ついに登場しました。
モバイル対応の対戦型サッカーゲームです。
モバイルを使って、全国の知らない人たちと一緒にゲームを進めることが出来る仕組みなんです。
サッカーと言えば、それはなんと言ってもワールドカップではないでしょうか。
日本勢はワールドカップ一番乗りを果たしました。
ゲームだって負けていられませんね。
我々の力で、ムードを盛り上げたいものです。
モバイル対応の対戦型サッカーゲーム、モバサカでワールドカップまでの長い道のりを乗り切りませんか？
たかがゲーム、されどゲームなんです。
負ければ悔し涙のひとつも出るというものです。
実践さながらのモバサカ にはまりました＾＾。

The Yomiuri Shimbun July 17, 2013
China must act responsibly for sake of global stability
米中戦略対話　世界の安定に責任を果たせ（7月16日付・読売社説）

The fifth round of the U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue was held recently in Washington, D.C. For the stability of not only the Asia-Pacific region but also the entire world, it is vital that cabinet members of the world’s two largest economic powers hold talks to confirm the need for bilateral cooperation in a wide range of areas, including diplomatic relations, national security and economic matters.
　米国の首都ワシントンで第５回米中戦略・経済対話が開かれた。
　世界第１位と２位の経済大国の閣僚が外交や安全保障、経済など幅広い分野で協調を確認することは、アジア太平洋地域のみならず世界の安定にとって極めて重要だ。

This was the first strategic and economic dialogue for the Chinese government under President Xi Jinping since it was launched earlier this year. Building on summit talks held last month, Washington and Beijing hope to deepen bilateral ties.
　中国の習近平政権にとっては、発足後初めて臨む戦略・経済対話となった。先の首脳会談を踏まえて、関係を一層深めたいとの思惑では、米中とも一致している。

Their agreements on drawing up an action plan to fight global warming and starting working-level talks for concluding a bilateral investment accord are positive results of the dialogue.
　地球温暖化防止の行動計画策定や、投資協定締結に向けた実質協議入りで合意したのは成果だ。

In step on North Korea

The two countries also shared the recognition that it is important for North Korea to take concrete steps to end its nuclear development program.
　北朝鮮の核問題でも、非核化へ北朝鮮が具体的措置を取ることの重要性で認識を共有した。

We hope China will not only urge Pyongyang to resume six-nation talks on its nuclear program, but also warn North Korea that sanctions against that country will not be eased unless it takes tangible steps to eliminate its existing nuclear weapons.
　中国は、北朝鮮に対し、６か国協議の再開を促すだけでなく、非核化へ動くまで制裁は緩めないとクギを刺してもらいたい。

However, the United States and China found little else on which their positions matched.
　米中の主張は、その他の分野ではかみ合わない点が目立った。

They have been at loggerheads over cybertheft. The United States condemned China’s actions of illicitly obtaining information of U.S. companies through cyber-attacks. Although both sides agreed to continue discussing the issue at working-level talks, they remain far apart.
　特に激しく対立したサイバー問題では、米国は、サイバー攻撃で米企業の情報を不正入手する中国の行為を強く非難した。作業部会で協議を継続することにはなったが、隔たりは依然大きい。

The Chinese side reiterated its previous assertions that it is also has been a victim of hacking. Yet as long as China only tries to avoid dealing with this problem, it does not deserve to be called a “responsible major power.”
　中国側は「我々も被害者だ」と従来の主張を繰り返した。問題を先送りにするだけなら、「責任ある大国」とは言えまい。

Territorial tussles

Territorial and maritime issues have also been a bugbear in U.S.-China relations.
　領土・海洋問題も対立事項だ。

During the dialogue, U.S. Vice President Joe Biden expressed concern and said the future of “the freedom of navigation” will depend on how China deals with territorial disputes with its neighboring countries.
バイデン米副大統領は、「航行の自由」の将来は、「中国が隣国との領土紛争にどう対応するかで決まる」と、懸念を表明した。

U.S. President Barack Obama, during his meeting at the White House with Chinese officials who attended the dialogue, also urged China to peacefully handle maritime territorial issues with its neighbors, rather than use threats or coercion.
　オバマ大統領も、戦略対話の出席者とホワイトハウスで面会した際、海洋を巡る近隣諸国との争いには威嚇や強制ではなく、平和的に対処するよう注文を付けた。

Chinese surveillance vessels have repeatedly entered Japanese waters around the Senkaku Islands in Okinawa Prefecture. In January, a Chinese Navy vessel locked its fire-control radar onto a Maritime Self-Defense Force destroyer. China’s intimidation of the Philippines and Vietnam over islets in the South China Sea has been escalating.
　沖縄県・尖閣諸島周辺では、中国監視船の領海侵入が相次ぎ、１月には中国海軍のレーダー照射事件が起きた。南シナ海ではフィリピンやベトナムへの中国の威圧行動がエスカレートしている。

The Obama administration has attempted to strongly restrain China, which has threatened U.S. allies and their sea lanes, with intolerable acts of provocation.
　そうした目に余る挑発行為で、米国の同盟国や海上交通路（シーレーン）を脅かす中国を、オバマ政権が強く牽制(けんせい)したものだ。

Not to be outdone, China called on the United States not to meddle in territorial issues in the East China and South China seas. Beijing maintained its stance that it would resolutely defend its territory and that the disputes would be resolved properly through talks with the nations concerned.
　中国は逆に、東シナ海や南シナ海で介入しないよう米国に求めた。「断固として主権を守る。当事国が協議を通じて適切に解決する」との姿勢を崩さなかった。

