読売、毎日、朝日各社英字新聞の社説を学習研究
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(Mainichi Japan) September 05, 2008 from column namely yoroku.
Sumo association stung by surprise drug test results
余録：角界のリーダーシップの抜き打ち試験
"We're going to have a surprise test next week on a day you can't anticipate," said a teacher one day.
a surprise test＝抜き打ち試験 anticipate=予想する、予知する
A student stood up and objected: "That's logically impossible."
object=反論する logically=理論的に
"And why is that?" the teacher asked.
"If the test is to be held on Friday, there will be no tests till Thursday, and then we'll know for sure that the test will be held on the last day of the week so it won't be a surprise," the student explained. "If the test is secretly scheduled on the next last possible day, that's Thursday, and there is not a test till Wednesday, we'll know when the test will be, so that's not a surprise either, and so it goes on till Monday. In any case, you can't give such thing as a surprise test."
「最後の金曜は、その日まで試験がなければ必ずきょうだと分かるから抜き打ちにならない。次に試験がありうる最終日となる木曜もその日まで試験がなければ分かるからダメ。その次の水曜も同じ……。こうして月曜まで考えると、結局予想不能な抜き打ち試験はできません」
This is the "surprise test paradox," an example presented in any logic primer which illustrates how tricky surprise tests are.
論理学の入門書などで「抜き打ち試験のパラドックス（逆説）」として紹介される話である。
primer=入門書
The Japan Sumo Association (JSA) set up a surprise drug screening last Friday, and conducted it this Tuesday. The results were more surprising that the test: Two sumo wrestlers screened positive for marijuana use, namely Roho and his brother, Hakurozan, who are both Russian, as is Wakanoho, who was arrested previously for possessing marijuana. The police, after being notified by the association, searched the sumo stables to which the two wrestlers belong, the Otake stable and the Kitanoumi stable.
こと薬物使用をめぐる相撲協会の抜き打ち検査の場合、先週金曜にその実施方針が発表され、行われたのは今週の火曜だった。この検査で大麻の陽性反応が出たのは、すでに大麻所持容疑で逮捕された若ノ鵬と同じロシア出身の露鵬と白露山の兄弟力士だった。協会からの通報を受けた警察は、それぞれが所属する大嶽部屋と北の湖部屋などの家宅捜索を行っている。
Both wrestlers deny using marijuana, and the positive test may or may not be the result of inhaling marijuana smoke indirectly. The truth will be revealed by the investigation in time. But it must have been the Sumo Association itself, leading the charge against drug use, who was most surprised by the results indicating that marijuana had been used within a few days of the test.
２人は大麻使用を否定し、また陽性反応は大麻が使用される所での間接吸引でも出る可能性があるという。真相は捜査で明らかにされるだろう。ただ薬物使用抑止を狙った抜き打ち検査で、数日以内の大麻吸引を示す反応が飛び出たのに一番驚いたのは当の相撲協会でなかったか。
How will JSA chairman Kitanoumi, who has been busy warding off criticism over a string of recent scandals, cope with allegations of marijuana use in his own stable? This case will serve as a surprise test to the leadership of the sumo world. ("Yoroku," a front-page column in the Mainichi Shimbun)
ward off=危険、非難などを避ける
この間相次いだ不祥事では相撲協会への責任追及をかわしてきた北の湖理事長だが、自らの部屋の力士の大麻疑惑にどう対処するのか。角界のリーダーシップの抜き打ち試験だ。
余録：角界のリーダーシップの抜き打ち試験
「来週は、誰も予想できない日に抜き打ち試験を行う」。先生が生徒たちに告げた。するとある生徒が立ち上がって言った。「先生、そんな試験をするのは不可能です」。「どうしてだ」と聞き返す先生に生徒は説明した。「最後の金曜は、その日まで試験がなければ必ずきょうだと分かるから抜き打ちにならない。次に試験がありうる最終日となる木曜もその日まで試験がなければ分かるからダメ。その次の水曜も同じ……。こうして月曜まで考えると、結局予想不能な抜き打ち試験はできません」
論理学の入門書などで「抜き打ち試験のパラドックス（逆説）」として紹介される話である。こう見ると抜き打ちというのも、なかなかやっかいである。
こと薬物使用をめぐる相撲協会の抜き打ち検査の場合、先週金曜にその実施方針が発表され、行われたのは今週の火曜だった。この検査で大麻の陽性反応が出たのは、すでに大麻所持容疑で逮捕された若ノ鵬と同じロシア出身の露鵬と白露山の兄弟力士だった。協会からの通報を受けた警察は、それぞれが所属する大嶽部屋と北の湖部屋などの家宅捜索を行っている。２人は大麻使用を否定し、また陽性反応は大麻が使用される所での間接吸引でも出る可能性があるという。真相は捜査で明らかにされるだろう。ただ薬物使用抑止を狙った抜き打ち検査で、数日以内の大麻吸引を示す反応が飛び出たのに一番驚いたのは当の相撲協会でなかったか。この間相次いだ不祥事では相撲協会への責任追及をかわしてきた北の湖理事長だが、自らの部屋の力士の大麻疑惑にどう対処するのか。角界のリーダーシップの抜き打ち試験だ。
Sumo association stung by surprise drug test results
余録：角界のリーダーシップの抜き打ち試験
"We're going to have a surprise test next week on a day you can't anticipate," said a teacher one day.
a surprise test＝抜き打ち試験 anticipate=予想する、予知する
A student stood up and objected: "That's logically impossible."
object=反論する logically=理論的に
"And why is that?" the teacher asked.
"If the test is to be held on Friday, there will be no tests till Thursday, and then we'll know for sure that the test will be held on the last day of the week so it won't be a surprise," the student explained. "If the test is secretly scheduled on the next last possible day, that's Thursday, and there is not a test till Wednesday, we'll know when the test will be, so that's not a surprise either, and so it goes on till Monday. In any case, you can't give such thing as a surprise test."
「最後の金曜は、その日まで試験がなければ必ずきょうだと分かるから抜き打ちにならない。次に試験がありうる最終日となる木曜もその日まで試験がなければ分かるからダメ。その次の水曜も同じ……。こうして月曜まで考えると、結局予想不能な抜き打ち試験はできません」
This is the "surprise test paradox," an example presented in any logic primer which illustrates how tricky surprise tests are.
論理学の入門書などで「抜き打ち試験のパラドックス（逆説）」として紹介される話である。
primer=入門書
The Japan Sumo Association (JSA) set up a surprise drug screening last Friday, and conducted it this Tuesday. The results were more surprising that the test: Two sumo wrestlers screened positive for marijuana use, namely Roho and his brother, Hakurozan, who are both Russian, as is Wakanoho, who was arrested previously for possessing marijuana. The police, after being notified by the association, searched the sumo stables to which the two wrestlers belong, the Otake stable and the Kitanoumi stable.
こと薬物使用をめぐる相撲協会の抜き打ち検査の場合、先週金曜にその実施方針が発表され、行われたのは今週の火曜だった。この検査で大麻の陽性反応が出たのは、すでに大麻所持容疑で逮捕された若ノ鵬と同じロシア出身の露鵬と白露山の兄弟力士だった。協会からの通報を受けた警察は、それぞれが所属する大嶽部屋と北の湖部屋などの家宅捜索を行っている。
Both wrestlers deny using marijuana, and the positive test may or may not be the result of inhaling marijuana smoke indirectly. The truth will be revealed by the investigation in time. But it must have been the Sumo Association itself, leading the charge against drug use, who was most surprised by the results indicating that marijuana had been used within a few days of the test.
２人は大麻使用を否定し、また陽性反応は大麻が使用される所での間接吸引でも出る可能性があるという。真相は捜査で明らかにされるだろう。ただ薬物使用抑止を狙った抜き打ち検査で、数日以内の大麻吸引を示す反応が飛び出たのに一番驚いたのは当の相撲協会でなかったか。
How will JSA chairman Kitanoumi, who has been busy warding off criticism over a string of recent scandals, cope with allegations of marijuana use in his own stable? This case will serve as a surprise test to the leadership of the sumo world. ("Yoroku," a front-page column in the Mainichi Shimbun)
ward off=危険、非難などを避ける
この間相次いだ不祥事では相撲協会への責任追及をかわしてきた北の湖理事長だが、自らの部屋の力士の大麻疑惑にどう対処するのか。角界のリーダーシップの抜き打ち試験だ。
余録：角界のリーダーシップの抜き打ち試験
「来週は、誰も予想できない日に抜き打ち試験を行う」。先生が生徒たちに告げた。するとある生徒が立ち上がって言った。「先生、そんな試験をするのは不可能です」。「どうしてだ」と聞き返す先生に生徒は説明した。「最後の金曜は、その日まで試験がなければ必ずきょうだと分かるから抜き打ちにならない。次に試験がありうる最終日となる木曜もその日まで試験がなければ分かるからダメ。その次の水曜も同じ……。こうして月曜まで考えると、結局予想不能な抜き打ち試験はできません」
論理学の入門書などで「抜き打ち試験のパラドックス（逆説）」として紹介される話である。こう見ると抜き打ちというのも、なかなかやっかいである。
こと薬物使用をめぐる相撲協会の抜き打ち検査の場合、先週金曜にその実施方針が発表され、行われたのは今週の火曜だった。この検査で大麻の陽性反応が出たのは、すでに大麻所持容疑で逮捕された若ノ鵬と同じロシア出身の露鵬と白露山の兄弟力士だった。協会からの通報を受けた警察は、それぞれが所属する大嶽部屋と北の湖部屋などの家宅捜索を行っている。２人は大麻使用を否定し、また陽性反応は大麻が使用される所での間接吸引でも出る可能性があるという。真相は捜査で明らかにされるだろう。ただ薬物使用抑止を狙った抜き打ち検査で、数日以内の大麻吸引を示す反応が飛び出たのに一番驚いたのは当の相撲協会でなかったか。この間相次いだ不祥事では相撲協会への責任追及をかわしてきた北の湖理事長だが、自らの部屋の力士の大麻疑惑にどう対処するのか。角界のリーダーシップの抜き打ち試験だ。
PR
(Sep. 4, 2008) The Yomiuri Shimbun
Wasteful administrative body should be dissolved
雇用開発機構 無駄排除へ組織を解体せよ（9月4日付・読売社説）
Services currently provided by independent administrative agencies that could be provided by private or local entities should not be done by the agencies, and any services that are not in high demand should be abolished.
It is under this principle that drastic reform should be carried out.
民間や地方でできる業務は民間や地方に移し、必要性の高くない業務はやめる――。この原則を徹底し、抜本的な改革を断行すべきだ。
A government panel of experts studying measures to reduce administrative work and improve administrative efficiency has reached broad agreement that the Employment and Human Resources Development Organization of Japan should be dissolved and some of its operations abolished.
政府の行政減量・効率化有識者会議は、独立行政法人「雇用・能力開発機構」を解体、廃止することで大筋一致した。
The independent administrative agency for job support services is a huge organ--3,850 employees and an overall budget of 615.7 billion yen. Most of its operation costs, totaling 82.4 billion yen, is covered by funds from employment insurance premiums.
Wasteful spending must be thoroughly eliminated.
雇用・能力開発機構は、職員３８５０人、総予算６１５７億円という巨大な独法だ。事業費８２４億円の大半は、国民の払う雇用保険料で賄われている。駄を徹底的に省くのは当然だ。
===
Operations don't bear fruit
Among the agency' operations, the Vocational Museum in Kyoto Prefecture, which offers schoolchildren chances to learn about and try various types of jobs, has incurred deficits of more than 1 billion yen every year and epitomizes wasteful use of government funds.
毎年１０億円超の赤字を出す職業体験施設「私のしごと館」（京都府）は、国の無駄遣いの象徴的存在である。
The Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry, which oversees the independent administrative agency, argues that the facility should be maintained, since destroying such a magnificent facility would be a great loss. But the public will not accept such an argument.
