The Yomiuri Shimbun May 6, 2013
Getting more fathers involved in raising kids can change society
こどもの日　「イクメン」が世間を変える（5月5日付・読売社説）

May 5 is Children's Day. Masaru Ibuka, the late founder of Sony Corp. known for putting his heart into educational activities, once said of parenthood, "Nothing is more noble and wonderful than the work of raising children."
　きょう５日は「こどもの日」。育児について、ソニー創業者で教育にも情熱を注いだ井深大氏は「これほど崇高で素晴らしい仕事はない」という言葉を残している。

We were reminded of this sentiment by a prizewinning essay titled "Oyaji no kyaraben" (Dad's bento inspired by popular characters) in this year's annual Children's Future Award essay contest, which is sponsored by The Yomiuri Shimbun and other organizations.
　それを実感させるのが、今年の「こども未来賞」（読売新聞社など主催）に選ばれた「親父(おやじ)のキャラ弁」という作文だ。

The essay was written by Ryutaro Nakamura, a 38-year-old company employee of Saitama Prefecture. He made bento for his daughter, who had just started kindergarten, while his pregnant wife was laid low by a bad case of morning sickness.
　幼稚園に入った長女のために、つわりのひどい妻に代わって弁当作りをした埼玉県の会社員中村竜太郎さん（３８）が書いた。

Nakamura's daughter was very shy around strangers. He hoped she would be able to make new friends at kindergarten if he made bento in which the side dishes were decorated to resemble popular anime character Ampanman and animals.
　人見知りする長女が友達を作るきっかけにと、おかずでアンパンマンや動物を描いた。

The daughter, presumably in a gesture to her father, always ate all her lunch, and told him it was "delicious."
父の気持ちを察してか、長女はいつも残さず食べ、「おいしい」と言った。

However, the father later learned the bento contained too much food for the small girl. Sometimes, with tears in her eyes, she would shovel her lunch into her mouth, even after the other kids had finished eating.
　小さな体には量が多い弁当を、皆が食べ終わった後も涙目でほおばっていたのだと後に知る。

Nakamura's essay ends by saying, "Making bento was truly a precious time I shared with my daughter."
　作文は、弁当を作った時間は「長女と私だけの宝物の時間である」と結ばれている。

When receiving the prize, Nakamura expressed his delight, saying, "I feel thankful to my children for teaching me many things, and I'll keep growing together with them."
　中村さんは「いろいろなことを教えてくれた子供たちに感謝し、これからも一緒に成長していきたい」と受賞の喜びを語った。

By affectionately raising children, parents also can grow. Some data indicate the more time a husband spends caring for a child, the higher the probability the couple will have a second child. It is important for Japan to produce more fathers dubbed "ikumen" (men actively involved in child rearing) like Nakamura.
　愛情を持って子供を育てることで、親も成長する。夫の育児時間が長い夫婦ほど、第２子を持つ割合が高いというデータもある。中村さんのような「イクメン」を増やすことが大切だ。

Abe for longer care leave

A growing number of local governments are arranging courses on daily household chores for fathers, such as cooking and ironing lessons. Nonprofit organizations have been hosting more gatherings at which fathers can talk with each other about the joys and difficulties of rearing children.
　父親向けに、料理やアイロンのかけ方などの家事講座を開く自治体が増えてきた。父親同士で子育ての楽しみや苦労を語り合う会合などを開くＮＰＯ法人の活動も広がっている。

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has called for the business world to voluntarily extend child care leave, which under current law can be taken for a maximum of 1-1/2 years, up until a child becomes 3 years old, both for male and female employees.
　安倍首相は、現行法では最長１年６か月までの育児休業期間について、子供が３歳になるまで男女とも取得できるよう、経済界に自主的な取り組みを要請した。

Some companies allow male workers to take paid child care leave for about two weeks. We think every company should make further efforts to encourage male employees to get more involved in child rearing.
　男性社員に２週間程度の有給での育児休業を認める企業もある。男性の育児参加をさらに促す企業努力を各社に求めたい。

Beef up community ties

The ties between parents of small children and communities that look warmly after child-rearing couples are also important.
　育児中の家庭を温かく見守る地域とのつながりも重要だ。

There have been cases in which parents playing with their kids at a park have been told by neighbors they are "noisy." So what are they supposed to do?
　親子が公園で遊んでいても「うるさい」と言われることがある。これでは居場所がない。

A Children's Future Foundation survey found 34 percent of mothers felt "alone and isolated from society" while raising children.
　こども未来財団の調査では、母親の３４％が育児中に「社会から隔絶され、自分が孤立しているように感じる」と回答している。

Japan should set up more places where parents and kids can casually get together. Parents can chat and let their kids play at local facilities that support child rearing, such as community centers and children's centers. We hope people whose children have left the nest will help run these facilities.
　親子が気軽に集える場を増やすべきだ。公民館や児童館を利用した「地域子育て支援拠点」では、親同士が語り合い、子供を遊ばせている。運営に、子育てを終えた人たちの協力を期待したい。

Having communities lending a hand and providing more support to mothers with children will greatly help people going through parenthood.
　地域で子供を見守り、母親を支えることが育児の力になる。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 5, 2013)
（2013年5月5日01時00分  読売新聞）

The Yomiuri Shimbun May 6, 2013
Tokyo Olympic bid committee must do its best to overcome Inose's gaffe
猪瀬知事発言　東京五輪実現へ失点挽回せよ（5月5日付・読売社説）