As long as the Xi administration continues intimidating neighboring countries with shows of force and unilaterally pursues its “pivotal interests,” there will not be stability in the region.
　習政権が近隣諸国を力で威圧し、自国の「核心的利益」を一方的に追求する限り、地域の安定は望めない。

If China genuinely aims to build “a new type of relationship as major powers,” a relationship of coexistance on an equal footing with the United States, it needs to fulfill the responsibilities commensurate to such a power.
中国が米国と対等の共存関係である「新しいタイプの大国関係」を目指すのであれば、相応の責任を果たす必要がある。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 16, 2013)
（2013年7月16日01時37分  読売新聞）

さすが野村監督ですね。
目の付け所が凡人とは違います。
凡人を達人に変える７７の心得 という本をついに出版してしまいました。
この本の内容なんですが、実は野村監督が監督をつとめていた時にミーティングで選手に話していたことをまとめたものなんです。
それで野球の成績をあそこまで上げることが出来たのですが、その秘訣は選手のやる気を引き出すというところにあります。
それは選手たちのモチベーションを高める技術なんです。
ビジネスの世界でも、まったく同じことが言えるのではないでしょうか。
野球で選手たちのモチベーションを高めてくれたテクニックは、実践ビジネスの社会でも十分に通用するのではないかと思いました。
早速、私も一冊通販で購入して、野村テクニックを学習したいと思います。

The Yomiuri Shimbun July 16, 2013
New rule should be used to make society aware of immense food loss
食品ロス削減　消費者の意識改める第一歩に（7月15日付・読売社説）

The amount of food loss, or food that is still edible but is discarded, is increasing. Business corporations, consumers and the government must cooperate with each other to reduce this waste.
　まだ食べられるのに廃棄される「食品ロス」が増えている。企業と消費者、政府が連携し、削減に取り組みたい。

Seventeen million tons of food is discarded annually in this country. It is estimated that between 5 million and 8 million tons of the total is food loss. This almost equals the annual domestic rice crop and represents an immense waste.
　日本では年間１７００万トンの食品廃棄物が発生し、このうち食品ロスは推計で５００万～８００万トンに上る。国内のコメの収穫量とほぼ同規模で、あまりにも巨大な損失である。

lst step forward

Under the leadership of the government, which had discussed ways to deal with food loss, about 40 food producers, wholesalers, and retailers such as operators of convenience stores and supermarket chains decided to start reviewing their trade practices concerning the best-before date of processed food. This can be a first step forward in the efforts to reduce food waste.
　対策を検討してきた政府が主導し、食品メーカーや卸業者、コンビニ、スーパーなど約４０社が加工食品の賞味期限に関する商慣行の見直しに着手することを決めた。削減に向けた第一歩と言える。

In the food production and retail industries, there is a trade practice called the “one-third rule.” Under this rule, foodstuff is to be delivered to retailers in the first one-third of the period from the food production date to the best-before date, while in the remaining two-thirds of the period, the food is to be sold by retailers.
　食品・流通業界には「３分の１ルール」と呼ぶ商慣行がある。製造日から賞味期限までの３分の１にあたる時期を小売店への納品期限とし、残り３分の２の期間を店頭での販売期間とする。

Food whose time limit for delivery passes is returned from wholesalers to producers, and most of it is discarded, a leading factor behind the increase in food loss.
　納品期限を過ぎた食品は、卸売業者からメーカーに返品され、ほとんどが廃棄されるため、食品ロスが増える要因となってきた。

Starting next month, the 40 companies will change the one-third rule and extend the time limit for delivery to retailers to one-half of the period from the food production date to the best-before date, if only for a certain type of processed food, such as confectionery and beverages.
　約４０社は８月から３分の１ルールを改め、菓子や飲料など加工食品の一部の納品期限を賞味期限の２分の１まで延ばす方針だ。

This will reduce food inventories, but it may also reduce the amount of food that is discarded.
　これによって、在庫を削減できれば、廃棄される商品を減らす効果が期待できよう。

Trimming the costs needed for returning and discarding products, and for managing inventories can lower the products’ prices, which would also benefit consumers.
　返品や廃棄、在庫管理にかかる費用を抑えることで、商品の値下げにつながり、消費者にも恩恵が及ぶのではないか。

Unless the review of the one-third rule spreads through the entire industry, however, the effect of reducing food waste will be limited. Therefore, it is important for the government and related businesses to increase the number of those businesses adopting the new rule.
　ただ、ルールの見直しが業界全体に広がらないと、削減効果は限られる。政府と業界は、参加企業の拡大を図ることが大事だ。

Business firms also need to make efforts to develop new technologies to improve such things as containers and packaging to extend the best-before date.
　企業は、容器や包装の改良で賞味期限自体を延ばすなど技術開発にも力を注ぐ必要がある。

It is also necessary to raise consumers’ awareness about food waste, primarily because households account for one-half of food loss. The government must also proactively work to raise consumers’ awareness.
　併せて問われているのは、消費者の意識改革だろう。食品ロスの半分は家庭で発生するからだ。政府は消費者の啓発活動にも積極的に取り組むべきである。

One-third rule deep rooted

The one-third rule has taken root in our society primarily because consumers prefer to buy fresher goods.
　３分の１ルールが定着した背景には、少しでも新しい食品を好む消費者の「鮮度志向」がある。