「立派な施設を壊すのはもったいないので、存続させた方がいい」という厚生労働省側の論理は、国民に通用しない。
Services provided at the facility should first be suspended, and there should be discussions over how to effectively use the property, such as selling or leasing it to the private sector. Ideas from the private sector should be tapped during this part of the process.
施設の業務を中止したうえ、民間の知恵も借りつつ、民間企業への売却・貸与など、他の有効利用策を検討すべきだろう。
The Polytechnic University, at which vocational instructors are trained, likely will be abolished. Only 20 percent of the school's graduates actually become such instructors, with a majority of vocational instructors not being graduates of the school. The importance of the school therefore already is small.
職業訓練指導員を養成する職業能力開発総合大学校は、廃止する方向だ。卒業生の２割しか指導員にならず、指導員の過半数を卒業生以外が占めている。もはや大学校の存在意義は小さい。
Also, the government will consider transferring to prefectural authorities the duties of job training services provided by 61 centers for promoting occupational skills development, which function as employment safety nets.
雇用のセーフティーネット（安全網）の役割を担う６１の職業能力開発促進センターの職業訓練は、都道府県への移管を検討する。
Doing so would likely eliminate redundant job training services that also are provided by prefectural governments, and would promote reform efforts for decentralization.
都道府県独自の職業訓練との「二重行政」を解消することに加え、地方分権改革を後押しする効果が期待される。
But in order to prevent these transfers of services to local governments from becoming mere ceremony, implementation should be made only after the content of services is carefully examined and streamlined. Careful consideration also should be given to the issues of personnel relocations and transfer of revenue resources.
地方移管は、「看板の掛け替え」にならないように、事業内容の吟味とスリム化を前提とすべきだ。職員の配置転換や財源移譲にも目配りが必要となる。
===
Keep reform on track
The turning point in reforming the agency came when Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda in mid-August told Toshimitsu Motegi, state minister in charge of administrative reform, to make a decision at an early time on the dissolution of the agency.
改革の転機は、福田首相が８月中旬、組織を解体する方向で早期に結論を出すよう茂木行政改革相に指示したことだ。
Fukuda's decision was extremely grave. Rarely had such a top-down approach been taken by Fukuda, who is usually very consensus-oriented, waiting until views are coordinated within the government and ruling parties.
首相の決断は極めて重い。福田首相は従来、政府・与党内の調整を待つコンセンサス重視型で、自らの考えをトップダウンで実行することは少なかった。
Some Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry officials advocate keeping the independent administrative agency. But the government must stick to its commitment to dissolve the agency and let its operations either end, be transferred to local governments or be privatized, even after Fukuda steps down as prime minister.
厚労省には雇用・能力開発機構の存続論もくすぶる。福田首相が退陣しても、機構を解体し、各業務を廃止、地方移管、民営化する方向性を堅持せねばなるまい。
It has not been decided what to do with other independent administrative agencies, including the Japan Housing Finance Agency, which offers long-term low-interest housing loans. Decentralization efforts likely will be one of the major issues a post-Fukuda administration will have to tackle.
独法改革では、住宅金融支援機構などの問題が積み残されている。地方分権改革は、新内閣でも重要課題になろう。
The new prime minister, as well as the new administration's state minister in charge of administrative reform, will need to exercise leadership whenever necessary without relying on bureaucrats. This is the lesson that should be learned from the latest political twist.
次期首相や行革相は、これらの課題を官僚任せにせず、折に触れて自ら指導力を発揮すべきだ。それが今回の教訓である。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 4, 2008)
（2008年9月4日01時52分 読売新聞）
Wasteful administrative body should be dissolved
雇用開発機構 無駄排除へ組織を解体せよ（9月4日付・読売社説）
Services currently provided by independent administrative agencies that could be provided by private or local entities should not be done by the agencies, and any services that are not in high demand should be abolished.
It is under this principle that drastic reform should be carried out.
民間や地方でできる業務は民間や地方に移し、必要性の高くない業務はやめる――。この原則を徹底し、抜本的な改革を断行すべきだ。
A government panel of experts studying measures to reduce administrative work and improve administrative efficiency has reached broad agreement that the Employment and Human Resources Development Organization of Japan should be dissolved and some of its operations abolished.
政府の行政減量・効率化有識者会議は、独立行政法人「雇用・能力開発機構」を解体、廃止することで大筋一致した。
The independent administrative agency for job support services is a huge organ--3,850 employees and an overall budget of 615.7 billion yen. Most of its operation costs, totaling 82.4 billion yen, is covered by funds from employment insurance premiums.
Wasteful spending must be thoroughly eliminated.
雇用・能力開発機構は、職員３８５０人、総予算６１５７億円という巨大な独法だ。事業費８２４億円の大半は、国民の払う雇用保険料で賄われている。駄を徹底的に省くのは当然だ。
===
Operations don't bear fruit
Among the agency' operations, the Vocational Museum in Kyoto Prefecture, which offers schoolchildren chances to learn about and try various types of jobs, has incurred deficits of more than 1 billion yen every year and epitomizes wasteful use of government funds.
毎年１０億円超の赤字を出す職業体験施設「私のしごと館」（京都府）は、国の無駄遣いの象徴的存在である。
The Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry, which oversees the independent administrative agency, argues that the facility should be maintained, since destroying such a magnificent facility would be a great loss. But the public will not accept such an argument.
「立派な施設を壊すのはもったいないので、存続させた方がいい」という厚生労働省側の論理は、国民に通用しない。
Services provided at the facility should first be suspended, and there should be discussions over how to effectively use the property, such as selling or leasing it to the private sector. Ideas from the private sector should be tapped during this part of the process.
施設の業務を中止したうえ、民間の知恵も借りつつ、民間企業への売却・貸与など、他の有効利用策を検討すべきだろう。
The Polytechnic University, at which vocational instructors are trained, likely will be abolished. Only 20 percent of the school's graduates actually become such instructors, with a majority of vocational instructors not being graduates of the school. The importance of the school therefore already is small.
職業訓練指導員を養成する職業能力開発総合大学校は、廃止する方向だ。卒業生の２割しか指導員にならず、指導員の過半数を卒業生以外が占めている。もはや大学校の存在意義は小さい。
Also, the government will consider transferring to prefectural authorities the duties of job training services provided by 61 centers for promoting occupational skills development, which function as employment safety nets.
雇用のセーフティーネット（安全網）の役割を担う６１の職業能力開発促進センターの職業訓練は、都道府県への移管を検討する。
Doing so would likely eliminate redundant job training services that also are provided by prefectural governments, and would promote reform efforts for decentralization.
都道府県独自の職業訓練との「二重行政」を解消することに加え、地方分権改革を後押しする効果が期待される。
But in order to prevent these transfers of services to local governments from becoming mere ceremony, implementation should be made only after the content of services is carefully examined and streamlined. Careful consideration also should be given to the issues of personnel relocations and transfer of revenue resources.
地方移管は、「看板の掛け替え」にならないように、事業内容の吟味とスリム化を前提とすべきだ。職員の配置転換や財源移譲にも目配りが必要となる。
===
Keep reform on track
The turning point in reforming the agency came when Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda in mid-August told Toshimitsu Motegi, state minister in charge of administrative reform, to make a decision at an early time on the dissolution of the agency.
改革の転機は、福田首相が８月中旬、組織を解体する方向で早期に結論を出すよう茂木行政改革相に指示したことだ。
Fukuda's decision was extremely grave. Rarely had such a top-down approach been taken by Fukuda, who is usually very consensus-oriented, waiting until views are coordinated within the government and ruling parties.
首相の決断は極めて重い。福田首相は従来、政府・与党内の調整を待つコンセンサス重視型で、自らの考えをトップダウンで実行することは少なかった。
Some Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry officials advocate keeping the independent administrative agency. But the government must stick to its commitment to dissolve the agency and let its operations either end, be transferred to local governments or be privatized, even after Fukuda steps down as prime minister.
厚労省には雇用・能力開発機構の存続論もくすぶる。福田首相が退陣しても、機構を解体し、各業務を廃止、地方移管、民営化する方向性を堅持せねばなるまい。
It has not been decided what to do with other independent administrative agencies, including the Japan Housing Finance Agency, which offers long-term low-interest housing loans. Decentralization efforts likely will be one of the major issues a post-Fukuda administration will have to tackle.
独法改革では、住宅金融支援機構などの問題が積み残されている。地方分権改革は、新内閣でも重要課題になろう。
The new prime minister, as well as the new administration's state minister in charge of administrative reform, will need to exercise leadership whenever necessary without relying on bureaucrats. This is the lesson that should be learned from the latest political twist.
次期首相や行革相は、これらの課題を官僚任せにせず、折に触れて自ら指導力を発揮すべきだ。それが今回の教訓である。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 4, 2008)
（2008年9月4日01時52分 読売新聞）
(Sep. 3, 2008) The Yomiuri Shimbun
New govt must address challenges effectively
福田首相退陣 政策遂行へ強力な体制を作れ（9月2日付・読売社説）
The nation's top political leader has suddenly announced his intention to step down from the helm of government, the second such incident in less than a year. This is an extremely abnormal situation.
日本の最高リーダーが、またも、突然、政権の座から降りた。異常な事態である。
To minimize the chances of a political vacuum forming, the Liberal Democratic Party must waste no time in selecting a successor to Prime Minster Yasuo Fukuda and establishing a new administration.
自民党は、新たな総裁を早期に選び、後継首相の下、政治空白を最小限にとどめなければならない。
Fukuda expressed his intention to quit the top government post at a hastily arranged press conference at the Prime Minister's Office on Monday night.
福田首相が１日夜、緊急の記者会見を行い、辞任を表明した。
His announcement came despite the fact he reshuffled his Cabinet just a month ago, and stressed his desire to address Diet affairs with his new lineup in the forthcoming extraordinary session of the legislature.
首相は、１か月前に内閣改造を断行し、この体制で臨時国会に立ち向かう決意を強調していた。
However, Fukuda told the press conference Monday that he made up his mind to resign toward the end of last week, as he believed the task of materializing key policies would be better handled under a new leader and a new cabinet lineup.
首相は、先週末に辞任を決意したとし、その理由について「新しい布陣の下、政策の実現を図っていかなければならない」と語った。
===
Plagued by divided Diet
◆ねじれ国会に苦慮◆
On Sept. 12, 2007, then Prime Minister Shinzo Abe abruptly announced he was to resign, citing poor health among his reasons for doing so.
１年前の９月１２日、安倍前首相が健康上の理由もあって、突如辞意を表明した。
A major factor behind Abe's decision was the fact the LDP had suffered a devastating defeat in the House of Councillor's election in the summer of 2007, giving rise to a divided Diet in which the opposition holds a majority in the upper chamber while the ruling coalition parties control the lower house.
昨年夏の参院選で自民党が惨敗し、衆参ねじれ国会が出現した。これが前首相辞任の大きな引き金になった。
Fukuda, too, struggled to implement policies in the face of delaying tactics employed by the major opposition Democratic Party of Japan during Diet deliberations.
福田首相も、今年の通常国会で民主党の審議引き延ばし戦術に苦しみ、政策遂行に難渋した。
The legislation of a set of bills to maintain provisional tax rates on gasoline was seriously hampered by the opposition's tactics, causing confusion among the public as gasoline prices fluctuated wildly over a short period of time.
揮発油税の暫定税率を維持するための税制関連法案の成立がずれ込み、ガソリン価格が短期間に乱高下するなど国民生活に混乱が生じた。
Government-proposed candidates to step into the vacant position of Bank of Japan governor were repeatedly voted down in the upper house, leading to a ridiculous situation in which the central bank had no head figure for a considerable period of time.
