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The Yomiuri Shimbun(Aug. 13, 2009)
Cyber attacks a threat to modern society
サイバー攻撃 ネット社会に深刻な脅威だ（8月13日付・読売社説）
Cyber attacks are a grave threat to the globe-spanning computer networks that underpin modern society and it is imperative that checks be made to ensure adequate countermeasures are in place to deal with potential problems in this country.
世界規模でネットワーク化が進んだ現代社会にとって、サイバー攻撃は大きな脅威だ。国内の対策は十分か、点検を怠るべきではない。
In early July, a spate of cyber attacks hit the Web sites of government organizations, banks and stock exchanges in the United States and South Korea.
米国と韓国で、政府機関や銀行、証券取引所などのウェブサイトが先月上旬、集中的なサイバー攻撃の標的となった。
Internet bots, which can remotely control the computers of unsuspecting users, were used to launch the attacks. Using such hijacked computers, the hackers simultaneously sent enormous volumes of data to particular Web sites, forcing them to shut down.
使われたのはボット・ウイルスだ。ボットに感染したコンピューターは外部から遠隔操作が可能になる。ハッカーは、乗っ取った多数のコンピューターから、大量のデータを標的のサイトに一斉に送りつけて機能まひに陥らせた。
The distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks in South Korea were compounded by the destruction of data, which meant it took many of the affected organizations a considerable time to restore their Web sites.
韓国では、この「ＤＤｏＳ（ディードス＝分散型サービス拒否）攻撃」のほかに、データが破壊される被害も重なって、サイトの復旧に時間がかかった。
===
North Korean involvement?
According to global information security experts, the attacks were launched from about 170,000 bot-infected computers in 74 countries. Though it is highly suspected that North Korea or pro-North Korean groups had a hand in the cyber offensives, it is difficult to conclusively identify the attackers.
各国の情報セキュリティー専門家の解析から、７４か国計１７万台のボット感染のコンピューターが攻撃に使われ、北朝鮮もしくは親北朝鮮勢力が関与した疑いが濃厚とみられている。ただ、具体的に特定することは困難という。
However, if North Korea was involved in the attacks in some form, it is likely that Japan will be targeted at some point in the future. We hope careful analyses of the U.S. and South Korean cases will help bolster domestic countermeasures against such attacks.
仮に北朝鮮が何らかの形で関与していたのなら、日本がいつ標的になるとも限らない。米韓の事例を詳細に分析し、国内対策に役立てるようにしてほしい。
As exemplified by these recent events, government Web sites are the prime targets for cyber assaults.
米韓のケースをみてもわかる通り、政府系のウェブサイトは真っ先に攻撃対象となる。
While government Web sites are becoming increasingly convenient for the public--such as by allowing people to file income tax returns online, among other tasks--the fact that anyone can access these networks leaves such computer systems vulnerable to cyber attacks.
政府系サイトは、確定申告をはじめオンライン申請できるなど利便性が向上している反面、ネットワークを通じて誰でも接続できるため、サイバー攻撃のリスクがつきまとう。
At the end of July, the Education, Science and Technology Ministry's Web site was tampered with by an unidentified person or group. As a result, it was possible to access with a single click a Web site written in Chinese. Although no real damage was confirmed, this was typical of the kind of malicious behavior that drives hackers to send out computer-infecting bots.
先月末には、文部科学省のサイトが何者かに改竄(かいざん)された。クリックすると、中国語のサイトにつながる状態になっていた。実害は確認されていないが、ボット感染させる典型的な手口だ。
We hope the government, led primarily by the Cabinet Secretariat's National Information Security Center, will closely monitor the situation and take the requisite steps to ensure security is given high priority.
内閣官房情報セキュリティセンターを中心に、監視の目が十分行き届くようにしてもらいたい。
===
Vigilance required
In terms of countermeasures, individuals, too, also have an important role to play. It has been confirmed that many Japan-based computers were unknowingly involved in the recent digital bombardment of U.S. and South Korean Web sites. According to a government estimate, there are about 300,000 bot-infected computers in Japan.
個々人の対策も欠かせない。米韓でのサイバー攻撃では、日本国内のパソコンも多数利用されたことが確認済みだ。政府の推計では、ボット感染している日本国内のパソコンは３０万台にのぼる。
The most important single step that users can take to protect their computers is to install antivirus software and make sure that it always runs the latest version. Running an up-to-date operating system, such as Windows, also is an effective countermeasure. The Web site of the government-operated Cyber Clean Center offers users a free check to learn whether their computers are infected with bots.
基本はウイルス対策ソフトを組み込み、常に最新版に更新しておくことだ。ウィンドウズなど基本ソフトの更新も必要だ。政府が運営する「サイバークリーンセンター」のホームページでは、ボット感染の自己チェックもできる。
Let us hope we can all avoid becoming unwitting accomplices in bot-based cyber attacks.
知らぬ間にボット感染し、サイバー攻撃の片棒を担がされることのないようにしたい。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 13, 2009)
（2009年8月13日01時09分 読売新聞）
Cyber attacks a threat to modern society
サイバー攻撃 ネット社会に深刻な脅威だ（8月13日付・読売社説）
Cyber attacks are a grave threat to the globe-spanning computer networks that underpin modern society and it is imperative that checks be made to ensure adequate countermeasures are in place to deal with potential problems in this country.
世界規模でネットワーク化が進んだ現代社会にとって、サイバー攻撃は大きな脅威だ。国内の対策は十分か、点検を怠るべきではない。
In early July, a spate of cyber attacks hit the Web sites of government organizations, banks and stock exchanges in the United States and South Korea.
米国と韓国で、政府機関や銀行、証券取引所などのウェブサイトが先月上旬、集中的なサイバー攻撃の標的となった。
Internet bots, which can remotely control the computers of unsuspecting users, were used to launch the attacks. Using such hijacked computers, the hackers simultaneously sent enormous volumes of data to particular Web sites, forcing them to shut down.
使われたのはボット・ウイルスだ。ボットに感染したコンピューターは外部から遠隔操作が可能になる。ハッカーは、乗っ取った多数のコンピューターから、大量のデータを標的のサイトに一斉に送りつけて機能まひに陥らせた。
The distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks in South Korea were compounded by the destruction of data, which meant it took many of the affected organizations a considerable time to restore their Web sites.
韓国では、この「ＤＤｏＳ（ディードス＝分散型サービス拒否）攻撃」のほかに、データが破壊される被害も重なって、サイトの復旧に時間がかかった。
===
North Korean involvement?
According to global information security experts, the attacks were launched from about 170,000 bot-infected computers in 74 countries. Though it is highly suspected that North Korea or pro-North Korean groups had a hand in the cyber offensives, it is difficult to conclusively identify the attackers.
各国の情報セキュリティー専門家の解析から、７４か国計１７万台のボット感染のコンピューターが攻撃に使われ、北朝鮮もしくは親北朝鮮勢力が関与した疑いが濃厚とみられている。ただ、具体的に特定することは困難という。
However, if North Korea was involved in the attacks in some form, it is likely that Japan will be targeted at some point in the future. We hope careful analyses of the U.S. and South Korean cases will help bolster domestic countermeasures against such attacks.
仮に北朝鮮が何らかの形で関与していたのなら、日本がいつ標的になるとも限らない。米韓の事例を詳細に分析し、国内対策に役立てるようにしてほしい。
As exemplified by these recent events, government Web sites are the prime targets for cyber assaults.
米韓のケースをみてもわかる通り、政府系のウェブサイトは真っ先に攻撃対象となる。
While government Web sites are becoming increasingly convenient for the public--such as by allowing people to file income tax returns online, among other tasks--the fact that anyone can access these networks leaves such computer systems vulnerable to cyber attacks.
政府系サイトは、確定申告をはじめオンライン申請できるなど利便性が向上している反面、ネットワークを通じて誰でも接続できるため、サイバー攻撃のリスクがつきまとう。
At the end of July, the Education, Science and Technology Ministry's Web site was tampered with by an unidentified person or group. As a result, it was possible to access with a single click a Web site written in Chinese. Although no real damage was confirmed, this was typical of the kind of malicious behavior that drives hackers to send out computer-infecting bots.
先月末には、文部科学省のサイトが何者かに改竄(かいざん)された。クリックすると、中国語のサイトにつながる状態になっていた。実害は確認されていないが、ボット感染させる典型的な手口だ。
We hope the government, led primarily by the Cabinet Secretariat's National Information Security Center, will closely monitor the situation and take the requisite steps to ensure security is given high priority.
内閣官房情報セキュリティセンターを中心に、監視の目が十分行き届くようにしてもらいたい。
===
Vigilance required
In terms of countermeasures, individuals, too, also have an important role to play. It has been confirmed that many Japan-based computers were unknowingly involved in the recent digital bombardment of U.S. and South Korean Web sites. According to a government estimate, there are about 300,000 bot-infected computers in Japan.
個々人の対策も欠かせない。米韓でのサイバー攻撃では、日本国内のパソコンも多数利用されたことが確認済みだ。政府の推計では、ボット感染している日本国内のパソコンは３０万台にのぼる。
The most important single step that users can take to protect their computers is to install antivirus software and make sure that it always runs the latest version. Running an up-to-date operating system, such as Windows, also is an effective countermeasure. The Web site of the government-operated Cyber Clean Center offers users a free check to learn whether their computers are infected with bots.
基本はウイルス対策ソフトを組み込み、常に最新版に更新しておくことだ。ウィンドウズなど基本ソフトの更新も必要だ。政府が運営する「サイバークリーンセンター」のホームページでは、ボット感染の自己チェックもできる。
Let us hope we can all avoid becoming unwitting accomplices in bot-based cyber attacks.
知らぬ間にボット感染し、サイバー攻撃の片棒を担がされることのないようにしたい。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 13, 2009)
（2009年8月13日01時09分 読売新聞）
PR
The Yomiuri Shimbun(Aug. 12, 2009)
Sound preparations a must for disasters
災害列島 避難準備と救援体制は万全に（8月12日付・読売社説）
The combination of a typhoon and an earthquake reminds us afresh that Japan is an archipelago of disasters.
日本は災害列島、と改めて思い知らされた。
First, heavy rains associated with Typhoon No. 9 hit various places in western Japan. As the typhoon moved east, an earthquake with an intensity of lower 6 on the Japanese scale of 7 occurred in the Tokai region, which fell in the path of the typhoon, with its focus under Suruga Bay off Shizuoka Prefecture.
まず、台風９号に伴う豪雨が西日本の各地を襲った。この台風が東へ向かうと、今度は、進路に当たる東海地方で、最大震度６弱の静岡沖地震が起きた。
It was found that Tuesday's quake was not related to the much-feared expected major Tokai earthquake. However, the damages done by the two disasters are serious. We hope the central and local governments involved do their best in rescue and restoration efforts.
当初懸念された巨大地震「東海地震」との関連はない、と判明したが、どちらも被害は深刻だ。政府と関係自治体は、救援と復旧に全力を挙げてもらいたい。
The heavy rains caused flooding of rivers and landslides in many places. The number of people dead or missing reached 30 in Hyogo Prefecture and surrounding areas. Many houses were buried by landslides.
豪雨では、各地で河川が増水し土砂崩れが起きた。死者、不明者は兵庫県などで２７人に達する。土砂で埋まった住宅も多い。
In the Shizuoka Prefecture earthquake, a violent tremor of lower 6 in intensity was recorded in several cities in the prefecture. Many injuries were reported, both minor and serious, including people hurt in neighboring Kanagawa and Aichi prefectures as well as Tokyo.
静岡沖地震では、静岡県で震度６弱の激しい揺れが記録され、隣接の神奈川県を含め、多くの人が重軽傷を負った。
===
Complex disaster
As rainfall from Typhoon No. 9 before the quake made the ground loose, the quake caused landslides in several places, apparently broadening and combining the impact of the two disasters.
地震前から台風９号による降雨があり、緩んだ地盤が各所で崩れる「複合災害」も起きた。
In particular, the collapse of part of the Tomei Expressway in Shizuoka Prefecture is expected to seriously affect the nation's distribution system.
特に静岡県内の東名高速道路での路面崩落は、物流への影響が大きい。
A 100-meter section of the expressway, dubbed the "aorta of transportation," which connects eastern and western Japan, was destroyed. The road should be repaired as soon as possible to allow traffic to begin to flow once more.
東西を結んでいる「交通の大動脈」が、約１００メートルにわたって壊れた。早急に修理して、通行を再開させねばならない。
Typhoon season is just getting started. A huge earthquake could occur anywhere. While work on rescue and relief efforts is vital, it also is important to check whether preparations for natural disasters are sufficient.
台風シーズンはこれからが本番だ。大きな地震も、いつ、どこで起きるか分からない。救援と復旧作業の一方で、災害への備えは大丈夫か、点検も大切だ。
Our concern is the current state of evacuation arrangements prepared in case of flooding and landslides. In Hyogo Prefecture, there were those who were swept away by the flooded river while evacuating in anticipation of the river rising. In addition, the evacuation took place at night.
