August 18, 2014(Mainichi Japan)
Editorial: Strengthen system to protect whistleblowers
社説:内部告発者保護　不利益扱い防ぐ制度に

Many of those who have blown the whistle on wrongdoing involving their colleagues or employers have complained that they have been dismissed or transferred to unimportant divisions.
勤務している会社や役所の不正を知って内部告発したら、解雇や閑職に追いやられた。そんな訴えが後を絶たない。

The Whistleblower Protection Act came into force eight years ago, but the spirit of the legislation has not been sufficiently respected. The system to protect whistleblowers needs to be reinforced by amending the law or taking other effective measures to prevent those who try to correct an injustice from being treated unfavorably.
内部告発者を不利益に扱うことを禁じる公益通報者保護法が８年前に施行されたが、法の趣旨が十分に行き渡っているとはいえない。不正を正そうとした人が損をする本末転倒が生じないよう、法改正などによる制度の強化が必要だ。

The law is aimed at protecting workers, including public servants, who blow the whistle on criminal activities they witness at their workplaces to their employers or administrative organs. The Consumer Affairs Agency that enforces the law is hearing the views of experts and those who have experience of blowing the whistle in an effort to grasp the situation of whistleblowing and consider challenges that must be overcome.
公務員を含む労働者が勤め先での犯罪行為を事業者や行政機関などに内部告発しても保護されることをうたったのが同法だ。所管する消費者庁は現在、内部告発の実情把握と課題検討のため、関係者から意見聴取を進めている。先日は内部告発を理由に不利益処分を受けたとして裁判で争った人たちから意見を聞いた。

The agency has recently interviewed those who have sued their employers for being unfavorably treated at their workplaces in retaliation for blowing the whistle on wrongdoing. One of the victims, an anesthetist who worked at a public hospital, notified high-ranking officials of his workplace that a dentist who had no license as an anesthetist was anesthetizing patients and that a fatal blunder had occurred. However, he was relieved from his post and forced to resign from the hospital. He also blew the whistle to the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry. But the ministry dismissed his complaint on the grounds that "the Whistleblower Protection Act does not apply to retirees" and that "it is prefectural governments that are authorized by the law to receive complaints from whistleblowers and issue recommendations to or take punitive measures against offenders."
そのうち公立病院で働いていた麻酔科医は、資格のない歯科医が麻酔をしていることや死亡事故が起きていることを病院幹部に内部告発したが、業務から外され退職を余儀なくされた。さらに厚生労働省に内部告発したが「公益通報者保護法は退職者には適用されない」「法が通報先として認める処分・勧告権限のある行政機関は県になる」との理由で受け付けてもらえなかったという。

These examples have demonstrated that whistleblowers are not being protected despite the legislation. The anesthetist requested that clauses providing punishment against employers that treat whistleblowers unfavorably and requiring administrative organizations to respond to whistleblowers in an appropriate manner be added to the law.
あぜんとするが、内部告発者が守られていない現状を象徴する例だ。意見聴取に麻酔科医は「不利益な取り扱いをした事業者への罰則導入や内部告発を受けた行政機関の適正な対応の義務付け」を要望した。

The Whistleblower Protection Act prohibits employers from dismissing or demoting employees or cutting their wages in retaliation for blowing the whistle on wrongdoing, but has no punitive clause against violators. Therefore, whistleblowers who have been treated unfavorably by their employers have no choice but to sue their employers to have the damage redressed.
法は内部告発を理由にした解雇や降格、減給などを事業者に禁じているが、罰則規定はなく、不利益を受けた人は裁判に訴えない限り泣き寝入りになる。

The results of a survey that the Consumer Affairs Agency released last year show that 7 percent of whistleblowers or those who consulted their bosses or administrative organs about wrongdoing at their workplaces have been dismissed, and 21 percent have been unfavorably treated or harassed.
消費者庁が昨年公表した内部通報・相談経験者への調査では、解雇された人は７％、不利益を受けた人と嫌がらせを受けた人はともに２１％（複数回答）に上った。

Critics have expressed fears that the introduction of punitive clauses could encourage workers to blow the whistle with evil intent. However, some form of punishments should be introduced against businesses and administrative organs that violate the law.
罰則導入は悪意の告発を増やすと懸念する声もあるが、実態を考慮すれば、違反した事業者には何らかのペナルティーを科すことを検討すべきだ。

Problems involving administrative bodies that receive complaints from whistleblowers should be addressed. In at least one case, an administrative organization leaked the name of an employee who blew the whistle and the details of the worker's complaint to the company involved, allowing the firm to unfairly punish the whistleblower. As such, there have been calls for a clause to ban administrative bodies from leaking such information.
内部告発を受ける行政機関側の問題も見過ごせない。告発者の名前や告発内容が行政機関から事業者に筒抜けになり不利益処分を招いたケースがあり、漏えいを禁止する規定を法に新設するよう求める声もある。

There have been calls for the establishment of a third-party body to receive complaints from whistleblowers as administrative bodies often share a mutual interest with businesses. These opinions are worthy of consideration.
行政機関は事業者と利害が一致して当事者になりうるとの不信感が根強い。そのため告発を受け付ける別の窓口として独立した第三者機関の設置を要望する人もおり、こうした意見にも耳を傾けてほしい。

Whistleblowers tend to be viewed by their colleagues or employers as traitors.
内部告発者は、ややもすると組織の中で「裏切り者」とのそしりを受けかねない。

However, whistleblowing conducted in a fair manner could save the organizations they work for from an unfortunate predicament, and therefore whistleblowers should be protected.
しかし、正当な告発は組織の窮地を救う手がかりになる可能性があり、守るべき存在である。

毎日新聞　2014年08月18日　02時32分

The Yomiuri Shimbun
Provocative Russian military games in northern territories unforgivable
北方領土演習　ロシアの挑発は看過できない

Nothing other than an act of provocation has taken place in the Russian-held northern territories, the biggest of the issues pending between Tokyo and Moscow, and we categorically oppose the Russian action.
日露間の最大の懸案である北方領土を舞台にした挑発行為であり、断固として容認できない。

Russia has carried out military exercises with about 1,000 soldiers taking part on the islands of Kunashiri and Etorofu off Hokkaido, and the Kuril Islands.
ロシアが国後、択捉両島や千島列島で、１０００人規模の軍事演習を実施した。

Many attack helicopters and military vehicles were reportedly involved in the war exercises. Full-fledged war games in the northern territories are said to be the first since July 2010.
多数の攻撃用大型ヘリコプターや軍用車両が参加したという。北方領土での本格的な演習は２０１０年７月以来とされる。

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has criticized the exercises as “totally unacceptable,” while the Foreign Ministry has lodged a strict protest with Russia’s charges d’affaires ad interim in Tokyo. These responses are undoubtably reasonable.
安倍首相は「到底受け入れることはできない」と批判し、外務省は駐日ロシア臨時代理大使に厳重抗議した。当然の対応である。

The Soviet Union illegally seized the four islands off eastern Hokkaido, which are an inherent part of Japan’s territory, in 1945 immediately after World War II. They have been illegally held ever since. Russia’s unilateral action of holding military exercises in the disputed areas—the focal point in the long-standing territorial negotiations between the two countries—will have a profound, negative impact on trust in the bilateral relations.
日本固有の領土である北方４島は、１９４５年の終戦直後からソ連に不法占拠されてきた。長年にわたる日露領土交渉の係争地における一方的な軍事演習は、両国間の信義を大きく傷つける。