日本銀行総裁の人事も、政府が提案した人事案が参院で繰り返し否決され、日銀総裁が一時不在となるという失態を招いた。
The brouhaha over gasoline tax issues and the Bank of Japan governorship symbolized the dysfunctional state of current Japanese politics.
いずれも日本政治の機能不全を象徴する出来事だった。
Before Fukuda's announcement, the DPJ and other opposition parties were expecting to continue with their confrontational stand against the coalition government.
近く召集予定の臨時国会でも、引き続き、民主党などの激しい抵抗が予想されていた。
As the prospects for realizing his key political agenda have faded, Fukuda has in effect been driven into relinquishing his position.
政策実現の展望も開けず、結局、辞任に追い込まれたといえる。
Coming, as it does, ahead of the coming extraordinary sitting of the Diet, Fukuda's announcement likely was made in an attempt to minimize the negative impact of his resignation on Diet business.
召集前の辞任表明は、国会への影響を最小限にとどめるためだろう。
Stubbornly low approval ratings for his Cabinet did little to help Fukuda's cause, and reshuffling his administration in an attempt to reinvigorate his power base came to nothing.
首相は、内閣支持率の低迷にも苦しんでいた。内閣改造も政権浮揚の転機にならなかった。
The terms of lower house members expire in just over a year's time. With a dissolution of the lower house for a general election on the horizon, calls for Fukuda to be replaced have grown louder in recent weeks among members of New Komeito, the LDP's junior coalition partner, and others, spotlighting the schism within the ruling bloc.
衆院議員の任期は残り１年に迫っている。早期の衆院解散・総選挙を念頭に、公明党などからも首相の交代を促すような発言も公然と出ており、与党内にきしみが生じていた。
During Monday's press conference, Fukuda said, "I can see myself objectively."
首相は辞任会見で、「私自身、自分自身を客観的に見ることができる」と述べた。
The remark could be seen as an admission that the ruling camp would fight more effectively in the next lower house general election with a new hand on the LDP tiller.
これは、次期衆院選を自らが自民党総裁として戦うことは適切でない、との判断を示したといえよう。
However, Fukuda should be credited for certain political accomplishments, such as altering the law to allow tax revenues exclusively used for road construction and maintenance to be used for general policy purposes. His hosting of the Group of Eight countries' summit meeting held in Toyakocho, Hokkaido, also is worthy of acclaim.
首相は、道路特定財源の一般財源化や、北海道洞爺湖サミットを無難にこなすなど、一定の成果を上げた。
However, in terms of stamping his mark on the nation's political landscape with policies that reflect his thinking--such as the creation of the consumer affairs agency--he has come up short, not least because of the ephemerality of his administration.
だが、消費者庁の設置など「福田色」の政策は実現できず、政権は短命に終わった。
The LDP has decided to make an official announcement of the party's presidential election next Wednesday and hold its vote and vote-counting on Sept. 22.
(自民党は来週の水曜日に党総裁選を行うことを公式に発表する。総裁選は１０月22日に行われる。 translated by srachai)
LDP Secretary General Taro Aso, who has been deemed Fukuda's most likely successor, expressed his intention Tuesday to run in the party election.
（自民党の麻生幹事長は福田首相の最も有力な後継者と目されているが、彼は総裁選に出馬することを火曜日発表した。translated by srachai）
In last year's post-Abe party presidential election, Aso fought one-on-one with Fukuda, garnering almost as many ballots as him in terms of votes cast by party members, but excepting LDP lawmakers.
（昨年の安部内閣のときの総裁選では、麻生氏は福田首相と選挙で対決姿勢を示し、多くの支持票をとりつけたが…excepting ? わかりません srachai）
===
Fair, transparent LDP election
◆オープンな総裁選を◆
In this sense there are great expectations for Aso, as a figure who can attract public support. However, the public is still uninformed as to the kind of policies he would pursue if he takes up the reins of government.
福田首相の後任としては、自民党の麻生幹事長が最有力候補とされてきた。
麻生氏は、昨年の「ポスト安倍」の自民党総裁選で、福田首相と一騎打ちを展開し、党員投票の得票では首相に迫った。麻生氏には、その意味で「選挙の顔」としての期待が高い。
Does he favor the retention of structural reform measures initiated by former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, or will he place priority--at least for the time being--on shoring up the faltering national economy?
ただ、麻生氏の政策については、国民には十分に知られていない。いわゆる小泉構造改革を続けるのか、当面の景気浮揚を優先するのか。
What ideas does he have to pave the way for an increase in the consumption tax rate?
消費税率の引き上げの道筋をどうつけるのか。
These matters doubtless will be among the major issues in the coming debate for the LDP presidential race.
今回の総裁選では、これらが大きな論点となろう。
The leadership battle should be staged in a fair and transparent manner. The public must be able to see if the country's next leader is competent enough to tackle key policy issues effectively.
自民党は、国民の前で堂々とオープンな総裁選を展開し、次のリーダーを選出、重要政策の遂行にあたらなければなるまい。
Presently, Japan is faced with a number of political and economic challenges--both domestically and in the international arena.
日本を取り巻く環境は、内外とも、政治、経済両面で「多事多難」である。
Most of these challenges cannot be met by Japan alone, such as problems relating to the U.S. subprime mortgage crisis and soaring oil prices.
それも、サブプライム問題や原油高など日本一国では対応できない難問ばかりだ。
As Fukuda has himself acknowledged, imbroglios in the divided Diet have caused numerous headaches for the government vis-a-vis decision making, especially with regard to the length of time it took to reach consensus on important issues such as the task of extending Japan's refueling mission in support of U.S.-led antiterrorism operations in the Indian Ocean.
We believe this is the very minimum required of this country if it is to play a beneficial role in the international community's fight against terrorism.
福田首相自身が認めるように、ねじれ国会の下、日本の政治は、何も決められない、決めるまでに相当な時間を要する、という状況が続いている。
特に、海上自衛隊によるインド洋での給油活動を継続することは、本来、日本が国際社会による「テロとの戦い」の一翼を担うための最低限の責務である。
During last year's extraordinary Diet session, the legislation of a new Antiterrorism Law was delayed due to objections from the DPJ--the largest party in the upper house--obliging the government to temporarily suspend the refueling activities.
昨年の臨時国会では、参院第１党の民主党の反対で、新テロ対策特別措置法の成立が遅れ、給油活動の中断を余儀なくされた。
===
Rebuild LDP-New Komeito ties
◆自公連携の再構築◆
New Komeito is currently wary about enacting the refueling mission extension bill through a second vote by employing a two-thirds ruling camp majority in the lower house to override the bill's rejection by the upper chamber.
今年は、公明党が衆院で３分の２以上の多数による再可決に慎重姿勢を示し、新テロ特措法改正案の成立自体が危ぶまれている。
There is thus no way to know whether the bill will be passed into law.
Fukuda's successor should, first of all, settle relations between the LDP and New Komeito to ensure the passage of the refueling bill through the Diet.
後継政権は、ギクシャクしている自公関係を立て直し、改正案の成立を期すべきだ。
Further, it has been confirmed that the domestic economy is in a deceleratory phase. To cope with this situation, the government and ruling coalition parties have decided on an emergency economic stimulus policy package worth more than 11 trillion yen, in addition to the compilation of a supplementary budget that incorporates 1.8 trillion yen in government disbursements.
日本の景気は後退局面入りが確実視されている。政府・与党は、事業規模１１兆円超の総合経済政策をまとめ、補正予算で１兆８０００億円の歳出を決定している。
The government's most pressing task is to ensure measures aimed at stimulating business produce tangible positive results.
この経済政策の実効を上げることが、喫緊の課題である。
Also high on the agenda during the coming extraordinary Diet session will be a number of bills pertaining to the social security system, which failed to secure Diet approval in the previous session.
臨時国会ではさらに、先の国会で積み残した社会保障の関連法案などの処理も予定されている。
We believe it is imperative for the post-Fukuda administration to establish a solid and potent Cabinet lineup to swiftly and flexibly tackle the pile of outstanding policy issues.
「ポスト福田」の新内閣は、一連の政策課題を迅速かつ機動的に遂行できるよう、強力な布陣を敷くことが何より肝要である。
(From the latest edition ofThe Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 2, 2008)
（2008年9月2日02時26分 読売新聞）
New govt must address challenges effectively
福田首相退陣 政策遂行へ強力な体制を作れ（9月2日付・読売社説）
The nation's top political leader has suddenly announced his intention to step down from the helm of government, the second such incident in less than a year. This is an extremely abnormal situation.
日本の最高リーダーが、またも、突然、政権の座から降りた。異常な事態である。
To minimize the chances of a political vacuum forming, the Liberal Democratic Party must waste no time in selecting a successor to Prime Minster Yasuo Fukuda and establishing a new administration.
自民党は、新たな総裁を早期に選び、後継首相の下、政治空白を最小限にとどめなければならない。
Fukuda expressed his intention to quit the top government post at a hastily arranged press conference at the Prime Minister's Office on Monday night.
福田首相が１日夜、緊急の記者会見を行い、辞任を表明した。
His announcement came despite the fact he reshuffled his Cabinet just a month ago, and stressed his desire to address Diet affairs with his new lineup in the forthcoming extraordinary session of the legislature.
首相は、１か月前に内閣改造を断行し、この体制で臨時国会に立ち向かう決意を強調していた。
However, Fukuda told the press conference Monday that he made up his mind to resign toward the end of last week, as he believed the task of materializing key policies would be better handled under a new leader and a new cabinet lineup.
首相は、先週末に辞任を決意したとし、その理由について「新しい布陣の下、政策の実現を図っていかなければならない」と語った。
===
Plagued by divided Diet
◆ねじれ国会に苦慮◆
On Sept. 12, 2007, then Prime Minister Shinzo Abe abruptly announced he was to resign, citing poor health among his reasons for doing so.
１年前の９月１２日、安倍前首相が健康上の理由もあって、突如辞意を表明した。
A major factor behind Abe's decision was the fact the LDP had suffered a devastating defeat in the House of Councillor's election in the summer of 2007, giving rise to a divided Diet in which the opposition holds a majority in the upper chamber while the ruling coalition parties control the lower house.
昨年夏の参院選で自民党が惨敗し、衆参ねじれ国会が出現した。これが前首相辞任の大きな引き金になった。
Fukuda, too, struggled to implement policies in the face of delaying tactics employed by the major opposition Democratic Party of Japan during Diet deliberations.
福田首相も、今年の通常国会で民主党の審議引き延ばし戦術に苦しみ、政策遂行に難渋した。
The legislation of a set of bills to maintain provisional tax rates on gasoline was seriously hampered by the opposition's tactics, causing confusion among the public as gasoline prices fluctuated wildly over a short period of time.
揮発油税の暫定税率を維持するための税制関連法案の成立がずれ込み、ガソリン価格が短期間に乱高下するなど国民生活に混乱が生じた。
Government-proposed candidates to step into the vacant position of Bank of Japan governor were repeatedly voted down in the upper house, leading to a ridiculous situation in which the central bank had no head figure for a considerable period of time.
日本銀行総裁の人事も、政府が提案した人事案が参院で繰り返し否決され、日銀総裁が一時不在となるという失態を招いた。
The brouhaha over gasoline tax issues and the Bank of Japan governorship symbolized the dysfunctional state of current Japanese politics.
いずれも日本政治の機能不全を象徴する出来事だった。
Before Fukuda's announcement, the DPJ and other opposition parties were expecting to continue with their confrontational stand against the coalition government.
近く召集予定の臨時国会でも、引き続き、民主党などの激しい抵抗が予想されていた。
As the prospects for realizing his key political agenda have faded, Fukuda has in effect been driven into relinquishing his position.
政策実現の展望も開けず、結局、辞任に追い込まれたといえる。
Coming, as it does, ahead of the coming extraordinary sitting of the Diet, Fukuda's announcement likely was made in an attempt to minimize the negative impact of his resignation on Diet business.
