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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。
PR
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）
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。
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。
The Yomiuri Shimbun (Sep. 4, 2011)
Noda Cabinet must show recipe for repairing nation
野田内閣発足 国難乗り切る処方箋を示せ（9月3日付・読売社説）
◆「鳩菅政治」からの決別が急務だ◆
Although it lacks sparkle, the lineup of Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda's Cabinet gives the impression he is determined to get the wheels of the nation's politics turning again.
華やかさはないが、国政を前に動かそうという野田首相の意欲を感じさせる布陣だ。
The next step is to strategically implement various policies effectively.
あとは政策をいかに戦略的に実現していくかである。
The new Cabinet was launched Friday.
野田内閣が２日、発足した。
The lineup is characterized by the inclusion of several House of Councillors members and former heads of the Democratic Party of Japan's Diet Affairs Committee.
Apparently Noda attached importance to cooperation with opposition parties to overcome the so-called divided Diet.
閣僚に参院議員や国会対策委員長経験者が目立つのは、衆参ねじれ国会を乗り切るため、野党との連携を重視したのだろう。
Under Naoto Kan, the DPJ could not function as a ruling party due to internal conflict triggered by disagreements over policies, and strained ties with opposition parties.
Reflecting on the shortcomings of the Kan administration, the new Cabinet contains a balance of members from intraparty groups.
民主党内の路線対立で政権党の体をなさず、野党との関係もぎくしゃくした菅政権の反省に立ち、党内グループの勢力均衡を図る人選となった。
Together with the lineup of DPJ executives, the party unity Noda was desperate to realize has been achieved--for the time being.
党執行部と合わせて、野田首相が腐心した挙党態勢はひとまず整ったと言える。
◆政官関係の見直しを◆
The Noda administration has many urgent issues in its in-tray. They include restoration from the March 11 disaster, bringing the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant under control, participation in the Trans-Pacific Partnership multilateral trade agreement, fiscal rehabilitation, reform of the social security system with a hike in the consumption tax rate as the main pillar, and rebuilding the nation's diplomacy.
震災復興や原子力発電所事故の収束、環太平洋経済連携協定（ＴＰＰ）への参加、財政再建、消費税率引き上げを柱とする社会保障制度改革、外交立て直し……。
The Noda Cabinet does not have a minute to lose.
一刻の猶予も許されない課題ばかりだ。
It should come up with concrete proposals to address these matters as soon as possible.
早急に具体的な処方箋を提示する必要がある。
===
Review ties with bureaucrats
Intraparty debate over important policies Noda raised, such as tax increases to fund reconstruction from the Great East Japan Earthquake, was basically settled when the curtain came down on last week's DPJ presidential election.
野田首相が掲げる復興増税などの重要政策を巡る党内論争は基本的には代表選で決着した。
It is important that each minister accept the results of the election, and that they work as a team to resolve the problems.
その結果に各閣僚は従い、内閣が一丸となって取り組むことが重要だ。
The ministers must be careful not to make irresponsible remarks off the cuff or generate infighting within the Cabinet, as often happened under past administrations.
これまでのように、閣僚が勝手に発言し、閣内不一致を繰り返すようでは困る。
At the same time, the prime minister should not easily back down for the sake of reconciliation.
首相も融和優先で妥協してはならない。
Former DPJ Deputy Secretary General Osamu Fujimura, one of Noda's closest aides, has been appointed chief cabinet secretary, the linchpin of the Cabinet.
内閣の要の官房長官には首相の腹心である藤村修・前幹事長代理が起用された。
As a right-hand man of Noda, Fujimura must restore the functions of the Prime Minister's Office, which crumbled under the administrations of Yukio Hatoyama and Naoto Kan.
首相の女房役として鳩山、菅両政権で混乱した首相官邸の機能を回復してほしい。
The DPJ has removed bureaucrats from the government's decision-making process under the misguided "lawmaker-led politics" principle, which caused bureaucrats to turn against the administration and attempt to hinder its operations.
民主党政権はこれまで、誤った「政治主導」のもと、官僚を意思決定の場から排除し、官僚の離反とサボタージュを招いた。
After the devastating earthquake, the administration started to more effectively use the bureaucracy by, for instance, having administrative vice ministers of the Cabinet Office and ministries participate in a liaison council set up under the special headquarters for measures to assist disaster victims.
However, this does not go far enough.
震災後は、各府省連絡会議に各府省の次官を参加させるなど官僚機構を活用する姿勢を見せ始めたが、まだまだ不十分だ。
To realize proper politician-led politics, we suggest the new administration resurrect a conference of vice ministers.
本来の政治主導を実現するためにも、次官会議を復活させてはどうか。
From the viewpoint of beefing up functions of the Prime Minister's Office, it is noteworthy that Noda met the leaders of three major business organizations, including Japan Business Federation (Keidanren) Chairman Hiromasa Yonekura, before selecting his ministers and asked them to support a planned council that will work on economic and fiscal issues, among others.
官邸機能強化という観点では、首相が、組閣に先立ち、経団連の米倉弘昌会長ら経済３団体の長と会談し、首相官邸に設ける経済や財政に関する会議への協力を要請したことも注目に値する。
The planned council, which will be set up at the office, is intended to repair government relations with the business world that became strained under the Kan administration.
菅政権で悪化した経済界との関係を修復するとともに、
The council also will integrate and realign many of the economy-related advisory bodies that have been haphazardly set up.
乱立した経済関係の会議を統合・再編するのが狙いだという。
Establishing this council will allow the government to tap the wisdom and knowledge of bureaucrats and a wide range of experts from the private sector.
官僚はもとより、民間の知恵とノウハウを活用するのは、妥当な考え方だ。
◆「震災」「原発」を迅速に◆
Noda reappointed some members of the Kan Cabinet, including Tatsuo Hirano as reconstruction minister and Goshi Hosono as minister in charge of stabilizing the Fukushima nuclear crisis. This makes sense because continuity is essential for speedily reconstructing disaster-hit areas.
震災対策を迅速に進めるためには、平野達男復興相、細野豪志原発相らの再任は当然だろう。
===
Get N-plants operating again
Where does the government stand on nuclear power generation? Simply calling for reducing reliance on nuclear power without providing a convincing energy policy vision--the mistake made by the Kan administration--could plunge the economy and people's lives into disarray.
原発については、菅政権のように、見通しのない「脱原発依存」を訴えるだけでは、経済も、国民生活も混乱するばかりである。
Noda said he wants nuclear reactors currently suspended for regular inspections "reactivated after firmly ensuring they are safe and provided we have the understanding of residents living nearby."
野田首相は、「原発の安全性をきっちり確保し、地元の理解を前提に原発を再稼働する」と述べた。
Hosono should endeavor in tandem with Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Yoshio Hachiro to get the nuclear plants operating again.
細野原発相は、鉢呂吉雄経済産業相とともに、原発の再稼働に向けて努力すべきだ。
The post of finance minister has been assumed by Jun Azumi, a former DPJ Diet Affairs Committee chairman.
財務相には、安住淳・前国会対策委員長が起用された。
His ability to handle this job is unknown.
手腕は未知数である。
The domestic economic environment is extremely severe--not least because of the historically strong yen--and the fiscal crisis is worsening.
だが、歴史的な円高をはじめ日本経済をめぐる環境は極めて厳しく、財政悪化も深刻だ。
Azumi must work out measures to fix these problems without causing a national credit crisis.
国家の信用危機に陥ることのないよう対策を講じねばならない。
Perhaps the biggest weakness of the DPJ-led governments has been diplomatic and national security policy.
民主党政権の最大の弱点は外交・安全保障政策だ。
Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba and Defense Minister Yasuo Ichikawa have been given posts in these fields for the first time. Their caliber will be put to the test.
玄葉光一郎外相、一川保夫防衛相はいずれも、外交・安保の分野に本格的に携わるのは初めてであり、その力量を問われよう。
It was appropriate that Noda reconfirmed in talks with U.S. President Barack Obama over the telephone that the alliance with the United States is the "cornerstone of Japan's diplomacy."
野田首相が、オバマ米大統領との電話会談で、日米同盟が「日本外交の基軸」であることを確認したことは適切だった。
The government must think hard about how to deepen the security alliance while reducing the burdens of Okinawa Prefecture residents in line with the bilateral accord on realigning U.S. forces in Japan.
在日米軍再編の日米合意を踏まえ、沖縄の負担軽減を模索する中で、日米同盟を深化させるための知恵を絞る必要がある。
It should never be forgotten that Okinawa Prefecture and Washington lost faith in Hatoyama because of his bungled handling of the relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station.
鳩山元首相が米軍普天間飛行場移設問題の対応で沖縄と米国から信頼を失い、
His successor Kan also hurt national interests due to the inept response to a Chinese fishing boat's collision with two Japan Coast Guard patrol vessels off the Senkaku Islands and the dispute with Russia over the northern territories off Hokkaido.
菅前首相も尖閣諸島沖の中国漁船衝突事件や北方領土問題を巡る失政で国益を損なったことを忘れてはなるまい。
===
Push ahead with TPP talks
◆ＴＰＰ参加へ動こう◆
We cannot help but feel uneasy about Michihiko Kano's reappointment as agriculture, forestry and fisheries minister, since he has been cool toward the nation's participation in the TPP trade framework.
再任された鹿野道彦農相が、ＴＰＰへの参加に慎重姿勢を示しているのは気がかりだ。
We want Kano, who has a reputation for being well-versed in agricultural affairs, to play a key role in keeping opponents to the TPP talks in check.
農政通としてＴＰＰ反対派を抑える役割を果たしてもらいたい。
Noda is the third prime minister since the DPJ swept to power in 2009.
野田首相は、民主党政権で３代目となる。
When the DPJ was an opposition party, it regularly fired broadsides at Liberal Democratic Party-led governments as prime ministers came and went in quick succession.
The DPJ argued that any administration that had not obtained a mandate of the people through a general election lacked legitimacy.
民主党は、野党時代、選挙で国民の審判を受けていない政権は正統性に欠けるとして、首相交代を繰り返す自民党政権を批判してきた。
If that is the case, it would be quite logical for the DPJ to seek voter judgment by holding a general election.
そうであるなら、国民に信を問い直すのが筋だ。
As long as the DPJ argues it must stay in power without holding an election because it places top priority on recovery from the March 11 disaster and that there must not be a political vacuum, it is imperative that the Noda Cabinet produce good results by successfully tackling the challenges confronting the nation.
復興を最優先の課題とし、「政治空白を作れる状況ではない」との理由で政権を担当する以上、山積する課題を処理して実績を上げるしかない。
We strongly hope Noda will produce tangible results even as he fights with his back to the wall.
首相の「背水の陣」の成果を期待したい。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 3, 2011)
（2011年9月3日01時20分 読売新聞）
Noda Cabinet must show recipe for repairing nation
野田内閣発足 国難乗り切る処方箋を示せ（9月3日付・読売社説）
◆「鳩菅政治」からの決別が急務だ◆
Although it lacks sparkle, the lineup of Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda's Cabinet gives the impression he is determined to get the wheels of the nation's politics turning again.
