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2014年02月03日
ＳＴＡＰ細胞 理系女子の発想が常識覆した
The Yomiuri Shimbun February 1, 2014
Female researcher’s innovative idea leads to breakthrough discovery
ＳＴＡＰ細胞 理系女子の発想が常識覆した（2月1日付・読売社説）
An international research team’s discovery of a new method for obtaining pluripotent cells represents an epoch-making achievement that may defy well-established theories in biology.
生物学の常識を覆す画期的な発見である。
The team, led by Haruko Obokata of the Kobe-based Riken Center for Developmental Biology and including researchers from Harvard University in the United States, has successfully produced pluripotent cells that can grow into mature tissues or organs of any sort.
理化学研究所の小保方晴子さんのほか、米ハーバード大などのチームが新たな手法で、様々な組織や臓器の細胞に育つ「万能細胞」を作り出すことに成功した。
Lymphocytes collected from mice were bathed in acid solution to produce the cells. They were also created through another method of applying stimulus to mouse lymphocytes by exposing them to toxins or passing them through a narrow glass tube.
マウスの細胞（リンパ球）を弱い酸性の液に漬けた。毒素を加えたり、細いガラス管に通したりと別の刺激でも作製できた。
If the new method proves successful for human cells, it could be applied for regenerative medicine to bring damaged tissue or organs back to health. We want to laud the new discovery for opening up a wide array of possibilities.
ヒトの細胞でも成功すれば、傷んだ組織や臓器を蘇(よみがえ)らせる再生医療に応用できる。幅広い可能性を開く成果を称(たた)えたい。
The team calls the new method “stimulus-triggered acquisition of pluripotency (STAP)” and the cells it produces “STAP cells.”
研究チームは、こうして作り出した万能細胞を「ＳＴＡＰ細胞」と呼んでいる。ＳＴＡＰとは、「刺激によって引き起こされた多能性の獲得」という意味だ。
Many living things start with fertilized eggs that differentiate into tissues and organs. It was conventionally believed that differentiated tissues could not return to the undifferentiated state of a fertilized egg. So it is no wonder that STAP cells have captured the world’s attention.
生物は、受精卵から始まり、組織や臓器に分化していく。分化後は受精卵に逆戻りしないとされてきただけに、ＳＴＡＰ細胞に世界が注目するのはうなずける。
The team contributed the initial version of its research paper to a science journal last year. But thanks to highly unexpected method for producing pluripotent cells, the publisher swiftly sent it back, reportedly saying that the paper mocked the history of cell biology. Undaunted, team leader Obokata and other researchers tenaciously pushed on with experiments to reinforce the data, thereby realizing the publication of their discovery in the journal.
意外な手法に、研究チームが一昨年、科学誌に論文を初投稿した時は「細胞生物学の歴史を愚弄している」と突き返された。だが、研究リーダーの小保方さんたちは粘り強く実験を重ね、データを補強して発表にこぎ着けた。
There are two other well-known types of such versatile cells: embryonic stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells. Production of these two types of pluripotent cells requires going through a complicated process, including gene manipulation.
万能細胞には、ＥＳ細胞（胚性幹細胞）やｉＰＳ細胞（人工多能性幹細胞）がある。作製には遺伝子操作など複雑な工程を経る。
The STAP cell, which is a third type of pluripotent cell, can be produced by utilizing the latent potential inherent in living cells.
これに対し、「第３の万能細胞」であるＳＴＡＰ細胞は、生物の細胞にもともと備わった能力を生かして作られる。
Fleshing out the process
What happens to the cells after they are stimulated? A detailed elucidation of the mechanisms behind the process is an important task to tackle in the future. Such findings could be expected to contribute to research into the mechanisms that cause the growing and aging of living things as well as diseases.
刺激を加えたことで細胞に何が起きたか。その詳しい仕組みの解明が今後の重要課題だ。生物の成長と老化、病気の仕組みの探求にも貢献するだろう。
Behind this breakthrough discovery is the priority assistance given to research on regenerative medicine by the government. The Riken Center for Developmental Biology, to which Obokata belongs, is a research center for regenerative medicine established with such government aid.
今回の成果の背景には、政府が再生医療研究を重点支援してきたことがある。小保方さんが所属している理研発生・再生科学総合研究センター（神戸市）も政府が整備した再生医療の研究拠点だ。
International competition in the field is fierce, and the government’s continued assistance will be a must.
この分野の国際競争は激しい。引き続き支援が必要だ。
At 30, Obokata is still a young researcher. She will be a role model for young researchers in displaying creative power and building cooperative relationships with veteran researchers.
小保方さんはまだ３０歳の若い研究者だ。発想力に加え、ベテラン研究者と協力関係を築く行動力など若手研究者の模範となろう。
Her achievement may encourage other female researchers and women majoring in the sciences who aspire to become researchers.
女性研究者や、研究者を目指している理系女子「リケジョ」の励みになるかもしれない。
Women account for a mere 14 percent of researchers in Japan today, the lowest ratio among industrialized countries. The government’s basic plan for science and technology targets boosting that figure to 30 percent, but many women still leave work in research laboratories after having children and for other reasons.
日本の女性研究者の比率は１４％にすぎず、先進国で最低だ。政府の科学技術基本計画は３０％を目標に掲げるが、出産などを機に研究現場を去る女性は多い。
Needless to say, family support is crucial to female researchers. So are good government policies to aid them.
家族の協力はもちろん、リケジョの活躍を後押しする政策が重要だ。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 1, 2014)
（2014年2月1日01時37分 読売新聞）
Female researcher’s innovative idea leads to breakthrough discovery
ＳＴＡＰ細胞 理系女子の発想が常識覆した（2月1日付・読売社説）
An international research team’s discovery of a new method for obtaining pluripotent cells represents an epoch-making achievement that may defy well-established theories in biology.
生物学の常識を覆す画期的な発見である。
The team, led by Haruko Obokata of the Kobe-based Riken Center for Developmental Biology and including researchers from Harvard University in the United States, has successfully produced pluripotent cells that can grow into mature tissues or organs of any sort.
理化学研究所の小保方晴子さんのほか、米ハーバード大などのチームが新たな手法で、様々な組織や臓器の細胞に育つ「万能細胞」を作り出すことに成功した。
Lymphocytes collected from mice were bathed in acid solution to produce the cells. They were also created through another method of applying stimulus to mouse lymphocytes by exposing them to toxins or passing them through a narrow glass tube.
マウスの細胞（リンパ球）を弱い酸性の液に漬けた。毒素を加えたり、細いガラス管に通したりと別の刺激でも作製できた。
If the new method proves successful for human cells, it could be applied for regenerative medicine to bring damaged tissue or organs back to health. We want to laud the new discovery for opening up a wide array of possibilities.
ヒトの細胞でも成功すれば、傷んだ組織や臓器を蘇(よみがえ)らせる再生医療に応用できる。幅広い可能性を開く成果を称(たた)えたい。
The team calls the new method “stimulus-triggered acquisition of pluripotency (STAP)” and the cells it produces “STAP cells.”
研究チームは、こうして作り出した万能細胞を「ＳＴＡＰ細胞」と呼んでいる。ＳＴＡＰとは、「刺激によって引き起こされた多能性の獲得」という意味だ。
Many living things start with fertilized eggs that differentiate into tissues and organs. It was conventionally believed that differentiated tissues could not return to the undifferentiated state of a fertilized egg. So it is no wonder that STAP cells have captured the world’s attention.
生物は、受精卵から始まり、組織や臓器に分化していく。分化後は受精卵に逆戻りしないとされてきただけに、ＳＴＡＰ細胞に世界が注目するのはうなずける。
The team contributed the initial version of its research paper to a science journal last year. But thanks to highly unexpected method for producing pluripotent cells, the publisher swiftly sent it back, reportedly saying that the paper mocked the history of cell biology. Undaunted, team leader Obokata and other researchers tenaciously pushed on with experiments to reinforce the data, thereby realizing the publication of their discovery in the journal.
意外な手法に、研究チームが一昨年、科学誌に論文を初投稿した時は「細胞生物学の歴史を愚弄している」と突き返された。だが、研究リーダーの小保方さんたちは粘り強く実験を重ね、データを補強して発表にこぎ着けた。
There are two other well-known types of such versatile cells: embryonic stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells. Production of these two types of pluripotent cells requires going through a complicated process, including gene manipulation.
万能細胞には、ＥＳ細胞（胚性幹細胞）やｉＰＳ細胞（人工多能性幹細胞）がある。作製には遺伝子操作など複雑な工程を経る。
The STAP cell, which is a third type of pluripotent cell, can be produced by utilizing the latent potential inherent in living cells.
これに対し、「第３の万能細胞」であるＳＴＡＰ細胞は、生物の細胞にもともと備わった能力を生かして作られる。
Fleshing out the process
What happens to the cells after they are stimulated? A detailed elucidation of the mechanisms behind the process is an important task to tackle in the future. Such findings could be expected to contribute to research into the mechanisms that cause the growing and aging of living things as well as diseases.
刺激を加えたことで細胞に何が起きたか。その詳しい仕組みの解明が今後の重要課題だ。生物の成長と老化、病気の仕組みの探求にも貢献するだろう。
Behind this breakthrough discovery is the priority assistance given to research on regenerative medicine by the government. The Riken Center for Developmental Biology, to which Obokata belongs, is a research center for regenerative medicine established with such government aid.
今回の成果の背景には、政府が再生医療研究を重点支援してきたことがある。小保方さんが所属している理研発生・再生科学総合研究センター（神戸市）も政府が整備した再生医療の研究拠点だ。
International competition in the field is fierce, and the government’s continued assistance will be a must.
この分野の国際競争は激しい。引き続き支援が必要だ。
At 30, Obokata is still a young researcher. She will be a role model for young researchers in displaying creative power and building cooperative relationships with veteran researchers.
小保方さんはまだ３０歳の若い研究者だ。発想力に加え、ベテラン研究者と協力関係を築く行動力など若手研究者の模範となろう。
Her achievement may encourage other female researchers and women majoring in the sciences who aspire to become researchers.
女性研究者や、研究者を目指している理系女子「リケジョ」の励みになるかもしれない。
Women account for a mere 14 percent of researchers in Japan today, the lowest ratio among industrialized countries. The government’s basic plan for science and technology targets boosting that figure to 30 percent, but many women still leave work in research laboratories after having children and for other reasons.
日本の女性研究者の比率は１４％にすぎず、先進国で最低だ。政府の科学技術基本計画は３０％を目標に掲げるが、出産などを機に研究現場を去る女性は多い。
Needless to say, family support is crucial to female researchers. So are good government policies to aid them.
家族の協力はもちろん、リケジョの活躍を後押しする政策が重要だ。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 1, 2014)
（2014年2月1日01時37分 読売新聞）
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2014年02月02日
新興国通貨安 ＦＲＢは「出口戦略」を慎重に
The Yomiuri Shimbun January 31, 2014
FRB must carry out ‘exit strategy’ on quantitative easing prudently
新興国通貨安 ＦＲＢは「出口戦略」を慎重に（1月31日付・読売社説）
The currencies of emerging markets have been sharply dropping across the board, threatening to cause a global stock market crash.
新興国通貨が軒並み急落し、世界同時株安の様相を呈している。
The stock market turmoil was triggered by the downscaling of U.S. quantitative monetary easing, and efforts must be made to prevent side effects of the turmoil from expanding while aiming to achieve market stabilization.
発端は米国の量的緩和策の縮小である。副作用の拡大を防ぎ、市場安定を図ることが求められよう。
米連邦準備制度理事会（ＦＲＢ）が、金融危機後に導入した量的緩和策第３弾（ＱＥ３）をさらに縮小することを決めた。米国債などの毎月の購入規模を１００億ドル減らし、２月から６５０億ドル（約６・７兆円）とする。
The U.S. Federal Reserve Board has decided to further shrink its Quantitative Easing program 3 (QE3)−the third of its kind, adopted in September 2012 in the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis.
The FRB will cut its monthly purchases of bonds and other assets beginning in February by $10 billion to $65 billion (about \6.7 trillion).
The decision to reduce asset purchases has been made for two consecutive months since the FRB launched a QE3 exit strategy in December.
昨年１２月、ＱＥ３の「出口戦略」に踏み出して以来、購入規模の減額決定は２か月連続である。
In a statement, the U.S. central bank notes that “growth in economic activity picked up in recent months” and “household spending and business fixed investment advanced more quickly in recent months.”
ＦＲＢは声明で、「経済活動は上向いてきた。失業率が低下し、個人消費と企業投資の勢いが増した」と指摘した。
The Federal Reserve presumably deemed it proper to step forward in decreasing asset purchases as it has become more confident regarding business recovery.
景気回復の動きに自信を深めたＦＲＢは、もう一歩踏み出すことが妥当と判断したのだろう。
The statement revealed anew that the FRB will “make a further measured reduction in the pace of its asset purchase.” The QE3 is expected to conclude before the end of this year.
