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2013年09月09日
Ｇ２０シリア問題 攻撃巡る米露対立が際立った
The Yomiuri Shimbun September 8, 2013
U.S.-Russia differences over Syria overshadow G-20 summit meeting
Ｇ２０シリア問題 攻撃巡る米露対立が際立った（9月7日付・読売社説）
If no military action is taken against Syria, the use of chemical weapons against people—a grave crime—will go unaddressed. However, carrying out military strikes could make the Syrian situation even more chaotic.
シリアを攻撃しなければ、化学兵器使用という大罪を見過ごすことになる。攻撃すれば、混乱が広がりかねない。
During a summit meeting of the Group of 20 developed and developing economies in St. Petersburg, the United States and Russia, which have expressed conflicting views over a possible response to Syria’s use of chemical weapons, tried various ways to obtain backing for their stances from other countries.
ロシア・サンクトペテルブルクでの主要２０か国・地域首脳会議（Ｇ２０サミット）は、シリア問題を巡り米露両国が相反する主張を掲げて、多数派工作を行う異例の展開となった。
U.S. President Barack Obama, who has expressed his determination to carry out limited military strikes against the administration of Syrian President Bashar Assad, called the use of chemical weapons “a tragedy” and a violation of international law.
アサド政権への限定的攻撃を決断しているオバマ米大統領は、化学兵器の使用が「悲劇」であり、国際法に違反していると訴えた。
Russian President Vladimir Putin, who acts as Syria’s protector, countered that there is no evidence that Damascus used chemical weapons.
シリアの後見役であるプーチン露大統領は、政権側による使用を断定する証拠がないと反論した。
The use of chemical arms is clearly unacceptable on humanitarian grounds. Syria’s civil war has taken more than 100,000 lives, and Assad bears the blame for worsening the strife. The international community should not idly stand by.
化学兵器の使用が人道上許されないのは自明だ。まして、内戦の死者は１０万人を上回る。事態悪化の責任はアサド大統領にある。国際社会は無為ではいられない。
However, Obama has struggled to expand support for his position. France is the only major country that has backed a military response to Syria’s behavior. A joint statement adopted by G-20 leaders did not refer to Syria, and even the prospects of a resolution by the U.S. Congress to authorize the strikes remain uncertain.
だが、オバマ氏への支持は依然、広がりを欠く。主要国で攻撃参加を表明したのはフランスだけだ。Ｇ２０サミットで採択された首脳宣言にもシリアへの言及はなかった。米議会ですら攻撃承認の決議案を可決するかどうか不透明だ。
Concerns over extremists
This is probably due to the uncertainty about future developments in Syria if military action is taken. A limited military operation could punish Syria for the use of chemical weapons, but it is unlikely to deal a significant blow to the Assad regime. Some are concerned that the military intervention could destabilize the country further if Assad and his loyalists fight back.
攻撃後、シリア情勢がどうなるのか、見通せないからだろう。限定的攻撃は、化学兵器使用の懲罰にはなっても、アサド政権の軍事力に大きな打撃は与えられまい。政権側の反撃で、情勢が一層不安定になることも懸念される。
The goal of ousting Assad, which Japan, the United States and European countries have sought, is nowhere in sight. As rebels fighting the Assad government remain divided, anti-U.S. Islamist extremists could increase their influence amid the confusion.
日本や米欧が求めるアサド氏退陣への道筋も見えてこない。反体制派にはまとまりがなく、混乱に乗じ、反米的なイスラム過激派が勢力を増す恐れがある。
How should the international community deal with Syria to solve the problem? The United States has been urged to implement a comprehensive strategy based on both political and military perspectives.
今後、シリアにどう関与し、事態を収拾するのか。米国に問われているのは、軍事、政治両面にわたる総合的な戦略と言える。
Russia and China have used their vetoes to block U.N. Security Council resolutions condemning the Assad government. But in the meantime, the countries have failed to propose effective measures to end the Syrian civil war. They should fulfill their international responsibility.
国連安全保障理事会で、ロシアは中国とともに拒否権を行使し、アサド政権への非難決議を葬ってきた。内戦収拾への効果的な方策は示していない。国際的な責任を果たすべきだ。
On the sidelines of the G-20 summit, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held a meeting with Obama, during which Abe reportedly said, “The use of chemical weapons is far from acceptable.” Abe also told Obama he fully understands the U.S. president’s position on the Syria issue.
一方、安倍首相はオバマ大統領との会談で、「化学兵器の使用は断じて許されない」と強調した。さらに「大統領の考えは十分理解している」と、表明した。
Abe’s stance that he would not overlook the use of weapons of mass destruction stands to reason.
大量破壊兵器の使用は看過しないとする首相の認識は当然だ。
Japan faces a threat of nuclear and chemical weapons possessed by North Korea, which has military ties with Syria. A failure by the international community to warn the Assad government against using chemical weapons again could send the wrong message to Pyongyang.
日本はシリアと軍事協力関係にある北朝鮮の核と化学兵器の脅威に直面している。国際社会がアサド政権に警告を発し、化学兵器の再使用を防がねば、北朝鮮に誤ったメッセージを送りかねない。
It is vital for Japan to work together with the United States, its only major security ally, and assess changes in the Syrian situation.
日本は、唯一の同盟国である米国と連携し、情勢の変化を見極めることが大切だ。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 7, 2013)
（2013年9月7日02時02分 読売新聞）
U.S.-Russia differences over Syria overshadow G-20 summit meeting
Ｇ２０シリア問題 攻撃巡る米露対立が際立った（9月7日付・読売社説）
If no military action is taken against Syria, the use of chemical weapons against people—a grave crime—will go unaddressed. However, carrying out military strikes could make the Syrian situation even more chaotic.
シリアを攻撃しなければ、化学兵器使用という大罪を見過ごすことになる。攻撃すれば、混乱が広がりかねない。
During a summit meeting of the Group of 20 developed and developing economies in St. Petersburg, the United States and Russia, which have expressed conflicting views over a possible response to Syria’s use of chemical weapons, tried various ways to obtain backing for their stances from other countries.
ロシア・サンクトペテルブルクでの主要２０か国・地域首脳会議（Ｇ２０サミット）は、シリア問題を巡り米露両国が相反する主張を掲げて、多数派工作を行う異例の展開となった。
U.S. President Barack Obama, who has expressed his determination to carry out limited military strikes against the administration of Syrian President Bashar Assad, called the use of chemical weapons “a tragedy” and a violation of international law.
アサド政権への限定的攻撃を決断しているオバマ米大統領は、化学兵器の使用が「悲劇」であり、国際法に違反していると訴えた。
Russian President Vladimir Putin, who acts as Syria’s protector, countered that there is no evidence that Damascus used chemical weapons.
シリアの後見役であるプーチン露大統領は、政権側による使用を断定する証拠がないと反論した。
The use of chemical arms is clearly unacceptable on humanitarian grounds. Syria’s civil war has taken more than 100,000 lives, and Assad bears the blame for worsening the strife. The international community should not idly stand by.
化学兵器の使用が人道上許されないのは自明だ。まして、内戦の死者は１０万人を上回る。事態悪化の責任はアサド大統領にある。国際社会は無為ではいられない。
However, Obama has struggled to expand support for his position. France is the only major country that has backed a military response to Syria’s behavior. A joint statement adopted by G-20 leaders did not refer to Syria, and even the prospects of a resolution by the U.S. Congress to authorize the strikes remain uncertain.
だが、オバマ氏への支持は依然、広がりを欠く。主要国で攻撃参加を表明したのはフランスだけだ。Ｇ２０サミットで採択された首脳宣言にもシリアへの言及はなかった。米議会ですら攻撃承認の決議案を可決するかどうか不透明だ。
Concerns over extremists
This is probably due to the uncertainty about future developments in Syria if military action is taken. A limited military operation could punish Syria for the use of chemical weapons, but it is unlikely to deal a significant blow to the Assad regime. Some are concerned that the military intervention could destabilize the country further if Assad and his loyalists fight back.
攻撃後、シリア情勢がどうなるのか、見通せないからだろう。限定的攻撃は、化学兵器使用の懲罰にはなっても、アサド政権の軍事力に大きな打撃は与えられまい。政権側の反撃で、情勢が一層不安定になることも懸念される。
The goal of ousting Assad, which Japan, the United States and European countries have sought, is nowhere in sight. As rebels fighting the Assad government remain divided, anti-U.S. Islamist extremists could increase their influence amid the confusion.
日本や米欧が求めるアサド氏退陣への道筋も見えてこない。反体制派にはまとまりがなく、混乱に乗じ、反米的なイスラム過激派が勢力を増す恐れがある。
How should the international community deal with Syria to solve the problem? The United States has been urged to implement a comprehensive strategy based on both political and military perspectives.
今後、シリアにどう関与し、事態を収拾するのか。米国に問われているのは、軍事、政治両面にわたる総合的な戦略と言える。
Russia and China have used their vetoes to block U.N. Security Council resolutions condemning the Assad government. But in the meantime, the countries have failed to propose effective measures to end the Syrian civil war. They should fulfill their international responsibility.
国連安全保障理事会で、ロシアは中国とともに拒否権を行使し、アサド政権への非難決議を葬ってきた。内戦収拾への効果的な方策は示していない。国際的な責任を果たすべきだ。
On the sidelines of the G-20 summit, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe held a meeting with Obama, during which Abe reportedly said, “The use of chemical weapons is far from acceptable.” Abe also told Obama he fully understands the U.S. president’s position on the Syria issue.
一方、安倍首相はオバマ大統領との会談で、「化学兵器の使用は断じて許されない」と強調した。さらに「大統領の考えは十分理解している」と、表明した。
Abe’s stance that he would not overlook the use of weapons of mass destruction stands to reason.
大量破壊兵器の使用は看過しないとする首相の認識は当然だ。
Japan faces a threat of nuclear and chemical weapons possessed by North Korea, which has military ties with Syria. A failure by the international community to warn the Assad government against using chemical weapons again could send the wrong message to Pyongyang.
日本はシリアと軍事協力関係にある北朝鮮の核と化学兵器の脅威に直面している。国際社会がアサド政権に警告を発し、化学兵器の再使用を防がねば、北朝鮮に誤ったメッセージを送りかねない。
It is vital for Japan to work together with the United States, its only major security ally, and assess changes in the Syrian situation.
日本は、唯一の同盟国である米国と連携し、情勢の変化を見極めることが大切だ。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 7, 2013)
（2013年9月7日02時02分 読売新聞）
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2013年09月08日
リーマン５年 新たなリスクに問われる結束
The Yomiuri Shimbun September 8, 2013
G-20 unity needed to tackle new economic challenges
リーマン５年 新たなリスクに問われる結束（9月7日付・読売社説）
The worst is in the past for the world economy, but the recovery lacks vigor. Industrialized and newly emerging economies alike must strengthen cooperation to make economic growth compatible with fiscal reconstruction.
世界経済は最悪期を脱したが、景気回復は力強さを欠く。経済成長と財政再建の両立へ、先進国と新興国は連携を強化する必要がある。
The declaration adopted after the G-20 Leaders’ Summit in Russia stated, “Strengthening growth and creating jobs is our top priority and we are fully committed to taking decisive actions to return to a job-rich, strong, sustainable and balanced growth path.”
Ｇ２０サミットが採択した首脳宣言は、「成長強化と雇用創出を最優先課題」とし、「持続的で均衡ある成長への回帰を目指して断固たる行動を取る」と強調した。
It has been almost exactly five years since the so-called Lehman Shock, triggered by the bankruptcy of major U.S. securities house Lehman Brothers, brought the world to the brink of depression.
米大手証券リーマン・ブラザーズが経営破綻し、世界恐慌の寸前まで陥ったリーマン・ショックから、まもなく５年を迎える。
At the G-20 summit held in November 2008 in the immediate aftermath of the Lehman Shock, Japan, the United States and Europe joined hands with China and other emerging economies and agreed to take all possible measures, such as large-scale stimulus programs and ultraloose monetary policy, to overcome the unprecedented shock.
リーマン・ショック後のＧ２０サミットでは、日米欧と中国など新興国が結束し、大型景気対策や超金融緩和策などの総動員で空前のショックを乗り切った。
Now, however, the G-20 is suffering the aftereffects of those exceptional measures. It should be assumed that difficulties will continue.
だが、Ｇ２０は今、危機克服のための異例の対策がもたらす後遺症に苦しめられている。試練がなお続いていると見るべきだ。
Attention will be focused for the moment on the U.S. Federal Reserve Board, which is expected to soon launch an “exit strategy” of scaling back quantitative monetary easing.
当面の焦点は、米連邦準備制度理事会（ＦＲＢ）が近く、量的緩和策を縮小する「出口戦略」に踏み出しそうなことである。
Investment funds have begun to flow back from emerging economies, including Brazil and India, into the U.S. market in anticipation of hikes in U.S. interest rates.
米金利上昇を先取りする形でブラジル、インドなどの新興国から投機資金が流出し、米国市場に戻る動きがでている。
Inflationary trends have appeared in emerging economies, as their currencies have been rapidly weakening, which causes import prices to rise. Discontent has mounted due to the continued business slowdown. It is feared that deterioration of the business climate in emerging economies will adversely affect industrialized countries.
