The Yomiuri Shimbun (Jul. 19, 2010)
Sumo body must shed closed culture
大相撲改革 世間の常識が通用する協会に（7月18日付・読売社説）
Stamping out evil practices that have taken deep root in the Japan Sumo Association is the only way to rebuild the national sport, which has lost public trust due to illegal gambling by sumo wrestlers and officials on pro baseball.
野球賭博問題で信頼が地に落ちた大相撲を立て直すには、日本相撲協会に染み付いた悪弊を排除するしかない。
We hope the "independent committee concerning improvement of governance," which was inaugurated with 11 third-party members to reform the JSA, will present a road map toward the sumo body's rebirth that can fully satisfy sumo fans.
相撲協会を改革するため、外部のメンバー１１人で発足した「ガバナンス（統治能力）の整備に関する独立委員会」には、ファンが納得する再生の道筋を示してもらいたい。
The committee, which held its first meeting Friday, is mostly discussing ways to eliminate the involvement of organized crime syndicates, prevent the recurrence of scandals and strengthen the JSA's crisis management methods, before the panel comes up with a reform proposal. These are unavoidable and important tasks for drastically overhauling the JSA.
１６日に初会合を開いた独立委は今後、暴力団の排除、不祥事の再発防止、危機管理の強化などについて重点的に協議し、改革案をまとめる。いずれも、相撲協会の抜本改革には避けて通れない重要な課題である。
As the committee's name suggests, there is no doubt that the JSA, which is run by former sumo wrestlers, is remarkably incapable of governing its own affairs.
独立委の名称に表れているように、力士出身者が運営する相撲協会が著しく統治能力を欠いていたことは間違いない。
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JSA's faulty logic at issue
The thinking that "only people in the sumo world can understand sumo" has led to the JSA's closed culture. Logic that does not hold water in the world at large has put a brake on the body's own reform efforts. This is the source of the saying, "Common sense in the sumo world equals thoughtlessness in the wider world."
「相撲のことは角界の者にしか分からない」という意識が閉鎖的な体質につながり、一般には通用しない論理が改革にブレーキをかけてきた。「角界の常識は世間の非常識」と言われるゆえんだ。
Some stablemasters opposed the appointment of Hiroyoshi Murayama, a former chief of the Tokyo High Public Prosecutors Office, to the post of acting chairman, despite the fact that the gambling scandal led to unprecedented consequences such as the dismissal of the ozeki wrestler Kotomitsuki.
野球賭博問題では、大関琴光喜の解雇など前例のない事態を招きながらも、外部の村山弘義・元東京高検検事長が理事長代行に就くことに一部の親方は抵抗した。
What first must be eliminated is this inward-looking logic.
まず排除しなくてはならないのは、この内向きの論理である。
Two of the current JSA directors who decide important matters for the association come from outside sumo. The JSA finally opened its doors to the outside world after the Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Ministry requested the body appoint outsiders to its board following the 2007 case in which a teenage sumo wrestler was fatally abused by fellow wrestlers in the Tokitsukaze stable.
相撲協会の重要事項を決定する１２人の理事のうち、外部のメンバーは２人だ。時津風部屋の暴行死事件を受け、文部科学省に外部からの登用を求められて、ようやく門戸を開いた経緯がある。
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Reform requires outside push
However, such efforts to date have been far from satisfactory. To steadily move forward with reform at the JSA, it is necessary to increase the number of directors from outside sumo. We hope the independent committee will compile a sweeping proposal that includes increasing the number of outside JSA directors to a majority.
だが、これでは不十分だ。改革を着実に進めるためには、外部の理事はさらに増やす必要があろう。独立委には、外部理事を全体の過半数にまで増員するなど、踏み込んだ改革案を期待したい。
The gambling scandal will not be brought to a close just because stablemasters and sumo wrestlers stopped gambling. It is said that organized crime syndicates run the gambling on pro baseball games. It is crucial and paramount that the sumo world completely cut its ties with mobsters.
野球賭博問題は、親方や力士が賭博をやめれば一件落着というわけではない。野球賭博を仕切っているのは暴力団だとされる。大切なのは、角界が暴力団とのかかわりを完全に断つことである。
It is essential to apply stern punishment, up to and including dismissal, to stablemasters and sumo wrestlers who had relationships with organized crime syndicates.
暴力団との付き合いを持った親方や力士には、解雇などの厳罰で臨むことが肝要だ。
The Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament--which is being held under the extraordinary circumstances of NHK declining to broadcast live coverage of the tourney and six wrestlers in the top makuuchi division having been suspended--has entered its middle phase.
ＮＨＫの中継中止、幕内だけで６人の力士が謹慎休場という異例の状況で開かれている名古屋場所は、中盤戦に入った。
Vacant seats are noticeable at the 15-day tourney and prize money has fallen sharply. These factors indicate the depth of the wound suffered by the JSA as a result of the recent gambling scandal.
会場では空席が目立ち、懸賞金も激減している。今回の問題で相撲協会が負った傷がいかに深いかを物語っている。
The JSA never will be able to restore the public trust it has lost unless the body is reborn as an open organization and resolutely carries out bold reforms.
開かれた組織へと生まれ変わり、大胆な改革を断行する――。それができなければ、相撲協会の信頼は回復しない。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 18, 2010)
（2010年7月18日01時06分 読売新聞）
2010/07/19
2010/07/18
豪雨被害 的確な情報で早めの避難を
The Yomiuri Shimbun (Jul. 18, 2010)
In 'guerrilla rain' fight, the key weapon is data
豪雨被害 的確な情報で早めの避難を（7月17日付・読売社説）
Torrential rains caused by a seasonal rain front have brought death and destruction to the nation, mainly in western Japan.
西日本を中心に、梅雨前線の影響による集中豪雨の被害が相次ぐ。
A number of people have been killed or are missing. The victims were crushed in their homes by mudslides or swept away by rain-swollen rivers.
土砂崩れで倒壊した家屋の下敷きになったり、増水した河川に流されたりして、大勢の死者・行方不明者が出ている。
In the past month, there have been over 350 reported landslides. In Matsue, a mudslide on the slope behind a private house caused two huge rocks, each measuring four meters in diameter, to strike the building, killing two residents. In Yaotsucho, Gifu Prefecture, a mudslide crushed a private house, killing three residents.
とりわけ土砂災害は、このひと月余りで３５０件を超えた。
松江市では、住宅裏の斜面が崩れて、直径４メートルの岩２個が民家を直撃、２人が死亡した。岐阜県八百津町でも民家が押しつぶされ、住人が死亡した。
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Landslides must be studied
In recent years, experts have attributed large-scale mudslides to the so-called deep-seated landslide mechanism. Heavy rain soaks into cracks in the bedrock, which has been weakened over time, and when the bedrock collapses downhill, it takes a large volume of upper soil with it.
近年、専門家からは、大規模な土砂崩れについて「深層崩壊」というメカニズムが指摘されている。長い間に風化した岩盤の亀裂に大雨がしみこみ、脆弱(ぜいじゃく)化した岩盤ごと大量の土砂が崩落する。
Unlike shallow landslides, which can be prevented to a certain degree through good forestry practices, there are no known measures to prevent the occurrence of deep-seated landslides. We consider it necessary to urgently study what steps could be taken.
森林保全で一定の予防ができる表層崩壊と違い、発生を防ぐ手だては今のところないという。対応策の研究を急ぐ必要がある。
Meanwhile, the phenomenon of so-called guerrilla rain--sudden downpours into relatively narrow zones, mainly in urban areas--has attracted attention in recent years. Such rain is caused mainly by cumulonimbus clouds that form in a clash of warm and cold air. But some experts think the urban heat island phenomenon and global warming trends have a causal relationship to the sudden downpours.
一方、都市部を中心に、狭い地域を突然襲う「ゲリラ豪雨」も近年の特徴だ。冷たい空気と暖かい空気がぶつかってできる積乱雲が主な原因だが、ヒートアイランド現象や地球温暖化との関係を指摘する専門家もいる。
Guerrilla rain is frightening in that it is difficult to predict and the damage it causes occurs all at once.
襲来予測が難しく、被害が一気に発生するのが怖いところだ。
In the summer of 2008, five workers died in Tokyo after being washed away by a surge in sewer water while working underground. Also that summer, a swollen river killed five people, including primary school children, in Kobe.
一昨年夏には都内でマンホール内の水が急増して作業員５人が死亡。神戸市内でも川が増水して小学生ら５人が死亡した。
On July 5 this year, an intense rainfall of 107 millimeters per hour was recorded in Tokyo's Itabashi Ward.
東京・板橋では５日、１時間に１０７ミリという猛烈な雨が観測されている。
To prevent damage from heavy rain, it is essential to have highly accurate weather forecasts and to issue appropriate warnings. Such information must be adequately conveyed by local governments to residents in affected areas. It is imperative that those residents be advised to evacuate if necessary as soon as possible.
豪雨被害の防止には、精度の高い気象予測と警報の発令、それを自治体が的確に住民に伝え、早めの避難を勧めることが大切だ。
The Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Ministry has started introducing advanced radar systems capable of accurately measuring the strength of precipitation mainly in major cities. Such radar can also be used to predict situations in wide areas affected by heavy rain. There also are private-sector services offering guerrilla rain forecasts on mobile phone sites.
国土交通省は大都市を中心に、雨の強さが正確に計測できる高性能レーダーの導入を進めている。集中豪雨の広範な周辺状況まで観測できる。民間でも携帯電話サイトを使ったゲリラ豪雨の予報サービスが登場している。
Since late May, the Meteorological Agency has issued warnings and advisories on heavy rain and floods in a much more detailed manner as it increased the number of forecasting areas from 375 to 1,777 to correspond to each municipality.
気象庁は５月末から、大雨や洪水などの警報・注意報を、従来の全国３７５地域から市町村単位（１７７７地域）に細分化して発表するようにした。
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Stay alert to stay safe
We urge each municipal government to effectively use such information to issue advisories and instructions for evacuations of local residents. It also is important that local governments regularly conduct disaster drills and establish systems to provide local residents with necessary information via community wireless services and other means in the event of an emergency.
市町村には、これらの情報を住民避難の勧告や指示に、有効に生かしてもらいたい。日ごろから避難訓練を実施し、いざという時には防災無線などを使って必要な情報が確実に住民に届く体制作りをしておくことも重要だ。
As the rainy season winds down across the nation, summer vacations will soon start for schoolchildren. We are entering a holiday season during which people flock to beaches, mountains and rivers. People must not forget to take precautions against rain and flood disasters wherever they go.
列島は南から順次、梅雨が明ける。子供たちの夏休みも始まる。海・山・川がにぎわうシーズンだ。どこへ行っても雨と水への警戒を怠らないようにしたい。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 17, 2010)
（2010年7月17日01時49分 読売新聞）
In 'guerrilla rain' fight, the key weapon is data
豪雨被害 的確な情報で早めの避難を（7月17日付・読売社説）
Torrential rains caused by a seasonal rain front have brought death and destruction to the nation, mainly in western Japan.
西日本を中心に、梅雨前線の影響による集中豪雨の被害が相次ぐ。
A number of people have been killed or are missing. The victims were crushed in their homes by mudslides or swept away by rain-swollen rivers.
土砂崩れで倒壊した家屋の下敷きになったり、増水した河川に流されたりして、大勢の死者・行方不明者が出ている。
In the past month, there have been over 350 reported landslides. In Matsue, a mudslide on the slope behind a private house caused two huge rocks, each measuring four meters in diameter, to strike the building, killing two residents. In Yaotsucho, Gifu Prefecture, a mudslide crushed a private house, killing three residents.
とりわけ土砂災害は、このひと月余りで３５０件を超えた。
松江市では、住宅裏の斜面が崩れて、直径４メートルの岩２個が民家を直撃、２人が死亡した。岐阜県八百津町でも民家が押しつぶされ、住人が死亡した。
===
Landslides must be studied
In recent years, experts have attributed large-scale mudslides to the so-called deep-seated landslide mechanism. Heavy rain soaks into cracks in the bedrock, which has been weakened over time, and when the bedrock collapses downhill, it takes a large volume of upper soil with it.