声明は、今後について、一定のペースで規模縮小を進める方針を改めて明らかにした。年内にもＱＥ３の終了が見込まれる。
Of concern is the fact that investment money abundant in emerging economies due to the U.S. quantitative easing will flow out of those nations in search of higher returns in the United States, leading to selling of their currencies.
ただ、懸念されるのは、新興国にあふれていた「緩和マネー」が、ＱＥ３縮小とともに引き揚げられて米国などに逆流し、新興国通貨が売られていることだ。
Steps to defend currencies
The value of Argentina’s currency, the peso, plunged last week. In a chain reaction, the currency values of Turkey, Brazil, India and Indonesia also depreciated.
先週、アルゼンチン通貨ペソが急落した。それが連鎖し、トルコ、ブラジル、インド、インドネシアなどの通貨も下落している。
In an effort to defend their currencies, the central banks of Turkey and India raised key interest rates to prevent investment money from fleeing their borders. South Africa followed suit by increasing interest rates for the first time in 5½ years.
自国通貨を防衛しようと、トルコとインドの中央銀行が政策金利を引き上げ、投資マネーの引き留めを狙ったのに続き、南アフリカも約５年半ぶりに利上げした。
Owing to these emergency measures, monetary uncertainty seems to have abated, but the tendency for currencies of emerging economies to be sold remains, thus leaving optimism unwarranted.
こうした緊急策によって、ひとまず通貨安は一服した模様だが、新興国通貨が売られやすい状況は続いており、楽観は禁物だ。
Since the financial crisis, emerging economies have served as a driving force for the world economy, backed by their high economic growth.
金融危機後、成長著しい新興国は世界経済を牽引(けんいん)してきた。
However, there is a strong sense of wariness toward countries like Argentina, which has been suffering from high prices and current account deficits due to a slowdown in its economy. There is no denying that such countries have been targeted by market investors.
だが、最近は景気が減速し、物価高や経常赤字にも苦しむアルゼンチンなどへの警戒感は強い。市場に狙い撃ちされている面が否めない。
Emerging economies face a dilemma in that if they raise rates to defend their currencies, it will lead to a business slowdown.
新興国が通貨防衛のために利上げすれば、かえって景気を冷やすというジレンマも抱える。
Drops in stock prices have not ceased in New York, Tokyo and elsewhere likely out of a sense of uncertainty over emerging economies, which has been rattling the markets.
ニューヨークや東京、アジアなどの株価下落が止まらないのも、新興国経済への不安感が市場を揺るがしているからだろう。
Future focus will be on the pace at which the FRB will promote an exit strategy to phase out quantitative easing. Janet Yellen, who will replace Ben Bernanke as FRB chairman Saturday, will bear a heavy responsibility in this regard.
今後の焦点は、ＦＲＢが出口戦略を進めるペースだ。バーナンキ議長の後任として１日に就任するイエレン新議長の責任は重い。
The exit strategy must be implemented meticulously so that rapid shrinkage of monetary easing does not cause confusion in global stock and exchange markets. To this end, having a “dialogue with markets” will be an indispensable step.
出口戦略は、急ピッチな緩和縮小で世界の株式・為替市場の混乱を招かないよう、慎重な舵(かじ)取りが欠かせない。「市場との対話」を工夫してもらいたい
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 31, 2014)
（2014年1月31日01時18分 読売新聞）
FRB must carry out ‘exit strategy’ on quantitative easing prudently
新興国通貨安 ＦＲＢは「出口戦略」を慎重に（1月31日付・読売社説）
The currencies of emerging markets have been sharply dropping across the board, threatening to cause a global stock market crash.
新興国通貨が軒並み急落し、世界同時株安の様相を呈している。
The stock market turmoil was triggered by the downscaling of U.S. quantitative monetary easing, and efforts must be made to prevent side effects of the turmoil from expanding while aiming to achieve market stabilization.
発端は米国の量的緩和策の縮小である。副作用の拡大を防ぎ、市場安定を図ることが求められよう。
米連邦準備制度理事会（ＦＲＢ）が、金融危機後に導入した量的緩和策第３弾（ＱＥ３）をさらに縮小することを決めた。米国債などの毎月の購入規模を１００億ドル減らし、２月から６５０億ドル（約６・７兆円）とする。
The U.S. Federal Reserve Board has decided to further shrink its Quantitative Easing program 3 (QE3)−the third of its kind, adopted in September 2012 in the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis.
The FRB will cut its monthly purchases of bonds and other assets beginning in February by $10 billion to $65 billion (about \6.7 trillion).
The decision to reduce asset purchases has been made for two consecutive months since the FRB launched a QE3 exit strategy in December.
昨年１２月、ＱＥ３の「出口戦略」に踏み出して以来、購入規模の減額決定は２か月連続である。
In a statement, the U.S. central bank notes that “growth in economic activity picked up in recent months” and “household spending and business fixed investment advanced more quickly in recent months.”
ＦＲＢは声明で、「経済活動は上向いてきた。失業率が低下し、個人消費と企業投資の勢いが増した」と指摘した。
The Federal Reserve presumably deemed it proper to step forward in decreasing asset purchases as it has become more confident regarding business recovery.
景気回復の動きに自信を深めたＦＲＢは、もう一歩踏み出すことが妥当と判断したのだろう。
The statement revealed anew that the FRB will “make a further measured reduction in the pace of its asset purchase.” The QE3 is expected to conclude before the end of this year.
声明は、今後について、一定のペースで規模縮小を進める方針を改めて明らかにした。年内にもＱＥ３の終了が見込まれる。
Of concern is the fact that investment money abundant in emerging economies due to the U.S. quantitative easing will flow out of those nations in search of higher returns in the United States, leading to selling of their currencies.
ただ、懸念されるのは、新興国にあふれていた「緩和マネー」が、ＱＥ３縮小とともに引き揚げられて米国などに逆流し、新興国通貨が売られていることだ。
Steps to defend currencies
The value of Argentina’s currency, the peso, plunged last week. In a chain reaction, the currency values of Turkey, Brazil, India and Indonesia also depreciated.
先週、アルゼンチン通貨ペソが急落した。それが連鎖し、トルコ、ブラジル、インド、インドネシアなどの通貨も下落している。
In an effort to defend their currencies, the central banks of Turkey and India raised key interest rates to prevent investment money from fleeing their borders. South Africa followed suit by increasing interest rates for the first time in 5½ years.
自国通貨を防衛しようと、トルコとインドの中央銀行が政策金利を引き上げ、投資マネーの引き留めを狙ったのに続き、南アフリカも約５年半ぶりに利上げした。
Owing to these emergency measures, monetary uncertainty seems to have abated, but the tendency for currencies of emerging economies to be sold remains, thus leaving optimism unwarranted.
こうした緊急策によって、ひとまず通貨安は一服した模様だが、新興国通貨が売られやすい状況は続いており、楽観は禁物だ。
Since the financial crisis, emerging economies have served as a driving force for the world economy, backed by their high economic growth.
金融危機後、成長著しい新興国は世界経済を牽引(けんいん)してきた。
However, there is a strong sense of wariness toward countries like Argentina, which has been suffering from high prices and current account deficits due to a slowdown in its economy. There is no denying that such countries have been targeted by market investors.
だが、最近は景気が減速し、物価高や経常赤字にも苦しむアルゼンチンなどへの警戒感は強い。市場に狙い撃ちされている面が否めない。
Emerging economies face a dilemma in that if they raise rates to defend their currencies, it will lead to a business slowdown.
新興国が通貨防衛のために利上げすれば、かえって景気を冷やすというジレンマも抱える。
Drops in stock prices have not ceased in New York, Tokyo and elsewhere likely out of a sense of uncertainty over emerging economies, which has been rattling the markets.
ニューヨークや東京、アジアなどの株価下落が止まらないのも、新興国経済への不安感が市場を揺るがしているからだろう。
Future focus will be on the pace at which the FRB will promote an exit strategy to phase out quantitative easing. Janet Yellen, who will replace Ben Bernanke as FRB chairman Saturday, will bear a heavy responsibility in this regard.
今後の焦点は、ＦＲＢが出口戦略を進めるペースだ。バーナンキ議長の後任として１日に就任するイエレン新議長の責任は重い。
The exit strategy must be implemented meticulously so that rapid shrinkage of monetary easing does not cause confusion in global stock and exchange markets. To this end, having a “dialogue with markets” will be an indispensable step.
出口戦略は、急ピッチな緩和縮小で世界の株式・為替市場の混乱を招かないよう、慎重な舵(かじ)取りが欠かせない。「市場との対話」を工夫してもらいたい
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 31, 2014)
（2014年1月31日01時18分 読売新聞）
2014年02月01日
オバマ氏演説 そっけなかった「アジア重視」
The Yomiuri Shimbun January 30, 2014
Obama makes only brief reference to Asia in State of Union address
オバマ氏演説 そっけなかった「アジア重視」（1月30日付・読売社説）
U.S. President Barack Obama stressed on Tuesday night that he would put priority on supporting middle-class Americans, and promised to create more jobs and alleviate income disparities between rich and poor. It was apparently a speech aimed at restoring his floundering approval rate ahead of midterm elections in November.
中間所得層への支援を優先課題に掲げ、雇用創出や所得格差是正の実現を約束した。１１月の中間選挙に向け、低迷する支持率の回復を意識した演説と言えるだろう。
In his annual State of the Union address, a policy speech for the year, Obama expressed his strong determination to make 2014 “a year of action.”
オバマ米大統領が、１年間の施政方針を示す一般教書演説を行って、今年を「行動の年」と位置づけた。固い決意がうかがえる。
Obama last year had a harsh confrontation with the Republican Party, which controls the House of Representatives, which resulted in a partial shutdown of government functions. He had a series of failures in both domestic and foreign affairs that temporarily sunk his approval rate to its lowest level since his inauguration.
オバマ氏は、下院を支配する共和党と激しく対立し、政府機能の一部停止という事態を招いた。内政、外交とも失点続きで、支持率が一時は、就任以来最低の水準にまで落ち込んだ。
If his Democratic Party slips to a minority in both houses of Congress in this year’s mid-term elections, the Obama administration is certain to be rendered ineffectual for the remainder of its term. The question is what strategy he will use to recoup the lost ground.
中間選挙で、民主党が上下両院で少数党に転落すれば、政権のレームダック化は決定的だ。巻き返しへの戦略が問われている。
Obama stressed in the speech what he has accomplished regarding the recovery of the U.S. economy after the financial crisis. He then proposed minimum wage hikes in consideration of low-income earners who have not yet benefited from the economic recovery. He also referred to the expansion of job opportunities with the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade agreement and immigration reform.
オバマ氏は演説で、金融危機後の経済再生の成果を強調した上で景気回復の恩恵を得ていない低所得者層に配慮し、最低賃金引き上げを提案した。環太平洋経済連携協定（ＴＰＰ）に伴う雇用拡大や移民制度改革も表明した。
All of these are policies that would help cement the support base for Democrats.
いずれも、民主党の支持基盤固めにつながる政策だ。
Confrontation with GOP
It is noteworthy that Obama said he would use executive orders if his bills are not passed in Congress. Even if Republicans refuse to raise minimum wages, Obama stressed he would issue an executive order to raise the wages of some federal contract workers.
特に注目されるのは、議会で法案が可決されない場合、大統領令を発すると述べたことだ。最低賃金引き上げを共和党が拒んでも、連邦政府契約職員に限っては、大統領令で引き上げるという。
This illustrates a point of conflict between his party and Republicans. But the GOP has reacted sharply against Obama, criticizing him for disrespecting Congress. There is concern that confrontation between the two parties will intensify.
共和党との対立軸を鮮明にした形だが、共和党は早くも「議会軽視」と強く反発した。対立はかえって先鋭化する恐れがある。
Obama made relatively fewer references to foreign and security policies, as compared to domestic issues, as this is an election year. The president stressed U.S. combat troops will withdraw from Afghanistan by the end of this year and the U.S. war against terrorism “will finally be over.” But we hope Obama will maintain all possible measures against terrorism even after U.S. forces leave the country.
選挙の年だけに、内政が重視され、外交・安全保障政策への言及は比較的少なかった。
アフガニスタンに駐留する米軍戦闘部隊が今年末に撤収し、テロとの戦いが「ようやく終わる」と強調した。撤収後もテロ対策には万全を期してもらいたい。
Apparently with the so-called shale gas revolution in mind, the president also stressed “America is closer to energy independence.” But it would be a problem if this makes the United States less interested in Middle East affairs.
エネルギー問題では、「シェールガス革命」を念頭に、「エネルギー自給に近づいた」と述べた。これが、中東への米国の関心の減退につながっては困る。
Obama also said: “We will continue to focus on the Asia-Pacific, where we support our allies [and] shape a future of greater security and prosperity.” The president clearly said he maintains a foreign policy with emphasis on Asia, but his reference to the region remained brief and dry.
