2011/09/11
--The Asahi Shimbun, Sept. 10
EDITORIAL: U.S. should lead efforts toward global cooperation
テロ後１０年の米国―武力超え、協調の大国へ
How long will the war against terrorism, which no one is going to win, last?
誰も勝者になれない戦争は、いつまで続くのか。
Just a decade has passed since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks at the heart of the United States.
米国の中枢が襲われた同時多発テロから１０年。
The war against terrorism was launched by former U.S. President George W. Bush, who urged countries to join the fight saying, "Either you are with us, or you are with the terrorists."
But the United States has suffered as much damage from the war as it did from the Vietnam War.
対テロ戦争はブッシュ前大統領が「米国と共にあるか、テロリストと一緒になるかだ」と始めたが、いまや米国はベトナム戦争に匹敵する大きな痛手を受けている。
U.S. forces have succeeded in killing Osama bin Laden, the founder of the al-Qaida terrorist group and the mastermind of the 2001 attacks, but the Americans are clearly feeling the pinch of the deteriorating economic health of their country, where jobless rates are hovering above 9 percent.
テロの首謀者オサマ・ビンラディン容疑者は殺害したものの、９％を超える失業率が続く米国には重い疲労感が漂う。
■危うい超大国の座
American people are apparently disturbed, caught between anxiety about the possibility that their country may lose the status as the leading superpower and the desperate feeling that they cannot stand any additional burden.
「超大国の座を滑り落ちる」という不安と、「これ以上の負担に耐えられない」という悲鳴のはざまで、米国民の心も揺れている。
In a corner of the Arlington National Cemetery, a military cemetery stretched over a hill in the Washington suburbs, are rows of small signs bearing a name placed on the earth with the grass removed.
首都ワシントン郊外の丘に広がる国立アーリントン墓地の一角。芝生を削った土の上に、名前が刻まれた目印が置かれている。
They are meant to be the graves of soldiers who have died in Afghanistan.
アフガニスタンで戦死した兵士の墓の予定地だ。
Nobody knows how many more white headstones will be laid in this corner of the cemetery.
白い墓石が今後どこまで並ぶのか、まだ誰も分からない。
Since the war on terror started, more than 6,000 U.S. military personnel have died and more than 550,000 have been injured.
開戦以来、米兵は６千人以上が戦死した。負傷者は５５万人を超える。
One estimate has put the total cost of the war, including medical expenses for injured servicemen and women, at $4 trillion (309 trillion yen).
負傷兵の医療費などを含む戦費全体で４兆ドル（３０９兆円）に達するという試算もある。
The quagmire of the war is hurting American society like a body blow.
泥沼化する戦争は、米社会をボディーブローのようにむしばんでいる。
The U.S. economy, which for a while enjoyed a boom driven by financial bubbles, has taken a downturn since the collapse of investment bank Lehman Brothers in 2008.
金融バブルに踊った経済も、リーマン・ショック以後は大きく傾いた。
The U.S. budget deficit for fiscal 2011, which ends on Sept. 30, is reaching $1.3 trillion. The towering budget deficit has prompted a U.S. credit rating agency to downgrade long-term federal debt, which has long been considered the safest investment, bringing humiliation to the world's largest economy.
１１会計年度の財政赤字は１兆３千億ドル（１００兆円）に達し、信用の象徴だった米国債が格下げされる屈辱も味わった。
President Barack Obama has acknowledged that the United States has been on an unsustainable spending spree. "For a decade, we have been spending more money than we take in," he recently said.
「この１０年間、われわれは歳入以上に支出してきた」とオバマ大統領も認める。
But even more lives have been lost in countries where the United States has been fighting the war.
Some 125,000 civilians in Iraq, 11,700 in Afghanistan and 35,600 in Pakistan have been killed during the war, according to estimates by the Watson Institute for International Studies at Brown University.
米国の行動によって戦場にされた国では、もっと多くの命が失われた。米ブラウン大学ワトソン研究所の推計では、イラクの民間人は１２万５千人、アフガニスタンでは１万１７００人、パキスタンでも３万５６００人にのぼる。
In Iraq, years of failed occupation, plagued by an endless series of missteps and bad judgments, resulted in bloody nationwide sectarian strife.
イラクでは誤算続きの占領政策の末、全土で血で血を洗う宗派争いをもたらした。
Amid continued conflict among various religious sects, Obama has promised to withdraw U.S. forces from Iraq by the end of this year. Given the chaotic state of the war-torn country, however, many observers say it will be impossible to pull out all the U.S. troops by the deadline.
各派が対立する中、オバマ大統領は「今年末までの米軍撤退」と公約したが、混乱を考えると完全な撤退は無理とみられる。
■失われた多くの命
Meanwhile in Afghanistan, 66 American soldiers were killed in August, the worst ever monthly death toll among U.S. military personnel in the country.
アフガニスタンでも、この８月に６６人と過去最悪の米兵の犠牲者を出した。
Obama has said 33,000 U.S. troops will leave the country by next summer, but the outlook for the U.S. strategy for dealing with the situation after the withdrawal remains murky.
来夏までに３万３千人を撤退させる方針だが、その後の見通しは立たない。
Many American citizens appear to be finding it hard to come up with a good reason for continuing the fight without a clear outlook.
このまま戦闘を続ける意味を、米国民も見いだせなくなっているのではないか。
Outside the Unites States, indiscriminate terrorist attacks have also taken place in cities like Madrid and London. 米国の外にも、マドリード、ロンドンなどに無差別テロは拡散した。
The scope of targets for terrorist attacks has widened. At the end of August, for instance, a car bomb attack on the United Nations building in Nigeria killed more than 20 people.
テロの標的も広がり、８月末にはナイジェリアの国連ビルに爆弾を載せた車が突っ込んで２０人を超す犠牲者が出た。
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon condemned the attack, saying in a grievous statement that it was "an assault on those who devote their lives to helping others."
国連の潘基文（パン・ギムン）事務総長は「人助けのために人生をささげた人々に対する襲撃だ」と悲痛な声明を出した。
In his historic speech delivered in 2009 in Cairo, Obama proposed reconciliation with the Muslim world for "a new beginning between the United States and Muslims around the world," raising renewed hope for peace.
オバマ氏はカイロでの演説で「イスラム世界との和解」を提唱して期待を集めた。
But in countries like Yemen and Pakistan, the United States is expanding its strikes against terrorists using unmanned aerial vehicles, or drones, instead of ground troops.
だが、地上部隊にかわる無人機での攻撃はイエメンやパキスタンなどで拡大している。
The Obama administration has postponed the promised closure of the Guantanamo Bay detention camp, where abuses of detainees have been disclosed.
虐待が明らかになったグアンタナモ収容所も、閉鎖を先送りしたままだ。
The Obama administration also initially failed to express its clear support to the revolutionary waves of demonstrations and protests that have led to the collapse of dictatorial regimes in some Arab countries including Tunisia and Egypt, now known as the "Arab Spring."
チュニジア、エジプトなどで民衆が強権政治を倒した「アラブの春」でも、米国ははじめ、運動を支持することができなかった。
That's because the administration was concerned about a possible rise of Muslim extremists and about possible negative effects on Washington's relations with the autocratic governments of its allies in the region, like Saudi Arabia.
イスラム過激派の台頭を恐れ、独裁だが友好関係にあるサウジアラビアなどに配慮したからだ。
Now that people in many Arab countries have embarked on a path to democracy by risking their lives, however, the United States should take steps to settle the dark past and build new relations with these countries.
アラブの民衆が流血の犠牲を払って改革に踏み出したいま、米国も暗い過去を清算して、新たな関係を築かなければならない。
In particular, it is essential for Washington to tackle the Palestine issue, which is at the root of conflict in the Arab world.
とくに、アラブ世界の紛争の根源にあるパレスチナ問題に取り組むことが必須だ。
As long as the United States keeps avoiding this challenge, anti-U.S. extremists will continue to come into being.
その困難を避ける限り、今後も反米過激派が生まれてくる。
The Americans should not forget that Osama bin Laden personified the deep antipathy aroused among Muslims by the U.S. military presence in the "holy land" of Islam.
ビンラディン容疑者も「イスラムの聖地」に米軍が駐留したことへの反感が生んだ鬼子だったことを忘れてはならない。
America's unilateralism also strained its ties with its key allies.
米国の単独行動主義は、同盟国との関係もゆがめた。
Japan, under the government of former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, supported the U.S. war in Iraq and sent Self-Defense Forces troops to the country.
日本は小泉首相がイラク戦争を支持して自衛隊を送った。
But Japan's decision to support a war without cause, made under strong pressure from Washington, deeply damaged the bilateral relations.
だが大義なき戦争に同調したことは、日米関係を深いところで傷つけた。
Japanese sympathy with the United States as the leading standard-bearer for democracy wore thin, while the Japanese government's action provoked criticism among Japanese people that it was blindly following in the footsteps of the United States.
民主主義の旗手としての米国への共感はすっかり薄れ、「米国追随」という反発を日本国内に呼んだ。
The past 10 years, in which the United States became overconfident of its power and tried to impose its values on the world, has been a decade of failure for the superpower.
米国が力を過信し、その価値観を世界に押しつけようとした１０年は失敗に終わった。
The United States will remain a country with overwhelming power, but it still needs to find a new role for itself as a member of the global community.
米国は今後も突出した大国だが、世界の一員として新たな役割を見いださなければならない。
Sick and tired of the endless war against terrorism, some Americans are arguing that their country should now wash its hands of intervention in affairs in other parts of the world.
対テロ戦争に疲れた米国内には、対外的な負担から手を引くべきだという声も出ている。
It would be good for the United States to respect the unique conditions in other countries and seek cooperative ties with them.
米国が各国の事情を認めて協調することは望ましい。
■重い役割変わらず
But if such a superpower becomes indifferent to stability and movements toward democracy in the outside world, the entire world may fall into serious confusion.
だが、大国が自分の地域以外の安定や民主化を求める動きに無関心になれば、世界は混乱しかねない。
The United States should not abandon its efforts to establish a stable and peaceful world order.
安定した秩序の軸を失ってはいけない。
What the United States should do in the next decade is to seek serious dialogue with people living with different values in order to create a world without terrorism, instead of trying to stamp out terrorism with war.
戦争で抑え込むのではなく、価値観が異なる世界に住む人々とも真剣に対話して、テロがない世界の実現を目指す。それが米国のこれからとるべき道だ。
2011/09/12
2011/09/11
朝鮮学校無償化 審査再開の根拠が不明瞭だ
The Yomiuri Shimbun (Sep. 10, 2011)
Unclear why pro-Pyongyang schools should be free
朝鮮学校無償化 審査再開の根拠が不明瞭だ（9月9日付・読売社説）
It is an enigmatic keepsake from former Prime Minister Naoto Kan.