近年、専門家からは、大規模な土砂崩れについて「深層崩壊」というメカニズムが指摘されている。長い間に風化した岩盤の亀裂に大雨がしみこみ、脆弱(ぜいじゃく)化した岩盤ごと大量の土砂が崩落する。
Unlike shallow landslides, which can be prevented to a certain degree through good forestry practices, there are no known measures to prevent the occurrence of deep-seated landslides. We consider it necessary to urgently study what steps could be taken.
森林保全で一定の予防ができる表層崩壊と違い、発生を防ぐ手だては今のところないという。対応策の研究を急ぐ必要がある。
Meanwhile, the phenomenon of so-called guerrilla rain--sudden downpours into relatively narrow zones, mainly in urban areas--has attracted attention in recent years. Such rain is caused mainly by cumulonimbus clouds that form in a clash of warm and cold air. But some experts think the urban heat island phenomenon and global warming trends have a causal relationship to the sudden downpours.
一方、都市部を中心に、狭い地域を突然襲う「ゲリラ豪雨」も近年の特徴だ。冷たい空気と暖かい空気がぶつかってできる積乱雲が主な原因だが、ヒートアイランド現象や地球温暖化との関係を指摘する専門家もいる。
Guerrilla rain is frightening in that it is difficult to predict and the damage it causes occurs all at once.
襲来予測が難しく、被害が一気に発生するのが怖いところだ。
In the summer of 2008, five workers died in Tokyo after being washed away by a surge in sewer water while working underground. Also that summer, a swollen river killed five people, including primary school children, in Kobe.
一昨年夏には都内でマンホール内の水が急増して作業員５人が死亡。神戸市内でも川が増水して小学生ら５人が死亡した。
On July 5 this year, an intense rainfall of 107 millimeters per hour was recorded in Tokyo's Itabashi Ward.
東京・板橋では５日、１時間に１０７ミリという猛烈な雨が観測されている。
To prevent damage from heavy rain, it is essential to have highly accurate weather forecasts and to issue appropriate warnings. Such information must be adequately conveyed by local governments to residents in affected areas. It is imperative that those residents be advised to evacuate if necessary as soon as possible.
豪雨被害の防止には、精度の高い気象予測と警報の発令、それを自治体が的確に住民に伝え、早めの避難を勧めることが大切だ。
The Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Ministry has started introducing advanced radar systems capable of accurately measuring the strength of precipitation mainly in major cities. Such radar can also be used to predict situations in wide areas affected by heavy rain. There also are private-sector services offering guerrilla rain forecasts on mobile phone sites.
国土交通省は大都市を中心に、雨の強さが正確に計測できる高性能レーダーの導入を進めている。集中豪雨の広範な周辺状況まで観測できる。民間でも携帯電話サイトを使ったゲリラ豪雨の予報サービスが登場している。
Since late May, the Meteorological Agency has issued warnings and advisories on heavy rain and floods in a much more detailed manner as it increased the number of forecasting areas from 375 to 1,777 to correspond to each municipality.
気象庁は５月末から、大雨や洪水などの警報・注意報を、従来の全国３７５地域から市町村単位（１７７７地域）に細分化して発表するようにした。
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Stay alert to stay safe
We urge each municipal government to effectively use such information to issue advisories and instructions for evacuations of local residents. It also is important that local governments regularly conduct disaster drills and establish systems to provide local residents with necessary information via community wireless services and other means in the event of an emergency.
市町村には、これらの情報を住民避難の勧告や指示に、有効に生かしてもらいたい。日ごろから避難訓練を実施し、いざという時には防災無線などを使って必要な情報が確実に住民に届く体制作りをしておくことも重要だ。
As the rainy season winds down across the nation, summer vacations will soon start for schoolchildren. We are entering a holiday season during which people flock to beaches, mountains and rivers. People must not forget to take precautions against rain and flood disasters wherever they go.
列島は南から順次、梅雨が明ける。子供たちの夏休みも始まる。海・山・川がにぎわうシーズンだ。どこへ行っても雨と水への警戒を怠らないようにしたい。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 17, 2010)
（2010年7月17日01時49分 読売新聞）
2010/07/17
第１検察審議決 小沢氏不起訴にまた疑問符
The Yomiuri Shimbun (Jul. 17, 2010)
Prosecutors should keep Ozawa in sights
第１検察審議決 小沢氏不起訴にまた疑問符（7月16日付・読売社説）
A panel for the inquest of prosecution has again pointed out shortcomings in the investigations into former Democratic Party of Japan Secretary General Ichiro Ozawa over a scandal involving his political funds management organization. Prosecutors must take this situation gravely.
民主党の小沢前幹事長に対する捜査の不十分さが、検察審査会から改めて指摘された。検察は重く受け止めるべきだ。
Public attention is focused on whether the Tokyo No. 5 Committee for the Inquest of Prosecution will recommend for the second time that Ozawa should be indicted. The Tokyo No. 1 Committee for the Inquest of Prosecution made a separate conclusion Thursday that it was "unjust" for prosecutors not to have indicted Ozawa over the funds body's alleged falsification of its 2007 political funds report.
東京第５検察審が小沢氏の強制起訴につながる２度目の議決を出すかどうかが注目される中、これとは別に、東京第１検察審が「不起訴不当」の議決をした。
Three of Ozawa's former secretaries, including House of Representatives member Tomohiro Ishikawa, have been indicted on suspicion of making false entries into political funds reports for 2004, 2005 and 2007 to hide a shady transfer of 400 million yen the funds management body, Rikuzan-kai, used for the purchase of a plot of land in Tokyo.
小沢氏の資金管理団体「陸山会」が都内の土地を購入する際に使った４億円を隠蔽(いんぺい)するため、２００４年、０５年、０７年分の収支報告書に虚偽記入をしたとして、石川知裕衆院議員ら小沢氏の元秘書３人が起訴された。
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Waiting for 2nd conclusion
However, the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office decided not to indict Ozawa due to lack of evidence. Because civilians dissatisfied with this decision filed for a review of the case, the No. 5 panel has been reexamining whether the prosecutors' decision was appropriate regarding the false entries for 2004 and 2005, while the No. 1 panel did likewise for the 2007 report.
しかし検察は、小沢氏については嫌疑不十分で不起訴とした。これを不服とする市民らの申し立てを受け、０４年分と０５年分の虚偽記入については第５検察審、０７年分については第１検察審が処分の妥当性を審査してきた。
The No. 5 committee in late April concluded Ozawa "merits indictment." This panel is now reviewing the case for the second time after the prosecutors office again said it would not indict Ozawa.
If the No. 5 panel again concludes Ozawa should be indicted, the ruling party bigwig will face mandatory indictment.
第５検察審は４月末、１度目の「起訴相当」の結論を出し、検察の再度の不起訴処分を受けて２度目の審査段階にある。次に「起訴すべき」との議決が出れば、小沢氏は強制起訴される。
A DPJ presidential election is scheduled for September. As such, the timing of the No. 5 panel's second conclusion has become a focus of mounting concern, especially among politicians with a stake in the race and its outcome.
９月には民主党代表選が予定されており、再議決の時期は政治的にも関心が高まっている。
If prosecutors decide not to indict Ozawa after their investigation despite the No. 1 committee's "unjust" decision, there will be no second review of the case by the panel.
今回の「不起訴不当」議決に対しては、検察が再捜査で不起訴とすると、２度目の審査はない。
Nevertheless, the panel flatly stated that Ozawa's explanation to the prosecutors--that he left the entry of data into the reports entirely to his secretaries--was "unnatural" and demanded prosecutors conduct a more exhaustive investigation.
とはいえ、第１検察審は、「秘書に任せていた」という小沢氏の弁明を「不自然である」と言い切り、検察に、これまで以上に徹底した捜査を迫っている。
Regarding false entries in the political funds reports, the panel concluded that confessions by Ishikawa and another former secretary--they claim they told Ozawa they would not enter the 400 million yen transaction into the reports and received Ozawa's approval for the omission--are credible. The panel said they could not escape the belief that the prosecutors' questioning of Ozawa "did not go far enough."
報告書への不記載について、小沢氏に報告し、了承を得たという石川議員や別の元秘書の供述を信用できるとした上で、小沢氏に対する検察の聴取を「追及不足の印象は免れない」と批判した。
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Unusual demands
The panel also demanded the prosecutors ask Ozawa and the former secretaries to submit pocketbooks and notes in which they recorded their activities and check them against the facts. It is quite unusual for members of the panel, who are chosen from the public, to make such demands on investigation methods to prosecutors.
元秘書や小沢氏から、行動を記録しているはずの手帳やメモを提出させ、事実関係の裏付けをとるよう求めている。市民から選ばれた審査員が、捜査方法にまで注文を付けるのは異例のことだ。
The panel has implicitly warned the prosecutors not to simply go through the motions by deciding the outcome before even starting their investigation. We urge the prosecutors to leave no stone unturned in their investigation.
検察が結論ありきの形式的な再捜査をすることに、クギを刺したということだろう。検察は捜査を尽くすべきである。
Ozawa appeared emboldened by the prosecutors' decision not to indict him and has refused to give any explanation about the scandal at the Diet. The possibility that Ozawa might take the stand at the House of Representatives Deliberative Council on Political Ethics has been left up in the air.
小沢氏は、検察の不起訴処分を自らに有利に解釈し、国会でも一切の説明を拒んできた。衆院政治倫理審査会への出席も、うやむやになってしまった。
The Tokyo No. 1 panel's conclusion was a resounding "no" to Ozawa's refusal to clear up this matter. We again urge Ozawa to fulfill his responsibility to clearly explain to the public his involvement--if any--in the alleged wrongdoing.
第１検察審の議決は、小沢氏のこうした姿勢にも「ノー」を突きつけたものだ。小沢氏に重ねて求められるのは、国民への説明責任を果たすことである。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 16, 2010)
（2010年7月16日01時17分 読売新聞）
Prosecutors should keep Ozawa in sights
第１検察審議決 小沢氏不起訴にまた疑問符（7月16日付・読売社説）
A panel for the inquest of prosecution has again pointed out shortcomings in the investigations into former Democratic Party of Japan Secretary General Ichiro Ozawa over a scandal involving his political funds management organization. Prosecutors must take this situation gravely.
民主党の小沢前幹事長に対する捜査の不十分さが、検察審査会から改めて指摘された。検察は重く受け止めるべきだ。
Public attention is focused on whether the Tokyo No. 5 Committee for the Inquest of Prosecution will recommend for the second time that Ozawa should be indicted. The Tokyo No. 1 Committee for the Inquest of Prosecution made a separate conclusion Thursday that it was "unjust" for prosecutors not to have indicted Ozawa over the funds body's alleged falsification of its 2007 political funds report.
東京第５検察審が小沢氏の強制起訴につながる２度目の議決を出すかどうかが注目される中、これとは別に、東京第１検察審が「不起訴不当」の議決をした。
Three of Ozawa's former secretaries, including House of Representatives member Tomohiro Ishikawa, have been indicted on suspicion of making false entries into political funds reports for 2004, 2005 and 2007 to hide a shady transfer of 400 million yen the funds management body, Rikuzan-kai, used for the purchase of a plot of land in Tokyo.
小沢氏の資金管理団体「陸山会」が都内の土地を購入する際に使った４億円を隠蔽(いんぺい)するため、２００４年、０５年、０７年分の収支報告書に虚偽記入をしたとして、石川知裕衆院議員ら小沢氏の元秘書３人が起訴された。
===
Waiting for 2nd conclusion
However, the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office decided not to indict Ozawa due to lack of evidence. Because civilians dissatisfied with this decision filed for a review of the case, the No. 5 panel has been reexamining whether the prosecutors' decision was appropriate regarding the false entries for 2004 and 2005, while the No. 1 panel did likewise for the 2007 report.
