公表した。
The panel’s action forces the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office to reconsider its decision to drop the case against the three former executives of the electric utility, which operates the stricken nuclear power plant.
いったん不起訴処分とした東京地検は、起訴するかどうか改めて判断することになった。
Regardless of whether the three are actually indicted, there is no doubt that the panel’s call is a sign of public exasperation about the lack of serious efforts to get to the bottom of the nuclear disaster on the part of the government, the Diet and the utility.
刑事責任の追及がどうなるかはさておき、この議決には、事故について徹底究明しようとしない政府と国会、東電に対する社会のいらだちが映し出されているのは確かだろう。
Both the government and the Diet have the power and ability to gather huge amounts of information about the accident and glean lessons from what happened. The authority is vested in the two institutions by the people.
政府と国会には、事故に関する膨大な情報を集めて、教訓を引き出す権限と能力がある。国民が与えているのである。
But both the government and the Diet have failed to make a serious response to the people’s calls for a clarification of the causes of the accident.
にもかかわらず、政府も国会も、原因究明を求める国民の思いにまったく応えていない。
This discontent has also been indicated by a recent opinion poll.
その不満は、世論調査からも読み取れる。
In a national poll conducted by The Asahi Shimbun in July, 59 percent of the respondents voiced opposition to the plan to restart reactors at Kyushu Electric Power Co.’s Sendai nuclear power plant in Kagoshima Prefecture, against 23 percent who supported it.
朝日新聞社による７月の全国世論調査では、九州電力川内（せんだい）原発（鹿児島県）の再稼働について「賛成」が２３％、「反対」が５９％だった。
When asked whether they thought that the lessons from the Fukushima accident had been incorporated into Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s energy policies, only 19 percent of the respondents said “yes,” while 61 percent answered negatively.
安倍首相の政策に事故の教訓が生かされていると思うかとの問いには、そう思う人が１９％、否定が６１％だった。
The committees set up separately by the government and the Diet to investigate the accident both ended their inquiries after about one year of work. Both panels called for continued efforts to reveal the whole truth about the triple meltdown at the Fukushima plant. But virtually no specific step has been taken to do so.
政府と国会が事故直後、別々につくった事故調査委員会は、いずれも１年前後で活動を終えた。どちらも引き続き究明を求めたが、今に至るまで具体的な動きはないに等しい。
Given the scale and severity of the accident, it is obvious that the hasty investigations conducted by the two panels are far from sufficient. The records of testimonies and the massive materials produced by their inquiries have not been made available for wide use.
これだけの事故を起こしながら、駆け足の調査で済ませていいわけがない。両事故調が集めた証言録や資料も死蔵されたままである。
A full-scale probe into the accident should be resumed to make clear the lessons that should be learned before the relevant memories of people involved begin to fade.
関係者の記憶が薄れぬ前に、早く本格的な調査を再開して教訓をきちんと示すべきだ。
The three former executives at TEPCO are facing possible charges of professional negligence resulting in death and injury. Legal action has been taken against them by survivors of the accident in Fukushima Prefecture and others. The plaintiffs are seeking to hold the three liable for damage caused by the disaster, such as the deaths of hospitalized patients and the exposure of local residents to radiation during evacuations.
東電元幹部が問われている容疑は、業務上過失致死傷罪である。事故の避難途中に入院患者が死亡し、住民が被曝（ひばく）したなどとして、福島県内の被災者らが告訴・告発したものだ。
Important for proving their criminal liability are issues like whether the possibility of a powerful earthquake and huge tsunami triggering such a severe accident could be foreseen.
刑事責任を問ううえでは、地震や津波の予見可能性などの立証が重みをもつ。
But efforts to draw lessons from the accident should not be focused only on such judicial viewpoints. The probe should be done from a broader perspective.
だが、教訓を引き出すうえでは、そうした司法の視点だけでなく、幅広い視野からの検証も重要である。
Whether local residents can be safely evacuated in nuclear emergencies is one of the key questions for the decision on whether to restart an idled nuclear power plant. But the criteria for deciding on whether to bring a reactor back online do not include the existence of an effective and workable evacuation plan.