華やかさはないが、国政を前に動かそうという野田首相の意欲を感じさせる布陣だ。
The next step is to strategically implement various policies effectively.
あとは政策をいかに戦略的に実現していくかである。
The new Cabinet was launched Friday.
野田内閣が２日、発足した。
The lineup is characterized by the inclusion of several House of Councillors members and former heads of the Democratic Party of Japan's Diet Affairs Committee.
Apparently Noda attached importance to cooperation with opposition parties to overcome the so-called divided Diet.
閣僚に参院議員や国会対策委員長経験者が目立つのは、衆参ねじれ国会を乗り切るため、野党との連携を重視したのだろう。
Under Naoto Kan, the DPJ could not function as a ruling party due to internal conflict triggered by disagreements over policies, and strained ties with opposition parties.
Reflecting on the shortcomings of the Kan administration, the new Cabinet contains a balance of members from intraparty groups.
民主党内の路線対立で政権党の体をなさず、野党との関係もぎくしゃくした菅政権の反省に立ち、党内グループの勢力均衡を図る人選となった。
Together with the lineup of DPJ executives, the party unity Noda was desperate to realize has been achieved--for the time being.
党執行部と合わせて、野田首相が腐心した挙党態勢はひとまず整ったと言える。
◆政官関係の見直しを◆
The Noda administration has many urgent issues in its in-tray. They include restoration from the March 11 disaster, bringing the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant under control, participation in the Trans-Pacific Partnership multilateral trade agreement, fiscal rehabilitation, reform of the social security system with a hike in the consumption tax rate as the main pillar, and rebuilding the nation's diplomacy.
震災復興や原子力発電所事故の収束、環太平洋経済連携協定（ＴＰＰ）への参加、財政再建、消費税率引き上げを柱とする社会保障制度改革、外交立て直し……。
The Noda Cabinet does not have a minute to lose.
一刻の猶予も許されない課題ばかりだ。
It should come up with concrete proposals to address these matters as soon as possible.
早急に具体的な処方箋を提示する必要がある。
===
Review ties with bureaucrats
Intraparty debate over important policies Noda raised, such as tax increases to fund reconstruction from the Great East Japan Earthquake, was basically settled when the curtain came down on last week's DPJ presidential election.
野田首相が掲げる復興増税などの重要政策を巡る党内論争は基本的には代表選で決着した。
It is important that each minister accept the results of the election, and that they work as a team to resolve the problems.
その結果に各閣僚は従い、内閣が一丸となって取り組むことが重要だ。
The ministers must be careful not to make irresponsible remarks off the cuff or generate infighting within the Cabinet, as often happened under past administrations.
これまでのように、閣僚が勝手に発言し、閣内不一致を繰り返すようでは困る。
At the same time, the prime minister should not easily back down for the sake of reconciliation.
首相も融和優先で妥協してはならない。
Former DPJ Deputy Secretary General Osamu Fujimura, one of Noda's closest aides, has been appointed chief cabinet secretary, the linchpin of the Cabinet.
内閣の要の官房長官には首相の腹心である藤村修・前幹事長代理が起用された。
As a right-hand man of Noda, Fujimura must restore the functions of the Prime Minister's Office, which crumbled under the administrations of Yukio Hatoyama and Naoto Kan.
首相の女房役として鳩山、菅両政権で混乱した首相官邸の機能を回復してほしい。
The DPJ has removed bureaucrats from the government's decision-making process under the misguided "lawmaker-led politics" principle, which caused bureaucrats to turn against the administration and attempt to hinder its operations.
民主党政権はこれまで、誤った「政治主導」のもと、官僚を意思決定の場から排除し、官僚の離反とサボタージュを招いた。
After the devastating earthquake, the administration started to more effectively use the bureaucracy by, for instance, having administrative vice ministers of the Cabinet Office and ministries participate in a liaison council set up under the special headquarters for measures to assist disaster victims.
However, this does not go far enough.
震災後は、各府省連絡会議に各府省の次官を参加させるなど官僚機構を活用する姿勢を見せ始めたが、まだまだ不十分だ。
To realize proper politician-led politics, we suggest the new administration resurrect a conference of vice ministers.
本来の政治主導を実現するためにも、次官会議を復活させてはどうか。
From the viewpoint of beefing up functions of the Prime Minister's Office, it is noteworthy that Noda met the leaders of three major business organizations, including Japan Business Federation (Keidanren) Chairman Hiromasa Yonekura, before selecting his ministers and asked them to support a planned council that will work on economic and fiscal issues, among others.
官邸機能強化という観点では、首相が、組閣に先立ち、経団連の米倉弘昌会長ら経済３団体の長と会談し、首相官邸に設ける経済や財政に関する会議への協力を要請したことも注目に値する。
The planned council, which will be set up at the office, is intended to repair government relations with the business world that became strained under the Kan administration.
菅政権で悪化した経済界との関係を修復するとともに、
The council also will integrate and realign many of the economy-related advisory bodies that have been haphazardly set up.
乱立した経済関係の会議を統合・再編するのが狙いだという。
Establishing this council will allow the government to tap the wisdom and knowledge of bureaucrats and a wide range of experts from the private sector.
官僚はもとより、民間の知恵とノウハウを活用するのは、妥当な考え方だ。
◆「震災」「原発」を迅速に◆
Noda reappointed some members of the Kan Cabinet, including Tatsuo Hirano as reconstruction minister and Goshi Hosono as minister in charge of stabilizing the Fukushima nuclear crisis. This makes sense because continuity is essential for speedily reconstructing disaster-hit areas.
震災対策を迅速に進めるためには、平野達男復興相、細野豪志原発相らの再任は当然だろう。
===
Get N-plants operating again
Where does the government stand on nuclear power generation? Simply calling for reducing reliance on nuclear power without providing a convincing energy policy vision--the mistake made by the Kan administration--could plunge the economy and people's lives into disarray.
原発については、菅政権のように、見通しのない「脱原発依存」を訴えるだけでは、経済も、国民生活も混乱するばかりである。
Noda said he wants nuclear reactors currently suspended for regular inspections "reactivated after firmly ensuring they are safe and provided we have the understanding of residents living nearby."
野田首相は、「原発の安全性をきっちり確保し、地元の理解を前提に原発を再稼働する」と述べた。
Hosono should endeavor in tandem with Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Yoshio Hachiro to get the nuclear plants operating again.
細野原発相は、鉢呂吉雄経済産業相とともに、原発の再稼働に向けて努力すべきだ。
The post of finance minister has been assumed by Jun Azumi, a former DPJ Diet Affairs Committee chairman.
財務相には、安住淳・前国会対策委員長が起用された。
His ability to handle this job is unknown.
手腕は未知数である。
The domestic economic environment is extremely severe--not least because of the historically strong yen--and the fiscal crisis is worsening.
だが、歴史的な円高をはじめ日本経済をめぐる環境は極めて厳しく、財政悪化も深刻だ。
Azumi must work out measures to fix these problems without causing a national credit crisis.
国家の信用危機に陥ることのないよう対策を講じねばならない。
Perhaps the biggest weakness of the DPJ-led governments has been diplomatic and national security policy.
民主党政権の最大の弱点は外交・安全保障政策だ。
Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba and Defense Minister Yasuo Ichikawa have been given posts in these fields for the first time. Their caliber will be put to the test.
玄葉光一郎外相、一川保夫防衛相はいずれも、外交・安保の分野に本格的に携わるのは初めてであり、その力量を問われよう。
It was appropriate that Noda reconfirmed in talks with U.S. President Barack Obama over the telephone that the alliance with the United States is the "cornerstone of Japan's diplomacy."
野田首相が、オバマ米大統領との電話会談で、日米同盟が「日本外交の基軸」であることを確認したことは適切だった。
The government must think hard about how to deepen the security alliance while reducing the burdens of Okinawa Prefecture residents in line with the bilateral accord on realigning U.S. forces in Japan.
在日米軍再編の日米合意を踏まえ、沖縄の負担軽減を模索する中で、日米同盟を深化させるための知恵を絞る必要がある。
It should never be forgotten that Okinawa Prefecture and Washington lost faith in Hatoyama because of his bungled handling of the relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station.
鳩山元首相が米軍普天間飛行場移設問題の対応で沖縄と米国から信頼を失い、
His successor Kan also hurt national interests due to the inept response to a Chinese fishing boat's collision with two Japan Coast Guard patrol vessels off the Senkaku Islands and the dispute with Russia over the northern territories off Hokkaido.
菅前首相も尖閣諸島沖の中国漁船衝突事件や北方領土問題を巡る失政で国益を損なったことを忘れてはなるまい。
===
Push ahead with TPP talks
◆ＴＰＰ参加へ動こう◆
We cannot help but feel uneasy about Michihiko Kano's reappointment as agriculture, forestry and fisheries minister, since he has been cool toward the nation's participation in the TPP trade framework.
再任された鹿野道彦農相が、ＴＰＰへの参加に慎重姿勢を示しているのは気がかりだ。
We want Kano, who has a reputation for being well-versed in agricultural affairs, to play a key role in keeping opponents to the TPP talks in check.
農政通としてＴＰＰ反対派を抑える役割を果たしてもらいたい。
Noda is the third prime minister since the DPJ swept to power in 2009.
野田首相は、民主党政権で３代目となる。
When the DPJ was an opposition party, it regularly fired broadsides at Liberal Democratic Party-led governments as prime ministers came and went in quick succession.
The DPJ argued that any administration that had not obtained a mandate of the people through a general election lacked legitimacy.
民主党は、野党時代、選挙で国民の審判を受けていない政権は正統性に欠けるとして、首相交代を繰り返す自民党政権を批判してきた。
If that is the case, it would be quite logical for the DPJ to seek voter judgment by holding a general election.
そうであるなら、国民に信を問い直すのが筋だ。
As long as the DPJ argues it must stay in power without holding an election because it places top priority on recovery from the March 11 disaster and that there must not be a political vacuum, it is imperative that the Noda Cabinet produce good results by successfully tackling the challenges confronting the nation.
復興を最優先の課題とし、「政治空白を作れる状況ではない」との理由で政権を担当する以上、山積する課題を処理して実績を上げるしかない。
We strongly hope Noda will produce tangible results even as he fights with his back to the wall.
首相の「背水の陣」の成果を期待したい。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 3, 2011)
（2011年9月3日01時20分 読売新聞）
2011/09/03
--The Asahi Shimbun, Sept. 2
EDITORIAL: LDP should stop being so pathetic
自民党へ―政策で勝負するときだ
New Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda met with Liberal Democratic Party President Sadakazu Tanigaki and New Komeito leader Natsuo Yamaguchi on Sept. 1 to seek their cooperation.
野田新首相がきのう、自民党の谷垣総裁、公明党の山口代表と会談し、協力を求めた。
The meetings attracted attention for how the opposition parties, in particular the LDP, would respond, but their reactions were very dry.
野党とくに自民党はどう対応するのかと注目したが、なんとも素っ気なかった。
The LDP denies the "legitimacy" of the third prime minister of the DPJ administration.