Problematic in particular is the fact that Russia issued a statement on Wednesday that rejected Japan’s protest against the military maneuvers, saying, Russia “can choose by itself where to hold military exercises within its own territory.” Russia had taken no account of Japan’s demand in advance that the exercises be canceled.
特に問題なのは、ロシアが、日本の抗議に対し、「ロシアは軍事演習を行う場所を自国領内で独自に決定できる」と拒絶する声明を発表したことだ。日本の事前の中止要求も無視している。

During the exercises, Russian President Vladimir Putin made a visit to the Crimean Peninsula in the southern part of Ukraine. This makes us suspicious that the military drills this time may have been designed to stress Moscow’s stance never to budge even an inch on territorial issues as was the case with Crimea, which Russia annexed forcibly in March.
ロシアのプーチン大統領は演習と同時期に、ウクライナ南部のクリミア半島を訪問した。今回の演習には、３月に編入を強行したクリミアと同様、領土問題では一切譲歩しない姿勢を強調する狙いがあるのではないか。

Strategic diplomacy needed

A machine-gun and artillery division comprising about 3,500 soldiers has been stationed on Kunashiri and Etorofu islands, and it has been modernizing its equipment in recent years. This is part of the “Russification” attempts in the northern territories. Japan must work tenaciously to prod Russia into using self-restraint over the matter.
国後、択捉両島にはロシア軍の機関銃・砲兵師団約３５００人が駐留し、近年、装備の近代化を進めている。北方領土の「ロシア化」の一環だ。日本はロシアに粘り強く自制を促す必要がある。

Also notable is the possibility that a Mistral-class amphibious assault ship, which Moscow will purchase from France, will be deployed to Russia’s Pacific Fleet.
ロシア極東軍には、フランスから購入する予定のミストラル級強襲揚陸艦が配備される可能性が指摘されている。

Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera, during a meeting with his French counterpart at the end of July, urged France to cancel the sale of the amphibious assault vessel. The government should continue such diplomatic efforts.
小野寺防衛相は７月末の日仏防衛相会談で、強襲揚陸艦の売却中止を求めた。こうした外交努力も続けたい。

Russia, for its part, has reacted adversely to Japan’s support for anti-Russia sanctions by the United States and European countries over the Ukrainian situation.
ロシアは、ウクライナ問題を巡る米欧の対露制裁に日本が同調していることに反発している。

Following Japan’s decision on Aug. 5 to pursue a set of additional sanctions against Russia, including a freeze on the assets in Japan of Russian government officials and others, Russia took the countermeasure of postponing a consultative meeting of foreign vice ministerial officials that was scheduled toward the end of this month.
日本が今月５日にロシア政府関係者らの日本国内資産凍結などの追加制裁を決めると、ロシアは、今月末の日露外務次官級協議を延期する対抗措置をとった。

Moscow, however, has exempted Japan from a ban on farm product and fisheries imports, targeting only the United States and Europe. This has been deemed a tactic presumably aimed at disrupting ties between Japan and the United States and European nations.
一方、米欧からの農水産物輸入を禁じたが、日本は対象外とした。日本と米欧の分断工作だろう。

Because of the military exercises this time, further stagnation of Tokyo-Moscow relations is most likely inevitable. The prospects for realizing a visit to Japan by Putin this coming autumn, which the two countries have agreed upon, have become even slimmer.
今回の演習により、日露関係の一層の停滞は避けられまい。両国が合意している今秋のプーチン大統領の来日も、実現が一段と厳しい状況になった。

It is very important for Japan not to waver in the face of Russia’s attempt to put this country off balance, but rather to maintain the stance of keeping cooperative relations with the United States and European countries.
大切なのは、日本がロシアの揺さぶりに動じず、米欧との協調を維持することだ。

The government must engage in strategic diplomacy to never allow Russia’s infringement on any country’s territorial sovereignty or attempts to change the status quo by force.
力を背景とした領土の侵害や現状変更を許さない戦略的外交を展開すべきだ。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 17, 2014)

August 16, 2014(Mainichi Japan)
Editorial: Japan must avoid conflict with China, S. Korea over historical perception
社説:８・１５と日中韓　「歴史の衝突」回避せよ

Japan commemorated the 69th anniversary of the end of World War II on Aug. 15 without resolving its conflicts with China and South Korea over historical perceptions and territorial issues. This is indeed regrettable.
６９回目の終戦記念日を、私たちは日中、日韓の歴史認識や領土を巡る対立を解消できないまま迎えた。極めて残念なことだ。

In some ways, changes in the power balance in East Asia stemming from the rise of China have created friction, but the leaders of the three countries are largely responsible for the conflicts.
対立の背景として、中国の台頭に伴う東アジアのパワーバランス（力関係）の変化が摩擦を生み出している面もあるが、３カ国の指導者の責任も大きい。

There are signs that Japan's bilateral relations with China and South Korea are beginning to improve as Japan-China and Japan-South Korea foreign ministerial talks have recently been held. These moves should lead to fundamental improvement in Tokyo's ties with Beijing and Seoul.
最近、日中、日韓それぞれに外相会談が開かれるなど、ようやく関係改善の兆しが出てきている。この流れを大事にしたい。

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe refrained from visiting Yasukuni Shrine, where Class A war criminals are enshrined along with the war dead, on Aug. 15 this year. Instead, he sent a close aide to make a ritual offering to the shrine as president of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), while Internal Affairs and Communications Minister Yoshitaka Shindo and two other Cabinet ministers paid a visit to the shrine. The Chinese Foreign Ministry has issued a statement criticizing the prime minister and the three Cabinet ministers' acts.
安倍晋三首相は終戦記念日の１５日、靖国神社への参拝を見送り、自民党の萩生田光一総裁特別補佐を通じて党総裁として私費で玉串料を奉納した。閣僚では新藤義孝総務相ら３人が参拝した。中国外務省は、閣僚の参拝や首相の玉串料奉納を批判する談話を発表した。

Prime Minister Abe's decision not to visit the shrine on the anniversary of the war's end is appropriate. The last war was a reckless war of aggression. The prime minister apparently made the decision out of diplomatic considerations. The prime minister should not, however, visit the shrine where Class A war criminals -- or war leaders -- are enshrined in the first place.
首相の参拝見送りは妥当な判断だ。先の大戦は無謀な侵略戦争である。首相は外交的配慮から参拝を見送ったのだろうが、そもそも戦争指導者のＡ級戦犯がまつられた神社に首相が参拝すべきでない。

It is necessary to put an end to the controversy and diplomatic rows over the pros and cons of the prime minister and other high-ranking government officials visiting the shrine. Now is the time to seriously explore the possibility of separating war criminals from the war dead enshrined at Yasukuni or building a non-religious national memorial for the war dead, which has previously been discussed within the LDP.
靖国参拝の是非を巡る論争や外交的対立に終止符を打とう。自民党内でもかつて議論されたＡ級戦犯の分祀（ぶんし）や、新たな国立追悼施設の建設について、再び議論をおこし、真剣に検討すべき時だ。

For the second consecutive year, Abe stopped short of mentioning responsibility for Japan's wartime aggression in Asia or pledging not to wage war again, which could invite misunderstanding among Asian countries.
また首相は全国戦没者追悼式の式辞で、昨年に引き続き、アジア諸国に対する加害責任や「不戦の誓い」に触れなかった。アジア諸国から誤解を招きかねない。

In a speech marking the anniversary of Korea's liberation from Japanese colonial rule, South Korean President Park Geun-hye urged Japan to take proactive measures to settle the issue of so-called "comfort women" that can satisfy the victims by next year -- the 50th anniversary of the normalization of bilateral diplomatic relations.
一方、韓国の朴槿恵（パククネ）大統領は１５日、日本の植民地支配からの解放を祝う「光復節」式典の演説で、来年の日韓国交正常化５０周年までに、元慰安婦が納得できる解決策を示すよう日本政府に努力を求めた。

