Review election pledges
　◆政権公約の見直しを◆

A new cabinet to be formed by Hatoyama is to carry out policy measures based on the schedule presented in the DPJ's election manifesto. However, the new government should not stick to its "election" pledges so much so as to destabilize people's lives.
　鳩山新内閣は、政権公約（マニフェスト）で示した工程表に従って、政策を進めることになる。だが、“選挙用”政権公約にこだわるあまり、国民生活を不安定にさせてはならない。

Its most important task is to put the Japanese economy, which is now in the process of recovering from a serious recession, on a steady road to recovery. Given the deteriorating employment situation, public spending on economic pump-priming measures must be continued seamlessly.
　最大の課題は、大不況から立ち直りかけている日本経済を着実な回復軌道に乗せることだ。雇用情勢の悪化を考えれば、切れ目のない景気対策が欠かせない。

When drafting the next fiscal year's budget, the new administration needs to give top priority to boosting the economy.
　来年度予算編成でも、景気浮揚に最大限の配慮が必要だ。

In the realm of foreign and security policy, the change of government will not be accepted as an excuse to tear up international agreements. The new government must seek to achieve consistency in this country's foreign policy and firmly maintain the Japan-U.S. alliance.
　外交・安全保障では、政権交代によって、国際公約を反故(ほご)にすることは許されない。外交の継続性に留意し、日米同盟を堅持しなければならない。

Since it does not have a single-party majority in the upper house, the DPJ will start talks soon with the Social Democratic Party and the People's New Party about the formation of a coalition government.
　民主党は、参院では単独過半数を持たないことから、社民、国民新両党と連立政権協議に入る。

One major concern is the huge gap between the DPJ and the SDP regarding their basic policies on foreign and security affairs, including the participation of the Self-Defense Forces in international peacekeeping activities.
　懸念されるのは、自衛隊の国際平和協力活動など、外交・安保の基本にかかわる政策をめぐって、民主、社民両党間に大きな隔たりがあることだ。

A political situation in which a small party can use its casting vote to push around a major party would be extremely harmful. The DPJ should approach the talks determined to scrap plans for a coalition with the SDP if they cannot reach an agreement on fundamental policies.
　少数党が多数党を振り回すキャスチングボート政治は、弊害が大きい。民主党は、基本政策で合意できなければ、連立を白紙に戻すこともあり得るとの強い決意で、協議に臨むべきだろう。

The DPJ has set a goal of "bidding farewell to bureaucrat-led policy-making."
　民主党は、「官僚政治からの脱却」も目標に掲げている。

But the DPJ should not be under the illusion that bureaucrats will dance to the party's tune simply by establishing a politician-led "National Strategy Bureau" or by assigning a bevy of lawmakers to positions within each government agency or ministry.
だが、首相直属の「国家戦略局」を設けたり、多数の国会議員を各府省に配置しさえすれば、官僚を動かせるというものではない。

Lawmakers will be scrutinized for their ability to use bureaucrats to serve their purposes, rather than to act hostilely against bureaucrats. Lawmakers should know that only when they win the trust of bureaucrats will they be able to effectively implement policies.
　官僚と敵対するのではなく、使いこなす力量が問われる。官僚の信頼を得て初めて、政策の遂行が可能になることを知るべきだ。

===

Can LDP make comeback?

The LDP was formed in 1955 through a marriage of conservative parties to counter the Japan Socialist Party, which in that year merged the rightist and leftist socialist parties.
　自民党は１９５５年、左右の社会党の統一に対抗する保守合同によって誕生した。

The ideological clash between the LDP and JSP that was dominant in those days has since evaporated, and the JSP the nation knew then no longer exists. The LDP's crushing defeat in Sunday's election completed the demise of the so-called 1955 political system that centered around the LDP and the socialists.
　当時のイデオロギー対決はすでになく、かつての社会党も存在しない。今回の自民党の壊滅的な敗北は、自社主軸の「５５年体制」の完全な終幕を告げるものだ。

　◆自民党は立ち直れるか◆
The LDP must brace itself for an extended period in the opposition camp. The party will need to dust itself off and rebuild itself almost from scratch if it wants to be a viable political party that can occupy the position of one of the two major political parties--together with the DPJ.
　自民党は、これから野党時代が長くなることを覚悟しなければなるまい。民主党とともに２大政党制の一角を占め続けるには、解党的出直しが必要だ。

The LDP was temporarily ousted from power in 1993 in the wake of money-for-favor political scandals. Since then, it has remained at the helm of the government by forming coalitions with the JSP, Komeito and other parties.
　９３年、自民党は金権腐敗から一時期政権を退いた。その後、社会党や公明党などとの連立で政権を維持してきた。

The LDP has been forced by the voters to start over--after having neglected to reform itself.
　しかし、自己改革を怠り、結局、有権者の手によって、再出発を余儀なくされた。

The party will be pressed to drastically change everything from its political philosophy to its policies and its structure under a new party leader who will replace Aso ahead of the upper house election next summer.
　今後は、麻生首相に代わる新総裁の下、来年夏の参院選に向け、党の組織や政策、選挙体制など、すべての面にわたり徹底的な改革が迫られる。

The LDP must present healthy, sound policies and bolster its ability to counter the DPJ-led administration if it wants to be a key player that can level criticism at the government.
　説得力のある政策を示し、民主党政権に対する批判勢力として、闘争力を高めねばならない。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 31, 2009)
（2009年8月31日05時28分 読売新聞）

歴史的な政権交代となりましたね。
消費税は4年間据え置き。
どうやって社会保障財源を確保するのか心配です。
しかしながら民主党の政権をとることが決まった以上、
我々も覚悟を決めて、民主新日本丸に乗船しなければなりません。
期待と不安が交じり合った複雑な心境です。
（スラチャイ）

(Mainichi Japan) August 30, 2009
Opposition Democratic Party of Japan set to win election in landslide
衆院選：民主単独で３００議席超へ　鳩山政権誕生が確実に

The largest opposition Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) is set to score a landslide victory in Sunday's general election, likely capturing more than 300 of the 480 seats in the House of Representatives, according to Mainichi Shimbun exit polls.

