「復興庁」 (reconstruction agency)

未曾有の大災害、復興庁のような機能性に富んだ機敏な組織を作って被災地の復旧に全力をつくすことが大切。
「復興庁」 (reconstruction agency) 長官には岩手選挙区の小沢一郎さんが適任だと思います。
政治の表舞台で活躍してほしい。
（スラチャイ記）

(Mainichi Japan) March 28, 2011
Reconstruction efforts require centralized headquarters, strong local representation
社説：復興への政府体制　機動的な司令塔整備を

Debate is taking place over the government's approach to the reconstruction of areas in eastern Japan that have suffered grave damage from the recent earthquake and tsunami.
　東日本大震災で被災した地域の復旧、復興に向け政府の体制を見直す議論が起きている。

One of the ideas that have emerged within the government and ruling party is the establishment of a reconstruction agency.
「復興庁」のような新組織を設けることで各省の行政を統括する構想も政府・与党内に浮上している。

To rebuild the vast number of communities that were wiped out by the massive tsunami on March 11, such an organization must be able to propel various ministries and agencies to come together, as well as conceptualize progress from a mid- to long-term perspective.
　巨大津波で広範な地域が大きな被害を受けた被災地の復興には中長期的視点に立つ構想力と同時に、各省を束ねる推進力が必要だ。

It would not be in our best interests to expend more energy than is necessary in creating the organization.
組織づくりそのものに過大なエネルギーを費やすことは得策でない。

What we are aiming for is a flexible control group that is quick on its feet.
機動的な司令塔を目指すべきである。

Currently, government support for disaster victims is being supervised by a special disaster victim support headquarters that spun off from an emergency disaster relief headquarters comprising all Cabinet ministers.
　政府の被災者支援は全閣僚による「緊急災害対策本部」から「被災者生活支援特別対策本部」を分離させる形で現在、進んでいる。

More than two weeks have passed since the disaster hit, and the restoration of infrastructure -- such as residential construction, roads, and ports -- and deliberations to draw up a major supplementary budget are expected to shift into high gear.
大震災から半月を経て住宅建設や道路、港湾など社会資本の復旧、大型補正予算編成などに向けた検討も今後、本格化する。

As the scale of reconstruction plans for the latest disaster is expected to far exceed that following the 1995 Great Hanshin Earthquake, their success is contingent upon the government's strong leadership.
復興計画は阪神大震災を大きく上回る規模とみられるだけに、政府が取りまとめを強力に主導できるかが問われる。

The Teito (Imperial Capital) Reconstruction Agency was launched after the 1923 Great Kanto Earthquake to help rebuild the nation's capital.
　１９２３年の関東大震災の際は「帝都復興院」が発足し、首都再建にあたった。

Based on this experience, some government and ruling-party insiders are suggesting the formation of a similar Recovery Agency to oversee wide-ranging administration in the aftermath of this month's devastation.
こうした経験を参考に「復興庁」のような組織を新設し、多分野にわたる行政を統括する案も政府・与党内にはある。

To centralize the reconstruction-related administration, the idea of establishing a central-command type system is a good one.
　復興行政をできるだけ一元化するため、司令塔的な体制を整えること自体は賛成だ。

However, there are several points that must be considered in doing so.
だが、いくつか留意すべき点がある。

First, we should avoid launching any organizations that could be redundant, as we've seen repeatedly in the past whenever the government has established new organizations or agencies.
　まず、これまで政府が新組織を作る際、再三見られたように、各省に屋上屋を架すような愚は避けるべきだ。

The agency needs to be a simple organization specializing in giving out commands.
司令塔機能に特化した簡素なものとしなければならない。

Most importantly, however, it must have the ability to map out guidelines for reconstruction.
　最も重要なのは、復興の指針を決める企画立案機能だ。

Many of the areas affected by the recent disaster have rapidly aging populations and suffer from depopulation. Measures to prevent secondary disasters from tsunami must be implemented, but the affected area is extremely vast.
被災地の多くが高齢化が進む過疎地であり、津波の２次被害への備えも迫られる。被災地域も非常に広範囲にわたる。

A wide-range of information and insight must be gathered in order to simultaneously revitalize communities and prevent future disasters while acknowledging the differences between the latest disaster and the Great Hanshin Earthquake.
防災と地域再生をどう両立させるか、阪神大震災との状況の違いも踏まえつつ復興に取り組めるよう、幅広く知見を集めねばならない。

When the Great Hanshin Earthquake took place in 1995, the government launched the Hanshin-Awaji Restoration Committee, an advisory panel to the prime minister.
　９５年の阪神大震災の際、政府は首相の諮問機関「阪神・淡路復興委員会」を発足させ提言活動を行った。

This time, however, we should set up a more powerful consultative body -- comprising senior officials from the ruling party, various experts, as well as members of the business world -- that, along with the secretariat, would have a strong mandate.
今回はさらにそれを強化し、政府・与党首脳部はもとより有識者、経済界も参加した協議機関を設け、事務局とともに強い権限を与えるべきではないか。

Calling on opposition parties to participate, and having implementing agencies and organizations employ liaison committees made up of administrative vice ministers is one way to go about the restoration process.
野党に参加を呼びかけたり、実施機関は各府省の事務次官で構成する連絡会議を活用したりするのもひとつの方法だろう。

Even more important is to avoid departing from the general rule that the major players of the reconstruction process are local communities.
　さらに重要なのは、復興計画の主役は自治体という原則を踏み外さないことだ。

Accordingly, to address concerns and implement revitalization plans that defy prefectural boundaries, the involvement of multiple governors and various community members go without saying.
地域の実情に応じ、県境にとらわれない復興計画を策定するため関係県の知事はもとより、地域のさまざまな人たちが参加することは当然だ。

The national government must avoid any anachronistic moves such as forcing its plans onto local communities.
国が上からプランを押しつける時代錯誤は禁物である。

毎日新聞　2011年3月28日　東京朝刊