召集前の辞任表明は、国会への影響を最小限にとどめるためだろう。
Stubbornly low approval ratings for his Cabinet did little to help Fukuda's cause, and reshuffling his administration in an attempt to reinvigorate his power base came to nothing.
首相は、内閣支持率の低迷にも苦しんでいた。内閣改造も政権浮揚の転機にならなかった。
The terms of lower house members expire in just over a year's time. With a dissolution of the lower house for a general election on the horizon, calls for Fukuda to be replaced have grown louder in recent weeks among members of New Komeito, the LDP's junior coalition partner, and others, spotlighting the schism within the ruling bloc.
衆院議員の任期は残り１年に迫っている。早期の衆院解散・総選挙を念頭に、公明党などからも首相の交代を促すような発言も公然と出ており、与党内にきしみが生じていた。
During Monday's press conference, Fukuda said, "I can see myself objectively."
首相は辞任会見で、「私自身、自分自身を客観的に見ることができる」と述べた。
The remark could be seen as an admission that the ruling camp would fight more effectively in the next lower house general election with a new hand on the LDP tiller.
これは、次期衆院選を自らが自民党総裁として戦うことは適切でない、との判断を示したといえよう。
However, Fukuda should be credited for certain political accomplishments, such as altering the law to allow tax revenues exclusively used for road construction and maintenance to be used for general policy purposes. His hosting of the Group of Eight countries' summit meeting held in Toyakocho, Hokkaido, also is worthy of acclaim.
首相は、道路特定財源の一般財源化や、北海道洞爺湖サミットを無難にこなすなど、一定の成果を上げた。
However, in terms of stamping his mark on the nation's political landscape with policies that reflect his thinking--such as the creation of the consumer affairs agency--he has come up short, not least because of the ephemerality of his administration.
だが、消費者庁の設置など「福田色」の政策は実現できず、政権は短命に終わった。
The LDP has decided to make an official announcement of the party's presidential election next Wednesday and hold its vote and vote-counting on Sept. 22.
(自民党は来週の水曜日に党総裁選を行うことを公式に発表する。総裁選は１０月22日に行われる。 translated by srachai)
LDP Secretary General Taro Aso, who has been deemed Fukuda's most likely successor, expressed his intention Tuesday to run in the party election.
（自民党の麻生幹事長は福田首相の最も有力な後継者と目されているが、彼は総裁選に出馬することを火曜日発表した。translated by srachai）
In last year's post-Abe party presidential election, Aso fought one-on-one with Fukuda, garnering almost as many ballots as him in terms of votes cast by party members, but excepting LDP lawmakers.
（昨年の安部内閣のときの総裁選では、麻生氏は福田首相と選挙で対決姿勢を示し、多くの支持票をとりつけたが…excepting ? わかりません srachai）
===
Fair, transparent LDP election
◆オープンな総裁選を◆
In this sense there are great expectations for Aso, as a figure who can attract public support. However, the public is still uninformed as to the kind of policies he would pursue if he takes up the reins of government.
福田首相の後任としては、自民党の麻生幹事長が最有力候補とされてきた。
麻生氏は、昨年の「ポスト安倍」の自民党総裁選で、福田首相と一騎打ちを展開し、党員投票の得票では首相に迫った。麻生氏には、その意味で「選挙の顔」としての期待が高い。
Does he favor the retention of structural reform measures initiated by former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, or will he place priority--at least for the time being--on shoring up the faltering national economy?
ただ、麻生氏の政策については、国民には十分に知られていない。いわゆる小泉構造改革を続けるのか、当面の景気浮揚を優先するのか。
What ideas does he have to pave the way for an increase in the consumption tax rate?
消費税率の引き上げの道筋をどうつけるのか。
These matters doubtless will be among the major issues in the coming debate for the LDP presidential race.
今回の総裁選では、これらが大きな論点となろう。
The leadership battle should be staged in a fair and transparent manner. The public must be able to see if the country's next leader is competent enough to tackle key policy issues effectively.
自民党は、国民の前で堂々とオープンな総裁選を展開し、次のリーダーを選出、重要政策の遂行にあたらなければなるまい。
Presently, Japan is faced with a number of political and economic challenges--both domestically and in the international arena.
日本を取り巻く環境は、内外とも、政治、経済両面で「多事多難」である。
Most of these challenges cannot be met by Japan alone, such as problems relating to the U.S. subprime mortgage crisis and soaring oil prices.
それも、サブプライム問題や原油高など日本一国では対応できない難問ばかりだ。
As Fukuda has himself acknowledged, imbroglios in the divided Diet have caused numerous headaches for the government vis-a-vis decision making, especially with regard to the length of time it took to reach consensus on important issues such as the task of extending Japan's refueling mission in support of U.S.-led antiterrorism operations in the Indian Ocean.
We believe this is the very minimum required of this country if it is to play a beneficial role in the international community's fight against terrorism.
福田首相自身が認めるように、ねじれ国会の下、日本の政治は、何も決められない、決めるまでに相当な時間を要する、という状況が続いている。
特に、海上自衛隊によるインド洋での給油活動を継続することは、本来、日本が国際社会による「テロとの戦い」の一翼を担うための最低限の責務である。
During last year's extraordinary Diet session, the legislation of a new Antiterrorism Law was delayed due to objections from the DPJ--the largest party in the upper house--obliging the government to temporarily suspend the refueling activities.
昨年の臨時国会では、参院第１党の民主党の反対で、新テロ対策特別措置法の成立が遅れ、給油活動の中断を余儀なくされた。
===
Rebuild LDP-New Komeito ties
◆自公連携の再構築◆
New Komeito is currently wary about enacting the refueling mission extension bill through a second vote by employing a two-thirds ruling camp majority in the lower house to override the bill's rejection by the upper chamber.
今年は、公明党が衆院で３分の２以上の多数による再可決に慎重姿勢を示し、新テロ特措法改正案の成立自体が危ぶまれている。
There is thus no way to know whether the bill will be passed into law.
Fukuda's successor should, first of all, settle relations between the LDP and New Komeito to ensure the passage of the refueling bill through the Diet.
後継政権は、ギクシャクしている自公関係を立て直し、改正案の成立を期すべきだ。
Further, it has been confirmed that the domestic economy is in a deceleratory phase. To cope with this situation, the government and ruling coalition parties have decided on an emergency economic stimulus policy package worth more than 11 trillion yen, in addition to the compilation of a supplementary budget that incorporates 1.8 trillion yen in government disbursements.
日本の景気は後退局面入りが確実視されている。政府・与党は、事業規模１１兆円超の総合経済政策をまとめ、補正予算で１兆８０００億円の歳出を決定している。
The government's most pressing task is to ensure measures aimed at stimulating business produce tangible positive results.
この経済政策の実効を上げることが、喫緊の課題である。
Also high on the agenda during the coming extraordinary Diet session will be a number of bills pertaining to the social security system, which failed to secure Diet approval in the previous session.
臨時国会ではさらに、先の国会で積み残した社会保障の関連法案などの処理も予定されている。
We believe it is imperative for the post-Fukuda administration to establish a solid and potent Cabinet lineup to swiftly and flexibly tackle the pile of outstanding policy issues.
「ポスト福田」の新内閣は、一連の政策課題を迅速かつ機動的に遂行できるよう、強力な布陣を敷くことが何より肝要である。
(From the latest edition ofThe Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 2, 2008)
（2008年9月2日02時26分 読売新聞）
結婚情報：
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出会いはいつも、偶然の風の中…
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その他の結婚情報を見る→結婚情報
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アンケートに回答してポイントを貯めよう！貯まったポイントは、
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(Sep. 1, 2008) The Yomiuri Shimbun
Govt vision on space must be clear, concise
宇宙戦略本部 司令塔として責任を果たせ（9月1日付・読売社説）
The basic law on space came into effect late last month, finally providing a system that allows the nation's political leaders to promote Japan's space policy.
日本の宇宙政策を政治主導で進める体制がようやく整った。その司令塔になるのが、政府の宇宙開発戦略本部だ。
The government's policy command center on space is called the headquarters for space development strategy. We hope the headquarters will provide a clear vision on how to best utilize space and proactively promote space development as part of a national strategy.
宇宙利用の将来展望を明確に示し、国家戦略としての宇宙開発を積極的に進めてもらいたい。
The basic space law was enacted in the previous ordinary Diet session, and the headquarters that was set up in late August is headed by Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda, and all other Cabinet ministers participate in it.
先の通常国会で成立した宇宙基本法が施行された。宇宙開発戦略本部は、福田首相が本部長を務め、全閣僚が参加する。
By spring, the headquarters will compile a basic space development plan that will include an outline of the government's position on space development and utilization, as well as the policy measures it believes should be implemented.
同本部は、来春をめどに、宇宙開発・利用の基本方針や、実施すべき政策などを盛り込んだ宇宙基本計画を作る。
It also will establish a "space bureau" within the Cabinet Office that will collectively manage the nation's space administration.
宇宙行政を一元化するため、内閣府に「宇宙局」を設置する。
The two major pillars of the basic space law are the lifting of a ban on the military use of space and industrial promotion related to space development.
宇宙基本法は、宇宙の軍事利用解禁と産業振興が大きな柱だ。
Japan's use of space has previously been limited to nonmilitary fields, but the new law allows space to be used for defense purposes.
これまで非軍事分野に限定してきた宇宙利用について、防衛目的での利用を容認した。
It is natural that space should be put to effective use for the nation's security. The government should study how the Self-Defense Forces could best utilize space, such as the introduction of reconnaissance satellites, which have a far more advanced monitoring ability than the intelligence-gathering satellites currently employed.
日本の安全保障に、宇宙を有効活用するのは当然のことだ。現在保有する情報収集衛星よりも高い監視能力を持つ偵察衛星の導入など、自衛隊による宇宙利用のあり方を幅広く検討すべきだ。
===
Unity on space policy a must
Hierarchical division among administrative bodies have adversely impacted on many government projects, including those tied to space administration.
縦割りの弊害は、宇宙行政でも顕著だった。
The development of an excellent rocket engine, for example, was not enough to ensure it was put to use, because the related development project had been advanced without coordination of related ministries and agencies.
優れたロケットエンジンなどを開発しても、実用化に結びつけられず、省庁間の連携を欠いたまま、事業が進められてきた。
As for the basic policy on space to be formulated, a comprehensive viewpoint will prove indispensable to ensure that cutting-edge technical research revitalizes space-related industries and enhances the nation's international competitiveness, in addition to its utilization in the security field
基本計画の策定では、最先端の技術研究を、安全保障分野にとどまらず、宇宙産業の活性化や国際競争力の強化につなげていく総合的な視点が不可欠だ。
A member of the Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry was appointed to the post of the secretary general of the headquarters, not someone from the Education, Science and Technology Ministry, a move that showed Fukuda gave extra weight to the promotion of industry.
戦略本部の事務局長に、文部科学省ではなく経済産業省の出身者を充てたのも、産業振興の観点を重視したためだろう。
===
Goals must be clarified
Space development involves huge fiscal outlays and considerable risks. It is important, therefore, that concrete goals and schedules are clarified in the basic program.
宇宙開発には、巨額の資金とリスクが伴う。基本計画では、具体的な達成目標や時期を明示することが大切だ。
If the government cannot clearly explain the program, including its planned investments, private companies will hesitate to participate in it.
国が投資額を含めた全体像を示さなければ、民間企業も、参入をためらってしまう。
Of course, since a huge amount of taxpayers' money will be invested, the government bears a great responsibility for strictly calculating project costs versus benefits and disclosing this information to the public.
もちろん、多額の税金を投入する以上、プロジェクトの費用対効果を厳しく見積もり、国民に情報を公開する責任がある。
In addition, if a project does not proceed as planned, it is important the government make a decision on whether to withdraw from it as soon as possible.
