原子力人材確保 「脱原発」からの決別が急務だ

The Yomiuri Shimbun (Apr. 8, 2012)
Make sure nuclear fields have quality human resources
原子力人材確保　「脱原発」からの決別が急務だ（4月7日付・読売社説）

How can Japan secure and develop human resources who will work in the nuclear power field? This task needs to be jointly tackled by the government and the private sector.
　原子力を担う人材を今後、どう育て、確保するか。官民が協力して取り組むべき課題である。

The number of students wishing to study nuclear power has declined since the crisis started last year at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant operated by Tokyo Electric Power Co. In addition, many young people have become reluctant to take jobs in nuclear-related industries.
　東京電力福島第一原子力発電所の事故後、原子力を学ぼう、という学生が減った。原子力関連産業への就職も敬遠されている。

The seriousness of the Fukushima accident certainly is one factor behind these developments. Moreover, stances taken by prime ministers since the crisis began have negatively impacted the situation. Former Prime Minister Naoto Kan abruptly announced that he wanted to free the country's future energy policy from its dependence on nuclear power generation, apparently without carefully considering the ramifications of such a change. Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda, who succeeded Kan, has been slow in crafting specific policies on how to utilize nuclear power in this country.
　事故の深刻さもあろうが、菅前首相が安易に、「脱原発」を標榜(ひょうぼう)し、野田首相も、原発の具体的な活用策をなかなか打ち出そうとしないことが響いている。

===

Future vision needed

Fields devoid of future potential will be unable to attract talented personnel.
　将来の展望が開けない分野に人材は集まらない。

Yet, when considering an ideal combination of power sources for this nation, nuclear power will be essential along with thermal power and other energy sources. The government must clearly devise a future vision for the country's energy supply by squarely looking at reality.
　最適な電源の組み合わせを考えるうえで、原子力は火力などとともに欠かせない。政府は、その現実を見据えた将来像を、明確に描いてみせるべきだ。

Even if the government opts to depart from the country's dependence on nuclear power, Japan still will need human resources to tackle the ongoing crisis at the Fukushima nuclear plant and decommission reactors there. According to a plan compiled by the government and the utility, decommissioning the reactors and clearing up the site will take at least 40 years.
　仮に「脱原発依存」を選択するとしても、福島第一原発の事故処理や廃炉を担う人材は必須だ。政府と東電がまとめた計画では、最終的に廃炉にし、現場を片づけるまでに最短でも４０年かかる。

This lengthy operation will be shouldered by the children of today.
　この長丁場を、今の子供たち世代が担うことになる。

Furthermore, such work will require highly advanced technologies.
　しかも高度な技術を要する。

Safely removing and reducing radioactive contaminants at the nuclear plant will require more sophisticated robot and remote control technologies. Making estimates on the extent of the damage inside the crippled reactors, where people are still unable to enter, also will need the latest computer technology.
　放射能汚染を安全に除去、軽減するには、今のロボット、遠隔操作技術を洗練せねばならない。人が近づけない原子炉内の損傷状況を推計するにも、最新のコンピューター技術が活用される。

A wide array of research and development activities, as well as technological innovations, will be needed over a long period of time.
　さらに長期にわたって、多彩な研究開発と技術革新が必要だ。

Capable personnel will have to be available to the nuclear regulatory agency, electric power companies and nuclear-related manufacturers to improve the safety of existing reactors through regulations, inspections and repairs. Strict safety controls are required around the clock even at idled nuclear reactors.
　既存の原発の安全性を向上させる規制や点検、補修でも、原子力規制庁や電力会社、メーカーに優秀な人材を配したい。運転を停止している原発でも、常に厳重な安全管理が求められる。

===

Japan has intl role to play

An option of replacing dated reactors with new models is expected to be discussed in the future. Electric utilities and nuclear-related manufacturers will have to nurture and train engineers capable of leading the design and building of these reactors.
　老朽化した原発を新型に置き換えることも今後検討されよう。その設計や建設を主導できる技術者を、電力会社やメーカーは育てておかなくてはならない。

Exports of nuclear power infrastructure--a field the government has been promoting--will be impossible without engineers well versed in safety regulatory measures of international standards.
　政府が進める原発の輸出も、国際水準の安全規制策に熟知した技術者なしでは実現しない。

Japan's neighboring countries, such as China and South Korea, have been constructing nuclear power plants one after another. With lessons learned from the Fukushima nuclear crisis, international cooperation must be promoted to prevent the occurrence of a similar serious nuclear accident. In this field, too, experts will play vital roles.
　近隣の中国、韓国などは原発を次々に増設している。福島第一原発の事故を教訓に、重大事故が起きないよう国際協力を進めるべきだ。ここでも、やはり専門家が重要な役割を果たす。

Japan is a country with many reactors and a proponent of the peaceful use of nuclear power. Other nations expect Japan to contribute to such fields as nuclear nonproliferation and nuclear terrorism countermeasures at the International Atomic Energy Agency and in other international arenas.
　多数の原発を有し原子力の平和利用を進める日本には、国際原子力機関（ＩＡＥＡ）などを舞台に核不拡散や核テロ対策で国際貢献することも期待されている。

The Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Ministry is implementing projects to nurture human resources in the nuclear power field including subsidies to nuclear-related courses at universities and other educational institutes. We think the government should accelerate efforts to improve and expand such programs.
　文部科学省は、大学などが設けた原子力関連の講座を予算面で支援するなど、人材育成の事業を進めている。こうした取り組みの充実、拡大を急がねばならない。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 7, 2012)
（2012年4月7日01時30分 読売新聞）

鳩山元首相のイラン訪問 試される野田首相の指導力

この毎日英字紙の記事には日本語版がありません。
仕方がないのでスラチャイが意訳しておきました。
鳩山さんはお金持ちなので旅費・宿泊費だって自由になるのでしょうね。
個人旅行レベルだったら政府も口を出せませんよね＾＾。
困ったものです（汗）；

スラチャイ

(mainichi Japan) April 07, 2012
Ex-PM Hatoyama's planned visit to Iran highlights Noda admin's lack of control
鳩山元首相のイラン訪問　試される野田首相の指導力

Former Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama's planned visit to Iran -- under fire from the international community for its nuclear program -- to meet with high-ranking officials despite opposition from the government illustrates the administration of Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda's lack of control.
このような世界情勢の中で鳩山元首相のイラン訪問はいかがなものか。野田首相どうした！

When his plan was revealed, the diplomatic authorities attempted to persuade him to abandon the visit, but he refused to comply. The Prime Minister's Office is standing idle, regarding the visit as a personal trip.
今回は見送るよう説得したら聞く耳をもたない＾＾。

Despite criticism, Hatoyama justified his planned visit to Iran by saying, "If only the executive branch of the government is allowed to perform diplomacy, legislators cannot be engaged in diplomacy. It's important for each individual to make efforts to contribute to diplomatic efforts based on their own will."
私が個人レベルで世界平和のために努力することのどこが悪い！（意訳です＾＾）

The role that Diet members play in diplomacy is of great significance. Exchanges of visits and discussions between Japanese and U.S. legislators helped strengthen the bilateral alliance. When serious problems arose in Japan's relations with South Korea and China, experienced Diet members familiar with these countries' situations played a key role in solving them. Now, the role that legislators play in diplomacy has declined considerably.
議員が外交に関与するのは当り前だ。（のクラッカー＾＾）
日米でも同じ。
だって、韓国や中国のときだって、それなりの通が外交目的で外遊したじゃないか。（中曽根元首相のことだと思います＾＾）
一介の議員だって頑張らないとね。

However, the executive branch of the government is primarily responsible for diplomacy, and lawmakers should play a supplementary role that does not deviate from the executive branch's negotiating positions. In other words, individual legislators should not perform diplomacy based on their own will as Hatoyama claims. If individual legislators' diplomatic efforts deviate from government policy, it will only allow other countries to use the inconsistency to their own advantage.
そんなことを主張されても一介の議員のイラン訪問が、国の方針と違っていれば問題だ。
一介の議員は外交活動は控えるべきなのだ。
海千山千の諸外国に付け入る隙を与えるようなものだ。

It is essential for Japan to try to persuade Iran to abandon its nuclear weapons program through various channels. Hatoyama, who serves as a supreme diplomatic adviser to the ruling Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ), has decided to visit Iran based on this belief. If so, he should go there after sufficiently coordinating his views with those of the Prime Minister's Office and the Foreign Ministry. Remarks made by ex-PM Hatoyama will be taken seriously by foreign officials.
イランには日本政府よりあらゆる手段を通して核保有への野望を断ち切ってもらうようにすべきなのだ。
鳩山元首相の個人的信念だけで済まされる問題ではない。
外務省と綿密な打ち合わせをしたあとでもよいではないか。
外国首脳陣だって不快感をただよわせている。

