橋下氏維新離党 何とも分かりづらい内紛だ

The Yomiuri Shimbun
Hashimoto’s departure from JIP caps baffling intraparty squabble
橋下氏維新離党　何とも分かりづらい内紛だ

Conflict within the Japan Innovation Party has spiraled into the departure of two members who founded the party. Many people must be baffled at the events that led to this.
　維新の党の内紛が創業者のダブル離党に発展した。この経緯には、多くの国民が首をかしげているのではないか。

Toru Hashimoto, supreme adviser of the JIP and also Osaka mayor, and adviser Ichiro Matsui, who is also Osaka governor, have both announced they will leave the party.
　維新の党の橋下徹最高顧問（大阪市長）と松井一郎顧問（大阪府知事）が、そろって離党を表明した。

Hashimoto said he “plans to shift his focus from a national political party to Osaka’s regional politics” for Osaka gubernatorial and mayoral elections, which will be held in November. In the background to his decision was a lack of confidence in JIP leader Yorihisa Matsuno and other party executives, and there is a possibility that this intraparty friction could lead to a split.
　橋下氏らは、１１月の大阪府知事選・市長選に向けて「国政政党から離れ、大阪の地方政治に軸足を移す」と語った。背景には松野代表ら執行部への不信感があり、党内対立は分裂含みとなった。

The origin of the squabble was JIP Secretary General Mito Kakizawa’s support for an expected candidate in next month’s Yamagata mayoral election who also was backed by the Democratic Party of Japan and other parties. Matsui regarded this as problematic and demanded Kakizawa resign from his party post. Kakizawa refused to step down. Consequently, Matsui lashed out at Kakizawa and some other members, saying, “They’re addicted to what’s going on in Nagatacho,” referring to the Tokyo area that is considered the nation’s political nerve center.
　発端は、柿沢幹事長が来月の山形市長選で、民主党などが推す立候補予定者を応援したことだ。松井氏は問題視し、柿沢氏の辞任を要求したが、拒否された。このため、「永田町ボケしている」などと柿沢氏らを激しく批判した。

As the JIP’s local organization in Yamagata had been maneuvering to support another expected candidate, party headquarters had refrained from supporting any specific contender. Although it is undeniable that Kakizawa’s actions, which disregarded the party situation, were indeed careless, the general consensus is that he had not done anything that warranted his resignation.
　市長選では、党の地元組織に別の立候補予定者を支援する動きがあり、党本部は特定候補の支持を見送った。そうした事情に配慮しなかった柿沢氏の行動が軽率だったのは否めないが、辞任するほどではないとの見方が一般的だ。

The decision by Hashimoto and Matsui to step away from the party was overly abrupt and shows a lack of responsible attitude.
　橋下、松井両氏が今回、離党に踏み込んだのは、あまりに唐突であり、責任ある態度ではない。

Questions must be raised about the behavior of two politicians who wield tremendous influence over the running of the second-largest opposition party. In particular, it is difficult to understand why Hashimoto left the party while he accepted Kakizawa staying in his post.
　野党第２党の運営に強い影響力を持つ政治家の振る舞いとしては疑問視せざるを得ない。特に橋下氏が柿沢氏の留任を容認しつつ、離党するのは分かりづらい。

Keep security talks on track

Matsuno’s inability to bring this fracas under control also displayed a lack of leadership.
　松野氏も、今回の騒動を収拾できず、指導力不足を露呈した。

Hashimoto and others are close to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and have taken stances toward the administration on an issue-by-issue basis. In contrast, Matsuno and Kakizawa have placed great emphasis on working with the DPJ and other parties, so a policy conflict continued within the JIP.
　橋下氏らは安倍首相と近く、政権に「是々非々」の姿勢を取ってきた。一方、松野、柿沢両氏は民主党などとの連携を重視し、路線対立が続いていた。

The party is scheduled to hold a leadership election in November. It is possible that many of the party’s Osaka-affiliated lawmakers in the Diet and local assembly members might follow Hashimoto, who is skilled at conveying messages to the public, and leave the party en masse. Such repeated splits and political realignments, which have been done so easily, will make it harder for the JIP to gain the support of the public.
　１１月に代表選を控えているが、発信力が高い橋下氏に「大阪系」の国会・地方議員が追随し、大量離党に踏み切る可能性もある。安易に離合集散を繰り返すだけでは国民の支持は一段と離れよう。

This is a crucial moment for the JIP.
　維新にとっては正念場だ。

We also are concerned about the impact of the party’s ructions on discussions regarding security-related bills.
　気がかりなのは、安全保障関連法案の審議への影響である。

The JIP has submitted five counterproposals to the House of Councillors and planned to hold negotiations with the ruling coalition parties about possible amendments to the bills. It also is considering the joint submission — with the DPJ — of a territorial security bill and other bills.
　維新は対案５本を参院に提出しており、与党と修正協議に臨む予定だ。領域警備法案などの民主党との共同提出も検討している。

Wide gaps remain between the government-sponsored bills and the JIP counterproposals, so the negotiations were expected to be anything but smooth. Even so, it was hugely significant that constructive discussions were to be held on a range of key points.
　対案と政府案の隔たりは大きく、修正協議は難航が予想されるが、様々な論点について建設的な議論を行う意義は小さくない。

Hashimoto stressed, “When the security bills reach an important phase, it is not the time for internal dissension.”
　橋下氏は、「安保法制で重大な局面の時に内紛をやっている状況ではない」と強調している。

We hope Matsuno and other JIP bigwigs will sincerely engage in talks on possible amendments to the bills. The JIP’s ability to remain a “responsible opposition party” is on the line.
　松野氏ら執行部は、修正協議に真摯しんしに対応してもらいたい。維新が「責任野党」に踏みとどまれるかどうかも問われている。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 28, 2015)Speech

企業年金改革 多くの人が活用できる制度に

The Yomiuri Shimbun
Make corporate pension programs accessible for more employees
企業年金改革　多くの人が活用できる制度に

It is important to make many people eligible to participate in corporate pension programs, as a means of supplementing public pensions.
　公的年金を補完する手段として、多くの人が企業年金を活用できるようにすることが重要だ。

A bill to reform the corporate pension system is under deliberation at the House of Representatives. The government aims to get the bill passed into law during the current Diet session.
　企業年金改革関連法案が、衆院で審議されている。政府は、今国会での成立を目指している。

The central pillar of the bill is to review the defined contribution pension system, in which subscribers choose how their pension premiums should be managed, with the amount of their pension benefits to be determined by the results.
　法案の柱は、加入者本人が掛け金の運用方法を選び、その結果で年金額が決まる確定拠出年金制度の見直しである。

The bill calls for establishing “simplified defined contribution pension plans,” with the establishment procedures to be simplified so as to make it easier for even small and midsize corporations to introduce them for their employees.
　中小企業でも導入しやすくするため、設立手続きなどを簡素化した「簡易型」を創設する。