新興国では急激に通貨安が進み、輸入物価上昇を引き金にしたインフレ傾向が目立つ。景気減速も続いており、不満は高まっている。新興国経済の変調が先進国にも悪影響を及ぼしかねない。
Ripple effects feared
The latest G-20 declaration stated that member nations would take note of negative knock-on effects. Behind this could be their stronger caution toward risks and consideration to emerging economies.
首脳宣言が「負の波及効果に留意する」と明記したのは、こうしたリスクへの警戒感を強め、新興国に配慮したのだろう。
To prevent the world market from falling into chaos, countries must cooperate with each other and pay attention to excessive fund movements.
世界の市場の混乱を回避するため、各国が連携し、行き過ぎた資金移動を注視すべきである。
The European financial crisis, which became more serious following the Lehman Shock, has begun to show signs of coming to a close. But a full-scale recovery is far from expected yet, and close watch still must be kept.
リーマン・ショック後に深刻化した欧州危機は収束の兆しが出てきたが、景気の本格回復にはほど遠く、まだ警戒は怠れない。
Ballooning of fiscal deficits in the G-20 nations is another challenge to tackle. It is natural that the Leaders’ Declaration and the Action Plan emphasized the need to achieve economic growth and fiscal soundness in a balanced manner.
各国の財政赤字拡大も課題といえる。首脳宣言と行動計画が、経済成長と財政健全化を両立させる必要性を強調したのは当然だ。
Attention was focused on Japan, which has the biggest fiscal deficit.
注目されたのは、先進国最悪の財政赤字を抱える日本だった。
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe stressed his determination to end deflation and revitalize the Japanese economy by implementing his Abenomics economic policies and explained about the country’s medium-term fiscal program.
安倍首相は、経済政策「アベノミクス」によって、デフレ脱却と日本経済を再生させる決意を強調し、中期財政計画も説明した。
Other G-20 nations did not make any special requests of Japan, but the country is being tested as to whether it can put words into action.
各国から日本に特に注文はなかったというものの、問われるのは日本の実行力だろう。
Abe will decide in early October whether to raise the consumption tax next spring as scheduled. Japan’s economic revival is largely expected to stimulate the global economy. He is urged to make a judgment while also taking into account the recently intensified Syrian situation.
首相は１０月初めに予定通り来春に消費税率を引き上げるかどうかを決める。日本の経済再生が世界景気に弾みをつけることに期待は大きい。緊迫するシリア情勢も踏まえた判断が求められる。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 7, 2013)
（2013年9月7日02時02分 読売新聞）
G-20 unity needed to tackle new economic challenges
リーマン５年 新たなリスクに問われる結束（9月7日付・読売社説）
The worst is in the past for the world economy, but the recovery lacks vigor. Industrialized and newly emerging economies alike must strengthen cooperation to make economic growth compatible with fiscal reconstruction.
世界経済は最悪期を脱したが、景気回復は力強さを欠く。経済成長と財政再建の両立へ、先進国と新興国は連携を強化する必要がある。
The declaration adopted after the G-20 Leaders’ Summit in Russia stated, “Strengthening growth and creating jobs is our top priority and we are fully committed to taking decisive actions to return to a job-rich, strong, sustainable and balanced growth path.”
Ｇ２０サミットが採択した首脳宣言は、「成長強化と雇用創出を最優先課題」とし、「持続的で均衡ある成長への回帰を目指して断固たる行動を取る」と強調した。
It has been almost exactly five years since the so-called Lehman Shock, triggered by the bankruptcy of major U.S. securities house Lehman Brothers, brought the world to the brink of depression.
米大手証券リーマン・ブラザーズが経営破綻し、世界恐慌の寸前まで陥ったリーマン・ショックから、まもなく５年を迎える。
At the G-20 summit held in November 2008 in the immediate aftermath of the Lehman Shock, Japan, the United States and Europe joined hands with China and other emerging economies and agreed to take all possible measures, such as large-scale stimulus programs and ultraloose monetary policy, to overcome the unprecedented shock.
リーマン・ショック後のＧ２０サミットでは、日米欧と中国など新興国が結束し、大型景気対策や超金融緩和策などの総動員で空前のショックを乗り切った。
Now, however, the G-20 is suffering the aftereffects of those exceptional measures. It should be assumed that difficulties will continue.
だが、Ｇ２０は今、危機克服のための異例の対策がもたらす後遺症に苦しめられている。試練がなお続いていると見るべきだ。
Attention will be focused for the moment on the U.S. Federal Reserve Board, which is expected to soon launch an “exit strategy” of scaling back quantitative monetary easing.
当面の焦点は、米連邦準備制度理事会（ＦＲＢ）が近く、量的緩和策を縮小する「出口戦略」に踏み出しそうなことである。
Investment funds have begun to flow back from emerging economies, including Brazil and India, into the U.S. market in anticipation of hikes in U.S. interest rates.
米金利上昇を先取りする形でブラジル、インドなどの新興国から投機資金が流出し、米国市場に戻る動きがでている。
Inflationary trends have appeared in emerging economies, as their currencies have been rapidly weakening, which causes import prices to rise. Discontent has mounted due to the continued business slowdown. It is feared that deterioration of the business climate in emerging economies will adversely affect industrialized countries.
新興国では急激に通貨安が進み、輸入物価上昇を引き金にしたインフレ傾向が目立つ。景気減速も続いており、不満は高まっている。新興国経済の変調が先進国にも悪影響を及ぼしかねない。
Ripple effects feared
The latest G-20 declaration stated that member nations would take note of negative knock-on effects. Behind this could be their stronger caution toward risks and consideration to emerging economies.
首脳宣言が「負の波及効果に留意する」と明記したのは、こうしたリスクへの警戒感を強め、新興国に配慮したのだろう。
To prevent the world market from falling into chaos, countries must cooperate with each other and pay attention to excessive fund movements.
世界の市場の混乱を回避するため、各国が連携し、行き過ぎた資金移動を注視すべきである。
The European financial crisis, which became more serious following the Lehman Shock, has begun to show signs of coming to a close. But a full-scale recovery is far from expected yet, and close watch still must be kept.
リーマン・ショック後に深刻化した欧州危機は収束の兆しが出てきたが、景気の本格回復にはほど遠く、まだ警戒は怠れない。
Ballooning of fiscal deficits in the G-20 nations is another challenge to tackle. It is natural that the Leaders’ Declaration and the Action Plan emphasized the need to achieve economic growth and fiscal soundness in a balanced manner.
各国の財政赤字拡大も課題といえる。首脳宣言と行動計画が、経済成長と財政健全化を両立させる必要性を強調したのは当然だ。
Attention was focused on Japan, which has the biggest fiscal deficit.
注目されたのは、先進国最悪の財政赤字を抱える日本だった。
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe stressed his determination to end deflation and revitalize the Japanese economy by implementing his Abenomics economic policies and explained about the country’s medium-term fiscal program.
安倍首相は、経済政策「アベノミクス」によって、デフレ脱却と日本経済を再生させる決意を強調し、中期財政計画も説明した。
Other G-20 nations did not make any special requests of Japan, but the country is being tested as to whether it can put words into action.
各国から日本に特に注文はなかったというものの、問われるのは日本の実行力だろう。
Abe will decide in early October whether to raise the consumption tax next spring as scheduled. Japan’s economic revival is largely expected to stimulate the global economy. He is urged to make a judgment while also taking into account the recently intensified Syrian situation.
首相は１０月初めに予定通り来春に消費税率を引き上げるかどうかを決める。日本の経済再生が世界景気に弾みをつけることに期待は大きい。緊迫するシリア情勢も踏まえた判断が求められる。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 7, 2013)
（2013年9月7日02時02分 読売新聞）
2013年09月07日
婚外子相続差別 家族観の変化に沿う違憲判断
The Yomiuri Shimbun September 6, 2013
Top court prioritizes protection of children born out of wedlock
婚外子相続差別 家族観の変化に沿う違憲判断（9月5日付・読売社説）
The latest decision by the Supreme Court is a historic judgement of unconstitutionality that took changes in Japanese family values into consideration.
日本人の家族観の変化を踏まえた歴史的な違憲判断である。
The top court’s Grand Bench reached the decision Wednesday, finding that a provision in the Civil Code stipulating that the inheritance share for a child born to unmarried parents shall be one half of that of a child born in wedlock violates the Constitution, which guarantees “equality under law.”
結婚していない男女間に生まれた非嫡出子（婚外子）の遺産相続分を、結婚した夫婦の子の２分の１とした民法の規定について、最高裁大法廷は「法の下の平等」を保障した憲法に違反するとの決定を出した。
The decision said that reasonable grounds to make such a distinction have been lost.
「区別する合理的な根拠は失われた」との理由からだ。
In 1995 the Supreme Court judged the same Civil Code provision to be constitutional. We think the top court reversed the decision because it seriously considered changes in circumstances surrounding children born out-side of marriage.
最高裁は１９９５年、民法のこの規定を「合憲」と判断した。今回、正反対の結論になったのは、婚外子を巡る状況の移り変わりを重視した結果と言えよう。
According to the decision, the Supreme Court listed conditions to be taken into consideration, including national traditions, social circumstances and public sentiment, in deciding the nation’s inheritance system. On that basis, the Grand Bench said these conditions change with the times, so the rationality of the system should be constantly reviewed.
決定は、相続制度を定める際に考慮すべき要件として、国の伝統、社会事情、国民感情を挙げた。そのうえで、これらの要件は「時代と共に変遷するため、合理性について不断に検討されなければならない」との見解を示した。
What the Supreme Court said is quite natural if we consider the point that the Civil Code is a law closely connected to the daily lives of the people.
民法が国民生活に密接に関わる法律であることを考えれば、当然の指摘である。
In recent years, the number of children born out of wedlock has been increasing. The term “shinguru maza” (single mother) has taken root in society. So-called de facto marriages are not uncommon now and the social view to perceive children born out of wedlock as different has probably withered considerably.
近年、婚外子の出生が増えている。シングルマザーという言葉も定着した。事実婚も珍しくなくなった。婚外子を特別視する風潮は薄れているだろう。
In residence certificate and family register notations describing relationships to the head of the household or parents, the distinction of a child born out of wedlock has already been abolished.
住民票や戸籍の続き柄の表記では、出生による区別が既に廃止されている。
In major Western countries such as the United States and Europe, the abolition of inequalities in inheri-tance has progressed considerably. Japan is the only major advanced nation that still has discriminatory regulation.
欧米では相続格差の撤廃が進み、主要先進国で格差が残っているのは日本だけになっている。
The Supreme Court’s unconstitutionality judgment was made in line with the current international legal climate.
違憲判断は、こうした流れの延長線上に位置づけられよう。
Equality for all children
The distinguishing point of the latest decision is that it strongly reflects the belief that protection of the rights of children born out of wedlock should be considered a top priority.
今回の決定で特徴的なのは、婚外子の権利保護を最優先に考えるべきだという姿勢を色濃くにじませている点だ。
A Cabinet Office opinion poll taken last year revealed that 61 percent of Japanese think children born out of wedlock should not be treated disadvantageously under the law.
内閣府の昨年の世論調査でも、婚外子に対し、法律上、不利益な扱いをしてはならないと考える人は６１％に上っている。
The Supreme Court said in the judgment that children born out of wedlock should not be at a disadvantage as a result of their parents not being married, a situation the children had no control over. We think many people will accept the decision without dis-comfort.
「父母が婚姻関係になかったという、子にとっては自ら選択・修正する余地のない事柄を理由として、その子に不利益を及ぼすことは許されない」。最高裁のこの判断を、多くの国民は違和感なく受け止めるのではないか。
The provision of inheritance inequalities was made during the Meiji period and passed down to the current Civil Code, which was revised after World War II. The underlying reason was the traditional view attaching great importance to statutory marriages.
婚外子の相続格差の規定は明治時代に設けられ、戦後の民法に受け継がれた。法律婚の重視という伝統的な結婚観が根底にある。
It is undeniable that the provision to set the share in inheritance of children born out of wedlock at one half of that of children born in wedlock has consequently helped to create a discriminatory environment for children born out of wedlock.
相続分を半分にするという規定が、結果として婚外子の差別を助長してきた面は否めない。
Given the Supreme Court’s decision, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said, “It’s a matter of course to make legal arrangements.” The government plans to submit a bill to revise the Civil Code to an extraordinary Diet session at the earliest.
最高裁の決定を受け、菅官房長官は「立法的手当ては当然だ」と語った。早ければ臨時国会に民法改正案を提出する方針だ。
We urge that the law should be swiftly revised.
速やかな改正を求めたい。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 5, 2013)
（2013年9月5日01時32分 読売新聞）
Top court prioritizes protection of children born out of wedlock
婚外子相続差別 家族観の変化に沿う違憲判断（9月5日付・読売社説）
The latest decision by the Supreme Court is a historic judgement of unconstitutionality that took changes in Japanese family values into consideration.
