--The Asahi Shimbun, April 5
EDITORIAL: BOJ needs self-control in implementing bold easy money policy
新たな緩和策―歯止めを壊すだけでは
The Bank of Japan under new Governor Haruhiko Kuroda on April 4 decided on a new monetary-easing policy as part of efforts to "do everything possible" to achieve a 2-percent annual inflation target in two years.
日本銀行が、年２％のインフレを２年で達成するために「やれることは何でもやる」という黒田東彦新総裁のもと、新たな金融緩和を決めた。
The BOJ has changed its policy indicator from an uncollateralized overnight call money rate to a monetary base, or the total amount of cash in circulation and commercial banks' reserves with the BOJ.
The central bank said "it will enter a new phase of monetary easing both in terms of quantity and quality."
「量・質ともに次元の違う金融緩和」を掲げ、政策の指標を金利水準ではなく、市中に出回る現金と銀行の日銀への預金を合わせた金額（マネタリーベース）に変えた。
By buying larger quantities of government bonds and other commodities, it plans to bolster the monetary base by 60 trillion yen to 70 trillion yen a year. By the end of 2014, the amount is expected to reach 270 trillion yen, nearly double the balance at the end of last year.
国債などを大量に買うことでマネタリーベースを年間６０兆～７０兆円増やす。１４年末には２７０兆円と、昨年末のほぼ倍になる見込みである。
To achieve that goal, the BOJ removed some long-standing rules.
問題は、その実現のために、これまで日銀が設けてきた決まりを一挙に取り払ったことだ。
For example, long-term government bonds that it could buy were limited to those that would mature in three years or less. But that restriction has been lifted.
たとえば、買い入れる長期国債は満期まで３年以内のものに限るとしてきたが、その制限を撤廃する。
Moreover, the asset purchase program for monetary easing purposes will be absorbed into its bond purchases for ordinary monetary control operations. In addition, the BOJ decided to temporarily suspend the "banknote principle," a rule that sets the upper limit on the outstanding amount of government bonds it holds to the outstanding balance of banknotes issued.
As a result, the BOJ can now purchase an unlimited amount of government bonds.
さらに、金融緩和のために国債などを買い入れてきた基金を日銀本体に統合する。そのうえで、日銀本体が国債を買う際には、お札の発行残高を上限にするというルールを一時凍結し、日銀本体でいくらでも国債を買えるようにする。
It is true that in some respects, the past rules left the impression that the BOJ is passive about monetary relaxation.
確かに過去の決まり事は「金融緩和に消極的な日銀」という印象を与えてきた面がある。
However, the measures that were in place played a significant role in showing the central bank's policy of preventing government bond prices from nosediving by removing any suspicion that it was trying to finance government budget deficits.
しかし、一連の措置は日銀が政府の財政赤字の尻ぬぐいをしていると疑われ、国債が暴落するような事態を招かないよう、中央銀行としての意思を示す役割があった。
This helped to prevent problems in everyday monetary control, which could consequently lead to wild fluctuations of long-term interest rates. Such a situation could easily arise if the BOJ makes excessive purchases of long-term government bonds.
日銀が長期国債を買いすぎることで、日々の金融調節に支障が出たり、結果的に長期金利が乱高下したりするのを避ける手立てでもあった。
We fear that the BOJ under Kuroda's leadership doesn't have any intention of coming up with new measures to prevent it from crossing the line.
黒田日銀に、これらに代わる歯止めを設ける姿勢が見られないのには、危惧を感じる。
The BOJ also has a responsibility to show how it will deal with difficulties that may arise in the future, such as rising interest rates.
金利が上昇する際の対応など、今後予想される困難な局面への基本姿勢もあらかじめ示しておく責任がある。
In the past, however, even when the monetary base increased, deflation continued. This is because capital needs do not grow in the private sector unless there are attractive investment destinations.
過去の経験では、マネタリーベースが増えてもデフレは解消しなかった。民間経済に有望な投資先がなければ、資金需要は増えないからだ。
Given such circumstances, excessive dependence on monetary easing alone could give rise to a distorted situation such as an asset price bubble and “bad inflation” caused by the weak yen that pushes up import prices.
そうしたなかで金融緩和ばかりに依存する経済運営では、円安に伴う輸入物価の上昇だけがもたらされる「悪いインフレ」や不動産バブルなど、いびつな現象が広がりかねない。
The government has an important role to play by implementing drastic regulatory reform to improve the real economy. Wage increases and expanded employment will help achieve this goal.
賃金の上昇や雇用の拡大を通じた実体経済の改善に向けて、思い切った規制改革をするなど政府の役割は大きい。
As for Kuroda, he needs to prod the government and the private sector to make all-out efforts to secure fiscal discipline and forge ahead with reforms. Only then will the central bank's bold monetary-easing policy become the effective tool that it is intended to be.