There is still a wide perception gap between Japan and South Korea over the issue. While Seoul is demanding that Japan admit the government's responsibility for conscripting Korean women to serve as comfort women for Japanese soldiers during the war, Tokyo has taken the position that the issue of compensation has been legally settled.
慰安婦問題では、韓国が国の責任を認めるよう求めているのに対し、日本は戦後補償問題は法的に解決済みとの立場で、隔たりは大きい。

It is necessary for Japan and South Korea to lead international efforts to settle the comfort women issue from the viewpoint that it is an issue of women's individual rights in wartime rather than just a bilateral issue.
日韓両国が、慰安婦問題を２国間だけの問題ととらえるのでなく、戦時下の女性の人権という広い視野に立ち、国際的な取り組みを主導することも必要だろう。

Japan should discuss with South Korea what Tokyo can do in terms of its humanitarian and ethical responsibility. South Korea should also refrain from excessively criticizing Japan and show its readiness to play a constructive role in settling the issue.
日本は人道的・道義的責任の観点から、さらに何ができるか、韓国とよく話し合うべきだ。韓国にも過剰な対日批判を慎み、問題解決に向けた建設的な姿勢を示すよう求めたい。

China should also refrain from using the history of Japan's wartime aggression to paint Japan as the bad guy on the international stage, or take any other provocative action in bilateral territorial disputes.
そして中国にも、歴史問題を日本批判の国際的な宣伝材料にすることや、領土を巡る挑発的行為をやめるよう求めたい。

The leaders of the three countries must try to avoid any conflict over historical perceptions or nationalism-fuelled clashes, and work toward improving relations as we approach 2015, which marks the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II.
３カ国の指導者は、歴史認識やナショナリズムの衝突を回避するよう努めなければならない。８月１５日にそのことを改めてそれぞれの胸に刻み、戦後７０年に向けて関係改善につなげてほしい。

毎日新聞　2014年08月16日　02時31分

これは驚きました。
毎日の英文翻訳が格段に進歩！
英語学習でつかえます。
（スラチャイ）

August 15, 2014(Mainichi Japan)
Editorial: Pass on lessons of war to future generations
社説:８・１５と戦争　記憶の継承の担い手に

The Aug. 15 anniversary of the end of World War II is the anniversary of surrender for Japanese people.
終戦記念日の８月１５日は、正確には敗戦の日である。

Japan, which invaded China and launched a surprise attack on the United States, was defeated exactly 69 years ago, although Japanese leaders said all 100 million Japanese were prepared to die an honorable death.
中国を侵略し、米国を奇襲攻撃した日本は、６９年前のこの日、一億玉砕を叫びながら万策尽き果て、降伏した。

This reckless war left 3.1 million Japanese nationals dead. In all of Asia, the number of victims is believed to surpass 20 million.
無謀な戦争による犠牲者は、日本人だけで３１０万人、アジアでは２０００万人以上にのぼるとされる。

Every August, many newspapers run articles featuring the war.
８月になると、新聞に戦争を振り返る特集が増える。

This tendency is occasionally ridiculed as journalism limited to August.
夏だけの「８月ジャーナリズム」とやゆされたりするが、

However, on Aug. 15 each year it is an indispensable ritual to quietly mourn war victims both in Japan and overseas and deeply consider war and peace.
８・１５が巡ってくるたび、内外の死者を静かに追悼し、戦争と平和について深く思いを致すのは、欠かせない儀礼である。

◇人を人でなくすもの

Next year marks the 70th anniversary of the end of the war.
来年は戦後７０年の節目だ。

Those born after the war account for 80 percent of all Japanese nationals, and an overwhelming majority of those who experienced the war are in their 80s to 90s.
戦後生まれの日本人が人口の８割を占め、戦争をじかに知る人は、大半が８０代から９０代の高齢者である。

The memory of the war is gradually fading among Japanese people, and there are tendencies to regard wars as if they were games and describe the last war in a nostalgic tone.
国民の記憶の中で戦争が風化し、戦争をゲーム感覚で考えたり、戦争への郷愁を口にしたりする風潮さえも、見受けられるようになった。

No time should be wasted.
残された時は少ない。

It is an urgent task to hand over the memory of the war to future generations to prevent a recurrence of the same mistakes.
戦争の記憶の継承は、未来を再び過たせないための、喫緊の課題だ。

Even those who did not experience World War II can visualize the war through the words of those who experienced the tragedy and through literary works featuring the war.
戦争を知らない世代でも、戦争体験者の語る言葉や書き残したもの、文学作品などを通じ、戦争の姿を思い描くことはできる。

Novelist Shohei Ooka channeled his experience of the last war into literary works, such as "Furyoki" ("Taken Captive: A Japanese POW's Story") and "Leyte Senki" ("The Battle of Leyte Gulf").
フィリピンでの戦争体験を「俘虜記」「レイテ戦記」などの文学に昇華させた大岡昇平は

In his book, "Sendo" ("War"), published by Iwanami Shoten Publishers, he wrote, "As a soldier and someone who experienced the war, I'd like to talk forever about how tragic war is."
「兵士として、戦争の経験を持つ人間として、戦争がいかに不幸なことであるかを、いつまでも語りたい」と書いた（「戦争」岩波現代文庫）。

It is important for each and every member of the public to respect his resolve and to pass on how stupid wars are to future generations.
その心情を受け止め、一人一人が記憶の継承の担い手となって、戦争の愚かさを伝えていくことが大切だ。

Former Okinawa Gov. Masahide Ota, who fought in the war as part of student mobilization, has collected photos of various wars in the world and reminded the public of the cruelty of wars.
学徒動員で沖縄戦を戦った元沖縄県知事の大田昌秀さんは、世界のさまざまな戦争の写真を集め、その残虐さを告発してきた。

Ota inserted photos of a soldier being beheaded, a child who was stabbed in the stomach, a charred woman and other cruel scenes into a book titled, "Ningen-ga Ningen-de Nakunaru Toki" ("When humans become non-humans"). 　首をはねられる兵士、腹を裂かれた子供、焼け焦げた女性。目を背けたくなるような写真の数々を「人間が人間でなくなるとき」という題の記録集にまとめた大田さんは、

In the book, Ota writes, "It is necessary to confirm that we, individuals, cannot only be easily turned into 'non-humans' depending on the situation, but can also turn others into non-humans."
次のように記している。「私たち個々人は、時と場合によっては、自らが容易に『非人間化』されてしまう存在であるばかりでなく、他人をも非人間化してしまう存在だということを確認する必要がある」

Wars are nothing but absurdity that turn humans into non-humans and madness that tramples down the dignity of lives.
戦争は、まさに「人間を人間でなくす」不条理であり、命の尊厳を踏みにじる狂気である。

The novel, "All Quiet on the Western Front," authored by German novelist Erich Maria Remarque, known for his antiwar literature and works describing World War I, ends after notifying its readers of the death of protagonist Paul Baeumer.
第一次世界大戦を描いた反戦文学として名高いレマルクの「西部戦線異状なし」は、主人公のドイツ人志願兵パウル・ボイメルの死を、読む者に知らせて終わる。

Remarque, a World War I veteran, wrote in the work's last scene that it was so quiet and calm on the western front that a command post had nothing to say but "All quiet on the western front. There is nothing to report."
ドイツ出身で、自ら第一次大戦に従軍した作者レマルクは、最後の場面を「その日は全戦線にわたって、きわめて穏やかで静かで、司令部報告は『西部戦線異状なし、報告すべき件なし』という文句に尽きているくらいであった」（新潮文庫版・秦豊吉訳）と描写した。