日本人の家族観の変化を踏まえた歴史的な違憲判断である。
The top court’s Grand Bench reached the decision Wednesday, finding that a provision in the Civil Code stipulating that the inheritance share for a child born to unmarried parents shall be one half of that of a child born in wedlock violates the Constitution, which guarantees “equality under law.”
結婚していない男女間に生まれた非嫡出子（婚外子）の遺産相続分を、結婚した夫婦の子の２分の１とした民法の規定について、最高裁大法廷は「法の下の平等」を保障した憲法に違反するとの決定を出した。
The decision said that reasonable grounds to make such a distinction have been lost.
「区別する合理的な根拠は失われた」との理由からだ。
In 1995 the Supreme Court judged the same Civil Code provision to be constitutional. We think the top court reversed the decision because it seriously considered changes in circumstances surrounding children born out-side of marriage.
最高裁は１９９５年、民法のこの規定を「合憲」と判断した。今回、正反対の結論になったのは、婚外子を巡る状況の移り変わりを重視した結果と言えよう。
According to the decision, the Supreme Court listed conditions to be taken into consideration, including national traditions, social circumstances and public sentiment, in deciding the nation’s inheritance system. On that basis, the Grand Bench said these conditions change with the times, so the rationality of the system should be constantly reviewed.
決定は、相続制度を定める際に考慮すべき要件として、国の伝統、社会事情、国民感情を挙げた。そのうえで、これらの要件は「時代と共に変遷するため、合理性について不断に検討されなければならない」との見解を示した。
What the Supreme Court said is quite natural if we consider the point that the Civil Code is a law closely connected to the daily lives of the people.
民法が国民生活に密接に関わる法律であることを考えれば、当然の指摘である。
In recent years, the number of children born out of wedlock has been increasing. The term “shinguru maza” (single mother) has taken root in society. So-called de facto marriages are not uncommon now and the social view to perceive children born out of wedlock as different has probably withered considerably.
近年、婚外子の出生が増えている。シングルマザーという言葉も定着した。事実婚も珍しくなくなった。婚外子を特別視する風潮は薄れているだろう。
In residence certificate and family register notations describing relationships to the head of the household or parents, the distinction of a child born out of wedlock has already been abolished.
住民票や戸籍の続き柄の表記では、出生による区別が既に廃止されている。
In major Western countries such as the United States and Europe, the abolition of inequalities in inheri-tance has progressed considerably. Japan is the only major advanced nation that still has discriminatory regulation.
欧米では相続格差の撤廃が進み、主要先進国で格差が残っているのは日本だけになっている。
The Supreme Court’s unconstitutionality judgment was made in line with the current international legal climate.
違憲判断は、こうした流れの延長線上に位置づけられよう。
Equality for all children
The distinguishing point of the latest decision is that it strongly reflects the belief that protection of the rights of children born out of wedlock should be considered a top priority.
今回の決定で特徴的なのは、婚外子の権利保護を最優先に考えるべきだという姿勢を色濃くにじませている点だ。
A Cabinet Office opinion poll taken last year revealed that 61 percent of Japanese think children born out of wedlock should not be treated disadvantageously under the law.
内閣府の昨年の世論調査でも、婚外子に対し、法律上、不利益な扱いをしてはならないと考える人は６１％に上っている。
The Supreme Court said in the judgment that children born out of wedlock should not be at a disadvantage as a result of their parents not being married, a situation the children had no control over. We think many people will accept the decision without dis-comfort.
「父母が婚姻関係になかったという、子にとっては自ら選択・修正する余地のない事柄を理由として、その子に不利益を及ぼすことは許されない」。最高裁のこの判断を、多くの国民は違和感なく受け止めるのではないか。
The provision of inheritance inequalities was made during the Meiji period and passed down to the current Civil Code, which was revised after World War II. The underlying reason was the traditional view attaching great importance to statutory marriages.
婚外子の相続格差の規定は明治時代に設けられ、戦後の民法に受け継がれた。法律婚の重視という伝統的な結婚観が根底にある。
It is undeniable that the provision to set the share in inheritance of children born out of wedlock at one half of that of children born in wedlock has consequently helped to create a discriminatory environment for children born out of wedlock.
相続分を半分にするという規定が、結果として婚外子の差別を助長してきた面は否めない。
Given the Supreme Court’s decision, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said, “It’s a matter of course to make legal arrangements.” The government plans to submit a bill to revise the Civil Code to an extraordinary Diet session at the earliest.
最高裁の決定を受け、菅官房長官は「立法的手当ては当然だ」と語った。早ければ臨時国会に民法改正案を提出する方針だ。
We urge that the law should be swiftly revised.
速やかな改正を求めたい。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 5, 2013)
（2013年9月5日01時32分 読売新聞）
2013年09月06日
概算要求 財政規律の緩みにメス入れよ
The Yomiuri Shimbun September 5, 2013
With debt over \1 quadrillion, govt must tighten fiscal discipline
概算要求 財政規律の緩みにメス入れよ（9月4日付・読売社説）
The government’s fiscal discipline is far too lax considering that the country’s outstanding debt exceeds \1 quadrillion.
国の借金が１０００兆円を超えているにもかかわらず、財政規律があまりに緩んでいないか。
The Finance Ministry must strictly assess the budget appropriation requests submitted by other ministries, including the Cabinet Office, and cull any spending deemed neither essential nor urgent.
財務省は各府省からの要求を厳しく査定し、不要不急な歳出を削減すべきだ。
Total budget requests for fiscal 2014 are expected to reach a record \99.2 trillion, far larger than the initial budget of about \92.6 trillion for the current fiscal year.
２０１４年度予算の概算要求の総額が、過去最大の約９９・２兆円に達する見通しとなった。１３年度当初予算の約９２・６兆円を大きく上回る規模である。
The primary reason for the expected expansion in budget requests is the government’s failure to place ceilings on expenditures because it has been unable to come up with tax revenue projections, as Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has yet to decide whether the consumption tax rate should be raised next spring.
要求が膨らんだ主因は、来春に消費増税に踏み切るかどうか、安倍首相が最終的に判断する前で、税収見通しが立たず、歳出上限額を事前に示せなかったためだ。
The government earlier set a policy of reducing by 10 percent the allocations for discretionary spending, such as for public works projects.
政府は、公共事業など裁量的経費を１０％削減する方針を示した。
However, the government established what it called a “priority framework for a new Japan.” This allowed the ministries to submit requests, separately from ordinary budget requests, for public works spending in such areas as growth strategy and disaster management. This has turned out to be a loophole.
しかし、成長戦略や防災対策の名目で公共事業などの要求を別に認める「優先課題推進枠」を設けたことが抜け穴になった。
Under the circumstances—and with the backing of the ruling parties—the ministries have increased their requests by a large margin.
こうした状況の下、与党が後押しして、各府省が要求を大幅に積み上げたと言えよう。
Symbolic of this is that the ministries hurriedly put in requests totaling about \3.5 trillion, the framework’s upper limit.
象徴的なのが、約３・５兆円の推進枠の上限いっぱいまで要求が殺到したことだ。
Yet it is doubtful whether these requests are in line with the framework, as many concern conventional public works such as road construction and farmland improvement.
道路建設や農地整備など旧来型の事業も多く、推進枠の目的に沿った事業だけが要求されているのか疑わしい。
Also, several ministries and agencies made separate requests that appear similar, such as the promotion of the use of so-called big data.
ビッグデータの活用促進など複数の省庁がほぼ同じ狙いの事業を別々に要求している例もある。
Use funds wisely
It is problematic that public works spending requests, when added to requests under the priority framework, have increased significantly.
その結果、推進枠と合算した各府省の公共事業費が大幅に増額されたのは問題だ。
Public works spending requested by the Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Ministry totals \5.2 trillion, up about 17 percent from the fiscal 2013 initial budget. The ministry included requests for the construction of roads and dams and for extending Shinkansen lines, under the overall theme of “promoting projects to enhance national land resilience.”
国土交通省の公共事業は前年度当初予算比で約１７％増の５・２兆円に上った。「国土強靱(きょうじん)化」を旗印に、道路やダム、整備新幹線の建設費などを積み上げた。
The Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry has increased its requests for public works projects by about 19 percent to \770 billion, due to an increase in spending on land improvement projects, which was reduced markedly under the previous government led by the Democratic Party of Japan.
農林水産省の公共事業は、民主党政権で大幅に削られた土地改良事業の増額などで約１９％増の７７００億円ほどの要求となった。
Measures to deal with decrepit infrastructure and the rejuvenation of the farming sector are important. But the government should not allocate large sums of money for road construction or to subsidize the farming sector, both of which are not considered essential.
インフラ（社会基盤）の老朽化対策や農業活性化策は重要だが、必要性が乏しい道路建設や農業支援策に多額の予算を計上する余裕はない。
The government must rack its brains to ensure effective use of a limited amount of funds and employ the principle of “selection and concentration” in implementing projects.
限られた財源の有効活用に知恵を絞り、事業の「選択と集中」を徹底すべきである。
If the ministries merely inflated their budgetary requests in anticipation of tax revenue increases following the economic recovery and the consumption tax hike, they are completely devoid of a sense of crisis regarding the deterioration of the nation’s fiscal situation.
各府省が、景気回復に伴う税収増や消費増税を当て込み、要求を増やしたとすれば、財政悪化への危機感が乏し過ぎる。
Even if the consumption tax hike is implemented as planned, the expected increase in tax revenue is principally intended to finance ballooning social security programs, leaving no room for the government to throw money around.
たとえ消費増税を実施したとしても、社会保障財源に充てるのが本来の目的で、予算の大盤振る舞いの財源にはならない。
If the government fails to compile a carefully thought out budget, the government’s efforts to achieve fiscal reconstruction will be more difficult.
メリハリの利いた予算を編成しなければ、財政再建への道のりは遠のく。
The Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry’s budget request is an estimated record \31 trillion, sending the social security budget spiraling upward. The government must waste no time in wielding the ax to slash some of the highest expenditures in this request.
厚生労働省の要求が約３１兆円と過去最大になるなど、社会保障予算も膨らんだ。最大の歳出項目に切り込む改革も待ったなしだ。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 4, 2013)
（2013年9月4日01時39分 読売新聞）
With debt over \1 quadrillion, govt must tighten fiscal discipline
概算要求 財政規律の緩みにメス入れよ（9月4日付・読売社説）
The government’s fiscal discipline is far too lax considering that the country’s outstanding debt exceeds \1 quadrillion.
国の借金が１０００兆円を超えているにもかかわらず、財政規律があまりに緩んでいないか。
The Finance Ministry must strictly assess the budget appropriation requests submitted by other ministries, including the Cabinet Office, and cull any spending deemed neither essential nor urgent.
財務省は各府省からの要求を厳しく査定し、不要不急な歳出を削減すべきだ。
Total budget requests for fiscal 2014 are expected to reach a record \99.2 trillion, far larger than the initial budget of about \92.6 trillion for the current fiscal year.
２０１４年度予算の概算要求の総額が、過去最大の約９９・２兆円に達する見通しとなった。１３年度当初予算の約９２・６兆円を大きく上回る規模である。
The primary reason for the expected expansion in budget requests is the government’s failure to place ceilings on expenditures because it has been unable to come up with tax revenue projections, as Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has yet to decide whether the consumption tax rate should be raised next spring.
要求が膨らんだ主因は、来春に消費増税に踏み切るかどうか、安倍首相が最終的に判断する前で、税収見通しが立たず、歳出上限額を事前に示せなかったためだ。
The government earlier set a policy of reducing by 10 percent the allocations for discretionary spending, such as for public works projects.
政府は、公共事業など裁量的経費を１０％削減する方針を示した。
However, the government established what it called a “priority framework for a new Japan.” This allowed the ministries to submit requests, separately from ordinary budget requests, for public works spending in such areas as growth strategy and disaster management. This has turned out to be a loophole.
しかし、成長戦略や防災対策の名目で公共事業などの要求を別に認める「優先課題推進枠」を設けたことが抜け穴になった。
Under the circumstances—and with the backing of the ruling parties—the ministries have increased their requests by a large margin.
こうした状況の下、与党が後押しして、各府省が要求を大幅に積み上げたと言えよう。
Symbolic of this is that the ministries hurriedly put in requests totaling about \3.5 trillion, the framework’s upper limit.
象徴的なのが、約３・５兆円の推進枠の上限いっぱいまで要求が殺到したことだ。
Yet it is doubtful whether these requests are in line with the framework, as many concern conventional public works such as road construction and farmland improvement.
道路建設や農地整備など旧来型の事業も多く、推進枠の目的に沿った事業だけが要求されているのか疑わしい。
Also, several ministries and agencies made separate requests that appear similar, such as the promotion of the use of so-called big data.
ビッグデータの活用促進など複数の省庁がほぼ同じ狙いの事業を別々に要求している例もある。
Use funds wisely
It is problematic that public works spending requests, when added to requests under the priority framework, have increased significantly.