The bill also envisages creating a system to support the subscription of more people, by creating “individual-type defined contribution pension plans” for employees of companies unable to have such plans on their own and for self-employed people. Under this system, corporations, if only small and midsized firms, can add their contributions to their employees’ pension premiums.
　自前で制度を持てない会社の社員や自営業者向けの「個人型」についても、加入を後押しする仕組みを新設する。中小企業に限り、会社が社員の掛け金に加算できるようにする。

A corporate pension plan is a program to be established by each corporation voluntarily in addition to the kosei nenkin corporate employees pension scheme, part of the nation’s public pension system.
　企業年金は、公的年金である厚生年金の上乗せとして、会社ごとに任意で設ける制度だ。

As the level of benefits paid under the public pension system declines against the backdrop of a low birthrate and a graying population, the role of corporate pension plans is growing.
少子高齢化で公的年金の給付水準が下がる中、その役割は高まっている。

It is appropriate for the corporate pension plan to be utilized by workers other than only those at big companies.
　大企業の社員以外にも、普及を促す狙いは適切である。

At present, among subscribers to the kosei nenkin scheme, fewer than 40 percent also participate in corporate pension programs. And the ratio of companies that have introduced corporate pension programs is declining. Among smaller firms, with 30 to 99 employees, only 18.6 percent have introduced such programs.
　現在、厚生年金の加入者のうち、企業年金に入っている人は４割に満たない。企業年金を導入している会社の割合は減少傾向にある。社員３０～９９人の中小企業では１８・６％にとどまる。

Major programs dissolving

On top of this, kosei nenkin kikin (corporate employees’ pension funds), which once were the leading corporate pension programs, are to be dissolved, with certain exceptions, by March 2019. Faced with management difficulty following the collapse of the bubble economy, one corporate employees’ pension fund after another became unable to stay afloat. As leading companies have pulled out of their schemes swiftly, most of the pension funds still operating are ones formed by smaller firms.
　しかも、代表的な企業年金だった厚生年金基金は、一部を除き２０１９年３月までに解散される。バブル崩壊後の運用難で、存続不能の基金が続出したためだ。大企業は早々に撤退し、残るのは中小企業で作る基金がほとんどだ。

It is an open question whether the reform will be sufficient to help those who will no longer be covered by corporate employees’ pension funds after they are dissolved. It is necessary to try one way after another to promote the spread of the corporate pension plans envisaged by the bill, while assessing the status of the introduction of schemes such as “simplified defined contribution pension plans.”
　基金廃止後の受け皿として、今回の改革が十分に機能するかどうかは不透明だ。「簡易型」の導入状況などを見極め、普及が進むよう工夫を重ねる必要がある。

Also incorporated in the bill is an expansion of the scope of people eligible to participate in “individual-type defined contribution pension plans,” by making full-time homemakers and public-service workers also eligible. In effect, anyone will be able to participate in defined contribution pension schemes.
　法案には、「個人型」の対象を専業主婦や公務員に拡大することも盛り込まれた。事実上、誰でも加入できるようになる。

As working styles have diversified, voluntary resignations and job-switching have become common. The number of nonregular workers who are not eligible to participate in corporate pension plans has also increased.
　働き方が多様化し、離職や転職が一般化した。企業年金に入れない非正規労働者も増えた。

We can understand the course of action to encourage people’s self-help efforts for their post-retirement years, by providing everyone with a means of supplementing the roles of public pensions.
すべての人に公的年金の補完手段を提供し、老後へ向けた自助努力を促す方向性は理解できる。

Open to question is the idea of making even homemakers eligible to participate in “individual-type defined contribution pension plans,” which offer preferential tax treatment, while keeping in place the system of “Category III insured,” under which a dependent spouse of a company or government employee is eligible for basic pension benefits without paying pension premiums themselves. Will the envisaged plan give them excessive preferential treatment?
　疑問なのは、専業主婦が保険料の負担なしに基礎年金を受け取れる「第３号被保険者」制度を残したまま、税制上の優遇措置がある個人型への加入も認めることだ。過剰な優遇にならないか。

Regarding nonregular workers, it is also vital to attempt to increase pension benefits for them, by expanding the scope of nonregular workers eligible to participate in the kosei nenkin scheme.
　非正規労働者については、厚生年金への加入拡大で、年金額の充実を図る視点も欠かせない。

It is important to discuss income security for people in their old age within the framework of the whole pension system.
　年金制度全体の枠組みの中で、老後の所得保障のあり方を検討することが大切である。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 27, 2015)Speech

世界同時株安 市場不安の沈静化を急ぎたい

The Yomiuri Shimbun
Prompt efforts should be made to soothe concerns of markets
世界同時株安　市場不安の沈静化を急ぎたい

With China’s economy the focus of concern, turmoil continues to roil global markets.
　中国経済への懸念を震源に、世界的な市場の動揺が続いている。

The Nikkei Stock Average plunged 733 points from Monday’s close to end at 17,806 on the Tokyo Stock Exchange on Tuesday. This was the sixth straight trading day the market has declined, with the plunge totaling more than 2,800 points.
　東京市場の平均株価は２５日、７３３円安の１万７８０６円と大幅に下落した。これで６日続落となり、下げ幅は計２８００円を超えた。

The accelerated appreciation of the yen on the foreign currency market also helped send stocks plummeting.
外国為替市場で円高が加速したことも、株安に拍車をかけた。

The plunge in stock prices, which started on the Chinese market, has had a knock-on effect on other major markets — the United States, European and Asian countries — taking on an aspect of stock prices simultaneously falling the world over.
　中国市場に端を発した株価急落は、欧米やアジアの主要市場へと連鎖し、「世界同時株安」の様相を呈している。

We should not let our guard down, but a feature of the wild fluctuations of stock prices seems to be due to speculative moves.
　警戒は怠れないが、投機的な思惑で乱高下している面もある。

Economic revitalization minister Akira Amari said it is necessary to deal with the issue calmly. In fact, the economies of Japan, the United States and European countries are still on a firm footing. We should not become too pessimistic about the current situation.
甘利経済再生相は「冷静な対処が必要だ」と述べた。確かに、日本や欧米の経済は概おおむね堅調だ。過度な悲観は不要だろう。

It is vital to assuage the uneasiness in the market and prevent it from adversely affecting the real economy.
　肝心なのは、市場の不安を沈静化し、実体経済への波及を防ぐことである。

Japan, the United States, European countries and China have to strengthen policy coordination to calm the market.
日米欧と中国は混乱収拾へ政策協調を強めるべきだ。

The stock plunge was triggered by China’s devaluation of its currency, the yuan, on Aug. 11. This led to the view that China’s economy had deteriorated to such a degree that measures were needed to prop up its exports, leading to prices on the Shanghai Stock Exchange to nosedive.
　株安の引き金は、中国が１１日に打ち出した人民元の切り下げだった。輸出テコ入れを要するほど中国景気が悪化しているとの見方から、上海市場の株価が崩れた。

China is maintaining its economic growth at 7 percent. But many of the country’s key economic indicators, such as consumption and exports, have shown signs of an economic slowdown. There is a deep-seated belief that the real state of the economy is even more serious.
　中国の経済成長率は７％を維持しているが、消費や輸出など経済指標の多くが景気減速を示している。実態はもっと深刻だとする観測は根強い。

China slowdown worse?