住民が安全に避難できるかどうかは、原発を再び動かすかどうかをめぐる最大の焦点のひとつだ。なのに、再稼働の前提となる基準には今も、避難態勢の整備は含まれていない。
What happened to local residents during the nuclear crisis? How did the electric utility respond to the crisis?
あのとき、住民に何が起きたのか、電力会社の対応はどうだったのか。
In order to answer these and other key questions, it is vital to examine afresh the accident in an exhaustive manner from all possible angles.
あらゆる角度から、事故の徹底検証を進めることが不可欠である。
--The Asahi Shimbun, Aug. 1
2014年08月02日
最低賃金上げ 中小企業への目配りも大切だ
The Yomiuri Shimbun
Spare a thought for smaller firms in light of minimum wage hike
最低賃金上げ 中小企業への目配りも大切だ
To shore up consumption and help the economy finally shake off the shackles of deflation, it is vital that wages are raised.
消費を下支えし、デフレを脱却するには、賃金の底上げが重要だ。
The Central Minimum Wages Council, a panel of the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry, has agreed to recommend that Japan’s minimum hourly wages for fiscal 2014 be increased by \16 on average from the previous year.
厚生労働省の中央最低賃金審議会が、今年度の最低賃金（時給）の引き上げ幅を全国平均で１６円とする目安を決めた。
This would be a double-digit increase for the second consecutive year, and is expected to bump up the average minimum hourly wage to \780. In response to this recommendation, committees in prefectures across the nation will make final decisions on the increase to ensure the minimum wage fairly reflects local conditions. The new standards will be adopted in or around October.
２年連続で２桁の大幅アップとなり、最低賃金は平均７８０円に上昇する見込みだ。この目安を参考に、各都道府県の審議会が地域の実情を踏まえて金額を決め、１０月ごろに改定される。
Currently, after-tax income earned by a worker on the minimum wage is less than they would receive in welfare benefits in Tokyo, Hokkaido and three other prefectures. This so-called reversal phenomenon, in which welfare benefits exceed the minimum wage, can deflate a worker’s incentive to keep working, a development that is rightly viewed as problematic.
最低賃金を巡っては、生活保護の給付水準を下回る「逆転現象」が、労働意欲を損なうとして問題視されてきた。現在も５都道県で生じている。
The latest hike in the minimum wage is forecast to resolve this problem in all five prefectures−a development we warmly welcome.
今回の引き上げで、それがすべて解消される見通しとなったことは、評価できよう。
The monthly income of a full-time worker earning the minimum wage will rise by an average of \2,500. With the increase of nonpermanent workers in recent years, many households whose breadwinner is on the minimum wage are barely making ends meet. The value of lifting the minimum wage is considerable.
最低賃金でフルタイム働いた場合の月収は、平均で２５００円程度増える。非正規労働者の増加で、一家の担い手が最低賃金ぎりぎりで働くケースも多い。引き上げの意義は小さくない。
It is a fact that Japan’s minimum wage is among the lowest of advanced nations.
日本の最低賃金が、先進国の中で低い水準にあるのも事実だ。
Buoyed by increasing signs of an economic recovery, this year’s shunto spring labor-management wage negotiations generated a wave of wage hikes, mainly for regular employees of major companies. However, amid rising prices and April’s increase in the consumption tax rate, the income for household budgets is effectively shrinking.
景気の回復傾向を受け、今春闘で大企業を中心に賃上げが相次いだ。しかし、物価上昇に消費増税の影響も加わり、家計の実質的な収入は目減りしている。
For nonregular workers and employees at small and midsize companies, moves toward wage increases have been lukewarm.
非正規労働者や、中小・零細企業では、賃上げの動きは鈍い。
Share the benefits around
There is growing frustration that the benefits of Abenomics, the bold economic policies of the administration of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, are not reaching every corner of society.
安倍政権の経済政策「アベノミクス」の恩恵が及んでいないとの不満も強まっている。
The proposed hefty minimum wage increase appears to reflect the strong desire of the administration to haul the economy out of deflation. Health, Labor and Welfare Minister Norihisa Tamura had called for an increase in minimum wage “equivalent to last year’s rise, or higher.”
