風知草：果断さについて＝山田孝男

(Mainichi Japan) March 5, 2012
Osaka Mayor Hashimoto's boldness and rudeness
風知草：果断さについて＝山田孝男

The essence of events and their backgrounds have become increasingly indistinct, though a growing number of media outlets are showing ever-sharper images and offer more detailed commentaries on them.
　以前より報道媒体が増え、以前より鮮明な映像が撮れ、以前より長々と手の込んだ解説がなされているにもかかわらず、物ごとの本質や背景が以前より見えにくくなった。

This is particularly the case with the coverage of 42-year-old Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto. TV stations are enthusiastic about provoking belligerent Hashimoto and air images of him in a sensational way, though they have failed to explain the background behind his remarks or judge whether his assertions are appropriate.
　橋下徹大阪市長（４２）をめぐる報道がそうだ。テレビはケンカ上手の風雲児を挑発し、ファイトを映し出すことには熱心だが、背景説明や是非、善悪の判定は中途半端に終わる。

TV broadcasters tend to focus excessively on the roles that this "monster" mayor will play in political realignment and reform of the country, apparently out of mere curiosity, but have forgotten the most basic part of the issue: that his position derives from the autonomous choice of the people of Osaka.
　怪物市長が政界再編なり国家改造なりでどういう役割を担うかということが、津々浦々、興味本位に論じられ、主な問題は住民自治に属するという基本が見失われていく。

Last month, Hashimoto began a survey of all municipal government workers about their union and political activities. The survey asked 22 questions, including, "Did you participate in any activity to support any particular politician?" In a high-handed manner, Hashimoto ordered all Osaka city workers to fill out the questionnaires, including their names, and submit the responses to him as part of their official duties.
　橋下は先月、市の全職員を対象に労働組合と政治活動に関するアンケートを実施した。「特定の政治家を応援する活動に参加しましたか」など２２問。業務命令につき、記名して回答せよと高飛車に出た。

Naturally, his action stirred controversy. Critics have asserted the mayor's action is a violation of Article 19 of the Constitution guaranteeing freedom of thought and conscience; Article 28, providing for the right of workers to organize; and Clause 3, Article 7 of the Labor Union Act, which bans employers from controlling and interfering with unions.
　当然、批判が噴き出した。憲法１９条（思想・良心の自由）および２８条（勤労者の団結権）に違反、労働組合法７条３（労組に対する支配・介入の禁止）に違反していると。

The Osaka Municipal Government has suspended its analysis of the questionnaire results after the Osaka Prefectural Labor Relations Commission recommended that the survey be called off.
大阪府労働委員会（労使紛争の調停機関）が調査の中断を勧告、既に職員が記入・提出した回答の開封・集計は凍結された。

Discussions are now going on nationwide about whether Hashimoto is a dangerous figure. However, an opinion poll by the Asahi Shimbun national daily and the Osaka-based Asahi Broadcasting Corp. while Hashimoto was implementing his questionnaire showed that his approval rating was 70 percent among prefectural residents, and 71 percent of Osaka city residents.
　かくして全国レベルでは、橋下は危険人物かどうかというせんさくが続いているが、アンケート騒動のさなかに実施された大阪府民世論調査（朝日新聞・朝日放送）によれば、橋下の支持率は７０％（大阪市民に限れば７１％）に達した。

"If employees (the unions) have a say in the appointment of the president (mayor), administrative reform can't be carried out," Hashimoto told reporters on Jan. 6. This is why he has confronted the city worker unions. Hashimoto was elected mayor in November last year by beating an incumbent backed by Osaka city worker unions.
　橋下が職員組合と対決するのは「従業員（組合）が社長（市長）の人事を握っていては行革などできない」（１月６日の記者団とのやりとりなど）からである。昨年１１月、橋下は職員組合が支援した現職市長を選挙で破って当選した。

Workers have the right to be protected from unfair suppression by their employers. I feel odd about Hashimoto's character, which combines boldness with rudeness. I also feel disgusted by prominent figures in various circles cozying up to the mayor.
　労働者は雇い主の不当な圧迫から守られて当然だ。あえて言えば、私は、果断と無礼が結びついた橋下の特質に違和感を覚える。草木もなびく各界の橋下詣でにイヤな感じをぬぐえずにいる一人である。

Therefore, it is important to confirm the principle that a mayor should be evaluated by the people he or she represents. In other words, residents should be responsible for electing their mayor. There is no need for people across the country to pay close attention to Hashimoto's words and deeds and make such a fuss.
　だが、だからこそ、市長の評価は地域の住民が決めるという原則を確認したい。選んだ責任は住民が負うという原理を大事にしたい。橋下の一挙手一投足を全国民が見つめ、毎回大騒ぎする必要はない。

The coverage of Defense Minister Naoki Tanaka's words and deeds are another example of news organizations losing sight of the essence of a politician's actions despite repeatedly splashing their images all over TVs and front pages.
　鮮明な映像が示され、批判が集中したにもかかわらず、いつの間にか本質が見失われた例をもう一つ挙げる。田中直紀防衛相の進退である。

Statements Tanaka has made since he assumed the post in January have revealed his ignorance on basic defense issues, such as the Self-Defense Forces' consistency with the war-renouncing Constitution and the principles of Japan's participation in U.N. peacekeeping operations.
　田中は１月の就任以来、自衛隊の憲法理論、国連平和維持活動（ＰＫＯ）の現状など基本的知識の欠如を露呈。

Moreover, he came under fire for leaving the House of Councillors Budget Committee while it was in session to have a cup of coffee, and declared in the Diet later that he was "determined not to drink coffee," astonishing the public.
揚げ句、参院予算委を勝手に中座してコーヒーを飲みに行き、「コーヒーは飲まない決意」を答弁して議員も世間も仰天した。

There is no question that Tanaka is less than qualified to serve as defense minister at a time when North Korea's nuclear capabilities and China's military buildup pose an increasing threat to Japan. Nevertheless, he still stays in his position.
　北朝鮮の核攻撃の脅威増大と中国軍拡の折、田中防衛相が適任か、答えは明らかだが、進退は不問のままだ。

In February 1980, the defense agency chief in the Cabinet of then Prime Minister Masayoshi Ohira resigned after telling a House of Representatives Budget Committee session, "Since this is an important issue, I'll have the bureau director general (who is a bureaucrat) answer your question."
　大平内閣の８０年２月、衆院予算委で「重要な問題なので局長（役人）から答弁させます」と口を滑らせ辞任した防衛庁長官（現防衛相）がいた。

The official reason for his resignation was a scandal involving agency bureaucrats. No articles directly criticizing his absurd remark can be found in newspapers from the time. In that age, TV stations did not compete by constantly replaying politicians' gaffes and making public sport of them. Still, the prime minister had the defense agency chief step down to take responsibility for his miscue.
　辞任の表向きの理由は、以前からくすぶっていた役人不祥事の引責。当時の新聞にズッコケ答弁を正面から批判した記事は見えない。ましてテレビが失言映像を垂れ流し、コケにして競う時代ではなかったが、首相はけじめをつけた。

Ironically, a national political arena that lacks boldness -- particularly the stagnant ruling Democratic Party of Japan the largest opposition Liberal Democratic Party -- is what has given rise to the Hashimoto phenomenon. 　「橋下現象」は、果断さのカケラもない現在の中央政界、とりわけ民主、自民両党の停滞から生まれた皮肉だ。

（敬称略）（毎週月曜日掲載）
(By Takao Yamada, Expert Senior Writer)
毎日新聞　2012年3月5日　東京朝刊