By pursuing a “new normal” policy, which allows the country’s economic growth to slow down, can the Chinese government lead its economy to a soft landing through structural reforms? A sense of distrust in the Chinese government’s economic management has exacerbated market uneasiness.
　経済成長の鈍化を容認する「新常態」政策の下、構造改革を進めて中国経済を軟着陸させられるのか。中国政府の経済運営への不信感が、不安を増幅している。

The administration under Chinese President Xi Jinping needs to face up squarely to the reality that China has become the cause of the global market turmoil.
　習近平政権は、中国が世界市場混乱の火種となっている現実を直視する必要がある。

Although China decided to further ease monetary policy on Tuesday, it needs to do much more to stabilize its economy.
２５日に追加金融緩和を決めたが、さらに景気安定に万全を期さねばならない。

Another major point of issue is whether the United States will raise interest rates in the near future. It has been pointed out that if the United States forcibly raises interest rates while markets are still in tumult, funds would immediately flow out of emerging markets, possibly resulting in currency and financial crises.
　米国が近く利上げに踏み切るかどうかも、大きな焦点である。市場の混乱が収まらないうちに利上げを強行すれば、新興国から一気に資金が流出し、通貨・金融危機を招く恐れが指摘されている。

The United States has to end its monetary relaxation policy eventually, but it should not send the world economy into disorder by hastily exiting from that policy. The Federal Reserve Board should keep a close eye on market trends and look for the proper time to increase rates.
　いずれ米金融緩和の幕は引かねばならないが、出口を急いで世界経済を混乱させてはなるまい。米連邦準備制度理事会（ＦＲＢ）は市場動向を注視し、慎重に利上げの時期を探ってほしい。

Following the stock price decline, there are calls, including those within the Liberal Democratic Party, for a supplementary budget to initiate economic stimulus measures.
　日本では株安を受けて、自民党などから補正予算による景気対策を求める声が出ている。

But as the performance of Japanese companies is at a record high level, the government should refrain from taking fiscal action too quickly.
だが、企業業績は過去最高の水準である。安易な財政出動は慎むべきだ。

It is most important to steadily implement Abenomics, the economic policy pursued by the administration under Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, and realize a full-fledged economic growth led by private-sector demand. The government should promote a comprehensive growth strategy to induce vitality into the private sector by easing regulations to encourage the fostering of new businesses.
　何より大切なのは、安倍政権の経済政策「アベノミクス」を着実に実行し、民需主導の本格成長を達成することだ。新ビジネスの育成を促す規制緩和など、民間活力を引き出す成長戦略をしっかり推進したい。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 26, 2015)

南北高官協議 衝突の回避へ冷静に歩み寄れ

The Yomiuri Shimbun
North, South Koreas must work toward concessions to avert armed conflict
南北高官協議　衝突の回避へ冷静に歩み寄れ

Escalating tensions through military provocations while seeking to win concessions through dialogue — North Korea should avoid this dangerous brinkmanship and practice self-restraint.
　軍事的挑発で緊張を高めつつ、対話で譲歩を引き出すことを狙う――。北朝鮮は、危険な瀬戸際戦術を自制すべきだ。

Given the heightening of military tensions between South and North Korea, representatives from the two countries entered into negotiations Saturday at the Panmunjom.
　韓国と北朝鮮の軍事的緊張の高まりを受けて、南北高官協議が板門店で開催された。

The South was lead by chief of the National Security Office of South Korea, and the North was lead by Hwang Pyong So, director of the General Political Bureau of the North Korean People’s Army. The exceptionally high-level bilateral talks were held on and off for three consecutive days. But the two sides are having difficultly reaching any kind of compromise.
　韓国は金寛鎮大統領府国家安保室長らが、北朝鮮は金正恩第１書記の側近の黄炳瑞・朝鮮人民軍総政治局長らが出席した。異例の高いレベルの対話は３日連続で行われたが、難航している。

To avoid the worst-case scenario of an armed conflict, we want the two sides to make an earnest effort to reach mutual concessions and find concrete measures to ease tensions.
　軍事衝突という最悪の事態を避けるため、双方は、積極的に歩み寄り、緊張緩和の具体的な措置を探ることが求められる。

Tensions were triggered after two South Korean soldiers were seriously injured when land mines, believed to have been laid by North Korea, exploded on Aug. 4 near the military demarcation line.
　緊張の発端は、４日に軍事境界線付近で、北朝鮮が設置したとみられる地雷が爆発し、韓国軍兵士２人が重傷を負ったことだ。

Seoul criticized Pyongyang for violating the Korean Armistice Agreement, and in response resumed anti-North Korea loudspeaker broadcasts for the first time in 11 years.
　韓国側は、休戦協定違反だと北朝鮮を非難した。対抗措置として、北朝鮮体制を批判する拡声機の宣伝放送を１１年ぶりに再開した。

The North demanded a halt to the broadcasts and fired artillery shells into South Korean territory. Pyongyang proposed negotiations with Seoul while at the same time threatening to take further military action. North Korea has been alternating between a hard-line or moderate attitude to rattle the Park Guen-hye administration, which took retaliatory measures.
　北朝鮮は、放送中止を要求し、韓国内に砲撃した。さらなる軍事行動を予告したうえ、韓国側に協議を申し入れた。北朝鮮に応戦した韓国の朴槿恵政権に対する硬軟両様の揺さぶりである。

North Korea’s international isolation is regarded as a factor behind its latest provocative action. Its relations with China, historically the most friendly nation to the North, soured after Pyongyang carried out nuclear tests in defiance of international protests. Exchanges of leaders between the two communist countries have been suspended.
　この背景には、北朝鮮の国際的な孤立が指摘される。核実験の強行などにより、最大の友好国、中国との関係が冷え込み、首脳級交流は途絶えている。

Cool heads vital

The North’s artillery fire came immediately after Park announced she would attend a Chinese ceremony to mark the “victory in its war against Japan.” We wonder whether this action was aimed at cooling the relationship between Seoul and Beijing, which has become closer.
　中国の抗日戦勝記念行事への朴大統領出席が発表された直後に北朝鮮が砲撃したのは、中韓接近を牽制けんせいする狙いだろうか。