A fierce tug-of-war is under way between Iran and six major countries -- five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council and Germany -- over the next round of talks on Iran's nuclear program. It is embarrassing that Japan is confused over whether the former prime minister should visit Iran while the international community is trying to maintain a unified front on the Iranian nuclear issue.
イランと関係主要６カ国は紛争の真っ最中。
世界が必死になってイランを説得しようとしているこの時期に何故イラン訪問をするのか。
それはイラン（いらん）のだ＾＾。

Prime Minister Noda is partially responsible for the confusion. His appointment of Hatoyama -- also to blame for the government's muddled approach to the relocation of U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma in Okinawa Prefecture -- as a diplomatic adviser to the DPJ has been called into question.
野田首相にも一端の責任はある。
鳩山元首相を普天間移設問題のアドバイザーに起用したのもうなずけない。

If Noda wants Hatoyama to play a diplomatic role as an individual legislator, the prime minister should have exchanged opinions with him and made it clear that the government would not approve his visit unless it was in line with the government's policy.
鳩山元首相が出発前に野田首相と事前に綿密な打ち合わせをして政府のイラン外交方針と矛盾しないような布石を打っておくべきであった。

The confusion over Hatoyama's visit to Iran and the appointment of Defense Minister Naoki Tanaka, whose qualification for the post has been called into question, has suggested that Prime Minister Noda is unable to take the lead in diplomatic and security policy.
野田首相は外交問題に関していえば落第点なのだ。
なぜなら、今回の鳩山元首相のイラン訪問容認、それと田中防衛相の起用。しっちゃかめっちゃかじゃないか＾＾。

Hatoyama also visited China apart from a DPJ delegation to China led by party Secretary-General Azuma Koshiishi. Chinese officials apparently raised doubts about the DPJ's control over its own members' activities.
前にも中国へ手前勝手に出かけているし、中国だって困惑してるのではないの。

The DPJ does not appear to fully understand the basic principle that diplomacy should not be performed based on a political party's or an individual's ideas. The DPJ should be aware of this principle in order not to repeat this embarrassing behavior.
民主党は外交手段に長けていない。外交には基本的手法があるのだ。個人レベルでやってはいけない事だって存在する。今後、民主党には猛省を期待する。

（翻訳は意訳で、話し言葉を多用しました＾＾　ｂｙ　スラチャイ）

関連記事１：

鳩山元首相:イラン訪問へ　日本政府は不快感
毎日新聞　2012年04月04日　19時12分（最終更新　04月04日　22時26分）

鳩山由紀夫元首相＝藤井太郎撮影
　鳩山由紀夫元首相が６～９日にイランを訪問し、アフマディネジャド大統領やジャリリ最高安全保障委員会事務局長らと会談する予定であることが４日分かった。鳩山氏は同日、東京都内で記者団に「イラン情勢は緊迫の度を加えているが、戦争状態にしてはならない。個人の立場で努力したい」と語った。

　しかし国際社会は核開発を続けるイランに制裁圧力を強め、日本もイラン産原油の輸入削減方針を打ち出したばかり。玄葉光一郎外相は同日の記者会見で、鳩山氏のイラン訪問について「政府としては適切なレベル、適切なタイミングで働き掛けを行うことが極めて重要と考える」と述べ、不快感を示した。【横田愛】

関連記事２：

ルース駐日大使:鳩山氏のイラン訪問　政府に懸念伝える
毎日新聞　2012年04月08日　02時30分

　鳩山由紀夫元首相が６日にイラン訪問へ出発する前にルース駐日米大使が首相官邸に電話で懸念を伝えていたことが７日分かった。政府関係者によると、訪問中止を強く求める発言はなかったものの、大使は「鳩山氏のためにも良いことではない」と指摘。米国と欧州が核開発を続けるイランへの経済制裁を強める中、鳩山氏の訪問が国際協調の足並みを乱しかねないと憂慮したとみられる。

　電話を受けた官邸スタッフは「野田佳彦首相と玄葉光一郎外相も中止を求めたが、鳩山氏は一議員として行くとのことだ」と説明。政府として関与していないことを強調したという。鳩山氏は政府側からの中止要請に応じずイラン入り。８日にアフマディネジャド大統領と会談する予定だ。

１２年度予算成立 「赤字国債」で野党と接点探れ

The Yomiuri Shimbun (Apr. 7, 2012)
Seek common ground over deficit-covering bonds
１２年度予算成立　「赤字国債」で野党と接点探れ（4月6日付・読売社説）

The fiscal 2012 budget has finally passed the Diet.
　２０１２年度予算がようやく成立した。

General-account spending totals 90 trillion yen and total outlays for fiscal 2012 reach a record high if separate special-account spending on reconstruction from the Great East Japan Earthquake is included.
　予算の一般会計総額は９０兆円で、別枠の東日本大震災復興特別会計と合わせると過去最大だ。

The dole-out fiscal 2012 budget also includes such handout policies as income compensation for individual farmers. The budget relies on issuing new government bonds to cover 49 percent of total revenues, the highest percentage ever.
　農家の戸別所得補償などバラマキ政策も含まれ、国債依存度も過去最悪の４９％に上る。問題の多い予算である。

The fiscal 2012 budget has many problems. However, further delay must not be allowed, to facilitate reconstruction from the March 11, 2011, disaster and economic revitalization. The government should do its utmost to quickly implement the budget.
　だが、復興や経済再生にこれ以上の遅滞は許されない。政府は、速やかな予算執行に全力を挙げてもらいたい。

One concern is that there is virtually no prospect the Diet will pass a bill to enable the government to issue deficit-covering government bonds, due to objections from the opposition parties. If Diet passage of the bill, which will provide financial resources for the budget, is substantially delayed, the government will not be able to implement the budget, which will adversely affect people's lives.
　懸念されるのは、野党の反対で、赤字国債発行を可能にする特例公債法案の成立のメドが全く立っていないことだ。財源の裏付けとなる法案の成立が大幅に遅れれば、政府は予算を執行できず、国民生活に影響が出る恐れがある。

Last year, the bill for issuance of deficit-covering government bonds became a political football. Then Prime Minister Naoto Kan set passage of the bill as one of three conditions for his resignation, and the bill was enacted in late August.
　昨年、特例公債法案は政争の具となった。菅首相が自ら「退陣３条件」の一つに掲げ、８月下旬、なんとか成立にこぎ着けた。

===

Avoid repeat of last year

Such turmoil should not be repeated this year. The government and the Democratic Party of Japan must create an environment in which they can secure cooperation from the opposition parties.
　今年は、混乱を繰り返すべきではない。政府・民主党は、野党から協力を取り付けるための環境整備を図らねばならない。

During deliberations on the fiscal 2012 budget, the opposition parties strongly criticized the government and the ruling parties for covering part of the government's share of contributions to basic pension benefits with special bonds. It is certain the government took such a tricky move--issuing special bonds--to make the issuance of government bonds appear low.
　今回の予算審議で野党は、基礎年金の国庫負担分の一部を交付国債で賄ったことを強く批判している。国債発行額を見かけ上低くするため、交付国債という奇策を弄したのは確かだ。

Saying it is an attempt to pull the wool over the people's eyes, the Liberal Democratic Party is urging the government to compile a supplementary budget and change the special bonds to deficit-covering bonds. This is worth discussing if it leads to cooperation with the LDP.
　自民党は「国民の目を欺くものだ」として、補正予算を編成し、赤字国債へ振り替えることを求めている。自民党との協調につながるなら、検討に値しよう。

Replacing special bonds with deficit-covering bonds will increase momentum toward the passage of the bill to issue deficit-covering government bonds.
　それが特例公債法案の成立機運を高めることになる。

During the latter half of the Diet session, many important bills, including one to raise the consumption tax rate and others on nuclear regulatory measures, are on the waiting list. The ruling and opposition parties should make efforts to build consensus on these matters.
　後半国会は、消費税率引き上げ関連法案や原子力規制関連法案など重要法案が目白押しだ。与野党は合意形成に努力すべきだ。

===

Bold concessions needed

First of all, we suggest the government and the DPJ make bold concessions, such as withdrawing its new pension system plan, the main pillar of which is a minimum guaranteed pension of 70,000 yen a month.
　まずは、政府・民主党が、月額７万円の「最低保障年金」を柱とする新年金制度案の撤回など、大胆に譲歩してはどうか。

Due to opposition parties' resistance and the DPJ's poor Diet management, budget deliberations were delayed until the new fiscal year, forcing the government to compile a stopgap budget for the first time in 14 years.
　予算審議は、野党の抵抗に加えて、民主党の稚拙な国会運営で新年度にずれ込み、１４年ぶりの暫定予算編成に追い込まれた。