The best-before date for processed food is considered to mark the end of the period during which the food tastes its best.
Therefore, even if the food passes its best-before date, there is no need for it to be discarded right away.
　加工食品の賞味期限はおいしく食べられる期限であり、期限を過ぎても直ちに捨てる必要はない。

The best-before date is different from the expiration date for perishable food, which means one should not consume it for safety reasons beyond that date.
期限を過ぎたら食べてはいけない生鮮食品の消費期限とは違う。

If consumers seek freshness of foodstuffs excessively, food prices are likely to rise, which would be against the interests of the consumer. Although it is important for consumers to take food safety seriously, they should refrain from seeking food freshness too much.
　鮮度を過度に求めると、価格が割高になって、かえって消費者の利益を損ねる場合もある。消費者が食品の安全性に厳しい目を向けることは大切だが、過剰な鮮度志向は改めてもらいたい。

With the global supply-demand situation of foodstuffs tightening, Japan depends on imports for as much as 60 percent of its food. All of society should continue making efforts to reduce food loss.
　世界の食料需給が逼迫(ひっぱく)する中で日本は食料の６割を輸入に頼る。社会全体で食品ロスを減らす努力を続けていかねばならない。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 15, 2013)
（2013年7月15日01時31分  読売新聞）

消費者金融 というとそれだけで毛嫌いする人たちが多いのですが、賢く使いこなせればこれほど便利なものはないのです。
私は大の旅行好きで、会社ではミャンキチと呼ばれていました。
ミャンキチとはビルマが大好きでしようがない人たちの総称なんです＾＾。
ボーナス前に資金がないのに消費者金融の無利息期間を活用して何度も旅に出た思い出があります。
今日は嬉しいお知らせです。
消費者金融ナビというサイトの誕生なのです。
このサイトを活用すれば、スマホ対応の消費者金融会社の徹底比較が出来ます。
消費者金融からお金を借りたら、期限内に必ず返済しなければなりません。
この一点だけ注意すれば、恐れるに足らないのです。
賢く生きたお金を使いましょう。

The Yomiuri Shimbun July 15, 2013
Deepen debate on Constitution to build consensus on revision
１３参院選　憲法改正　新たな国家像の議論を深めよ（7月14日付・読売社説）

　◆与野党の合意形成を図りたい

The supreme law provides the framework of this country, but what form should it take?
　国家の枠組みを定めた最高法規はどうあるべきだろうか――。

Revision of the Constitution is a major issue in the campaign for the July 21 House of Councillors election. The ruling Liberal Democratic Party, Nippon Ishin no Kai (Japan Restoration Party) and Your Party support revising the Constitution, and New Komeito is considering it.
　参院選で憲法改正が主要な争点になっている。自民党と日本維新の会、みんなの党は改正に積極的で、公明党も改正を検討する。

Depending on results of the upper house election, political conditions allowing the Diet to propose constitutional revisions could be created for the first time since the end of World War II.
　参院選の結果次第では、国会が憲法改正を発議できる政治状況が戦後初めて生まれよう。

Dealing with Article 96
　◆ハードル高い発議要件

One bone of contention in the election campaign centers on Article 96 of the Constitution, which stipulates procedures to revise the supreme law.
　参院選の論点の一つが、憲法改正手続きを定めた９６条である。

The article says a constitutional revision will be put to a national referendum after the Diet proposes it with a concurring vote of two-thirds or more of all members in each chamber. This requirement is said to be much stricter than that of other countries.
　憲法改正は、衆参各院で「３分の２以上」の賛成により国会が発議し、その上で国民投票にかけられる。改正のハードルは海外と比べても極めて高いと言える。

The LDP advocates that the requirement for the initiative should be lowered to a simple majority so the public can more easily have “an opportunity to participate in a constitutional judgment” through a national referendum.
　自民党は発議要件を「過半数」に緩和し、国民が国民投票を通じて「憲法判断に参加する機会」を得やすくすると主張している。

Ishin no Kai says that Article 96 should be revised first, and Your Party agrees with relaxation of the requirement. The main opposition Democratic Party of Japan and Komeito oppose amending this article first, but they do not disagree with the revision itself.
　維新の会は９６条の「先行改正」を唱え、みんなの党も要件緩和に賛成だ。民主、公明両党は先行改正には反対だが、９６条の改正自体を否定はしていない。

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has taken a flexible stance in consideration of the position of Komeito, the LDP’s coalition partner, suggesting that articles on basic human rights, pacifism and sovereignty of the people would not be subject to the relaxed requirement for revision.
　安倍首相は、公明党の立場に配慮し、基本的人権や平和主義、国民主権に関わる条項を発議要件緩和の対象から除外する案に言及するなど、柔軟に対応する意向も示している。

The LDP needs to coordinate its opinions with the other parties to realize revision of the Constitution. The ruling party should take a pragmatic approach through consensus-building with other parties even if it has to revise its own draft.
　憲法改正を実現するには、他党との調整が欠かせない。自民党案を修正してでも合意形成を目指すのは、現実的である。

The Japanese Communist Party and the Social Democratic Party oppose amending the Constitution, including Article 96, based on “constitutionalism,” the idea that harnessing power of the state and protecting the people are the essence of a constitution.
　共産、社民両党は、国家権力を縛り、国民を守るのが憲法の本質だとする「立憲主義」を掲げて９６条改正などに反対している。

Abe has hit back at this interpretation of constitutionalism and said it is to rein in an autocratic government. The prime minister pointed out that a constitution will not only harness state power but also show what form a state should be.
　首相は、この立憲主義の解釈について「専制主義的な政府に対する考え方だ」と反論し、憲法は権力を縛るとともに国の姿を示すものだ、と指摘している。