自民党は民主党３人目の首相の「正統性」を否定する。
That is why Tanigaki reiterated that the LDP would continue to cooperate until the third extra budget is passed the Diet and that after that, the Lower House should be dissolved as soon as possible for a snap election.
だから谷垣氏はこれまで通り、第３次補正予算までは協力するが、その後は一刻も早く解散・総選挙をせよと応じた。
But we are afraid that that is not the right thing to do.
だが、どうだろう。
The crisis at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant has not been brought under control.
原発事故はまだ収束していない。
Efforts to recover and rebuild from the March 11 Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami have yet to get on track.
復旧・復興事業も軌道に乗ったとは言えない。
Many stricken areas are still putting off local elections that had been scheduled for this spring.
地方選を延期し続けている被災地も多い。
We believe the ruling and opposition parties should continue to work together in compiling the budget for fiscal 2012 and accelerating rebuilding efforts.
ここは来年度予算編成でも与野党で共同歩調をとり、震災対応にあたるときではないか。
Looking back to the time the opposition submitted a no-confidence motion against the Cabinet of Prime Minister Naoto Kan in the Lower House in June, Tanigaki did say: "(If Kan) resigns, there will be plenty of areas where we can join hands and transcend differences between parties."
振り返れば、６月の不信任案提出時に、谷垣氏は「（菅首相が）辞めれば、党派を超えて団結するのはいくらでもできる」と述べていたではないか。
The LDP should ponder why its public approval ratings remain low despite the fact that voters are finding the DPJ administration deeply disappointing.
自民党は、有権者が民主党政権に愛想を尽かしている割に、自分たちの支持率が伸びない理由を真剣に考えるべきだ。
Take, for example, the tripartite agreement between the DPJ, LDP and New Komeito in August.
たとえば、８月の民自公３党合意だ。
The agreement to pass special legislation allowing the issuance of deficit-covering bonds in exchange for a review of the child-allowance and other DPJ pet projects represented a setback for the ruling party and an end to the Kan Cabinet.
子ども手当などを見直す代わりに、赤字国債発行を認める法律を成立させる合意は、民主党に看板政策を見直させ、菅内閣に引導を渡すもので、
The LDP could have scored a major points.
自民党の得点だったはずだ。
However, the LDP's tactic to use the legislation to issue deficit-covering bonds as leverage failed to win over public opinion.
しかし、赤字国債の発行を人質にとる手法に、世論の共感は広がらなかった。
This is because everybody is aware that past LDP administrations are the ones responsible for the nation's situation in which the government cannot compile a budget without borrowing a huge amount of money.
巨額の借金なしに予算を組めない財政にしたのは自民党政権だと、だれもが知っているからだ。
Having gone out of power, the LDP has been re-examining its policy platform and increased the number of applicants from the general public to run as LDP candidates.
下野した自民党は綱領を見直したり、候補者公募を増やしたりしてきた。
But it has yet to fully sum up the misgovernment that led to the government's reliance on debts and public anxiety about public pension programs.
And it has yet to present solutions to these problems.
けれど、借金体質や社会保障不安を招いた失政の総括と、その打開策を示したとは言い難い。
Even if a Lower House election is held this year, the LDP would be seen as pathetic if its greatest weapon is criticism of the DPJ's policies.
年内に総選挙をしても、最大の武器が民主党批判なら、あまりにさびしい。
Moreover, what are LDP's stances on tax hikes, nuclear policy and the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade agreement?
さらに言えば、増税問題や原子力政策、ＴＰＰ（環太平洋経済連携協定）について、党の見解はどうなのか。
Although the DPJ's intraparty strife tends to draw more public attention, the LDP, too, has similar problems.
いまは民主党の党内対立ばかりが目立っているが、自民党も似たような事情を抱えているではないか。
Both the DPJ and LDP are unable to agree on uniform policies to chart Japan's future course within their own parties, so to speak.
いわば、民主党も自民党も国の将来像を描く政策で党内が一致できないのだ。
If a Lower House election is called under such circumstances, voters would be at a loss over which party to support.
これで総選挙をされても有権者は戸惑う。
Thanks to the new administration's efforts to unite the DPJ, it seems unlikely that a no-confidence motion against the Cabinet would be passed any time soon.
民主党の党内融和で、しばらく内閣不信任案は通りそうにない。
At the same time, unless the opposition agrees, bills cannot be passed in the Diet.
同時に国会は、野党が賛成しなければ法案が通らない。
The LDP is urged to fully engage in policy formation, taking advantage of the situation.
自民党はこの状況を生かして、政策形成に積極的にかかわるべきだ。
It should propose revisions to government-sponsored bills and submit its own legislation.
どんどん修正案を突きつけ、独自の法案も出せばいい。
Only after the LDP appeals itself as a party that made a fresh start can it open a new chapter in its history.
その上で、新生自民党をアピールして初めて、党の展望が開けるはずだ。
--The Asahi Shimbun, Sept. 2
EDITORIAL: LDP should stop being so pathetic
自民党へ―政策で勝負するときだ
New Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda met with Liberal Democratic Party President Sadakazu Tanigaki and New Komeito leader Natsuo Yamaguchi on Sept. 1 to seek their cooperation.
野田新首相がきのう、自民党の谷垣総裁、公明党の山口代表と会談し、協力を求めた。
The meetings attracted attention for how the opposition parties, in particular the LDP, would respond, but their reactions were very dry.
野党とくに自民党はどう対応するのかと注目したが、なんとも素っ気なかった。
The LDP denies the "legitimacy" of the third prime minister of the DPJ administration.
自民党は民主党３人目の首相の「正統性」を否定する。
That is why Tanigaki reiterated that the LDP would continue to cooperate until the third extra budget is passed the Diet and that after that, the Lower House should be dissolved as soon as possible for a snap election.
だから谷垣氏はこれまで通り、第３次補正予算までは協力するが、その後は一刻も早く解散・総選挙をせよと応じた。
But we are afraid that that is not the right thing to do.
だが、どうだろう。
The crisis at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant has not been brought under control.
原発事故はまだ収束していない。
Efforts to recover and rebuild from the March 11 Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami have yet to get on track.
復旧・復興事業も軌道に乗ったとは言えない。
Many stricken areas are still putting off local elections that had been scheduled for this spring.
地方選を延期し続けている被災地も多い。
We believe the ruling and opposition parties should continue to work together in compiling the budget for fiscal 2012 and accelerating rebuilding efforts.
ここは来年度予算編成でも与野党で共同歩調をとり、震災対応にあたるときではないか。
Looking back to the time the opposition submitted a no-confidence motion against the Cabinet of Prime Minister Naoto Kan in the Lower House in June, Tanigaki did say: "(If Kan) resigns, there will be plenty of areas where we can join hands and transcend differences between parties."
振り返れば、６月の不信任案提出時に、谷垣氏は「（菅首相が）辞めれば、党派を超えて団結するのはいくらでもできる」と述べていたではないか。
The LDP should ponder why its public approval ratings remain low despite the fact that voters are finding the DPJ administration deeply disappointing.
自民党は、有権者が民主党政権に愛想を尽かしている割に、自分たちの支持率が伸びない理由を真剣に考えるべきだ。
Take, for example, the tripartite agreement between the DPJ, LDP and New Komeito in August.
たとえば、８月の民自公３党合意だ。
The agreement to pass special legislation allowing the issuance of deficit-covering bonds in exchange for a review of the child-allowance and other DPJ pet projects represented a setback for the ruling party and an end to the Kan Cabinet.
子ども手当などを見直す代わりに、赤字国債発行を認める法律を成立させる合意は、民主党に看板政策を見直させ、菅内閣に引導を渡すもので、
The LDP could have scored a major points.
自民党の得点だったはずだ。
However, the LDP's tactic to use the legislation to issue deficit-covering bonds as leverage failed to win over public opinion.
しかし、赤字国債の発行を人質にとる手法に、世論の共感は広がらなかった。
This is because everybody is aware that past LDP administrations are the ones responsible for the nation's situation in which the government cannot compile a budget without borrowing a huge amount of money.
巨額の借金なしに予算を組めない財政にしたのは自民党政権だと、だれもが知っているからだ。
Having gone out of power, the LDP has been re-examining its policy platform and increased the number of applicants from the general public to run as LDP candidates.
下野した自民党は綱領を見直したり、候補者公募を増やしたりしてきた。
But it has yet to fully sum up the misgovernment that led to the government's reliance on debts and public anxiety about public pension programs.
And it has yet to present solutions to these problems.
けれど、借金体質や社会保障不安を招いた失政の総括と、その打開策を示したとは言い難い。
Even if a Lower House election is held this year, the LDP would be seen as pathetic if its greatest weapon is criticism of the DPJ's policies.
年内に総選挙をしても、最大の武器が民主党批判なら、あまりにさびしい。
Moreover, what are LDP's stances on tax hikes, nuclear policy and the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade agreement?
さらに言えば、増税問題や原子力政策、ＴＰＰ（環太平洋経済連携協定）について、党の見解はどうなのか。
Although the DPJ's intraparty strife tends to draw more public attention, the LDP, too, has similar problems.
いまは民主党の党内対立ばかりが目立っているが、自民党も似たような事情を抱えているではないか。
Both the DPJ and LDP are unable to agree on uniform policies to chart Japan's future course within their own parties, so to speak.
いわば、民主党も自民党も国の将来像を描く政策で党内が一致できないのだ。
If a Lower House election is called under such circumstances, voters would be at a loss over which party to support.
これで総選挙をされても有権者は戸惑う。
Thanks to the new administration's efforts to unite the DPJ, it seems unlikely that a no-confidence motion against the Cabinet would be passed any time soon.
民主党の党内融和で、しばらく内閣不信任案は通りそうにない。
At the same time, unless the opposition agrees, bills cannot be passed in the Diet.
同時に国会は、野党が賛成しなければ法案が通らない。
The LDP is urged to fully engage in policy formation, taking advantage of the situation.
自民党はこの状況を生かして、政策形成に積極的にかかわるべきだ。
It should propose revisions to government-sponsored bills and submit its own legislation.
どんどん修正案を突きつけ、独自の法案も出せばいい。
Only after the LDP appeals itself as a party that made a fresh start can it open a new chapter in its history.
その上で、新生自民党をアピールして初めて、党の展望が開けるはずだ。
2011/09/02
--The Asahi Shimbun, Sept. 1
EDITORIAL: Noda needs to rebuild Japan's diplomacy.
野田新首相へ―外交の立て直しを急げ
Newly elected Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda is Japan's new public face.
野田新首相は、新しい日本の顔である。
Noda has a duty to undertake the onerous challenge of fixing Japan's broken diplomacy as well as its dysfunctional internal politics, which is plagued by a raft of intractable problems.
難問だらけの内政とともに、日本外交を速やかに立て直す重責を担う。
For the three months since Noda's predecessor, Naoto Kan, first announced his intention to resign, Japan's diplomacy has been stagnant.
菅首相の退陣表明から３カ月、外交は停滞し続けている。
The prime minister's visit to the United States, scheduled for the first half of September, has been postponed.