不可解な「置き土産」である。
Kan told former Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Minister Yoshiaki Takaki on Aug. 29, shortly before his resignation as prime minister, to resume screening procedures to include pro-Pyongyang high schools in the government's tuition waiver program.
朝鮮学校への高校授業料の無償化適用について菅前首相が退任間際の先月２９日、審査手続きを再開するよう高木義明前文部科学相に指示した。
The screening procedures were suspended in the wake of North Korea's artillery shelling of a South Korean island last November. The former prime minister's administration said the situation on the Korean Peninsula was considered to have returned to conditions prior to the shelling, but we would like to ask if there are any grounds for that.
昨年１１月の北朝鮮による韓国砲撃を受けて審査を凍結していたが、「朝鮮半島情勢が砲撃前の状態に戻った」と判断したという。だが、根拠はどこにあるのか。
It is true that talks between North and South Korean senior officials were held in July for the first time in two years and seven months. U.S.-North Korean talks also took place in the same month.
確かに７月には、韓国と北朝鮮の高官協議が２年７か月ぶりに実現し、米朝協議も行われた。
However, the former administration did not explain in detail its assessment of the situation on the Korean Peninsula. It is still very difficult to understand why screening procedures would be resumed on what looked like last-minute instructions from the outgoing prime minister.
とはいえ、情勢判断の詳しい理由説明もなく、駆け込み指示のような審査再開は、理解に苦しむ。
===
New govt should explain
In the last Diet session, Kan was grilled over suspicious donations by his political funds management organization to a civic group closely connected with a relative of a suspect in the abduction of Japanese citizens to North Korea.
菅前首相は、日本人拉致事件の容疑者親族と関係の深い団体への献金問題が先の国会で取り上げられた。
It is a matter of course that the main opposition Liberal Democratic Party, which has raised concerns about Kan's abrupt instruction regarding pro-Pyongyang high schools, is demanding the new administration rescind the instruction.
今回の唐突な指示を疑問視する自民党が、指示の撤回を求めたのも当然だろう。
Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda and education minister Masaharu Nakagawa, however, have indicated they will carry on with the former prime minister's directive.
The two said in their inauguration speeches that Kan seemed to have made the judgment based on such factors as the resumption of talks between North and South Korea.
野田首相や中川正春文科相は就任会見で、「南北対話などからそう判断したのでは」と述べ、菅前首相の指示を追認する姿勢だ。
However, we think the current Cabinet cannot obtain public understanding for resumption of the procedures unless it makes a clear explanation based on its own assessment.
しかし、情勢判断に関する現内閣の明確な説明がないままでは、理解は得られまい。
The screening will take two months. If they are deemed eligible for the government's tuition waiver program, 10 pro-Pyongyang high schools around the country will receive schooling assistance grants totaling at least 200 million yen from the government to compensate them for tuition.
審査は今後２か月かけて行われる。無償化が適用されると、全国に１０校ある朝鮮学校側に授業料分として少なくとも計約２億円の「就学支援金」が支給される。
Since the screening procedures have already started, the education ministry must scrutinize whether the schools' accounts are transparent.
審査に入った以上、文科省は朝鮮学校の経理の透明性を厳正にチェックする必要がある。
The pro-Pyongyang schools are closely linked with the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon), which is under North Korea's influence.
朝鮮学校は、北朝鮮の影響下にある在日本朝鮮人総連合会（朝鮮総連）と結びつきがある。
We are afraid the grants might be used for purposes other than waiving tuition.
就学支援金が授業料以外の目的に流用されるおそれはないのだろうか。
The education ministry is said to check documents submitted to it by the schools, but if necessary, the ministry should send officials to the schools and seek direct explanations from their administrators.
書面審査を行うというが、必要なら学校へ赴いて調査を行い、直接説明を求めるべきだ。
===
Program needs review
Some observers say students at pro-Pyongyang schools may have been taught untruths about the abduction of Japanese nationals by North Korea and other issues.
朝鮮学校ではこれまで、日本人拉致問題などに関して、事実と異なる教育が行われてきたのではないかとの指摘もある。
According to screening standards set by the education ministry, if problems are found in the curriculum or other elements of a school, the education minister can inform its administrator about them as points of concern.
文科省が策定した審査基準は、教育内容などに懸念される実態があれば、文科相が学校側に「留意事項」として通知できると規定している。
If any problem is found during the screening procedures, the education minister should strongly urge school officials to improve it voluntarily.
審査で問題が見つかった場合、文科相が自主的な改善を強く促すことも求められよう。
Reviewing the government's high school tuition waiver program, which has been advocated by the Democratic Party of Japan-led governments, is also a pressing issue.
そもそも民主党政権が掲げてきた高校無償化の見直しも、喫緊の課題である。
A joint agreement reached by the DPJ, the LDP and New Komeito includes a clause that they would discuss necessary reviews of what form the waiver program should take from next fiscal year.
民主、自民、公明の３党合意には、来年度以降の制度の在り方について、必要な見直しを検討することが盛り込まれている。
We hope the new administration will study the effects of the program thoroughly, considering the nation's difficult fiscal condition.
厳しい財政状況の中で、政策効果を徹底検証してもらいたい。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 9, 2011)
（2011年9月9日01時25分 読売新聞）
Unclear why pro-Pyongyang schools should be free
朝鮮学校無償化 審査再開の根拠が不明瞭だ（9月9日付・読売社説）
It is an enigmatic keepsake from former Prime Minister Naoto Kan.
不可解な「置き土産」である。
Kan told former Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Minister Yoshiaki Takaki on Aug. 29, shortly before his resignation as prime minister, to resume screening procedures to include pro-Pyongyang high schools in the government's tuition waiver program.
朝鮮学校への高校授業料の無償化適用について菅前首相が退任間際の先月２９日、審査手続きを再開するよう高木義明前文部科学相に指示した。
The screening procedures were suspended in the wake of North Korea's artillery shelling of a South Korean island last November. The former prime minister's administration said the situation on the Korean Peninsula was considered to have returned to conditions prior to the shelling, but we would like to ask if there are any grounds for that.
昨年１１月の北朝鮮による韓国砲撃を受けて審査を凍結していたが、「朝鮮半島情勢が砲撃前の状態に戻った」と判断したという。だが、根拠はどこにあるのか。
It is true that talks between North and South Korean senior officials were held in July for the first time in two years and seven months. U.S.-North Korean talks also took place in the same month.
確かに７月には、韓国と北朝鮮の高官協議が２年７か月ぶりに実現し、米朝協議も行われた。
However, the former administration did not explain in detail its assessment of the situation on the Korean Peninsula. It is still very difficult to understand why screening procedures would be resumed on what looked like last-minute instructions from the outgoing prime minister.
とはいえ、情勢判断の詳しい理由説明もなく、駆け込み指示のような審査再開は、理解に苦しむ。
===
New govt should explain
In the last Diet session, Kan was grilled over suspicious donations by his political funds management organization to a civic group closely connected with a relative of a suspect in the abduction of Japanese citizens to North Korea.
菅前首相は、日本人拉致事件の容疑者親族と関係の深い団体への献金問題が先の国会で取り上げられた。
It is a matter of course that the main opposition Liberal Democratic Party, which has raised concerns about Kan's abrupt instruction regarding pro-Pyongyang high schools, is demanding the new administration rescind the instruction.
今回の唐突な指示を疑問視する自民党が、指示の撤回を求めたのも当然だろう。
Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda and education minister Masaharu Nakagawa, however, have indicated they will carry on with the former prime minister's directive.
The two said in their inauguration speeches that Kan seemed to have made the judgment based on such factors as the resumption of talks between North and South Korea.
野田首相や中川正春文科相は就任会見で、「南北対話などからそう判断したのでは」と述べ、菅前首相の指示を追認する姿勢だ。
However, we think the current Cabinet cannot obtain public understanding for resumption of the procedures unless it makes a clear explanation based on its own assessment.
しかし、情勢判断に関する現内閣の明確な説明がないままでは、理解は得られまい。
The screening will take two months. If they are deemed eligible for the government's tuition waiver program, 10 pro-Pyongyang high schools around the country will receive schooling assistance grants totaling at least 200 million yen from the government to compensate them for tuition.
審査は今後２か月かけて行われる。無償化が適用されると、全国に１０校ある朝鮮学校側に授業料分として少なくとも計約２億円の「就学支援金」が支給される。
Since the screening procedures have already started, the education ministry must scrutinize whether the schools' accounts are transparent.
審査に入った以上、文科省は朝鮮学校の経理の透明性を厳正にチェックする必要がある。
The pro-Pyongyang schools are closely linked with the General Association of Korean Residents in Japan (Chongryon), which is under North Korea's influence.
朝鮮学校は、北朝鮮の影響下にある在日本朝鮮人総連合会（朝鮮総連）と結びつきがある。
We are afraid the grants might be used for purposes other than waiving tuition.
就学支援金が授業料以外の目的に流用されるおそれはないのだろうか。
The education ministry is said to check documents submitted to it by the schools, but if necessary, the ministry should send officials to the schools and seek direct explanations from their administrators.
書面審査を行うというが、必要なら学校へ赴いて調査を行い、直接説明を求めるべきだ。
===
Program needs review
Some observers say students at pro-Pyongyang schools may have been taught untruths about the abduction of Japanese nationals by North Korea and other issues.
朝鮮学校ではこれまで、日本人拉致問題などに関して、事実と異なる教育が行われてきたのではないかとの指摘もある。
According to screening standards set by the education ministry, if problems are found in the curriculum or other elements of a school, the education minister can inform its administrator about them as points of concern.
文科省が策定した審査基準は、教育内容などに懸念される実態があれば、文科相が学校側に「留意事項」として通知できると規定している。
If any problem is found during the screening procedures, the education minister should strongly urge school officials to improve it voluntarily.
審査で問題が見つかった場合、文科相が自主的な改善を強く促すことも求められよう。
Reviewing the government's high school tuition waiver program, which has been advocated by the Democratic Party of Japan-led governments, is also a pressing issue.
そもそも民主党政権が掲げてきた高校無償化の見直しも、喫緊の課題である。
A joint agreement reached by the DPJ, the LDP and New Komeito includes a clause that they would discuss necessary reviews of what form the waiver program should take from next fiscal year.
民主、自民、公明の３党合意には、来年度以降の制度の在り方について、必要な見直しを検討することが盛り込まれている。
We hope the new administration will study the effects of the program thoroughly, considering the nation's difficult fiscal condition.
厳しい財政状況の中で、政策効果を徹底検証してもらいたい。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 9, 2011)
（2011年9月9日01時25分 読売新聞）
2011/09/10
再生エネ法―送電線の接続を透明に
2011/09/09
--The Asahi Shimbun, Sept. 5
EDITORIAL: Transparency in access to the grid crucial for promotion of renewable energy.
再生エネ法―送電線の接続を透明に
The Diet enacted a law to expand the use of renewable energy sources during this year's regular session, which ran through August.
