社説:早期解散論 その発想はあざとい

November 12, 2014(Mainichi Japan)
Editorial: PM should carefully consider points of contention, timing of general election
社説:早期解散論　その発想はあざとい

Speculation is growing within the political world that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will likely dissolve the House of Representatives to call a snap general election by the end of this year. According to speculation, the prime minister will decide later this month to postpone the consumption tax hike from 8 to 10 percent, which is scheduled for October 2015, and ask voters to support his decision through an election.
　安倍晋三首相が年内の衆院解散・総選挙に踏み切るのではないかとの見方が広がっている。来年１０月の消費税率１０％への引き上げの先送りを首相が判断し、民意を問うというシナリオが取りざたされている。
   
The ruling coalition has failed to make sufficient efforts to lay the groundwork for the tax increase. Moreover, the ruling bloc appears to be attempting to take advantage of public opinion against the tax hike to win an election. Serious questions remain as to whether a delay in the consumption tax increase should be recognized as a sufficient reason for calling a general election.
　政権与党が税率引き上げの環境を整える努力を尽くさず、しかも増税に慎重な世論に乗じて選挙にまで利用しようという発想が感じられる。民意を問う大義たり得るか、今の議論には疑問を抱かざるを得ない。

Legislators are far from holding in-depth general debate in the Diet. Both ruling and opposition parties have already begun preparing for an election as speculation is spreading from the ruling coalition about the schedule for dissolving the chamber and holding an election.
　腰を据えた国会論戦からはもはや遠い雰囲気だ。与党からは解散や選挙日程をめぐる観測が流れ、与野党は選挙準備に動き出している。

Despite these moves, Prime Minister Abe has denied intending to dissolve the lower house anytime soon saying that he has "not decided at all" about the timing of an election. Whether to dissolve the chamber is entirely up to the prime minister. There are observations among those within the political world that ruling coalition politicians are deliberately spreading rumors about a possible dissolution in a bid to keep opposition parties in check as the ongoing extraordinary Diet session is nearing an end.
　首相は解散について「（時期は）何ら決めていない」などと説明している。実際に解散するかは首相の胸三寸だ。解散説は臨時国会の終盤を控え、与党による野党のけん制が狙いとの見方も依然としてある。

However, if the prime minister were to be seriously considering dissolving the chamber, the reason for that would be called into question. A senior government official pointed out that a delay in the consumption tax hike could be a justifiable reason for calling a general election because such a decision would overturn an agreement on the tax increase between the now ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), its coalition partner Komeito and the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) which is now the largest opposition party. However, is this really so?
　だが、本当に解散を検討しているのであれば、その理由が問われる。消費増税先送りについて政府高官は「増税の自公民３党合意をひっくり返すのだから（国民に）信を問う大義名分になる」と語っている。
　国民の審判をもう一度仰ぐという理屈は一見もっともらしく聞こえる。だが、本当にそうだろうか。

The government should go ahead with the consumption tax increase to 10 percent as scheduled after addressing outstanding issues, such as lessening the burden on low income earners and slashing the number of seats in the lower house, which the legislature has failed to act on for a long time. The ruling coalition has not been enthusiastic about working on these issues.
　１０％への増税は本来、生活弱者の負担軽減策や、放置されたままの衆院定数削減など「宿題」を片付けて予定通り行うべきものだ。これまで与党がこうした課題の克服に真剣に取り組んできたとは言えまい。

Uncertainty over economic conditions, which some ruling coalition legislators cite as the reason for calling for a delay in the tax hike, is attributable to the failure of "Abenomics," the economic policy mix promoted by the Abe government, to produce sufficient results. If the economic conditions were to be so serious that the tax hike needs to be postponed, the government should scrutinize economic stimulus measures it has so far implemented.
　与党内で先送り論の根拠とされる景気動向への不安にしてもアベノミクスが想定通りに運ばない反映ではないか。増税を先送りするほど状況が悪いというのであれば、必要なのは経済政策の検証であろう。

In the campaign for the previous general election, the LDP, Komeito and the DPJ asked voters to accept the tax hike because these main political parties were aware of the need to share the responsibility for increasing the tax burden on the public. These parties attempted to share a common view on tax and social security by putting aside their struggle for power.
　さきの衆院選で自公民が増税実施の３党合意を掲げたのは国民に痛みを強いる責任を主要政党が分担する意味があったはずだ。政争と一線を画して税と社会保障の共通認識を得ようという政治の知恵だった。

If the ruling coalition were to scrap the three-party accord and pledge a postponement of the tax hike in the next lower house race, the efforts the three parties have patiently made to form a consensus among them would come to nothing.
　ところが合意をほごにし、増税先送りを選挙で掲げるようでは、こうした努力を台無しにしかねない。

