[The Yomiuri Shimbun] April 2, 2013
A pertinent occasion to ponder the preciousness of 'sovereignty'
４・２８記念式典 「主権」の大切さ考える日に（4月1日付・読売社説）
◆沖縄の苦難も分かち合いたい◆
After Japan's defeat in the Showa War--a series of wars dating back to the 1931 Manchurian Incident that was followed by the Sino-Japanese War and World War II--the nation rejoined the international community as an independent state when the San Francisco Peace Treaty came into force on April 28, 1952.
昭和の戦争に敗れた日本が独立国として国際社会に復帰したのは、サンフランシスコ講和条約が発効した１９５２年４月２８日である。
On that day, this country was freed from the occupation by the Allied Powers that lasted about six years and eight months.
連合国による約６年８か月の占領から解放された。
In a Cabinet meeting in March, the government decided to sponsor the first-ever ceremony on the 28th of this month to commemorate Japan's regaining of its sovereignty and return to the international community.
政府は先の閣議で、主権回復と国際社会復帰を記念する式典を今月２８日に初めて主催することを決定した。
The ceremony, to be held at Kensei-kinenkan (Memorial Hall of Constitutional Politics) near the Diet Building, will be attended by representatives from a wide spectrum of fields, including Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. The Emperor and Empress also will be in attendance.
憲政記念館に天皇、皇后両陛下をお迎えし、安倍首相はじめ各界の代表者が出席する。
Looking back on history, we should regard this event as an opportunity to once again consider the significance of the existence of a sovereign state and living in peace.
歴史を振り返りつつ、主権国家と平和の持つ意味を改めて考える機会としたい。
Censorship wide-reaching
◆「言論の自由」にも制約◆
As stipulated in Article 1 of the peace treaty, the state of belligerency between Japan and the Allied Powers under international law was brought to an end that day.
講和条約第１条に明記されているように、日本と連合国の国際法上の戦争状態は、この日に終了した。
April 28, 1952, can therefore be regarded as the "day the war ended" in a true sense.
真の意味での「終戦の日」と位置付けることが出来よう。
Regarding Japan's postwar democratization processes, there is a strong tendency to consider that such democratic principles as "people's sovereignty" and "freedom of speech" became firmly established when the existing Constitution came into force on May 3, 1947.
戦後の民主化と言えば、４７年５月３日の新憲法施行と同時に「国民主権」や「言論の自由」が確立されたと考えられがちだ。
During the occupation by the U.S.-led General Headquarters of the Allied Powers, however, directives issued by GHQ were absolute imperatives.
しかし、占領期の米国主体の連合国軍総司令部（ＧＨＱ）の指令は絶対的なものだった。
Voices critical of the fact that the Constitution was written under the GHQ's initiative were rigorously muzzled.
憲法がＧＨＱ主導で制定されたことへの批判は封じられた。
Soon after the Constitution took effect, three members of the Cabinet of Prime Minister Shigeru Yoshida, including Finance Minister Tanzan Ishibashi, were among public servants purged for failing to comply with GHQ directives.
施行直後も第１次吉田内閣の石橋湛山蔵相ら３閣僚がＧＨＱの意に沿わず、公職追放されている。
Censorship by GHQ was wide-reaching, from criticism against occupation policies to references to international situations. When a U.S. soldier was involved in a criminal incident, Japanese media had no option but to use such euphemisms as "large man" instead of identifying the soldier by name.
検閲の対象は、占領政策への批判から国際情勢への言及まで多岐にわたった。米兵が事件を起こしても「大男」などと婉曲(えんきょく)な表現で報道せざるを得なかった。
Photos taken just after the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki were shown to the public only after the Occupation ended.
原爆が投下された直後の広島、長崎の写真が国民に開示されたのは、占領終了後だった。
The Memorial Ceremony for the War Dead sponsored by the government was first held on May 2, 1952, shortly after Japan regained independence.
政府主催の全国戦没者追悼式は独立回復直後の５２年５月２日になって初めて実施された。
Memories of the days when this country had been stripped of its sovereignty seem to be gradually fading from the minds of the Japanese people. It is crucial under the circumstances to ask again why this country lost its sovereignty and independence, in the context of Japan's history before the war.
主権を喪失していたあの時代の記憶は日本人の間で脳裏から次第に薄れてきている。
日本がなぜ、主権、独立を失ったのか、戦前の歴史も含めて問い直すことが大切なのである。
Disapproval in Okinawa
◆分離された沖縄の２０年◆
In Okinawa Prefecture, the upcoming commemoration ceremony has been met with a chorus of disapproval.
政府主催の記念式典に、沖縄では批判の声が上がっている。
This is primarily because the prefecture, along with the Amami Islands in Kagoshima Prefecture and the Ogasawara Islands, which are administered by Tokyo, was separated from the rest of Japan on April 28 61 years ago, and placed under the administration of U.S. forces. Tracts of land were seized and U.S. bases were built one after another.
６１年前の４月２８日、沖縄は奄美群島（鹿児島県）、小笠原諸島（東京都）と共に日本から分離され、米軍施政下に置かれたからだ。
土地の強制収用が進められ、米軍基地が次々と建設された。
While the movement to have Okinawa returned to the homeland grew rapidly in the 1960s, Okinawa residents even started calling April 28 "the day of humiliation."
６０年代に入って祖国復帰運動が急速に盛り上がる中で、沖縄の人々は４月２８日を「屈辱の日」とさえ呼ぶようになった。
The Amami Islands were handed back to Japan in 1953 and the Ogasawara Islands in 1968. But it was 1972--20 years after Japan recovered its independence--when the Okinawa Islands were returned to Japan.
奄美群島は５３年、小笠原諸島は６８年にそれぞれ返還された。沖縄が祖国復帰を果たすのは、日本の独立から２０年後の７２年だった。
A national assembly to commemorate the recovery of sovereignty was held by the Liberal Democratic Party and others at LDP headquarters on April 28 last year. Former Deputy Okinawa Gov. Noriaki Kakazu was invited as a guest. In his address, Kakazu referred to the turbulent history of Okinawa, which went from a bloody battlefield to an occupied territory, and called for Japan to become "a nation that shares both joy and sorrow together," and for April 28 to be "a day when the people make that resolution afresh."
昨年４月２８日、自民党などが党本部で開いた主権回復記念日国民集会には、沖縄県元副知事の嘉数昇明氏が来賓として招かれた。
嘉数氏は、戦場から被占領地になった沖縄の苦難の歴史を語り、「喜びも悲しみも共に分かち合う日本でありたい」「４・２８はその覚悟を新たにする日であってほしい」と訴えていた。
◆「お祝いの日」ではなく◆
In its campaign pledges for the recent House of Representatives election, the LDP created a stir by spelling out its intention to hold a ceremony to celebrate "the day of the return of national sovereignty."
Okinawa Gov. Hirokazu Nakaima has been lukewarm about the planned ceremony. "It would be difficult to attend if it was meant to be a celebration," he said.
自民党が先の衆院選公約に政府主催で「主権回復の日」を祝う式典を開くとしたことも物議を醸した。沖縄県の仲井真弘多知事は、式典をめぐって「お祝いであるとすれば、出席しにくい」と慎重な姿勢を示している。
No such ceremony can be held without understanding the mixed feelings of Okinawa residents.
沖縄県民の複雑な思いへの理解なしに式典は成り立たない。
Security situation severe
Abe has called for the ceremony "to renew our resolution to carve out a future for our country, including Amami, Ogasawara and Okinawa." His remarks clearly took into consideration the sentiments of residents of Okinawa.
安倍首相が政府主催の式典について、「奄美、小笠原、沖縄を含めた我が国の未来を切り開いていく決意を新たにしていく」と意義付けたのも、こうした沖縄の声を踏まえてのことだろう。
The security situation surrounding Japan is severe. Our sovereignty has been jeopardized almost daily.
日本を取り巻く環境は厳しい。統治権は日々脅かされている。
In waters near the Senkaku Islands of Okinawa Prefecture, China, which belatedly started claiming sovereignty over the islands, has repeatedly sent patrol vessels to the area, intruding into Japan's territorial waters.
沖縄県の尖閣諸島周辺では、尖閣の領有権を主張するようになった中国が、監視船を送り込んで領海侵犯を繰り返している。
Meanwhile, the Takeshima islets of Shimane Prefecture remain illegally occupied by South Korea. Under the San Francisco Treaty, the islets were excluded from the areas that Japan had to relinquish. But just before the treaty came into force, South Korea unilaterally established the Syngman Rhee Line, a boundary established by the then South Korean president, and declared it possessed the islets.
島根県・竹島は韓国の不法占拠下にある。サンフランシスコ講和条約では、日本が放棄すべき地域から除外されていたが、韓国が条約発効直前、一方的に李承晩ラインを設定し、領有を宣言した。
Russia has tightened its effective control over the northern territories off Hokkaido, even though 56 years have passed since Tokyo and Moscow restored diplomatic relations in 1956.
北方領土は１９５６年の日ソ国交回復から５６年を経た現在、ロシアの実効支配が強まっている。
There is also the issue of sovereignty infringements by North Korea, with dozens of Japanese, including Megumi Yokota, being abducted by Pyongyang agents.
横田めぐみさんらが北朝鮮の工作員に拉致されて主権が侵害された問題も、今なお続いている。
These pending issues remain unresolved probably because Japanese people as a whole are scarcely aware of the nation's sovereign rights.
これらの懸案が解決されないのは、国全体で主権に対する意識が希薄だからではないだろうか。
Japan is now one of the world's wealthiest countries. As a responsible, sovereign state, it must continue its efforts to maintain peace, prosperity and freedom.
日本は今、世界で最も豊かな国の一つだ。責任ある主権国家として、平和と繁栄、自由を維持する努力を続けねばならない。
The Japanese people should deepen their understanding of sovereignty issues and see them in a new light. We hope the ceremony to commemorate the return of this nation's sovereignty will become an opportunity to do just this.
日本人が主権に対する認識を深め、新たにもする。主権回復の記念式典をその契機としたい。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 1, 2013)
（2013年4月1日01時17分 読売新聞）
2013/04/03
2013/04/02
安倍外交 モンゴルと戦略関係の強化を
[The Yomiuri Shimbun] April 1, 2013
Japan should fortify strategic partnership with Mongolia
安倍外交 モンゴルと戦略関係の強化を（3月31日付・読売社説）
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's visit to Mongolia became an opportunity for Tokyo to strengthen its strategic partnership with an Asian country friendly to Japan.