今回の大幅アップは、デフレ脱却を軌道に乗せたい政権の強い意向を反映したものと言えよう。田村厚労相は「昨年並みか、それより良い成果」を求めていた。
In recent years, more young people have been working in nonregular jobs and earning minimum wage. There has been a noticeable increase in people giving up on getting married and having children due to their financial situations. This has been a major factor in the accelerating decline in the population due to the nation’s low birth rate.
若年層に低賃金の非正規雇用が増え、結婚や子育てをあきらめる人も目立つ。少子化を加速させる大きな要因となっている。
Raising the minimum wage is thus also vital from the perspective of countering the falling population.
最低賃金の引き上げは、人口減対策の観点からも重要である。
The public and private sectors should make efforts to ensure higher wages also spread to nonregular workers and other employees.
非正規労働者などにも賃上げが波及するよう、官民を挙げた取り組みが求められる。
There are concerns that raising the minimum wage could put a squeeze on the management of small and midsize businesses. Many of these companies are already enduring tough financial conditions as they bear the brunt of soaring fuel and raw material costs due to the weaker yen.
心配なのは、最低賃金の引き上げが、中小・零細企業の経営を圧迫しないかという点だ。多くの企業が、円安による原材料価格や燃料費の高騰に直面し、厳しい経営状況にある。
Simply telling these companies to boost wages could worsen their business performance even further. There are also fears that negative consequences, such as companies laying off employees, could escalate.
賃金の引き上げを求めるだけでは、さらなる業績の悪化を招きかねない。従業員の解雇など弊害が拡大する恐れもある。
We think the government should keep a close eye on the actual state of small and midsize companies and prepare effective assistance for them, such as supporting their moves into sectors where growth is anticipated.
政府は、中小企業の実情に目配りし、成長分野への進出を後押しするなど、効果的な支援策に取り組むべきだろう。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 31, 2014)
Spare a thought for smaller firms in light of minimum wage hike
最低賃金上げ 中小企業への目配りも大切だ
To shore up consumption and help the economy finally shake off the shackles of deflation, it is vital that wages are raised.
消費を下支えし、デフレを脱却するには、賃金の底上げが重要だ。
The Central Minimum Wages Council, a panel of the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry, has agreed to recommend that Japan’s minimum hourly wages for fiscal 2014 be increased by \16 on average from the previous year.
厚生労働省の中央最低賃金審議会が、今年度の最低賃金（時給）の引き上げ幅を全国平均で１６円とする目安を決めた。
This would be a double-digit increase for the second consecutive year, and is expected to bump up the average minimum hourly wage to \780. In response to this recommendation, committees in prefectures across the nation will make final decisions on the increase to ensure the minimum wage fairly reflects local conditions. The new standards will be adopted in or around October.
２年連続で２桁の大幅アップとなり、最低賃金は平均７８０円に上昇する見込みだ。この目安を参考に、各都道府県の審議会が地域の実情を踏まえて金額を決め、１０月ごろに改定される。
Currently, after-tax income earned by a worker on the minimum wage is less than they would receive in welfare benefits in Tokyo, Hokkaido and three other prefectures. This so-called reversal phenomenon, in which welfare benefits exceed the minimum wage, can deflate a worker’s incentive to keep working, a development that is rightly viewed as problematic.
最低賃金を巡っては、生活保護の給付水準を下回る「逆転現象」が、労働意欲を損なうとして問題視されてきた。現在も５都道県で生じている。
The latest hike in the minimum wage is forecast to resolve this problem in all five prefectures−a development we warmly welcome.
今回の引き上げで、それがすべて解消される見通しとなったことは、評価できよう。
The monthly income of a full-time worker earning the minimum wage will rise by an average of \2,500. With the increase of nonpermanent workers in recent years, many households whose breadwinner is on the minimum wage are barely making ends meet. The value of lifting the minimum wage is considerable.
最低賃金でフルタイム働いた場合の月収は、平均で２５００円程度増える。非正規労働者の増加で、一家の担い手が最低賃金ぎりぎりで働くケースも多い。引き上げの意義は小さくない。
It is a fact that Japan’s minimum wage is among the lowest of advanced nations.
日本の最低賃金が、先進国の中で低い水準にあるのも事実だ。
Buoyed by increasing signs of an economic recovery, this year’s shunto spring labor-management wage negotiations generated a wave of wage hikes, mainly for regular employees of major companies. However, amid rising prices and April’s increase in the consumption tax rate, the income for household budgets is effectively shrinking.