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the beginning of World War I. Up to 15 million people are believed to have died in the war. In other words, in the history of that war, there are 15 million people who perished and were buried, just like Baeumer.
第一次大戦の開戦から今年で１００年。死者は最大で１５００万人とされている。ボイメル志願兵も、歴史の片隅に埋もれていった、１５００万分の１人だった。

In the Pacific War, a massive U.S. airstrike on Tokyo left 100,000 people dead on a single night.
太平洋戦争では、米軍の東京大空襲により、一晩で１０万人が犠牲になった。

The atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki killed over 200,000 people.
原爆は広島、長崎で２０万人以上の命を奪った。

There were numerous other air raids on Japanese cities.
ほかにも無数の都市爆撃があった。

Poet Zenmaro Toki composed a poem that reads, "There were reportedly hundreds, or even thousands of abandoned bodies. None of them had two lives."
土岐善麿は、日中戦争をこう詠んだ。「遺棄死体　数百といひ数千といふ　いのちをふたつ　もちしものなし」

◇加害の責任も忘れず

Tens of thousands, or even hundreds of thousands of precious lives could be lost instantly in any war.
かけがえのない「生」の集積が、何万、何十万の犠牲である。

Having a rich imagination of such a tragedy can lead to true mourning of the war dead.
その想像力を持つことが、戦死者を追悼するという行為である。

If so, we must keep in mind that a massive number of Asian people fell victim to the Japanese military in the last war.
であるなら、日本軍の犠牲になった、おびただしい数のアジアの死者も忘れてはならない。

The victims of the Sino-Japanese War and the Pacific War are spread throughout Asia.
日中戦争、太平洋戦争の犠牲者はアジア全体に広がる。

There is no difference between countries and regions in the degree of absurdity and cruelty of war.
戦争の不条理と戦死の痛ましさに、国境はない。

Such being the case, it is the duty of Japan, which caused immeasurable human suffering and damage to property in Asia, to equally mourn Japanese and other war victims.
内外の死者を等しく追悼する誠実さを身に備えることは、アジアに計り知れない人的、物的被害を与えた日本の、当然の務めだ。

Any war causes a rift between countries involved and instills feelings of hate.
戦争は、国と国を長きにわたって不和にし、憎しみの感情を植えつける。

While those who wage war tend to forget their memory of causing damage to their victims, the victims keep their memory of suffering forever.
加害の記憶がともすれば忘れられがちなのに対し、被害の記憶はずっと残る。

Japan's deep-rooted row with China and South Korea over the interpretation of history involving Japan's wartime atrocities has raised questions as to how countries that wage war and victims should hand over their bitter memories to future generations.
中国や韓国との根深い歴史対立は、加害者と被害者が、それぞれの歴史の記憶をどう継承していくかの摩擦でもある。

How to remember what has historically happened may differ from country to country. But a conflict over the matter must not cover up the tragedy of war.
歴史の記憶の仕方は、国によって異なるかもしれない。だが、その対立が、戦争の悲惨さを覆い隠すことになってはならない。

Ongoing discussions on reinterpreting the war-renouncing Constitution to open the way for Japan to exercise the right to collective self-defense have called into question the pros and cons of using force.
今、集団的自衛権の論議で、武力行使のあり方が問われている。

There are wars to counter acts of aggression and unavoidable wars that must be fought for humanitarian purposes. 戦争には侵略に対抗する戦争も、人道支援が目的の、やむをえない戦争もある。

Having a military deterrence is necessary to maintain peace.
軍事的抑止力を持つことは、平和のためにも必要だ。

However, wars cause cruel bruises and leave a negative legacy to countries involved and their people, regardless of how they start or end.
ただし、どのように始められ、どのように終わったとしても、戦争は国家と国民にむごたらしい傷と、負の遺産をもたらす。

This is the reality of any war.
それが戦争の現実である。

The phrase, "use of force," should not be easily mentioned without deeply thinking about its meaning.
武力行使という言葉は、深く考えないままに、安易に使われるべきものではない。

Almost everyone throughout the world certainly hopes that they will not experience a tragedy similar to World War II. 　二度とあのような戦争は経験したくない、というのが、ほとんどの国民の願いだろう。

Each and every member of the public should keep in mind the ugliness and cruelty of war in discussing how to ensure peace.
平和を論ずるにあたっては、戦争の醜さと残酷さを、常に原点に置きたい。

毎日新聞　2014年08月15日　02時30分

August 13, 2014
EDITORIAL: Japan has duty to keep alive lessons of wartime abuse
（社説）戦後６９年　歴史を忘れぬ後代の責務

This year marks the 120th anniversary of the outbreak of the First Sino-Japanese War. When peace was shattered in

East Asia, the Tokyo Asahi Shimbun, the predecessor of The Asahi Shimbun, welcomed it in its July 29, 1894,

editorial.
今年は日清戦争の開戦から１２０年にあたる。東アジアの平和が破られたその時、１８９４年７月２９日付の東京朝日新聞朝刊は、

歓迎する社説を掲げた。

“War is not a disaster,” it read. “Rather, it is a means for progress. If trounced by Japan, China will repent.”
「戦争は災害ではなくむしろ進歩の方法」「清国は日本に大敗すれば反省するだろう」

Back then, it was taken for granted that countries seeking greatness would battle one another. And people were

probably not really aware yet of the brutality of modern artillery. But many soldiers and civilians ended up dead.
富強を目指す国同士が戦うのを当然視した時代だった。火砲の発達がもたらす残虐さに対する意識も薄かったかもしれない。実際に

は将兵、一般人を含め犠牲者が多数にのぼった。

After two world wars in the 20th century, countries around the world learned from hard experience that they should

not go to war as a rule. This understanding is reflected in the Charter of the United Nations that provides for

restricted use of arms, and in Japan’s pacifist Constitution as well.
その後、二つの世界大戦の経験を通じて各国は、戦争を基本的にやってはいけないこととみなした。武力行使を慎むと規定する国連

憲章、平和主義を掲げる日本国憲法とも、その延長線上にある。

The Japanese people came to understand acutely what war means after expanding their territory and then bringing

ruin upon themselves. But with the passage of 69 years since their nation’s defeat in World War II, their collective

memory is fading. How do we keep the memory alive?
版図拡大と破綻（はたん）を経験した日本人自身の心にも、戦争の何たるかが刻まれた。だが戦後６９年も経てば記憶は風化する。

どう伝えていけばいいだろう。

REWRITTEN NARRATIVES
■書き換えられる物語

History is sometimes forgotten, sometimes brought back from oblivion, and sometimes rewritten. This was already

going on in ancient Greece, notes British historian Robin Osborne in his book “Greece in the Making 1200-479 BC.”
歴史は、ときに忘れられ、忘却からよみがえり、書き換えられる。それが古代ギリシャの時代からあったと、英国の歴史学者、Ｒ・オズボ

ーン氏が指摘している。（刀水書房刊「ギリシアの古代」による）

In 510 B.C., the expulsion of Hippias, a tyrant, from Athens brought democratic rule to Athens, which “was directly a

product of Spartan action,” writes Osborne.
紀元前５１０年、アテネが独裁者ヒッピアスを追放し、民主政に道を開いたのはスパルタの協力によってであった。

But the Athenians came up with their own narrative, in which two Athenians, who had assassinated Hippias’s brother

four years previously, were given full credit for ending tyranny in Athens. The Athenians even built statues of the two

assassins to honor them. Why? Because relations between Athens and Sparta had become hostile.
ところがアテネでは、その４年前にヒッピアスではなく、その弟を殺したアテネ人の偉業という話にすり替わり、像が建てられた。それはアテネ