黒田総裁は大胆な緩和の効果がきちんと引き出されるよう、財政規律の確保や改革への努力を、政府や民間に促す責任も果たしてほしい。
2013/04/07
2013/04/06
海洋基本計画 資源開発へ産官学の連携図れ
[The Yomiuri Shimbun] April 5, 2013
Industry, govt, academia cooperation needed on resource development
海洋基本計画 資源開発へ産官学の連携図れ（4月4日付・読売社説）
The development of marine energy resources in the seas around Japan needs to be accelerated through cooperation between the industry, government and academic sectors to secure a stable energy supply for the nation's future.
日本近海に眠る海洋資源の開発を産官学の連携によって加速し、将来の安定的なエネルギー確保につなげたい。
The government has unveiled a draft of its "basic maritime plan," which will serve as the nation's marine policy for the next five years.
政府が、今後５年間の海洋政策の基本方針となる「海洋基本計画」の原案を公表した。
The Cabinet under Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is expected to decide on the policy within the month, making the development of Japan's marine resources a pillar of its growth strategies by considering it "an innovation to bring about new potential."
今月中に閣議決定し、海洋資源開発を「新たな可能性をもたらすイノベーション（技術革新）」と位置付けて成長戦略の柱とする。
With the aim of commercializing resources such as rare earths and methane hydrate, known as "burnable ice," which contains methane gas, the draft lays out the government's plan to improve the system to develop these resources together with the private sector.
原案は、天然ガスの主成分メタンを含んで「燃える氷」と言われるメタンハイドレートや、レアアース（希土類）などの商業化を目指し、「官民を挙げた開発体制の整備に取り組む」と明記した。
It is entirely appropriate for Japan, which lacks abundant domestic natural resources on land, to make genuine efforts to develop its marine resources.
資源に乏しく、石油などを輸入に頼る日本が海洋資源開発に本腰を入れるのは、妥当である。
Securing an advantage
To this end, the government succeeded last month in its experimental extraction of methane hydrate from the seabed off the coast of Aichi and Mie prefectures.
政府は３月中旬、愛知・三重県沖でメタンハイドレートの試験採取に成功した。
The seas near Japan are thought to hold enough methane hydrate to supply it with natural gas for 100 years at current domestic consumption levels.
日本周辺には、国内の天然ガス消費量の約１００年分が埋蔵されているという。
Almost all of the nation's nuclear power plants have stopped operating, pushing up the cost of electricity generation.
日本では、ほとんどの原子力発電所が運転を停止し、電力コストが増大している。
Securing a new domestic energy source would give the nation an advantage when negotiating the price of liquefied natural gas, which continues to hover at high levels, and that of shale gas, which is expected to be imported from North America and elsewhere.
新たな国産エネルギーを確保できれば、高値が続く液化天然ガス（ＬＮＧ）や、北米などからの輸入が期待されるシェールガスなどの価格交渉でも有利に働こう。
Yet these marine resources lie under the deep seafloor, and little is known about their topographical distribution. It is therefore vital to develop technologies to probe for and extract these valuable resources in a stable and economically feasible manner.
ただし、資源が埋まっているのは、深い海底である。その分布さえ正確に把握できていない。安定的かつ経済的に資源を探査・回収する技術の開発が急務だ。
With regard to methane hydrate, the draft sets the goal of "enhancing the relevant technologies so as to commercialize methane hydrate by fiscal 2018."
メタンハイドレートについて、原案は「２０１８年度を目途(めど)に商業化の実現に向けた技術の整備を行う」との目標を掲げている。
It is thus seen as vital to make use of the private sector's technology and knowledge.
それには、民間の技術や知見の活用が重要だ。
It will probably take a very long time for the resources to be developed on a commercial basis, and the development costs are likely to be sizable. Close cooperation between industry, government and academia is crucial.
実際の商業化までには長い時間がかかり、開発コストも巨額に上るだろう。産官学の緊密な連携が欠かせない。
Having attached great importance to the development of their own marine resources, China and South Korea are also making efforts through public-private sector cooperation. The further escalation of international rivalry in this field is inevitable.
中国や韓国も海洋資源開発を重視し、官民一体で取り組んでいる。国際競争が一層激化することは不可避である。
Legal infrastructure needed
The draft has pointed out that to implement all relevant measures, it is necessary to create laws to support Japan's resource development activities within its exclusive economic zone.
原案は、諸施策を具体化するには、排他的経済水域（ＥＥＺ）内での開発活動の裏付けとなる法整備が必要だと指摘した。
The development of legal foundations for dealing with various issues related to marine resource development, such as the coordination of issues related to fishing rights, are also called for in the draft.