Some within the ruling coalition fear that it will be increasingly difficult to run the government next year when the administration needs to draft security bills as Komeito is wary of expanding the role Japan should play in global security. The economic outlook is also increasingly uncertain. If ruling party politicians were to be calling for a dissolution of the lower chamber because they believe they can rely on the relatively high approval rating for the Abe Cabinet, they should be criticized as being sly.
　経済動向が不透明なうえ、公明党との調整が難航必至の安全保障法制の整備も控えるなど、与党には来年以降の政権運営を危ぶむ見方があるようだ。増税先送りを奇貨として、世論の追い風をあてこんだ解散論とすれば、あざとさすら感じる。

The DPJ has insisted that the consumption tax hike and expansion of the social security system should be implemented as a package. Concerns remain that voters could be forced to make a choice without clear points of contention or in-depth policy debate if a general election were to be called quickly. Prime Minister Abe should cautiously consider points of contention during a lower house race and select the timing of the election.
　消費税率引き上げをめぐっては民主党も社会保障拡充などとのパッケージ化が前提だと説明している。急な選挙が行われた場合、争点が定まらず、政策論争も深まらないまま有権者が選択を迫られる懸念もぬぐえない。民意を問うテーマと時期について、首相は慎重に判断すべきだ。

毎日新聞　2014年11月12日　02時35分

日中首脳会談 対立から協調へ舵を切る時だ

中国は最初から北京で日中首脳会談を予定はなかったみたいです。（国旗が準備されてなかった）
安倍首相にくいさがられて、いやいやながら、握手したというところではないでしょうか。
日中首脳会談の写真だけ、両国国旗が映っていません。
習国家主席が、あの場面で、日本の安倍首相と仲良くするような写真を撮りたくなかったのは明白なんです。
まったく大人気ない対応だと感じました。
（スラチャイ）

The Yomiuri Shimbun
Time to shift Japan-China relations from confrontation to cooperation
日中首脳会談　対立から協調へ舵を切る時だ

It is time for Japan and China, as two great powers responsible for ensuring world peace and prosperity, to change their relationship from one of confrontation to cooperation.
　世界の平和と繁栄に重い責任を持つ大国同士として、対立から協調関係へ舵かじを切る時である。

During their meeting in Beijing Monday, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed to improve bilateral relations by returning to the basic principle of a mutually beneficial relationship based on common strategic interests. The two leaders also agreed to promote cooperation on various levels based on a statement listing four basic points of agreement, which was jointly released on Friday.
　安倍首相と中国の習近平国家主席は北京で会談し、「戦略的互恵関係」の原点に立ち戻り、関係を改善することで一致した。７日に発表した４項目の合意文書に基づき、様々なレベルで協力することも確認した。

Abe was quoted as telling Xi that “China’s peaceful development is a good opportunity for the international community and Japan.” Xi reportedly expressed appreciation and responded by saying China “wants to work toward improving bilateral ties gradually.”
　首相は「中国の平和的発展は国際社会と日本にとって好機だ」と指摘した。習主席は、首相発言を評価し、「徐々に関係改善の努力をしていきたい」と応じた。

Intensified friction between Japan and China over the Senkaku Islands and the issue of historical perceptions has cooled their political and economic relations, exerting unfavorable effects on public opinion in the two countries. This was cause for concern for members of the international community, including the United States.
　尖閣諸島や歴史認識などを巡る日中の深刻な対立は、政治・経済関係を冷え込ませ、両国の世論にも悪影響を与えている。米国など国際社会も懸念を示す。

The realization of a formal summit between Japanese and Chinese leaders, the first in almost three years, provided an important opportunity to build a new relationship of cooperation.
　約３年ぶりの本格的な首脳会談の実現は、新たな協調関係を築く重要な好機である。

Xi had a stiff expression when he shook hands with Abe, but the momentum gained through holding the summit should not be temporary.
　首相と握手した際の習主席の表情は硬いままだったが、今の機運を一過性にしてはなるまい。

It is essential for the two countries to steadily expand the scope of working-level cooperation by achieving an early resumption of high-level economic dialogue between economic ministers and strategic dialogue between officials at the vice foreign minister level.
　中断している経済閣僚による「ハイレベル経済対話」や、外務次官級の戦略対話などを早期に再開し、実務的な協力を着実に拡大することが大切である。

Establish hotlines

Above all, the establishment of a maritime liaison mechanism must be urgently tackled to prevent accidental clashes at sea.
　中でも、偶発的な海上衝突事故などを回避するため、海上連絡メカニズムの構築が急務だ。

Abe stressed the need to realize early operations of the mechanism, while Xi responded that “an accord has already been reached” on the matter. True to these words, it is imperative to establish hotlines between the defense bureaucrats and officers of the two countries and ensure they properly function.
　安倍首相がメカニズムの早期運用の必要性を強調したのに対し、習主席は「既に合意はできている」と語った。その言葉通り、防衛当局間のホットラインを開設し、きちんと機能させねばならない。

Chinese government vessels have repeatedly intruded into Japanese territorial waters around the Senkaku Islands, and its jet fighter aircraft have repeated military provocations in the airspace around the Senkakus. It is imperative to have Beijing correct its stance of changing by force the status quo in the East and South China seas.
　中国は、尖閣諸島周辺での公船の領海侵入や戦闘機による軍事的挑発を繰り返している。東・南シナ海で力による現状変更を目指す姿勢は改めさせる必要がある。

