陸山会事件 裁判で「小沢氏資金」の解明を

The Yomiuri Shimbun (Feb. 9, 2011)
Court must unravel Ozawa money trail
陸山会事件　裁判で「小沢氏資金」の解明を（2月8日付・読売社説）

The trial of three former secretaries of ruling party heavyweight Ichiro Ozawa quickly became an all-out battle between the defendants and prosecutors soon after it opened Monday.
　冒頭から全面対決の様相となった。

The first hearing for House of Representatives member Tomohiro Ishikawa and the two other former secretaries opened at the Tokyo District Court. They were charged in connection with a suspicious land deal involving Rikuzan-kai, the political funds management body of Ozawa, a former Democratic Party of Japan president. The three former secretaries are charged with violating the Political Funds Control Law.
　民主党の小沢一郎元代表の資金管理団体「陸山会」の土地取引を巡る事件で、政治資金規正法違反に問われた石川知裕衆院議員ら元秘書３人の公判が始まった。

Prosecutors insist the secretaries did not register 400 million yen, which the group had borrowed from Ozawa to purchase the land, in Rikuzan-kai's political funds reports because the money originally had come from a source that they did not want to identify.
　小沢氏から借り入れた土地購入原資の４億円が出所を明らかにできない金だったため、政治資金収支報告書に記載しなかった――というのが、検察側の主張だ。

Ishikawa and the other secretaries have pleaded not guilty and insisted they had not falsified statements in the funds reports.
　これに対し、石川議員らは「虚偽の記載をした認識はない」などと否定し、無罪を訴えた。

In the same case, Ozawa was recently indicted based on decisions by a judicial panel comprising citizens on charges of violating the same law, and his trial is expected to begin this summer at the earliest. He is accused of conspiring with the three secretaries to cover up the money trail. The secretaries' trial shares many pieces of evidence and points of contention with the Ozawa trial. Therefore, it is shaping up as a prelude to--and likely will be a barometer for the outcome of--Ozawa's trial.
　この事件では、小沢氏自身も検察審査会の議決に基づき、共犯として強制起訴されたばかりだ。証拠や争点の多くが重なる元秘書３人の裁判は、夏以降に始まると見られる小沢氏の裁判の行方を占う前哨戦の意味合いもあろう。

===

Still waiting for explanation

Ozawa has given inconsistent explanations regarding where the 400 million yen in question came from, a key focus in the trial. We hope the trial will fully uncover the source of the money and what it was actually intended for.
　焦点となっている土地購入原資の４億円について、小沢氏は説明を二転三転させてきた。裁判では４億円の出所や趣旨を徹底的に明らかにしてもらいたい。

In their opening statement, prosecutors said Ozawa's office had received illegal donations from a general contractor in connection with a dam construction order around the same time it had borrowed the money from Ozawa. The prosecutors apparently intended to emphasize the maliciousness of falsifying a statement in a political funds report.
　検察側は冒頭陳述で、「小沢氏からの借り入れと同時期に、小沢事務所は建設業者からダム工事の受注に絡んで裏献金を受領していた」とも言及した。虚偽記載という行為の悪質性を強調する狙いがあるのだろう。

However, the defendants denied receiving the donation. The trial will hinge on whether prosecutors can prove the credibility of a statement by the construction firm, which allegedly said it handed the cash to Ozawa's secretaries.
　石川議員らは受領自体を否定している。「金を届けた」とする業者側の供述の信用性を検察がどこまで立証できるかが鍵を握る。

The Ozawa office's alleged reception of illegal donations from a construction firm in exchange for exercising influence over the selection of a contractor in a public works project has shades of a separate trial involving Nishimatsu Construction Co. That case came to light about two years ago.
　公共工事の業者選定への影響力を背景に、小沢事務所が建設業者から資金提供を受ける構図は、２年前に摘発された西松建設の違法献金事件の裁判でも浮上した。

While repeatedly criticizing prosecutors and the committee for the inquest of prosecution, Ozawa has yet to provide an explanation that would clear up the allegations against him. Furthermore, he has not come forward to answer questions in the Diet about the scandal. Although Ozawa now is a defendant in a criminal case, we think he still has a responsibility as a politician to explain himself in the Diet.
　小沢氏はこれまで検察や検察審査会への批判を繰り返す一方で、詳細な説明を避けている。国会招致も実現していない。被告人の立場になったとはいえ、政治家として国会で説明する必要がある。

===

Prosecutors in spotlight

The public is certainly watching the investigation by the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office--which has handled a number of cases involving politicians--more closely than ever before.
　一方、数々の政界事件を手がけてきた東京地検特捜部の捜査手法に、今、かつてない厳しい目が注がれているのも事実である。

Ishikawa and the other secretaries have claimed testimonies they gave during interrogations--in which they admitted the allegations--were not credible because they were not made voluntarily. They allege the forceful investigation led them to make incriminating statements against their will.
　石川議員らは「強引な取り調べで供述を誘導された」として、捜査段階で容疑を認めた供述調書の任意性や信用性を争っている。

The defendants' testimonies have a direct bearing on the core questions in this case. If these confessions are deemed to be not credible, it could not only determine the direction of Ozawa's trial but also raise questions about the prosecution's investigation, which was built on statements by people involved.
　この裁判で、事件の根幹にかかわる供述調書の信用性などが否定されれば、小沢氏の裁判の方向性を決めかねないばかりか、関係者の供述を積み重ねて真相解明を試みてきた特捜部の捜査の在り方も問われることになる。

The prosecutors will need to carefully prove each of the defendants' testimonies were made of their own free will and are credible.
　検察には、供述調書の任意性や信用性を一つひとつ丁寧に立証していくことが求められよう。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 8, 2011)
（2011年2月8日01時47分 読売新聞）

春場所中止 八百長が土俵の火を消した

The Yomiuri Shimbun (Feb. 8, 2011)
Torch of sumo tradition flickers after match-fixing
春場所中止　八百長が土俵の火を消した（2月7日付・読売社説）

Can the Japan Sumo Association continue to bear the responsibility of carrying on sumo as the "national sport"? The JSA faces the crisis of its existence being called into question as it has been forced to cancel a forthcoming sumo tournament.
　今後も「国技」を担っていけるのか。本場所を開催できない事態に追い込まれ、日本相撲協会は存立そのものが問われる危機に直面している。