Kim Jong Un issued a decree declaring a “quasi-state of war” to the country’s frontline troops. Can Kim, who lacks leadership experience, deal adequately with such an explosive situation while the country's political situation is so unstable? This fear will be difficult to eliminate.
　前線部隊に「準戦時状態」を発令したのは、金正恩第１書記だ。国内体制が不安定な中、指導者の経験に乏しい金第１書記が、一触即発の状況に適切な対処ができるのか。不安は拭えない。

Park, on the other hand, declared that her country “will cope with the provocation resolutely.” She cannot make concessions easily due to a domestic situation in which popular support for her administration has declined and media organizations are insisting on a hard-line stance.
　一方、朴氏は「挑発には断固として対応する」と公言する。政権支持率は低迷し、韓国メディアは北朝鮮に対する強硬な姿勢を主張している。朴氏も、容易に妥協できない国内事情を抱える。

It is essential, however, for the two Koreas to consider the risk of a military conflict and deal with the situation with cool heads.
　だが、南北双方は、軍事衝突のリスクを直視し、冷静に対応することが肝要である。

The North Korean leadership is reportedly trying to tighten its grip on the military and the Workers’ Party of Korea, among others, by emphasizing the “threat” posed by South Korea. There is speculation that North Korea will test-launch an intermediate-range or a long-range missile to enhance its national prestige and time it to the 70th anniversary of the founding of the party on Oct. 10.
　北朝鮮指導部は、韓国の“脅威”を強調することで、軍や朝鮮労働党など国内の引き締めを図っているとされる。１０月１０日の党創建７０周年に合わせて、国威発揚の目的で、中長距離弾道ミサイルを発射するとの観測もある。

Japan, South Korea and the United States must cooperate closely and bolster information-sharing on North Korean affairs. Preparing all possible deterrent measures is also essential to deal with the North’s new military provocation.
　日米韓３か国は、緊密に連携し、北朝鮮情勢の情報共有を強化する必要がある。新たな軍事的挑発を封じ込めるため、抑止に万全を期すことも大切だ。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 25, 2015)

（社説）自民と教科書 政治は採択に関わるな

--The Asahi Shimbun, Aug. 23
EDITORIAL: LDP should not meddle in school textbook selection process
（社説）自民と教科書　政治は採択に関わるな

The process is under way for local governments to select textbooks that will be used in junior high schools from next spring.
　来春から中学校で使われる教科書の採択が、各自治体で進んでいる。

Given that, a league of lawmakers of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party has compiled a brochure that compares social studies textbooks issued by various publishers, and has distributed it to local LDP assembly members across the country.
　そんななか、自民党の議員連盟が社会科の各社の教科書を比べるパンフレットをつくり、全国の地方議員あてに配った。

The action is purportedly aimed at encouraging boards of education, through questions by local assemblies and other means, to select textbooks with a strong conservative slant.
　議会での質問などを通じて教育委員会にはたらきかけ、保守色の強い教科書を選んでもらうのが狙いだという。

Selections, after all, belong to the authority of education boards, which are supposed to make them on the basis of discussions from educational viewpoints on which textbooks are the most suitable for the children and schools of their communities.
　採択はあくまでも教委の権限で行うものだ。我が街の子どもや学校にふさわしい教科書は何か、教育の観点から議論して選ぶことになっている。

Political parties are free to have their own perceptions of the textbooks issued by different publishers. But they should refrain from encouraging the selection of textbooks that are more in line with their philosophies.
　各社の教科書をどう受け止めるかは、政党の自由である。
　だが、政党が自らの主張に近い教科書を選ぶよう、はたらきかける行為は慎むべきだ。

Local assembly members are there to approve the appointments of education board members. They should exercise self-restraint so that their actions will not be perceived as applying pressure. What they should do is to serve as a monitor to ensure that education boards can fulfill their primary functions.
　地方議員は教育委員の人事に同意を与える存在だ。行為が圧力と受け止められないよう自重してほしい。教委が本分を果たせるよう見守ってもらいたい。

The brochure, certainly, contains no text that explicitly recommends any particular publisher.
　パンフレットには、たしかに特定の社を推薦する明確な表現はない。

But the issues being taken up in the brochure include the national flag and the national anthem, the right to collective self-defense and constitutional amendment--pet issues of the administration of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe--as well as the Nanking Incident and "comfort women," which the LDP has argued some textbooks contain “self-deprecating” statements about.
　だが、取り上げた論点は、安倍政権が重視する国旗・国歌、集団的自衛権、憲法改正や、自民党がこれまで「自虐的な記述がある」などと指摘してきた南京事件、慰安婦などだ。

Concerning the national flag and the national anthem, for example, the brochure presents strongly conservative textbooks in a favorable light, saying that one contains “detailed descriptions on a feature page.” Some other textbooks are portrayed in a negative light, as seen in a statement that “some textbooks contain no reference in the index” to the issue of the abduction of Japanese citizens by North Korea.
　たとえば国旗・国歌では、保守色の強い教科書について「特集ページで詳しく記述」など好意的に紹介。それ以外の教科書は、拉致問題で「索引に載っていない教科書がある」など否定的に評している。

School textbooks are not tools for inculcating arguments of a political party.
　教科書は、政党の主張を教え込む道具ではない。

Education board members should ensure they are making independent judgments and, even if they are asked questions at local assemblies, they should only regard these queries as the opinions of individuals.
　教育委員は、議会で質問されても、１人の意見として参考にしつつ独自に判断してほしい。

The education board system was reformed so that, starting this spring, the heads of local governments should set up a “general education council,” a forum for exchanging views with education boards.
　教育委員会の制度改革で、各自治体ではこの春から首長が「総合教育会議」を設け、教委と協議することになっている。

The education ministry has said the selection of school textbooks should not be a subject of discussions in the council, because it is believed that political neutrality is de rigueur in the textbook selection process.
　文部科学省は教科書採択について、この会議の議題にすべきではないとした。教科書採択は政治的中立性が強く求められると考えているからだ。

The LDP has proposed--and has realized--a revision in textbook screening rules so that textbooks must mention the government’s official position, wherever available. As 18-year-olds will be given suffrage from next year, the party has also proposed to Abe that law could be revised to punish senior high school teachers who have deviated from political neutrality.
　自民党は、教科書で政府見解があるものは取り上げるよう検定のルールの変更を提言し、実現させた。１８歳選挙権に合わせ、政治的中立を逸脱した高校教員に罰則を科す法改正を安倍首相に提案してもいる。

We cannot accept the sequence of these moves, whereby the political sector is meddling in public education.
　政治が教育現場に踏み込む一連の動きはいただけない。

The selection process throughout the nation will continue through the end of August.
　各地の採択は月末まで続く。

The LDP brochure is titled, “To deliver better textbooks to our children.”
　自民党のパンフレットの題は「より良い教科書を子供たちに届けるために」。