The DPJ leadership needs to review what Diet management should be, as the DPJ's way of managing the Diet poses problems for Japan's diplomacy as well.
　民主党執行部は、国会運営のあり方を見直す必要がある。日本外交にも支障が出ているためだ。

For example, Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda was tied up with Diet deliberations when the Nuclear Security Summit was held in Seoul late last month and he was not able to fully utilize the opportunity for summit diplomacy, which is important for Japan.
　例えば、３月下旬のソウルでの核安全サミットの際、野田首相は国会審議に縛られ、日本にとって重要な首脳外交の機会を十分に生かせなかった。

The DPJ should present to the opposition parties a Diet schedule that takes the nation's diplomacy into account and squarely seek cooperation from them.
　民主党は、外交に配慮した国会日程を野党に示し、正面から協力を求めるべきだ。

The rejection of the DPJ's request for cooperation by the LDP, which was in power for years, would damage national interests. The main opposition party could not escape public criticism.
　長年、政権の座にあった自民党がそれを拒むなら、国益を損ね、世論の批判は免れまい。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 6, 2012)
（2012年4月6日01時15分 読売新聞）

どうなる、停止中の原発の再稼働

停止中の原発の再稼働をめぐり意見が180度別れる。
読売は経済優先で速やかな再稼働を求め、朝日は事の重要さに鑑み早急なる再稼働は控えるよう求める記事を掲載。以下に朝日、読売の順で掲載いたしますので読み比べてください。
毎日は終始一貫して原発廃止の論調です。

スラチャイ

--The Asahi Shimbun, April 5
EDITORIAL: Safety issues shouldn't be rushed to restart reactors
原発暫定基準―再稼働ありきはダメだ

In an April 3 meeting of ministers to discuss whether to restart idled nuclear reactors, Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda put off making a final decision on the issue.
　原発の再稼働をめぐる関係閣僚の初会合が３日に開かれ、野田首相は結論を持ち越した。

Noda told the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency (NISA) to work out by the next meeting provisional standards for safety measures based on what has been learned from the disaster at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant last year.
　首相は、次回までに福島第一原発事故を踏まえた安全対策の暫定基準を示すよう、原子力安全・保安院に求めた。

The first-stage assessment of stress tests for offline reactors, purported to be carried out to gain baseline information for decisions on whether to bring the reactors back online, came with a strong sense of being a stopgap measure.
　「再稼働の基準にする」として実施したストレステストの１次評価は、当座しのぎの色彩が強かった。それだけでは不十分との判断だ。

The government has apparently decided that stress tests for first-stage evaluations alone are not enough to greenlight resuming operations at suspended reactors. It seems that the Noda administration has been forced to change its original policy toward the issue in the face of strong public distrust of the safety of nuclear power plants.
　原発に対する国民の根強い不信を前に、当初の方針を転換せざるをえなかったということだろう。

We welcome a policy change to develop effective new safety standards that incorporate lessons gleaned from the nuclear disaster and to assess the safety of reactors more rigorously.
事故の反省を採り入れた基準に改め、基本に立ち返って安全性を吟味する。そのための軌道修正なら、評価する。

But the administration plans to hold the next meeting of related ministers shortly, possibly by the end of this week. The new safety standards will be cobbled together “in a day or two,” according to Chief Cabinet Secretary Osamu Fujimura.
　ところが、次回の会合は週内にも開き、基準づくりも「１、２日でハチマキを巻いてやる」（藤村官房長官）のだという。

The rushed timetable makes it look as if the government believes all that is needed is to change the cover of an old book.
　まるで「衣（ころも）を取りかえればいい」と言わんばかりのスケジュールだ。

The new safety standards will not be started from scratch, of course. The work involves making the 30-item list of safety measures, compiled by NISA through its own investigations into the accident, more concrete and understandable. The government appears to think this work can be done in a short time.
　もちろん、新たな基準といっても白地に絵を描くわけではない。保安院が独自の事故検証をもとにつくった３０項目の対策を「もっとわかりやすくする」作業だ。短時間で可能との見立てなのかもしれない。

With the No. 3 reactor at Hokkaido Electric Power Co.’s Tomari nuclear power plant, the nation’s last-running reactor, scheduled to go offline in early May for regular maintenance, Japan will soon enter an era of no nuclear power generation. The administration clearly wants to set the stage for restarting the No. 3 and the No. 4 reactors at Kansai Electric Power Co.’s Oi nuclear plant in Fukui Prefecture before that happens.
　だが、このままだと北海道電力の泊原発３号機が５月初めに定期検査に入り、原発の稼働がゼロになる。その前に、関西電力・大飯原発（福井県）の再稼働に道筋をつけたい。そんな思惑が透けてみえる。

The 30-item list includes some measures that require large-scale, time-consuming work. The government would be putting the cart before the horse if it selects only measures that can be implemented in a short time as the components of the more concrete and understandable safety standards.
　３０項目の中には、大がかりな工事が必要で、時間を要するものも含まれている。「もっとわかりやすい」基準が、短期に実現できる対策だけになったら、本末転倒だ。

The standards should not be designed in a way to guarantee that idled reactors will be restarted quickly.
「再稼働ありき」の基準は許されない。

There are certainly concerns about possible electricity shortages in the summer, but there is still time for careful estimation and planning.
　確かに、夏場の電力不足は心配である。ただ、見極めるにはまだ時間がある。

The government should first act swiftly to make a detailed assessment of the outlook for the supply-demand situation. At the same time, it should buckle down to work out new nuclear safety measures.
まずは需給見通しの精査を急ぐ。あわせて、安全対策づくりに腰をすえてかかるべきだ。

While the task has to be assigned to NISA for the time being, it is a duty that was supposed to be carried out by the new nuclear regulatory agency the government had planned to launch in April. The ruling and opposition parties should start debating the bill to create the agency as soon as possible.
　作業は当面、保安院が担当するしかないが、本来は４月に新しくできるはずだった原子力規制庁の役割だ。与野党は一刻も早く関連法案の審議に入らなければならない。

The government is reportedly considering the establishment of a permanent “buffer zone” around the crippled Fukushima nuclear plant where residents will no longer be allowed to live. This is a fresh reminder of the grim fact that a severe accident at a nuclear power plant is likely to cause irreparable loss.
　政府は、福島第一原発の周辺に、将来にわたって住民が帰宅できない区域の設定を検討しているという。原発で大きな事故が起きれば、取り返しがつかない事態になることを改めて感じさせる。

There can be no “absolute safety” when it comes to nuclear power generation in the first place. Restarting an idled reactor requires a very tough decision. The administration will lose the trust of the public forever if it tries to forge ahead with restarting reactors through procedures that are mere formalities.
　そもそも原発に「絶対安全」はない。その前提での再稼働はぎりぎりの選択である。形だけの手続きで強行しようとすれば、政権への信用は完全に失われるだろう。

---------------------------------

The Yomiuri Shimbun (Apr. 6, 2012)
Edano must carefully explain need to restart Oi reactors
原発新安全基準　丁寧な説明で早期に再稼働を（4月5日付・読売社説）

Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda instructed a meeting of ministers related to nuclear power safety to draw up a new set of safety criteria for the restart of the Nos. 3 and 4 reactors at the Oi nuclear power plant in Fukui Prefecture, which is operated by Kansai Electric Power Co.
　福井県にある関西電力大飯原子力発電所３、４号機の再稼働に向けた関係閣僚会合で、野田首相は原発の新たな安全基準の策定を指示した。

Noda gave the instruction because Fukui Gov. Issei Nishikawa and others demanded the central government create new guidelines on nuclear plant safety based on lessons learned from the crisis at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant operated by Tokyo Electric Power Co. as a condition for agreeing to the restart of the idle reactors.
　福井県知事らが、東京電力福島第一原発の事故を踏まえた安全基準なしでは再稼働に同意できない、としているためだ。

To reactivate suspended reactors, it is essential that the prefecture and municipalities hosting them understand their safety. The central government should compile the new safety guidelines as soon as possible and quickly start to convince them to agree with the restart.
　再稼働には、安全性に対する地元の理解が欠かせない。政府は安全基準の策定を急ぎ、速やかに地元の説得を開始すべきである。

The Democratic Party of Japan-led government has been postponing the restart of suspended reactors by implementing additional procedures not called for by law, such as the introduction of stress tests and examinations by the Nuclear Safety Commission.
　民主党政権は、ストレステスト（耐性検査）の導入や原子力安全委員会の審査など、法律に基づかない手続きを次々に追加し、再稼働の実現を先延ばししてきた。