Shaken by a match-fixing scandal, the JSA decided Sunday to cancel the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament scheduled to start on March 13 at Osaka Prefectural Gymnasium.
　八百長問題で揺れる相撲協会が、３月１３日から大阪府立体育会館で開く予定だった春場所を中止することを決めた。

It is the first cancellation of a grand tournament in 65 years since the 1946 summer grand tournament was canceled due to a delay in repair work on the previous Ryogoku Kokugikan sumo arena amid the postwar chaos. This is the first time for a grand tourney to be canceled due to a scandal, leaving a hard-to-erase blemish on the long history of sumo.
　本場所の中止は６５年ぶり、戦後の混乱期、国技館の改修工事が遅れた１９４６年夏場所以来のことだ。不祥事による中止は、過去に例がない。大相撲の長い歴史においても、消し難い汚点である。

As reasons for the cancellation, the JSA said, among other things, it would otherwise be impossible to obtain the understanding of fans and it would take time to conduct investigations of the 14 current and former sumo wrestlers allegedly involved in the scandal. JSA Chairman Hanaregoma told a news conference, "We cannot show sumo matches on the dohyo ring until we can eliminate the pus [from the sport]."
　ファンの理解が得られない。八百長疑惑に名前が挙がった１４人の力士の調査に時間がかかる。それらが本場所中止の理由だ。相撲協会の放駒理事長は「ウミを出し切るまでは、土俵で相撲をお見せすることはできない」と語った。

===

Fans betrayed

The top priority of the JSA should be to thoroughly probe the match-fixing scandal and severely punish all found to be involved. If this is taken into consideration, the JSA's cancellation of the spring grand tournament was the right decision.
　相撲協会が最優先になすべきは、八百長の実態を徹底解明し、関与した力士らを厳しく処分することだ。それを考えれば、春場所の中止は、当然の判断である。

Match-fixing flatly contradicts any claim that sumo is a real fighting sport. It also represents a betrayal of the fans, who expect to see hard-fought bouts.
　大相撲が真剣勝負の競技であるならば、八百長はそれを真っ向から否定する行為だ。白熱した土俵を楽しみにしているファンに対する裏切りでもある。

Many fans in Osaka must feel regret over the cancellation of the spring tournament, which is the only basho held in the city each year.
　大阪で本場所が開かれるのは年１回のため、中止を残念に思うファンも多いだろう。

But if the tournament were to be held under the present circumstances, suspicious eyes would be cast even over wrestlers not involved in the match-fixing scandal. If sumo becomes suspect, it does not deserve the claim of being the national sport.
　しかし、今の状況では、八百長にかかわっていない力士にも、疑いの目が向けられよう。疑念を持たれる土俵は、「国技」を名乗るに値しない。

A seven-member special investigation panel, consisting of four lawyers and three other outsiders, is tasked with uncovering the whole truth behind the scandal. The panel has conducted a questionnaire survey of all wrestlers and other JSA members concerning their involvement in the match-fixing scandal. But we think it is impossible to grasp the whole picture with such a pro forma probe alone.
　全容解明にあたっているのは、弁護士ら外部のメンバーで組織する特別調査委員会だ。全力士らを対象に、八百長への関与の有無を確認するアンケートを実施した。だが、形式的な調査だけで真相を把握できるはずがない。

It is necessary to make in-depth investigations by going as far as interrogating the suspected wrestlers after analyzing past bouts suspected to have been fixed.
　過去に八百長が疑われた取組を分析したうえで事情聴取するなど、踏み込んだ調査が必要だ。

===

JSA claim falls flat

The JSA had persistently asserted, "There is no match-fixing whatsoever." The association has established punitive steps for intentionally spiritless bouts and issued warnings to wrestlers every time their bouts were found to lack a fighting spirit. But it had never probed whether they fixed matches.
　相撲協会は一貫して「八百長は存在しない」と主張してきた。故意の無気力相撲に関する罰則規定を設けて、闘争心に欠ける相撲を取った力士には、その都度、注意などをしてきたが、八百長かどうかの調査は行ってこなかった。

As some of the 14 current and former wrestlers suspected to have been involved in the scandal admitted the alleged match-fixing, the JSA's assumption of "no match-fixing whatsoever" has crumbled. The association must clearly mention in its punitive provisions that wrestlers found to be involved in match-fixing will be expelled from the sumo world.
　今回、疑惑が持たれている１４人の力士の一部が八百長行為を認めたことで、「八百長はない」との前提は崩れた。八百長相撲を取った力士を除名などにすると規定に明記すべきだ。

The JSA is a public-interest corporation entitled to preferential tax treatment. The association must remember it has the responsibility of working out measures that can convince the public that the sport is clean.
　相撲協会は、税制面で優遇を受けている公益法人だ。社会が納得できる措置を講じる責任があることを忘れてはならない。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 7, 2011)
（2011年2月7日01時07分 読売新聞）

社会保障改革 具体的な与党案を早急に示せ

Social security reform proposals needed quickly
The Yomiuri Shimbun (Feb. 7, 2011)
社会保障改革　具体的な与党案を早急に示せ（2月6日付・読売社説）


The government and the ruling coalition parties on Saturday launched a new panel of experts chaired by Prime Minister Naoto Kan to discuss social security reform.
　政府・与党は５日、菅首相を議長とする「社会保障改革に関する集中検討会議」をスタートさせた。

We will wait and see how detailed a picture the panel can paint of the future of the nation's social security system.
　社会保障制度の将来像を、どこまで具体的に描き出せるか。

The de facto leader of the panel is the assistant to the chairman, Kaoru Yosano, state minister in charge of economic and fiscal policy.
　議長補佐として検討会議を主導するのは与謝野経済財政相だ。