How can Japan recover from the damage caused by the Tokyo governor's thoughtless remarks on the other bidders for the 2020 Summer Olympics? With less than five months before the International Olympic Committee chooses a host city, Japan's bidding campaign for the Games is entering a crucial stage.
　東京都知事の非常識な発言による失点を、どう挽回するか。五輪の招致活動は、これからが正念場である。

"Islamic countries, the only thing they share in common is Allah and they are fighting with each other, and they have classes," Tokyo Gov. Naoki Inose, who also chairs the Tokyo bid committee, was quoted as saying during an interview with a U.S. newspaper.
　「イスラム諸国が唯一、共有するのはアラーだけだ。互いに争い事をしているし、階級もある」。２０２０年東京五輪の招致委員会会長である猪瀬直樹都知事が、米紙とのインタビューで語ったとされる発言だ。

He apparently was referring to Tokyo's rival bidder--Istanbul, Turkey's capital. We think his remark lacked respect for a different culture.
　招致のライバルであるイスタンブール（トルコ）を念頭に置いたことは明らかで、異文化への敬意が感じられない。

We also believe Inose violated the IOC's Rules of Conduct forbidding bid committee members from directly criticizing rival cities or comparing their own cities with other bidders.
　招致活動に関し、他の立候補都市の批判や比較を禁じた国際オリンピック委員会（ＩＯＣ）の行動規範に違反していると言える。

Abe apologizes to Turkey

When he visited Turkey last week, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe apologized to his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Abe told Erdogan he was afraid Turkey was offended by Inose's remarks and that he hoped the two countries would do their best to win their bids in a spirit of fair play.
　トルコを訪問した安倍首相は、エルドアン首相との会談で「トルコ側として不快に感じたのでないか」と陳謝し、「フェアプレーの精神にのっとり、お互いベストを尽くしていきたい」と述べた。

The Turkish prime minister thanked Abe for his remarks. We praise Abe for calming the situation in a very friendly manner.
　エルドアン首相は「（安倍首相の）発言に感謝する」と応じた。安倍首相が友好的に問題を沈静化させたことを評価したい。

Turkey is a country friendly to Japan and is an important economic partner. Inose is deeply responsible for causing a situation that forced the prime minister to apologize to Turkey.
　トルコは親日国であり、経済的にも重要なパートナーだ。安倍首相が陳謝する事態を招いた猪瀬知事の責任は重い。

We notice Inose has done and said many things unfit for the head of the 7.5 billion yen bidding campaign.
　それにしても、猪瀬知事には、７５億円をかけた招致活動のトップとは思えない言動が多い。

In addition to Tokyo and Istanbul, Madrid is also bidding for the 2020 Games.
　２０２０年五輪には東京、イスタンブールのほか、マドリード（スペイン）が立候補している。

Inose was also quoted as saying in the interview: "Compare the two countries where they have yet to build infrastructure, very sophisticated facilities." This remark apparently violated the rules of conduct, too.
　知事はインタビューで「インフラが未整備で、非常に洗練された施設もない二つの国と比較してほしい」とも語ったという。これも行動規範に反しているだろう。

Inose initially claimed several of his remarks quoted in the interview "failed to express my true intentions." But he later changed his mind and said he wanted to "apologize for making some inappropriate remarks."
　知事は一連の発言について、「真意が正しく伝わっていない」とのコメントを出し、一転して「不適切な発言があり、おわびしたい」と謝罪した。

Responses questionable

We think Inose's response was questionable in terms of settling the problem quickly.
事態の早期収拾には疑問が残る対応だった。

We also cannot understand why he wrote on Twitter after the apology that the latest incident taught him a good lesson about who his friends and enemies were. This might make one suspect Inose may not really regret what he said.
　謝罪後、ツイッターに「今回の件で誰が味方か敵か、よくわかったのは収穫」と書き込んだのも不可解だ。反省しているのか、疑われかねない。

We wonder if winning a record 4.34 million votes in the Tokyo gubernatorial election at the end of last year has made Inose arrogant.
　昨年末の都知事選で、史上最多の４３４万票を獲得したおごりはないのだろうか。

It is now important to figure out how Tokyo can recoup its lost ground before the committee decides on a host city for the 2020 Games on Sept. 7. We are very concerned how the Tokyo governor's remarks will affect the voting behavior of IOC members of other countries, particularly those from Islamic countries.
　今後の課題は、９月７日の開催地決定に向け、東京がどう巻き返すかである。知事発言がイスラム諸国などのＩＯＣ委員の投票行動に影響を及ぼすことが心配だ。

The Tokyo bid committee must overcome the negative impact caused by Inose's gaffe and carefully explain Tokyo's plan for the Olympics to bolster support for the city.
　招致委としては、今回の舌禍問題を乗り越え、東京の開催計画を丁寧に説明して、支持を拡大していくことが大切である。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 5, 2013)
（2013年5月5日01時00分  読売新聞）

The Yomiuri Shimbun May 5, 2013
Focus should move from rebuilding expressways to ensuring their safety
高速道路の改修　「造る」から「守る」への転換を（5月4日付・読売社説）

How should the nation's aging expressways be maintained and managed? It is crucial that the focus of expressway maintenance be shifted from building new roads to ensuring the safety of existing ones.
　老朽化が進む高速道路をどう維持、管理していくか。「造る」から「守る」へ、整備の重点を転換することが重要だ。