とりわけ気がかりなのが、河川の増水や土砂崩れに備えた避難体制の現状だ。兵庫県では、増水に備えて避難中に、水位が上がった川に流された人がいる。しかも夜間の避難だったという。
In western Japan, large-scale landslides caused by heavy rains occurred last month, killing 30 people in Yamaguchi Prefecture and other places. At that time, too, problems concerning the evacuation arrangement were pointed out.
西日本では先月も、豪雨による大規模な土砂崩れが起き、山口県などで３０人が亡くなっている。この時も、避難体制について課題が指摘された。
The government in 2005 compiled guidelines on evacuation in natural disasters and called on municipalities throughout the nation to streamline evacuation procedures. The government took the move in light of frequent disasters caused by heavy rains the previous year that left more than 200 people dead.
政府は２００５年に「避難に関するガイドライン」をまとめ、全国の市町村に体制整備を呼びかけている。その前年に豪雨災害が多発し、２００人以上の犠牲者が出たことを踏まえている。
===
Guidelines poorly observed
The guidelines stipulate that places where the danger of flooding and landslides is high must be identified. Based on the data, a hazard map must be made marking areas where damage is expected. Conditions under which residents will be asked to evacuate have to be decided in advance, taking into consideration the amount and rate of rise in river water levels and amount of rainfall, according to the guidelines.
まず、増水や土砂崩れの危険がある場所を洗い出す。これに基づき、被害が及びそうな地域を地図化する。その上で、河川の水位や降雨量をもとに、住民に避難を呼びかける「基準」をあらかじめ定めておく、という内容だ。
However, according to the results of a survey by the Fire and Disaster Management Agency announced this spring, only about 40 percent of cities, towns and villages in the country have set such evacuation criteria. Similarly, about 40 percent of municipalities have prepared text messages to tell residents how to evacuate, according to the survey.
だが、消防庁が今春公表した調査結果によると、この「基準」を定めている市町村は、全国で４割程度しかない。避難方法を住民に伝える文章を用意している市町村も、同程度にとどまる。
The Meteorological Agency says the incidence of heavy rainfalls in a year has been increasing in recent years. We should spare no pains in making a reality of the old Japanese adage that "If you are prepared, you don't have to worry."
気象庁によると、豪雨の発生回数は近年、増加している。備えあれば憂いなし、を徹底したい。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 12, 2009)
（2009年8月12日01時37分 読売新聞）
Sound preparations a must for disasters
災害列島 避難準備と救援体制は万全に（8月12日付・読売社説）
The combination of a typhoon and an earthquake reminds us afresh that Japan is an archipelago of disasters.
日本は災害列島、と改めて思い知らされた。
First, heavy rains associated with Typhoon No. 9 hit various places in western Japan. As the typhoon moved east, an earthquake with an intensity of lower 6 on the Japanese scale of 7 occurred in the Tokai region, which fell in the path of the typhoon, with its focus under Suruga Bay off Shizuoka Prefecture.
まず、台風９号に伴う豪雨が西日本の各地を襲った。この台風が東へ向かうと、今度は、進路に当たる東海地方で、最大震度６弱の静岡沖地震が起きた。
It was found that Tuesday's quake was not related to the much-feared expected major Tokai earthquake. However, the damages done by the two disasters are serious. We hope the central and local governments involved do their best in rescue and restoration efforts.
当初懸念された巨大地震「東海地震」との関連はない、と判明したが、どちらも被害は深刻だ。政府と関係自治体は、救援と復旧に全力を挙げてもらいたい。
The heavy rains caused flooding of rivers and landslides in many places. The number of people dead or missing reached 30 in Hyogo Prefecture and surrounding areas. Many houses were buried by landslides.
豪雨では、各地で河川が増水し土砂崩れが起きた。死者、不明者は兵庫県などで２７人に達する。土砂で埋まった住宅も多い。
In the Shizuoka Prefecture earthquake, a violent tremor of lower 6 in intensity was recorded in several cities in the prefecture. Many injuries were reported, both minor and serious, including people hurt in neighboring Kanagawa and Aichi prefectures as well as Tokyo.
静岡沖地震では、静岡県で震度６弱の激しい揺れが記録され、隣接の神奈川県を含め、多くの人が重軽傷を負った。
===
Complex disaster
As rainfall from Typhoon No. 9 before the quake made the ground loose, the quake caused landslides in several places, apparently broadening and combining the impact of the two disasters.
地震前から台風９号による降雨があり、緩んだ地盤が各所で崩れる「複合災害」も起きた。
In particular, the collapse of part of the Tomei Expressway in Shizuoka Prefecture is expected to seriously affect the nation's distribution system.
特に静岡県内の東名高速道路での路面崩落は、物流への影響が大きい。
A 100-meter section of the expressway, dubbed the "aorta of transportation," which connects eastern and western Japan, was destroyed. The road should be repaired as soon as possible to allow traffic to begin to flow once more.
東西を結んでいる「交通の大動脈」が、約１００メートルにわたって壊れた。早急に修理して、通行を再開させねばならない。
Typhoon season is just getting started. A huge earthquake could occur anywhere. While work on rescue and relief efforts is vital, it also is important to check whether preparations for natural disasters are sufficient.
台風シーズンはこれからが本番だ。大きな地震も、いつ、どこで起きるか分からない。救援と復旧作業の一方で、災害への備えは大丈夫か、点検も大切だ。
Our concern is the current state of evacuation arrangements prepared in case of flooding and landslides. In Hyogo Prefecture, there were those who were swept away by the flooded river while evacuating in anticipation of the river rising. In addition, the evacuation took place at night.
とりわけ気がかりなのが、河川の増水や土砂崩れに備えた避難体制の現状だ。兵庫県では、増水に備えて避難中に、水位が上がった川に流された人がいる。しかも夜間の避難だったという。
In western Japan, large-scale landslides caused by heavy rains occurred last month, killing 30 people in Yamaguchi Prefecture and other places. At that time, too, problems concerning the evacuation arrangement were pointed out.
西日本では先月も、豪雨による大規模な土砂崩れが起き、山口県などで３０人が亡くなっている。この時も、避難体制について課題が指摘された。
The government in 2005 compiled guidelines on evacuation in natural disasters and called on municipalities throughout the nation to streamline evacuation procedures. The government took the move in light of frequent disasters caused by heavy rains the previous year that left more than 200 people dead.
政府は２００５年に「避難に関するガイドライン」をまとめ、全国の市町村に体制整備を呼びかけている。その前年に豪雨災害が多発し、２００人以上の犠牲者が出たことを踏まえている。
===
Guidelines poorly observed
The guidelines stipulate that places where the danger of flooding and landslides is high must be identified. Based on the data, a hazard map must be made marking areas where damage is expected. Conditions under which residents will be asked to evacuate have to be decided in advance, taking into consideration the amount and rate of rise in river water levels and amount of rainfall, according to the guidelines.
まず、増水や土砂崩れの危険がある場所を洗い出す。これに基づき、被害が及びそうな地域を地図化する。その上で、河川の水位や降雨量をもとに、住民に避難を呼びかける「基準」をあらかじめ定めておく、という内容だ。
However, according to the results of a survey by the Fire and Disaster Management Agency announced this spring, only about 40 percent of cities, towns and villages in the country have set such evacuation criteria. Similarly, about 40 percent of municipalities have prepared text messages to tell residents how to evacuate, according to the survey.
だが、消防庁が今春公表した調査結果によると、この「基準」を定めている市町村は、全国で４割程度しかない。避難方法を住民に伝える文章を用意している市町村も、同程度にとどまる。
The Meteorological Agency says the incidence of heavy rainfalls in a year has been increasing in recent years. We should spare no pains in making a reality of the old Japanese adage that "If you are prepared, you don't have to worry."
気象庁によると、豪雨の発生回数は近年、増加している。備えあれば憂いなし、を徹底したい。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 12, 2009)
（2009年8月12日01時37分 読売新聞）
The Yomiuri Shimbun(Aug. 11, 2009)
Develop immunity to remittance frauds
警察白書 国民の「抵抗力」が被害を防ぐ（8月11日付・読売社説）
This year's white paper on police published by the National Police Agency has a special section titled "Measures against crimes that threaten people's daily lives."
今年の警察白書は「日常生活を脅かす犯罪」を特集した。
As examples of such crimes, it mentions bank remittance fraud and vicious business scams. It details current police measures against remittance fraud and lists related problems to be tackled.
具体例として、振り込め詐欺や悪徳商法などを挙げ、特に振り込め詐欺について、警察の取り組みや今後の課題を詳述している。
The total number of criminal offense cases has been decreasing in recent years after peaking in 2002. But the white paper points out that the spread of such crimes is "one of the factors preventing people's uneasiness about public security from being allayed."
刑法犯罪の全体の件数は２００２年をピークに減少している。それでも「治安に対する国民の不安がぬぐえない要因の一つ」に、これらの犯罪の広がりがあると白書は指摘する。
If the current economic slump prolongs, new types of crimes that threaten people's daily lives may proliferate.
経済不況が長引けば、日常生活を脅かす新手の犯罪が次々と増殖する恐れがあるだろう。
The police white paper emphasizes that it is important to enhance people's understanding and cooperation when it comes to fighting crime, such as by encouraging members of the public to provide information to police, and to boost people's crime-prevention capability. Indeed, preventing remittance fraud is not something that can be accomplished by police alone.
白書は、被害防止には情報提供などの「国民の理解と協力」、犯罪に対する「国民の抵抗力」を高めていくことが重要だと強調している。まさに、警察だけで解決できる問題ではない。
===
Various ploys used
There are a variety of ploys used in the commission of remittance fraud, including the "It's me" type, in which offenders pretend to be a son or grandchild of the targeted victim, and the refund type, in which offenders pass themselves off as workers at social insurance and tax offices.
息子や孫などを装うオレオレ詐欺、社会保険事務所や税務署の職員を名乗る還付金詐欺など、振り込め詐欺の手口は様々だ。
People across the country have been victimized. In many cases, money remitted to criminals is withdrawn from ATMs in the Tokyo metropolitan area. The bank accounts and cell phones used in the crimes belong to third parties or fictitious people.
被害は全国に及ぶが、被害金の多くは首都圏の現金自動預け払い機（ＡＴＭ）で引き出される。犯行に使われる預貯金口座と携帯電話は他人名義や架空名義だ。
The criminals in the groups that run the scams perform different tasks, and it is not easy to gain a clear picture of how the frauds are perpetrated. For instance, a group might consist of a person who dupes victims, one who obtains bank accounts and cell phones, and another who withdraws swindled money. The ratio of arrests to cases of remittance fraud remains slightly more than 20 percent.
犯行グループは、だまし役、預貯金口座や携帯電話の調達役、詐取した金の引き出し役など役割分担し、全容を見せない。検挙率も２割強にとどまっている。
The NPA has been making efforts to combat such crimes, with police forces nationwide alerted to take countermeasures. For instance, it has inputted the modus operandi of all reported remittance fraud cases into a database that can be used in investigations. It also has deployed a special full-time investigation force comprising investigators from the Metropolitan Police Department and prefectural police headquarters in the metropolitan area.
警察庁は犯行手口をデータベース化して捜査に活用し、都道府県警察の捜査員による専従班を首都圏に投入するなど、全国警察を挙げた取り組みを展開してきた。
These were necessary responses to fight a crime that is a threat to people all over the country.
全国的に脅威となっている犯罪に対しては、必要な対応であった。
===
Cat-and-mouse game continues
After banks limited the amount of cash that may be transferred via ATM to 100,000 yen, cases of money being remitted between accounts increased. Offenders began using a special postal package service to receive money instead of ATMs, which are subject to heightened security measures to counter remittance fraud.
ＡＴＭによる現金の振り込みを１０万円までに制限したら、口座間送金をさせる手口が増加した。警戒の強いＡＴＭを避けて、郵便の専用封筒で私設私書箱あてに現金を送らせる手口が増えてきた。
Police will have to continue their cat-and-mouse game with these wily offenders. To prevent new scams from being devised, it is crucial to prevent criminals from using and coming up with new ways to foil police, including revising related laws and creating new ones.
犯罪者の悪知恵とのいたちごっこが続く。新たな手口には、法整備を含めて、確実に抜け道をふさいでいくことが大事だ。
What can be done to prevent bank accounts, ATMs and cell phones from being used in crimes? Financial institutions and cell phone service operators should think seriously about measures to solve this problem.
預貯金口座やＡＴＭ、携帯電話を、いかに犯罪に利用されないようにするか。金融機関や携帯電話事業者も真剣に対応すべきだ。
The need for cooperation among agencies and ministries concerned--including the Financial Services Agency, the Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry and the consumer affairs agency that is to be launched as early as autumn--is also increasingly evident.
金融庁、総務省、秋にも発足予定の消費者庁など、関係省庁間の連携の必要性も増している。
In its conclusion, the white paper describes the importance of reviving solidarity among people in communities as well as bonds among family members, which are weaker than they used to be, so society as a whole can combat crime.
白書は最後に、希薄化した地域の連帯や家族の絆(きずな)を再生し、社会全体で犯罪に立ち向かうことの重要さに言及している。
What should we do to prevent criminals from cheating us? Steady efforts by individual communities are also now required to combat crime.