As a result of its makeshift measures, only one reactor now remains operating among the 54 around the country. But its operations will be also stopped in early May.
　場当たり的な対応の結果、全原発５４基で運転中は１基に減り、これも５月初旬に停止する。

If nothing is done, Japan will experience a serious electricity shortage this summer, inflicting heavy damage on its already sagging economy.
　このまま夏を迎えれば、深刻な電力不足に陥り、足踏みが続く日本経済に大打撃を与えよう。

===

New safety guidelines

The prime minister and related ministers should decide on resumption of reactor operations at the Oi plant quickly, without any further waste of time.
　首相や関係閣僚は時間を空費せず、大飯原発の再稼働を、早期に決断する必要がある。

The new guidelines are said to give structure and substance to the contents of a 30-item list of safety measures already drawn up by the Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry's Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency.
　新たな基準は、経済産業省の原子力安全・保安院がすでに策定した３０項目の安全対策を整理し、肉付けした内容になるという。

We expect the new guidelines to illustrate in an easy-to-understand manner measures to avoid a serious crisis like the one that developed at the Fukushima nuclear plant by preventing a complete loss of the plant's operating power even if the plant is hit by a massive earthquake and colossal tsunami.
　巨大な地震や津波が起きた場合でも、全電源喪失などを回避し、福島原発のような過酷事故を防ぐための対策を、わかりやすく示すことが求められる。

To obtain the approval of local governments for restarting the reactors, the government must take responsibility for confirming the safety of nuclear power plants. Toward that goal, it is also essential to foster a trusting relationship between ministers related to nuclear safety and concerned local governments.
　地元の了承を得るには、政府が原発の安全確認に責任を持たなければならない。関係閣僚と地元自治体の間で、信頼関係を構築することも不可欠だ。

===

Edano's remarks indiscreet

In that light, it is a problem that an indiscreet remark by Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Yukio Edano has increased a sense of distrust among concerned local governments.
　その点で、枝野経産相の不用意な発言が、関係自治体の不信感を増幅させたのは問題だ。

"At present, I'm also against the restart [of the idle reactors at the Oi plant]," Edano said at the House of Councillors Budget Committee on Monday.
　枝野氏は２日の参院予算委員会で、大飯原発に関し「現時点で私も再稼働反対だ」と答弁した。

Also, when asked to define which local authorities are concerned with the Oi plant, he told the committee that it would be local authorities "all over Japan."
　原発の「地元」の範囲について「あえて聞かれれば日本全国」と語り、

The resumed operation of the Oi plant's reactors also requires consent from the governors of Shiga and Kyoto prefectures, which neighbor Fukui Prefecture, he added.
福井県に隣接する京都府と滋賀県の知事の理解も得る必要があるとの考えも示した。

It was very careless of Edano to make a thoughtless series of gaffes that might toughen requirements for the restart of the idle reactors by himself. We suspect he may not be truly aware of his responsibility as a minister in charge of securing a stable power supply.
　自ら安易に再稼働へのハードルを上げるような発言を連発したのは軽率すぎる。電力安定供給に責任を負う閣僚として自覚を欠いているのではないか。

He has caused misunderstanding and confusion among the local governments hosting the Oi nuclear plant and others nearby. We fully understand why his remarks were severely criticized.
　大飯原発の地元や周辺自治体の誤解や混乱を招いた。厳しく批判されたのもうなずける。

Edano corrected part of his remarks, but his true intentions have not necessarily been clarified. If the situation remains unresolved, it might make the leaders of the prefecture and municipalities hosting the plant hesitate to agree to the resumption of reactor operations.
　枝野氏は発言内容を一部修正したが、真意は必ずしも明確でない。このままでは、原発の立地する県や市町村の首長が、再稼働の受け入れをためらいかねない。

Edano must retract his remarks and carefully explain his intentions in detail.
　前言を撤回し、丁寧に説明することが必要である。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 5, 2012)
（2012年4月5日01時52分 読売新聞）

ミャンマー補選 民主化路線に弾みをつけたい

The Yomiuri Shimbun (Apr. 5, 2012)
Hopes grow for future of democracy in Myanmar
ミャンマー補選　民主化路線に弾みをつけたい（4月4日付・読売社説）

Pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who was kept under house arrest for about 15 years by Myanmar's military junta, is now set to take public office for the first time.
　ミャンマーの軍事政権と対立し、約１５年間も自宅軟禁を強いられた民主化運動指導者アウン・サン・スー・チーさんが、初めて国政に参加することになった。

The opposition National League for Democracy won a landslide victory in Myanmar's parliamentary by-election, which was held a year after the junta ceded power. After winning a lower house seat, NLD leader Suu Kyi said, "We hope this [triumph] will be the beginning of a new era."
　民政移管から１年がたったミャンマーで行われた議会の補欠選挙で、野党・国民民主連盟（ＮＬＤ）が圧勝した。党首のスー・チーさんも下院議員に当選し、「この勝利が新たな時代の幕開けになることを願っている」と語った。

The vote appears to mark a major turning point for Myanmar's politics. We hope President Thein Sein will speed up the country's democratization.
　ミャンマー政治は大きな転機を迎えたと言える。テイン・セイン大統領には、民主化路線を加速してもらいたい。

The by-election was held to fill vacancies created by the resignation of lawmakers due to such reasons as the promotion to Cabinet posts after they won seats in the 2010 general election. The NLD boycotted the general election and was disqualified as a political party. However, approval of its reregistration as a political party paved the way for it to run candidates in the by-election.
　補選は、２０１０年総選挙の当選者のうち閣僚就任に伴う辞職などで生じた欠員を補うものだ。ＮＬＤは総選挙を拒否して政党資格を失ったが、政権の政党再登録承認を受けて補選に参加した。

Holding a "free and fair election" was a test of the Myanmar government's commitment to transition to democracy. Although some voting irregularities were reported, the government can be given credit for allowing international observers and completing the vote without confusion.
　「自由で公正な選挙」を実現することが、民主化の定着度を占う試金石だった。国際的な選挙監視団を受け入れ、一部で不正も伝えられたものの、選挙が混乱なく終了したことは評価できる。

===

Small but significant force

Even though the NLD swept to victory in the by-election, its seats in both chambers account for less than 10 percent of the total. Members of the Union Solidarity and Development Party, formerly a junta support organization, and unelected lawmakers who were appointed by the military make up 80 percent of the country's legislature.
　補選でＮＬＤが勝利したとはいえ、議席は上下両院の１割に満たない。軍政の翼賛組織を継承した与党・連邦団結発展党や軍人枠議員は全体の８割に上る。

Despite its small share, NLD's holding of parliamentary seats could become an important step forward in the country's transition to democracy.
　それでも、議会の一角をＮＬＤが占めたことは、民主化の促進に向けた重要な一歩となる。

In preparation for the 2015 general election, the NLD reportedly intends to demand the government realize reconciliation with ethnic minorities and constitutional amendments, including the elimination of the current quota for members of the parliament appointed by the military. Attention will be directed to how much democratization the government will allow while it keeps the old guard in the military in check.
　ＮＬＤは１５年の総選挙に向けて、少数民族との和解や、軍人枠撤廃など憲法改正を求めて行く考えだ。政権が軍内の守旧派の動向をにらみながら、どこまで民主化に応じるかが焦点となる。

===

Rebuilding economy key task

Meanwhile, the NLD will be tested for its ability to propose measures in such areas as economic reforms.
　ＮＬＤも、経済改革などを巡る提言能力が問われよう。

For Myanmar, the poorest among the Association of Southeast Asian Nations members, rebuilding its economy is an urgent task. The country will serve as ASEAN's chair in 2014. It needs to improve ties with the international community further by making progress in its democratization.
　東南アジア諸国連合（ＡＳＥＡＮ）の最貧国ミャンマーにとって、急務は経済再建だ。１４年にはＡＳＥＡＮ議長国を務める。民主化進展をテコに、国際社会との関係改善をさらに進める必要がある。

The European Union plans to decide whether it will lift sanctions against Myanmar when EU foreign ministers meet late this month. The EU set a free and fair by-election as a key condition for lifting the sanctions. The United States also likely will ease sanctions gradually.
　補選の公正な実施を制裁解除の条件としていた欧州連合（ＥＵ）は、今月下旬の外相理事会で解除の是非を判断する。米国も、段階的な制裁緩和へ動くだろう。

Ahead of its Western counterparts, the Japanese government has extended assistance to Myanmar. It plans to host Myanmar's president in late April, and Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda intends to announce the resumption of yen loans to help the country build major infrastructure.
　日本政府は、欧米に先駆けて支援に乗り出した。今月下旬には大統領を招き、野田首相は、大型インフラ支援につながる円借款の供与再開を表明する方針だ。