Three major expressway operators--East Nippon Expressway Co., Central Nippon Expressway Co. and West Nippon Expressway Co.--have estimated renovation costs needed for the continued use of their expressways over the next 100 years.
　東日本、中日本、西日本の高速道路３社が今後１００年間、道路を利用するために必要な改修費用を試算した。

They estimate a total of 5.4 trillion yen will be required: 2 trillion yen for the major rebuilding of aging expressway bridges and tunnels and 3.4 trillion yen for repair work on roads and other facilities. If the operators rebuild all the aging sections instead of repairing them, the total cost will exceed 10 trillion yen, equivalent to seven years of their highway toll revenues.
　老朽化した橋やトンネルの大規模な建て替えに２兆円、道路設備などの修繕に３・４兆円の計５・４兆円が必要という。補修箇所をすべて造り替えると１０兆円超で、７年分の料金収入に相当する。

Construction of the expressways operated by the three companies picked up speed after the 1960s. The length of the roads now extend to about 9,000 kilometers in total. Forty percent of the expressways are 30 years old or older.
　３社の高速道路は１９６０年代以降、建設が進み、全長約９０００キロに及ぶ。このうち３０年以上経過した路線が４割を占める。

The growing size of vehicles, corrosion from salt used for deicing and other factors have damaged the roads.
　車両の大型化や、凍結防止剤に含まれる塩分による腐食などが道路の損傷を招いている。

Late last year, a ceiling collapsed in the Sasago Tunnel on the Chuo Expressway in Yamanashi Prefecture, shedding light on the serious deterioration of infrastructure that is endangering people's lives. It is evident the current maintenance and inspection system needs to be revamped drastically.
　昨年末には、中央自動車道の笹子トンネルで天井板の崩落事故が起き、利用者の命にかかわる劣化の実態が浮き彫りになった。従来の保守・点検を抜本的に改める必要があるのは明らかだ。

First of all, the expressway operators should conduct inspections to determine the actual conditions of their aging roads. Based on clear-cut standards, they should determine whether the roads should be repaired or rebuilt and set priorities for the work. They also need to accelerate work to swiftly draw up long-term maintenance plans.
　まず、点検で老朽化の現状を把握すべきだ。修繕するか、造り直すか、明確な基準に基づいて判断し、優先順位を決める。長期計画の策定を急ぐ必要がある。

Funding is biggest challenge

Estimates also show that renovation work for the Tokyo Metropolitan Expressway and the Hanshin Expressway would cost up to 910 billion yen and 620 billion yen, respectively. These figures must be scrutinized to determine if they are reasonable.
　首都高速道路が最大９１００億円、阪神高速道路も６２００億円が必要との試算をまとめている。こうした試算が妥当かどうかも精査しなければならない。

The biggest challenge the operators face is how to finance repairs and rebuilding.
　最大の問題は、財源である。

Under a plan launched when the highway public corporations were privatized in 2005, their debt of about 40 trillion yen would be repaid by 2050. After the full repayment, the plan calls for the expressways to be tollfree.
　２００５年の道路公団民営化時に決めた計画では、旧公団時代に抱えた約４０兆円の借金を５０年までに全額返済し、その後は道路を無料開放することになっている。

However, the plan does not include costs for major repair work on expressways. Due to the current dire fiscal straits, taxpayers' money cannot be used for the work, but drastic toll increases would spark a public backlash.
　ところが、これには大規模な改修を行う費用は盛り込まれていない。厳しい財政事情で税金投入は難しく、大幅に値上げすれば利用者の反発が強いだろう。

In light of this, we view a funding method in which the operators would set aside a certain amount of money from toll revenues for the renovation work as feasible. By reducing the annual amount of repayment, the operators could use the money to maintain the aging roads, but this would inevitably push back the repayment deadline.
　料金収入から一定額を改修費用に積み立てる方式を導入するのが現実的ではないか。毎年の返済額を減らすことで、老朽化対策に資金を回せる。債務の返済期限を延長するのもやむを得まい。

Discuss future toll system

However, the companies should not increase the number of wasteful projects in the name of repair and rebuilding. The idea of tapping private funds in tandem with regional development projects and keeping the costs down appears to be viable. Future projects should be decided from the perspective of cost-effectiveness.
　とは言え、改修名目でムダな事業を増やしてはならない。地域開発と合わせて民間資金を活用し、費用を圧縮する案も有望だ。費用対効果の見極めが必要である。

To deal with aging expressways, a future toll system should also be addressed. The operators should consider many matters, including a review of toll discounts introduced in fiscal 2008 as part of stimulus measures and the consistency of tolls across the nation, with the tolls on Honshu-Shikoku bridge expressways significantly higher than in other regions.
　老朽化対策は、高速料金のあり方も問い直す。０８年度に景気対策で始めた料金割引の見直し、料金が割高な本四架橋との整合性など検討すべき課題は多い。

The highway toll system has undergone flip-flops: A 1,000 yen ceiling was set for tolls for some time, and tolls were once temporally dropped. It is high time for the nation to thoroughly discuss an ideal expressway toll system.
　１０００円走り放題や無料化など、迷走を続けてきた高速料金政策を本格的に議論する時期だ。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 4, 2013)
（2013年5月4日02時05分  読売新聞）

The Yomiuri Shimbun May 4, 2013
Growing debate in Diet on revision of basic law should be put to good use
憲法記念日　改正論議の高まり生かしたい（5月3日付・読売社説）