どうすれば犯罪者につけ入るすきを与えないか。地域ごとの地道な取り組みも求められている。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 11, 2009)
（2009年8月11日01時07分 読売新聞）
Develop immunity to remittance frauds
警察白書 国民の「抵抗力」が被害を防ぐ（8月11日付・読売社説）
This year's white paper on police published by the National Police Agency has a special section titled "Measures against crimes that threaten people's daily lives."
今年の警察白書は「日常生活を脅かす犯罪」を特集した。
As examples of such crimes, it mentions bank remittance fraud and vicious business scams. It details current police measures against remittance fraud and lists related problems to be tackled.
具体例として、振り込め詐欺や悪徳商法などを挙げ、特に振り込め詐欺について、警察の取り組みや今後の課題を詳述している。
The total number of criminal offense cases has been decreasing in recent years after peaking in 2002. But the white paper points out that the spread of such crimes is "one of the factors preventing people's uneasiness about public security from being allayed."
刑法犯罪の全体の件数は２００２年をピークに減少している。それでも「治安に対する国民の不安がぬぐえない要因の一つ」に、これらの犯罪の広がりがあると白書は指摘する。
If the current economic slump prolongs, new types of crimes that threaten people's daily lives may proliferate.
経済不況が長引けば、日常生活を脅かす新手の犯罪が次々と増殖する恐れがあるだろう。
The police white paper emphasizes that it is important to enhance people's understanding and cooperation when it comes to fighting crime, such as by encouraging members of the public to provide information to police, and to boost people's crime-prevention capability. Indeed, preventing remittance fraud is not something that can be accomplished by police alone.
白書は、被害防止には情報提供などの「国民の理解と協力」、犯罪に対する「国民の抵抗力」を高めていくことが重要だと強調している。まさに、警察だけで解決できる問題ではない。
===
Various ploys used
There are a variety of ploys used in the commission of remittance fraud, including the "It's me" type, in which offenders pretend to be a son or grandchild of the targeted victim, and the refund type, in which offenders pass themselves off as workers at social insurance and tax offices.
息子や孫などを装うオレオレ詐欺、社会保険事務所や税務署の職員を名乗る還付金詐欺など、振り込め詐欺の手口は様々だ。
People across the country have been victimized. In many cases, money remitted to criminals is withdrawn from ATMs in the Tokyo metropolitan area. The bank accounts and cell phones used in the crimes belong to third parties or fictitious people.
被害は全国に及ぶが、被害金の多くは首都圏の現金自動預け払い機（ＡＴＭ）で引き出される。犯行に使われる預貯金口座と携帯電話は他人名義や架空名義だ。
The criminals in the groups that run the scams perform different tasks, and it is not easy to gain a clear picture of how the frauds are perpetrated. For instance, a group might consist of a person who dupes victims, one who obtains bank accounts and cell phones, and another who withdraws swindled money. The ratio of arrests to cases of remittance fraud remains slightly more than 20 percent.
犯行グループは、だまし役、預貯金口座や携帯電話の調達役、詐取した金の引き出し役など役割分担し、全容を見せない。検挙率も２割強にとどまっている。
The NPA has been making efforts to combat such crimes, with police forces nationwide alerted to take countermeasures. For instance, it has inputted the modus operandi of all reported remittance fraud cases into a database that can be used in investigations. It also has deployed a special full-time investigation force comprising investigators from the Metropolitan Police Department and prefectural police headquarters in the metropolitan area.
警察庁は犯行手口をデータベース化して捜査に活用し、都道府県警察の捜査員による専従班を首都圏に投入するなど、全国警察を挙げた取り組みを展開してきた。
These were necessary responses to fight a crime that is a threat to people all over the country.
全国的に脅威となっている犯罪に対しては、必要な対応であった。
===
Cat-and-mouse game continues
After banks limited the amount of cash that may be transferred via ATM to 100,000 yen, cases of money being remitted between accounts increased. Offenders began using a special postal package service to receive money instead of ATMs, which are subject to heightened security measures to counter remittance fraud.
ＡＴＭによる現金の振り込みを１０万円までに制限したら、口座間送金をさせる手口が増加した。警戒の強いＡＴＭを避けて、郵便の専用封筒で私設私書箱あてに現金を送らせる手口が増えてきた。
Police will have to continue their cat-and-mouse game with these wily offenders. To prevent new scams from being devised, it is crucial to prevent criminals from using and coming up with new ways to foil police, including revising related laws and creating new ones.
犯罪者の悪知恵とのいたちごっこが続く。新たな手口には、法整備を含めて、確実に抜け道をふさいでいくことが大事だ。
What can be done to prevent bank accounts, ATMs and cell phones from being used in crimes? Financial institutions and cell phone service operators should think seriously about measures to solve this problem.
預貯金口座やＡＴＭ、携帯電話を、いかに犯罪に利用されないようにするか。金融機関や携帯電話事業者も真剣に対応すべきだ。
The need for cooperation among agencies and ministries concerned--including the Financial Services Agency, the Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry and the consumer affairs agency that is to be launched as early as autumn--is also increasingly evident.
金融庁、総務省、秋にも発足予定の消費者庁など、関係省庁間の連携の必要性も増している。
In its conclusion, the white paper describes the importance of reviving solidarity among people in communities as well as bonds among family members, which are weaker than they used to be, so society as a whole can combat crime.
白書は最後に、希薄化した地域の連帯や家族の絆(きずな)を再生し、社会全体で犯罪に立ち向かうことの重要さに言及している。
What should we do to prevent criminals from cheating us? Steady efforts by individual communities are also now required to combat crime.
どうすれば犯罪者につけ入るすきを与えないか。地域ごとの地道な取り組みも求められている。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 11, 2009)
（2009年8月11日01時07分 読売新聞）
The Yomiuri Shimbun(Aug. 10, 2009)
Parties' cultural policies a focus in election
「アニメの殿堂」 文化政策のあり方を問え（8月10日付・読売社説）
The Democratic Party of Japan is fiercely opposed to a government plan to build a national popular culture center, dubbed the "anime hall of fame," arguing that it would be a wasteful use of the state budget.
「アニメの殿堂」とも呼ばれる国立メディア芸術総合センターの建設計画について、民主党が予算の無駄遣いだと強く反発している。
The Diet passed in an ordinary Diet session a supplementary budget that included 11.7 billion yen for the construction of the comprehensive media arts center. But the DPJ intends to cancel the plan if it takes power after the upcoming House of Representatives election.
１１７億円のセンター建設費を盛り込んだ補正予算が先の通常国会で成立したが、民主党は政権に就いた場合、センター建設を凍結する方針だ。
The issue is more than a disagreement over whether such a center per se should be built--it also highlights each party's policy stance on cultural affairs.
一文化施設の建設の是非をめぐる対立ではあるが、文化政策のあり方が問われているということでもあろう。
We hope, taking this opportunity, that political parties will have active discussions on the issue of cultural affairs.
この機会に、各党で大いに論じ合ってほしい。
The envisaged center is expected to serve as a base for disseminating information on manga, anime and game software to people at home and abroad. Planned projects at the center include the exhibition, collection and preservation of such works, research into pop culture and the nurturing of pop culture creators.
メディア芸術総合センターは、マンガやアニメ、ゲームなどを内外に発信していく拠点として計画されている。作品の展示、収集保存、調査研究、クリエイターの育成などの事業に取り組む予定だ。
Tokyo's Daiba area was at one point considered for the site for the planned facility, but the government now reportedly will have to work from scratch to decide on the location.
東京・お台場に新施設を建設することも一時検討されたが、現在立地については白紙の状態だ。
===
'Manga kissa' jibe misplaced
The DPJ has condemned the planned center, saying it would be a "state-run manga kissa [cafe]." This kind of stance will only foster misunderstanding about the project.
民主党は「国営マンガ喫茶」と揶揄(やゆ)しているが、これでは誤解が広がるばかりだろう。
It is an important task for the government to actively support the production and publicizing of works in this area, which has gained international recognition. A particularly big challenge will be collecting pop culture works, which are said to be widely dispersed.
国際的評価も高いこの分野の作品の製作や発信を、国が積極的に支援することは大切なことだ。とりわけ、散逸する作品の収集は大きな課題となっている。
The point is to create a facility that matches the purposes for which it is built without wasting taxpayers money.
要は、税金の無駄遣いにならないよう、目的にきちんと見合った施設を造ることだ。
It also is important to have cooperation with other facilities across the nation, such as the Kyoto International Manga Museum, set up by a group of entities including Kyoto Seika University.
京都精華大学などが設立した京都国際マンガミュージアムなど、各地の施設との連携も必要だ。
Consideration should also be given to the idea of using existing buildings that could be renovated without necessarily sticking to the idea of constructing a new facility.
新しい施設の建設にはこだわらず、既存の建造物を改修して利用する方向も探るべきだろう。
===
Arts a broad field
The Association for Corporate Support of the Arts, comprising companies engaged in cultural support activities, polled political parties about their policies on cultural affairs ahead of the general election.
文化活動に取り組む企業で組織する企業メセナ協議会は、総選挙を前に各党の文化政策についてアンケート調査を実施している。
In its reply to the questionnaire, the Liberal Democratic Party said promotion of culture and arts is a basic plank of its national strategy, and that culture-related budgets need to be drastically increased.
自民党は、文化芸術の振興を国家戦略の基本と位置づけ、文化関係予算の大幅な拡充が必要との考えを示した。
The DPJ, for its part, said it wants to transform the conventional cultural policy centered on construction of facilities into one that makes use of human resources. The party also said it would carefully study culture-related spending in the past and compare it with the situation in the other countries before deciding the scale of its budget for the arts.
民主党は、従来のハコモノ中心の行政を改め人材を生かす文化政策に転換したいとした。予算規模については、過去の予算を精査して、諸外国の状況とも照らし検討すると慎重な姿勢を見せた。
These differences in opinion seem to be reflected in the two parties' positions toward the media arts center project.
こうした発想の違いが、メディア芸術総合センターへの姿勢にも反映されているのだろう。
Cultural administration covers a broad range of issues, including the transmission of traditional culture and the development of cities' cultural assets by taking advantage of their historic landscapes and buildings. We hope political parties will deepen their discussions on cultural policy and come up with concrete policy proposals on the arts.
文化行政の課題は、伝統文化の継承や、地域の景観や歴史的建造物を生かした文化の街づくりなど多岐にわたっている。政党レベルでも議論を深め、具体的政策を提示していってほしい。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 10, 2009)
（2009年8月10日01時11分 読売新聞）
Parties' cultural policies a focus in election
「アニメの殿堂」 文化政策のあり方を問え（8月10日付・読売社説）
The Democratic Party of Japan is fiercely opposed to a government plan to build a national popular culture center, dubbed the "anime hall of fame," arguing that it would be a wasteful use of the state budget.
「アニメの殿堂」とも呼ばれる国立メディア芸術総合センターの建設計画について、民主党が予算の無駄遣いだと強く反発している。
The Diet passed in an ordinary Diet session a supplementary budget that included 11.7 billion yen for the construction of the comprehensive media arts center. But the DPJ intends to cancel the plan if it takes power after the upcoming House of Representatives election.
１１７億円のセンター建設費を盛り込んだ補正予算が先の通常国会で成立したが、民主党は政権に就いた場合、センター建設を凍結する方針だ。
The issue is more than a disagreement over whether such a center per se should be built--it also highlights each party's policy stance on cultural affairs.
一文化施設の建設の是非をめぐる対立ではあるが、文化政策のあり方が問われているということでもあろう。
We hope, taking this opportunity, that political parties will have active discussions on the issue of cultural affairs.
この機会に、各党で大いに論じ合ってほしい。
The envisaged center is expected to serve as a base for disseminating information on manga, anime and game software to people at home and abroad. Planned projects at the center include the exhibition, collection and preservation of such works, research into pop culture and the nurturing of pop culture creators.
メディア芸術総合センターは、マンガやアニメ、ゲームなどを内外に発信していく拠点として計画されている。作品の展示、収集保存、調査研究、クリエイターの育成などの事業に取り組む予定だ。
Tokyo's Daiba area was at one point considered for the site for the planned facility, but the government now reportedly will have to work from scratch to decide on the location.
東京・お台場に新施設を建設することも一時検討されたが、現在立地については白紙の状態だ。
===
'Manga kissa' jibe misplaced
The DPJ has condemned the planned center, saying it would be a "state-run manga kissa [cafe]." This kind of stance will only foster misunderstanding about the project.
民主党は「国営マンガ喫茶」と揶揄(やゆ)しているが、これでは誤解が広がるばかりだろう。
It is an important task for the government to actively support the production and publicizing of works in this area, which has gained international recognition. A particularly big challenge will be collecting pop culture works, which are said to be widely dispersed.
国際的評価も高いこの分野の作品の製作や発信を、国が積極的に支援することは大切なことだ。とりわけ、散逸する作品の収集は大きな課題となっている。
The point is to create a facility that matches the purposes for which it is built without wasting taxpayers money.
要は、税金の無駄遣いにならないよう、目的にきちんと見合った施設を造ることだ。
It also is important to have cooperation with other facilities across the nation, such as the Kyoto International Manga Museum, set up by a group of entities including Kyoto Seika University.