Of course, a constitution can restrict state power but it also provides the philosophy and role of a state.
　憲法には権力の制限規範という側面もあるが、基本的な価値観や国家の役割も明示されている。

Even if the Diet’s requirement for a constitutional revision is relaxed, there will be no change in the need for a national referendum to revise the Constititution. We can hardly understand why some parties consider it incompatible with constitutionalism.
　国会の発議要件を緩和しても、国民投票で改正を決めることに変わりはない。それなのに、なぜ立憲主義と相いれないことになるのか。理解に苦しむ。

Some people claim that revision of Article 96 will allow a person in power to revise the Constitution as easily as ordinary laws. Isn’t this rather simplistic?
　９６条改正が実現すると、時の権力者が憲法を一般の法律並みに改正できるかのような論法もある。短絡的に過ぎないか。

　◆自衛隊の規定が必要だ

Article 9 also is a major point of contention.
　９条も重要な論点だ。

The LDP’s draft, released last year, for revising the supreme law calls for keeping the war-renouncing principle of Article 9 intact, while deleting its second paragraph, which prohibits this country from possessing any war potential. Instead, it calls for newly including a provision in Article 9 for establishment of a “military force for defense” and the state’s obligations for securing the nation’s territorial integrity in cooperation with the public.
自民党の改正草案は、９条の平和主義は堅持しつつ、戦力不保持の２項を削り、「国防軍」設置や領土の保全義務を新たに規定するとした。

Define status of SDF

Abe has stated, “Although the SDF are regarded by other countries as a military force, in this country they are not,” adding, “It is unreasonable for a large-scale organization of forces to have no status in the eyes of the Constitution.” Abe’s argument is reasonable.
　首相が、「自衛隊は外国では軍隊と認識され、日本では軍隊ではないと言っている。大きな実力組織が憲法にないのはおかしい」と主張するのは至極当然である。

Revision of Article 9 is vitally important to deepen the Japan-U.S. alliance as well as to increase Japan’s participation in such international cooperation activities as U.N.-mandated peacekeeping operations.
　９条の改正は、日米同盟を深化し、国連平和維持活動（ＰＫＯ）など国際的な活動に積極的に参加するうえでも欠かせない。

In this connection, it is a major development that Komeito in its upper house election pledges has said the party’s stand of “reinforcing the postwar Constitution by adding new ideas and articles to the supreme law” does include studies about the wisdom of having the existence of the SDF explicitly stipulated by the Constitution.
　公明党が、憲法の内容は変えずに新たな理念・条文を加える「加憲」を主張し、その中に自衛隊の存在の明記も検討すると公約したのは大きな前進だ。

Ishin no Kai, for its part, has been advocating the need for constitutional revisions “for the sake of solidly establishing the nation’s own security system on the basis of its right to self-defense.”
　維新の会は、「自衛権に基づく自立した安全保障体制確立」に憲法改正が必要と唱えている。

Another opposition party, People’s Life Party, insists that the legal basis for the SDF’s participation in U.N. peacekeeping missions must be clearly laid down.
　生活の党は自衛隊がＰＫＯに参加する根拠を定めるという。

In contrast, the JCP and the SDP have been dead set against any changes to Article 9, arguing that alteration of the article would be tantamount to “turning Japan into a country that could wage war.”
　共産党や社民党は９条改正について「日本を戦争する国に作り替える」と反対している。

It is undoubtedly irresponsible to affix an extremely negative label to parties favoring constitutional revision without squarely facing up to reality. The aim is to unnecessarily stir voters’ anxieties.
　現実を直視せず、極端なレッテル貼りで有権者の不安をあおるのは無責任である。

People’s Life Party leader Ichiro Ozawa, JCP Executive Committee Chairman Kazuo Shii and SDP head Mizuho Fukushima have criticized the LDP’s revision draft because it seeks to delete Article 97, which stipulates the inviolability of basic human rights.
　憲法を巡っては、自民党の改正草案が、基本的人権の不可侵性をうたった９７条を削除していることを、生活の党の小沢代表や共産党の志位委員長、社民党の福島党首がやり玉に挙げた。

It seems they are keen to give the public the impression that the LDP is poised to crack down on basic human rights.
　自民党案がいかにも基本的人権を軽視しているかのような印象を与えたかったのだろう。

In a rebuttal, Abe has stressed his party has no intention at all to change the fundamental principles of the Constitution, explaining that in the LDP draft Article 11 “absorbs” Article 97. Article 11 contains provisions that have the same effect as Article 97. Therefore, there seems to be no major problem.
　安倍首相は、基本原則は変えていないと強調し、同趣旨の条文がある１１条に「吸収させた」と説明した。それならば、大きな問題ではないのではないか。

Readiness for emergencies
　◆緊急事態への対処も

Ishin no Kai, Your Party and other parties that are seeking to drastically reform the government structure through revisions of the Constitution have referred to the advisability of creating a system that allows for election of the prime minister by popular vote.
　憲法改正で統治機構の仕組みを抜本的に変えることを主張する維新の会やみんなの党は、いずれも首相公選制に言及している。

A plebiscite for choosing the prime minister, however, could end up as a mere popularity contest. Israel introduced a referendum system for electing the prime minister in 1996, but abolished it in 2001 because of the resulting political turmoil.
　だが、首相公選制は人気投票になりかねない。イスラエルでは導入後政治が混乱し、撤廃した。