しかし検察は、小沢氏については嫌疑不十分で不起訴とした。これを不服とする市民らの申し立てを受け、０４年分と０５年分の虚偽記入については第５検察審、０７年分については第１検察審が処分の妥当性を審査してきた。
The No. 5 committee in late April concluded Ozawa "merits indictment." This panel is now reviewing the case for the second time after the prosecutors office again said it would not indict Ozawa.
If the No. 5 panel again concludes Ozawa should be indicted, the ruling party bigwig will face mandatory indictment.
第５検察審は４月末、１度目の「起訴相当」の結論を出し、検察の再度の不起訴処分を受けて２度目の審査段階にある。次に「起訴すべき」との議決が出れば、小沢氏は強制起訴される。
A DPJ presidential election is scheduled for September. As such, the timing of the No. 5 panel's second conclusion has become a focus of mounting concern, especially among politicians with a stake in the race and its outcome.
９月には民主党代表選が予定されており、再議決の時期は政治的にも関心が高まっている。
If prosecutors decide not to indict Ozawa after their investigation despite the No. 1 committee's "unjust" decision, there will be no second review of the case by the panel.
今回の「不起訴不当」議決に対しては、検察が再捜査で不起訴とすると、２度目の審査はない。
Nevertheless, the panel flatly stated that Ozawa's explanation to the prosecutors--that he left the entry of data into the reports entirely to his secretaries--was "unnatural" and demanded prosecutors conduct a more exhaustive investigation.
とはいえ、第１検察審は、「秘書に任せていた」という小沢氏の弁明を「不自然である」と言い切り、検察に、これまで以上に徹底した捜査を迫っている。
Regarding false entries in the political funds reports, the panel concluded that confessions by Ishikawa and another former secretary--they claim they told Ozawa they would not enter the 400 million yen transaction into the reports and received Ozawa's approval for the omission--are credible. The panel said they could not escape the belief that the prosecutors' questioning of Ozawa "did not go far enough."
報告書への不記載について、小沢氏に報告し、了承を得たという石川議員や別の元秘書の供述を信用できるとした上で、小沢氏に対する検察の聴取を「追及不足の印象は免れない」と批判した。
===
Unusual demands
The panel also demanded the prosecutors ask Ozawa and the former secretaries to submit pocketbooks and notes in which they recorded their activities and check them against the facts. It is quite unusual for members of the panel, who are chosen from the public, to make such demands on investigation methods to prosecutors.
元秘書や小沢氏から、行動を記録しているはずの手帳やメモを提出させ、事実関係の裏付けをとるよう求めている。市民から選ばれた審査員が、捜査方法にまで注文を付けるのは異例のことだ。
The panel has implicitly warned the prosecutors not to simply go through the motions by deciding the outcome before even starting their investigation. We urge the prosecutors to leave no stone unturned in their investigation.
検察が結論ありきの形式的な再捜査をすることに、クギを刺したということだろう。検察は捜査を尽くすべきである。
Ozawa appeared emboldened by the prosecutors' decision not to indict him and has refused to give any explanation about the scandal at the Diet. The possibility that Ozawa might take the stand at the House of Representatives Deliberative Council on Political Ethics has been left up in the air.
小沢氏は、検察の不起訴処分を自らに有利に解釈し、国会でも一切の説明を拒んできた。衆院政治倫理審査会への出席も、うやむやになってしまった。
The Tokyo No. 1 panel's conclusion was a resounding "no" to Ozawa's refusal to clear up this matter. We again urge Ozawa to fulfill his responsibility to clearly explain to the public his involvement--if any--in the alleged wrongdoing.
第１検察審の議決は、小沢氏のこうした姿勢にも「ノー」を突きつけたものだ。小沢氏に重ねて求められるのは、国民への説明責任を果たすことである。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 16, 2010)
（2010年7月16日01時17分 読売新聞）
2010/07/16
振興銀首脳逮捕 “改革派”の仮面がはがれた
The Yomiuri Shimbun (Jul. 16, 2010)
Arrest of ex-bank head debunks reformist mask
振興銀首脳逮捕 “改革派”の仮面がはがれた（7月15日付・読売社説）
Former Incubator Bank of Japan Chairman Takeshi Kimura, incumbent President Tatsuya Nishino and three other former and current executives have been arrested on suspicion of violating the Banking Law by obstructing an audit of the Financial Services Agency.
日本振興銀行の木村剛前会長や西野達也社長ら５人が、銀行法違反（検査忌避）の疑いで警視庁に逮捕された。
As financial inspections by the agency loomed last year, the then executives deleted--on Kimura's orders--280 e-mails likely to have been of interest to the inspectors.
金融庁の検査の際、見られては都合の悪い電子メール２８０通を、木村前会長の指示で削除していたという。
Suspicions of other shady behavior by the bank have since emerged. We hope the Metropolitan Police Department uncovers the whole truth of the case through an exhaustive investigation.
振興銀をめぐっては、検査忌避以外にも様々な疑惑が浮上している。警視庁は徹底した捜査で全容を解明してほしい。
Kimura, who started his business career as a Bank of Japan official, served as a brain truster of Heizo Takenaka, who was state minister in charge of economic, fiscal and financial policy in Junichiro Koizumi's administration. Later, Kimura established the Incubator Bank of Japan with like-minded comrades at the Junior Chamber International Tokyo. The bank's motto was to support small and midsize enterprises.
木村前会長は日銀出身で、小泉政権時代に竹中平蔵元金融相のブレーンを務めた。その後、東京青年会議所の有志らと、中小企業支援を掲げ振興銀を旗揚げした。
Against the backdrop of structural reform pushed by Koizumi's administration, market fundamentalism and the "profit-comes-first" principle based on the law-of-the-jungle philosophy had many strong followers among young entrepreneurs.
小泉政権時代、構造改革路線を背景に、市場原理主義や弱肉強食の利益最優先の風潮が若手起業家らの間に強まった。
This excessive worship of money was exemplified by the window-dressing case that battered Livedoor Co., including its former president, Takafumi Horie, and insider trading committed by the so-called Murakami Fund, whose president was Yoshiaki Murakami.
その中で、堀江貴文・ライブドア元社長の粉飾決算や、村上世彰元代表のファンドによるインサイダー取引など拝金主義を象徴する事件が起きた。
===
Unjustifiable actions
During this period, Kimura prided himself as being a standard-bearer of financial reform. In the end, however, he betrayed himself--just like Horie and Murakami did.
同時期に金融改革の旗手を自任した木村前会長も、結局、彼らと同様に馬脚をあらわした。
Despite once being deeply involved in financial administration, Kimura now is a suspect in a criminal case. His alleged actions cannot be justified.
金融行政に深く関与した経験がありながら、自ら事件を起こすとは、言語道断と言わざるを得ない。
Writer Go Egami, who was one of the bank's outside directors, has been appointed as the bank's new president.
逮捕された西野社長の後任には振興銀の社外取締役を務める作家の江上剛氏が就く。
Egami has written about his days as a banker at the defunct Dai-Ichi Kangyo Bank. In one memorable episode, he pressed the Dai-Ichi Kangyo management to terminate its ties with sokaiya corporate racketeers.
The management environment at Incubator Bank is severe. As president, Egami must tread a thorny path.
旧第一勧業銀行の行員時代、総会屋との決別を経営陣に迫った逸話は有名だが、振興銀の経営環境は極めて厳しく、江上新社長は茨(いばら)の道を歩むことになろう。
It has become apparent that the bank put profit-making before all else, while projecting itself as "the friend of small and midsize enterprises."
中小企業の味方という振興銀の看板の裏には、利益のためなら手段を選ばぬ実態があった。
The bank allegedly charged a hefty commission when asking major moneylender SFCG Co. to buy back loan claims. This, in effect, was the equivalent of imposing an illegally high interest rate of about 46 percent, far above the upper limit stipulated in the Investment Deposit and Interest Rate Law, according to investigation sources. SFCG, which earned an unsavory reputation for its strong-arm loan collection methods, is undergoing bankruptcy procedures. The bank disguised the transactions as legitimate trades of loan claims. However, a healthy bank would not make such moves that took away proceeds from a loan shark facing difficulties raising funds.
強引な取り立てで問題になった商工ローン「ＳＦＣＧ」（破産手続き中）に、出資法の上限を上回る年４６％の暴利で融資した。表向きは適法な債権売買を装い、資金繰りに窮した高利貸しの上前をはねる取引と言える。
===
More suspicions remain
Incubator Bank also allegedly recommended a person affiliated with the bank be appointed as an executive to a company that had applied for a loan, and pressed the applicant firm to accept the plan. The person consequently took control of the firm's management. The bank thus had shades of a corporate raider.
融資を頼んできた会社に、振興銀の息のかかった人物を役員に推薦して受け入れを強要し、経営の主導権を奪うなど、乗っ取りまがいの行為もあった。
The FSA inspections that began last year exposed the bank's illegal activities. But we wonder if the agency could have detected the bank's true nature--and penchant for breaking the rules--much earlier.
金融庁は昨年からの検査で違法行為を暴いたが、ルール無視に染まった銀行の実態を、もっと早くつかめなかったのか。
Investigators will try to trace the inner workings of a group of the bank's client companies, a network established under Kimura's presidency. The bank extended loans to these member firms, which in turn accepted requests to boost the bank's capital.
木村前会長を中心に、取引先の中小企業で結成したグループの実態解明も焦点だ。振興銀が会員企業に融資する一方で、会員企業は振興銀の増資に応じていた。
We wonder whether such loans and capital increases were legal. The MPD should get to the bottom of this matter, too.
融資や増資は適正だったのか、警視庁はこうした点についても真相を明らかにすべきだ。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 15, 2010)
（2010年7月15日01時01分 読売新聞）
Arrest of ex-bank head debunks reformist mask
振興銀首脳逮捕 “改革派”の仮面がはがれた（7月15日付・読売社説）
Former Incubator Bank of Japan Chairman Takeshi Kimura, incumbent President Tatsuya Nishino and three other former and current executives have been arrested on suspicion of violating the Banking Law by obstructing an audit of the Financial Services Agency.
日本振興銀行の木村剛前会長や西野達也社長ら５人が、銀行法違反（検査忌避）の疑いで警視庁に逮捕された。
As financial inspections by the agency loomed last year, the then executives deleted--on Kimura's orders--280 e-mails likely to have been of interest to the inspectors.
金融庁の検査の際、見られては都合の悪い電子メール２８０通を、木村前会長の指示で削除していたという。
Suspicions of other shady behavior by the bank have since emerged. We hope the Metropolitan Police Department uncovers the whole truth of the case through an exhaustive investigation.
振興銀をめぐっては、検査忌避以外にも様々な疑惑が浮上している。警視庁は徹底した捜査で全容を解明してほしい。
Kimura, who started his business career as a Bank of Japan official, served as a brain truster of Heizo Takenaka, who was state minister in charge of economic, fiscal and financial policy in Junichiro Koizumi's administration. Later, Kimura established the Incubator Bank of Japan with like-minded comrades at the Junior Chamber International Tokyo. The bank's motto was to support small and midsize enterprises.
木村前会長は日銀出身で、小泉政権時代に竹中平蔵元金融相のブレーンを務めた。その後、東京青年会議所の有志らと、中小企業支援を掲げ振興銀を旗揚げした。
Against the backdrop of structural reform pushed by Koizumi's administration, market fundamentalism and the "profit-comes-first" principle based on the law-of-the-jungle philosophy had many strong followers among young entrepreneurs.
小泉政権時代、構造改革路線を背景に、市場原理主義や弱肉強食の利益最優先の風潮が若手起業家らの間に強まった。
This excessive worship of money was exemplified by the window-dressing case that battered Livedoor Co., including its former president, Takafumi Horie, and insider trading committed by the so-called Murakami Fund, whose president was Yoshiaki Murakami.
その中で、堀江貴文・ライブドア元社長の粉飾決算や、村上世彰元代表のファンドによるインサイダー取引など拝金主義を象徴する事件が起きた。
===
Unjustifiable actions
During this period, Kimura prided himself as being a standard-bearer of financial reform. In the end, however, he betrayed himself--just like Horie and Murakami did.