京都精華大学などが設立した京都国際マンガミュージアムなど、各地の施設との連携も必要だ。
Consideration should also be given to the idea of using existing buildings that could be renovated without necessarily sticking to the idea of constructing a new facility.
新しい施設の建設にはこだわらず、既存の建造物を改修して利用する方向も探るべきだろう。
===
Arts a broad field
The Association for Corporate Support of the Arts, comprising companies engaged in cultural support activities, polled political parties about their policies on cultural affairs ahead of the general election.
文化活動に取り組む企業で組織する企業メセナ協議会は、総選挙を前に各党の文化政策についてアンケート調査を実施している。
In its reply to the questionnaire, the Liberal Democratic Party said promotion of culture and arts is a basic plank of its national strategy, and that culture-related budgets need to be drastically increased.
自民党は、文化芸術の振興を国家戦略の基本と位置づけ、文化関係予算の大幅な拡充が必要との考えを示した。
The DPJ, for its part, said it wants to transform the conventional cultural policy centered on construction of facilities into one that makes use of human resources. The party also said it would carefully study culture-related spending in the past and compare it with the situation in the other countries before deciding the scale of its budget for the arts.
民主党は、従来のハコモノ中心の行政を改め人材を生かす文化政策に転換したいとした。予算規模については、過去の予算を精査して、諸外国の状況とも照らし検討すると慎重な姿勢を見せた。
These differences in opinion seem to be reflected in the two parties' positions toward the media arts center project.
こうした発想の違いが、メディア芸術総合センターへの姿勢にも反映されているのだろう。
Cultural administration covers a broad range of issues, including the transmission of traditional culture and the development of cities' cultural assets by taking advantage of their historic landscapes and buildings. We hope political parties will deepen their discussions on cultural policy and come up with concrete policy proposals on the arts.
文化行政の課題は、伝統文化の継承や、地域の景観や歴史的建造物を生かした文化の街づくりなど多岐にわたっている。政党レベルでも議論を深め、具体的政策を提示していってほしい。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 10, 2009)
（2009年8月10日01時11分 読売新聞）
The Yomiuri Shimbun(Aug. 9, 2009)
Parties must explain need for consumption tax hike
消費税引き上げ 必要性を率直に国民に説け（8月9日付・読売社説）
It is time to answer the question of how to secure the financial resources needed to make the social security system sustainable.
社会保障制度を持続可能にする財源をどう確保するか、もう答えを出す時ではないか。
Most of the public understand that the consumption tax, which spreads the burden on taxpayers broadly and thinly, is the only tax that can be tapped to provide a stable source of financing.
安定財源となり得るのは、広く薄く負担を求める消費税しかないことは多くの国民が理解している。
But deep debate on the consumption tax among the ruling and opposition parties in the run-up to the House of Representatives election is yet to occur. Even if the parties argue that priority should be given to economic recovery or thorough expenditure cuts, they also should try to show how a consumption tax rate hike might be achieved.
だが、衆院選に向けた与野党の消費税議論は一向に深まっていない。景気回復や歳出削減の徹底が先だとしても、与野党は選挙戦を通じて、将来の引き上げの具体像を示すよう努めるべきだ。
The ruling Liberal Democratic Party specifies in its manifesto that it will take the necessary legal steps by fiscal 2011 to implement drastic reform of the taxation system--including consumption tax changes--immediately after the economy turns for the better.
自民党は消費税を含む税制抜本改革について、「２０１１年度までに必要な法制上の措置を講じ、経済状況の好転後、遅滞なく実施する」と政権公約に明記した。
The LDP will designate the consumption tax as a special purpose tax, allowing it to allot all the increased revenue to social security programs, while gradually raising the consumption tax rate. The party also stated a deadline for completion of the preparation stage, which seems to be a responsible attitude for a ruling party.
増収分の全額を社会保障財源に充てる目的税化を行い、税率を段階的に引き上げる。その準備を終える期限を約束したのは、責任ある姿勢といえるだろう。
In the 2005 lower house election, the ruling bloc pledged to implement drastic reform, including consumption tax reform, around fiscal 2007, but failed to fulfill their promise. If it intends to tackle the reform issue seriously this time, it should clearly state what the tax rate will be and when it will be raised.
与党は０５年の前回衆院選で、０７年度をメドに消費税などの抜本改革を実現すると公約したが、果たせなかった。今回は真剣に取り組むというなら、税率や引き上げ時期をはっきりさせるべきだ。
===
DPJ must explain position
The main opposition Democratic Party of Japan said in its manifesto that it will not raise the consumption tax rate in the coming four years. In the run-up to the 2005 lower house election, the DPJ said it backed a three percentage point consumption tax rate hike. So far, the party has not sufficiently explained to the public why it has decided there is no need to raise the tax rate this time.
民主党は、今後４年間は消費税率は引き上げないという。前回衆院選では年金目的消費税として、３％の引き上げを掲げていた。なぜ今回は引き上げを不要としたのか、十分な説明はない。
As part of its program for taxation reform announced in December 2008, the DPJ said the importance of the consumption tax would continue to grow and that it intended to draw up a framework for tax reform, including consumption tax changes, during its first term if it gains power.
昨年暮れの「税制抜本改革アクションプログラム」では、「消費税の重要性はますます高まる」とし、民主党政権の最初の任期中に消費税を含む税制改革の制度設計を進めることを明記した。
If the DPJ intends to use the consumption tax as a financial resource to fund the social security system and begin to draw up a plan for drastic taxation reform, little would separate the DPJ and LDP on the issue. The DPJ therefore needs to admit it is necessary to increase the consumption tax burden and frankly explain the reasons why to the public.
社会保障財源として消費税を活用し、その制度設計を始めるなら、与党が示した道筋と大差はない。ならば、国民に負担増の必要性を率直に説くべきではないか。
===
Scope for a rate increase
At 25 percent, Sweden has the highest consumption tax rate in Europe, with value-added tax rates in much of the continent, including Britain, France and Germany, ranging from 15 percent to 20 percent. Those of China and South Korea are 17 percent and 10 percent, respectively, making Japan's 5 percent rather exceptional.
スウェーデンの２５％を筆頭に、イギリス、ドイツ、フランスなど欧州の付加価値税の税率は、１５～２０％が当たり前だ。中国は１７％、韓国でも１０％だ。日本の５％は、むしろ例外的といえる。
It is necessary to take into consideration the effect on low-income earners whose burden will become larger if the consumption tax rate is raised.
引き上げで負担が増える低所得者に対する配慮は必要だ。
By allotting some of the increased revenue to the financing of social security programs, the benefits received by low-income earners can be increased. But at the same time, the question of what the reduced tax rate should be on daily necessities will arise. It will be necessary to consider making mandatory an invoicing system in which various taxes would have to be recorded on an itemized bill whenever a purchase is made.
増収分を社会保障に回すことで低所得者への給付は手厚くなるが、同時に生活必需品への軽減税率の適用も課題になる。インボイス（伝票）方式の検討も避けて通れまい。
The DPJ is proposing a system that would see low-income earners given payments equivalent to the consumption tax levied on daily necessities, but this leaves key problems unaddressed, including how to accurately assess each low-income earner's income. So, it is more realistic to first consider applying a lower tax rate on daily necessities than on other items.
民主党は生活必需品の消費税相当額を低所得者に還元する「給付つき消費税額控除」を提唱しているが、実現には所得把握の方法など難題を抱えている。まず軽減税率を考えた方が現実的だ。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 9, 2009)
（2009年8月9日01時19分 読売新聞）
Parties must explain need for consumption tax hike
消費税引き上げ 必要性を率直に国民に説け（8月9日付・読売社説）
It is time to answer the question of how to secure the financial resources needed to make the social security system sustainable.
社会保障制度を持続可能にする財源をどう確保するか、もう答えを出す時ではないか。
Most of the public understand that the consumption tax, which spreads the burden on taxpayers broadly and thinly, is the only tax that can be tapped to provide a stable source of financing.
安定財源となり得るのは、広く薄く負担を求める消費税しかないことは多くの国民が理解している。
But deep debate on the consumption tax among the ruling and opposition parties in the run-up to the House of Representatives election is yet to occur. Even if the parties argue that priority should be given to economic recovery or thorough expenditure cuts, they also should try to show how a consumption tax rate hike might be achieved.
だが、衆院選に向けた与野党の消費税議論は一向に深まっていない。景気回復や歳出削減の徹底が先だとしても、与野党は選挙戦を通じて、将来の引き上げの具体像を示すよう努めるべきだ。
The ruling Liberal Democratic Party specifies in its manifesto that it will take the necessary legal steps by fiscal 2011 to implement drastic reform of the taxation system--including consumption tax changes--immediately after the economy turns for the better.
自民党は消費税を含む税制抜本改革について、「２０１１年度までに必要な法制上の措置を講じ、経済状況の好転後、遅滞なく実施する」と政権公約に明記した。
The LDP will designate the consumption tax as a special purpose tax, allowing it to allot all the increased revenue to social security programs, while gradually raising the consumption tax rate. The party also stated a deadline for completion of the preparation stage, which seems to be a responsible attitude for a ruling party.
増収分の全額を社会保障財源に充てる目的税化を行い、税率を段階的に引き上げる。その準備を終える期限を約束したのは、責任ある姿勢といえるだろう。
In the 2005 lower house election, the ruling bloc pledged to implement drastic reform, including consumption tax reform, around fiscal 2007, but failed to fulfill their promise. If it intends to tackle the reform issue seriously this time, it should clearly state what the tax rate will be and when it will be raised.
与党は０５年の前回衆院選で、０７年度をメドに消費税などの抜本改革を実現すると公約したが、果たせなかった。今回は真剣に取り組むというなら、税率や引き上げ時期をはっきりさせるべきだ。
===
DPJ must explain position
The main opposition Democratic Party of Japan said in its manifesto that it will not raise the consumption tax rate in the coming four years. In the run-up to the 2005 lower house election, the DPJ said it backed a three percentage point consumption tax rate hike. So far, the party has not sufficiently explained to the public why it has decided there is no need to raise the tax rate this time.
民主党は、今後４年間は消費税率は引き上げないという。前回衆院選では年金目的消費税として、３％の引き上げを掲げていた。なぜ今回は引き上げを不要としたのか、十分な説明はない。
As part of its program for taxation reform announced in December 2008, the DPJ said the importance of the consumption tax would continue to grow and that it intended to draw up a framework for tax reform, including consumption tax changes, during its first term if it gains power.
昨年暮れの「税制抜本改革アクションプログラム」では、「消費税の重要性はますます高まる」とし、民主党政権の最初の任期中に消費税を含む税制改革の制度設計を進めることを明記した。
If the DPJ intends to use the consumption tax as a financial resource to fund the social security system and begin to draw up a plan for drastic taxation reform, little would separate the DPJ and LDP on the issue. The DPJ therefore needs to admit it is necessary to increase the consumption tax burden and frankly explain the reasons why to the public.
社会保障財源として消費税を活用し、その制度設計を始めるなら、与党が示した道筋と大差はない。ならば、国民に負担増の必要性を率直に説くべきではないか。
===
Scope for a rate increase
At 25 percent, Sweden has the highest consumption tax rate in Europe, with value-added tax rates in much of the continent, including Britain, France and Germany, ranging from 15 percent to 20 percent. Those of China and South Korea are 17 percent and 10 percent, respectively, making Japan's 5 percent rather exceptional.
スウェーデンの２５％を筆頭に、イギリス、ドイツ、フランスなど欧州の付加価値税の税率は、１５～２０％が当たり前だ。中国は１７％、韓国でも１０％だ。日本の５％は、むしろ例外的といえる。
It is necessary to take into consideration the effect on low-income earners whose burden will become larger if the consumption tax rate is raised.
引き上げで負担が増える低所得者に対する配慮は必要だ。
By allotting some of the increased revenue to the financing of social security programs, the benefits received by low-income earners can be increased. But at the same time, the question of what the reduced tax rate should be on daily necessities will arise. It will be necessary to consider making mandatory an invoicing system in which various taxes would have to be recorded on an itemized bill whenever a purchase is made.
増収分を社会保障に回すことで低所得者への給付は手厚くなるが、同時に生活必需品への軽減税率の適用も課題になる。インボイス（伝票）方式の検討も避けて通れまい。
The DPJ is proposing a system that would see low-income earners given payments equivalent to the consumption tax levied on daily necessities, but this leaves key problems unaddressed, including how to accurately assess each low-income earner's income. So, it is more realistic to first consider applying a lower tax rate on daily necessities than on other items.
民主党は生活必需品の消費税相当額を低所得者に還元する「給付つき消費税額控除」を提唱しているが、実現には所得把握の方法など難題を抱えている。まず軽減税率を考えた方が現実的だ。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 9, 2009)
（2009年8月9日01時19分 読売新聞）
The Yomiuri Shimbun(Aug. 8, 2009)
Parties should be open to revising election vows
政権公約選挙 正しい方向なら変更は当然だ（8月8日付・読売社説）
Obviously, it is important for politicians to try to stick to election pledges. However, if they treat pledges as if they are set in stone, they may face problems in meeting their political obligations.
公約を「守る」ことが大切なのは確かだが、金科玉条のごとく「守る」ことだけにこだわれば、現実の政治には不具合が生じよう。
The Aug. 30 poll will be the third House of Representatives election for which political parties have announced their policy platforms, along with proposed revenue sources and deadlines for implementation, since the practice began in 2003.