The LDP, Your Party and People’s Life Party, meanwhile, have proposed that new provisions be incorporated into the Constitution concerning such contingencies as a massive natural disaster and terrorist attacks.
　自民、みんな、生活の各党は、大規模な自然災害やテロといった緊急事態に関する条項を盛り込むことを提案している。

There must be no stinting in drawing up legal preparations to cope with such possible calamities as an epicentral earthquake focused just below the Tokyo metropolitan area and a mega-quake such as a Nankai Trough earthquake.
首都直下地震や、南海トラフ巨大地震などへの法的な備えは怠れない。

Revision of the Constitution should also take the possibility of these national crises into account. Constitutional discussions must be deepened from this point of view.
　国家の危機的状況も想定した憲法でありたい。こうした観点からの議論も深めるべきだ。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 14, 2013)
（2013年7月14日01時56分  読売新聞）

The Yomiuri Shimbun July 13, 2013
Seoul court ruling on damages defies 1965 Japan-ROK accord
ソウル不当判決　日韓合意に反する賠償命令だ（7月12日付・読売社説）

A South Korean court has handed down a ruling that could worsen relations with Japan. It was an unjust decision.
　日韓関係の一層の悪化につながりかねない。不当な判決である。

In an appellate case sent back from the Supreme Court, which involved four South Koreans seeking compensation for damages from Nippon Steel & Sumitomo Metal Corp., a descendant of the companies they had been forced to work for during wartime, the Seoul High Court ordered payment of 100 million won (about 8.8 million yen) to each of the plaintiffs.
　戦時中、日本企業に徴用された韓国人４人が、当時の勤務先の流れをくむ新日鉄住金に損害賠償を求めた訴訟の差し戻し控訴審で、韓国のソウル高裁は、１人当たり１億ウォン（約８８０万円）の賠償を命じる判決を言い渡した。

This is the first time that a South Korean court has ordered a Japanese firm to pay damages to former forced laborers.
　韓国司法が、日本企業に対し、元徴用工への賠償支払い命令を出したのは初めてのことだ。

The ruling is totally unacceptable because it obviously violates the agreement on property claims and economic cooperation that was reached when the two countries concluded a treaty to normalize relations in 1965. The accord clearly stated that the issue of property claims was “resolved completely and finally.”
　今回の判決が容認できないのは、１９６５年の国交正常化の際に日韓両国が締結した財産請求権・経済協力協定に明らかに反しているからだ。協定は、請求権問題が「完全かつ最終的に解決された」と断じている。

In its 1976 white paper on funds deriving from property claims, South Korea’s Economic Planning Board listed construction of a steelmaking plant, dams and highways as concrete examples of how $500 million in grants and other funds the country received from Japan in the name of economic cooperation had been used. The white paper clearly stated that “its usefulness cannot be belittled.”
　韓国経済企画院は１９７６年の「請求権資金白書」で、無償・有償あわせて５億ドルの日本からの経済協力について、製鉄所やダム、高速道路の建設を具体的な使途に挙げた。その上で、「効用を過小評価できない」と明記した。

Erroneous judgment

Nevertheless, South Korea’s Supreme Court said in a May 2012 ruling that “claims by individuals have not yet expired.” The current ruling is based on that erroneous judgment.
　それにもかかわらず、韓国最高裁は２０１２年５月、「個人の請求権は消滅していない」とする判断を示した。今回の判決はこの誤った判断を踏まえたものだ。

Some of the plaintiffs filed a similar suit in Japan but their loss was finalized by a Supreme Court decision.
　原告の一部は日本でも提訴し、最高裁で敗訴が確定している。

The Seoul High Court’s decision this time demonstrates disregard for the final decision in this country. It is natural that Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga said, “We cannot accept a decision that doesn’t comport with Japan’s position.”
　結果として、日本の確定判決が無視されたことになる。菅官房長官が、「日本の立場に相いれない判決であれば、容認できない」と述べたのも当然である。

There are five other similar lawsuits filed against Japanese firms. The latest decision will inevitably have an influence on future court rulings. It is feared that more South Koreans who were once forced laborers will file class action suits, causing new problems between the two countries.
　日本企業を相手取った同様の裁判が他に５件ある。今後の判決への影響は避けられまい。元徴用工らによる集団訴訟が相次ぐ恐れもある。日韓の新たな懸案だ。

In the first place, the South Korean government itself is obliged to pay compensation for damages suffered by South Koreans during Japan’s colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula. The $300 million Japan paid in grants to South Korea contained “the funds to resolve the compensation over forcible recruitment.”
　そもそも、植民地統治に起因する韓国人の補償請求については、支払い義務は韓国政府にある。日本が供与した無償資金３億ドルには「強制動員の被害の補償を解決する資金」が含まれている。

Because the South Korean government did not sufficiently pay out this compensation money, dissatisfaction has been smoldering among many South Koreans who were excluded from compensation for individuals.
　韓国政府の支払いが不十分で、個人補償の対象から除外された人々が多かったために、不満はくすぶり続けていた。

Moreover, the South Korean government has failed to give sufficient explanations to its own people.
　韓国政府が国民に十分な説明をしなかったのが一因だろう。

Fostering ill will

As Seoul has intensified antagonism against Tokyo in recent years, over topics such as sovereignty over the Takeshima islets and perceptions of history, unfounded demands against Japan have been flaring up again.
　近年、竹島や歴史認識を巡る対立が深まるにつれ、根拠が薄弱な日本への要求も再燃している。