同時期に金融改革の旗手を自任した木村前会長も、結局、彼らと同様に馬脚をあらわした。
Despite once being deeply involved in financial administration, Kimura now is a suspect in a criminal case. His alleged actions cannot be justified.
金融行政に深く関与した経験がありながら、自ら事件を起こすとは、言語道断と言わざるを得ない。
Writer Go Egami, who was one of the bank's outside directors, has been appointed as the bank's new president.
逮捕された西野社長の後任には振興銀の社外取締役を務める作家の江上剛氏が就く。
Egami has written about his days as a banker at the defunct Dai-Ichi Kangyo Bank. In one memorable episode, he pressed the Dai-Ichi Kangyo management to terminate its ties with sokaiya corporate racketeers.
The management environment at Incubator Bank is severe. As president, Egami must tread a thorny path.
旧第一勧業銀行の行員時代、総会屋との決別を経営陣に迫った逸話は有名だが、振興銀の経営環境は極めて厳しく、江上新社長は茨(いばら)の道を歩むことになろう。
It has become apparent that the bank put profit-making before all else, while projecting itself as "the friend of small and midsize enterprises."
中小企業の味方という振興銀の看板の裏には、利益のためなら手段を選ばぬ実態があった。
The bank allegedly charged a hefty commission when asking major moneylender SFCG Co. to buy back loan claims. This, in effect, was the equivalent of imposing an illegally high interest rate of about 46 percent, far above the upper limit stipulated in the Investment Deposit and Interest Rate Law, according to investigation sources. SFCG, which earned an unsavory reputation for its strong-arm loan collection methods, is undergoing bankruptcy procedures. The bank disguised the transactions as legitimate trades of loan claims. However, a healthy bank would not make such moves that took away proceeds from a loan shark facing difficulties raising funds.
強引な取り立てで問題になった商工ローン「ＳＦＣＧ」（破産手続き中）に、出資法の上限を上回る年４６％の暴利で融資した。表向きは適法な債権売買を装い、資金繰りに窮した高利貸しの上前をはねる取引と言える。
===
More suspicions remain
Incubator Bank also allegedly recommended a person affiliated with the bank be appointed as an executive to a company that had applied for a loan, and pressed the applicant firm to accept the plan. The person consequently took control of the firm's management. The bank thus had shades of a corporate raider.
融資を頼んできた会社に、振興銀の息のかかった人物を役員に推薦して受け入れを強要し、経営の主導権を奪うなど、乗っ取りまがいの行為もあった。
The FSA inspections that began last year exposed the bank's illegal activities. But we wonder if the agency could have detected the bank's true nature--and penchant for breaking the rules--much earlier.
金融庁は昨年からの検査で違法行為を暴いたが、ルール無視に染まった銀行の実態を、もっと早くつかめなかったのか。
Investigators will try to trace the inner workings of a group of the bank's client companies, a network established under Kimura's presidency. The bank extended loans to these member firms, which in turn accepted requests to boost the bank's capital.
木村前会長を中心に、取引先の中小企業で結成したグループの実態解明も焦点だ。振興銀が会員企業に融資する一方で、会員企業は振興銀の増資に応じていた。
We wonder whether such loans and capital increases were legal. The MPD should get to the bottom of this matter, too.
融資や増資は適正だったのか、警視庁はこうした点についても真相を明らかにすべきだ。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 15, 2010)
（2010年7月15日01時01分 読売新聞）
2010/07/15
税制抜本改革 ひるまず消費税論議を進めよ
The Yomiuri Shimbun (Jul. 15, 2010)
Get cracking on consumption tax talks
税制抜本改革 ひるまず消費税論議を進めよ（7月14日付・読売社説）
The Democratic Party of Japan's crushing defeat in Sunday's House of Councillors election has raised concern that discussions on far-reaching tax reform, including a possible consumption tax hike, will be put on the back burner.
参院選で民主党が敗北し、消費税率引き上げを含む税制改革論議が後退する懸念が出ている。
DPJ Secretary General Yukio Edano has indicated his intention not to stick to Prime Minister Naoto Kan's plan of formulating concrete plans on tax reform by the end of fiscal 2010. "We won't necessarily adhere to the initial deadline," Edano said.
民主党の枝野幹事長は「必ずしも当初想定していた期限にこだわらない」と語り、菅首相が目指していた２０１０年度内の具体案のとりまとめに固執しない意向を示した。
However, the government cannot put off discussions on consumption tax any longer. The nation is mired in an extraordinary fiscal condition in which tax revenue is less than the amount of new government bonds issued. Furthermore, the increasingly creaky social security system needs urgent repair.
しかし、税収が新規国債発行額を下回る異常な財政事情や、将来不安が高まる社会保障制度の現状を直視すれば、消費税論議を先送りする余裕はないはずだ。
The Kan Cabinet must swiftly resuscitate the economy, which in turn will boost tax revenue, and knuckle down to reform the tax system--including consumption, corporate and income taxes.
菅内閣は、税収増につながる日本経済の再生を急ぎ、消費税、法人税、所得税など税制全般の改革にも取り組まねばならない。
The election defeat has stung Kan. But the prime minister must dust himself off and start full-fledged efforts to coordinate intraparty opinions on consumption tax and continue inviting opposition parties to start suprapartisan discussions on the issue.
首相は選挙の敗北にひるまず、消費税についての党内調整を本格化させると同時に、野党に対し、引き続き超党派の協議を呼びかける必要がある。
We urge the opposition camp to take up the prime minister's offer of discussions on a new consumption tax system.
野党側も、これに応じ、制度設計に踏み込んだ議論を進めるべきである。
===
Tax not reason for defeat
◆消費税が敗因ではない
At Tuesday's Cabinet meeting, Kan suggested the consumption tax dispute contributed to the ruling bloc's failure to retain its majority in the upper house, saying his remarks on the issue just before the election likely caught the public by surprise.
首相は１３日の閣議で、参院選での与党の過半数割れについて「唐突な感じを与えてしまった」と述べ、消費税問題が敗因につながったとの認識を示した。
However, the main opposition Liberal Democratic Party increased its number of upper chamber seats, despite proposing raising the consumption tax rate to 10 percent in its election platform.
だが、「消費税率１０％」を参院選公約に明記した自民党は議席を伸ばした。
A Yomiuri Shimbun survey taken after Sunday's election showed more than 60 percent of the public believe a consumption tax hike will be necessary. This figure barely changed from a similar survey conducted before the election.
読売新聞が参院選後に実施した世論調査では、消費税率の引き上げが必要と答えた人は６割以上に上っている。消費税率アップの必要性についての意識は、今回の選挙の前後で全く変化がない。
In the election, voters did not give a verdict on a consumption tax hike per se, but rather on Kan's inconsistent remarks on the matter.
有権者が問題にしたのは、消費税率引き上げそのものではなく、一貫性を欠いた首相の言動だ。
During the campaign, Kan failed to present clear principles on fundamental questions about a consumption tax hike, such as why an increase is necessary and how the extra tax revenue it brings in would be used.
首相は、なぜ消費税率を上げるのか、増税分を何に使うのか、といった根本的な問題に明確な方針を示すことができなかった。
When Kan found himself being boxed in by criticism over the consumption tax issue, he tweaked his previous statement, saying he would not raise "even yen1" in consumption tax until the next general election. This gave the impression that Kan was uncertain what to do.
増税批判で苦境に立たされると「次の総選挙まで１円たりとも上げない」と発言を修正するなど、最後まで軸が定まっていない印象も与えた。
===
Build intraparty consensus
◆民主は党内合意急げ
To restore public trust in the DPJ, the party must form a consensus on a consumption tax hike as soon as possible and carefully explain its position to the public.
国民の信頼を取り戻すために民主党が取り組むべきは、消費税率引き上げに関する党としての考え方を早急にまとめ、丁寧に国民に説明することである。
Future discussions likely will focus on measures to alleviate the burden any increase would place on low-income earners, among other issues.
今後の議論では、低所得者対策などが一つの論点となる。
A consumption tax refund was one option floated, but this idea is fraught with problems, such as where to draw the line on household income that would be subject to the scheme and how accurately the government can calculate individual households' income.
消費税額を還付する案が浮上しているが、所得に応じて対象者をどう線引きするか、対象者の所得をどこまで正確に把握できるかといった問題がある。
A reduced tax rate system, under which tax rates are set lower for daily necessities and other items, might be one possibility. Given that reduced tax rates are applied to newspapers, books and food in some European countries, such a system is certainly worth consideration.
生活必需品などの税率を低く設定する軽減税率の導入も選択肢だ。欧州の軽減税率は新聞や書籍、食料品などに適用されており、検討に値しよう。
The DPJ must spell out that the primary purpose of raising the consumption tax rate is to fund ballooning social security costs in pension, medical care and nursing services.These costs will only increase as the nation's society grays and birthrate declines.
消費税率を引き上げる目的については、少子高齢化の進展で増大する年金、医療、介護などの社会保障費を賄うことが主眼であることを明確にすべきだ。
After storming into power in September, the DPJ insisted it would find the money to fund its policies by weeding out wasteful spending. However, efforts to cut government fat had less of an impact than expected on the fiscal 2010 budget compilation.
政権交代後、民主党は無駄減らしで財源を捻出(ねんしゅつ)するとしていたが、１０年度予算編成で、歳出削減の効果はわずかだった。
The consumption tax, which imposes a financial burden on a wide spectrum of people, is the only stable tax revenue source, given that income and corporate tax revenues can fluctuate greatly, depending on the state of the economy.
一方、税収確保の点では、所得税や法人税が景気動向に大きく左右される以上、安定した財源となるのは国民が広く負担を分かち合う消費税しかない。
If the government can restore the social security system through a consumption tax increase, it also would help stimulate consumer spending as the public would be more willing to buy things if they did not have so many anxieties about their future.
消費税増税で社会保障制度を立て直せば、将来不安の解消で消費を刺激する効果も出てこよう。
===
Lower corporate tax rates
◆法人税引き下げを
Discussions on tax reform should aim to create a society free from concerns by stabilizing the public finances and social security, as well as maintain economic vitality.
税制改革論議では、財政や社会保障を安定させて安心社会を実現し、日本経済の活力を維持する視点が不可欠だ。
Japan's effective corporate tax rate is more than 40 percent, far higher than the average of 26 percent among the 30 member states of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. We think the government should quickly lower corporate tax rates as this will strengthen Japanese companies' international competitiveness.
日本の法人税の実効税率は４０％超で、経済協力開発機構（ＯＥＣＤ）加盟３０か国の平均２６％と比べてかなり高い。企業の国際競争力を強化するためには、法人税率の引き下げが急務だ。
To make up for expected tax revenue shortfalls, the government must expedite discussions on tax system reform for fiscal 2011, including streamlining tax incentives that have run their course.
その減収を補う措置として、役割を終えた政策減税を整理するなど、１１年度税制改正に向け議論を急ぐべきである。
During the election campaign, Kan suggested strengthening the progressive taxation system, under which high-income earners and others bear heavier tax burdens.
参院選で首相は、高所得層を中心に負担を重くする所得税の累進性の強化を示唆した。
However, the maximum income tax rate already stands at 40 percent, which is high by international standards. Because this rate is applied to only a few taxpayers, no visible tax revenue increase can be expected from Kan's plan. Rather, the prime minister seemed to be trying to fend off public criticism that the proposed consumption tax hike would hurt the pockets of the wider general public.
だが、所得税の最高税率（４０％）は国際的に高水準で、適用される納税者は少なく、増収効果はあまりない。むしろ、消費税の税率アップが大衆増税になるとの批判をかわすのが狙いだろう。
Raising the maximum income tax rate will discourage people from working hard and undermine efforts to energize the country's businesses.
所得税の最高税率の引き上げは国民の働く意欲をそぎ、経済社会の活性化に逆行する。
Before all else, the government should review its tax deduction measures.
様々な所得控除の見直しが先である。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 14, 2010)
（2010年7月14日01時38分 読売新聞）
Get cracking on consumption tax talks
税制抜本改革 ひるまず消費税論議を進めよ（7月14日付・読売社説）
The Democratic Party of Japan's crushing defeat in Sunday's House of Councillors election has raised concern that discussions on far-reaching tax reform, including a possible consumption tax hike, will be put on the back burner.