自然エネルギーの拡大をめざす再生可能エネルギー特別措置法が先の通常国会で成立した。
The law contains a so-called feed-in tariff system that requires electric power companies to buy electricity generated by using renewable energy sources--wind, solar, biomass, the heat of the Earth and small-scale water power--at fixed prices for specific periods.
風力、太陽光、バイオマス、地熱、小型の水力による電気を一定の期間、電力会社が固定価格で買い取る制度だ。
In Europe, this system has helped to sharply increase the use of renewable energy.
欧州では、この制度で自然エネルギーを大幅に増やした。
The success of the feed-in tariff system in Japan hinges on how it will be actually operated.
日本での成功の可否は、今後の運用にかかっている。
The law says the prices at which utilities buy renewable power should be determined in a way that ensures reasonable profits for power producers.
法律は、買い取り価格について、参入者の適正な利潤を考慮して決めることを明記した。
That means renewable electricity will be bought at various price levels, depending on the kind of energy source and the method of power generation involved.
自然エネルギーの種類や方式によって違う値段になる。
This is a reasonable approach.
この点は評価したい。
It makes sense to set prices at levels that make renewable power businesses economically viable.
ビジネスが成り立つ価格にすることが必要だ。
The costs of buying clean power will be passed onto consumers through higher electricity bills.
買い取り費用は電気料金に上乗せされる。
The law doesn't lay down any rules concerning the expected rate increases. But the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, which regulates the power industry, has said the rate hikes will be capped at 0.5 yen per kilowatt-hour.
法律に上げ幅の規定はないが、経済産業省は「１キロワット時０．５円を上限で運用する」といってきた。
There should be no such rigid limits on rate increases to buy renewable power.
これはやめるべきだ。
Power rates actually fluctuate more sharply due to factors like changes in oil prices.
電気料金は、原油価格などによって、もっと大きく変動している。
Placing too strict restrictions on the scope of hikes in electricity bills would hamper efforts to popularize the feed-in tariff system.
自然エネルギーを対象に料金転嫁に歯止めをかけすぎると、うまく導入が進まない。
The biggest issue is setting up a connection to the power grid.
最大の問題は、送電線への接続だ。
While utilities are in principle obliged to allow renewable electricity to be fed into the grid, they are permitted to refuse to do so if there is any possibility of disruptions in stable power supply.
電力会社には自然エネルギーの電気を送電線につなぐ義務があるものの、「安定供給に支障がある場合」には接続しなくてもよいとされている。
This rule effectively means the current situation will remain unchanged. In Hokkaido, the Tohoku region and Kyushu, many plans to build wind farms have been dropped because the regional utilities have refused to buy electricity from the planned facilities under the pretext of "unstable supply."
これでは、北海道や東北、九州で、多くの風力発電所の計画が「供給が不安定」という電力会社の判断で断念させられている現状と変わらない。
Hokkaido Electric Power Co. has said it will not be able to purchase more power from wind, at least for the time being, because it is already buying wind-generated electricity up to the limit of 360 megawatts.
すでに北海道電力は、風力の受け入れ可能量３６万キロワットが満杯なので、新法施行後も当面は新たな受け入れはできないと表明している。
But wind power is the most widely used renewable energy source globally. Both China and the United States generate more than 40 gigawatts of electricity by using wind power.
風力は世界では自然エネルギーの柱で、中国、米国では４千万キロワットを超える。
In contrast, Japan's wind power output is a puny 2.5 gigawatts.
日本は約２５０万キロワットしかない。
The outlook for wind power generation in Japan will remain bleak if utilities, citing upper limits, refuse to buy electricity produced with wind despite the small overall output.
それでも電力各社が「もう満杯」というのなら展望は開けない。
In order to inject more transparency into this program, it is necessary to build up a system in which independent experts judge the appropriateness of the ceilings utilities set for their purchases of wind-generated power.
電力会社のいう受け入れ可能量を外部の人間がチェックして透明化する態勢が必要だ。
The most crucial aspect for the success of the new system, however, is to establish integrated operations of the transmission networks of utilities.
何より送電線の広域運用が欠かせない。
In Japan, electric power companies that enjoy a monopoly on regional power markets operate separate transmission networks independently. Basically, utilities in principle don't supply electricity to other utilities, even if their service areas are adjacent.
日本の送電網は、地域独占の電力会社ごとに分割され、隣接する会社同士でも基本的に電気を融通しない。
This tradition should be changed so that the power grids are operated in an integrated way that allows electricity generated with renewable energy sources in rural areas to be sent to large markets like Tokyo and the Kansai region. That would ensure enough demand for clean power and help avert a situation where a utility's capacity to buy such electricity reaches its limit.
これを改め、地域に偏在する自然エネルギー電力を東京や関西の大消費地に送るように送電網の運用を変えれば、供給に見合う需要が確保され、電力会社が「もう満杯」という事態は避けられる。
Renewable energy accounts for only 1 percent of Japan's overall power production.
日本の電力に占める自然エネルギーは１％だ。
The new legislation should be used to raise the low status of renewable energy in this country while promoting efforts to reduce nuclear power generation, reform the power supply system and develop next-generation storage battery technology.
新法をテコに、原発の削減や電力体制の改革、蓄電池などの研究開発も進めながら、「自然エネルギー後進国」から早く脱却しよう。
--The Asahi Shimbun, Sept. 5
EDITORIAL: Transparency in access to the grid crucial for promotion of renewable energy.
再生エネ法―送電線の接続を透明に
The Diet enacted a law to expand the use of renewable energy sources during this year's regular session, which ran through August.
自然エネルギーの拡大をめざす再生可能エネルギー特別措置法が先の通常国会で成立した。
The law contains a so-called feed-in tariff system that requires electric power companies to buy electricity generated by using renewable energy sources--wind, solar, biomass, the heat of the Earth and small-scale water power--at fixed prices for specific periods.
風力、太陽光、バイオマス、地熱、小型の水力による電気を一定の期間、電力会社が固定価格で買い取る制度だ。
In Europe, this system has helped to sharply increase the use of renewable energy.
欧州では、この制度で自然エネルギーを大幅に増やした。
The success of the feed-in tariff system in Japan hinges on how it will be actually operated.
日本での成功の可否は、今後の運用にかかっている。
The law says the prices at which utilities buy renewable power should be determined in a way that ensures reasonable profits for power producers.
法律は、買い取り価格について、参入者の適正な利潤を考慮して決めることを明記した。
That means renewable electricity will be bought at various price levels, depending on the kind of energy source and the method of power generation involved.
自然エネルギーの種類や方式によって違う値段になる。
This is a reasonable approach.
この点は評価したい。
It makes sense to set prices at levels that make renewable power businesses economically viable.
ビジネスが成り立つ価格にすることが必要だ。
The costs of buying clean power will be passed onto consumers through higher electricity bills.
買い取り費用は電気料金に上乗せされる。
The law doesn't lay down any rules concerning the expected rate increases. But the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, which regulates the power industry, has said the rate hikes will be capped at 0.5 yen per kilowatt-hour.
法律に上げ幅の規定はないが、経済産業省は「１キロワット時０．５円を上限で運用する」といってきた。
There should be no such rigid limits on rate increases to buy renewable power.
これはやめるべきだ。
Power rates actually fluctuate more sharply due to factors like changes in oil prices.
電気料金は、原油価格などによって、もっと大きく変動している。
Placing too strict restrictions on the scope of hikes in electricity bills would hamper efforts to popularize the feed-in tariff system.
自然エネルギーを対象に料金転嫁に歯止めをかけすぎると、うまく導入が進まない。
The biggest issue is setting up a connection to the power grid.
最大の問題は、送電線への接続だ。
While utilities are in principle obliged to allow renewable electricity to be fed into the grid, they are permitted to refuse to do so if there is any possibility of disruptions in stable power supply.
電力会社には自然エネルギーの電気を送電線につなぐ義務があるものの、「安定供給に支障がある場合」には接続しなくてもよいとされている。
This rule effectively means the current situation will remain unchanged. In Hokkaido, the Tohoku region and Kyushu, many plans to build wind farms have been dropped because the regional utilities have refused to buy electricity from the planned facilities under the pretext of "unstable supply."
これでは、北海道や東北、九州で、多くの風力発電所の計画が「供給が不安定」という電力会社の判断で断念させられている現状と変わらない。
Hokkaido Electric Power Co. has said it will not be able to purchase more power from wind, at least for the time being, because it is already buying wind-generated electricity up to the limit of 360 megawatts.
すでに北海道電力は、風力の受け入れ可能量３６万キロワットが満杯なので、新法施行後も当面は新たな受け入れはできないと表明している。
But wind power is the most widely used renewable energy source globally. Both China and the United States generate more than 40 gigawatts of electricity by using wind power.
風力は世界では自然エネルギーの柱で、中国、米国では４千万キロワットを超える。
In contrast, Japan's wind power output is a puny 2.5 gigawatts.
日本は約２５０万キロワットしかない。
The outlook for wind power generation in Japan will remain bleak if utilities, citing upper limits, refuse to buy electricity produced with wind despite the small overall output.
それでも電力各社が「もう満杯」というのなら展望は開けない。
In order to inject more transparency into this program, it is necessary to build up a system in which independent experts judge the appropriateness of the ceilings utilities set for their purchases of wind-generated power.
電力会社のいう受け入れ可能量を外部の人間がチェックして透明化する態勢が必要だ。
The most crucial aspect for the success of the new system, however, is to establish integrated operations of the transmission networks of utilities.
何より送電線の広域運用が欠かせない。
In Japan, electric power companies that enjoy a monopoly on regional power markets operate separate transmission networks independently. Basically, utilities in principle don't supply electricity to other utilities, even if their service areas are adjacent.
日本の送電網は、地域独占の電力会社ごとに分割され、隣接する会社同士でも基本的に電気を融通しない。
This tradition should be changed so that the power grids are operated in an integrated way that allows electricity generated with renewable energy sources in rural areas to be sent to large markets like Tokyo and the Kansai region. That would ensure enough demand for clean power and help avert a situation where a utility's capacity to buy such electricity reaches its limit.
これを改め、地域に偏在する自然エネルギー電力を東京や関西の大消費地に送るように送電網の運用を変えれば、供給に見合う需要が確保され、電力会社が「もう満杯」という事態は避けられる。
Renewable energy accounts for only 1 percent of Japan's overall power production.
日本の電力に占める自然エネルギーは１％だ。
The new legislation should be used to raise the low status of renewable energy in this country while promoting efforts to reduce nuclear power generation, reform the power supply system and develop next-generation storage battery technology.
新法をテコに、原発の削減や電力体制の改革、蓄電池などの研究開発も進めながら、「自然エネルギー後進国」から早く脱却しよう。
2011/09/09
被災企業支援―連帯の金融を広げよう
2011/09/08
--The Asahi Shimbun, Sept. 7
EDITORIAL: Fresh approach to financing can help disaster-stricken areas.
