東京都知事選 五輪返上論はどこまで本気か

The Yomiuri Shimbun　January 18, 2014
Is Hosokawa serious about his call for Tokyo to decline hosting Olympics?
東京都知事選　五輪返上論はどこまで本気か（1月18日付・読売社説）

It is meaningful to discuss the issue of nuclear energy in Tokyo, which consumes a massive amount of electricity, but it is unreasonable to exploit an election for the denuclearization movement.
　電力の大消費地である東京で原発問題を議論するのは有意義だが、「脱原発」運動に選挙を利用するのは筋違いだ。

Former Prime Minister Morihiro Hosokawa, who has expressed his intention to run in the upcoming Tokyo gubernatorial election, is drawing public attention.
　東京都知事選に出馬する意向を表明した細川護熙・元首相の動向が耳目を集めている。

Hosokawa has made an antinuclear agenda his main campaign pledge, saying, “I’m concerned that the issue of nuclear power determines the nation’s fate.” He is backed by former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, who advocates immediately breaking with nuclear power.
　細川氏は、「原発の問題は国の存亡に関わるという危機感を持っている」と強調し、脱原発を前面に掲げた。原発即時ゼロを唱える小泉元首相が支援する。

Both Hosokawa and Koizumi enjoyed high cabinet approval ratings as prime minister. They are adopting election tactics that seek to make the most of the wide public popularity they once enjoyed.
　細川、小泉両氏は、いずれも首相時代、内閣支持率が高かった。かつての国民的人気をあてにした選挙戦術である。

The Tokyo metropolitan government is certainly a major shareholder of Tokyo Electric Power Co. Yet, 50.1 percent of TEPCO shares are owned by the government’s Nuclear Damage Liability Facilitation Fund, which aims to resume operation of the nation’s unclear power stations. It would be irresponsible of Hosokawa to argue that he would be able to stop the restart of nuclear reactors.
　ただ、都は東京電力の主要株主ではあるが、東電株の５０・１％は原発再稼働を目指す政府の原子力損害賠償支援機構が保有する。細川氏が再稼働を阻止できるかのように主張するなら無責任だ。

What must not be overlooked is how Koizumi has positioned the gubernatorial election. He said the election will be a “war between the group that says Japan can grow with zero nuclear power plants and the group that says it cannot.”
　看過できないのは、小泉氏が都知事選を、「原発ゼロでも日本は発展できるというグループと、原発なくして日本は発展できないというグループでの争いだ」と位置付けたことである。

He should not simplify the issue of nuclear energy into a choice between two options—zero nuclear power and nuclear promotion—making light of such complicated factors as the possible effect on industries and household finances, measures to cope with global warming and energy security.
　産業や家計への影響、地球温暖化対策、エネルギーの安全保障といった複雑な要因を軽視し、原発ゼロか、推進か、と二者択一で問題を単純化すべきではない。

Simplistic ideas not enough

Hosokawa has postponed his official press conference on his candidacy twice already, apparently because he has been unable to prepare his election pledges. This illustrates the fact that simplistic ideas do not prepare a person to cope with the variety of problems the Tokyo metropolitan government is facing.
　細川氏の正式な記者会見は、２度も延期されている。公約の準備が整わないからだ。付け焼き刃的な発想だけでは、都政の抱える様々な課題に対処できないことの表れとも言えるだろう。

When Tokyo won its bid for the 2020 Olympics and Paralympics last year, Hosokawa called for Tokyo to renounce its selection as host, saying, “Tokyo should have declined to accept the decision because we still have the nuclear problem.” We wonder how serious he is.
　細川氏は昨年、２０２０年の東京五輪・パラリンピック開催が決まったことについて、「原発問題があるから辞退すべきだった」との返上論を述べていた。どこまで本気なのだろうか。

The upcoming gubernatorial election will be held because former Gov. Naoki Inose resigned over his suspicious borrowing of ¥50 million in cash from hospital operator Tokushukai. Therefore, we believe Hosokawa should explain his borrowing of ¥100 million from the Tokyo Sagawa Kyubin parcel company, which led to his resignation as prime minister.
　今回は、猪瀬直樹前知事が５０００万円借入金問題で辞職しての出直し選挙だ。それだけに、細川氏には、首相辞任の要因となった東京佐川急便からの１億円借り入れについて説明が求められる。

Meanwhile, former Health, Labor and Welfare Minister Yoichi Masuzoe, another leading candidate, expressed his determination to pursue the “best Olympics in history,” antidisaster measures, improved medical and nursing care services, and employment measures. We would like Masuzoe to clearly state during the election campaign what concrete measures he plans.
　一方、舛添要一・元厚生労働相は記者会見で、「史上最高の五輪」を目指すことや、防災対策、医療・介護の充実、雇用対策などに意欲を示した。具体的な方策を選挙戦で明らかにしてもらいたい。

As for nuclear energy, Masuzoe said he will aim to create a society that does not depend on nuclear power generation, instead of immediately reducing nuclear energy use to zero. He also said he would promote energy-saving measures in Tokyo, making efforts to expand the use of renewable energy.
　原発に関しては、即時ゼロではなく「原発に依存しない社会」を作ると述べる一方、東京で省エネを進め、再生可能エネルギー拡大へ努力すると語っている。

The main question in the race to choose the face of the metropolis is which candidate has a clear vision of Tokyo’s future. Candidates must deepen their discussions through debate and other opportunities.
　首都の顔を選ぶ都知事選で問われるのは、東京をどういう都市に変えていくのかという明確なビジョンだ。候補者同士の討論会などで、議論を深めるべきである。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 18, 2014)
（2014年1月18日01時27分 読売新聞）