アジア太平洋については「引き続き、重視し、同盟国を支え、より安全で繁栄した未来を形作っていく」と主張した。「アジア重視」政策の継続は言明したものの、そっけない表現にとどまった。
For the second straight year, Obama did not attend an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum summit meeting. We wonder how he will realize the United States’ “focus” on the region.
オバマ氏はアジア太平洋経済協力会議（ＡＰＥＣ）首脳会議を２年続けて欠席した。「重視」をどう具体化していくのだろうか。
With the rise of China, closer unity among the United States and its Asian allies, including Japan, is now needed more than ever before.
中国の台頭を受け、米国と、日本など同盟国との結束が今ほど必要なときはない。
Obama should demonstrate his leadership more clearly during his tour of Asian countries scheduled for this spring.
オバマ氏は今春のアジア歴訪で、指導力を一層発揮することが求められる。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 30, 2014)
（2014年1月30日01時35分 読売新聞）
Obama makes only brief reference to Asia in State of Union address
オバマ氏演説 そっけなかった「アジア重視」（1月30日付・読売社説）
U.S. President Barack Obama stressed on Tuesday night that he would put priority on supporting middle-class Americans, and promised to create more jobs and alleviate income disparities between rich and poor. It was apparently a speech aimed at restoring his floundering approval rate ahead of midterm elections in November.
中間所得層への支援を優先課題に掲げ、雇用創出や所得格差是正の実現を約束した。１１月の中間選挙に向け、低迷する支持率の回復を意識した演説と言えるだろう。
In his annual State of the Union address, a policy speech for the year, Obama expressed his strong determination to make 2014 “a year of action.”
オバマ米大統領が、１年間の施政方針を示す一般教書演説を行って、今年を「行動の年」と位置づけた。固い決意がうかがえる。
Obama last year had a harsh confrontation with the Republican Party, which controls the House of Representatives, which resulted in a partial shutdown of government functions. He had a series of failures in both domestic and foreign affairs that temporarily sunk his approval rate to its lowest level since his inauguration.
オバマ氏は、下院を支配する共和党と激しく対立し、政府機能の一部停止という事態を招いた。内政、外交とも失点続きで、支持率が一時は、就任以来最低の水準にまで落ち込んだ。
If his Democratic Party slips to a minority in both houses of Congress in this year’s mid-term elections, the Obama administration is certain to be rendered ineffectual for the remainder of its term. The question is what strategy he will use to recoup the lost ground.
中間選挙で、民主党が上下両院で少数党に転落すれば、政権のレームダック化は決定的だ。巻き返しへの戦略が問われている。
Obama stressed in the speech what he has accomplished regarding the recovery of the U.S. economy after the financial crisis. He then proposed minimum wage hikes in consideration of low-income earners who have not yet benefited from the economic recovery. He also referred to the expansion of job opportunities with the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade agreement and immigration reform.
オバマ氏は演説で、金融危機後の経済再生の成果を強調した上で景気回復の恩恵を得ていない低所得者層に配慮し、最低賃金引き上げを提案した。環太平洋経済連携協定（ＴＰＰ）に伴う雇用拡大や移民制度改革も表明した。
All of these are policies that would help cement the support base for Democrats.
いずれも、民主党の支持基盤固めにつながる政策だ。
Confrontation with GOP
It is noteworthy that Obama said he would use executive orders if his bills are not passed in Congress. Even if Republicans refuse to raise minimum wages, Obama stressed he would issue an executive order to raise the wages of some federal contract workers.
特に注目されるのは、議会で法案が可決されない場合、大統領令を発すると述べたことだ。最低賃金引き上げを共和党が拒んでも、連邦政府契約職員に限っては、大統領令で引き上げるという。
This illustrates a point of conflict between his party and Republicans. But the GOP has reacted sharply against Obama, criticizing him for disrespecting Congress. There is concern that confrontation between the two parties will intensify.
共和党との対立軸を鮮明にした形だが、共和党は早くも「議会軽視」と強く反発した。対立はかえって先鋭化する恐れがある。
Obama made relatively fewer references to foreign and security policies, as compared to domestic issues, as this is an election year. The president stressed U.S. combat troops will withdraw from Afghanistan by the end of this year and the U.S. war against terrorism “will finally be over.” But we hope Obama will maintain all possible measures against terrorism even after U.S. forces leave the country.
選挙の年だけに、内政が重視され、外交・安全保障政策への言及は比較的少なかった。
アフガニスタンに駐留する米軍戦闘部隊が今年末に撤収し、テロとの戦いが「ようやく終わる」と強調した。撤収後もテロ対策には万全を期してもらいたい。
Apparently with the so-called shale gas revolution in mind, the president also stressed “America is closer to energy independence.” But it would be a problem if this makes the United States less interested in Middle East affairs.
エネルギー問題では、「シェールガス革命」を念頭に、「エネルギー自給に近づいた」と述べた。これが、中東への米国の関心の減退につながっては困る。
Obama also said: “We will continue to focus on the Asia-Pacific, where we support our allies [and] shape a future of greater security and prosperity.” The president clearly said he maintains a foreign policy with emphasis on Asia, but his reference to the region remained brief and dry.
アジア太平洋については「引き続き、重視し、同盟国を支え、より安全で繁栄した未来を形作っていく」と主張した。「アジア重視」政策の継続は言明したものの、そっけない表現にとどまった。
For the second straight year, Obama did not attend an Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum summit meeting. We wonder how he will realize the United States’ “focus” on the region.
オバマ氏はアジア太平洋経済協力会議（ＡＰＥＣ）首脳会議を２年続けて欠席した。「重視」をどう具体化していくのだろうか。
With the rise of China, closer unity among the United States and its Asian allies, including Japan, is now needed more than ever before.
中国の台頭を受け、米国と、日本など同盟国との結束が今ほど必要なときはない。
Obama should demonstrate his leadership more clearly during his tour of Asian countries scheduled for this spring.
オバマ氏は今春のアジア歴訪で、指導力を一層発揮することが求められる。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 30, 2014)
（2014年1月30日01時35分 読売新聞）
2014年01月31日
学習指導解説書 「尖閣」「竹島」の明記を起点に
The Yomiuri Shimbun January 29, 2014
Manuals should help educate students about Senkakus, Takeshima
学習指導解説書 「尖閣」「竹島」の明記を起点に（1月29日付・読売社説）
It is essential for children in this country to be encouraged to acquire an accurate knowledge about Japanese territory, given that they will become a pillar of our future.
日本の将来を担う子供たちに、領土に関する正しい知識を習得させることが大切である。
The education ministry has revised instruction manuals for its course of study for middle and high schools to state that the Senkaku Islands and Takeshima islets constitute “inherent parts of our nation’s territory.” The reference is the first of its kind to be included in the teaching manuals devised by the Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Ministry.
文部科学省が、中学校と高校の学習指導要領の解説書に、尖閣諸島と竹島を初めて「我が国固有の領土」と明記する改定を行った。
The new manuals also reiterate our nation’s stance on the Senkaku Islands, which this country has placed, in effect, under state control. Students “need to understand there exists no territorial issue to be resolved,” the manuals say.
日本が実効支配する尖閣諸島については、「解決すべき領有権の問題は存在しないことを理解させる必要がある」とも言及した。
Despite an increasing number of school textbooks that refer to the Senkakus and Takeshima, some textbooks still do not mention these islands.
尖閣諸島や竹島について言及した教科書が増えてきたとはいえ、いまだに記述がない教科書も一部に残っている。
Though the ministry’s instruction manuals are not legally binding unlike its course of study, the former serves as a guide for publishing houses as they edit textbooks, as well as for teachers when they give lessons. We hope the latest revision of the manuals will ensure all textbooks include appropriate references to the Senkakus and Takeshima.
解説書は、指導要領のように法的拘束力はないが、出版社の教科書編集や教師が授業を行う際の指針となる。今回の改定により、どの教科書にも適切な記述が盛り込まれることが期待される。
The education ministry has every reason to improve the quality of teaching programs on the nation’s territorial integrity, based on the government’s official views on relevant issues. Doing so is also significant for producing people capable of presenting our nation’s position in the international community.
政府見解に基づいて、領土教育の充実を図るのは、文科省として当然のことだ。国際社会で日本の立場を主張できる人材を育成する上でも意味があろう。
The previous instruction manuals stated that the group of Takeshima islets should be included as part of geographic learning in middle school social studies classes. In doing so, however, the manuals avoided using such a direct phrase as “inherent [part of our] territory.” Such an evasive approach was also evident in the manuals for high school geography.
従来の解説書では、竹島について、中学社会科の地理的分野で触れるよう求めていたが、「固有の領土」という直接的な表現は避けていた。
The latter manuals only stated that the study of Takeshima should “be based on middle school studies.”
高校の地理では「中学校における学習を踏まえる」としか記述されていなかった。
Neither the previous manuals for middle school studies nor those for high schools included any reference to the Senkakus.
尖閣諸島に関しては、中高いずれも言及されていなかった。
Misleading notion
There is no denying that the manuals gave schoolteachers and administrators a misleading notion about territorial issues facing this country, prompting them to think that such problems should not necessarily be given importance.
こうした解説書の内容が、領土問題を必ずしも重視しなくても構わないといった誤解を教育現場に与えた面は否定できない。
Our nation established its claim over Takeshima no later than the mid-17th century−during the early Edo period (1603-1867). In 1905, Takeshima was annexed to Shimane Prefecture, based on a decision made to that effect by the Cabinet.
竹島は、遅くとも江戸時代初期の１７世紀半ばに日本が領有権を確立し、１９０５年に閣議決定を経て、島根県に編入した。
However, a turnaround came in 1952, when South Korea unilaterally drew the so-called Syngman Rhee Line, which contained the Takeshima islets. That country has since unlawfully occupied the islets.
ところが、韓国が５２年、竹島を取り込む形で一方的に「李承晩ライン」を設定し、不法占拠を続けている。
In January 1895, Japan incorporated the Senkaku Islands into its territory after establishing that areas under China’s control did not include them. The event preceded the signing of the Treaty of Shimonoseki, which ended the Sino-Japanese War of 1894-95.
尖閣諸島は、１８９５年１月、中国の支配が及んでいないことを確認した上で領土に編入した。これは、日清戦争を終結させた下関条約の調印前のことである。
In the 1970s and later, China laid claim to the Senkakus. The Chinese assertion came after it had been found that there were oil deposits in waters around the islands.
中国側が領有権を主張し始めたのは、周辺海域で石油埋蔵が判明した後の１９７０年代以降だ。
Japanese students need to be properly taught that their government’s views on the Senkakus and Takeshima have legitimate grounds reflecting these historical developments, seen from the standpoint of international law.
こうした歴史的経緯を踏まえ、日本政府の見解が国際法上、正当な根拠に基づくことを生徒にきちんと教える必要がある。
The South Korean government has issued a statement demanding the Japanese government to “immediately retract” the latest revisions to the instruction manuals. The Chinese government has also become more strongly antagonistic by the Japanese action.
今回の改定に対し、韓国政府は「直ちに撤回することを求める」との声明を発表した。中国政府も反発を強めている。
What kind of education should a nation give its children with regard to its territory, which is part and parcel of its sovereignty? That is an internal matter of that country. No other nation should interfere over such an issue.
国の主権にかかわる領土について、どのような教育を行うか。それは内政上の問題である。他国が口を挟むべきものではない。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 29, 2014)
（2014年1月29日01時50分 読売新聞）
Manuals should help educate students about Senkakus, Takeshima
学習指導解説書 「尖閣」「竹島」の明記を起点に（1月29日付・読売社説）
It is essential for children in this country to be encouraged to acquire an accurate knowledge about Japanese territory, given that they will become a pillar of our future.
日本の将来を担う子供たちに、領土に関する正しい知識を習得させることが大切である。
The education ministry has revised instruction manuals for its course of study for middle and high schools to state that the Senkaku Islands and Takeshima islets constitute “inherent parts of our nation’s territory.” The reference is the first of its kind to be included in the teaching manuals devised by the Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Ministry.
文部科学省が、中学校と高校の学習指導要領の解説書に、尖閣諸島と竹島を初めて「我が国固有の領土」と明記する改定を行った。
The new manuals also reiterate our nation’s stance on the Senkaku Islands, which this country has placed, in effect, under state control. Students “need to understand there exists no territorial issue to be resolved,” the manuals say.
日本が実効支配する尖閣諸島については、「解決すべき領有権の問題は存在しないことを理解させる必要がある」とも言及した。
Despite an increasing number of school textbooks that refer to the Senkakus and Takeshima, some textbooks still do not mention these islands.