Meanwhile, Japanese companies have high hopes for the business potential of Myanmar as a new investment destination after Thailand and Vietnam. The government should cooperate in Myanmar's efforts to improve the climate for investment and back the country's reforms further.
　タイやベトナムに続く新たな投資先として、日本企業はミャンマー・ビジネスの将来性に期待する。政府は、投資環境改善につながるような協力を進め、改革を一層後押しすべきである。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 4, 2012)
（2012年4月4日01時48分 読売新聞）

社説：南海トラフ津波 想定受け止め対策を

(Mainichi Japan) April 3, 2012
Editorial: Catastrophic quake, tsunami projections demand policy rethink
社説：南海トラフ津波　想定受け止め対策を

If a major earthquake hits the "Nankai Trough" off central and western Japan's Pacific coast, the resulting tsunami could tower two to three times higher than previously estimated, according to an expert government panel announcement on March 31.
　これまで想定された２～３倍の津波高が公表された。西日本の太平洋沖に延びる「南海トラフ」で発生が懸念される巨大地震に伴うものだ。

The panel assumed a magnitude-9.1 temblor -- close to the same strength as the Great East Japan Earthquake of March last year -- and put together maximum damage estimates based on the latest scientific data.
　内閣府の有識者検討会が、地震の規模を示すマグニチュード（Ｍ）を東日本大震災なみの９・１に設定し、最新の科学的知見に基づき、考えられる最大級の被害を試算した。

The result: a quake measuring a high-6 on the Japanese 7-point intensity scale and destruction to 395 municipalities in 21 prefectures -- more than five times greater than was projected in a 2003 study. Moreover, if the quake hit at high-tide, the resulting tsunami would top 20 meters when they slammed into 23 municipalities in the Tokyo islands and Shizuoka, Aichi, Mie, Tokushima and Kochi prefectures. The largest projected wave, at 34.4 meters high, would hit the town of Kuroshio, Kochi Prefecture.
　震度６強以上は２１府県３９５市町村で、０３年に被害想定した際の５倍以上に拡大した。また、満潮時の津波高は、東京の島しょ部や静岡、愛知、三重、徳島、高知の６都県２３市町村で２０メートルを超えると予測した。最大は３４・４メートルの高知県黒潮町だ。

Of especially serious note in the estimates is the maximum 21-meter-high tsunami projected for Chubu Electric Power Co.'s Hamaoka nuclear power plant in Omaezaki, Shizuoka Prefecture. After the meltdowns at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant -- triggered when backup generators powering the reactors' cooling systems were flooded by tsunami -- Chubu Electric began building an 18-meter-tall, 1.6-kilometer-long tsunami breakwater to guard the Hamaoka plant.
　深刻なのは、中部電力浜岡原発が最大２１メートルの津波に襲われる可能性が指摘されたことだ。東京電力福島第１原発事故を受けて、中部電は緊急安全対策の一環で高さ（海抜）１８メートル、長さ１・６キロの防波壁を年内完成を目指して建設中である。

The projected tsunami, however, would get over the barrier and swamp the station. Obviously, Chubu Electric's tsunami countermeasures need a drastic rethink.
　だが、想定に従えば津波は防波壁を越え、浸水は原発敷地にまで及ぶ。当然のことながら、津波対策を含めた抜本的な見直しが必要だ。

Then there are the tsunami estimates for major urban centers. A wave over 20 meters high is projected for Toyohashi, Aichi Prefecture, and waves over 10 meters for the cities of Shizuoka, Hamamatsu, Kochi and Miyazaki.
　注目されるのは、人口が多い都市部でも相当な津波高が予想されることだ。愛知県豊橋市は２０メートルを超え、静岡、浜松、高知、宮崎の各市でも１０メートルを超える地点がある。

Starting this month, the expert panel will begin releasing flood projections based on the estimated tsunami heights. Meanwhile, the Cabinet Office's Central Disaster Prevention Council is scheduled to announce total damage projections, including the number of dead and total buildings destroyed, in June this year.
　検討会は４月以後、津波高予測に基づく浸水想定区域を公表する。中央防災会議も死者数や全壊棟数など被害想定を６月に公表予定だ。

The foundation of any anti-tsunami damage policy must be the lessons learned from the experience of last year's terrible waves, which took the lives of many who could not flee in time. Municipalities along Japan's Pacific coast, menaced by three projected catastrophic quakes -- Tokai, Tonankai and Nankai -- along the Nankai Trough, must formulate such policies especially quickly.
　津波対策は、避難の遅れから多数の被害者が出た東日本大震災の教訓をどう生かすのかが基本だ。南海トラフを震源域とする東海、東南海、南海地震が想定される太平洋側の市町村は、特に対策が急がれる。

An expert investigative committee under the disaster prevention council concluded last year that communities should be built such that anyone could walk to safety within about five minutes in case of a tsunami. However, the latest estimates warn of one-meter tsunami hitting the coast in about 2 minutes after a major quake. There are some local governments that have taken concrete tsunami safety measures, such as designating tall buildings as evacuation sites, building evacuation towers and demarking evacuation routes to high ground. In light of the new estimates, however, a re-evaluation of these measures -- including minimum evacuation times -- is required.
　中央防災会議の専門調査会は昨年、津波が発生した場合、原則として歩いて５分程度で安全な場所に避難できるまちづくりを提言した。だが、今回の想定では高さ１メートルの津波が最短２分で到達する。津波避難ビルの新たな指定や津波避難タワー建設、高台への避難路確保など具体的に動き出した地域もあるが、避難時間も含め見直しを迫られよう。

Finally, the state's financial support cannot be ignored. The government is set to draw up measures to deal with current difficulties this summer. What's essential, however, is that the central, prefectural and municipal governments build a unified policy on this issue. We call for deep discussion on what should be given priority in building such policy.
　最終的には、国の財政面での支援が欠かせない。国は今夏にも当面実施すべき対策をまとめるが、重要なのは国と都道府県、さらには市町村が一体的に対応することだ。どう優先度をつけて対策を進めるのか、互いに議論を深めてほしい。

Furthermore, the countermeasures laid out in the special measures law for the projected Tokai earthquake are different than those for Tonankai or Nankai quakes. Prefectural governors and other people in the areas likely to be affected, however, have begun calling for a united countermeasures law. If changes in the law are required, then the central government should get working on them as soon as possible.
　また、東南海・南海地震と、予知を前提とした東海地震では、対策を規定した特別措置法の内容が異なっている。しかし、広域での避難や減災対策が求められる現状では、一本化が望ましいとの声が知事会議などから出ている。必要な法改正ならば、国は早急に取り組むべきだ。

毎日新聞　2012年4月3日　東京朝刊

風知草：宙に浮く燃料プール＝山田孝男

一体いつまでこの泥試合は続くのでしょうか。
僅か４６０トンの使用済み燃料ですが、もしも爆発すれば東京にも人が住めなくなる。
ここは官民一体となって４号機に残されている使用済み燃料を取り出すべきでしょう。
で、取り出した（取り出せたらの話ですが）使用済み燃料はモンゴルに輸出するというのでしょうか。
それなら、大反対します。日本国内で処理すべきですね。

スラチャイ

(Mainichi Japan) April 2, 2012
In light of further nuclear risks, economic growth should not be priority
風知草：宙に浮く燃料プール＝山田孝男

The government continues to take regressive steps in spite of the torrent of criticism it has received and the lessons that should have been learned since the Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami triggered a nuclear disaster.
　大震災以来のおびただしい批判、検証、反省もむなしく、原発の安全をチェックする行政は後退し続けている。

This is evidenced in the fact that starting this week, which marks the beginning of a new fiscal year, the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency (NISA) and the Nuclear Safety Commission of Japan (NSC) have no budget. The new nuclear regulatory agency that was supposed to begin operations on April 1 in NISA's stead is now floundering amid resistance in the Diet from opposition parties. In other words, government agencies overseeing nuclear power now have an even more diminished presence.
　その証拠に、今週から原子力安全・保安院と原子力安全委員会の予算はゼロ。取って代わるはずの「原子力規制庁」は法案が国会に滞留し、発足できない。つまり、監督官庁の存在感がさらに薄らいだ。

According to Japan's general budget provisions, funds for a new government organization can be diverted to existing government organizations if the money is being used for its original purpose. The situation doesn't do much for morale, however. Back-scratching relationships between government ministries, the indecision of both the ruling and opposition parties, and the unchanging fact that much of the current crisis is still left in the hands of plant operator Tokyo Electric Power Co. (TEPCO) remains the same.
　予算は「その目的の実質に従い、執行できる」（予算総則１４条２）から、暫定存続の旧組織は新組織の予算を流用できるとはいえ、士気は上がらない。各府省のもたれ合い、与野党の不決断、何ごとも東京電力任せの実態は相変わらずだ。

