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The Yomiuri Shimbun(Apr. 14, 2009)
Govt must rebuild as it puts out economic fire
安心社会の実現 経済危機後の展望が重要だ（4月14日付・読売社説）
The security of people's livelihoods cannot be assured by the implementation of short-term economic stimulus measures alone, because the source of anxiety is deeply rooted.
国民生活の安心は、目先の景気対策だけでは取り戻せない。不安の源はもっと深いところにあるからだ。
With Prime Minister Taro Aso in attendance, the government on Monday launched a new panel to discuss the realization of a society in which people can live with peace of mind.
政府は１３日、麻生首相も出席して「安心社会実現会議」をスタートさせた。
The purpose of the panel is to discuss the future direction of the state and the shape of its basic policies. With its members drawn from a wide variety of fields, we can expect the panel's discussions to take a broad perspective.
会議創設の趣旨には、「国家として目指すべき方向性や基本政策の在り方について議論する」とある。メンバーは幅広い顔ぶれが並んでおり、大きな視野での論議が期待されよう。
Types of families and career paths are becoming diverse amid the effects of the rapidly declining birthrate and graying society as well as structural changes in the nation's economy. Although the political world is required to quickly deal with social and economic changes at home and abroad, it remains in turmoil and is unable to hammer out suitable policies.
少子高齢化の急速な進行や経済構造の変化などによって、家族の形や働き方は多様化している。国内外の社会・経済変動に、政治は即応しなければならないのに、混迷したまま、的確な政策を打ち出しあぐねている。
After the economic bubble burst in the early 1990s, Japanese society was subjected to the radical remedies of former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's structural reform efforts.
日本社会は１９９０年代のバブル崩壊を経験した後、小泉構造改革の荒療治が行われた。
===
Reforms not always beneficial
Although the series of reforms yielded some successful results, including the disposal of bad loans held by financial institutions, it went too far and should rather be called market fundamentalism in some cases. The country's various institutions, including the social security system, have begun to fray around the edges.
不良債権処理に成果を上げるなどしたものの、市場原理主義と呼ぶべき行き過ぎもあり、社会保障をはじめ、さまざまな分野で綻(ほころ)びが顕在化してきた。
Such market fundamentalism was responsible for bringing about the global economic crisis that has seen a great deterioration in the Japanese economy.
市場原理主義は世界的な経済危機を招来し、日本も景気悪化に苦しんでいる。
With the ongoing graying of society and increasing number of single-person households, the social safety net, which has been built on people's family and community connections as well as corporate welfare programs, is in urgent need of review.
社会の高齢化と単身化が進む中で、地縁血縁や企業の福利厚生に依存してきた社会の安全網も見直しを迫られている。
What should the government do? What kinds of roles should local governments, regional communities, companies, families and individuals play? In answering these questions, the new panel must start its discussions from scratch.
政府のなすべき事は何か。自治体、地域社会、企業、家庭そして個人の役割は何か。安心社会実現会議には、まず根本に立ち返った議論が求められよう。
The panel also needs to discuss in concrete terms how to rebuild each of the various social security systems such as medicare, nursing care and pensions as well as employment measures and welfare benefits, and measures to cope with the declining birthrate. Needless to say, discussions on how to secure financial resources for reconstructing social security, which have been lacking so far, will be vital.
さらに、医療・介護・年金、雇用、生活保護、少子化対策といった社会保障の各制度を、どう再構築していくかといった具体論にも踏み込む必要がある。無論、これまで抜け落ちてきた財源の議論も欠かせない。
===
Major undertaking
The panel likely will be led by Finance Minister Kaoru Yosano, who is concurrently serving as state minister in charge of financial services and economic and fiscal policy.
会議は与謝野財務・金融・経済財政相が主導するようだ。
In parallel with discussions at the new panel, the government's Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy, which is supervised by Yosano, also is working on formulating a road map for solving economic disparities and carrying out social security reform. It is important for the two panels to work in tandem and work out ideas and policies.
やはり与謝野氏が受け持つ経済財政諮問会議も、これと並行する形で格差問題や社会保障改革の工程表を具体化する。両輪となって理念と施策を打ち出すことが重要だろう。
Last week, the government and ruling parties compiled the country's largest-ever economic stimulus package that centers on a fiscal outlay of more than 15 trillion yen.
政府・与党は先週、１５兆円以上の財政出動を柱とする、史上最大の景気対策をまとめた。
If we look at this economic stimulus package as a measure to hold back the conflagration in front of us, what the new panel will tackle is a new urban plan that will keep the burden to be shouldered by future generations to a bare minimum.
これを目前の大火を食い止める措置とすれば、安心社会実現会議が取り組むのは、将来世代にできる限り負担を先送りしないための新たな都市計画を提示する作業とも言える。
All preparations must be made so that the reconstruction of public welfare systems can be started as soon as it is certain the fire has been contained.
消火活動にめどがつき次第、ただちに復興に着手できるようにしておかなくてはなるまい。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 14, 2009)
（2009年4月14日01時53分 読売新聞）
Govt must rebuild as it puts out economic fire
安心社会の実現 経済危機後の展望が重要だ（4月14日付・読売社説）
The security of people's livelihoods cannot be assured by the implementation of short-term economic stimulus measures alone, because the source of anxiety is deeply rooted.
国民生活の安心は、目先の景気対策だけでは取り戻せない。不安の源はもっと深いところにあるからだ。
With Prime Minister Taro Aso in attendance, the government on Monday launched a new panel to discuss the realization of a society in which people can live with peace of mind.
政府は１３日、麻生首相も出席して「安心社会実現会議」をスタートさせた。
The purpose of the panel is to discuss the future direction of the state and the shape of its basic policies. With its members drawn from a wide variety of fields, we can expect the panel's discussions to take a broad perspective.
会議創設の趣旨には、「国家として目指すべき方向性や基本政策の在り方について議論する」とある。メンバーは幅広い顔ぶれが並んでおり、大きな視野での論議が期待されよう。
Types of families and career paths are becoming diverse amid the effects of the rapidly declining birthrate and graying society as well as structural changes in the nation's economy. Although the political world is required to quickly deal with social and economic changes at home and abroad, it remains in turmoil and is unable to hammer out suitable policies.
少子高齢化の急速な進行や経済構造の変化などによって、家族の形や働き方は多様化している。国内外の社会・経済変動に、政治は即応しなければならないのに、混迷したまま、的確な政策を打ち出しあぐねている。
After the economic bubble burst in the early 1990s, Japanese society was subjected to the radical remedies of former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's structural reform efforts.
日本社会は１９９０年代のバブル崩壊を経験した後、小泉構造改革の荒療治が行われた。
===
Reforms not always beneficial
Although the series of reforms yielded some successful results, including the disposal of bad loans held by financial institutions, it went too far and should rather be called market fundamentalism in some cases. The country's various institutions, including the social security system, have begun to fray around the edges.
不良債権処理に成果を上げるなどしたものの、市場原理主義と呼ぶべき行き過ぎもあり、社会保障をはじめ、さまざまな分野で綻(ほころ)びが顕在化してきた。
Such market fundamentalism was responsible for bringing about the global economic crisis that has seen a great deterioration in the Japanese economy.
市場原理主義は世界的な経済危機を招来し、日本も景気悪化に苦しんでいる。
With the ongoing graying of society and increasing number of single-person households, the social safety net, which has been built on people's family and community connections as well as corporate welfare programs, is in urgent need of review.
社会の高齢化と単身化が進む中で、地縁血縁や企業の福利厚生に依存してきた社会の安全網も見直しを迫られている。
What should the government do? What kinds of roles should local governments, regional communities, companies, families and individuals play? In answering these questions, the new panel must start its discussions from scratch.
政府のなすべき事は何か。自治体、地域社会、企業、家庭そして個人の役割は何か。安心社会実現会議には、まず根本に立ち返った議論が求められよう。
The panel also needs to discuss in concrete terms how to rebuild each of the various social security systems such as medicare, nursing care and pensions as well as employment measures and welfare benefits, and measures to cope with the declining birthrate. Needless to say, discussions on how to secure financial resources for reconstructing social security, which have been lacking so far, will be vital.
さらに、医療・介護・年金、雇用、生活保護、少子化対策といった社会保障の各制度を、どう再構築していくかといった具体論にも踏み込む必要がある。無論、これまで抜け落ちてきた財源の議論も欠かせない。
===
Major undertaking
The panel likely will be led by Finance Minister Kaoru Yosano, who is concurrently serving as state minister in charge of financial services and economic and fiscal policy.
会議は与謝野財務・金融・経済財政相が主導するようだ。
In parallel with discussions at the new panel, the government's Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy, which is supervised by Yosano, also is working on formulating a road map for solving economic disparities and carrying out social security reform. It is important for the two panels to work in tandem and work out ideas and policies.
やはり与謝野氏が受け持つ経済財政諮問会議も、これと並行する形で格差問題や社会保障改革の工程表を具体化する。両輪となって理念と施策を打ち出すことが重要だろう。
Last week, the government and ruling parties compiled the country's largest-ever economic stimulus package that centers on a fiscal outlay of more than 15 trillion yen.
政府・与党は先週、１５兆円以上の財政出動を柱とする、史上最大の景気対策をまとめた。
If we look at this economic stimulus package as a measure to hold back the conflagration in front of us, what the new panel will tackle is a new urban plan that will keep the burden to be shouldered by future generations to a bare minimum.
これを目前の大火を食い止める措置とすれば、安心社会実現会議が取り組むのは、将来世代にできる限り負担を先送りしないための新たな都市計画を提示する作業とも言える。
All preparations must be made so that the reconstruction of public welfare systems can be started as soon as it is certain the fire has been contained.
消火活動にめどがつき次第、ただちに復興に着手できるようにしておかなくてはなるまい。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 14, 2009)
（2009年4月14日01時53分 読売新聞）
PR
(Mainichi Japan) April 12, 2009
Boosting spirits with the power of corporate song
発信箱：社歌＝落合博
An executive of a world-renowned company once told me: "We all sing our company's song when our baseball team wins a game. That feels so good. It brings us a sense of unity with the players and the company, and makes us proud of our company."
「世界の」を冠して呼ばれる企業の男性役員は真顔で言った。「うちの野球部が試合で勝った時、みんなで社歌を歌う。あれは気持ちいい。選手や会社との一体感があり、いい会社に勤めているなと思う」。
As I nodded, he asked me, "Does the Mainichi Newspapers have a company song?"
うなずいていたら、「毎日新聞には（社歌）ありますか」と質問された。
At another major company, employees sing their corporate song and recite the founder's creed at their workplace and factories every morning. One employee in his 30s said it felt strange when he first joined the company, but now he's fully used to it.
別の大企業では毎朝、職場や工場ごとに社歌を斉唱し、創業者の信条などを唱和する。３０代の男性社員は入社当時、戸惑ったそうだが、今ではすっかり慣れた。
"There's some invisible effect in it," he says.
「見えない効果がありますね」
When newcomers were asked what they thought the most unnecessary thing at their company was, the most common answer was the corporate song, described variously as "embarrassing" and "old-fashioned." However, the situation has changed of late.
会社の中で要らないものを新入社員に尋ねると、十数年前までワーストワンは社歌だった。「気恥ずかしい」「時代遅れ」が理由だろう。最近は事情が違うようだ。
In a book titled "Shaka" (Corporate songs, published by Bungei Shunju), corporate songs of about 40 major Japanese companies are listed, along with the history and episodes of each song. Since the lyrics of corporate songs reflect the spirit of the founders and management principles, they may be revised with the change of the times or corporate names.
「社歌」（文芸春秋）には、日本を代表する企業約４０社の社歌と制作事情などが紹介されている。歌詞には創業の精神、経営の理念などが込められていて、時代や社名変更に併せて改定されることもある。
"It's a philosophy etched in a musical score," says author Masazumi Yugari.
著者の弓狩匡純（ゆがりまさずみ）氏は「五線譜に刻み込まれたフィロソフィー」と書いている。
I listened to a CD titled "Shaka," released by King Records under Yugari's supervision, and was amazed by the diversity of corporate songs today -- ranging in style from J-pop, comic songs to rock. The image of corporate songs has changed.
弓狩氏が監修したＣＤ「社歌」（キングレコード）を聴いてみた。Ｊポップ風、コミックソング、ロック系などさまざま。イメージは変わった。
There's even a company that has embarked on a corporate song-making business. President Ryuichi Nishio says, "During a recession, everyone wants to get uplifted. Corporate songs help them improve their motivation."
社歌制作ビジネスに乗り出した会社もある。西尾竜一社長は「不況の時代、みんな元気になりたいと思っている。社歌はモチベーションアップにつながる」と話す。
The Mainichi Newspapers does have a corporate song. Kyukin Susukida, a prominent poet in the late Meiji Era and a Mainichi employee, wrote the lyrics: "The light shines from the eastern sky, we stand raising the star as our banner." Unfortunately, the song is not sung at our initiation ceremony for newcomers or other occasions, and it's left languishing on the shelf. (By Hiroshi Ochiai, Sports News Department)
毎日新聞にも社歌がある。明治後期を代表する詩人で、社員でもあった薄田泣菫（すすきだきゅうきん）が作詞を担当した。「光は東の空よりと かかぐる星の旗じるし……」と格調高い。残念ながら、入社式などで歌われることはなく、宝の持ち腐れになっている。（運動部）
毎日新聞 2009年4月11日 東京朝刊
Boosting spirits with the power of corporate song
発信箱：社歌＝落合博
An executive of a world-renowned company once told me: "We all sing our company's song when our baseball team wins a game. That feels so good. It brings us a sense of unity with the players and the company, and makes us proud of our company."
「世界の」を冠して呼ばれる企業の男性役員は真顔で言った。「うちの野球部が試合で勝った時、みんなで社歌を歌う。あれは気持ちいい。選手や会社との一体感があり、いい会社に勤めているなと思う」。
As I nodded, he asked me, "Does the Mainichi Newspapers have a company song?"