尖閣諸島や竹島について言及した教科書が増えてきたとはいえ、いまだに記述がない教科書も一部に残っている。
Though the ministry’s instruction manuals are not legally binding unlike its course of study, the former serves as a guide for publishing houses as they edit textbooks, as well as for teachers when they give lessons. We hope the latest revision of the manuals will ensure all textbooks include appropriate references to the Senkakus and Takeshima.
解説書は、指導要領のように法的拘束力はないが、出版社の教科書編集や教師が授業を行う際の指針となる。今回の改定により、どの教科書にも適切な記述が盛り込まれることが期待される。
The education ministry has every reason to improve the quality of teaching programs on the nation’s territorial integrity, based on the government’s official views on relevant issues. Doing so is also significant for producing people capable of presenting our nation’s position in the international community.
政府見解に基づいて、領土教育の充実を図るのは、文科省として当然のことだ。国際社会で日本の立場を主張できる人材を育成する上でも意味があろう。
The previous instruction manuals stated that the group of Takeshima islets should be included as part of geographic learning in middle school social studies classes. In doing so, however, the manuals avoided using such a direct phrase as “inherent [part of our] territory.” Such an evasive approach was also evident in the manuals for high school geography.
従来の解説書では、竹島について、中学社会科の地理的分野で触れるよう求めていたが、「固有の領土」という直接的な表現は避けていた。
The latter manuals only stated that the study of Takeshima should “be based on middle school studies.”
高校の地理では「中学校における学習を踏まえる」としか記述されていなかった。
Neither the previous manuals for middle school studies nor those for high schools included any reference to the Senkakus.
尖閣諸島に関しては、中高いずれも言及されていなかった。
Misleading notion
There is no denying that the manuals gave schoolteachers and administrators a misleading notion about territorial issues facing this country, prompting them to think that such problems should not necessarily be given importance.
こうした解説書の内容が、領土問題を必ずしも重視しなくても構わないといった誤解を教育現場に与えた面は否定できない。
Our nation established its claim over Takeshima no later than the mid-17th century−during the early Edo period (1603-1867). In 1905, Takeshima was annexed to Shimane Prefecture, based on a decision made to that effect by the Cabinet.
竹島は、遅くとも江戸時代初期の１７世紀半ばに日本が領有権を確立し、１９０５年に閣議決定を経て、島根県に編入した。
However, a turnaround came in 1952, when South Korea unilaterally drew the so-called Syngman Rhee Line, which contained the Takeshima islets. That country has since unlawfully occupied the islets.
ところが、韓国が５２年、竹島を取り込む形で一方的に「李承晩ライン」を設定し、不法占拠を続けている。
In January 1895, Japan incorporated the Senkaku Islands into its territory after establishing that areas under China’s control did not include them. The event preceded the signing of the Treaty of Shimonoseki, which ended the Sino-Japanese War of 1894-95.
尖閣諸島は、１８９５年１月、中国の支配が及んでいないことを確認した上で領土に編入した。これは、日清戦争を終結させた下関条約の調印前のことである。
In the 1970s and later, China laid claim to the Senkakus. The Chinese assertion came after it had been found that there were oil deposits in waters around the islands.
中国側が領有権を主張し始めたのは、周辺海域で石油埋蔵が判明した後の１９７０年代以降だ。
Japanese students need to be properly taught that their government’s views on the Senkakus and Takeshima have legitimate grounds reflecting these historical developments, seen from the standpoint of international law.
こうした歴史的経緯を踏まえ、日本政府の見解が国際法上、正当な根拠に基づくことを生徒にきちんと教える必要がある。
The South Korean government has issued a statement demanding the Japanese government to “immediately retract” the latest revisions to the instruction manuals. The Chinese government has also become more strongly antagonistic by the Japanese action.
今回の改定に対し、韓国政府は「直ちに撤回することを求める」との声明を発表した。中国政府も反発を強めている。
What kind of education should a nation give its children with regard to its territory, which is part and parcel of its sovereignty? That is an internal matter of that country. No other nation should interfere over such an issue.
国の主権にかかわる領土について、どのような教育を行うか。それは内政上の問題である。他国が口を挟むべきものではない。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 29, 2014)
（2014年1月29日01時50分 読売新聞）
2014年01月30日
日本史必修化 自国の軌跡を深く学びたい
The Yomiuri Shimbun January 28, 2014
High school students should receive better education in Japanese history
日本史必修化 自国の軌跡を深く学びたい（1月28日付・読売社説）
To cultivate their identity as Japanese, students should receive an adequate education in Japanese history.
日本人としてのアイデンティティーを育んでいくためには、日本史の教育が欠かせない。
Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Minister Hakubun Shimomura announced that his ministry will study the possibility of making Japanese history a compulsory subject at high schools. By referring the idea to the Central Council for Education for deliberation, the minister hopes to realize the idea in five or six years’ time.
下村文部科学相が、高校の日本史の必修化を検討する考えを表明した。中央教育審議会に諮問し、早ければ５〜６年後の実施を目指すという。
For mapping out the future of Japan, it is essential for young people to study Japanese history. It is also important for them to be able to exhibit pride in the history of their own country. Making Japanese history compulsory at high schools is reasonable.
日本の将来を考える上で、日本の歴史を学ぶことが必要だ。若者が自国の歴史に誇りを持てるようにすることも大切だ。日本史必修化の方向性は妥当だろう。
As globalization advances, there will be more opportunities for Japanese to talk about their country’s culture and other things abroad.
国際化が進み、日本人が海外で自国の文化などを語る機会が増えてくる。
The idea of making the subject compulsory at high schools indicates a sense of crisis over the lack of education required to produce internationally minded people.
必修化の検討は、国際人の基盤となる教養が足りないことへの危機感の表れとも言える。
When school teaching guidelines were revised in 1989, social studies at high schools were divided into “geography and history” and “civics.” When studying “geography and history,” world history is compulsory. In addition, a student has to choose either Japanese history or geography as an elective subject.
高校の「社会科」は、１９８９年の学習指導要領改定で、現行の「地理歴史」と「公民」に分かれた。地理歴史の中では、世界史が必修で、併せて、日本史か地理のいずれかを選択履修するという取り扱いになっている。
As a result, 30 percent to 40 percent of high school students in Japan are believed to graduate from high school without a sufficient grounding in Japanese history.
その結果、高校生の３〜４割は日本史を学ばないまま高校を卒業していると推定される。
Although students are supposed to have studied the basics of Japanese history in primary and middle schools, it is problematic that many students have no opportunity to deepen their knowledge of Japanese history in high school.
義務教育段階で一通り、日本の歴史を履修しているとはいえ、高校で理解を深める機会を持たない生徒が少なくないのは問題だ。
Many problems remain
Making Japanese history a compulsory high school subject has been urged by local governments and other entities. The Tokyo metropolitan government and Kanagawa prefectural government have prepared textbooks, so that students have to learn Japanese history at the high schools they operate.
日本史の必修化を求める声は自治体などから出ていた。東京都や神奈川県は、独自教材を作成し、都立校や県立校の生徒に日本史を必ず学ばせている。
However, many issues need to be discussed.
ただ、必修化にあたっては、検討すべき課題も多い。
By making Japanese history a compulsory subject in place of world history, students may have few opportunities to learn about the history of foreign countries at primary, middle and high schools.
世界史に代わって日本史だけを必修にすれば、小中高校を通じて外国の歴史に触れる機会がほとんどない生徒が出かねない。
It may be necessary to review the curriculum, including compulsory education subjects, by adopting elements of world history at middle schools, for instance.
例えば、中学校で世界史の要素を取り入れるなど、義務教育も含めたカリキュラムの見直しを考える必要があるのではないか。
If both world history and Japanese history became required subjects, more high school students would not study geography. Some people have suggested the establishment of a general course of geography and history that would be made compulsory.
世界史と日本史がともに必修となれば、今度は地理を学ばない高校生が増えるかもしれない。地理歴史の総合科目を新設して、必修とすべきだという意見もある。
There is also room to review the conventional way history is taught, which gives too much weight to memorization. It is natural for high school students to dislike studying history if they are forced to memorize a vast amount of terms.
知識の詰め込みに偏りがちな従来の歴史教育の在り方にも、再考の余地がある。膨大な用語の暗記を強いるのでは、高校生が「歴史嫌い」になるのも無理はない。
It is desirable for educators and schools to tax their ingenuity to come up with educational content that stimulates the intellectual curiosity of students, for instance, by having them delve more deeply into historical events.
歴史的事件の背景を掘り下げて考えさせるなど、生徒の知的好奇心を喚起するような教育内容を工夫すべきだろう。
It is also necessary to improve education in regard to modern and contemporary history. Such efforts will certainly cultivate students’ understanding of the current complex international situation, by correctly understanding the history between Japan and other Asian countries.
近現代史に関する教育を充実させることも求められる。日本とアジア諸国の間に横たわる歴史を正しく理解する学習を通じて、現在の複雑な国際情勢を見る眼(め)が養われていくはずだ。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 28, 2014)
（2014年1月28日01時11分 読売新聞）
High school students should receive better education in Japanese history
日本史必修化 自国の軌跡を深く学びたい（1月28日付・読売社説）
To cultivate their identity as Japanese, students should receive an adequate education in Japanese history.
日本人としてのアイデンティティーを育んでいくためには、日本史の教育が欠かせない。
Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Minister Hakubun Shimomura announced that his ministry will study the possibility of making Japanese history a compulsory subject at high schools. By referring the idea to the Central Council for Education for deliberation, the minister hopes to realize the idea in five or six years’ time.
下村文部科学相が、高校の日本史の必修化を検討する考えを表明した。中央教育審議会に諮問し、早ければ５〜６年後の実施を目指すという。
For mapping out the future of Japan, it is essential for young people to study Japanese history. It is also important for them to be able to exhibit pride in the history of their own country. Making Japanese history compulsory at high schools is reasonable.
日本の将来を考える上で、日本の歴史を学ぶことが必要だ。若者が自国の歴史に誇りを持てるようにすることも大切だ。日本史必修化の方向性は妥当だろう。
As globalization advances, there will be more opportunities for Japanese to talk about their country’s culture and other things abroad.
国際化が進み、日本人が海外で自国の文化などを語る機会が増えてくる。
The idea of making the subject compulsory at high schools indicates a sense of crisis over the lack of education required to produce internationally minded people.
必修化の検討は、国際人の基盤となる教養が足りないことへの危機感の表れとも言える。
When school teaching guidelines were revised in 1989, social studies at high schools were divided into “geography and history” and “civics.” When studying “geography and history,” world history is compulsory. In addition, a student has to choose either Japanese history or geography as an elective subject.
高校の「社会科」は、１９８９年の学習指導要領改定で、現行の「地理歴史」と「公民」に分かれた。地理歴史の中では、世界史が必修で、併せて、日本史か地理のいずれかを選択履修するという取り扱いになっている。
As a result, 30 percent to 40 percent of high school students in Japan are believed to graduate from high school without a sufficient grounding in Japanese history.
その結果、高校生の３〜４割は日本史を学ばないまま高校を卒業していると推定される。
Although students are supposed to have studied the basics of Japanese history in primary and middle schools, it is problematic that many students have no opportunity to deepen their knowledge of Japanese history in high school.
義務教育段階で一通り、日本の歴史を履修しているとはいえ、高校で理解を深める機会を持たない生徒が少なくないのは問題だ。
Many problems remain
Making Japanese history a compulsory high school subject has been urged by local governments and other entities. The Tokyo metropolitan government and Kanagawa prefectural government have prepared textbooks, so that students have to learn Japanese history at the high schools they operate.
日本史の必修化を求める声は自治体などから出ていた。東京都や神奈川県は、独自教材を作成し、都立校や県立校の生徒に日本史を必ず学ばせている。
However, many issues need to be discussed.
ただ、必修化にあたっては、検討すべき課題も多い。
By making Japanese history a compulsory subject in place of world history, students may have few opportunities to learn about the history of foreign countries at primary, middle and high schools.
世界史に代わって日本史だけを必修にすれば、小中高校を通じて外国の歴史に触れる機会がほとんどない生徒が出かねない。
It may be necessary to review the curriculum, including compulsory education subjects, by adopting elements of world history at middle schools, for instance.
例えば、中学校で世界史の要素を取り入れるなど、義務教育も含めたカリキュラムの見直しを考える必要があるのではないか。
If both world history and Japanese history became required subjects, more high school students would not study geography. Some people have suggested the establishment of a general course of geography and history that would be made compulsory.
世界史と日本史がともに必修となれば、今度は地理を学ばない高校生が増えるかもしれない。地理歴史の総合科目を新設して、必修とすべきだという意見もある。
There is also room to review the conventional way history is taught, which gives too much weight to memorization. It is natural for high school students to dislike studying history if they are forced to memorize a vast amount of terms.