その結果、推進枠と合算した各府省の公共事業費が大幅に増額されたのは問題だ。
Public works spending requested by the Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Ministry totals \5.2 trillion, up about 17 percent from the fiscal 2013 initial budget. The ministry included requests for the construction of roads and dams and for extending Shinkansen lines, under the overall theme of “promoting projects to enhance national land resilience.”
国土交通省の公共事業は前年度当初予算比で約１７％増の５・２兆円に上った。「国土強靱(きょうじん)化」を旗印に、道路やダム、整備新幹線の建設費などを積み上げた。
The Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry has increased its requests for public works projects by about 19 percent to \770 billion, due to an increase in spending on land improvement projects, which was reduced markedly under the previous government led by the Democratic Party of Japan.
農林水産省の公共事業は、民主党政権で大幅に削られた土地改良事業の増額などで約１９％増の７７００億円ほどの要求となった。
Measures to deal with decrepit infrastructure and the rejuvenation of the farming sector are important. But the government should not allocate large sums of money for road construction or to subsidize the farming sector, both of which are not considered essential.
インフラ（社会基盤）の老朽化対策や農業活性化策は重要だが、必要性が乏しい道路建設や農業支援策に多額の予算を計上する余裕はない。
The government must rack its brains to ensure effective use of a limited amount of funds and employ the principle of “selection and concentration” in implementing projects.
限られた財源の有効活用に知恵を絞り、事業の「選択と集中」を徹底すべきである。
If the ministries merely inflated their budgetary requests in anticipation of tax revenue increases following the economic recovery and the consumption tax hike, they are completely devoid of a sense of crisis regarding the deterioration of the nation’s fiscal situation.
各府省が、景気回復に伴う税収増や消費増税を当て込み、要求を増やしたとすれば、財政悪化への危機感が乏し過ぎる。
Even if the consumption tax hike is implemented as planned, the expected increase in tax revenue is principally intended to finance ballooning social security programs, leaving no room for the government to throw money around.
たとえ消費増税を実施したとしても、社会保障財源に充てるのが本来の目的で、予算の大盤振る舞いの財源にはならない。
If the government fails to compile a carefully thought out budget, the government’s efforts to achieve fiscal reconstruction will be more difficult.
メリハリの利いた予算を編成しなければ、財政再建への道のりは遠のく。
The Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry’s budget request is an estimated record \31 trillion, sending the social security budget spiraling upward. The government must waste no time in wielding the ax to slash some of the highest expenditures in this request.
厚生労働省の要求が約３１兆円と過去最大になるなど、社会保障予算も膨らんだ。最大の歳出項目に切り込む改革も待ったなしだ。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 4, 2013)
（2013年9月4日01時39分 読売新聞）
2013年09月05日
シリア攻撃決断 米は十分な情報開示と説明を
The Yomiuri Shimbun September 4, 2013
U.S. must disclose adequate info to obtain approval on Syria attack
シリア攻撃決断 米は十分な情報開示と説明を（9月3日付・読売社説）
U.S. President Barack Obama has decided to take military action against Syria, as he is firmly determined not to let the use of chemical weapons go unchallenged.
オバマ米大統領がシリアへの軍事攻撃を決断した。化学兵器は黙認しないという決意表明だ。
In a statement, Obama harshly criticized the Syrian government of President Bashar Assad for allegedly launching a chemical weapons attack that killed hundreds of civilians. In expressing his outrage, Obama said the attack “also presents a serious danger to our national security” and “could lead to proliferation of chemical weapons to terrorist groups.”
オバマ氏は声明で、シリアのアサド政権が化学兵器で市民多数を殺害したとして、強く非難した。「米国の安全保障にも深刻な脅威」であり「テロ組織への拡散につながりかねない」と危機感を示した。
Although Syria is not a signatory to the Chemical Weapons Convention, Damascus is strongly suspected of violating international rules on the use, possession and proliferation of chemical weapons.
シリアは化学兵器禁止条約に未加盟だが、化学兵器の使用や保有、拡散を禁じている国際規範に違反している疑いが濃厚だ。
The White House has released a report in which it concluded that, based on wiretapped communications between leaders of the Assad administration, there could be “no doubt” the Syrian government used chemical weapons.
米政府は報告書の中で、政権幹部の通信傍受記録などをもとに、アサド政権が化学兵器を使ったと「確信する」と結論づけた。
But the U.S. government has not revealed any details of its claims under the pretext of protecting classified information. It should disclose sufficient information and give detailed explanations.
ただ、米政府は、詳細は機密情報として明らかにしていない。十分な情報を開示し、丁寧に説明することが求められる。
A U.S. president is authorized to take military action without a declaration of war. However, Obama opted to seek congressional approval on military action against Syria, as he probably wants to show domestically and internationally that the United States is unified on this matter. He is taking a gamble that could deal him a political blow if congressional approval is not obtained.
米大統領は宣戦布告なしに軍事行動を行う権限を持つのに、あえて、オバマ氏は議会に攻撃の承認を求めた。米国が一枚岩だと、国内外に強調したいのだろう。承認を得られない場合は、政治的痛手となる“賭け”だ。
U.S. public opinion is divided over military action on Syria. The U.S. administration of former President George W. Bush cited weapons of mass destruction as a reason for attacking Iraq but no such weapons were discovered. This was a bitter lesson for the United States.
シリア攻撃の賛否を巡り、米世論は割れている。ブッシュ前政権がイラク攻撃の根拠とした大量破壊兵器は結局、見つからなかった。米国にはこの苦い教訓がある。
Focus on Congress
World attention is focused on deliberations in the U.S. Congress, which will resume its full session Monday.
９日に本格的に再開する米議会で行われる審議の行方を、世界中が注視している。
Britain has decided not to join in a military attack on Syria. France is the only major nation willing to take part. If the U.S. Congress gives the green light on the attack, it may result in winning greater international approval.
英国は軍事攻撃への不参加を決め、参加に前向きな主要国はフランスだけだ。米議会が攻撃を承認すれば、国際的な支持取り付けにも弾みがつく可能性がある。
Obama said an attack on Syria would involve “no boots on the ground” and would be “limited and narrow” in terms of duration and scale. But there is concern in the U.S. Congress that a limited attack would not lead to the toppling of the Assad administration.
オバマ氏は、攻撃が地上軍派遣を伴わない、「期間と規模を限定したものになる」と強調した。だが、米議会には、限定的な攻撃ではアサド政権の打倒にはつながらないと懸念する声もある。
Attention is also focused on whether Obama’s decision will help end Syria’s civil war.
大統領の決断が内戦収拾に道を開くかどうかも焦点である。
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe showed understanding of Obama’s announcement of possible military action against Syria, saying it represents a “weighty political decision.” Regarding the worsening situation in Syria, Abe criticized the Assad government by saying it is “responsible for depriving innocent people of their lives and ignoring the deteriorating human rights situation.”
安倍首相は、オバマ氏の発表について「大統領の重い決意の表明」と理解を示した。シリア情勢の悪化については「無辜(むこ)の人命を奪い、人道状況の悪化を顧みないアサド政権に責任がある」とアサド政権を非難している。
Abe’s assessment of the situation is appropriate. If the Assad administration is proved beyond doubt to have used chemical weapons as alleged by Washington, Japan would not be able to remain aloof as it faces the threat of weapons of mass destruction from North Korea.
妥当な認識だ。アサド政権が実際に化学兵器を使用したなら、北朝鮮の大量破壊兵器の脅威を受ける日本としても看過できない。
In an effort to determine the reasoning and conditions behind the statement he will make on Japan’s position in the event of military action against Syria, Abe should call on Washington to describe the evidence it has collected on the use of chemical weapons, while collecting information on U.S. congressional moves.
首相は、軍事攻撃時の態度表明をどんな論理や条件で行うかを見極めるうえでも、化学兵器の使用を認定した根拠の説明を米国に求めるとともに、米議会の動向の情報収集に努める必要がある。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 3, 2013)
（2013年9月3日01時16分 読売新聞）
U.S. must disclose adequate info to obtain approval on Syria attack
シリア攻撃決断 米は十分な情報開示と説明を（9月3日付・読売社説）
U.S. President Barack Obama has decided to take military action against Syria, as he is firmly determined not to let the use of chemical weapons go unchallenged.
オバマ米大統領がシリアへの軍事攻撃を決断した。化学兵器は黙認しないという決意表明だ。
In a statement, Obama harshly criticized the Syrian government of President Bashar Assad for allegedly launching a chemical weapons attack that killed hundreds of civilians. In expressing his outrage, Obama said the attack “also presents a serious danger to our national security” and “could lead to proliferation of chemical weapons to terrorist groups.”
オバマ氏は声明で、シリアのアサド政権が化学兵器で市民多数を殺害したとして、強く非難した。「米国の安全保障にも深刻な脅威」であり「テロ組織への拡散につながりかねない」と危機感を示した。
Although Syria is not a signatory to the Chemical Weapons Convention, Damascus is strongly suspected of violating international rules on the use, possession and proliferation of chemical weapons.
シリアは化学兵器禁止条約に未加盟だが、化学兵器の使用や保有、拡散を禁じている国際規範に違反している疑いが濃厚だ。
The White House has released a report in which it concluded that, based on wiretapped communications between leaders of the Assad administration, there could be “no doubt” the Syrian government used chemical weapons.
米政府は報告書の中で、政権幹部の通信傍受記録などをもとに、アサド政権が化学兵器を使ったと「確信する」と結論づけた。
But the U.S. government has not revealed any details of its claims under the pretext of protecting classified information. It should disclose sufficient information and give detailed explanations.
ただ、米政府は、詳細は機密情報として明らかにしていない。十分な情報を開示し、丁寧に説明することが求められる。
A U.S. president is authorized to take military action without a declaration of war. However, Obama opted to seek congressional approval on military action against Syria, as he probably wants to show domestically and internationally that the United States is unified on this matter. He is taking a gamble that could deal him a political blow if congressional approval is not obtained.
米大統領は宣戦布告なしに軍事行動を行う権限を持つのに、あえて、オバマ氏は議会に攻撃の承認を求めた。米国が一枚岩だと、国内外に強調したいのだろう。承認を得られない場合は、政治的痛手となる“賭け”だ。
U.S. public opinion is divided over military action on Syria. The U.S. administration of former President George W. Bush cited weapons of mass destruction as a reason for attacking Iraq but no such weapons were discovered. This was a bitter lesson for the United States.
シリア攻撃の賛否を巡り、米世論は割れている。ブッシュ前政権がイラク攻撃の根拠とした大量破壊兵器は結局、見つからなかった。米国にはこの苦い教訓がある。
Focus on Congress
World attention is focused on deliberations in the U.S. Congress, which will resume its full session Monday.
９日に本格的に再開する米議会で行われる審議の行方を、世界中が注視している。
Britain has decided not to join in a military attack on Syria. France is the only major nation willing to take part. If the U.S. Congress gives the green light on the attack, it may result in winning greater international approval.
英国は軍事攻撃への不参加を決め、参加に前向きな主要国はフランスだけだ。米議会が攻撃を承認すれば、国際的な支持取り付けにも弾みがつく可能性がある。
Obama said an attack on Syria would involve “no boots on the ground” and would be “limited and narrow” in terms of duration and scale. But there is concern in the U.S. Congress that a limited attack would not lead to the toppling of the Assad administration.
オバマ氏は、攻撃が地上軍派遣を伴わない、「期間と規模を限定したものになる」と強調した。だが、米議会には、限定的な攻撃ではアサド政権の打倒にはつながらないと懸念する声もある。
Attention is also focused on whether Obama’s decision will help end Syria’s civil war.
大統領の決断が内戦収拾に道を開くかどうかも焦点である。
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe showed understanding of Obama’s announcement of possible military action against Syria, saying it represents a “weighty political decision.” Regarding the worsening situation in Syria, Abe criticized the Assad government by saying it is “responsible for depriving innocent people of their lives and ignoring the deteriorating human rights situation.”
安倍首相は、オバマ氏の発表について「大統領の重い決意の表明」と理解を示した。シリア情勢の悪化については「無辜(むこ)の人命を奪い、人道状況の悪化を顧みないアサド政権に責任がある」とアサド政権を非難している。
Abe’s assessment of the situation is appropriate. If the Assad administration is proved beyond doubt to have used chemical weapons as alleged by Washington, Japan would not be able to remain aloof as it faces the threat of weapons of mass destruction from North Korea.
妥当な認識だ。アサド政権が実際に化学兵器を使用したなら、北朝鮮の大量破壊兵器の脅威を受ける日本としても看過できない。
In an effort to determine the reasoning and conditions behind the statement he will make on Japan’s position in the event of military action against Syria, Abe should call on Washington to describe the evidence it has collected on the use of chemical weapons, while collecting information on U.S. congressional moves.
首相は、軍事攻撃時の態度表明をどんな論理や条件で行うかを見極めるうえでも、化学兵器の使用を認定した根拠の説明を米国に求めるとともに、米議会の動向の情報収集に努める必要がある。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 3, 2013)
（2013年9月3日01時16分 読売新聞）
2013年09月04日
防衛省改革 まずは混合組織化が現実的だ
The Yomiuri Shimbun September 3, 2013
Promote personnel amalgamation in Defense Ministry as 1st priority
防衛省改革 まずは混合組織化が現実的だ（9月2日付・読売社説）
It is important for civilian officials of the Defense Ministry and uniformed officers of the Self-Defense Forces to cooperate closely as an inseparable combination and build a system to support the defense minister.