Members include University of Tokyo Prof. Hiroshi Yoshikawa, who headed the National Council on Social Security under former Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda; and supreme adviser to Dentsu Inc. Yutaka Narita, who chaired a panel to discuss ways to realize a secure society under former Prime Minister Taro Aso.
Also participating are other experts who compiled policy proposals under the coalition government of the Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito. Yosano is said to have selected the panel members personally.
　メンバーには、福田内閣で社会保障国民会議の座長を務めた吉川洋・東大教授、麻生内閣で安心社会実現会議の座長だった成田豊・電通名誉相談役ら、自公政権で政策提言を担った識者が何人も加わった。与謝野氏の人選という。

Some members of the ruling Democratic Party of Japan have complained that the panel lineup does not reflect the change in government.
　民主党内には、「これでは政権交代した意味がない」との批判もあるようだ。

However, we think such critics are small-minded. Social security policy, like foreign and security policy, is an important matter related to the foundation of the country. It is not an issue to be disputed between ruling and opposition parties.
　だが、こうした見方は狭量である。社会保障政策は、外交・安全保障と同様、国の根幹にかかわる重要な政策だ。与野党が対立する問題ではない。

The public would feel insecure if policy that determines the course of the nation's future is changed drastically with a change of government.
将来を方向づける政策が政権交代で大きく変わるようでは、国民は安心できない。

Therefore it is no wonder the new panel includes experts consulted by the LDP-New Komeito coalition.
　その意味で、自公政権と同じ顔ぶれでも不思議ではなかろう。

===

Valuable past suggestions

Substantial reports were compiled by both the National Council on Social Security and the panel to discuss ways to realize a secure society.
　国民会議と安心会議は、いずれも、かなり中身の濃い報告書をまとめている。

The national council studied a comprehensive vision of possible measures to deal with issues related to public pensions, medical and nursing care, and the low birthrate. It proposed some options, along with the figures regarding the additional funds needed to realize them.
　国民会議は、年金・医療・介護・少子化対策をトータルで見た将来見通しを検討し、いくつかの選択肢を必要な追加負担額と共に示した。

The council estimated that the additional funds that would be needed in fiscal 2015 would be equivalent to the revenues that could be earned from consumption tax rates ranging from 3 to 11 percent.
２０１５年度に確保すべき新たな財源は消費税率で３～１１％分になる、と試算している。

The panel to discuss ways to realize a secure society proposed spending consumption tax revenue only for social security purposes. It also said the money should be put into a newly created social security account and managed separately from other taxes, to spotlight a secure system that would return to the public benefits commensurate with the taxes they would pay.
　安心会議は、消費税を社会保障目的税とし、新設する「社会保障勘定」に入れて他の税とは管理を別にすることで、負担した税が確実に国民に還元される仕組みを明確にするよう提言している。

It is significant that the former chairmen of the two government panels have joined the new one--this means the new panel will carry over all the estimates and proposals made by its predecessors. The new panel should quickly draft a reform plan based on the discussions of the two earlier groups.
　二つの会議の座長が今回の検討会議に加わる意味は大きい。両会議の試算や提言をすべて引き継ぐということだろう。積み上げた議論を生かし、早急に改革原案をとりまとめるべきだ。

===

Reconsider unrealistic idea

Based on that reform proposal, the prime minister has said he will present a basic policy on public pension and other social security issues by April and a comprehensive picture of integrated reforms of the social security and tax systems by June.
　菅首相はそれをもとに、年金など社会保障の基本方針を４月までに、税制を含む一体改革の全体像を６月までに示すとしている。

It is essential not only to clarify how much and when the consumption tax rate would be raised but also to reconsider the unrealistic proposal by the DPJ to integrate the public pension systems and the provision of child-rearing allowances.
　消費税率の具体的な引き上げ幅と実施時期を明示することはもちろん、民主党が掲げてきた現実味のない年金一元化構想や、子ども手当の再検討も不可欠だ。

There is deep-rooted antagonism in the DPJ toward Yosano, a defector from the minor opposition Sunrise Party of Japan. This aversion was heightened by Yosano's appointment to the new panel of Hakuo Yanagisawa, who served as health, labor and welfare minister under former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.
　民主党内には与謝野氏への反感が根強くある。検討会議に柳沢伯夫・元厚生労働相が加わったことも反発に拍車をかけている。

Given the seriousness of the government's fiscal crisis, however, the social security system must be reviewed immediately, without delay. We cannot tolerate emotional confrontations that delay or distort discussions on the social security reform.
　だが、財政危機の深刻さを考えれば、社会保障制度の見直しは待ったなしだ。感情的対立で社会保障改革の議論を遅らせたり、ゆがめたりしてはならない。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 6, 2011)
（2011年2月6日00時45分 読売新聞）

鉄鋼再編 国際競争激化が促した大合併

The Yomiuri Shimbun (Feb. 6, 2011)
Merger of steelmakers prompted by global race
鉄鋼再編　国際競争激化が促した大合併（2月5日付・読売社説）

A gigantic steelmaker will be born in Japan with the aim of surviving fierce competition from foreign rivals.
　海外企業との激しい競争に勝ち残ることを目指し、日本に巨大鉄鋼メーカーが誕生する。

Nippon Steel Corp. and Sumitomo Metal Industries Ltd.--Japan's largest and third-largest steelmakers, respectively--agreed to merge by October 2012. Though they started capital and business tie-ups in 2002, the two companies have decided this time to also integrate management.
　国内最大手の新日本製鉄と、３位の住友金属工業が、２０１２年１０月をメドに合併することで合意した。０２年に資本提携していたが、経営統合に踏み込む。

Their combined annual production of crude steel will become the biggest in Asia and second biggest in the world after ArcelorMittal, headquartered in Luxembourg.
　両社を合わせた粗鋼生産量は、アルセロール・ミッタル（ルクセンブルク）に次ぐ世界２位、アジア最大に浮上する。

Not only the steel industry, but also other industrial sectors in Japan are characterized by tough competition among several major companies. Japanese companies are engaged in a domestic war of attrition, and it is often noted they have become too exhausted to do battle against business giants in other countries. We expect this latest large corporate realignment to affect other industries and to lead to strengthening the competitive edge of Japanese companies in general.
　日本の産業界は鉄鋼に限らず、複数の有力企業がしのぎを削るのが特徴だ。消耗戦が続き、海外の巨大企業に対抗できない例が目立つ。今回の大型再編が他産業にも波及し、日本企業の競争力強化につながることを期待したい。