It is essential for the government to continue applying pressure on China, in cooperation with the United States and other countries, to make it comply with international rules.
　政府は、米国などと連携し、国際ルールの順守を中国に引き続き働きかけることが重要だ。

During the summit, Abe reiterated his commitment to “taking over the historical perceptions of the previous governments.” Abe did this apparently because he took into consideration China’s opposition to his visit to Yasukuni Shrine, where convicted war criminals are enshrined together with the war dead, and his other historical perceptions.
　安倍首相は会談で、「歴代内閣の歴史認識を引き継いでいる」と改めて表明した。中国が首相の靖国神社参拝などに反発していることに配慮したのだろう。

Without directly mentioning the Yasukuni issue, Xi told Abe that “historical issues concern the feelings of more than 1.3 billion Chinese people.” Xi also reportedly said, “It’s important to move toward the future while squarely looking at history.”
　習主席は靖国問題に言及せず、「歴史問題は１３億人以上の中国国民の感情に関することだ」と述べた。「歴史を直視して未来に向かうことが重要」とも語った。

If Xi aims to seriously strive toward building a future-oriented relationship with Japan, we suggest that Beijing refrain from the anti-Japan propaganda campaigns it has continued both at home and abroad.
　習主席が未来志向の日中関係の構築を本気で目指すのなら、国内外で続ける中国政府の「反日宣伝」を慎むべきではないか。

Next year marks the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II, and it is feared that anti-Japan sentiment in China may rise. Abe and Xi must work toward preventing the issue of historical perceptions from undermining the bilateral relationship in its entirety.
　来年は戦後７０年の節目の年だ。中国では反日感情が高まる恐れがある。両首脳は、歴史認識の問題が日中関係全体を損なうことがないよう努力すべきだ。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 11, 2014)Speech

地方分権と創生 事務移譲を活性化につなげよ

地方分権と創生といえば聞こえはよいが、実態は、地方へ配分する予算の削減政策ではないでしょうか。
（スラチャイ）

The Yomiuri Shimbun
Decentralization of power imperative to revitalize regional economies
地方分権と創生　事務移譲を活性化につなげよ

A comprehensive set of policy measures must be adopted to revitalize regional economies, one of the main initiatives of the administration of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Decentralizing power from the central government to local governments would be an effective step to help achieve this.
　安倍政権が掲げる「地方創生」には総合的な政策が必要だ。地方分権も有力な手段となろう。

A governmental panel of experts on decentralization reform has compiled an interim report in which 129 of 935 administrative procedures that local governments want transferred from the central government’s ministries and agencies are deemed feasible.
　政府の地方分権改革有識者会議は、自治体が移譲を求めた中央省庁の事務９３５件中、１２９件が実現するとの中間報告をまとめた。

The Cabinet Office called on local entities to work out during the May-July period what administrative procedures and authorities they believe should be transferred to them. If combined with items that can be handled without changing existing laws and regulations, the transfer of such procedures and authorities to the local governments stands at 218, about 20 percent of the proposed 935 items.
　内閣府は５～７月、各自治体に事務・権限の分権提案を募集した。現行法制で対応可能な事務を合わせれば、提案の実質的な採用は約２割の２１８件に上る。

The government is set to finalize its decentralization plans by concluding by the year-end the screening process on about 660 pending items.
　政府は年末までに、提案の採否が未定の約６６０件について結論を出し、最終方針を決定する。

The transfer of administrative procedures from the central government to local governments will help reinvigorate regional economies and possibly enhance the administrative efficiency of local entities.
　中央から地方への事務・権限の移譲は、地域活性化に役立ち、行政効率化にもつながり得る。

On Friday, Shigeru Ishiba, state minister in charge of revitalization of local economies, called on other Cabinet members concerned to exert their leadership in “bringing to fruition the local governments’ proposals to the greatest possible extent,” noting decentralization of power “is absolutely necessary for reinvigorating regional economies.” The government should respond as much as possible to the demands of local governments.
　石破地方創生相は７日、「地方分権は地方創生に不可欠だ。（地方）提案の最大限の実現に指導力を発揮してほしい」と関係閣僚に要請した。政府は、権限移譲の要求にできる限り応じるべきだ。

One envisaged transfer of administrative authority to prefectural governments, including Tokyo and Hokkaido, is the licensing and supervisory power of tap water services in entities with populations in excess of 50,000. As a result of the declining population, tap water supply services in many areas are subject to integration to expand the service areas. The roles of prefectural governments have increased in this respect, and the transfer of the authorities concerned is quite reasonable.
　都道府県への移譲事務には、給水人口５万人超の水道事業の認可や指導監督がある。人口減に伴い、各地の水道事業は統合・広域化の傾向にある。都道府県の役割は増しており、移譲は妥当だろう。