The DPJ is certain to take over the reins of government, putting an end to the 10-year-old coalition government comprised of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and Komeito (NKP).

DPJ leader Yukio Hatoyama will be elected prime minister at a special Diet session that must be called within 30 days after the polling day under the Constitution, and form a Cabinet.

The LDP is expected to suffer a humiliating defeat, possibly falling short of 100 seats.

The focal point of Sunday's general election has been whether the DPJ will take over the reins of government or the LDP-NKP coalition will stay in power.

Vote counting began immediately after almost all of about 51,000 polling stations across the country closed at 8 p.m.

As of 10:40 p.m., the DPJ had won 243 seats, the LDP 62, NKP 11, the Japanese Communist Party (JCP) five, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) two, the People's New Party (PNP) two, the Your Party (YP) three and the New Party Nippon (NPN) one, while the Japan Renaissance Party (JRP) had won no seats. Four independents have also been elected to the chamber.

All winners in the nation's 300 single-seat constituencies (SSC) will be announced by about 1 a.m. on Monday and all those elected in the proportional representation blocs (PRB) will be determined by around 3 a.m.

The voter turnout was 53 percent as of 7:30 p.m., down 2.65 points from the previous election in 2005. However, as the number of those who cast absentee ballots was more than 50 percent more than the previous election, final voter turnout is expected to be above that in the previous election, which stood at 67.51 percent.

A confidence vote among the public for nine Supreme Court justices, who were appointed after the previous Lower House election, was also held simultaneously with the general election.

日本語の速報↓

　第４５回衆院選は３０日投票され、同日午後８時、投票が締め切られた。即日開票され、３１日未明には新たな４８０議席が確定する見通し。毎日新聞が全国３００小選挙区の投票所で実施した出口調査によると、民主党が圧倒的に優勢で、比例代表と合わせ単独で過半数（２４１議席）を大きく上回り、３００議席を超える可能性が高い。民主党が結党後初の政権交代を果たし、鳩山由紀夫代表を首相とする鳩山政権が誕生するのは確実になった。

　自民党は公示前の３００議席から大幅に議席を減らす惨敗で、１００議席を割る可能性もある。自民、公明両党の連立政権は１０年で終止符を打つことになった。

　午後７時半現在の投票率は５３．００％（男性５３．５４％、女性５２．４８％）で、前回０５年衆院選の同時刻より２．６５ポイント低い。一方、２９日に締め切った期日前投票は１３９８万４９６８人（全有権者数の１３．４０％）と前回の１．５６倍で、過去３回の国政選挙で最も多かった約１０８０万人（０７年参院選）を超え、過去最多となった。最終的な投票率は前回の６７．５１％（小選挙区）を上回りそうだ。

毎日新聞　2009年8月30日　21時02分（最終更新　8月30日　22時08分）

The Yomiuri Shimbun(Aug. 30, 2009)
An election that will chart Japan's future course
きょう投票　１票が日本の進路を決める（8月30日付・読売社説）

Which political party and which candidates should be entrusted to take the helm of this nation?
Today, Aug. 30, is the polling day for the 45th House of Representatives election. It is an election that will determine Japan's future path.
　日本の舵(かじ)取りを委ねるのにふさわしい政党はどこか、候補者は誰か。有権者の１票が日本の進路を左右する。
　きょう３０日、第４５回衆院選が投票日を迎えた。

Voters must choose whether to continue under the current administration of the Liberal Democratic Party and its coalition partner New Komeito, or to switch to a new administration centered on the Democratic Party of Japan.
　自民、公明両党の現政権の継続か、民主党を基軸とする新政権の誕生か。

The election campaign has focused not only on a straight evaluation of the accomplishments and policies of each party. Voters also have had to weigh up which party most deserves to govern.
今回の選挙戦では、各政党の実績、政策の評価に加えて、選挙後の政権の選択が大きな焦点となった。

The LDP had to fight the election campaign in the face of a strong voter backlash.
　自民党にとっては、強い逆風の下の選挙戦だった。

After an overwhelming victory in the lower house election in 2005 under the administration of then Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, the premiership changed hands three times, passing to Shinzo Abe, Yasuo Fukuda and then Taro Aso. The party was subject to persistent criticism for passing the reins of government from one party head to another.
　小泉政権下の前回衆院選での圧勝の後、安倍、福田、麻生と首相が３度も交代し、「政権たらい回し」の批判は根強かった。

Since taking power in September, Prime Minister Taro Aso showed himself to be inconsistent and indecisive at a number of crucial moments, such as when he failed to explain what the flat-sum cash benefit program was meant to achieve. Each time he floundered, he pushed down the LDP's approval rating.
　麻生首相も、昨年９月の政権発足以来、定額給付金の性格付けを始めとして、節目で発言のぶれや優柔不断さを露呈し、そのたびに自民党の支持率を押し下げた。

For the DPJ, doubts have been raised over its ability to govern due to its composition--a motley collection of politicians from different parties ranging from conservatives on one side of the political spectrum to former members of the now-defunct Japan Socialist Party on the other.
In addition, some observers have expressed caution over the party's desire to form a coalition with the Social Democratic Party, which has very different national security policies from the DPJ.
　民主党に対しても、保守系から旧社会党出身までを党内に抱えた「寄り合い所帯」に起因する統治能力への疑問や、安全保障政策で開きのある社民党との連立を志向することへの不安などが、指摘された。

===

Vote on policies, not feelings

Some observers have said that the vote likely will reflect dissatisfaction with the LDP or anxiety over the DPJ, rather than voters' active decision to continue with an administration formed of the LDP-Komeito coalition or move to one centered on the DPJ.
　有権者にとっては、自公政権か民主基軸政権かの積極的な選択というより、「自民党への不満か、民主党への不安か」の消極的な選択でしかない選挙だという指摘もある。