漁業権との調整など、海洋開発に特有の様々な事項について法的基盤をつくることを目指す。
Japan is the sixth-largest country in the world in terms of the total area of its territorial waters and exclusive economic zone. For Japan to demonstrate to other countries its basic stance on marine resource development, legislative improvements are needed.
日本の領海とＥＥＺの合計面積は世界６位と広大だ。資源開発に関する基本姿勢を対外的に示すためにも法整備を進めるべきだ。
In light of China's claim to the Senkaku Islands, demonstrated by the repeated incursions of its vessels in waters near them, the draft also lists measures to protect Japan's territorial land and waters.
沖縄県の尖閣諸島周辺で続く中国の示威行動などを念頭に、領土・領海を守る施策も列挙されている。
An upgrade to the current arrangements of the Japan Coast Guard and the Self-Defense Forces is urgently needed to reflect these changing realities.
海上保安庁や自衛隊の体制拡充を急がねばならない。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 4, 2013)
(2013年4月4日01時25分 読売新聞）
Industry, govt, academia cooperation needed on resource development
海洋基本計画 資源開発へ産官学の連携図れ（4月4日付・読売社説）
The development of marine energy resources in the seas around Japan needs to be accelerated through cooperation between the industry, government and academic sectors to secure a stable energy supply for the nation's future.
日本近海に眠る海洋資源の開発を産官学の連携によって加速し、将来の安定的なエネルギー確保につなげたい。
The government has unveiled a draft of its "basic maritime plan," which will serve as the nation's marine policy for the next five years.
政府が、今後５年間の海洋政策の基本方針となる「海洋基本計画」の原案を公表した。
The Cabinet under Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is expected to decide on the policy within the month, making the development of Japan's marine resources a pillar of its growth strategies by considering it "an innovation to bring about new potential."
今月中に閣議決定し、海洋資源開発を「新たな可能性をもたらすイノベーション（技術革新）」と位置付けて成長戦略の柱とする。
With the aim of commercializing resources such as rare earths and methane hydrate, known as "burnable ice," which contains methane gas, the draft lays out the government's plan to improve the system to develop these resources together with the private sector.
原案は、天然ガスの主成分メタンを含んで「燃える氷」と言われるメタンハイドレートや、レアアース（希土類）などの商業化を目指し、「官民を挙げた開発体制の整備に取り組む」と明記した。
It is entirely appropriate for Japan, which lacks abundant domestic natural resources on land, to make genuine efforts to develop its marine resources.
資源に乏しく、石油などを輸入に頼る日本が海洋資源開発に本腰を入れるのは、妥当である。
Securing an advantage
To this end, the government succeeded last month in its experimental extraction of methane hydrate from the seabed off the coast of Aichi and Mie prefectures.
政府は３月中旬、愛知・三重県沖でメタンハイドレートの試験採取に成功した。
The seas near Japan are thought to hold enough methane hydrate to supply it with natural gas for 100 years at current domestic consumption levels.
日本周辺には、国内の天然ガス消費量の約１００年分が埋蔵されているという。
Almost all of the nation's nuclear power plants have stopped operating, pushing up the cost of electricity generation.
日本では、ほとんどの原子力発電所が運転を停止し、電力コストが増大している。
Securing a new domestic energy source would give the nation an advantage when negotiating the price of liquefied natural gas, which continues to hover at high levels, and that of shale gas, which is expected to be imported from North America and elsewhere.
新たな国産エネルギーを確保できれば、高値が続く液化天然ガス（ＬＮＧ）や、北米などからの輸入が期待されるシェールガスなどの価格交渉でも有利に働こう。
Yet these marine resources lie under the deep seafloor, and little is known about their topographical distribution. It is therefore vital to develop technologies to probe for and extract these valuable resources in a stable and economically feasible manner.
ただし、資源が埋まっているのは、深い海底である。その分布さえ正確に把握できていない。安定的かつ経済的に資源を探査・回収する技術の開発が急務だ。
With regard to methane hydrate, the draft sets the goal of "enhancing the relevant technologies so as to commercialize methane hydrate by fiscal 2018."
メタンハイドレートについて、原案は「２０１８年度を目途(めど)に商業化の実現に向けた技術の整備を行う」との目標を掲げている。
It is thus seen as vital to make use of the private sector's technology and knowledge.
それには、民間の技術や知見の活用が重要だ。
It will probably take a very long time for the resources to be developed on a commercial basis, and the development costs are likely to be sizable. Close cooperation between industry, government and academia is crucial.
実際の商業化までには長い時間がかかり、開発コストも巨額に上るだろう。産官学の緊密な連携が欠かせない。
Having attached great importance to the development of their own marine resources, China and South Korea are also making efforts through public-private sector cooperation. The further escalation of international rivalry in this field is inevitable.