計画通りに事業が進まない場合は、早期に撤退する判断も大切だ。
In addition to the United States, Russia and European nations, newly emerging economies such as China and India have started to seriously considering how they wish to utilize space.
欧米やロシアだけでなく、新興国の中国やインドも、宇宙利用に本腰を入れている。
International competition for orders from developing nations, such as African states, to launch satellites is becoming increasingly fierce.
アフリカなど途上国からの衛星打ち上げの受注をめぐって、国際競争も激しくなるばかりだ。
Meanwhile, in recent years international cooperation on space projects also has been strengthening, including the creation of a disaster-monitoring network that utilizes weather satellites and telecommunications networks across Asia.
一方で、近年、アジア地域で、気象衛星や情報通信を活用して災害監視のネットワークを作るなど国際的な協力も進んでいる。
Regardless of how the nation's space programs proceed, policies that ensure close cooperation between the government and private sector on future space programs must be put in place.
いずれも、日本として、官民一体の取り組みが必要だ。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 1, 2008)
（2008年9月1日01時47分 読売新聞）
Govt vision on space must be clear, concise
宇宙戦略本部 司令塔として責任を果たせ（9月1日付・読売社説）
The basic law on space came into effect late last month, finally providing a system that allows the nation's political leaders to promote Japan's space policy.
日本の宇宙政策を政治主導で進める体制がようやく整った。その司令塔になるのが、政府の宇宙開発戦略本部だ。
The government's policy command center on space is called the headquarters for space development strategy. We hope the headquarters will provide a clear vision on how to best utilize space and proactively promote space development as part of a national strategy.
宇宙利用の将来展望を明確に示し、国家戦略としての宇宙開発を積極的に進めてもらいたい。
The basic space law was enacted in the previous ordinary Diet session, and the headquarters that was set up in late August is headed by Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda, and all other Cabinet ministers participate in it.
先の通常国会で成立した宇宙基本法が施行された。宇宙開発戦略本部は、福田首相が本部長を務め、全閣僚が参加する。
By spring, the headquarters will compile a basic space development plan that will include an outline of the government's position on space development and utilization, as well as the policy measures it believes should be implemented.
同本部は、来春をめどに、宇宙開発・利用の基本方針や、実施すべき政策などを盛り込んだ宇宙基本計画を作る。
It also will establish a "space bureau" within the Cabinet Office that will collectively manage the nation's space administration.
宇宙行政を一元化するため、内閣府に「宇宙局」を設置する。
The two major pillars of the basic space law are the lifting of a ban on the military use of space and industrial promotion related to space development.
宇宙基本法は、宇宙の軍事利用解禁と産業振興が大きな柱だ。
Japan's use of space has previously been limited to nonmilitary fields, but the new law allows space to be used for defense purposes.
これまで非軍事分野に限定してきた宇宙利用について、防衛目的での利用を容認した。
It is natural that space should be put to effective use for the nation's security. The government should study how the Self-Defense Forces could best utilize space, such as the introduction of reconnaissance satellites, which have a far more advanced monitoring ability than the intelligence-gathering satellites currently employed.
日本の安全保障に、宇宙を有効活用するのは当然のことだ。現在保有する情報収集衛星よりも高い監視能力を持つ偵察衛星の導入など、自衛隊による宇宙利用のあり方を幅広く検討すべきだ。
===
Unity on space policy a must
Hierarchical division among administrative bodies have adversely impacted on many government projects, including those tied to space administration.
縦割りの弊害は、宇宙行政でも顕著だった。
The development of an excellent rocket engine, for example, was not enough to ensure it was put to use, because the related development project had been advanced without coordination of related ministries and agencies.
優れたロケットエンジンなどを開発しても、実用化に結びつけられず、省庁間の連携を欠いたまま、事業が進められてきた。
As for the basic policy on space to be formulated, a comprehensive viewpoint will prove indispensable to ensure that cutting-edge technical research revitalizes space-related industries and enhances the nation's international competitiveness, in addition to its utilization in the security field
基本計画の策定では、最先端の技術研究を、安全保障分野にとどまらず、宇宙産業の活性化や国際競争力の強化につなげていく総合的な視点が不可欠だ。
A member of the Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry was appointed to the post of the secretary general of the headquarters, not someone from the Education, Science and Technology Ministry, a move that showed Fukuda gave extra weight to the promotion of industry.
戦略本部の事務局長に、文部科学省ではなく経済産業省の出身者を充てたのも、産業振興の観点を重視したためだろう。
===
Goals must be clarified
Space development involves huge fiscal outlays and considerable risks. It is important, therefore, that concrete goals and schedules are clarified in the basic program.
宇宙開発には、巨額の資金とリスクが伴う。基本計画では、具体的な達成目標や時期を明示することが大切だ。
If the government cannot clearly explain the program, including its planned investments, private companies will hesitate to participate in it.
国が投資額を含めた全体像を示さなければ、民間企業も、参入をためらってしまう。
Of course, since a huge amount of taxpayers' money will be invested, the government bears a great responsibility for strictly calculating project costs versus benefits and disclosing this information to the public.
もちろん、多額の税金を投入する以上、プロジェクトの費用対効果を厳しく見積もり、国民に情報を公開する責任がある。
In addition, if a project does not proceed as planned, it is important the government make a decision on whether to withdraw from it as soon as possible.
計画通りに事業が進まない場合は、早期に撤退する判断も大切だ。
In addition to the United States, Russia and European nations, newly emerging economies such as China and India have started to seriously considering how they wish to utilize space.
欧米やロシアだけでなく、新興国の中国やインドも、宇宙利用に本腰を入れている。
International competition for orders from developing nations, such as African states, to launch satellites is becoming increasingly fierce.
アフリカなど途上国からの衛星打ち上げの受注をめぐって、国際競争も激しくなるばかりだ。
Meanwhile, in recent years international cooperation on space projects also has been strengthening, including the creation of a disaster-monitoring network that utilizes weather satellites and telecommunications networks across Asia.
一方で、近年、アジア地域で、気象衛星や情報通信を活用して災害監視のネットワークを作るなど国際的な協力も進んでいる。
Regardless of how the nation's space programs proceed, policies that ensure close cooperation between the government and private sector on future space programs must be put in place.
いずれも、日本として、官民一体の取り組みが必要だ。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 1, 2008)
（2008年9月1日01時47分 読売新聞）
(Aug. 31, 2008) The Yomiuri Shimbun
Use natl test questions in regular classes
全国学力テスト 集積データを授業に生かせ（8月31日付・読売社説）
Now that the Education, Science and Technology Ministry has announced the results of this year's nationwide academic achievement examination for primary school sixth-graders and middle school third-graders, test results for two consecutive years are finally available.
The exam was resurrected last year after a 43-year hiatus. It tests basic knowledge in Japanese language, arithmetic and mathematics, as well as the ability to apply such knowledge.
ようやく２年分のデータがそろった。昨年、復活した文部科学省の全国学力テストの今年分の結果が公表された。
We hope the ministry, prefectural and municipal boards of education and schools will compare and carefully analyze the data to help them formulate education policies and improve the pedagogic content of related subjects.
集まったデータをよく比較・分析し、文科省や各教育委員会の施策、学校の授業の改善に役立ててもらいたい。
Compared with last year, all the average percentages for the number of correct answers decreased both for primary and middle school students in both basic knowledge and applied skills questions in all subjects.
今年は昨年に比べ、小学６年生、中学３年生ともに、国語と算数・数学の知識を問う問題、知識を活用する能力を問う問題の両方で、すべて平均正答率が下がった。
The ministry said this was because test questions this year were more difficult than last year.
文科省では「昨年より問題が難しかったため」としている。
Test results cannot be easily compared if the degree of difficulty greatly differs.
難易度が大きく異なっては、結果が比較しづらくなる。
Also, many pupils and students reportedly complained that they did not have enough time to answer the questions.
「時間が足りなかった」という児童生徒も多い。
These are points that the ministry must improve in future tests.
今後の検討課題だろう。
===
Gaps do exist
The ministry said there were no major variations in the test results for either primary or middle schools according to prefecture.
文科省は、小中学校とも「都道府県で大きなばらつきはない」としている。
But a close look at the results shows that average scores achieved by top-ranking Fukui Prefecture middle school students in the basic and applied mathematics tests were about 20 points higher than those recorded by their peers in bottom-ranking Okinawa Prefecture.
A similar situation obtains between Akita Prefecture, top in primary school basic and applied Japanese, and Okinawa, the lowliest placed prefecture in that subject.
だが、個別にみると、「知識」「活用」の双方で、中学校・数学トップの福井、小学校・国語トップの秋田と、いずれも最下位の沖縄では、正答率に２０ポイント前後の差がある。
The top- and bottom-ranking prefectures this year are almost the same as those in last year's achievement exam.
上位と下位の顔ぶれは、昨年とほぼ同じだ。
What factors give the top-ranking prefectures' students the edge over those in other prefectures?
上位の県は何が優れているのか。
The government should carry out in-depth surveys of schools in prefectures that chalk up good test results by, for instance, sending officials to study their methods and announcing the results of their surveys with the aim of improving the academic achievement level of the nation as a whole.
学校への実地調査など掘り下げた分析を行い、その結果を公表して全体の学力向上につなげるべきではないか。
What we are concerned about is that only slightly under 50 percent of primary schools and slightly under 40 percent of middle schools are using questions from last year's test in regular classes.
気になるのは、昨年のテストを授業で使っているのが、小学校で５割弱、中学校では４割弱しかないことだ。
Good test questions will be wasted if they are not actually utilized during classroom hours. The ministry should promote the use of the test questions in everyday classes.
どんな良問でも、授業に生かされなくては効果が薄れる。もっと利用を促すべきだ。
===
Lifestyle, study habits important
Examining the results of this year's and last year's tests, there are correlations between the students' academic achievement and their lifestyle and study habits at home.
昨年と今年の結果を見ると、学力と家庭での生活・学習習慣には相関関係がある。
Children who indicated in a questionnaire they completed on the day of the test that they lead organized lives, doing such things as "eating breakfast every day" and "checking things to bring to school the previous day or in the morning before school" got good scores in the test.
「朝食を毎日食べる」「学校に持って行くものを前日か当日朝に確かめる」など、規則正しい生活を送る子どもは正答率が高い。
Schools whose students do well academically have some things in common.
学力の高い学校にも、一定の共通点がある。
They train children to acquire reading and writing habits using a variety of measures, for example.
例えば、物を書いたり様々な文章を読んだりする習慣をつける授業をしている。
In addition, they announce their education activities on their school Web sites or set days when local residents may freely observe classes, in an effort to win the understanding and cooperation of their local communities.
また、地域に理解と協力を求めるため、教育活動をホームページで公表したり、住民が自由に授業参観できる日を設けたりしている学校だ。
Meanwhile, Tottori Prefecture's information disclosure council became the focus of national attention in July, when it released a report suggesting that academic results for each city, town, village and school in the prefecture should be disclosed.
一方、市町村別・学校別のテスト結果については、鳥取県の情報公開審議会が７月に開示すべきだとの答申を出し、注目された。
However, the prefecture's board of education decided against disclosing such detailed data as those who are involved in the prefecture's education and some students' parents were opposed to the idea, saying such transparency would create a hierarchy of schools and invite excessive competition.
しかし、「学校の序列化や過度の競争を招く」などとして、教育関係者や保護者から反対が出たため、県教委は公表を見送った。
It is, of course, quite right that we should avoid creating an academic hierarchy among schools and excessive competition.
序列化や行き過ぎた競争は無論、避けねばならない。
However, an appropriate level of competition among schools would be something to be welcomed.
だが、適度な競争はあっていい。
There may be room for the ministry to reexamine the way it announces the test results.
