The Yomiuri Shimbun August 25, 2013
China’s hegemonic ambition heightening regional tension
中国海洋強国化 地域の緊張高める覇権主義（8月24日付・読売社説）
The administration of Chinese President Xi Jinping, which has been stepping up efforts to make the country a great maritime power, seems to have more fully revealed its hard-line stance through a recent statement by the Chinese defense chief in the United States.
「海洋強国化」を加速する中国の習近平政権が強硬姿勢を一段と鮮明にしたと言えよう。
In a joint news conference with U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel held after their meeting, Chinese Defense Minister Chang Wanquan warned that nobody should have the idea that China would ever relinquish its core interests.
米国を訪れた中国の常万全国防相は、ヘーゲル米国防長官との会談後の共同記者会見で、「中国が核心的利益を手放すと夢想すべきではない」と強調した。
This was a peremptory statement, as he clearly had in mind the confrontation with Japan over the Senkaku Islands in Okinawa Prefecture and friction with Vietnam and the Philippines over sovereignty in the South China Sea. Chang went on to say that China’s determination to defend its territory, sovereignty and maritime interests should not be underestimated.
沖縄県・尖閣諸島を巡る日本との対立や、南シナ海の領有権問題でのベトナム、フィリピンとの摩擦を念頭に置いた威圧的発言である。常氏は「我々の領土、主権、海洋権益を守る決意を過小評価すべきではない」とも語った。
His statement echoes Xi’s remarks at a key conference in late July that “core interests cannot be sacrificed” and his resolve to build a “strong maritime state.”
習国家主席が７月末の重要会議で、「核心的利益は犠牲にできない」と、「海洋強国」建設へ決意表明したことを受けたものだ。
Chang’s warning could be intended as a check on the Asia-focused military strategy of the administration of U.S. President Barack Obama. It was also likely meant to put pressure on Japan prior to the first anniversary of the Japanese government’s nationalization of the Senkakus in September.
オバマ米政権の「アジア重視」の軍事戦略に対する牽制(けんせい)だろう。日本政府の尖閣諸島国有化から９月で１年になるのを前に、日本に圧力をかける狙いもある。
On Aug. 15, the 68th anniversary of the end of World War II, the Chinese military conducted live-fire drills and other training with the aircraft carrier Liaoning. These might be intended as threats to Japan.
終戦の日の８月１５日、中国軍が東シナ海での実弾演習と、空母「遼寧」の訓練を実施したのも、日本への威嚇のつもりなのだろう。
Xi has said that China will never seek to reign supreme. But backed by its strong military power, China has been trying to forcibly impound the sea, a common resource, thereby achieving hegemony in the Asia-Pacific region.
習氏は「中国は決して覇権を唱えない」と言うが、強大な軍事力を背景に公共財である海洋を力ずくで囲い込み、アジア太平洋地域で覇権を握ろうとしている。
Accidental clashes feared
In light of the January incident in which Chinese Navy ships locked weapons-targeting radar onto a Maritime Self-Defense Force vessel near the Senkakus, the Xi administration’s hard-line stance may provoke Chinese troops to engage in radical and provocative actions in the field.
尖閣諸島周辺で１月、中国海軍艦艇によるレーダー照射事件が起きたように、習政権の強硬姿勢は、現場部隊の過激な挑発行動を煽(あお)る可能性がある。
Japan must tighten its guard around the Senkakus.
日本は尖閣諸島周辺の警戒を強めねばならない。
To prevent accidental military clashes involving ships and aircraft, it is necessary to accelerate the building of a “maritime communications mechanism” between Japanese and Chinese military authorties. The Xi administration must proceed with talks on the matter as long as it claims to seek “peaceful development.”
艦艇や航空機の偶発的な軍事衝突を回避するために、日中防衛当局間の緊急連絡体制である「海上連絡メカニズム」の構築を急ぐ必要がある。習政権は「平和発展」を掲げている以上、協議を進めるべきではないか。
The situation is no less serious in the South China Sea. China last year took control of the Scarborough Shoal, over which the Philippines also claims sovereignty, and has its government ships patrol around the shoal.
南シナ海でも同様に事態は深刻だ。中国とフィリピンが領有権を巡って対立するスカボロー礁では昨年、中国が支配権を確立し、公船の巡回を常態化させている。
The United States and the Philippines entered into negotiations in the middle of this month to conclude a new agreement that would increase the frequency and expand the scale of U.S. military patrols. This is a concrete step to push the new Asia-centered U.S. strategy and a laudable strengthening of deterrence against China.
米国はフィリピンとの間で、米軍の巡回頻度と展開規模を拡大する新協定締結に向けた協議を今月中旬から始めた。「アジア重視」戦略の具体化であり、対中抑止力を強める動きと評価できよう。
Japan will provide 10 patrol boats to the Philippines. These ships will help improve the country’s maritime security capabilities. Cooperation must also be deepened in terms of personnel development.
日本は巡視船１０隻を供与する。フィリピンの海上保安能力の向上に寄与するだろう。人材養成面でも協力を深めたい。
It is crucial for Japan to emphasize the unjustness of China’s provocations in international forums, including the expanded defense ministerial conference of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to be held later this month.
今月末の東南アジア諸国連合（ＡＳＥＡＮ）拡大国防相会議などで、日本は中国の挑発の不当さを訴えていくことが重要だ。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 24, 2013)
（2013年8月24日01時11分 読売新聞）
2013/08/26
2013/08/25
ＴＰＰ交渉 米国のペースに惑わされるな
The Yomiuri Shimbun August 24, 2013
Japan must proceed with TPP talks without being chafed by U.S. intent
ＴＰＰ交渉 米国のペースに惑わされるな（8月23日付・読売社説）
The current round of Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations is the first in which Japan has taken full part. How will Japan demonstrate its presence to proceed with talks to its advantage? An aggressive stance is called for.
日本にとっては初めての本格交渉だ。いかに存在感を発揮し、交渉を有利に進めるか。攻めの姿勢が問われよう。
Japan and the 11 other countries that are participating in negotiations on the TPP free trade agreement, including the United States, Australia and Canada, kicked off two days of ministerial talks in Brunei on Thursday. A ministerial statement was scheduled to be announced Friday to confirm that the talks will be accelerated to conclude an agreement before the end of this year.
日米、豪州、カナダなど１２か国による環太平洋経済連携協定（ＴＰＰ）交渉の閣僚会合が、ブルネイで始まった。２３日に閣僚声明を出し、年内妥結を目標に交渉の加速を確認する予定だ。
In line with this commitmment, working-level officials will hold negotiations by the end of the month.
これをもとに、月末まで事務レベルで交渉が行われる。
U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman, who chairs the ministerial talks, has said that reaching an agreement this year is a top priority for President Barack Obama. With a TPP accord as a leverage, Obama seeks to expand U.S. exports and boost job opportunities.
閣僚会合の議長を務めるフロマン米通商代表は、「年内妥結はオバマ大統領の最優先事項だ」と強調する。大統領はＴＰＰをテコに輸出を拡大し、雇用を増やすことを目標に掲げている。
The United States probably wants to reconfirm with other countries the policy of concluding the talks this year during the current round of negotiations in Brunei and use it as momentum to reach a broad accord in October.
米国は、ブルネイで年内妥結の方針を他国と再確認し、１０月の大筋合意へ交渉に弾みをつけたい考えだろう。
But if the talks proceed in line with the U.S. scenario, there are fears Japan will not be able to secure sufficient time for negotiations because the country was only able to take part in the TPP talks from the latter half of the previous round of talks.
それでは、７月の前回交渉の後半部分からようやく協議に参加した日本は、十分な交渉時間を確保できなくなる恐れもある。
Secure chances for assertions
It is necessary to avoid a situation in which Japan will be deprived of opportunities to present its case if the negotiations are cut off early in line with the schedule as planned by the United States. We urge Japan’s negotiators to hold talks separately with other TPP nations in an effort to increase the number of member nations that support Japan’s stance.
米国ペースで早期に交渉が打ち切られ、日本が主張する機会を奪われる事態は避けねばならない。各国と個別に折衝し、「味方」を増やす努力も求められよう。
Prior to the Brunei round of talks, Japan worked out proposals on tariff abolition and presented them to other participating nations to sound out their responses.
日本は、今回の交渉に先立ち、関税撤廃に関する提案をまとめ、参加各国に打診している。
The proposals called for abolishing tariffs on about 80 percent of trade items and left pending five categories of farming products, including rice, wheat and dairy products, that the Liberal Democratic Party wants handled as exceptions.
関税を撤廃する品目の割合（自由化率）を８０％前後とする一方、自民党が聖域扱いを求めたコメ、麦、乳製品などの農産品５項目の扱いは「未定」とした。
This was based on the fact that Japan’s degree of trade liberalization has been held to 84 percent to 88 percent in the economic partnership agreements it has concluded with 13 countries and territories. Rice and other items were exempted from free trade.