文官の背広組と自衛官の制服組が「車の両輪」として緊密に連携し、防衛相を支える体制を構築することが重要だ。
The ministry has announced a plan to restructure its organization. The main change is to expand the joint deployment of civilian officials and uniformed officers to the ministry’s internal bureaus and units of the Self-Defense Forces, while abolishing the Operational Policy Bureau and integrating its functions into the Joint Staff, so as to centralize the operation of the SDF units.
防衛省が省改革の組織改編案を発表した。文官と自衛官の相互配置を拡大するとともに、部隊運用の一元化に向けて、内局の運用企画局を廃止し、統合幕僚監部に統合することが柱だ。
Civilian bureaucrats at the ministry’s bureaus will be tasked with drawing up laws and ordinances, formulating policies and coordinating views with political parties and other government ministries, while uniformed officers will be expected to keep their military expertise current by maintaining their connections with their counterparts abroad. Naturally, it is desirable for both to give full play to their natural abilities and cooperate with each other.
背広組の防衛官僚は、法令作成や政策立案、政党・他省庁との調整を専門とする。制服組は豊富な軍事的知見や他国軍とのパイプを持つ。当然、双方が持ち味を生かし、協力することが望ましい。
Currently, personnel exchanges between the ministry’s internal bureaus and SDF units are limited. Only 32 majors or lieutenant colonels of the Air or Ground Self-Defense Forces and lieutenant commanders or commanders of the Maritime Self-Defense Force have been assigned to ministry’s internal bureaus, while five young civilian officials are working in units of the Ground Self-Defense Force.
現在は、２、３佐級の自衛官３２人が内局で、若手の文官５人が陸上自衛隊部隊でそれぞれ勤務するだけで、人事交流は限定的だ。
From next fiscal year, the number of SDF officers assigned to the ministry’s internal bureaus will be increased to 56, with the number to be formally fixed, while the number of civilian officials assigned to SDF units will be increased to 22. This course of action, which is aimed at promoting the intermingling of civilian officials and uniformed officers, is reasonable.
来年度から、内局勤務の自衛官を５６人に増やし、正式に定員化する。自衛隊勤務の文官も２２人に増員する。防衛省の混合組織化を進める方向性は妥当である。
We can also expect positive effects in the field of manpower development if civilian officials who may one day become senior ministry officials and uniformed officers who may become senior SDF officers learn about the administrative organization and the real state of the SDF units and broaden their vision.
将来、幹部となる文官や自衛官が行政組織や部隊の実態を知り、視野を広めることは、人材育成面の効果も期待できよう。
The organizational amalgamation should be expanded, including the manpower exchange of even higher-ranking officials, in the middle and long term.
中長期的に、より高官の人事交流も含め、混合組織化を拡大すべきだ。
Merger may not by practical
On the other hand, it is questionable whether the idea of integrating the Operational Policy Bureau into the Joint Staff is practical.
一方で、運用企画局を統幕に統合する案は、果たしてうまく機能するのか、疑問である。
When a major disaster occurs or when North Korea launches a ballistic missile, both cilivian officials and SDF officers gather at the central command center in the basement of the Defense Ministry building and respond promptly. In ordinary times, the Operational Policy Bureau and the Joint Staff cooperate with each other, and there is no particular problem with this.
現状でも、大規模災害や北朝鮮の弾道ミサイル発射の際は、防衛省地下の中央指揮所に文官と自衛官が集結し、迅速に対応している。平時は運用企画局と統幕が連携しており、特に問題はない。
In the operation of the SDF units, not only wise military decisions must be made but the government must make policy decisions and situation assessments, making the presence of civilian officials all the more meaningful.
部隊運用には、軍事的合理性だけでなく、政府としての政策・情勢判断が重要な要素となる。そこに文官の存在意義がある。
For the prime minister and the defense minister to properly maintain civilian control, it is necessary to maintain those internal bureaus, which would gather information and assist the defense minister and other officials, separately from the Joint Staff.
首相や防衛相が的確な文民統制（シビリアンコントロール）を行うには、統幕とは別に、情報を集約し、防衛相らを補佐する内局組織を維持することが必要だ。
As medium- and long-term challenges, the reorganizational plan includes the idea of integrating the procurement of defense equipment under a tentatively named “defense equipment agency.”
中期的課題では、防衛装備品の調達を「防衛装備庁」（仮称）に一元化することも盛り込んだ。
The ratio of the defense equipment budget allocated to the three SDF branches has remained fixed for a long time, which some have said encourages bureaucratic sectionalism.
陸海空３自衛隊の装備予算の比率は長年、ほぼ固定化しており、縦割りの弊害が指摘されている。
It is important to promote an organizational restructuring that would increase the equipment budget for maritime and air defense units, which should be given a higher priority.
より優先度の高い海・空の装備予算の拡大につなげる方向で、組織改編を進めることが大切だ。
Any large-scale organizational reform would entail the risk of causing organizational disarray and lowering morale. Now that the ministry is beset with many important issues, including a revision of the National Defense Program Guidelines, there is little need to press the ministry’s reform plan now, which may only bring about a leadership struggle between civilian officials and SDF officers.
大規模な改革は組織の混乱や士気低下を招くリスクを伴う。防衛大綱の改定など、多くの重要案件を抱える今、文官と自衛官の主導権争いを招きかねない省改革をあえて進める必要性は乏しい。
A realistic approach would be to first promote the integration of civilian bureaucrats and uniformed officers, and, while examining its merits and demerits, the ministry should prudently move ahead with its organizational restructuring.
まずは混合組織化を進め、その功罪を検証しつつ、組織改編を慎重に進めるのが現実的だろう。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 2, 2013)
（2013年9月2日01時03分 読売新聞）
Promote personnel amalgamation in Defense Ministry as 1st priority
防衛省改革 まずは混合組織化が現実的だ（9月2日付・読売社説）
It is important for civilian officials of the Defense Ministry and uniformed officers of the Self-Defense Forces to cooperate closely as an inseparable combination and build a system to support the defense minister.
文官の背広組と自衛官の制服組が「車の両輪」として緊密に連携し、防衛相を支える体制を構築することが重要だ。
The ministry has announced a plan to restructure its organization. The main change is to expand the joint deployment of civilian officials and uniformed officers to the ministry’s internal bureaus and units of the Self-Defense Forces, while abolishing the Operational Policy Bureau and integrating its functions into the Joint Staff, so as to centralize the operation of the SDF units.
防衛省が省改革の組織改編案を発表した。文官と自衛官の相互配置を拡大するとともに、部隊運用の一元化に向けて、内局の運用企画局を廃止し、統合幕僚監部に統合することが柱だ。
Civilian bureaucrats at the ministry’s bureaus will be tasked with drawing up laws and ordinances, formulating policies and coordinating views with political parties and other government ministries, while uniformed officers will be expected to keep their military expertise current by maintaining their connections with their counterparts abroad. Naturally, it is desirable for both to give full play to their natural abilities and cooperate with each other.
背広組の防衛官僚は、法令作成や政策立案、政党・他省庁との調整を専門とする。制服組は豊富な軍事的知見や他国軍とのパイプを持つ。当然、双方が持ち味を生かし、協力することが望ましい。
Currently, personnel exchanges between the ministry’s internal bureaus and SDF units are limited. Only 32 majors or lieutenant colonels of the Air or Ground Self-Defense Forces and lieutenant commanders or commanders of the Maritime Self-Defense Force have been assigned to ministry’s internal bureaus, while five young civilian officials are working in units of the Ground Self-Defense Force.
現在は、２、３佐級の自衛官３２人が内局で、若手の文官５人が陸上自衛隊部隊でそれぞれ勤務するだけで、人事交流は限定的だ。
From next fiscal year, the number of SDF officers assigned to the ministry’s internal bureaus will be increased to 56, with the number to be formally fixed, while the number of civilian officials assigned to SDF units will be increased to 22. This course of action, which is aimed at promoting the intermingling of civilian officials and uniformed officers, is reasonable.
来年度から、内局勤務の自衛官を５６人に増やし、正式に定員化する。自衛隊勤務の文官も２２人に増員する。防衛省の混合組織化を進める方向性は妥当である。
We can also expect positive effects in the field of manpower development if civilian officials who may one day become senior ministry officials and uniformed officers who may become senior SDF officers learn about the administrative organization and the real state of the SDF units and broaden their vision.
将来、幹部となる文官や自衛官が行政組織や部隊の実態を知り、視野を広めることは、人材育成面の効果も期待できよう。
The organizational amalgamation should be expanded, including the manpower exchange of even higher-ranking officials, in the middle and long term.
中長期的に、より高官の人事交流も含め、混合組織化を拡大すべきだ。
Merger may not by practical
On the other hand, it is questionable whether the idea of integrating the Operational Policy Bureau into the Joint Staff is practical.
一方で、運用企画局を統幕に統合する案は、果たしてうまく機能するのか、疑問である。
When a major disaster occurs or when North Korea launches a ballistic missile, both cilivian officials and SDF officers gather at the central command center in the basement of the Defense Ministry building and respond promptly. In ordinary times, the Operational Policy Bureau and the Joint Staff cooperate with each other, and there is no particular problem with this.
現状でも、大規模災害や北朝鮮の弾道ミサイル発射の際は、防衛省地下の中央指揮所に文官と自衛官が集結し、迅速に対応している。平時は運用企画局と統幕が連携しており、特に問題はない。
In the operation of the SDF units, not only wise military decisions must be made but the government must make policy decisions and situation assessments, making the presence of civilian officials all the more meaningful.
部隊運用には、軍事的合理性だけでなく、政府としての政策・情勢判断が重要な要素となる。そこに文官の存在意義がある。
For the prime minister and the defense minister to properly maintain civilian control, it is necessary to maintain those internal bureaus, which would gather information and assist the defense minister and other officials, separately from the Joint Staff.
首相や防衛相が的確な文民統制（シビリアンコントロール）を行うには、統幕とは別に、情報を集約し、防衛相らを補佐する内局組織を維持することが必要だ。
As medium- and long-term challenges, the reorganizational plan includes the idea of integrating the procurement of defense equipment under a tentatively named “defense equipment agency.”
中期的課題では、防衛装備品の調達を「防衛装備庁」（仮称）に一元化することも盛り込んだ。
The ratio of the defense equipment budget allocated to the three SDF branches has remained fixed for a long time, which some have said encourages bureaucratic sectionalism.
陸海空３自衛隊の装備予算の比率は長年、ほぼ固定化しており、縦割りの弊害が指摘されている。
It is important to promote an organizational restructuring that would increase the equipment budget for maritime and air defense units, which should be given a higher priority.
より優先度の高い海・空の装備予算の拡大につなげる方向で、組織改編を進めることが大切だ。
Any large-scale organizational reform would entail the risk of causing organizational disarray and lowering morale. Now that the ministry is beset with many important issues, including a revision of the National Defense Program Guidelines, there is little need to press the ministry’s reform plan now, which may only bring about a leadership struggle between civilian officials and SDF officers.
大規模な改革は組織の混乱や士気低下を招くリスクを伴う。防衛大綱の改定など、多くの重要案件を抱える今、文官と自衛官の主導権争いを招きかねない省改革をあえて進める必要性は乏しい。
A realistic approach would be to first promote the integration of civilian bureaucrats and uniformed officers, and, while examining its merits and demerits, the ministry should prudently move ahead with its organizational restructuring.
まずは混合組織化を進め、その功罪を検証しつつ、組織改編を慎重に進めるのが現実的だろう。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 2, 2013)
（2013年9月2日01時03分 読売新聞）
2013年09月03日
速い速い、新幹線みたいに速いフレッツ光
最近あるサイトを見て衝撃を受けました。
それはあるフレッツ光のお勧めサイトなんです。
何気なくサイトを上から下までブラウズしていたのですが、中段にある画面に目が釘付けになりました。
小さな同じテレビの画面が6種類並んでおり、全部同じ形をしています。
メモを取っておけば良かったのですが今ではその記憶のみが残っています。
それはある同一の動画を立ち上げるスピードを競うシミュレーションなんです。
一番右側が主人公のフレッツ光、そのひとつおいてお隣がADSL、それからWiFi通信、一番左側が３G通信でした。
スタートボタンを押すと一番右側の光フレッツでは驚異の0.4秒で動画が現れました。
そのお隣も速いのですが1秒を少しだけ超していました。
巷で通信速度が速いと評判の３Gなんですが、画像が現れるまで30秒以上掛かってしまいました。
目から鱗が落ちるとはまさにこのことなのでしょうね。
私は断然フレッツ光に決めました。
フレッツ光の申し込み は、お近くのフレッツ光受付センターで簡単に出来ます。
防災の日 被災地の声を対策に生かそう
The Yomiuri Shimbun September 2, 2013
Better national strategy needed to prepare for major disasters
防災の日 被災地の声を対策に生かそう（9月1日付・読売社説）
◆緊急事態に備える国家戦略を
Sept. 1 is Disaster Prevention Day. Disaster drills and related events are scheduled around the country. On this occasion, the government should conduct a full review of its antidisaster measures.