　◆各党は参院選へ具体策を競え◆

In the current Diet session under the administration of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, discussions about the wisdom of revising the Constitution are unusually animated.
　安倍政権下の国会では憲法改正を巡る論議がいつになく活発だ。

Depending on the outcome of the House of Councillors election this summer, revision of the Constitution, which Abe has committed to including in the upper house election platform, may become more likely.
　夏の参院選の結果次第で、安倍首相が公約に掲げる憲法改正がいよいよ現実味を帯びてくるだろう。

May 3 is Constitution Day, marking the 67th year since the enforcement of the current supreme law.
　きょうは、日本国憲法が施行されてから６７年目の憲法記念日。

Despite drastic changes in the domestic and international environments since it was put into force, the Constitution has never been changed.
日本の内外情勢は激変したにもかかわらず、憲法はまだ一度も改正されていない。

We should make this day an opportunity to think about what the Constitution should be.
そんな憲法の在りようを考える機会としたい。

　◆まずは発議要件緩和を◆

Ease revision requirements first

Lying at the root of the constitutional debates is the fact that the Japanese have had "no experience at all writing a constitution on their own," as the prime minister has pointed out.
　憲法改正論議の根底にあるのは安倍首相が指摘するように、「日本人は自身の手で憲法を作ったことがない」という事実である。

The prewar constitution--the Constitution of the Empire of Japan of 1889--commonly called the Meiji Constitution, was granted by the Emperor. And the current Constitution was produced based on a draft worked out under the Occupation after the end of World War II by the General Headquarters of the Allied Powers.
　戦前の大日本帝国憲法は天皇の定めた欽定(きんてい)憲法だ。現行憲法は占領下、連合国軍総司令部（ＧＨＱ）の草案を基に制定された。

The idea of the Japanese people themselves discussing fundamentals of the nation and revising the Constitution in a way suited to the changing times is natural and reasonable indeed.
　国民自ら国の基本を論じ、時代に合うよう憲法を改正するという考え方は、至極もっともだ。

In nationwide opinion surveys conducted by The Yomiuri Shimbun, respondents who favor changing the Constitution have consistently outnumbered opponents since the 1993 survey.
読売新聞の世論調査でも１９９３年以降、ほぼ一貫して憲法改正賛成派が反対派を上回っている。

The core of constitutional revision, as is widely known, lies in the advisability of changing Article 9.
　憲法改正の核心は、やはり９条である。

The stipulation in the second paragraph of the article that "land, sea, and air forces, as well as other war potential, will never be maintained" has diverged greatly from reality.
　第２項の「陸海空軍その他の戦力は保持しない」は、現実と乖離(かいり)している。

To end the fiction that "the self-defense forces are not military forces," the SDF must be given explicit constitutional status.
「自衛隊は軍隊ではない」という虚構を解消するため、自衛隊を憲法に明確に位置付けるべきだ。

Article 96 of the Constitution, which sets down requirements regarding amending the supreme law, has also emerged as a major point of contention in discussions about the Constitution.
　憲法の改正要件を定めた９６条も主要な論点に浮上してきた。

Not only the Liberal Democratic Party but also such opposition parties as Nippon Ishin no Kai (Japan Restoration Party) and Your Party have made public commitments to revising Article 96. The two opposition parties' commitments are noteworthy as they point toward possible cooperation with the LDP over constitutional revision after the coming upper house election. This opportunity must not be missed.
　自民党だけでなく、日本維新の会やみんなの党も９６条の改正を公約している。参院選後の連携を図る動きとしても注目される。この機を逃してはなるまい。

Article 96 states the Diet can initiate amendments to the Constitution with approval of "two-thirds or more" of all members of both chambers of the legislature and the amendments must thereafter gain approval by a majority of all votes cast in a special referendum.
　９６条は、憲法改正について衆参各院の総議員の「３分の２以上」の賛成で国会が発議し、国民投票で過半数の賛成を得なければならないと定めている。

Given these procedures, Japan's Constitution can be considered much more difficult to revise than the supreme laws of other countries. It seems the GHQ might have thought when drafting the Constitution that it would take a long time for democracy to take root in Japan.
　世界でも改正難度の高い硬性憲法と言えるだろう。ＧＨＱは、日本で民主主義が確立するには時間がかかると考えたようだ。

The LDP's draft of constitutional revisions calls for easing the "two-thirds or more" requirement of Article 96 to a simple majority of both houses of the Diet.
　自民党の憲法改正草案は、９６条の「３分の２以上」という要件を「過半数」と改めている。

The LDP-envisioned revision of the article would make it easier for the Diet to initiate constitutional revision, but there would be no change at all in the subsequent process, in which a final decision on the matter is up to a national referendum.
　国会が改正案の発議をしやすくなるだけで、最終的にその是非を決めるのは国民投票であることに変わりはない。

The major opposition Democratic Party of Japan has been arguing that not procedural matters for amending the Constitution but discussions about which specific parts of the Constitution should be changed must come first.
　民主党は改正手続きよりも、どの条項を改めるかという内容の議論が先だと言う。

The LDP and some others, however, have already publicly suggested concrete plans to revise the Constitution.
だが、自民党などは既に具体的な改正方針を国民に示している。

The DPJ is urged to engage fully in intraparty discussions concerning the advisability of changing the Constitution and come up with a unified party view on the matter.
民主党こそ憲法改正について論議を尽くし、党としての見解を明らかにすべきだ。