中国や韓国も海洋資源開発を重視し、官民一体で取り組んでいる。国際競争が一層激化することは不可避である。
Legal infrastructure needed
The draft has pointed out that to implement all relevant measures, it is necessary to create laws to support Japan's resource development activities within its exclusive economic zone.
原案は、諸施策を具体化するには、排他的経済水域（ＥＥＺ）内での開発活動の裏付けとなる法整備が必要だと指摘した。
The development of legal foundations for dealing with various issues related to marine resource development, such as the coordination of issues related to fishing rights, are also called for in the draft.
漁業権との調整など、海洋開発に特有の様々な事項について法的基盤をつくることを目指す。
Japan is the sixth-largest country in the world in terms of the total area of its territorial waters and exclusive economic zone. For Japan to demonstrate to other countries its basic stance on marine resource development, legislative improvements are needed.
日本の領海とＥＥＺの合計面積は世界６位と広大だ。資源開発に関する基本姿勢を対外的に示すためにも法整備を進めるべきだ。
In light of China's claim to the Senkaku Islands, demonstrated by the repeated incursions of its vessels in waters near them, the draft also lists measures to protect Japan's territorial land and waters.
沖縄県の尖閣諸島周辺で続く中国の示威行動などを念頭に、領土・領海を守る施策も列挙されている。
An upgrade to the current arrangements of the Japan Coast Guard and the Self-Defense Forces is urgently needed to reflect these changing realities.
海上保安庁や自衛隊の体制拡充を急がねばならない。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 4, 2013)
(2013年4月4日01時25分 読売新聞）
2013/04/05
近隣諸国条項―成熟した国の姿を示す
--The Asahi Shimbun, April 2
EDITORIAL: Textbook screening provision is testament to Japan’s maturity
近隣諸国条項―成熟した国の姿を示す
How should sensitive issues concerning modern and contemporary history and territorial disputes be taught at school? This question is debated almost annually at this time of the year, when the results of the education ministry’s screening of school textbooks are announced.
近現代史や領土の問題をどう教えるべきか。教科書検定の結果が公表されるこの季節、毎年のように議論がくり返される。
The question is particularly relevant this year because it was the first textbook screening since the Liberal Democratic Party returned to power. During its campaign for the December Lower House election, the LDP promised to review a provision requiring the government to pay consideration to Japan’s past relations with neighboring countries when screening school textbooks.
とりわけ今回は、自民党が総選挙で「近隣諸国条項の見直し」を掲げて政権についてから初めて出される検定だった。この機会に改めて考えたい。
The stipulation is part of the screening standards. It calls for “necessary consideration from the viewpoint of international understanding and cooperation” in dealing with topics concerning Japan’s relations with its Asian neighbors in modern and contemporary history.
この条項は検定基準の一項目であり、アジア諸国との近現代史の扱いに「国際理解と国際協調の見地から必要な配慮」をすると定めている。
Critics argue that this regulation makes it easier for foreign countries to interfere with the content of Japanese school textbooks and helps create textbooks with “self-deprecating and biased” content.
これが外国からの教科書への口出しをしやすくし、教科書を「自虐的で偏向した」内容にしているとの批判がある。
Indeed, we inevitably feel uncomfortable when our own school textbooks are criticized by other countries.
たしかに教科書の書きぶりを他国からあれこれ言われるのは気持ちのよいものではない。
But there is no denying the importance of teaching children both light and dark sides of history and thereby helping them develop respect for other countries, not just in Asia but all over the world.
しかし、そもそも子どもたちに歴史の光と影の両面を教え、アジアに限らず世界の国々を尊重する態度を養うことが大切なのは当然である。
Rather than as part of the screening standards, the stipulation in question has been serving as a declaration of our country’s commitment to seeking international cooperation and teaching history in an objective manner without lapsing into self-righteousness.
わが国は国際協調を重んじ、独善に陥ることなく、客観的に歴史を教える。この条項は実際の検定基準としてより、内外にその姿勢を示す宣言として働いてきた。
This stipulation reflects Japan’s soul-searching about its militarist education before and during World War II. Abolishing this proviso would send neighboring countries the message that we will stop considering their feelings.
もちろん、そこには戦前の教育への反省が込められている。
条項を削れば、近隣諸国にわざわざ「配慮をやめる」とメッセージを送る意味を帯びる。
In addition, it is hard to claim that Japanese school textbooks are written in a way dictated by other countries because of this stipulation.
また、条項があるゆえに日本の教科書が外国の言いなりに書かれているとは言いがたい。
This year, for instance, a passage saying that the Senkaku Islands, the source of a bitter territorial dispute between Japan and China, belong to Okinawa Prefecture was added to descriptions in a textbook after the education ministry urged the publisher to make it clear that the islands are Japanese territory.