The government also favors abolishing regulations under the Urban Parks Law to clarify that decisions to keep or abolish parks should be left up to the discretion of the municipalities concerned. This will help local entities devise community resuscitation programs on their own.
　都市公園法で制限されている都市公園の廃止は、市町村の裁量でできることを明確化する。各市町村が独自の街づくりを進めるうえで、プラスとなろう。

Balancing conflicting tasks

However, many items have been shunted aside in the interim report. For instance, easing regulations for establishing day nurseries, which has been strongly sought by local entities, has been frowned on by the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry.
　中間報告では、結論が持ち越されたものも多い。地方の要望が強い保育所の設置基準の緩和には、厚生労働省が難色を示した。

The minimum floor space of day nurseries has been set on a uniform basis throughout the country. The health ministry permitted exceptions for 40 densely populated areas in big cities, where many children are on waiting lists, but only for the three-year period from fiscal 2012 to 2014.
　保育所の居室面積は、全国一律の基準が定められている。厚労省は２０１２～１４年度に限り、待機児童の多い大都市部の４０市区を対象に特例で基準を緩和した。

The city of Osaka, the only local entity that has made good use of the relaxation of this regulation, has reduced by half the minimum floor space for infants’ crawling, setting the space at 1.65 square meters per head. As a result, the number of children on the city’s waiting list fell by about 1,800 as of August this year.
　特例を唯一活用した大阪市は、乳児の「ほふく室」の面積要件を全国基準の半分の「１人当たり１・６５平方メートル以上」に緩和した。これにより、今年８月時点で約１８００人の待機児童が解消した。

If the special measure is done away with at the end of this fiscal year as scheduled, about 750 children will reportedly have to be removed from day nurseries. Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto sent a written request last month to Health, Labor and Welfare Minister Yasu-hisa Shiozaki asking for the extension of this period.
　特例が今年度末に切れると、約７５０人が退所を求められるという。橋下徹市長は先月、塩崎厚労相に特例期間の延長を求める要望書を送った。

The easing of regulations regarding day nurseries helps support child-rearing services, a major countermeasure to the shrinkage of the population. The government should work out measures to ease day nursery-related regulations to enable local entities to secure a “desirable quality of day care services” suited to the realities of individual day nurseries.
　人口減対策の柱である子育て支援に保育所の基準緩和は有効だ。自治体が現場の実情に応じて「保育の質」を確保できるように、基準を緩和する方策を探りたい。

As for the transfer of the power to permit the conversion of farmland into residential land or other purposes, the Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry objects on the grounds of “keeping the nation’s overall farmland acreage intact.” It is extremely important for the government to seek a middle ground by working out a balance between the promotion of farming industries and providing local entities with sufficient leeway to undertake community redevelopment projects at their discretion.
　農地を宅地などに転用する許可権限の移譲も、「農地の総量確保」を掲げる農林水産省が拒んでいる。農業振興と自治体の自由な街づくりのバランスを取る形で、妥協点を見いだすことが大切だ。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 9, 2014)Speech

日中首脳会談 「戦略的互恵」を再確認せよ

The Yomiuri Shimbun
Japan, China must reaffirm mutually beneficial, strategic relationship
日中首脳会談　「戦略的互恵」を再確認せよ

Japan-China relations, which have been hampered by a long standoff, are now at a critical turning point. The summit meeting between the two countries must lead to a substantial improvement in the relationship.
　対立が長期化していた日中関係の重大な転機である。実質的な関係改善につなげるべきだ。

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and Chinese President Xi Jinping are expected to meet on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum summit, which will be held in Beijing on Monday and Tuesday. First and foremost, we wish to welcome the first top-level talks between Japan and China in almost three years.
　安倍首相と中国の習近平国家主席が、北京で１０、１１両日に開かれるアジア太平洋経済協力会議（ＡＰＥＣ）首脳会議の際に会談する見通しとなった。約３年ぶりの本格的な日中首脳会談を、まずは歓迎したい。

The Japanese and Chinese governments have released a four-point written agreement on the improvement of the bilateral relationship. The two sides confirmed that they will “continuously develop a mutually beneficial relationship based on common strategic interests,” while agreeing to “gradually resume political, diplomatic and security dialogue” and “make efforts to build political mutual trust.”
　日中両政府は、日中関係の改善に関する４項目の合意文書を発表した。「戦略的互恵関係を引き続き発展させていく」と確認し、「政治・外交・安保対話を徐々に再開し、政治的相互信頼関係の構築に努める」ことで一致した。

Japan has conventionally sought a summit meeting with China “without preconditions,” whereas China has called on Tokyo to acknowledge the existence of a territorial issue over the Senkaku Islands as one of the conditions for a summit meeting. As a result, the two nations have been at an impasse.
　日本は従来、「前提条件なしの首脳会談」の開催を求めていたが、中国は、尖閣諸島について領土問題の存在を認めることなどを会談の条件に掲げ、対立していた。

But China might judge that the stalled political dialogue between the two countries could also determine the success of the APEC meeting, which the country will chair.
　だが、中国も、ＡＰＥＣ議長国として、日中の政治対話が途絶したままでは首脳会議の成功は難しいと判断したのだろう。