知識の詰め込みに偏りがちな従来の歴史教育の在り方にも、再考の余地がある。膨大な用語の暗記を強いるのでは、高校生が「歴史嫌い」になるのも無理はない。
It is desirable for educators and schools to tax their ingenuity to come up with educational content that stimulates the intellectual curiosity of students, for instance, by having them delve more deeply into historical events.
歴史的事件の背景を掘り下げて考えさせるなど、生徒の知的好奇心を喚起するような教育内容を工夫すべきだろう。
It is also necessary to improve education in regard to modern and contemporary history. Such efforts will certainly cultivate students’ understanding of the current complex international situation, by correctly understanding the history between Japan and other Asian countries.
近現代史に関する教育を充実させることも求められる。日本とアジア諸国の間に横たわる歴史を正しく理解する学習を通じて、現在の複雑な国際情勢を見る眼(め)が養われていくはずだ。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 28, 2014)
（2014年1月28日01時11分 読売新聞）
2014年01月29日
農薬混入事件 「食の安全」揺るがす内部犯行
The Yomiuri Shimbun January 27, 2014
Sense of food safety badly shaken by in-company poisoning of food
農薬混入事件 「食の安全」揺るがす内部犯行（1月27日付・読売社説）
The latest food poisoning case has shaken Japan’s sense of food safety and increased people’s distrust of food makers. Investigators must expedite their efforts to elucidate the facts in this case.
日本の「食の安全」を揺るがし、食品メーカーへの不信を増大させた。捜査当局は真相解明を急ぐべきである。
A 49-year-old contract worker at the plant where frozen food was laced with the agricultural chemical malathion has been arrested by the Gunma prefectural police on suspicion of obstructing business. The suspect worked at the Gunma plant of Aqli Foods Corp., a subsidiary of leading food maker Maruha Nichiro Holdings Inc.
食品大手「マルハニチロホールディングス」の子会社「アクリフーズ」群馬工場で製造された冷凍食品に農薬マラチオンが混入された事件で、群馬県警が工場の契約社員の男（４９）を偽計業務妨害容疑で逮捕した。
The man is suspected of lacing frozen food produced at the plant with malathion on four occasions in October.
男は昨年１０月、工場で製造する冷凍食品に４回にわたり、マラチオンを混入した疑いがある。
About 2,800 people across the country have complained of feeling ill after eating pizza and other frozen food produced at the plant.
工場で製造されたピザなどを食べ、体調不良を訴えた人は全国で約２８００人に上る。
During questioning, the man reportedly told police, “I don’t remember,” and his motive remains unclear.
男は調べに対し、「覚えていない」と話しているという。まだ動機も判然としない。
We hope the Gunma prefectural police will probe the matter thoroughly to find out how the food was laced with the chemical and clarify the context of the inside job.
群馬県警は、農薬の混入方法、事件の背景などを徹底的に究明してもらいたい。
The presidents of Maruha Nichiro Holdings and Aqli Foods have announced they will resign at the end of March to take responsibility for the latest incident.
マルハニチロの久代敏男社長とアクリフーズ社長は、３月末で引責辞任することを表明した。
The companies failed to respond promptly, taking 1½ months to launch a self-imposed recall of products after receiving a complaint in November of an odd odor from pizza manufactured at the plant. As both companies have lost their credibility with consumers, their resignation is natural.
昨年１１月、工場で製造されたピザを食べた消費者から異臭の苦情があってから自主回収まで１か月半も要し、対応が遅れた。信頼を失墜した以上、辞任は当然だ。
85% of frozen food recalled
The recall rate of frozen food produced since October at the Gunma plant remains at about 85 percent. Maruha Nichiro must continue calling on consumers to return the products in question.
１０月以降に群馬工場で製造した冷凍食品の回収率は約８５％にとどまる。マルハは引き続き、返品を呼びかける必要がある。
A mindset of “food defense” to prevent food from being contaminated intentionally with foreign substances has prevailed in the food industry since pesticide-laced gyoza produced at a Chinese plant was imported into Japan in 2008.
食品業界では２００８年に発覚した中国製冷凍ギョーザ中毒事件後、意図的な異物混入を防ぐ「フードディフェンス（食品防御）」の考え方が広がっている。
At the Gunma plant, workers are required to wear uniforms without pockets, while monitors to keep an eye on other workers have been placed on production lines.
この群馬工場でも、従業員にポケットのない作業着の着用を義務づけ、製造ラインに監視役の従業員も配置していた。
Yet there is no inspection of workers’ belongings when they enter the plant. Some workers said chemicals could be brought into the plant if they were hidden inside the lower sleeve of the uniform.
しかし、工場に入る際の持ち物検査などはなく、「袖口に忍び込ませれば、農薬を持ち込むことはできる」と話す従業員もいる。
The present state of quality control, including the system for food safety control, of the entire Maruha group needs to be examined for possible defects, as does the system for educating employees.
グループ全体の食品安全管理体制を含めた品質管理のあり方や、従業員教育などに問題がなかったか。検証が必要だろう。
The latest incident has also sounded an alarm bell for the entire food industry.
今回の事件は、業界全体にも警鐘を鳴らしている。
Although it can be difficult for companies to take the view that human nature is inherently bad, it is essential to prevent workers with ill intentions from doing bad things. Companies must improve their in-house systems, including boosting monitoring of employees to make such illicit acts difficult.
性悪説に立つことは難しいかもしれないが、悪意を持つ従業員の不正を防ぐことが何よりも重要だ。そうした行為を難しくするための監視強化など、社内体制の整備が各社に求められる。
Maruha Nichiro has revised downward its earnings forecast for the business term ending this March, primarily due to suspended production at the Gunma plant and its sluggish sales.
マルハニチロは２０１４年３月期決算の業績予想を下方修正した。群馬工場の製造を中止し、販売不振に陥ったのが主因だ。
Companies in the food industry must understand it is difficult for a company that has lost consumers’ trust to recover it.
いったん失った消費者の信頼回復の道が険しいことを、業界各社は肝に銘じなければならない。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 27, 2014)
（2014年1月27日01時32分 読売新聞）
Sense of food safety badly shaken by in-company poisoning of food
農薬混入事件 「食の安全」揺るがす内部犯行（1月27日付・読売社説）
The latest food poisoning case has shaken Japan’s sense of food safety and increased people’s distrust of food makers. Investigators must expedite their efforts to elucidate the facts in this case.
日本の「食の安全」を揺るがし、食品メーカーへの不信を増大させた。捜査当局は真相解明を急ぐべきである。
A 49-year-old contract worker at the plant where frozen food was laced with the agricultural chemical malathion has been arrested by the Gunma prefectural police on suspicion of obstructing business. The suspect worked at the Gunma plant of Aqli Foods Corp., a subsidiary of leading food maker Maruha Nichiro Holdings Inc.
食品大手「マルハニチロホールディングス」の子会社「アクリフーズ」群馬工場で製造された冷凍食品に農薬マラチオンが混入された事件で、群馬県警が工場の契約社員の男（４９）を偽計業務妨害容疑で逮捕した。
The man is suspected of lacing frozen food produced at the plant with malathion on four occasions in October.
男は昨年１０月、工場で製造する冷凍食品に４回にわたり、マラチオンを混入した疑いがある。
About 2,800 people across the country have complained of feeling ill after eating pizza and other frozen food produced at the plant.
工場で製造されたピザなどを食べ、体調不良を訴えた人は全国で約２８００人に上る。
During questioning, the man reportedly told police, “I don’t remember,” and his motive remains unclear.
男は調べに対し、「覚えていない」と話しているという。まだ動機も判然としない。
We hope the Gunma prefectural police will probe the matter thoroughly to find out how the food was laced with the chemical and clarify the context of the inside job.
群馬県警は、農薬の混入方法、事件の背景などを徹底的に究明してもらいたい。
The presidents of Maruha Nichiro Holdings and Aqli Foods have announced they will resign at the end of March to take responsibility for the latest incident.
マルハニチロの久代敏男社長とアクリフーズ社長は、３月末で引責辞任することを表明した。
The companies failed to respond promptly, taking 1½ months to launch a self-imposed recall of products after receiving a complaint in November of an odd odor from pizza manufactured at the plant. As both companies have lost their credibility with consumers, their resignation is natural.
昨年１１月、工場で製造されたピザを食べた消費者から異臭の苦情があってから自主回収まで１か月半も要し、対応が遅れた。信頼を失墜した以上、辞任は当然だ。
85% of frozen food recalled
The recall rate of frozen food produced since October at the Gunma plant remains at about 85 percent. Maruha Nichiro must continue calling on consumers to return the products in question.
１０月以降に群馬工場で製造した冷凍食品の回収率は約８５％にとどまる。マルハは引き続き、返品を呼びかける必要がある。
A mindset of “food defense” to prevent food from being contaminated intentionally with foreign substances has prevailed in the food industry since pesticide-laced gyoza produced at a Chinese plant was imported into Japan in 2008.
食品業界では２００８年に発覚した中国製冷凍ギョーザ中毒事件後、意図的な異物混入を防ぐ「フードディフェンス（食品防御）」の考え方が広がっている。
At the Gunma plant, workers are required to wear uniforms without pockets, while monitors to keep an eye on other workers have been placed on production lines.
この群馬工場でも、従業員にポケットのない作業着の着用を義務づけ、製造ラインに監視役の従業員も配置していた。
Yet there is no inspection of workers’ belongings when they enter the plant. Some workers said chemicals could be brought into the plant if they were hidden inside the lower sleeve of the uniform.
しかし、工場に入る際の持ち物検査などはなく、「袖口に忍び込ませれば、農薬を持ち込むことはできる」と話す従業員もいる。
The present state of quality control, including the system for food safety control, of the entire Maruha group needs to be examined for possible defects, as does the system for educating employees.
グループ全体の食品安全管理体制を含めた品質管理のあり方や、従業員教育などに問題がなかったか。検証が必要だろう。
The latest incident has also sounded an alarm bell for the entire food industry.
今回の事件は、業界全体にも警鐘を鳴らしている。
Although it can be difficult for companies to take the view that human nature is inherently bad, it is essential to prevent workers with ill intentions from doing bad things. Companies must improve their in-house systems, including boosting monitoring of employees to make such illicit acts difficult.
性悪説に立つことは難しいかもしれないが、悪意を持つ従業員の不正を防ぐことが何よりも重要だ。そうした行為を難しくするための監視強化など、社内体制の整備が各社に求められる。
Maruha Nichiro has revised downward its earnings forecast for the business term ending this March, primarily due to suspended production at the Gunma plant and its sluggish sales.
マルハニチロは２０１４年３月期決算の業績予想を下方修正した。群馬工場の製造を中止し、販売不振に陥ったのが主因だ。
Companies in the food industry must understand it is difficult for a company that has lost consumers’ trust to recover it.
いったん失った消費者の信頼回復の道が険しいことを、業界各社は肝に銘じなければならない。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 27, 2014)
（2014年1月27日01時32分 読売新聞）
2014年01月28日
日本版ＮＩＨ 医療の競争力強化の司令塔に
The Yomiuri Shimbun January 26, 2014
Japanese NIH expected to enhance nation’s medical competitiveness
日本版ＮＩＨ 医療の競争力強化の司令塔に（1月26日付・読売社説）
Excellent results in medical research must lead to the development of new drugs and remedies. A “headquarters for medicine” to be established soon is expected to play a significant role in enhancing Japan’s competitiveness in this field.
優れた医学研究を医薬品開発や治療法に結実させる必要がある。日本の競争力強化へ、“医療の司令塔”が果たすべき役割は大きい。
The government has decided to create an independent administrative entity tentatively called the Japan medical research and development agency to promote research and development in the medical field. With creation of the agency, the government aims to unify various systems at different ministries and agencies to support the research and development of medicine.
政府は、医療分野の研究開発を支援するため、独立行政法人「日本医療研究開発機構」を創設することを決めた。各省庁でばらばらだった研究支援体制を一元化する狙いがある。
The agency is called the Japanese version of the U.S. National Institutes of Health because it is being modeled on the U.S. organization, which leads the world in medical research and the creation of new drugs. The government plans to submit related bills to the current ordinary Diet session and to launch the new agency in April 2015.
世界の医学研究や創薬をリードする米国の国立衛生研究所（ＮＩＨ）をモデルに、「日本版ＮＩＨ」と呼ばれる。政府は関連法案を通常国会に提出し、新法人を２０１５年４月に発足させる方針だ。
The medical field is expected to be a pillar of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s growth strategy. The government must not let the agency become an empty letter but make it a viable organization with power to drive the nation’s growth.
医療分野は成長戦略の柱として期待される。成長の牽引(けんいん)力となるよう、看板倒れに終わらせず、実効性のある組織とすることが肝要である。
The new agency is tasked with managing research and development funds from various ministries and agencies in an integrated fashion, and with distributing them to universities and other research institutes. The agency will give priority to promising fields and provide constant support to them, from basic research to commercialization of products.