とスパルタが敵対関係に入ったためだった。

This reminds us of China. Until the 1980s, China refrained from openly discussing its history of fighting Japanese

aggression because maintaining amicable relations with Japan was Beijing’s top priority then. But China began

harping on Japanese aggression in the 1990s, and has since become increasingly strident. Nowadays, China hardly

ever mentions Japan’s past contributions to China’s development.
連想されるのは中国である。日本による侵略と戦った歴史を語ることは、友好関係を最優先とした８０年代まで抑えられていたが、９０

年代以降、強調するようになった。関係が悪化した最近はなおさらだ。中国の発展に日本が貢献したことなど、なかなか触れられること

はない。

Some people may be quite put off by China’s ways. But before we complain to China, let us first look at our own

country.
そんなやり方にうんざりする向きもあろう。だが相手に注文をつける前に、まずは、わが国について省みよう。

In April 2013, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe hosted a ceremony for the first time to commemorate Japan’s recovery of

sovereignty in 1952 when the 1951 San Francisco Peace Treaty took effect. Lauding the nation’s phenomenal postwar

recovery and stressing the horrors of the lost war, Abe noted: “Japan was in ruins, and only its mountains and rivers

remained. Such was the state of our country in the summer of 1945.”
安倍首相は昨年４月、サンフランシスコ講和条約発効を記念する主権回復式典を初めて催した。「国破れ、まさしく山河だけが残っ

たのが、昭和２０年夏、わが国の姿でありました」。敗戦の悲惨を語り、その後の復興をたたえた。

But four months later, at the Aug. 15 memorial ceremony to mourn the nation’s war dead, Abe made no mention

whatsoever of the damage Japan inflicted on its Asian neighbors during the war.
一方で４カ月後、８月１５日の全国戦没者追悼式では、アジア諸国への加害についていっさい言及しなかった。

“From humiliation to glory” was the theme of Abe’s appealing narrative that left out any inconvenient historical fact.

The narrative is not necessarily all false, but there seems to lurk a design to rewrite history.
「屈辱から栄光へ」という受け入れられやすい物語を強調し、不都合な史実には触れない。必ずしもうそではない。しかし、歴史書き

換えの一歩が潜んでいるのではないか。

WHAT IT MEANS TO RESPECT PEACE
■平和を尊ぶために

Of course, remembering the war damage done to our country is an important first step in the path to pacifism.
もちろん、自国にもたらされた戦争被害を思い出すのは、平和思想の起点として大事だ。

But we must also remember our country’s history of spreading the horrors of war across Asia and victimizing innocent

citizens. To remember this history is the duty of all citizens who value peace above everything.
だが、当時の日本軍がアジア諸国に戦火を広げ、市民を巻き込んだ歴史を忘れるわけにはいかない。平和を何よりも大事にする者と

しての義務である。

It is silly to criticize such citizens for having a masochistic view of history. It is shameful to be obsessed with the nation

’s superficial prestige and try to protect it by misrepresenting or distorting the past. A country can be considered

honorable only if it can honestly face the past to learn lessons from it.
それを自虐史観と呼ぶのは愚かである。表面的な国の威信を気にして過去をごまかすのは、恥ずべきことだ。過去から教訓を正しく引

き出してこそ、誇りある国だろう。

Keeping alive the memories of the country’s history of abuse of its wartime enemies and citizens is not easy in the

absence of a firm resolve to do so. The people who personally committed acts of abuse do not want to talk, and it is

certainly hard and painful to listen to harrowing accounts. And most of the victims of abuse or their surviving families

live outside Japan.
加害の歴史を記憶していくのは、よほど自覚しないと難しい。手を下した当事者は口をつぐむ。聞くほうもつらい。被害者やその遺族の

居場所は、ほとんどが国外だ。

In the 69 years since the end of World War II, many stories about kamikaze suicide missions have become bestsellers.

But among war-related works that continue to be read today, how many deal with the damage Japan inflicted on

Asian nations?
そして６９年が過ぎた。特攻隊の物語はベストセラーになるが、戦争加害を正面から扱う文学で読み継がれているものが、どれほどあ

るだろう。

It is the duty of Japan’s postwar generation to keep reminding itself not to forget the easy-to-forget history and let

the rest of the world know its resolve whenever appropriate.
後代の者の務めは、忘れがちな歴史を忘れないと、折に触れ内外に示すことだ。

And this is exactly why it is of tremendous significance that generations of Japanese prime ministers have established

the custom of mentioning Japan’s war responsibility while mourning the nation’s war dead on Aug. 15 every year.
だからこそ８月１５日、歴代首相が戦没者追悼とともに加害責任に触れる慣例が、意義を持ったのだ。

In 2007, during his first stint as prime minister, Abe said that Japan had “inflicted tremendous damage and pain on

people in Asian nations.” But last year, he chose a different approach. We urge him strongly to repeat those original

words t
his year on behalf of the people of Japan.
安倍首相も、第１次政権の０７年は「アジア諸国の人々に対して多大の損害と苦痛を与えた」と述べた。にもかかわらず、昨年は異な

る選択をした。今年こそ、日本国民を代表して再び言うべきである。

LESSONS FROM FIRST SINO-JAPANESE WAR
■日清戦争の教訓とは

Last month, several opinion pieces on the First Sino-Japanese War were published in China. Noting that China of the

Qing dynasty lost the war because it was weaker than Japan, the authors discussed what China of today should do.
先月、中国では日清戦争を回顧した論評がいくつか発表された。当時は弱いから負けた、ならばいま、どうすればいいか、という問題

意識だ。

The overseas version of The People’s Daily, the organ of the Chinese Communist Party, argued to the effect, “We

must ensure not to repeat the tragedy of the First Sino-Japanese War by securing extensive maritime rights with our

navy and enhancing our capability to protect our sovereignty and security.”
中国共産党機関紙・人民日報（海外版）は「我々は海軍を基本とする強大な海上権を確立し、国家の主権、安全を守る能力を高

め、甲午戦争（日清戦争）の悲劇が繰り返されないようにすべきだ」と論じた。

But in using history to justify its recent arms expansion, China is heading in the wrong direction. Its argument in favor

of an armed clash, just like 120 years ago, suggests China’s failure to understand history correctly.
しかし昨今の軍備拡張の正当化のために歴史を利用するのでは、方向性を間違えている。１２０年前と同様、力と力の衝突を肯定

するかのような議論は、むしろ歴史を踏まえていないものだ。

And Japan definitely must not do anything that might result in giving credence to China’s perception of history. Even

if only to prevent such an eventuality, Japan must continue to express the remorse it felt 69 years ago.
そのような議論に、こちらのほうから現実味を与えるわけにはいかない。そのためにも、６９年前の反省をきちんと掲げ続けなくてはならな

いのである。

--The Asahi Shimbun, Aug. 13

The Yomiuri Shimbun
Measures need to be taken to boost private consumption after tax hike
ＧＤＰ大幅減　消費回復の後押しが必要だ

The decline in private consumption and other economic activity following the April 1 consumption tax hike has apparently been greater than initially expected.
消費税率引き上げに伴う個人消費などの落ち込みは、当初の想定より大きかったようだ。

The government and the Bank of Japan must take all possible steps through their economic policies to prevent the adverse impact of the tax hike from continuing for a protracted period.
消費増税の悪影響を長引かせないよう、政府と日銀は経済政策のかじ取りに万全を期さなければならない。