日本がこれまで１３か国・地域と結んだ経済連携協定（ＥＰＡ）の自由化率が８４～８８％にとどまり、コメなどは対象外だったことを踏まえたものである。
In the case of TPP talks, the government opted to set lower liberalization targets in the first place, possibly in preparation for bargaining that is expected to become tougher.
ＴＰＰ交渉では、まず低めの目標を示し、今後激しくなる駆け引きに備える作戦だろう。
Froman has said that Washington is aiming for a more ambitious agreement, so the United States is likely to call on Japan to carry out greater liberalization and further market opening.
フロマン代表が「もっと野心的な合意を目指している」と述べたように、米国はより高水準の自由化率と市場開放を日本に求めてくるに違いない。
Each participating country has crucial fields that they want to protect with high tariffs, including sugar for the United States and dairy products for Canada.
米国の砂糖、カナダの乳製品など、各国とも高関税で保護したい重要分野を抱えている。
For Japan, protecting all of the five farming product categories would not necessarily serve its national interests.
日本にとっては、農産品５項目すべてを死守することだけが国益に資するわけではない。
The government needs to expedite coordination of domestic opinions by focusing discussions on which fields Japan should concede and on which it should win concessions. Concerning the formation of rules on intellectual property rights and investment, Japan should actively present its assertions.
何で譲って、何を勝ち取るのか。政府は絞り込みの国内調整を加速する必要がある。知的財産権や投資などのルール作りでも、積極的に主張を展開すべきだ。
In conjunction with such efforts, the government must earnestly study measures to boost the competitiveness of the agricultural field, as well as to assist sectors that are expected to suffer as a result of opening their markets.
併せて農業の競争力強化策や、市場開放で打撃を受けることが予想される分野の支援策の検討を本格化しなければならない。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 23, 2013)
（2013年8月23日01時31分 読売新聞）
Japan must proceed with TPP talks without being chafed by U.S. intent
ＴＰＰ交渉 米国のペースに惑わされるな（8月23日付・読売社説）
The current round of Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations is the first in which Japan has taken full part. How will Japan demonstrate its presence to proceed with talks to its advantage? An aggressive stance is called for.
日本にとっては初めての本格交渉だ。いかに存在感を発揮し、交渉を有利に進めるか。攻めの姿勢が問われよう。
Japan and the 11 other countries that are participating in negotiations on the TPP free trade agreement, including the United States, Australia and Canada, kicked off two days of ministerial talks in Brunei on Thursday. A ministerial statement was scheduled to be announced Friday to confirm that the talks will be accelerated to conclude an agreement before the end of this year.
日米、豪州、カナダなど１２か国による環太平洋経済連携協定（ＴＰＰ）交渉の閣僚会合が、ブルネイで始まった。２３日に閣僚声明を出し、年内妥結を目標に交渉の加速を確認する予定だ。
In line with this commitmment, working-level officials will hold negotiations by the end of the month.
これをもとに、月末まで事務レベルで交渉が行われる。
U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman, who chairs the ministerial talks, has said that reaching an agreement this year is a top priority for President Barack Obama. With a TPP accord as a leverage, Obama seeks to expand U.S. exports and boost job opportunities.
閣僚会合の議長を務めるフロマン米通商代表は、「年内妥結はオバマ大統領の最優先事項だ」と強調する。大統領はＴＰＰをテコに輸出を拡大し、雇用を増やすことを目標に掲げている。
The United States probably wants to reconfirm with other countries the policy of concluding the talks this year during the current round of negotiations in Brunei and use it as momentum to reach a broad accord in October.
米国は、ブルネイで年内妥結の方針を他国と再確認し、１０月の大筋合意へ交渉に弾みをつけたい考えだろう。
But if the talks proceed in line with the U.S. scenario, there are fears Japan will not be able to secure sufficient time for negotiations because the country was only able to take part in the TPP talks from the latter half of the previous round of talks.
それでは、７月の前回交渉の後半部分からようやく協議に参加した日本は、十分な交渉時間を確保できなくなる恐れもある。
Secure chances for assertions
It is necessary to avoid a situation in which Japan will be deprived of opportunities to present its case if the negotiations are cut off early in line with the schedule as planned by the United States. We urge Japan’s negotiators to hold talks separately with other TPP nations in an effort to increase the number of member nations that support Japan’s stance.
米国ペースで早期に交渉が打ち切られ、日本が主張する機会を奪われる事態は避けねばならない。各国と個別に折衝し、「味方」を増やす努力も求められよう。
Prior to the Brunei round of talks, Japan worked out proposals on tariff abolition and presented them to other participating nations to sound out their responses.
日本は、今回の交渉に先立ち、関税撤廃に関する提案をまとめ、参加各国に打診している。
The proposals called for abolishing tariffs on about 80 percent of trade items and left pending five categories of farming products, including rice, wheat and dairy products, that the Liberal Democratic Party wants handled as exceptions.
関税を撤廃する品目の割合（自由化率）を８０％前後とする一方、自民党が聖域扱いを求めたコメ、麦、乳製品などの農産品５項目の扱いは「未定」とした。
This was based on the fact that Japan’s degree of trade liberalization has been held to 84 percent to 88 percent in the economic partnership agreements it has concluded with 13 countries and territories. Rice and other items were exempted from free trade.
日本がこれまで１３か国・地域と結んだ経済連携協定（ＥＰＡ）の自由化率が８４～８８％にとどまり、コメなどは対象外だったことを踏まえたものである。
In the case of TPP talks, the government opted to set lower liberalization targets in the first place, possibly in preparation for bargaining that is expected to become tougher.
ＴＰＰ交渉では、まず低めの目標を示し、今後激しくなる駆け引きに備える作戦だろう。
Froman has said that Washington is aiming for a more ambitious agreement, so the United States is likely to call on Japan to carry out greater liberalization and further market opening.
フロマン代表が「もっと野心的な合意を目指している」と述べたように、米国はより高水準の自由化率と市場開放を日本に求めてくるに違いない。
Each participating country has crucial fields that they want to protect with high tariffs, including sugar for the United States and dairy products for Canada.
米国の砂糖、カナダの乳製品など、各国とも高関税で保護したい重要分野を抱えている。
For Japan, protecting all of the five farming product categories would not necessarily serve its national interests.
日本にとっては、農産品５項目すべてを死守することだけが国益に資するわけではない。
The government needs to expedite coordination of domestic opinions by focusing discussions on which fields Japan should concede and on which it should win concessions. Concerning the formation of rules on intellectual property rights and investment, Japan should actively present its assertions.
何で譲って、何を勝ち取るのか。政府は絞り込みの国内調整を加速する必要がある。知的財産権や投資などのルール作りでも、積極的に主張を展開すべきだ。
In conjunction with such efforts, the government must earnestly study measures to boost the competitiveness of the agricultural field, as well as to assist sectors that are expected to suffer as a result of opening their markets.
併せて農業の競争力強化策や、市場開放で打撃を受けることが予想される分野の支援策の検討を本格化しなければならない。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 23, 2013)
（2013年8月23日01時31分 読売新聞）
2013/08/24
社会保障工程案 持続可能な制度へ必要な道筋
The Yomiuri Shimbun August 23, 2013
Social security reform bill must show path for sustainable system
社会保障工程案 持続可能な制度へ必要な道筋（8月22日付・読売社説）
Reforms to make the nation’s social security system sustainable must cover a wide variety of areas. It is important for the government to prioritize each area to steadily carry out reform measures.
社会保障を持続可能な制度にするための改革は多岐にわたる。優先順位をつけて、着実に実行することが重要だ。
The government has approved in a Cabinet meeting the gist of a bill on social security system reform measures, which outlines a schedule for reforms. The government will submit the bill to an extraordinary Diet session in autumn.
政府は、社会保障制度改革のプログラム法案の骨子を閣議決定した。秋の臨時国会に法案を提出する。
Based on a report compiled by the National Council on Social Security System Reform, the bill indicates plans and timetables for the reform of medical care, nursing care, the pension system and measures to deal with the low birthrate.
この法案は、政府の社会保障制度改革国民会議がまとめた報告書を踏まえ、医療、介護、年金、少子化対策の各制度改革についての内容と工程を示すものだ。
The main focus of the reforms is to change the current social security system, in which the younger, working generation bears most of the burden of supporting the elderly, to one in which all generations proportionately share the burden.
今回の改革の主眼は、主に現役世代の負担で高齢者を支えている現行の仕組みを、全世代が負担する形に変える点にある。
Given that the burden of the working generation will become heavier and heavier along with the low birthrate, it is unavoidable to ask elderly and high-income earners to bear more of the burden than they do now in order to maintain the social security system. In this sense we praise the stance of the current administration of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to tackle reform measures the previous administrations avoided.