各政党が政策ごとに財源や実施期限を明示した政権公約を掲げて衆院選を実施するのは、２００３年以来、３度目となる。
Academics who proposed such an approach have stressed the need to review previous election pledges each time a lower house election is held.
これを提言した学者らは、衆院選のたびに過去の公約を点検することが重要だと説いた。
In keeping with this goal, a number of organizations recently held a joint meeting to rate the degree to which the ruling bloc has met manifesto pledges laid out ahead of the 2005 lower house election.
この提言に沿って、与党の０５年公約の達成度を検証する集会が先日、開かれた。
The organizations were critical of the ruling parties, saying that the structural reform drive promoted by the cabinet of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi had been gradually adjusted over the past four years.
参加した各団体は「小泉内閣の構造改革路線が、なし崩し的に修正された」と批判した。
However, when judging the ruling parties' success, it is dangerous to simply focus on whether the points as laid out in their manifestos four years ago have been attained.
だが、４年前の公約通りに実践したかどうかだけを判断基準にするのは危険だ。
===
Changing realities of reform
The negative effects of Koizumi's reform drive, such as widening social and economic disparities, started to become evident after the last lower house election in 2005. In addition, the country later entered a dramatic economic downturn as a result of the global economic crisis that began last autumn.
格差拡大など小泉改革の「影」の部分が問題化したのは、前回衆院選以降のことだ。経済が急減速したのも、世界同時不況の影響が広がった昨年秋以降である。
If cabinets that succeeded the Koizumi administration had continued belt-tightening policies--neglecting economic current conditions and failing to take into account problems resulting from market-based structural reforms, such as widening disparities--the Japanese economy likely would have been thrown into chaos.
もし「小泉後」の歴代内閣が、格差拡大を生んだ市場原理主義的な構造改革の弊害を省みず、景気動向を無視して緊縮財政路線を続けていれば、日本の経済は今ごろ大混乱していただろう。
It is therefore essential to maintain flexibility and a willingness to modify policies in response to changing economic and political realities.
政治や経済の環境変化に合わせて政策を修正する柔軟さまで否定すべきではない。
At the same time, it is important for policymakers to offer a clear explanation to voters of why such adjustments are necessary.
ただ、その前提として、変更の理由は有権者にきちんと説明する必要はあろう。
However, simply judging the ruling parties' pledges while ignoring the implications of the opposition's proposals also is questionable--the Democratic Party of Japan is battling with the ruling parties for power in the upcoming lower house race, and it is therefore only right that its policy pledges come in for scrutiny.
与党の公約達成度だけを問題にするのも疑問だ。政権の座を争う以上、民主党の公約も厳しくチェックしないとバランスを欠く。
===
DPJ must be flexible
The DPJ stated in its 2005 manifesto that the party would "undertake" a revision of the Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement with a view to having U.S. bases in Okinawa Prefecture relocated out of the country.
民主党は０５年の公約に、日米地位協定の改定に「着手」し、在沖縄米軍基地の「国外への移転」を目指すと明記していた。
But if the DPJ had seized power in the 2005 election and followed through with its election pledges, cracks would have been created in Japan-U.S. relations. Acceptance of this reality is evident in the DPJ's decision to change the phrasing regarding the bilateral accord from "undertake" to "propose" and drop the reference to relocation overseas in its latest manifesto.
０５年の衆院選で民主党政権が誕生し、公約通りに行動していれば、日米関係に亀裂が生じる事態に陥っただろう。そのことは、民主党が今回、「着手」を「提起」に改め、国外移転の文言を削除したことが雄弁に物語っている。
Of course, it is not right to judge the DPJ's pledges solely on their consistency--if positive changes are made they should be welcomed.
無論、民主党の公約点検でも、「ぶれた」かどうかを唯一の物差しにするのは誤りだ。望ましい方向への修正なら、むしろ歓迎すべきことだ。
The DPJ reportedly plans to modify wording on decentralization and a Japan-U.S. free trade agreement in its election pledges.
民主党は、地方分権や日米自由貿易協定（ＦＴＡ）の記述で公約の修正を行うという。
Apart from this, there are some pledges whose feasibility is doubtful and which are written in an extremely ambiguous way, especially on security and global environment issues, among others.
ほかにも、安全保障政策や地球環境問題をはじめ、実現可能性を疑われたり、表現が極めて曖昧(あいまい)だったりする公約がある。
The party must therefore continue to carefully examine and reflect on its manifesto pledges until the election is officially announced, and it must not hesitate to revise them if necessary.
公示まで精査に努め、必要であれば修正もためらうべきではない。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 8, 2009)
（2009年8月8日01時23分 読売新聞）
Parties should be open to revising election vows
政権公約選挙 正しい方向なら変更は当然だ（8月8日付・読売社説）
Obviously, it is important for politicians to try to stick to election pledges. However, if they treat pledges as if they are set in stone, they may face problems in meeting their political obligations.
公約を「守る」ことが大切なのは確かだが、金科玉条のごとく「守る」ことだけにこだわれば、現実の政治には不具合が生じよう。
The Aug. 30 poll will be the third House of Representatives election for which political parties have announced their policy platforms, along with proposed revenue sources and deadlines for implementation, since the practice began in 2003.
各政党が政策ごとに財源や実施期限を明示した政権公約を掲げて衆院選を実施するのは、２００３年以来、３度目となる。
Academics who proposed such an approach have stressed the need to review previous election pledges each time a lower house election is held.
これを提言した学者らは、衆院選のたびに過去の公約を点検することが重要だと説いた。
In keeping with this goal, a number of organizations recently held a joint meeting to rate the degree to which the ruling bloc has met manifesto pledges laid out ahead of the 2005 lower house election.
この提言に沿って、与党の０５年公約の達成度を検証する集会が先日、開かれた。
The organizations were critical of the ruling parties, saying that the structural reform drive promoted by the cabinet of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi had been gradually adjusted over the past four years.
参加した各団体は「小泉内閣の構造改革路線が、なし崩し的に修正された」と批判した。
However, when judging the ruling parties' success, it is dangerous to simply focus on whether the points as laid out in their manifestos four years ago have been attained.
だが、４年前の公約通りに実践したかどうかだけを判断基準にするのは危険だ。
===
Changing realities of reform
The negative effects of Koizumi's reform drive, such as widening social and economic disparities, started to become evident after the last lower house election in 2005. In addition, the country later entered a dramatic economic downturn as a result of the global economic crisis that began last autumn.
格差拡大など小泉改革の「影」の部分が問題化したのは、前回衆院選以降のことだ。経済が急減速したのも、世界同時不況の影響が広がった昨年秋以降である。
If cabinets that succeeded the Koizumi administration had continued belt-tightening policies--neglecting economic current conditions and failing to take into account problems resulting from market-based structural reforms, such as widening disparities--the Japanese economy likely would have been thrown into chaos.
もし「小泉後」の歴代内閣が、格差拡大を生んだ市場原理主義的な構造改革の弊害を省みず、景気動向を無視して緊縮財政路線を続けていれば、日本の経済は今ごろ大混乱していただろう。
It is therefore essential to maintain flexibility and a willingness to modify policies in response to changing economic and political realities.
政治や経済の環境変化に合わせて政策を修正する柔軟さまで否定すべきではない。
At the same time, it is important for policymakers to offer a clear explanation to voters of why such adjustments are necessary.
ただ、その前提として、変更の理由は有権者にきちんと説明する必要はあろう。
However, simply judging the ruling parties' pledges while ignoring the implications of the opposition's proposals also is questionable--the Democratic Party of Japan is battling with the ruling parties for power in the upcoming lower house race, and it is therefore only right that its policy pledges come in for scrutiny.
与党の公約達成度だけを問題にするのも疑問だ。政権の座を争う以上、民主党の公約も厳しくチェックしないとバランスを欠く。
===
DPJ must be flexible
The DPJ stated in its 2005 manifesto that the party would "undertake" a revision of the Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement with a view to having U.S. bases in Okinawa Prefecture relocated out of the country.
民主党は０５年の公約に、日米地位協定の改定に「着手」し、在沖縄米軍基地の「国外への移転」を目指すと明記していた。
But if the DPJ had seized power in the 2005 election and followed through with its election pledges, cracks would have been created in Japan-U.S. relations. Acceptance of this reality is evident in the DPJ's decision to change the phrasing regarding the bilateral accord from "undertake" to "propose" and drop the reference to relocation overseas in its latest manifesto.
０５年の衆院選で民主党政権が誕生し、公約通りに行動していれば、日米関係に亀裂が生じる事態に陥っただろう。そのことは、民主党が今回、「着手」を「提起」に改め、国外移転の文言を削除したことが雄弁に物語っている。
Of course, it is not right to judge the DPJ's pledges solely on their consistency--if positive changes are made they should be welcomed.
無論、民主党の公約点検でも、「ぶれた」かどうかを唯一の物差しにするのは誤りだ。望ましい方向への修正なら、むしろ歓迎すべきことだ。
The DPJ reportedly plans to modify wording on decentralization and a Japan-U.S. free trade agreement in its election pledges.
民主党は、地方分権や日米自由貿易協定（ＦＴＡ）の記述で公約の修正を行うという。
Apart from this, there are some pledges whose feasibility is doubtful and which are written in an extremely ambiguous way, especially on security and global environment issues, among others.
ほかにも、安全保障政策や地球環境問題をはじめ、実現可能性を疑われたり、表現が極めて曖昧(あいまい)だったりする公約がある。
The party must therefore continue to carefully examine and reflect on its manifesto pledges until the election is officially announced, and it must not hesitate to revise them if necessary.
公示まで精査に努め、必要であれば修正もためらうべきではない。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 8, 2009)
（2009年8月8日01時23分 読売新聞）
Lay judge system should be monitored, improved
The Yomiuri Shimbun(Aug. 7, 2009)
裁判員判決 検証の積み重ねが欠かせない（8月7日付・読売社説）
The nation's first lay judge trial has ended. Many more trials in which ordinary citizens participate as lay judges in criminal cases are expected to follow across the country.
裁判員が関与した初の裁判が終了した。今後も全国で裁判が相次ぐ。
It is vital that people in the judicial world look for any shortcomings or problems in lay judge trials, including the one that just ended Thursday, and rectify them so the lay judge system can be improved.
法曹関係者は今回も含め、問題点を洗い出して検証し、裁判員制度を改善していくことが肝要である。
The first lay judge trial dealt with a murder that took place on a Tokyo street in May. A 72-year-old man had been accused of stabbing to death his 66-year-old female neighbor with a survival knife.
審理されたのは、東京で５月に起きた路上殺人事件だった。６６歳の女性をサバイバルナイフで刺殺したとして、近所の７２歳の男が殺人罪に問われた。
The Tokyo District Court courtroom where the trial was conducted looked completely different to courtrooms in the past. Three professional judges in robes were flanked by six lay judges wearing their everyday clothes.
東京地裁の法廷は様変わりした。法服姿の３人の裁判官の両脇に私服の裁判員６人が並んだ。
Prosecutors and lawyers showed images on monitors and paraphrased hard-to-comprehend technical terms with plain language.
検察官と弁護人はモニターに画像を映し、難解な専門用語を平易な言葉に言い換えた。
As one example, a prosecutor explained that a "defensive wound"--which was found on the woman's body--is an injury sustained when a victim tries to use their hand, arm or other body part to block an assault by an assailant with a sharp weapon.
検察官が被害者の「防御創」について、「刃物で刺されそうになった時、とっさに手で受け止めようとしてできる傷のこと」と説明したのは、その典型だ。
We welcome such changes because they will help the general public more easily understand what is discussed during trials.
裁判の内容が一般にも分かりやすくなったのは、歓迎すべきことである。
===
Heavy burdens
The trial focused on determining the punishment for the defendant, who had admitted to killing the woman. The crux of the decision centered on to what degree the defendant had intended to kill the woman.
被告は犯行を認めていたため、裁判の争点は量刑に絞られていた。どれだけ強い殺意を持って被害者を刺したかが、量刑を決めるポイントだった。
One lay judge asked the defendant why he decided to go and fetch a knife while he was quarreling with the victim. Such questions indicated the lay judges' willingness to determine for themselves the degree of the defendant's intent to commit murder.
裁判員は、「言い争いになった時、なぜナイフを持っていこうと思ったのか」などと被告に問いかけた。殺意の度合いを見極めようという姿勢がうかがえた。
While prosecutors demanded a 16-year term of imprisonment, the court sentenced the defendant to 15 years in prison, acknowledging that he stabbed the woman with a strong intent despite being aware that doing so would result in her death. The court handed down a ruling in line with the argument put forward by prosecutors.
懲役１６年の求刑に対し、判決は懲役１５年だった。「死亡させると分かりながら、強い攻撃意思を持って刺した」と認定した。検察側の主張に沿った判断である。
During the four-day trial, a female lay judge averted her eyes when images of the victim's body were shown on a monitor. Another female judge was unable to appear in court on the third day because she was feeling unwell due to a cold. She was replaced with a male "supplementary" lay judge.