We hope that the leaders will deepen the discussion in the direction of mutual benefit from a broader perspective at the summit meeting. Needless to say, the realization of a meeting in itself represents a dramatic, favorable turn in the relationship between Japan and China. The two countries must continually make efforts to maintain regular dialogue at various levels and reach a compromise.
　両首脳は会談で、大局的見地に立ち、日中双方の利益となる方向で議論を深めてもらいたい。無論、１回の会談で日中関係が劇的に好転するわけではない。様々なレベルで対話を重ね、双方が歩み寄る努力を続けねばなるまい。

Acknowledged differences

The agreement specified that the two sides acknowledged that “different positions” exist between them over the Senkakus, an issue that has caused tensions in the East China Sea.
　合意文書は、焦点の尖閣諸島に関して、東シナ海で「緊張状態が生じていることについて異なる見解を有している」と明記した。

The existence of the “different positions” linked to tensions in the East China Sea, which was agreed upon by the two countries, does not hinder Japan’s long-held stance that “a territorial dispute does not exist.” It is quite laudable that Japan has found common ground with China on the issue, while holding firm to its own position.
　東シナ海の緊張関係について「異なる見解」があるとしたことは、「領土問題は存在しない」とする日本の従来の立場を損ねるものではない。日本の主張を堅持しつつ、中国との妥協点を見いだしたことは前向きに評価できる。

The agreement also confirmed that they will “set up a crisis management mechanism to prevent contingencies from occurring.”
　文書は「危機管理メカニズムを構築し、不測の事態の発生を回避する」ことも確認している。

The situation in the East China Sea has been dangerous, as Chinese fighter jets have repeatedly flown extraordinarily close to Self-Defense Forces planes over international waters. It is urgent that the Japanese and Chinese governments resume bilateral talks on the establishment of a maritime liaison mechanism between defense authorities of the two countries and open a hotline for that purpose.
　東シナ海は、中国軍戦闘機による自衛隊機への異常接近が繰り返されるなど、危険な状況にある。日中両政府は、防衛当局間の海上連絡メカニズム構築の協議を再開し、ホットラインなどを設置することが急務である。

China sought a definite promise from Japan that the prime minister will not visit Yasukuni Shrine, but Japan refused to accept it. The agreement only mentioned that the two sides “reached some agreement on overcoming political obstacles between them” in the spirit of “facing history squarely and looking forward to the future.”
　中国は、首相が靖国神社に参拝しない確約を求めていたが、日本は拒否していた。合意文書は「歴史を直視し、未来に向かう」精神に従い、「政治的困難を克服することで若干の認識の一致をみた」と言及するにとどめた。

While the prime minister should avoid visiting Yasukuni Shrine, there is no reason that the prime minister should make such a vow under the pressure of a foreign country. It is appropriate for the two countries to handle the problem with the intention of not affecting the overall Japan-China relationship.
　首相の靖国参拝は避けるべきだが、他国の圧力を受けて、参拝しない約束をする筋合いのものではない。この問題を日中関係全体に影響させない形で処理する方向となったことは適切である。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 8, 2014)Speech

総連本部売却 居座りはこれ以上許されない

The Yomiuri Shimbun
Chongryon must observe ruling of top court, vacate headquarters
総連本部売却　居座りはこれ以上許されない

The judicial branch of the government has made a final judgment. The General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon) cannot stay any longer at its current headquarters.
　司法としての最終判断である。これ以上の居座りは許されまい。

The Supreme Court on Wednesday dismissed Chongryon’s appeal against a court-led auction of its headquarters building and associated land in Chiyoda Ward, Tokyo. The ruling confirmed the sale of the property to Marunaka Holdings Co., a real estate firm in Takamatsu that won the auction.
　東京都千代田区の在日本朝鮮人総連合会中央本部の土地・建物の競売を巡り、最高裁が朝鮮総連の抗告を棄却した。落札した高松市の不動産関連会社「マルナカホールディングス」への売却が確定した。

The top court ruled that the decision to sell the property to Marunaka is reasonable because it will bring about the sale through fair and speedy procedures.
　最高裁はマルナカ社への売却決定について、「公正かつ迅速な手続きによる売却を実現するもので、合理的だ」と結論付けた。

Once payment is made, Marunaka will take ownership of the property. The organization — which represents pro-Pyongyang Korean residents in this nation — will be urged to leave the building and land that constitute its current headquarters, which have been seen as North Korea’s de facto embassy in Japan.
　マルナカ社は、代金を納めれば、所有権を得る。総連は、北朝鮮の日本における大使館的な役割を担ってきた本部ビルからの退去を迫られる見通しだ。

An agent of Chongryon said that the top court’s ruling was “highly regrettable.”
総連の代理人は「大変遺憾」と語っている。

Now that the Supreme Court has recognized that the auction was legitimate, however, Chongryon must respond accordingly if Marunaka requests that the organization vacate the building and land.
　だが、最高裁が正当な競売だと認定した以上、マルナカ社が明け渡しを求めれば、総連はそれに応じなければならない。