被災企業支援―連帯の金融を広げよう
A fresh approach to financing is needed to rebuild areas that have seen their economic bases wiped out by the March 11 disaster.
経済基盤を根こそぎ奪われた被災地域の再生へ、金融にも新たな発想が求められている。
The so-called double loan problem poses a major challenge to financial reconstruction. This is because the government has decided to establish an agency in each disaster-stricken prefecture that will buy up loans companies took out before the catastrophe.
金融復興の焦点である二重ローン問題では、政府が旧債権の買い取り機関を被災各県に設けることになった。
But as we feared, a stalemate may set in over purchase prices.
だが案の定、買い取り価格をめぐって袋小路に陥る懸念が出ている。
Creditor financial institutions would naturally want to sell off the loans at high prices to minimize anticipated losses, while purchasing agencies would make lower offers.
債権者の金融機関は高く売り、見込まれる損失を転嫁したい。逆に買い取り機関側は安く抑えたい、という構図だ。
This is hardly the time for such a stalemate.
にらみ合いで時間を費やしている場合ではない。
A decision must be made by taking various factors into account, such the degree of contribution made by each financial institution to help disaster-affected businesses rebuild themselves.
被災企業の再建に向けた金融機関側の貢献度合いなどを加味して総合的に決断するほかない。
All parties concerned must remember that speedy recovery should be their shared goal.
関係者は復興を加速するという大局に立ってほしい。
The problem, though, is that even if such businesses can be sure of having their old debts taken care of, they still have to deal with a lack of capital.
ただ、被災企業にとっては旧債務の処理にメドがついても、資本の欠乏という壁がある。
Cases abound in the disaster-stricken prefectures of businesses that remain in a fix because they have no collateral against which to borrow funds to purchase equipment.
借金して設備を買おうにも担保がない、といった八方ふさがりの話が被災地にはあふれている。
One solution lies in getting private citizens to make direct investments in such businesses.
注目したいのは、被災企業と個人マネーを直接結ぶ取り組みだ。
A new flow of money from individuals who want to support the post-disaster reconstruction effort, even at their own risk, may result in a synergy with bank lending.
「損失も覚悟のうえで復興を支援する」という新たなお金の流れを作り、金融機関の融資との相乗効果を生み出したい。
In fact, programs are already in place for consumers to help pig farms and seafood processing factories by paying for their products in advance.
すでに、商品の購入を先払いすることで養豚場や水産加工場の再建を助ける動きがある。
A growing number of people are signing up for similar deals where they become owners who run oyster farming businesses, for example.
カキ養殖などのオーナー制度も広がっている。
Tokyo-based Music Securities Inc., which is known for its music CD fund, is helping to raise money for disaster-affected businesses by establishing a fund for each business.
被災企業ごとにファンドを設け、資金集めを支援しているのは、音楽ＣＤファンドで実績のあるミュージックセキュリティーズ（東京）だ。
Donations start at 10,000 yen, half of which is invested in the business of the donor's choice. The donor receives products from the business as a dividend.
１口１万円で、出資金と寄付金を５千円ずつ出してもらい、被災企業の自慢の製品などで配当する。
Discovering promising entrepreneurs who help promote local resources and matching them up with private investors around the nation for long-term "partnerships" should provide a strong motivation for businesses to recover from the disaster.
被災地の資源を生かす魅力的な企業家を発掘し、全国の人々からの投資という形で息の長い連帯関係を結ぶ。これは事業者の復興への強い動機付けにもなる。
Such an arrangement can also help strengthen the operational base for disaster-affected businesses that are handicapped in distribution and financing.
販路や資金面でハンディを負う被災企業の基盤を強化する可能性も秘める。
We hope many individuals and groups, including nongovernmental organs, will work hard to discover promising businesses.
ＮＰＯを含む多様な担い手が知恵を絞り、埋もれた企業を掘り起こしてほしい。
We would also like to see closer collaboration between those individuals/groups and existing financial institutions and administrative entities.
既存の金融機関や行政との連携も深めたい。
Policy-wise, it should be well worth giving tax breaks and other incentives to such investors.
投資家への税制優遇など、政策面で後押しする価値は大きいはずだ。
In the meantime, investment scams passing for disaster relief drives are on the rise.
一方、復興支援を語る投資詐欺が増えている。
This is outrageous, but it is also up to investors to be discerning.
実に腹立たしいが、投資する側は「本物」を見極める目を鍛えたい。
And here is a checklist in case of doubt.
Is the party soliciting your investment able to give you specific information about the disaster damage suffered by the business in question?
被災の情報は具体的か。
Will you be given a chance to speak directly with a representative of the business in which you are investing, or pay that person a visit to see the situation for yourself?
投資先の事業者と対話したり、現地を訪ねたりして実態を把握する機会はあるか。
Are you fully apprised of your risks?
リスクの説明は十分か。
Do you feel you are being pressed to make a much larger investment than what you are comfortable with?
無理に大口の投資を勧めていないか――。
We hope a "finance system of empathy and partnership" will take root.
こうした点をしっかりチェックしつつ、共感と連帯の金融を広げたい。
--The Asahi Shimbun, Sept. 7
EDITORIAL: Fresh approach to financing can help disaster-stricken areas.
被災企業支援―連帯の金融を広げよう
A fresh approach to financing is needed to rebuild areas that have seen their economic bases wiped out by the March 11 disaster.
経済基盤を根こそぎ奪われた被災地域の再生へ、金融にも新たな発想が求められている。
The so-called double loan problem poses a major challenge to financial reconstruction. This is because the government has decided to establish an agency in each disaster-stricken prefecture that will buy up loans companies took out before the catastrophe.
金融復興の焦点である二重ローン問題では、政府が旧債権の買い取り機関を被災各県に設けることになった。
But as we feared, a stalemate may set in over purchase prices.
だが案の定、買い取り価格をめぐって袋小路に陥る懸念が出ている。
Creditor financial institutions would naturally want to sell off the loans at high prices to minimize anticipated losses, while purchasing agencies would make lower offers.
債権者の金融機関は高く売り、見込まれる損失を転嫁したい。逆に買い取り機関側は安く抑えたい、という構図だ。
This is hardly the time for such a stalemate.
にらみ合いで時間を費やしている場合ではない。
A decision must be made by taking various factors into account, such the degree of contribution made by each financial institution to help disaster-affected businesses rebuild themselves.
被災企業の再建に向けた金融機関側の貢献度合いなどを加味して総合的に決断するほかない。
All parties concerned must remember that speedy recovery should be their shared goal.
関係者は復興を加速するという大局に立ってほしい。
The problem, though, is that even if such businesses can be sure of having their old debts taken care of, they still have to deal with a lack of capital.
ただ、被災企業にとっては旧債務の処理にメドがついても、資本の欠乏という壁がある。
Cases abound in the disaster-stricken prefectures of businesses that remain in a fix because they have no collateral against which to borrow funds to purchase equipment.
借金して設備を買おうにも担保がない、といった八方ふさがりの話が被災地にはあふれている。
One solution lies in getting private citizens to make direct investments in such businesses.
注目したいのは、被災企業と個人マネーを直接結ぶ取り組みだ。
A new flow of money from individuals who want to support the post-disaster reconstruction effort, even at their own risk, may result in a synergy with bank lending.
「損失も覚悟のうえで復興を支援する」という新たなお金の流れを作り、金融機関の融資との相乗効果を生み出したい。
In fact, programs are already in place for consumers to help pig farms and seafood processing factories by paying for their products in advance.
すでに、商品の購入を先払いすることで養豚場や水産加工場の再建を助ける動きがある。
A growing number of people are signing up for similar deals where they become owners who run oyster farming businesses, for example.
カキ養殖などのオーナー制度も広がっている。
Tokyo-based Music Securities Inc., which is known for its music CD fund, is helping to raise money for disaster-affected businesses by establishing a fund for each business.
被災企業ごとにファンドを設け、資金集めを支援しているのは、音楽ＣＤファンドで実績のあるミュージックセキュリティーズ（東京）だ。
Donations start at 10,000 yen, half of which is invested in the business of the donor's choice. The donor receives products from the business as a dividend.
１口１万円で、出資金と寄付金を５千円ずつ出してもらい、被災企業の自慢の製品などで配当する。
Discovering promising entrepreneurs who help promote local resources and matching them up with private investors around the nation for long-term "partnerships" should provide a strong motivation for businesses to recover from the disaster.
被災地の資源を生かす魅力的な企業家を発掘し、全国の人々からの投資という形で息の長い連帯関係を結ぶ。これは事業者の復興への強い動機付けにもなる。
Such an arrangement can also help strengthen the operational base for disaster-affected businesses that are handicapped in distribution and financing.
販路や資金面でハンディを負う被災企業の基盤を強化する可能性も秘める。
We hope many individuals and groups, including nongovernmental organs, will work hard to discover promising businesses.
ＮＰＯを含む多様な担い手が知恵を絞り、埋もれた企業を掘り起こしてほしい。
We would also like to see closer collaboration between those individuals/groups and existing financial institutions and administrative entities.
既存の金融機関や行政との連携も深めたい。
Policy-wise, it should be well worth giving tax breaks and other incentives to such investors.
投資家への税制優遇など、政策面で後押しする価値は大きいはずだ。
In the meantime, investment scams passing for disaster relief drives are on the rise.
一方、復興支援を語る投資詐欺が増えている。
This is outrageous, but it is also up to investors to be discerning.
実に腹立たしいが、投資する側は「本物」を見極める目を鍛えたい。
And here is a checklist in case of doubt.
Is the party soliciting your investment able to give you specific information about the disaster damage suffered by the business in question?
被災の情報は具体的か。
Will you be given a chance to speak directly with a representative of the business in which you are investing, or pay that person a visit to see the situation for yourself?
投資先の事業者と対話したり、現地を訪ねたりして実態を把握する機会はあるか。
Are you fully apprised of your risks?
リスクの説明は十分か。
Do you feel you are being pressed to make a much larger investment than what you are comfortable with?
無理に大口の投資を勧めていないか――。
We hope a "finance system of empathy and partnership" will take root.
こうした点をしっかりチェックしつつ、共感と連帯の金融を広げたい。
2011/09/08
外国人看護師―「人の開国」を大胆に
2011/09/07
--The Asahi Shimbun, Sept. 6
EDITORIAL: Japan needs to open its doors wider for foreign workers.
外国人看護師―「人の開国」を大胆に
With its population aging rapidly, Japan will see an increased need for more nursing and health care professionals in the years ahead.
高齢化が進む日本社会では看護や介護の人材が一層必要になる。
Japan could find itself in serious trouble if it erects barriers too high for foreign workers wishing to work here.
外国人受け入れに高すぎる壁を設けては、むしろ日本が困ることにならないだろうか。
Japan and Vietnam are now holding talks to establish a system that will allow young Vietnamese to work as nurses and nursing care workers in Japan.