新法人は、各省庁の研究開発予算を一括管理し、大学などの研究機関に配分する役割を担う。有望な分野を優先し、基礎研究から製品化までを継続的に支援する。
As the development of induced pluripotent stem cells by Kyoto University Prof. Shinya Yamanaka shows, the level of basic research in the medical field is very high in Japan.
山中伸弥・京都大教授が作製したｉＰＳ細胞（人工多能性幹細胞）に代表されるように、日本の医学の基礎研究レベルは高い。
End sectionalism
Nonetheless, Japan lags behind the United States and European countries in the practical application of medical technology. For instance, imports of medicine and medical equipment exceed exports by about \3 trillion. It is problematic that a gap between basic research and clinical application has prevented companies from converting research results at universities and elsewhere into commercial realities.
ところが、医薬品・医療機器の貿易で約３兆円の輸入超過となるなど、医療技術の実用化では米欧に後れをとっている。
Government support for research and development is sometimes not well coordinated.
基礎研究と臨床応用の間に溝があり、大学などの研究成果が、企業による製品化に結びついていなかったのは問題と言える。
For example, the Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Ministry is in charge of supporting basic research; the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry is in charge of clinical application; and the Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry is in charge of industrialization. The ministries often compete with each other to win budget appropriations for similar research.
研究開発に対する政府の支援は、基礎分野を文部科学省、臨床研究は厚生労働省、産業化は経済産業省がそれぞれ担当し、時にちぐはぐだ。類似研究に各省が予算を奪い合うケースも多い。
To help the new agency function appropriately, it is essential to end sectionalism among ministries and agencies, and to make their support for research and development more efficient.
新法人を十分機能させるためには、まず省庁の縦割りをなくし、効率化を図ることが不可欠だ。
The new agency will be staffed by medical and pharmaceutical experts from the private sector, but it will not be easy to secure such people.
新法人の職員は、医療や薬学の民間の専門家などで構成される予定だ。人材確保が難題である。
They will have to exercise good judgment in selecting research subjects with potential, and in connecting research institutes and companies to realize their product development.
将来性の高い研究領域を見極め、製品開発に向けて研究機関と企業をどう結びつけるか。「目利き力」が求められよう。
There is a mountain of issues to be tackled jointly by the industrial, government and academic sectors. The creation of the Japanese version of the NIH is just a start.
産官学で取り組むべき課題は山積している。日本版ＮＩＨの創設はスタートに過ぎない。
While seeking to change the mindset of university researchers, who tend to overemphasize basic research, the government also should help accelerate the nurturing of start-ups that tackle the development of innovative technology with a high risk of failure.
基礎研究を偏重しがちな大学の研究者の意識改革を進めるとともに、失敗のリスクが大きい革新的な技術開発を手がけるベンチャー企業の育成も急ぐべきだ。
We expect the government to build a system together with all the related sectors in Japan to increase the nation’s international competitiveness in the medical field by developing the Japanese version of NIH into a major, solid organization.
政府は、日本版ＮＩＨを大きく育てて、オールジャパンで医療分野の国際競争力を高める体制を築いてもらいたい。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 26, 2014)
（2014年1月26日01時11分 読売新聞）
Japanese NIH expected to enhance nation’s medical competitiveness
日本版ＮＩＨ 医療の競争力強化の司令塔に（1月26日付・読売社説）
Excellent results in medical research must lead to the development of new drugs and remedies. A “headquarters for medicine” to be established soon is expected to play a significant role in enhancing Japan’s competitiveness in this field.
優れた医学研究を医薬品開発や治療法に結実させる必要がある。日本の競争力強化へ、“医療の司令塔”が果たすべき役割は大きい。
The government has decided to create an independent administrative entity tentatively called the Japan medical research and development agency to promote research and development in the medical field. With creation of the agency, the government aims to unify various systems at different ministries and agencies to support the research and development of medicine.
政府は、医療分野の研究開発を支援するため、独立行政法人「日本医療研究開発機構」を創設することを決めた。各省庁でばらばらだった研究支援体制を一元化する狙いがある。
The agency is called the Japanese version of the U.S. National Institutes of Health because it is being modeled on the U.S. organization, which leads the world in medical research and the creation of new drugs. The government plans to submit related bills to the current ordinary Diet session and to launch the new agency in April 2015.
世界の医学研究や創薬をリードする米国の国立衛生研究所（ＮＩＨ）をモデルに、「日本版ＮＩＨ」と呼ばれる。政府は関連法案を通常国会に提出し、新法人を２０１５年４月に発足させる方針だ。
The medical field is expected to be a pillar of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s growth strategy. The government must not let the agency become an empty letter but make it a viable organization with power to drive the nation’s growth.
医療分野は成長戦略の柱として期待される。成長の牽引(けんいん)力となるよう、看板倒れに終わらせず、実効性のある組織とすることが肝要である。
The new agency is tasked with managing research and development funds from various ministries and agencies in an integrated fashion, and with distributing them to universities and other research institutes. The agency will give priority to promising fields and provide constant support to them, from basic research to commercialization of products.
新法人は、各省庁の研究開発予算を一括管理し、大学などの研究機関に配分する役割を担う。有望な分野を優先し、基礎研究から製品化までを継続的に支援する。
As the development of induced pluripotent stem cells by Kyoto University Prof. Shinya Yamanaka shows, the level of basic research in the medical field is very high in Japan.
山中伸弥・京都大教授が作製したｉＰＳ細胞（人工多能性幹細胞）に代表されるように、日本の医学の基礎研究レベルは高い。
End sectionalism
Nonetheless, Japan lags behind the United States and European countries in the practical application of medical technology. For instance, imports of medicine and medical equipment exceed exports by about \3 trillion. It is problematic that a gap between basic research and clinical application has prevented companies from converting research results at universities and elsewhere into commercial realities.
ところが、医薬品・医療機器の貿易で約３兆円の輸入超過となるなど、医療技術の実用化では米欧に後れをとっている。
Government support for research and development is sometimes not well coordinated.
基礎研究と臨床応用の間に溝があり、大学などの研究成果が、企業による製品化に結びついていなかったのは問題と言える。
For example, the Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Ministry is in charge of supporting basic research; the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry is in charge of clinical application; and the Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry is in charge of industrialization. The ministries often compete with each other to win budget appropriations for similar research.
研究開発に対する政府の支援は、基礎分野を文部科学省、臨床研究は厚生労働省、産業化は経済産業省がそれぞれ担当し、時にちぐはぐだ。類似研究に各省が予算を奪い合うケースも多い。
To help the new agency function appropriately, it is essential to end sectionalism among ministries and agencies, and to make their support for research and development more efficient.
新法人を十分機能させるためには、まず省庁の縦割りをなくし、効率化を図ることが不可欠だ。
The new agency will be staffed by medical and pharmaceutical experts from the private sector, but it will not be easy to secure such people.
新法人の職員は、医療や薬学の民間の専門家などで構成される予定だ。人材確保が難題である。
They will have to exercise good judgment in selecting research subjects with potential, and in connecting research institutes and companies to realize their product development.
将来性の高い研究領域を見極め、製品開発に向けて研究機関と企業をどう結びつけるか。「目利き力」が求められよう。
There is a mountain of issues to be tackled jointly by the industrial, government and academic sectors. The creation of the Japanese version of the NIH is just a start.
産官学で取り組むべき課題は山積している。日本版ＮＩＨの創設はスタートに過ぎない。
While seeking to change the mindset of university researchers, who tend to overemphasize basic research, the government also should help accelerate the nurturing of start-ups that tackle the development of innovative technology with a high risk of failure.
基礎研究を偏重しがちな大学の研究者の意識改革を進めるとともに、失敗のリスクが大きい革新的な技術開発を手がけるベンチャー企業の育成も急ぐべきだ。
We expect the government to build a system together with all the related sectors in Japan to increase the nation’s international competitiveness in the medical field by developing the Japanese version of NIH into a major, solid organization.
政府は、日本版ＮＩＨを大きく育てて、オールジャパンで医療分野の国際競争力を高める体制を築いてもらいたい。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 26, 2014)
（2014年1月26日01時11分 読売新聞）
2014年01月27日
東京五輪組織委 オールジャパンで祭典準備を
The Yomiuri Shimbun January 26, 2014
Efforts of entire nation necessary to prepare for successful 2020 Games
東京五輪組織委 オールジャパンで祭典準備を（1月25日付・読売社説）
The organizing committee for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics, which was launched Friday, will promote preparations in coordination with the International Olympic Committee.
２０２０年東京五輪・パラリンピックの運営母体となる大会組織委員会が発足した。
今後、国際オリンピック委員会（ＩＯＣ）と調整を図りながら、開催準備を進めていくことになる。
The efforts of the entire nation will be needed to make the Games successful, involving the government, the Tokyo metropolitan government, the Japanese Olympic Committee and business circles.
政府、東京都、日本オリンピック委員会（ＪＯＣ）、経済界が一体となったオールジャパンの準備体制を築き、大会を成功に導かねばならない。
Former Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori was named head of the organizing committee. Mori, who also serves as head of the Japan Sports Association and Japan Rugby Football Union, has a wide range of personal connections in the sports world. He must take full advantage of these connections to facilitate communication within the organizing committee.
組織委の会長には、森元首相が就任した。森氏は、日本体育協会、日本ラグビー協会の会長を務めるなど、スポーツ界全般にも幅広い人脈を持つ。それをフルに生かし、組織委内の意思疎通を図ってもらいたい。
The committee will be tasked with working out basic organizing plans by February next year and will take the lead in implementing those plans. It will also undertake public relations activities.
組織委は来年２月までに開催基本計画をまとめ、計画遂行の指揮を執る。ＰＲ活動も展開する。
To secure the \300 billion in management funds needed to pay for the Olympics and Paralympics up through their conclusion six years from now, it is necessary to seek sponsorship fees and donations from as many companies as possible. Toyota Motor Corp. President Akio Toyoda, who has been informally appointed as vice head of the organizing committee, will have to display his ability in this regard.
６年後の大会終了までに必要な運営費３０００億円を確保するため、多くの企業からスポンサー料や寄付金を募る必要がある。副会長に内定した豊田章男トヨタ自動車社長の手腕に期待がかかる。
Toshiro Muto, a former administrative vice finance minister, has assumed the post of secretary general in charge of supervising the practical business aspects of the Games. It will be vital for him to keep in mind the need to use the limited fiscal resources effectively.
実務を取り仕切る事務総長には、元財務次官の武藤敏郎氏が就いた。限られた財源の有効活用に留意することが肝要だ。
Effective use of funds vital
The construction costs for the new National Stadium, which will be built with an injection of funds from state coffers, were initially estimated at \130 billion. But it was later found that the cost would balloon to \300 billion if the stadium was constructed based on the chosen design. Faced with criticism that this was excessive, the amount was reduced to \170 billion by adopting such measures as downsizing the total floor space.
国費を投入する新国立競技場の建設費は当初、１３００億円とされたが、デザイン通りに建設すると３０００億円にまで膨らむことが分かった。巨大過ぎるとの批判も高まり、延べ床面積の縮小などで１７００億円に圧縮した。
If such over-optimistic estimations occur again, people may come to distrust the entire organizing plan.
こうした甘い見積もりを繰り返せば、開催計画全体への不信感が広がるだろう。
In line with a contract signed with the IOC, it was decided to launch the organizing committee by early February.
大会組織委については、２月初めまでに発足させることが、ＩＯＣとの契約で決まっていた。
The committee’s inauguration came just days before the deadline. It was delayed until Friday due to the scandal involving former Tokyo Gov. Naoki Inose. The governor was supposed to participate in discussions on selecting the organizing committee’s chief, but the choice was made without him as a result of his unexpected resignation.
ぎりぎりのスタートとなったのは、猪瀬直樹・前都知事の不祥事が影響したためだ。都知事は組織委会長の人選を協議する役割を担っていたが、不在のまま会長が決まる想定外の事態となった。
A Tokyo governor bears a heavy responsibility in the organizing committee. The new governor to be elected in voting on Feb. 9 will serve as a member of the coordination conference along with Mori, Olympic minister Hakubun Shimomura and JOC President Tsunekazu Takeda, among others, to coordinate important matters.
組織委においても、都知事の責任は重い。２月９日投票の都知事選で選ばれる新知事は、森会長、下村五輪相、竹田恒和・ＪＯＣ会長らとともに、「調整会議」のメンバーとして、大会運営に関わる重要事項の調整にあたる。
The new governor also needs to take responsibility over the use of \400 billion in funds held by the metropolitan government for construction of athletic facilities. In preparation for the Paralympics, it will also be necessary to build more barrier-free facilities in central Tokyo.
競技場建設のために都が保有している４０００億円の基金の使途にも、責任を持つ必要がある。パラリンピックに備え、都心のバリアフリー化の推進も課題だ。
To ensure the smooth management of events, seeking to secure a stable supply of cheap electric power is also a major task for the governor as head of the host city.