今月前半の予定だった首相の訪米は延期された。
Dates have not been set, either, for the prime minister's visit to China, which should start fresh efforts to improve the bilateral relations strained by a diplomatic row over the disputed Senkaku Islands, or for South Korean President Lee Myung-bak's trip to Japan under a bilateral agreement on regular mutual visits of the two countries' leaders.
尖閣問題で冷え込んだ日中関係を改善する出発点になる首相の訪中や、シャトル外交による韓国大統領の訪日の日程も決まらない。
Fortunately, however, a series of important international conferences are scheduled to take place in the weeks through November, starting with the United Nations General Assembly meeting, to be held in late September. They also include this year's East Asia Summit, which will be the first to be attended by the United States and Russia as formal members, and meetings of the leaders of the Group of 20 major countries and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum.
幸い、今月下旬の国連総会を皮切りに、米ロが初参加する東アジアサミット、Ｇ２０、アジア太平洋経済協力会議（ＡＰＥＣ）と、１１月まで各国が集う機会が目白押しだ。
These events will offer great opportunities for Noda to put Japanese summit diplomacy back on track.
首脳外交を展開する好機である。
As he prepares for these meetings, Noda should develop his government's comprehensive foreign and security policy agenda and present it to the public as soon as possible.
その前提として、新首相は外交・安全保障に関する包括的な考え方を、できるだけ早く国民に示す必要がある。
The global balance of power is in flux due to economic turmoil in major industrial countries and the rise of emerging nations.
先進各国の経済の混迷と新興国の台頭で、国際社会の力関係は流動化している。
The wave of democratization in the Arab world and new trends in international terrorism should also claim the attention of the international community.
アラブ諸国の民主化や、国際テロなどからも目が離せない。
Japan now needs a grand vision and a grand strategy based on clear ideas about its future and role in the world.
日本の針路をどう定め、どんな国をめざすのか。いまこそ、大きな構想と戦略が求められている。
During the Democratic Party of Japan's leadership race, there was little debate among the candidates on diplomatic issues.
先の民主党代表選で、外交問題はほとんど素通りだった。
Even more troubling, Noda's political resume doesn't include much diplomatic experience. While he has attended some international economic conferences like meetings of finance ministers and central bankers of the Group of Seven richest countries, he is basically a novice in diplomacy, with his diplomatic prowess an unknown quantity.
しかも野田氏は、財務相としてＧ７などには出たが、どちらかといえば外交の門外漢で、手腕はまったくの未知数である。
But he created an international stir before becoming prime minister by expressing controversial views about Japan's wartime past, symbolized by his argument that the Class-A war criminals are no longer war criminals, and by making remarks that provoked China.
その一方で、「Ａ級戦犯は戦争犯罪人ではない」という見解に象徴される歴史認識と、中国を刺激する物言いが話題になっている。
In voicing concerns about China's military buildup and naval expansion in the region, Noda recently said China may "whip up nationalism" by making moves that bother Japan.
最近も、中国の軍事力増強や海洋進出に懸念を示し、「ナショナリズムをあおるために、ちょっかいを出される可能性もある」と語っていた。
News media in both China and South Korea have already labeled him as a "hawk" or "hard-liner."
中韓両国のメディアでは、すでに「タカ派」「強硬派」といった言葉が踊っている。
But it is probably not Noda's intention to go about planting seeds of diplomatic conflict.
しかし、野田氏もいたずらに摩擦の種をまくのは本意ではあるまい。
It would be wise for him to send out a clear diplomatic message by at least declaring that he will not visit the Yasukuni Shrine, where the Class-A war criminals are enshrined along with the general war dead, while he is in office.
少なくとも、靖国神社参拝について「首相在任中はしない」と明言し、メッセージを発するのが賢明だ。
Next year will see leadership elections and the change of guard in many major countries, including the United States, Russia, China and South Korea.
来年は米ロ中韓など、世界の主要国で大統領選挙が行われたり、首脳が交代したりする。
Under the heated political climate of an election year, the leaders of these nations will inevitably be very sensitive to public opinion at home.
As a result, they may be tempted to make more political moves and gestures aimed at the domestic audience.
各国とも指導者は国内世論を強く意識せざるを得ず、内向き志向になることが懸念される。
That could complicate the environment for diplomatic efforts.
それだけ、外交は難しさを増す。
The DPJ-led government has lost much of its credibility through diplomatic blunders.
The government of former Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama badly mishandled the issue of relocating the U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, an American military base located in the middle of a densely populated city in Okinawa Prefecture.
The Kan administration botched its response to the collision between a Chinese trawler and Japan Coast Guard vessels near the Senkaku Islands in September 2010.
鳩山政権での普天間問題、菅政権での尖閣問題など、民主党は外交の不手際で信用を失ってきた。
Japan has seen so many leadership changes in recent years that foreign media now like to make fun of its "revolving door" or "merry-go-round" of prime ministers.
そして「回転扉」「メリーゴーラウンド」と揶揄（やゆ）されるほどの短命首相続きだ。
Noda has pledged to "say what must be said without restraint" for candid and straightforward conversations with his foreign counterparts.
We hope he will build relationships based on mutual trust with foreign leaders through thoughtful words and actions.
「言うべきことは、遠慮なく言い合う」という野田氏には、思慮深い言動で首脳間の信頼関係を築いてほしい。
--The Asahi Shimbun, Sept. 1
EDITORIAL: Noda needs to rebuild Japan's diplomacy.
野田新首相へ―外交の立て直しを急げ
Newly elected Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda is Japan's new public face.
野田新首相は、新しい日本の顔である。
Noda has a duty to undertake the onerous challenge of fixing Japan's broken diplomacy as well as its dysfunctional internal politics, which is plagued by a raft of intractable problems.
難問だらけの内政とともに、日本外交を速やかに立て直す重責を担う。
For the three months since Noda's predecessor, Naoto Kan, first announced his intention to resign, Japan's diplomacy has been stagnant.
菅首相の退陣表明から３カ月、外交は停滞し続けている。
The prime minister's visit to the United States, scheduled for the first half of September, has been postponed.
今月前半の予定だった首相の訪米は延期された。
Dates have not been set, either, for the prime minister's visit to China, which should start fresh efforts to improve the bilateral relations strained by a diplomatic row over the disputed Senkaku Islands, or for South Korean President Lee Myung-bak's trip to Japan under a bilateral agreement on regular mutual visits of the two countries' leaders.
尖閣問題で冷え込んだ日中関係を改善する出発点になる首相の訪中や、シャトル外交による韓国大統領の訪日の日程も決まらない。
Fortunately, however, a series of important international conferences are scheduled to take place in the weeks through November, starting with the United Nations General Assembly meeting, to be held in late September. They also include this year's East Asia Summit, which will be the first to be attended by the United States and Russia as formal members, and meetings of the leaders of the Group of 20 major countries and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum.
幸い、今月下旬の国連総会を皮切りに、米ロが初参加する東アジアサミット、Ｇ２０、アジア太平洋経済協力会議（ＡＰＥＣ）と、１１月まで各国が集う機会が目白押しだ。
These events will offer great opportunities for Noda to put Japanese summit diplomacy back on track.
首脳外交を展開する好機である。
As he prepares for these meetings, Noda should develop his government's comprehensive foreign and security policy agenda and present it to the public as soon as possible.
その前提として、新首相は外交・安全保障に関する包括的な考え方を、できるだけ早く国民に示す必要がある。
The global balance of power is in flux due to economic turmoil in major industrial countries and the rise of emerging nations.
先進各国の経済の混迷と新興国の台頭で、国際社会の力関係は流動化している。
The wave of democratization in the Arab world and new trends in international terrorism should also claim the attention of the international community.
アラブ諸国の民主化や、国際テロなどからも目が離せない。
Japan now needs a grand vision and a grand strategy based on clear ideas about its future and role in the world.
日本の針路をどう定め、どんな国をめざすのか。いまこそ、大きな構想と戦略が求められている。
During the Democratic Party of Japan's leadership race, there was little debate among the candidates on diplomatic issues.
先の民主党代表選で、外交問題はほとんど素通りだった。
Even more troubling, Noda's political resume doesn't include much diplomatic experience. While he has attended some international economic conferences like meetings of finance ministers and central bankers of the Group of Seven richest countries, he is basically a novice in diplomacy, with his diplomatic prowess an unknown quantity.
しかも野田氏は、財務相としてＧ７などには出たが、どちらかといえば外交の門外漢で、手腕はまったくの未知数である。
But he created an international stir before becoming prime minister by expressing controversial views about Japan's wartime past, symbolized by his argument that the Class-A war criminals are no longer war criminals, and by making remarks that provoked China.
その一方で、「Ａ級戦犯は戦争犯罪人ではない」という見解に象徴される歴史認識と、中国を刺激する物言いが話題になっている。
In voicing concerns about China's military buildup and naval expansion in the region, Noda recently said China may "whip up nationalism" by making moves that bother Japan.
最近も、中国の軍事力増強や海洋進出に懸念を示し、「ナショナリズムをあおるために、ちょっかいを出される可能性もある」と語っていた。
News media in both China and South Korea have already labeled him as a "hawk" or "hard-liner."
中韓両国のメディアでは、すでに「タカ派」「強硬派」といった言葉が踊っている。
But it is probably not Noda's intention to go about planting seeds of diplomatic conflict.
しかし、野田氏もいたずらに摩擦の種をまくのは本意ではあるまい。
It would be wise for him to send out a clear diplomatic message by at least declaring that he will not visit the Yasukuni Shrine, where the Class-A war criminals are enshrined along with the general war dead, while he is in office.
少なくとも、靖国神社参拝について「首相在任中はしない」と明言し、メッセージを発するのが賢明だ。
Next year will see leadership elections and the change of guard in many major countries, including the United States, Russia, China and South Korea.
来年は米ロ中韓など、世界の主要国で大統領選挙が行われたり、首脳が交代したりする。
Under the heated political climate of an election year, the leaders of these nations will inevitably be very sensitive to public opinion at home.
As a result, they may be tempted to make more political moves and gestures aimed at the domestic audience.
各国とも指導者は国内世論を強く意識せざるを得ず、内向き志向になることが懸念される。
That could complicate the environment for diplomatic efforts.
それだけ、外交は難しさを増す。
The DPJ-led government has lost much of its credibility through diplomatic blunders.
The government of former Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama badly mishandled the issue of relocating the U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, an American military base located in the middle of a densely populated city in Okinawa Prefecture.
The Kan administration botched its response to the collision between a Chinese trawler and Japan Coast Guard vessels near the Senkaku Islands in September 2010.
鳩山政権での普天間問題、菅政権での尖閣問題など、民主党は外交の不手際で信用を失ってきた。
Japan has seen so many leadership changes in recent years that foreign media now like to make fun of its "revolving door" or "merry-go-round" of prime ministers.
そして「回転扉」「メリーゴーラウンド」と揶揄（やゆ）されるほどの短命首相続きだ。
Noda has pledged to "say what must be said without restraint" for candid and straightforward conversations with his foreign counterparts.
We hope he will build relationships based on mutual trust with foreign leaders through thoughtful words and actions.