うなずいていたら、「毎日新聞には（社歌）ありますか」と質問された。
At another major company, employees sing their corporate song and recite the founder's creed at their workplace and factories every morning. One employee in his 30s said it felt strange when he first joined the company, but now he's fully used to it.
別の大企業では毎朝、職場や工場ごとに社歌を斉唱し、創業者の信条などを唱和する。３０代の男性社員は入社当時、戸惑ったそうだが、今ではすっかり慣れた。
"There's some invisible effect in it," he says.
「見えない効果がありますね」
When newcomers were asked what they thought the most unnecessary thing at their company was, the most common answer was the corporate song, described variously as "embarrassing" and "old-fashioned." However, the situation has changed of late.
会社の中で要らないものを新入社員に尋ねると、十数年前までワーストワンは社歌だった。「気恥ずかしい」「時代遅れ」が理由だろう。最近は事情が違うようだ。
In a book titled "Shaka" (Corporate songs, published by Bungei Shunju), corporate songs of about 40 major Japanese companies are listed, along with the history and episodes of each song. Since the lyrics of corporate songs reflect the spirit of the founders and management principles, they may be revised with the change of the times or corporate names.
「社歌」（文芸春秋）には、日本を代表する企業約４０社の社歌と制作事情などが紹介されている。歌詞には創業の精神、経営の理念などが込められていて、時代や社名変更に併せて改定されることもある。
"It's a philosophy etched in a musical score," says author Masazumi Yugari.
著者の弓狩匡純（ゆがりまさずみ）氏は「五線譜に刻み込まれたフィロソフィー」と書いている。
I listened to a CD titled "Shaka," released by King Records under Yugari's supervision, and was amazed by the diversity of corporate songs today -- ranging in style from J-pop, comic songs to rock. The image of corporate songs has changed.
弓狩氏が監修したＣＤ「社歌」（キングレコード）を聴いてみた。Ｊポップ風、コミックソング、ロック系などさまざま。イメージは変わった。
There's even a company that has embarked on a corporate song-making business. President Ryuichi Nishio says, "During a recession, everyone wants to get uplifted. Corporate songs help them improve their motivation."
社歌制作ビジネスに乗り出した会社もある。西尾竜一社長は「不況の時代、みんな元気になりたいと思っている。社歌はモチベーションアップにつながる」と話す。
The Mainichi Newspapers does have a corporate song. Kyukin Susukida, a prominent poet in the late Meiji Era and a Mainichi employee, wrote the lyrics: "The light shines from the eastern sky, we stand raising the star as our banner." Unfortunately, the song is not sung at our initiation ceremony for newcomers or other occasions, and it's left languishing on the shelf. (By Hiroshi Ochiai, Sports News Department)
毎日新聞にも社歌がある。明治後期を代表する詩人で、社員でもあった薄田泣菫（すすきだきゅうきん）が作詞を担当した。「光は東の空よりと かかぐる星の旗じるし……」と格調高い。残念ながら、入社式などで歌われることはなく、宝の持ち腐れになっている。（運動部）
毎日新聞 2009年4月11日 東京朝刊
The Yomiuri Shimbun(Apr. 12, 2009)
Intl community must unite on N. Korea
日中韓首脳会談 「北」へ明確な意思表示が必要だ（4月12日付・読売社説）
The international community has to stand together and clearly state its position to ensure North Korea refrains from further missile development and launches.
北朝鮮にミサイルの開発や再発射の自制を迫るには、国際社会が結束して、明確な意思表示を行うことが必要である。
Prime Minister Taro Aso discussed issues related to North Korea on Saturday with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and South Korean President Lee Myung Bak in Pattaya, Thailand, where a series of regional summit meetings related to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations were scheduled but canceled due to chaos caused by demonstrations against the Thai government.
タイ・パタヤで予定されていた東南アジア諸国連合（ＡＳＥＡＮ）関連の会議が国内デモで中止されるという大混乱の中、麻生首相が中国の温家宝首相、韓国の李明博大統領と会談し、北朝鮮問題を協議した。
The three leaders agreed at their bilateral and trilateral meetings to accelerate negotiations on a U.N. Security Council presidential statement so that the council could send out a united message against North Korea's missile launch as soon as possible.
３首脳は、ミサイル発射に対して、国連安全保障理事会が一致したメッセージを迅速に出せるよう、議長声明の調整作業を加速することを確認した。
North Korea's missile, which is said to have been a modified Taepodong-2 ballistic missile, failed to separate its second- and third-stage boosters, and to place a satellite in orbit. However, its flight distance was estimated to have been more than 3,000 kilometers, which is much further than the Taepodong-1 missile test-fired in 1998 traveled.
改良型テポドン２とみられる北朝鮮のミサイルは、人工衛星の軌道投入や、２段目と３段目の切り離しには失敗した。だが、飛行距離は３０００キロ以上と推定されており、１９９８年のテポドン１と比べて大幅に伸びている。
The extended range achieved by the Taepodong-2 does not pose any additional direct threat to Japan. But, if it leads to a general improvement of North Korea's missile technology, it would increase the threat posed by Pyongyang's Rodong medium-range ballistic missiles, which can hit any part of Japan.
テポドンの長射程化は日本に対する直接の脅威ではないものの、ミサイル技術全般の向上は、日本を射程に収めるノドンの脅威を増すことになる。
===
UNSC backing Japan stance
In any case, the latest missile launch remains an act that undermined peace and stability in Asia. If the international community takes an ambiguous stance toward Pyongyang this time, it would set a bad precedent that says a missile test conducted under the guise of a satellite launch cannot be denounced.
今回のミサイル発射がアジアの平和と安定を揺るがすことに変わりはない。国際社会があいまいな態度を取れば、人工衛星打ち上げの名目なら非難されない、という悪(あ)しき前例を作る。
A draft presidential statement under negotiation at the U.N. Security Council includes a denouncement of the launch and a demand that Pyongyang refrain from test-firing a missile again. It also will list additional items to be put under embargo regarding North Korea to strengthen and strictly enforce the 2006 sanctions resolution.
安保理で調整中の議長声明案は今回の発射を非難し、北朝鮮への再発射の自制要求を盛り込んでいる。２００６年の制裁決議を徹底するため、北朝鮮への追加禁輸品目も具体的に指定するという。
If these contents remain in the document, the statement will be able to be evaluated as properly reflecting Japan's position. The government needs to continue making diplomatic efforts for a quick adoption of the presidential statement at the Security Council.
こうした内容が最後まで維持されるなら、日本の意向が十分反映されていると評価できよう。政府は、迅速な採択に向けて外交努力を重ねる必要がある。
===
ODA key to diplomacy
Meanwhile, the main agenda at the scheduled ASEAN-related summit meetings was how to bring about a recovery of the Asian economy.
ＡＳＥＡＮ関連の首脳会議の主要議題は、アジア経済の再生だった。
It is regrettable that the meetings were canceled, but the prime minister has already announced that Japan will provide 2 trillion yen as official development assistance for other Asian nations. It is important to set ODA projects in motion as soon as possible.
会議の中止は残念だが、麻生首相は既に、２兆円のアジア向け政府開発援助（ＯＤＡ）の拠出を表明している。具体的な事業の実施を急ぐことが大切だ。
Japan's assistance to other Asian countries to help them stave off the economic crisis is significant in terms of preventing an escalation of the global recession that started in the United States. If the other Asian economies recover, it will eventually reward Japan.
アジアの経済危機脱出に日本が協力することは、米国発の世界同時不況の深刻化に歯止めをかけるという重要な意味を持つ。アジア経済が回復すれば、その恩恵は日本にも還元されよう。
ODA is one of Japan's most powerful diplomatic tools. Since all 10 member countries of ASEAN have official relations with North Korea, providing them with ODA indirectly helps Tokyo in its diplomatic negotiations with Pyongyang.
ＯＤＡは日本外交の有力なカードだ。ＡＳＥＡＮ１０か国はすべて北朝鮮と国交を持っており、対北朝鮮外交にも役立つはずだ。
However, Japan's ODA budget has been decreasing for 12 straight years and the amount is now exceeded by the United States and the major nations of Europe.
しかし、日本のＯＤＡ予算は１２年連続で減少し、米欧主要国に追い越された。
It is a matter of course that the efficiency of ODA should be improved, but the budget allocated for it also should be increased as soon as possible after so many years of decline.
ＯＤＡの効率化は当然としても、予算自体も早急に増加に転じさせねばなるまい。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 12, 2009)
（2009年4月12日01時46分 読売新聞）
Intl community must unite on N. Korea
日中韓首脳会談 「北」へ明確な意思表示が必要だ（4月12日付・読売社説）
The international community has to stand together and clearly state its position to ensure North Korea refrains from further missile development and launches.
北朝鮮にミサイルの開発や再発射の自制を迫るには、国際社会が結束して、明確な意思表示を行うことが必要である。
Prime Minister Taro Aso discussed issues related to North Korea on Saturday with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and South Korean President Lee Myung Bak in Pattaya, Thailand, where a series of regional summit meetings related to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations were scheduled but canceled due to chaos caused by demonstrations against the Thai government.
タイ・パタヤで予定されていた東南アジア諸国連合（ＡＳＥＡＮ）関連の会議が国内デモで中止されるという大混乱の中、麻生首相が中国の温家宝首相、韓国の李明博大統領と会談し、北朝鮮問題を協議した。
The three leaders agreed at their bilateral and trilateral meetings to accelerate negotiations on a U.N. Security Council presidential statement so that the council could send out a united message against North Korea's missile launch as soon as possible.
３首脳は、ミサイル発射に対して、国連安全保障理事会が一致したメッセージを迅速に出せるよう、議長声明の調整作業を加速することを確認した。
North Korea's missile, which is said to have been a modified Taepodong-2 ballistic missile, failed to separate its second- and third-stage boosters, and to place a satellite in orbit. However, its flight distance was estimated to have been more than 3,000 kilometers, which is much further than the Taepodong-1 missile test-fired in 1998 traveled.
改良型テポドン２とみられる北朝鮮のミサイルは、人工衛星の軌道投入や、２段目と３段目の切り離しには失敗した。だが、飛行距離は３０００キロ以上と推定されており、１９９８年のテポドン１と比べて大幅に伸びている。
The extended range achieved by the Taepodong-2 does not pose any additional direct threat to Japan. But, if it leads to a general improvement of North Korea's missile technology, it would increase the threat posed by Pyongyang's Rodong medium-range ballistic missiles, which can hit any part of Japan.
テポドンの長射程化は日本に対する直接の脅威ではないものの、ミサイル技術全般の向上は、日本を射程に収めるノドンの脅威を増すことになる。
===
UNSC backing Japan stance
In any case, the latest missile launch remains an act that undermined peace and stability in Asia. If the international community takes an ambiguous stance toward Pyongyang this time, it would set a bad precedent that says a missile test conducted under the guise of a satellite launch cannot be denounced.
今回のミサイル発射がアジアの平和と安定を揺るがすことに変わりはない。国際社会があいまいな態度を取れば、人工衛星打ち上げの名目なら非難されない、という悪(あ)しき前例を作る。
A draft presidential statement under negotiation at the U.N. Security Council includes a denouncement of the launch and a demand that Pyongyang refrain from test-firing a missile again. It also will list additional items to be put under embargo regarding North Korea to strengthen and strictly enforce the 2006 sanctions resolution.
安保理で調整中の議長声明案は今回の発射を非難し、北朝鮮への再発射の自制要求を盛り込んでいる。２００６年の制裁決議を徹底するため、北朝鮮への追加禁輸品目も具体的に指定するという。
If these contents remain in the document, the statement will be able to be evaluated as properly reflecting Japan's position. The government needs to continue making diplomatic efforts for a quick adoption of the presidential statement at the Security Council.
こうした内容が最後まで維持されるなら、日本の意向が十分反映されていると評価できよう。政府は、迅速な採択に向けて外交努力を重ねる必要がある。
===
ODA key to diplomacy
Meanwhile, the main agenda at the scheduled ASEAN-related summit meetings was how to bring about a recovery of the Asian economy.
ＡＳＥＡＮ関連の首脳会議の主要議題は、アジア経済の再生だった。
It is regrettable that the meetings were canceled, but the prime minister has already announced that Japan will provide 2 trillion yen as official development assistance for other Asian nations. It is important to set ODA projects in motion as soon as possible.
会議の中止は残念だが、麻生首相は既に、２兆円のアジア向け政府開発援助（ＯＤＡ）の拠出を表明している。具体的な事業の実施を急ぐことが大切だ。
Japan's assistance to other Asian countries to help them stave off the economic crisis is significant in terms of preventing an escalation of the global recession that started in the United States. If the other Asian economies recover, it will eventually reward Japan.
アジアの経済危機脱出に日本が協力することは、米国発の世界同時不況の深刻化に歯止めをかけるという重要な意味を持つ。アジア経済が回復すれば、その恩恵は日本にも還元されよう。
ODA is one of Japan's most powerful diplomatic tools. Since all 10 member countries of ASEAN have official relations with North Korea, providing them with ODA indirectly helps Tokyo in its diplomatic negotiations with Pyongyang.
ＯＤＡは日本外交の有力なカードだ。ＡＳＥＡＮ１０か国はすべて北朝鮮と国交を持っており、対北朝鮮外交にも役立つはずだ。
However, Japan's ODA budget has been decreasing for 12 straight years and the amount is now exceeded by the United States and the major nations of Europe.
しかし、日本のＯＤＡ予算は１２年連続で減少し、米欧主要国に追い越された。
It is a matter of course that the efficiency of ODA should be improved, but the budget allocated for it also should be increased as soon as possible after so many years of decline.
ＯＤＡの効率化は当然としても、予算自体も早急に増加に転じさせねばなるまい。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 12, 2009)
（2009年4月12日01時46分 読売新聞）
The Yomiuri Shimbun(Apr. 11, 2009)
Japan must push for intl consensus on N. Korea
北朝鮮制裁 実質的な効果を上げるには（4月11日付・読売社説）
There is a limit to the effect sanctions imposed on North Korea by Japan alone can have. It is important, therefore, to bring about an international consensus that sees every nation, including China, take concerted action to put pressure on Pyongyang.