たとえば、今回は尖閣諸島が日本の領土とわかるようにとの意見がつき、「沖縄県に所属する」と加筆された例がある。
In recent years, both China and South Korea have repeatedly protested descriptions concerning territorial issues in Japanese textbooks. But the education ministry has not sought changes in the criticized descriptions in response to their protests.
領土の記述には近年、中韓から抗議が繰り返されているが、文部科学省はそれを受けて書きかえを指示してはいない。
The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology says that, to the best of its knowledge, the last time it issued a screening instruction based on the provision was in fiscal 1991, and there has since not been a single case to this day.
文科省によると、条項に基づいて検定意見がついたのは確認できるかぎり９１年度が最後で、今回もなかった。
The stipulation was established more than three decades ago after China filed a protest against a reported revision to textbook descriptions concerning Japan’s war with China during the screening in fiscal 1981.
At that time, many Japanese media, including The Asahi Shimbun, reported that Japan’s “invasion of north China” had been changed to Japan’s “advance to north China.”
この条項は８１年度検定で「華北を侵略」が「華北に進出」に書きかえられたと朝日新聞を含む多くのメディアが報じ、中国などから抗議を受けてできた。
Behind the argument for reviewing the provision are the views that there was actually no such change and that the rule was born out of a misunderstanding of fact.
実際は書きかえはなく、事実誤認から生まれた条項だという見方が見直し論の背景にはある。
News media should regret their false reports. But the ministry has acknowledged that there were actually cases in which the word “invasion” in textbook descriptions of Japan’s wartime acts was changed to “inroads” or “advance” as a result of screening in that and other years.
誤報は反省しなければならない。ただ、「侵略」を「侵入」「進出」などに変えた事例はこの年や過去の検定で他にあったと文科省は説明している。
It would be unfair to say the decision to establish the provision was based on a mistaken judgment.
条項を作った当時の判断までが誤りだったとはいえない。
If misguided protests are made over Japanese textbooks, the government can simply dismiss them by providing detailed explanations based on accepted academic theories.
的外れな抗議があったときはきちんと学説をふまえて説明すればよい。
If Japan acts as a calm and mature nation, Japanese children will grow to be proud of their country in due course.
冷静で成熟した国の姿を示せば、子どもたちの誇りはおのずと育まれる。
EDITORIAL: Textbook screening provision is testament to Japan’s maturity
近隣諸国条項―成熟した国の姿を示す
How should sensitive issues concerning modern and contemporary history and territorial disputes be taught at school? This question is debated almost annually at this time of the year, when the results of the education ministry’s screening of school textbooks are announced.
近現代史や領土の問題をどう教えるべきか。教科書検定の結果が公表されるこの季節、毎年のように議論がくり返される。
The question is particularly relevant this year because it was the first textbook screening since the Liberal Democratic Party returned to power. During its campaign for the December Lower House election, the LDP promised to review a provision requiring the government to pay consideration to Japan’s past relations with neighboring countries when screening school textbooks.
とりわけ今回は、自民党が総選挙で「近隣諸国条項の見直し」を掲げて政権についてから初めて出される検定だった。この機会に改めて考えたい。
The stipulation is part of the screening standards. It calls for “necessary consideration from the viewpoint of international understanding and cooperation” in dealing with topics concerning Japan’s relations with its Asian neighbors in modern and contemporary history.
この条項は検定基準の一項目であり、アジア諸国との近現代史の扱いに「国際理解と国際協調の見地から必要な配慮」をすると定めている。
Critics argue that this regulation makes it easier for foreign countries to interfere with the content of Japanese school textbooks and helps create textbooks with “self-deprecating and biased” content.
これが外国からの教科書への口出しをしやすくし、教科書を「自虐的で偏向した」内容にしているとの批判がある。
Indeed, we inevitably feel uncomfortable when our own school textbooks are criticized by other countries.
たしかに教科書の書きぶりを他国からあれこれ言われるのは気持ちのよいものではない。
But there is no denying the importance of teaching children both light and dark sides of history and thereby helping them develop respect for other countries, not just in Asia but all over the world.
しかし、そもそも子どもたちに歴史の光と影の両面を教え、アジアに限らず世界の国々を尊重する態度を養うことが大切なのは当然である。
Rather than as part of the screening standards, the stipulation in question has been serving as a declaration of our country’s commitment to seeking international cooperation and teaching history in an objective manner without lapsing into self-righteousness.
わが国は国際協調を重んじ、独善に陥ることなく、客観的に歴史を教える。この条項は実際の検定基準としてより、内外にその姿勢を示す宣言として働いてきた。
This stipulation reflects Japan’s soul-searching about its militarist education before and during World War II. Abolishing this proviso would send neighboring countries the message that we will stop considering their feelings.