少子化で現役世代の負担が過重になる中、制度を維持していくには、高齢者や高所得者に、より多く負担を求めることはやむを得ない。歴代政権が避けてきた改革に取り組む姿勢は評価できる。
One such measure is to raise the share of medical expenses paid by people aged 70 to 74. Law revisions made in 2008 stipulate that people in this age group pay 20 percent of medical costs, but the then administration of the Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito kept it at 10 percent as a special measure. The share has remained at 10 percent since then.
その一つが、７０～７４歳の医療費窓口負担の引き上げだ。２００８年の法改正で２割と定めたが、当時の自公政権が特例として１割に据え置き、現在も続いている。
However, the gist of the bill gives a great deal of latitude over the timing of raising the percentage to the legally stipulated level: sometime between fiscal 2014 and fiscal 2017. The measure should be reviewed as early as possible, taking into consideration that ¥200 billion of tax money is spent annually on the special measure.
ただ、法定通りの水準に引き上げる時期については１４～１７年度と大きな幅を持たせている。特例措置のために投入される税金が年２０００億円に上ることを考えると、早急に見直すべきだ。
Regarding the nursing care insurance program, the current across-the-board self-pay rate of paying 10 percent for nursing care services will be raised for high-income earners from fiscal 2015. On the other hand, the premiums for low-income elderly will be reduced.
介護保険では、現在は一律１割となっている利用者の自己負担率を、高所得者の場合、１５年度から引き上げる。一方で、低所得高齢者の介護保険料は軽減する。
Fairness among the elderly
There is a large disparity in incomes among the elderly. It is appropriate to increase the burden on high-income earners and reduce that of low-income earners as a way to seek fairness among the elderly.
高齢者の間でも、所得の格差は大きい。高所得者の負担を増やし、低所得者の負担を減らすことは、高齢世代内の公平を図るうえで妥当と言える。
Concerning pension reform, the bill lists some reform measures requiring further study, but only says, “Necessary measures will be carried out after studying these measures.” The government did not make clear when it will carry out pension reform, probably because it will take time to design concrete reform measures.
年金改革については「検討を加え、必要な措置を講じる」とするにとどまった。実施時期を明示しなかったのは、具体的な制度設計に時間がかかるからだろう。
The report of the national council made clear the direction of social security reform, such as increasing tax on pensioners with high incomes and introducing a mechanism to hold down pension benefits in response to changes in wage levels even in a deflationary period.
国民会議の報告書では、高所得者の年金に対する課税の強化や、デフレ下でも賃金水準の変化に応じて年金支給額を抑制できる仕組みの導入といった改革の方向性は明記されている。
People who live on pensions are subject to large tax deductions and can receive greater net incomes than salaried workers receiving the same gross income. To lessen young generations’ sense of being imposed on, it is necessary to impose a heavier tax on high-income earners.
年金生活者は税の控除が大きく、同じ収入の給与所得者に比べ手取り額が多い。若い世代の負担感を軽減するためにも、高所得層への年金課税の強化は必要だ。
It is indispensable to hold down the payments pensioners receive to stabilize the pension system.
年金支給額の抑制は年金財政を安定させるうえで欠かせない。
If the government cannot even say when to carry out such important reform, we doubt the sustainability of the pension system.
こうした重要な改革の実施に見通しを立てられないようでは、年金制度の持続可能性に疑問符がつく。
To formulate concrete pension reform measures, the government must quickly study when to carry out pension reform.
改革案を具体化させるため、実施時期の検討を急ぐべきだ。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 22, 2013)
（2013年8月22日01時22分 読売新聞）
Social security reform bill must show path for sustainable system
社会保障工程案 持続可能な制度へ必要な道筋（8月22日付・読売社説）
Reforms to make the nation’s social security system sustainable must cover a wide variety of areas. It is important for the government to prioritize each area to steadily carry out reform measures.
社会保障を持続可能な制度にするための改革は多岐にわたる。優先順位をつけて、着実に実行することが重要だ。
The government has approved in a Cabinet meeting the gist of a bill on social security system reform measures, which outlines a schedule for reforms. The government will submit the bill to an extraordinary Diet session in autumn.
政府は、社会保障制度改革のプログラム法案の骨子を閣議決定した。秋の臨時国会に法案を提出する。
Based on a report compiled by the National Council on Social Security System Reform, the bill indicates plans and timetables for the reform of medical care, nursing care, the pension system and measures to deal with the low birthrate.
この法案は、政府の社会保障制度改革国民会議がまとめた報告書を踏まえ、医療、介護、年金、少子化対策の各制度改革についての内容と工程を示すものだ。
The main focus of the reforms is to change the current social security system, in which the younger, working generation bears most of the burden of supporting the elderly, to one in which all generations proportionately share the burden.
今回の改革の主眼は、主に現役世代の負担で高齢者を支えている現行の仕組みを、全世代が負担する形に変える点にある。
Given that the burden of the working generation will become heavier and heavier along with the low birthrate, it is unavoidable to ask elderly and high-income earners to bear more of the burden than they do now in order to maintain the social security system. In this sense we praise the stance of the current administration of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to tackle reform measures the previous administrations avoided.
少子化で現役世代の負担が過重になる中、制度を維持していくには、高齢者や高所得者に、より多く負担を求めることはやむを得ない。歴代政権が避けてきた改革に取り組む姿勢は評価できる。
One such measure is to raise the share of medical expenses paid by people aged 70 to 74. Law revisions made in 2008 stipulate that people in this age group pay 20 percent of medical costs, but the then administration of the Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito kept it at 10 percent as a special measure. The share has remained at 10 percent since then.
その一つが、７０～７４歳の医療費窓口負担の引き上げだ。２００８年の法改正で２割と定めたが、当時の自公政権が特例として１割に据え置き、現在も続いている。
However, the gist of the bill gives a great deal of latitude over the timing of raising the percentage to the legally stipulated level: sometime between fiscal 2014 and fiscal 2017. The measure should be reviewed as early as possible, taking into consideration that ¥200 billion of tax money is spent annually on the special measure.
ただ、法定通りの水準に引き上げる時期については１４～１７年度と大きな幅を持たせている。特例措置のために投入される税金が年２０００億円に上ることを考えると、早急に見直すべきだ。
Regarding the nursing care insurance program, the current across-the-board self-pay rate of paying 10 percent for nursing care services will be raised for high-income earners from fiscal 2015. On the other hand, the premiums for low-income elderly will be reduced.
介護保険では、現在は一律１割となっている利用者の自己負担率を、高所得者の場合、１５年度から引き上げる。一方で、低所得高齢者の介護保険料は軽減する。
Fairness among the elderly
There is a large disparity in incomes among the elderly. It is appropriate to increase the burden on high-income earners and reduce that of low-income earners as a way to seek fairness among the elderly.
高齢者の間でも、所得の格差は大きい。高所得者の負担を増やし、低所得者の負担を減らすことは、高齢世代内の公平を図るうえで妥当と言える。
Concerning pension reform, the bill lists some reform measures requiring further study, but only says, “Necessary measures will be carried out after studying these measures.” The government did not make clear when it will carry out pension reform, probably because it will take time to design concrete reform measures.
年金改革については「検討を加え、必要な措置を講じる」とするにとどまった。実施時期を明示しなかったのは、具体的な制度設計に時間がかかるからだろう。
The report of the national council made clear the direction of social security reform, such as increasing tax on pensioners with high incomes and introducing a mechanism to hold down pension benefits in response to changes in wage levels even in a deflationary period.
国民会議の報告書では、高所得者の年金に対する課税の強化や、デフレ下でも賃金水準の変化に応じて年金支給額を抑制できる仕組みの導入といった改革の方向性は明記されている。
People who live on pensions are subject to large tax deductions and can receive greater net incomes than salaried workers receiving the same gross income. To lessen young generations’ sense of being imposed on, it is necessary to impose a heavier tax on high-income earners.
年金生活者は税の控除が大きく、同じ収入の給与所得者に比べ手取り額が多い。若い世代の負担感を軽減するためにも、高所得層への年金課税の強化は必要だ。
It is indispensable to hold down the payments pensioners receive to stabilize the pension system.
年金支給額の抑制は年金財政を安定させるうえで欠かせない。
If the government cannot even say when to carry out such important reform, we doubt the sustainability of the pension system.
こうした重要な改革の実施に見通しを立てられないようでは、年金制度の持続可能性に疑問符がつく。
To formulate concrete pension reform measures, the government must quickly study when to carry out pension reform.
改革案を具体化させるため、実施時期の検討を急ぐべきだ。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 22, 2013)
（2013年8月22日01時22分 読売新聞）
2013/08/23
社説:靖国参拝 首相は見送り継続を
August 16, 2013(Mainichi Japan)
Editorial: PM must steer clear of Yasukuni Shrine
社説:靖国参拝 首相は見送り継続を
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe refrained from visiting Tokyo's Yasukuni Shrine, where Class A war criminals are enshrined along with Japan's war dead, on the Aug. 15 war-end anniversary. Instead, in his role as president of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), Abe contributed money to the shrine through the purchase of a branch of the sacred sakaki tree.