親日友好国モンゴルと日本が戦略的な連携を強化する一歩になった。
On Saturday, Abe held separate meetings with Mongolian Prime Minister Norov Altankhuyag and President Tsakhia Elbegdorj.
安倍首相がモンゴルを訪問し、アルタンホヤグ首相、エルベグドルジ大統領と相次いで会談した。
During the meeting with Altankhuyag, both leaders agreed Japan and Mongolia will start vice foreign minister-level talks to discuss diplomatic and security issues. Moreover, they agreed to hold a policy dialogue with the United States.
両国首脳は、外交・安全保障分野での外務次官級の対話を開始することで一致した。さらに、米国も加えた３か国の政策対話を行うことでも合意した。
Abe's trumpeted principles for his administration's Asian diplomacy include calls for a free and open market economy and respect for democracy and other universal values.
安倍首相は、アジア外交の原則として民主主義など普遍的価値の尊重や自由でオープンな市場経済を掲げている。
Japan's diplomatic strategy also will benefit if Mongolia, which sits between Russia and China, becomes even more democratic and develops a market economy. It could act as a check against China, which has been threatening the sovereignty of neighboring nations through diplomatic intimidation.
中国とロシアに挟まれたモンゴルが、民主化と市場経済を発展させることは、日本の外交戦略にもプラスである。威圧的な外交で周辺国の主権を脅かす中国へのけん制にもなるだろう。
Abe asked for Mongolia's cooperation on North Korea issues, particularly Pyongyang's abduction of Japanese. His Mongolian counterpart expressed support for and understanding of Tokyo's position.
安倍首相は北朝鮮問題、とくに日本人拉致問題での協力を求めた。モンゴル側も日本の立場への理解と支持を表明した。
Resources wait to be tapped
Mongolia was a North Korean ally during the Cold War and still maintains high-level exchanges with that country.
モンゴルは、冷戦時代には北朝鮮とは盟友関係にあり、今も高いレベルで交流を続けている。
Thanks to Mongolia's cooperation, Japan and North Korea were able to hold talks in Ulan Bator in November 2012.
２０１２年１１月に日朝協議がウランバートルで開かれたのも、モンゴルの協力があったからだ。
The government should take maximum advantage of its ties with Mongolia to resolve the abduction issue, which has been deadlocked for years.
政府は膠着(こうちゃく)状態にある拉致問題解決に向けて、モンゴルとのパイプを大いに生かす必要がある。
Partnership with Mongolia will be valuable also in the field of energy security, as Japan lacks natural resources.
資源に乏しい日本にとって、モンゴルとの関係は、エネルギー安全保障の観点からも貴重だ。
Mongolia possesses abundant high-quality natural resources, such as coal and minor metals. It recorded sizzling economic growth of an annualized 17 percent in 2011, mainly thanks to the development of its mines.
モンゴルは、石炭やレアメタルなど良質で豊富な天然資源に恵まれている。鉱山開発などをテコに１１年は年率１７％を超える高度経済成長を達成した。
At Abe's meeting with Altankhuyag, the leaders discussed joint development of Tavan Tolgoi, the world's largest coalfield, in the Gobi Desert in southern Mongolia. "We'd like to provide Japan with a stable supply of coal over the long term," Altankhuyag reportedly said.
首脳会談では、モンゴル南部のゴビ砂漠にある世界最大級のタバントルゴイ炭田の共同開発についても意見を交換した。モンゴル側は、「長期にわたり安定的に日本に石炭を供給できるようにしたい」との意向を示したという。
In Mongolia, there is a plan to ship coal to ports in Russia and China, which would then be exported to Japan and South Korea. To achieve this, it is essential to build railways to transport Mongolia's resources to the coasts.
モンゴルには、日本や韓国に石炭を輸出するため、中国やロシアの海港へ運ぶ構想がある。それには資源を輸送するための鉄道を建設することが欠かせない。
Sumo stars just the start
However, Mongolia needs to improve its investment climate so Japanese companies can start doing business there to develop natural resources and social infrastructure. The Japanese and Mongolian governments should discuss this issue.
ただ、日本企業が開発やインフラ整備で進出するにはモンゴル側の投資環境の整備が必要だ。日本とモンゴルの当局間で協議を重ねる必要がある。
During his meeting with the president, Abe mentioned the superb performances of yokozuna Hakuho and other sumo wrestlers from Mongolia. Japanese have become more interested in Mongolia thanks to these wrestlers, while many Mongolians reportedly regard Japan as their "third neighboring country" after China and Russia.
会談で、安倍首相は横綱白鵬らの活躍ぶりにも言及した。日本では、大相撲を通じてモンゴルへの関心が高まっている。モンゴルにとっても日本は中露に次ぐ「第３の隣国」だという。
We hope both countries will boost exchanges not only in politics and economics, but also in culture and sports.
政治、経済とともに文化・スポーツでも交流を深めたい。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 31, 2013)
（2013年3月31日01時43分 読売新聞）
Japan should fortify strategic partnership with Mongolia
安倍外交 モンゴルと戦略関係の強化を（3月31日付・読売社説）
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's visit to Mongolia became an opportunity for Tokyo to strengthen its strategic partnership with an Asian country friendly to Japan.
親日友好国モンゴルと日本が戦略的な連携を強化する一歩になった。
On Saturday, Abe held separate meetings with Mongolian Prime Minister Norov Altankhuyag and President Tsakhia Elbegdorj.
安倍首相がモンゴルを訪問し、アルタンホヤグ首相、エルベグドルジ大統領と相次いで会談した。
During the meeting with Altankhuyag, both leaders agreed Japan and Mongolia will start vice foreign minister-level talks to discuss diplomatic and security issues. Moreover, they agreed to hold a policy dialogue with the United States.
両国首脳は、外交・安全保障分野での外務次官級の対話を開始することで一致した。さらに、米国も加えた３か国の政策対話を行うことでも合意した。
Abe's trumpeted principles for his administration's Asian diplomacy include calls for a free and open market economy and respect for democracy and other universal values.
安倍首相は、アジア外交の原則として民主主義など普遍的価値の尊重や自由でオープンな市場経済を掲げている。
Japan's diplomatic strategy also will benefit if Mongolia, which sits between Russia and China, becomes even more democratic and develops a market economy. It could act as a check against China, which has been threatening the sovereignty of neighboring nations through diplomatic intimidation.
中国とロシアに挟まれたモンゴルが、民主化と市場経済を発展させることは、日本の外交戦略にもプラスである。威圧的な外交で周辺国の主権を脅かす中国へのけん制にもなるだろう。
Abe asked for Mongolia's cooperation on North Korea issues, particularly Pyongyang's abduction of Japanese. His Mongolian counterpart expressed support for and understanding of Tokyo's position.
安倍首相は北朝鮮問題、とくに日本人拉致問題での協力を求めた。モンゴル側も日本の立場への理解と支持を表明した。
Resources wait to be tapped
Mongolia was a North Korean ally during the Cold War and still maintains high-level exchanges with that country.
モンゴルは、冷戦時代には北朝鮮とは盟友関係にあり、今も高いレベルで交流を続けている。
Thanks to Mongolia's cooperation, Japan and North Korea were able to hold talks in Ulan Bator in November 2012.
２０１２年１１月に日朝協議がウランバートルで開かれたのも、モンゴルの協力があったからだ。
The government should take maximum advantage of its ties with Mongolia to resolve the abduction issue, which has been deadlocked for years.
政府は膠着(こうちゃく)状態にある拉致問題解決に向けて、モンゴルとのパイプを大いに生かす必要がある。
Partnership with Mongolia will be valuable also in the field of energy security, as Japan lacks natural resources.
資源に乏しい日本にとって、モンゴルとの関係は、エネルギー安全保障の観点からも貴重だ。
Mongolia possesses abundant high-quality natural resources, such as coal and minor metals. It recorded sizzling economic growth of an annualized 17 percent in 2011, mainly thanks to the development of its mines.
モンゴルは、石炭やレアメタルなど良質で豊富な天然資源に恵まれている。鉱山開発などをテコに１１年は年率１７％を超える高度経済成長を達成した。
At Abe's meeting with Altankhuyag, the leaders discussed joint development of Tavan Tolgoi, the world's largest coalfield, in the Gobi Desert in southern Mongolia. "We'd like to provide Japan with a stable supply of coal over the long term," Altankhuyag reportedly said.
首脳会談では、モンゴル南部のゴビ砂漠にある世界最大級のタバントルゴイ炭田の共同開発についても意見を交換した。モンゴル側は、「長期にわたり安定的に日本に石炭を供給できるようにしたい」との意向を示したという。
In Mongolia, there is a plan to ship coal to ports in Russia and China, which would then be exported to Japan and South Korea. To achieve this, it is essential to build railways to transport Mongolia's resources to the coasts.
モンゴルには、日本や韓国に石炭を輸出するため、中国やロシアの海港へ運ぶ構想がある。それには資源を輸送するための鉄道を建設することが欠かせない。
Sumo stars just the start
However, Mongolia needs to improve its investment climate so Japanese companies can start doing business there to develop natural resources and social infrastructure. The Japanese and Mongolian governments should discuss this issue.
ただ、日本企業が開発やインフラ整備で進出するにはモンゴル側の投資環境の整備が必要だ。日本とモンゴルの当局間で協議を重ねる必要がある。
During his meeting with the president, Abe mentioned the superb performances of yokozuna Hakuho and other sumo wrestlers from Mongolia. Japanese have become more interested in Mongolia thanks to these wrestlers, while many Mongolians reportedly regard Japan as their "third neighboring country" after China and Russia.
会談で、安倍首相は横綱白鵬らの活躍ぶりにも言及した。日本では、大相撲を通じてモンゴルへの関心が高まっている。モンゴルにとっても日本は中露に次ぐ「第３の隣国」だという。
We hope both countries will boost exchanges not only in politics and economics, but also in culture and sports.
政治、経済とともに文化・スポーツでも交流を深めたい。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 31, 2013)
（2013年3月31日01時43分 読売新聞）
2013/04/01
「０増５減」案 民主の一転反対は解せない
The Yomiuri Shimbun (Mar. 31, 2013)
DPJ's reversal of stance on electoral reform unreasonable
「０増５減」案 民主の一転反対は解せない（3月30日付・読売社説）
The largest opposition Democratic Party of Japan seems far too indifferent to a series of court rulings rebuking existing vote-value disparities.
度重なる司法の厳しい警告に対して、鈍感すぎるのではないか。
Secretaries general of the major three political parties--the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, its junior coalition partner New Komeito and the DPJ--held a meeting Friday to discuss electoral reform. During the meeting, the ruling parties called for prompt passage of a bill to rezone electoral districts in the House of Representatives by slashing five seats without increasing any others in other single-seat constituencies. However, as the DPJ opposed the coalition's proposal, the three parties failed to agree.