日本単独の制裁には限界がある。中国をはじめ各国がそろって北朝鮮に圧力をかける国際環境を作ることが大事だ。
The Japanese government officially decided Friday to impose additional unilateral sanctions on North Korea in response to Pyongyang's recent missile launch.
日本政府は、北朝鮮のミサイル発射を受けた独自の制裁措置を決定した。
This means existing sanctions, including a total ban on imports from the country, will be extended for one year. In the past, the sanctions have been extended every six months. The government also has introduced new measures that tighten the rules on cash transfers made from Japan to North Korea, and on the sums that can be taken to the country.
これまで半年ごとに延長してきた輸入の全面禁止など既存の措置をさらに１年延長した。新たに、北朝鮮への現金持ち出しや送金の規制を強化することも打ち出した。
The Japanese government held off imposing a blanket ban on exports to North Korea, likely to leave it with a trump card that could be used if North Korea threatens to withdraw from the six-party talks on denuclearization or goes ahead with another nuclear test.
輸出の全面禁止は見送った。北朝鮮が核廃棄のための６か国協議から離脱する事態や、再度の核実験に踏み切る可能性を見越し、その時の“制裁カード”として温存しておこう、という判断だ。
Under the current Japan-North Korea relationship, the government's decision to unilaterally strengthen sanctions on North Korea will have limited effect. Japan's trade volume with North Korea has fallen to less than one-hundredth of its peak. The volume of cash taken from Japan to North Korea has fallen to about one-sixteenth of the level it was four years ago, and not one cash transfer was reported in fiscal 2008.
だが、現在の日朝関係の下では、日本だけで制裁を強化しても効果は限られる。北朝鮮との貿易は、ピーク時の１００分の１以下だ。新たに規制を強化する現金の持ち出しも４年前と比べ約１６分の１に減り、送金報告の実績に至っては２００８年度は１件もない。
===
Statement of protest
It cannot be denied that Japan's unilateral implementation of sanctions serves only to make a political statement of protest over North Korea's missile launch.
独自制裁が、日本の抗議の意思を示す政治的意味合いにとどまっているのは否定できない。
Among the sanctions regimes that could be imposed on North Korea, the most practical and effective approach would be to convince every nation to steadily implement U.N. Security Council Resolution 1718, which was adopted in response to a nuclear test carried out by Pyongyang in 2006.
北朝鮮への制裁で、実質的に効果があるのは、０６年の北朝鮮の核実験を受けて国連安全保障理事会が採択した決議１７１８を各国にしっかり履行させることだ。
Resolution 1718 includes a ban on the export on luxury goods to North Korea and a freeze on the overseas assets held by all of North Korea's nuclear- and missile-related companies.
決議は、ぜいたく品の禁輸や北朝鮮の核・ミサイル関連企業の海外資産凍結などの制裁措置を盛り込んでいる。
If China, North Korea's largest trading partner, strictly implemented the resolution, the effectiveness of the sanctions would surely be improved dramatically.
北朝鮮の最大の貿易相手国である中国が厳格に実施すれば、経済制裁の実効性は格段に増すに違いない。
At the U.N. Security Council, there is a move to work out a possible compromise among the permanent council members and Japan that would specify in a nonbinding presidential statement a call for strict compliance with Resolution 1718.
国連安保理での協議では、法的拘束力のない議長声明に決議１７１８の履行を明記する方向で妥協を探る動きが出ている。
===
Path to new resolution
Japan has called for a new, tighter resolution to be adopted following North Korea's missile launch. But China and Russia, which have veto power on the Security Council, have shown little willingness to go down this path.
日本はこれまで、新たな決議の採択が必要だと主張してきた。だが、拒否権を持つ中露は、決議には極めて慎重だ。
In persuading China and Russia to back a new resolution, Japan would be forced to make large concessions in the expression of the draft for a new resolution.
両国を説得するには表現などで大幅な妥協を強いられよう。
In principle, any presidential statement requires the unanimous backing of the Security Council members. If China and Russia were to approve a new presidential statement saying that North Korea's recent missile launch violated Resolution 1718 and calling on every nation to strictly implement sanctions imposed by the resolution, it would make it easier for Japan to urge each country to join it in implementing sanctions. What really matters is not the form the new resolution takes, but its contents.
議長声明は全会一致が原則だ。今回のミサイル発射が決議違反であることや、制裁の厳格な履行を促す内容が盛り込まれ、それを中露も認めるというなら、今後、中露を含め各国に制裁の実施を働きかけやすくなる。形式よりも中身が肝心だろう。
Prime Minister Taro Aso is scheduled to attend the so-called ASEAN-plus-Three summit Saturday and the 16-nation East Asia Summit on Sunday, where he also will hold talks on the sidelines with leaders including Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao.
麻生首相はタイで行われる東南アジア諸国連合（ＡＳＥＡＮ）関連の会議に出席し、中国の温家宝首相はじめ各国首脳と会談する。
Aso should use this as an opportunity to further highlight the threat posed by North Korea's nuclear and missile programs, so that Japan's position can be better reflected in negotiations at the Security Council.
国連安保理での協議に日本の主張がより反映されるよう、首相は、北朝鮮の核とミサイルの脅威を粘り強く訴えるべきだ。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 11, 2009)
（2009年4月11日01時41分 読売新聞）
Japan must push for intl consensus on N. Korea
北朝鮮制裁 実質的な効果を上げるには（4月11日付・読売社説）
There is a limit to the effect sanctions imposed on North Korea by Japan alone can have. It is important, therefore, to bring about an international consensus that sees every nation, including China, take concerted action to put pressure on Pyongyang.
日本単独の制裁には限界がある。中国をはじめ各国がそろって北朝鮮に圧力をかける国際環境を作ることが大事だ。
The Japanese government officially decided Friday to impose additional unilateral sanctions on North Korea in response to Pyongyang's recent missile launch.
日本政府は、北朝鮮のミサイル発射を受けた独自の制裁措置を決定した。
This means existing sanctions, including a total ban on imports from the country, will be extended for one year. In the past, the sanctions have been extended every six months. The government also has introduced new measures that tighten the rules on cash transfers made from Japan to North Korea, and on the sums that can be taken to the country.
これまで半年ごとに延長してきた輸入の全面禁止など既存の措置をさらに１年延長した。新たに、北朝鮮への現金持ち出しや送金の規制を強化することも打ち出した。
The Japanese government held off imposing a blanket ban on exports to North Korea, likely to leave it with a trump card that could be used if North Korea threatens to withdraw from the six-party talks on denuclearization or goes ahead with another nuclear test.
輸出の全面禁止は見送った。北朝鮮が核廃棄のための６か国協議から離脱する事態や、再度の核実験に踏み切る可能性を見越し、その時の“制裁カード”として温存しておこう、という判断だ。
Under the current Japan-North Korea relationship, the government's decision to unilaterally strengthen sanctions on North Korea will have limited effect. Japan's trade volume with North Korea has fallen to less than one-hundredth of its peak. The volume of cash taken from Japan to North Korea has fallen to about one-sixteenth of the level it was four years ago, and not one cash transfer was reported in fiscal 2008.
だが、現在の日朝関係の下では、日本だけで制裁を強化しても効果は限られる。北朝鮮との貿易は、ピーク時の１００分の１以下だ。新たに規制を強化する現金の持ち出しも４年前と比べ約１６分の１に減り、送金報告の実績に至っては２００８年度は１件もない。
===
Statement of protest
It cannot be denied that Japan's unilateral implementation of sanctions serves only to make a political statement of protest over North Korea's missile launch.
独自制裁が、日本の抗議の意思を示す政治的意味合いにとどまっているのは否定できない。
Among the sanctions regimes that could be imposed on North Korea, the most practical and effective approach would be to convince every nation to steadily implement U.N. Security Council Resolution 1718, which was adopted in response to a nuclear test carried out by Pyongyang in 2006.
北朝鮮への制裁で、実質的に効果があるのは、０６年の北朝鮮の核実験を受けて国連安全保障理事会が採択した決議１７１８を各国にしっかり履行させることだ。
Resolution 1718 includes a ban on the export on luxury goods to North Korea and a freeze on the overseas assets held by all of North Korea's nuclear- and missile-related companies.
決議は、ぜいたく品の禁輸や北朝鮮の核・ミサイル関連企業の海外資産凍結などの制裁措置を盛り込んでいる。
If China, North Korea's largest trading partner, strictly implemented the resolution, the effectiveness of the sanctions would surely be improved dramatically.
北朝鮮の最大の貿易相手国である中国が厳格に実施すれば、経済制裁の実効性は格段に増すに違いない。
At the U.N. Security Council, there is a move to work out a possible compromise among the permanent council members and Japan that would specify in a nonbinding presidential statement a call for strict compliance with Resolution 1718.
国連安保理での協議では、法的拘束力のない議長声明に決議１７１８の履行を明記する方向で妥協を探る動きが出ている。
===
Path to new resolution
Japan has called for a new, tighter resolution to be adopted following North Korea's missile launch. But China and Russia, which have veto power on the Security Council, have shown little willingness to go down this path.
日本はこれまで、新たな決議の採択が必要だと主張してきた。だが、拒否権を持つ中露は、決議には極めて慎重だ。
In persuading China and Russia to back a new resolution, Japan would be forced to make large concessions in the expression of the draft for a new resolution.
両国を説得するには表現などで大幅な妥協を強いられよう。
In principle, any presidential statement requires the unanimous backing of the Security Council members. If China and Russia were to approve a new presidential statement saying that North Korea's recent missile launch violated Resolution 1718 and calling on every nation to strictly implement sanctions imposed by the resolution, it would make it easier for Japan to urge each country to join it in implementing sanctions. What really matters is not the form the new resolution takes, but its contents.
議長声明は全会一致が原則だ。今回のミサイル発射が決議違反であることや、制裁の厳格な履行を促す内容が盛り込まれ、それを中露も認めるというなら、今後、中露を含め各国に制裁の実施を働きかけやすくなる。形式よりも中身が肝心だろう。
Prime Minister Taro Aso is scheduled to attend the so-called ASEAN-plus-Three summit Saturday and the 16-nation East Asia Summit on Sunday, where he also will hold talks on the sidelines with leaders including Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao.
麻生首相はタイで行われる東南アジア諸国連合（ＡＳＥＡＮ）関連の会議に出席し、中国の温家宝首相はじめ各国首脳と会談する。
Aso should use this as an opportunity to further highlight the threat posed by North Korea's nuclear and missile programs, so that Japan's position can be better reflected in negotiations at the Security Council.
国連安保理での協議に日本の主張がより反映されるよう、首相は、北朝鮮の核とミサイルの脅威を粘り強く訴えるべきだ。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 11, 2009)
（2009年4月11日01時41分 読売新聞）
The Yomiuri Shimbun(Apr. 10, 2009)
Record stimulus package must be spent wisely
緊急経済対策 「真水１５兆円」を賢く使え（4月10日付・読売社説）
The government and ruling parties have compiled the nation's largest-ever economic stimulus package, worth 56.8 trillion yen, which includes 15.4 trillion yen in actual fiscal spending.
事業費５６・８兆円、財政出動の真水で１５・４兆円という史上最大の景気対策を、政府・与党がまとめた。
This package is about twice the size of the one hammered out during the financial recession a decade ago by the administration of then Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi.
約１０年前の金融不況時に小渕内閣が出した対策の２倍の規模で、戦後最悪の不況を食い止めるための大胆な財政出動だ。
The latest package is a drastic fiscal move and also could prove to be a double-edged sword, as it would generate a huge deficit. Spending must be carried out wisely to boost the economy and strengthen its growth potential.
巨額の財政赤字というツケを残す「もろ刃の剣」でもある。景気浮揚と成長力強化の効果に優れた「賢い支出」にすべきだ。
The government and ruling parties should expedite the compilation of a supplementary budget and its passage through the Diet in order to implement the stimulus measures, and also bounce ideas off each other to ensure the content will truly be effective.
補正予算の編成・成立を急ぐとともにアイデアをぶつけ合い、内容に磨きをかけてもらいたい。
It is estimated that a fiscal outlay of 15 trillion yen would generate about 20 trillion yen in demand. This could compensate for the shortage in demand in the economy. The Cabinet Office predicts that the employment rate, which eventually could peak at between 7 percent and 8 percent, would stay at about 5.5 percent or so if the stimulus plan were put into place. Given the current economic situation, the amount of spending seems adequate.
１５兆円の財政出動で約２０兆円の需要が生まれるとの試算がある。日本経済の需要不足を穴埋めできる数字だ。内閣府は、７％台に上昇しそうな失業率が５・５％程度におさまると見込む。経済情勢からみて規模は妥当と言えよう。
===
Broad stimulus ideas
The measures are wide-ranging as they include moves to secure employment, as well as emergency measures to ease pain caused by the economic downturn, such as financial assistance to cash-strapped small and midsized businesses. There also are measures to stimulate consumption, investment and other domestic demand. This is because the nation's economy cannot depend on external demand from the United States and other countries, as it does not look as though their respective economic recoveries will occur soon.
政策メニューには、雇用対策や中小企業の資金繰り支援など不況の痛みを和らげる応急策に加え、消費や投資など内需を呼び起こす政策も幅広く並んだ。米国など海外経済は早期回復の道筋が見えず外需に期待できないためだ。
Subsidies for consumers purchasing fuel-efficient automobiles and energy-saving home electric appliances are expected not only to serve the original goal of helping the environment, but also to help such products recover in sales. And in order to make sure these boosts in sales are not temporary, manufacturers should do their utmost, outside of government-subsidized help, to develop new products that appeal to consumers.