The nation’s real gross domestic product for the April-June period fell 1.7 percent from the previous quarter, marking the first decline in two quarters, according to Cabinet Office statistics released Wednesday.
内閣府が発表した４～６月期の実質国内総生産（ＧＤＰ）は、前期比１・７％減と、２四半期ぶりのマイナス成長になった。

The price-adjusted real GDP contracted 6.8 percent at an annualized rate in the fiscal first quarter. It was the biggest quarterly decline in the almost three years since the economy contracted markedly during January-March 2011, in the aftermath of the Great East Japan Earthquake in March that year.
年率換算で６・８％減と、東日本大震災による落ち込み以来、約３年ぶりの大幅な減少である。

Private consumption, which rose significantly in the previous quarter due to a last-minute surge in demand before the tax hike, fell 5 percent over the quarter under review. This was greater than the 3.5 percent drop posted during April-June 1997, when the consumption tax rate was raised in April that year.
４月の消費増税前に駆け込み需要で伸びた個人消費は、前期比５％減と、前回の消費増税があった１９９７年４～６月期の３・５％減より大きなマイナスだった。

Economic and Fiscal Policy Minister Akira Amari said, “The effects of the backlash that followed the pre-tax-hike surge in demand are likely to wane gradually, and the economy is expected to stage a moderate recovery in the quarters to come,” indicating his bullish projections.
甘利経済財政相は先行きについて、「次第に反動減の影響が薄れ、緩やかな景気回復が進む」と述べ、強気の見通しを示した。

Nevertheless, it is worrisome that the pickup in personal spending is weak, with department store and new automobile sales remaining sluggish even after July.
だが、７月以降も百貨店の売上高や新車販売の不振が続くなど消費回復が鈍いのは気がかりだ。

Consumers may have been tightening their purse strings not only because of the tax hike, but also due to general price increases caused by the weakened yen and the rising price of crude oil.
消費増税の影響だけでなく、円安や原油高による物価上昇もあって、消費者の財布のヒモが固くなっているのではないか。

Guard against slowdown

As capital investment by private companies also remains weak, there appears to be no engine for boosting domestic demand. Vigilance against an economic slowdown must be reinforced.
設備投資も低調で、内需のけん引役が見当たらない。景気失速への警戒を強める必要がある。

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is set to decide this year whether to proceed with a further increase in the consumption tax from 8 percent to 10 percent, currently slated for October 2015. He will likely need to clearly observe economic trends.
安倍首相は年内にも、２０１５年１０月に消費税率を予定通り８％から１０％に引き上げるかどうか決断する。経済動向を注意深く見極めることになろう。

Economic measures formulated last December to ease the adverse impact of the consumption tax hike have not yielded sufficient positive effects, as there have been delays in public works projects due to labor shortages at construction sites and the soaring price of construction materials. Smooth implementation of these projects is needed.
消費増税の影響緩和のため昨年１２月に策定された経済対策は、建設現場の人手不足や資材高騰のあおりで公共工事が遅れ、まだ十分な効果が表れていない。事業の円滑な執行が求められる。

The mismatch between employers’ needs and job seekers’ skills in the labor market must be eliminated by improving vocational training, while measures should be taken to prevent the shortage of needed manpower from having further ill effects.
職業訓練の充実などで求職と求人のミスマッチ解消を促進し、人手不足の弊害拡大を防ぎたい。

It is also important for the government to steadily carry out its growth strategy, including the lowering of the effective corporate tax rate and the easing of regulations.
法人税実効税率の引き下げや規制緩和など、成長戦略の着実な実行も大切だ。

It is desirable to reinforce such trends, as reinvigorated corporate activity would lead to wage hikes, which in turn would stimulate personal spending.
企業活動の活発化が賃金上昇につながり、消費を刺激する流れを強めたい。

Soaring electricity rates will also hinder economic growth. As the restart of its nuclear power plant has been delayed, Hokkaido Electric Power Co. has applied for a second round of rate hikes, involving increases of about 20 percent.
電力料金の高騰も成長の重しとなる。原子力発電所の再稼働が遅れているため、北海道電力は約２割の再値上げを申請した。

Other power companies, including Kansai Electric Power Co., have shown signs of following suit.
関西電力なども追随の構えを見せる。

The Nuclear Regulation Authority should conduct its safety examinations of nuclear power plants efficiently, and those plants whose safety has been confirmed should be allowed to steadily restart.
原子力規制委員会の審査を効率的に進め、安全性を確認できた原発から着実に再稼働すべきだ。

Even though the yen has settled into a lower value, the nation’s exports have remained sluggish. We wonder if the nation’s earning power through foreign trade has weakened.
円安が定着しているのに、輸出の不振が続いている。日本の「稼ぐ力」が低下していないか。

The public and private sectors must join hands to quickly boost the international competitiveness of industries and analyze structural problems with the economy, including the hollowing-out of industries.
官民を挙げて産業競争力の強化に取り組むとともに、産業空洞化など構造的な要因の分析も急がなければならない。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 14, 2014)

The Yomiuri Shimbun
Keep pressure on Beijing to freeze provocations in South China Sea
南シナ海情勢　中国に挑発凍結を促し続けよ

Antagonism has become more conspicuous over the South China Sea between China and a group of countries including Japan and the United States.
南シナ海を巡る日米両国などと中国の対立が、一層鮮明になった。

This could be observed at the recent ASEAN Regional Forum in Myanmar, where foreign ministers and officials from 27 countries and organizations gathered to discuss security issues. They included Japan, the United States, China and the members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
日米中や東南アジア諸国連合（ＡＳＥＡＮ）など２７か国・機構の外相らが安全保障問題を話し合うＡＳＥＡＮ地域フォーラム（ＡＲＦ）が、ミャンマーで開かれた。

The focal topic at the meeting was South China Sea affairs, including the territorial dispute between China and Vietnam over the Paracel Islands.
焦点は、パラセル諸島の領有を巡る中国とベトナムの対立をはじめとする南シナ海情勢だった。

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry called on the countries concerned to put a voluntary freeze on provocative actions. His idea of resolving disputes peacefully through negotiations after easing tensions was supported by the Philippines.
ケリー米国務長官は、挑発行為の自発的な凍結を当事国に呼びかけた。緊張を緩和した後、交渉で問題を平和的に解決するとの考え方で、フィリピンも同調した。

The current regional tensions have been caused by China’s self-righteous actions such as carrying out reclamation work to build facilities and drilling for oil in disputed waters. If such provocative actions are suspended, it would help in making arrangements for negotiations.
現在の緊張の原因は、係争海域での石油掘削や埋め立てによる施設建設など、中国の独善的行動だ。挑発行為が凍結されれば、協議の環境を整えるのに有効だろう。

Stressing the importance of the principle of “the rule of law,” Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida expressed opposition to the use of force and coercion as well as the importance for resolving disputes peacefully.
岸田外相は、「法の支配」の原則を強調するとともに、力の行使や威圧への反対、平和的な問題解決の重要性を訴えた。

The root cause of the problems was that China has been insisting on territorial rights with no grounds in international law and trying to expand its effective rule with the backing of its military might. Kishida’s statements could be intended to check such movements by China. Assertions similar to Kishida’s have been made successively by the representatives of other countries.
問題の根源は、中国が国際法上の根拠がない領有権を主張し、軍事力を背景に実効支配の拡大を図っていることだ。岸田氏の発言は中国への牽制けんせいであり、他国からも同様の主張が相次いだという。

In response, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi presented a plan to work together with the ASEAN toward early establishment of a legally binding code of conduct in the South China Sea.
これに対し、中国の王毅外相は、法的な拘束力を持つ南シナ海行動規範の早期策定を、ＡＳＥＡＮと進める方針を示した。