Roles of Diet chambers
　◆必要な衆参の役割分担◆

Another urgent task is to review the roles of both Diet houses.
　衆院と参院の役割を見直すことも、喫緊の課題である。

Under the current situation of the "divided Diet," both the ruling and opposition parties must be keenly aware of how much the existence of "an excessively strong upper house" has stagnated national politics.
　衆参ねじれ国会の下で、「強すぎる参院」の存在がどれほど国政を停滞させてきたか、与野党とも痛感しているはずだ。

One possible solution is to revise Paragraph 2 of Article 59. The current paragraph stipulates that a bill passed by the lower house but voted down by the upper house becomes law when passed a second time by the lower house with a majority of "two-thirds or more" of the members present. This should be changed to a simple majority. That would make passage of bills in the lower house on a second vote easier and better clarify the lower house's superiority over the upper house.
　解決策の一つが、５９条２項の改正だ。参院が衆院と異なる議決をした法案は、再び衆院で「３分の２以上」の多数で可決すれば成立する、という現行の規定を「過半数」に改めればよい。再議決による法案成立が容易になり、衆院の優位性もより明確になる。

We question why the LDP's constitutional revision draft does not refer to this point.
　自民党の憲法改正草案がこれに言及していないのは疑問だ。

In 2000, a private body of advisers to the upper house president compiled a Diet reform plan that includes relaxation of the conditions for a second vote in the lower house and abolition of the upper house's right to designate a prime ministerial candidate. The reform would require constitutional revision.
　２０００年に参院議長の私的諮問機関が、衆院での再議決要件緩和のほか、参院の首相指名権の廃止など憲法改正も伴う改革案をまとめた。

The plan, which aims at shrinking the authority of the House of Councillors to reduce its participation in the administration of the national government, is still worth considering.
　参院の権限を縮小し、政権から距離を置く。今でも十分、検討に値する。

Concerning electoral system reform to correct the disparity in the value of votes, both chambers' electoral systems should be reviewed simultaneously.
　「１票の格差」是正のための選挙制度改革も、衆参の制度を同時に見直すべきだろう。

What functions should the upper house and lower house each have? In what way should people's wills be reflected in politics to form a desirable administration? Electoral systems must be reformed from such viewpoints.
　衆院と参院がどういう機能を分担すればよいか。望ましい政権を形成するためには、どう民意を集約するか。そうした観点から選挙制度を検討する必要がある。

This year's Constitution Day comes shortly after a series of high court rulings in lawsuits challenging the disparity in the value of votes in December's House of Representatives election in which the courts ruled the election was "unconstitutional." The Supreme Court will rule on the matter as early as this autumn.
　今年の憲法記念日は、先の衆院選での「１票の格差」を巡る訴訟で高裁による「違憲」判決が相次いだ直後に迎えることになった。秋にも最高裁が判断を示す。

At this critical stage, the Diet, the legislative branch of the nation, must at least pass a lower house rezoning bill designed to cut five seats from the lower house.
　ここに至った以上、立法府として最低限、０増５減の区割り法案を成立させるのが筋である。

Avoid a race to cut seats
　◆定数削減競争は避けよ◆

The Democratic Party of Japan and other parties are currently competing with their plans to aggressively cut the number of Diet seats, saying "reforms in which the government as well as Diet members share the pain" are necessary. This is nothing but populism disguised as reform.
　民主党など各党は国会議員も「身を切る改革」が必要だと主張し、定数削減を競っている。これは改革を装ったポピュリズム（大衆迎合）と言うほかない。

The number of members in Japan's Diet members is not excessive when compared with other nations based on population. Cuts in personnel costs for Diet members would have only a limited effect in reducing the government's fiscal expenditures. Such an action would rather deteriorate the Diet's legislative functions. If Diet members want to feel pain, it would be better to cut their annual salaries and subsidies to political parties.
　日本は、人口当たりの国会議員数では国際比較でも決して多くはない。国会議員の人件費を減らしても財政削減効果は限定的だ。かえって立法機能が低下しよう。身を切るなら、歳費や政党助成金をカットすればよいではないか。

Some believe the Constitution should stipulate measures the nation can take in response to emergency situations and the right to a healthy environment for the people. We think these are very important viewpoints.
　憲法に関しては、緊急事態対処や環境権などを規定すべきだとの主張もある。重要な視点だ。

With the upper house election just around the corner, we hope each party will positively engage in the debate.
　参院選に向け、各党とも積極的に論戦を展開してもらいたい。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 3, 2013)
（2013年5月3日01時05分  読売新聞）

The Yomiuri Shimbun May 3, 2013
Govt should change interpretation of right to collective self-defense
集団的自衛権　憲法改正前に解釈を変更せよ（5月2日付・読売社説）

In light of the deteriorating national security environment, changing the government's interpretation of the Constitution to allow Japan to exercise the right to collective self-defense is becoming increasingly vital.
　日本の安全保障環境が悪化している今、集団的自衛権を行使できるように改める必要性は一段と増している。

The government has reinstated the Advisory Panel on Reconstruction of the Legal Basis for Security, which was established under the first cabinet of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. The panel is tasked with compiling a new proposal on legislation concerning national security.
　政府は２月、第１次安倍内閣で設置した「安全保障の法的基盤の再構築に関する懇談会」を再始動させた。秋に安全保障法制の新提言をまとめる予定だ。