安倍晋三首相は終戦記念日の１５日、靖国神社参拝を見送り、自民党総裁名で同神社に玉串料を納めた。
Visits to the shrine by the prime minister and Cabinet members can become major diplomatic stumbling blocks in Japan's relation with its Asian neighbors. As such, we commend Abe's decision to take the broad view and abandon visiting the controversial shrine on Aug. 15 this year.
靖国が近隣外交を進める上での大きなネックになっている今、大局的な判断と評価したい。
The money for the sakaki branch was sent by an LDP legislator and special assistant to the party president on behalf of "Shinzo Abe, president of the Liberal Democratic Party." Since Abe used his own money to purchase the branch from the shrine, the donation will not stir controversy over whether it constitutes a violation of the constitutional separation of church and state.
玉串料は私費で、自民党総裁特別補佐の国会議員が代理で納め、「自民党総裁 安倍晋三」と記帳したという。私費であれば政教分離上の問題は生じない。
Abe made the donation out of apparent consideration for his conservative backers. These supporters are holding out hope the prime minister will visit Yasukuni Shrine in his official capacity, as Abe has stated that failing to visit during his previous one-year term in office in 2006-07 was "a matter of the greatest regret." We share their sense of gratitude and respect toward the war dead.
第１次内閣当時に参拝しなかったことを「痛恨の極み」と繰り返し明言していただけに、参拝期待の支持者向けの配慮として理解する。「戦没者への感謝と尊崇の念」は私たちも共有するからだ。
Many years have passed since visits by the prime minister and Cabinet members to Yasukuni became major diplomatic issues. Such visits have drawn fire from not only China and South Korea, victims of Japanese aggression and colonial rule, but United States officials have also expressed grave concerns over the potential for aggravating Tokyo's already strained ties with Beijing and Seoul.
靖国が外交問題になって久しい。中国、韓国からの反発だけではない。安倍政権になってからは、同盟国の米国からも、中韓との行き過ぎた関係悪化を懸念する声が届いている。
Japan's postwar history began when the San Francisco Peace Treaty -- under which Japan accepted the results of the Tokyo War Crimes Trials in which Class A war criminals were sentenced to death -- came into force in 1952. In the eyes of China, visits by the prime minister to Yasukuni Shrine, where Class A war criminals are enshrined, would represent Japan's justification of its wartime actions. The U.S. could view such visits as a challenge to the San Francisco peace framework that was created on the initiative of Washington.
日本の戦後は、Ａ級戦犯を処刑した東京裁判を受諾した１９５２年のサンフランシスコ講和条約の発効でスタートした。そのＡ級戦犯を合祀（ごうし）した靖国に首相が参拝することは、中国から見ればあの戦争の肯定につながり、米国からは、米主導で作られたサンフランシスコ体制に対する挑戦と受け取られる可能性がある。
Yasukuni has become a highly complicated diplomatic problem as successive Japanese administrations failed to do anything to deal with the matter. As such, the government should exercise prudence in addressing the issue. In particular, Japan-China diplomatic relations are already deadlocked because of an intensifying dispute over sovereignty over the Senkaku Islands in Okinawa Prefecture, and there is no prospect that a bilateral summit meeting will be held in the foreseeable future. Japan's relations with South Korea have also deteriorated to new lows over the interpretation of history, although the two countries share many of the same social and political values. In this sense, it is only natural that Prime Minister Abe abandoned visiting the shrine this summer.
靖国問題は、歴代日本政府が手をこまねいているうちにかくも複雑で難しい外交問題になってしまった。軽々に扱うべきではない。まして、日中関係は尖閣問題で暗礁に乗り上げ、首脳会談の糸口もつかめていない。同じ価値観を共有しているはずの日韓関係も歴史認識問題でかつてない関係悪化を来している。その意味で参拝見送りは当然とも言える。
The question is whether the prime minister will continue to forgo visiting the shrine. He will need to decide whether to pay a visit to the shrine during its autumn and spring festivals, as well as on the war-end anniversary on Aug. 15, 2014. He should make a clear decision if he hopes to stay in power for a long period.
問題は、今後どうするか、にある。秋には同神社の例大祭への出席問題、来春には春の例大祭、そして、毎年８・１５への対応を求められる。長期政権を望むのであれば抜本策を講じるべきではないのか。
Various measures to address the issue have been proposed. One such plan calls for separating the Class A war criminals from the war dead enshrined at Yasukuni, an idea that has been discussed since the government of Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone in the 1980s. There are testimonials stating that Emperor Hirohito, posthumously named Emperor Showa, eventually refrained from visiting Yasukuni because Class A war criminals were enshrined there. Some conservatives support the idea of separating such war criminals. During the tenure of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, a plan to build a non-religious cenotaph for the war dead was considered.
過去にもいくつかの策が提起され検討された。わかりやすいのが、いわゆるＡ級戦犯の分祀論である。中曽根康弘政権時から議論されてきた。昭和天皇が参拝を控えた背景にこのＡ級合祀があったとの証言もあり、保守陣営にも一定の支持者がいる。小泉純一郎政権時には無宗教の国立追悼施設の建設案もあった。
What is the Yasukuni issue about in the first place? How did the enshrinement of Class A war criminals emerge as a point of contention between Japan and its Asian neighbors? Is there any solution to the problem? It is a good idea to set up a panel of experts to consider these matters, and the prime minister should refrain from visiting the shrine until after that panel proposes solutions.
そもそも靖国問題とは何なのか。Ａ級合祀争点化の経緯はどうか。解決の出口は他にないのか。こういった問題について調査、検証、提言する有識者会議を作るのも一案だ。最低限その結論が出るまで首相は参拝を見送ることだ。悪循環を断つ政治的知恵の出しどころである。
China and South Korea should also watch over the Abe government's response to the issue from a long-term perspective. Japan and these neighbors should avoid intensifying their conflicts with narrow-minded nationalism.
中韓両国にも注文がある。安倍政権の対応を長い目で見てもらいたい。浅薄なナショナリズムの応酬だけは避けようではないか。
毎日新聞 2013年08月16日 02時31分
Editorial: PM must steer clear of Yasukuni Shrine
社説:靖国参拝 首相は見送り継続を
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe refrained from visiting Tokyo's Yasukuni Shrine, where Class A war criminals are enshrined along with Japan's war dead, on the Aug. 15 war-end anniversary. Instead, in his role as president of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), Abe contributed money to the shrine through the purchase of a branch of the sacred sakaki tree.
安倍晋三首相は終戦記念日の１５日、靖国神社参拝を見送り、自民党総裁名で同神社に玉串料を納めた。
Visits to the shrine by the prime minister and Cabinet members can become major diplomatic stumbling blocks in Japan's relation with its Asian neighbors. As such, we commend Abe's decision to take the broad view and abandon visiting the controversial shrine on Aug. 15 this year.
靖国が近隣外交を進める上での大きなネックになっている今、大局的な判断と評価したい。
The money for the sakaki branch was sent by an LDP legislator and special assistant to the party president on behalf of "Shinzo Abe, president of the Liberal Democratic Party." Since Abe used his own money to purchase the branch from the shrine, the donation will not stir controversy over whether it constitutes a violation of the constitutional separation of church and state.
玉串料は私費で、自民党総裁特別補佐の国会議員が代理で納め、「自民党総裁 安倍晋三」と記帳したという。私費であれば政教分離上の問題は生じない。
Abe made the donation out of apparent consideration for his conservative backers. These supporters are holding out hope the prime minister will visit Yasukuni Shrine in his official capacity, as Abe has stated that failing to visit during his previous one-year term in office in 2006-07 was "a matter of the greatest regret." We share their sense of gratitude and respect toward the war dead.
第１次内閣当時に参拝しなかったことを「痛恨の極み」と繰り返し明言していただけに、参拝期待の支持者向けの配慮として理解する。「戦没者への感謝と尊崇の念」は私たちも共有するからだ。
Many years have passed since visits by the prime minister and Cabinet members to Yasukuni became major diplomatic issues. Such visits have drawn fire from not only China and South Korea, victims of Japanese aggression and colonial rule, but United States officials have also expressed grave concerns over the potential for aggravating Tokyo's already strained ties with Beijing and Seoul.
靖国が外交問題になって久しい。中国、韓国からの反発だけではない。安倍政権になってからは、同盟国の米国からも、中韓との行き過ぎた関係悪化を懸念する声が届いている。
Japan's postwar history began when the San Francisco Peace Treaty -- under which Japan accepted the results of the Tokyo War Crimes Trials in which Class A war criminals were sentenced to death -- came into force in 1952. In the eyes of China, visits by the prime minister to Yasukuni Shrine, where Class A war criminals are enshrined, would represent Japan's justification of its wartime actions. The U.S. could view such visits as a challenge to the San Francisco peace framework that was created on the initiative of Washington.