ベトナムの若者が日本で看護師や介護福祉士になる枠組みを作る交渉が本格化している。
The negotiations are based on a bilateral economic partnership agreement.
日越間の経済連携協定（ＥＰＡ）に基づくものだ。
Japan already has programs to accept such health care workers from Indonesia and the Philippines under bilateral economic partnership agreements with these countries.
But these programs have turned out to be riddled with problems.
先例となるインドネシア、フィリピンとのＥＰＡ協定で多くの問題点が浮き彫りになった。
These problems need to be fixed if Japan is to establish a better program with Vietnam.
ベトナムとの枠組み作りではそこの是正がかかせない。
Under existing programs, trainees receive about half a year of training before coming to Japan and then work for three years at Japanese hospitals as they prepare for state examinations to qualify as a health care professional. 半年程度の入国前研修の後、看護師候補として３年間、各地の病院で働きながら国家資格の取得をめざす――。
Nearly 600 candidates from Indonesia and the Philippines have taken part in the programs since fiscal 2008.
こうした制度の下で０８年度以降、インドネシアとフィリピン両国から６００人近くが来日した。
Of the 254 foreign trainees who took the nursing license exam last year, however, only three were successful.
ところが、昨年の看護師国家試験の受験者２５４人のうち合格したのは３人だけ。
The number of successful applicants for the exam held in March this year was larger at 16, but the pass rate was still as low as 4 percent.
今年３月の試験の合格者は１６人に増えたが合格率は４％だった。
In order to prevent the unsuccessful candidates from returning home en masse, the government decided to allow the first group of Indonesian trainees to stay in Japan for one more year.
But many of the young Indonesians who failed to qualify have given up on working in Japan and have returned home.
試験に落ちた若者の大量帰国を避けようと政府は、第一陣で来たインドネシア人候補者の滞在期限を１年延長したが、多くの若者が日本に見切りをつけて帰ってしまった。
The government should not allow a similar situation where the young Vietnamese who come to Japan with hopes of working here return home disappointed.
ベトナムから夢を抱いて来日する若者を、同じように失意のまま帰国させるようなことにしてはならない。
The biggest factor behind the low ratios of successful applicants is clearly the language barrier.
合格率が低い一番の理由は日本語の壁だ。
It is apparently an overwhelming challenge for these trainees to learn enough Japanese while working.
働きながらの勉強には限界がある。
In addition, the need to learn many technical terms further increases the difficulty of passing the license examination. As a result, trainees whose work was rated highly by the hospitals did not necessarily pass the exam.
しかも専門用語が出る国家試験のハードルは高く、病院から高い評価を受けた人材が必ずしも合格しない結果となっている。
In its current state, the system appears as if it was designed to reject rather than accept foreign nationals wishing to work as health care professionals in Japan.
これでは、職業人として日本に残るのを拒む制度と受け止められても仕方あるまい。
It is necessary to give the trainees one year or so of Japanese language training so that they can acquire at least sufficient skills for everyday conversation.
来日前の日本語研修を１年程度行い、少なくとも日常会話に困らない程度の能力をつけて来てもらうことが必要だ。
The state license exam also needs to be improved.
国家試験の改善もさらに図りたい。
Under the economic partnership agreements with Indonesia and the Philippines, two or three years of experience in the profession are required to be eligible for the programs. But it is doubtful whether such lengthy experience is really necessary.
これまでのＥＰＡ協定では本国で２、３年の実務経験を条件にしたが、それほどの年数が必要だろうか。
Some Japanese experts say it is easier for younger trainees to get acclimated to the working practices and conditions at Japanese medical institutions.
日本の医療慣行に慣れてもらうためにはより若い方がいいという声も聞く。
Since the Great East Japan Earthquake, many Indonesian and Philippine trainees remained at hospitals and facilities in affected areas to help victims. The ways they contributed to disaster relief efforts were reported and much talked about back in their home countries.
東日本大震災では、被災地の病院や施設に残って救援を続けたインドネシア人やフィリピン人の姿が母国で報じられ、話題となった。
We should value young foreigners who have come to have affection for Japan.
日本に愛着を持つようになった外国人の若者の存在は貴重だ。
Competition for human resources in Asia is getting stronger.
アジアの人材獲得競争は激しさを増している。
Japan needs to create an open and attractive system to get more qualified and talented foreign workers.
優れた人材を確保するために開放的で魅力ある仕組みを作る必要がある。
The new administration of Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda should reconsider the government's policy of accepting foreign workers so as to open the nation's door wider to human resources from around the world.
野田政権は外国人受け入れ政策を見直し、人の開国を大胆に進めるべきだ。
--The Asahi Shimbun, Sept. 6
EDITORIAL: Japan needs to open its doors wider for foreign workers.
外国人看護師―「人の開国」を大胆に
With its population aging rapidly, Japan will see an increased need for more nursing and health care professionals in the years ahead.
高齢化が進む日本社会では看護や介護の人材が一層必要になる。
Japan could find itself in serious trouble if it erects barriers too high for foreign workers wishing to work here.
外国人受け入れに高すぎる壁を設けては、むしろ日本が困ることにならないだろうか。
Japan and Vietnam are now holding talks to establish a system that will allow young Vietnamese to work as nurses and nursing care workers in Japan.
ベトナムの若者が日本で看護師や介護福祉士になる枠組みを作る交渉が本格化している。
The negotiations are based on a bilateral economic partnership agreement.
日越間の経済連携協定（ＥＰＡ）に基づくものだ。
Japan already has programs to accept such health care workers from Indonesia and the Philippines under bilateral economic partnership agreements with these countries.
But these programs have turned out to be riddled with problems.
先例となるインドネシア、フィリピンとのＥＰＡ協定で多くの問題点が浮き彫りになった。
These problems need to be fixed if Japan is to establish a better program with Vietnam.
ベトナムとの枠組み作りではそこの是正がかかせない。
Under existing programs, trainees receive about half a year of training before coming to Japan and then work for three years at Japanese hospitals as they prepare for state examinations to qualify as a health care professional. 半年程度の入国前研修の後、看護師候補として３年間、各地の病院で働きながら国家資格の取得をめざす――。
Nearly 600 candidates from Indonesia and the Philippines have taken part in the programs since fiscal 2008.
こうした制度の下で０８年度以降、インドネシアとフィリピン両国から６００人近くが来日した。
Of the 254 foreign trainees who took the nursing license exam last year, however, only three were successful.
ところが、昨年の看護師国家試験の受験者２５４人のうち合格したのは３人だけ。
The number of successful applicants for the exam held in March this year was larger at 16, but the pass rate was still as low as 4 percent.
今年３月の試験の合格者は１６人に増えたが合格率は４％だった。
In order to prevent the unsuccessful candidates from returning home en masse, the government decided to allow the first group of Indonesian trainees to stay in Japan for one more year.
But many of the young Indonesians who failed to qualify have given up on working in Japan and have returned home.
試験に落ちた若者の大量帰国を避けようと政府は、第一陣で来たインドネシア人候補者の滞在期限を１年延長したが、多くの若者が日本に見切りをつけて帰ってしまった。
The government should not allow a similar situation where the young Vietnamese who come to Japan with hopes of working here return home disappointed.
ベトナムから夢を抱いて来日する若者を、同じように失意のまま帰国させるようなことにしてはならない。
The biggest factor behind the low ratios of successful applicants is clearly the language barrier.
合格率が低い一番の理由は日本語の壁だ。
It is apparently an overwhelming challenge for these trainees to learn enough Japanese while working.
働きながらの勉強には限界がある。
In addition, the need to learn many technical terms further increases the difficulty of passing the license examination. As a result, trainees whose work was rated highly by the hospitals did not necessarily pass the exam.
しかも専門用語が出る国家試験のハードルは高く、病院から高い評価を受けた人材が必ずしも合格しない結果となっている。
In its current state, the system appears as if it was designed to reject rather than accept foreign nationals wishing to work as health care professionals in Japan.
これでは、職業人として日本に残るのを拒む制度と受け止められても仕方あるまい。
It is necessary to give the trainees one year or so of Japanese language training so that they can acquire at least sufficient skills for everyday conversation.
来日前の日本語研修を１年程度行い、少なくとも日常会話に困らない程度の能力をつけて来てもらうことが必要だ。
The state license exam also needs to be improved.
国家試験の改善もさらに図りたい。
Under the economic partnership agreements with Indonesia and the Philippines, two or three years of experience in the profession are required to be eligible for the programs. But it is doubtful whether such lengthy experience is really necessary.
これまでのＥＰＡ協定では本国で２、３年の実務経験を条件にしたが、それほどの年数が必要だろうか。
Some Japanese experts say it is easier for younger trainees to get acclimated to the working practices and conditions at Japanese medical institutions.
日本の医療慣行に慣れてもらうためにはより若い方がいいという声も聞く。
Since the Great East Japan Earthquake, many Indonesian and Philippine trainees remained at hospitals and facilities in affected areas to help victims. The ways they contributed to disaster relief efforts were reported and much talked about back in their home countries.
東日本大震災では、被災地の病院や施設に残って救援を続けたインドネシア人やフィリピン人の姿が母国で報じられ、話題となった。
We should value young foreigners who have come to have affection for Japan.
日本に愛着を持つようになった外国人の若者の存在は貴重だ。
Competition for human resources in Asia is getting stronger.
アジアの人材獲得競争は激しさを増している。
Japan needs to create an open and attractive system to get more qualified and talented foreign workers.
優れた人材を確保するために開放的で魅力ある仕組みを作る必要がある。
The new administration of Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda should reconsider the government's policy of accepting foreign workers so as to open the nation's door wider to human resources from around the world.
野田政権は外国人受け入れ政策を見直し、人の開国を大胆に進めるべきだ。
2011/09/07
外交立て直し まずは日米同盟の再構築だ
The Yomiuri Shimbun (Sep. 6, 2011)
Japan-U.S. alliance must be rebuilt
外交立て直し まずは日米同盟の再構築だ（9月5日付・読売社説）
The inauguration of Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda's Cabinet should lead to a halt in the erosion of Japan's diplomatic relations of recent years, which is essential for making the nation's voice better heard in the international community.
近年の日本外交の地盤沈下に歯止めをかけ、国際的な発言力を高める。野田内閣の発足を、その転機としたい。
At a press conference held shortly after his appointment as prime minister, Noda stressed the need to achieve that goal, saying: "The Japan-U.S. relationship is a central pillar of our country's diplomatic and security policy at a time when the world is becoming more and more multipolar. [Bilateral relations] must be deepened and expanded."
野田首相は就任記者会見で、「世界が多極化する中、時代が求める外交・安保政策の軸は日米関係で、その深化・発展を遂げねばならない」と強調した。
Noda is an unknown quantity as prime minister. However, we hope he will steadfastly adhere to this fundamental principle in fulfilling his duties.