Chongryon’s headquarters was brought to the block by the successive collapse since 1997 of credit unions affiliated with pro-Pyongyang Korean residents in Japan. A major factor in their bankruptcies was the huge loans they extended to Chongryon, which became unrecoverable.
　在日朝鮮人系の信用組合が１９９７年以降、相次いで破綻したことが、本部ビルが競売にかけられた発端だ。各信組から総連に向けた多額の融資の焦げ付きが、破綻の大きな要因だった。

Recovery of public funds

The government injected over ¥1 trillion in public funds to resolve the problem. The Resolution and Collection Corporation, which absorbed the bad loans, arranged to auction the property, which occupies a prime location in central Tokyo. We think this was a reasonable course of action by the government-affiliated body in executing its duty to recover the public money.
　政府は、破綻処理に１兆円超の公的資金を投入した。不良債権を引き継いだ整理回収機構が、都心の一等地にある本部ビルを競売にかけたのは、公的資金の回収という使命を遂行する上で、当然の措置だったと言える。

A religious organization won the first auction in March last year, but it later abandoned the purchase because it could not raise enough money. The second auction, held in October last year, was won by a Mongolian firm that placed the highest bid, but the firm was later disqualified because it failed to submit the necessary documents.
　昨年３月の１回目の入札で落札した宗教法人は、代金を調達できずに取得を断念した。昨年１０月に行われた再入札では、モンゴル企業が最高値を提示したが、書類不備で失格とされた。

The Tokyo District Court then decided the headquarters should be sold to Marunaka, the second-highest bidder in the second auction. The Tokyo High Court also supported the decision. Dissatisfied with this, however, Chongryon appealed to the Supreme Court. Its protest was apparently a strategy to delay vacating the premises for as long as possible.
　東京地裁は、次点のマルナカ社への売却許可を決定し、東京高裁も支持した。これを不服として、総連が特別抗告していた。総連側の抵抗は、明け渡しを引き延ばすための戦術だったのだろう。

According to the Public Security Intelligence Agency, Chongryon was given a strict order from the North Korean government to defend the headquarters at all costs.
　公安調査庁によると、総連は中央本部の土地・建物の「死守」を本国から厳命されていた。

In talks held recently between Tokyo and Pyongyang on the reinvestigation into Japanese nationals abducted or believed to have been abducted by North Korean agents, the North Korean representatives expressed concerns over the auction of the headquarters. With the start of the reinvestigation, the Japanese government lifted restrictions on the transit of individuals between Japan and North Korea, which allowed a Chongryon leader to visit North Korea in September.
　拉致被害者らの再調査に関する日朝政府間協議では、北朝鮮側が本部ビルの競売問題に懸念を表明していた。再調査の実施に伴い、日本政府が北朝鮮に対する人的往来の規制措置を解除したため、総連トップが９月に訪朝した。

The reinvestigation of Japanese abductees will soon enter a critical stage. The progress of Japan-North Korea talks must not be affected by the Supreme Court ruling.
　拉致被害者らの再調査は今後、ヤマ場を迎える。最高裁の決定が、日朝協議の進展に影響を及ぼすことがあってはならない。

“We clearly told [North Korea] that the [Japanese] government cannot do anything about an issue already subject to legal procedures,” Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said.
　菅官房長官は「法的手続きに入ったものについて、政府は何もできないと（北朝鮮に）明言している」と語った。

We think the government should state this position repeatedly to North Korea.
こうした立場を繰り返し説明していくべきだ。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Nov. 6, 2014)Speech

社説:首相の「捏造」発言 冷静さを欠いている

November 03, 2014(Mainichi Japan)
Editorial: Prime Minister Abe's 'fabrication' remarks lack levelheadedness
社説:首相の「捏造」発言　冷静さを欠いている

It's mindboggling that a nation's prime minister can flippantly accuse a major newspaper of fabricating a story.
　一国の首相の口からこんな発言が軽々しく飛び出すことに驚く。
　安倍晋三首相が朝日新聞を名指しして、その報道を「捏造（ねつぞう）だ」と国会の場で断じた。

By definition, a fabrication is the act of making something up where nothing exists; it is not a misinterpretation or misunderstanding of facts. During Diet deliberations, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe accused the Asahi Shimbun of fabricating a story. But the prime minister needs to calmly rethink whether the report he was referring to in his statement constitutes a fabrication.
だが、捏造とは事実の誤認ではなく、ありもしない事実を、あるかのようにつくり上げることを指す。果たして今回の報道がそれに当たるかどうか、首相は頭を冷やして考え直した方がいい。

Here are the facts: On Oct. 29, the prime minister had lunch with his close aides. After the meeting, one of the lawmakers who had been in attendance told reporters that the prime minister had said the ruling and opposition camps "should call a cease-fire" over the political funding scandals. The next morning, the Asahi and other media outlets, including the Mainichi Shimbun, Yomiuri Shimbun, Sankei Shimbun and the Nikkei daily newspapers, reported the story.
　経過はこうだ。首相は先月２９日昼、側近議員らと食事した。終了後、出席者の一人が報道陣に対し、首相はその席で政治資金問題に関し「（与野党ともに）『撃ち方やめ』になればいい」と語った、と説明した。これを受け、朝日のみならず毎日、読売、産経、日経など報道各社が、その発言を翌日朝刊で報じた。