景気の回復傾向を受け、今春闘で大企業を中心に賃上げが相次いだ。しかし、物価上昇に消費増税の影響も加わり、家計の実質的な収入は目減りしている。
For nonregular workers and employees at small and midsize companies, moves toward wage increases have been lukewarm.
非正規労働者や、中小・零細企業では、賃上げの動きは鈍い。
Share the benefits around
There is growing frustration that the benefits of Abenomics, the bold economic policies of the administration of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, are not reaching every corner of society.
安倍政権の経済政策「アベノミクス」の恩恵が及んでいないとの不満も強まっている。
The proposed hefty minimum wage increase appears to reflect the strong desire of the administration to haul the economy out of deflation. Health, Labor and Welfare Minister Norihisa Tamura had called for an increase in minimum wage “equivalent to last year’s rise, or higher.”
今回の大幅アップは、デフレ脱却を軌道に乗せたい政権の強い意向を反映したものと言えよう。田村厚労相は「昨年並みか、それより良い成果」を求めていた。
In recent years, more young people have been working in nonregular jobs and earning minimum wage. There has been a noticeable increase in people giving up on getting married and having children due to their financial situations. This has been a major factor in the accelerating decline in the population due to the nation’s low birth rate.
若年層に低賃金の非正規雇用が増え、結婚や子育てをあきらめる人も目立つ。少子化を加速させる大きな要因となっている。
Raising the minimum wage is thus also vital from the perspective of countering the falling population.
最低賃金の引き上げは、人口減対策の観点からも重要である。
The public and private sectors should make efforts to ensure higher wages also spread to nonregular workers and other employees.
非正規労働者などにも賃上げが波及するよう、官民を挙げた取り組みが求められる。
There are concerns that raising the minimum wage could put a squeeze on the management of small and midsize businesses. Many of these companies are already enduring tough financial conditions as they bear the brunt of soaring fuel and raw material costs due to the weaker yen.
心配なのは、最低賃金の引き上げが、中小・零細企業の経営を圧迫しないかという点だ。多くの企業が、円安による原材料価格や燃料費の高騰に直面し、厳しい経営状況にある。
Simply telling these companies to boost wages could worsen their business performance even further. There are also fears that negative consequences, such as companies laying off employees, could escalate.
賃金の引き上げを求めるだけでは、さらなる業績の悪化を招きかねない。従業員の解雇など弊害が拡大する恐れもある。
We think the government should keep a close eye on the actual state of small and midsize companies and prepare effective assistance for them, such as supporting their moves into sectors where growth is anticipated.
政府は、中小企業の実情に目配りし、成長分野への進出を後押しするなど、効果的な支援策に取り組むべきだろう。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 31, 2014)
2014年08月01日
（社説）子どもの貧困 ひとり親世帯を救おう
July 30, 2014
EDITORIAL: Labor reforms for single mothers needed to alleviate child poverty
（社説）子どもの貧困 ひとり親世帯を救おう
The government needs to first tackle the here-and-now problems of poverty if any improvements are to be made in the situation.
事態を打開するため、まずは今そこにある貧困の解消に力を注いでほしい。
Japan’s child poverty rate hit a record high of 16.3 percent in 2012. This translates into one in six children living in households with incomes lower than half of the average.
子どもの貧困率が、過去最悪の１６・３％（２０１２年）に達した。子どもの６人に１人が、平均的な所得の半分を下回る世帯に暮らしている。
The rate is among the worst in the developed world. In addition, Japan has been unable to curb the rise for nearly 30 years.
この数字は、先進国の中では最悪クラスだ。しかも、この３０年近く、率の悪化に歯止めがかからずにいる。
The government is working on establishing guidelines to combat child poverty, but the question is what to put in the guidelines.
政府は「子どもの貧困」対策の大綱づくりを進めている。そこに何を盛り込むか。
A panel of experts recommends a broad range of measures, with special emphasis on providing education-related support.
有識者による検討会の提言には多岐にわたる対策が並んだ。とくに、教育支援策が充実している。
Education, which gives youngsters the skills to be self-supportive, is a vital tool for severing the cycle of poverty from generation to generation.