However, the results of the lower house election will have a direct bearing on this nation's future.
It cannot be correct to decide which party and politician to choose simply on the basis of one's discontent, anxiety or a fleeting emotion.
　しかし、衆院選の結果は、これからの日本の進路に直結する。不満であるとか、不安であるとかいった気分や、一時のムードで、決めていいはずがあるまい。

Policies must, first and foremost, be the key criteria for deciding who to vote for.
　有権者が投票の第一の判断基準とすべきは、やはり政策だ。

　◆政策を冷静に見極めよ◆
Each party conducted its campaign by first drawing up a platform covering the policies each would implement during the four-year House of Representatives term.
　各政党とも、衆院議員の任期である４年間に実施する政策を網羅した政権公約（マニフェスト）を掲げて選挙に臨んだ。

Policies on pensions, health care, child-rearing and education, which are of great interest to voters in this nation that is rapidly aging and has a very low birthrate, as well as funding for those policies, surfaced as major issues in the election campaign.
　中でも、少子高齢化が進む中で、有権者の関心が高い年金・医療、子育て・教育などの政策や、その財源の手当てが、主要な争点に浮上した。

The LDP stressed it would introduce drastic reforms of the taxation system, including an increase of the consumption tax rate, to provide stable financing for the social security system. The LDP did not clarify when it would raise the consumption tax, saying only that it would occur after the nation achieved 2 percent year-on-year economic growth.
　自民党は、社会保障の安定財源として、消費税率引き上げを含む税制抜本改革に取り組むと強調した。引き上げの時期は、年率２％の経済成長が達成されてからとしたが、明示は避けた。

The DPJ listed many schemes that would provide direct payment of benefits to households as a way of boosting spending, such as child-rearing allowances. It said it would fund the measures by cutting spending in other areas, for example suspending nonessential projects. The party said it would not raise the consumption tax rate before the next lower house election.
　民主党は、「子ども手当」など多くの直接給付型の家計支援策を掲げた。財源は、不要不急な事業の中止など徹底した歳出削減で捻出(ねんしゅつ)し、消費税率は次の衆院選まで据え置くとした。

===

Leadership important

Differences among the two key parties in the fields of diplomacy and national security are conspicuous, such as whether to press on with the Maritime Self-Defense Force's refueling mission in the Indian Ocean.
　インド洋における海上自衛隊の給油活動を継続するか否かなど、外交・安全保障政策でも各党の主張の違いは顕著だ。

It is important to calmly assess the persuasiveness of each party's policies. We hope voters will thoroughly examine each party's stance.
　どの主張に説得力があるか、冷静に見極めることが大事だ。有権者には、各党の政策を十分に吟味してもらいたい。

The Yomiuri Shimbun(Aug. 29, 2009)
Deflationary pressures must be nipped in bud
雇用と物価　デフレに至る悪循環を防げ（8月29日付・読売社説）

Utmost caution must be exercised to prevent falling prices and the worsening employment situation from allowing deflation to take a vicelike grip on the nation's economy.
　物価下落と雇用情勢の悪化が、深刻なデフレを招かぬよう、細心の注意が必要だろう。

The nation's key consumer price index in July fell 2.2 percent from a year earlier, marking the first fall in the 2 percent range in the postwar period.
　７月の全国消費者物価指数が、前年同月比２・２％下がり、下落率は戦後初めて２％台をつけた。

Meanwhile, the unemployment rate in July climbed to a postwar high of 5.7 percent, up 0.3 percentage point from the previous month.
　一方、７月の完全失業率は前月より０・３ポイント悪化して５・７％となり、戦後最悪を更新した。

The worsening employment situation is eroding workers' incomes. Tightening the purse strings at home leads to sluggish sales of products and, in turn, to falling prices. As companies struggle with falling sales, they resort to restructuring and other measures to cut costs, exacerbating the grim employment situation. The latest government figures on prices and employment show that a vicious cycle of deflationary pressures is becoming increasingly real.
　雇用の悪化で労働者の収入が減ると、物が売れなくなって価格が下がる。このため企業の売り上げが減り、リストラなどで雇用はさらに厳しくなる。物価と雇用の統計は、デフレの悪循環が現実味を増してきたことを示している。

Whichever party takes power after Sunday's House of Representatives election, the new administration must do everything it can to arrest these deflationary pressures and boost the economy.
　衆院選後の政権がどうあれ、デフレ阻止と景気浮揚に全力を挙げねばならない。

The sharp price falls are due mainly to the drop in oil prices that soared last year. Gasoline prices fell as much as 30 percent from last year, lowering overall prices about 1 percent.
　物価の大幅下落は、前年に高騰した原油の値下がりが主因だ。ガソリン価格は３０％も下がり、物価全体を約１％押し下げた。

But prices, excluding those of energy-related products, fell 0.9 percent. The rate of fall was about the same as that in fiscal 2001 during a serious deflationary period.
　だが、エネルギー関連を除いた物価も０・９％下がり、下落率は深刻なデフレ期の２００１年度とほぼ同水準だ。

===

Domestic demand weak

The current deflationary trend should not be waved off as a temporary phenomenon caused by the correction in oil prices after they skyrocketed last year. Rather, weak domestic demand should be considered the major cause of falling prices.
現在のデフレ傾向を、原油高の反動による一時的な現象だと軽視してはなるまい。
　物価下落の核心は、内需の不足にあると見るべきだ。

The nation's real gross domestic product for the April-June period returned to positive growth for the first time in five quarters. However, the improvement was mainly attributed to a recovery in exports and policy initiatives under the government's stimulus package that, for example, increased sales of energy-saving home appliances. Worryingly, overall domestic demand remains weak.
　４～６月期の実質国内総生産（ＧＤＰ）は、５四半期ぶりにプラス成長に転じた。だが、輸出回復と、経済対策による省エネ家電の販売増加など政策効果が中心で、内需全体の足腰は弱い。