自民、公明、民主３党幹事長会談が開かれた。自公両党は、衆院小選挙区定数の「０増５減」を実現する区割り法案を早期に成立させるよう求めたが、民主党は反対し、会談は平行線に終わった。
In 14 of 16 lawsuits filed against the government over the issue of lower house vote-value disparities, high courts have ruled the disparities unconstitutional.
衆院選の「１票の格差」を巡る１６件の行政訴訟で、各高裁は１４件の「違憲」判決を出している。
Some of the rulings went too far in deeming the results of the Dec. 16 lower house election invalid. Still, both the ruling and opposition parties must take the courts' decisions declaring the disparities "unconstitutional" seriously. They should first pass the rezoning bill based on a proposal from the Council on the House of Representatives Electoral Districts before undertaking other electoral reform measures.
中には「選挙無効」という行き過ぎた判断もあったが、与野党は「違憲」を重く受け止めねばならない。衆院選挙区画定審議会の勧告に基づいて格差を是正する区割り法案を先行処理すべきだ。
===
DPJ's proposal unrealistic
Arguing that the proposed elimination of five single-seat constituencies is not good enough, the DPJ has compiled its own drastic reform plan that calls for reducing the number of single-seat constituencies by 30 to 270 and lowering proportional representation seats by 50 to 130. The DPJ apparently wants to show the public that lawmakers will put themselves on the line for electoral reform by reducing the number of seats in the lower house. However, we think this stance misses the point.
民主党は、「０増５減では不十分」として、小選挙区定数を３０減の２７０、比例定数を５０減の１３０とする抜本改革案をまとめた。定数削減で「国会議員の身を切る」姿勢をアピールしたいようだが、ピントがずれていないか。
Furthermore, the leading parties have been widely split over drastic measures for electoral reform, so they are unlikely to reach an agreement in the near future.
しかも、抜本改革案に関する各党の主張の隔たりは大きく、早期の合意は困難な状況にある。
It is true the LDP-Komeito plan is complicated and has been criticized for possibly violating the Constitution, drawing objections from opposition parties. The ruling camp's plan seeks a decrease in proportional representation seats by 30 to 150, of which 60 seats will be preferentially allocated to smaller parties.
比例定数を３０減の１５０とし、うち６０を中小政党の優遇枠とする自公両党案は、分かりづらいうえ、憲法違反の疑いもあり、野党が反対している。
But still, the DPJ's plan calling for a drastic reduction in the number of single-seat constituencies is unrealistic as it would require major rezoning of electoral districts.
小選挙区定数も減らす民主党案も、区割り作業をやり直す必要があり、現実的とは言えない。
The DPJ is chiefly to blame for having failed to correct the vote-value disparities before last year's lower house election when it held the reins of government. The party's failure can be attributed to its adherence to the idea of fixing the disparities and conducting drastic electoral reform simultaneously, with the apparent aim of postponing dissolution of the lower house for its own interests.
そもそも昨年の衆院選前に１票の格差を是正できなかった主たる責任は、当時の与党・民主党にある。衆院解散を先送りする「党略」の思惑から、格差是正と抜本改革の同時決着に固執したためだ。
Last autumn, the DPJ finally agreed to a measure proposing the elimination of five single-seat constituencies before the enactment of drastic electoral reform, but it now opposes the plan. It is unreasonable that the party has returned to its previous stance of insisting both issues be handled at the same time. Such a stance could stall a solution to the pressing matter of correcting the vote disparities, potentially leaving it unaddressed even as the next lower house election comes around.
民主党は昨年秋、ようやく「０増５減」の先行処理に同意したのに、今になって反対に転じ、抜本改革との同時決着に回帰するのは筋が通らない。緊急性を要する格差是正が次期衆院選に間に合わない恐れさえ生じよう。
===
Long-term measures essential
The DPJ seems to have carved out a strategy of pursuing unrealistic ideals, which has failed to produce any achievements. This sophomoric style was evinced in its lofty election pledges for the 2009 lower house election. The DPJ has apparently learned nothing from its time in power.
非現実的な「理想」を掲げ、結局、何も実現できない――。２００９年衆院選政権公約（マニフェスト）に象徴される民主党の未熟な政治文化の特徴だ。その失敗の反省がうかがえない。
Of course, eliminating five single-seat constituencies is merely a stopgap reform measure. If it is implemented, the vote-value disparity ratio will be reduced to 1.998-to-1 or less. But the ratio is likely to exceed 2-1, an acceptable maximum according to the Supreme Court, at some stage.
無論、「０増５減」は暫定的な改革にすぎない。１票の格差は最大１・９９８倍で、いずれ２倍を超すのは避けられまい。
Various problems have been highlighted with the current lower house electoral system, which combines single-seat constituencies with the proportional representation formula. For one, the system enables candidates who lose in single-seat constituencies to still be elected through proportional representation. Drastic electoral reform is essential, including a measure to clarify the roles of both chambers of the Diet.
現行の小選挙区比例代表並立制は、小選挙区で敗れた候補の復活当選制度など、様々な問題が指摘されている。衆参両院の役割分担も含めた抜本改革は不可欠だ。
If major parties are not able to make significant progress in their electoral reform discussions, they should give serious thought to consulting expert panels on the issue.
政党間の協議が進展しないようなら、有識者会議の活用を真剣に考える必要がある。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 30, 2013)
（2013年3月30日01時44分 読売新聞）
DPJ's reversal of stance on electoral reform unreasonable
「０増５減」案 民主の一転反対は解せない（3月30日付・読売社説）
The largest opposition Democratic Party of Japan seems far too indifferent to a series of court rulings rebuking existing vote-value disparities.
度重なる司法の厳しい警告に対して、鈍感すぎるのではないか。
Secretaries general of the major three political parties--the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, its junior coalition partner New Komeito and the DPJ--held a meeting Friday to discuss electoral reform. During the meeting, the ruling parties called for prompt passage of a bill to rezone electoral districts in the House of Representatives by slashing five seats without increasing any others in other single-seat constituencies. However, as the DPJ opposed the coalition's proposal, the three parties failed to agree.
自民、公明、民主３党幹事長会談が開かれた。自公両党は、衆院小選挙区定数の「０増５減」を実現する区割り法案を早期に成立させるよう求めたが、民主党は反対し、会談は平行線に終わった。
In 14 of 16 lawsuits filed against the government over the issue of lower house vote-value disparities, high courts have ruled the disparities unconstitutional.
衆院選の「１票の格差」を巡る１６件の行政訴訟で、各高裁は１４件の「違憲」判決を出している。
Some of the rulings went too far in deeming the results of the Dec. 16 lower house election invalid. Still, both the ruling and opposition parties must take the courts' decisions declaring the disparities "unconstitutional" seriously. They should first pass the rezoning bill based on a proposal from the Council on the House of Representatives Electoral Districts before undertaking other electoral reform measures.
中には「選挙無効」という行き過ぎた判断もあったが、与野党は「違憲」を重く受け止めねばならない。衆院選挙区画定審議会の勧告に基づいて格差を是正する区割り法案を先行処理すべきだ。
===
DPJ's proposal unrealistic
Arguing that the proposed elimination of five single-seat constituencies is not good enough, the DPJ has compiled its own drastic reform plan that calls for reducing the number of single-seat constituencies by 30 to 270 and lowering proportional representation seats by 50 to 130. The DPJ apparently wants to show the public that lawmakers will put themselves on the line for electoral reform by reducing the number of seats in the lower house. However, we think this stance misses the point.
民主党は、「０増５減では不十分」として、小選挙区定数を３０減の２７０、比例定数を５０減の１３０とする抜本改革案をまとめた。定数削減で「国会議員の身を切る」姿勢をアピールしたいようだが、ピントがずれていないか。
Furthermore, the leading parties have been widely split over drastic measures for electoral reform, so they are unlikely to reach an agreement in the near future.
しかも、抜本改革案に関する各党の主張の隔たりは大きく、早期の合意は困難な状況にある。
It is true the LDP-Komeito plan is complicated and has been criticized for possibly violating the Constitution, drawing objections from opposition parties. The ruling camp's plan seeks a decrease in proportional representation seats by 30 to 150, of which 60 seats will be preferentially allocated to smaller parties.
比例定数を３０減の１５０とし、うち６０を中小政党の優遇枠とする自公両党案は、分かりづらいうえ、憲法違反の疑いもあり、野党が反対している。
But still, the DPJ's plan calling for a drastic reduction in the number of single-seat constituencies is unrealistic as it would require major rezoning of electoral districts.
小選挙区定数も減らす民主党案も、区割り作業をやり直す必要があり、現実的とは言えない。
The DPJ is chiefly to blame for having failed to correct the vote-value disparities before last year's lower house election when it held the reins of government. The party's failure can be attributed to its adherence to the idea of fixing the disparities and conducting drastic electoral reform simultaneously, with the apparent aim of postponing dissolution of the lower house for its own interests.
そもそも昨年の衆院選前に１票の格差を是正できなかった主たる責任は、当時の与党・民主党にある。衆院解散を先送りする「党略」の思惑から、格差是正と抜本改革の同時決着に固執したためだ。
Last autumn, the DPJ finally agreed to a measure proposing the elimination of five single-seat constituencies before the enactment of drastic electoral reform, but it now opposes the plan. It is unreasonable that the party has returned to its previous stance of insisting both issues be handled at the same time. Such a stance could stall a solution to the pressing matter of correcting the vote disparities, potentially leaving it unaddressed even as the next lower house election comes around.
民主党は昨年秋、ようやく「０増５減」の先行処理に同意したのに、今になって反対に転じ、抜本改革との同時決着に回帰するのは筋が通らない。緊急性を要する格差是正が次期衆院選に間に合わない恐れさえ生じよう。
===
Long-term measures essential
The DPJ seems to have carved out a strategy of pursuing unrealistic ideals, which has failed to produce any achievements. This sophomoric style was evinced in its lofty election pledges for the 2009 lower house election. The DPJ has apparently learned nothing from its time in power.
非現実的な「理想」を掲げ、結局、何も実現できない――。２００９年衆院選政権公約（マニフェスト）に象徴される民主党の未熟な政治文化の特徴だ。その失敗の反省がうかがえない。
Of course, eliminating five single-seat constituencies is merely a stopgap reform measure. If it is implemented, the vote-value disparity ratio will be reduced to 1.998-to-1 or less. But the ratio is likely to exceed 2-1, an acceptable maximum according to the Supreme Court, at some stage.