公表のあり方は再検討の余地があろう。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 31, 2008)
（2008年8月31日01時38分 読売新聞）
Use natl test questions in regular classes
全国学力テスト 集積データを授業に生かせ（8月31日付・読売社説）
Now that the Education, Science and Technology Ministry has announced the results of this year's nationwide academic achievement examination for primary school sixth-graders and middle school third-graders, test results for two consecutive years are finally available.
The exam was resurrected last year after a 43-year hiatus. It tests basic knowledge in Japanese language, arithmetic and mathematics, as well as the ability to apply such knowledge.
ようやく２年分のデータがそろった。昨年、復活した文部科学省の全国学力テストの今年分の結果が公表された。
We hope the ministry, prefectural and municipal boards of education and schools will compare and carefully analyze the data to help them formulate education policies and improve the pedagogic content of related subjects.
集まったデータをよく比較・分析し、文科省や各教育委員会の施策、学校の授業の改善に役立ててもらいたい。
Compared with last year, all the average percentages for the number of correct answers decreased both for primary and middle school students in both basic knowledge and applied skills questions in all subjects.
今年は昨年に比べ、小学６年生、中学３年生ともに、国語と算数・数学の知識を問う問題、知識を活用する能力を問う問題の両方で、すべて平均正答率が下がった。
The ministry said this was because test questions this year were more difficult than last year.
文科省では「昨年より問題が難しかったため」としている。
Test results cannot be easily compared if the degree of difficulty greatly differs.
難易度が大きく異なっては、結果が比較しづらくなる。
Also, many pupils and students reportedly complained that they did not have enough time to answer the questions.
「時間が足りなかった」という児童生徒も多い。
These are points that the ministry must improve in future tests.
今後の検討課題だろう。
===
Gaps do exist
The ministry said there were no major variations in the test results for either primary or middle schools according to prefecture.
文科省は、小中学校とも「都道府県で大きなばらつきはない」としている。
But a close look at the results shows that average scores achieved by top-ranking Fukui Prefecture middle school students in the basic and applied mathematics tests were about 20 points higher than those recorded by their peers in bottom-ranking Okinawa Prefecture.
A similar situation obtains between Akita Prefecture, top in primary school basic and applied Japanese, and Okinawa, the lowliest placed prefecture in that subject.
だが、個別にみると、「知識」「活用」の双方で、中学校・数学トップの福井、小学校・国語トップの秋田と、いずれも最下位の沖縄では、正答率に２０ポイント前後の差がある。
The top- and bottom-ranking prefectures this year are almost the same as those in last year's achievement exam.
上位と下位の顔ぶれは、昨年とほぼ同じだ。
What factors give the top-ranking prefectures' students the edge over those in other prefectures?
上位の県は何が優れているのか。
The government should carry out in-depth surveys of schools in prefectures that chalk up good test results by, for instance, sending officials to study their methods and announcing the results of their surveys with the aim of improving the academic achievement level of the nation as a whole.
学校への実地調査など掘り下げた分析を行い、その結果を公表して全体の学力向上につなげるべきではないか。
What we are concerned about is that only slightly under 50 percent of primary schools and slightly under 40 percent of middle schools are using questions from last year's test in regular classes.
気になるのは、昨年のテストを授業で使っているのが、小学校で５割弱、中学校では４割弱しかないことだ。
Good test questions will be wasted if they are not actually utilized during classroom hours. The ministry should promote the use of the test questions in everyday classes.
どんな良問でも、授業に生かされなくては効果が薄れる。もっと利用を促すべきだ。
===
Lifestyle, study habits important
Examining the results of this year's and last year's tests, there are correlations between the students' academic achievement and their lifestyle and study habits at home.
昨年と今年の結果を見ると、学力と家庭での生活・学習習慣には相関関係がある。
Children who indicated in a questionnaire they completed on the day of the test that they lead organized lives, doing such things as "eating breakfast every day" and "checking things to bring to school the previous day or in the morning before school" got good scores in the test.
「朝食を毎日食べる」「学校に持って行くものを前日か当日朝に確かめる」など、規則正しい生活を送る子どもは正答率が高い。
Schools whose students do well academically have some things in common.
学力の高い学校にも、一定の共通点がある。
They train children to acquire reading and writing habits using a variety of measures, for example.
例えば、物を書いたり様々な文章を読んだりする習慣をつける授業をしている。
In addition, they announce their education activities on their school Web sites or set days when local residents may freely observe classes, in an effort to win the understanding and cooperation of their local communities.
また、地域に理解と協力を求めるため、教育活動をホームページで公表したり、住民が自由に授業参観できる日を設けたりしている学校だ。
Meanwhile, Tottori Prefecture's information disclosure council became the focus of national attention in July, when it released a report suggesting that academic results for each city, town, village and school in the prefecture should be disclosed.
一方、市町村別・学校別のテスト結果については、鳥取県の情報公開審議会が７月に開示すべきだとの答申を出し、注目された。
However, the prefecture's board of education decided against disclosing such detailed data as those who are involved in the prefecture's education and some students' parents were opposed to the idea, saying such transparency would create a hierarchy of schools and invite excessive competition.
しかし、「学校の序列化や過度の競争を招く」などとして、教育関係者や保護者から反対が出たため、県教委は公表を見送った。
It is, of course, quite right that we should avoid creating an academic hierarchy among schools and excessive competition.
序列化や行き過ぎた競争は無論、避けねばならない。
However, an appropriate level of competition among schools would be something to be welcomed.
だが、適度な競争はあっていい。
There may be room for the ministry to reexamine the way it announces the test results.
公表のあり方は再検討の余地があろう。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 31, 2008)
（2008年8月31日01時38分 読売新聞）
(Aug. 29, 2008) The Yomiuri Shimbun
Japan needs to keep up efforts on Afghan stability
ＮＧＯ職員殺害 アフガン安定へ協力を続けよ（8月29日付・読売社説）
The worsening security situation in Afghanistan since last year has at last claimed a Japanese victim.
昨年以来、深刻な治安悪化が続くアフガニスタンで、ついに日本人の犠牲者が出てしまった。
The kidnapping of aid worker Kazuya Ito near Jalalabad in eastern Afghanistan ended in tragedy when his body was found Wednesday.
アフガン東部ジャララバード近郊で誘拐された民間活動団体（ＮＧＯ）「ペシャワール会」職員、伊藤和也さんが、遺体で発見された。事件は最悪の結末を迎えた。
Ito worked for the nongovernmental organization Peshawar-kai and had been engaged in agricultural training activities, such as cultivation of rice and vegetables, in Afghanistan for five years. With high aspirations, he toiled hard and integrated himself into the local community, building strong relationships of trust with residents. He must have been extremely saddened by how it all ended.
伊藤さんは５年前から、米や野菜の栽培など、農業指導に取り組んでいた。高い志を抱き、異国の地で汗を流す中、現地住民にも溶け込み、強い信頼関係を築いていた。極めて無念だったろう。
===
A sign of Afghanistan's plight
(アフガンの状態を如実に示すもの)
The Taliban, which once controlled Afghanistan, have admitted to involvement in the incident. Not only foreign troops stationed in Afghanistan fighting armed insurgents, but also civilians of goodwill who work hard to give humanitarian aid, have been targeted by terrorists. The incident is symbolic of the severity of the current situation in Afghanistan.
アフガンの旧支配勢力タリバンが事件への関与を認めている。武装勢力を掃討する駐留外国軍兵ばかりでなく、人道支援に尽力する善意の民間人までが、テロの標的となる。現在のアフガン情勢の厳しさを象徴するものだ。
Out of concerns over the worsening security situation, the Peshawar-kai began to let about 20 Japanese staff members working in Afghanistan and Pakistan return home in stages starting from late last year. But about half of them continued to stay for such reasons as wrapping up their aid activities.
ペシャワール会は昨年末から、治安悪化を踏まえて、日本人スタッフ約２０人を順次、帰国させている最中だった。だが、支援活動に区切りをつけるなどの事情から、約半数は滞在を続けていた。
The Foreign Ministry since July last year has been issuing advisory warnings for Japanese nationals in all parts of Afghanistan to leave the country. But about 140 Japanese, including Japan International Cooperation Agency employees and NGO members, are still in Afghanistan.
外務省は昨年７月以降、アフガン全土に退避勧告を出しているが、同国内には、国際協力機構（ＪＩＣＡ）、ＮＧＯ関係者ら１４０人以上がとどまっている。
There are limits to how well unarmed civilians can protect themselves. Given the current situation in Afghanistan, where a spate of suicide attacks by terrorists and the kidnapping of foreigners have taken place, now probably is the time for the workers to think first about their safety and seriously consider returning home or temporarily leaving Afghanistan.
丸腰の民間人の自衛には限界がある。自爆テロや外国人の誘拐が続くアフガンの現状を踏まえれば、安全を優先して一時出国や帰国を検討する時ではないか。
===
A commitment to the world
（国際社会の一員として）
Japan, however, needs to continue to play a part in actions with the international community on restoring peace and stability in Afghanistan.
一方で、日本としては、アフガンの平和と安定を回復する国際社会の共同行動の一翼を担う態勢を堅持する必要がある。
Japan has extended 1.45 billion dollars in aid for Afghan reconstruction, and the Maritime Self-Defense Force has been engaged in refueling activities in the Indian Ocean. Economic assistance and humanitarian contributions are like two wheels of one cart; both are indispensable.
日本は従来、１４・５億ドルのアフガン復興支援と、海上自衛隊によるインド洋での給油活動を実施してきた。経済支援と人的貢献は、いわば「車の両輪」であり、どちらも欠かすべきではない。
In reconstruction aid, Japan has focused on not only improvement work for roads and airports but also efforts to improve the security situation through such actions as the disarmament of former soldiers and military cliques. The refueling activities are aimed at supporting multinational naval forces that monitor the movement of terrorists and the trafficking of arms and drugs.
復興支援では、道路、空港の整備のほか、元兵士や軍閥の武装解除など治安改善にも力を注いできた。給油活動は、テロリストの移動や武器・麻薬の輸送を監視する多国籍海軍を支援するものだ。
Troops from 40 nations are now engaged in security enforcement and regional reconstruction activities in Afghanistan, pushing on despite suffering more than 900 casualties. Compared to this, the refueling activities involve extremely low risk. If Japan stops even these activities, the nation's reputation in the eyes of the world will plunge to unprecedented lows.
アフガンでは、４０か国の部隊が９００人超の犠牲者に耐えつつ、治安維持や地域復興活動に従事している。それと比べれば、極めて危険が少ない給油活動さえもやめるようでは、日本に対する国際社会の評価は地におちるだろう。
Japan should never be indifferent about the international campaign to help Afghanistan stabilize and eliminate terrorist activities. It is essential for the nation to pass a bill to revise the new Antiterrorism Law to allow the extension of refueling activities in the extraordinary Diet session to be convened next month.
アフガンを安定させ、テロを撲滅する戦いは、日本にとって決して人ごとではない。来月召集の臨時国会で、給油活動延長のための新テロ対策特別措置法改正案を成立させることは必須の課題だ。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 29, 2008)
（2008年8月29日01時49分 読売新聞）
Japan needs to keep up efforts on Afghan stability
ＮＧＯ職員殺害 アフガン安定へ協力を続けよ（8月29日付・読売社説）
The worsening security situation in Afghanistan since last year has at last claimed a Japanese victim.
昨年以来、深刻な治安悪化が続くアフガニスタンで、ついに日本人の犠牲者が出てしまった。
The kidnapping of aid worker Kazuya Ito near Jalalabad in eastern Afghanistan ended in tragedy when his body was found Wednesday.
アフガン東部ジャララバード近郊で誘拐された民間活動団体（ＮＧＯ）「ペシャワール会」職員、伊藤和也さんが、遺体で発見された。事件は最悪の結末を迎えた。
Ito worked for the nongovernmental organization Peshawar-kai and had been engaged in agricultural training activities, such as cultivation of rice and vegetables, in Afghanistan for five years. With high aspirations, he toiled hard and integrated himself into the local community, building strong relationships of trust with residents. He must have been extremely saddened by how it all ended.