大会の円滑な運営のためには、開催都市のトップとして、安価な電力の安定的な確保に努めることも、重要な責務である。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 25, 2014)
（2014年1月25日01時45分 読売新聞）
Efforts of entire nation necessary to prepare for successful 2020 Games
東京五輪組織委 オールジャパンで祭典準備を（1月25日付・読売社説）
The organizing committee for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics, which was launched Friday, will promote preparations in coordination with the International Olympic Committee.
２０２０年東京五輪・パラリンピックの運営母体となる大会組織委員会が発足した。
今後、国際オリンピック委員会（ＩＯＣ）と調整を図りながら、開催準備を進めていくことになる。
The efforts of the entire nation will be needed to make the Games successful, involving the government, the Tokyo metropolitan government, the Japanese Olympic Committee and business circles.
政府、東京都、日本オリンピック委員会（ＪＯＣ）、経済界が一体となったオールジャパンの準備体制を築き、大会を成功に導かねばならない。
Former Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori was named head of the organizing committee. Mori, who also serves as head of the Japan Sports Association and Japan Rugby Football Union, has a wide range of personal connections in the sports world. He must take full advantage of these connections to facilitate communication within the organizing committee.
組織委の会長には、森元首相が就任した。森氏は、日本体育協会、日本ラグビー協会の会長を務めるなど、スポーツ界全般にも幅広い人脈を持つ。それをフルに生かし、組織委内の意思疎通を図ってもらいたい。
The committee will be tasked with working out basic organizing plans by February next year and will take the lead in implementing those plans. It will also undertake public relations activities.
組織委は来年２月までに開催基本計画をまとめ、計画遂行の指揮を執る。ＰＲ活動も展開する。
To secure the \300 billion in management funds needed to pay for the Olympics and Paralympics up through their conclusion six years from now, it is necessary to seek sponsorship fees and donations from as many companies as possible. Toyota Motor Corp. President Akio Toyoda, who has been informally appointed as vice head of the organizing committee, will have to display his ability in this regard.
６年後の大会終了までに必要な運営費３０００億円を確保するため、多くの企業からスポンサー料や寄付金を募る必要がある。副会長に内定した豊田章男トヨタ自動車社長の手腕に期待がかかる。
Toshiro Muto, a former administrative vice finance minister, has assumed the post of secretary general in charge of supervising the practical business aspects of the Games. It will be vital for him to keep in mind the need to use the limited fiscal resources effectively.
実務を取り仕切る事務総長には、元財務次官の武藤敏郎氏が就いた。限られた財源の有効活用に留意することが肝要だ。
Effective use of funds vital
The construction costs for the new National Stadium, which will be built with an injection of funds from state coffers, were initially estimated at \130 billion. But it was later found that the cost would balloon to \300 billion if the stadium was constructed based on the chosen design. Faced with criticism that this was excessive, the amount was reduced to \170 billion by adopting such measures as downsizing the total floor space.
国費を投入する新国立競技場の建設費は当初、１３００億円とされたが、デザイン通りに建設すると３０００億円にまで膨らむことが分かった。巨大過ぎるとの批判も高まり、延べ床面積の縮小などで１７００億円に圧縮した。
If such over-optimistic estimations occur again, people may come to distrust the entire organizing plan.
こうした甘い見積もりを繰り返せば、開催計画全体への不信感が広がるだろう。
In line with a contract signed with the IOC, it was decided to launch the organizing committee by early February.
大会組織委については、２月初めまでに発足させることが、ＩＯＣとの契約で決まっていた。
The committee’s inauguration came just days before the deadline. It was delayed until Friday due to the scandal involving former Tokyo Gov. Naoki Inose. The governor was supposed to participate in discussions on selecting the organizing committee’s chief, but the choice was made without him as a result of his unexpected resignation.
ぎりぎりのスタートとなったのは、猪瀬直樹・前都知事の不祥事が影響したためだ。都知事は組織委会長の人選を協議する役割を担っていたが、不在のまま会長が決まる想定外の事態となった。
A Tokyo governor bears a heavy responsibility in the organizing committee. The new governor to be elected in voting on Feb. 9 will serve as a member of the coordination conference along with Mori, Olympic minister Hakubun Shimomura and JOC President Tsunekazu Takeda, among others, to coordinate important matters.
組織委においても、都知事の責任は重い。２月９日投票の都知事選で選ばれる新知事は、森会長、下村五輪相、竹田恒和・ＪＯＣ会長らとともに、「調整会議」のメンバーとして、大会運営に関わる重要事項の調整にあたる。
The new governor also needs to take responsibility over the use of \400 billion in funds held by the metropolitan government for construction of athletic facilities. In preparation for the Paralympics, it will also be necessary to build more barrier-free facilities in central Tokyo.
競技場建設のために都が保有している４０００億円の基金の使途にも、責任を持つ必要がある。パラリンピックに備え、都心のバリアフリー化の推進も課題だ。
To ensure the smooth management of events, seeking to secure a stable supply of cheap electric power is also a major task for the governor as head of the host city.
大会の円滑な運営のためには、開催都市のトップとして、安価な電力の安定的な確保に努めることも、重要な責務である。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 25, 2014)
（2014年1月25日01時45分 読売新聞）
2014年01月26日
シリア国際会議 和平への道筋は見えてくるか
The Yomiuri Shimbun January 24, 2014
Will international efforts bring hope of achieving peace in war-torn Syria?
シリア国際会議 和平への道筋は見えてくるか（1月24日付・読売社説）
Will prospects emerge of stopping the bloodshed in Syria?
流血を止める道筋は見えてくるのだろうか。
An international, ministerial-level conference on ending the civil war in Syria was held Wednesday and Thursday in Montreux, Switzerland.
シリア内戦の終結を目指す国際和平会議の閣僚級協議が、スイス・モントルーで行われた。
After nearly three years of bloodshed, the conference brought representatives of Syrian President Bashar Assad’s administration and antiregime forces to the negotiating table for the first time. This must be used as a chance to work toward realizing peace.
３年近い内戦を通じてアサド政権と反体制派が話し合いのテーブルにつくのは初めてだ。和平に向けた節目としたい。
The conference was held under the auspices of the United Nations, with representatives attending from more than 40 countries, including Japan and the United States, and international organizations. Based on the agreement hammered out by the countries involved in the 2012 Geneva talks, the participants discussed the establishment of a transitional government that would include antiregime forces.
国連主催の協議には、日米など４０余りの国や国際機関の代表が参加した。２０１２年にジュネーブで開かれた関係国会合の合意に基づき、反体制派を含む移行政府の樹立を話し合った。
But the ministerial conference saw the differing views of representatives from the Assad administration and the National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces, as they criticized each other while dragging in other participants. This may underscore the grim prospects ahead.
だが、閣僚級協議は、政権と反体制派代表の「国民連合」の主張がかみ合わず、他の出席者も巻き込んだ非難の応酬に終始した。前途の険しさを示したと言える。
Branding the civil war as a “battle against terrorism,” Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Moallem aggressively criticized the opposition forces. One factor behind his hard-line stance could be the strengthening of the country’s diplomatic position due to its cooperation in relinquishing chemical weapons and the fact that government forces have been maintaining superiority on the battlefield. Russia supported the position of the Assad government.
シリア外相は、内戦を「テロとの戦い」と位置づけ、強気の姿勢で反体制派を非難した。化学兵器廃棄に協力していることで外交的立場が強まり、戦場でも優勢を保っているからだろう。ロシアも政権の擁護に回った。
Split over Assad exit
The president of the National Coalition, on the other hand, called for the exit of Assad and the establishment of a transitional government afterward. However, the coalition has not been able to bring together the antiregime forces, with groups under its umbrella leaving one after another. The international community’s confidence in the coalition is limited.
これに対し、国民連合議長は、アサド大統領退陣を訴え、その上で移行政府を樹立すべきだと主張した。ただ、国民連合は、傘下組織の離反が相次いで、反体制派をまとめ切れていない。国際社会の信頼も限定的だ。
The United States sided with the Syrian National Coalition. This came against a backdrop of many countries, including Britain and Japan, endorsing a plan to establish a transitional government including the coalition, but not explicitly calling for the ouster of Assad.
今回の協議で、米国は国民連合に同調した。英国や日本のように国民連合を含む移行政府樹立を支持しつつも、アサド退陣を明示的には求めない国も多かった。
The death toll from the Syrian civil war has topped 120,000, and about 9 million people have been forced to flee outside the country or become internally displaced. The relevant countries must do more to end the hostilities as early as possible.
内戦の死者は１２万人を超え、約９００万人が、難民や国内避難民となっている。この危機を一刻も早く終わらせるため、関係各国はさらに努力せねばならない。
Taking advantage of the turmoil, radical Islam groups related to the Al-Qaida international terrorist organization have been ramping up their influence, complicating the situation further.
混乱に乗じ、国際テロ組織アル・カーイダ系のイスラム過激派武装勢力が影響力を増していることも情勢を一層複雑化している。
The Assad administration and the National Coalition are scheduled to hold direct negotiations in Geneva, following the just-ended ministerial conference in Switzerland.
アサド政権と国民連合は、閣僚級協議に続き、ジュネーブで直接交渉を行う予定だ。
Of note is the fact that the foreign ministers of the United States and Russia have proposed a ceasefire limited to Syria’s northern province of Aleppo. The United Nations will work on the two warring groups to accept the proposal in their direct talks.
注目されるのは、米露外相が、北部アレッポに限定した停戦を提案していることである。国連は直接交渉で、政権と国民連合双方に、提案受け入れを働きかける。
The negotiations are certain to face rough going. But if at least a partial ceasefire can be realized, it will become possible for humanitarian assistance to be delivered to inhabitants in the regions where the conflict is taking place. Full efforts must be made to build a consensus on the matter.
交渉は難航確実だが、部分停戦でも実現できれば、紛争地の住民に人道支援を届けられる。合意形成に全力を挙げてもらいたい。
In the ministerial conference, Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida talked about Japan’s efforts to bolster assistance to refugees, and Japan announced humanitarian aid of $400 million (about \42 billion). Japan’s contribution toward the stabilization of Syria will continue to be called for.
閣僚級協議には岸田外相が出席し、難民支援などへの取り組みを強化していると述べた。日本の表明した人道支援額は、合計４億ドル（約４２０億円）に上る。今後もシリアの安定に向け、日本のできる貢献が問われ続けよう。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 24, 2014)
（2014年1月24日01時27分 読売新聞）
Will international efforts bring hope of achieving peace in war-torn Syria?
シリア国際会議 和平への道筋は見えてくるか（1月24日付・読売社説）
Will prospects emerge of stopping the bloodshed in Syria?
流血を止める道筋は見えてくるのだろうか。
An international, ministerial-level conference on ending the civil war in Syria was held Wednesday and Thursday in Montreux, Switzerland.
シリア内戦の終結を目指す国際和平会議の閣僚級協議が、スイス・モントルーで行われた。
After nearly three years of bloodshed, the conference brought representatives of Syrian President Bashar Assad’s administration and antiregime forces to the negotiating table for the first time. This must be used as a chance to work toward realizing peace.
３年近い内戦を通じてアサド政権と反体制派が話し合いのテーブルにつくのは初めてだ。和平に向けた節目としたい。
The conference was held under the auspices of the United Nations, with representatives attending from more than 40 countries, including Japan and the United States, and international organizations. Based on the agreement hammered out by the countries involved in the 2012 Geneva talks, the participants discussed the establishment of a transitional government that would include antiregime forces.
国連主催の協議には、日米など４０余りの国や国際機関の代表が参加した。２０１２年にジュネーブで開かれた関係国会合の合意に基づき、反体制派を含む移行政府の樹立を話し合った。
But the ministerial conference saw the differing views of representatives from the Assad administration and the National Coalition for Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces, as they criticized each other while dragging in other participants. This may underscore the grim prospects ahead.
だが、閣僚級協議は、政権と反体制派代表の「国民連合」の主張がかみ合わず、他の出席者も巻き込んだ非難の応酬に終始した。前途の険しさを示したと言える。
Branding the civil war as a “battle against terrorism,” Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Moallem aggressively criticized the opposition forces. One factor behind his hard-line stance could be the strengthening of the country’s diplomatic position due to its cooperation in relinquishing chemical weapons and the fact that government forces have been maintaining superiority on the battlefield. Russia supported the position of the Assad government.
シリア外相は、内戦を「テロとの戦い」と位置づけ、強気の姿勢で反体制派を非難した。化学兵器廃棄に協力していることで外交的立場が強まり、戦場でも優勢を保っているからだろう。ロシアも政権の擁護に回った。
Split over Assad exit
The president of the National Coalition, on the other hand, called for the exit of Assad and the establishment of a transitional government afterward. However, the coalition has not been able to bring together the antiregime forces, with groups under its umbrella leaving one after another. The international community’s confidence in the coalition is limited.