無論、「０増５減」は暫定的な改革にすぎない。１票の格差は最大１・９９８倍で、いずれ２倍を超すのは避けられまい。
Various problems have been highlighted with the current lower house electoral system, which combines single-seat constituencies with the proportional representation formula. For one, the system enables candidates who lose in single-seat constituencies to still be elected through proportional representation. Drastic electoral reform is essential, including a measure to clarify the roles of both chambers of the Diet.
現行の小選挙区比例代表並立制は、小選挙区で敗れた候補の復活当選制度など、様々な問題が指摘されている。衆参両院の役割分担も含めた抜本改革は不可欠だ。
If major parties are not able to make significant progress in their electoral reform discussions, they should give serious thought to consulting expert panels on the issue.
政党間の協議が進展しないようなら、有識者会議の活用を真剣に考える必要がある。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 30, 2013)
（2013年3月30日01時44分 読売新聞）
2013/03/31
６５歳まで雇用 若者の仕事を奪わぬように
The Yomiuri Shimbun (Mar. 30, 2013)
Older Japanese must work longer without crowding out the young
６５歳まで雇用 若者の仕事を奪わぬように（3月29日付・読売社説）
The revised Law for the Stabilization of Employment of Elderly People, which requires companies to allow all employees to stay on the payroll until they are 65 if they wish to do so, takes effect on April 1.
６５歳までの希望者全員を雇用するよう企業に義務付けた改正高年齢者雇用安定法が４月１日に施行される。
The revised law comes in conjunction with a gradual increase in the eligibility age for benefits under the government-run kosei nenkin corporate pension insurance scheme to 65 from the current 60, beginning from April. The revision was enacted in August last year.
改正法は、厚生年金の支給開始年齢が４月以降、現在の６０歳から段階的に６５歳に引き上げられることに伴うもので、昨年８月に成立した。
The purpose of the legislation is understandable: the need to help people deal with a period in which they might receive no pension. It can be said the times we live in require companies to continue employing all of their elderly workers as long as they desire to stay on at their jobs.
定年後に年金を受け取れない期間が生じるのを防ぐという狙いは理解できる。企業に対し、希望者全員の雇用継続を義務付けるのは、時代の要請と言えよう。
The current law calls for companies to make efforts to enable employees to work until the age of 65 after the retirement age of 60, either by abolishing the mandatory age limit, raising the age limit or implementing reemployment measures for retired workers.
現行法も、６０歳で定年を迎えた社員が、定年の廃止か引き上げ、または継続雇用により、６５歳まで働けるよう企業に求めている。継続雇用を選択した場合、健康状態や働く意欲など、一定の基準を設けて選別できる仕組みだ。
When companies choose one of these reemployment systems, the current law is designed to enable the firm to set certain criteria in selecting employees eligible to continue working, such as health conditions and motivation for working.
===
Elderly can boost economy
The latest revision to the system is mainly aimed at doing away with the stipulation of criteria, to ban companies from retaining only certain selected workers.
Under the revised law, the government will issue a warning to companies that fail to comply with the new system. If they then refuse to comply, the companies' names will be made public.
今回の制度改正は、この基準規定を廃止し、選別を認められなくするのが眼目だ。政府は、違反した企業に勧告を行い、従わない場合は企業名を公表するという。
To be sure, the nation's average life expectancy has risen markedly and the health of people in their 60s has improved a great deal.
確かに、平均寿命が伸び、６０歳代の健康状態は格段に向上している。
It is significant that people aged 60 to 64, who have so far been supported by the pension system, will instead be able to support the social security system by working and paying premiums for the pension program.
年金に支えられてきた６０～６４歳の人たちが、働いて税や保険料を納め、社会保障の支え手となる意義は大きい。
It is hoped that people in this age bracket will receive higher income and also engage in higher spending, thus boosting the country's economic growth.
この年代の所得や消費が向上し、経済成長を後押しする効果も期待できるだろう。
However, a wide divergence tends to appear among people in their 60s in terms of their willingness and ability to work.
だが、６０歳代では、能力と意欲の個人差が広がる。
It is reasonable that the business world at one time opposed mandatory continuation of employment up to the age of 65 on the grounds that the system would increase personnel costs, weighing on corporate management.
経済界が６５歳までの継続雇用の義務化に「人件費が増え、経営を圧迫する」と反対していたのも、無理はない。
It is of the highest importance to ensure companies under the new system never deprive young people of employment opportunities for the sake of continued employment of the elderly. They also must never use the system as an excuse to increase the number of nonregular workers.
重要なのは、高年齢者の雇用維持を理由に若者の仕事を奪ったり、非正規雇用を増やしたりしてはならないということだ。
However, about 40 percent of employers responding to a poll said they will "curb employment of young recruits" following the implementation of the revised law.
改正法施行で、「若年層の雇用を抑える」とした企業は約４割に上る、との調査もある。
===
'Age of lifelong work'
To prevent the dynamism of society as a whole from dwindling, all companies are urged to use ingenuity to provide jobs for both young and old.
社会全体の活力を低下させないようにするためにも、若者から高齢者まで、働く場の確保に各企業は知恵を絞ってもらいたい。
Many firms will have to make important judgments regarding allocation of personnel expenses, such as curbing pay raises for employees in their 40s and 50s.
４０～５０歳代の賃金上昇を抑えるなど、人件費の配分を工夫していくことになるだろう。
Meanwhile, the United States, Britain and Germany have already decided to raise their pension eligibility age to 67 or 68.
年金の支給開始年齢について、米国やイギリス、ドイツは既に６７～６８歳に引き上げることを決めている。
Given that Japan has been graying more rapidly than these countries, it will be hard for this nation to avoid further raising the pension eligibility age beyond 65.
これらの国より早く高齢化が進む日本で、さらなる引き上げを避けるのは難しい。
Since the graying of society coupled with low birthrates will certainly be accelerated, people's working lives will most likely become longer. Under the circumstances, companies and workers alike must think hard about what should be done to prepare for the advent of an "age of lifelong work."
一段と少子高齢化が進み、働く期間も一層長くなる。企業も労働者も「生涯現役社会」の到来を見据えねばならない。
We urge the government to work out and implement policies conducive to expanding employment by giving more teeth to measures for encouraging the development of industries with high growth potential.
政府にも、成長産業にテコ入れし、雇用を拡充していくような戦略的な政策が求められよう。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 29, 2013)
（2013年3月29日01時38分 読売新聞）
Older Japanese must work longer without crowding out the young
６５歳まで雇用 若者の仕事を奪わぬように（3月29日付・読売社説）
The revised Law for the Stabilization of Employment of Elderly People, which requires companies to allow all employees to stay on the payroll until they are 65 if they wish to do so, takes effect on April 1.
６５歳までの希望者全員を雇用するよう企業に義務付けた改正高年齢者雇用安定法が４月１日に施行される。
The revised law comes in conjunction with a gradual increase in the eligibility age for benefits under the government-run kosei nenkin corporate pension insurance scheme to 65 from the current 60, beginning from April. The revision was enacted in August last year.
改正法は、厚生年金の支給開始年齢が４月以降、現在の６０歳から段階的に６５歳に引き上げられることに伴うもので、昨年８月に成立した。
The purpose of the legislation is understandable: the need to help people deal with a period in which they might receive no pension. It can be said the times we live in require companies to continue employing all of their elderly workers as long as they desire to stay on at their jobs.
定年後に年金を受け取れない期間が生じるのを防ぐという狙いは理解できる。企業に対し、希望者全員の雇用継続を義務付けるのは、時代の要請と言えよう。
The current law calls for companies to make efforts to enable employees to work until the age of 65 after the retirement age of 60, either by abolishing the mandatory age limit, raising the age limit or implementing reemployment measures for retired workers.
現行法も、６０歳で定年を迎えた社員が、定年の廃止か引き上げ、または継続雇用により、６５歳まで働けるよう企業に求めている。継続雇用を選択した場合、健康状態や働く意欲など、一定の基準を設けて選別できる仕組みだ。
When companies choose one of these reemployment systems, the current law is designed to enable the firm to set certain criteria in selecting employees eligible to continue working, such as health conditions and motivation for working.
===
Elderly can boost economy
The latest revision to the system is mainly aimed at doing away with the stipulation of criteria, to ban companies from retaining only certain selected workers.
Under the revised law, the government will issue a warning to companies that fail to comply with the new system. If they then refuse to comply, the companies' names will be made public.
今回の制度改正は、この基準規定を廃止し、選別を認められなくするのが眼目だ。政府は、違反した企業に勧告を行い、従わない場合は企業名を公表するという。
To be sure, the nation's average life expectancy has risen markedly and the health of people in their 60s has improved a great deal.
確かに、平均寿命が伸び、６０歳代の健康状態は格段に向上している。
It is significant that people aged 60 to 64, who have so far been supported by the pension system, will instead be able to support the social security system by working and paying premiums for the pension program.
年金に支えられてきた６０～６４歳の人たちが、働いて税や保険料を納め、社会保障の支え手となる意義は大きい。
It is hoped that people in this age bracket will receive higher income and also engage in higher spending, thus boosting the country's economic growth.
この年代の所得や消費が向上し、経済成長を後押しする効果も期待できるだろう。
However, a wide divergence tends to appear among people in their 60s in terms of their willingness and ability to work.
だが、６０歳代では、能力と意欲の個人差が広がる。
It is reasonable that the business world at one time opposed mandatory continuation of employment up to the age of 65 on the grounds that the system would increase personnel costs, weighing on corporate management.
経済界が６５歳までの継続雇用の義務化に「人件費が増え、経営を圧迫する」と反対していたのも、無理はない。
It is of the highest importance to ensure companies under the new system never deprive young people of employment opportunities for the sake of continued employment of the elderly. They also must never use the system as an excuse to increase the number of nonregular workers.
重要なのは、高年齢者の雇用維持を理由に若者の仕事を奪ったり、非正規雇用を増やしたりしてはならないということだ。
However, about 40 percent of employers responding to a poll said they will "curb employment of young recruits" following the implementation of the revised law.
改正法施行で、「若年層の雇用を抑える」とした企業は約４割に上る、との調査もある。
===
'Age of lifelong work'
To prevent the dynamism of society as a whole from dwindling, all companies are urged to use ingenuity to provide jobs for both young and old.
社会全体の活力を低下させないようにするためにも、若者から高齢者まで、働く場の確保に各企業は知恵を絞ってもらいたい。
Many firms will have to make important judgments regarding allocation of personnel expenses, such as curbing pay raises for employees in their 40s and 50s.