「言うべきことは、遠慮なく言い合う」という野田氏には、思慮深い言動で首脳間の信頼関係を築いてほしい。
The Yomiuri Shimbun (Sep. 1, 2011)
Koshiishi must get Noda's policies implemented
輿石民主幹事長 野田首相の政策実現へ動け（8月31日付・読売社説）
New Democratic Party of Japan President Yoshihiko Noda was named Tuesday as the nation's prime minister to head the 95th cabinet.
We can sense Noda is trying to form an administration whose members are united and all pulling in the same direction like a baseball team, which is different from the administrations of his predecessors.
But will this be possible considering the DPJ has repeatedly been rocked by internal rifts?
これまでとは違う「全員野球」の政治を実現したい。そんな意欲は感じられるが、内輪もめを繰り返してきた民主党に可能だろうか。
Noda has informally decided to appoint Azuma Koshiishi, chairman of the DPJ caucus in the House of Councillors, as the party's secretary general, and former Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara as chairman of the party's Policy Research Committee.
民主党の野田佳彦代表が第９５代首相に指名された。野田氏は、党運営の要である幹事長に輿石東参院議員会長、政調会長に前原誠司前外相を内定した。
It is extremely rare for an upper house member to serve as secretary general of a ruling party, a very important post.
参院議員が政権党の幹事長を務めるのは極めて異例だ。
Koshiishi is close to former DPJ President Ichiro Ozawa.
By placing Koshiishi in a prime post, Noda apparently is trying to end the intraparty conflict between "pro-Ozawa" and "anti-Ozawa" members--frictions that surfaced during the DPJ presidential race--and build a united party.
小沢一郎元代表に近い輿石氏の起用は、代表選で露呈した「親小沢」「反小沢」の党内対立に終止符を打ち、挙党態勢を構築する狙いがある。
It substantiates Noda's call to have no hard feelings after the election.
野田氏の言う「ノーサイド」の具体化だ。
The new Noda administration will face a mountain of important issues--including a review of the DPJ's election promises, which are full of dole-out policies; tax increases to secure funds for disaster reconstruction and social security reform; and possible participation in negotiations of the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade agreement.
野田新政権は、バラマキ政策に満ちた政権公約（マニフェスト）の見直しや、震災復興や社会保障改革の財源確保のための増税、環太平洋経済連携協定（ＴＰＰ）参加などの重要課題を抱えている。
===
Useful ties with LDP, Komeito
In the DPJ presidential election, Noda made arguments supporting those issues.
However, outgoing Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Banri Kaieda and the other candidates opposed them. いずれも野田氏が代表選で主張してきたが、海江田万里経済産業相らは異論を唱えた。
Koshiishi, who backed Kaieda in the election, will be tested on whether he can smooth over differing opinions among party members and get these policy measures implemented.
今後、いかに党内の意見を集約し、これらの政策を実現するか、海江田氏を推した輿石氏の手腕が問われる。
Koshiishi has long been a facilitator of DPJ upper house members and has strong connections with the major opposition Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito.
輿石氏は、参院民主党のまとめ役を長く務め、自民、公明など野党とのパイプもある。
We think he should use his skills to enact the third supplementary budget for disaster restoration as quickly as possible in the so-called divided Diet, where the opposition controls the upper house.
衆参ねじれ国会の下で、震災復興のための第３次補正予算案などの早期成立にも力を発揮すべきだ。
Meanwhile, Maehara is an expert in foreign and security policies, and of the same generation as Noda.
The two have a cooperative relationship.
一方、前原氏は、外交・安全保障政策に詳しく、野田氏と同じ世代で、協力関係にある。
Noda apparently tapped Maehara to be the party's policy research chief in a bid to keep a balance with Koshiishi, a senior politician.
ベテランの輿石氏とのバランスも考慮したと見られる。
In the party leadership race, Maehara advocated a review of the Policy Research Committee.
He wanted more party lawmakers involved in the policy-making process.
This fits in with Noda's plan to form a united team.
前原氏は代表選で、政策調査会の見直しを掲げていた。より多くの議員を政策決定過程に参加させるのが狙いで、野田氏の「全員野球」の方針とも合致する。
===
Review of policy panel
Noda has decided not to make the party's policy research chief double as a cabinet minister, but to demand the government in principle seek his consent in making a decision.
野田氏は、党政調会長には閣僚を兼務させない一方、政府の意思決定には「政調会長の了承を原則とする」方針を示した。
This apparently is intended to enhance the functions of the party's Policy Research Committee and have its opinions reflected in government policies.
党の政調機能を強化し、政府の政策に反映させる狙いがあるのだろう。
Under the government of outgoing Prime Minister Naoto Kan, when decisions were made on integrated reform of the social security and tax systems, and the basic policy on disaster restoration, some DPJ members opposed them and demanded revisions to the government plans. This caused constant confusion.
ただ、菅政権では、社会保障と税の一体改革や、震災復興の基本方針を決定する際、政府案に党側が反対し、修正を求めるといった混乱が続いた。
Simply involving more lawmakers in the policy-making process might cause delays in decisions on policies such as tax hikes, which some lawmakers, including Ozawa supporters, have resisted.
単に多くの議員が政策決定に関与するだけでは、増税など、小沢系を中心に抵抗感のある政策を先送りする結果になりかねない。
It is important to make conclusions properly based on constructive discussions.
建設的な議論を踏まえ、きちんと結論を出すことが大切だ。
Question marks remain over whether a revamp of the DPJ's policy research panel, an attempt to create a policy-coordination mechanism between the government and the ruling party, will work well.
政府と与党との間の政策調整メカニズムを新たに築く試みがうまくいくかどうか。
That will be an important hurdle the new administration must clear.
新政権にとって重要なハードルである。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 31, 2011)
（2011年8月31日01時20分 読売新聞）
Koshiishi must get Noda's policies implemented
輿石民主幹事長 野田首相の政策実現へ動け（8月31日付・読売社説）
New Democratic Party of Japan President Yoshihiko Noda was named Tuesday as the nation's prime minister to head the 95th cabinet.
We can sense Noda is trying to form an administration whose members are united and all pulling in the same direction like a baseball team, which is different from the administrations of his predecessors.
But will this be possible considering the DPJ has repeatedly been rocked by internal rifts?
これまでとは違う「全員野球」の政治を実現したい。そんな意欲は感じられるが、内輪もめを繰り返してきた民主党に可能だろうか。
Noda has informally decided to appoint Azuma Koshiishi, chairman of the DPJ caucus in the House of Councillors, as the party's secretary general, and former Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara as chairman of the party's Policy Research Committee.
民主党の野田佳彦代表が第９５代首相に指名された。野田氏は、党運営の要である幹事長に輿石東参院議員会長、政調会長に前原誠司前外相を内定した。
It is extremely rare for an upper house member to serve as secretary general of a ruling party, a very important post.
参院議員が政権党の幹事長を務めるのは極めて異例だ。
Koshiishi is close to former DPJ President Ichiro Ozawa.
By placing Koshiishi in a prime post, Noda apparently is trying to end the intraparty conflict between "pro-Ozawa" and "anti-Ozawa" members--frictions that surfaced during the DPJ presidential race--and build a united party.
小沢一郎元代表に近い輿石氏の起用は、代表選で露呈した「親小沢」「反小沢」の党内対立に終止符を打ち、挙党態勢を構築する狙いがある。
It substantiates Noda's call to have no hard feelings after the election.
野田氏の言う「ノーサイド」の具体化だ。
The new Noda administration will face a mountain of important issues--including a review of the DPJ's election promises, which are full of dole-out policies; tax increases to secure funds for disaster reconstruction and social security reform; and possible participation in negotiations of the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade agreement.
野田新政権は、バラマキ政策に満ちた政権公約（マニフェスト）の見直しや、震災復興や社会保障改革の財源確保のための増税、環太平洋経済連携協定（ＴＰＰ）参加などの重要課題を抱えている。
===
Useful ties with LDP, Komeito
In the DPJ presidential election, Noda made arguments supporting those issues.
However, outgoing Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Banri Kaieda and the other candidates opposed them. いずれも野田氏が代表選で主張してきたが、海江田万里経済産業相らは異論を唱えた。
Koshiishi, who backed Kaieda in the election, will be tested on whether he can smooth over differing opinions among party members and get these policy measures implemented.
今後、いかに党内の意見を集約し、これらの政策を実現するか、海江田氏を推した輿石氏の手腕が問われる。
Koshiishi has long been a facilitator of DPJ upper house members and has strong connections with the major opposition Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito.
輿石氏は、参院民主党のまとめ役を長く務め、自民、公明など野党とのパイプもある。
We think he should use his skills to enact the third supplementary budget for disaster restoration as quickly as possible in the so-called divided Diet, where the opposition controls the upper house.
衆参ねじれ国会の下で、震災復興のための第３次補正予算案などの早期成立にも力を発揮すべきだ。
Meanwhile, Maehara is an expert in foreign and security policies, and of the same generation as Noda.
The two have a cooperative relationship.
一方、前原氏は、外交・安全保障政策に詳しく、野田氏と同じ世代で、協力関係にある。
Noda apparently tapped Maehara to be the party's policy research chief in a bid to keep a balance with Koshiishi, a senior politician.
ベテランの輿石氏とのバランスも考慮したと見られる。
In the party leadership race, Maehara advocated a review of the Policy Research Committee.
He wanted more party lawmakers involved in the policy-making process.
This fits in with Noda's plan to form a united team.
前原氏は代表選で、政策調査会の見直しを掲げていた。より多くの議員を政策決定過程に参加させるのが狙いで、野田氏の「全員野球」の方針とも合致する。
===
Review of policy panel
Noda has decided not to make the party's policy research chief double as a cabinet minister, but to demand the government in principle seek his consent in making a decision.
野田氏は、党政調会長には閣僚を兼務させない一方、政府の意思決定には「政調会長の了承を原則とする」方針を示した。
This apparently is intended to enhance the functions of the party's Policy Research Committee and have its opinions reflected in government policies.
党の政調機能を強化し、政府の政策に反映させる狙いがあるのだろう。
Under the government of outgoing Prime Minister Naoto Kan, when decisions were made on integrated reform of the social security and tax systems, and the basic policy on disaster restoration, some DPJ members opposed them and demanded revisions to the government plans. This caused constant confusion.
ただ、菅政権では、社会保障と税の一体改革や、震災復興の基本方針を決定する際、政府案に党側が反対し、修正を求めるといった混乱が続いた。
Simply involving more lawmakers in the policy-making process might cause delays in decisions on policies such as tax hikes, which some lawmakers, including Ozawa supporters, have resisted.
単に多くの議員が政策決定に関与するだけでは、増税など、小沢系を中心に抵抗感のある政策を先送りする結果になりかねない。
It is important to make conclusions properly based on constructive discussions.
建設的な議論を踏まえ、きちんと結論を出すことが大切だ。
Question marks remain over whether a revamp of the DPJ's policy research panel, an attempt to create a policy-coordination mechanism between the government and the ruling party, will work well.
政府と与党との間の政策調整メカニズムを新たに築く試みがうまくいくかどうか。
That will be an important hurdle the new administration must clear.