In June 2008, it proposed the government's interpretation of the Constitution be altered to enable Japan to exercise the right to collective self-defense. The proposal assumed four categories of contingencies, including an attack on U.S. military vessels on the high seas and the launch of a ballistic missile aimed at the United States.
　懇談会は既に２００８年６月、集団的自衛権の行使を可能にするため政府の憲法解釈の変更を提言している。公海上で米軍艦船が攻撃されたり、米国へ弾道ミサイルが発射されたりした場合など、４類型の事態を想定したものだ。

If this country cannot stage a counterattack or intercept a missile in such circumstances, the Japan-U.S. alliance will be futile and it will be impossible to assure the safety of Japan.
　こうした事態に直面しても、日本が反撃・迎撃できないようでは日米同盟は成り立たないし、日本の安全を守ることはできない。

Last month Abe revealed his goal to make a decision on the right to collective self-defense before the government compiles the new National Defense Program Guidelines at year-end. It is the duty of politicians to allow the nation to exercise this right.
　安倍首相は先月、年末の新防衛大綱策定までに集団的自衛権の問題に結論を出す考えを示した。政治の責任で、集団的自衛権の行使を可能にしなければならない。

A recent spell of events have threatened Japan's peace, including North Korea's nuclear test and launch of a ballistic missile, and China's strengthening of its navy and air force and escalating provocative actions around the Senkaku Islands in Okinawa Prefecture. The Japan-U.S. alliance must be urgently reinforced to steel its deterrence capability.
　北朝鮮の核実験や弾道ミサイル発射、中国海空軍の装備増強や尖閣諸島周辺での活動活発化――。最近、日本の平和を脅かす事態が相次いでいる。日米同盟を強化し、抑止力を高めることが急務だ。

Ripe political environment

The Liberal Democratic Party argues that Japan should be allowed to exercise the right to collective self-defense, and Nippon Ishin no Kai (Japan Restoration Party) and Your Party are also receptive to the idea. Even Democratic Party of Japan Secretary General Goshi Hosono made some comments Tuesday that indicate the party would back allowing Japan to exercise the right.
　自民党は集団的自衛権の行使を容認すべきだと主張し、日本維新の会、みんなの党も前向きだ。民主党の細野幹事長も先月３０日、容認する考えを示した。

Thus the political environment is becoming ripe for reviewing the awkward official interpretation of the Constitution on the right to collective self-defense. The official view now is that Japan has the right but cannot exercise it.
　集団的自衛権を「保有するが、行使できない」とする奇妙な政府の憲法解釈を見直すための政治的環境は整いつつある。

Abe has said he wants to make constitutional revision a major issue in the House of Councillors election in July. Specifically, he wants to relax the rules on amending the Constitution by revising Article 96 of the top law.
　首相は、憲法改正を７月の参院選の争点とし、まず９６条の改正発議要件を緩和したい考えを示している。

If constitutional revision is promptly realized, it would make sense to recognize the nation's ability to exercise the right to collective self-defense at the same time.
憲法改正が早期に実現するなら、同時に集団的自衛権を容認するのが望ましいのは確かだ。

National security can't wait

Still, waiting to amend Article 9, which concerns the right, until after conditions are relaxed by amending Article 96 could take too long. Does Japan really have time to wait for two separate revisions of the Constitution?
　だが、９６条の改正発議要件を緩和した後、自衛権に関する９条を改正するまでには相当な時間を要しよう。２回の憲法改正を待つ余裕が今の日本にあるだろうか。

It would of course be more practical to review the interpretation of the Constitution on the right before revising the top law.
　やはり憲法改正に先立ち、憲法解釈を見直すことが現実的だ。

However, any revision to the current interpretation could be reversed if Abe is replaced as prime minister. To stabilize the legal basis for national security, legislation must be improved to secure the interpretational change, such as the establishment of a basic law on national security.
　ただ、解釈変更の場合、首相が交代すれば、再び解釈を元に戻す可能性もある。安全保障の法的基盤を安定させるには、安全保障基本法の制定など、解釈変更を担保する法整備が欠かせない。

Further study is also required on the occasions that would justify exercising the right to collective self-defense and the permissible forms of this type of defense. Opinions may be split over whether Japan would have to join in an assault on an enemy country if the U.S. mainland was attacked, as in the case of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on U.S. soil.
　どんな場合に、どんな形で集団的自衛権を行使するかについても検討が必要だ。米同時テロのように、米本土が攻撃され、相手国を攻撃する際に日本が参加するかどうかは賛否が分かれよう。

Both the ruling and opposition parties should move the debate on the right to collective self-defense into high gear.
　与野党は、集団的自衛権の議論を本格化させる時である。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, May 2, 2013)
（2013年5月2日01時04分  読売新聞）

The Yomiuri Shimbun May 1, 2013
Nuclear fuel cycle must be used in way that ensures proper use of plutonium
核燃料サイクル　プルトニウムの確実な利用を（4月30日付・読売社説）

Uranium-plutonium mixed oxide (MOX) fuel, which will be used for the No. 3 reactor at Kansai Electric Power Co.'s Takahama nuclear power plant in Fukui Prefecture, is en route from France to Japan by sea. It is expected to arrive in June or later.
　福井県の関西電力高浜原子力発電所３号機で使うウラン・プルトニウム混合酸化物（ＭＯＸ）燃料がフランスから海路、日本に向かっている。６月にも到着する。

This is the first transport of MOX to Japan since the accident at Tokyo Electric Power Co.'s Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant.
　東京電力福島第一原発の事故後、初めての輸送だ。