Thought should be given again to what should be done and not be done by a political party and assembly members if that goal is to be achieved.
　そのために政党や議員は何をすべきで、何をすべきではないか。改めて考えてもらいたい。

露首相択捉訪問 領土交渉に背向ける軽挙妄動

The Yomiuri Shimbun
Through rash actions, Russia turning its back on territorial talks with Japan
露首相択捉訪問　領土交渉に背向ける軽挙妄動

It is an action that will greatly set back the momentum toward improving bilateral ties between Japan and Russia and settling territorial disputes. By no means can we tolerate this.
　日露関係の改善と領土問題の解決の機運を大幅に後退させる動きだ。断じて容認できない。

Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev visited Etorofu Island in the northern territories on Saturday.
　ロシアのメドベージェフ首相が北方領土の択捉島を訪問した。

After inspecting the status of the development of harbor and airport facilities on the island, he announced, at a political forum for local youths, a policy of designating the islands of Etorofu and Kunashiri as “advanced development territories.”
港湾施設や空港などの整備状況を視察した後、若者向けの政治集会で、択捉島と国後島を「優先発展地域」に指定する方針を表明した。

The visit is apparently aimed at demonstrating that Russia’s effective control of the northern territories is entrenched, as this month marks the 70th year since the then Soviet Union occupied the islands.
　ソ連の占領開始から今月で７０年となるのに合わせ、実効支配の固定化を印象づける狙いだろう。

By ignoring Japan’s request to cancel the visit, Medvedev’s arrival on the island constitutes a serious infringement of sovereignty.
　訪問は日本の中止要請を無視したもので、重大な主権侵害である。

It was reasonable that Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida told Russian Ambassador to Japan Evgeny Afanasiev on Saturday, “The visit hurt the feelings of the Japanese people and was extremely regrettable.”
岸田外相が駐日露大使に、「日本国民の感情を傷つける。極めて遺憾だ」と抗議したのは当然だ。

Lately, Russia’s hard-line stance on Japan has been intolerable. At the end of June, Russia decided to impose a ban, starting next year, on drift-net fishing for salmon and trout within Russia’s exclusive economic zone, where Japanese fishing vessels also operate. There are fears the Japanese fishing industry will be affected.
　ロシアは最近、対日強硬姿勢が目に余る。６月末、排他的経済水域（ＥＥＺ）内で、日本漁船も従事するサケ・マス流し網漁の来年からの禁止を決めた。日本漁業への打撃が心配される。

Since July, the Russian health minister and the deputy prime minister have successively visited the northern territories. Russia has also announced a “development program,” injecting about ¥120 billion over 10 years for the development of social infrastructure for the whole of the Kuril Islands.
　７月以降、保健相と副首相が相次いで北方領土を訪れた。千島列島全体の社会基盤整備などに、１０年間で約１２００億円を投じる「発展計画」も発表した。

Moscow makes threats

We can discern Russia’s intention of shaking the administration of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and causing disarray in Japan’s cooperation with the United States and European countries, which are imposing sanctions on Russia over the Ukrainian crisis.
　安倍政権を揺さぶり、ウクライナ問題で対露制裁を発動中の米欧との連携を乱す意図が見える。

Japan has attached importance to dialogue with Russia to hold in check China’s military rise and to prevent China from forming a united front with Russia against Japan.
　日本は、中国の軍事的台頭を牽制けんせいし、ロシアとの「反日」共闘の構築を避けるため、日露間の対話を重視してきた。

By using the personal relationship between Abe and Russian President Vladimir Putin, Japan is seeking a possible visit to Japan by Putin sometime this year to advance bilateral negotiations over territorial issues. We can understand Abe’s strategic course of action.
　安倍首相とプーチン大統領の個人的な関係をテコに領土交渉を進展させようと、プーチン氏の年内来日も探っている。首相の戦略の方向性は理解できる。

But Russia’s recent moves vividly demonstrate that the Putin administration has no intention of earnestly dealing with the territorial issues with Japan.
　だが、最近のロシアの動きは、プーチン政権が領土問題を本気で前進させる意向がないことを如実に示しているのではないか。

Even if Putin’s visit to Japan is realized, it is hard to expect any substantial dialogue between Abe and Putin, nor any tangible results.
　仮に来日が実現しても、中身のある対話や目に見える成果は期待できまい。

Kishida said he would freeze for the time being the coordination for his planned visit to Russia, in preparation for Putin’s visit to Japan. Japan’s strategy is coming to an impasse.
岸田氏は当面、訪露の調整を凍結するという。日本側の戦略は行き詰まりつつある。

Behind Russia’s recent moves is the reality that Putin is utilizing as a unifying force for his administration his adoption of hostile views, particularly toward the United States, and inflaming patriotism in the Russian people.
　プーチン氏が米国を特に敵視し、露国民の愛国心を煽あおって政権の求心力としている現実が背景にある。

Putin has also referred to the possibility of using nuclear weapons, having repeatedly made threatening remarks to the United States and European countries.
プーチン氏は核兵器使用の可能性にも言及し、米欧に対する威嚇発言を繰り返してきた。

By undergoing a rapid military buildup, Russia also continues its military provocations toward the United States and European nations. Russia’s changing of the status quo by force, such as its annexation of the Crimean Peninsula, can never be permitted.
　軍備を急速に増強し、米欧への軍事的挑発も続けている。クリミア半島編入という力による現状変更は、到底許されない。

A Russia that abides by international rules and assumes a constructive role would benefit Russia. Japan, in cooperation with the United States, has to continue urging Putin to understand this point, on such occasions as the U.N. General Assembly and the summit talks of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum, both scheduled for this autumn.
　国際ルールを守り、建設的な役割を担うことこそがロシアの利益になる――。日本は米国と連携し、今秋の国連総会やアジア太平洋経済協力会議（ＡＰＥＣ）首脳会議などを通じて、この点をプーチン氏に説き続ける必要がある。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 23, 2015)

年金情報流出 危機感の欠如が被害を広げた

The Yomiuri Shimbun
Low security consciousness at JPS exacerbated pension data breach
年金情報流出　危機感の欠如が被害を広げた

The Japan Pension Service can hardly be regarded as an organization properly handling a massive amount of personal information. Its sloppy information management must be corrected urgently.
　膨大な個人情報を扱う組織とは思えない。ずさんな情報管理体制を改めることが急務である。

An in-house investigation committee at the JPS and a third-party panel at the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry have released, separately, reports on the findings of each of their investigations into an incident in which 1.25 million cases of personal information, including the basic pension numbers of pension recipients, were compromised at the JPS.
　日本年金機構から受給者の基礎年金番号など１２５万件の個人情報が流出した問題で、機構の内部調査委員会と厚生労働省の検証委員会が、それぞれ報告書を公表した。