低燃費車や省エネ家電への買い替え補助は、本来の目的である地球環境改善と同時に、売れ行きの回復も期待される。一時的なブームに終わらぬよう、メーカーは補助なしでも売れる魅力的な商品の開発に全力を挙げてほしい。
Reductions in the gift tax, meanwhile, would be applied only when children or grandchildren receive financial assets from their families for the purpose of buying a home. The upper gift tax exemption limit would be raised by 5 million yen, but this increase does not seem as though it will be enough to help spur housing purchases. Apparently in concern over public criticism that the measure benefits only the affluent, government officials and ruling bloc lawmakers specified the target of the measure and decided to expand the exemption limit by only a modest amount.
一方、贈与税の軽減は子や孫が住宅を買う場合などに限られた。非課税枠の追加も５００万円と住宅購入の促進としては物足りない。「金持ち優遇」の批判を恐れ、使途や金額を抑えたのだろう。
If the economy is invigorated by the use of dormant financial assets held by elderly people, it likely would benefit the entire population. The scope of the gift tax measure should be further expanded to bring about more positive effects to the economy.
高齢者の抱える休眠資産を生かして経済が活性化すれば、恩恵は国民全体に及ぶはずだ。効果が出るよう、もっと拡充すべきだ。
===
Think beyond 3-year period
Subsidies for measures to improve benefits for care workers and improve nursing care facilities would increase employment opportunities in the growing welfare service industry. But as the subsidies are only valid for a three-year period, impact would be temporary.
介護職員の処遇改善や介護施設整備への助成などは、成長が見込まれる福祉分野の雇用機会を広げる。ただし、３年間の時限措置では一時的な効果にとどまる。
The government must secure a stable financial source to sustain the nation's social security services through increases in the consumption tax and other measures, once the economy gets on a recovery track.
景気回復を待って消費税増税などで安定財源を確保し、社会保障をしっかり支えねばならない。
In regards to public works projects, which are said to be very effective in boosting the economy, the focus will be on those that put priority on "the environment" and "safety." However, thorough checks will be needed to make sure such labels are not taken advantage of to disguise wasteful projects.
景気浮揚の効果が高いとされる公共事業も、「環境」や「安全」など優先度の高い事業に絞って追加する。表看板に隠れてムダな事業が紛れ込んでいないか、徹底したチェックが欠かせない。
The issuance of government bonds for implementing the new stimulus package likely will exceed 10 trillion yen, which would mean the amount for the entire fiscal year would surpass 40 trillion yen. If the increased issuance of government bonds causes long-term interest rates to rise, it would result in decreases in private investment and a rise in the yen's value. It is essential the government and the Bank of Japan cooperate via such operations as the central bank's purchase of more government bonds.
対策に伴う国債発行は１０兆円を超え、今年度全体では４０兆円を上回る見込みだ。国債増発で長期金利が上がれば、民間投資の減少や円高などの副作用を招く。日銀による国債の買い入れ増額など、政府・日銀の連携が重要だ。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 10, 2009)
（2009年4月10日01時50分 読売新聞）
Record stimulus package must be spent wisely
緊急経済対策 「真水１５兆円」を賢く使え（4月10日付・読売社説）
The government and ruling parties have compiled the nation's largest-ever economic stimulus package, worth 56.8 trillion yen, which includes 15.4 trillion yen in actual fiscal spending.
事業費５６・８兆円、財政出動の真水で１５・４兆円という史上最大の景気対策を、政府・与党がまとめた。
This package is about twice the size of the one hammered out during the financial recession a decade ago by the administration of then Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi.
約１０年前の金融不況時に小渕内閣が出した対策の２倍の規模で、戦後最悪の不況を食い止めるための大胆な財政出動だ。
The latest package is a drastic fiscal move and also could prove to be a double-edged sword, as it would generate a huge deficit. Spending must be carried out wisely to boost the economy and strengthen its growth potential.
巨額の財政赤字というツケを残す「もろ刃の剣」でもある。景気浮揚と成長力強化の効果に優れた「賢い支出」にすべきだ。
The government and ruling parties should expedite the compilation of a supplementary budget and its passage through the Diet in order to implement the stimulus measures, and also bounce ideas off each other to ensure the content will truly be effective.
補正予算の編成・成立を急ぐとともにアイデアをぶつけ合い、内容に磨きをかけてもらいたい。
It is estimated that a fiscal outlay of 15 trillion yen would generate about 20 trillion yen in demand. This could compensate for the shortage in demand in the economy. The Cabinet Office predicts that the employment rate, which eventually could peak at between 7 percent and 8 percent, would stay at about 5.5 percent or so if the stimulus plan were put into place. Given the current economic situation, the amount of spending seems adequate.
１５兆円の財政出動で約２０兆円の需要が生まれるとの試算がある。日本経済の需要不足を穴埋めできる数字だ。内閣府は、７％台に上昇しそうな失業率が５・５％程度におさまると見込む。経済情勢からみて規模は妥当と言えよう。
===
Broad stimulus ideas
The measures are wide-ranging as they include moves to secure employment, as well as emergency measures to ease pain caused by the economic downturn, such as financial assistance to cash-strapped small and midsized businesses. There also are measures to stimulate consumption, investment and other domestic demand. This is because the nation's economy cannot depend on external demand from the United States and other countries, as it does not look as though their respective economic recoveries will occur soon.
政策メニューには、雇用対策や中小企業の資金繰り支援など不況の痛みを和らげる応急策に加え、消費や投資など内需を呼び起こす政策も幅広く並んだ。米国など海外経済は早期回復の道筋が見えず外需に期待できないためだ。
Subsidies for consumers purchasing fuel-efficient automobiles and energy-saving home electric appliances are expected not only to serve the original goal of helping the environment, but also to help such products recover in sales. And in order to make sure these boosts in sales are not temporary, manufacturers should do their utmost, outside of government-subsidized help, to develop new products that appeal to consumers.
低燃費車や省エネ家電への買い替え補助は、本来の目的である地球環境改善と同時に、売れ行きの回復も期待される。一時的なブームに終わらぬよう、メーカーは補助なしでも売れる魅力的な商品の開発に全力を挙げてほしい。
Reductions in the gift tax, meanwhile, would be applied only when children or grandchildren receive financial assets from their families for the purpose of buying a home. The upper gift tax exemption limit would be raised by 5 million yen, but this increase does not seem as though it will be enough to help spur housing purchases. Apparently in concern over public criticism that the measure benefits only the affluent, government officials and ruling bloc lawmakers specified the target of the measure and decided to expand the exemption limit by only a modest amount.
一方、贈与税の軽減は子や孫が住宅を買う場合などに限られた。非課税枠の追加も５００万円と住宅購入の促進としては物足りない。「金持ち優遇」の批判を恐れ、使途や金額を抑えたのだろう。
If the economy is invigorated by the use of dormant financial assets held by elderly people, it likely would benefit the entire population. The scope of the gift tax measure should be further expanded to bring about more positive effects to the economy.
高齢者の抱える休眠資産を生かして経済が活性化すれば、恩恵は国民全体に及ぶはずだ。効果が出るよう、もっと拡充すべきだ。
===
Think beyond 3-year period
Subsidies for measures to improve benefits for care workers and improve nursing care facilities would increase employment opportunities in the growing welfare service industry. But as the subsidies are only valid for a three-year period, impact would be temporary.
介護職員の処遇改善や介護施設整備への助成などは、成長が見込まれる福祉分野の雇用機会を広げる。ただし、３年間の時限措置では一時的な効果にとどまる。
The government must secure a stable financial source to sustain the nation's social security services through increases in the consumption tax and other measures, once the economy gets on a recovery track.
景気回復を待って消費税増税などで安定財源を確保し、社会保障をしっかり支えねばならない。
In regards to public works projects, which are said to be very effective in boosting the economy, the focus will be on those that put priority on "the environment" and "safety." However, thorough checks will be needed to make sure such labels are not taken advantage of to disguise wasteful projects.
景気浮揚の効果が高いとされる公共事業も、「環境」や「安全」など優先度の高い事業に絞って追加する。表看板に隠れてムダな事業が紛れ込んでいないか、徹底したチェックが欠かせない。
The issuance of government bonds for implementing the new stimulus package likely will exceed 10 trillion yen, which would mean the amount for the entire fiscal year would surpass 40 trillion yen. If the increased issuance of government bonds causes long-term interest rates to rise, it would result in decreases in private investment and a rise in the yen's value. It is essential the government and the Bank of Japan cooperate via such operations as the central bank's purchase of more government bonds.
対策に伴う国債発行は１０兆円を超え、今年度全体では４０兆円を上回る見込みだ。国債増発で長期金利が上がれば、民間投資の減少や円高などの副作用を招く。日銀による国債の買い入れ増額など、政府・日銀の連携が重要だ。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 10, 2009)
（2009年4月10日01時50分 読売新聞）
The Yomiuri Shimbun(Apr. 9, 2009)
Emperor has shared people's joys, sorrows
ご成婚５０年 「国民とともに」を貫かれて（4月9日付・読売社説）
Friday marks the 50th wedding anniversary of the Emperor and Empress. We would likely to extend our sincere congratulations to the Imperial couple on their golden wedding anniversary.
天皇、皇后両陛下はあす１０日、ご成婚５０年を迎えられる。一般に言う金婚式である。心よりお祝いを申し上げたい。
This year also marks the 20th anniversary of the Emperor's ascension to the throne, and various events are planned to mark the double milestone, including a government-organized one in November in commemoration of the Emperor's two-decade-long reign.
今年は天皇陛下が即位されてから２０年の年でもある。これを記念して１１月には政府主催の式典が予定されるなど、二つの節目の年に当たり、様々な催しが企画されている。
The Emperor, in his New Year's message this year, said he had been pondering on the years that have passed by. He surely harbors deep feelings about the half-century he has spent with the Empress.
陛下は年頭のご感想で「歳月の流れにいろいろと思いを致しております」と述べられた。皇后さまとお二人で半世紀の時を刻んでこられたことに、深い感慨がおありのことだろう。
Their wedding was an event that galvanized the people, giving them hope for the nation's development.
ご成婚は、その後の国の発展を予感させるような、列島を輝かす出来事だった。
The Empress was the first commoner to become crown princess. She raised three children on her own, not resorting to the conventional Imperial household practice of employing nursing mothers.
皇后さまは初めて民間から皇太子妃となられた。宮中の慣習だった乳人(めのと)制をやめ、３人のお子さまをお手元で育てられた。
Looking at the history of their life after marriage, it is clear that in the new era, a more familiar image of the Imperial household has spread among the people.
お二人の歩みとともに、新しい時代の親しみやすい皇室像が国民の間に浸透していった。
===
Royal couple's health a worry
The Emperor always says that the most tragic event in his lifetime was the loss of many lives in World War II. In 1995, 50 years after the end of the war, he visited Nagasaki, Hiroshima, Okinawa Prefecture and the Tokyo Metropolitan Memorial Hall to console the souls of the war dead.
陛下は常々、最も悲しい出来事は先の大戦で多くの命が失われたことだと語られている。戦後５０年の１９９５年には、長崎、広島、沖縄、東京都慰霊堂へと「慰霊の旅」をされた。
Every time disasters have occurred, such as the 1995 Great Hanshin Earthquake, the Emperor has visited afflicted districts and consoled and encouraged the victims. He is presently concerned that many people are facing hardships due to worsening economic conditions. He has consistently expressed his belief that he should share in all the people's joys and sorrows.
阪神大震災などの災害が起こるたびに現地に入られ、被災者を慰め、励まされてきた。最近の不況で国民が困難な状況にあることにも、心を痛められている。一貫しているのは、「国民と苦楽をともにする」というお考えだ。
We are concerned about the health of the Imperial couple. The Emperor had an operation to remove his cancerous prostate in 2003. He suffered from disorders of the stomach and the duodenum at the end of last year. The Empress also has suffered chronic coughs and aches and pains in her chest and back.
心配なのは、お二人の健康である。天皇陛下は０３年に前立腺がんの全摘手術をされた。昨年末には胃と十二指腸を患われた。皇后さまも慢性のせき、胸部や背中の鈍痛などに悩まれてきた。
The Emperor is 75 years old, and the Empress is 74. We hope they will take good care of their health. The Imperial Household Agency is making efforts to lighten their burden of official duties. We hope the agency will make its best efforts in this regard, while respecting the Imperial couple's wishes.
陛下は７５歳、皇后さまは７４歳になられた。くれぐれも、お体をいたわっていただきたい。宮内庁は公務の負担を軽減する見直しを進めている。お二人の意向に沿って最善の対応をしてほしい。
When the agency released details of the Emperor's digestive ailment at the end of 2008, it said he was suffering mental stress for various reasons, including the problem of Imperial succession.
昨年末の陛下のご病状について宮内庁は「ご心労、ご心痛」があると説明した。その一つに皇位継承問題があるという。
===
Succession issue unresolved
The only male member of the Imperial household in the generation after Crown Prince Naruhito and Prince Akishino is Prince Hisahito, the son of Prince Akishino. What kind of Imperial household system is desirable must be a future subject of discussion within the government.
皇太子さま、秋篠宮さまの次の世代の男子皇族は、秋篠宮さまの長男の悠仁さまお一人だ。どのような皇室制度が望ましいかは、政府の今後の検討課題である。
On his marriage to the Empress, the Emperor once said that he feels he has not only obtained happiness, but also improved himself through their life together. Many people surely wish that the Emperor and Empress live happily together and stay healthy for the rest of their lives.
陛下は、ご結婚について「温かみのある日々の生活により、幸せを得たばかりでなく、自分を高めたように感じています」と話されたことがある。いつまでもむつまじく、お元気で。それが多くの国民の願いだろう。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 9, 2009)
（2009年4月9日01時40分 読売新聞）
Emperor has shared people's joys, sorrows
ご成婚５０年 「国民とともに」を貫かれて（4月9日付・読売社説）
Friday marks the 50th wedding anniversary of the Emperor and Empress. We would likely to extend our sincere congratulations to the Imperial couple on their golden wedding anniversary.
天皇、皇后両陛下はあす１０日、ご成婚５０年を迎えられる。一般に言う金婚式である。心よりお祝いを申し上げたい。
This year also marks the 20th anniversary of the Emperor's ascension to the throne, and various events are planned to mark the double milestone, including a government-organized one in November in commemoration of the Emperor's two-decade-long reign.