日本の戦後は、Ａ級戦犯を処刑した東京裁判を受諾した１９５２年のサンフランシスコ講和条約の発効でスタートした。そのＡ級戦犯を合祀（ごうし）した靖国に首相が参拝することは、中国から見ればあの戦争の肯定につながり、米国からは、米主導で作られたサンフランシスコ体制に対する挑戦と受け取られる可能性がある。
Yasukuni has become a highly complicated diplomatic problem as successive Japanese administrations failed to do anything to deal with the matter. As such, the government should exercise prudence in addressing the issue. In particular, Japan-China diplomatic relations are already deadlocked because of an intensifying dispute over sovereignty over the Senkaku Islands in Okinawa Prefecture, and there is no prospect that a bilateral summit meeting will be held in the foreseeable future. Japan's relations with South Korea have also deteriorated to new lows over the interpretation of history, although the two countries share many of the same social and political values. In this sense, it is only natural that Prime Minister Abe abandoned visiting the shrine this summer.
靖国問題は、歴代日本政府が手をこまねいているうちにかくも複雑で難しい外交問題になってしまった。軽々に扱うべきではない。まして、日中関係は尖閣問題で暗礁に乗り上げ、首脳会談の糸口もつかめていない。同じ価値観を共有しているはずの日韓関係も歴史認識問題でかつてない関係悪化を来している。その意味で参拝見送りは当然とも言える。
The question is whether the prime minister will continue to forgo visiting the shrine. He will need to decide whether to pay a visit to the shrine during its autumn and spring festivals, as well as on the war-end anniversary on Aug. 15, 2014. He should make a clear decision if he hopes to stay in power for a long period.
問題は、今後どうするか、にある。秋には同神社の例大祭への出席問題、来春には春の例大祭、そして、毎年８・１５への対応を求められる。長期政権を望むのであれば抜本策を講じるべきではないのか。
Various measures to address the issue have been proposed. One such plan calls for separating the Class A war criminals from the war dead enshrined at Yasukuni, an idea that has been discussed since the government of Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone in the 1980s. There are testimonials stating that Emperor Hirohito, posthumously named Emperor Showa, eventually refrained from visiting Yasukuni because Class A war criminals were enshrined there. Some conservatives support the idea of separating such war criminals. During the tenure of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, a plan to build a non-religious cenotaph for the war dead was considered.
過去にもいくつかの策が提起され検討された。わかりやすいのが、いわゆるＡ級戦犯の分祀論である。中曽根康弘政権時から議論されてきた。昭和天皇が参拝を控えた背景にこのＡ級合祀があったとの証言もあり、保守陣営にも一定の支持者がいる。小泉純一郎政権時には無宗教の国立追悼施設の建設案もあった。
What is the Yasukuni issue about in the first place? How did the enshrinement of Class A war criminals emerge as a point of contention between Japan and its Asian neighbors? Is there any solution to the problem? It is a good idea to set up a panel of experts to consider these matters, and the prime minister should refrain from visiting the shrine until after that panel proposes solutions.
そもそも靖国問題とは何なのか。Ａ級合祀争点化の経緯はどうか。解決の出口は他にないのか。こういった問題について調査、検証、提言する有識者会議を作るのも一案だ。最低限その結論が出るまで首相は参拝を見送ることだ。悪循環を断つ政治的知恵の出しどころである。
China and South Korea should also watch over the Abe government's response to the issue from a long-term perspective. Japan and these neighbors should avoid intensifying their conflicts with narrow-minded nationalism.
中韓両国にも注文がある。安倍政権の対応を長い目で見てもらいたい。浅薄なナショナリズムの応酬だけは避けようではないか。
毎日新聞 2013年08月16日 02時31分
2013/08/22
はだしのゲン―閲覧制限はすぐ撤回を
The Asahi Shimbun, August 20, 2013
EDITORIAL: All children should have free access to ‘Hadashi no Gen’
はだしのゲン―閲覧制限はすぐ撤回を
The Matsue municipal board of education has instructed public elementary and junior high schools in the city not to make a famous manga about the atomic bombing of Hiroshima freely available to children in school libraries. The board’s move to restrict children’s access to “Hadashi no Gen” (Barefoot Gen) has drawn criticism from all over the nation.
広島での被爆を主題にした漫画「はだしのゲン」を、松江市教委が小・中学校の図書館で自由に読めなくするよう指示していたことがわかり、全国から批判が相次いでいる。
In the final parts of the book, some atrocities committed by the former Japanese army, such as beheading Asian people, are depicted. In December last year, the municipal education board decided that these descriptions are “extreme expressions” and asked principals to make sure that students cannot read the manga in the libraries without obtaining permission from the schools. It has also been withdrawn from circulation.
作品の終盤には、旧日本軍がアジアの人々の首を切断するなどの描写がある。市教委は昨年１２月、「過激な表現だ」として、学校の許可なしで見られなくするよう校長会に求めた。貸し出しも認めないという。
“Hadashi no Gen” was created by manga artist Keiji Nakazawa, who died in December last year. In addition to the devastation of Hiroshima and people’s sufferings after the war, both of which he experienced himself, Nakazawa described, in shocking detail, various battlefield scenes he learned from historical records and materials. Due to its vivid descriptions of the frightful spectacles of war, the manga drew an immense response.
「ゲン」は昨年１２月に死去した漫画家の中沢啓治（なかざわけいじ）さんの作品だ。実体験した原爆の惨状と戦後の苦難に加え、資料などで知った戦場の様子を強烈なタッチで描いて反響を呼んだ。
Many children became interested in the nuclear attacks against Japan in the closing days of World War II for the first time when they read “Hadashi no Gen,” one of the few manga books among the school library collection.
学校図書館で読める数少ない漫画として「ゲン」を手に取り、初めて原爆に関心を持った子どもも少なくない。
The education board’s decision could deprive children of a good opportunity to learn about the tragedy. Moreover, the board didn’t follow the rule that it must make any important decision in an open meeting of board members. The decision was made in an opaque manner by the secretariat of the board. The education board should immediately withdraw its directive concerning “Hadashi no Gen.”
市教委の指示は、子どもたちのそうした出会いを奪いかねないものだ。しかも重要な決定の場合、公開の教育委員会議にかけるべきだが、今回は事務局の判断で決まっており、不透明というしかない。市教委はただちに指示を撤回すべきだ。
The board’s move was made after a man submitted a written petition to the Matsue municipal assembly in August last year. The petition called for the removal of “Hadashi no Gen” from schools, claiming it described fictitious acts of barbarity by Japanese soldiers and had a harmful effect on the minds of children.
きっかけは、ある男性から昨年８月に市議会に出された陳情書だった。「ありもしない日本軍の蛮行が掲載され、子どもたちに悪影響を及ぼす」とし、学校からの撤去を求めていた。
Although the man’s demands were not accepted, some assembly members argued that the manga should be designated as a “bad book” and asked the education board to take appropriate action. The request led to the board’s move to restrict access to the manga in school libraries.
陳情は不採択となったが、一部市議から「不良図書」ととらえ、市教委が適切な処置をすべきだとの意見があり、閲覧制限の指示につながった。
Soon after Nakazawa started the manga series in the Weekly Shonen Jump comic magazine in 1973, his descriptions of the war were criticized as “brutal.” Nakazawa once said he had agonized over how to depict the war. Because it bitterly denounces the acts of the army and holds Emperor Hirohito, posthumously known as Emperor Showa, responsible for the war, conservatives criticize the manga as “biased” and “anti-Japanese.”
「ゲン」には連載当時から「残酷」という声が寄せられ、中沢さんも描き方に悩んだと述懐している。旧軍の行為や昭和天皇の戦争責任を厳しく糾弾している点から、「偏向している」「反日漫画だ」といった批判も保守層の間で根強い。
Still, “Hadashi no Gen” has been widely accepted because Nakazawa’s anti-war message has obtained a favorable response from children. By using all of his skills as an artist to describe the cruelty of war he witnessed, Nakazawa tried to tell children that war must never be allowed to happen again.
それでも、「ゲン」が高い評価を得たのは、自身が目の当たりにした戦争の残酷さを力いっぱい描くことで、「二度と戦争を起こしてはならない」と伝えようとした中沢さんの思いに子どもたちが共感したからだ。
Teachers, who generally had a negative stance toward manga, also embraced “Hadashi no Gen” and allocated part of the limited school library budget to add the manga to the library’s collection because of its power to send its anti-war message.