参院選で民主党が敗北し、消費税率引き上げを含む税制改革論議が後退する懸念が出ている。
DPJ Secretary General Yukio Edano has indicated his intention not to stick to Prime Minister Naoto Kan's plan of formulating concrete plans on tax reform by the end of fiscal 2010. "We won't necessarily adhere to the initial deadline," Edano said.
民主党の枝野幹事長は「必ずしも当初想定していた期限にこだわらない」と語り、菅首相が目指していた２０１０年度内の具体案のとりまとめに固執しない意向を示した。
However, the government cannot put off discussions on consumption tax any longer. The nation is mired in an extraordinary fiscal condition in which tax revenue is less than the amount of new government bonds issued. Furthermore, the increasingly creaky social security system needs urgent repair.
しかし、税収が新規国債発行額を下回る異常な財政事情や、将来不安が高まる社会保障制度の現状を直視すれば、消費税論議を先送りする余裕はないはずだ。
The Kan Cabinet must swiftly resuscitate the economy, which in turn will boost tax revenue, and knuckle down to reform the tax system--including consumption, corporate and income taxes.
菅内閣は、税収増につながる日本経済の再生を急ぎ、消費税、法人税、所得税など税制全般の改革にも取り組まねばならない。
The election defeat has stung Kan. But the prime minister must dust himself off and start full-fledged efforts to coordinate intraparty opinions on consumption tax and continue inviting opposition parties to start suprapartisan discussions on the issue.
首相は選挙の敗北にひるまず、消費税についての党内調整を本格化させると同時に、野党に対し、引き続き超党派の協議を呼びかける必要がある。
We urge the opposition camp to take up the prime minister's offer of discussions on a new consumption tax system.
野党側も、これに応じ、制度設計に踏み込んだ議論を進めるべきである。
===
Tax not reason for defeat
◆消費税が敗因ではない
At Tuesday's Cabinet meeting, Kan suggested the consumption tax dispute contributed to the ruling bloc's failure to retain its majority in the upper house, saying his remarks on the issue just before the election likely caught the public by surprise.
首相は１３日の閣議で、参院選での与党の過半数割れについて「唐突な感じを与えてしまった」と述べ、消費税問題が敗因につながったとの認識を示した。
However, the main opposition Liberal Democratic Party increased its number of upper chamber seats, despite proposing raising the consumption tax rate to 10 percent in its election platform.
だが、「消費税率１０％」を参院選公約に明記した自民党は議席を伸ばした。
A Yomiuri Shimbun survey taken after Sunday's election showed more than 60 percent of the public believe a consumption tax hike will be necessary. This figure barely changed from a similar survey conducted before the election.
読売新聞が参院選後に実施した世論調査では、消費税率の引き上げが必要と答えた人は６割以上に上っている。消費税率アップの必要性についての意識は、今回の選挙の前後で全く変化がない。
In the election, voters did not give a verdict on a consumption tax hike per se, but rather on Kan's inconsistent remarks on the matter.
有権者が問題にしたのは、消費税率引き上げそのものではなく、一貫性を欠いた首相の言動だ。
During the campaign, Kan failed to present clear principles on fundamental questions about a consumption tax hike, such as why an increase is necessary and how the extra tax revenue it brings in would be used.
首相は、なぜ消費税率を上げるのか、増税分を何に使うのか、といった根本的な問題に明確な方針を示すことができなかった。
When Kan found himself being boxed in by criticism over the consumption tax issue, he tweaked his previous statement, saying he would not raise "even yen1" in consumption tax until the next general election. This gave the impression that Kan was uncertain what to do.
増税批判で苦境に立たされると「次の総選挙まで１円たりとも上げない」と発言を修正するなど、最後まで軸が定まっていない印象も与えた。
===
Build intraparty consensus
◆民主は党内合意急げ
To restore public trust in the DPJ, the party must form a consensus on a consumption tax hike as soon as possible and carefully explain its position to the public.
国民の信頼を取り戻すために民主党が取り組むべきは、消費税率引き上げに関する党としての考え方を早急にまとめ、丁寧に国民に説明することである。
Future discussions likely will focus on measures to alleviate the burden any increase would place on low-income earners, among other issues.
今後の議論では、低所得者対策などが一つの論点となる。
A consumption tax refund was one option floated, but this idea is fraught with problems, such as where to draw the line on household income that would be subject to the scheme and how accurately the government can calculate individual households' income.
消費税額を還付する案が浮上しているが、所得に応じて対象者をどう線引きするか、対象者の所得をどこまで正確に把握できるかといった問題がある。
A reduced tax rate system, under which tax rates are set lower for daily necessities and other items, might be one possibility. Given that reduced tax rates are applied to newspapers, books and food in some European countries, such a system is certainly worth consideration.
生活必需品などの税率を低く設定する軽減税率の導入も選択肢だ。欧州の軽減税率は新聞や書籍、食料品などに適用されており、検討に値しよう。
The DPJ must spell out that the primary purpose of raising the consumption tax rate is to fund ballooning social security costs in pension, medical care and nursing services.These costs will only increase as the nation's society grays and birthrate declines.
消費税率を引き上げる目的については、少子高齢化の進展で増大する年金、医療、介護などの社会保障費を賄うことが主眼であることを明確にすべきだ。
After storming into power in September, the DPJ insisted it would find the money to fund its policies by weeding out wasteful spending. However, efforts to cut government fat had less of an impact than expected on the fiscal 2010 budget compilation.
政権交代後、民主党は無駄減らしで財源を捻出(ねんしゅつ)するとしていたが、１０年度予算編成で、歳出削減の効果はわずかだった。
The consumption tax, which imposes a financial burden on a wide spectrum of people, is the only stable tax revenue source, given that income and corporate tax revenues can fluctuate greatly, depending on the state of the economy.
一方、税収確保の点では、所得税や法人税が景気動向に大きく左右される以上、安定した財源となるのは国民が広く負担を分かち合う消費税しかない。
If the government can restore the social security system through a consumption tax increase, it also would help stimulate consumer spending as the public would be more willing to buy things if they did not have so many anxieties about their future.
消費税増税で社会保障制度を立て直せば、将来不安の解消で消費を刺激する効果も出てこよう。
===
Lower corporate tax rates
◆法人税引き下げを
Discussions on tax reform should aim to create a society free from concerns by stabilizing the public finances and social security, as well as maintain economic vitality.
税制改革論議では、財政や社会保障を安定させて安心社会を実現し、日本経済の活力を維持する視点が不可欠だ。
Japan's effective corporate tax rate is more than 40 percent, far higher than the average of 26 percent among the 30 member states of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. We think the government should quickly lower corporate tax rates as this will strengthen Japanese companies' international competitiveness.
日本の法人税の実効税率は４０％超で、経済協力開発機構（ＯＥＣＤ）加盟３０か国の平均２６％と比べてかなり高い。企業の国際競争力を強化するためには、法人税率の引き下げが急務だ。
To make up for expected tax revenue shortfalls, the government must expedite discussions on tax system reform for fiscal 2011, including streamlining tax incentives that have run their course.
その減収を補う措置として、役割を終えた政策減税を整理するなど、１１年度税制改正に向け議論を急ぐべきである。
During the election campaign, Kan suggested strengthening the progressive taxation system, under which high-income earners and others bear heavier tax burdens.
参院選で首相は、高所得層を中心に負担を重くする所得税の累進性の強化を示唆した。
However, the maximum income tax rate already stands at 40 percent, which is high by international standards. Because this rate is applied to only a few taxpayers, no visible tax revenue increase can be expected from Kan's plan. Rather, the prime minister seemed to be trying to fend off public criticism that the proposed consumption tax hike would hurt the pockets of the wider general public.
だが、所得税の最高税率（４０％）は国際的に高水準で、適用される納税者は少なく、増収効果はあまりない。むしろ、消費税の税率アップが大衆増税になるとの批判をかわすのが狙いだろう。
Raising the maximum income tax rate will discourage people from working hard and undermine efforts to energize the country's businesses.
所得税の最高税率の引き上げは国民の働く意欲をそぎ、経済社会の活性化に逆行する。
Before all else, the government should review its tax deduction measures.
様々な所得控除の見直しが先である。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 14, 2010)
（2010年7月14日01時38分 読売新聞）
2010/07/14
菅首相続投 経済再生へ政治の機能回復を
The Yomiuri Shimbun (Jul. 14, 2010)
Restore Diet function to revive economy
菅首相続投 経済再生へ政治の機能回復を（7月13日付・読売社説）
Prime Minister Naoto Kan's administration suffered a crushing defeat in Sunday's House of Councillors election. The result has created a serious problem for his government--a so-called divided Diet, in which the opposition parties control the upper house and the ruling parties the lower house.
参院選で敗北した菅政権にとって、新たな衆参ねじれ国会の状況は深刻だ。
Given this situation, the prime minister should drastically review the handout measures contained in the manifesto created by the Democratic Party of Japan last year and seek cooperation from the opposition parties.
昨年の民主党政権公約のバラマキ政策を大胆に見直し、野党に協力を求めることが肝要である。
The results of the upper house election, which was a chance for voters to give their interim assessment of the change of administration, were more severe than expected for the ruling coalition parties.
政権交代の中間評価の機会となった参院選の結果は、事前の予想以上に厳しかった。
The DPJ won only 44 seats, 10 seats less than its preelection strength, and the People's New Party, the DPJ's junior coalition partner, could not obtain any seats at all. Consequently, the coalition parties--including an independent who was backed by the coalition parties--now hold a total of 110 seats, 12 short of 122, a majority in the upper house.
民主党は改選前に比べ１０減の４４議席で、連立与党の国民新党は１議席も獲得できなかった。与党全体でも、過半数の１２２議席に１２議席も足りない状況に至った。
===
High-handedness backfired
◆バラマキ政策を見直せ◆
The Kan administration has postponed making changes to the Cabinet and the DPJ leadership until the DPJ presidential election is held in September, when Kan's term as party president will expire.
But the road ahead is rocky.
菅政権は内閣改造・党役員人事を９月の党代表選後に先送りしたが、その前途は多難だ。
At an extra Diet session to be convened at the end of this month, the prime minister is planning only to elect the president and vice president of the upper house. However, if his administration fails to cooperate with any opposition party before the next extraordinary Diet session in autumn, the prime minister will not be able to pass any important bills and will have difficulty managing the government.
今月末召集の臨時国会は、参院の正副議長の選出などにとどめる予定だ。だが、どの野党とも連携できないまま、秋の臨時国会を迎えれば、重要法案が成立せず、政権運営は行き詰まるだろう。
After a major victory in the 2007 election, the DPJ and other opposition parties controlled the upper house. The DPJ employed hard-nosed tactics as it faced off against the Liberal Democratic Party-led government and its ruling coalition regarding the appointment of a Bank of Japan governor and other important issues, focusing on creating a favorable political situation for itself.
民主党は２００７年参院選後のねじれ国会で、野党として日銀総裁の同意人事などで政府・与党と徹底的に対決する「政局至上主義」とも言える戦術をとった。
Even after becoming the ruling party, the DPJ repeatedly used its numerical strength to ignore traditional practices concerning Diet deliberations during this year's ordinary Diet session. The party used high-handed methods worse than those the LDP had employed to steer Diet business and deepened its split with the opposition parties.
与党になった後も、今年の通常国会では、衆院の「数の力」を頼みに国会審議の慣例を再三無視するなど、かつての自民党以上に強引な国会運営を行い、野党との亀裂を深めた。
Now that the opposition controls the upper house, however, the Kan administration will have to acknowledge that the opposition parties may seek "revenge," so he must manage Diet affairs in a nonconfrontational manner based on reaching consensus.
菅政権は今後、野党から“意趣返し”を受ける可能性も自覚し、合意重視の円満な国会運営を心がける必要がある。
In the latest upper house election, voters decided to prevent the DPJ from running wild rather than support the DPJ-led coalition government. However, that does not mean they want a lame-duck government unable to pass important bills in a divided Diet.