今年は天皇陛下が即位されてから２０年の年でもある。これを記念して１１月には政府主催の式典が予定されるなど、二つの節目の年に当たり、様々な催しが企画されている。
The Emperor, in his New Year's message this year, said he had been pondering on the years that have passed by. He surely harbors deep feelings about the half-century he has spent with the Empress.
陛下は年頭のご感想で「歳月の流れにいろいろと思いを致しております」と述べられた。皇后さまとお二人で半世紀の時を刻んでこられたことに、深い感慨がおありのことだろう。
Their wedding was an event that galvanized the people, giving them hope for the nation's development.
ご成婚は、その後の国の発展を予感させるような、列島を輝かす出来事だった。
The Empress was the first commoner to become crown princess. She raised three children on her own, not resorting to the conventional Imperial household practice of employing nursing mothers.
皇后さまは初めて民間から皇太子妃となられた。宮中の慣習だった乳人(めのと)制をやめ、３人のお子さまをお手元で育てられた。
Looking at the history of their life after marriage, it is clear that in the new era, a more familiar image of the Imperial household has spread among the people.
お二人の歩みとともに、新しい時代の親しみやすい皇室像が国民の間に浸透していった。
===
Royal couple's health a worry
The Emperor always says that the most tragic event in his lifetime was the loss of many lives in World War II. In 1995, 50 years after the end of the war, he visited Nagasaki, Hiroshima, Okinawa Prefecture and the Tokyo Metropolitan Memorial Hall to console the souls of the war dead.
陛下は常々、最も悲しい出来事は先の大戦で多くの命が失われたことだと語られている。戦後５０年の１９９５年には、長崎、広島、沖縄、東京都慰霊堂へと「慰霊の旅」をされた。
Every time disasters have occurred, such as the 1995 Great Hanshin Earthquake, the Emperor has visited afflicted districts and consoled and encouraged the victims. He is presently concerned that many people are facing hardships due to worsening economic conditions. He has consistently expressed his belief that he should share in all the people's joys and sorrows.
阪神大震災などの災害が起こるたびに現地に入られ、被災者を慰め、励まされてきた。最近の不況で国民が困難な状況にあることにも、心を痛められている。一貫しているのは、「国民と苦楽をともにする」というお考えだ。
We are concerned about the health of the Imperial couple. The Emperor had an operation to remove his cancerous prostate in 2003. He suffered from disorders of the stomach and the duodenum at the end of last year. The Empress also has suffered chronic coughs and aches and pains in her chest and back.
心配なのは、お二人の健康である。天皇陛下は０３年に前立腺がんの全摘手術をされた。昨年末には胃と十二指腸を患われた。皇后さまも慢性のせき、胸部や背中の鈍痛などに悩まれてきた。
The Emperor is 75 years old, and the Empress is 74. We hope they will take good care of their health. The Imperial Household Agency is making efforts to lighten their burden of official duties. We hope the agency will make its best efforts in this regard, while respecting the Imperial couple's wishes.
陛下は７５歳、皇后さまは７４歳になられた。くれぐれも、お体をいたわっていただきたい。宮内庁は公務の負担を軽減する見直しを進めている。お二人の意向に沿って最善の対応をしてほしい。
When the agency released details of the Emperor's digestive ailment at the end of 2008, it said he was suffering mental stress for various reasons, including the problem of Imperial succession.
昨年末の陛下のご病状について宮内庁は「ご心労、ご心痛」があると説明した。その一つに皇位継承問題があるという。
===
Succession issue unresolved
The only male member of the Imperial household in the generation after Crown Prince Naruhito and Prince Akishino is Prince Hisahito, the son of Prince Akishino. What kind of Imperial household system is desirable must be a future subject of discussion within the government.
皇太子さま、秋篠宮さまの次の世代の男子皇族は、秋篠宮さまの長男の悠仁さまお一人だ。どのような皇室制度が望ましいかは、政府の今後の検討課題である。
On his marriage to the Empress, the Emperor once said that he feels he has not only obtained happiness, but also improved himself through their life together. Many people surely wish that the Emperor and Empress live happily together and stay healthy for the rest of their lives.
陛下は、ご結婚について「温かみのある日々の生活により、幸せを得たばかりでなく、自分を高めたように感じています」と話されたことがある。いつまでもむつまじく、お元気で。それが多くの国民の願いだろう。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 9, 2009)
（2009年4月9日01時40分 読売新聞）
The Yomiuri Shimbun(Apr. 8, 2009)
Enhance effectiveness of antipiracy measures
海自警護活動 海賊対策の実効性を高めよ（4月8日付・読売社説）
What should we do to protect as many civilian ships as possible with a limited number of Maritime Self-Defense Force vessels? In addition to the early passage of a bill for the antipiracy mission, we need to rack our brains to come up with ways to enhance the effectiveness of the nation's antipiracy measures.
限られた海上自衛隊の艦船で、より多くの民間船舶を守るには、どうすべきか。海賊対処法案の早期成立に加え、海賊対策の実効性を高めるよう知恵を絞る必要がある。
Two MSDF destroyers--the Sazanami and the Samidare--have been escorting Japan-linked commercial ships in the pirate-infested Gulf of Aden off the northern coast of Somalia to protect them from pirate attacks. Since March 30, the two destroyers have escorted 10 Japan-linked vessels by shuttling back and forth in a sea-lane stretching 900 kilometers from east to west, traversing that distance three times.
ソマリア北方沖のアデン湾で、海自艦船２隻による警護活動が始まった。先月３０日以来、東西約９００キロの海域を１往復半し、計１０隻の日本関係船舶を護衛した。
An average of at least six Japan-linked vessels sail in the zone daily, and the number of vessels that can be escorted in a convoy formation is limited.
現場を航行する日本関係船舶は１日平均６隻以上にもなるが、船団を組んで警護する現行方式で守れる船の数は限られる。
In waters off the coast of Somalia, naval vessels from about 20 countries, including Britain, China, France and the United States, are now engaged in protecting commercial vessels from pirates. However, 61 attacks by pirates have already been reported this year--more than half the figure of last year's attacks.
ソマリア沖では今、米英仏中など２０か国前後の海軍艦船が警護活動に従事している。だが、今年の海賊被害は６１件に上り、早くも昨年１年分の半分を超した。
It is hard to say that the countries' antipiracy measures have been successful. Recently, pirate attacks occurred in waters off the east coast of Somalia, where commercial vessels can expect little protection.
各国の海賊対策が奏功しているとは言い難い。最近は、警護が手薄なソマリア東方沖にまで被害が拡大している。
This is also a battle of ideas being waged between the international community and pirates. It is vital that Japan closely cooperate with countries concerned and try to develop more effective antipiracy methods.
これは国際社会と海賊の“知恵比べ”でもある。日本も関係国と緊密に連携し、より効果的な活動を検討することが肝要だ。
===
P-3C planes have key role
One important measure will be the dispatch of MSDF P-3C patrol airplanes.
一つの重要な方策は、海自の哨戒機Ｐ３Ｃの派遣だろう。
There reportedly are more than 10 pirate groups, and their mother ships send several small boats to attack commercial vessels. Therefore, Japan will be able to make a greater international contribution if the P-3C aircraft confirms the mother ship's location and shares such information with other countries.
海賊は十数グループあり、その母船から小型船数隻を出動させて船舶を襲う、とされる。Ｐ３Ｃで空から母船の所在を確認し、関係国と情報を共有すれば、日本としての有力な国際貢献となる。
The European Union has switched to a method of intensively patrolling danger zones, judging it more effective than escorting vessels in a convoy formation. But this method means protecting foreign-linked vessels.
欧州連合（ＥＵ）は、船団警護方式より効率的と判断し、危険海域を集中的に哨戒する方式に移行している。ただ、この方式は、他国の船舶も守ることが前提だ。
Due to the maritime policing provision of the Self-Defense Forces Law, the MSDF is only allowed to protect Japan-linked vessels. Therefore, Japan cannot adopt this method.
海自は、自衛隊法の海上警備行動に基づき日本関係船舶しか警護できず、今は採用できない。
On Friday, a MSDF destroyer helped a Singapore-registered tanker that sought assistance fending off a suspicious boat that was approaching by shining a searchlight on it and issuing a warning by loudspeaker. The assistance offered was made based on the Mariners Law, which stipulates that seamen should make all necessary efforts to help fellow seamen whose lives are in danger. But the use of weapons is limited to self-defense under the law.
海自は今月３日、シンガポールのタンカーから救援要請を受け、大音響発生装置などで不審船を追い払った。人命救助に必要な手段を尽くす、という船員法の規定を根拠としたが、武器使用は正当防衛などに制限される。
===
Bill must be passed
At all events, it is indispensable to have the Diet pass the antipiracy legislation, which will enable MSDF destroyers to protect foreign-registered vessels, facilitating effective antipiracy activities.
やはり、効果的な活動のためには、他国の船舶も警護できる海賊対処法案の成立が欠かせない。
The Democratic Party of Japan should not cling tenaciously to the unrealistic principle that holds that the Japan Coast Guard, not the MSDF, should perform antipiracy activities. We hope the DPJ will cooperate with the early passage of the antipiracy bill so pressing threats can be dealt with swiftly.
民主党は、「海自でなく海上保安庁が主体に」という非現実的な建前論に固執すべきではない。目前の危機に迅速に対応できるよう早期成立に協力してほしい。
It is also important to support maritime safety authorities in neighboring countries, such as Yemen, Oman and Djibouti, by providing patrol vessels.
巡視船の供与などを通じて、イエメン、オマーン、ジブチなど周辺国の海上保安機関を育成・支援することも大切だろう。
The benefit of improving the capability of such authorities is shown by the situation in waters near the Malacca Straits in Southeast Asia, where the number of pirate attacks has tumbled in recent years.
近隣国の海保能力向上の重要性は、東南アジアのマラッカ海峡付近の海賊被害が近年、大きく減少したことで実証されている。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 8, 2009)
（2009年4月8日01時37分 読売新聞）
Enhance effectiveness of antipiracy measures
海自警護活動 海賊対策の実効性を高めよ（4月8日付・読売社説）
What should we do to protect as many civilian ships as possible with a limited number of Maritime Self-Defense Force vessels? In addition to the early passage of a bill for the antipiracy mission, we need to rack our brains to come up with ways to enhance the effectiveness of the nation's antipiracy measures.
限られた海上自衛隊の艦船で、より多くの民間船舶を守るには、どうすべきか。海賊対処法案の早期成立に加え、海賊対策の実効性を高めるよう知恵を絞る必要がある。
Two MSDF destroyers--the Sazanami and the Samidare--have been escorting Japan-linked commercial ships in the pirate-infested Gulf of Aden off the northern coast of Somalia to protect them from pirate attacks. Since March 30, the two destroyers have escorted 10 Japan-linked vessels by shuttling back and forth in a sea-lane stretching 900 kilometers from east to west, traversing that distance three times.
ソマリア北方沖のアデン湾で、海自艦船２隻による警護活動が始まった。先月３０日以来、東西約９００キロの海域を１往復半し、計１０隻の日本関係船舶を護衛した。
An average of at least six Japan-linked vessels sail in the zone daily, and the number of vessels that can be escorted in a convoy formation is limited.
現場を航行する日本関係船舶は１日平均６隻以上にもなるが、船団を組んで警護する現行方式で守れる船の数は限られる。
In waters off the coast of Somalia, naval vessels from about 20 countries, including Britain, China, France and the United States, are now engaged in protecting commercial vessels from pirates. However, 61 attacks by pirates have already been reported this year--more than half the figure of last year's attacks.
ソマリア沖では今、米英仏中など２０か国前後の海軍艦船が警護活動に従事している。だが、今年の海賊被害は６１件に上り、早くも昨年１年分の半分を超した。
It is hard to say that the countries' antipiracy measures have been successful. Recently, pirate attacks occurred in waters off the east coast of Somalia, where commercial vessels can expect little protection.
各国の海賊対策が奏功しているとは言い難い。最近は、警護が手薄なソマリア東方沖にまで被害が拡大している。
This is also a battle of ideas being waged between the international community and pirates. It is vital that Japan closely cooperate with countries concerned and try to develop more effective antipiracy methods.
これは国際社会と海賊の“知恵比べ”でもある。日本も関係国と緊密に連携し、より効果的な活動を検討することが肝要だ。
===
P-3C planes have key role
One important measure will be the dispatch of MSDF P-3C patrol airplanes.
一つの重要な方策は、海自の哨戒機Ｐ３Ｃの派遣だろう。
There reportedly are more than 10 pirate groups, and their mother ships send several small boats to attack commercial vessels. Therefore, Japan will be able to make a greater international contribution if the P-3C aircraft confirms the mother ship's location and shares such information with other countries.
海賊は十数グループあり、その母船から小型船数隻を出動させて船舶を襲う、とされる。Ｐ３Ｃで空から母船の所在を確認し、関係国と情報を共有すれば、日本としての有力な国際貢献となる。
The European Union has switched to a method of intensively patrolling danger zones, judging it more effective than escorting vessels in a convoy formation. But this method means protecting foreign-linked vessels.
欧州連合（ＥＵ）は、船団警護方式より効率的と判断し、危険海域を集中的に哨戒する方式に移行している。ただ、この方式は、他国の船舶も守ることが前提だ。
Due to the maritime policing provision of the Self-Defense Forces Law, the MSDF is only allowed to protect Japan-linked vessels. Therefore, Japan cannot adopt this method.
海自は、自衛隊法の海上警備行動に基づき日本関係船舶しか警護できず、今は採用できない。
On Friday, a MSDF destroyer helped a Singapore-registered tanker that sought assistance fending off a suspicious boat that was approaching by shining a searchlight on it and issuing a warning by loudspeaker. The assistance offered was made based on the Mariners Law, which stipulates that seamen should make all necessary efforts to help fellow seamen whose lives are in danger. But the use of weapons is limited to self-defense under the law.