But during Diet deliberations on Oct. 30 and 31, the prime minister singled out the Asahi's article, saying, "I did not say that. Creating a fire where there is nothing is fabrication."
　ところが首相は３０、３１両日の国会答弁で朝日の記事だけを指して「私は言っていない。火がないところに火をおこすのは捏造だ」などと批判し続けた。

The aide who had attributed the "cease-fire" comment to the prime minister subsequently retracted the earlier statement, saying, "I was the one who said that. I said, 'This should result in a cease-fire,' and the prime minister merely agreed." In other words, the prime minister's aide made the error that led to the news reports.
一方、当初、報道陣に首相発言を説明した出席者はその後、「発言者は私だった。私が『これで撃ち方やめですね』と発言し、首相は『そうだね』と同意しただけだ」と修正した。つまり発端は側近らのミスだったということになる。

Abe argued that "statements should be confirmed with the person who made them." We agree. But at present, reporters are only given occasional opportunities to pose questions to the prime minister at times deemed convenient by the prime minister's camp. If the prime minister feels so strongly about statements coming directly from the source, why not set regular interviews with reporters twice a day, as was the practice when Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi was in office?
　首相は「発言を本人に確かめるのは当然」と言う。その通りである。ただし現在、首相と担当記者との質疑の場は実際には首相側の都合で時折設定されているに過ぎない。首相がそう言うのなら、小泉純一郎首相時代のように１日２度、定期的にインタビューの場を設けてはどうか。

The prime minister seems to be entrenched in viewing the Asahi as his enemy. Even in his latest remarks, he appears to be trying to say that the Asahi is bent on criticizing him no matter what. He told the Diet, "The editor-in-chief of the Asahi apparently once said that the company's mission is to bring down the Abe administration." However, the Asahi has denied such allegations, and it remains unclear how much evidence the prime minister has to back up such a statement.
　首相はかねて朝日新聞を「敵」だと見なしているようで、今回の記事も「最初に批判ありきだ」と言いたいようだ。「安倍政権を倒すことを社是としていると、かつて朝日の主筆がしゃべったということだ」とも国会で発言している。だが、朝日側はその事実はないと否定しており、首相がどれだけ裏付けを取って語っているかも不明である。

Does Abe believe that a large proportion of the public will applaud him if he employs the term "fabrication" to criticize a newspaper that has been embroiled in a scandal involving its reporting of the so-called wartime comfort women issue and testimony by the late former head of the disaster-hit Fukushima No. 1 Nuclear Power Plant?
　あるいは慰安婦報道や東京電力福島第１原発事故の「吉田調書」報道問題で揺れる朝日を、「捏造」との言葉で批判すれば拍手してくれる人が多いと考えているのだろうか。

Regardless, in the latest case, the prime minister does not appear to have closely investigated the events that led to the reports. The problem could have been easily resolved if he'd just clarified that he was not the one who made the "cease-fire" remark, and asked media outlets to correct the misunderstanding.
　いずれにしても今回、報道に至る経過を首相が精査したうえで語っているようには見えない。「私は語っていない」と報道各社に修正を求めれば済む話だったと考える。

Prime Minister Abe tends to devote his efforts to making attacks, rather than lending an ear to criticism. With the money scandals involving Cabinet ministers nowhere near resolution, he seems to be irritable of late. But witnessing him vigorously criticizing the media brings into question his ability to be levelheaded in dealing with the various domestic and diplomatic challenges that Japan faces.
　従来、批判に耳を傾けるより、相手を攻撃することに力を注ぎがちな首相だ。特に最近は政治とカネの問題が収束せず、いら立っているようでもある。しかし、ムキになって報道批判をしている首相を見ていると、これで内政、外交のさまざまな課題に対し、冷静な判断ができるだろうかと心配になるほどだ。

毎日新聞　2014年11月02日　02時30分（最終更新　11月02日　13時55分）

社説:日銀の追加緩和 泥沼化のリスク高まる

November 01, 2014(Mainichi Japan)
Editorial: More monetary easing at BOJ risks slide into economic chaos
社説:日銀の追加緩和　泥沼化のリスク高まる

The Bank of Japan (BOJ), the country' central bank, has further eased its monetary grip. The move comes 18 months after the BOJ took unprecedentedly large-scale monetary easing steps as the "first arrow" of Abenomics, an economic policy mix promoted by the government of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Moreover, the latest round of monetary easing coincided with end of the U.S.'s own quantitative relaxation program.
　日銀が量的緩和を一段と強化した。アベノミクスの「第一の矢」として異例の大規模緩和が登場し１年半。米国が量的緩和を終了したタイミングでの日本の追加緩和だ。
   