今回の参院選で、有権者は、もっぱら民主党が主導する政権ではなく、民主党の“独走”に歯止めをかける道を選択した。だが、ねじれ国会の下で法案が成立せず、政治が機能不全に陥る事態を決して容認しているわけではない。
===
Concessions necessary
◆与野党連携で危機克服◆
Japan is facing many challenges.
わが国は今、多くの困難な課題に直面している。
Leaders of the Group of 20 developed and major emerging countries set a goal at their summit meeting last month of restoring fiscal soundness while maintaining economic growth. Japan also made an international pledge there to simultaneously achieve economic growth and fiscal health.
先月の世界２０か国・地域（Ｇ２０）首脳会議は、経済成長を維持しつつ、財政健全化を進める目標を掲げた。日本も、経済成長と財政再建の両立が国際公約となった。
Now the government has to start reviewing public pension and other social welfare systems, and try to mend Japan-U.S. relations that were strained under the administration of former Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama.
年金など社会保障制度の見直しや、鳩山前政権時代に悪化した日米関係の改善も、これからだ。
To tackle these issues, the Kan administration must make policy concessions with the opposition parties and seek their cooperation.
菅政権がこれらに取り組むには政策面で野党の主張に歩み寄り、協力を得ることが不可欠だ。
Leaders in various sectors are voicing their concerns about a possible political stalemate.
"The government should not postpone processing the mountain of issues due to the divided Diet," said Hiromasa Yonekura, chairman of the Japan Business Federation (Nippon Keidanren).
日本経団連の米倉弘昌会長が１２日、「ねじれ国会で、山積する課題を先送りしてはいけない」と述べたように、政治の停滞を懸念する声は各方面から出ている。
Currently, every opposition party is refusing to form a coalition with the DPJ. Your Party leader Yoshimi Watanabe said Monday that the division between the upper and lower houses demonstrates the will of the public today, and demanded the prime minister resign.
すべての野党は目下、民主党との連立を拒否している。みんなの党の渡辺代表は１２日、「衆参両院でねじれが起きたのが直近の民意だ」と菅首相の退陣を求めた。
===
Manifesto must be revised
However, all the opposition parties are leaving room for a "partial" coalition with the government, in which the ruling and opposition parties may work together depending on the issue.
ただ、各野党とも、政策ごとに与野党が連携する「部分連合」には協力の余地を残している。
For example, the Kan government is expected to work together with Your Party to reform the civil servant system and with the LDP on social welfare policy and reform of the taxation system.
例えば、菅政権が公務員制度改革ではみんなの党と、社会保障政策や税制改革では自民党と連携するといった展開も想定される。
Of course, the opposition parties have various motives, so cooperation between the ruling and opposition parties may not be easy. However, the major requirement for any cooperation will be a drastic revision of the DPJ's manifesto.
無論、各野党の思惑も様々で、与野党協力は簡単ではない。いずれも前提となるのは、民主党の政権公約の大幅な見直しだ。
The Kan government should admit the failure of the DPJ's handout measures that lack financial backing, such as the child-rearing allowances and abolition of expressway tolls. It should offer an explanation and an apology to the public.
菅政権は、子ども手当や高速道路の無料化など、財源の裏付けのないバラマキ政策の誤りを認め、国民に説明・謝罪すべきだ。
The DPJ lost in the upper house election not because Kan mentioned an increase in the consumption tax rate but because he was inconsistent in his remarks and actions. Kan is contradicting himself as he advocates a thorough cut in government expenditures while continuing handout measures.
参院選の敗因は、首相が消費税率引き上げに言及したことではない。税率上げの前提として「徹底した歳出削減」を掲げながら、バラマキ政策を継続する矛盾や、右往左往した首相の言動だ。
Public understanding of the need to increase the consumption tax rate is deepening as social welfare-related spending is increasing by 1 trillion yen a year.
社会保障費が毎年約１兆円も増える中、消費税増税への理解は国民の間に深まっている。
It is important for the prime minister to reach an agreement among the ruling and opposition parties on the details of a hike in the consumption tax rate, such as when and how much it should be raised. The LDP should not only criticize the government and the ruling coalition but also respond positively to talks between the ruling and opposition parties.
首相は、税率引き上げの時期や上げ幅など具体策に関する与野党合意形成を目指すことが大切だ。自民党なども、政府・与党を批判するばかりでなく、与野党協議に前向きに対応すべきだろう。
===
Don't rush to Ozawa
Meanwhile, a group of DPJ members, including those close to former DPJ Secretary General Ichiro Ozawa, is questioning the responsibility of current Secretary General Yukio Edano and other party executives for the party's debacle in the upper house election. Efforts to field a candidate against Kan will become increasingly active ahead of the party presidential election scheduled for September.
民主党内では、小沢一郎・前幹事長のグループを中心に、参院選敗北の枝野幹事長らの責任を問う声が出ている。９月の党代表選に向けて、菅首相の対立候補を擁立する動きも活発化しよう。
This will require difficult maneuvering by the prime minister.
首相は難しい舵(かじ)取りを迫られる。
◆千葉法相留任は疑問だ◆
However, Kan should not easily join hands with Ozawa to quickly restore party unity. He should not allow Ozawa to control the DPJ again by compromising on the consumption tax rate and other political issues.
だが、菅首相は、挙党態勢の構築を急ぐあまり、小沢氏と安易に手を結び、消費税問題など政策面で妥協して、「小沢支配」の復活を許すべきではない。
Kan must remember that his administration enjoyed a high approval rating immediately after its inauguration because the public approved of his efforts to eliminate Ozawa's influence.
菅政権が発足直後、高い支持率を得たのは、小沢氏の影響力を排除したことへの評価が大きかったことを忘れてはなるまい。
The prime minister has decided to keep Justice Minister Keiko Chiba, who lost her Diet seat in Sunday's election, in her current post until after the party presidential election in September. He said this was to maintain continuity in the administration, but it seems Kan actually wanted to avoid confrontations and confusion within the party over the selection of her successor.
菅首相は今回、落選した千葉法相を代表選後まで留任させることを決めた。表向きは「行政の継続性」を理由にしているが、実際は後任人事をめぐる党内の対立や混乱を避けるためと見られる。
There is little precedent for a person who has lost his or her Diet seat to stay in a ministerial post for more than a month. Though Chiba's post is not as important as the finance and foreign ministers, the popular judgment regarding Chiba should be taken more seriously. We question Kan's decision to retain Chiba as justice minister.
落選した閣僚を１か月以上続投させた例はほとんどない。財務、外務など主要閣僚でないとはいえ、国民の審判は重い。留任の判断には疑問が残る。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 13, 2010)
（2010年7月13日01時30分 読売新聞）
Restore Diet function to revive economy
菅首相続投 経済再生へ政治の機能回復を（7月13日付・読売社説）
Prime Minister Naoto Kan's administration suffered a crushing defeat in Sunday's House of Councillors election. The result has created a serious problem for his government--a so-called divided Diet, in which the opposition parties control the upper house and the ruling parties the lower house.
参院選で敗北した菅政権にとって、新たな衆参ねじれ国会の状況は深刻だ。
Given this situation, the prime minister should drastically review the handout measures contained in the manifesto created by the Democratic Party of Japan last year and seek cooperation from the opposition parties.
昨年の民主党政権公約のバラマキ政策を大胆に見直し、野党に協力を求めることが肝要である。
The results of the upper house election, which was a chance for voters to give their interim assessment of the change of administration, were more severe than expected for the ruling coalition parties.
政権交代の中間評価の機会となった参院選の結果は、事前の予想以上に厳しかった。
The DPJ won only 44 seats, 10 seats less than its preelection strength, and the People's New Party, the DPJ's junior coalition partner, could not obtain any seats at all. Consequently, the coalition parties--including an independent who was backed by the coalition parties--now hold a total of 110 seats, 12 short of 122, a majority in the upper house.
民主党は改選前に比べ１０減の４４議席で、連立与党の国民新党は１議席も獲得できなかった。与党全体でも、過半数の１２２議席に１２議席も足りない状況に至った。
===
High-handedness backfired
◆バラマキ政策を見直せ◆
The Kan administration has postponed making changes to the Cabinet and the DPJ leadership until the DPJ presidential election is held in September, when Kan's term as party president will expire.
But the road ahead is rocky.
菅政権は内閣改造・党役員人事を９月の党代表選後に先送りしたが、その前途は多難だ。
At an extra Diet session to be convened at the end of this month, the prime minister is planning only to elect the president and vice president of the upper house. However, if his administration fails to cooperate with any opposition party before the next extraordinary Diet session in autumn, the prime minister will not be able to pass any important bills and will have difficulty managing the government.
今月末召集の臨時国会は、参院の正副議長の選出などにとどめる予定だ。だが、どの野党とも連携できないまま、秋の臨時国会を迎えれば、重要法案が成立せず、政権運営は行き詰まるだろう。
After a major victory in the 2007 election, the DPJ and other opposition parties controlled the upper house. The DPJ employed hard-nosed tactics as it faced off against the Liberal Democratic Party-led government and its ruling coalition regarding the appointment of a Bank of Japan governor and other important issues, focusing on creating a favorable political situation for itself.
民主党は２００７年参院選後のねじれ国会で、野党として日銀総裁の同意人事などで政府・与党と徹底的に対決する「政局至上主義」とも言える戦術をとった。
Even after becoming the ruling party, the DPJ repeatedly used its numerical strength to ignore traditional practices concerning Diet deliberations during this year's ordinary Diet session. The party used high-handed methods worse than those the LDP had employed to steer Diet business and deepened its split with the opposition parties.
与党になった後も、今年の通常国会では、衆院の「数の力」を頼みに国会審議の慣例を再三無視するなど、かつての自民党以上に強引な国会運営を行い、野党との亀裂を深めた。
Now that the opposition controls the upper house, however, the Kan administration will have to acknowledge that the opposition parties may seek "revenge," so he must manage Diet affairs in a nonconfrontational manner based on reaching consensus.
菅政権は今後、野党から“意趣返し”を受ける可能性も自覚し、合意重視の円満な国会運営を心がける必要がある。
In the latest upper house election, voters decided to prevent the DPJ from running wild rather than support the DPJ-led coalition government. However, that does not mean they want a lame-duck government unable to pass important bills in a divided Diet.
今回の参院選で、有権者は、もっぱら民主党が主導する政権ではなく、民主党の“独走”に歯止めをかける道を選択した。だが、ねじれ国会の下で法案が成立せず、政治が機能不全に陥る事態を決して容認しているわけではない。
===
Concessions necessary
◆与野党連携で危機克服◆
Japan is facing many challenges.
わが国は今、多くの困難な課題に直面している。
Leaders of the Group of 20 developed and major emerging countries set a goal at their summit meeting last month of restoring fiscal soundness while maintaining economic growth. Japan also made an international pledge there to simultaneously achieve economic growth and fiscal health.
先月の世界２０か国・地域（Ｇ２０）首脳会議は、経済成長を維持しつつ、財政健全化を進める目標を掲げた。日本も、経済成長と財政再建の両立が国際公約となった。
Now the government has to start reviewing public pension and other social welfare systems, and try to mend Japan-U.S. relations that were strained under the administration of former Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama.
年金など社会保障制度の見直しや、鳩山前政権時代に悪化した日米関係の改善も、これからだ。
To tackle these issues, the Kan administration must make policy concessions with the opposition parties and seek their cooperation.
菅政権がこれらに取り組むには政策面で野党の主張に歩み寄り、協力を得ることが不可欠だ。
Leaders in various sectors are voicing their concerns about a possible political stalemate.
"The government should not postpone processing the mountain of issues due to the divided Diet," said Hiromasa Yonekura, chairman of the Japan Business Federation (Nippon Keidanren).
日本経団連の米倉弘昌会長が１２日、「ねじれ国会で、山積する課題を先送りしてはいけない」と述べたように、政治の停滞を懸念する声は各方面から出ている。
Currently, every opposition party is refusing to form a coalition with the DPJ. Your Party leader Yoshimi Watanabe said Monday that the division between the upper and lower houses demonstrates the will of the public today, and demanded the prime minister resign.