首相の手腕は未知数だが、その基本方針で突き進んでほしい。
The Japan-U.S. alliance has long functioned as a public good to preserve peace and security in the Asia-Pacific basin.
日米同盟は、アジア太平洋の平和と安全を支える公共財として機能してきた。
Many Asian countries share this perception.
それは多くのアジア諸国の共通認識でもある。
Unstable Japan-U.S. ties would harm relations between Japan and its Asian neighbors.
日米関係の不安定化は、日本とアジア各国の関係にも悪影響を及ぼす。
The nation's diplomatic environment has been increasingly unfavorable in recent years.
ここ数年、日本外交を取り巻く環境は厳しくなっている。
The Noda administration was preceded by short-lived cabinets formed by five prime ministers. This has been compounded by the rise of China and some other newly emerging nations, a development that has undeniably resulted in a relative decline in Japan's national strength as the mainstay of its foreign relations.
５人連続の短命首相に加え、中国など新興国の台頭で、外交を支える国力の相対的低下は否定できない。
===
Put U.S. ties on track
This is particularly evident in the turmoil and stagnation in the Japan-U.S. relationship due to a change of administration that took place two years ago.
This paralysis can be attributed to former Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama's unskilled diplomacy, followed by an ill-conceived attempt by his successor, Naoto Kan, to put off bilateral issues.
特に２年前の政権交代後は、鳩山元首相の未熟な外交と菅前首相の懸案先送りで、日米関係は迷走・停滞した。
With this in mind, the new prime minister must work to bring the nation's tattered external relations back on track, focusing first on shoring up its alliance with the United States.
まずは強固な日米同盟を再構築することから、外交を立て直さねばなるまい。
Noda is scheduled to attend a number of meetings with the leaders of other nations, including a session of the U.N. General Assembly in late September. His diplomatic itinerary for November and beyond also includes a summit meeting of the Group of 20 nations and territories, the East Asia Summit and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum.
今月下旬の国連総会に続き、１１月の主要２０か国・地域（Ｇ２０）と東アジアの首脳会議、アジア太平洋経済協力会議と、首脳外交の日程が目白押しだ。
The prime minister must use these diplomatic opportunities to establish trust with U.S. President Barack Obama and other national leaders. Doing so is essential to defend our national interests.
オバマ米大統領ら各国首脳と信頼関係を築き、日本の国益を守る必要がある。
He must also take specific actions to resolve pending issues facing Japan and the United States and not just follow the steps taken by his predecessors, Hatoyama and Kan, who both had only harped on "a deepening" of the bilateral alliance.
最も重要なのは、鳩山、菅両氏のように単に「同盟深化」を唱えるのでなく、懸案の解決に向けて具体的な行動をとることだ。
Washington has called on Tokyo to make "concrete progress" in settling the dispute over the transfer of the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station in Okinawa Prefecture "within one year."
米国は、米軍普天間飛行場の移設問題で「１年以内の進展」を求めている。
Failure to do so could prompt the U.S. administration to drastically reconsider a plan to relocate U.S. marines in the prefecture to Guam.
それができない場合、在沖縄海兵隊のグアム移転が大幅に見直される恐れがある。
Noda must do all he can to overcome the gridlock in the Futenma controversy through talks with leaders and residents in Okinawa Prefecture. This task requires the prime minister to join hands with Cabinet members related to the dispute--Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba, Defense Minister Yasuo Ichikawa and Tatsuo Kawabata, state minister for Okinawa and Northern Territories affairs.
野田首相は、玄葉外相、一川防衛相、川端沖縄相とともに、沖縄との協議を重ね、打開策の模索に全力を挙げねばならない。
===
Promote talks with China
It is no less important for Noda to promote dialogue with China.
中国との対話も重要だ。
The collisions between a Chinese fishing boat and two Japanese vessels in waters off the Senkaku Islands in September last year strained bilateral ties. Although summit talks among Japan, China and South Korea have since taken place, Tokyo and Beijing remain caught in a standoff over natural gas field exploration in the East China Sea and other bilateral problems.
昨年秋の尖閣諸島沖での漁船衝突事件以来、日中韓首脳会談は開催したものの、東シナ海のガス田問題などは膠着(こうちゃく)状態が続く。
The prime minister should step up security talks between Japan and China while also increasing bilateral economic and trade cooperation. Living up to this responsibility is essential to realizing what is called a "strategically reciprocal relationship" between Tokyo and Beijing, instead of leaving the mutually avowed goal an empty slogan.
安全保障面の協議や経済・通商面の協力を拡充し、「戦略的互恵関係」を掛け声だけでなく、真に実のあるものにすべきだ。
The Noda administration also must decide, as soon as possible, whether to send Self-Defense Forces personnel to South Sudan for a U.N. peacekeeping mission, another decision his predecessors put off.
前政権が決断を先送りした南スーダンの国連平和維持活動（ＰＫＯ）への自衛隊派遣でも、早期に結論を出すことが肝要である。
We hope the Liberal Democratic Party and other opposition parties will agree to abandon the unreasonable practice established over the years of restricting visits to other countries by prime ministers and foreign ministers.
For years, opposition parties have insisted that attendance at Diet sessions by such political figures must take precedence over overseas travel on official business.
自民党など野党に求めたいのは、国会審議を理由に、首相や外相の外国訪問を制約する悪(あ)しき慣例をやめることだ。
The public does not even begin to understand why the country's national interests must be compromised because its prime minister and foreign minister are prevented from visiting other nations under what can only be described as a misguided rule meant to preserve "the authority of the Diet."
「国会の権威」を盾に国益を損ね続けることは、国民の理解を超えている。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 5, 2011)
（2011年9月5日01時15分 読売新聞）
Japan-U.S. alliance must be rebuilt
外交立て直し まずは日米同盟の再構築だ（9月5日付・読売社説）
The inauguration of Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda's Cabinet should lead to a halt in the erosion of Japan's diplomatic relations of recent years, which is essential for making the nation's voice better heard in the international community.
近年の日本外交の地盤沈下に歯止めをかけ、国際的な発言力を高める。野田内閣の発足を、その転機としたい。
At a press conference held shortly after his appointment as prime minister, Noda stressed the need to achieve that goal, saying: "The Japan-U.S. relationship is a central pillar of our country's diplomatic and security policy at a time when the world is becoming more and more multipolar. [Bilateral relations] must be deepened and expanded."
野田首相は就任記者会見で、「世界が多極化する中、時代が求める外交・安保政策の軸は日米関係で、その深化・発展を遂げねばならない」と強調した。
Noda is an unknown quantity as prime minister. However, we hope he will steadfastly adhere to this fundamental principle in fulfilling his duties.
首相の手腕は未知数だが、その基本方針で突き進んでほしい。
The Japan-U.S. alliance has long functioned as a public good to preserve peace and security in the Asia-Pacific basin.
日米同盟は、アジア太平洋の平和と安全を支える公共財として機能してきた。
Many Asian countries share this perception.
それは多くのアジア諸国の共通認識でもある。
Unstable Japan-U.S. ties would harm relations between Japan and its Asian neighbors.
日米関係の不安定化は、日本とアジア各国の関係にも悪影響を及ぼす。
The nation's diplomatic environment has been increasingly unfavorable in recent years.
ここ数年、日本外交を取り巻く環境は厳しくなっている。
The Noda administration was preceded by short-lived cabinets formed by five prime ministers. This has been compounded by the rise of China and some other newly emerging nations, a development that has undeniably resulted in a relative decline in Japan's national strength as the mainstay of its foreign relations.
５人連続の短命首相に加え、中国など新興国の台頭で、外交を支える国力の相対的低下は否定できない。
===
Put U.S. ties on track
This is particularly evident in the turmoil and stagnation in the Japan-U.S. relationship due to a change of administration that took place two years ago.
This paralysis can be attributed to former Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama's unskilled diplomacy, followed by an ill-conceived attempt by his successor, Naoto Kan, to put off bilateral issues.
特に２年前の政権交代後は、鳩山元首相の未熟な外交と菅前首相の懸案先送りで、日米関係は迷走・停滞した。
With this in mind, the new prime minister must work to bring the nation's tattered external relations back on track, focusing first on shoring up its alliance with the United States.
まずは強固な日米同盟を再構築することから、外交を立て直さねばなるまい。
Noda is scheduled to attend a number of meetings with the leaders of other nations, including a session of the U.N. General Assembly in late September. His diplomatic itinerary for November and beyond also includes a summit meeting of the Group of 20 nations and territories, the East Asia Summit and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum.
今月下旬の国連総会に続き、１１月の主要２０か国・地域（Ｇ２０）と東アジアの首脳会議、アジア太平洋経済協力会議と、首脳外交の日程が目白押しだ。
The prime minister must use these diplomatic opportunities to establish trust with U.S. President Barack Obama and other national leaders. Doing so is essential to defend our national interests.
オバマ米大統領ら各国首脳と信頼関係を築き、日本の国益を守る必要がある。
He must also take specific actions to resolve pending issues facing Japan and the United States and not just follow the steps taken by his predecessors, Hatoyama and Kan, who both had only harped on "a deepening" of the bilateral alliance.
最も重要なのは、鳩山、菅両氏のように単に「同盟深化」を唱えるのでなく、懸案の解決に向けて具体的な行動をとることだ。
Washington has called on Tokyo to make "concrete progress" in settling the dispute over the transfer of the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station in Okinawa Prefecture "within one year."
米国は、米軍普天間飛行場の移設問題で「１年以内の進展」を求めている。
Failure to do so could prompt the U.S. administration to drastically reconsider a plan to relocate U.S. marines in the prefecture to Guam.
それができない場合、在沖縄海兵隊のグアム移転が大幅に見直される恐れがある。
Noda must do all he can to overcome the gridlock in the Futenma controversy through talks with leaders and residents in Okinawa Prefecture. This task requires the prime minister to join hands with Cabinet members related to the dispute--Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba, Defense Minister Yasuo Ichikawa and Tatsuo Kawabata, state minister for Okinawa and Northern Territories affairs.
野田首相は、玄葉外相、一川防衛相、川端沖縄相とともに、沖縄との協議を重ね、打開策の模索に全力を挙げねばならない。
===
Promote talks with China
It is no less important for Noda to promote dialogue with China.
中国との対話も重要だ。
The collisions between a Chinese fishing boat and two Japanese vessels in waters off the Senkaku Islands in September last year strained bilateral ties. Although summit talks among Japan, China and South Korea have since taken place, Tokyo and Beijing remain caught in a standoff over natural gas field exploration in the East China Sea and other bilateral problems.
昨年秋の尖閣諸島沖での漁船衝突事件以来、日中韓首脳会談は開催したものの、東シナ海のガス田問題などは膠着(こうちゃく)状態が続く。
The prime minister should step up security talks between Japan and China while also increasing bilateral economic and trade cooperation. Living up to this responsibility is essential to realizing what is called a "strategically reciprocal relationship" between Tokyo and Beijing, instead of leaving the mutually avowed goal an empty slogan.