新政権にとって重要なハードルである。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 31, 2011)
（2011年8月31日01時20分 読売新聞）
The Yomiuri Shimbun (Aug. 31, 2011)
DPJ must revive itself through generation change
野田民主新代表 世代交代で再生への歯車回せ（8月30日付・読売社説）
◆信頼獲得して大連立の実現を◆
The Democratic Party of Japan-led administration has for the first time a leader with a steadfast political style and well-grounded policies.
民主党政権で初めて地に足のついた政策と手法を語ることができるリーダーの登場である。
In the DPJ's presidential election Monday, Finance Minister Yoshihiko Noda defeated Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Banri Kaieda in a runoff.
民主党代表選は、決選投票の末に、野田佳彦財務相が海江田万里経済産業相を破った。
It was a dramatic come-from-behind victory for Noda, who picked up the support of groups whose candidates finished second or lower in the first round of voting.
１回目の投票で２位以下になった候補の陣営が連携しての劇的な逆転勝利だ。
Noda will be named head of the nation's 95th cabinet Tuesday.
野田氏は、３０日に第９５代の首相に指名される。
After serving as a member of the Chiba Prefectural Assembly, Noda was elected to the House of Representatives. He has since been elected to the lower house four more times.
Noda, 54, will be the first prime minister who graduated from the Matsushita Institute of Government and Management.
千葉県議を経て衆院当選５回、５４歳。松下政経塾出身では初の首相となる。
◆民自公路線継続は当然◆
The DPJ-led administration has been blighted by a string of administrative failures and unproductive infighting that has disappointed the public.
Many people have lost confidence in the party.
民主党政権は、数々の失政と不毛な党内対立で、国民の期待を裏切り、信頼を失墜させてきた。
The new administration must break free from the "troika" era led by former party leader Ichiro Ozawa, former Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama and Prime Minister Naoto Kan.
小沢一郎元代表、鳩山前首相、菅首相による「トロイカ」の時代とは決別しなければならない。
===
Interparty cooperation crucial
In a speech before the runoff vote, Noda expressed support for an accord among the DPJ and the opposition Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito on certain key policy issues. "Will the Diet be able to go forward if we ignore the three-party agreement?" he said. "Won't a new administration grind to a standstill [if we ignore it]?"
野田氏は、海江田氏との決選投票前の演説で自民、公明両党との連携に関連して、「３党合意を無視して国会は進むのか、政権は立ち往生しないか」と訴えた。
This was a swipe at Kaieda, who had earlier hinted at rescinding the deal, which was made on the assumption that the DPJ manifesto for the 2009 general election will be drastically reviewed.
海江田氏が、政権公約（マニフェスト）の大幅な見直しを前提とした民自公３党合意を白紙に戻す可能性を示唆したからだ。
To realize important policies in the divided Diet--in which the House of Councillors is controlled by the opposition camp--the DPJ needs to cooperate with opposition parties.
ねじれ国会で政策を実現するために、野党との連携は欠かせない。
It is quite reasonable that Noda emphasized the need to stick to the three-party accord during debates held ahead of the presidential election.
野田氏が、今回の論戦を通じて、民自公路線の継続を強調したことは、当然である。
Noda advocated that present generations should share the cost of providing revenue sources to fund post-disaster reconstruction efforts, rather than passing this burden to future generations.
野田氏はまた、震災復興の財源について「将来世代に先送りせず、今を生きる世代で連帯して負担を分かち合う」と唱え、
By saying so, he clearly called for an ad-hoc tax increase, which other candidates were unwilling to do.
他候補が否定した臨時増税を明確に主張した。
We think this also is a realistic position.
これも現実的な判断だ。
To secure enough revenue through tax increases, consideration should be given to not only hikes in income and corporate tax, but also in the consumption tax rate.
増税で財源を確保するためには、所得税、法人税だけではなく、消費税の税率引き上げも検討すべきである。
Noda's ability will be tested over how to overcome strong opposition to tax increases within his party, and to raise taxes through talks between the ruling and opposition parties.
増税に反対論の根強い民主党内の意見をいかに集約し、与野党協議で実現していくか。手腕が問われよう。
===
Black eye for Ozawa, Hatoyama
◆論争の結果を尊重せよ◆
Noda also said integrated reform of the social security and tax systems, which has a gradual increase in the consumption tax rate as its central pillar, should not be put off any further.
野田氏は、消費税率の段階的な引き上げを柱とする、社会保障と税の一体改革についても、これ以上先送りできないと語った。
The bottom line is that Noda's arguments won greater support within the party than the line of adhering to the manifesto advocated by Ozawa and Hatoyama, who both supported Kaieda.
何より重要なのは、こうした野田氏の主張が、海江田氏を支持した小沢氏や鳩山氏の「マニフェスト堅持路線」よりも支持を得た、という事実である。
Points of contention that were supposed to be resolved during previous DPJ presidential elections later flared up and triggered internal feuds.
民主党では、従来、代表選で決着のついたはずの争点が、後に蒸し返され、内輪もめの原因になってきた。
Lawmakers who voted for Kaieda this time must respect the maintenance of the three-party accord and reexamination of the party manifesto--the assertions made by Noda.
海江田氏を支持した議員は、野田氏が主張した３党合意の堅持と、マニフェストの見直しを尊重することが肝要だ。
Noda called for party unity by emphasizing the crisis the DPJ faces for survival, using such phrases as "last chance" and "having our backs to the wall."
野田氏は、「ラストチャンス」「背水の陣」と党存亡の危機を訴え、結束を求めた。
Reflecting on past failures, Noda must be firmly resolved to rejuvenate the party.
これまでの反省の上に立ち、不退転の決意で民主党の再生を実現すべきだ。
Every candidate in the DPJ election acknowledged there are problems with the party's process of making policy decisions.
代表選で、各候補は、民主党の政策決定のあり方に問題があるとの認識を示した。
This reflects the chaos outgoing Prime Minister Naoto Kan caused with his haphazard policies.
菅首相が、場当たり的な政策を打ち出し、混乱を引き起こしたことも反省点だ。
Noda must show regard for the policy decision-making process.
野田氏は政策決定プロセスを大事にしなければならない。
===
Use bureaucrats wisely
As Noda himself has pointed out, politician-led politics means lawmakers are responsible for making important policy decisions while entrusting what can be done by bureaucrats to them.
自ら指摘したように、「政治主導」とは、官僚に任せる部分は任せ、重要な意思決定の責任は政治が担うことだ。
He is expected to reexamine governance methods so he can make the most of the massive bureaucracy.
巨大な官僚組織を十分使いこなせるよう、政権運営を見直すことになるだろう。
Noda repeatedly stressed the need to conduct "politics that transcends grudges."
野田氏は、「怨念を超えた政治」の実現を繰り返し訴えた。
However, this should not mean ending Ozawa's party membership suspension.
ただし、それが小沢氏に対する党員資格停止処分の解除であってはならない。
The first touchstone for this will be who Noda selects for the party leadership lineup and his cabinet.
まずは党役員・閣僚人事が試金石となる。
The incoming administration will have to answer the question of how it will win cooperation from the opposition parties.
新政権で問われるのは、野党にどう協力を求めるかである。
Asked after the presidential election about the possibility of forging a grand coalition with the LDP and Komeito, Noda told reporters he would "seek tenaciously to keep company with them and look at such a possibility."
野田氏は、代表就任後の記者会見で、自公両党との大連立について「粘り強くおつきあいし、視野に入れていく」と述べた。
This suggests he is considering a grand coalition by building trust with the two main opposition parties.
両党との信頼関係を深めて、大連立を模索する考えと見られる。
It is essential that consultative talks with the opposition parties are not rushed.
野党との協議には、時間を十分かけることが大切だ。
===
LDP, Komeito have role to play
◆カギ握る与野党の連携◆
The LDP and Komeito remain negative toward a grand coalition, denouncing it as "an exception of exceptions."
自公両党は、大連立を「例外中の例外」として依然否定的だ。
But the ruling and opposition parties must cooperate in compiling the fiscal 2011 third supplementary budget that will be necessary to promote intensive disaster reconstruction projects.
だが、本格的な震災対応となる第３次補正予算編成に、与野党は連携して取り組む必要がある。
Japan faces a host of challenges, including possible participation in the Trans-Pacific Partnership multilateral free trade framework, reform of the social security and electoral systems, energy policy and the relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station in Okinawa Prefecture.
環太平洋経済連携協定（ＴＰＰ）参加問題をはじめ、社会保障や選挙制度の改革、エネルギー政策、米軍普天間飛行場移設など日本が直面する課題は、
Whichever party holds power will not be able to sidestep these issues.
どの党が政権を担当しても避けては通れない。
The crisis at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant has yet to be brought under control, and the economic environment remains severe as the yen hovers at record-high levels.
原発事故は収束せず、歴史的な円高で経済の環境は厳しい。
The nation's growth strategy that centered on exports of such infrastructure as Shinkansen high-speed railway systems and nuclear power plants has come to a standstill.
新幹線や原発などインフラ輸出を軸とした成長戦略も停滞している。
We think the LDP and Komeito should put priority on reviving the national economy rather than harrying Noda into dissolving the lower house for a snap election.
自公両党は、衆院解散・総選挙に追い込むより、日本経済の再生を優先すべきだ。
The two parties must bear responsibility for having held the reins of government for so long.
長年、政権を担当してきた責任もあろう。
Noda's election as DPJ president and inauguration of a new administration is a golden opportunity to break away from "politics that gets nothing done." It must be used wisely.
野田氏の代表就任と新たな政権発足を、「何も決められない政治」から脱却するための好機としなければならない。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 30, 2011)
（2011年8月30日02時04分 読売新聞）
DPJ must revive itself through generation change
野田民主新代表 世代交代で再生への歯車回せ（8月30日付・読売社説）
◆信頼獲得して大連立の実現を◆
The Democratic Party of Japan-led administration has for the first time a leader with a steadfast political style and well-grounded policies.
民主党政権で初めて地に足のついた政策と手法を語ることができるリーダーの登場である。
In the DPJ's presidential election Monday, Finance Minister Yoshihiko Noda defeated Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Banri Kaieda in a runoff.
民主党代表選は、決選投票の末に、野田佳彦財務相が海江田万里経済産業相を破った。
It was a dramatic come-from-behind victory for Noda, who picked up the support of groups whose candidates finished second or lower in the first round of voting.
１回目の投票で２位以下になった候補の陣営が連携しての劇的な逆転勝利だ。
Noda will be named head of the nation's 95th cabinet Tuesday.
野田氏は、３０日に第９５代の首相に指名される。
After serving as a member of the Chiba Prefectural Assembly, Noda was elected to the House of Representatives. He has since been elected to the lower house four more times.
Noda, 54, will be the first prime minister who graduated from the Matsushita Institute of Government and Management.
千葉県議を経て衆院当選５回、５４歳。松下政経塾出身では初の首相となる。
◆民自公路線継続は当然◆
The DPJ-led administration has been blighted by a string of administrative failures and unproductive infighting that has disappointed the public.
Many people have lost confidence in the party.
民主党政権は、数々の失政と不毛な党内対立で、国民の期待を裏切り、信頼を失墜させてきた。
The new administration must break free from the "troika" era led by former party leader Ichiro Ozawa, former Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama and Prime Minister Naoto Kan.