===

Race on for new markets

The merger of Nippon Steel and Sumitomo Metal was prompted by intensified competition in markets of newly emerging economies such as China and India.
　新日鉄と住金に合併を促したのは、中国、インドなど新興国市場での競争の激化である。

Nippon Steel has an advantage in manufacturing high-function steel sheets for automobiles and electric appliances, while Sumitomo Metal excels in making seamless pipes. But the domestic market for such products is shrinking. On the other hand, the global market, including markets in up-and-coming countries with booming economies, is growing rapidly.
　新日鉄は自動車や電機向けの高機能鋼板に強みがあり、住金はシームレスパイプが得意だが、国内市場は縮小傾向が続く。これと対照的に、好景気の新興国を中心に世界市場は急成長している。

ArcelorMittal is aggressively pursuing mergers and acquisitions, while Chinese and South Korean steelmakers have launched offensives by increasing output. In reality, Japanese makers have been forced to play defense.
　大胆なＭ＆Ａ（合併・買収）を続けるアルセロールだけでなく、中国や韓国大手が生産増強で攻勢をかけ、日本メーカーは守勢に立たされているのが実態だ。

Japanese automakers and electronic appliance manufacturers, which consume a huge amount of steel, are quickly increasing local production in newly emerging economies. Japanese steelmakers will fail to serve such customer needs if they cannot expand production in those countries.
　自動車や電機メーカーなど、鉄鋼を大量に使う企業も新興国での現地生産を加速中だ。日本の鉄鋼各社が現地での生産を拡大できなければ、せっかくの顧客ニーズに応えられなくなる。

To deal with this problem, the merged companies aim to build factories and strengthen their production capability in newly emerging economies with a reinforced management base.
　このため、今回の合併には、経営基盤の強化で、新興国に工場を新設し、生産体制を増強する狙いが込められている。

===

Resource prices merger factor

The steel industry also feels threatened by soaring resource prices with the emergence of resource giants that produce and sell iron ore and other raw materials. Nippon Steel and Sumitomo Metal apparently expect their larger size will reinforce their bargaining power on resource prices.
　鉄鋼業界にとって、鉄鉱石などを産出・販売する資源メジャーが台頭し、資源価格が高騰していることも脅威だ。新日鉄と住金には規模拡大で価格交渉力を強めたいとの思惑もあろう。

With the merger, the two firms are highly likely to trim their operations by taking actions such as eliminating and consolidating their blast furnaces. At the same time, it is extremely important to maintain employment in Japan. Hollowing out of the domestic labor force should be avoided as much as possible.
　合併を機に、両社は、高炉の統廃合など業務スリム化を推し進める可能性が高い。しかし、その場合でも、国内の雇用維持は極めて重要だ。空洞化はできるだけ避けてほしい。

Now, attention will turn to scrutiny of the merger by the Fair Trade Commission, which will decide whether to approve the deal or not.
　今後の焦点は、両社の合併を認めるかどうか、公正取引委員会の審査に移る。

The new company created by the merger would make up nearly 45 percent of the crude steel produced in Japan. However, its share in the global market would be just 3 percent.
　合併で新会社の粗鋼生産量の国内シェア（市場占有率）は４５％近くに達する。しかし、海外でのシェアは約３％に過ぎない。

The FTC tends to emphasize domestic share, but it should approve the merger as soon as possible from the viewpoint of enhancing the international competitiveness of the Japanese steel industry.
　公取委は国内シェアを重視しがちだが、国際競争力の強化を図る観点から、合併を早期に認めるべきであろう。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 5, 2011)
（2011年2月5日01時21分 読売新聞）

鉄鋼大合併―世界仕様の再編の始まり

2011/02/05
--The Asahi Shimbun, Feb. 4
鉄鋼大合併―世界仕様の再編の始まり
EDITORIAL: Steel megamerger

A huge merger between two leading Japanese steel makers, which constitute an important part of the nation's industrial base, was announced Thursday. Nippon Steel Corp., the largest Japanese steel manufacturer in terms of crude steel production, and Sumitomo Metal Industries Ltd., the No. 3 player, said they are planning to merge in autumn next year.
　日本の産業の土台ともいえる鉄鋼メーカーの大合併が浮上した。粗鋼生産量で国内トップの新日本製鉄と３位の住友金属工業が来年秋を目標に合併を検討する、と発表した。

If the two companies bring together their competitive technologies and improve the efficiency of production, they will be able to supply steel products of higher quality to manufacturing industries at lower prices. The deal could bolster efforts to revitalize the floundering Japanese economy.
　それぞれの強みがある技術を持ち寄り、生産を効率化すれば、より高品質な鉄を、より安く加工産業に供給することが可能となる。日本経済の再生を支援する効果も期待できよう。

This is not a defensive merger by two companies trying to protect themselves from takeovers or integrating themselves because of poor earnings performances. This is a strategic move for "aggressive investment in the global market," according to Nippon Steel President Shoji Muneoka.
　これは買収からの企業防衛や、経営不振で肩を寄せ合うような守りの統合策ではない。「グローバル市場に積極的に投資する」（宗岡正二・新日鉄社長）という攻めの発想だ。

The new steel giant will have a greater ability to meet swelling demand in fast-growing emerging countries through local production and make the large investment needed to develop technologies to fight global warming and enhance competitiveness.
高い成長が続く新興国での現地生産で需要に対応できるうえ、地球温暖化対策や競争力強化のための新技術開発に向けた巨額投資もしやすくなる。

The Anti-Monopoly Law will be the largest obstacle to the proposed megamerger. The outlook of the deal will become murky if the Fair Trade Commission decides to focus on the combined share of the two companies in the domestic market in its antitrust scrutiny of the plan.
　実現への最大のハードルとなるのが独占禁止法である。公正取引委員会が、国内市場の占有率に重きを置いて審査するなら判断は微妙になろう。

Some industry observers say the two steel makers, which formed a capital tie-up eight years ago, have been deterred from moving toward their merger by concerns about whether the deal will receive the green light from the antitrust watchdog.
８年前に資本提携した両社が統合へ進むのをためらってきたのは、その点にあるとの見方も産業界にある。