According to the JPS report, the organization received a total of 124 targeted e-mails carrying a virus from May 8 to 20. File attachments of five of the e-mails were opened, causing 31 personal computers to be infected with the virus and information to be compromised within three days from May 21.
　機構の報告書によると、５月８～２０日にウイルスを仕込んだ「標的型メール」計１２４通を受信した。うち５通の添付ファイルなどを職員が開いてパソコン３１台がウイルス感染し、２１日から３日間で一気に情報が流出した。

There were several opportunities during that period for the JPS to prevent the damage from spreading.
　この間、機構が被害を食い止める機会は何度もあった。

However, the organization failed to block further e-mails from the address used for the first problematic e-mail following its receipt. It did not confirm properly from mail recipients whether they had opened attachments, and delayed action to cut off Internet connections for the entire JPS computer system.
　だが、最初のメール受信後に送信元アドレスの受信拒否設定をしなかった。メール受信者に添付ファイル開封の有無をきちんと確認せず、機構全体のインターネット接続を遮断する措置も遅れた。

JPS President Toichiro Mizushima said during a news conference Thursday, “I thought we had confirmed whether the attachment had been opened.” The comment is one indication of the lenient attitude within JPS of leaving everything to those in charge. It was natural for the report to say that “a sense of crisis was lacking.”
　機構の水島藤一郎理事長は記者会見で、「開封したかどうかの確認は行われていると思っていた」と釈明した。担当者任せの甘い対応ぶりがうかがえる。報告書が「危機感が十分ではなかった」としたのはもっともだ。

It is also problematic that sloppy information management has become everyday practice at the JPS.
　ずさんな情報管理が常態化していたことも問題である。

Personal information was permitted to be stored in an Internet-connected shared file server when deemed necessary. It can thus be said that the JPS faced a constant danger of the unauthorized exposure of information.
　必要があれば、インターネットに接続された共有ファイルサーバーへの個人情報の保存を認められていた。常に情報流出の危険にさらされていたと言える。

Absence of systematic checks

Rules such as setting passwords were not observed and the JPS did not have a system in place to check what was going on.
　パスワードの設定といったルールが守られず、機構が実態をチェックする仕組みもなかった。

The report identified that long-standing problems — carried over from the era of the JPS’s predecessor, the Social Insurance Agency — including a lack of unity as an organization, underlie the data breach. At the now defunct SIA, a lack of control was caused by a three-tier structure for employees, including those recruited by the SIA’s central and local offices. This led to a number of scandals, including a huge blunder with pension record-keeping.
　報告書は、組織の一体感の不足など、旧社会保険庁からの「積年の問題」が根底にあると分析した。旧社保庁では、本庁と地方など採用の異なる職員の「３層構造」が統制の欠如を招き、年金記録漏れなどの不祥事につながった。

Such an organizational culture likely remains pervasive within the JPS. A sweeping organizational reform is called for, in addition to the bolstering of information management systems.
　悪あしき体質が残っているのだろう。情報管理体制の強化に加え、組織の抜本改革が求められる。

The welfare ministry’s responsibility is also grave in this regard.
　厚労省の責任も重大である。

According to the report released by the ministry’s third-party investigation panel, adequate supervision could not be provided because it was not clear which department at the ministry was in charge of the JPS’s information systems.
　検証委員会の報告書によると、機構の情報システムに関する厚労省の担当部署が不明確で、適切な指揮監督ができなかった。

Despite the fact that the JPS had suffered a similar cyber-attack in April, before it received the targeted e-mail in May, the ministry provided no information on the incident nor did it issue an alert.
　機構が標的型メールを受信する前の４月に、類似の攻撃を受けていたにもかかわらず、情報提供や注意喚起を行わなかった。

It was natural for welfare minister Yasuhisa Shiozaki to say, “Both the JPS and the ministry must take responsibility [for the incident].” It is necessary to ensure that a recurrence of similar incidents is robustly prevented, and that work proceeds toward restoring confidence in the pension system.
　塩崎厚労相が「けじめは機構も厚労省もつけなければいけない」と述べたのは当然だ。再発防止を徹底し、年金制度への信頼回復に努める必要がある。

Joint efforts by private and public sectors are sought to deal with cyber-attacks, which are becoming more ingenious and shrewd.
　巧妙さを増すサイバー攻撃に対し、官民で対策を強化したい。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 22, 2015)

社説：武藤議員離党 公認した自民の責任は

August 21, 2015 (Mainichi Japan)
Editorial: LDP's responsibility for money scandal involving legislator questioned
社説：武藤議員離党　公認した自民の責任は

House of Representatives member Takaya Muto has left the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) over a money scandal. The scandal has raised questions as for what purposes he became a legislator.
　一体、何のために国会議員になったのか。無論、未公開株購入をめぐる金銭トラブルが発覚したのを受けて自民党を離党した武藤貴也衆院議員（３６）＝滋賀４区＝のことだ。

It is still fresh in people's memory that Muto, 36, came under fire for criticizing a group of students and other youths as "selfish" after they urged the public to participate in demonstrations against security bills. He just cannot draw a curtain on his own problem simply by leaving the LDP. The party's responsibility for endorsing him in elections is also serious.
　武藤氏が安全保障関連法案に反対するデモを呼び掛ける学生らのグループについて「『だって戦争に行きたくないじゃん』という極端な利己的考え」などとツイッターに記し、批判を浴びたのは記憶に新しい。離党すれば済む話ではない。自民党の責任も重大である。

According to the Shukan Bunshun weekly magazine, Muto recommended last year that acquaintances and others buy pre-listed shares of a software company, telling them that they could buy shares specially set aside for Diet members. He then collected approximately 40 million yen from 23 people as funds to buy shares. However, shares of the company were never purchased for these people, and some investors have not got back the money they paid. Some have pointed to the possibility that Muto communicated with others over share transactions, using a communication application, while he was attending a session of the lower chamber's Committee on Foreign Affairs.
　「週刊文春」によると武藤氏は昨年、ソフトウエア会社の未公開株購入を「国会議員枠で買える」と知人らに勧め、２３人から計約４０００万円を集めた。だが株は実際には購入されず、出資金の一部が戻っていないという。武藤氏が衆院外務委員会に出席している最中に通信アプリで関係者と株購入をめぐるやり取りをしていた可能性も指摘されている。

It is necessary to conduct a further probe to get to the bottom of the scandal because those involved have made conflicting statements.
　関係者の言い分は異なっており、さらなる事実解明が必要だ。

The latest scandal involving pre-listed shares apparently has reminded numerous members of the general public of the Recruit stock-for-favors scandal that came to light in 1988 and rocked the political world. In the Recruit case, pre-listed shares of a company, whose prices were certain to rise significantly after the stock was listed, were donated to prominent figures in the political and business worlds as well as bureaucrats, and a few of those involved were convicted of giving and accepting bribes.
ただし「未公開株」といえば、１９８８年に明るみに出て政界を揺るがせたリクルート事件を多くの人が思い起こすだろう。値上がり確実なリ社の関連会社の未公開株が政官財の有力者に譲渡され、一部は贈収賄の罪で起訴され有罪が確定した事件だ。