漫画を否定しがちだった先生たちが、限られた図書館予算の中から「ゲン」を積極的に受け入れたのも、作品のメッセージ力が強かったからこそだ。
There are still various views and opinions about the wartime acts of the former Japanese army and Emperor Hirohito’s responsibility for the war. Nakazawa’s historical views about the war as expressed in the work are also open to criticism.
旧日本軍の行為や天皇の戦争責任をめぐっては今もさまざまな見方があり、「ゲン」に投影された中沢さんの歴史観にも議論はありえるだろう。
“Hadashi no Gen” is exactly the type of material that can be used for discussions among adults and children on these and other issues concerning the war. There is no need to keep children from accessing this material.
それこそ、「ゲン」を題材に、子どもと大人が意見を交わし、一緒に考えていけばいい。最初から目をそらす必要はどこにもない。
EDITORIAL: All children should have free access to ‘Hadashi no Gen’
はだしのゲン―閲覧制限はすぐ撤回を
The Matsue municipal board of education has instructed public elementary and junior high schools in the city not to make a famous manga about the atomic bombing of Hiroshima freely available to children in school libraries. The board’s move to restrict children’s access to “Hadashi no Gen” (Barefoot Gen) has drawn criticism from all over the nation.
広島での被爆を主題にした漫画「はだしのゲン」を、松江市教委が小・中学校の図書館で自由に読めなくするよう指示していたことがわかり、全国から批判が相次いでいる。
In the final parts of the book, some atrocities committed by the former Japanese army, such as beheading Asian people, are depicted. In December last year, the municipal education board decided that these descriptions are “extreme expressions” and asked principals to make sure that students cannot read the manga in the libraries without obtaining permission from the schools. It has also been withdrawn from circulation.
作品の終盤には、旧日本軍がアジアの人々の首を切断するなどの描写がある。市教委は昨年１２月、「過激な表現だ」として、学校の許可なしで見られなくするよう校長会に求めた。貸し出しも認めないという。
“Hadashi no Gen” was created by manga artist Keiji Nakazawa, who died in December last year. In addition to the devastation of Hiroshima and people’s sufferings after the war, both of which he experienced himself, Nakazawa described, in shocking detail, various battlefield scenes he learned from historical records and materials. Due to its vivid descriptions of the frightful spectacles of war, the manga drew an immense response.
「ゲン」は昨年１２月に死去した漫画家の中沢啓治（なかざわけいじ）さんの作品だ。実体験した原爆の惨状と戦後の苦難に加え、資料などで知った戦場の様子を強烈なタッチで描いて反響を呼んだ。
Many children became interested in the nuclear attacks against Japan in the closing days of World War II for the first time when they read “Hadashi no Gen,” one of the few manga books among the school library collection.
学校図書館で読める数少ない漫画として「ゲン」を手に取り、初めて原爆に関心を持った子どもも少なくない。
The education board’s decision could deprive children of a good opportunity to learn about the tragedy. Moreover, the board didn’t follow the rule that it must make any important decision in an open meeting of board members. The decision was made in an opaque manner by the secretariat of the board. The education board should immediately withdraw its directive concerning “Hadashi no Gen.”
市教委の指示は、子どもたちのそうした出会いを奪いかねないものだ。しかも重要な決定の場合、公開の教育委員会議にかけるべきだが、今回は事務局の判断で決まっており、不透明というしかない。市教委はただちに指示を撤回すべきだ。
The board’s move was made after a man submitted a written petition to the Matsue municipal assembly in August last year. The petition called for the removal of “Hadashi no Gen” from schools, claiming it described fictitious acts of barbarity by Japanese soldiers and had a harmful effect on the minds of children.
きっかけは、ある男性から昨年８月に市議会に出された陳情書だった。「ありもしない日本軍の蛮行が掲載され、子どもたちに悪影響を及ぼす」とし、学校からの撤去を求めていた。
Although the man’s demands were not accepted, some assembly members argued that the manga should be designated as a “bad book” and asked the education board to take appropriate action. The request led to the board’s move to restrict access to the manga in school libraries.
陳情は不採択となったが、一部市議から「不良図書」ととらえ、市教委が適切な処置をすべきだとの意見があり、閲覧制限の指示につながった。
Soon after Nakazawa started the manga series in the Weekly Shonen Jump comic magazine in 1973, his descriptions of the war were criticized as “brutal.” Nakazawa once said he had agonized over how to depict the war. Because it bitterly denounces the acts of the army and holds Emperor Hirohito, posthumously known as Emperor Showa, responsible for the war, conservatives criticize the manga as “biased” and “anti-Japanese.”
「ゲン」には連載当時から「残酷」という声が寄せられ、中沢さんも描き方に悩んだと述懐している。旧軍の行為や昭和天皇の戦争責任を厳しく糾弾している点から、「偏向している」「反日漫画だ」といった批判も保守層の間で根強い。
Still, “Hadashi no Gen” has been widely accepted because Nakazawa’s anti-war message has obtained a favorable response from children. By using all of his skills as an artist to describe the cruelty of war he witnessed, Nakazawa tried to tell children that war must never be allowed to happen again.
それでも、「ゲン」が高い評価を得たのは、自身が目の当たりにした戦争の残酷さを力いっぱい描くことで、「二度と戦争を起こしてはならない」と伝えようとした中沢さんの思いに子どもたちが共感したからだ。
Teachers, who generally had a negative stance toward manga, also embraced “Hadashi no Gen” and allocated part of the limited school library budget to add the manga to the library’s collection because of its power to send its anti-war message.
漫画を否定しがちだった先生たちが、限られた図書館予算の中から「ゲン」を積極的に受け入れたのも、作品のメッセージ力が強かったからこそだ。
There are still various views and opinions about the wartime acts of the former Japanese army and Emperor Hirohito’s responsibility for the war. Nakazawa’s historical views about the war as expressed in the work are also open to criticism.
旧日本軍の行為や天皇の戦争責任をめぐっては今もさまざまな見方があり、「ゲン」に投影された中沢さんの歴史観にも議論はありえるだろう。
“Hadashi no Gen” is exactly the type of material that can be used for discussions among adults and children on these and other issues concerning the war. There is no need to keep children from accessing this material.
それこそ、「ゲン」を題材に、子どもと大人が意見を交わし、一緒に考えていけばいい。最初から目をそらす必要はどこにもない。
2013/08/21
加害責任―歴史から目をそらすな
The Asahi Shimbun, August 16, 2013
EDITORIAL: Abe should not look away from Japan's history of aggression
加害責任―歴史から目をそらすな
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe eschewed visiting Yasukuni Shrine on Aug. 15, the 68th anniversary of the Japanese surrender at the end of World War II.
６８回目の終戦の日だったきのう、安倍首相は靖国神社への参拝を見送った。
Japan’s relations with China and South Korea remain chilly over problems concerning the Senkaku Islands, the Takeshima islets and perceptions of history. A visit to the war-related shrine at this juncture would put off the improvement of relations even further.
尖閣、竹島や歴史認識の問題で、中国や韓国との関係が冷え切っている折である。ここで参拝すれば、両国との関係改善はさらに遠のく。
Thus, the decision not to visit the shrine was a realistic one.
見送りは現実的な判断と言えるだろう。
How is the prime minister trying to face up to the past? Not only China and South Korea but also the United States and European countries are keeping a close watch. Visits to Yasukuni Shrine are not the only problem. Behind their misgivings is Abe’s comment earlier this year: “The definition of aggression has yet to be established,” which can be construed as denial of Japan’s war responsibility.
首相が、過去とどう向きあおうとしているか。中韓のみならず、欧米諸国も目を凝らしている。靖国問題だけではない。先に首相が「侵略の定義は定まっていない」と、日本の戦争責任を否定するかのような発言をしたことなどが背景にある。
A wrong move could cause Japan to become isolated in the international community. The prime minister is urged to take this point to heart.
対応を誤れば、国際社会で日本の孤立を招く。そのことを首相は肝に銘じるべきだ。
In that sense, there is something we find disturbing.
その意味で、気がかりなことがある。
While Abe delivered a speech at the government-sponsored memorial service for the war dead on Aug. 15, the address made no reference to reflection on Japan’s responsibility for inflicting damage on Asian nations or any expression of condolences.
きのうの政府主催の全国戦没者追悼式で、首相の式辞からアジア諸国への加害責任への反省や哀悼の意を示す言葉が、すっぽりと抜け落ちたのだ。
Starting with Prime Minister Morihiro Hosokawa in 1993, successive Japanese leaders have mentioned the wartime devastation inflicted on Asian countries by Japan in their speeches for the annual ceremony.
加害責任への言及は、９３年の細川護熙首相（当時）から歴代首相が踏襲してきた。
In 2007, during Abe’s first tenure as prime minister, he also stated: “(Japan) caused considerable damage and suffering to the people of Asian countries. … I offer deep remorse and express my heartfelt condolences to those who were killed.”