When Nippon Steel was created through a merger of two steel manufacturers 41 years ago, some of the facilities had to be sold to other companies after the FTC warned that the combination could limit competition in the sector. But the current business environment for steel makers is totally different from the situation four decades ago.
　４１年前の新日鉄誕生では公取委から競争制限の恐れがあると勧告され、結局、他社に設備を譲って合併を実現した。だが今は当時と環境が全く違う。

The combined steel production of Nippon Steel and Sumitomo Metal would still be only half of the output of ArcelorMittal, the world's largest steel maker. In terms of size, the combination would not overwhelm South Korea's Pohang Iron and Steel Co. (POSCO), the Japanese companies' main foreign rival in terms of product quality.
　今回の合併が実現しても生産量は首位のアルセロール・ミッタルのほぼ半分。品質でしのぎを削る韓国のポスコを圧倒する規模にもならない。

More to the point, Japan had just become the second-largest economy in the free world after years of rapid economic growth when Nippon Steel was born. In contrast, the Japanese economy has achieved little nominal growth in the past two decades, and China has overtaken Japan as the world's second-largest economy.
　なによりも、新日鉄が誕生したころの国内市場は高度成長の末に経済規模で自由世界第２位となったばかりだった。ところが、今の日本はこの２０年間で名目成長率はほぼゼロ。中国に世界第２位の経済大国の座も譲った。

The administration of Prime Minister Naoto Kan is stepping up efforts to conclude free trade agreements. The administration's new push to "open up the nation" has been driven by the drastic change of Japan's status in the world economy.
　菅政権が「国を開く」と自由貿易協定の拡大に本腰を入れる背景にも、世界経済の中の日本の位置づけが様変わりしたという事情がある。


The number of Japanese companies that consider mergers as a key part of their global strategies will increase in the coming years as competitiveness in the global market has become a major factor for their long-term viability.
　グローバルな市場での競争が生き残りを左右する大きな要因となった以上、世界戦略として統合を考える企業は今後増えていくはずだ。

In addition to the emergence of behemoths in the world steel market, soaring raw materials prices are another factor that has driven Nippon Steel and Sumitomo Metal into the deal. The international markets for such raw materials as coal and iron ore are now dominated by a small number of resources giants. That means steel makers need to be large if they want to have enough leverage in negotiations over prices with the suppliers of raw materials.
　ライバル企業の巨大化だけでなく、資源価格の高騰も、新日鉄と住友金属の合併へと背中を押した要因である。石炭や鉄鉱石など海外の資源会社の寡占化も進んでおり、価格交渉力を確保できる規模の大きさも必要となっているという現実がある。

Given these radical changes in the business environment, the FTC should approve the merger between the two firms. The watchdog needs to develop new criteria for its antitrust investigations for the new era and make them clear to other global companies that may be considering similar consolidation moves.
　こうした環境の激変を考えれば、公取委は両社の合併を認めるべきだろう。新時代に対応した新たな審査指針をつくり、同様の統合を模索するグローバル企業に対しても、それを明確に示してほしい。

It is also the FTC's important job to ensure that the creation of a new steelmaking titan will not bring disadvantages to the many small and medium-sized manufacturers dependent on the domestic market.
　もちろん、巨大な鉄鋼メーカーの誕生が、国内市場で生きている多くの中堅・中小メーカーの不利益とならないよう目を光らせ続けるのも、公取委の大事な仕事である。

八百長疑惑 徹底解明が相撲協会の責務だ

The Yomiuri Shimbun (Feb. 4, 2011)
JSA must thoroughly probe match-fixing scandal
八百長疑惑　徹底解明が相撲協会の責務だ（2月3日付・読売社説）

Last year it was a baseball gambling scandal; now allegations of match-fixing have hit the world of professional sumo. This is a serious affair that may rock the foundations of the sport.
　野球賭博事件に続き、今度は八百長疑惑が持ち上がった。大相撲の屋台骨を揺るがしかねない深刻な不祥事である。

The Metropolitan Police Department found text messages implying that matches had been fixed on cell phones belonging to an incumbent juryo division wrestler and a sumo elder that were confiscated during investigations of the gambling scandal.
　警視庁が野球賭博事件の捜査で押収した現役の十両力士らの携帯電話から、八百長相撲をとっていたことをうかがわせるメールが見つかった。

A total of 13 people, including two elders who were wrestlers at the time of the alleged match-fixing, are suspected of involvement and one has reportedly admitted engaging in match-fixing.
関与が疑われる力士は１３人に上る。そのうち１人は、八百長を認めたという。

As there is no law against match-fixing, called "yaocho" in Japanese, the MPD reportedly plans not to pursue criminal charges.
　八百長そのものを罰する法律がないため、警視庁は立件を見送る方針だ。

===

Fans surely angry

However, match-fixing is a betrayal of sumo fans, heinous behavior that shakes their confidence in the sport to its core.
しかし、八百長はファンへの裏切りであり、競技への信頼も根底から覆す極めて悪質な行為である。

"I feel very resentful," Japan Sumo Association Chairman Hanaregoma said at a press conference. It must be sumo fans, however, who are truly angry about the scandal.
　記者会見した日本相撲協会の放駒理事長は、「大変、憤りを感じる」と語ったが、憤っているのは、ファンの方だろう。

"Please begin the match with a strong initial charge and then continue on with the flow." "What should we do about the 200,000 [yen]?" These are confirmed examples of text messages that were exchanged between wrestlers, erased but recovered by the MPD.
　「立ち合いは強く当たって流れでお願いします」「２０万はどうします？」。警視庁が、消去されたメールを復元して確認したのは、こうしたやりとりだった。

They raise strong suspicions that the wrestlers confirmed how they would fight matches beforehand, and bought and sold victories.
　取り口を事前に確認したり、勝ち星を売買したりしていることを強く疑わせる内容である。

If match-fixing is rampant in the world of professional sumo, which considers itself the national sport, it may threaten the very existence of the JSA.
　国技を自任する大相撲に八百長が蔓延(まんえん)しているとすれば、相撲協会の存廃にもかかわる。