Shared interests at stake

It is, of course, desirable to work out a code of conduct aimed at ensuring peace and stability in the South China Sea. But it is suspected that China’s real intention could be to eliminate U.S. involvement in the sea while buying time by promoting talks on a code of conduct.
南シナ海の平和と安定を目指す行動規範の策定は無論、望ましい。だが、中国の本音は、規範策定で「時間稼ぎ」をしつつ、米国の関与を排除することではないか。

If that is the case, China’s proposal on a code of conduct cannot be endorsed, as freedom of navigation and other interests of the whole international community are at stake.
それならば、航行の自由などは国際社会全体の利益に関わる問題である以上、容認できない。

We should pay heed to China’s increasing moves to divide ASEAN into pro- and anti-China groups by wielding its economic clout.
注意が必要なのは、中国が経済力を駆使し、ＡＳＥＡＮ内の分断工作を強めていることだ。

China has been providing assistance to Cambodia and Laos in connection with their infrastructure development projects in the Mekong River area. Beijing has also offered an economic cooperation plan to the Thai military regime that took power in a May coup.
カンボジアやラオスには、メコン川流域の社会資本開発事業などを支援している。５月にクーデターを起こしたタイ軍事政権にも、経済協力策を示した。

It is cause for worry that Thailand has quickly declared its support for a China-led plan to establish an Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank.
中国主導の「アジアインフラ投資銀行」構想にタイがいち早く支持を表明したのは気がかりだ。

The joint statement of the ASEAN foreign ministers’ meeting held ahead of the ARF expressed “serious concern” about the South China Sea issue.
ＡＲＦに先立つＡＳＥＡＮ外相会議の共同声明は、南シナ海問題に「深刻な懸念」を表明した。

In the process of drafting the statement, Cambodia among others reportedly opposed a Philippine proposal to call for a “freeze on provocative actions.” China’s diplomatic maneuvering has thus had certain results.
声明の案文作りでは、カンボジアなどが、「挑発行為の凍結」を求めるフィリピン案に反対したという。中国の工作は一定の成果を上げている。

To prevent China from forcibly changing the status quo in the South China Sea, Japan and the United States must beef up cooperation with not only ASEAN member nations but also their neighboring countries such as Australia and India.
日米両国は、中国による南シナ海での「力ずくの現状変更」を許さないため、ＡＳＥＡＮ各国はもとより、豪州、インドなど周辺国との連携を強める必要がある。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 12, 2014)

August 11, 2014
EDITORIAL: Japan must pursue a path to a nuclear-free world
（社説）被爆地と首相　逆行あり得ぬ非核への道

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visited Hiroshima and Nagasaki this month, both of which marked the 69th anniversaries of the atomic bombings. In the ceremonies in both cities, he emphasized determination to realize a world without nuclear weapons.
原爆投下から６９年の広島、長崎を安倍晋三首相が訪れた。式典では「核兵器のない世界を実現する」との決意を強調した。

However, it seems that the gap between Abe and the cities that were struck by atomic bombs has increased since last year.
だが、被爆地との溝は昨年より深まったように見える。

In a meeting with Abe in Hiroshima, 85-year-old hibakusha Yukio Yoshioka said, “(The Cabinet’s approval of the exercise of the right to collective self-defense) will make Japan a country that repeats its (past) mistake and can wage a war.”
「過ちを繰り返し、戦争のできる国にするものだ」。広島で首相と懇談した被爆者の吉岡幸雄さん（８５）は言った。

Miyako Jodai, 75, who served as the representative of atomic bomb survivors in the ceremony in Nagasaki, said, “I want the government not to forget or deny the sufferings of atomic bomb survivors.”
長崎の式典で被爆者代表を務めた城臺美彌子（じょうだいみやこ）さん（７５）は「被爆者の苦しみを忘れ、なかったことにしないで」と力を込めた。

They apparently demanded that Abe withdraw the Cabinet’s approval of the exercise of the right to collective self-defense.
ともに、集団的自衛権の行使を認めた閣議決定の撤回を首相に求めるものだった。

DIFFERENT FROM DESIRES
■重ならない願い

There are also other causes of concern.
懸念材料はほかにもある。

One is the exports of nuclear power generation infrastructure to emerging countries. Another is negotiations to conclude a nuclear power agreement with India, which has conducted nuclear tests without joining the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT). Both could lead to nuclear proliferation.
新興国への原発輸出、核不拡散条約（ＮＰＴ）に加盟せずに核実験したインドとの原子力協定交渉……。どちらも核拡散につながる恐れがぬぐえない。

The Abe administration also plans to maintain the policy of removing plutonium from spent nuclear fuels and reusing it in nuclear power plants.
安倍政権は、プルトニウムを使用済み核燃料から新たに取り出して原発で利用する政策も続ける方針だ。

After the March 2011 nuclear disaster in Fukushima Prefecture, the future of nuclear power generation remains unclear. In addition, Japan already holds stocks of more than 40 tons of plutonium whose use has yet to be decided. Anti-nuclear groups in Japan and abroad suspect that Japan has the intention of arming itself with nuclear weapons.
福島での大事故のあと、原発の未来が不透明なままだ。しかも日本は、利用計画を定めきれない４０トン以上のプルトニウムの在庫を抱えている。内外の反核団体などは、「核武装の意図があるのでは」といぶかる。

Why are the moves of the government of A-bombed Japan so different from the desires for anti-nuclear policies?
被爆国である日本の政府の動きがなぜ、これほどまでに反核の願いと重ならないのか。

In cities that were devastated by the atomic bombs, Abe asked the people to understand the Cabinet’s approval of the exercise of the right to collective self-defense by repeatedly saying, “It is to protect the lives and livelihoods of the people.”
安倍首相は被爆地で「国民の命と暮らしを守るためだ」と繰り返し、集団的自衛権の行使容認に理解を求めた。

The government’s basic stance is as follows: China’s military power is conspicuously increasing. North Korea is not halting its nuclear and missile development. The security environment surrounding Japan is becoming harsher. Therefore, the series of policies is preparation for a variety of threats.
中国の軍事的台頭が目立ち、北朝鮮は核・ミサイル開発をやめない。日本の安全保障環境は厳しくなっており、一連の政策は多様な脅威への備えだというのが、政権の基本姿勢だ。

CONTRADICTIONS OF POLICIES
■政策の矛盾深く

It is said that in Northeast Asia, nuclear deterrence is effective because some countries continued to possess nuclear
weapons even after the end of the Cold War. Therefore, the government’s policy of depending on the U.S. nuclear umbrella is unshakable.
冷戦後も核を持つ国がひしめき、核抑止力がものを言うとされるのが北東アジアだ。
このため、米国の「核の傘」に頼るという方針も揺るがない。

If concerned countries only rely on nuclear weapons, however, the era of risking catastrophe by nuclear war will continue. China, Russia and North Korea will heighten their alarm against the strengthening of the Japan-U.S. alliance based on nuclear weapons. As a result, “the lives and the livelihoods of the people” will be endangered.
ただ、関係国が核兵器に依存するばかりでは、核戦争による破滅リスクを背負ったままの時代が続く。核を主軸に据えた日米同盟の強化に、中国やロシア、北朝鮮が警戒感を高め、「国民の命と暮らし」が逆に危うくなりかねない。

However, the Abe administration is taking no action to drastically minimize the role of nuclear weapons and positively reduce the risk of the nuclear age.
ところが安倍政権には、「核の役割」を大きく低下させ、核時代のリスクを積極的に消していくような発信も行動もない。

There are many cases that run counter to nuclear disarmament. One is the missile defense (MD) system, which is being jointly developed by Japan and the United States at present.
核軍縮に逆行するような事例は、いくつもある。たとえば、日米共同で開発を進めるミサイル防衛（ＭＤ）システムだ。