第１次安倍内閣の０７年には首相自身も「アジア諸国の人々に対して多大の損害と苦痛を与えた」「深い反省とともに、犠牲となった方々に謹んで哀悼の意を表す」と述べていた。
This time, “a pledge not to make war” that had been expressed in the past was not mentioned, either.
今回は、これまで表明されてきた「不戦の誓い」という表現も使わなかった。
Aides to the prime minister say the memorial address reflects his intention that the ceremony is for the war dead, and that he mentioned consideration toward Asian nations in his responses to questions in the Diet.
首相周辺は「式典は戦没者のため、という首相の意向を反映した」「アジアへの配慮は国会答弁でしている」という。
But such an expedient response is unacceptable. The ceremony also serves as an occasion to show Japan’s stance toward the war to the world. With the absence of wording about Japan’s responsibility for causing damage, Abe's speech could give the impression that Japan lacks consideration for the people of Asia.
だが、そんな方便は通用しないのではないか。式典は、先の戦争への日本の姿勢を世界に発信する場でもある。加害責任への言及が消えたことで、アジアの人々への配慮を欠いていると受け取られかねない。
Even though the prime minister declined to visit Yasukuni, wasn’t he sending a message to the opposite effect?
せっかく靖国参拝を見送りながら、逆のメッセージを発することにならないか。
What we find disturbing is the fact that the words that were not mentioned in Abe’s speech overlap with Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama's 1995 statement that Japan “through its colonial rule and aggression, caused tremendous damage and suffering to the people of many countries, particularly to those of Asian nations.”
気になるのは、式辞からなくなった言葉が、植民地支配と侵略によって「アジア諸国の人々に対して多大の損害と苦痛を与えた」という９５年の村山首相談話の表現と重なることだ。
For a long time, Abe has shown an inclination toward re-examining the Murayama statement. If his memorial address reflects such intentions, there is no way we can accept it.
首相はかねて村山談話の見直しに意欲を示している。そうした意図が今回の式辞に表れたとするなら、とうてい容認できるものではない。
Although the prime minister refrained from visiting Yasukuni Shrine, some members of his Cabinet, as well as a group of many lawmakers, visited the shrine.
首相は見送ったが、きのうは一部の閣僚や国会議員が大挙して靖国神社に参拝した。
Without looking away from history, Japan needs to use its imagination to understand the pain of other countries. Such an attitude is what Japanese politicians need now more than ever.
歴史から目をそらさず、他国の痛みに想像力を働かせる。こんな態度が、いまの日本政治には求められる。
EDITORIAL: Abe should not look away from Japan's history of aggression
加害責任―歴史から目をそらすな
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe eschewed visiting Yasukuni Shrine on Aug. 15, the 68th anniversary of the Japanese surrender at the end of World War II.
６８回目の終戦の日だったきのう、安倍首相は靖国神社への参拝を見送った。
Japan’s relations with China and South Korea remain chilly over problems concerning the Senkaku Islands, the Takeshima islets and perceptions of history. A visit to the war-related shrine at this juncture would put off the improvement of relations even further.
尖閣、竹島や歴史認識の問題で、中国や韓国との関係が冷え切っている折である。ここで参拝すれば、両国との関係改善はさらに遠のく。
Thus, the decision not to visit the shrine was a realistic one.
見送りは現実的な判断と言えるだろう。
How is the prime minister trying to face up to the past? Not only China and South Korea but also the United States and European countries are keeping a close watch. Visits to Yasukuni Shrine are not the only problem. Behind their misgivings is Abe’s comment earlier this year: “The definition of aggression has yet to be established,” which can be construed as denial of Japan’s war responsibility.
首相が、過去とどう向きあおうとしているか。中韓のみならず、欧米諸国も目を凝らしている。靖国問題だけではない。先に首相が「侵略の定義は定まっていない」と、日本の戦争責任を否定するかのような発言をしたことなどが背景にある。
A wrong move could cause Japan to become isolated in the international community. The prime minister is urged to take this point to heart.
対応を誤れば、国際社会で日本の孤立を招く。そのことを首相は肝に銘じるべきだ。
In that sense, there is something we find disturbing.
その意味で、気がかりなことがある。
While Abe delivered a speech at the government-sponsored memorial service for the war dead on Aug. 15, the address made no reference to reflection on Japan’s responsibility for inflicting damage on Asian nations or any expression of condolences.
きのうの政府主催の全国戦没者追悼式で、首相の式辞からアジア諸国への加害責任への反省や哀悼の意を示す言葉が、すっぽりと抜け落ちたのだ。
Starting with Prime Minister Morihiro Hosokawa in 1993, successive Japanese leaders have mentioned the wartime devastation inflicted on Asian countries by Japan in their speeches for the annual ceremony.
加害責任への言及は、９３年の細川護熙首相（当時）から歴代首相が踏襲してきた。
In 2007, during Abe’s first tenure as prime minister, he also stated: “(Japan) caused considerable damage and suffering to the people of Asian countries. … I offer deep remorse and express my heartfelt condolences to those who were killed.”
第１次安倍内閣の０７年には首相自身も「アジア諸国の人々に対して多大の損害と苦痛を与えた」「深い反省とともに、犠牲となった方々に謹んで哀悼の意を表す」と述べていた。
This time, “a pledge not to make war” that had been expressed in the past was not mentioned, either.
今回は、これまで表明されてきた「不戦の誓い」という表現も使わなかった。
Aides to the prime minister say the memorial address reflects his intention that the ceremony is for the war dead, and that he mentioned consideration toward Asian nations in his responses to questions in the Diet.
首相周辺は「式典は戦没者のため、という首相の意向を反映した」「アジアへの配慮は国会答弁でしている」という。
But such an expedient response is unacceptable. The ceremony also serves as an occasion to show Japan’s stance toward the war to the world. With the absence of wording about Japan’s responsibility for causing damage, Abe's speech could give the impression that Japan lacks consideration for the people of Asia.
だが、そんな方便は通用しないのではないか。式典は、先の戦争への日本の姿勢を世界に発信する場でもある。加害責任への言及が消えたことで、アジアの人々への配慮を欠いていると受け取られかねない。
Even though the prime minister declined to visit Yasukuni, wasn’t he sending a message to the opposite effect?
せっかく靖国参拝を見送りながら、逆のメッセージを発することにならないか。
What we find disturbing is the fact that the words that were not mentioned in Abe’s speech overlap with Prime Minister Tomiichi Murayama's 1995 statement that Japan “through its colonial rule and aggression, caused tremendous damage and suffering to the people of many countries, particularly to those of Asian nations.”
気になるのは、式辞からなくなった言葉が、植民地支配と侵略によって「アジア諸国の人々に対して多大の損害と苦痛を与えた」という９５年の村山首相談話の表現と重なることだ。
For a long time, Abe has shown an inclination toward re-examining the Murayama statement. If his memorial address reflects such intentions, there is no way we can accept it.
首相はかねて村山談話の見直しに意欲を示している。そうした意図が今回の式辞に表れたとするなら、とうてい容認できるものではない。
Although the prime minister refrained from visiting Yasukuni Shrine, some members of his Cabinet, as well as a group of many lawmakers, visited the shrine.
首相は見送ったが、きのうは一部の閣僚や国会議員が大挙して靖国神社に参拝した。
Without looking away from history, Japan needs to use its imagination to understand the pain of other countries. Such an attitude is what Japanese politicians need now more than ever.
歴史から目をそらさず、他国の痛みに想像力を働かせる。こんな態度が、いまの日本政治には求められる。
2013/08/20
学校の耐震化 つり天井の撤去を急ぎたい
The Yomiuri Shimbun August 18, 2013
Suspended ceilings should be removed to boost quake resistance at schools
学校の耐震化 つり天井の撤去を急ぎたい（8月17日付・読売社説）
Schools must be safe places that protect children at a time of disaster. They can also serve as shelters for local residents.
学校は災害時に子供の命を守る安全な場所でなくてはならない。地域住民の避難先にもなる。
We call for the disaster prevention capability of schools to be strengthened.
防災機能を強化することが求められる。
A survey by the Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Ministry showed that 89 percent of 120,460 school buildings and gymnasiums at public primary and middle schools across the nation met national earthquake-resistance standards as of April. The survey also found that 86 percent of structures at public high schools were quake-resistant.
文部科学省の調査によると、４月現在、全国の公立小中学校にある校舎や体育館計１２万４６０棟のうち、耐震性が確保された建物の割合は全体の８９％だった。公立高校でも耐震性を満たした建物は８６％に上っている。
These high percentages, which resulted from a push for reinforcement work and other antiseismic efforts in the wake of the Great East Japan Earthquake, are laudable. But progress differs among regions. In some municipalities, the percentage of quake-resistant schools remains below 50 percent. Such municipalities should accelerate their efforts.