A sudden shift by the South Korean judiciary from its conventional stance is not completely unrelated to the rise of anti-Japan sentiment in the country.
　韓国司法が最近、従来の判断から急転換したのも、そうした反日の高まりと無縁ではあるまい。

The normalization of bilateral relations opened the way to tremendous progress for South Korea. The financial resolution of damages from the past was determined diplomatically and is fundamentally a matter to be dealt with domestically in that country. It is unreasonable that South Korea persistently continues to point its accusing finger at Japan.
　日韓国交正常化は韓国の飛躍につながった。過去の清算は外交的に決着し、本来は韓国の内政問題だ。その矛先を執拗(しつよう)に日本に向けるのは筋違いである。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 12, 2013)
（2013年7月12日01時26分  読売新聞）

July 07, 2013(Mainichi Japan)
Kaleidoscope of the Heart: Is mourning the loss of a loved one an illness?
香山リカのココロの万華鏡:別れが悲しいのは病気？　／東京

In May, the American Psychiatric Association's "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders," used by psychiatrists around the world as a basis for making diagnoses, received a major revision that has become a large topic of discussion in psychiatric circles.
　世界の精神科医の多くが使っている診断の基準が、米国精神医学会が作成した「診断と統計の手引き」。５月にそれが大改訂され、精神医療の分野で大きな話題となっている。

Among the revisions made, what bothers me is the deletion of "bereavement exclusion" in the section on depressive disorders. In the previous version of the manual, there was an exclusion saying that when people lost a loved one, they shouldn't be diagnosed with depression for the next two months even if they showed symptoms of it. In the new version that exclusion is gone, and the death of loved ones is generally treated the same as other stress or shock factors, with patients to be diagnosed with depression if they show depression symptoms for two weeks.
　変更点の中で気になるのは、いわゆる「うつ病」の診断から「死別の場合は除く」という箇所が削除されたこと。前のバージョンでは、愛する人などとの「死別後の２カ月間はたとえ症状が出そろっていても『うつ病』と診断してはならない」との注意書きがつけられていた。今回の改訂ではそれがなくなり、「死別」を基本的には他のさまざまなストレスやショックと同じように扱って「２週間いくつかの症状が続いていれば『うつ病』と診断される」ということになったのだ。

To be frank, I am doubtful of the correctness of this change. I myself lost my father over two years ago, and I feel that since then my view of the world has greatly changed. I continue to go to work because I can't leave my job unattended, but sometimes I am struck by indescribable feelings of emptiness.
　はっきり言って、この改訂には疑問を感じる。私自身、２年以上前に父親を亡くしたが、あれから目に映る世界がすっかり変わってしまったような気がしている。仕事に穴を開けるわけにはいかないので出かけてはいるが、時々例えようもないむなしさに襲われる。

I often see people in my consultation room who complain of sadness and regret after the loss of a spouse or child. I sympathize with them greatly, because considering how much I am affected by the loss of my aged father, the loss of one's child seems like it must be unbearable. Except in extreme cases, I don't feel like labeling these people as "depressed." However, if I send them away with a diagnosis of "completely normal," patients having trouble sleeping can't get prescriptions for sleeping medicine, so with no other choice I diagnose them with "insomnia," or with "psychogenic reaction," a response to temporary but harsh psychological stimuli.
　診察室には配偶者やわが子を亡くした後の悲しみや苦しさを訴える人が、しばしばやって来る。私は「年老いた父との死別でさえこれほどこたえるのだから、わが子との別れがつらすぎるのは当然のこと」と深く共感し、よほどのことでない限り「うつ病」などと病名をつける気にはなれない。ただ、「まったく正常」としてしまうと不眠を訴える人に睡眠のクスリを処方することもできないので、仕方なく「不眠症」とか、一過性のこころの激しい反応ということで「心因反応」といった病名をつける。

Perhaps before long, I will have to tell a person who comes complaining that, three weeks after a family death, they feel down and without energy, "That's depression. Let's take some antidepressants and get better."
　もしかすると、これからは「３週間前に家族が亡くなり、それから気持ちが落ち込んで何も手につかない」と語る人にも、「それはうつ病ですよ。ちゃんと抗うつ薬を飲んで治しましょう」と言わなければならなくなるのだろうか。

In our lives, we have many sad and hurtful experiences. That is something all people face, and one might even say the ability to mourn deeply and for a long time is a defining characteristic of humanity. A society that labels that without exception as "depression" is both shallow and dull.
　悲しむこと、つらい気持ちを抱えることを、私たちは人生を生きる中で何度も経験する。それは人として当たり前のことであり、もっと言えば「深く長く嘆き、悲しむことができる」ということこそ、「人間らしさ」の条件なのではないだろうか。それが一律に「はい、それは病気です」と言われ、治療の対象になるような社会は薄っぺらく味気ない。

The Japanese Society of Mood Disorders has not yet announced how it will react to the revised manual, but I hope that they will say, "Being sad because of a family member's death is not an illness."
　日本うつ病学会は、この度の改訂を日本でどう扱うか、まだ指針を発表していない。「家族との別れが悲しいのは病気じゃない」と言ってくれたら、と願っている。

(By Rika Kayama, psychiatrist)
毎日新聞　2013年07月02日　地方版

The Yomiuri Shimbun July 12, 2013
Political parties lack seriousness over Japan’s late entry in TPP talks
１３参院選　ＴＰＰ交渉　参加出遅れに危機感が乏しい（7月11日付・読売社説）