これに対し、国民連合議長は、アサド大統領退陣を訴え、その上で移行政府を樹立すべきだと主張した。ただ、国民連合は、傘下組織の離反が相次いで、反体制派をまとめ切れていない。国際社会の信頼も限定的だ。
The United States sided with the Syrian National Coalition. This came against a backdrop of many countries, including Britain and Japan, endorsing a plan to establish a transitional government including the coalition, but not explicitly calling for the ouster of Assad.
今回の協議で、米国は国民連合に同調した。英国や日本のように国民連合を含む移行政府樹立を支持しつつも、アサド退陣を明示的には求めない国も多かった。
The death toll from the Syrian civil war has topped 120,000, and about 9 million people have been forced to flee outside the country or become internally displaced. The relevant countries must do more to end the hostilities as early as possible.
内戦の死者は１２万人を超え、約９００万人が、難民や国内避難民となっている。この危機を一刻も早く終わらせるため、関係各国はさらに努力せねばならない。
Taking advantage of the turmoil, radical Islam groups related to the Al-Qaida international terrorist organization have been ramping up their influence, complicating the situation further.
混乱に乗じ、国際テロ組織アル・カーイダ系のイスラム過激派武装勢力が影響力を増していることも情勢を一層複雑化している。
The Assad administration and the National Coalition are scheduled to hold direct negotiations in Geneva, following the just-ended ministerial conference in Switzerland.
アサド政権と国民連合は、閣僚級協議に続き、ジュネーブで直接交渉を行う予定だ。
Of note is the fact that the foreign ministers of the United States and Russia have proposed a ceasefire limited to Syria’s northern province of Aleppo. The United Nations will work on the two warring groups to accept the proposal in their direct talks.
注目されるのは、米露外相が、北部アレッポに限定した停戦を提案していることである。国連は直接交渉で、政権と国民連合双方に、提案受け入れを働きかける。
The negotiations are certain to face rough going. But if at least a partial ceasefire can be realized, it will become possible for humanitarian assistance to be delivered to inhabitants in the regions where the conflict is taking place. Full efforts must be made to build a consensus on the matter.
交渉は難航確実だが、部分停戦でも実現できれば、紛争地の住民に人道支援を届けられる。合意形成に全力を挙げてもらいたい。
In the ministerial conference, Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida talked about Japan’s efforts to bolster assistance to refugees, and Japan announced humanitarian aid of $400 million (about \42 billion). Japan’s contribution toward the stabilization of Syria will continue to be called for.
閣僚級協議には岸田外相が出席し、難民支援などへの取り組みを強化していると述べた。日本の表明した人道支援額は、合計４億ドル（約４２０億円）に上る。今後もシリアの安定に向け、日本のできる貢献が問われ続けよう。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 24, 2014)
（2014年1月24日01時27分 読売新聞）
2014年01月25日
米情報機関改革 「盗聴」で問われた監視体制
The Yomiuri Shimbun January 23, 2014
U.S. surveillance system questioned as a result of widespread wiretapping
米情報機関改革 「盗聴」で問われた監視体制（1月23日付・読売社説）
How should national security and privacy protection be made compatible with each other? The effectiveness of the U.S. intelligence and surveillance system is being questioned.
安全保障とプライバシー保護をどう両立させるか。米情報監視体制の実効性が問われている。
U.S. President Barack Obama has recently announced a reform plan for his country’s intelligence gathering activities by the National Security Agency.
米国のオバマ大統領が国家安全保障局（ＮＳＡ）による情報収集活動の改革案を発表した。
The plan includes policies of reinforcing oversight of intelligence collection, enhancing the transparency of such activities, and of not wiretapping, in principle, the phones of leaders of nations that are U.S. allies and friends.
改革案は、情報収集活動に対する監視を強化し、活動の透明性を高めることや、同盟国や友好国の首脳への通信監視を原則として行わない方針などを盛り込んだ。
The NSA’s primary duties are to monitor telecommunication data. As a result of classified U.S. documents being taken by a former Central Intelligence Agency employee, however, the NSA was revealed to be involved in widespread bugging and the collection of a vast amount of phone and Internet data. This has drawn strong criticism both at home and abroad.
ＮＳＡは通信傍受を主任務とするが、元中央情報局（ＣＩＡ）職員が持ち出した機密文書により、大がかりな盗聴や通信記録の収集の実態が暴露され、国内外から激しい批判を浴びた。
The revelations of the collection of phone and e-mail data from leaders of foreign countries, including U.S. allies such as German Chancellor Angela Merkel, have developed into a diplomatic issue.
同盟関係を結ぶドイツのメルケル首相ら外国首脳の携帯電話や電子メールを傍受していたとされたことは、外交問題に発展した。
The latest reforms spelled out by Obama are reasonable for Washington to recover the trust of the international community.
国際社会で米国への信頼を取り戻すために、オバマ氏の打ち出した改革は妥当だろう。
Needless to say, the discontinuation of U.S. intelligence collection from foreign leaders does not mean they will no longer be monitored by foreign intelligence. Allied nations are required to establish their own counterespionage system.
もとより、ドイツなどの首脳にとって、米国が通信監視をやめても、他国からの監視がなくなるわけではない。同盟国にも独自の防諜(ぼうちょう)体制の確立が求められる。
The vast amount of phone data collected within the United States and kept by the NSA included records of telephone numbers and the dates of phone conversations. Lawsuits have already been filed by people who claim the U.S. intelligence program collecting phone data from U.S. citizens was excessive.
ＮＳＡが米国内で収集し、保管している膨大な電話通話記録は、電話番号や通話日時を記したものだ。米国では、政府の市民に対する情報収集は行き過ぎだとして、すでに訴訟も起きている。
Wiretapping to continue
It was reasonable of Obama to unveil a policy of not having phone conversation data kept within the government and instead commissioning it to an outside organization to prevent the collected data from being abused.
政府が記録を乱用するのを防止するために、オバマ氏が通話記録を政府内で保管せずに、外部の機関に保管を委託する方針を示したのはもっともである。
On the other hand, Obama has made clear that wiretapping activities will continue as part of the NSA’s intelligence activities.
一方、オバマ氏は、ＮＳＡの情報収集活動として通信傍受は今後も継続する、と明言した。
It cannot be denied that wiretapping has become more important in preventing terrorism and cyberattacks since the terror attacks on the United States on Sept. 11, 2001. Obama should be praised for making clear his determination to continue U.S. intelligence activities, if only with certain rules established for privacy protection.
２００１年の米同時テロ以降、テロやサイバー攻撃阻止のために通信傍受の役割が重要性を増しているのは間違いない。プライバシー保護のために一定のルールを設けて、情報機関の活動を続ける決意を示したのは、評価できる。
The massive data collected by the U.S. intelligence organizations also contributes to the national security of foreign countries.
米国の収集した情報は、他国の安全保障にも役立っている。
The future task for U.S. intelligence organizations, such as the NSA, could be the prevention of such incidents as the leakage of classified documents by the former CIA employee, which prompted the Obama administration to reform the intelligence program in the first place.
ＮＳＡなど米情報機関にとっての今後の課題は、改革の契機ともなった、元ＣＩＡ職員による機密文書流出のような事件の再発を防ぐことだろう。
Some people in the United States say the former CIA employee should be treated as a whistle-blower, rather than a criminal. It should be reviewed whether there are weaknesses in the U.S. intelligence and security system itself.
米国内には、元職員を犯罪者というより、内部告発者として扱うべきだとの声もある。情報保全体制に不備な点があるかどうか、検証すべきである。
Japan, which exchanges information with U.S. intelligence organizations, also needs to protect top secret data. The development of a relevant framework under the special state secret protection law should be the first step forward to that end.
米情報機関と情報交換を行う日本にも、機密保護が求められる。特定秘密保護法による体制作りをその第一歩としたい。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 23, 2014)
（2014年1月23日01時52分 読売新聞）
U.S. surveillance system questioned as a result of widespread wiretapping
米情報機関改革 「盗聴」で問われた監視体制（1月23日付・読売社説）
How should national security and privacy protection be made compatible with each other? The effectiveness of the U.S. intelligence and surveillance system is being questioned.
安全保障とプライバシー保護をどう両立させるか。米情報監視体制の実効性が問われている。
U.S. President Barack Obama has recently announced a reform plan for his country’s intelligence gathering activities by the National Security Agency.
米国のオバマ大統領が国家安全保障局（ＮＳＡ）による情報収集活動の改革案を発表した。
The plan includes policies of reinforcing oversight of intelligence collection, enhancing the transparency of such activities, and of not wiretapping, in principle, the phones of leaders of nations that are U.S. allies and friends.
改革案は、情報収集活動に対する監視を強化し、活動の透明性を高めることや、同盟国や友好国の首脳への通信監視を原則として行わない方針などを盛り込んだ。
The NSA’s primary duties are to monitor telecommunication data. As a result of classified U.S. documents being taken by a former Central Intelligence Agency employee, however, the NSA was revealed to be involved in widespread bugging and the collection of a vast amount of phone and Internet data. This has drawn strong criticism both at home and abroad.
ＮＳＡは通信傍受を主任務とするが、元中央情報局（ＣＩＡ）職員が持ち出した機密文書により、大がかりな盗聴や通信記録の収集の実態が暴露され、国内外から激しい批判を浴びた。
The revelations of the collection of phone and e-mail data from leaders of foreign countries, including U.S. allies such as German Chancellor Angela Merkel, have developed into a diplomatic issue.
同盟関係を結ぶドイツのメルケル首相ら外国首脳の携帯電話や電子メールを傍受していたとされたことは、外交問題に発展した。
The latest reforms spelled out by Obama are reasonable for Washington to recover the trust of the international community.
国際社会で米国への信頼を取り戻すために、オバマ氏の打ち出した改革は妥当だろう。
Needless to say, the discontinuation of U.S. intelligence collection from foreign leaders does not mean they will no longer be monitored by foreign intelligence. Allied nations are required to establish their own counterespionage system.
もとより、ドイツなどの首脳にとって、米国が通信監視をやめても、他国からの監視がなくなるわけではない。同盟国にも独自の防諜(ぼうちょう)体制の確立が求められる。
The vast amount of phone data collected within the United States and kept by the NSA included records of telephone numbers and the dates of phone conversations. Lawsuits have already been filed by people who claim the U.S. intelligence program collecting phone data from U.S. citizens was excessive.
ＮＳＡが米国内で収集し、保管している膨大な電話通話記録は、電話番号や通話日時を記したものだ。米国では、政府の市民に対する情報収集は行き過ぎだとして、すでに訴訟も起きている。
Wiretapping to continue
It was reasonable of Obama to unveil a policy of not having phone conversation data kept within the government and instead commissioning it to an outside organization to prevent the collected data from being abused.
政府が記録を乱用するのを防止するために、オバマ氏が通話記録を政府内で保管せずに、外部の機関に保管を委託する方針を示したのはもっともである。
On the other hand, Obama has made clear that wiretapping activities will continue as part of the NSA’s intelligence activities.
一方、オバマ氏は、ＮＳＡの情報収集活動として通信傍受は今後も継続する、と明言した。
It cannot be denied that wiretapping has become more important in preventing terrorism and cyberattacks since the terror attacks on the United States on Sept. 11, 2001. Obama should be praised for making clear his determination to continue U.S. intelligence activities, if only with certain rules established for privacy protection.
２００１年の米同時テロ以降、テロやサイバー攻撃阻止のために通信傍受の役割が重要性を増しているのは間違いない。プライバシー保護のために一定のルールを設けて、情報機関の活動を続ける決意を示したのは、評価できる。
The massive data collected by the U.S. intelligence organizations also contributes to the national security of foreign countries.
米国の収集した情報は、他国の安全保障にも役立っている。
The future task for U.S. intelligence organizations, such as the NSA, could be the prevention of such incidents as the leakage of classified documents by the former CIA employee, which prompted the Obama administration to reform the intelligence program in the first place.
ＮＳＡなど米情報機関にとっての今後の課題は、改革の契機ともなった、元ＣＩＡ職員による機密文書流出のような事件の再発を防ぐことだろう。
Some people in the United States say the former CIA employee should be treated as a whistle-blower, rather than a criminal. It should be reviewed whether there are weaknesses in the U.S. intelligence and security system itself.
米国内には、元職員を犯罪者というより、内部告発者として扱うべきだとの声もある。情報保全体制に不備な点があるかどうか、検証すべきである。
Japan, which exchanges information with U.S. intelligence organizations, also needs to protect top secret data. The development of a relevant framework under the special state secret protection law should be the first step forward to that end.
米情報機関と情報交換を行う日本にも、機密保護が求められる。特定秘密保護法による体制作りをその第一歩としたい。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 23, 2014)
（2014年1月23日01時52分 読売新聞）