Boosting consumption is critical for a full economic recovery. However, sales at department stores and supermarkets have been lethargic for a prolonged period, and sales at convenience stores, which had been brisk, registered a record plunge in July.
　本格回復のカギを握る消費は、百貨店とスーパーの販売不振が長期化し、好調だったコンビニの売上高も、７月には過去最大の下げを記録した。

Consumers are cutting back spending on foods and other daily necessities. Both the number of shoppers and the amount each shopper spent at convenience stores decreased last month.
　消費者は、食品や日用品など必需品への支出を切りつめ、コンビニでは来客数と１人あたりの購入額が、ともに減った。

===

BOJ has role to play

Fierce price wars might be good news for consumers, but excessive discounting would add to a deflationary spiral, in which the economy heads south while prices fall.
　安売り競争も激しい。消費者にはうれしいことだが、行き過ぎれば物価と景気が連鎖的に落ち込むデフレスパイラルにつながる。

For the time being, we think it is necessary to bolster domestic demand through economic pump-priming and employment support measures.
　当面は、景気・雇用対策で内需を支える必要がある。

The Democratic Party of Japan has indicated it will overhaul the supplementary budget compiled for boosting the economy if it takes power. We agree that it is important to eliminate wasteful spending, but austerity measures such as drastic cuts in spending on public works projects should be avoided.
民主党は、景気対策のための補正予算を組み直すという。無駄の見直しは大切だが、公共事業の大幅カットなど緊縮策は避けねばならない。

The Bank of Japan's monetary policy has a crucial role to play. Although the central bank has kept its key interest rate near zero, real interest rates will rise if prices fall. This would sap the impact of the bank's low interest rate policy.
　日銀の金融政策も重要だ。政策金利はゼロ％に近い低さだが、物価下落率の分だけ、実質金利は上昇する。低金利政策の効果はかなり減殺されていよう。

If the deflationary trend gets stronger, the central bank should consider taking additional measures, such as increased purchases of long-term government bonds and the introduction of a quantitative easing policy setting a target for the outstanding balance of current account deposits held by private financial institutions at the central bank.
　デフレ傾向が強まるようなら、長期国債の買い入れ増額や、日銀当座預金残高を目標とした量的金融緩和策の導入など、追加策を検討すべきだ。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 29, 2009)
（2009年8月29日01時03分 読売新聞）

The Yomiuri Shimbun(Aug. 28, 2009)
Vaccine isn't the only weapon against new flu
新型インフル　ワクチンだけには頼れない（8月28日付・読売社説）

Expectations are rising that infections of the H1N1 strain of influenza A and further outbreaks could be prevented once the vaccine for the new flu becomes available.
　ワクチンがあれば新型インフルエンザの感染を防ぎ、急拡大も抑えられるのではないか――。
　こんな期待が高まっているが、そうした思惑通りに行くだろうか。

However, it is far from a foregone conclusion that things will pan out as expected. Even past epidemics of seasonal influenza have not been repulsed by a vaccination program.
　例年のインフルエンザでも、ワクチンの接種で流行を抑え込めたという例はないからだ。

Of course, vaccination can work to a certain extent. During ordinary flu seasons, vaccinated people will develop only relatively mild symptoms even if they become infected with the disease.
　一定の効果はあるだろう。例年の流行でもワクチンを接種すれば症状は軽い、と言われてきた。

Medical experts also point out that the spread of infection could slow if a large number of people are vaccinated. If the number of patients falling into critical condition is reduced thanks to a vaccination program, front-line doctors and hospitals would have more time to treat flu patients in general.
　大勢が接種すると、感染拡大のペースが遅れるという効能も指摘されている。ワクチンで重症化する患者が減れば、その分、医師や病院も治療に余裕が持てる。

However, the flu vaccine has the major drawback of providing only weak preventive effects. This is different from the vaccine for measles, which can prevent the disease developing once a person is inoculated. Furthermore, vaccination in general has very minor side effects.
　問題は、インフルエンザワクチンの予防効果が低いことだ。接種すれば発症を防げる「はしかワクチン」などと異なる。しかも一般的にワクチン接種には、ごくわずかだが、副作用がある。

The government must explain the limited effectiveness of the flu vaccination to the public. The most important thing is to help people understand that inoculation is not the only countermeasure against the new influenza strain.
　政府は、インフルエンザワクチンの限界を国民に丁寧に説明する必要がある。特に大切なのは、ワクチンだけが対策ではない、と理解してもらうことだ。

===

Prevention better than cure

Obviously, preventing infection is the best way to defang the new-flu threat. Regularly washing one's hands and gargling are quintessential rules for preventing infection. Members of the public also must bear in mind that they will be unable to avoid infection if the virus spreads widely because most people are not immune to the new flu.
　まず予防する。手洗い、うがいは鉄則だ。ほとんどの人に免疫がないので、流行が拡大すれば、感染を免れることはできないという自覚も必要になる。

However, it also should be remembered that most people, excluding small children and people with kidney and other chronic diseases, would likely display only mild symptoms even if they catch the new flu. Of course, people with mild symptoms should be careful not to spread this disease.
　その際、腎臓病などの持病を抱えた人や幼児を除き、通常はほとんどが軽症で済む、ということも覚えておきたい。無論、軽症でも感染を広げない注意は要る。

Meanwhile, the shortage of vaccine for the seasonal influenza has often caused widespread consternation.
　ただ、例年のインフルエンザでも、ワクチン不足は各地に不安を広げることが、よくある。

Worryingly, the same problem has become apparent regarding the new-flu strain. Domestic manufacturers are working flat-out to produce a vaccine for the new flu, but they are unable to produce enough to meet the nation's requirements. Japan reportedly faces a shortage of about 20 million doses. However, panic over the new-flu vaccine must be avoided.
　まして、今回は新型だ。新型用ワクチン製造は本格化しているが必要量に追いつかない。国内で約２０００万人分が不足する、とも言われている。新型のワクチンを巡る混乱は避けたい。