教育は子どもに自立できる力をつける。親から子への貧困の連鎖を断つために大切だ。
But to save children who are struggling in poverty now, the poverty of their parents or guardians needs to be addressed first. And the gravest cases are single-parent families--especially single-mother families--half of which live below the poverty line.
ただ、今すでに貧困にあえぐ子を救うには、まず保護者の貧困を改善する必要がある。深刻なのは貧困率が５割に及ぶひとり親世帯、とくに母子家庭だ。
About 80 percent of single mothers are working, but their average annual income is a measly 1.8 million yen ($17,600). About 10 percent of single mothers live on welfare. The root of the problems faced by these women lies deep; working does not get them out of poverty.
母子世帯の母の８割は働いているが、仕事による年収は平均で１８０万円にすぎない。生活保護を受けているのは１割ほどだ。働いても貧しさを抜け出せないところに根深さがある。
One major factor that keeps them in poverty is that half of these women are working unstable, part-time jobs. One bold step the government could consider to correct this situation would be to subsidize companies that hire low-income single mothers for full-time positions.
大きな要因は、不安定な非正規雇用が半数に及ぶことだ。たとえば、収入の低いシングルマザーを正規で雇い入れた企業には助成をする、といった思い切った手を打てないか。
Basically, the problems stem from the nation’s employment structure. Unless efforts are made to enable part-time workers to switch to full-time jobs, the poor will always remain poor. And the working conditions of part-time workers need to be improved, too.
根本的には、雇用の構造から生じている問題だ。非正規雇用を正規にかえていく努力をしなければ、貧困に苦しむ人はなくならない。非正規の待遇改善も必要だ。
During a meeting of the experts panel, a demand was made for bigger child-support checks for low-income single-parent families. The demand came from such families themselves and their supporters. This should rate a high priority.
検討会では「収入の低いひとり親家庭に支給される児童扶養手当を増額してほしい」との声が、当事者や支援者から上がった。優先順位は高いだろう。
The elimination of poverty is a long-term challenge. This is obvious from the fact that Japan has been unable to curb its child poverty rate for decades. Obviously, the government must not think its work is done once it establishes the guidelines for combating child poverty.
貧困の根絶には息の長い取り組みが要る。それは貧困率に長年歯止めがかからなかったことからも明らかだ。大綱を作って終わりにしてはならない。
In fact, to ensure that the efficacy of the recommended measures is closely examined down the road, the guidelines should spell out numerical targets for lowering the poverty rate and raising the rates of youngsters advancing to higher education and finding jobs afer graduation.
政策の効果を検証できるように、大綱には貧困率や進学率、就職率などを改善する数値目標を定めておくべきだ。
Private organizations around the nation provide teaching and food aid to children from poor families, and they are proving quite helpful. But the reality is that such organizations are struggling financially and must rely heavily on the goodwill of their dedicated members.
生活の苦しい家庭の子どもに学習や食事を支援する民間組織は各地にあり、効果をあげている。ただ、どこもメンバーの献身的な努力に支えられているのが実情で、運営は厳しい。
At the meeting of the experts panel, a proposal was made to create a fund, sponsored by both the public and private sectors, to finance the activities of those goodwill organizations.
検討会では、こうした活動の支援にも使える官民基金の創設が提案された。
We certainly support such a fund, as it is the responsibility of society at large to raise the next generation. We believe in individual citizens providing whatever help they can, not only to their own children and grandchildren.
わが子や孫だけでなく、よその子にも出来る範囲で手をさしのべる。社会で子どもを育てるために、そういう仕組みがあっていい。
--The Asahi Shimbun, July 30
EDITORIAL: Labor reforms for single mothers needed to alleviate child poverty
（社説）子どもの貧困 ひとり親世帯を救おう
The government needs to first tackle the here-and-now problems of poverty if any improvements are to be made in the situation.
事態を打開するため、まずは今そこにある貧困の解消に力を注いでほしい。
Japan’s child poverty rate hit a record high of 16.3 percent in 2012. This translates into one in six children living in households with incomes lower than half of the average.
子どもの貧困率が、過去最悪の１６・３％（２０１２年）に達した。子どもの６人に１人が、平均的な所得の半分を下回る世帯に暮らしている。
The rate is among the worst in the developed world. In addition, Japan has been unable to curb the rise for nearly 30 years.