The association has questioned 12 of the 13 wrestlers and elders, and a special committee comprising members from outside the sumo world will conduct an investigation.
　相撲協会は、問題の１３人のうち１２人から事情を聞いた。今後、外部のメンバーによる特別調査委員会が調査を進める。

We hope the committee members will question all sumo wrestlers to quickly uncover the whole truth of the situation.
全力士からの聴取も行い、迅速かつ徹底的な解明を求めたい。

Wrestlers cannot escape heavy punishments, including dismissal, if they are confirmed to have been involved in match-fixing.
　八百長が確認された力士に対しては、解雇などの重い処分は避けられまい。

As in the baseball gambling scandal, wrestlers contacted each other through cell phone e-mails. Stablemasters who cannot monitor their apprentices' activities bear a heavy responsibility as supervisors.
　野球賭博事件の時と同様、力士たちは携帯電話のメールを利用して、やりとりを繰り返していた。弟子の行動に目が及ばない親方の管理責任も重い。

===

No end to suspicions

Suspicions have been voiced a number of times regarding match-fixing in professional sumo. A former wrestler who once held one of three highest ranks below yokozuna even testified that he rigged bouts.
　大相撲では、幾度となく八百長疑惑が取りざたされてきた。三役も務めた元力士が、八百長相撲をとったと証言したこともある。

Nevertheless, the JSA has consistently claimed there is no match-fixing. At his press conference, JSA Chairman Hanaregoma said: "There was no match-fixing in the past."
　これに対し、相撲協会は、一貫して「八百長は存在しない」と主張してきた。

How can he say that so unequivocally when there has not been sufficient investigation?
　放駒理事長も、八百長について、「過去には一切、なかった」と否定したが、十分な調査もなしに、なぜそう言い切れるのか。

It is a fact that there are spiritless or lethargic matches--wrestlers are sometimes easily pushed out of the ring by their opponents, for example--which may cause viewers to suspect match-fixing.
　あっけなく土俵を割るなど、八百長を疑わせる無気力な取組があるのも事実である。

There must be quite a few fans who have suspected the existence of match-fixing for some time. We also would like the investigative committee to look into other grand sumo tournaments, not just the two currently under suspicion.
八百長への不信感を持ち続けていたファンも少なくないだろう。特別調査委には、過去にさかのぼった調査も実施してもらいたい。

Now is the time for the JSA to cleanse itself, something it has failed to do in past scandals.
　相撲協会は、これまでの不祥事で発揮できなかった自浄能力を、今度こそ示さねばならない。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 3, 2011)
（2011年2月3日01時01分 読売新聞）

エジプト危機―ムバラク氏は即時辞任を

2011/02/02
--The Asahi Shimbun, Feb. 1
EDITORIAL: Deepening Egypt crisis
エジプト危機―ムバラク氏は即時辞任を

Only a week ago, foreign tourists were flocking to Egypt where the winter tourist season has begun. Now, foreigners are scrambling to airports to get out of the country.
　つい１週間前まで、エジプトは冬の観光シーズンを迎えて外国人観光客でにぎわっていた。今は国外への避難を求める外国人が空港に殺到している。

Nobody could have predicted how rapidly the situation would deteriorate in Egypt after popular anger exploded last week against the nation's autocratic regime of 30 years.
　３０年続いた非民主的な強権支配に、民衆の怒りが一気に噴き出した。事態が数日の間にこれほど切迫すると誰が予測しただろう。

With the populace demanding democracy while President Hosni Mubarak refuses to step down, the crisis in Egypt is deepening.
　民主化を要求する民衆と、居座るムバラク大統領との間で、エジプト危機はますます深まっている。

Clashes between street demonstrators and security forces escalated over the weekend. According to some reports, 100 people were killed by police fire.
　デモ隊と治安部隊の衝突は先週末に激化し、警察の銃撃などで１００人の死者が出ているとの報道がある。

The government has since imposed a curfew and mobilized the military. The latter, rather than the police and security forces, is now responsible for restoring order.
　政府は夜間外出禁止令を出して軍を出動させた。警察や治安部隊は治安維持の任務を解かれた。

After the police vanished from the streets, looting occurred in some areas. But local residents immediately organized their own militias to protect their neighborhoods.
　警察が姿を消した後、一部では略奪が起こったが、即座に地域の住民たちが自主的に自警団を組織して町を守る動きが広がっている。

However, if the police remain out of the picture over a protracted period, civic life is bound to collapse before long.
　ただし、警察不在の状態が長引けば国民生活は早晩、危機に直面する。

Schools, banks and government offices remain closed. Some cities are already beginning to be hit by food and gasoline shortages.
学校も、銀行も、政府機関も、閉まったままだ。都市部では食料やガソリンなどの不足が出始めている。

To stop demonstrators from communicating with one another, the government cut off the Internet and temporarily disabled mobile phone services. But the people could not be stopped.
　政府はデモに参加する人々の連絡を絶つため、インターネットを停止し、一時は携帯電話も止めた。しかし民衆を止めることはできなかった。

The people have proved their power by protecting the safety of their own communities. This suggests that human ties are strong in Egyptian society. And the fact that the people are not fighting among themselves is proof that democratization has the support of a broad segment of the population.
　民衆パワーは、自分たちで地域の安全を守ることでも発揮されている。エジプトでの社会のつながりを感じさせるとともに、民衆の間での対立とならないのは、民主化が幅広い国民の支持を得ている証しでもある。

Mubarak bears the responsibility for inviting this national crisis by having lost popular support to this extent. He should resign immediately, not wait until his presidency expires this autumn.
　ここまで国民の支持を失ったムバラク大統領には、国を危機に陥れた責任がある。今秋の任期満了を待つことなく、直ちに辞任すべきだ。

For Egypt to make a fresh start, it is vital that the task be entrusted to a provisional government in which all political parties are represented, and that a presidential election and a parliamentary election be called as soon as possible.
　国の再出発は全政治勢力が参加する暫定政府に委ね、できるだけ早期に大統領選挙と議会選挙をして、民意を問うべきである。

Even the United States, the staunchest supporter of the Mubarak administration, is in favor of Egypt's "transition" to a democratic regime. The Japanese government should also make its wishes quite clear.
　ムバラク政権の一番の支援者だった米国も、エジプトでの民主的な政権への「移行」を支持した。日本政府も明確な意思を伝えるべきだ。