===

Govt must pull out all stops

The government must immediately discuss and decide who should be given priority in receiving vaccinations. It makes perfect sense that medical workers and people likely to develop serious symptoms should they catch the new flu be given priority. However, the current projected supply of vaccine is not sufficient even to cover these high-risk groups.
　そのためにも、ワクチンをだれに接種するか、優先順位の論議を急ぐ必要がある。医療従事者や新型感染で重症化しやすい人は当然だろう。それでも、現在の供給見通し量では追いつかない。

The government should take every possible measure to acquire enough vaccine to combat the new flu.
　政府は、新型用のワクチン確保に全力を挙げるべきだ。

Importing vaccine from the United States and European countries has been touted as the best solution to meet this shortfall. However, the government has not yet settled on measures to confirm the safety of imported vaccine and detailed procedures to deal with possible side effects.
　その切り札として、欧米などからのワクチン輸入が有力視されている。ただ、安全性を確認する方法や副作用が出た時の詳細な対応が決まっていない。

Until 15 years ago, the government required every primary and middle school student to be vaccinated against influenza. However, mandatory vaccination was terminated because of lingering doubts about its effectiveness and possible side effects.
　国内では１５年前まで、小中学生全員にインフルエンザワクチン接種を義務づけていた。だが、副作用被害に加え効果を疑問視する意見も出て、廃止された。

The government must tread carefully to ensure a sense of mistrust against flu vaccine does not take hold among the public once again.
　再びワクチンへの不信感を広げることがない対応が重要だ。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 28, 2009)
（2009年8月28日01時16分 読売新聞）

The Yomiuri Shimbun(Aug. 27, 2009)
New regulatory system needed for airwaves
放送・通信融合　新たなルール整備が必要だ（8月27日付・読売社説）

Through technological innovations, new types of services that are not covered by existing regulations targeting broadcast and communications services have emerged. To make such new "buds" part of the industry's growth strategy, related rules and regulations need to be reviewed.
　技術革新によって、従来の放送・通信に対する規制の枠に収まらないサービスが登場している。新たな芽を成長戦略につなげるには、ルールの見直しが必要だろう。

The Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry's advisory panel on information and communications services has compiled a proposal to drastically review regulations on broadcast and communications services.
　総務省の情報通信審議会が、放送と通信の規制を抜本的に改める答申をまとめた。

The proposal calls for reviewing the current regulatory categorization of services based on the type of operation, such as wired or wireless services, and instead recategorizing the services based on function, such as program production and radio transmission.
　通信か放送か、無線か有線か、といった業態別の区分を見直し、番組制作や電波送信といった機能別に組み直す内容である。

There are as many as nine major laws governing information and communications services. The laws include a number of regulations that do not match the actual situation. It therefore is of great significance to remove barriers between broadcast and communications services, eyeing the integration of those services.
　情報通信関連の法律は主なものだけで九つもあり、実態にそぐわない規制も多い。今回、放送と通信の融合をにらみ、垣根を取り払う意義は大きい。

===

Function key under plan

Under the envisaged new regulatory framework, there would be no distinction between communications and broadcast services. Services would instead be categorized into three areas--program contents offered to viewers; transmission infrastructure such as communications networks and transmitting stations; and transmission services for conveying information to viewers.
　新たな規制の枠組みでは、通信と放送の区分はなくなり、〈１〉視聴者に提供する「番組の内容」〈２〉通信網や送信所などの「伝送設備」〈３〉視聴者に情報を届けるための「伝送サービス」――の３分野にくくり直される。

The regulations on radio waves, which separately target broadcast and communications services, would be relaxed so that broadcast stations could distribute their programs on cell phones and broadcast their programs via cell phone antennas.
　放送用、通信用に分かれている電波の規制も緩和され、放送局が携帯電話に番組を配信したり、携帯電話のアンテナを使って放送したりできるようになる。

By reforming regulatory categories so they are based on functions, it would become easier for broadcasters to operate their program production and transmission services in separate corporate entities. Local broadcasters would be able to improve management efficiency by jointly using transmission equipment. It also would be possible for outside businesses to enter the broadcasting services field by renting other companies' equipment.
　規制が機能別になることで、放送局は番組制作と送信業務を別会社で実施しやすくなる。複数の地方局が送信設備を共用すれば経営の効率化に役立とう。他社の設備を借りる形での異業種からの放送事業への参入も可能になる。

An invigorated business environment would result in expanded and cheaper communications and broadcasting services. The industry should strive to create new services by putting consumers' interests first.
　放送・通信の活性化は、サービスの多様化や通信料の値下げにつながる。業界は利用者の利便向上を最優先に、新サービスの創出に努めてほしい。

Some observers have pointed out that under the new regulatory framework it would be easier for the government to intervene in the content of programs, a situation that would threaten the independence of broadcasters.
　新たな規制の枠組みに対しては、国が番組内容に口出ししやすくなり、放送局の自立性が脅かされるとの指摘もある。

The proposal says there would be no new regulations imposed on information on the Internet, and that editorial freedom in respect of broadcast programs would be stipulated under the law. It is essential to give due consideration to freedom of expression during the process of drafting related bills.
　答申は、インターネット上の情報には新たな規制は設けず、放送番組の編集の自由は法律に明記するとしている。今後の法案化作業で、表現の自由に対する十分な配慮は不可欠だろう。

===

Fix administrative structure

The Democratic Party of Japan, in its policy pledges for the upcoming House of Representatives election, suggested that administration of broadcast and communications services be taken out of the Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry's jurisdiction to prevent the government from intervening in broadcast services.
　民主党は衆院選に向けた政策集で、放送への国の介入を排除するため、放送・通信行政を総務省から分離させるとしている。

The main opposition party called for the creation of an independent administrative commission, modeled after the U.S. Federal Communications Commission, to which administrative power would be devolved from the ministry. The DPJ apparently intends not only to revise the current regulations, but to reform administrative structures as well.
　米国の連邦通信委員会（ＦＣＣ）をモデルにした独立行政委員会を新設し、権限を移管する案だ。規制の見直しと同時に、行政組織のあり方についても再検討するということだろう。