４日間の公判では、遺体の写真をモニターで見た女性裁判員が、目をそらす場面があった。別の女性裁判員は風邪で体調を崩し、男性の補充裁判員に交代した。
The daily trial undoubtedly placed a heavy strain on lay judges. In cases when lay judges are asked to make even tougher decisions, such as choosing between the death penalty or an indefinite prison term, they likely will bear an even heavier burden.
連日の公判が、裁判員にとって大きな負担であったことは間違いあるまい。死刑か無期懲役かの判断などを迫られる裁判では、負担は、さらに増すだろう。
In this regard, the Supreme Court must do everything it can to take care of the lay judges' mental condition, such as ensuring the smooth operation of the counseling service counter that has been set up to give advice to lay judges.
最高裁は、既に設置した電話相談窓口を円滑に機能させるなど、裁判員の心のケア対策に万全を期していく必要がある。
===
Weighty responsibility
Another issue that needs careful consideration is how to select lay judges.
裁判員の選考方法も検討課題といえよう。
In the Tokyo District Court trial, the six lay judges randomly chosen by the court turned out to be five women and one man. But for trials on cases involving sex offenses, we wonder whether the age and gender balance of the lay judges could subtly affect rulings.
今回、地裁が無作為で選んだ裁判員は、女性５人、男性１人だったが、性犯罪などの裁判で、男女の比率や年齢構成が偏ると、判決内容に微妙な影響が及ぶことはないだろうか。
After the ruling Thursday, the six lay judges and a supplementary citizen judge attended a press conference. "I sincerely felt the heavy responsibility I bore in judging a person," one said.
判決後、裁判員全員が会見に応じ、「人を裁くという重大なことを担わされている思いをひしひしと感じた」などと語った。
This comment should be kept in mind, given that any of us could be asked to serve as a lay judge any time soon.
いつ自分が選ばれるか分からないだけに、裁判員の生の声は、大いに参考になるはずだ。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 7, 2009)
（2009年8月7日01時15分 読売新聞）
The Yomiuri Shimbun(Aug. 7, 2009)
裁判員判決 検証の積み重ねが欠かせない（8月7日付・読売社説）
The nation's first lay judge trial has ended. Many more trials in which ordinary citizens participate as lay judges in criminal cases are expected to follow across the country.
裁判員が関与した初の裁判が終了した。今後も全国で裁判が相次ぐ。
It is vital that people in the judicial world look for any shortcomings or problems in lay judge trials, including the one that just ended Thursday, and rectify them so the lay judge system can be improved.
法曹関係者は今回も含め、問題点を洗い出して検証し、裁判員制度を改善していくことが肝要である。
The first lay judge trial dealt with a murder that took place on a Tokyo street in May. A 72-year-old man had been accused of stabbing to death his 66-year-old female neighbor with a survival knife.
審理されたのは、東京で５月に起きた路上殺人事件だった。６６歳の女性をサバイバルナイフで刺殺したとして、近所の７２歳の男が殺人罪に問われた。
The Tokyo District Court courtroom where the trial was conducted looked completely different to courtrooms in the past. Three professional judges in robes were flanked by six lay judges wearing their everyday clothes.
東京地裁の法廷は様変わりした。法服姿の３人の裁判官の両脇に私服の裁判員６人が並んだ。
Prosecutors and lawyers showed images on monitors and paraphrased hard-to-comprehend technical terms with plain language.
検察官と弁護人はモニターに画像を映し、難解な専門用語を平易な言葉に言い換えた。
As one example, a prosecutor explained that a "defensive wound"--which was found on the woman's body--is an injury sustained when a victim tries to use their hand, arm or other body part to block an assault by an assailant with a sharp weapon.
検察官が被害者の「防御創」について、「刃物で刺されそうになった時、とっさに手で受け止めようとしてできる傷のこと」と説明したのは、その典型だ。
We welcome such changes because they will help the general public more easily understand what is discussed during trials.
裁判の内容が一般にも分かりやすくなったのは、歓迎すべきことである。
===
Heavy burdens
The trial focused on determining the punishment for the defendant, who had admitted to killing the woman. The crux of the decision centered on to what degree the defendant had intended to kill the woman.
被告は犯行を認めていたため、裁判の争点は量刑に絞られていた。どれだけ強い殺意を持って被害者を刺したかが、量刑を決めるポイントだった。
One lay judge asked the defendant why he decided to go and fetch a knife while he was quarreling with the victim. Such questions indicated the lay judges' willingness to determine for themselves the degree of the defendant's intent to commit murder.
裁判員は、「言い争いになった時、なぜナイフを持っていこうと思ったのか」などと被告に問いかけた。殺意の度合いを見極めようという姿勢がうかがえた。
While prosecutors demanded a 16-year term of imprisonment, the court sentenced the defendant to 15 years in prison, acknowledging that he stabbed the woman with a strong intent despite being aware that doing so would result in her death. The court handed down a ruling in line with the argument put forward by prosecutors.
懲役１６年の求刑に対し、判決は懲役１５年だった。「死亡させると分かりながら、強い攻撃意思を持って刺した」と認定した。検察側の主張に沿った判断である。
During the four-day trial, a female lay judge averted her eyes when images of the victim's body were shown on a monitor. Another female judge was unable to appear in court on the third day because she was feeling unwell due to a cold. She was replaced with a male "supplementary" lay judge.
４日間の公判では、遺体の写真をモニターで見た女性裁判員が、目をそらす場面があった。別の女性裁判員は風邪で体調を崩し、男性の補充裁判員に交代した。
The daily trial undoubtedly placed a heavy strain on lay judges. In cases when lay judges are asked to make even tougher decisions, such as choosing between the death penalty or an indefinite prison term, they likely will bear an even heavier burden.
連日の公判が、裁判員にとって大きな負担であったことは間違いあるまい。死刑か無期懲役かの判断などを迫られる裁判では、負担は、さらに増すだろう。
In this regard, the Supreme Court must do everything it can to take care of the lay judges' mental condition, such as ensuring the smooth operation of the counseling service counter that has been set up to give advice to lay judges.
最高裁は、既に設置した電話相談窓口を円滑に機能させるなど、裁判員の心のケア対策に万全を期していく必要がある。
===
Weighty responsibility
Another issue that needs careful consideration is how to select lay judges.
裁判員の選考方法も検討課題といえよう。
In the Tokyo District Court trial, the six lay judges randomly chosen by the court turned out to be five women and one man. But for trials on cases involving sex offenses, we wonder whether the age and gender balance of the lay judges could subtly affect rulings.
今回、地裁が無作為で選んだ裁判員は、女性５人、男性１人だったが、性犯罪などの裁判で、男女の比率や年齢構成が偏ると、判決内容に微妙な影響が及ぶことはないだろうか。
After the ruling Thursday, the six lay judges and a supplementary citizen judge attended a press conference. "I sincerely felt the heavy responsibility I bore in judging a person," one said.
判決後、裁判員全員が会見に応じ、「人を裁くという重大なことを担わされている思いをひしひしと感じた」などと語った。
This comment should be kept in mind, given that any of us could be asked to serve as a lay judge any time soon.
いつ自分が選ばれるか分からないだけに、裁判員の生の声は、大いに参考になるはずだ。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 7, 2009)
（2009年8月7日01時15分 読売新聞）
The Yomiuri Shimbun(Aug. 6, 2009)
Obama's nonnuclear goal worthy but difficult
原爆忌 オバマ非核演説をどう生かす（8月6日付・読売社説）
It has been 64 years since atomic bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and this year a ray of light appeared to illuminate the profound desire of those who experienced the terrible devastation of the atomic bombings to see a world free of nuclear weapons.
広島、長崎への原爆投下から６４年がたつ。惨禍を経験した人々の核廃絶への切なる願いに、今年は一筋の光明が差しているようにみえる。
This light was the speech by U.S. President Barack Obama in Prague in April.
オバマ米大統領による今年４月のプラハ演説である。
In the speech, Obama clarified that "the United States has a moral responsibility" to lead an effort to realize a world without nuclear weapons "as the only nuclear power to have used a nuclear weapon."
大統領は、「核兵器を使用したことがある唯一の核保有国」として、「核兵器のない世界」の実現に向けて「行動する道義的責任」があると明言した。
The speech was not an admission of responsibility by Obama over using destructive weapons on Japan, which was unable to continue fighting at the time.
むろん、当時、継戦能力を失っていた日本に対し、残虐兵器を使ったこと自体の責任を認めたわけではない。
However, it is no surprise that this speech by the U.S. president, whose country tends to justify the dropping of the atomic bombs, has brought excitement and hope to people in Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
しかし、原爆投下を正当化する風潮が、なお根強く残る米国の大統領のこの発言が、ヒロシマ、ナガサキに感動と希望をもたらしたことは、疑いがない。
We hope Obama, without betraying those hopes, exerts leadership by promoting talks on a new nuclear arms reduction treaty with Russia as well as leading the United States to ratify the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty.
オバマ大統領は、この気持ちを裏切ることなく、ロシアとの新核軍縮交渉推進や、米国の核実験全面禁止条約（ＣＴＢＴ）批准に、指導力を発揮してもらいたい。
===
New treaty for new times
We also need to look at another aspect of Obama's speech.
オバマ演説のもう一つの側面にも、目を向ける必要がある。
Obama said of eliminating nuclear weapons: "This goal will not be reached quickly--perhaps not in my lifetime." The current state of the world's nuclear weapons is precarious.
大統領は演説で、核廃絶は「おそらく私の生きているうちには達成されない」と述べた。世界の核状況はそれだけ厳しい。
The Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, which bans the possession of nuclear weapons except by five nations--Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States--has become a mere facade since India and Pakistan became nuclear powers. And even among the five nations, China has been building up its nuclear arms.
米露英仏中の５か国以外の核保有を禁じた核拡散防止条約（ＮＰＴ）体制は、インド、パキスタンの核保有以降、形骸(けいがい)化の一途だ。５か国の中でも、中国のように核軍拡を進めている国もある。
There also is a growing risk that nuclear weapons and related materials could fall into the hands of terrorists.
テロリストの手に核兵器・関連物質が渡る危険も増している。
The United States is at last seriously addressing the issue of nuclear disarmament--a responsibility is shoulders as a nuclear power under the NPT--a move being touted as a way to thwart the potential for nuclear terrorism, which the United States fears most.
核保有国のＮＰＴ上の責務である軍縮に、米国がようやく本腰を入れるのも、最も危惧(きぐ)している「核テロ」を阻止するため、と指摘されている。
===
Still under the U.S. umbrella?
Japan also faces serious threats from nuclear weapons.
日本も、深刻な核の脅威の下にある。
Earlier this year, North Korea aggressively conducted missile launches and a second nuclear test.
北朝鮮は先にミサイル発射や２度目の核実験を強行した。
Japan has to depend on the U.S. nuclear umbrella to be safe from any North Korean nuclear missile and other military threats. After Obama's speech, it is not surprising that the government has tried to reconfirm with the United States the protection of the nuclear umbrella, as Japan fears a weakened nuclear deterrence.
北朝鮮の核ミサイルなどに対して日本は、米国の「核の傘」に頼らざるを得ない。オバマ演説のあと、日本政府が、核抑止力の低下を懸念して「傘」の再確認に動いているのは当然のことだ。
Meanwhile, Katsuya Okada, secretary general of the Democratic Party of Japan, stressed that Japan should make the United States pledge that it will never preemptively use nuclear weapons.
他方、民主党の岡田幹事長は、米国に核の先制不使用を宣言するよう主張すべきだと言う。
He explained that this would not prohibit U.S. retaliations if a hostile nation strikes first, which he said would partly expose Japan from the protection of the nuclear umbrella. But doesn't this render useless the protection afforded by the umbrella?
敵国の先制使用に対して、米国の報復まで禁止するわけでないから、「核の傘」から半分外れると説明するが、これでは「傘」は役立たないのではないか。
While seeking the elimination of nuclear weapons, the grave reality is that we must also depend on the nuclear deterrent. It is vital that nuclear disarmament be tackled without having it threaten Japan's peace and security.
核廃絶を希求する一方で、核抑止力に依存せねばならぬ重い現実がある。核軍縮も、日本の平和と安全が損なわれないよう、着実に取り組むことが肝要だ。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 6, 2009)
（2009年8月6日01時24分 読売新聞）
Obama's nonnuclear goal worthy but difficult
原爆忌 オバマ非核演説をどう生かす（8月6日付・読売社説）
It has been 64 years since atomic bombs were dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and this year a ray of light appeared to illuminate the profound desire of those who experienced the terrible devastation of the atomic bombings to see a world free of nuclear weapons.
広島、長崎への原爆投下から６４年がたつ。惨禍を経験した人々の核廃絶への切なる願いに、今年は一筋の光明が差しているようにみえる。
This light was the speech by U.S. President Barack Obama in Prague in April.
オバマ米大統領による今年４月のプラハ演説である。
In the speech, Obama clarified that "the United States has a moral responsibility" to lead an effort to realize a world without nuclear weapons "as the only nuclear power to have used a nuclear weapon."
大統領は、「核兵器を使用したことがある唯一の核保有国」として、「核兵器のない世界」の実現に向けて「行動する道義的責任」があると明言した。
The speech was not an admission of responsibility by Obama over using destructive weapons on Japan, which was unable to continue fighting at the time.