４０～５０歳代の賃金上昇を抑えるなど、人件費の配分を工夫していくことになるだろう。
Meanwhile, the United States, Britain and Germany have already decided to raise their pension eligibility age to 67 or 68.
年金の支給開始年齢について、米国やイギリス、ドイツは既に６７～６８歳に引き上げることを決めている。
Given that Japan has been graying more rapidly than these countries, it will be hard for this nation to avoid further raising the pension eligibility age beyond 65.
これらの国より早く高齢化が進む日本で、さらなる引き上げを避けるのは難しい。
Since the graying of society coupled with low birthrates will certainly be accelerated, people's working lives will most likely become longer. Under the circumstances, companies and workers alike must think hard about what should be done to prepare for the advent of an "age of lifelong work."
一段と少子高齢化が進み、働く期間も一層長くなる。企業も労働者も「生涯現役社会」の到来を見据えねばならない。
We urge the government to work out and implement policies conducive to expanding employment by giving more teeth to measures for encouraging the development of industries with high growth potential.
政府にも、成長産業にテコ入れし、雇用を拡充していくような戦略的な政策が求められよう。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 29, 2013)
（2013年3月29日01時38分 読売新聞）
2013/03/30
経済連携交渉 日本主導で自由貿易圏加速を
The Yomiuri Shimbun (Mar. 29, 2013)
Japan should take upper hand in FTA negotiations
経済連携交渉 日本主導で自由貿易圏加速を（3月28日付・読売社説）
Prompted by Japan's recent announcement it would join the Trans-Pacific Partnership talks, various large-scale, free trade agreement initiatives have begun materializing one after another.
日本が環太平洋経済連携協定（ＴＰＰ）交渉への参加を正式表明したことを契機に、広大な自由貿易圏の構想が次々と具体的に動き出した。
On Tuesday, the inaugural round of negotiations on a trilateral FTA between Japan, China and South Korea kicked off in Seoul.
日本、中国、韓国３か国の自由貿易協定（ＦＴＡ）の第１回交渉がソウルで始まった。
Tokyo has also agreed with the European Union to begin talks in April on an economic partnership agreement. In May, negotiations on the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership will begin, with countries including Japan, China, South Korea and members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations expected to join the talks.
日本は、欧州連合（ＥＵ）との経済連携協定（ＥＰＡ）交渉を４月に開始する方針でも合意した。日中韓と東南アジア諸国連合（ＡＳＥＡＮ）などが参加する東アジア包括的経済連携（ＲＣＥＰ）の交渉も５月にスタートする。
We can say the trend of nations and regions vying to create FTA frameworks beneficial to themselves has accelerated.
各国・地域が自らに有利な自由貿易圏を競う潮流が、さらに鮮明になってきたと言えよう。
As Japan is scheduled to participate in multiple FTA negotiations, there is an opportunity for the nation to proactively engage in establishing regional trade rules. The government must devote itself to realizing these FTAs at the earliest opportunity, paving the way for boosting Japan's economic growth.
複数の交渉に加わる日本にとって、貿易ルール作りに積極的に関与できるチャンスである。各交渉の早期合意を実現し、成長に弾みをつけなければならない。
Regarding FTA talks, it is clear that Japan is lagging behind South Korea, which has already concluded FTAs with the United States and the EU. It has been a considerable time since Japan presented FTA proposals to its Asian neighbors and the EU, but talks on these have been slow to materialize.
韓国が米国やＥＵとのＦＴＡを発効させたのに比べて、日本は出遅れが目立つ。打診していた中韓両国や欧州との交渉を開始することすらできずにいた。
===
Japan rallying from behind
However, the EU, China and South Korea have recently begun making favorable comments regarding negotiations with Japan, following Tokyo's move to join TPP talks.
ところが、日本のＴＰＰ交渉参加の動きを受けて、ＥＵと中韓が対日交渉開始へ軟化に転じた。
It appears the EU intends to counter the influence of the TPP with an EU-Japan FTA. The EU has also agreed with the United States to begin FTA negotiations, with talks expected to start soon. It is obvious that the EU is concerned about the possibility of being left behind in the global trend.
ＥＵには、日本との協定をＴＰＰへの対抗軸にする思惑がうかがえる。米国ともＦＴＡ交渉開始で合意し、近く交渉を始める。世界の動きからＥＵが取り残される事態を警戒したのは明らかだ。
We assume Beijing has a similar goal. The problem of the Senkaku Islands persists between Japan and China, but it seems China is trying to counter the United States' deepening influence in Asia by engaging in talks with Japan and South Korea.
日中間では尖閣諸島の問題がくすぶるが、中国も日中韓交渉の開始により、アジアへ関与を深める米国を牽制(けんせい)する狙いがあろう。
Japan's challenge is clear--whether it can take the initiative in setting up trade rules.
日本の課題は、貿易ルール作りを主導できるかどうかだ。
Points of contention in Japan-EU talks will be eliminating the EU's high tariffs on automobiles and other products, as well as Japan's market deregulation in fields such as cars and medical equipment. Reaching an agreement quickly presents Japan and the EU with many hurdles to overcome.
ＥＵとの交渉では、ＥＵによる自動車などの高関税の撤廃とともに、日本の自動車、医療機器市場などの規制緩和が焦点になる。早期合意へのハードルは高い。
The outlook of negotiations between Japan, China and South Korea is also unclear, as issues such as intellectual property rights and competition policies are expected to be discussed at the talks.
日中韓交渉も、知的財産権や競争政策などが交渉分野になるだけに、先行きは不透明だ。
===
Need to be a tough negotiator
Regarding TPP talks, countries are expected to employ various tactics on whether to exempt agricultural products, such as rice, from tariff elimination.
ＴＰＰでは、コメなど農産品を関税撤廃の例外扱いにするかを巡って駆け引きが予想される。
A major premise for Japan in joining the TPP talks is to seek to create a new free trade framework that will enhance the level of the market openness of the region.
日本にとって、市場開放度を高める自由貿易の新たな枠組みを目指すことが大前提である。
Meanwhile, by simultaneously undertaking other FTA negotiations, Japan will be able to put pressure on the United States, the EU and China. The government must use its bargaining power to pursue the interests of the nation in the negotiations. It is also important to keep in mind the necessity of inducing China to comply with international trade rules.
一方、交渉を同時並行で行うことで米欧や中国を揺さぶる道も開けよう。国益を反映させる交渉力を発揮すべきだ。中国を国際ルールに取り込む必要もある。
As Japan--one of the world's major exporters--has recorded trade deficits in recent years, it is urgent to get the nation back on its feet. Japan's announcement to join the TPP talks had a far-reaching impact on the world. To exploit this opportunity, Japan must prepare a sharp strategy for the negotiations.
貿易赤字に転落した「輸出大国」の立て直しは急務と言える。ＴＰＰ参加表明が世界に及ぼした相乗効果を生かし、政府にはしたたかな戦略が求められよう。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 28, 2013)
（2013年3月28日01時13分 読売新聞）
Japan should take upper hand in FTA negotiations
経済連携交渉 日本主導で自由貿易圏加速を（3月28日付・読売社説）
Prompted by Japan's recent announcement it would join the Trans-Pacific Partnership talks, various large-scale, free trade agreement initiatives have begun materializing one after another.
日本が環太平洋経済連携協定（ＴＰＰ）交渉への参加を正式表明したことを契機に、広大な自由貿易圏の構想が次々と具体的に動き出した。
On Tuesday, the inaugural round of negotiations on a trilateral FTA between Japan, China and South Korea kicked off in Seoul.
日本、中国、韓国３か国の自由貿易協定（ＦＴＡ）の第１回交渉がソウルで始まった。
Tokyo has also agreed with the European Union to begin talks in April on an economic partnership agreement. In May, negotiations on the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership will begin, with countries including Japan, China, South Korea and members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations expected to join the talks.
日本は、欧州連合（ＥＵ）との経済連携協定（ＥＰＡ）交渉を４月に開始する方針でも合意した。日中韓と東南アジア諸国連合（ＡＳＥＡＮ）などが参加する東アジア包括的経済連携（ＲＣＥＰ）の交渉も５月にスタートする。
We can say the trend of nations and regions vying to create FTA frameworks beneficial to themselves has accelerated.
各国・地域が自らに有利な自由貿易圏を競う潮流が、さらに鮮明になってきたと言えよう。
As Japan is scheduled to participate in multiple FTA negotiations, there is an opportunity for the nation to proactively engage in establishing regional trade rules. The government must devote itself to realizing these FTAs at the earliest opportunity, paving the way for boosting Japan's economic growth.
複数の交渉に加わる日本にとって、貿易ルール作りに積極的に関与できるチャンスである。各交渉の早期合意を実現し、成長に弾みをつけなければならない。
Regarding FTA talks, it is clear that Japan is lagging behind South Korea, which has already concluded FTAs with the United States and the EU. It has been a considerable time since Japan presented FTA proposals to its Asian neighbors and the EU, but talks on these have been slow to materialize.
韓国が米国やＥＵとのＦＴＡを発効させたのに比べて、日本は出遅れが目立つ。打診していた中韓両国や欧州との交渉を開始することすらできずにいた。
===
Japan rallying from behind
However, the EU, China and South Korea have recently begun making favorable comments regarding negotiations with Japan, following Tokyo's move to join TPP talks.
ところが、日本のＴＰＰ交渉参加の動きを受けて、ＥＵと中韓が対日交渉開始へ軟化に転じた。
It appears the EU intends to counter the influence of the TPP with an EU-Japan FTA. The EU has also agreed with the United States to begin FTA negotiations, with talks expected to start soon. It is obvious that the EU is concerned about the possibility of being left behind in the global trend.
ＥＵには、日本との協定をＴＰＰへの対抗軸にする思惑がうかがえる。米国ともＦＴＡ交渉開始で合意し、近く交渉を始める。世界の動きからＥＵが取り残される事態を警戒したのは明らかだ。
We assume Beijing has a similar goal. The problem of the Senkaku Islands persists between Japan and China, but it seems China is trying to counter the United States' deepening influence in Asia by engaging in talks with Japan and South Korea.
日中間では尖閣諸島の問題がくすぶるが、中国も日中韓交渉の開始により、アジアへ関与を深める米国を牽制(けんせい)する狙いがあろう。
Japan's challenge is clear--whether it can take the initiative in setting up trade rules.
日本の課題は、貿易ルール作りを主導できるかどうかだ。
Points of contention in Japan-EU talks will be eliminating the EU's high tariffs on automobiles and other products, as well as Japan's market deregulation in fields such as cars and medical equipment. Reaching an agreement quickly presents Japan and the EU with many hurdles to overcome.