But transplanting a U.S. model alone would not ensure the smooth operation of broadcast and communications administrative services. What is necessary first and foremost is to review the current administrative structure that involves the Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry, the Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry and a cabinet member whose portfolio includes information technology policy.
　しかし、米国型の移植だけで放送・通信行政は円滑に進むまい。総務省や経済産業省、ＩＴ（情報技術）担当大臣が並立する今の行政の見直しが先決ではないか。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 27, 2009)
（2009年8月27日01時30分 読売新聞）

学習の手引き

最初に日本語を読んで意味を理解してから、英文を読解する。
なれてきたら今度は、英文を先に読んで意味を理解する。
翻訳思考で英文を理解するのでなく、英文のまま理解することが大切です。
英文で意味を理解できたら、日本語の文章は専門用語の確認をする程度で結構です。

辞書

辞書はネイティブによる発音が充実したものを購入してください。
スラチャイは小学館のbookshelf 2.0を愛用しています。
英語の発音は理解しているつもりでも間違って覚えているものが多いものです。
発音記号とネイティブの発音を比較しながら、耳から直接覚えるようにしてください。

社説

社説の文章はやさしくはないですが、それほど難しくもありません。
この程度の文章を瞬時に読解できるようになれば、外国で英語を使って仕事をするときにも十分通用すると思います。

実績

昨年（2008年）の６月からこのトレーニングを開始して丁度１年が経過しました。
最初は一件の社説を読解するのに２時間近くかかっていましたが、現在では15分くらいで読解できるようになっています。

私のささやかな毎日の努力が英語学習者の一助になれば、これに勝る喜びはありません。

srachai from khonkaen, thailand

The Yomiuri Shimbun(Aug. 26, 2009)
China, Asia policy vital part of election debate
アジア外交　膨張する中国とどう向き合う（8月26日付・読売社説）

In the campaign for Sunday's House of Representatives election, the contending political parties have all touted their policies on Asian issues, but what voters really want to hear about is how the parties intend to fulfill their campaign promises and what actions the parties will take to solve the problems at hand.
　衆院選では、各党ともアジア外交を重視する姿勢を打ち出している。だが、有権者が知りたいのは、公約実現に向けた道筋や、目の前にある懸案への具体的な処方箋(せん)である。

In its manifesto, the main opposition Democratic Party of Japan promises to create an East Asia Community. The central plank in the ruling Liberal Democratic Party's Asia platform is to tie Japan's economic growth to that of Asia. New Komeito, the LDP's ruling coalition partner, also touts the promotion of economic integration in Asia.
　民主党は政権公約で、「東アジア共同体」の構築を目指すとしている。自民党は、アジア全体の経済成長を日本の成長につなげる政策を柱に据える。公明党もアジア地域の経済統合推進を掲げる。

East Asia consists of several countries with a broad spectrum of political systems. It is a realistic choice to move toward economic partnership among them as a first step toward closer integration. Sixteen countries, including India and Australia, plan to soon start discussing an East Asian economic partnership agreement.
　東アジアは政治体制の異なる多様な国々から成る。経済連携を先行させるのは現実的な選択だろう。インド、豪州を含む１６か国による「東アジア経済連携協定」の検討も近く始まる予定だ。

There are many problems to overcome to achieve such an agreement. Negotiations between Japan and Australia on a free trade agreement faltered over liberalization in the agricultural sector. Negotiations with India and South Korea also are sluggish and have made little progress.
　だが、課題は多い。日本と豪州の自由貿易協定（ＦＴＡ）交渉は、農業分野の貿易自由化が障害となって全く進んでいない。インド、韓国との交渉も停滞気味だ。

===

Farm policy vs trade policy

The DPJ modified the expression in its manifesto concerning a Japan-U.S. free trade agreement after opposition from agricultural organizations. It is difficult to harmonize domestic agricultural policies and trade liberalization.
　民主党が、日米ＦＴＡに関する政権公約の表現を農業団体の反発を受けて修正したように、国内農政と貿易自由化をどう調和させるかは難しい問題だ。

If political parties intend to promote the idea of creating an East Asia Community or the importance of economic partnership, they should clearly explain to voters how they will overcome these obstacles.
　共同体や経済連携を公約に掲げるのなら、こうした具体的課題にどう取り組むかも語るべきだ。

Among Asian issues, of particular importance is Japan's relationship with China in light of China's emergence as both an economic and military superpower. All the parties call for strengthening ties with China, but none outline specific measures for accomplishing this goal.
　中でも肝心なのが対中関係だ。経済、軍事両面で大国化する中国とどう向き合うか。各党とも対中関係の強化を掲げているが、具体性に乏しい。

It is natural for Japan to develop closer economic ties with China, but the nation must consider ways to safeguard its intellectual property rights and protect itself against the kind of widespread production of knock-off merchandise and pirated DVDs rampant in China.
　経済関係を緊密化していくのは当然としても、模造品の横行やＤＶＤの違法コピーなど知的財産権の侵害をどうやって防ぐか。

As Japan largely depends on China for its food, it also is important to ensure food safety. There has been no progress in clarifying what happened in the food poisoning cases involving frozen gyoza dumplings made in China.
　多くの食材を中国に依存している中で、「食の安全」を担保することも大事だ。中国製冷凍ギョーザによる中毒事件も、依然、解明が進んでいない。

===

Numerous pressing concerns

In addition, there are many other pressing issues between the two countries, including treaty negotiations for a joint gas field development project in the East China Sea and securing a stable supply of rare metals from China.
　ほかにも、東シナ海のガス田共同開発に向けた条約交渉、レアメタル（希少金属）の安定供給確保など、懸案は山積している。

China's rapid military buildup also is a vital issue for East Asia.
　中国軍の増強も、この地域にとって大きな懸念材料だ。