Financial markets reacted sharply to the move, with the yen diving and share prices spiking.
　驚いた市場は反応し、円安、株高が大幅に進んだ。

However, the BOJ was pressured to implement additional monetary easing steps because its ultra-easy money policy, adopted in April 2013 by newly appointed BOJ Gov. Haruhiko Kuroda, had not proven sufficiently effective. One cannot help but doubt whether the reinforcement of measures that had not produced the desired results the first time round will brighten prospects for steady economic growth. Moreover, the central bank's latest round of monetary relaxation is, so to speak, a dangerous drug that could produce serious side-effects.
　しかし、である。ここで追加緩和に踏み切らざるを得なくなったのは、昨年４月に黒田東彦新総裁の下、導入した「異次元緩和」が十分効果を上げていないことの裏返しと言える。うまくいっていないものを一段と強化した先に果たして展望は開けるのだろうか。しかも副作用の多い、劇薬なのである。

Under the scenario of the "first arrow," the government and the BOJ projected that their goal of 2 percent annual inflation would be achieved and the economy pulled out of its slump if the money supply from the central bank doubled over a two-year period. In other words, the government and the BOJ attempted to convince the public that consumer prices would rise by dramatically increasing the money supply.
　「物価の年間上昇率２％」を明確な目標として宣言し、お金の量を２年で２倍に増やせば、目標が達成でき、経済も復活する−−。第一の矢のシナリオだった。衝撃的な量の資金供給を行うことで人々に「物価上昇の時が来た」と信じこませる効果を狙った。

True, consumer prices gradually increased, but the rise has slowed down because the fall in the yen's value has not produced sufficient results and oil prices have declined. The first arrow has not led to a virtuous cycle in which higher spending on factories, equipment and consumer goods increases corporate profits and wages, which in turn expand consumption.
　確かに物価は徐々に上昇基調に転じたものの、円安による効果が抜け落ち、原油価格の下落も手伝って、このところ上昇幅は縮む一方である。設備投資や消費が活発化し、企業収益が増え、賃金が上昇し、さらに消費が増える、といった望ましい循環が起きているとは言い難い。

The BOJ ended up implementing additional monetary easing steps on a step-by-step basis. This is very much like the central bank's policy under the governorship of Masaaki Shirakawa, though Kuroda had criticized his predecessor's measures as ineffective in overcoming deflation.
　結局、あれほど「デフレ脱却の効果はない」と批判していた白川方明前総裁時代の段階的な追加緩和の手法を取らざるを得なくなった。

In the meantime, the BOJ's massive purchases of government bonds as part of its ultra-easy money policy have adversely affected the domestic bond market. Especially bonds that are due to mature shortly are in extremely short supply, causing abnormal situations such as negative interest.
　一方、量的緩和により日銀が国債を大量に買い占めている影響で、国債市場のゆがみも目立ってきた。満期までの期間が短いものを中心に極端な品薄状態となり、マイナス金利という異常事態も起きている。

Despite these circumstances, the BOJ further eased its monetary grip. If the yen becomes weaker -- aided partly by the end of U.S. quantitative relaxation -- the prices of imported goods will rise, which would squeeze household budgets further.
　そうした中にあって、さらにアクセルを踏むという。ドル高に作用する米国の量的緩和終了も相まって、円安が一層進めば、輸入品の値段が上がる。物価上昇には役立っても、家計を圧迫するだけだ。国債市場のゆがみも一段と深刻化するだろう。

Through the latest monetary easing steps, the BOJ will increase the amount of long-term government bonds the central bank buys annually by 30 trillion yen to some 80 trillion yen. If investors were to believe that the BOJ accepts a huge amount of the government's debts, international confidence in Japan would be lost, causing the market prices of government bonds to plummet and rates of long-term interest on such bonds to rise, which could throw Japan's economy into chaos.
　今回の追加緩和により、日銀が年間に買い増す長期国債の額は３０兆円拡大し、約８０兆円に達する。日銀が政府の借金を丸抱えしていると市場からみなされれば、国の信用が疑われ、国債価格が急落（長期金利は急騰）する恐れがある。経済の大混乱は避けられまい。

Despite the latest additional monetary easing steps, the BOJ predicts that next fiscal year's inflation rate will be 1.7 percent, falling short of the 2 percent target. As the BOJ has repeatedly eased its monetary grip, the central bank could find it increasingly difficult to find an exit ramp out of the policy, as the U.S. has just done. Moreover, concerns have been raised that the implementation of such abnormal monetary policy measures could be prolonged.
　今回の追加緩和をもってしても、日銀の予測では、目標となる来年度の物価上昇率が１．７％と２％に満たない。追加緩和を繰り返し、出口がますます遠のきはしないか。異例の政策が長期化することによる弊害が心配だ。

The BOJ has ventured deeply into a dangerous area that it should not, as the central bank, have entered in the first place.
　中央銀行として踏み込むべきではない領域にまた深く、日銀は足を進めてしまった。

毎日新聞　2014年11月01日　02時33分