９月１日は、防災の日だ。全国各地で防災訓練や関連行事が予定されている。災害対策を総点検する必要がある。
Reconstruction work from the damage caused by the Great East Japan Earthquake has only been half completed. Torrential rain caused extensive damage in various parts of the country this summer. The government must conduct simulations of various kinds of disasters such as earthquakes, tsunami, torrential rain and volcanic eruptions, and work on measures to minimize damage.
東日本大震災からの復興は道半ばだ。今夏は記録的な豪雨による被害も各地で相次いだ。地震や津波、豪雨、火山噴火……。様々な事態を想定し、「減災」に取り組まねばならない。
◆関東大震災から９０年に
Today is the 90th anniversary of Great Kanto Earthquake, which killed 100,000 people.
きょうは、１０万人もの犠牲者を出した関東大震災からちょうど９０年の節目でもある。
The earthquake occurred shortly before lunchtime, when many families used fire for cooking. The collapse of houses and strong winds spread the flames. Many administrative offices and bridges were razed, obstructing evacuation and rescue efforts. Water supplies were cut, hampering firefighting crews. Fire reportedly killed 90 percent of the victims. This shows the importance of making buildings earthquake-resistant and developing towns where fire cannot spread easily.
発生時は昼食の少し前で、火を使っていた家庭が少なくなかった。家屋倒壊と強風で火の手が広がった。行政施設や橋も多くが焼失し、避難や救援を妨げた。断水のため、消火活動も遅れた。
犠牲者の９割が火災で亡くなったという。建造物の耐震化と、火災が起きても容易に延焼しない街づくりの大切さを物語る。
Nonetheless, urban areas still have many districts where wooden houses are clustered together. The alleys in some areas are too narrow for fire trucks to enter.
だが、いまだに都市部に木造住宅の密集地が多い。路地が狭く、消防車が入れない地区もある。
Japan needs resilience
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s Cabinet has established an office under the Cabinet Secretariat tasked with making the nation more resilient through planning and coordinating measures to prevent or reduce damage from disasters. The Cabinet wants to have a bill passed through the next Diet session on a basic law to make Japan more resilient against disasters.
安倍内閣は、内閣官房に「国土強靱(きょうじん)化推進室」を設け、防災・減災策の立案や調整をしている。国土強靱化基本法案も次期国会で成立を図る方針だ。
The Cabinet is also scheduled to draw up a bill on special measures to deal with a possible huge quake with a focus directly under the Tokyo metropolitan area and a massive Nankai Trough earthquake that could affect a very wide area ranging from Shizuoka Prefecture to Kyushu. We expect the Diet to enact them as soon as possible.
首都直下地震と、静岡県沖から九州までを襲う南海トラフ巨大地震については、特別措置法を制定し、対策を特に充実させる予定だ。立法を急いでもらいたい。
What would make local communities more resilient against disasters? It is important to plan countermeasures to help people unable to return home from work or school if a disaster paralyzes public transportation systems. As many as 5 million people were stranded in the metropolitan area when the Great East Japan Earthquake struck in March 2011.
災害に強い街をどう作るか。東日本大震災の際、首都圏で５００万人に上った帰宅困難者対策も重要だ。
The government must work on effective countermeasures, rather than throw a lot of money around on public works projects. In this regard, it is essential for the central government to coordinate actions with local governments and private companies.
政府は、公共事業のバラマキにならぬよう、効率的に対策を講じねばなるまい。自治体や民間事業者との連携も欠かせない。
Bigger role for govt
◆国の役割強めた災対法
The Disaster Countermeasures Basic Law, the basis for other laws on natural disasters, stipulates that municipal governments are primarily responsible for disaster preparedness in areas under their jurisdiction. Municipal governments are assisted by prefectural governments that are supported by the central government, according to the basic law. However, this system failed to function after the Great East Japan Earthquake devastated municipalities over a wide area.
災害法制の根幹である災害対策基本法（災対法）は、災害対策の一義的な責務は市町村にあると規定している。都道府県は市町村を支援し、国がさらに補う。広範囲に市町村が壊滅した東日本大震災では機能しない構造だった。
After the March 2011 earthquake, the government revised the basic law twice, mainly to enhance the central government’s role. According to the revisions, the central government would take emergency measures instead of municipal governments if the local governments were unable to function after a major disaster. The central and prefectural governments also would be able to supply relief materials to victims in disaster-hit municipalities without waiting for requests from municipal governments.
政府は大震災後、災対法を２度改正した。ポイントは国の役割を強めたことにある。市町村が機能しない場合、国が応急措置を代行する。国や都道府県は、被災自治体の要請を待たずに、独自の判断で救援物資を供給できる。
The revisions have also enhanced evacuation measures in case of a disaster. Municipal governments are obliged to make lists of residents needing assistance when forced to evacuate by collecting personal information on the aged, disabled and other people considered vulnerable in a disaster.
災害時の避難対策も強化した。市町村に対し、高齢者、障害者など災害弱者の個人情報を集めた「避難行動要支援者名簿」の作成を義務づけた。
Even though such lists have been drawn up, their effectiveness has been questioned because the ratio of those disaster-susceptible people who have been listed compared with the total is often low.
名簿は、作成されていても名前の掲載率が低いなど、有効性に疑問符がついていた。
This is due mainly to the tendency of local entities to overemphasize the Personal Information Protection Law, under which listing the names of individuals is supposed to require their consent. Instead of sticking rigidly to the law’s provisions, local governments should place priority on drawing up lists that are useful at times of emergency.
自治体が名簿掲載に本人同意を求める個人情報保護条例を配慮し過ぎるからだ。緊急時に役立つ名簿にしたい。
The Disaster Relief Law, meanwhile, calls for prefectural governments to abide by the “principle of in-kind benefits,” under which disaster victims are to be provided with such facilities as evacuation centers and temporary housing.
一方、災害救助法には、都道府県が避難所、仮設住宅などを提供する「現物給付の原則」がある。
In disaster-struck regions, however, this principle has been criticized because it is a major impediment to local governments in their efforts to make use of housing units rented from the private sector as “equivalent temporary housing.”
被災地では、民間から借り上げた「みなし仮設」住宅を活用するうえで、この原則こそが障害になっているとの不満が強い。
Since this includes houses or apartments rented by the victims, administrative procedures concerning their eligibility under the in-kind benefit principle are cumbersome and complex, as they include the need to have the rental agreements concluded afresh in the name of the local governments concerned. This principle should be flexibly implemented.
みなし仮設の対象には独力で住宅を借りた場合も含まれるが、契約を結び直すなど、行政手続きは煩雑だ。運用を柔軟にすることにも配慮すべきだろう。
Studies should also be made in response to wishes from disaster-hit areas to make it easier to obtain certification of disaster victims and approve government cash assistance to rehabilitate their livelihoods.
被災地の要望を踏まえ、罹災(りさい)判定、生活再建支援金といった支援制度が使いやすくなるよう見直してほしい。
Are these arrangements under existing laws sufficient for the government to cope promptly and effectively when an immense disaster occurs?
こうした現行法の枠組みだけで、未曽有の巨大災害にも、政府は迅速かつ的確に対処できるのだろうか。
Compiling its final report in July last year, the government council for the promotion of antidisaster measures said additional steps must be worked out “to ensure the country’s existence as a state.”
政府の防災対策推進検討会議は昨年７月、「国家として存立していくための対策が不可欠」とする最終報告書をまとめた。
The antidisaster basic law allows the prime minister to declare a state of emergency after a disaster. The issuance of this declaration is limited to when the Diet is in recess, while issuance of emergency ordinances following the declaration is restricted to such things as the rationing of daily necessities and controlling commodity prices.
災対法には、首相が「災害緊急事態」を布告できるとの規定がある。国会閉会中などに限られ、緊急政令も生活必需物資の配給や物価統制などに限定されている。
The council’s report also referred to the need to expand emergency measures for such purposes as protecting commuters unable to return home and ensure public order in the aftermath of a massive earthquake. In addition, the panel urged the government to make preparations in case the Diet was unable to function after a powerful earthquake beneath the capital.
報告書は、帰宅困難者対策や治安維持にも緊急措置を拡大することの必要性に言及した。首都直下地震で国会が動かない状況下での対応も検討を促している。
Better national strategy needed to prepare for major disasters
防災の日 被災地の声を対策に生かそう（9月1日付・読売社説）
◆緊急事態に備える国家戦略を
Sept. 1 is Disaster Prevention Day. Disaster drills and related events are scheduled around the country. On this occasion, the government should conduct a full review of its antidisaster measures.
９月１日は、防災の日だ。全国各地で防災訓練や関連行事が予定されている。災害対策を総点検する必要がある。
Reconstruction work from the damage caused by the Great East Japan Earthquake has only been half completed. Torrential rain caused extensive damage in various parts of the country this summer. The government must conduct simulations of various kinds of disasters such as earthquakes, tsunami, torrential rain and volcanic eruptions, and work on measures to minimize damage.
東日本大震災からの復興は道半ばだ。今夏は記録的な豪雨による被害も各地で相次いだ。地震や津波、豪雨、火山噴火……。様々な事態を想定し、「減災」に取り組まねばならない。
◆関東大震災から９０年に
Today is the 90th anniversary of Great Kanto Earthquake, which killed 100,000 people.
きょうは、１０万人もの犠牲者を出した関東大震災からちょうど９０年の節目でもある。
The earthquake occurred shortly before lunchtime, when many families used fire for cooking. The collapse of houses and strong winds spread the flames. Many administrative offices and bridges were razed, obstructing evacuation and rescue efforts. Water supplies were cut, hampering firefighting crews. Fire reportedly killed 90 percent of the victims. This shows the importance of making buildings earthquake-resistant and developing towns where fire cannot spread easily.
発生時は昼食の少し前で、火を使っていた家庭が少なくなかった。家屋倒壊と強風で火の手が広がった。行政施設や橋も多くが焼失し、避難や救援を妨げた。断水のため、消火活動も遅れた。
犠牲者の９割が火災で亡くなったという。建造物の耐震化と、火災が起きても容易に延焼しない街づくりの大切さを物語る。
Nonetheless, urban areas still have many districts where wooden houses are clustered together. The alleys in some areas are too narrow for fire trucks to enter.
だが、いまだに都市部に木造住宅の密集地が多い。路地が狭く、消防車が入れない地区もある。
Japan needs resilience
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s Cabinet has established an office under the Cabinet Secretariat tasked with making the nation more resilient through planning and coordinating measures to prevent or reduce damage from disasters. The Cabinet wants to have a bill passed through the next Diet session on a basic law to make Japan more resilient against disasters.
安倍内閣は、内閣官房に「国土強靱(きょうじん)化推進室」を設け、防災・減災策の立案や調整をしている。国土強靱化基本法案も次期国会で成立を図る方針だ。
The Cabinet is also scheduled to draw up a bill on special measures to deal with a possible huge quake with a focus directly under the Tokyo metropolitan area and a massive Nankai Trough earthquake that could affect a very wide area ranging from Shizuoka Prefecture to Kyushu. We expect the Diet to enact them as soon as possible.
首都直下地震と、静岡県沖から九州までを襲う南海トラフ巨大地震については、特別措置法を制定し、対策を特に充実させる予定だ。立法を急いでもらいたい。
What would make local communities more resilient against disasters? It is important to plan countermeasures to help people unable to return home from work or school if a disaster paralyzes public transportation systems. As many as 5 million people were stranded in the metropolitan area when the Great East Japan Earthquake struck in March 2011.
災害に強い街をどう作るか。東日本大震災の際、首都圏で５００万人に上った帰宅困難者対策も重要だ。
The government must work on effective countermeasures, rather than throw a lot of money around on public works projects. In this regard, it is essential for the central government to coordinate actions with local governments and private companies.
政府は、公共事業のバラマキにならぬよう、効率的に対策を講じねばなるまい。自治体や民間事業者との連携も欠かせない。
Bigger role for govt
◆国の役割強めた災対法
The Disaster Countermeasures Basic Law, the basis for other laws on natural disasters, stipulates that municipal governments are primarily responsible for disaster preparedness in areas under their jurisdiction. Municipal governments are assisted by prefectural governments that are supported by the central government, according to the basic law. However, this system failed to function after the Great East Japan Earthquake devastated municipalities over a wide area.
災害法制の根幹である災害対策基本法（災対法）は、災害対策の一義的な責務は市町村にあると規定している。都道府県は市町村を支援し、国がさらに補う。広範囲に市町村が壊滅した東日本大震災では機能しない構造だった。
After the March 2011 earthquake, the government revised the basic law twice, mainly to enhance the central government’s role. According to the revisions, the central government would take emergency measures instead of municipal governments if the local governments were unable to function after a major disaster. The central and prefectural governments also would be able to supply relief materials to victims in disaster-hit municipalities without waiting for requests from municipal governments.