伊藤さんは５年前から、米や野菜の栽培など、農業指導に取り組んでいた。高い志を抱き、異国の地で汗を流す中、現地住民にも溶け込み、強い信頼関係を築いていた。極めて無念だったろう。
===
A sign of Afghanistan's plight
(アフガンの状態を如実に示すもの)
The Taliban, which once controlled Afghanistan, have admitted to involvement in the incident. Not only foreign troops stationed in Afghanistan fighting armed insurgents, but also civilians of goodwill who work hard to give humanitarian aid, have been targeted by terrorists. The incident is symbolic of the severity of the current situation in Afghanistan.
アフガンの旧支配勢力タリバンが事件への関与を認めている。武装勢力を掃討する駐留外国軍兵ばかりでなく、人道支援に尽力する善意の民間人までが、テロの標的となる。現在のアフガン情勢の厳しさを象徴するものだ。
Out of concerns over the worsening security situation, the Peshawar-kai began to let about 20 Japanese staff members working in Afghanistan and Pakistan return home in stages starting from late last year. But about half of them continued to stay for such reasons as wrapping up their aid activities.
ペシャワール会は昨年末から、治安悪化を踏まえて、日本人スタッフ約２０人を順次、帰国させている最中だった。だが、支援活動に区切りをつけるなどの事情から、約半数は滞在を続けていた。
The Foreign Ministry since July last year has been issuing advisory warnings for Japanese nationals in all parts of Afghanistan to leave the country. But about 140 Japanese, including Japan International Cooperation Agency employees and NGO members, are still in Afghanistan.
外務省は昨年７月以降、アフガン全土に退避勧告を出しているが、同国内には、国際協力機構（ＪＩＣＡ）、ＮＧＯ関係者ら１４０人以上がとどまっている。
There are limits to how well unarmed civilians can protect themselves. Given the current situation in Afghanistan, where a spate of suicide attacks by terrorists and the kidnapping of foreigners have taken place, now probably is the time for the workers to think first about their safety and seriously consider returning home or temporarily leaving Afghanistan.
丸腰の民間人の自衛には限界がある。自爆テロや外国人の誘拐が続くアフガンの現状を踏まえれば、安全を優先して一時出国や帰国を検討する時ではないか。
===
A commitment to the world
（国際社会の一員として）
Japan, however, needs to continue to play a part in actions with the international community on restoring peace and stability in Afghanistan.
一方で、日本としては、アフガンの平和と安定を回復する国際社会の共同行動の一翼を担う態勢を堅持する必要がある。
Japan has extended 1.45 billion dollars in aid for Afghan reconstruction, and the Maritime Self-Defense Force has been engaged in refueling activities in the Indian Ocean. Economic assistance and humanitarian contributions are like two wheels of one cart; both are indispensable.
日本は従来、１４・５億ドルのアフガン復興支援と、海上自衛隊によるインド洋での給油活動を実施してきた。経済支援と人的貢献は、いわば「車の両輪」であり、どちらも欠かすべきではない。
In reconstruction aid, Japan has focused on not only improvement work for roads and airports but also efforts to improve the security situation through such actions as the disarmament of former soldiers and military cliques. The refueling activities are aimed at supporting multinational naval forces that monitor the movement of terrorists and the trafficking of arms and drugs.
復興支援では、道路、空港の整備のほか、元兵士や軍閥の武装解除など治安改善にも力を注いできた。給油活動は、テロリストの移動や武器・麻薬の輸送を監視する多国籍海軍を支援するものだ。
Troops from 40 nations are now engaged in security enforcement and regional reconstruction activities in Afghanistan, pushing on despite suffering more than 900 casualties. Compared to this, the refueling activities involve extremely low risk. If Japan stops even these activities, the nation's reputation in the eyes of the world will plunge to unprecedented lows.
アフガンでは、４０か国の部隊が９００人超の犠牲者に耐えつつ、治安維持や地域復興活動に従事している。それと比べれば、極めて危険が少ない給油活動さえもやめるようでは、日本に対する国際社会の評価は地におちるだろう。
Japan should never be indifferent about the international campaign to help Afghanistan stabilize and eliminate terrorist activities. It is essential for the nation to pass a bill to revise the new Antiterrorism Law to allow the extension of refueling activities in the extraordinary Diet session to be convened next month.
アフガンを安定させ、テロを撲滅する戦いは、日本にとって決して人ごとではない。来月召集の臨時国会で、給油活動延長のための新テロ対策特別措置法改正案を成立させることは必須の課題だ。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 29, 2008)
（2008年8月29日01時49分 読売新聞）
(Aug. 28, 2008) The Yomiuri Shimbun
Don't be deceived by N. Korea's tactics
核無能力化中断 北朝鮮の駆け引きに乗るな（8月28日付・読売社説）
North Korea's tactic of trying to intimidate opponents and win concessions from them by creating a crisis is nothing new.
相手を恫喝し、危機的状況を作り出すことによって、譲歩を引き出そうとする常套戦術だ。
Pyongyang has suspended its disablement of its nuclear facilities in response to the United States' postponement of removing North Korea from a list of states sponsoring terrorism.
北朝鮮が、テロ支援国指定解除を先送りした米国に反発して、核施設の「無能力化」作業を中断する対抗手段に出た。
North Korea's action is irresponsible and once again turns back the process of the six-party talks over the abandonment of its nuclear programs. North Korea should unconditionally resume its disablement work.
北朝鮮の核廃棄に向けた６か国協議のプロセスを再び逆戻りさせる無責任な行動である。北朝鮮は無条件で作業を再開すべきだ。
The deadline for the disablement, which includes the removal of spent nuclear fuel rods from a halted nuclear reactor and is aimed at making North Korea's nuclear facilities at least temporarily unusable, was initially set for the end of last year. Pyongyang failed to meet this and the deadline was extended until the end of October.
停止した原子炉から使用済み核燃料棒を抜き取るなど、核施設を当分使用不能にする「無能力化」作業の期限は、本来、昨年末だった。約束は守られず、今年１０月末に延期されている。
===
U.S. should stand firm
（米国はもっと強く要求すべし）
If North Korea continues to sit on its hands regarding disablement work, the deadline might be further put off. But Pyongyang has gone a step further, saying it would consider restoring its nuclear facilities in Yongbyon to their original states.
北朝鮮がこのまま作業中断を続ければ、期限はさらに延びることになりかねない。核施設の「原状復旧」を検討する、と第二の対抗措置をとる構えも見せている。
These moves apparently are aimed at shaking up the administration of U.S. President George W. Bush, whose term ends in less than five months, and pressing it hard for concessions.
任期満了まであと５か月を切ったブッシュ米政権を揺さぶり、譲歩を迫る狙いがあるのだろう。
The Bush administration must not make easy concessions in the hope of accomplishing something before Bush's term is up. The United States should be firm in negotiating with North Korea and urge it to accept strict verification procedures.
ブッシュ政権は、実績作りを急ぐ余り、安易な妥協をしてはならない。厳密な検証手続きを受け入れるよう、毅然として北朝鮮と交渉すべきだ。
The United States has repeatedly said that North Korea's agreeing to verification procedures, which are for checking Pyongyang's declarations on its nuclear program, is essential for being delisted as a state sponsor of terrorism.
米国は、核計画申告書を提出した北朝鮮に、その内容を確かめる検証手続きに合意するのがテロ支援国指定解除の発効条件だ、と再三強調している。
This is a justified demand.
当然の要求だ。
The United States presented a draft on verification procedures at the six-party talks in July. If North Korea wants to be delisted as a state sponsor of terrorism, it must first hold talks based on the draft and agree to it.
米国は７月の６か国協議で検証草案を示している。北朝鮮が指定解除を望むのであれば、草案をもとに協議し、合意することが先決である。
===
Verification is paramount
（まず核の検証作業を）
In a statement issued Tuesday, North Korea claimed that an agreement on verification procedures is not a condition for being delisted from the terrorism sponsor list. It also accused the United States of trying to apply an "international standard" to the verification process.
だが、北朝鮮は２６日の声明で、検証合意は指定解除の条件ではない、と強弁した。さらに、「国際的基準」の検証適用を求めたとして、米国を非難している。
These arguments are self-centered as they appear to regard the verifying of the declaration itself as wrong. Verification work without permission to collect samples and measure them cannot be considered verification.
まるで申告の中身を検証することが間違っているかのような身勝手な言い分ではないか。「サンプルの採取や測定」を認めないような検証は成り立たない。
The verification process should at the very least confirm the amount of plutonium North Korea possesses as material for nuclear weapons. If that point remains unclear, it would be tantamount to allowing North Korea to hide its nuclear arms.
申告の検証では、少なくとも北朝鮮が核兵器の材料に使用しているプルトニウムの保有量を確認しなければならない。そこをあいまいにすれば、北朝鮮に核の隠匿を許すことになる。
Unless the verification system is strictly adhered to, North Korea's suspected uranium enrichment program and nuclear proliferation will continue to be covered up.
堅固な検証体制でなければ、ウラン濃縮計画や核拡散の解明も進められない。
It is imperative that the five other nations in the six-party talks--Japan, China, Russia, South Korea and the United States--are united in pressing North Korea hard into accepting the verification procedures as soon as possible.
日米韓中露の５か国は、連携して、検証手続きの早期受け入れを迫ることが肝要だ。
Japan also needs to carefully assess the impact this latest move could have on the abduction issue, which North Korea has pledged to reinvestigate.
日本はまた、北朝鮮が再調査を約束した拉致問題にどんな影響が出てくるのかを、慎重に見極める必要がある。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 28, 2008)
（2008年8月28日01時52分 読売新聞）
Don't be deceived by N. Korea's tactics
核無能力化中断 北朝鮮の駆け引きに乗るな（8月28日付・読売社説）
North Korea's tactic of trying to intimidate opponents and win concessions from them by creating a crisis is nothing new.
相手を恫喝し、危機的状況を作り出すことによって、譲歩を引き出そうとする常套戦術だ。
Pyongyang has suspended its disablement of its nuclear facilities in response to the United States' postponement of removing North Korea from a list of states sponsoring terrorism.
北朝鮮が、テロ支援国指定解除を先送りした米国に反発して、核施設の「無能力化」作業を中断する対抗手段に出た。
North Korea's action is irresponsible and once again turns back the process of the six-party talks over the abandonment of its nuclear programs. North Korea should unconditionally resume its disablement work.
北朝鮮の核廃棄に向けた６か国協議のプロセスを再び逆戻りさせる無責任な行動である。北朝鮮は無条件で作業を再開すべきだ。
The deadline for the disablement, which includes the removal of spent nuclear fuel rods from a halted nuclear reactor and is aimed at making North Korea's nuclear facilities at least temporarily unusable, was initially set for the end of last year. Pyongyang failed to meet this and the deadline was extended until the end of October.
停止した原子炉から使用済み核燃料棒を抜き取るなど、核施設を当分使用不能にする「無能力化」作業の期限は、本来、昨年末だった。約束は守られず、今年１０月末に延期されている。
===
U.S. should stand firm
（米国はもっと強く要求すべし）
If North Korea continues to sit on its hands regarding disablement work, the deadline might be further put off. But Pyongyang has gone a step further, saying it would consider restoring its nuclear facilities in Yongbyon to their original states.
北朝鮮がこのまま作業中断を続ければ、期限はさらに延びることになりかねない。核施設の「原状復旧」を検討する、と第二の対抗措置をとる構えも見せている。
These moves apparently are aimed at shaking up the administration of U.S. President George W. Bush, whose term ends in less than five months, and pressing it hard for concessions.