One of the biggest issues that we face is the possibility that the spent nuclear fuel pool of the No. 4 reactor at the stricken Fukushima No. 1 Nuclear Power Plant will collapse. This is something that experts from both within and outside Japan have pointed out since the massive quake struck. TEPCO, meanwhile, says that the situation is under control. However, not only independent experts, but also sources within the government say that it's a grave concern.
　福島第１原発４号機の核燃料貯蔵プールが崩壊する可能性について考えてみる。震災直後から国内外の専門家が注視してきたポイントである。
　東電は大丈夫だというが、在野の専門家のみならず、政府関係者も「やはり怖い」と打ち明ける。どう怖いか。

The storage pool in the No. 4 reactor building has a total of 1,535 fuel rods, or 460 tons of nuclear fuel, in it. The 7-story building itself has suffered great damage, with the storage pool barely intact on the building's third and fourth floors. The roof has been blown away. If the storage pool breaks and runs dry, the nuclear fuel inside will overheat and explode, causing a massive amount of radioactive substances to spread over a wide area. Both the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and French nuclear energy company Areva have warned about this risk.
　４号機は建屋内のプールに合計１５３５本、４６０トンもの核燃料がある。建屋は崩れかけた７階建てビル。プールは３、４階部分にかろうじて残り、天井は吹っ飛んでいる。
　プールが壊れて水がなくなれば、核燃料は過熱、崩壊して莫大（ばくだい）な放射性物質が飛び散る。アメリカの原子力規制委員会もフランスの原子力企業アレバ社もこの点を強く意識した。

A report released in February by the Independent Investigation Commission on the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Accident stated that the storage pool of the plant's No. 4 reactor has clearly been shown to be "the weakest link" in the parallel, chain-reaction crises of the nuclear disaster. The worse-case scenario drawn up by the government includes not only the collapse of the No. 4 reactor pool, but the disintegration of spent fuel rods from all the plant's other reactors. If this were to happen, residents in the Tokyo metropolitan area would be forced to evacuate.
　「福島原発事故独立検証委員会」（いわゆる民間事故調）報告書は、原発事故の「並行連鎖型危機」の中でも４号機プールが「もっとも『弱い環』であることを露呈させた」と書く。政府がまとめた最悪シナリオ（同報告書に収録）も４号機プール崩壊を予測。さらに各号機の使用済み燃料も崩壊し、首都圏住民も避難を迫られるというのが最悪シナリオだ。

Former Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Sumio Mabuchi, who was appointed to the post of then Prime Minister Naoto Kan's advisor on the nuclear disaster immediately after its outbreak, proposed the injection of concrete from below the No. 4 reactor to the bottom of the storage pool, Chernobyl-style. An inspection of the pool floor, however, led TEPCO to conclude that the pool was strong enough without additional concrete. The plans were scrapped, and antiseismic reinforcements were made to the reactor building instead.
　震災直後、原発事故担当の首相補佐官に起用された馬淵澄夫元国土交通相（５１）は、４号機の地下からプールの底までコンクリートを注入し、チェルノブイリの「石棺」のように固めようとした。が、プール底部の調査で「強度十分」と見た東電の判断で見送られ、支柱の耐震補強工事にとどめた。

"Because sea water was being pumped into the reactor, the soundness of the structure (concrete corrosion and deterioration) was questionable. There also were doubts about the calculations made on earthquake resistance as well," said one government source familiar with what took place at the time. "It's been suggested that the building would be reinforced, and spent fuel rods would be removed from the pool under those conditions. But fuel rod removal will take three years. Will the structure remain standing for that long? Burying the reactor in a concrete grave is like building a dam, and therefore expensive. I think that it was because TEPCO's general shareholders' meeting was coming up (in June 2011) that the company tried to keep expenses low."
　当時の事情を知る政府関係者に聞くと、こう答えた。
　「海水を注入しており、部材の健全性（コンクリートの腐食、劣化）が問題。耐震強度の計算にも疑問がある。応急補強の間にプールから核燃料を抜くというけど、３年かかる。それまでもつか。（石棺は）ダムを一つ造るようなもので高くつく。株主総会（昨年６月）前だったから、決算対策で出費を抑えようとしたと思います」

Promotion of nuclear power is a national policy, and yet the operation of nuclear reactors lies in the hands of private corporations. The government pushes the blame on TEPCO, while TEPCO dodges responsibility with the excuse that nuclear energy promotion is a government policy. This system of irresponsibility hasn't changed.
　原発推進は国策だが、運営は私企業が担う。政府は東電を責め、東電は「国策だから」と開き直る。「国策民営」の無責任体制は変わらない。

In the three weeks after the Independent Investigation Commission on the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Accident's report became available to the public, 95,000 copies had been sold; this, despite the fact that they run 1,575 yen a piece. It's a testament to the public's thirst for a systematic explanation that is not affected by appearances or interests.
　民間事故調の報告書は市販開始３週間で９万５０００部出たそうだ。１冊１５７５円もするというのに。体面や営利に左右されない体系的説明に対する国民の飢えを感じる。

Earthquakes in the neighborhood of level-5 on the seismic intensity scale continue to occur even now in the Tohoku and Kanto regions. We cannot accept the absurd condescension of those who fear the worse-case scenario, labeling them as "overreacting." We have no time to humor the senseless thinking that instead, those who downplay the risks for the sake of economic growth are "realistic."
　東北・関東で震度５級の地震が続いている。最悪の事態を恐れる者を「感情的」と見くだす不見識を受け入れることはできない。リスク軽視で経済発展を夢想する者こそ「現実的」という非常識に付き合うわけにはいかない。

（毎週月曜日掲載）
(By Takao Yamada, Expert Senior Writer)

毎日新聞　2012年4月2日　東京朝刊

香山リカのココロの万華鏡：「悲しみの家」があれば ／東京

(Mainichi Japan) April 1, 2012
Kaleidoscope of the Heart: Having one's own sanctuary for grief
香山リカのココロの万華鏡：「悲しみの家」があれば　／東京

At a recent symposium that I attended, I learned some shocking information from Yasuyuki Shimizu, the head of a suicide prevention nonprofit organization called Lifelink.
　「自殺対策支援センター　ライフリンク」というＮＰＯ法人がある。その代表である清水康之さんとシンポジウムで同席したのだが、その話が衝撃的だった。

Among those who call the group for help, there are many bereaved family members who lost their loved ones to last year's devastating earthquake and tsunami. What was particularly significant for me was that, according to Mr. Shimizu, one year after the disasters, not much has changed for many of those grieving.
　清水さんたちは大震災で家族を失った方たちの電話相談にも応じているのだが、その内容が１年前もいまもほとんど変わらないのだという。

The bereaved family members often describe their conditions as "being at a loss as to what to do." The feeling of being completely stumped by how to start to heal their emotional wounds lingers even a year after the disasters.
　遺族たちの言葉、それは「どうしてよいのかわかりません」。途方に暮れ、立ち直りのためにどこから手をつけてよいのかわからない状況が、ずっと続いているということだ。

As I was listening to Mr. Shimizu, part of me was surprised, but part of me also thought that such a state of mind is rather natural. In fact, it is rather impossible to expect people who have lost a loved one to suddenly be healed in a year or so.
　驚きを感じると同時に、「そうかもしれないな」という気もした。大切な人を失って、１年やそこらで元気になれ、というほうが無理だ。

We often hear words along the lines of "The clock has stopped since then," or "Since that day, I haven't moved a single step forward." However, if one comes to think about it, this is a rather normal human response -- and it is not only limited to those who lost a dear one in last year's disasters.
　「時計が止まったまま」「あの日から一歩も前に進めていない」という言葉もよく聞くが、ちょっと考えてみれば、それはあたりまえの話だ。

In our lives we are always surrounded by countless possibilities of unexpected personal loss, disease and major failure. When something devastating like this happens to us, we are often told by others to fight on and not give in to it, but the reality is that it always takes time to overcome such incidents.
　大震災で家族を失った人ばかりではない。私たちの人生には、想像もしていなかったつらいできごと、病気、大きな失敗などがいくらでも待ち受けている。それらを経験しても「負けるな」「乗り越えろ」と言われるが、それには時間がかかる。

There will be a certain period of time -- sometimes half a year, sometimes a year, or even longer -- when we won't be able to do anything but blankly stare into space. Sometimes it can take years before we once again become aware of the changing seasons.
半年、１年、あるいはもっと長い時間、何も手につかずぼーっとしてすごし、「ああ、春が来たな」と季節の変化に気づくようになるまでに何年もかかる、という場合もある。