政府は大震災後、災対法を２度改正した。ポイントは国の役割を強めたことにある。市町村が機能しない場合、国が応急措置を代行する。国や都道府県は、被災自治体の要請を待たずに、独自の判断で救援物資を供給できる。
The revisions have also enhanced evacuation measures in case of a disaster. Municipal governments are obliged to make lists of residents needing assistance when forced to evacuate by collecting personal information on the aged, disabled and other people considered vulnerable in a disaster.
災害時の避難対策も強化した。市町村に対し、高齢者、障害者など災害弱者の個人情報を集めた「避難行動要支援者名簿」の作成を義務づけた。
Even though such lists have been drawn up, their effectiveness has been questioned because the ratio of those disaster-susceptible people who have been listed compared with the total is often low.
名簿は、作成されていても名前の掲載率が低いなど、有効性に疑問符がついていた。
This is due mainly to the tendency of local entities to overemphasize the Personal Information Protection Law, under which listing the names of individuals is supposed to require their consent. Instead of sticking rigidly to the law’s provisions, local governments should place priority on drawing up lists that are useful at times of emergency.
自治体が名簿掲載に本人同意を求める個人情報保護条例を配慮し過ぎるからだ。緊急時に役立つ名簿にしたい。
The Disaster Relief Law, meanwhile, calls for prefectural governments to abide by the “principle of in-kind benefits,” under which disaster victims are to be provided with such facilities as evacuation centers and temporary housing.
一方、災害救助法には、都道府県が避難所、仮設住宅などを提供する「現物給付の原則」がある。
In disaster-struck regions, however, this principle has been criticized because it is a major impediment to local governments in their efforts to make use of housing units rented from the private sector as “equivalent temporary housing.”
被災地では、民間から借り上げた「みなし仮設」住宅を活用するうえで、この原則こそが障害になっているとの不満が強い。
Since this includes houses or apartments rented by the victims, administrative procedures concerning their eligibility under the in-kind benefit principle are cumbersome and complex, as they include the need to have the rental agreements concluded afresh in the name of the local governments concerned. This principle should be flexibly implemented.
みなし仮設の対象には独力で住宅を借りた場合も含まれるが、契約を結び直すなど、行政手続きは煩雑だ。運用を柔軟にすることにも配慮すべきだろう。
Studies should also be made in response to wishes from disaster-hit areas to make it easier to obtain certification of disaster victims and approve government cash assistance to rehabilitate their livelihoods.
被災地の要望を踏まえ、罹災(りさい)判定、生活再建支援金といった支援制度が使いやすくなるよう見直してほしい。
Are these arrangements under existing laws sufficient for the government to cope promptly and effectively when an immense disaster occurs?
こうした現行法の枠組みだけで、未曽有の巨大災害にも、政府は迅速かつ的確に対処できるのだろうか。
Compiling its final report in July last year, the government council for the promotion of antidisaster measures said additional steps must be worked out “to ensure the country’s existence as a state.”
政府の防災対策推進検討会議は昨年７月、「国家として存立していくための対策が不可欠」とする最終報告書をまとめた。
The antidisaster basic law allows the prime minister to declare a state of emergency after a disaster. The issuance of this declaration is limited to when the Diet is in recess, while issuance of emergency ordinances following the declaration is restricted to such things as the rationing of daily necessities and controlling commodity prices.
災対法には、首相が「災害緊急事態」を布告できるとの規定がある。国会閉会中などに限られ、緊急政令も生活必需物資の配給や物価統制などに限定されている。
The council’s report also referred to the need to expand emergency measures for such purposes as protecting commuters unable to return home and ensure public order in the aftermath of a massive earthquake. In addition, the panel urged the government to make preparations in case the Diet was unable to function after a powerful earthquake beneath the capital.
報告書は、帰宅困難者対策や治安維持にも緊急措置を拡大することの必要性に言及した。首都直下地震で国会が動かない状況下での対応も検討を促している。
2013年09月02日
消費税率 「来春の８％」は見送るべきだ
The Yomiuri Shimbun September 1, 2013
Govt should shelve sales tax hike to 8% in April to guard recovery
消費税率 「来春の８％」は見送るべきだ（8月31日付・読売社説）
◆デフレからの脱却を最優先に
The most imperative issue for the Japanese economy is to overcome deflation. If an increase in the consumption tax rate dampens the economy, which has finally begun to recover, it will ruin the whole situation.
日本経済の最重要課題は、デフレからの脱却である。消費税率引き上げで、ようやく上向いてきた景気を腰折れさせてしまえば元も子もない。
The government should shelve the planned hike in the consumption tax rate to 8 percent in April next year. Rather, it would be a realistic choice to raise the tax rate from the current 5 percent to 10 percent in October 2015 after achieving a full economic recovery.
政府は、２０１４年４月に予定される消費税率の８％への引き上げは見送るべきだ。景気の本格回復を実現したうえで、１５年１０月に５％から１０％へ引き上げることが現実的な選択と言えよう。
The government has been holding intensive discussion sessions to hear a wide range of opinions from experts and others over the advisibility of the planned increase in the consumption tax rate.
消費増税を巡って、有識者らから幅広く意見を聴く政府の集中点検会合が開かれている。
Achieve growth, fiscal health
◆成長と財政再建両立を
It was a matter of course for Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who is expected to make a decision on the tax hike this autumn, to say: “I’ll ultimately decide on my own responsibility. After getting the results of the discussions, I’ll try to make a proper judgment taking into account a variety of economic indicators.”
安倍首相が今秋の決断へ、「最終的に私の責任で決める。会合の結果報告を受け、様々な経済指標を踏まえて適切に判断したい」と述べているのは妥当だ。
Japan has been suffering from deflation for 15 years and running huge fiscal deficits. If economic stagnation continues for a prolonged period, Japan’s strength might be further weakened.
日本は、１５年間もデフレが継続し、巨額の財政赤字を抱える。景気低迷がさらに長期化すれば国力の低下が進みかねない。
How can the nation defeat deflation and achieve both economic growth and fiscal reconstruction? What is required for Japan are concrete measures to tackle these difficult problems.
デフレを克服し、経済成長と財政再建の両立をいかに図るか。日本に求められているのは、この難題に取り組む方策である。
The Yomiuri Shimbun has insisted on the necessity of raising the consumption tax from the standpoint that the nation needs to secure fiscal resources for social security expenditures, which are growing year by year, and get its fiscal condition in sound shape in the medium term. We maintain this stance.
読売新聞は年々増える社会保障費の財源を確保し、中期的に財政健全化を図るべきだとの立場から、消費増税の必要性を主張してきた。考えは変わらない。
Many of the experts and others participating in the discussions have argued in favor of raising the tax rate next spring as planned, but the question is whether that is the right time to raise the tax.
有識者らの多くは、来春に予定通り引き上げるよう主張したが、問題は、来春が増税するのに適切な時期かどうかだ。
The nation’s real gross domestic product for April-June rose only 2.6 percent on an annualized basis. Although the effects of the Abe administration’s Abenomics economic policies have begun to be seen, it is far from what we could call a self-sustaining recovery led by private-sector demand.
今年４〜６月期の実質国内総生産（ＧＤＰ）は、年率換算で２・６％増にとどまった。
安倍政権の経済政策「アベノミクス」の効果が見え始めてきたものの、民需主導の自律的回復というにはほど遠い。
It is a cause for concern that the nation has not yet achieved a virtuous cycle of Abenomics in which growth results in higher wages and more employment.
懸念されるのは、成長に伴って賃金が上昇し、雇用も拡大するというアベノミクスの好循環が実現していないことだ。
Next April will be a crucial time, particularly as companies may decide to increase wages after the annual spring labor offensive and may decide to expand their recruitment of new graduates for 2015. Cold water must not be thrown on progress leading toward a virtuous cycle.
来年４月は、春闘による賃上げや新卒採用の拡大などが見込まれる重要な時期である。好循環への動きに冷水を浴びせたくない。
Surely, a consumption tax rate hike alone will not help the nation achieve fiscal reconstruction. There are fears that if the economy loses steam with the tax hike, it could mean that tax revenues from such sources as corporate and income taxes will not increase as much as expected. Such a scenario would rather push fiscal reconstruction further into the distance.
もちろん、消費増税だけで財政は再建できない。増税で景気が失速すれば、法人税や所得税などの税収も期待したほどは増えない恐れがある。それではかえって財政健全化が遠のくだろう。
Although the government this autumn plans to hammer out additional economic measures, including a tax cut to stimulate investment, as part of its growth strategy, it will take time for these policy measures to produce tangible results.
政府は今秋、成長戦略として投資減税などの追加策を打ち出す方針だが、そうした政策効果が表れるまでには時間がかかる。
Aim for 10% in ’15
◆１５年の１０％を目指せ
If the consumption tax rate cannot be raised to 10 percent in 2015 as a result of adhering to the plan to increase it to 8 percent next April, that will be an inversion of Japan’s priorities.
８％への引き上げに固執した結果、景気が落ち込み、１０％への引き上げを実現できなくなれば、本末転倒である。
Some people, on the other hand, have expressed concern that if the tax hike is postponed, confidence in Japanese government bonds will drop, leading to a rise in long-term interest rates.
他方、消費増税を先送りした場合には、日本国債の信認が損なわれ、長期金利が上昇すると懸念する声が出ている。
What matters is whether the government can send a strong message that will dispel such fears. The government is urged to seek understanding both at home and abroad by announcing that postponing the rate increase to 8 percent is the result of its giving top priority to ending deflation and that its committ-ment to fiscal reconstruction will not falter in the least.
重要なのは、不安を払拭する政府の強いメッセージである。８％見送りはデフレ脱却を最優先した結果であり、財政再建の決意はいささかも揺るがないと表明し、内外の理解を求めてもらいたい。
A matter to be tackled in this connection is how to secure fiscal funds to make up for tax revenue that will be lost by putting off the tax hike. It will be necessary to curtail nonurgent spending while considering all possible measures.
増税先送りに伴う消費税収分をカバーする財政資金の確保も課題になる。まず緊急性の低い歳出は削減し、併せて、あらゆる政策を検討する必要がある。
One policy could be to make effective use of untapped household assets by issuing government bonds that do not bear interest but are exempt from inheritance tax on their face value. The funds to be collected widely could be used on a priority basis for social security programs and measures to prevent and reduce disasters.
利子が付かない代わりに、国債の額面分に相続税を課さない無利子非課税国債を発行し、家計に眠る貯蓄を有効活用することは政策メニューの一つだ。
広く集めた資金を社会保障や防災・減災対策などに重点配分することが考えられる。
Govt should shelve sales tax hike to 8% in April to guard recovery
消費税率 「来春の８％」は見送るべきだ（8月31日付・読売社説）
◆デフレからの脱却を最優先に
The most imperative issue for the Japanese economy is to overcome deflation. If an increase in the consumption tax rate dampens the economy, which has finally begun to recover, it will ruin the whole situation.
日本経済の最重要課題は、デフレからの脱却である。消費税率引き上げで、ようやく上向いてきた景気を腰折れさせてしまえば元も子もない。
The government should shelve the planned hike in the consumption tax rate to 8 percent in April next year. Rather, it would be a realistic choice to raise the tax rate from the current 5 percent to 10 percent in October 2015 after achieving a full economic recovery.
政府は、２０１４年４月に予定される消費税率の８％への引き上げは見送るべきだ。景気の本格回復を実現したうえで、１５年１０月に５％から１０％へ引き上げることが現実的な選択と言えよう。
The government has been holding intensive discussion sessions to hear a wide range of opinions from experts and others over the advisibility of the planned increase in the consumption tax rate.
消費増税を巡って、有識者らから幅広く意見を聴く政府の集中点検会合が開かれている。
Achieve growth, fiscal health
◆成長と財政再建両立を
It was a matter of course for Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who is expected to make a decision on the tax hike this autumn, to say: “I’ll ultimately decide on my own responsibility. After getting the results of the discussions, I’ll try to make a proper judgment taking into account a variety of economic indicators.”
安倍首相が今秋の決断へ、「最終的に私の責任で決める。会合の結果報告を受け、様々な経済指標を踏まえて適切に判断したい」と述べているのは妥当だ。
Japan has been suffering from deflation for 15 years and running huge fiscal deficits. If economic stagnation continues for a prolonged period, Japan’s strength might be further weakened.
日本は、１５年間もデフレが継続し、巨額の財政赤字を抱える。景気低迷がさらに長期化すれば国力の低下が進みかねない。
How can the nation defeat deflation and achieve both economic growth and fiscal reconstruction? What is required for Japan are concrete measures to tackle these difficult problems.
デフレを克服し、経済成長と財政再建の両立をいかに図るか。日本に求められているのは、この難題に取り組む方策である。
The Yomiuri Shimbun has insisted on the necessity of raising the consumption tax from the standpoint that the nation needs to secure fiscal resources for social security expenditures, which are growing year by year, and get its fiscal condition in sound shape in the medium term. We maintain this stance.