小沢一郎元代表、鳩山前首相、菅首相による「トロイカ」の時代とは決別しなければならない。
===
Interparty cooperation crucial
In a speech before the runoff vote, Noda expressed support for an accord among the DPJ and the opposition Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito on certain key policy issues. "Will the Diet be able to go forward if we ignore the three-party agreement?" he said. "Won't a new administration grind to a standstill [if we ignore it]?"
野田氏は、海江田氏との決選投票前の演説で自民、公明両党との連携に関連して、「３党合意を無視して国会は進むのか、政権は立ち往生しないか」と訴えた。
This was a swipe at Kaieda, who had earlier hinted at rescinding the deal, which was made on the assumption that the DPJ manifesto for the 2009 general election will be drastically reviewed.
海江田氏が、政権公約（マニフェスト）の大幅な見直しを前提とした民自公３党合意を白紙に戻す可能性を示唆したからだ。
To realize important policies in the divided Diet--in which the House of Councillors is controlled by the opposition camp--the DPJ needs to cooperate with opposition parties.
ねじれ国会で政策を実現するために、野党との連携は欠かせない。
It is quite reasonable that Noda emphasized the need to stick to the three-party accord during debates held ahead of the presidential election.
野田氏が、今回の論戦を通じて、民自公路線の継続を強調したことは、当然である。
Noda advocated that present generations should share the cost of providing revenue sources to fund post-disaster reconstruction efforts, rather than passing this burden to future generations.
野田氏はまた、震災復興の財源について「将来世代に先送りせず、今を生きる世代で連帯して負担を分かち合う」と唱え、
By saying so, he clearly called for an ad-hoc tax increase, which other candidates were unwilling to do.
他候補が否定した臨時増税を明確に主張した。
We think this also is a realistic position.
これも現実的な判断だ。
To secure enough revenue through tax increases, consideration should be given to not only hikes in income and corporate tax, but also in the consumption tax rate.
増税で財源を確保するためには、所得税、法人税だけではなく、消費税の税率引き上げも検討すべきである。
Noda's ability will be tested over how to overcome strong opposition to tax increases within his party, and to raise taxes through talks between the ruling and opposition parties.
増税に反対論の根強い民主党内の意見をいかに集約し、与野党協議で実現していくか。手腕が問われよう。
===
Black eye for Ozawa, Hatoyama
◆論争の結果を尊重せよ◆
Noda also said integrated reform of the social security and tax systems, which has a gradual increase in the consumption tax rate as its central pillar, should not be put off any further.
野田氏は、消費税率の段階的な引き上げを柱とする、社会保障と税の一体改革についても、これ以上先送りできないと語った。
The bottom line is that Noda's arguments won greater support within the party than the line of adhering to the manifesto advocated by Ozawa and Hatoyama, who both supported Kaieda.
何より重要なのは、こうした野田氏の主張が、海江田氏を支持した小沢氏や鳩山氏の「マニフェスト堅持路線」よりも支持を得た、という事実である。
Points of contention that were supposed to be resolved during previous DPJ presidential elections later flared up and triggered internal feuds.
民主党では、従来、代表選で決着のついたはずの争点が、後に蒸し返され、内輪もめの原因になってきた。
Lawmakers who voted for Kaieda this time must respect the maintenance of the three-party accord and reexamination of the party manifesto--the assertions made by Noda.
海江田氏を支持した議員は、野田氏が主張した３党合意の堅持と、マニフェストの見直しを尊重することが肝要だ。
Noda called for party unity by emphasizing the crisis the DPJ faces for survival, using such phrases as "last chance" and "having our backs to the wall."
野田氏は、「ラストチャンス」「背水の陣」と党存亡の危機を訴え、結束を求めた。
Reflecting on past failures, Noda must be firmly resolved to rejuvenate the party.
これまでの反省の上に立ち、不退転の決意で民主党の再生を実現すべきだ。
Every candidate in the DPJ election acknowledged there are problems with the party's process of making policy decisions.
代表選で、各候補は、民主党の政策決定のあり方に問題があるとの認識を示した。
This reflects the chaos outgoing Prime Minister Naoto Kan caused with his haphazard policies.
菅首相が、場当たり的な政策を打ち出し、混乱を引き起こしたことも反省点だ。
Noda must show regard for the policy decision-making process.
野田氏は政策決定プロセスを大事にしなければならない。
===
Use bureaucrats wisely
As Noda himself has pointed out, politician-led politics means lawmakers are responsible for making important policy decisions while entrusting what can be done by bureaucrats to them.
自ら指摘したように、「政治主導」とは、官僚に任せる部分は任せ、重要な意思決定の責任は政治が担うことだ。
He is expected to reexamine governance methods so he can make the most of the massive bureaucracy.
巨大な官僚組織を十分使いこなせるよう、政権運営を見直すことになるだろう。
Noda repeatedly stressed the need to conduct "politics that transcends grudges."
野田氏は、「怨念を超えた政治」の実現を繰り返し訴えた。
However, this should not mean ending Ozawa's party membership suspension.
ただし、それが小沢氏に対する党員資格停止処分の解除であってはならない。
The first touchstone for this will be who Noda selects for the party leadership lineup and his cabinet.
まずは党役員・閣僚人事が試金石となる。
The incoming administration will have to answer the question of how it will win cooperation from the opposition parties.
新政権で問われるのは、野党にどう協力を求めるかである。
Asked after the presidential election about the possibility of forging a grand coalition with the LDP and Komeito, Noda told reporters he would "seek tenaciously to keep company with them and look at such a possibility."
野田氏は、代表就任後の記者会見で、自公両党との大連立について「粘り強くおつきあいし、視野に入れていく」と述べた。
This suggests he is considering a grand coalition by building trust with the two main opposition parties.
両党との信頼関係を深めて、大連立を模索する考えと見られる。
It is essential that consultative talks with the opposition parties are not rushed.
野党との協議には、時間を十分かけることが大切だ。
===
LDP, Komeito have role to play
◆カギ握る与野党の連携◆
The LDP and Komeito remain negative toward a grand coalition, denouncing it as "an exception of exceptions."
自公両党は、大連立を「例外中の例外」として依然否定的だ。
But the ruling and opposition parties must cooperate in compiling the fiscal 2011 third supplementary budget that will be necessary to promote intensive disaster reconstruction projects.
だが、本格的な震災対応となる第３次補正予算編成に、与野党は連携して取り組む必要がある。
Japan faces a host of challenges, including possible participation in the Trans-Pacific Partnership multilateral free trade framework, reform of the social security and electoral systems, energy policy and the relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station in Okinawa Prefecture.
環太平洋経済連携協定（ＴＰＰ）参加問題をはじめ、社会保障や選挙制度の改革、エネルギー政策、米軍普天間飛行場移設など日本が直面する課題は、
Whichever party holds power will not be able to sidestep these issues.
どの党が政権を担当しても避けては通れない。
The crisis at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant has yet to be brought under control, and the economic environment remains severe as the yen hovers at record-high levels.
原発事故は収束せず、歴史的な円高で経済の環境は厳しい。
The nation's growth strategy that centered on exports of such infrastructure as Shinkansen high-speed railway systems and nuclear power plants has come to a standstill.
新幹線や原発などインフラ輸出を軸とした成長戦略も停滞している。
We think the LDP and Komeito should put priority on reviving the national economy rather than harrying Noda into dissolving the lower house for a snap election.
自公両党は、衆院解散・総選挙に追い込むより、日本経済の再生を優先すべきだ。
The two parties must bear responsibility for having held the reins of government for so long.
長年、政権を担当してきた責任もあろう。
Noda's election as DPJ president and inauguration of a new administration is a golden opportunity to break away from "politics that gets nothing done." It must be used wisely.
野田氏の代表就任と新たな政権発足を、「何も決められない政治」から脱却するための好機としなければならない。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 30, 2011)
（2011年8月30日02時04分 読売新聞）
2011/08/30
--The Asahi Shimbun, Aug. 28
EDITORIAL: Japan needs to quickly compile road map for decontamination.
除染作業―工程表作りを急げ
The Japanese government has finally decided on a basic framework on how to proceed with the decontamination process of radioactive materials spewed from the accident at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant.
福島第一原発の事故でまき散らされた放射性物質の除去（除染）について、政府がようやく基本方針を決め、きのう地元自治体に説明した。
The government's plan, explained to local governments on Aug. 27, is to halve the residents' exposure within two years, and in the case of children, to reduce it by 60 percent by conducting thorough decontamination procedures in schools and school routes.
２年で住民の被曝（ひばく）線量を半減させ、子どもについては、学校や通学路などの除染を徹底して６割減らす。
The center of the plan is to "reduce, step-by-step and rapidly" the number of areas that will measure 20 millisieverts and higher annually.
そして年間の被曝線量が２０ミリシーベルト以上の地域を「段階的かつ迅速に縮小」させるのが柱だ。
However, such a target will not put the residents' minds at ease.
しかし、こんな目標では、住民はとても安心できないのではないか。
The government estimates that even without actively doing anything, the amount of radiation exposure will decrease about 40 percent in two years due to rain and wind.
何もしなくても、雨や風で２年後には約４割減る、というのが政府の試算である。
It is too unambitious for the government to say it will achieve only an additional 10-20 percent reduction on its own.
上乗せ分が１～２割というのはあまりに低い目標だ。
Moreover, the latest framework plan does not tell us, even broadly, when the evacuees can return to their normal lives.
しかも、今回の基本方針だけでは、避難している人たちがいつごろ元の生活に戻れるのか、大まかなメドも分からない。
The important thing is to have a comprehensive strategy.
大事なのは、総合的な戦略である。
To that end, it is essential to closely ascertain the exact situation of the contamination.
そのために、まず汚染の詳しい実態の把握が不可欠だ。
We need to measure it in detail, covering sections whose sides are 100 to 500 meters long.
１００～５００メートル四方くらいの細かさで調べる必要がある。
People evacuated from their homes are also hoping to learn the radiation levels around their houses.
避難している人たちも自宅周辺の汚染の程度を知りたがっている。
On Aug. 27, Prime Minister Naoto Kan apologized to the Fukushima prefectural governor of the possibility that residents of some areas close to the Fukushima nuclear plant will be unable to return to their houses for a long time.
菅首相はきのう、福島県知事に対し、原発の近くでは長期間帰れない場合が出てくると述べて、事故について陳謝した。
Of course, it may be possible that in areas with the worst levels of contamination, residents may be forced to give up ever returning to their homes.
確かに汚染のひどい所では、事実上、帰ることを断念せざるを得ない場合もあるかもしれない。
However, the residents can hardly accept that without sufficient data and some kind of yardstick.
しかし、その基準とデータが示されないままでは、住民は納得できないだろう。
Along with figuring out the actual state of the contamination, the government needs to calculate the cost of the decontamination process and the available level of manpower.
汚染の実態把握と並行して、除染作業にかかるコストや投入できる人員をはじき出す。
Based on those assessments, the government must hurry to put together a road map that indicates the grand design, and spell out where the process will begin, how it will be conducted and how much time it will take.