To avert any further bloodshed and chaos, the international community must appeal to the Mubarak regime firmly and without delay.
　情勢の激化の速さは予想を超えている。これ以上の流血と混乱を避けるため、国際社会はムバラク政権に強く、迅速に働きかけてほしい。

So long as the Egyptian government refrains from suppressing pro-democracy demonstrators, the latter remain peaceable. We hope there will be no clashes in the days ahead with the military, which is now policing the streets.
　民主化を求めるデモ隊は政府が抑えつけようとしないかぎり、平和的に訴えている。心配なのは、警察に代わって配置されている軍との衝突だ。

The military has so far denied any use of arms against demonstrators. They must maintain this noninterference policy even if the situation becomes more urgent.
　軍はデモ隊への武力行使を否定しているが、今後、情勢がさらに緊迫しても不介入の方針を貫くべきだ。

Mubarak is a former military officer, and so is Omar Suleiman, whom he named vice president last week. The democratization of Egypt spells not only Mubarak's resignation, but also an end to military rule.
　ムバラク大統領も、今回指名された副大統領も軍出身である。民主化は、ムバラク退陣だけでなく、軍主導体制の終わりを意味する。

The international community needs to apply pressure on both the Mubarak regime and the military. The last thing we need is the military pointing guns at the people.
　ムバラク政権と軍の双方に、国際的な圧力が必要だ。軍が民衆に銃を向ける事態だけは避けねばならない。

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ハワイオアフ島の北端、ノースショアのモクレイアというところで１年間仕事をしました。ここは田舎町、お金はかかりません。週末にホノルルに出かけて遊びました。コーリアンバーがたくさんありそこでカラオケをして遊びましたがびっくり仰天、料金が銀座のバーよりも高かったのです。一人一回当り５００～１０００ドルかかりました。仕事が無事完了して日本へ帰国したときに一文なしでした＾＾。丸井でクレジットカードを作り、１０万円借金して給料日までの数週間をしのぎました。（汗）

当時クレジットカードのショッピング枠現金化のような便利なサービスはありませんでした。

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小沢氏強制起訴 政治的なけじめをつける時だ

The Yomiuri Shimbun (Feb. 2, 2011)
Ozawa must take political responsibility
小沢氏強制起訴　政治的なけじめをつける時だ（2月1日付・読売社説）

Like three of his former secretaries, former Democratic Party of Japan President Ichiro Ozawa is being pursued over criminal responsibility for alleged accounting irregularities. Given the extreme gravity of the situation, we urge Ozawa to take responsibility as a politician.
　元秘書３人に加え、自らも刑事責任を問われる事態は、極めて重大だ。民主党の小沢一郎元代表には、政治家としてのけじめが求められよう。

Three court-appointed lawyers acting as prosecutors indicted Ozawa on Monday on charges of violating the Political Funds Control Law over false reporting of funds by his political funds management body, Rikuzan-kai, in connection with a land deal in Tokyo.
　小沢氏の資金管理団体「陸山会」の土地取引を巡る事件で、裁判所から検察官役に指定された弁護士が、小沢氏を政治資金規正法違反で強制起訴した。

The mandatory indictment came after an independent judicial panel of citizens determined twice that Ozawa should be indicted even though prosecutors had decided not to do so. Ozawa became the first lawmaker subjected to a mandatory indictment.
　検察の不起訴処分に対し、検察審査会が２度にわたり「起訴すべきだ」と議決したことによる。政治家の強制起訴は初めてだ。

The DPJ kingpin is charged with false reporting of political funds, having failed to list 400 million yen loaned to Rikuzan-kan to purchase a plot of land in Tokyo in its political funds report for 2004.
　小沢氏の起訴事実は、２００４年に陸山会が都内の土地を購入した際の原資の４億円を政治資金収支報告書に記載しないなど、虚偽の記載をしたというものだ。

In fact, Ozawa's former secretaries, including House of Representatives member Tomohiro Ishikawa, are the ones who are believed to have conducted false accounting procedures. However, the court-appointed lawyers argue that Ozawa can be charged with conspiring with his former secretaries because the aides are believed to have reported the illicit procedures to Ozawa in advance and received his approval.
　実際に会計処理をしたのは石川知裕衆院議員ら元秘書だが、小沢氏も事前に報告を受けて了承しており、共謀が成立する、というのが指定弁護士の主張である。

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Heavy moral responsibility
　◆道義的な責任は重い◆

In response, Ozawa insisted he was innocent and would fight the charges in court. "There's nothing I should feel guilty about," he told reporters after the mandatory indictment. He also denied any intention of leaving his party or resigning as a lawmaker, saying that he would continue to sincerely tackle his duties as a Diet member of the DPJ.
　これに対し、小沢氏は強制起訴後、「何一つやましいことはない」と記者団に語り、法廷で無実を主張し、争う方針を表明した。「引き続き民主党国会議員として誠心誠意取り組む」とも述べ、離党や議員辞職を否定した。

Moreover, Ozawa argued the mandatory indictment was made on criteria that are completely different from those used by prosecutors for ordinary indictments when they are fully convinced of a defendant's guilt.
　強制起訴について小沢氏は、「検察によって有罪の確信を持って行われる起訴とは全く異質なものだ」と主張した。

The statement was made based on his own logic that the presumption of innocence in criminal trials should be stronger in cases of mandatory indictment than in cases of ordinary indictment and that therefore he must be ensured more freedom in political activities than an ordinarily indicted defendant would be allowed.
　刑事裁判の「無罪推定の原則」が通常の起訴よりも強く働き、政治活動の自由がより保障されるべきだ、という独自の論法だ。

However, for an incumbent lawmaker to face trial is a situation freighted with heavy meaning. Will a criminal defendant be allowed to insidiously exert influence in a ruling party? Various opinion polls show most people have strong doubts on this point.
　しかし、現職の国会議員が法廷に立たされることは重い意味を持つ。刑事被告人が政権党の中で、隠然と影響力を行使することが果たして許されるのか。各種世論調査で、多くの国民は強い疑問を示している。