In the latest case, it remains unclear whether some shares of the software company were actually set aside for legislators. Still, it is common sense for politicians not to be involved in transactions in pre-listed shares. It is only natural that some legislators from opposition parties are demanding that Muto step down as a lawmaker.
　今回、本当に「議員枠」があったのかどうかも定かでない。しかし、未公開株と聞いただけで近づかないようにするのが政治家としての正常な感覚ではないのか。野党から議員辞職を求める声が出るのも当然だ。

In 2007, Muto reportedly joined the policy staff for an alliance of political parties within the Shiga Prefectural Assembly and individual assembly members that backed then Shiga Gov. Yukiko Kada, who was calling for suspension of dam construction projects. However, Muto did an about-face, and applied to run for the lower house on the ticket of the LDP that was critical of Gov. Kada after the party publicly sought candidates. He is currently in his second term as a member of the lower chamber. One cannot help but wonder how the LDP has evaluated and officially endorsed Muto, who appears to lack qualifications as a representative of the people, judging from his policies.
　武藤氏は当選前の２００７年、ダム事業凍結を唱える当時の嘉田由紀子滋賀県知事を支える県議会会派の政策スタッフに入ったという。その後、一転して嘉田氏に批判的だった自民党の候補者公募に応募して同党の公認となり、現在当選２回目となる。その主張をはじめ国民の代表としての資質に欠けると思われる武藤氏を自民党はどう評価して公認してきたのだろうか。

Muto was also present at a study session in June among junior LDP legislators supporting Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, in which some attendees called for pressure on the news media. Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Taro Aso, leader of an LDP intraparty faction of which Muto was a member, has been quoted as warning Muto to "express your personal views after the security bills are passed into law" over Muto's criticism of the youth group opposing the proposed legislation. This suggests that Aso viewed the timing of Muto's remarks, and not their content, as a problem.
　武藤氏は最近では報道機関への圧力発言が飛び出した自民党内の安倍晋三首相を支持する若手勉強会にも出席していた。一方、武藤氏が所属していた自民党麻生派の麻生太郎会長は先のツイッターでの発言直後、「自分の気持ちが言いたいなら安保関連法案が通ってからにしてくれ」と注意したというが、発言の内容ではなく時期が問題だという口ぶりだった。

The LDP's responsibility for the money scandal and other scandals involving Muto is grave and the party's half-baked response is also inappropriate. Nevertheless, LDP Secretary-General Sadakazu Tanigaki and other top-ranking members of the governing party failed to question Muto in person over the details of the latest case. After Muto notified the party leadership that he would leave the party, Tanigaki said, "The legislator needs to fulfill his accountability," as if to regard the money scandal as someone else's problem, and not a problem involving the party.
　こうした中途半端な対応をしてきた点も含めて自民党の責任は重い。ところが谷垣禎一幹事長らは本人から詳細に話を聴くこともせず、離党届の提出後は「本人がきちんと説明責任を果たす必要がある」と、まるでひとごとのような口ぶりだ。

The LDP also has accountability for the money scandal.
　説明責任は自民党にもある。

毎日新聞　2015年08月21日　東京朝刊

香山リカのココロの万華鏡：利己的なおとなたちへ ／東京

August 16, 2015 (Mainichi Japan)
Kaleidoscope of the Heart: Learning not to jump to generalizations
香山リカのココロの万華鏡：利己的なおとなたちへ　／東京

Twitter has become a tool even among politicians to express their opinions. A tweet recently posted by a House of Representatives lawmaker from the ruling Liberal Democratic Party has stirred controversy. He wrote that claims made by students protesting against the government-sponsored security-related bills are "based on their self-centered and extremely egoistic thinking that they don't want to go to war," and he went on to say that it was "very regrettable."
　今や政治家も意見発信の場として活用する短文投稿サイト・ツイッター。そこに自民党の衆院議員が書き込んだ発言が物議をかもしている。安全保障関連法案に反対する活動を行う学生たちについて「彼ら彼女らの主張は『だって戦争に行きたくないじゃん』という自分中心、極端な利己的考えに基づく」と指摘し、「非常に残念だ」と述べたのだ。

After learning about this incident, I thought to myself that this politician could only understand war as a general, abstract concept. A war in reality is not "a battle between right and wrong." Those who fight in the front are young people with different personalities and dreams. Behind those youths, furthermore, are their families and lovers. If a young man dies in a battle, people around him will also face drastic changes in their lives.
　ああ、この議員は戦争を抽象的な「一般論」としてしか見られないんだな、と思った。現実の戦争は「正義と悪の戦い」などではなく、前線で戦うのはそれぞれ個性や人生の夢を持った若者たちなのだ。そして、その後ろには家族や恋人がおり、もし若者が戦死すると彼らの一生も大きく変わってしまうことになる。

Though it is different from the topic of war, I always think about the effects of generalizations. It is easy to say, "depression is on the rise because people have become weaker," and speak in generalities, but each patient is in a different situation, faced with different problems.
　戦争とは問題が異なるが、診察室でもいつも同じようなことを考える。「うつ病が増加しているのは弱い人が増えたからだ」などと一般論を語るのは簡単だが、患者さんたちにはそれぞれの事情や問題というものがある。

Suppose there is a man who is a breadwinner in a family and he goes to see a doctor after developing depression. The doctor tells him, "Generally speaking, if the cause of depression is work-related stress, a person would not feel better unless the burden placed on them is released." What if he quits his job after seeing the doctor? There will be a significant impact on his family -- they may have to sell their house, the children may have to transfer to different schools, the daughter's wedding may be called off, and ultimately this could lead to the parents' divorce. People's lives may be ruined by a casual suggestion by a doctor.
一家の大黒柱の男性がうつ病になって受診したとする。もしそこで医者が「仕事でのストレスでのうつ病の場合は、一般的には一度、負荷から解放されなければ治りませんね」などと安易に口にし、その人が退職したとしよう。そうすると家族は大きな影響を受ける。自宅を手放す、引っ越しや転校をしなければならない、娘の結婚が破談になる、ついには離婚に至る、などみんなの人生がめちゃめちゃになる場合もあるのだ。

I can't always pay attention to the details of every single patient I see, but I tell myself at my clinic, "I should not just give out general opinions. I have to pay attention to individual situations."
もちろん、いつもすべての個別の事情に目を配ることはできないのだが、診察室では自分にも常に「一般論ではいけない。ひとりひとりを見なければ」と言い聞かせている。