この数字は、先進国の中では最悪クラスだ。しかも、この３０年近く、率の悪化に歯止めがかからずにいる。
The government is working on establishing guidelines to combat child poverty, but the question is what to put in the guidelines.
政府は「子どもの貧困」対策の大綱づくりを進めている。そこに何を盛り込むか。
A panel of experts recommends a broad range of measures, with special emphasis on providing education-related support.
有識者による検討会の提言には多岐にわたる対策が並んだ。とくに、教育支援策が充実している。
Education, which gives youngsters the skills to be self-supportive, is a vital tool for severing the cycle of poverty from generation to generation.
教育は子どもに自立できる力をつける。親から子への貧困の連鎖を断つために大切だ。
But to save children who are struggling in poverty now, the poverty of their parents or guardians needs to be addressed first. And the gravest cases are single-parent families--especially single-mother families--half of which live below the poverty line.
ただ、今すでに貧困にあえぐ子を救うには、まず保護者の貧困を改善する必要がある。深刻なのは貧困率が５割に及ぶひとり親世帯、とくに母子家庭だ。
About 80 percent of single mothers are working, but their average annual income is a measly 1.8 million yen ($17,600). About 10 percent of single mothers live on welfare. The root of the problems faced by these women lies deep; working does not get them out of poverty.
母子世帯の母の８割は働いているが、仕事による年収は平均で１８０万円にすぎない。生活保護を受けているのは１割ほどだ。働いても貧しさを抜け出せないところに根深さがある。
One major factor that keeps them in poverty is that half of these women are working unstable, part-time jobs. One bold step the government could consider to correct this situation would be to subsidize companies that hire low-income single mothers for full-time positions.
大きな要因は、不安定な非正規雇用が半数に及ぶことだ。たとえば、収入の低いシングルマザーを正規で雇い入れた企業には助成をする、といった思い切った手を打てないか。
Basically, the problems stem from the nation’s employment structure. Unless efforts are made to enable part-time workers to switch to full-time jobs, the poor will always remain poor. And the working conditions of part-time workers need to be improved, too.
根本的には、雇用の構造から生じている問題だ。非正規雇用を正規にかえていく努力をしなければ、貧困に苦しむ人はなくならない。非正規の待遇改善も必要だ。
During a meeting of the experts panel, a demand was made for bigger child-support checks for low-income single-parent families. The demand came from such families themselves and their supporters. This should rate a high priority.
検討会では「収入の低いひとり親家庭に支給される児童扶養手当を増額してほしい」との声が、当事者や支援者から上がった。優先順位は高いだろう。
The elimination of poverty is a long-term challenge. This is obvious from the fact that Japan has been unable to curb its child poverty rate for decades. Obviously, the government must not think its work is done once it establishes the guidelines for combating child poverty.
貧困の根絶には息の長い取り組みが要る。それは貧困率に長年歯止めがかからなかったことからも明らかだ。大綱を作って終わりにしてはならない。
In fact, to ensure that the efficacy of the recommended measures is closely examined down the road, the guidelines should spell out numerical targets for lowering the poverty rate and raising the rates of youngsters advancing to higher education and finding jobs afer graduation.
政策の効果を検証できるように、大綱には貧困率や進学率、就職率などを改善する数値目標を定めておくべきだ。
Private organizations around the nation provide teaching and food aid to children from poor families, and they are proving quite helpful. But the reality is that such organizations are struggling financially and must rely heavily on the goodwill of their dedicated members.
生活の苦しい家庭の子どもに学習や食事を支援する民間組織は各地にあり、効果をあげている。ただ、どこもメンバーの献身的な努力に支えられているのが実情で、運営は厳しい。
At the meeting of the experts panel, a proposal was made to create a fund, sponsored by both the public and private sectors, to finance the activities of those goodwill organizations.
検討会では、こうした活動の支援にも使える官民基金の創設が提案された。
We certainly support such a fund, as it is the responsibility of society at large to raise the next generation. We believe in individual citizens providing whatever help they can, not only to their own children and grandchildren.
わが子や孫だけでなく、よその子にも出来る範囲で手をさしのべる。社会で子どもを育てるために、そういう仕組みがあっていい。
--The Asahi Shimbun, July 30