In my consultation room, I often wonder whether a period of grief should be as short as possible. Whenever we treat patients who have suffered a major shock in their lives, we psychiatrists always tell them the following: "You must have suffered a great deal. However, if you take this medicine, you will feel a bit better. It will shorten the grief period and help you get better soon."
　診察室にいていつも疑問に思うのは、「本当につらい時期は短いほうがいいのか」ということだ。ショックなできごとがあって落ち込んでいる人に、私たち精神科医は判で押したように言う。「たいへんでしたね。でも、このお薬を飲むとつらさが少しやわらいで、元気になるまでの時間も短縮されると思いますよ」。

While this is not a lie per se, that is how we prescribe anti-depressants and other medications, while we sometimes also think that what the person really needs is to embrace the grief and take as much time as he or she needs to deal with the emotional pain.
それはウソではないのだが、そう言って抗うつ剤などを出しながら、「この人にとって必要なのは、十分な時間をかけてゆっくりと悲しむことなのではないか」とも思ってしまうのだ。

Unfortunately, however, modern society does not allow people the privilege of a long recovery from a sad and painful event in life. If people tell their employers that they are in need of a half year's leave to recover from a personal loss, they will most likely be recommended to quit their job or see a doctor and do something about it as soon as possible.
　ただ、現代の社会は悲しみやつらさにゆっくり時間をかけることを許さない。「大切なものを失ったので、半年ほど会社を休みます」と言ったら、すぐに退職を勧められるか、「病院に行って何とかしてもらえ」と命じられるだろう。

I sometimes think how wonderful it would be if people had their own "sanctuary for grief" -- a place far away from daily house chores and work, where they can be free to think about their grief as much as they need.
　悲しい人が、仕事や家事から離れて、ゆっくり時間をかけて悲しめるような場所。そんな「悲しみの家」を作れたらいいのにな、などとときどき考える。

Perhaps, at the moment, Lifelink is the closest thing we have to such a place.
今のところは、ライフリンクが行っているような電話相談が、その「悲しみの家」の役割を果たしているのかもしれない。

(By Rika Kayama, psychiatrist)
毎日新聞　2012年3月27日　地方版

消費税法案提出 首相は審議入りへ環境整えよ

The Yomiuri Shimbun (Apr. 1, 2012)
Set the stage for deliberations on consumption tax hike bill
消費税法案提出　首相は審議入りへ環境整えよ（3月31日付・読売社説）

　◆野党と「政策スクラム」形成を◆

The government has adopted a bill to raise the consumption tax rate at a Cabinet meeting and submitted it to the Diet. We commend Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda for working hard to realize the government decision within the current fiscal year, and sticking to his personal pledge from beginning to end.
　政府が、消費税率引き上げ関連法案を閣議決定し、国会に提出した。
　野田首相が終始ぶれずに、年度内に法案を決定したことは評価したい。

Noda renewed his call to opposition parties to cooperate in getting the bill passed. "If we look at this issue from a grand perspective, this is a good chance for us to join forces with the opposition bloc over policies," he said at a press conference Friday.
　首相は、記者会見で、「大局に立つなら、野党と、政策のスクラムを組むことは十分可能である」と語り、野党に改めて協力を呼び掛けた。

However, there is no prospect that the government will be able to pass--or even start Diet deliberations on--the bill, a step on which Noda openly said he would stake his political life.
　だが、首相が「政治生命をかける」とまで公言した法案は、成立どころか、審議入りのメドさえ立っていない。

As an initial step, the government and the ruling Democratic Party of Japan must make utmost efforts to create an environment in which the main opposition Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito will agree to enter negotiations on the bill.
政府と民主党はまず、自民、公明両党が法案を巡る協議に応じるための環境作りに、全力を注がなければならない。

===

Consider multiple tax rates
　◆複数税率も検討課題だ◆

The bill's main pillar is to raise the consumption tax rate in two stages to 8 percent in April 2014 and to 10 percent in October 2015.
　法案は、消費税率を２０１４年４月に８％、１５年１０月に１０％へ２段階で引き上げることが柱だ。

Eighteen years have passed since the Diet decided to raise the consumption tax rate to the current 5 percent. Over that time, the outstanding debt of both the central and local governments has ballooned due to deteriorating fiscal conditions. This debt is projected to reach about 900 trillion yen--a record high--at the end of fiscal 2011, which ends Saturday.
　国会が現行の５％への引き上げを決めてから１８年。この間、財政の悪化で、国と地方の債務残高は膨れあがり、１１年度末には過去最悪の約９００兆円に達する。

Deep spending cuts will be essential for fiscal reconstruction, but this cannot be achieved simply by streamlining administrative bodies and services.
　財政再建には徹底的な歳出削減が不可欠だが、行政のスリム化だけでは到底追いつかない。

In the end, it will be unavoidable to raise the rate of the consumption tax, which provides a stable source of revenue for the government.
　結局、安定財源である消費税の税率引き上げは避けて通れない道である。

The bill's supplementary provision stipulates that the government will carry out measures aiming for a nominal economic growth rate of about 3 percent and a real economic growth rate of about 2 percent, as an elastic clause linking the tax hike to the state of the economy. This makes an economic turnaround a condition for implementing a higher consumption tax rate.
　法案には、景気弾力条項として「名目３％程度、実質２％程度」の経済成長率を目指す施策を実施する、と明記された。

The prime minister stated these figures in the clause are not preconditions for the tax hike. We think Noda's position is appropriate.
　首相が、これに関連し、「税率引き上げの前提条件ではない」と述べたのは当然である。

Over the past 20 years, the country's nominal growth rate has remained almost zero. Given this, it will not be easy to achieve such growth targets. It is of course necessary for the government to try to generate economic growth. However, it must not allow opponents to exploit these figures to justify their attempts to stop the tax increase.
　この２０年間の名目成長率はほぼゼロであり、達成は容易ではない。無論、政府は経済成長に努力すべきだ。しかし、この目標を、反対派が増税阻止の根拠に使おうとしても認めてはなるまい。

As steps to alleviate the burden that a higher consumption tax rate would impose on low-income earners, the bill incorporates a so-called negative income tax, which combines tax exemptions and benefit provisions. It also sets a limit on the total amount of social security-related payments to be shouldered by low-income earners.
　低所得者対策として、法案は、減税や現金給付を行う「給付付き税額控除」や、社会保障の合計自己負担額に上限を設ける「総合合算制度」などを盛り込んだ。

Though some DPJ members are calling for taking bolder measures, it is important that the government not expand such systems to an unnecessary scale. Doing so would leave the door open to characterizing them as dole-out policies.
　民主党内には、大規模な対策を求める声があるが、必要以上に規模を膨らませ、ばらまき色の強い内容にしないことが大切だ。

European countries have introduced a so-called multiple tax rate system, under which tax rates on food and other daily necessities are kept low to lesson burdens on family finances. In many countries, tax rates are set at zero or extremely low for newspapers and books. We believe implementing a multiple tax rate system is worth consideration in Japan, too.
　欧州では、家計負担を軽くするため、食料品など生活必需品の税率を低く抑える複数税率を採用している。新聞や書籍も税率をゼロや大幅に低くする国が多い。複数税率導入も検討すべきだろう。

　◆民主は大胆に歩み寄れ◆

When the Cabinet gave approval to the consumption tax hike bill, Shizuka Kamei, the head of the People's New Party, declared his party would split from the ruling coalition.
　法案の閣議決定にあたり、国民新党は、亀井代表が連立離脱を宣言した。

However, Shozaburo Jimi, state minister for postal reform and financial services, and a majority of other PNP members refused to obey Kamei's decision and opted to stay with the Noda administration. The de facto split of the DPJ's junior ruling coalition partner at this point was inevitable.
これに同調しない自見金融相らは政権に残留した。分裂状態に陥ったのはやむを得ない。

===

DPJ must back off boldly

Some members of the group led by former DPJ leader Ichiro Ozawa also have bristled at the Cabinet decision on the tax increase, handing in letters of resignation from their government and party posts. The incident has revealed afresh the depth of the split within the DPJ.
　民主党の小沢一郎・元代表のグループの一部議員は、「閣議決定は認められない」として、政府や党の役職の辞表を提出した。民主党内の亀裂の深さを改めて浮き彫りにしたと言える。

A politically key phase of the consumption tax issue will come when the bill is put to a vote in the House of Representatives.
　衆院での法案採決が、政治的には大きなヤマ場となる。

The DPJ leadership should take every possible step to tighten unity within the party. The party also must do its utmost to earn the backing of the LDP and Komeito, as this will be essential for the bill's legislation.
党執行部は、衆院での採決に向け、党内の引き締めを図ることが重要だ。
　同時並行で、法案成立に不可欠な自民、公明両党の協力を得る努力を尽くさねばならない。