海自は今月３日、シンガポールのタンカーから救援要請を受け、大音響発生装置などで不審船を追い払った。人命救助に必要な手段を尽くす、という船員法の規定を根拠としたが、武器使用は正当防衛などに制限される。
===
Bill must be passed
At all events, it is indispensable to have the Diet pass the antipiracy legislation, which will enable MSDF destroyers to protect foreign-registered vessels, facilitating effective antipiracy activities.
やはり、効果的な活動のためには、他国の船舶も警護できる海賊対処法案の成立が欠かせない。
The Democratic Party of Japan should not cling tenaciously to the unrealistic principle that holds that the Japan Coast Guard, not the MSDF, should perform antipiracy activities. We hope the DPJ will cooperate with the early passage of the antipiracy bill so pressing threats can be dealt with swiftly.
民主党は、「海自でなく海上保安庁が主体に」という非現実的な建前論に固執すべきではない。目前の危機に迅速に対応できるよう早期成立に協力してほしい。
It is also important to support maritime safety authorities in neighboring countries, such as Yemen, Oman and Djibouti, by providing patrol vessels.
巡視船の供与などを通じて、イエメン、オマーン、ジブチなど周辺国の海上保安機関を育成・支援することも大切だろう。
The benefit of improving the capability of such authorities is shown by the situation in waters near the Malacca Straits in Southeast Asia, where the number of pirate attacks has tumbled in recent years.
近隣国の海保能力向上の重要性は、東南アジアのマラッカ海峡付近の海賊被害が近年、大きく減少したことで実証されている。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 8, 2009)
（2009年4月8日01時37分 読売新聞）
The Yomiuri Shimbun(Apr. 7, 2009)
North Korea puts ball in Obama's court
オバマ演説 北朝鮮への対応が試金石だ（4月7日付・読売社説）
U.S. President Barack Obama on Sunday set out the U.S. policy of being actively engaged in nuclear arms reduction and preventing nuclear terrorism to bring about a peaceful and safe "world without nuclear weapons."
オバマ米大統領が、核拡散防止に関する包括的な演説を行い、平和で安全な「核のない世界」の実現に向け、核軍縮や核テロ阻止などに積極的に対処していく方針を示した。
During his comprehensive speech on nuclear nonproliferation in Prague, Obama also declared he would host a summit meeting within a year on global nuclear security to strengthen international coordination on the issue.
国際連携の強化へ、「核安全保障サミット」の開催も宣言した。
Obama and his Russian counterpart, Dmitry Medvedev, agreed during talks on Wednesday in London that the two countries will start negotiations on reducing their nuclear stockpiles and seek substantial cuts in the number of nuclear warheads they hold. Obama's declaration of his strong resolve to prevent nuclear proliferation came just days after these talks.
先の米露首脳会談では、大幅な核削減を目指す核軍縮交渉の開始で合意した。
それに続く核拡散防止への強い意欲の表明だ。
The threat of global nuclear war diminished after the Cold War ended. However, nuclear proliferation has become a stark reality after nuclear tests by India, Pakistan and North Korea and Iran's nuclear development. Threats such as nuclear terrorism will only grow.
冷戦後、世界核戦争の恐怖は減少した。だが、インド、パキスタン、北朝鮮の核実験やイランの核開発によって核拡散は現実となり、核テロなどの脅威は日増しに高まっている。
===
NPT framework rocked
The Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty framework, which bans countries other than Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States from possessing nuclear arms, has been shaken to its foundation.
核兵器の保有は米露英仏中の５か国以外には認めないとした核拡散防止条約（ＮＰＴ）体制は根底から揺らいでいる。
The Obama administration apparently hopes to shore up this framework under the U.S. initiative announced by the president.
この現状を、米国主導で立て直そうというのが、オバマ政権の狙いだろう。
During Sunday's speech, Obama said the United States, the only country to have used nuclear weapons, had a "moral responsibility" to take action to help rid the world of nuclear weapons. We applaud Obama on this point, and we hope the president will be able to accomplish his objectives.
大統領は、世界で唯一、核兵器を使用した米国には、「核拡散防止のために行動すべき道義的な責任」があると述べた。言やよし、ぜひ成果をあげてもらいたい。
The abolition of nuclear weapons is the ultimate prize, but this will be a extremely difficult task. Obama admitted during his speech, "This goal will not be reached quickly, perhaps not in my lifetime." Even so, it is important to take a realistic approach and nip in the bud each and every potential threat to the world's safety.
目標に掲げた核兵器の廃絶は、大統領も「私が生きているうちは達成できない」と認めた通り、究極のゴールだ。重要なのは、世界の安全を脅かす危険な芽を丹念に摘み取る現実的な取り組みだ。
Whether Obama can take concrete action is being tested in dealing with North Korea, which launched a long-range ballistic missile Sunday in defiance of warnings from the international community.
具体的な行動が、国際社会の警告を無視して長距離弾道ミサイルを発射した北朝鮮への対処で、さっそく問われている。
"North Korea broke the rules once more...Now is the time for a strong international response," Obama said of Pyongyang's missile launch. The first step on this issue will hinge on the decision of the U.N. Security Council.
大統領は、北朝鮮のミサイル発射に言及し、「再びルールを破った」として、「断固とした国際的な対応を取る」と言明した。国連安全保障理事会でいかなる決定を下すかが、その第一歩となる。
===
UNSC members not in tune
However, differences in stances among the 15 members of the Security Council have surfaced on this matter.
安保理では、早くも各国の立場の違いが表面化している。
Japan, Britain, France and the United States are seeking a new Security Council resolution that calls for the stricter enforcement of existing sanctions on North Korea. These countries agree that Sunday's launch violated Security Council Resolution 1718, which demanded Pyongyang abandon its ballistic missile program.
日本や米国、英国、フランスは、ミサイル放棄を求めた安保理決議１７１８の違反だ、として制裁の履行を徹底する決議の採択を目指している。
However, China and Russia have not sided with Japan and the other three countries. They apparently accept North Korea's claim that it launched a satellite.
だが、中国とロシアは、「人工衛星の打ち上げ」という北朝鮮の主張に理解を示し、日米などに同調していない。
If the Security Council fails to adopt swift and robust measures against North Korea, the reclusive country will continue to use its nuclear arms and missiles to provoke and threaten others.
安保理が迅速に強い措置を取らなければ、北朝鮮は今後も、核やミサイルの挑発を続けよう。
Japan is within range of North Korea's Rodong missiles that have been deployed. If North Korea succeeds in building a smaller nuclear warhead, Japan will be staring down the barrel of a terrifying threat.
北朝鮮が核兵器の小型化に成功すれば、実戦配備ずみのノドン・ミサイルの射程にある日本にとって、脅威は極めて深刻化する。
Can Obama exercise strong leadership in preventing the spread of nuclear weapons? His ability to follow through on this is now being put to the test.
核拡散防止へ強い指導力を発揮できるのか。オバマ大統領の力量が、試される局面だ。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 7, 2009)
（2009年4月7日01時39分 読売新聞）
North Korea puts ball in Obama's court
オバマ演説 北朝鮮への対応が試金石だ（4月7日付・読売社説）
U.S. President Barack Obama on Sunday set out the U.S. policy of being actively engaged in nuclear arms reduction and preventing nuclear terrorism to bring about a peaceful and safe "world without nuclear weapons."
オバマ米大統領が、核拡散防止に関する包括的な演説を行い、平和で安全な「核のない世界」の実現に向け、核軍縮や核テロ阻止などに積極的に対処していく方針を示した。
During his comprehensive speech on nuclear nonproliferation in Prague, Obama also declared he would host a summit meeting within a year on global nuclear security to strengthen international coordination on the issue.
国際連携の強化へ、「核安全保障サミット」の開催も宣言した。
Obama and his Russian counterpart, Dmitry Medvedev, agreed during talks on Wednesday in London that the two countries will start negotiations on reducing their nuclear stockpiles and seek substantial cuts in the number of nuclear warheads they hold. Obama's declaration of his strong resolve to prevent nuclear proliferation came just days after these talks.
先の米露首脳会談では、大幅な核削減を目指す核軍縮交渉の開始で合意した。
それに続く核拡散防止への強い意欲の表明だ。
The threat of global nuclear war diminished after the Cold War ended. However, nuclear proliferation has become a stark reality after nuclear tests by India, Pakistan and North Korea and Iran's nuclear development. Threats such as nuclear terrorism will only grow.
冷戦後、世界核戦争の恐怖は減少した。だが、インド、パキスタン、北朝鮮の核実験やイランの核開発によって核拡散は現実となり、核テロなどの脅威は日増しに高まっている。
===
NPT framework rocked
The Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty framework, which bans countries other than Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States from possessing nuclear arms, has been shaken to its foundation.
核兵器の保有は米露英仏中の５か国以外には認めないとした核拡散防止条約（ＮＰＴ）体制は根底から揺らいでいる。
The Obama administration apparently hopes to shore up this framework under the U.S. initiative announced by the president.
この現状を、米国主導で立て直そうというのが、オバマ政権の狙いだろう。
During Sunday's speech, Obama said the United States, the only country to have used nuclear weapons, had a "moral responsibility" to take action to help rid the world of nuclear weapons. We applaud Obama on this point, and we hope the president will be able to accomplish his objectives.
大統領は、世界で唯一、核兵器を使用した米国には、「核拡散防止のために行動すべき道義的な責任」があると述べた。言やよし、ぜひ成果をあげてもらいたい。
The abolition of nuclear weapons is the ultimate prize, but this will be a extremely difficult task. Obama admitted during his speech, "This goal will not be reached quickly, perhaps not in my lifetime." Even so, it is important to take a realistic approach and nip in the bud each and every potential threat to the world's safety.
目標に掲げた核兵器の廃絶は、大統領も「私が生きているうちは達成できない」と認めた通り、究極のゴールだ。重要なのは、世界の安全を脅かす危険な芽を丹念に摘み取る現実的な取り組みだ。
Whether Obama can take concrete action is being tested in dealing with North Korea, which launched a long-range ballistic missile Sunday in defiance of warnings from the international community.
具体的な行動が、国際社会の警告を無視して長距離弾道ミサイルを発射した北朝鮮への対処で、さっそく問われている。
"North Korea broke the rules once more...Now is the time for a strong international response," Obama said of Pyongyang's missile launch. The first step on this issue will hinge on the decision of the U.N. Security Council.
大統領は、北朝鮮のミサイル発射に言及し、「再びルールを破った」として、「断固とした国際的な対応を取る」と言明した。国連安全保障理事会でいかなる決定を下すかが、その第一歩となる。
===
UNSC members not in tune
However, differences in stances among the 15 members of the Security Council have surfaced on this matter.
安保理では、早くも各国の立場の違いが表面化している。
Japan, Britain, France and the United States are seeking a new Security Council resolution that calls for the stricter enforcement of existing sanctions on North Korea. These countries agree that Sunday's launch violated Security Council Resolution 1718, which demanded Pyongyang abandon its ballistic missile program.
日本や米国、英国、フランスは、ミサイル放棄を求めた安保理決議１７１８の違反だ、として制裁の履行を徹底する決議の採択を目指している。
However, China and Russia have not sided with Japan and the other three countries. They apparently accept North Korea's claim that it launched a satellite.
だが、中国とロシアは、「人工衛星の打ち上げ」という北朝鮮の主張に理解を示し、日米などに同調していない。
If the Security Council fails to adopt swift and robust measures against North Korea, the reclusive country will continue to use its nuclear arms and missiles to provoke and threaten others.
安保理が迅速に強い措置を取らなければ、北朝鮮は今後も、核やミサイルの挑発を続けよう。
Japan is within range of North Korea's Rodong missiles that have been deployed. If North Korea succeeds in building a smaller nuclear warhead, Japan will be staring down the barrel of a terrifying threat.
北朝鮮が核兵器の小型化に成功すれば、実戦配備ずみのノドン・ミサイルの射程にある日本にとって、脅威は極めて深刻化する。
Can Obama exercise strong leadership in preventing the spread of nuclear weapons? His ability to follow through on this is now being put to the test.
核拡散防止へ強い指導力を発揮できるのか。オバマ大統領の力量が、試される局面だ。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 7, 2009)
（2009年4月7日01時39分 読売新聞）
The Yomiuri Shimbun (Apr. 6, 2009)
UNSC must be tough with North Korea
北ミサイル発射 安保理は制裁決議の再確認を（4月6日付・読売社説）
North Korea's launch of a ballistic missile on Sunday was a reckless and dangerous provocation that stokes tension in the international community and directly threatens its peace and stability.
北朝鮮による弾道ミサイル発射は、国際社会の緊張を高め、平和と安定を損なう無謀で危険な挑発行為だ。
Japan was quite justified, along with the United States and South Korea, to have unreservedly condemned North Korea over the launch and immediately called on the U.N. Security Council to convene an emergency meeting.
日本が米国、韓国とともに、北朝鮮を厳しく非難し、直ちに国連安全保障理事会の緊急会合の招集を求めたのは、当然の措置である。
The request for the meeting was made after North Korea launched a three-stage, long-range ballistic missile, which the reclusive state claimed was a "rocket carrying a satellite." The Japanese government itself confirmed the missile had been launched.
北朝鮮が５日、「人工衛星運搬ロケット」と称する３段式の長距離弾道ミサイルを発射した。日本政府も、発射を確認した。
◆明白な決議違反だ◆
Japan, the United States and South Korea were united in pressing North Korea to abandon the plan, repeatedly warning the country that even a launch of a satellite would be a breach of U.N. Security Council Resolution 1718, which demanded North Korea suspend all activities related to its ballistic missile program.
日米韓の３か国は、衛星打ち上げであっても、「弾道ミサイル計画に関連するすべての活動停止」を求めた安保理決議１７１８に違反する、と北朝鮮に再三警告し、中止を迫ってきた。
===
Breach of U.N. resolution
However, North Korea thumbed its nose at the warnings and went ahead with the launch.