At Rikkyo University in Tokyo, where I currently work as a professor, a committee of faculty and staff members of the university released a statement against the controversial security-related bills with nearly 1,000 people signing to support the movement. In the statement, there is the following passage:
　私がいま所属している立教大学でも「安全保障関連法案に反対する立教人の会」が立ち上がり、声明に１０００人近くが賛同している。その中に、次のような一文がある。

"War is not an abstract idea. It means young people with names face each other on the battlefield and kill each other."
　「『戦争』とは決して抽象的なものではありません。具体的な名前をもった若者たちが戦場で向かい合い、殺し殺されることを意味します」

Today, teens and people in their 20s are not seeing war as something in the past or some generalities, but rather as something real, which they themselves may be dragged into.
　いま１０代、２０代の若者たちは「戦争」を過去のできごとや一般論としてでなく、自分がそこに巻き込まれるかもしれない、リアルなものとして実感しているのだろう。

For adults who can only consider young people's desire of not wanting to go to war as "selfish" and "egoistical," I recommend reading diaries, or even one memo, written by student soldiers who perished in the Pacific War and think about the lives of those who died.
「戦争に行きたくない」というその声を「自分中心、利己的」としか受け取れないおとなたちは、ひとつでもいい、太平洋戦争の戦没学生の手記を読んで、彼らの人生に思いをはせてみてほしい。

(By Rika Kayama, psychiatrist)
（精神科医）
毎日新聞　2015年08月11日　地方版
〔都内版〕

ＧＤＰマイナス 景気の停滞を長引かせるな

The Yomiuri Shimbun
Govt must take all possible steps to end lull in economic recovery
ＧＤＰマイナス　景気の停滞を長引かせるな

The national economy has been on a path of mild recovery, but its prospects have turned uncertain.
　緩やかに回復してきた景気の雲行きが、怪しくなっている。

The real-term gross domestic product for the April-June quarter declined 0.4 percent from the previous quarter for an annualized fall of 1.6 percent, according to preliminary figures released by the Cabinet Office, representing the first negative growth in three quarters.
　４～６月期の実質国内総生産（ＧＤＰ）速報は、前期比０・４％減、年率１・６％減となった。３四半期ぶりのマイナス成長だ。

The slump in personal consumption and exports is a major reason behind the poor economic performance. Plant and equipment investment, which holds the key to full-scale growth, also declined, albeit slightly, for the first time in three quarters. Some analysts have pointed out that Japan has entered a lull in its business recovery.
　個人消費と輸出の不振が、主な要因である。本格的な成長実現のカギとなる設備投資も、小幅ながら３期ぶりに減少した。景気は回復が足踏みする「踊り場」に入ったとする見方も出ている。

The important thing is not to let the lull drag on. The government and the Bank of Japan must closely examine possible risky factors and do what it takes to prevent business from losing its steam.
　大切なのは、停滞を長引かせないことだ。政府・日銀はリスクを入念に点検し、景気失速の回避に万全を期さねばならない。

Private consumption — the pillar of domestic demand — dropped by 0.8 percent in the April-June period, compared with the previous quarter, marking the first quarterly fall since the April-June quarter of last year, when personal consumption plunged due to the impact of the consumption tax hike to 8 percent.
　内需の柱の個人消費は、前期比０・８％減だった。マイナスは、消費税率引き上げの影響で急減した昨年４～６月期以来である。

Economic revitalization minister Akira Amari cited the light vehicle tax hike and unseasonable weather as reasons for the shrinkage of consumption, indicating that the decline was “caused largely by temporary factors.”
　甘利経済再生相は消費減少の原因として軽自動車税増税や天候不順を挙げ、「一時的な要素が大きい」との見方を示した。

But it must be noted that the benefits of wage hikes have been offset by the continued rise in prices of food and other products, a consequence of high raw material prices amid the yen’s weakening. It is certain that households have become more budget-minded. Perhaps consumers have yet to break away from the bearish mind-set ingrained during long years of deflation.
　ただ、円安による原材料高で食品などの値上げが続き、賃上げの恩恵は相殺されている。家計が節約志向を強めているのは確かだ。デフレで染みついた弱気から、脱し切れていない面もあろう。

Excessive pessimism is unwarranted, but the government must analyze factors behind slack consumption from a multifaceted viewpoint and work out improvement measures.
　過度な悲観は無用だが、政府は消費不振の要因を多角的に分析し、改善策を練る必要がある。

Alarming overseas factors

A more alarming factor is the slowdown of overseas economies. It is necessary to keep a close watch especially on the volatile Chinese economy.
　さらに警戒すべきなのが、海外経済の減速だ。特に、波乱含みの中国経済から目が離せない。

China has posted a conspicuous slowdown of such economic indicators as industrial production and construction investment. Affected by this, the growth in emerging Asian countries has begun to slacken. The dull overseas demand, centering on China, has been dampening Japan’s exports.
　中国は工業生産や建設投資など経済指標の伸びの鈍化が目立つ。その影響で、アジア新興国の成長も減速気味だ。中国を中心とした外需の低迷が、日本の輸出の足を引っ張っている。

Given that the People’s Bank of China devalued the yuan on three consecutive days last week, many market dealers concluded that the Chinese economy has been worsening more seriously than expected. A loss of steam in China’s growth would have a big impact on the world economy.
　中国人民銀行が３日連続で人民元切り下げに踏み切ったことで、市場では中国経済が想定以上に悪化しているとの観測が強まった。中国の成長が失速すれば、世界経済への打撃は大きい。

Some point out that an increase of interest rates in the United States, which can be expected within this year, will trigger outflows of a huge amount of funds from emerging economies. Thus, the uncertainties in economic prospects have been increasing.
　年内にも予想される米国の利上げを引き金に、新興国から巨額の資金が流出するとの見方もある。先行き不透明感は増している。

To survive economic disturbances that originate overseas, the Japanese economy’s fundamental power of growth must be urgently augmented.
　海外発の波乱に耐えられるように、日本経済が基礎的な成長力を高めることが急務である。

It is also essential to enhance the motivation and vigor of the private sector. We suggest that the government expedite the implementation of growth strategies, including promotion of plant and equipment investment that will improve productivity and deregulation that can help expand growth industries.
　民間の意欲と活力を高めることが大事だ。生産性向上に資する設備投資の促進策や、成長産業の拡大につながる規制緩和など、政府の成長戦略を加速させたい。

It is right for the government to aim for a virtuous circle in which corporate profits are passed on to workers in the form of wage hikes and this leads to expanded consumption. To ensure this is realized, the government should steadily carry out measures that can deepen this dimension of the Abenomics economic policy package.
　企業利益を賃上げに還元し、消費拡大につなげる「好循環経済」を目指す方向は正しい。その実現を確かなものとするため、政府はアベノミクスを深化させる手を間断なく打っていくべきだ。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 18, 2015)