むろん、当時、継戦能力を失っていた日本に対し、残虐兵器を使ったこと自体の責任を認めたわけではない。
However, it is no surprise that this speech by the U.S. president, whose country tends to justify the dropping of the atomic bombs, has brought excitement and hope to people in Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
しかし、原爆投下を正当化する風潮が、なお根強く残る米国の大統領のこの発言が、ヒロシマ、ナガサキに感動と希望をもたらしたことは、疑いがない。
We hope Obama, without betraying those hopes, exerts leadership by promoting talks on a new nuclear arms reduction treaty with Russia as well as leading the United States to ratify the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty.
オバマ大統領は、この気持ちを裏切ることなく、ロシアとの新核軍縮交渉推進や、米国の核実験全面禁止条約（ＣＴＢＴ）批准に、指導力を発揮してもらいたい。
===
New treaty for new times
We also need to look at another aspect of Obama's speech.
オバマ演説のもう一つの側面にも、目を向ける必要がある。
Obama said of eliminating nuclear weapons: "This goal will not be reached quickly--perhaps not in my lifetime." The current state of the world's nuclear weapons is precarious.
大統領は演説で、核廃絶は「おそらく私の生きているうちには達成されない」と述べた。世界の核状況はそれだけ厳しい。
The Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, which bans the possession of nuclear weapons except by five nations--Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States--has become a mere facade since India and Pakistan became nuclear powers. And even among the five nations, China has been building up its nuclear arms.
米露英仏中の５か国以外の核保有を禁じた核拡散防止条約（ＮＰＴ）体制は、インド、パキスタンの核保有以降、形骸(けいがい)化の一途だ。５か国の中でも、中国のように核軍拡を進めている国もある。
There also is a growing risk that nuclear weapons and related materials could fall into the hands of terrorists.
テロリストの手に核兵器・関連物質が渡る危険も増している。
The United States is at last seriously addressing the issue of nuclear disarmament--a responsibility is shoulders as a nuclear power under the NPT--a move being touted as a way to thwart the potential for nuclear terrorism, which the United States fears most.
核保有国のＮＰＴ上の責務である軍縮に、米国がようやく本腰を入れるのも、最も危惧(きぐ)している「核テロ」を阻止するため、と指摘されている。
===
Still under the U.S. umbrella?
Japan also faces serious threats from nuclear weapons.
日本も、深刻な核の脅威の下にある。
Earlier this year, North Korea aggressively conducted missile launches and a second nuclear test.
北朝鮮は先にミサイル発射や２度目の核実験を強行した。
Japan has to depend on the U.S. nuclear umbrella to be safe from any North Korean nuclear missile and other military threats. After Obama's speech, it is not surprising that the government has tried to reconfirm with the United States the protection of the nuclear umbrella, as Japan fears a weakened nuclear deterrence.
北朝鮮の核ミサイルなどに対して日本は、米国の「核の傘」に頼らざるを得ない。オバマ演説のあと、日本政府が、核抑止力の低下を懸念して「傘」の再確認に動いているのは当然のことだ。
Meanwhile, Katsuya Okada, secretary general of the Democratic Party of Japan, stressed that Japan should make the United States pledge that it will never preemptively use nuclear weapons.
他方、民主党の岡田幹事長は、米国に核の先制不使用を宣言するよう主張すべきだと言う。
He explained that this would not prohibit U.S. retaliations if a hostile nation strikes first, which he said would partly expose Japan from the protection of the nuclear umbrella. But doesn't this render useless the protection afforded by the umbrella?
敵国の先制使用に対して、米国の報復まで禁止するわけでないから、「核の傘」から半分外れると説明するが、これでは「傘」は役立たないのではないか。
While seeking the elimination of nuclear weapons, the grave reality is that we must also depend on the nuclear deterrent. It is vital that nuclear disarmament be tackled without having it threaten Japan's peace and security.
核廃絶を希求する一方で、核抑止力に依存せねばならぬ重い現実がある。核軍縮も、日本の平和と安全が損なわれないよう、着実に取り組むことが肝要だ。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 6, 2009)
（2009年8月6日01時24分 読売新聞）
The Yomiuri Shimbun(Aug. 5, 2009)
New defense guidelines should reflect bold ideas
防衛有識者会議 大胆な提言を新大綱に生かせ（8月5日付・読売社説）
A report was presented to Prime Minister Taro Aso on Tuesday by a group of experts studying the revision of the National Defense Program Guidelines, which define how to maintain Japan's defense capabilities. The panel's report contains a number of daring and important proposals.
防衛力整備の指針である「防衛計画の大綱」の改定を検討してきた有識者会議が、報告書を麻生首相に提出した。大胆かつ重要な提言が多数含まれている。
To ensure the nation's peace and security amid the changes taking place in the international security environment, it is imperative that traditional taboos be cast aside and that a review takes place of defense policy and the organization of Self-Defense Forces units and the defense equipment available to them.
国際的な安全保障環境が変化する中、日本の平和と安全を確保し続けるには、従来のタブーを排し、防衛政策や自衛隊の部隊編成・装備を見直すことが肝要だ。
Whichever party takes office after the Aug. 30 House of Representatives election, efforts should be made to reflect the group's proposals as much as possible in the new defense guidelines that are due to be formulated by the end of this year.
衆院選後の政権をどの政党が担うにせよ、年末に策定する予定の新防衛大綱に、この提言を極力反映させるよう努めるべきだ。
In the report, the experts said that the ability of the United States to be the driving force of "a free and open global system" has weakened in relative terms. Therefore, Japan and European countries need to make up for the United States' declining influence and try to solve international security problems with a joint approach, according to the panel.
報告書は、「自由で開かれた国際システム」を牽引(けんいん)してきた米国の力が相対的に低下したとの現状認識を示した。そのため、日本や欧州諸国が共同で米国を補完し、国際的な安全保障問題の解決を目指す必要性を主張する。
===
Review PKO participation rules
In concrete terms, the report proposed a review of the nation's five principles for participating in U.N. peacekeeping operations (PKOs) and a revision of the U.N. Peacekeeping Activities Cooperation Law so that SDF troops can more actively participate in peace cooperation activities.
具体的には、自衛隊が国際平和協力活動に、より積極的に参加するよう、国連平和維持活動（ＰＫＯ）の参加５原則の見直しやＰＫＯ協力法の改正を提唱した。
The threats of international terrorism and piracy in the waters off Somalia symbolize the reality that Japan's security is tied to world peace. The nation has a responsibility to play a part in peace-building efforts by the international community. However, only 39 Japanese were participating in U.N. peacekeeping operations as of June 30, a figure that places Japan only 82nd in the world.
国際テロや海賊の脅威に象徴されるように、日本の安全は世界の平和と連動している。日本は国際社会による平和構築活動の一翼を担う責任がある。だが、日本の６月末のＰＫＯ参加人数は３９人で、世界８２位にすぎない。
To increase the number of SDF members participating in PKOs, it is important to develop a system enabling the dispatch of troops flexibly in line with the actual circumstances of such missions. It is also necessary to relax existing rules on the use of weapons and develop permanent legislation on the dispatch of SDF members abroad.
自衛隊の参加を増やすには、ＰＫＯの実態に即して、柔軟に部隊を派遣する体制を整えることが大切だ。武器使用権限の拡大と、自衛隊の海外派遣に関する恒久法の整備にも取り組む必要がある。
===
How to interpret Constitution?
In the report, the panel also urged the government to change its interpretation of the Constitution to enable the nation to exercise its right to collective self-defense so that the SDF can intercept ballistic missiles heading toward the United States and protect U.S. Navy ships monitoring missile launches.
報告書は、集団的自衛権について、米国に向かう弾道ミサイルの迎撃や、ミサイルを警戒する米軍艦船の防護を可能にするよう、政府の憲法解釈の変更を求めた。
When North Korea fired a ballistic missile in April, the SDF and U.S. forces worked together to deal with the situation. To further strengthen confidence in the Japan-U.S. alliance, the government should change its constitutional interpretation as soon as possible.
４月の北朝鮮のミサイル発射時に自衛隊と米軍は共同対処した。日米同盟の信頼性を高めるには政府解釈の変更を急ぐべきだ。
On the question of whether the nation should possess the capability of attacking bases in enemy territory, the panel stressed in the report that Japan should study the suitability and cost-effectiveness of equipment and operational procedures to this end on the condition that should such contingencies arise Tokyo and Washington would work together to deal with them.
報告書は、敵基地攻撃能力の保有についても、日米共同対処を前提に、日本として適切な装備体系や運用方法、費用対効果を検討する必要性を強調している。
Calmly discussing what responsibilities Tokyo can share with Washington to help supplement the offensive capabilities of U.S. forces has huge significance.
米国の攻撃力を補完する形で、どんな役割分担が可能かを冷静に議論する意味は大きい。
The report said the nation's three principles for banning arms exports were preventing Japan from participating in international research projects for developing and producing weapons and that these should be made exceptions to the rules. They also proposed that the ban on the export of weapons to support efforts against terrorism and piracy should also be lifted.
武器輸出３原則について、報告書は、日本が装備品の国際的な共同開発・生産に参加できない問題を指摘し、３原則の例外化を求めた。テロ・海賊対策支援目的の輸出の解禁も提唱した。
In addition to Japan not being left behind when it comes to state-of-the-art military technology, it should also be a matter of course that Japan allows the export of weapons when this can serve as a contribution to global peace.
日本が最新の軍事技術から取り残される事態は避けるべきだし、国際平和に寄与する武器輸出は容認するのが当然だろう。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 5, 2009)
（2009年8月5日02時09分 読売新聞）
New defense guidelines should reflect bold ideas
防衛有識者会議 大胆な提言を新大綱に生かせ（8月5日付・読売社説）
A report was presented to Prime Minister Taro Aso on Tuesday by a group of experts studying the revision of the National Defense Program Guidelines, which define how to maintain Japan's defense capabilities. The panel's report contains a number of daring and important proposals.
防衛力整備の指針である「防衛計画の大綱」の改定を検討してきた有識者会議が、報告書を麻生首相に提出した。大胆かつ重要な提言が多数含まれている。
To ensure the nation's peace and security amid the changes taking place in the international security environment, it is imperative that traditional taboos be cast aside and that a review takes place of defense policy and the organization of Self-Defense Forces units and the defense equipment available to them.
国際的な安全保障環境が変化する中、日本の平和と安全を確保し続けるには、従来のタブーを排し、防衛政策や自衛隊の部隊編成・装備を見直すことが肝要だ。
Whichever party takes office after the Aug. 30 House of Representatives election, efforts should be made to reflect the group's proposals as much as possible in the new defense guidelines that are due to be formulated by the end of this year.
衆院選後の政権をどの政党が担うにせよ、年末に策定する予定の新防衛大綱に、この提言を極力反映させるよう努めるべきだ。
In the report, the experts said that the ability of the United States to be the driving force of "a free and open global system" has weakened in relative terms. Therefore, Japan and European countries need to make up for the United States' declining influence and try to solve international security problems with a joint approach, according to the panel.
報告書は、「自由で開かれた国際システム」を牽引(けんいん)してきた米国の力が相対的に低下したとの現状認識を示した。そのため、日本や欧州諸国が共同で米国を補完し、国際的な安全保障問題の解決を目指す必要性を主張する。
===
Review PKO participation rules
In concrete terms, the report proposed a review of the nation's five principles for participating in U.N. peacekeeping operations (PKOs) and a revision of the U.N. Peacekeeping Activities Cooperation Law so that SDF troops can more actively participate in peace cooperation activities.
具体的には、自衛隊が国際平和協力活動に、より積極的に参加するよう、国連平和維持活動（ＰＫＯ）の参加５原則の見直しやＰＫＯ協力法の改正を提唱した。
The threats of international terrorism and piracy in the waters off Somalia symbolize the reality that Japan's security is tied to world peace. The nation has a responsibility to play a part in peace-building efforts by the international community. However, only 39 Japanese were participating in U.N. peacekeeping operations as of June 30, a figure that places Japan only 82nd in the world.
国際テロや海賊の脅威に象徴されるように、日本の安全は世界の平和と連動している。日本は国際社会による平和構築活動の一翼を担う責任がある。だが、日本の６月末のＰＫＯ参加人数は３９人で、世界８２位にすぎない。
To increase the number of SDF members participating in PKOs, it is important to develop a system enabling the dispatch of troops flexibly in line with the actual circumstances of such missions. It is also necessary to relax existing rules on the use of weapons and develop permanent legislation on the dispatch of SDF members abroad.
自衛隊の参加を増やすには、ＰＫＯの実態に即して、柔軟に部隊を派遣する体制を整えることが大切だ。武器使用権限の拡大と、自衛隊の海外派遣に関する恒久法の整備にも取り組む必要がある。
===
How to interpret Constitution?
In the report, the panel also urged the government to change its interpretation of the Constitution to enable the nation to exercise its right to collective self-defense so that the SDF can intercept ballistic missiles heading toward the United States and protect U.S. Navy ships monitoring missile launches.