任期満了まであと５か月を切ったブッシュ米政権を揺さぶり、譲歩を迫る狙いがあるのだろう。
The Bush administration must not make easy concessions in the hope of accomplishing something before Bush's term is up. The United States should be firm in negotiating with North Korea and urge it to accept strict verification procedures.
ブッシュ政権は、実績作りを急ぐ余り、安易な妥協をしてはならない。厳密な検証手続きを受け入れるよう、毅然として北朝鮮と交渉すべきだ。
The United States has repeatedly said that North Korea's agreeing to verification procedures, which are for checking Pyongyang's declarations on its nuclear program, is essential for being delisted as a state sponsor of terrorism.
米国は、核計画申告書を提出した北朝鮮に、その内容を確かめる検証手続きに合意するのがテロ支援国指定解除の発効条件だ、と再三強調している。
This is a justified demand.
当然の要求だ。
The United States presented a draft on verification procedures at the six-party talks in July. If North Korea wants to be delisted as a state sponsor of terrorism, it must first hold talks based on the draft and agree to it.
米国は７月の６か国協議で検証草案を示している。北朝鮮が指定解除を望むのであれば、草案をもとに協議し、合意することが先決である。
===
Verification is paramount
（まず核の検証作業を）
In a statement issued Tuesday, North Korea claimed that an agreement on verification procedures is not a condition for being delisted from the terrorism sponsor list. It also accused the United States of trying to apply an "international standard" to the verification process.
だが、北朝鮮は２６日の声明で、検証合意は指定解除の条件ではない、と強弁した。さらに、「国際的基準」の検証適用を求めたとして、米国を非難している。
These arguments are self-centered as they appear to regard the verifying of the declaration itself as wrong. Verification work without permission to collect samples and measure them cannot be considered verification.
まるで申告の中身を検証することが間違っているかのような身勝手な言い分ではないか。「サンプルの採取や測定」を認めないような検証は成り立たない。
The verification process should at the very least confirm the amount of plutonium North Korea possesses as material for nuclear weapons. If that point remains unclear, it would be tantamount to allowing North Korea to hide its nuclear arms.
申告の検証では、少なくとも北朝鮮が核兵器の材料に使用しているプルトニウムの保有量を確認しなければならない。そこをあいまいにすれば、北朝鮮に核の隠匿を許すことになる。
Unless the verification system is strictly adhered to, North Korea's suspected uranium enrichment program and nuclear proliferation will continue to be covered up.
堅固な検証体制でなければ、ウラン濃縮計画や核拡散の解明も進められない。
It is imperative that the five other nations in the six-party talks--Japan, China, Russia, South Korea and the United States--are united in pressing North Korea hard into accepting the verification procedures as soon as possible.
日米韓中露の５か国は、連携して、検証手続きの早期受け入れを迫ることが肝要だ。
Japan also needs to carefully assess the impact this latest move could have on the abduction issue, which North Korea has pledged to reinvestigate.
日本はまた、北朝鮮が再調査を約束した拉致問題にどんな影響が出てくるのかを、慎重に見極める必要がある。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 28, 2008)
（2008年8月28日01時52分 読売新聞）
(Mainichi Japan) August 27, 2008
Kirin unveils 'Strong Seven' beer with higher alcohol content
キリン：アルコール度７％、第３のビール発売へ
Kirin Breweries on Tuesday unveiled a new type of beer with 7 percent alcohol content -- higher than most beers -- in a bid to gain a bigger share of the market.
The company announced that it will begin selling its "Strong Seven" third-category beer on Oct. 22. Over the past few years demand has been increasing for light-tasting beer with low alcohol content, but Kirin decided to develop a new genre targeting male beer drinkers aged from their 30s to 50s.
The price of the new beverage will be set around 141 yen for a 350ml can, and 197 yen for a 500ml can.
The regular alcohol content for beer is 5 percent, but over the past few years, beer manufacturers have been selling third-category beer and low-malt beer with an alcohol content of 3 to 4 percent to attract young people and women as customers. However, this year Kirin and Suntory had hits with high alcohol-content shochu liquor-based drinks, and Kirin decided to boost its share with low-priced, high-alcohol third-category beer.
Words and Phreases:
unveiled a new type of beer with 7 percent alcohol content＝アルコール度数７％の新しいタイプのビールを発表した
in a bid to＝～するために
demand has been increasing for light-tasting beer with low alcohol content＝低いアルコール度数の軽いタイプのビールの需要が高まっていた
new genre＝新しいジャンル、種類
targeting male beer drinkers aged from their 30s to 50s＝30～５０代の男性ビール愛好家をターゲットとして
beverage＝飲み物
The regular alcohol content for beer is 5 percent＝ふつうのビールのアルコール度数は５度である。
third-category beer＝第三のビール
low-malt beer with an alcohol content of 3 to 4 percent=アルコール度数3～４パーセントの低いアルコール度数の低モルトビール
to attract young people and women as customers＝若者や女性をターゲットとして
hits with high alcohol-content shochu liquor-based drinks＝アルコール度の高いチューハイが好調である
boost＝売上を伸ばす
キリンビールは２６日、アルコール度が７％と通常より高めの第３のビール「ストロングセブン」を１０月２２日に全国発売すると発表した。ここ数年、アルコール度が低く軽い飲み口のビール類が需要を伸ばしているが、３０～５０代男性を中心に愛飲家向けの新ジャンルとして開発した。店頭実勢価格は３５０ミリリットル約１４１円、５００ミリリットル約１９７円の見通し。
ビールのアルコール度は５％が一般的だが、メーカー各社は若者や女性の需要を取り込むため、ここ数年は３～４％で軽く飲める発泡酒、第３のビールを発売してきた。ただ、今年に入ってキリンやサントリーが発売したアルコール度の高いチューハイが好調なことから、高アルコールで低価格の第３のビールでシェア拡大を狙うことにした。
キリンは「ビール市場の大きな流れはソフト化だが、消費者は状況に応じてさまざまな味を欲している」と話している。【森禎行】
Kirin unveils 'Strong Seven' beer with higher alcohol content
キリン：アルコール度７％、第３のビール発売へ
Kirin Breweries on Tuesday unveiled a new type of beer with 7 percent alcohol content -- higher than most beers -- in a bid to gain a bigger share of the market.
The company announced that it will begin selling its "Strong Seven" third-category beer on Oct. 22. Over the past few years demand has been increasing for light-tasting beer with low alcohol content, but Kirin decided to develop a new genre targeting male beer drinkers aged from their 30s to 50s.
The price of the new beverage will be set around 141 yen for a 350ml can, and 197 yen for a 500ml can.
The regular alcohol content for beer is 5 percent, but over the past few years, beer manufacturers have been selling third-category beer and low-malt beer with an alcohol content of 3 to 4 percent to attract young people and women as customers. However, this year Kirin and Suntory had hits with high alcohol-content shochu liquor-based drinks, and Kirin decided to boost its share with low-priced, high-alcohol third-category beer.
Words and Phreases:
unveiled a new type of beer with 7 percent alcohol content＝アルコール度数７％の新しいタイプのビールを発表した
in a bid to＝～するために
demand has been increasing for light-tasting beer with low alcohol content＝低いアルコール度数の軽いタイプのビールの需要が高まっていた
new genre＝新しいジャンル、種類
targeting male beer drinkers aged from their 30s to 50s＝30～５０代の男性ビール愛好家をターゲットとして
beverage＝飲み物
The regular alcohol content for beer is 5 percent＝ふつうのビールのアルコール度数は５度である。
third-category beer＝第三のビール
low-malt beer with an alcohol content of 3 to 4 percent=アルコール度数3～４パーセントの低いアルコール度数の低モルトビール
to attract young people and women as customers＝若者や女性をターゲットとして
hits with high alcohol-content shochu liquor-based drinks＝アルコール度の高いチューハイが好調である
boost＝売上を伸ばす
キリンビールは２６日、アルコール度が７％と通常より高めの第３のビール「ストロングセブン」を１０月２２日に全国発売すると発表した。ここ数年、アルコール度が低く軽い飲み口のビール類が需要を伸ばしているが、３０～５０代男性を中心に愛飲家向けの新ジャンルとして開発した。店頭実勢価格は３５０ミリリットル約１４１円、５００ミリリットル約１９７円の見通し。
ビールのアルコール度は５％が一般的だが、メーカー各社は若者や女性の需要を取り込むため、ここ数年は３～４％で軽く飲める発泡酒、第３のビールを発売してきた。ただ、今年に入ってキリンやサントリーが発売したアルコール度の高いチューハイが好調なことから、高アルコールで低価格の第３のビールでシェア拡大を狙うことにした。
キリンは「ビール市場の大きな流れはソフト化だが、消費者は状況に応じてさまざまな味を欲している」と話している。【森禎行】
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 ]
タイ日辞書（改訂版）
日タイ辞書（改訂版）
ラオ日辞書
日ラオ辞書
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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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初歩のタガログ語
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タイ文字
タイ日辞書
タイ語の副詞
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タイ語の接続詞
基礎タイ語
基礎タイ語一覧（タイ文字、ローマ字）
seesaaサイト内リンク一覧：
01 あいさつ
02 別れのあいさつ
03 声をかけるとき
04 感謝の言葉と答え方
05 謝罪の言葉と答え方
06 聞き直すとき
07 相手の言うことがわからないとき
08 うまく言えないとき
09 一般的なあいづち
10 よくわからないときの返事
11 強めのあいづち
12 自分について述べるとき
13 相手のことを尋ねるとき
14 頼みごとをするとき
15 申し出・依頼を断るとき
16 許可を求めるとき
17 説明してもらうとき
18 確認を求めるとき
19 状況を知りたいとき
20 値段の尋ね方と断り方
21 急いでもらいたいとき
22 待ってもらいたいとき
23 日時・場所・天候を尋ねるとき
24 その他
基礎タイ語一覧(タイ文字、音声付き）
サイト外HPリンク一覧：
01 あいさつ
02 別れのあいさつ
03 声をかけるとき
04 感謝の言葉と答え方
05 謝罪の言葉と答え方
06 聞き直すとき
07 相手の言うことがわからないとき
08 うまく言えないとき
09 一般的なあいづち
10 よくわからないときの返事
11 強めのあいづち
12 自分について述べるとき
13 相手のことを尋ねるとき
14 頼みごとをするとき
15 申し出・依頼を断るとき
16 許可を求めるとき
17 説明してもらうとき
18 確認を求めるとき
19 状況を知りたいとき
20 値段の尋ね方と断り方
21 急いでもらいたいとき
22 待ってもらいたいとき
23 日時・場所・天候を尋ねるとき
24 その他
タイの文化、１４の戒律
タイの文化一覧:
01 雨の日にも傘をささないタイ人
02 勉強熱心なタイ人女性たち
03 タイ人は敬謙な仏教徒
04 タイの市場
05 タイの食堂
06 タイ人は外食が大好き
07 果物王国タイランド
08 タイ人の誕生日
09 タイの電話代は高い
10 微笑みの国タイランド
1４の戒律（テラワーダ仏教戒律）
seesaaサイト内リンク一覧：
第０１番目の戒律
第０２番目の戒律
第０３番目の戒律
第０４番目の戒律
第０５番目の戒律
第０６番目の戒律
第０７番目の戒律
第０８番目の戒律
第０９番目の戒律
第１０番目の戒律
第１１番目の戒律
第１２番目の戒律
第１３番目の戒律
第１４番目の戒律
1４の戒律（テラワーダ仏教戒律）
サイト外HPリンク一覧：
１４の戒律解説
第０１番目の戒律
第０２番目の戒律
第０３番目の戒律
第０４番目の戒律
第０５番目の戒律
第０６番目の戒律
第０７番目の戒律
第０８番目の戒律
第０９番目の戒律
第１０番目の戒律
第１１番目の戒律
第１２番目の戒律
第１３番目の戒律
第１４番目の戒律