もちろん、そこには戦前の教育への反省が込められている。
条項を削れば、近隣諸国にわざわざ「配慮をやめる」とメッセージを送る意味を帯びる。
In addition, it is hard to claim that Japanese school textbooks are written in a way dictated by other countries because of this stipulation.
また、条項があるゆえに日本の教科書が外国の言いなりに書かれているとは言いがたい。
This year, for instance, a passage saying that the Senkaku Islands, the source of a bitter territorial dispute between Japan and China, belong to Okinawa Prefecture was added to descriptions in a textbook after the education ministry urged the publisher to make it clear that the islands are Japanese territory.
たとえば、今回は尖閣諸島が日本の領土とわかるようにとの意見がつき、「沖縄県に所属する」と加筆された例がある。
In recent years, both China and South Korea have repeatedly protested descriptions concerning territorial issues in Japanese textbooks. But the education ministry has not sought changes in the criticized descriptions in response to their protests.
領土の記述には近年、中韓から抗議が繰り返されているが、文部科学省はそれを受けて書きかえを指示してはいない。
The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology says that, to the best of its knowledge, the last time it issued a screening instruction based on the provision was in fiscal 1991, and there has since not been a single case to this day.
文科省によると、条項に基づいて検定意見がついたのは確認できるかぎり９１年度が最後で、今回もなかった。
The stipulation was established more than three decades ago after China filed a protest against a reported revision to textbook descriptions concerning Japan’s war with China during the screening in fiscal 1981.
At that time, many Japanese media, including The Asahi Shimbun, reported that Japan’s “invasion of north China” had been changed to Japan’s “advance to north China.”
この条項は８１年度検定で「華北を侵略」が「華北に進出」に書きかえられたと朝日新聞を含む多くのメディアが報じ、中国などから抗議を受けてできた。
Behind the argument for reviewing the provision are the views that there was actually no such change and that the rule was born out of a misunderstanding of fact.
実際は書きかえはなく、事実誤認から生まれた条項だという見方が見直し論の背景にはある。
News media should regret their false reports. But the ministry has acknowledged that there were actually cases in which the word “invasion” in textbook descriptions of Japan’s wartime acts was changed to “inroads” or “advance” as a result of screening in that and other years.
誤報は反省しなければならない。ただ、「侵略」を「侵入」「進出」などに変えた事例はこの年や過去の検定で他にあったと文科省は説明している。
It would be unfair to say the decision to establish the provision was based on a mistaken judgment.
条項を作った当時の判断までが誤りだったとはいえない。
If misguided protests are made over Japanese textbooks, the government can simply dismiss them by providing detailed explanations based on accepted academic theories.
的外れな抗議があったときはきちんと学説をふまえて説明すればよい。
If Japan acts as a calm and mature nation, Japanese children will grow to be proud of their country in due course.
冷静で成熟した国の姿を示せば、子どもたちの誇りはおのずと育まれる。
2013/04/04
北朝鮮威嚇外交 「核攻撃」予告は度が過ぎる
[The Yomiuri Shimbun] April 3, 2013
Editorial / North Korea will gain nothing from its nuclear intimidation
北朝鮮威嚇外交 「核攻撃」予告は度が過ぎる（4月2日付・読売社説）
North Korea's decision to boost its nuclear capability is a blatant provocation made in defiance of a U.N. Security Council resolution, which prohibits Pyongyang from conducting further nuclear tests or ballistic missile launches.
核戦力の強化方針は、核実験や弾道ミサイル発射のさらなる実施を禁じた国連安全保障理事会決議への露骨な挑発だ。
The international community needs to answer this provocation by strengthening sanctions against North Korea.
国際社会は、北朝鮮への制裁を一層徹底するなど、対応を強める必要がある。
At a general meeting of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, the party's first secretary, Kim Jong Un, unveiled a new strategic policy aimed at boosting its nuclear capability both in quality and quantity, along with economic reconstruction. He also indicated Pyongyang would continue test-firing de facto long-range ballistic missiles.
北朝鮮の朝鮮労働党中央委員会総会で、金正恩第１書記が、経済建設と並行して、核戦力を「質も量も拡大、強化する」という新たな戦略的路線を打ち出した。事実上の長距離弾道ミサイルの発射を続ける方針も示した。
The decision to strengthen both its economy and its nuclear arsenal was approved by the Supreme People's Assembly on Monday.
経済建設と核戦力強化の“二兎(にと)を追う”路線は、１日に開かれた最高人民会議で追認された。
China loses face
Kim's decision made China lose face. China, a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council, supported the U.N. resolution imposing sanctions on Pyongyang.