How should Japan deal with negotiations on the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade agreement?
　日本は、環太平洋経済連携協定（ＴＰＰ）交渉にどのように対応すべきか。

Each political party is accountable for its stance on the TPP during the ongoing campaign for the House of Councillors election.
　参院選で各党の姿勢が問われている。

The U.S. Congress likely will complete procedures soon over Japan’s entry into TPP negotiations, following Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s announcement of Japan’s intent to join the talks. Eleven countries, including the United States and Australia, are scheduled to hold a new round of TPP talks in Malaysia on July 15-25. For several days toward the end of the round, Japan is expected to finally be able to sit at the negotiating table.
　安倍首相の参加表明を受けて、米国議会の承認手続きが近く終了する。米国、豪州など１１か国は１５～２５日にマレーシアで交渉を行う。その最後の数日間、日本はようやく、交渉のテーブルに着くことができる見通しだ。

With its population shrinking, Japan needs to tap into Asia’s vitality by promoting free trade in an effort to buoy its economic growth.
　人口が減る日本は、自由貿易推進でアジアの活力を取り込み、成長に弾みを付ける必要がある。

Japan must catch up

Aiming to reach a broad agreement within the year, the 11 countries are likely to step up TPP negotiations. Japan has lagged behind in the TPP talks, but it must explore ways to catch up with its negotiating partners in creating trade rules.
　１１か国は年内の大筋合意を目指し、交渉を本格化させる。出遅れた日本は通商ルール作りで巻き返す道を探らねばならない。

Although Japan faces these difficult circumstances, the parties’ campaign pledges indicate they do not feel the urgency of the TPP issue. As a result, the TPP has not been a major contentious topic in the campaign.
　そうした厳しい状況にもかかわらず、各党の公約は危機感に乏しく、ＴＰＰへの対応は大きな争点になっていない。

Regarding the TPP issue, the Liberal Democratic Party has stressed it would seek the best possible path in line with national interests by protecting what needs protecting and pushing for what the nation wants.
　自民党はＴＰＰについて、「交渉力を駆使し、守るべきものは守り、攻めるべきものは攻めることにより、国益にかなう最善の道を追求する」と強調している。

In its comprehensive policy package, however, the LDP has called on the government to place priority on ensuring that five key agricultural items, such as rice and wheat, will be exempt from tariff elimination in TPP negotiations. It also calls for the government not to hesitate to pull out from the trade talks if the items are not protected. The LDP’s Hokkaido chapter has taken an even tougher stance, saying it will stand firm and not accept tariff elimination without exceptions.
　しかし、総合政策集ではコメ、麦などを念頭に、「重要５品目の聖域を最優先し、それが確保できない場合は脱退も辞さない」と主張した。北海道連は「聖域なき関税撤廃は認めず、北海道の立場を主張する」とさらに強硬だ。

As the prime minister has vowed to enter TPP negotiations “with the determination to secure national interests,” Japan needs to flex its bargaining muscle.
　首相が「国益を確保する決意で交渉していく」と述べたように、日本にはしたたかな交渉力の発揮が求められる。

Along with its coalition partner, New Komeito, the LDP should support the government and reflect national interests in TPP-related policies.
　自民党は公明党とともに、政府を後押しし、ＴＰＰに国益を反映させる方針を示すべきだ。

It is also vital for political parties to propose feasible measures to make the nation’s agriculture competitive in preparation for further market liberalization.
　一層の市場開放に備えた「強い農業」の実現へ、現実的な方策を訴えることも重要な課題だ。

Active debate urged

Nippon Ishin no Kai (Japan Restoration Party) and Your Party, both pushing for Japan’s entry into the TPP talks, have called for a review of a measure to reduce rice production, an overhaul of agricultural cooperatives and other reforms. We urge the parties to have a vigorous debate on these issues.
　ＴＰＰ推進を主張する日本維新の会とみんなの党は、減反政策の見直しや農協改革などを掲げる。活発な論戦を期待したい。

Meanwhile, the largest opposition party, the Democratic Party of Japan, has pledged in its campaign platform to seek high-level economic partnerships and take the lead in drawing up global trade rules. But at the same time, it has also said, “We will take up the TPP issue without hesitating to withdraw [from the TPP talks].” The party’s proposed measures to beef up the agricultural sector appear vague.
　民主党は公約で、「高いレベルの経済連携を推進し、世界のルール作りを主導する」としながら、「ＴＰＰは脱退も辞さない姿勢で臨む」と主張している。農業の強化策は抽象的である。

The Japanese Communist Party, the People’s Life Party, the Social Democratic Party and Green Wind all have opposed Japan’s participation in the TPP talks. However, Japan, which thrived as a trading country, is unlikely to be able to develop a vision for the future if it decides to stay away from such a free trade framework in Asia.
　共産党、生活の党、社民党、みどりの風は、そろってＴＰＰ反対を主張している。だが、「貿易立国」として発展した日本が、アジアの自由貿易圏から外れる道を選べば、将来展望は開けまい。

The TPP negotiations address not only tariff elimination but also a wide range of other areas, such as rules for investment and intellectual property protection. How can Japan take advantage of the TPP to boost its competitiveness? We urge voters to closely look at each party’s proposal on the TPP.
　ＴＰＰ交渉は関税撤廃だけでなく、投資ルールや知的財産権保護など幅広い分野に及ぶ。競争力強化にどうつなげるのか。有権者は各党の訴えを見極めてほしい。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 11, 2013)
（2013年7月11日01時26分  読売新聞）