安全保障面の協議や経済・通商面の協力を拡充し、「戦略的互恵関係」を掛け声だけでなく、真に実のあるものにすべきだ。
The Noda administration also must decide, as soon as possible, whether to send Self-Defense Forces personnel to South Sudan for a U.N. peacekeeping mission, another decision his predecessors put off.
前政権が決断を先送りした南スーダンの国連平和維持活動（ＰＫＯ）への自衛隊派遣でも、早期に結論を出すことが肝要である。
We hope the Liberal Democratic Party and other opposition parties will agree to abandon the unreasonable practice established over the years of restricting visits to other countries by prime ministers and foreign ministers.
For years, opposition parties have insisted that attendance at Diet sessions by such political figures must take precedence over overseas travel on official business.
自民党など野党に求めたいのは、国会審議を理由に、首相や外相の外国訪問を制約する悪(あ)しき慣例をやめることだ。
The public does not even begin to understand why the country's national interests must be compromised because its prime minister and foreign minister are prevented from visiting other nations under what can only be described as a misguided rule meant to preserve "the authority of the Diet."
「国会の権威」を盾に国益を損ね続けることは、国民の理解を超えている。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 5, 2011)
（2011年9月5日01時15分 読売新聞）
野田新内閣スタート―「合意の政治」への進化を
2011/09/04
--The Asahi Shimbun, Sept. 3
EDITORIAL: Noda faces a herculean task.
野田新内閣スタート―「合意の政治」への進化を
Newly elected Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda formed his Cabinet on Sept. 2.
野田新内閣が発足した。
The team he put together, along with top posts in the ruling Democratic Party of Japan, indicate that he had three key objectives.
民主党の幹部人事と合わせた顔ぶれには、野田首相なりの配慮がくっきりとみえる。
His first priority was apparently reconciliation between rival groups within the DPJ.
一つめは党内融和だ。
In a gesture in that direction, he picked two members of the group led by former DPJ chief Ichiro Ozawa for his Cabinet.
小沢グループからも２閣僚を起用している。
Due partly to his attempts to restore harmony among party members, the Cabinet lineup has a low-key feel.
その結果もあって、政権全体の印象はかなり地味だ。
Noda chose all his ministers from among Diet members.
非議員もいない。
Chief Cabinet Secretary Osamu Fujimura, the top spokesman for the new government, is probably unfamiliar to many voters.
内閣の要の藤村修官房長官は多くの有権者にとって「Ｗｈｏ？」だろう。
During the DPJ leadership race, Noda said he would not dissolve the Lower House for a snap election because public support for the DPJ would not rise quickly.
首相は党代表選のときに「支持率はすぐ上がらない。だから解散はしない」と語っていた。
His Cabinet choices apparently reflect that pledge and that view.
その言葉を政権の布陣でも実証するかのようだ。
This is good news if it represents a first step toward policy formation not governed by short-term political exigencies ahead of elections.
解散風に右往左往する政治を改める一歩になるならば、いいことだ。
THE YOUNG TURKS
■政治改革の９３年組
Noda's second priority was a generational change.
二つめは世代交代だ。
He is the third youngest postwar prime minister. Five members of his Cabinet are in their 40s.
首相が戦後３番目の若さだし、閣僚には５人の４０歳代を配した。
There is little doubt that he is seeking to put an end to the "troika" DPJ leadership of Ozawa, Yukio Hatoyama and Naoto Kan. The latter two are Noda's immediate predecessors as prime minister.
Noda is clearly trying to give young, up-and-coming lawmakers within the ruling party opportunities to develop their leadership skills.
菅、鳩山、小沢各氏による民主党のトロイカ体制を終わらせ、党を担う人材を育てる狙いも込められているのは明らかだ。
Noda and three other lawmakers who assumed key Cabinet and party posts--Fujimura, Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba, and new DPJ policy chief Seiji Maehara--were all elected to the Lower House for the first time in the 1993 election, when the Liberal Democratic Party was ousted from power.
They were all candidates of opposition parties, including the Japan New Party, whose head, Morihiro Hosokawa, was prime minister of a non-LDP coalition government between 1993 and 1994.
This exemplifies the changes now taking place in Japanese politics and is a fresh reminder that the old-fashioned LDP, criticized as money-driven and corrupt, is history.
そして、首相、外相、官房長官、党政調会長という政権中枢が、いずれも１９９３年の自民党政権崩壊の総選挙に、日本新党などから挑んで初当選した点も時代の変化を象徴する。金権腐敗を指弾された自民党政治の終焉（しゅうえん）を改めて見る思いだ。
Some may worry that these young politicians lack the political skills needed to perform their important jobs.
政治家としての力量不足を危ぶむ声もあろうが、
However, we welcome their appointments in the expectation that they will mature as politicians with experience.
経験を積むことで成長する期待も込めて、前向きに評価する。
POLICY CONTINUITY
Thirdly, Noda tried to ensure continuity in government policies following the March 11 earthquake and nuclear disaster. He reappointed the ministers in charge of reconstruction and the response to the nuclear crisis.
三つめは、東日本大震災からの復興と、原発事故対応については担当相を再任し、喫緊の課題で継続性を重視した点だ。
He also assigned the national policy and welfare portfolios, the two key Cabinet posts for integrated tax and social security reform, to the two legislators who have been in charge of the issue within the Cabinet and the ruling party, respectively.
さらに社会保障と税の一体改革を担う国家戦略相と厚生労働相には、これまで党と内閣で担当してきた政治家を充てた。
This is a reasonable move since this urgent policy issue requires leadership from people who understand their subject.
一から勉強している余裕などないテーマだけに、妥当な人事と言えるだろう。
Noda is the sixth prime minister in five years.
この５年で、６人目の首相である。
We believe the Diet must regain its ability to build consensus and implement policies so that the new Cabinet can deal effectively with the challenges facing the nation.
私たちは、この新内閣が懸案を処理していくためには、国会が忘れてしまった合意形成の技術を取り戻し、政策を遂行する能力を身につけるしかないと考える。
■なじまぬ「対決型」
Under the so-called 1955 regime, the LDP's virtual monopoly on power in the postwar period, the main opposition Social Democratic Party did not actually seek to take power from the ruling party.
The Socialists did not field a sufficient number of candidates to win a majority in the Lower House.
かつての５５年体制では、野党第１党の社会党は過半数の候補者を立てず、実質的には政権奪取をめざしていなかった。
The SDP defined its mission as influencing the ruling party's policies through political maneuvering.
そのぶん、政策で実績をあげることに存在意義を見いだそうとしていた。
Its high-profile stonewalling and boycotting of Diet sessions, with legislators walking at a snail's pace to filibuster initiatives, were designed to attract public attention to certain issues and put pressure on the ruling party to agree to the opposition party's demands.
牛歩戦術や審議拒否といった派手な抵抗は、世論の関心を高め、与党に主張をのませるための策だった。
As a new era of head-on competition for power between the two major parties began, the opposition party started concentrating on efforts to topple the government.
それが２大政党による政権争奪選挙の時代になると、野党は倒閣にひた走り始めた。
This resulted in chronic partisan bickering, sometimes over surprisingly unimportant issues.
与野党間の政争が日常化し、こんな問題で対決するのかとあきれられる場面が増えた。
Opposition control of the Upper House has jammed the legislative process.
そして衆参ねじれが、すべてを止めてしまう。
However, we no longer live in an age of ideological confrontation between political parties.
しかし、イデオロギー対立はとうの昔に終わっている。
Powerful social and economic trends like globalization, low birthrates and the aging of the population impose limits on the scope of policies that can be adopted and the means to achieve political goals.
グローバル化や出生率低下、高齢社会の制約から、動員できる政策の幅は狭まり、手段も限られている。
There is, for instance, no practical way to build new nuclear reactors. All the parties have to acknowledge the fact that the number of reactors in operation will decline in the future.
原発新設の道は事実上閉ざされ、原発が減るのはどの党も認めざるを得ない。
Given this political reality, it is hard to argue that there are unbridgeable differences over key policy issues between the DPJ and the LDP.
こんな現実を見据えれば、民主、自民両党の立ち位置に抜きがたい違いがあるようには見えない。
There should be more issues on which the two parties can find common ground.
折り合える課題はもっと多いはずだ。
Noda has proposed policy talks between the DPJ, the LDP and New Komeito in three key areas, including integrated tax and social security reform.
野田首相は、一体改革など三つのテーマについて、民自公３党の協議機関設置を提案した。
The LDP should agree to that proposal.
自民党は応ずるべきだ。
Social security programs like the public pension program cannot be changed easily even if power changes hands. 年金などの社会保障制度は、政権が交代してもくるくる変えられない。
Raising funds to finance these vital programs is a key policy challenge for both the ruling and opposition parties.
その財源の手当ても与野党共通の重要課題だ。
The ruling and opposition parties should work together in pushing through integrated reform.
だからこそ、与野党が協力して一体改革に取り組んだほうがいい。
This is clearly a time to evolve from a "politics of confrontation" to a "politics of consensus."
いまこそ、「対決の政治」を「合意の政治」へと進化させる好機なのだ。
THE FUTURE IS IN VOTERS' HANDS
■二重苦の国会で
Under the current political situation, bills cannot be enacted unless they are approved by the opposition parties. Those parties should play the central role in developing this politics of consensus.
現状では、野党が反対すれば法案は通らないので、「合意の政治」の主役は実は野党だ。
They are sure to win more public support by making sincere efforts to find compromise by putting forth easy-to-understand proposals to revise bills, instead of making unreasonable demands that the ruling party accept their proposals in their entirety.
強引な丸のみを要求せず、わかりやすい修正案を繰り出して真摯（しんし）に妥協を探るなら、きっと野党の側が評価される。
Voters, for their part, need to fairly assess the parties' contributions to the realization of policies and take this into account when deciding how to cast their votes.
有権者の側も、政党に対する評価の尺度として、政策実現への貢献度をきちんと見極める必要がある。
Currently, there is more serious political confrontation between intraparty groups than between the two major parties.
いま政治の対立軸は、２大政党の間よりも、むしろそれぞれの党の内側にある。
Both the DPJ and the LDP are deeply split over the issue of tax increases, for instance.
たとえば、増税政策を巡っては、民主、自民両党ともに容認派と反対派を抱え込んでいる。
Unfortunately for the immediate future of Japanese politics, this is the reality of our two main parties.
The DPJ was united only for the sake of taking power and the LDP was united only for the sake of remaining in power.
これが、政権奪取だけで結束してきた民主党と、政権維持だけで一致してきた自民党という２大政党の悲しい現実だ。
The new Cabinet will likely face a Diet plagued by divided control of its two houses and policy division within its major parties.
衆参ねじれと、政策ねじれという「二重苦の国会」に、新内閣は船出していく。
If the ruling and opposition parties fail to come to terms, with the prospect of a snap election looming over proceedings, the new Cabinet will collapse before long.