In Ozawa's particular case, Ishikawa and the two other former secretaries have been indicted on charges of violating the Political Funds Control Law. In this regard, Ozawa bears heavy political and moral responsibility.
　特に小沢氏の場合、石川議員を含む元秘書３人が政治資金規正法違反で起訴されている。その政治的かつ道義的な責任は重い。

Ishikawa left the DPJ after his indictment. Many people, both inside and outside the party, are calling on Ozawa to resign as a Diet member or voluntarily leave the party. "[Mr. Ozawa] must make clear his course of action as a politician," Prime Minister Naoto Kan has said.
　石川議員は起訴後、民主党を離党した。小沢氏についても、菅首相が「政治家としての出処進退を明らかにすべきだ」と語るなど、党内外には、議員辞職や自発的な離党を求める声が少なくない。

We believe it is high time for Ozawa to sincerely consider taking such political responsibility.
　小沢氏は、そうした政治的なけじめをつけることを真剣に検討すべき時ではないか。

Another problem is Ozawa's failure to fulfill his responsibility of explaining his stand on the political funding scandal in the Diet.
　小沢氏がこれまで、国会での説明責任を果たそうとしてこなかったことも、問題である。

Ozawa held a press conference late last year and expressed his intention to attend the lower house Deliberative Council on Political Ethics to provide explanations.
　小沢氏は昨年末、自ら記者会見し、衆院政治倫理審査会への出席を表明した。

Nevertheless, he has kept on putting off his attendance. He has set such preconditions as saying he would attend the ethics panel only if his attendance would help promote Diet deliberations because top priority must be placed on passing the budget through the Diet.
ところが、「予算成立が一番大事で、国会審議を促進するなら」といった条件を付け、出席を先送りし続けている。

In the end, he prioritized the logic of self-protection.
　結局、自己保身の論理を優先したということだ。

The DPJ leadership's handling of this matter has come into serious question.
　民主党執行部の対応も、厳しく問われている。

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Sworn testimony necessary
　◆証人喚問が欠かせない◆

Kan and DPJ Secretary General Katsuya Okada intended to have the political ethics panel vote before the ordinary Diet session convened to require Ozawa to appear before the panel. However, they were forced to abandon this plan due to resistance from pro-Ozawa party members and other factors.
　菅首相や岡田幹事長は、通常国会召集前の政倫審開催の議決を目指したが、小沢氏を支持する民主党議員らの抵抗などで、断念せざるを得なくなった。

Since its inauguration in June last year, the Kan administration has been trying to have Ozawa appear in the Diet to explain the political funding scandal. At a New Year's press conference, Kan expressed his determination to resolve politics-and-money problems this year.
　小沢氏の国会招致は昨年６月の菅政権発足以来の懸案だ。首相は今年の年頭記者会見でも、「政治とカネの問題にけじめをつける年にする」と明言している。

Nevertheless, the prime minister has failed to unify opinions within his party and has been unable to open the political ethics panel. This is yet another example of Kan's talking the talk but not walking the walk. This calls into question the administration's problem-solving ability.
　それなのに、党内の意思統一さえ図れず、政倫審を開けないようでは、まさに「有言不実行」である。政権としての問題解決能力に疑問符がつく。

As long as Ozawa does not heed his own party's wish for him to attend the political ethics panel, Kan should proactively have Ozawa appear in the Diet by summoning him as a sworn witness, as demanded by the opposition bloc. It would also be worth Kan's consideration to heavily punish Ozawa by, for example, telling him to leave the party.
　小沢氏が政倫審出席という民主党の方針に従わない以上、菅首相は、野党の要求する小沢氏の証人喚問に同意し、国会招致の実現に積極的に動くべきだ。小沢氏に対する離党勧告などの重い処分も、検討に値しよう。

The focus in the upcoming Ozawa trial will be testimony by witnesses including Ishikawa, who stated during police investigations that Ozawa was involved in the political funding irregularities. While prosecutors did not highly value Ishikawa's statement, saying it lacked substance, the committee for the inquest of prosecution attached importance to the statement, calling it reliable.
　小沢氏の公判の焦点は、捜査段階で小沢氏の関与を認めた石川議員らの供述調書の評価だ。検察は「具体性に欠ける」と評価しなかったが、検察審査会は「信用性がある」と、起訴議決の根拠として重視している。

However, Ishikawa is set to vigorously contest the voluntary nature and credibility of his own statements, insisting that investigators induced him to say certain things in questioning. Other secretaries may do the same.
　これに対し、石川議員らは「取り調べで誘導があった」と主張し、調書の任意性や信用性を徹底的に争う構えを見せている。

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Tell truth in court
　◆法廷で真実を語れ◆

The court-appointed lawyers acting as prosecutors in the trial will need to find and present circumstantial evidence to supplement their testimony.
　検察官役の指定弁護士は、供述を補強する状況証拠を積み重ね、示していく必要があろう。

Ozawa has repeatedly criticized the committee for the inquest of prosecution, claiming that it is covered by a veil of secrecy and describing it as an extraordinary system in a democratic society.
　小沢氏は、検察審査会について「秘密のベールに包まれ、民主主義国家の中で特異な制度だ」などと繰り返し批判している。

However, committee members receive advice from lawyers in making their decisions, and make judgments based on law and evidence. The three court-appointed lawyers in the Ozawa case spent three months undertaking supplementary investigations.
　だが、検察審査会は、審査補助員の弁護士の助言を受け、法と証拠に基づいて判断している。３人の指定弁護士も、３か月にわたり補充捜査を重ねてきた。

Ozawa criticized the committee without understanding the system's objectives, and we find his criticism has gone too far.
　小沢氏の批判は、検察審査会制度の趣旨を理解しないもので、行き過ぎだろう。

Ozawa's trial is expected to start in summer or later. Ozawa clearly stated that he would tell the truth in an open court until all the people in the country are convinced. He should sincerely put his words into practice.
　小沢氏の公判は、夏以降に始まると予想される。小沢氏は「公開の法廷で全国民が分かるまで真実を述べる」と明言した。その言葉を誠実に実行すべきだ。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 1, 2011)
（2011年2月1日01時19分 読売新聞）