ＥＵとの交渉では、ＥＵによる自動車などの高関税の撤廃とともに、日本の自動車、医療機器市場などの規制緩和が焦点になる。早期合意へのハードルは高い。
The outlook of negotiations between Japan, China and South Korea is also unclear, as issues such as intellectual property rights and competition policies are expected to be discussed at the talks.
日中韓交渉も、知的財産権や競争政策などが交渉分野になるだけに、先行きは不透明だ。
===
Need to be a tough negotiator
Regarding TPP talks, countries are expected to employ various tactics on whether to exempt agricultural products, such as rice, from tariff elimination.
ＴＰＰでは、コメなど農産品を関税撤廃の例外扱いにするかを巡って駆け引きが予想される。
A major premise for Japan in joining the TPP talks is to seek to create a new free trade framework that will enhance the level of the market openness of the region.
日本にとって、市場開放度を高める自由貿易の新たな枠組みを目指すことが大前提である。
Meanwhile, by simultaneously undertaking other FTA negotiations, Japan will be able to put pressure on the United States, the EU and China. The government must use its bargaining power to pursue the interests of the nation in the negotiations. It is also important to keep in mind the necessity of inducing China to comply with international trade rules.
一方、交渉を同時並行で行うことで米欧や中国を揺さぶる道も開けよう。国益を反映させる交渉力を発揮すべきだ。中国を国際ルールに取り込む必要もある。
As Japan--one of the world's major exporters--has recorded trade deficits in recent years, it is urgent to get the nation back on its feet. Japan's announcement to join the TPP talks had a far-reaching impact on the world. To exploit this opportunity, Japan must prepare a sharp strategy for the negotiations.
貿易赤字に転落した「輸出大国」の立て直しは急務と言える。ＴＰＰ参加表明が世界に及ぼした相乗効果を生かし、政府にはしたたかな戦略が求められよう。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 28, 2013)
（2013年3月28日01時13分 読売新聞）
2013/03/29
衆院選違憲判決 国会は司法の警告に即応せよ
The Yomiuri Shimbun (Mar. 28, 2013)
Diet should respond quickly to warnings from judiciary
衆院選違憲判決 国会は司法の警告に即応せよ（3月27日付・読売社説）
◆「無効」判断は無責任ではないか◆
Never before has the legislature been so harshly criticized for its negligence by the judiciary.
立法府が、司法からこれほどまで怠慢を指摘されたのは、かつてなかったことだ。
Rulings have been handed down in 15 of 16 lawsuits heard at high courts and high court branches across Japan over vote-value disparities in the December House of Representatives election.
昨年１２月の衆院選を巡り、全国の高裁・支部で審理された１６件の「１票の格差」訴訟のうち、１５件で判決が言い渡された。
In 13 of the cases, the courts found results in related single-seat constituencies in the Dec. 16 lower house election to be unconstitutional. In the two remaining cases, the election results were found to be in an "unconstitutional state."
There was not a single case in which the election results were ruled constitutional.
１３件は「違憲」と断じた。残る２件も「違憲状態」と指摘し、合憲判断は一つもなかった。
The rulings were handed down as a result of examinations by about 50 high court judges. The Diet must seriously take the rulings to heart and quickly take concrete measures to correct vote-value disparities.
約５０人もの高裁判事が審理した結果である。国会は判決を重く受け止め、早期に具体的な是正措置を講じなければならない。
===
Rectification taking too long
◆進まない格差の是正◆
Do vote-value disparities in last year's lower house election--with votes in one constituency worth up to 2.43 times as much as those in another--violate the Constitution, which guarantees people's equality under the law?
最大２・４３倍だった１票の格差が、法の下での平等を保障した憲法に違反するか。
If so, is the time period in which the Diet left the disparities unaddressed permissible? These were points of contention in the lawsuits.
違反であれば、国会が格差を放置した期間は許容できる範囲内か。いずれの訴訟もこの２点が主な争点だ。
The rulings that found the election results to be unconstitutional judged that vote-value disparities violate the Constitution and that a reasonable time period to correct the disparities had elapsed.
「違憲」判決は、格差が憲法違反である上、格差是正の合理的期間も過ぎたと判断した。
The rulings that found the election results to be in an unconstitutional state consider the vote-value disparities to violate the Constitution but view the time period in which the disparities were left unaddressed as permissible.
「違憲状態」判決は、憲法違反だが、格差の放置は許される期間内だとの見解である。
In March 2011, the Supreme Court ruled that the 2009 lower house election, in which the maximum vote-value disparity was 2.30-to-1, was in an unconstitutional state. The disparity widened further in the lower house election last year.
最大格差が２・３０倍だった２００９年の衆院選について、最高裁は１１年３月、「違憲状態」とする判決を出した。昨年末の衆院選時には、それよりも格差が拡大していた。
Therefore, it was only to be expected that a series of tough judgments would be handed down by the high courts.
高裁の一連の厳しい判断は、予想できたと言えよう。
But how large can a vote-value disparity grow and still be considered constitutional? The rulings handed down so far are not necessarily clear on this point.
ただ、１票の格差は、何倍までならば合憲なのか、各高裁の判決からは必ずしも判然としない。
Another problem is that the Hiroshima High Court and the high court's Okayama branch declared results in certain single-seat constituencies in the December lower house election were invalid.
さらに、問題なのは、広島高裁と広島高裁岡山支部が、選挙の無効まで宣告したことである。
Other courts have applied the legal principle of "circumstantial ruling" and found election results themselves to be valid in consideration of the confusion that might be created if they were ruled invalid.
裁判所はこれまで「事情判決」の法理を適用し、選挙そのものは有効としてきた。無効とした場合の混乱を考慮してのことだ。
But the Hiroshima High Court did not apply this circumstantial ruling principle, saying, "The Supreme Court's right to determine the constitutionality of laws has been disregarded."
これに対し、広島高裁は「最高裁の違憲審査権が軽視されている」として、事情判決を適用しなかった。
The high court also expressed a view that September of last year, 1-1/2 years after the top court's ruling, should have been the deadline for rectifying vote-value disparities.
「最高裁判決から１年半が経過した昨年９月」を、格差是正の期限とする見解も示した。
However, no concrete basis for this standard was given.
だが、この線引きの具体的根拠は示されていない。
===
Undue judicial interference
◆「将来効」判決は疑問◆
The Hiroshima High Court also ruled that the election results in the Hiroshima constituencies will be rendered invalid after Nov. 26 this year.
無効の効力は、今年１１月２６日を経過して発生するとも判示した。
The decision took into account the fact that the Council on House of Representatives Electoral Districts has been working on revamping these districts since Nov. 26 last year.
衆院の「選挙区画定審議会」が、昨年１１月２６日から改定作業を始めたことを重視したのだという。
It is not clear if a one-year grace period is necessary before the ruling takes effect.
一定期間を経た後に効力が生じるという「将来効」の考え方だが、１年という区切りの必然性は明確でない。
Staying the effect of the ruling can be taken as an intrusion by the judiciary into territory where discretionary power is granted to the legislature.
立法府の裁量権に司法が踏み込んだとも言える。
The Okayama branch of the Hiroshima High Court immediately invalidated the result for an Okayama Prefecture constituency as the principle of equality in the value of each vote, it said, took precedence over concerns for political confusion. We find such a ruling unacceptably reckless.
岡山支部は、選挙を「即時無効」と判断した。「政治的混乱より投票価値の平等」を重視したというが、あまりに乱暴過ぎる。
The existing Public Offices Election Law has no detailed stipulations about revoting, should an election be deemed invalid.
現行の公職選挙法には、選挙無効が確定した場合の詳細なやり直し規定がない。
For example, no clear legal procedures for revoting are mentioned, including whether new elections should be held only in constituencies where lawmakers lost their seats, or if instead the lower house should be dissolved for a general election.
例えば、失職した議員の選挙区のみ再選挙をするのか、解散・総選挙になるのか、法的手続きは整理されていない。
Should the rulings nullifying the election results stick, Japan's politics would be thrown into utter confusion.
無効判決が確定すれば、政治は混乱するばかりだ。
All rulings related to vote disparities are expected to be taken to the Supreme Court. It is hoped that the top court will make a realistic decision.
すべての訴訟は上告される見通しだ。最高裁には現実的な判断を示してもらいたい。
===
Parties must cooperate on solution
◆与野党合意できぬなら◆
Meanwhile, the government and ruling parties should ensure that a draft bill be enacted swiftly to reduce five seats in less populated constituencies in an effort to narrow vote disparities among the least and most represented constituencies to within a 1-to-2 ratio. Then, they must take on the task of revamping the electoral districts.
一方、政府・与党は、１票の格差を２倍未満に収める「０増５減」の区割りを決める公選法改正案を早期に成立させた上で抜本改革に取り組まねばならない。
Reducing five seats without increasing any seats in densely populated districts, as stipulated in the draft bill, is based on the current zoning method, which the top court deemed a major cause for producing vote disparities and urged to be abolished.
The current zoning method first allocates one seat each to Tokyo and 46 prefectures out of the 300 district seats and then distributes the rest of the seats to each prefecture based on population.
ただ、０増５減は、最高裁が１票の格差を生む主因として廃止を求めた「１人別枠方式」による定数配分を基礎としている。
As the ruling by the Okayama branch indicated, the reduction of a mere five seats does not amount to an appropriate legislative step to rectify the gap in the value of each vote.
岡山支部判決が指摘するように「投票価値の格差是正への立法措置とは言い難い」だろう。
There is, however, no prospect in sight for a sweeping electoral rezoning, hampered by conflicting interests of parties in both the ruling and opposition camps.
抜本改革となると、与野党それぞれの思惑が絡んで、進展の見通しは全く立っていない。
The Liberal Democratic Party's reform plan calls for reducing seats under the proportional representation section from 180 to 150. Sixty of the seats would be preferentially allotted to the political parties ranked second or lower.
Such a preferential seat allotment, many say, would violate the Constitution's guarantee of equality in the value of each vote.
自民党がまとめた案は、比例選の定数を３０減の１５０議席とし、そのうち６０は得票数が２位以下の政党に配分する優遇枠とした。優遇枠については、「１票の価値の平等」という観点から憲法違反の恐れが指摘されている。
The electoral zoning deemed unconstitutional by the judiciary should not be replaced, as part of electoral reforms, by a different system feared to also be unconstitutional.
司法が「違憲」と判断した制度を見直すのに、またもや違憲の恐れがある制度をもって代えてよいはずがあるまい。
Upper house electoral zoning, like that of the lower house, has been ruled to be in an unconstitutional state.