すべての野党は目下、民主党との連立を拒否している。みんなの党の渡辺代表は１２日、「衆参両院でねじれが起きたのが直近の民意だ」と菅首相の退陣を求めた。
===
Manifesto must be revised
However, all the opposition parties are leaving room for a "partial" coalition with the government, in which the ruling and opposition parties may work together depending on the issue.
ただ、各野党とも、政策ごとに与野党が連携する「部分連合」には協力の余地を残している。
For example, the Kan government is expected to work together with Your Party to reform the civil servant system and with the LDP on social welfare policy and reform of the taxation system.
例えば、菅政権が公務員制度改革ではみんなの党と、社会保障政策や税制改革では自民党と連携するといった展開も想定される。
Of course, the opposition parties have various motives, so cooperation between the ruling and opposition parties may not be easy. However, the major requirement for any cooperation will be a drastic revision of the DPJ's manifesto.
無論、各野党の思惑も様々で、与野党協力は簡単ではない。いずれも前提となるのは、民主党の政権公約の大幅な見直しだ。
The Kan government should admit the failure of the DPJ's handout measures that lack financial backing, such as the child-rearing allowances and abolition of expressway tolls. It should offer an explanation and an apology to the public.
菅政権は、子ども手当や高速道路の無料化など、財源の裏付けのないバラマキ政策の誤りを認め、国民に説明・謝罪すべきだ。
The DPJ lost in the upper house election not because Kan mentioned an increase in the consumption tax rate but because he was inconsistent in his remarks and actions. Kan is contradicting himself as he advocates a thorough cut in government expenditures while continuing handout measures.
参院選の敗因は、首相が消費税率引き上げに言及したことではない。税率上げの前提として「徹底した歳出削減」を掲げながら、バラマキ政策を継続する矛盾や、右往左往した首相の言動だ。
Public understanding of the need to increase the consumption tax rate is deepening as social welfare-related spending is increasing by 1 trillion yen a year.
社会保障費が毎年約１兆円も増える中、消費税増税への理解は国民の間に深まっている。
It is important for the prime minister to reach an agreement among the ruling and opposition parties on the details of a hike in the consumption tax rate, such as when and how much it should be raised. The LDP should not only criticize the government and the ruling coalition but also respond positively to talks between the ruling and opposition parties.
首相は、税率引き上げの時期や上げ幅など具体策に関する与野党合意形成を目指すことが大切だ。自民党なども、政府・与党を批判するばかりでなく、与野党協議に前向きに対応すべきだろう。
===
Don't rush to Ozawa
Meanwhile, a group of DPJ members, including those close to former DPJ Secretary General Ichiro Ozawa, is questioning the responsibility of current Secretary General Yukio Edano and other party executives for the party's debacle in the upper house election. Efforts to field a candidate against Kan will become increasingly active ahead of the party presidential election scheduled for September.
民主党内では、小沢一郎・前幹事長のグループを中心に、参院選敗北の枝野幹事長らの責任を問う声が出ている。９月の党代表選に向けて、菅首相の対立候補を擁立する動きも活発化しよう。
This will require difficult maneuvering by the prime minister.
首相は難しい舵(かじ)取りを迫られる。
◆千葉法相留任は疑問だ◆
However, Kan should not easily join hands with Ozawa to quickly restore party unity. He should not allow Ozawa to control the DPJ again by compromising on the consumption tax rate and other political issues.
だが、菅首相は、挙党態勢の構築を急ぐあまり、小沢氏と安易に手を結び、消費税問題など政策面で妥協して、「小沢支配」の復活を許すべきではない。
Kan must remember that his administration enjoyed a high approval rating immediately after its inauguration because the public approved of his efforts to eliminate Ozawa's influence.
菅政権が発足直後、高い支持率を得たのは、小沢氏の影響力を排除したことへの評価が大きかったことを忘れてはなるまい。
The prime minister has decided to keep Justice Minister Keiko Chiba, who lost her Diet seat in Sunday's election, in her current post until after the party presidential election in September. He said this was to maintain continuity in the administration, but it seems Kan actually wanted to avoid confrontations and confusion within the party over the selection of her successor.
菅首相は今回、落選した千葉法相を代表選後まで留任させることを決めた。表向きは「行政の継続性」を理由にしているが、実際は後任人事をめぐる党内の対立や混乱を避けるためと見られる。
There is little precedent for a person who has lost his or her Diet seat to stay in a ministerial post for more than a month. Though Chiba's post is not as important as the finance and foreign ministers, the popular judgment regarding Chiba should be taken more seriously. We question Kan's decision to retain Chiba as justice minister.
落選した閣僚を１か月以上続投させた例はほとんどない。財務、外務など主要閣僚でないとはいえ、国民の審判は重い。留任の判断には疑問が残る。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 13, 2010)
（2010年7月13日01時30分 読売新聞）
2010/07/13
参院選民主敗北 バラマキと迷走に厳しい審判
The Yomiuri Shimbun (Jul. 13, 2010)
Voters give DPJ policy the thumbs-down
参院選民主敗北 バラマキと迷走に厳しい審判（7月12日付・読売社説）
Voters have passed a stinging judgment on the Democratic Party of Japan's 10 months in government since it came to power following last summer's general election.
昨年夏の衆院選で政権交代を果たし、その後の政権運営の評価を問う民主党に対し、有権者は厳しい審判を下した。
The DPJ suffered a crushing defeat in Sunday's House of Councillors election and fell far short of the 54 seats targeted by Prime Minister Naoto Kan, who also is DPJ president. Justice Minister Keiko Chiba lost her seat. The DPJ and its tiny coalition partner, the People's New Party, failed to hold their majority in the 242-seat upper house, including uncontested seats.
１１日投開票の参院選で民主党は、菅首相が目標に掲げた改選５４議席を大きく下回り、敗北した。千葉法相も落選した。連立与党の議席も、非改選を含め過半数に届かなかった。
The election has led to a divided Diet in which the House of Representatives is controlled by the ruling camp and the upper chamber by opposition parties. To gain a majority in the upper house, the DPJ has no alternative but to stitch together a coalition with one or more opposition parties.
この結果、衆参両院で多数派が異なる「ねじれ国会」になる。民主党は、参院の過半数を確保するため、野党との連立を模索せざるを得ない状況だ。
At a news conference after the election, Kan insisted he would stay on, saying, "I would like to continue to responsibly manage the government." However, Kan's political clout has undeniably been weakened. Political chaos is all but certain as moves grow within the DPJ demanding the party leadership--including Kan--take responsibility for the election loss.
菅首相は記者会見で「責任ある政権運営を続けたい」と、続投の意向を表明したが、求心力の低下は否めない。首相を含めた党執行部の責任問題が浮上する可能性もあり、混乱は避けられまい。
Kan's handling of the consumption tax issue was the biggest factor behind the DPJ's setback.
民主党の最大の敗因は、菅首相の消費税問題への対応だ。
Kan hinted the rate could be lifted to 10 percent, a move echoing the Liberal Democratic Party's campaign pledge. But Kan failed to properly explain the purpose of the tax increase and how the revenue would be used. He compounded his problems by making inconsistent remarks on tax refunds for low-income earners.
自民党の消費税率１０％への引き上げ公約に乗る形で税率引き上げに言及したが、税率アップの狙いや使途などについて十分説明を尽くさず、低所得者対策に関する発言も揺らいだ。
The DPJ was not unified on the consumption tax. Some party members openly opposed Kan's tax policy.
首相の方針に対して、民主党内から公然と批判が出るなど、党内不一致も露呈した。
Of course, other factors also contributed to the election defeat, including political funding scandals that tainted former Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama and former party Secretary General Ichiro Ozawa; the Hatoyama administration's bumbling of the relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station in Okinawa Prefecture; and deadlock over handout policies such as child-rearing allowances.
無論、鳩山前首相、小沢一郎・前幹事長の「政治とカネ」の問題をはじめ、米軍普天間飛行場移設問題の迷走、子ども手当などバラマキ政策の行き詰まりなど、前政権の失政も響いた。
===
LDP's strategy successful
◆自民が改選第１党に◆
The LDP won the most seats contested Sunday, topping the number snared by the DPJ. The LDP's election tactics, such as fielding rookie candidates handpicked from public applicants, proved successful.
自民党は、今回の改選議席では民主党を上回った。公募による新人候補の擁立など選挙戦術も功を奏したとみられる。
Nevertheless, it is premature to conclude the LDP has made a full recovery.
もっとも、自民党が本格的に復調したと考えるのは早計だ。
The LDP rode to victory largely thanks to the DPJ's shortcomings. The LDP fared worse than the DPJ in the proportional representation bloc elections. Many voters probably were counting on the LDP to prevent the DPJ from "running wild."
民主党の敵失に乗じた面が大きく、比例選では民主党に及ばなかった。有権者は、民主党の“独走”を阻む役割を自民党に期待したのではないか。
Your Party made major gains by attracting voters disillusioned with both major parties. The party called for slashing the number of government employees and abolishing amakudari--a practice in which high-ranking government officials parachute into cushy jobs after retirement.
みんなの党は、公務員の大幅削減や天下り根絶などを唱えて、２大政党にあきたらない人々の票を吸い上げ、躍進した。
The party now has a responsibility to act in a manner befitting the number of seats it holds. The party might have to rethink some of its policies and behavior that smack of populism.
しかし、今後は、その議席数にふさわしい責任を果たさねばならない。ポピュリズム（大衆迎合主義）的な政策や言動は、改めざるを得ないだろう。
Party leader Yoshimi Watanabe, who had set the goal of positioning his party to hold a decisive say in the Diet, should not whip up political turmoil by taking advantage of the seats his party gained in Sunday's election.
キャスチングボートを握ることを目指していた渡辺代表は、今回の獲得議席を基に、政局を混乱させることがあってはなるまい。
===
Promote tax debate
◆消費税協議を進めよ◆
A hallmark of this election campaign was that the two major parties--the DPJ and the LDP--did not sidestep debate on a consumption tax hike.
今回の選挙戦の特徴は、民主、自民の２大政党が、消費税率引き上げという増税論議を避けずに戦ったことである。
According to a Yomiuri Shimbun survey during the campaign, two-thirds of respondents said a tax hike will be "necessary." This indicates public understanding of a consumption tax hike has solidified.
選挙中の本紙世論調査では、税率アップについて３人に２人が「必要」と答えていた。消費増税への理解は着実に進んでいるとみていいようだ。
On the campaign trail, Kan called for suprapartisan discussions on sweeping tax system reform, including an increase in the consumption tax. The LDP, for its part, wants a similar roundtable discussion on the matter.
菅首相は、選挙戦で消費税を含む税制の抜本改革に関する超党派の協議を呼びかけた。自民党も同種の「円卓会議」を主張した。
But it is unreasonable to launch such a debate while the DPJ-led government charges ahead with child-rearing allowances and other cash handouts. A responsible government would only enter discussions on a consumption tax hike after reviewing such handout policies.
だが、子ども手当などのバラマキ政策を放置し、協議を開始するのは無理がある。これらの政策を見直したうえ、消費税率引き上げに向けて協議を進めることが政治の責任と言える。
The DPJ and the LDP both should make concessions to start talks on the matter.
民主、自民両党は互いに歩み寄って協議に入るべきだ。
The end of August is the deadline for deciding on a construction method for a runaway at a replacement facility for the Futenma base and other relocation details. The government must follow through on the Futenma agreement reached with the United States and get bilateral ties back on track before U.S. President Barack Obama visits Japan in November.
普天間問題では、工法決定などの約束期限が８月末に迫っている。日米合意を誠実に履行し、日米関係を修復の軌道に乗せて、１１月のオバマ米大統領の来日につなげる努力が欠かせない。
The DPJ's election loss could embolden a group of party members who support Ozawa to strengthen moves to shake up the party leadership ahead of the party's presidential election in September.