ますます、解散・総選挙が視野に入ってこざるを得ない国会論戦で、与野党の合意を得られなければ、またしても短期間で沈んでいかざるを得ない。
The fate of the new governments is in the hands of voters.
この政権の先行きを左右するのは、有権者に違いない。
The question is whether voters will be able to accurately assess the feasibility and credibility of various proposals likely to be made at the Diet, many of which will be aimed at winning votes.
国会で飛び交うであろう「選挙目当て」の甘言の実現性を確かめ、その信用性を聞き分けるかどうかだ。
It is, after all, the voting public who will change politics.
政治を変えるのは結局のところ、有権者である。
--The Asahi Shimbun, Sept. 3
EDITORIAL: Noda faces a herculean task.
野田新内閣スタート―「合意の政治」への進化を
Newly elected Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda formed his Cabinet on Sept. 2.
野田新内閣が発足した。
The team he put together, along with top posts in the ruling Democratic Party of Japan, indicate that he had three key objectives.
民主党の幹部人事と合わせた顔ぶれには、野田首相なりの配慮がくっきりとみえる。
His first priority was apparently reconciliation between rival groups within the DPJ.
一つめは党内融和だ。
In a gesture in that direction, he picked two members of the group led by former DPJ chief Ichiro Ozawa for his Cabinet.
小沢グループからも２閣僚を起用している。
Due partly to his attempts to restore harmony among party members, the Cabinet lineup has a low-key feel.
その結果もあって、政権全体の印象はかなり地味だ。
Noda chose all his ministers from among Diet members.
非議員もいない。
Chief Cabinet Secretary Osamu Fujimura, the top spokesman for the new government, is probably unfamiliar to many voters.
内閣の要の藤村修官房長官は多くの有権者にとって「Ｗｈｏ？」だろう。
During the DPJ leadership race, Noda said he would not dissolve the Lower House for a snap election because public support for the DPJ would not rise quickly.
首相は党代表選のときに「支持率はすぐ上がらない。だから解散はしない」と語っていた。
His Cabinet choices apparently reflect that pledge and that view.
その言葉を政権の布陣でも実証するかのようだ。
This is good news if it represents a first step toward policy formation not governed by short-term political exigencies ahead of elections.
解散風に右往左往する政治を改める一歩になるならば、いいことだ。
THE YOUNG TURKS
■政治改革の９３年組
Noda's second priority was a generational change.
二つめは世代交代だ。
He is the third youngest postwar prime minister. Five members of his Cabinet are in their 40s.
首相が戦後３番目の若さだし、閣僚には５人の４０歳代を配した。
There is little doubt that he is seeking to put an end to the "troika" DPJ leadership of Ozawa, Yukio Hatoyama and Naoto Kan. The latter two are Noda's immediate predecessors as prime minister.
Noda is clearly trying to give young, up-and-coming lawmakers within the ruling party opportunities to develop their leadership skills.
菅、鳩山、小沢各氏による民主党のトロイカ体制を終わらせ、党を担う人材を育てる狙いも込められているのは明らかだ。
Noda and three other lawmakers who assumed key Cabinet and party posts--Fujimura, Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba, and new DPJ policy chief Seiji Maehara--were all elected to the Lower House for the first time in the 1993 election, when the Liberal Democratic Party was ousted from power.
They were all candidates of opposition parties, including the Japan New Party, whose head, Morihiro Hosokawa, was prime minister of a non-LDP coalition government between 1993 and 1994.
This exemplifies the changes now taking place in Japanese politics and is a fresh reminder that the old-fashioned LDP, criticized as money-driven and corrupt, is history.
そして、首相、外相、官房長官、党政調会長という政権中枢が、いずれも１９９３年の自民党政権崩壊の総選挙に、日本新党などから挑んで初当選した点も時代の変化を象徴する。金権腐敗を指弾された自民党政治の終焉（しゅうえん）を改めて見る思いだ。
Some may worry that these young politicians lack the political skills needed to perform their important jobs.
政治家としての力量不足を危ぶむ声もあろうが、
However, we welcome their appointments in the expectation that they will mature as politicians with experience.
経験を積むことで成長する期待も込めて、前向きに評価する。
POLICY CONTINUITY
Thirdly, Noda tried to ensure continuity in government policies following the March 11 earthquake and nuclear disaster. He reappointed the ministers in charge of reconstruction and the response to the nuclear crisis.
三つめは、東日本大震災からの復興と、原発事故対応については担当相を再任し、喫緊の課題で継続性を重視した点だ。
He also assigned the national policy and welfare portfolios, the two key Cabinet posts for integrated tax and social security reform, to the two legislators who have been in charge of the issue within the Cabinet and the ruling party, respectively.
さらに社会保障と税の一体改革を担う国家戦略相と厚生労働相には、これまで党と内閣で担当してきた政治家を充てた。
This is a reasonable move since this urgent policy issue requires leadership from people who understand their subject.
一から勉強している余裕などないテーマだけに、妥当な人事と言えるだろう。
Noda is the sixth prime minister in five years.
この５年で、６人目の首相である。
We believe the Diet must regain its ability to build consensus and implement policies so that the new Cabinet can deal effectively with the challenges facing the nation.
私たちは、この新内閣が懸案を処理していくためには、国会が忘れてしまった合意形成の技術を取り戻し、政策を遂行する能力を身につけるしかないと考える。
■なじまぬ「対決型」
Under the so-called 1955 regime, the LDP's virtual monopoly on power in the postwar period, the main opposition Social Democratic Party did not actually seek to take power from the ruling party.
The Socialists did not field a sufficient number of candidates to win a majority in the Lower House.
かつての５５年体制では、野党第１党の社会党は過半数の候補者を立てず、実質的には政権奪取をめざしていなかった。
The SDP defined its mission as influencing the ruling party's policies through political maneuvering.
そのぶん、政策で実績をあげることに存在意義を見いだそうとしていた。
Its high-profile stonewalling and boycotting of Diet sessions, with legislators walking at a snail's pace to filibuster initiatives, were designed to attract public attention to certain issues and put pressure on the ruling party to agree to the opposition party's demands.
牛歩戦術や審議拒否といった派手な抵抗は、世論の関心を高め、与党に主張をのませるための策だった。
As a new era of head-on competition for power between the two major parties began, the opposition party started concentrating on efforts to topple the government.
それが２大政党による政権争奪選挙の時代になると、野党は倒閣にひた走り始めた。
This resulted in chronic partisan bickering, sometimes over surprisingly unimportant issues.
与野党間の政争が日常化し、こんな問題で対決するのかとあきれられる場面が増えた。
Opposition control of the Upper House has jammed the legislative process.
そして衆参ねじれが、すべてを止めてしまう。
However, we no longer live in an age of ideological confrontation between political parties.
しかし、イデオロギー対立はとうの昔に終わっている。
Powerful social and economic trends like globalization, low birthrates and the aging of the population impose limits on the scope of policies that can be adopted and the means to achieve political goals.
グローバル化や出生率低下、高齢社会の制約から、動員できる政策の幅は狭まり、手段も限られている。
There is, for instance, no practical way to build new nuclear reactors. All the parties have to acknowledge the fact that the number of reactors in operation will decline in the future.
原発新設の道は事実上閉ざされ、原発が減るのはどの党も認めざるを得ない。
Given this political reality, it is hard to argue that there are unbridgeable differences over key policy issues between the DPJ and the LDP.
こんな現実を見据えれば、民主、自民両党の立ち位置に抜きがたい違いがあるようには見えない。
There should be more issues on which the two parties can find common ground.
折り合える課題はもっと多いはずだ。
Noda has proposed policy talks between the DPJ, the LDP and New Komeito in three key areas, including integrated tax and social security reform.
野田首相は、一体改革など三つのテーマについて、民自公３党の協議機関設置を提案した。
The LDP should agree to that proposal.
自民党は応ずるべきだ。
Social security programs like the public pension program cannot be changed easily even if power changes hands. 年金などの社会保障制度は、政権が交代してもくるくる変えられない。
Raising funds to finance these vital programs is a key policy challenge for both the ruling and opposition parties.
その財源の手当ても与野党共通の重要課題だ。
The ruling and opposition parties should work together in pushing through integrated reform.
だからこそ、与野党が協力して一体改革に取り組んだほうがいい。
This is clearly a time to evolve from a "politics of confrontation" to a "politics of consensus."
いまこそ、「対決の政治」を「合意の政治」へと進化させる好機なのだ。
THE FUTURE IS IN VOTERS' HANDS
■二重苦の国会で
Under the current political situation, bills cannot be enacted unless they are approved by the opposition parties. Those parties should play the central role in developing this politics of consensus.
現状では、野党が反対すれば法案は通らないので、「合意の政治」の主役は実は野党だ。
They are sure to win more public support by making sincere efforts to find compromise by putting forth easy-to-understand proposals to revise bills, instead of making unreasonable demands that the ruling party accept their proposals in their entirety.
強引な丸のみを要求せず、わかりやすい修正案を繰り出して真摯（しんし）に妥協を探るなら、きっと野党の側が評価される。
Voters, for their part, need to fairly assess the parties' contributions to the realization of policies and take this into account when deciding how to cast their votes.
有権者の側も、政党に対する評価の尺度として、政策実現への貢献度をきちんと見極める必要がある。
Currently, there is more serious political confrontation between intraparty groups than between the two major parties.
いま政治の対立軸は、２大政党の間よりも、むしろそれぞれの党の内側にある。
Both the DPJ and the LDP are deeply split over the issue of tax increases, for instance.
たとえば、増税政策を巡っては、民主、自民両党ともに容認派と反対派を抱え込んでいる。
Unfortunately for the immediate future of Japanese politics, this is the reality of our two main parties.
The DPJ was united only for the sake of taking power and the LDP was united only for the sake of remaining in power.
これが、政権奪取だけで結束してきた民主党と、政権維持だけで一致してきた自民党という２大政党の悲しい現実だ。
The new Cabinet will likely face a Diet plagued by divided control of its two houses and policy division within its major parties.
衆参ねじれと、政策ねじれという「二重苦の国会」に、新内閣は船出していく。
If the ruling and opposition parties fail to come to terms, with the prospect of a snap election looming over proceedings, the new Cabinet will collapse before long.
ますます、解散・総選挙が視野に入ってこざるを得ない国会論戦で、与野党の合意を得られなければ、またしても短期間で沈んでいかざるを得ない。
The fate of the new governments is in the hands of voters.
この政権の先行きを左右するのは、有権者に違いない。
The question is whether voters will be able to accurately assess the feasibility and credibility of various proposals likely to be made at the Diet, many of which will be aimed at winning votes.
国会で飛び交うであろう「選挙目当て」の甘言の実現性を確かめ、その信用性を聞き分けるかどうかだ。
It is, after all, the voting public who will change politics.
政治を変えるのは結局のところ、有権者である。
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