報告書は、集団的自衛権について、米国に向かう弾道ミサイルの迎撃や、ミサイルを警戒する米軍艦船の防護を可能にするよう、政府の憲法解釈の変更を求めた。
When North Korea fired a ballistic missile in April, the SDF and U.S. forces worked together to deal with the situation. To further strengthen confidence in the Japan-U.S. alliance, the government should change its constitutional interpretation as soon as possible.
４月の北朝鮮のミサイル発射時に自衛隊と米軍は共同対処した。日米同盟の信頼性を高めるには政府解釈の変更を急ぐべきだ。
On the question of whether the nation should possess the capability of attacking bases in enemy territory, the panel stressed in the report that Japan should study the suitability and cost-effectiveness of equipment and operational procedures to this end on the condition that should such contingencies arise Tokyo and Washington would work together to deal with them.
報告書は、敵基地攻撃能力の保有についても、日米共同対処を前提に、日本として適切な装備体系や運用方法、費用対効果を検討する必要性を強調している。
Calmly discussing what responsibilities Tokyo can share with Washington to help supplement the offensive capabilities of U.S. forces has huge significance.
米国の攻撃力を補完する形で、どんな役割分担が可能かを冷静に議論する意味は大きい。
The report said the nation's three principles for banning arms exports were preventing Japan from participating in international research projects for developing and producing weapons and that these should be made exceptions to the rules. They also proposed that the ban on the export of weapons to support efforts against terrorism and piracy should also be lifted.
武器輸出３原則について、報告書は、日本が装備品の国際的な共同開発・生産に参加できない問題を指摘し、３原則の例外化を求めた。テロ・海賊対策支援目的の輸出の解禁も提唱した。
In addition to Japan not being left behind when it comes to state-of-the-art military technology, it should also be a matter of course that Japan allows the export of weapons when this can serve as a contribution to global peace.
日本が最新の軍事技術から取り残される事態は避けるべきだし、国際平和に寄与する武器輸出は容認するのが当然だろう。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 5, 2009)
（2009年8月5日02時09分 読売新聞）
The Yomiuri Shimbun(Aug. 4, 2009)
Specialty key to survival of private universities
私大定員割れ 特色作りで活路を見いだせ（8月4日付・読売社説）
With the shakeout of private universities having finally begun, these institutions must seriously take to heart the fact that those among their number that cannot demonstrate a specialty will no longer be able to survive.
大学の淘汰(とうた)がいよいよ始まったということだろう。特色を打ち出せない大学は、生き残れない時代だということを肝に銘じなければなるまい。
A survey released Thursday by the Promotion and Mutual Aid Corporation for Private Schools of Japan found that 46.5 percent of four-year private universities were underenrolled at the start of this academic year, almost the same level as last academic year, while 69.1 percent of two-year private junior colleges were in such a situation, a slight increase from last academic year.
日本私立学校振興・共済事業団が、今年度の大学・短大への入学者数などを発表した。定員割れは昨年度と比べ、４年制大学はほぼ横ばいの４６・５％、短大は微増の６９・１％に上っている。
Since the beginning of this year, five private universities, including those run by joint-stock companies, have said they will stop accepting new students from next academic year.
今年に入り、来年度からの学生募集停止を表明した大学は、株式会社立を含め既に５校ある。
Despite the fact that the population of 18-year-olds has been declining due to the low birthrate since academic year 1993, when it fell below 2 million, the number of universities and junior colleges has continued to rise, with the number of four-year private, and state-run and other public universities totaling as many as about 770. It is natural that universities that cannot demonstrate a specialty will be forced to close.
１８歳人口は、２００万人を切った１９９３年度以降、少子化で減り続けているのに、大学数は増え続け、国公立を含めると、４年制大学だけで約７７０校ある。特色を出せない大学が退場を余儀なくされるのは、当然だろう。
===
Students' needs paramount
Stable university management will not be ensured merely by contriving to continuously recruit students through recommendation-based admission and interview- and essay-based tests, known as "admission office exams." It is very important that private universities offer attractive courses of study and clearly present their education policy and method of developing human resources so young people will be able to envision their future after they are educated there.
推薦入試やＡＯ入試で安易な学生集めを続けるだけでは、経営の安定は図れない。進学したいと思わせる教育課程を用意し、その教育を受ければどんな将来像が描けるのか、教育方針と人材育成の方法を明確に示すことが肝要だ。
At some private universities, people who have had careers in corporate management serve as president, and faculty and companies in their local community discuss and decide on study goals, textbooks and other educational materials. Other universities have established unique departments, including one specializing in manga.
企業経営に携わった経験者を学長に据え、教員と地元の企業が協議して授業の目標や教材を決めたり、マンガ学部など独自の学部を設けたりする大学もある。
To increase the number of mature students holding down full-time jobs, which accounts for only about 2 percent of the total, private universities must also provide education that meets such students' various needs.
２％程度しかいない社会人学生が増えるよう、需要に合った教育内容の提供も必要だろう。
The government's Central Education Council is currently discussing future university education from a mid- and long-term perspective. We hope the council will thoroughly discuss the appropriate number of universities and students.
中央教育審議会は、中長期的な大学教育のあり方について審議中だ。大学数や学生数の適正規模もしっかり議論してもらいたい。
===
Safety net needed
It is noteworthy that the council's first report, compiled in June, emphasizes that the desirable size and nature of universities should be discussed from the perspective of different targets. The report lists seven such targets, including "nurturing professionals in a wide range of fields" and "social contribution."
６月にまとめた第１次報告で注目されるのは、大学の規模や質のあり方を分野別に考えるよう強調していることだ。この中で、「幅広い職業人の養成」「社会貢献」など７分野を例示している。
In their respective proposals on human resources development, the Japan Association of Corporate Executives (Keizai Doyukai) and the Japan Business Federation (Nippon Keidanren) also are calling on universities to increase specialization in their areas of expertise.
大学が得意分野に重点化していくことは、経済同友会や日本経団連がまとめた人材育成に関する提言でも求めている。
However, the Central Education Council should spell out in greater detail the targets it believes an ideal university should meet. We hope the council will work out this point before compiling its final report.
ただ、分野別の例は、もっと具体的に示すべきではないか。最終報告までに練り上げてほしい。
The council has also proposed discussions on the establishment of a new higher educational body, specializing in vocational education, other than existing universities and junior colleges. The raison d'etre of junior colleges, whose main objectives include vocational education, therefore comes into question.
中教審は、大学や短大とは別に職業教育に特化した新高等教育機関の検討も打ち出しており、職業教育を目的の一つとする短大は存在意義が問われている。
Cultivating a specialty is necessary, but it may also be a wise option for junior colleges to actively discuss transforming themselves into four-year universities as well as realigning and integrating.
特色作りも必要だが、４年制大学への転換や再編・統合をもっと積極的に検討してもよい。
The population of 18-year-olds is expected to hover around 1.2 million for the next decade. Should private universities remain underenrolled, their management will face an increased danger of collapse. The Education, Science and Technology Ministry should prepare measures to deal with a possible collapse of universities, including a system to protect students enrolled in universities that fail.
１８歳人口は、今後も１０年間程度は１２０万人前後で推移する。定員割れが続けば、経営破綻(はたん)の危機は高まる。文部科学省は、在学生が保護される仕組みなど破綻処理策を考えておく必要があろう。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 4, 2009)
（2009年8月4日00時43分 読売新聞）
Specialty key to survival of private universities
私大定員割れ 特色作りで活路を見いだせ（8月4日付・読売社説）
With the shakeout of private universities having finally begun, these institutions must seriously take to heart the fact that those among their number that cannot demonstrate a specialty will no longer be able to survive.
大学の淘汰(とうた)がいよいよ始まったということだろう。特色を打ち出せない大学は、生き残れない時代だということを肝に銘じなければなるまい。
A survey released Thursday by the Promotion and Mutual Aid Corporation for Private Schools of Japan found that 46.5 percent of four-year private universities were underenrolled at the start of this academic year, almost the same level as last academic year, while 69.1 percent of two-year private junior colleges were in such a situation, a slight increase from last academic year.
日本私立学校振興・共済事業団が、今年度の大学・短大への入学者数などを発表した。定員割れは昨年度と比べ、４年制大学はほぼ横ばいの４６・５％、短大は微増の６９・１％に上っている。
Since the beginning of this year, five private universities, including those run by joint-stock companies, have said they will stop accepting new students from next academic year.
今年に入り、来年度からの学生募集停止を表明した大学は、株式会社立を含め既に５校ある。
Despite the fact that the population of 18-year-olds has been declining due to the low birthrate since academic year 1993, when it fell below 2 million, the number of universities and junior colleges has continued to rise, with the number of four-year private, and state-run and other public universities totaling as many as about 770. It is natural that universities that cannot demonstrate a specialty will be forced to close.
１８歳人口は、２００万人を切った１９９３年度以降、少子化で減り続けているのに、大学数は増え続け、国公立を含めると、４年制大学だけで約７７０校ある。特色を出せない大学が退場を余儀なくされるのは、当然だろう。
===
Students' needs paramount
Stable university management will not be ensured merely by contriving to continuously recruit students through recommendation-based admission and interview- and essay-based tests, known as "admission office exams." It is very important that private universities offer attractive courses of study and clearly present their education policy and method of developing human resources so young people will be able to envision their future after they are educated there.
推薦入試やＡＯ入試で安易な学生集めを続けるだけでは、経営の安定は図れない。進学したいと思わせる教育課程を用意し、その教育を受ければどんな将来像が描けるのか、教育方針と人材育成の方法を明確に示すことが肝要だ。
At some private universities, people who have had careers in corporate management serve as president, and faculty and companies in their local community discuss and decide on study goals, textbooks and other educational materials. Other universities have established unique departments, including one specializing in manga.
企業経営に携わった経験者を学長に据え、教員と地元の企業が協議して授業の目標や教材を決めたり、マンガ学部など独自の学部を設けたりする大学もある。
To increase the number of mature students holding down full-time jobs, which accounts for only about 2 percent of the total, private universities must also provide education that meets such students' various needs.
２％程度しかいない社会人学生が増えるよう、需要に合った教育内容の提供も必要だろう。
The government's Central Education Council is currently discussing future university education from a mid- and long-term perspective. We hope the council will thoroughly discuss the appropriate number of universities and students.
中央教育審議会は、中長期的な大学教育のあり方について審議中だ。大学数や学生数の適正規模もしっかり議論してもらいたい。
===
Safety net needed
It is noteworthy that the council's first report, compiled in June, emphasizes that the desirable size and nature of universities should be discussed from the perspective of different targets. The report lists seven such targets, including "nurturing professionals in a wide range of fields" and "social contribution."
６月にまとめた第１次報告で注目されるのは、大学の規模や質のあり方を分野別に考えるよう強調していることだ。この中で、「幅広い職業人の養成」「社会貢献」など７分野を例示している。
In their respective proposals on human resources development, the Japan Association of Corporate Executives (Keizai Doyukai) and the Japan Business Federation (Nippon Keidanren) also are calling on universities to increase specialization in their areas of expertise.
大学が得意分野に重点化していくことは、経済同友会や日本経団連がまとめた人材育成に関する提言でも求めている。
However, the Central Education Council should spell out in greater detail the targets it believes an ideal university should meet. We hope the council will work out this point before compiling its final report.
ただ、分野別の例は、もっと具体的に示すべきではないか。最終報告までに練り上げてほしい。
The council has also proposed discussions on the establishment of a new higher educational body, specializing in vocational education, other than existing universities and junior colleges. The raison d'etre of junior colleges, whose main objectives include vocational education, therefore comes into question.
中教審は、大学や短大とは別に職業教育に特化した新高等教育機関の検討も打ち出しており、職業教育を目的の一つとする短大は存在意義が問われている。
Cultivating a specialty is necessary, but it may also be a wise option for junior colleges to actively discuss transforming themselves into four-year universities as well as realigning and integrating.
特色作りも必要だが、４年制大学への転換や再編・統合をもっと積極的に検討してもよい。
The population of 18-year-olds is expected to hover around 1.2 million for the next decade. Should private universities remain underenrolled, their management will face an increased danger of collapse. The Education, Science and Technology Ministry should prepare measures to deal with a possible collapse of universities, including a system to protect students enrolled in universities that fail.
１８歳人口は、今後も１０年間程度は１２０万人前後で推移する。定員割れが続けば、経営破綻(はたん)の危機は高まる。文部科学省は、在学生が保護される仕組みなど破綻処理策を考えておく必要があろう。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 4, 2009)
（2009年8月4日00時43分 読売新聞）
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
Newyork Times
Bangkok Post
The Nations
Phuket Gazette
[ 英字新聞の英和対訳学習 ]
英字新聞（読売）
英字新聞（毎日）
英字新聞（朝日）
英字新聞（朝日２）
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中国語会話基礎（北京語）
タイ日辞典（単語帳）
タイ語の子音
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スラチャイ編曲のmidiのギター曲
スラチャイ編曲のJ.S.Bachです
スラチャイの多国言語学習
初歩のタイ語
初歩の中国語
初歩のラオス語
初歩のビルマ語
初歩のシンハリ語
初歩のタガログ語
タイ語の基礎
タイ文字
タイ日辞書
タイ語の副詞
タイ語の前置詞
タイ語の助動詞
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