そのうえで、どの地域からどう進めていくのか、どの程度の時間がかかりそうか、国は全体像を示す工程表作りを急がなければならない。
Besides, the decontamination work itself must not be haphazard.
実際の作業も、ばらばらではいけない。
In addition to households, public institutions like schools, roads, as well as farms and nearby forests must also be watched. Otherwise, there is no way residents can return to their normal lives.
住宅に加え、学校などの公共施設や道路、さらに田畑や周辺の森林にも目を配らなければ、住民は安心して元の生活に戻ることはできない。
One major obstacle to the decontamination process is where to store the contaminated topsoil once it is removed.
一方、除染を進めるうえで大きな障害となっているのが、はぎとった土などの保管場所だ。
According to the framework plan, each local government is to set up a temporary storage place, and the central government will be responsible for securing a disposal site.
基本方針では、各自治体に仮置き場を設け、処分場は国の責任で確保することになっている。
However, Prime Minister Kan told the Fukushima governor that the central government has no choice but to create the "intermediate storage facility" within Fukushima Prefecture.
ところが、菅首相は福島県知事に対し、同県内に「中間貯蔵施設」を整備せざるを得ないと述べた。
Suddenly talking about a new storage facility at this point will only create confusion.
今の段階で、唐突に新たな保管施設のことを持ち出しても、混乱を招くばかりだ。
Decontamination is not an easy matter, including securing the disposal site.
処分場の確保も含め、除染は簡単な問題ではない。
The plan must be scrupulous, while also being meticulous about procedure.
きちんと手順を踏みつつ、綿密に計画を作る。
And the process must be done swiftly.
同時に作業は急がなければならない。
--The Asahi Shimbun, Aug. 28
EDITORIAL: Japan needs to quickly compile road map for decontamination.
除染作業―工程表作りを急げ
The Japanese government has finally decided on a basic framework on how to proceed with the decontamination process of radioactive materials spewed from the accident at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant.
福島第一原発の事故でまき散らされた放射性物質の除去（除染）について、政府がようやく基本方針を決め、きのう地元自治体に説明した。
The government's plan, explained to local governments on Aug. 27, is to halve the residents' exposure within two years, and in the case of children, to reduce it by 60 percent by conducting thorough decontamination procedures in schools and school routes.
２年で住民の被曝（ひばく）線量を半減させ、子どもについては、学校や通学路などの除染を徹底して６割減らす。
The center of the plan is to "reduce, step-by-step and rapidly" the number of areas that will measure 20 millisieverts and higher annually.
そして年間の被曝線量が２０ミリシーベルト以上の地域を「段階的かつ迅速に縮小」させるのが柱だ。
However, such a target will not put the residents' minds at ease.
しかし、こんな目標では、住民はとても安心できないのではないか。
The government estimates that even without actively doing anything, the amount of radiation exposure will decrease about 40 percent in two years due to rain and wind.
何もしなくても、雨や風で２年後には約４割減る、というのが政府の試算である。
It is too unambitious for the government to say it will achieve only an additional 10-20 percent reduction on its own.
上乗せ分が１～２割というのはあまりに低い目標だ。
Moreover, the latest framework plan does not tell us, even broadly, when the evacuees can return to their normal lives.
しかも、今回の基本方針だけでは、避難している人たちがいつごろ元の生活に戻れるのか、大まかなメドも分からない。
The important thing is to have a comprehensive strategy.
大事なのは、総合的な戦略である。
To that end, it is essential to closely ascertain the exact situation of the contamination.
そのために、まず汚染の詳しい実態の把握が不可欠だ。
We need to measure it in detail, covering sections whose sides are 100 to 500 meters long.
１００～５００メートル四方くらいの細かさで調べる必要がある。
People evacuated from their homes are also hoping to learn the radiation levels around their houses.
避難している人たちも自宅周辺の汚染の程度を知りたがっている。
On Aug. 27, Prime Minister Naoto Kan apologized to the Fukushima prefectural governor of the possibility that residents of some areas close to the Fukushima nuclear plant will be unable to return to their houses for a long time.
菅首相はきのう、福島県知事に対し、原発の近くでは長期間帰れない場合が出てくると述べて、事故について陳謝した。
Of course, it may be possible that in areas with the worst levels of contamination, residents may be forced to give up ever returning to their homes.
確かに汚染のひどい所では、事実上、帰ることを断念せざるを得ない場合もあるかもしれない。
However, the residents can hardly accept that without sufficient data and some kind of yardstick.
しかし、その基準とデータが示されないままでは、住民は納得できないだろう。
Along with figuring out the actual state of the contamination, the government needs to calculate the cost of the decontamination process and the available level of manpower.
汚染の実態把握と並行して、除染作業にかかるコストや投入できる人員をはじき出す。
Based on those assessments, the government must hurry to put together a road map that indicates the grand design, and spell out where the process will begin, how it will be conducted and how much time it will take.
そのうえで、どの地域からどう進めていくのか、どの程度の時間がかかりそうか、国は全体像を示す工程表作りを急がなければならない。
Besides, the decontamination work itself must not be haphazard.
実際の作業も、ばらばらではいけない。
In addition to households, public institutions like schools, roads, as well as farms and nearby forests must also be watched. Otherwise, there is no way residents can return to their normal lives.
住宅に加え、学校などの公共施設や道路、さらに田畑や周辺の森林にも目を配らなければ、住民は安心して元の生活に戻ることはできない。
One major obstacle to the decontamination process is where to store the contaminated topsoil once it is removed.
一方、除染を進めるうえで大きな障害となっているのが、はぎとった土などの保管場所だ。
According to the framework plan, each local government is to set up a temporary storage place, and the central government will be responsible for securing a disposal site.
基本方針では、各自治体に仮置き場を設け、処分場は国の責任で確保することになっている。
However, Prime Minister Kan told the Fukushima governor that the central government has no choice but to create the "intermediate storage facility" within Fukushima Prefecture.
ところが、菅首相は福島県知事に対し、同県内に「中間貯蔵施設」を整備せざるを得ないと述べた。
Suddenly talking about a new storage facility at this point will only create confusion.
今の段階で、唐突に新たな保管施設のことを持ち出しても、混乱を招くばかりだ。
Decontamination is not an easy matter, including securing the disposal site.
処分場の確保も含め、除染は簡単な問題ではない。
The plan must be scrupulous, while also being meticulous about procedure.
きちんと手順を踏みつつ、綿密に計画を作る。
And the process must be done swiftly.
同時に作業は急がなければならない。
プロフィール
ＨＮ：
srachai
ＨＰ：
性別：
男性
職業：
civil engineer
趣味：
子育て
自己紹介：
妻はタイ人、娘ばかり３人も！
■近況
２００９年の９月１５日に脳梗塞を発症、右手が少し不自由になりました。
MRAで脳梗塞の部位を特定でき、素早い処置をとれたので大事に至りませんでした。
快復にむけてリハビリ中です。
(2011/01/01更新)
■自己紹介・リンク
[ はじめに ]
タイのスラチャイです。
英語学習に王道はありません。
毎日毎日の地道な努力の積み重ねが必要です。
スラチャイはＮＨＫのラジオ英語会話で現在の英語力を身につけました。
一日僅か１５分の学習でも数年間継続すれば相当な学習効果が期待できます。
[ 名前 ]
松井 清 （スラチャイ）
[ 略歴 ]
・福岡県出身
・国立高知大学卒業
・準大手建設会社に就職
・50歳で会社を早期退職
・99/10 タイ全土を旅行
・00/10 タイに移住
・03/07 カイちゃん誕生
・07/06 シーファーちゃん誕生
・現在タイ国コンケン在住
[ 座右の銘 ]
Slow and steady wins the race.
遅くとも着実な者が勝利する
（NHK基礎英語芹沢栄先生）
[ 学習の手引き ]
・音読して耳から英語を吸収
・Think in English.
・ネイティブ発音付辞書活用
・英英辞典を活用（英和も）
・翻訳和文で専門用語確認
[ English Newspapers ]
Yomiuri
Mainichi
Asahi
Japan Times
Washington Post
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The Nations
Phuket Gazette
[ 英字新聞の英和対訳学習 ]
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英字新聞（朝日２）
[ スラチャイ編集の辞書 ]
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タイ語の接続詞
基礎タイ語
基礎タイ語一覧（タイ文字、ローマ字）
seesaaサイト内リンク一覧：
01 あいさつ
02 別れのあいさつ
03 声をかけるとき
04 感謝の言葉と答え方
05 謝罪の言葉と答え方
06 聞き直すとき
07 相手の言うことがわからないとき
08 うまく言えないとき
09 一般的なあいづち
10 よくわからないときの返事
11 強めのあいづち
12 自分について述べるとき
13 相手のことを尋ねるとき
14 頼みごとをするとき
15 申し出・依頼を断るとき
16 許可を求めるとき
17 説明してもらうとき
18 確認を求めるとき
19 状況を知りたいとき
20 値段の尋ね方と断り方
21 急いでもらいたいとき
22 待ってもらいたいとき
23 日時・場所・天候を尋ねるとき
24 その他
基礎タイ語一覧(タイ文字、音声付き）
サイト外HPリンク一覧：
01 あいさつ
02 別れのあいさつ
03 声をかけるとき
04 感謝の言葉と答え方
05 謝罪の言葉と答え方
06 聞き直すとき
07 相手の言うことがわからないとき
08 うまく言えないとき
09 一般的なあいづち
10 よくわからないときの返事
11 強めのあいづち
12 自分について述べるとき
13 相手のことを尋ねるとき
14 頼みごとをするとき
15 申し出・依頼を断るとき
16 許可を求めるとき
17 説明してもらうとき
18 確認を求めるとき
19 状況を知りたいとき
20 値段の尋ね方と断り方
21 急いでもらいたいとき
22 待ってもらいたいとき
23 日時・場所・天候を尋ねるとき
24 その他
タイの文化、１４の戒律
タイの文化一覧:
01 雨の日にも傘をささないタイ人
02 勉強熱心なタイ人女性たち
03 タイ人は敬謙な仏教徒
04 タイの市場
05 タイの食堂
06 タイ人は外食が大好き
07 果物王国タイランド
08 タイ人の誕生日
09 タイの電話代は高い
10 微笑みの国タイランド
1４の戒律（テラワーダ仏教戒律）
seesaaサイト内リンク一覧：
第０１番目の戒律
第０２番目の戒律
第０３番目の戒律
第０４番目の戒律
第０５番目の戒律
第０６番目の戒律
第０７番目の戒律
第０８番目の戒律
第０９番目の戒律
第１０番目の戒律
第１１番目の戒律
第１２番目の戒律
第１３番目の戒律
第１４番目の戒律
1４の戒律（テラワーダ仏教戒律）
サイト外HPリンク一覧：
１４の戒律解説
第０１番目の戒律
第０２番目の戒律
第０３番目の戒律
第０４番目の戒律
第０５番目の戒律
第０６番目の戒律
第０７番目の戒律
第０８番目の戒律
第０９番目の戒律
第１０番目の戒律
第１１番目の戒律
第１２番目の戒律
第１３番目の戒律
第１４番目の戒律