それを無視してのミサイル発射強行である。
North Korea is believed to have launched a modified version of the Taepodong-2 long-range ballistic missile. Three years ago, that country's test of such a missile ended in failure.
ミサイルは「テポドン２」の改良型と見られる。３年前、テポドン２の発射は失敗に終わった。
This time, however, North Korea declared its launch a success. This display was aimed at showing its improved missile technology.
今回、北朝鮮は発射に「成功した」と発表し、ミサイル技術の向上を誇示した形だ。
Domestically, North Korea's regime has been shaken over concerns regarding the health of its leader, Kim Jong Il, and its collapsing economy. Sunday's launch, therefore, appears to have been aimed at restoring the regime's stability.
国内的には、金正日総書記の健康不安や経済破綻(はたん)で動揺する体制の立て直しに、これを利用する狙いがあるのだろう。
The principles employed in rockets and missiles are the same. Attaching a nuclear warhead to a rocket instead of a satellite is enough to turn the projectile into a nuclear missile.
ロケットもミサイルも原理は同じだ。衛星の代わりに核弾頭を搭載すれば核ミサイルになる。
Japan is within range of Rodong missiles, which North Korea has deployed ready for an attack. If North Korea succeeds in downsizing a nuclear weapon and possesses a nuclear warhead, Japan will instantly come under direct threat from a nuclear missile. Consequently, the government must use every option at its disposal to press North Korea to abandon its nuclear weapons.
日本の場合、すでに北朝鮮が実戦配備しているノドン・ミサイルの射程にある。北朝鮮が核兵器の小型化に成功して核弾頭を手にすれば、たちまち核ミサイルの脅威にさらされる。北朝鮮に核放棄を迫ることは喫緊の課題だ。
North Korea insists that every country has the right to use space for peaceful purposes. However, that country's concurrent development of nuclear technology and missiles are all essential parts needed to complete a nuclear missile.
北朝鮮は「どの国にも平和的な宇宙利用の権利がある」と主張している。しかし、核とミサイルの開発を並行して続けている姿は、核ミサイルの完成に向けた動きそのものではないか。
===
UNSC should stand united
The Security Council is divided over how to respond to North Korea's missile launch. Among permanent members with veto-wielding power, Britain and France have taken steps in line with Japan and the United States, agreeing the launch was a violation of the Security Council resolution. However, China and Russia disagree.
安保理での対応は割れている。拒否権を持つ常任理事国は、英国とフランスが「決議違反」で日米と歩調を合わせたが、中国とロシアは同調していない。
Before the latest launch, North Korea fulfilled the international obligations necessary for conducting a satellite launch, including giving advance notice of the launch, joining the U.N. Outer Space Treaty and reporting the scheduled launch to the International Civil Aviation Organization.
北朝鮮は今回、発射の予告、宇宙条約への加盟、国際民間航空機関（ＩＣＡＯ）への通報など、衛星打ち上げに必要な国際的な義務を一応果たした。
Resolution 1718 does not explicitly ban North Korea from launching a satellite. This was behind the refusal of China and Russia to agree that the launch breached the resolution.
決議１７１８には、「衛星打ち上げ」を明確に禁ずる表現がない。中露はそれを根拠に、「決議違反」の主張に与(くみ)していない。
However, any dillydallying by Security Council members over how to interpret the resolution, which would expose a lack of unity, will only benefit North Korea.
だが、解釈などをめぐる議論に終始して、安保理の足並みの乱れを露呈すれば、北朝鮮を利するだけである。
◆核放棄を強く迫れ◆
Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone agreed during phone conversations with his U.S. and South Korean counterparts that the launch must not be tolerated because it breached the U.N. resolution. They also were on the same page over the necessity of sending a strong message to North Korea at the Security Council.
日米、日韓外相の電話会談では、今回の発射は決議違反で容認できないとして、安保理で北朝鮮に強いメッセージを出す必要があるとの認識で一致した。
We think the Security Council should reaffirm the strict interpretation of Resolution 1718, which demanded North Korea abandon all nuclear weapons and suspend all activities related to its ballistic missile program.
安保理は、核放棄やミサイル開発の中止を求め北朝鮮に制裁を科した決議１７１８の厳格な履行を再確認すべきである。
===
Sanctions should be tightened
Meanwhile, the Japanese government is set to extend its own economic sanctions against North Korea, which have been renewed every six months, by one year. The government is considering imposing additional sanctions, such as a total ban on exports to that country. Japan faces the greatest risk from North Korea's missile launch. Given this, we think it is reasonable to strengthen sanctions imposed on that country.
一方、日本政府は、半年ごとだった独自制裁の期間を１年間に延長して更新する方針だ。輸出の全面禁止など追加措置も検討している。ミサイルの最大の脅威を受けるのは日本であり、制裁を強化するのは当然だ。
The latest launch also left uncertain the fate of six-party talks aimed at dismantling North Korea's nuclear program. The talks have been stalled since North Korea disagreed with procedures aimed at verifying its declaration of its nuclear program.
今回の発射で、北朝鮮に核廃棄を迫る６か国協議の行方も不透明になった。６か国協議は、提出した核計画の検証手続きで北朝鮮が合意せず、停滞している。
North Korea has threatened to quit further six-party talks if the missile launch is taken up at the Security Council. If that country intends to leave the six-party framework, the Security Council should pressure North Korea by adopting a new resolution to force it back to the negotiating table.
北朝鮮は、ミサイル発射を「安保理が取り上げるなら、６か国協議はなくなる」などと牽制(けんせい)してきた。協議から離脱するというのであれば、安保理は新たな決議で北朝鮮に圧力をかけ、復帰させなければならない。
◆誤報を今後の教訓に◆
North Korea has declared it will continue launching "satellites."
北朝鮮は今後も「衛星打ち上げ」を続けるとしている。
Japan's missile defense system must be galvanized to prepare for and respond to North Korea's missile threat. It will be crucial to boost the accuracy of missile interceptions by stepping up training exercises and improving the system's efficiency.
北朝鮮のミサイルの脅威に備えるには、ミサイル防衛（ＭＤ）システムの一層の充実が欠かせない。さまざまな訓練を重ねて迎撃の精度を高め、システムの実効性を向上させることが重要だ。
===
Learn lessons from false alarms
Ahead of the latest launch, the Maritime Self-Defense Force's Aegis-equipped destroyers and Air Self-Defense Force surface-to-air missile units were deployed to prepare for any emergencies. Fortunately, they were not called on to intercept the launched missile.
今回、万一に備えて展開した海上自衛隊のイージス艦や航空自衛隊の地対空誘導弾部隊が、迎撃する局面はなくて済んだ。
The government used for the first time the Em-Net emergency network that links the Cabinet Secretariat with local governments via a special line to swiftly relay information on the missile launch. Regrettably, the government issued two false missile alarms Saturday.
政府は、迅速な発射情報の広報のため、内閣官房と自治体を専用回線で結ぶ通報システム「エムネット」を初めて運用した。
残念だったのは、４日に２回も「発射」を誤報したことだ。
The false alarms were issued after the ASDF radar system falsely detected "traces of a flying object" and erroneous information was relayed within the Defense Ministry. These mistakes raise serious questions about the government's crisis-management capability.
空自のレーダーの誤探知や、防衛省内の情報伝達の人為ミスなどが原因だ。政府の危機管理能力に疑問符がつきかねない。
North Korean missiles can reach Japanese territory in 10 minutes. To ensure the public's safety and relieve their anxiety as much as possible, the government must pursue both promptness and accuracy in the provision of emergency information.
北朝鮮のミサイルは１０分以内に日本に到達する。国民の安全を最大限確保し、不安を軽減するためには、情報提供において「迅速さ」と「正確さ」の両方を追求することが求められる。
The government should learn from the mistakes made Saturday by double-checking information that will be conveyed to the public, and improving how this information is relayed.
政府は、４日の失敗を教訓として、情報内容の二重チェックや国民への伝達方法の改善について、たゆまぬ努力をすべきだ。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 6, 2009)
（2009年4月6日01時49分 読売新聞）
UNSC must be tough with North Korea
北ミサイル発射 安保理は制裁決議の再確認を（4月6日付・読売社説）
North Korea's launch of a ballistic missile on Sunday was a reckless and dangerous provocation that stokes tension in the international community and directly threatens its peace and stability.
北朝鮮による弾道ミサイル発射は、国際社会の緊張を高め、平和と安定を損なう無謀で危険な挑発行為だ。
Japan was quite justified, along with the United States and South Korea, to have unreservedly condemned North Korea over the launch and immediately called on the U.N. Security Council to convene an emergency meeting.
日本が米国、韓国とともに、北朝鮮を厳しく非難し、直ちに国連安全保障理事会の緊急会合の招集を求めたのは、当然の措置である。
The request for the meeting was made after North Korea launched a three-stage, long-range ballistic missile, which the reclusive state claimed was a "rocket carrying a satellite." The Japanese government itself confirmed the missile had been launched.
北朝鮮が５日、「人工衛星運搬ロケット」と称する３段式の長距離弾道ミサイルを発射した。日本政府も、発射を確認した。
◆明白な決議違反だ◆
Japan, the United States and South Korea were united in pressing North Korea to abandon the plan, repeatedly warning the country that even a launch of a satellite would be a breach of U.N. Security Council Resolution 1718, which demanded North Korea suspend all activities related to its ballistic missile program.
日米韓の３か国は、衛星打ち上げであっても、「弾道ミサイル計画に関連するすべての活動停止」を求めた安保理決議１７１８に違反する、と北朝鮮に再三警告し、中止を迫ってきた。
===
Breach of U.N. resolution
However, North Korea thumbed its nose at the warnings and went ahead with the launch.
それを無視してのミサイル発射強行である。
North Korea is believed to have launched a modified version of the Taepodong-2 long-range ballistic missile. Three years ago, that country's test of such a missile ended in failure.
ミサイルは「テポドン２」の改良型と見られる。３年前、テポドン２の発射は失敗に終わった。
This time, however, North Korea declared its launch a success. This display was aimed at showing its improved missile technology.
今回、北朝鮮は発射に「成功した」と発表し、ミサイル技術の向上を誇示した形だ。
Domestically, North Korea's regime has been shaken over concerns regarding the health of its leader, Kim Jong Il, and its collapsing economy. Sunday's launch, therefore, appears to have been aimed at restoring the regime's stability.
国内的には、金正日総書記の健康不安や経済破綻(はたん)で動揺する体制の立て直しに、これを利用する狙いがあるのだろう。
The principles employed in rockets and missiles are the same. Attaching a nuclear warhead to a rocket instead of a satellite is enough to turn the projectile into a nuclear missile.
ロケットもミサイルも原理は同じだ。衛星の代わりに核弾頭を搭載すれば核ミサイルになる。
Japan is within range of Rodong missiles, which North Korea has deployed ready for an attack. If North Korea succeeds in downsizing a nuclear weapon and possesses a nuclear warhead, Japan will instantly come under direct threat from a nuclear missile. Consequently, the government must use every option at its disposal to press North Korea to abandon its nuclear weapons.
日本の場合、すでに北朝鮮が実戦配備しているノドン・ミサイルの射程にある。北朝鮮が核兵器の小型化に成功して核弾頭を手にすれば、たちまち核ミサイルの脅威にさらされる。北朝鮮に核放棄を迫ることは喫緊の課題だ。
North Korea insists that every country has the right to use space for peaceful purposes. However, that country's concurrent development of nuclear technology and missiles are all essential parts needed to complete a nuclear missile.
北朝鮮は「どの国にも平和的な宇宙利用の権利がある」と主張している。しかし、核とミサイルの開発を並行して続けている姿は、核ミサイルの完成に向けた動きそのものではないか。
===
UNSC should stand united
The Security Council is divided over how to respond to North Korea's missile launch. Among permanent members with veto-wielding power, Britain and France have taken steps in line with Japan and the United States, agreeing the launch was a violation of the Security Council resolution. However, China and Russia disagree.
安保理での対応は割れている。拒否権を持つ常任理事国は、英国とフランスが「決議違反」で日米と歩調を合わせたが、中国とロシアは同調していない。
Before the latest launch, North Korea fulfilled the international obligations necessary for conducting a satellite launch, including giving advance notice of the launch, joining the U.N. Outer Space Treaty and reporting the scheduled launch to the International Civil Aviation Organization.
北朝鮮は今回、発射の予告、宇宙条約への加盟、国際民間航空機関（ＩＣＡＯ）への通報など、衛星打ち上げに必要な国際的な義務を一応果たした。
Resolution 1718 does not explicitly ban North Korea from launching a satellite. This was behind the refusal of China and Russia to agree that the launch breached the resolution.
決議１７１８には、「衛星打ち上げ」を明確に禁ずる表現がない。中露はそれを根拠に、「決議違反」の主張に与(くみ)していない。
However, any dillydallying by Security Council members over how to interpret the resolution, which would expose a lack of unity, will only benefit North Korea.
だが、解釈などをめぐる議論に終始して、安保理の足並みの乱れを露呈すれば、北朝鮮を利するだけである。
◆核放棄を強く迫れ◆
Foreign Minister Hirofumi Nakasone agreed during phone conversations with his U.S. and South Korean counterparts that the launch must not be tolerated because it breached the U.N. resolution. They also were on the same page over the necessity of sending a strong message to North Korea at the Security Council.
日米、日韓外相の電話会談では、今回の発射は決議違反で容認できないとして、安保理で北朝鮮に強いメッセージを出す必要があるとの認識で一致した。
We think the Security Council should reaffirm the strict interpretation of Resolution 1718, which demanded North Korea abandon all nuclear weapons and suspend all activities related to its ballistic missile program.
安保理は、核放棄やミサイル開発の中止を求め北朝鮮に制裁を科した決議１７１８の厳格な履行を再確認すべきである。
===
Sanctions should be tightened
Meanwhile, the Japanese government is set to extend its own economic sanctions against North Korea, which have been renewed every six months, by one year. The government is considering imposing additional sanctions, such as a total ban on exports to that country. Japan faces the greatest risk from North Korea's missile launch. Given this, we think it is reasonable to strengthen sanctions imposed on that country.
