所信表明演説 日本再生へ具体的な行動を

The Yomiuri Shimbun (Sep. 15, 2011)
To rebuild Tohoku, first rebuild trust
所信表明演説　日本再生へ具体的な行動を（9月14日付・読売社説）

The Democratic Party of Japan-led administration and the nation's politics as a whole are now on the very edge. It is essential for the government to do its utmost to carry out important policies with urgency and seriousness.
　日本の政治も民主党政権も今、瀬戸際にある。その危機感を持ち、重要政策の実現に全力を挙げることが肝要だ。

On Tuesday, Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda delivered his first policy speech at the Diet since taking office.
　野田首相が就任後初の所信表明演説を行った。

The stagnant state of Japanese politics has come under scrutiny by other countries. Noda said the trust that Japan has accumulated over the years is now at risk. He also said the government and the Diet should fulfill their roles "to restore hope and pride to Japan."
　政治の停滞に対する海外の視線は厳しい。これまで積み上げてきた「国家の信用」が危機にひんしている。「希望と誇りある日本を再生する」ため、政府と国会は自らの役割を果たすべきだ――。

We have no objection to Noda's view of the current situation. The problem is how to take concrete action to restore trust and revitalize the nation.
　そうした首相の現状認識に異論はない。問題は、「国家の信用」を回復し、日本を再生するための具体的な行動をどう取るかだ。

In his policy speech, Noda said restoration of social infrastructure and reconstruction from the Great East Japan Earthquake are among his Cabinet's top priorities, and emphasized that the government will speed up the compilation of a third supplementary budget.
　首相は演説で、東日本大震災からの復旧・復興を内閣の「最優先課題」と位置づけ、第３次補正予算編成を急ぐ考えを強調した。

Six months have passed since the March 11 earthquake and tsunami, but restoration of social infrastructure and reconstruction of areas affected by the disaster have been significantly delayed. This is because politicians failed to exercise leadership and bureaucrats simply put the problem off.
　震災から半年間、復旧・復興は大幅に遅れている。政治の指導力が発揮されず、官僚も問題先送りの姿勢に終始したためだ。

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Show respect for bureaucrats

An urgent task is to rebuild the relationship between politicians and bureaucrats. Noda needs to thoroughly instill among ministers, senior vice ministers and parliamentary secretaries a mind-set in which politicians and bureaucrats work on tasks together. The Noda administration can be praised for its decision to reinstate administrative vice ministers' meetings, which is a positive step.
　政官関係の立て直しが急務だ。首相は、政治家と官僚が一体で課題に取り組むという発想を、各府省の閣僚ら政務三役に徹底させる必要がある。事務次官会議を事実上復活させたのは、前向きな一歩と評価できる。

It is important for politicians to set policy priorities themselves and take responsibility for the results, but it is also essential for them to humbly listen to bureaucrats' technical opinions, to motivate them and to elicit and utilize their abilities to the maximum extent.
　政治家が自ら政策の優先順位を判断し、結果に責任を持つ一方、官僚の専門的意見に謙虚に耳を傾け、その能力と意欲を最大限引き出し、活用することが重要だ。

Noda also announced in his policy speech that the government will establish a new body tentatively called the "national strategy council" that will gather wisdom from academia, government and the private sector to achieve economic growth and restore fiscal soundness. He will charge the council with drawing up by the end of this year a strategy to revitalize Japan.
　首相はまた、経済成長と財政健全化の両立に向け、産官学の英知を集めた「国家戦略会議」（仮称）を創設し、年内に日本再生の戦略を策定する方針を表明した。

It is proper and appropriate for the government to cooperate with the business sector to effectively deal with the hollowing-out of industry and the yen's surge after the March 11 disaster.
　震災後の産業空洞化や円高に効果的に対処するため、経済界と緊密に連携するのは当然だ。

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Undo damage done by Kan

Economic policy went astray under the administration of former Prime Minister Naoto Kan due to his impromptu responses, and trust between the government and business groups was damaged. It is vital for Japan to work as one to overcome the current national crisis.
　菅政権では、前首相の場当たり的対応で経済政策が迷走し、経済団体との信頼関係も損なわれた。国家の危機克服には、オールジャパンの取り組みが欠かせない。

Noda also announced that the government will submit to the ordinary Diet session next year bills related to integrated social security and tax reforms that include a consumption tax rate hike. He called for discussions between the ruling and opposition parties on the matter as quickly as possible.
　野田首相は演説で、消費税率引き上げを伴う社会保障と税の一体改革の関連法案を来年の通常国会に提出する方針を表明し、与野党協議の早期開催を呼びかけた。

To pass those bills under the current divided Diet, it is imperative for the government and ruling parties to approach discussions with the opposition with "seishin seii" (sincere spirit and just intent), a Japanese term used by Noda.
　衆参ねじれ国会で法案を成立させるには、政府・与党が、首相の言う「正心誠意」の精神で野党と話し合うことが不可欠だ。

Yet, the ruling parties decided to hold the extraordinary Diet session for a mere four days, the better to dodge questioning by the opposition. This is unreasonable. The ruling parties must repair strained ties with the opposition by holding examinations at the Budget Committee during a Diet recess as soon as possible.
　それなのに、野党の追及を避けることばかりを優先し、臨時国会をわずか４日間で閉じるのは、おかしい。できるだけ早期に予算委員会の閉会中審査を行い、野党との関係を修復せねばなるまい。

The Liberal Democratic Party and other opposition parties also should be aware of their responsibility to revitalize Japan as they enter discussions with the ruling parties.
　自民党など野党も、日本再生の責任の一端を担っている自覚を持ち、与野党協議に臨むべきだ。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 14, 2011)
（2011年9月14日01時09分 読売新聞）