The Yomiuri Shimbun July 11, 2013
Don’t shirk discussions on raising the elderly’s social security burden
１３参院選　社会保障　負担増の論議は避けられない（7月10日付・読売社説）

Amid a chronically low birthrate and rapidly aging population, Japan’s spending on social security, including pensions, medical care and nursing care, has been continuously increasing.
　少子高齢化が急速に進む中、年金、医療、介護などの社会保障費は増え続けている。

How can a sustainable social security system be built? This is an important issue in the upcoming House of Councillors election.
　持続可能な社会保障制度をどう築いていくか。参院選の重要な争点である。

The Liberal Democratic Party has unveiled policies to promote wider use of cheap generic drugs and prevent people from receiving treatment at more than one medical institution for the same disease or sickness. These policies show the LDP has a sense of urgency on this issue.
　自民党が、価格の安い後発医薬品の使用拡大や、複数の医療機関での重複診療抑制を打ち出したのは、危機感の表れと言えよう。

However, a glance at the campaign pledges of the political parties, including the LDP, reveals that they are hesitant to ask the public to pay more for their social security system.
　だが、自民を含め、各党の公約を見ると、国民に負担増を求めることには及び腰だ。

Elderly should pay more

For example, increasing the proportion of medical expenses that elderly people must pay out of their own pocket is one issue that needs to be addressed.
　例えば、高齢者医療の自己負担率を引き上げる問題である。

The Health Insurance Law and others stipulate that people aged 70 to 74 must pay 20 percent of their medical expenses when they are treated at a hospital. Despite this, government administrations since 2008 have capped this figure at 10 percent as a special measure, apparently for fear of sparking a backlash from the elderly if they increase it.
　健康保険法などは７０～７４歳の医療費の窓口負担を２割と定めている。それにもかかわらず、２００８年以降、歴代政権は特例措置として１割に抑えてきた。高齢者の反発を恐れてのことだろう。

We think this figure should be raised to 20 percent, as set by law, to curtail public spending.
　公費の支出削減のため、法定の２割への引き上げは必要だ。

However, the LDP, New Komeito and the Democratic Party of Japan do not mention this issue in their election pledges. The Japanese Communist Party and the Social Democratic Party oppose raising this figure.
　しかし、この問題について、自民、公明、民主各党は公約で言及していない。共産、社民両党は引き上げに反対している。

Health, Labor and Welfare Minister Norihisa Tamura expressed his intention to review the special measure at a press conference Tuesday, but he did not set any time frame for abolishing it.
　田村厚生労働相は９日の記者会見で、特例措置を見直す意向を示したものの、廃止する時期については言明しなかった。

How can snowballing medical spending be rolled back? How can financial resources to fund the medical care system be secured? We urge all parties to deepen discussions on these matters.
　医療費の増加をどう抑えるのか。財源をどう確保するのか。各党は議論を深めてもらいたい。

It is utterly irresponsible of the DPJ, the JCP and the SDP to insist on raising medical fees, which will inflate government spending on medical care, without explaining where the money to cover the cost will come from.
　民主、共産、社民各党が、財源を示さずに、医療費増大につながる診療報酬の引き上げを主張しているのは無責任に過ぎよう。

Nippon Ishin no Kai (Japan Restoration Party) has proposed benefits for the elderly be reduced to more reasonable levels. The proportion of medical bills people are required to pay at hospitals differs between age groups. Ishin no Kai has proposed that this proportion be set at a uniform rate, so people shoulder medical expenses commensurate with their income.
　日本維新の会は「高齢者向け給付の適正化」を提起している。年齢によって異なる現行の医療費の自己負担割合を一律にし、「所得に応じた負担」にする内容だ。

Ishin no Kai also calls for raising the eligibility age for pension benefits. These issues deserve to be discussed in detail.
　年金の支給開始年齢の引き上げもうたっている。いずれも検討すべき課題だろう。

Measures to deal with the low birthrate also are important.
　少子化対策も重要だ。

Help people have kids

The number of births in Japan fell to a record low of 1.037 million last year. A relentless decline in the number of people in the working generation that supports the elderly will imperil the very foundation of the nation’s social security system.
　わが国の出生数は昨年、過去最少の１０３万７０００人にとどまった。高齢者を支える現役世代の減少が続けば、社会保障制度の根幹を危うくする。

It is essential to create an environment in which more people can raise their children while continuing their careers. Amid public calls for eliminating the waiting lists for licensed day care centers, political parties are in step when it comes to improving child care services.
　働きながら子育てできる環境整備が欠かせない。待機児童の解消が求められる中、保育の充実では各党の足並みはそろっている。

The LDP touted that it will ensure child care facilities are capable of accepting 400,000 more children by the end of fiscal 2017. However, many problems need to be solved before this target can be achieved, including how to cooperate with local governments on this matter. The LDP must present specific steps for reaching this goal.
　自民党は、１７年度までに４０万人の保育の受け皿確保を掲げた。ただ、自治体とどう連携するかなど、懸案は多い。実現への具体策を示すことが大切である。

The nation’s budget for measures to deal with the low birthrate is small compared with those of the United States and European countries. It is necessary to correct the current social security benefit setup, which is generous for the elderly, but relatively light for working and child-raising generations.
　日本の少子化対策予算は、欧米に比べて少ない。高齢者に手厚く、現役・子育て世代に薄い社会保障給付を是正することが必要だ。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, July 10, 2013)
（2013年7月10日01時52分  読売新聞）