今回の参院選敗北を受けて、民主党内では、小沢前幹事長支持グループなどが、９月の党代表選に向けて、執行部への揺さぶりを強める可能性がある。
But if Kan changes tack on the consumption tax and Futenma issue in the face of intraparty opposition, public confidence in his government will fade even further.
しかし、首相が、消費税や普天間の問題で示した方針を変更するようなことがあれば、国民の信頼を一層、失うだけだ。
Kan should maintain the pragmatic approach to domestic and diplomatic issues he adopted in a major break from the line taken by the Hatoyama administration.
鳩山前政権から大きく舵(かじ)を切った内政、外交の現実路線は、しっかり堅持すべきであろう。
The DPJ commands an absolute majority in the lower house. But the DPJ and the PNP hold fewer than two-thirds of the seats in the lower house, the threshold at which the ruling bloc can approve again--and pass--a bill voted down in the upper house.
民主党は、衆院では絶対安定多数を維持しているが、国民新党を加えても、参院で否決された法案を衆院で再可決するための３分の２以上の議席には達しない。
Consequently, the Kan administration will face a more difficult job in steering Diet business than the LDP-led administrations of three former prime ministers--Shinzo Abe, Yasuo Fukuda and Taro Aso--that also found themselves in a divided Diet.
この点では、自民党の安倍、福田、麻生の歴代政権よりも、厳しい国会運営が迫られる。
===
Policy-based coalition needed
◆連立は政策本位で◆
At the news conference, Kan said he would reach out to opposition parties to hold policy discussions and try to build a coalition government.
菅首相は記者会見で、野党との連立を視野に入れ、政策面の協議を行う考えを表明した。
He should remember that the coalition with the Social Democratic Party blew up in the DPJ's face because their security policies had little in common. The major premise for a coalition government should be that the parties involved share basic policies.
その際、安全保障政策で隔たりのある社民党との連立が政治を混乱させたことを忘れてはなるまい。連立政権は、基本政策の一致を大前提とすることが肝要だ。
With the next lower house election in mind, many opposition parties have said they will not join a coalition government. Therefore, the government will inevitably pursue a noncabinet partnership or a partial coalition with an opposition party on certain bills.
各野党は、次期衆院選をにらみ、連立政権には参加しないとしている。このため、閣外協力や、法案ごとに協力し合う「部分連合」も追求せざるを得ないだろう。
Many hurdles loom for the Kan administration, including an extraordinary Diet session and a DPJ presidential election.
菅政権の前途には、臨時国会や党代表選など、多くのハードルが待ち構えている。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 12, 2010)
（2010年7月12日03時55分 読売新聞）
Voters give DPJ policy the thumbs-down
参院選民主敗北 バラマキと迷走に厳しい審判（7月12日付・読売社説）
Voters have passed a stinging judgment on the Democratic Party of Japan's 10 months in government since it came to power following last summer's general election.
昨年夏の衆院選で政権交代を果たし、その後の政権運営の評価を問う民主党に対し、有権者は厳しい審判を下した。
The DPJ suffered a crushing defeat in Sunday's House of Councillors election and fell far short of the 54 seats targeted by Prime Minister Naoto Kan, who also is DPJ president. Justice Minister Keiko Chiba lost her seat. The DPJ and its tiny coalition partner, the People's New Party, failed to hold their majority in the 242-seat upper house, including uncontested seats.
１１日投開票の参院選で民主党は、菅首相が目標に掲げた改選５４議席を大きく下回り、敗北した。千葉法相も落選した。連立与党の議席も、非改選を含め過半数に届かなかった。
The election has led to a divided Diet in which the House of Representatives is controlled by the ruling camp and the upper chamber by opposition parties. To gain a majority in the upper house, the DPJ has no alternative but to stitch together a coalition with one or more opposition parties.
この結果、衆参両院で多数派が異なる「ねじれ国会」になる。民主党は、参院の過半数を確保するため、野党との連立を模索せざるを得ない状況だ。
At a news conference after the election, Kan insisted he would stay on, saying, "I would like to continue to responsibly manage the government." However, Kan's political clout has undeniably been weakened. Political chaos is all but certain as moves grow within the DPJ demanding the party leadership--including Kan--take responsibility for the election loss.
菅首相は記者会見で「責任ある政権運営を続けたい」と、続投の意向を表明したが、求心力の低下は否めない。首相を含めた党執行部の責任問題が浮上する可能性もあり、混乱は避けられまい。
Kan's handling of the consumption tax issue was the biggest factor behind the DPJ's setback.
民主党の最大の敗因は、菅首相の消費税問題への対応だ。
Kan hinted the rate could be lifted to 10 percent, a move echoing the Liberal Democratic Party's campaign pledge. But Kan failed to properly explain the purpose of the tax increase and how the revenue would be used. He compounded his problems by making inconsistent remarks on tax refunds for low-income earners.
自民党の消費税率１０％への引き上げ公約に乗る形で税率引き上げに言及したが、税率アップの狙いや使途などについて十分説明を尽くさず、低所得者対策に関する発言も揺らいだ。
The DPJ was not unified on the consumption tax. Some party members openly opposed Kan's tax policy.
首相の方針に対して、民主党内から公然と批判が出るなど、党内不一致も露呈した。
Of course, other factors also contributed to the election defeat, including political funding scandals that tainted former Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama and former party Secretary General Ichiro Ozawa; the Hatoyama administration's bumbling of the relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station in Okinawa Prefecture; and deadlock over handout policies such as child-rearing allowances.
無論、鳩山前首相、小沢一郎・前幹事長の「政治とカネ」の問題をはじめ、米軍普天間飛行場移設問題の迷走、子ども手当などバラマキ政策の行き詰まりなど、前政権の失政も響いた。
===
LDP's strategy successful
◆自民が改選第１党に◆
The LDP won the most seats contested Sunday, topping the number snared by the DPJ. The LDP's election tactics, such as fielding rookie candidates handpicked from public applicants, proved successful.
自民党は、今回の改選議席では民主党を上回った。公募による新人候補の擁立など選挙戦術も功を奏したとみられる。
Nevertheless, it is premature to conclude the LDP has made a full recovery.
もっとも、自民党が本格的に復調したと考えるのは早計だ。
The LDP rode to victory largely thanks to the DPJ's shortcomings. The LDP fared worse than the DPJ in the proportional representation bloc elections. Many voters probably were counting on the LDP to prevent the DPJ from "running wild."
民主党の敵失に乗じた面が大きく、比例選では民主党に及ばなかった。有権者は、民主党の“独走”を阻む役割を自民党に期待したのではないか。
Your Party made major gains by attracting voters disillusioned with both major parties. The party called for slashing the number of government employees and abolishing amakudari--a practice in which high-ranking government officials parachute into cushy jobs after retirement.
みんなの党は、公務員の大幅削減や天下り根絶などを唱えて、２大政党にあきたらない人々の票を吸い上げ、躍進した。
The party now has a responsibility to act in a manner befitting the number of seats it holds. The party might have to rethink some of its policies and behavior that smack of populism.
しかし、今後は、その議席数にふさわしい責任を果たさねばならない。ポピュリズム（大衆迎合主義）的な政策や言動は、改めざるを得ないだろう。
Party leader Yoshimi Watanabe, who had set the goal of positioning his party to hold a decisive say in the Diet, should not whip up political turmoil by taking advantage of the seats his party gained in Sunday's election.
キャスチングボートを握ることを目指していた渡辺代表は、今回の獲得議席を基に、政局を混乱させることがあってはなるまい。
===
Promote tax debate
◆消費税協議を進めよ◆
A hallmark of this election campaign was that the two major parties--the DPJ and the LDP--did not sidestep debate on a consumption tax hike.
今回の選挙戦の特徴は、民主、自民の２大政党が、消費税率引き上げという増税論議を避けずに戦ったことである。
According to a Yomiuri Shimbun survey during the campaign, two-thirds of respondents said a tax hike will be "necessary." This indicates public understanding of a consumption tax hike has solidified.
選挙中の本紙世論調査では、税率アップについて３人に２人が「必要」と答えていた。消費増税への理解は着実に進んでいるとみていいようだ。
On the campaign trail, Kan called for suprapartisan discussions on sweeping tax system reform, including an increase in the consumption tax. The LDP, for its part, wants a similar roundtable discussion on the matter.
菅首相は、選挙戦で消費税を含む税制の抜本改革に関する超党派の協議を呼びかけた。自民党も同種の「円卓会議」を主張した。
But it is unreasonable to launch such a debate while the DPJ-led government charges ahead with child-rearing allowances and other cash handouts. A responsible government would only enter discussions on a consumption tax hike after reviewing such handout policies.
だが、子ども手当などのバラマキ政策を放置し、協議を開始するのは無理がある。これらの政策を見直したうえ、消費税率引き上げに向けて協議を進めることが政治の責任と言える。
The DPJ and the LDP both should make concessions to start talks on the matter.
民主、自民両党は互いに歩み寄って協議に入るべきだ。
The end of August is the deadline for deciding on a construction method for a runaway at a replacement facility for the Futenma base and other relocation details. The government must follow through on the Futenma agreement reached with the United States and get bilateral ties back on track before U.S. President Barack Obama visits Japan in November.
普天間問題では、工法決定などの約束期限が８月末に迫っている。日米合意を誠実に履行し、日米関係を修復の軌道に乗せて、１１月のオバマ米大統領の来日につなげる努力が欠かせない。
The DPJ's election loss could embolden a group of party members who support Ozawa to strengthen moves to shake up the party leadership ahead of the party's presidential election in September.
今回の参院選敗北を受けて、民主党内では、小沢前幹事長支持グループなどが、９月の党代表選に向けて、執行部への揺さぶりを強める可能性がある。
But if Kan changes tack on the consumption tax and Futenma issue in the face of intraparty opposition, public confidence in his government will fade even further.
しかし、首相が、消費税や普天間の問題で示した方針を変更するようなことがあれば、国民の信頼を一層、失うだけだ。
Kan should maintain the pragmatic approach to domestic and diplomatic issues he adopted in a major break from the line taken by the Hatoyama administration.
鳩山前政権から大きく舵(かじ)を切った内政、外交の現実路線は、しっかり堅持すべきであろう。
The DPJ commands an absolute majority in the lower house. But the DPJ and the PNP hold fewer than two-thirds of the seats in the lower house, the threshold at which the ruling bloc can approve again--and pass--a bill voted down in the upper house.
民主党は、衆院では絶対安定多数を維持しているが、国民新党を加えても、参院で否決された法案を衆院で再可決するための３分の２以上の議席には達しない。
Consequently, the Kan administration will face a more difficult job in steering Diet business than the LDP-led administrations of three former prime ministers--Shinzo Abe, Yasuo Fukuda and Taro Aso--that also found themselves in a divided Diet.
この点では、自民党の安倍、福田、麻生の歴代政権よりも、厳しい国会運営が迫られる。
===
Policy-based coalition needed
◆連立は政策本位で◆
At the news conference, Kan said he would reach out to opposition parties to hold policy discussions and try to build a coalition government.
菅首相は記者会見で、野党との連立を視野に入れ、政策面の協議を行う考えを表明した。
He should remember that the coalition with the Social Democratic Party blew up in the DPJ's face because their security policies had little in common. The major premise for a coalition government should be that the parties involved share basic policies.
その際、安全保障政策で隔たりのある社民党との連立が政治を混乱させたことを忘れてはなるまい。連立政権は、基本政策の一致を大前提とすることが肝要だ。
With the next lower house election in mind, many opposition parties have said they will not join a coalition government. Therefore, the government will inevitably pursue a noncabinet partnership or a partial coalition with an opposition party on certain bills.
各野党は、次期衆院選をにらみ、連立政権には参加しないとしている。このため、閣外協力や、法案ごとに協力し合う「部分連合」も追求せざるを得ないだろう。
Many hurdles loom for the Kan administration, including an extraordinary Diet session and a DPJ presidential election.
菅政権の前途には、臨時国会や党代表選など、多くのハードルが待ち構えている。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 12, 2010)
（2010年7月12日03時55分 読売新聞）
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