China's defense spending has grown by double-digit percentages for 21 consecutive years. Chinese naval vessels are expanding their operational areas south into the Pacific Ocean and the Indian Ocean. China makes no secret of its intention to construct an aircraft carrier.
　国防費は２１年連続で２ケタの伸びを示し、海軍の活動範囲は太平洋やインド洋まで拡大している。空母建造への意欲も隠さない。

It is necessary to tenaciously urge China to be more open about its military policy, including the reasons behind its military buildup--whether, for example, it is only for national defense or for securing sea lanes.
　単に国防や海上輸送路の確保が目的なのか。その意図を含めて、軍事面の透明性を高めるよう、中国に対して粘り強く働きかける必要がある。

In addition to relations with China, there are other points of contention over Asian policy in the election, including how to handle the threat of North Korea's nuclear and missile programs. There is limited time before voting day, but we hope that the political parties will deepen their debate over foreign policy in Asia to address these vital issues.
　対中関係以外にも、北朝鮮の核・ミサイルの脅威にどう備えるかなど論点は数多くある。投票日まで残り少ないが、議論を掘り下げてもらいたい。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 26, 2009)
（2009年8月26日01時23分 読売新聞）

The Yomiuri Shimbun(Aug. 25, 2009)
Helping youth find jobs is an urgent task
雇用対策　若者の就労支援が緊急課題だ（8月25日付・読売社説）

The upcoming House of Representatives election will be held amid growing concern over employment. Though individual parties have proposed measures to tackle the employment crisis, none offers a quick fix.
　雇用不安が高まる中での選挙戦である。各党は危機に対応した雇用対策を掲げるが、即効薬があるわけではない。

Voters should carefully consider what effect particular policies will have on their workplace.
　個々の対策について、労働現場に及ぼす影響などを慎重に見極める必要がある。

The government and the ruling parties have taken emergency countermeasures for employment-related problems in the fiscal 2009 supplementary budget and through other means. The Liberal Democratic Party is quite right to tout these policies in its manifesto for the lower house election. They include drastic expansion of job-training programs and an emergency employment project under which local governments would create jobs with grants from the central government.
　政府・与党は２００９年度の補正予算などで緊急対策を講じてきた。自民党が、これらを公約の前面に掲げたのは当然である。職業訓練の大幅な拡充や、国からの交付金で地方が雇用を創出する緊急雇用創出事業などだ。

The nation's unemployment rate stands at 5.4 percent. There is growing speculation that it is only a matter of time before the rate tops the current post-World War II record high of 5.5 percent. Will it be possible to put the brakes on this worsening trend? The effectiveness of the job-creation measures will be tested against such circumstances.
　完全失業率は５・４％まで上昇した。今後、過去最悪の５・５％を超えるのは必至との見方も強まっている。悪化傾向に歯止めをかけることができるか。対策の効果が試される局面でもある。

===

DPJ wooly on dispatch issue

Three opposition parties--the Democratic Party of Japan, the Social Democratic Party and the People's New Party--have pledged to strengthen measures to boost employment in a common policy pledge. The measures include setting up a system to help those seeking jobs and banning, in principle, the dispatch of temporary workers in the manufacturing sector and to daily-paid jobs.
　民主・社民・国民新の野党３党は、共通の公約に「雇用対策の強化」を盛り込んだ。求職者支援制度の創設、製造業派遣や日雇い派遣の原則禁止、などだ。

The system to assist job-seekers is meant to provide financial assistance to nonregular workers and others who are not covered by unemployment insurance while they are participating in job-training programs. The government and ruling parties have already introduced a similar system in the supplementary budget for fiscal 2009.
　求職者支援制度は、雇用保険の適用を受けない非正規労働者などを対象に、職業訓練期間中の生活を支援する制度だが、政府・与党も、すでに０９年度の補正予算で同様の制度を設けている。

While the system established by the government and the ruling parties is a temporary measure that will expire in three years, the opposition parties propose a permanent system. However, the government and the ruling bloc plan to examine the advisability of extending the system after studying its effects and the employment situation. In this regard, there is no major difference between the two systems.
　政府・与党の制度は３年の臨時措置、野党案は永続的な制度、と違いはあるが、政府・与党も効果や雇用情勢を踏まえて存続の是非を検討する方針だ。与野党間に大差があるわけではない。

As for the dispatch of temp workers in the manufacturing sector, the DPJ proposes to set up a system for jobs requiring specialized skills and knowledge, and allow those engaged in jobs that fall into this category to be employed as dispatch workers. But the party has failed to spell out the details of the system it envisages.
　製造業派遣について、民主党は新たに専門職制度を設け、その部分については認める方針だ。しかし、専門職制度とは何なのか、具体的な説明がない。

Moreover, what will happen to the nearly 500,000 people who are currently dispatched as temp staff in the manufacturing industry? We suspect they will end up shifting to other unstable positions, such as subcontractor jobs, in which people are hired by one company to work at another firm. It will be impossible for us to judge how effective the proposed system will be unless the party provides a clear picture of how it plans to secure employment in the manufacturing sector.
　製造業派遣で働く５０万人近い人の雇用はどうなるのか。請負など別の不安定雇用に移るだけではないのか。原則禁止後の製造現場の雇用の姿を示してくれないと、判断のしようがない。

===

Future in hands of young

The LDP also takes the position of banning the dispatch of workers to daily-paid jobs, in principle. However, there is a demand for short-term jobs from both employees and workers. We believe what needs to be done first is to set up a simple, smooth system for introducing work to job seekers, instead of relying on temporary staffing service firms.
　日雇い派遣は自民党も原則禁止の立場だが、短期間の仕事の需要は求人求職の双方にある。派遣に代わる簡便で円滑な職業紹介の仕組みを設けることが先決だ。

The government must also make efforts to widen a system to hire dispatch workers as regular employees in cooperation with the business sector. At the same time, it needs to take into account the danger that simply regulating a flexible working style may leave people out of a job.
　産業界とも協力し、派遣労働者を正社員に転換させる制度を拡充していくべきだ。同時に、柔軟な働き方を規制するだけでは、かえって雇用の場が失われる危険性も考慮しなければならない。