常任理事国として対北朝鮮制裁決議に賛成した中国のメンツは、金第１書記につぶされた形だ。
China is North Korea's largest trading partner and aid donor. It also is a major supplier of energy.
中国は、北朝鮮にとって最大の貿易相手国かつ援助国だ。エネルギーの供給元でもある。
The administration of Chinese President Xi Jinping is duty-bound to implement the sanctions resolution and apply pressure on North Korea by all available means. This would mean strengthening restrictions and monitoring the flow of money, goods and people, as well as halting the supply of crude oil and other steps.
習近平政権は、制裁決議を確実に履行し、カネ、モノ、ヒトの移動の制限・監視を強化するのは無論、原油供給の停止など、あらゆる手段で圧力をかけるべきだ。
There also is concern that North Korea's rhetoric and actions aimed at intimidating the international community have become excessive, going far beyond conventional norms.
国際社会を威嚇する北朝鮮の言動が、従来の次元を超えて過激になっている点も懸念される。
North Korea has torn up the armistice that halted the Korean War, and the country's supreme military command has said it will put its armed forces on the highest level of alert to ensure they are combat ready. The nation therefore has placed itself on a war footing, with Kim himself touring the front lines.
朝鮮戦争の休戦協定の「白紙化」や、軍最高司令部による最高度の戦闘勤務態勢発令など、戦争前夜のような雰囲気を醸成し、金第１書記自らが前線を回っている。
Boasting of its nuclear weapons, Pyongyang even mentioned making preemptive nuclear strikes not only on South Korea but also on the U.S. mainland and Japan. By playing around with its nuclear arsenal, Pyongyang is acting extremely dangerously.
核兵器保有を誇示し、韓国ばかりか米国本土、さらには日本への核先制攻撃にまで言及した。核を弄ぶ態度は危険極まりない。
The United States' unusual announcement on the participation of B-52 strategic bombers and its most advanced B-2 stealth bombers in joint military exercises with South Korea was meant to rein in North Korea.
米国が異例にも、米韓合同軍事演習に米軍の戦略爆撃機Ｂ５２と最新鋭ステルス爆撃機Ｂ２を参加させたことを公表したのは、北朝鮮を抑止するのが狙いだ。
Japan and other nations concerned must keep a close eye on North Korea's behavior and make preparations to deal with any contingency.
日本はじめ関係国は、北朝鮮の行動を注視し、不測の事態への備えに万全を期さねばならない。
Kim solidifying power
Behind North Korea's moves is Kim's apparent desire to solidify his power base as it has been a year since he was formally named successor to his late father, Kim Jong Il.
こうした北朝鮮の動きの背景には、父の金正日総書記の死後、後継者に正式に推挙されて１年たった金第１書記が、権力基盤を固めようとしていることがあろう。
Only 30 years old, the inexperienced North Korean leader has trumpeted the nation's most recent nuclear test and missile launch as proud achievements. Little progress has been seen in reconstructing the country's failed economy. He probably has no choice but to strengthen his influence and authority as the top leader by pursuing a military-first policy through such means as further nuclear armament.
まだ３０歳の経験不足の指導者は、核実験とミサイル発射を業績として喧伝(けんでん)している。破綻した経済の再建が少しも進まない。核武装の推進など、軍事最優先の「先軍政治」で求心力と権威を高めるしかないのだろう。
As a result, sanctions against North Korea have been strengthened, further isolating the country in the international community. Its efforts to diversify trade and invite investment are hardly likely to meet with success.
その結果、制裁は強化され、国際社会で北朝鮮の孤立は深まるばかりだ。貿易多角化や投資呼び込みにも強いブレーキがかかる。
Kim should be keenly aware that the pursuits of nuclear armament and economic reconstruction are incompatible.
核武装化と経済立て直しの両立はあり得ないことを、金第１書記は厳しく認識すべきである。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 2, 2013)
（2013年4月2日01時21分 読売新聞）
Editorial / North Korea will gain nothing from its nuclear intimidation
北朝鮮威嚇外交 「核攻撃」予告は度が過ぎる（4月2日付・読売社説）
North Korea's decision to boost its nuclear capability is a blatant provocation made in defiance of a U.N. Security Council resolution, which prohibits Pyongyang from conducting further nuclear tests or ballistic missile launches.
核戦力の強化方針は、核実験や弾道ミサイル発射のさらなる実施を禁じた国連安全保障理事会決議への露骨な挑発だ。
The international community needs to answer this provocation by strengthening sanctions against North Korea.
国際社会は、北朝鮮への制裁を一層徹底するなど、対応を強める必要がある。
At a general meeting of the Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea, the party's first secretary, Kim Jong Un, unveiled a new strategic policy aimed at boosting its nuclear capability both in quality and quantity, along with economic reconstruction. He also indicated Pyongyang would continue test-firing de facto long-range ballistic missiles.