Last November, the Diet revised the Public Offices Election Law to add four seats in populated prefectures and eliminate four seats from less populated prefectures.
The law revision, however, was only a stop-gap measure.
衆院選と同様に参院選も「違憲状態」と判断されている。国会は参院選の１票の格差を是正するために昨年１１月、公選法を改正し、選挙区定数を「４増４減」したが、応急的な措置に過ぎない。
The electoral system not only expresses the will of the public but also serves as the foundation of a smooth political process. The Diet must carry out drastic electoral reforms after studying on how parliamentary duties should be divided between the upper and lower chambers.
選挙制度は、ただ民意を反映するだけのものではなく、政治が物事を円滑に決めるための基盤でもある。国会は衆院、参院の役割分担を検討したうえで、抜本的な制度改革を進めるべきだ。
If conflicting interests of political parties stand in the way of electoral reform, the only way left is to set up an expert council to get electoral reform under way.
各党の党利党略によって、選挙制度改革が困難というのなら、有識者による選挙制度審議会を設けてでも改革を図るしかない。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 27, 2013)
（2013年3月27日01時12分 読売新聞）
Diet should respond quickly to warnings from judiciary
衆院選違憲判決 国会は司法の警告に即応せよ（3月27日付・読売社説）
◆「無効」判断は無責任ではないか◆
Never before has the legislature been so harshly criticized for its negligence by the judiciary.
立法府が、司法からこれほどまで怠慢を指摘されたのは、かつてなかったことだ。
Rulings have been handed down in 15 of 16 lawsuits heard at high courts and high court branches across Japan over vote-value disparities in the December House of Representatives election.
昨年１２月の衆院選を巡り、全国の高裁・支部で審理された１６件の「１票の格差」訴訟のうち、１５件で判決が言い渡された。
In 13 of the cases, the courts found results in related single-seat constituencies in the Dec. 16 lower house election to be unconstitutional. In the two remaining cases, the election results were found to be in an "unconstitutional state."
There was not a single case in which the election results were ruled constitutional.
１３件は「違憲」と断じた。残る２件も「違憲状態」と指摘し、合憲判断は一つもなかった。
The rulings were handed down as a result of examinations by about 50 high court judges. The Diet must seriously take the rulings to heart and quickly take concrete measures to correct vote-value disparities.
約５０人もの高裁判事が審理した結果である。国会は判決を重く受け止め、早期に具体的な是正措置を講じなければならない。
===
Rectification taking too long
◆進まない格差の是正◆
Do vote-value disparities in last year's lower house election--with votes in one constituency worth up to 2.43 times as much as those in another--violate the Constitution, which guarantees people's equality under the law?
最大２・４３倍だった１票の格差が、法の下での平等を保障した憲法に違反するか。
If so, is the time period in which the Diet left the disparities unaddressed permissible? These were points of contention in the lawsuits.
違反であれば、国会が格差を放置した期間は許容できる範囲内か。いずれの訴訟もこの２点が主な争点だ。
The rulings that found the election results to be unconstitutional judged that vote-value disparities violate the Constitution and that a reasonable time period to correct the disparities had elapsed.
「違憲」判決は、格差が憲法違反である上、格差是正の合理的期間も過ぎたと判断した。
The rulings that found the election results to be in an unconstitutional state consider the vote-value disparities to violate the Constitution but view the time period in which the disparities were left unaddressed as permissible.
「違憲状態」判決は、憲法違反だが、格差の放置は許される期間内だとの見解である。
In March 2011, the Supreme Court ruled that the 2009 lower house election, in which the maximum vote-value disparity was 2.30-to-1, was in an unconstitutional state. The disparity widened further in the lower house election last year.
最大格差が２・３０倍だった２００９年の衆院選について、最高裁は１１年３月、「違憲状態」とする判決を出した。昨年末の衆院選時には、それよりも格差が拡大していた。
Therefore, it was only to be expected that a series of tough judgments would be handed down by the high courts.
高裁の一連の厳しい判断は、予想できたと言えよう。
But how large can a vote-value disparity grow and still be considered constitutional? The rulings handed down so far are not necessarily clear on this point.
ただ、１票の格差は、何倍までならば合憲なのか、各高裁の判決からは必ずしも判然としない。
Another problem is that the Hiroshima High Court and the high court's Okayama branch declared results in certain single-seat constituencies in the December lower house election were invalid.
さらに、問題なのは、広島高裁と広島高裁岡山支部が、選挙の無効まで宣告したことである。
Other courts have applied the legal principle of "circumstantial ruling" and found election results themselves to be valid in consideration of the confusion that might be created if they were ruled invalid.
裁判所はこれまで「事情判決」の法理を適用し、選挙そのものは有効としてきた。無効とした場合の混乱を考慮してのことだ。
But the Hiroshima High Court did not apply this circumstantial ruling principle, saying, "The Supreme Court's right to determine the constitutionality of laws has been disregarded."
これに対し、広島高裁は「最高裁の違憲審査権が軽視されている」として、事情判決を適用しなかった。
The high court also expressed a view that September of last year, 1-1/2 years after the top court's ruling, should have been the deadline for rectifying vote-value disparities.
「最高裁判決から１年半が経過した昨年９月」を、格差是正の期限とする見解も示した。
However, no concrete basis for this standard was given.
だが、この線引きの具体的根拠は示されていない。
===
Undue judicial interference
◆「将来効」判決は疑問◆
The Hiroshima High Court also ruled that the election results in the Hiroshima constituencies will be rendered invalid after Nov. 26 this year.
無効の効力は、今年１１月２６日を経過して発生するとも判示した。
The decision took into account the fact that the Council on House of Representatives Electoral Districts has been working on revamping these districts since Nov. 26 last year.
衆院の「選挙区画定審議会」が、昨年１１月２６日から改定作業を始めたことを重視したのだという。
It is not clear if a one-year grace period is necessary before the ruling takes effect.
一定期間を経た後に効力が生じるという「将来効」の考え方だが、１年という区切りの必然性は明確でない。
Staying the effect of the ruling can be taken as an intrusion by the judiciary into territory where discretionary power is granted to the legislature.
立法府の裁量権に司法が踏み込んだとも言える。
The Okayama branch of the Hiroshima High Court immediately invalidated the result for an Okayama Prefecture constituency as the principle of equality in the value of each vote, it said, took precedence over concerns for political confusion. We find such a ruling unacceptably reckless.
岡山支部は、選挙を「即時無効」と判断した。「政治的混乱より投票価値の平等」を重視したというが、あまりに乱暴過ぎる。
The existing Public Offices Election Law has no detailed stipulations about revoting, should an election be deemed invalid.
現行の公職選挙法には、選挙無効が確定した場合の詳細なやり直し規定がない。
For example, no clear legal procedures for revoting are mentioned, including whether new elections should be held only in constituencies where lawmakers lost their seats, or if instead the lower house should be dissolved for a general election.
例えば、失職した議員の選挙区のみ再選挙をするのか、解散・総選挙になるのか、法的手続きは整理されていない。
Should the rulings nullifying the election results stick, Japan's politics would be thrown into utter confusion.
無効判決が確定すれば、政治は混乱するばかりだ。
All rulings related to vote disparities are expected to be taken to the Supreme Court. It is hoped that the top court will make a realistic decision.
すべての訴訟は上告される見通しだ。最高裁には現実的な判断を示してもらいたい。
===
Parties must cooperate on solution
◆与野党合意できぬなら◆
Meanwhile, the government and ruling parties should ensure that a draft bill be enacted swiftly to reduce five seats in less populated constituencies in an effort to narrow vote disparities among the least and most represented constituencies to within a 1-to-2 ratio. Then, they must take on the task of revamping the electoral districts.
一方、政府・与党は、１票の格差を２倍未満に収める「０増５減」の区割りを決める公選法改正案を早期に成立させた上で抜本改革に取り組まねばならない。
Reducing five seats without increasing any seats in densely populated districts, as stipulated in the draft bill, is based on the current zoning method, which the top court deemed a major cause for producing vote disparities and urged to be abolished.
The current zoning method first allocates one seat each to Tokyo and 46 prefectures out of the 300 district seats and then distributes the rest of the seats to each prefecture based on population.
ただ、０増５減は、最高裁が１票の格差を生む主因として廃止を求めた「１人別枠方式」による定数配分を基礎としている。
As the ruling by the Okayama branch indicated, the reduction of a mere five seats does not amount to an appropriate legislative step to rectify the gap in the value of each vote.
岡山支部判決が指摘するように「投票価値の格差是正への立法措置とは言い難い」だろう。
There is, however, no prospect in sight for a sweeping electoral rezoning, hampered by conflicting interests of parties in both the ruling and opposition camps.
抜本改革となると、与野党それぞれの思惑が絡んで、進展の見通しは全く立っていない。
The Liberal Democratic Party's reform plan calls for reducing seats under the proportional representation section from 180 to 150. Sixty of the seats would be preferentially allotted to the political parties ranked second or lower.
Such a preferential seat allotment, many say, would violate the Constitution's guarantee of equality in the value of each vote.
自民党がまとめた案は、比例選の定数を３０減の１５０議席とし、そのうち６０は得票数が２位以下の政党に配分する優遇枠とした。優遇枠については、「１票の価値の平等」という観点から憲法違反の恐れが指摘されている。
The electoral zoning deemed unconstitutional by the judiciary should not be replaced, as part of electoral reforms, by a different system feared to also be unconstitutional.
司法が「違憲」と判断した制度を見直すのに、またもや違憲の恐れがある制度をもって代えてよいはずがあるまい。
Upper house electoral zoning, like that of the lower house, has been ruled to be in an unconstitutional state.
Last November, the Diet revised the Public Offices Election Law to add four seats in populated prefectures and eliminate four seats from less populated prefectures.
The law revision, however, was only a stop-gap measure.
衆院選と同様に参院選も「違憲状態」と判断されている。国会は参院選の１票の格差を是正するために昨年１１月、公選法を改正し、選挙区定数を「４増４減」したが、応急的な措置に過ぎない。
The electoral system not only expresses the will of the public but also serves as the foundation of a smooth political process. The Diet must carry out drastic electoral reforms after studying on how parliamentary duties should be divided between the upper and lower chambers.
選挙制度は、ただ民意を反映するだけのものではなく、政治が物事を円滑に決めるための基盤でもある。国会は衆院、参院の役割分担を検討したうえで、抜本的な制度改革を進めるべきだ。
If conflicting interests of political parties stand in the way of electoral reform, the only way left is to set up an expert council to get electoral reform under way.