As society is steadily graying while the birthrate is declining, the number of unemployed and nonregular workers is increasing among young people, who are expected to play central roles in society in the future.
　少子高齢化が進む中で、将来を担う若者の間で失業者や非正規労働者が増えている。

How can we nurture young people who are motivated to work and support them? This is an urgent problem for us to tackle, regardless of which party or parties takes the reins of government.
働く意欲のある若者を社会全体でどう育て、支えていくか。政権の行方にかかわらず、緊急の課題である。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 25, 2009)
（2009年8月25日01時26分 読売新聞）

Both LDP, DPJ's recipes for growth lack punch
The Yomiuri Shimbun(Aug. 24, 2009)
成長戦略　本格回復の展望が見えない（8月24日付・読売社説）

Although the nation's economy has come out of its worst period, no clear direction for a full-scale recovery can be seen.
　日本経済は最悪期を脱したが、本格回復への道筋は見えない。

Amid such circumstances, attention in the House of Representatives election campaign is focused on political parties' strategies for achieving a steady economic recovery and stable growth.
　こうした中、衆院選では、着実な景気回復と安定成長に向けた各党の戦略が注目されている。

High economic growth can no longer be expected for the Japanese economy, which is mature. However, economic growth is indispensable for supporting a society in which the majority of people can maintain modestly satisfactory living standards and live without significant anxiety for their future.
　成熟した日本経済には、もはや高度成長は望めまい。だが、多くの国民がそこそこ満足できる生活水準を維持し、将来に大きな不安を感じず暮らせる社会を支えるには、経済成長が欠かせない。

Firstly, the economy needs to be righted again in a steady manner.
　まず、当面の景気を着実に回復させる必要がある。

Secondly, the framework of the nation's economy, which is highly dependent on exports, must be reformed to balance domestic and foreign demand. Structural changes in the economy, including shrinking domestic demand due to a declining population and aging society, and the aggravating factor of international competition resulting from the rise of emerging economies, also need to be dealt with.
　次に、輸出依存が強い経済構造を改め、内需と外需のバランスをとらねばならない。人口減少や高齢化による内需縮小、新興国の台頭による国際競争の激化など、経済の構造変化への対応も求められる。

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LDP policies already on menu

The Liberal Democratic Party has pledged a numerical goal for the economic growth rate and a deadline for achieving it in the party's election campaign platform, promising to achieve 2 percent year-on-year economic growth in the second half of fiscal 2010. The party also said it will create domestic demand worth 40 trillion yen to 60 trillion yen and secure about 2 million jobs over the next three years.
　自民党は、「２０１０年度後半には年率２％の経済成長を実現する」などと、成長率の目標と時期を公約した。今後３年で４０～６０兆円の需要を生み出し、約２００万人の雇用を確保するという。

Credit should be given to the LDP as the party has vowed to achieve specific goals. Its stated policies of fostering vitality in the private sector through providing support for research in environmental industries and other growth areas while continuing to implement economic stimulus measures also are laudable.
　具体的な目標達成を約束したことは、評価できる。景気対策を続けながら、環境をはじめ成長分野の研究支援などで民間活力を高める手法も妥当だろう。

But specific measures drawn by the LDP are less persuasive, as existing policies are listed in the manifesto, such as expansion of solar power generation and boosting sales of energy-saving home electrical appliances through utilizing the eco point system. They alone do not seem capable of realizing the goals the LDP has set.
　だが、具体策は迫力不足だ。太陽光発電の拡大やエコポイントによる省エネ家電の普及など、既にある政策が並び、目標が実現しそうな手応えが感じられない。

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DPJ not saying who'll pay bill

Meanwhile, the Democratic Party of Japan has not set target figures for economic growth and other issues. The rate of economic growth will affect how major tasks, such as fiscal reconstruction and social security system reform, are approached. If the DPJ claims it is capable of taking the reins of government, it should spell out goals.
　一方の民主党は、成長率などで具体的な目標を掲げなかった。経済成長の状況は、財政再建や社会保障改革など主要課題の取り組みにも影響する。政権を担うというのなら、明示するべきだ。

The DPJ's strategies for economic growth mainly consist of measures to directly provide benefits to boost household budgets, such as child-rearing allowances, making public high school education free of charge and scrapping highway tolls. The DPJ's manifesto says its strategies will boost consumption and transform the nation's economy into one led by domestic demand.
　民主党の成長戦略は、子ども手当や高校無償化、高速道路の無料化などで家計が使えるお金を増やす「直接給付型」の支援中心だ。消費を拡大し、日本経済を内需主導に転換するとしている。

While households receiving benefits will increase their consumption, domestic demand will cool off if public works projects are slashed. Reviewing already-formulated budgets also has downsides. In the first place, consumption will not become self-sustaining merely by dint of the government handing out cash to support household budgets.
　給付を受けた世帯は消費を増やすとしても、他方で公共事業が削減されれば内需を冷やす。予算の組み替えにはマイナス面もある。そもそも、家計への予算ばらまきで消費を増やし続けられまい。

To expand consumption steadily, it would make more sense to enhance trust in the social security system, thus shifting the excessive amount of savings, which households hoard because of fears about the future, into use for consumption.
　安定した消費拡大には、社会保障制度の信頼性を高め、家計が将来不安で抱えた「過剰貯蓄」が、消費に回るようにすればいい。

Holding off on raising the consumption tax rate for the next four years, which the DPJ has pledged in its campaign platform, will not secure stable financial resources that are vital for strengthening the social security system. A mood of anxiety will spread, dampening consumption.
　民主党が公約する「消費税率４年凍結」では、社会保障の強化に必要な安定財源の確保が見通せない。不安が一段と強まり、消費拡大には逆効果となろう。

We hope that DPJ lawmakers will engage in fundamental discussions on strategies for economic growth with an eye toward the future.
　将来を見据えた、骨太の成長戦略を論議してもらいたい。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 24, 2009)
（2009年8月24日01時26分 読売新聞）