If the two major opposition parties oppose the bill in lower house deliberations, chances would be very slim of the LDP and Komeito throwing their support behind the bill in the House of Councillors.
　自公両党が衆院段階で法案に反対すれば、参院で賛成に転じる可能性は小さいからだ。

The opposition parties have been strongly opposed to DPJ plans to create a new pension program aimed at guaranteeing a minimum pension benefit. This program would require enormous revenue sources.
　膨大な財源が必要な「最低保障年金」導入など、民主党の新年金制度案に対しては野党から強い批判がある。

The DPJ initiative to abolish the medical care system for people aged 75 and older--a system introduced when the LDP and Komeito were in power--has become bogged down because of a backlash from local governments that favor keeping the system intact.
　自公政権で導入された後期高齢者医療制度を廃止するとの方針も、制度の継続を望む自治体の反発で行き詰まっている。

These were two key DPJ policy pledges for the 2009 general election in which it came to power. The party, nevertheless, should not be fastidious about implementing them. The DPJ should instead be flexible enough to decide to offer concessions to the opposition on these matters, including dropping them entirely or making drastic modifications.
　ともに民主党が政権公約（マニフェスト）で掲げた政策だが、その実現にこだわるべきではない。撤回や大幅修正など、野党側に大胆に歩み寄る決断が必要だ。

===

LDP must show flexibility

Meanwhile, consultations between the DPJ, the LDP and Komeito have led to agreements on establishing a new child benefit program to replace the current child-rearing allowance plan, as well as a bill to revise the Postal Service Privatization Law.
　民自公３党の話し合いで、子ども手当に代わる新児童手当創設や郵政民営化法改正が決まった。

Broadening consensus-building efforts among the parties will surely help quicken moves to start Diet deliberations on the consumption tax bill.
こうした合意形成を広げることが、消費税率引き上げ法案の審議入りにもプラスに働く。

　◆自民も協議に応じよ◆

The DPJ and the LDP are in step as far as the idea of raising the consumption tax rate to 10 percent is concerned. The parties must not miss the opportunity that is before their very eyes.
　消費税率の１０％への引き上げでは、民主党と自民党が足並みをそろえている。この機をみすみす逃してはならない。

LDP President Sadakazu Tanigaki still insists the lower house should be dissolved for a general election before the bill becomes law.
　自民党の谷垣総裁は、法案成立前の衆院解散・総選挙を求める姿勢を崩していない。

However, developments that follow the lower house dissolution after passage of the bill will not necessarily be disadvantageous to the LDP and Komeito. In fact, many senior LDP legislators hold this line of thought.
　だが、法案を成立させた後の衆院解散という展開は、自公両党にとって決して不利益ではないはずだ。こうした主張は自民党のベテラン議員に少なくない。

Former LDP Secretary General Bunmei Ibuki has argued what is necessary for the benefit of the public "must be done as swiftly as possible," prodding the party leadership to begin talks with the government and the DPJ about what changes should be made to the consumption tax hike bill.
　伊吹文明・元幹事長は「国民のために必要なことを一刻も早くやるべきだ」として、政府・与党との法案修正協議を促している。

We think the LDP should come out with its own counterproposal without delay on the issue and participate in consultations between the ruling and opposition parties. It is of utmost importance that the DPJ, the LDP and Komeito build up relations of mutual trust during their consultations.
　自民党は対案を示し、与野党協議に臨んでもらいたい。協議の過程で民自公３党の間に信頼関係を積み上げることが肝要である。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 31, 2012)
（2012年3月31日01時30分 読売新聞）

死刑執行 法相が重い職責を果たした

The Yomiuri Shimbun (Mar. 31, 2012)
Justice minister fulfills heavy responsibility
死刑執行　法相が重い職責を果たした（3月30日付・読売社説）

Three death-row inmates were executed Thursday. They were the first executions under the Democratic Party of Japan-led government in 20 months since two inmates were executed in July 2010.
　３人の死刑が２９日、執行された。民主党政権では、一昨年７月の２人以来、１年８か月ぶりの執行となる。

Regarding the death penalty, which is the ultimate punishment, the Criminal Procedure Code stipulates that executions of death-row inmates are carried out at the order of the justice minister. Executions are not performed unless the justice minister signs an execution order.
　究極の刑罰である死刑について、刑事訴訟法は「執行は法務大臣の命令による」と定めている。法相が執行命令書に署名しなければ、行われない。

Justice Minister Toshio Ogawa said at a press conference after Thursday's executions, "It's a painful duty, but it's my responsibility." Ogawa fulfilled a heavy responsibility imposed on the justice minister to maintain order in the nation.
　署名した小川法相は執行後の記者会見で、「つらい職務だという気持ちは持っているが、職責だ」と心境を語った。国の秩序を維持する上で、法相に課せられた重い責務を果たしたと言えよう。

Among the six justice ministers so far under the DPJ-led government, former Justice Minister Satsuki Eda did not order executions because of his position that capital punishment should be abolished. Former Justice Minister Hideo Hiraoka also was cautious about executions.
　民主党政権で法相を務めた６人のうち、江田五月元法相は死刑廃止の立場から執行せず、平岡秀夫前法相も執行に慎重な姿勢を崩さなかった。

No executions were carried out last year, the first time that had happened in 19 years. The number of death-row convicts had increased to 135, the highest in the postwar period.
　昨年１年間は１９年ぶりに執行がゼロとなり、死刑確定者は戦後最多の１３５人に増えていた。

===

Duty defined by law

As a country ruled by law, it is naturally impermissible for a justice minister not to perform a duty defined by law because of his or her thoughts and beliefs, and for this to influence the pace of executions.
　法相が個人の思想・信条から法律で定められた職責を果たさず、その結果、執行のペースが左右されることは、法治国家として本来許されないことである。

If the former justice ministers who did not order executions oppose the death penalty system and had decided from the first not to order executions, as politicians they should not have accepted the post.
　死刑制度に否定的で初めから執行しないと決めているのなら、政治家として法相の職を引き受けるべきではなかっただろう。

The inmates executed Thursday committed heinous crimes, including random attacks in which one inmate murdered five people and injured 10 at JR Shimonoseki Station in 1999.
　今回、死刑が執行されたのは、１９９９年にＪＲ下関駅で５人を殺害し、１０人に重軽傷を負わせた通り魔殺人など、いずれも凶悪事件を起こした死刑囚だ。

Bereaved families who one day suddenly had their loved ones' lives taken away strongly desire harsh punishment for death-row inmates.
　ある日突然、大切な家族の命を奪われた遺族の死刑囚に対する処罰感情には峻烈(しゅんれつ)なものがある。

Ogawa said at the press conference, "The right to decide how crimes should be punished rests with the people."
　小川法相は記者会見で、「犯罪に対して、どのような刑罰で臨むかを決める権利は国民にある」と述べた。

There is strong opposition against the death penalty system from some groups, including the Japan Federation of Bar Associations, which has submitted a request to the justice minister urging the ministry to start discussions on abolishment of the system.
　死刑制度を巡っては、日本弁護士連合会が制度廃止についての議論を始めるよう求める要請書を法相に提出するなど、一部に強い反対論もある。

===

Widespread support for system

According to a Cabinet Office survey, however, as many as 85.6 percent of respondents support the death penalty system. Many people are concerned that the bereaved families of crime victims will not be healed if capital punishment is abolished and that heinous crimes may increase. This is a weighty fact.
　だが、内閣府の世論調査では、死刑制度を容認する国民が８５・６％に達している。多くの国民が、死刑を廃止すれば、遺族の感情が癒やされず、凶悪犯罪が増えると懸念している事実は重い。

In addition, the lay judge system that began in 2009 and in which ordinary citizens participate in trying cases has so far handed death sentences to 13 defendants. As long as the system requires citizens to make a tough decision on whether to choose capital punishment, it is proper and appropriate for the justice minister to fulfill his or her responsibility.
　加えて、２００９年から一般の市民が参加する裁判員裁判が始まり、これまで１３人に死刑判決を言い渡している。市民に死刑を選択するかどうかの苦渋の決断を求める以上、法相が自らの責務を全うするのは当然である。

Carefully and strictly checking rulings in which capital punishment has been finalized and implementing the death penalty system calmly in accordance with law will help increase the people's faith in justice.
　確定判決を詳細かつ厳正にチェックした上で、法に従って粛々と制度を運用していくことが、国民の司法に対する信頼を高めていくことにつながるだろう。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, March 30, 2012)
（2012年3月30日01時39分 読売新聞）