Japan has promoted the nuclear fuel cycle program as part of the nation's energy policy. The system reuses uranium and plutonium extracted from spent nuclear fuel used at nuclear power plants. The core of the system is the use of MOX fuel.
　日本は、エネルギー政策の一環として、核燃料サイクル計画を進めてきた。原発の使用済み核燃料から取り出したプルトニウムやウランを再利用するものだ。その柱がＭＯＸ燃料の利用である。

The nuclear fuel cycle allows effective use of uranium resources and reduces radioactive waste. But because plutonium can be used to make nuclear weapons, stockpiling unused amounts of the material could trigger unnecessary suspicions both at home and abroad.
　核燃料サイクルは、ウラン資源の有効活用や放射性廃棄物量の軽減といった利点がある。
　プルトニウムは核兵器の材料にもなる。利用されないままでは、国内外で無用な疑念を引き起こしかねない。

KEPCO needs to ensure it uses all the MOX fuel transported.
　関電は、輸送されたＭＯＸ燃料を確実に利用する必要がある。

Japan has entrusted the reprocessing of spent nuclear fuel to France and Britain because there is no large-scale reprocessing facility at home. The amount of plutonium extracted so far has exceeded 20 tons.
　日本には大規模な再処理施設がないため、使用済み核燃料の再処理をフランスや英国に委託してきた。すでに取り出されたプルトニウム量は２０トンを超える。

Using plutonium a duty

Neither France nor Britain can keep such spent fuel for a prolonged period. Japan must receive the reprocessed fuel to maintain its international credibility. We consider it the nation's duty to use the plutonium.
　仏英とも預かったままにできない。引き取りは国際的な信義にかかわる問題だ。プルトニウム利用は、日本の責務と言えよう。

After the outbreak of the crisis at the Fukushima No. 1 plant, the Democratic Party of Japan-led administration halted most of the nation's nuclear reactors and declared a policy of abandoning nuclear power generation without presenting workable alternatives, causing total confusion. The administration also made the nuclear fuel cycle program a target for drastic review.
　福島第一原発の事故後、民主党政権はほとんどの原発を停止させ、展望がないまま「脱原発」の方針を打ち出すなど混乱を拡大させた。核燃料サイクル計画も抜本的な見直しの対象とした。

Even under the current administration of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, there has not been any progress in discussions over the matter. If this situation remains unchanged, there will be no prospect for using plutonium.
　安倍政権でも議論は進んでいない。このままではプルトニウム利用の見通しが立たない。

In Rokkasho, Aomori Prefecture, Japan Nuclear Fuel Ltd.'s reprocessing plant is nearly completed. But plans on its utilization have yet to be fully worked out. The government should consider the issue as soon as possible.
　青森県六ヶ所村では日本原燃の再処理工場が完成間近だが、その利用計画も定まっていない。政府は早急に検討すべきだ。

No other country in the world has established high-level nuclear fuel reprocessing technology without developing nuclear weapons. Japan cannot easily abandon the technology it has accumulated.
　核兵器を保有せずに、高度な再処理技術を確立する国は、日本以外にない。これまで積み上げてきた技術を簡単に捨てられまい。

Reactivating reactors crucial

First and foremost, it is necessary to figure out how many reactors could be reactivated after their safety is ensured. The Nuclear Regulation Authority must expedite the confirmation of the safety of idled reactors.
　まずは、何基の原発が安全に再稼働できるのか、割り出す必要がある。原子力規制委員会は、安全確認を急がねばならない。

The nuclear watchdog's stance on the reprocessing plant is also problematic.
　再処理工場に対する規制委の姿勢にも問題がある。

At the Rokkasho plant, only the process used to vitrify highly radioactive liquid waste has yet to be checked to confirm its safety.
　この工場で安全確認が済んでいないのは、放射能が高い廃液をガラスに固める工程だけだ。

It would be much safer to solidify the liquid waste generated in test operations than to keep it in a tank as it is at present. But the authority has put off safety confirmation processes, saying there is no need for the time being to operate the reprocessing plant itself.
　試験過程で発生し、タンクに保管中の廃液は固めた方が格段に安全だが、規制委は、工場そのものを当面動かす必要がないとして確認作業を後回しにしている。

We wonder if the authority is fully aware of its roles and responsibilities. Its duty is to steadily proceed with processes to improve nuclear safety.
　規制委は自らの役割や責任を十分認識していないのではないか。安全性の向上を着実に進めることが規制委の職務である。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 30, 2013)
（2013年4月30日01時17分  読売新聞）

The Yomiuri Shimbun April 30, 2013
Don't forget importance of Japan's return to international community after WWII
主権回復の日　国際社会復帰の重み忘れまい（4月29日付・読売社説）

The San Francisco Peace Treaty took effect April 28, 1952, freeing Japan from the postwar Occupation by the Allied Powers. That date is of deep significance as the day Japan pledged to become a responsible member of the international community.
　日本が、サンフランシスコ講和条約の発効によって戦後の占領支配から解放されたのは、１９５２年４月２８日だ。国際社会の責任ある一員になると誓った意義深い日である。

On Sunday, 61 years later, the government sponsored a ceremony to commemorate the restoration of Japan's sovereignty and its return to the international community at the Memorial Hall of Constitutional Politics near the Diet Building.
　政府は６１年後のこの日、主権回復と国際社会復帰を記念する式典を憲政記念館で開いた。