一方、日本政府は、半年ごとだった独自制裁の期間を１年間に延長して更新する方針だ。輸出の全面禁止など追加措置も検討している。ミサイルの最大の脅威を受けるのは日本であり、制裁を強化するのは当然だ。
The latest launch also left uncertain the fate of six-party talks aimed at dismantling North Korea's nuclear program. The talks have been stalled since North Korea disagreed with procedures aimed at verifying its declaration of its nuclear program.
今回の発射で、北朝鮮に核廃棄を迫る６か国協議の行方も不透明になった。６か国協議は、提出した核計画の検証手続きで北朝鮮が合意せず、停滞している。
North Korea has threatened to quit further six-party talks if the missile launch is taken up at the Security Council. If that country intends to leave the six-party framework, the Security Council should pressure North Korea by adopting a new resolution to force it back to the negotiating table.
北朝鮮は、ミサイル発射を「安保理が取り上げるなら、６か国協議はなくなる」などと牽制(けんせい)してきた。協議から離脱するというのであれば、安保理は新たな決議で北朝鮮に圧力をかけ、復帰させなければならない。
◆誤報を今後の教訓に◆
North Korea has declared it will continue launching "satellites."
北朝鮮は今後も「衛星打ち上げ」を続けるとしている。
Japan's missile defense system must be galvanized to prepare for and respond to North Korea's missile threat. It will be crucial to boost the accuracy of missile interceptions by stepping up training exercises and improving the system's efficiency.
北朝鮮のミサイルの脅威に備えるには、ミサイル防衛（ＭＤ）システムの一層の充実が欠かせない。さまざまな訓練を重ねて迎撃の精度を高め、システムの実効性を向上させることが重要だ。
===
Learn lessons from false alarms
Ahead of the latest launch, the Maritime Self-Defense Force's Aegis-equipped destroyers and Air Self-Defense Force surface-to-air missile units were deployed to prepare for any emergencies. Fortunately, they were not called on to intercept the launched missile.
今回、万一に備えて展開した海上自衛隊のイージス艦や航空自衛隊の地対空誘導弾部隊が、迎撃する局面はなくて済んだ。
The government used for the first time the Em-Net emergency network that links the Cabinet Secretariat with local governments via a special line to swiftly relay information on the missile launch. Regrettably, the government issued two false missile alarms Saturday.
政府は、迅速な発射情報の広報のため、内閣官房と自治体を専用回線で結ぶ通報システム「エムネット」を初めて運用した。
残念だったのは、４日に２回も「発射」を誤報したことだ。
The false alarms were issued after the ASDF radar system falsely detected "traces of a flying object" and erroneous information was relayed within the Defense Ministry. These mistakes raise serious questions about the government's crisis-management capability.
空自のレーダーの誤探知や、防衛省内の情報伝達の人為ミスなどが原因だ。政府の危機管理能力に疑問符がつきかねない。
North Korean missiles can reach Japanese territory in 10 minutes. To ensure the public's safety and relieve their anxiety as much as possible, the government must pursue both promptness and accuracy in the provision of emergency information.
北朝鮮のミサイルは１０分以内に日本に到達する。国民の安全を最大限確保し、不安を軽減するためには、情報提供において「迅速さ」と「正確さ」の両方を追求することが求められる。
The government should learn from the mistakes made Saturday by double-checking information that will be conveyed to the public, and improving how this information is relayed.
政府は、４日の失敗を教訓として、情報内容の二重チェックや国民への伝達方法の改善について、たゆまぬ努力をすべきだ。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 6, 2009)
（2009年4月6日01時49分 読売新聞）
The Yomiuri Shimbun (Apr. 5, 2009)
New pension notice could prompt reforms
ねんきん定期便 制度改革の議論につなげたい（4月5日付・読売社説）
Regular and careful checks of your pension information serve as the most basic way of ensuring you will receive accurate pension payouts.
自分の年金記録は、まず、自らしっかり確認することが第一だ。
The government has decided to send out pension information records to every holder of a public pension policy just once a year, in the month their birthday falls. The mailout is called a "nenkin teikibin," or regular pension coverage notice.
公的年金の現役加入者に毎年１回、誕生月に届く「ねんきん定期便」の発送が始まった。
The "nenkin tokubetsubin" (pension coverage special notice) that was sent to everyone with a public pension policy until the end of last year served as an emergency information notice--part of an effort to track down the holders of about 50 million unidentified pension account records.
昨年末までに届いた「ねんきん特別便」は該当者不明の年金記録約５０００万件の持ち主を捜すための、いわば緊急情報だった。
===
System too complicated
The new annual notice is designed to allow current public pension program holders to confirm the details of their pensions with the government. Therefore, they include far more information than appeared on the special notice.
今後の定期便は、国との年金契約の詳細確認である。情報は特別便より格段に多い。
As we cannot fully trust information kept by the Social Insurance Agency, each one of us must carefully check the information we receive.
社会保険庁が管理してきた記録が信頼できない以上、一人ひとりが念入りにチェックしなければならない。
The biggest difference between the special notice and the regular notice is that the latter includes the standard monthly salary earned by salaried workers for the period they are or were in an employees pension program--an estimate, updated each year, of every salaried worker's average monthly earnings, on which pension benefits will be calculated.
特別便と最も違うのは、会社員として厚生年金に加入していた期間の「標準報酬月額」が記載されていることだ。毎年の大まかな月給である。これに基づいて将来の年金額が計算される。
There must be few people who can remember what they earned decades ago.
何十年も前の給与額を正確に覚えている人は少ないだろう。
Still, you must carefully check to see if, for example, your salary is shown to have sharply declined at one point, even though you do not remember ever taking a pay cut. In such a case, it is highly likely that the company you were working at or a social insurance office made mistakes or intentionally tampered with your data.
だが、給料が大きく変動した記憶がないのに標準報酬月額が急減していれば、要注意である。勤務先や社会保険事務所のミスか改ざんがあった可能性が高い。
But there are upper and lower limits listed for the amount of standard monthly salaries. Getting to grips with the entries in the regular pension coverage notice requires considerable knowledge of the national pension system.
ただし、標準報酬月額にも上限と下限がある。こうした定期便の記載を理解するには、年金制度についてかなりの知識が必要だ。
Why is the system so complicated and hard to understand? That must be the feeling of most people who will receive the notice.
なぜ、これほどまで難しく、分かりにくいのか。定期便を受け取った人の多くが、そんな感想を抱くことだろう。
That the regular public notice will be hard for the public to understand might sound ironic, but it could prove to be a point of major significance.
皮肉なことだが、それも定期便の大きな意義かもしれない。
Through close checks of the regular notices, we may come to understand the pension system's complexities and defects. We may also come to recognize the importance of appropriate management of information and of having a workable confirmation system. The new system must be treated as a prime opportunity to promote discussion on pension system reform and on the introduction of a social security number system.
定期便の点検を通じて、制度の複雑さと不備が見え、情報管理と確認システムの重要性も認識される。年金改革や社会保障番号の導入に向け、国民的議論を醸成する契機とするべきだ。
Efforts to correct pension record errors and ensure pension holders' rights have faced significant hurdles.
年金記録を正し、権利を回復する作業は難航している。
The holders of only 20 percent of the 50 million or so unidentified pension account records have been discovered so far.
該当者不明だった約５０００万件の記録は、まだ２割しか持ち主が判明していない。
A third-party committee tasked with officially classifying pension record errors as mistakes has been overwhelmed by the number of claims.
記録の誤りを認定する第三者委員会も処理が追いついていない。
Even after such records have been corrected, it has taken about a year for people to receive the correct amount of pension benefits.
記録が訂正されてから正しい年金が支給されるまで、１年近くもかかっている。
===
No time to waste
The government's advisory panel on the ideal administration of health, labor and welfare policy has proposed a temporary personnel increase to solve the pension records problem.
Taking this proposal into consideration, the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry is to increase the level of staff involved in works concerning the problem from the current 8,000 to a temporary level of more than 10,000.
政府の「厚生労働行政の在り方に関する懇談会」は、記録問題を解決するため、臨時的に人員を増強するよう提言した。これを受けて、担当職員は現在の８０００人から１万人以上に増える。
However, the key word here is "temporary." They will have to tackle the problem intensively and proceed with clerical work swiftly.
ただし、「臨時的に」という条件が重要だ。集中的に取り組み、迅速に事務処理を進めなければならない。
If time is wasted, it will be impossible to regain the public's confidence in the pension system, and the only outcome will have been a swelling of employee numbers at the ministry and Social Insurance Agency.
何年も時間をかけるようでは、年金制度の信頼回復が遠のくばかりか、厚労省と社保庁を肥大化させることにもなろう。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 5, 2009)
（2009年4月5日01時32分 読売新聞）
New pension notice could prompt reforms
ねんきん定期便 制度改革の議論につなげたい（4月5日付・読売社説）
Regular and careful checks of your pension information serve as the most basic way of ensuring you will receive accurate pension payouts.
自分の年金記録は、まず、自らしっかり確認することが第一だ。
The government has decided to send out pension information records to every holder of a public pension policy just once a year, in the month their birthday falls. The mailout is called a "nenkin teikibin," or regular pension coverage notice.
公的年金の現役加入者に毎年１回、誕生月に届く「ねんきん定期便」の発送が始まった。
The "nenkin tokubetsubin" (pension coverage special notice) that was sent to everyone with a public pension policy until the end of last year served as an emergency information notice--part of an effort to track down the holders of about 50 million unidentified pension account records.
昨年末までに届いた「ねんきん特別便」は該当者不明の年金記録約５０００万件の持ち主を捜すための、いわば緊急情報だった。
===
System too complicated
The new annual notice is designed to allow current public pension program holders to confirm the details of their pensions with the government. Therefore, they include far more information than appeared on the special notice.
今後の定期便は、国との年金契約の詳細確認である。情報は特別便より格段に多い。
As we cannot fully trust information kept by the Social Insurance Agency, each one of us must carefully check the information we receive.
社会保険庁が管理してきた記録が信頼できない以上、一人ひとりが念入りにチェックしなければならない。
The biggest difference between the special notice and the regular notice is that the latter includes the standard monthly salary earned by salaried workers for the period they are or were in an employees pension program--an estimate, updated each year, of every salaried worker's average monthly earnings, on which pension benefits will be calculated.
特別便と最も違うのは、会社員として厚生年金に加入していた期間の「標準報酬月額」が記載されていることだ。毎年の大まかな月給である。これに基づいて将来の年金額が計算される。
There must be few people who can remember what they earned decades ago.
何十年も前の給与額を正確に覚えている人は少ないだろう。
Still, you must carefully check to see if, for example, your salary is shown to have sharply declined at one point, even though you do not remember ever taking a pay cut. In such a case, it is highly likely that the company you were working at or a social insurance office made mistakes or intentionally tampered with your data.
だが、給料が大きく変動した記憶がないのに標準報酬月額が急減していれば、要注意である。勤務先や社会保険事務所のミスか改ざんがあった可能性が高い。
But there are upper and lower limits listed for the amount of standard monthly salaries. Getting to grips with the entries in the regular pension coverage notice requires considerable knowledge of the national pension system.
ただし、標準報酬月額にも上限と下限がある。こうした定期便の記載を理解するには、年金制度についてかなりの知識が必要だ。
Why is the system so complicated and hard to understand? That must be the feeling of most people who will receive the notice.
なぜ、これほどまで難しく、分かりにくいのか。定期便を受け取った人の多くが、そんな感想を抱くことだろう。
That the regular public notice will be hard for the public to understand might sound ironic, but it could prove to be a point of major significance.
皮肉なことだが、それも定期便の大きな意義かもしれない。
Through close checks of the regular notices, we may come to understand the pension system's complexities and defects. We may also come to recognize the importance of appropriate management of information and of having a workable confirmation system. The new system must be treated as a prime opportunity to promote discussion on pension system reform and on the introduction of a social security number system.
定期便の点検を通じて、制度の複雑さと不備が見え、情報管理と確認システムの重要性も認識される。年金改革や社会保障番号の導入に向け、国民的議論を醸成する契機とするべきだ。
Efforts to correct pension record errors and ensure pension holders' rights have faced significant hurdles.
年金記録を正し、権利を回復する作業は難航している。
The holders of only 20 percent of the 50 million or so unidentified pension account records have been discovered so far.
該当者不明だった約５０００万件の記録は、まだ２割しか持ち主が判明していない。
A third-party committee tasked with officially classifying pension record errors as mistakes has been overwhelmed by the number of claims.
記録の誤りを認定する第三者委員会も処理が追いついていない。
Even after such records have been corrected, it has taken about a year for people to receive the correct amount of pension benefits.
記録が訂正されてから正しい年金が支給されるまで、１年近くもかかっている。
===
No time to waste
The government's advisory panel on the ideal administration of health, labor and welfare policy has proposed a temporary personnel increase to solve the pension records problem.
Taking this proposal into consideration, the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry is to increase the level of staff involved in works concerning the problem from the current 8,000 to a temporary level of more than 10,000.
政府の「厚生労働行政の在り方に関する懇談会」は、記録問題を解決するため、臨時的に人員を増強するよう提言した。これを受けて、担当職員は現在の８０００人から１万人以上に増える。
However, the key word here is "temporary." They will have to tackle the problem intensively and proceed with clerical work swiftly.
ただし、「臨時的に」という条件が重要だ。集中的に取り組み、迅速に事務処理を進めなければならない。
If time is wasted, it will be impossible to regain the public's confidence in the pension system, and the only outcome will have been a swelling of employee numbers at the ministry and Social Insurance Agency.
何年も時間をかけるようでは、年金制度の信頼回復が遠のくばかりか、厚労省と社保庁を肥大化させることにもなろう。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 5, 2009)
（2009年4月5日01時32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）
[ スラチャイ編集の辞書 ]
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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
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初歩のシンハリ語
初歩のタガログ語
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タイ文字
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タイ語の副詞
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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）
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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