各党の党利党略によって、選挙制度改革が困難というのなら、有識者による選挙制度審議会を設けてでも改革を図るしかない。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 27, 2013)
（2013年3月27日01時12分 読売新聞）
2013/03/28
国連人権調査委 北朝鮮に拉致解決迫るテコだ
The Yomiuri Shimbun (Mar. 27, 2013)
Pile intl pressure on North Korea over human rights violations
国連人権調査委 北朝鮮に拉致解決迫るテコだ（3月26日付・読売社説）
The U.N. Human Rights Council recently unanimously adopted a resolution on establishing a panel to investigate human rights abuse in North Korea.
国連人権理事会で、北朝鮮の人権侵害に関する調査委員会の設立をうたう決議が、全会一致で採択された。
It is important for the international community to seize this momentum and step up pressure on the reclusive country to improve its human rights conditions, which would pave the way for the swift resolution of North Korea's abduction of Japanese.
これをテコに、北朝鮮の人権状況の改善を求める国際社会の連携を強化し、日本人拉致問題の早期解決につなげることが重要である。
The resolution was jointly submitted by Japan and the European Union, and denounced North Korea's "systematic, widespread and grave violation of human rights." It stipulated the establishment of an inquiry panel of three experts to investigate human rights abuse including the use of torture and labor camps, as well as "enforced disappearances, including in the form of abductions of nationals of other states."
決議案は日本と欧州連合（ＥＵ）が共同提出した。北朝鮮の「組織的で広範かつ重大な人権侵害」を非難し、強制収容所や拷問、「外国国籍者の拉致を含む強制失踪」などを調べるため、３人の専門家による調査委設立を明記した。
The United Nations has appointed a special rapporteur tasked with investigating North Korea's human rights conditions every year, but establishing the panel will enable a more exhaustive investigation.
国連は毎年、北朝鮮の人権状況を調査する特別報告者を任命してきたが、調査委発足によって、より充実した調査が可能となる。
The Japanese government should unreservedly support the panel. It must unveil the full picture of the abductions--a crime committed by a state--and bring all the Japanese victims home.
日本政府は、総力を挙げて協力し、拉致という北朝鮮の国家犯罪の全容解明と、被害者全員の帰国実現を図っていくべきだ。
===
High expectations for panel
The United Nations has adopted resolutions condemning North Korea's human rights situation annually in recent years. Votes cast against the resolutions in support of North Korea have decreased over the years, while votes in favor have increased. Since last year, these resolutions have been adopted unanimously.
北朝鮮の人権状況を非難する国連決議案の採決では、北朝鮮擁護派の反対票が年々減少する一方、賛成票は増え続け、昨年から全会一致での採択が通例となった。
The U.N. Security Council adopted a unanimous resolution on tougher sanctions against North Korea over its nuclear and missile development programs. Pyongyang has continuously thumbed its nose at international condemnation of the programs. Even China has become more willing to implement sanctions on North Korea.
核・ミサイル問題でも、国際社会の非難を無視する北朝鮮に、国連安全保障理事会は全会一致で制裁を強化した。中国も、制裁実施に積極的な姿勢を見せている。
The North Korean regime of Kim Jong Un must take this mounting international pressure to heart.
北朝鮮の金正恩政権は、こうした国際的な圧力の高まりを重く受け止めなければならない。
North Korea likely will keep refusing to cooperate with U.N. investigations, and will not open its doors to inquiry panel members.
北朝鮮は、これまでと同様、国連への協力を拒み、調査委関係者の入国を一切認めないだろう。
However, the panel can collect detailed evidence from victims, defectors, their relatives, governments and agencies outside North Korea. The panel is expected to compile a report on the state of Pyongyang's human rights violations and specific countermeasures. The report will be issued as an official U.N. document a year from now.
それでも調査委は、北朝鮮以外の国で、被害者や脱北者、家族、政府、諸機関から詳細な証言を集めることができる。それを基に組織的な人権侵害の実態や具体的な対策をまとめ、１年後に国連報告書として公表する予定だ。
The panel report could firmly pursue the North Korean leadership's responsibility for crimes against humanity. The international community must keep squeezing North Korea until it improves its human rights record.
北朝鮮指導部に「人道に対する罪」の責任を厳しく問うこともできよう。人権状況の改善を迫るために、国際社会は北朝鮮に圧力をかけ続ける必要がある。
===
Little time left for families
The Human Rights Council resolution reflects the Japanese government's strenuous efforts on the abduction issue. We praise the government for its work.
今回の決議は、日本政府の拉致問題に関する積極的な取り組みの一つの成果と、評価できる。
In his policy speech earlier this year, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said his mission will not end until all abducted Japanese stand again on their native soil. Family members of the abductees have grown old, so there is no time to waste. We ask the prime minister to produce tangible results.
安倍首相は施政方針演説で、拉致被害者の帰国まで「私の使命は終わらない」と述べた。被害者家族の高齢化を考えれば時間は貴重だ。ぜひ結果を出してほしい。
The government should develop a strategic and aggressive diplomatic policy toward North Korea, including the option of resuming intergovernmental talks.
北朝鮮との政府間協議の再開も含めて、戦略的で積極的な外交の展開が求められる。
Without a comprehensive solution to the abduction, nuclear and missile problems, it will be impossible to normalize relations with North Korea. It is essential for the government to maintain this stance when dealing with Pyongyang.
拉致、核、ミサイル問題の包括的な解決なくして、日朝国交正常化はあり得ない。政府はこの立場を堅持することが肝要だ。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 26, 2013)
（2013年3月26日01時35分 読売新聞）
Pile intl pressure on North Korea over human rights violations
国連人権調査委 北朝鮮に拉致解決迫るテコだ（3月26日付・読売社説）
The U.N. Human Rights Council recently unanimously adopted a resolution on establishing a panel to investigate human rights abuse in North Korea.
国連人権理事会で、北朝鮮の人権侵害に関する調査委員会の設立をうたう決議が、全会一致で採択された。
It is important for the international community to seize this momentum and step up pressure on the reclusive country to improve its human rights conditions, which would pave the way for the swift resolution of North Korea's abduction of Japanese.
これをテコに、北朝鮮の人権状況の改善を求める国際社会の連携を強化し、日本人拉致問題の早期解決につなげることが重要である。
The resolution was jointly submitted by Japan and the European Union, and denounced North Korea's "systematic, widespread and grave violation of human rights." It stipulated the establishment of an inquiry panel of three experts to investigate human rights abuse including the use of torture and labor camps, as well as "enforced disappearances, including in the form of abductions of nationals of other states."
決議案は日本と欧州連合（ＥＵ）が共同提出した。北朝鮮の「組織的で広範かつ重大な人権侵害」を非難し、強制収容所や拷問、「外国国籍者の拉致を含む強制失踪」などを調べるため、３人の専門家による調査委設立を明記した。
The United Nations has appointed a special rapporteur tasked with investigating North Korea's human rights conditions every year, but establishing the panel will enable a more exhaustive investigation.
国連は毎年、北朝鮮の人権状況を調査する特別報告者を任命してきたが、調査委発足によって、より充実した調査が可能となる。
The Japanese government should unreservedly support the panel. It must unveil the full picture of the abductions--a crime committed by a state--and bring all the Japanese victims home.
日本政府は、総力を挙げて協力し、拉致という北朝鮮の国家犯罪の全容解明と、被害者全員の帰国実現を図っていくべきだ。
===
High expectations for panel
The United Nations has adopted resolutions condemning North Korea's human rights situation annually in recent years. Votes cast against the resolutions in support of North Korea have decreased over the years, while votes in favor have increased. Since last year, these resolutions have been adopted unanimously.
北朝鮮の人権状況を非難する国連決議案の採決では、北朝鮮擁護派の反対票が年々減少する一方、賛成票は増え続け、昨年から全会一致での採択が通例となった。
The U.N. Security Council adopted a unanimous resolution on tougher sanctions against North Korea over its nuclear and missile development programs. Pyongyang has continuously thumbed its nose at international condemnation of the programs. Even China has become more willing to implement sanctions on North Korea.
核・ミサイル問題でも、国際社会の非難を無視する北朝鮮に、国連安全保障理事会は全会一致で制裁を強化した。中国も、制裁実施に積極的な姿勢を見せている。
The North Korean regime of Kim Jong Un must take this mounting international pressure to heart.
北朝鮮の金正恩政権は、こうした国際的な圧力の高まりを重く受け止めなければならない。
North Korea likely will keep refusing to cooperate with U.N. investigations, and will not open its doors to inquiry panel members.
北朝鮮は、これまでと同様、国連への協力を拒み、調査委関係者の入国を一切認めないだろう。
However, the panel can collect detailed evidence from victims, defectors, their relatives, governments and agencies outside North Korea. The panel is expected to compile a report on the state of Pyongyang's human rights violations and specific countermeasures. The report will be issued as an official U.N. document a year from now.
それでも調査委は、北朝鮮以外の国で、被害者や脱北者、家族、政府、諸機関から詳細な証言を集めることができる。それを基に組織的な人権侵害の実態や具体的な対策をまとめ、１年後に国連報告書として公表する予定だ。
The panel report could firmly pursue the North Korean leadership's responsibility for crimes against humanity. The international community must keep squeezing North Korea until it improves its human rights record.
北朝鮮指導部に「人道に対する罪」の責任を厳しく問うこともできよう。人権状況の改善を迫るために、国際社会は北朝鮮に圧力をかけ続ける必要がある。
===
Little time left for families
The Human Rights Council resolution reflects the Japanese government's strenuous efforts on the abduction issue. We praise the government for its work.
今回の決議は、日本政府の拉致問題に関する積極的な取り組みの一つの成果と、評価できる。
In his policy speech earlier this year, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said his mission will not end until all abducted Japanese stand again on their native soil. Family members of the abductees have grown old, so there is no time to waste. We ask the prime minister to produce tangible results.
安倍首相は施政方針演説で、拉致被害者の帰国まで「私の使命は終わらない」と述べた。被害者家族の高齢化を考えれば時間は貴重だ。ぜひ結果を出してほしい。
The government should develop a strategic and aggressive diplomatic policy toward North Korea, including the option of resuming intergovernmental talks.
北朝鮮との政府間協議の再開も含めて、戦略的で積極的な外交の展開が求められる。
Without a comprehensive solution to the abduction, nuclear and missile problems, it will be impossible to normalize relations with North Korea. It is essential for the government to maintain this stance when dealing with Pyongyang.
拉致、核、ミサイル問題の包括的な解決なくして、日朝国交正常化はあり得ない。政府はこの立場を堅持することが肝要だ。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 26, 2013)
（2013年3月26日01時35分 読売新聞）
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