Delivering a speech at the ceremony, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said, "I wish to make this a day on which we renew our hopes and our determination toward the future, as we reflect on the path we have followed until now."
　「これまでの足跡に思いを致しながら、未来へ向かって希望と決意を新たにする日にしたい」

Memories fading

Looking back on the Occupation, the prime minister noted, "In the long history of this country, those days marked our first and longest-lasting age of discontinuity and hardship."
　そう語った安倍首相は、占領期を、「わが国の長い歴史で初めての、そして最も深い断絶であり、試練だった」と振り返った。

Under the Occupation, the nation could not make any decisions on such matters as appointing cabinet members and enacting laws against the wishes of the General Headquarters of the Allied Powers (GHQ). The GHQ also limited freedom of speech.
　占領下では、閣僚人事も国の予算や法律も、連合国軍総司令部（ＧＨＱ）の意に反しては決められなかった。言論統制もあった。

These historical facts, however, are now on the verge of being forgotten by the public.
　こうした歴史が、国民の間で忘れ去られようとしている。

It is highly important for each of us to coolly review the past once more, including how and why this country plunged itself into circumstances that resulted in losing its sovereignty.
主権を失う事態に至った経緯も含め、冷静に見つめ直すことが肝要だ。

The wars Japan fought in the Showa era, which caused tremendous suffering to many people at home and abroad, were started by Japanese leaders who had lost their international perspective. The nation's defeat in World War II and the subsequent Occupation were the end result of their mistakes.
　内外に惨禍をもたらした昭和の戦争は、国際感覚を失った日本の指導者たちの手で始められた。敗戦と占領は、その結末である。

After restoring its sovereignty, Japan joined the United Nations and achieved remarkably high economic growth, thus successfully building today's affluent, peaceful society.
　日本は主権回復後、国連に加盟し、高度成長を成し遂げて、今日の豊かで平和な社会を築いた。

Japan's sovereignty over its land and territorial waters, however, is still threatened even today. This country is confronted by such challenges as the repeated intrusion of Chinese surveillance vessels into Japan's waters off the Senkaku Islands, Okinawa Prefecture, and the unlawful occupation by South Korea of the Takeshima islets, Shimane Prefecture. In addition, Russia is currently taking steps apparently meant to perpetuate its seizure of Japan's northern territories off eastern Hokkaido.
　だが、沖縄県・尖閣諸島沖での中国監視船の領海侵入や、韓国の竹島不法占拠、北方領土で進行する「ロシア」化など、領土・領海を巡る問題は今もなお、日本の主権を揺さぶっている。

The government-sponsored ceremony this year is a milestone for making us consider the issues now affecting the nation's sovereignty.
　今年の政府式典は、そんな主権の現状を考える節目となった。

Meanwhile, a protest rally was held in Ginowan, Okinawa Prefecture, against the government-backed ceremony. The municipal assembly's opposition forces, which sponsored the protest, called it a convention on a "day of humiliation" for Okinawa.
　一方、沖縄県宜野湾市では、政府式典に抗議する「屈辱の日」沖縄大会が県議会野党会派などの主催で開催された。

At the same time the San Francisco Peace Treaty took effect, Okinawa Prefecture, along with the Amami Islands and the Ogasawara Islands, was separated from the mainland of Japan and put under the administration of the U.S. military.
　沖縄は、奄美、小笠原と共に講和条約発効と同時に日本から切り離され、米軍施政下に置かれた。

Okinawa Prefecture was the country's fiercest battlefield in the last stage of the war. It nevertheless was excluded from the restoration of Japan's sovereignty and U.S. military installations were built on large tracts of land there.
かつて戦場となり、主権回復からも取り残され、米軍基地建設が進んだ。

April 28 is called a "day of humiliation" for the prefecture for this reason.
このため沖縄では４月２８日は「屈辱の日」と呼ばれる。

It can be said, however, that the Japanese government was able to negotiate with the United States for the reversion of Okinawa Prefecture to Japanese rule, realized in 1972, precisely because Japan recovered its sovereignty.
　しかし、日本が主権を回復したからこそ、米国と交渉し、沖縄返還を実現できたことも事実だ。

Think again about Okinawa

It goes without saying that this year's ceremony was never intended to belittle the sufferings of Okinawa Prefecture.
　沖縄を軽視した式典でないことは言うまでもない。

Abe referred in his speech to the prefecture, saying, "Any casual statement would be meaningless in light of the suffering the people of Okinawa had to endure, both during and after the war."
首相は式辞で「沖縄の人々が耐え忍ばざるを得なかった、戦中戦後のご苦労に対し、通り一遍の言葉は意味をなさない」と沖縄にも言及した。

Okinawa Deputy Gov. Kurayoshi Takara, who attended the ceremony in place of Gov. Hirokazu Nakaima, expressed his understanding of the ceremony to a certain extent, saying he understood the prime minister was trying to "face up, relatively, to the problems of Okinawa."
　仲井真弘多沖縄県知事の代理で式典に出席した高良倉吉副知事は「首相は比較的、沖縄の問題に向き合って発言された」と語り、式典に一定の理解を示した。

This occasion should be utilized as an opportunity to consider a path toward resolving the issue of U.S. military bases in Okinawa Prefecture, based on the vicissitudes of Okinawa's history.
　沖縄の歴史も踏まえて、米軍基地問題の解決への道筋を考える機会にもしたい。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, April 29, 2013)
（2013年4月29日01時10分  読売新聞）