東日本大震災を教訓に、補強工事などが進んだ結果と評価できるが、地域差も目立つ。学校の耐震化率が５割に満たない自治体もある。取り組みを加速すべきだ。
One major concern in this connnection is the delay in dealing with suspended ceilings, which experts have pointed out are at risk of collapsing in earthquakes.
気がかりなのは、地震の際に崩落の危険が指摘される「つり天井」の対策が遅れていることだ。
Suspended ceilings made of gypsum wallboard are effective for noise and heat insulation, but their hanging frames make them vulnerable to movement. Even though the buildings themselves are resistant to quakes, their suspended ceilings could collapse. This requries attention.
つり天井は、防音や断熱に一定の効果があるとされる一方で、屋根から骨組みや石こうボードをぶら下げた構造になっているため、振動に弱い。建物自体の耐震性は確保されていても落下する可能性があるので、注意が必要だ。
In the March 2011 earthquake, many such ceilings fell in large facilities such as event halls. In school gymnasiums, falling ceilings injured students.
東日本大震災では、ホールなどの大規模施設で落下事故が相次ぎ、体育館で生徒が負傷したケースも見られた。
The survey, in which the ministry asked about suspended ceilings for the first time, showed that such ceilings were installed in about 8,500 structures, including gymnasiums and auditoriums, at public primary, middle and high schools. The survey found that 90 percent of the structures lacked measures to prevent ceilings from falling. This is a problem.
文科省が今回初めて、つり天井の実態を調べたところ、公立の小中高校の体育館や講堂など約８５００棟に設置されていた。このうち９割で落下防止措置が講じられていなかったのは問題だ。
The collapse of a ceiling at a gymnasium where many students gather could be catastrophic. Even if a collapse happened when no one was there, it could prevent the gymnasium from being used as a shelter.
多数の児童生徒が集まっている時につり天井が崩落した場合、大惨事につながる。無人の時でも崩落すれば、体育館は避難所としての機能を果たせなくなる。
Safety checks urged
The ministry has drawn up a guide, which includes a list of safety check points, and urged municipal governments to carry out safety checks thoroughly. We believe suspended ceilings should be removed as soon as possible in light of public safety.
文科省は安全点検の要点をまとめた手引を作成し、各自治体にチェックの徹底を求めた。安全性を考慮すれば、可能な限り早期に撤去すべきだろう。
Meanwhile, many schools are not prepared to serve as local disaster-management centers. Among public schools designated by municipalities as emergency shelters, only 28 percent have in-house power generators, while 34 percent are equipped with water reservoirs and other useful devices.
学校の防災拠点としての備えも心もとない。自治体から避難所に指定された公立学校のうち、自家発電装置がある学校は２８％、貯水槽などを設置している学校は３４％にとどまっている。
In the Great East Japan Earthquake, many people were forced to take refuge amid prolonged power outages and cuts in water supply. We urge municipalities’ disaster-management sections and boards of education to work together to make necessary preprations.
東日本大震災では停電や断水が続き、多くの住民が過酷な避難生活を強いられた。自治体の防災部門と教育委員会が連携して、必要な設備を整えてもらいたい。
It is also crucial to raise public awareness through education. Last year, public high schools in Tokyo began a project in which students stay at their schools overnight, prepare meals outdoors and receive training in conducting rescue activities.
防災教育などソフト面の対策も重要だ。都立高校では昨年から、生徒が学校に宿泊し、炊き出しや救護の体験訓練を行っている。
If high school students gain experience such as taking care of the elderly through the training, they could play a key role in operating shelters in disasters. Regularly cultivating the spirit of volunteerism could prove to be useful in an emergency.
高校生がお年寄りの世話などを経験すれば、避難所運営の貴重な担い手になろう。日頃からボランティア精神を育んでおくことが、いざという時に役立つはずだ。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 17, 2013)
（2013年8月17日01時40分 読売新聞）
Suspended ceilings should be removed to boost quake resistance at schools
学校の耐震化 つり天井の撤去を急ぎたい（8月17日付・読売社説）
Schools must be safe places that protect children at a time of disaster. They can also serve as shelters for local residents.
学校は災害時に子供の命を守る安全な場所でなくてはならない。地域住民の避難先にもなる。
We call for the disaster prevention capability of schools to be strengthened.
防災機能を強化することが求められる。
A survey by the Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Ministry showed that 89 percent of 120,460 school buildings and gymnasiums at public primary and middle schools across the nation met national earthquake-resistance standards as of April. The survey also found that 86 percent of structures at public high schools were quake-resistant.
文部科学省の調査によると、４月現在、全国の公立小中学校にある校舎や体育館計１２万４６０棟のうち、耐震性が確保された建物の割合は全体の８９％だった。公立高校でも耐震性を満たした建物は８６％に上っている。
These high percentages, which resulted from a push for reinforcement work and other antiseismic efforts in the wake of the Great East Japan Earthquake, are laudable. But progress differs among regions. In some municipalities, the percentage of quake-resistant schools remains below 50 percent. Such municipalities should accelerate their efforts.
東日本大震災を教訓に、補強工事などが進んだ結果と評価できるが、地域差も目立つ。学校の耐震化率が５割に満たない自治体もある。取り組みを加速すべきだ。
One major concern in this connnection is the delay in dealing with suspended ceilings, which experts have pointed out are at risk of collapsing in earthquakes.
気がかりなのは、地震の際に崩落の危険が指摘される「つり天井」の対策が遅れていることだ。
Suspended ceilings made of gypsum wallboard are effective for noise and heat insulation, but their hanging frames make them vulnerable to movement. Even though the buildings themselves are resistant to quakes, their suspended ceilings could collapse. This requries attention.
つり天井は、防音や断熱に一定の効果があるとされる一方で、屋根から骨組みや石こうボードをぶら下げた構造になっているため、振動に弱い。建物自体の耐震性は確保されていても落下する可能性があるので、注意が必要だ。
In the March 2011 earthquake, many such ceilings fell in large facilities such as event halls. In school gymnasiums, falling ceilings injured students.
東日本大震災では、ホールなどの大規模施設で落下事故が相次ぎ、体育館で生徒が負傷したケースも見られた。
The survey, in which the ministry asked about suspended ceilings for the first time, showed that such ceilings were installed in about 8,500 structures, including gymnasiums and auditoriums, at public primary, middle and high schools. The survey found that 90 percent of the structures lacked measures to prevent ceilings from falling. This is a problem.
文科省が今回初めて、つり天井の実態を調べたところ、公立の小中高校の体育館や講堂など約８５００棟に設置されていた。このうち９割で落下防止措置が講じられていなかったのは問題だ。
The collapse of a ceiling at a gymnasium where many students gather could be catastrophic. Even if a collapse happened when no one was there, it could prevent the gymnasium from being used as a shelter.
多数の児童生徒が集まっている時につり天井が崩落した場合、大惨事につながる。無人の時でも崩落すれば、体育館は避難所としての機能を果たせなくなる。
Safety checks urged
The ministry has drawn up a guide, which includes a list of safety check points, and urged municipal governments to carry out safety checks thoroughly. We believe suspended ceilings should be removed as soon as possible in light of public safety.
文科省は安全点検の要点をまとめた手引を作成し、各自治体にチェックの徹底を求めた。安全性を考慮すれば、可能な限り早期に撤去すべきだろう。
Meanwhile, many schools are not prepared to serve as local disaster-management centers. Among public schools designated by municipalities as emergency shelters, only 28 percent have in-house power generators, while 34 percent are equipped with water reservoirs and other useful devices.
学校の防災拠点としての備えも心もとない。自治体から避難所に指定された公立学校のうち、自家発電装置がある学校は２８％、貯水槽などを設置している学校は３４％にとどまっている。
In the Great East Japan Earthquake, many people were forced to take refuge amid prolonged power outages and cuts in water supply. We urge municipalities’ disaster-management sections and boards of education to work together to make necessary preprations.
東日本大震災では停電や断水が続き、多くの住民が過酷な避難生活を強いられた。自治体の防災部門と教育委員会が連携して、必要な設備を整えてもらいたい。
It is also crucial to raise public awareness through education. Last year, public high schools in Tokyo began a project in which students stay at their schools overnight, prepare meals outdoors and receive training in conducting rescue activities.
防災教育などソフト面の対策も重要だ。都立高校では昨年から、生徒が学校に宿泊し、炊き出しや救護の体験訓練を行っている。
If high school students gain experience such as taking care of the elderly through the training, they could play a key role in operating shelters in disasters. Regularly cultivating the spirit of volunteerism could prove to be useful in an emergency.
高校生がお年寄りの世話などを経験すれば、避難所運営の貴重な担い手になろう。日頃からボランティア精神を育んでおくことが、いざという時に役立つはずだ。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 17, 2013)
（2013年8月17日01時40分 読売新聞）
登録:
投稿 (Atom)