北朝鮮の朝鮮労働党中央委員会総会で、金正恩第１書記が、経済建設と並行して、核戦力を「質も量も拡大、強化する」という新たな戦略的路線を打ち出した。事実上の長距離弾道ミサイルの発射を続ける方針も示した。
The decision to strengthen both its economy and its nuclear arsenal was approved by the Supreme People's Assembly on Monday.
経済建設と核戦力強化の“二兎(にと)を追う”路線は、１日に開かれた最高人民会議で追認された。
China loses face
Kim's decision made China lose face. China, a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council, supported the U.N. resolution imposing sanctions on Pyongyang.
常任理事国として対北朝鮮制裁決議に賛成した中国のメンツは、金第１書記につぶされた形だ。
China is North Korea's largest trading partner and aid donor. It also is a major supplier of energy.
中国は、北朝鮮にとって最大の貿易相手国かつ援助国だ。エネルギーの供給元でもある。
The administration of Chinese President Xi Jinping is duty-bound to implement the sanctions resolution and apply pressure on North Korea by all available means. This would mean strengthening restrictions and monitoring the flow of money, goods and people, as well as halting the supply of crude oil and other steps.
習近平政権は、制裁決議を確実に履行し、カネ、モノ、ヒトの移動の制限・監視を強化するのは無論、原油供給の停止など、あらゆる手段で圧力をかけるべきだ。
There also is concern that North Korea's rhetoric and actions aimed at intimidating the international community have become excessive, going far beyond conventional norms.
国際社会を威嚇する北朝鮮の言動が、従来の次元を超えて過激になっている点も懸念される。
North Korea has torn up the armistice that halted the Korean War, and the country's supreme military command has said it will put its armed forces on the highest level of alert to ensure they are combat ready. The nation therefore has placed itself on a war footing, with Kim himself touring the front lines.
朝鮮戦争の休戦協定の「白紙化」や、軍最高司令部による最高度の戦闘勤務態勢発令など、戦争前夜のような雰囲気を醸成し、金第１書記自らが前線を回っている。
Boasting of its nuclear weapons, Pyongyang even mentioned making preemptive nuclear strikes not only on South Korea but also on the U.S. mainland and Japan. By playing around with its nuclear arsenal, Pyongyang is acting extremely dangerously.
核兵器保有を誇示し、韓国ばかりか米国本土、さらには日本への核先制攻撃にまで言及した。核を弄ぶ態度は危険極まりない。
The United States' unusual announcement on the participation of B-52 strategic bombers and its most advanced B-2 stealth bombers in joint military exercises with South Korea was meant to rein in North Korea.
米国が異例にも、米韓合同軍事演習に米軍の戦略爆撃機Ｂ５２と最新鋭ステルス爆撃機Ｂ２を参加させたことを公表したのは、北朝鮮を抑止するのが狙いだ。
Japan and other nations concerned must keep a close eye on North Korea's behavior and make preparations to deal with any contingency.
日本はじめ関係国は、北朝鮮の行動を注視し、不測の事態への備えに万全を期さねばならない。
Kim solidifying power
Behind North Korea's moves is Kim's apparent desire to solidify his power base as it has been a year since he was formally named successor to his late father, Kim Jong Il.
こうした北朝鮮の動きの背景には、父の金正日総書記の死後、後継者に正式に推挙されて１年たった金第１書記が、権力基盤を固めようとしていることがあろう。
Only 30 years old, the inexperienced North Korean leader has trumpeted the nation's most recent nuclear test and missile launch as proud achievements. Little progress has been seen in reconstructing the country's failed economy. He probably has no choice but to strengthen his influence and authority as the top leader by pursuing a military-first policy through such means as further nuclear armament.
まだ３０歳の経験不足の指導者は、核実験とミサイル発射を業績として喧伝(けんでん)している。破綻した経済の再建が少しも進まない。核武装の推進など、軍事最優先の「先軍政治」で求心力と権威を高めるしかないのだろう。
As a result, sanctions against North Korea have been strengthened, further isolating the country in the international community. Its efforts to diversify trade and invite investment are hardly likely to meet with success.
その結果、制裁は強化され、国際社会で北朝鮮の孤立は深まるばかりだ。貿易多角化や投資呼び込みにも強いブレーキがかかる。
Kim should be keenly aware that the pursuits of nuclear armament and economic reconstruction are incompatible.
核武装化と経済立て直しの両立はあり得ないことを、金第１書記は厳しく認識すべきである。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 2, 2013)
（2013年4月2日01時21分 読売新聞）
2013/04/03
４・２８記念式典 「主権」の大切さ考える日に
[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）
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）
2013/04/02
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）
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