読売新聞は年々増える社会保障費の財源を確保し、中期的に財政健全化を図るべきだとの立場から、消費増税の必要性を主張してきた。考えは変わらない。
Many of the experts and others participating in the discussions have argued in favor of raising the tax rate next spring as planned, but the question is whether that is the right time to raise the tax.
有識者らの多くは、来春に予定通り引き上げるよう主張したが、問題は、来春が増税するのに適切な時期かどうかだ。
The nation’s real gross domestic product for April-June rose only 2.6 percent on an annualized basis. Although the effects of the Abe administration’s Abenomics economic policies have begun to be seen, it is far from what we could call a self-sustaining recovery led by private-sector demand.
今年４〜６月期の実質国内総生産（ＧＤＰ）は、年率換算で２・６％増にとどまった。
安倍政権の経済政策「アベノミクス」の効果が見え始めてきたものの、民需主導の自律的回復というにはほど遠い。
It is a cause for concern that the nation has not yet achieved a virtuous cycle of Abenomics in which growth results in higher wages and more employment.
懸念されるのは、成長に伴って賃金が上昇し、雇用も拡大するというアベノミクスの好循環が実現していないことだ。
Next April will be a crucial time, particularly as companies may decide to increase wages after the annual spring labor offensive and may decide to expand their recruitment of new graduates for 2015. Cold water must not be thrown on progress leading toward a virtuous cycle.
来年４月は、春闘による賃上げや新卒採用の拡大などが見込まれる重要な時期である。好循環への動きに冷水を浴びせたくない。
Surely, a consumption tax rate hike alone will not help the nation achieve fiscal reconstruction. There are fears that if the economy loses steam with the tax hike, it could mean that tax revenues from such sources as corporate and income taxes will not increase as much as expected. Such a scenario would rather push fiscal reconstruction further into the distance.
もちろん、消費増税だけで財政は再建できない。増税で景気が失速すれば、法人税や所得税などの税収も期待したほどは増えない恐れがある。それではかえって財政健全化が遠のくだろう。
Although the government this autumn plans to hammer out additional economic measures, including a tax cut to stimulate investment, as part of its growth strategy, it will take time for these policy measures to produce tangible results.
政府は今秋、成長戦略として投資減税などの追加策を打ち出す方針だが、そうした政策効果が表れるまでには時間がかかる。
Aim for 10% in ’15
◆１５年の１０％を目指せ
If the consumption tax rate cannot be raised to 10 percent in 2015 as a result of adhering to the plan to increase it to 8 percent next April, that will be an inversion of Japan’s priorities.
８％への引き上げに固執した結果、景気が落ち込み、１０％への引き上げを実現できなくなれば、本末転倒である。
Some people, on the other hand, have expressed concern that if the tax hike is postponed, confidence in Japanese government bonds will drop, leading to a rise in long-term interest rates.
他方、消費増税を先送りした場合には、日本国債の信認が損なわれ、長期金利が上昇すると懸念する声が出ている。
What matters is whether the government can send a strong message that will dispel such fears. The government is urged to seek understanding both at home and abroad by announcing that postponing the rate increase to 8 percent is the result of its giving top priority to ending deflation and that its committ-ment to fiscal reconstruction will not falter in the least.
重要なのは、不安を払拭する政府の強いメッセージである。８％見送りはデフレ脱却を最優先した結果であり、財政再建の決意はいささかも揺るがないと表明し、内外の理解を求めてもらいたい。
A matter to be tackled in this connection is how to secure fiscal funds to make up for tax revenue that will be lost by putting off the tax hike. It will be necessary to curtail nonurgent spending while considering all possible measures.
増税先送りに伴う消費税収分をカバーする財政資金の確保も課題になる。まず緊急性の低い歳出は削減し、併せて、あらゆる政策を検討する必要がある。
One policy could be to make effective use of untapped household assets by issuing government bonds that do not bear interest but are exempt from inheritance tax on their face value. The funds to be collected widely could be used on a priority basis for social security programs and measures to prevent and reduce disasters.
利子が付かない代わりに、国債の額面分に相続税を課さない無利子非課税国債を発行し、家計に眠る貯蓄を有効活用することは政策メニューの一つだ。
広く集めた資金を社会保障や防災・減災対策などに重点配分することが考えられる。
2013年09月01日
悪ふざけ投稿 ネット交流に潜む危険な誘惑
The Yomiuri Shimbun August 31, 2013
Prank Internet postings can have serious consequences
悪ふざけ投稿 ネット交流に潜む危険な誘惑（8月30日付・読売社説）
It is deplorable that young people are causing serious problems by taking photos of themselves playing pranks and posting them on Twitter and other social media.
実に嘆かわしい事態である。若者が悪ふざけで撮った写真がツイッターなどＳＮＳ（ソーシャル・ネットワーキング・サービス）に投稿され、重大な問題を引き起こしている。
At a convenience store in Kochi, a male employee took a photo of himself lying in a refrigerated case for ice cream and posted it online. The head office of the chain store was inundated with complaints such as “your education of employees is problematic” and “your management of sanitation is doubtful.” The store ended up having its franchise contract terminated.
高知市のコンビニエンスストアでは、男性店員がアイスクリームの冷凍ケース内に身を横たえた姿を撮影し、投稿した。
本部には「店員の教育がなっていない」「衛生管理はできているのか」といった苦情が殺到した。この店はフランチャイズ契約を解除された。
At a ramen shop in Osaka where two female employees posted photos of one of them on Twitter with the shop’s frozen ingredients in her mouth, the shop was forced to dispose of the foodstuffs and suspend its business.
冷凍庫の食材をくわえた店員の写真がツイッターに公開された大阪のラーメン店は、食材廃棄ばかりか、休業に追い込まれた。
Due to rash acts by their employees, stores and franchise management companies lost the confidence of the public. It is not unreasonable for the shops to ask such employees to pay damages in addition to being fired.
店員の軽はずみな行為により、店や経営企業は信用低下というダメージを受けた。店員は解雇のみならず、店側から損害賠償を請求されてもおかしくはない。
This recent series of pranks includes one that developed into a criminal case. Two 19-year-old boys who posted a photo of themselves on the roof of a parked police car in Hokkaido were arrested on suspicion of damaging property.
刑事事件に発展したケースもある。北海道で駐車中のパトカーの屋根に乗った場面を投稿した１９歳の少年２人が、器物損壊容疑で逮捕された。
Stern action against such malicious acts cannot be avoided.
悪質な行為を抑止するためには厳しい対処もやむを得まい。
Exhibitionism a factor
The young people who caused these problems seem to be exhibitionists who want to attract others’ attention in cyberspace. The boys involved in the Hokkaido incident posted a message saying, “We trampled a patrol car.”
一連の問題を引き起こした若者たちからは、ネット空間で他の人から注目されたいという自己顕示欲がうかがえる。北海道の少年は「パトカー荒らしてきたぜ」という書き込みをしていた。
Social media are tools for increasing social contacts by making connections through individuals. If the services are used well, it will be possible to communicate with many people. Some young people may want to show off to get others’ attention, but the problem is how they go about it.
ＳＮＳは友だちの輪を広げる道具だ。うまく利用すれば、多くの人と交流することができる。関心を引くために、自分をアピールしたいという若者もいるだろうが、問題はその手段だ。
If they had considered the consequences of their acts, the incidents would not have occurred.
自らの行為がもたらす結果に思いを及ぼすことができれば、一連の騒動は起きなかったはずだ。
Why have actions by young people displaying a considerable lack of common sense become rampant?
なぜ、著しく常識を欠いた若者の行為が目立つのだろうか。
Some experts say that people immersed in the Internet world tend to lose normal judgment. They are preoccupied with what they should say and post on the Internet even at work and are tempted to do things that will attract the attention of friends on the Internet.
専門家の中には、ネットの世界に浸ると、正常な判断力を失いがちになるとの指摘がある。働いている最中でも、ネット上でどんな会話や投稿をするかが頭から離れず、ネット仲間にうける行動に走ってしまうのだという。
The incidents all happened within a short period, possibly because messages on the Internet encouraged others to follow suit. This could represent a facet of the situation underscored by the recent survey showing that 520,000 middle and high school students are addicted to the Internet.
騒動が短期間のうちに集中したのは、他の人の投稿を見て刺激を受けた結果だろう。
中高生だけでも約５２万人に達するとされるネット依存問題の一つの側面と言える。
With the rapid spread of smartphones, the number of users of social media and other Internet services is expected to continue rising. It is necessary to instruct people how to properly interact with the Internet world both at school and in employee training.
スマートフォンが急速に普及し、ＳＮＳなどのネット利用者は今後も増え続けるとみられる。学校だけでなく、社員教育の中でも、ネットとの適切な関わり方を指導していくことが必要だ。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 30, 2013)
（2013年8月30日01時28分 読売新聞）
Prank Internet postings can have serious consequences
悪ふざけ投稿 ネット交流に潜む危険な誘惑（8月30日付・読売社説）
It is deplorable that young people are causing serious problems by taking photos of themselves playing pranks and posting them on Twitter and other social media.
実に嘆かわしい事態である。若者が悪ふざけで撮った写真がツイッターなどＳＮＳ（ソーシャル・ネットワーキング・サービス）に投稿され、重大な問題を引き起こしている。
At a convenience store in Kochi, a male employee took a photo of himself lying in a refrigerated case for ice cream and posted it online. The head office of the chain store was inundated with complaints such as “your education of employees is problematic” and “your management of sanitation is doubtful.” The store ended up having its franchise contract terminated.
高知市のコンビニエンスストアでは、男性店員がアイスクリームの冷凍ケース内に身を横たえた姿を撮影し、投稿した。
本部には「店員の教育がなっていない」「衛生管理はできているのか」といった苦情が殺到した。この店はフランチャイズ契約を解除された。
At a ramen shop in Osaka where two female employees posted photos of one of them on Twitter with the shop’s frozen ingredients in her mouth, the shop was forced to dispose of the foodstuffs and suspend its business.
冷凍庫の食材をくわえた店員の写真がツイッターに公開された大阪のラーメン店は、食材廃棄ばかりか、休業に追い込まれた。
Due to rash acts by their employees, stores and franchise management companies lost the confidence of the public. It is not unreasonable for the shops to ask such employees to pay damages in addition to being fired.
店員の軽はずみな行為により、店や経営企業は信用低下というダメージを受けた。店員は解雇のみならず、店側から損害賠償を請求されてもおかしくはない。
This recent series of pranks includes one that developed into a criminal case. Two 19-year-old boys who posted a photo of themselves on the roof of a parked police car in Hokkaido were arrested on suspicion of damaging property.
刑事事件に発展したケースもある。北海道で駐車中のパトカーの屋根に乗った場面を投稿した１９歳の少年２人が、器物損壊容疑で逮捕された。
Stern action against such malicious acts cannot be avoided.
悪質な行為を抑止するためには厳しい対処もやむを得まい。
Exhibitionism a factor
The young people who caused these problems seem to be exhibitionists who want to attract others’ attention in cyberspace. The boys involved in the Hokkaido incident posted a message saying, “We trampled a patrol car.”
一連の問題を引き起こした若者たちからは、ネット空間で他の人から注目されたいという自己顕示欲がうかがえる。北海道の少年は「パトカー荒らしてきたぜ」という書き込みをしていた。
Social media are tools for increasing social contacts by making connections through individuals. If the services are used well, it will be possible to communicate with many people. Some young people may want to show off to get others’ attention, but the problem is how they go about it.
ＳＮＳは友だちの輪を広げる道具だ。うまく利用すれば、多くの人と交流することができる。関心を引くために、自分をアピールしたいという若者もいるだろうが、問題はその手段だ。
If they had considered the consequences of their acts, the incidents would not have occurred.
自らの行為がもたらす結果に思いを及ぼすことができれば、一連の騒動は起きなかったはずだ。
Why have actions by young people displaying a considerable lack of common sense become rampant?
なぜ、著しく常識を欠いた若者の行為が目立つのだろうか。
Some experts say that people immersed in the Internet world tend to lose normal judgment. They are preoccupied with what they should say and post on the Internet even at work and are tempted to do things that will attract the attention of friends on the Internet.
専門家の中には、ネットの世界に浸ると、正常な判断力を失いがちになるとの指摘がある。働いている最中でも、ネット上でどんな会話や投稿をするかが頭から離れず、ネット仲間にうける行動に走ってしまうのだという。
The incidents all happened within a short period, possibly because messages on the Internet encouraged others to follow suit. This could represent a facet of the situation underscored by the recent survey showing that 520,000 middle and high school students are addicted to the Internet.
騒動が短期間のうちに集中したのは、他の人の投稿を見て刺激を受けた結果だろう。
中高生だけでも約５２万人に達するとされるネット依存問題の一つの側面と言える。
With the rapid spread of smartphones, the number of users of social media and other Internet services is expected to continue rising. It is necessary to instruct people how to properly interact with the Internet world both at school and in employee training.
スマートフォンが急速に普及し、ＳＮＳなどのネット利用者は今後も増え続けるとみられる。学校だけでなく、社員教育の中でも、ネットとの適切な関わり方を指導していくことが必要だ。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 30, 2013)
（2013年8月30日01時28分 読売新聞）