The United States puts expectations on Japan’s exercise of the right to collective self-defense on the grounds that the exercise will lead to the strengthening of the MD system. That is because the Abe administration says that it plans to make it possible for Japan to shoot down ballistic missiles targeting the U.S. mainland or warships under the interpretation of the Constitution.
米国は集団的自衛権の行使が、ＭＤの強化につながると期待感を示す。米本土や艦船を狙う弾道ミサイルを日本が撃ち落とすことも、憲法解釈上は認められるようにする、と安倍政権が語っているためだ。

Irrespective of whether it is technologically possible to shoot down the missiles, China and Russia are opposed to the strengthening of the MD system, saying that their nuclear deterrence will be weakened. China could also use the strengthening of the MD system as an excuse to increase its nuclear capabilities in order to break the defense network of Japan and the United States.
技術的に可能かどうかはともかく、中国やロシアは「核抑止力が損なわれる」とＭＤ強化に反発する。中国が防衛網を突破しようと、核戦力増強の口実に使う恐れもある。

Abe also supports the possibility of the Self-Defense Forces sweeping for mines in the Strait of Hormuz. But the potential to do so could irritate Iran and adversely affect multinational talks to halt the country’s nuclear development. As a result, Japan could lose its influence on Iran.
安倍首相は、ホルムズ海峡で自衛隊が機雷除去にあたることも可能になるとの考えを示している。これがイランを刺激して核開発を防ぐ多国間協議に悪影響を及ぼし、イランへの日本の発言力もそぎかねない。

It is important to take the threats seriously. But it is impossible to continue the vicious cycle of “power against power” forever. What policies will the Abe administration take to prevent the acceleration of nuclear power expansion and nuclear proliferation and stabilize the international society and Northeast Asia? The policies are unclear. Therefore, people in cities that were victimized by the atomic bombs are feeling anxiety.
脅威を見据えるのは大切だが、「力には力」での悪循環をずっと続けるわけにはいかない。安倍政権は、核軍拡や核拡散の加速をどう防いで国際社会や北東アジアの安定をはかるのか。そこが見えないことが、被爆地の不安の根っこにある。

It is Japan’s role to show a vision of steadily promoting arms control of the entire Northeast Asian region and stabilizing it.
周辺地域全体の軍備管理を着実に進め、安定を図る。そうしたビジョンを示すことは、日本に求められる役割である。

TRUST AND DIALOGUE
■信頼と対話が出発点

In the Hiroshima Peace Declaration, Mayor Kazumi Matsui called for the establishment of “a new security system based on trust and dialogue.”
「信頼と対話による安全保障の仕組みづくりを」。松井一実広島市長は平和宣言で訴えた。

In the world, the Obama administration is losing its centripetal force, and its relations with Russia have cooled due to the Ukrainian situation. China’s maritime advances have intensified friction with neighboring countries. The road to the “new security system based on trust and dialogue” is steep. But is it just a dream?
世界を見れば、米国のオバマ政権は求心力が低下し、ウクライナ問題でロシアとの関係が冷え込んだ。中国の海洋進出は、近隣との摩擦を強めている。「信頼と対話による安全保障」への道は険しい。だが、夢物語だろうか。

The Nagasaki Peace Declaration this year again advocated an idea of establishing “nuclear-weapon-free zones.” In the proposal, Japan and the Korean Peninsula are denuclearized, and nuclear powers promise not to attack the areas with nuclear weapons.
長崎の平和宣言は今年も、北東アジアに非核兵器地帯をつくる構想を掲げた。日本と朝鮮半島を非核化し、核保有国はそこを核攻撃しないと約束する。

The Japanese government is negative to the idea on the grounds that relations of trust, which serve as a prerequisite, do not exist in the areas partly because North Korea has repeatedly conducted nuclear tests. North Korea counters the view, saying that what is a threat is the U.S. nuclear umbrella.
北朝鮮が核実験を繰り返すなど、前提となる信頼関係がない、と日本政府は消極的だ。北朝鮮は、米国の核の傘こそが脅威だと反論する。

Relations of trust will be established through dialogue. To realize the nuclear-weapon-free zones, Japan should first show its intentions to set up the zones and leave the U.S. nuclear umbrella. Then, it should urge the United States to accept the zones. After that, showing a joint goal, Japan should strongly urge North Korea to take part in the negotiations.
信頼関係は、対話を通じて構築していくものだろう。日本がまず非核地帯設置と、核の傘脱却に向けた意思を示し、同盟国である米国に働きかける。共通の目標を掲げ、北朝鮮に強く交渉参加を迫ってはどうか。

The improvement of relations with China is also indispensable. A council of experts from five countries in the Asia and Pacific region, including former Australian Foreign Minister Gareth Evans, asked Japan and China to hold a summit meeting in its proposal compiled in Hiroshima.
中国との関係改善も不可欠だ。エバンズ元豪外相ら、アジア太平洋５カ国の有識者会議は広島でまとめた提言で、日中両国に首脳会談を呼びかけた。

It is not easy to untangle a thread. Unless there is a dialogue, however, nothing will start.
もつれた糸を解きほぐすのは容易ではない。だが、対話がなければ、なにも始まらない。

--The Asahi Shimbun, Aug. 10

July 13, 2014(Mainichi Japan)
Kaleidoscope of the Heart: Respect and a bit of consideration
香山リカのココロの万華鏡:尊重し合う心がなければ　／東京

There happens to be a charity event in Japan that I have held alongside figures including the young monk Daiki Nakashita, who is known for activities to prevent people from dying alone. A central part of this event is a talk including author Karin Amamiya, Makoto Yuasa, who is known for anti-poverty activities, and Yasuyuki Shimizu, who is involved in work to curb suicide.
「孤立死」を防ぐ見守り活動などで知られる若き僧侶の中下大樹さんらと継続して行っているチャリティーイベントがある。作家の雨宮処凛さん、反貧困の活動で知られる湯浅誠さん、自殺対策活動の清水康之さんとのトークが中心だ。

This time, we decided to invite a guest: Masaaki Odaka, a specialist in neurological and internal medicine at Minamisoma Municipal General Hospital in Fukushima Prefecture.
今回はゲストを呼ぼうということになり、南相馬市立総合病院の神経内科医・小鷹昌明さんに来ていただいた。タイトルは「原発に一番近い病院から」。それがまさに小鷹氏の職場なのだ。

Using lots of photos, Odaka described the situation at his hospital and the state of recovery in Minamisoma, one of the areas hit hard by the March 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami and the ensuing nuclear disaster.
たくさんの写真を使って病院の現状、南相馬市の復興の様子などを説明しながら、

"I don't want people to forget Fukushima, but at the same time, it's a problem for people to deliberately stress the dangers of radiation, because that's where we've decided to live," he said.
小鷹氏は「福島を忘れてほしくはないけれど、ことさら放射能の危険さを強調されるのもまた問題だ。私たちはそこに住むことを選択したのだから」と言った。

So what kind of stance should people who live in other areas take?
では外部の人間は、どういう態度を取ればよいのだろう。

"They should realize that people are living there and be considerate in what they say," Odaka says with a smile.
その点について小鷹氏は「住んでいる人もいると想像し、言葉などに配慮してくれればいいんです」と笑顔で述べた。

"That makes sense," I thought. "If I say such and such, what will the other party think? If I were in their shoes, how would I feel?" Taking this kind of approach, we can become naturally considerate in our choice of words.
なるほど、と思った。「私がいまこう言ったら、言われた側はどう思うかな。もし私だったらどう感じるかな」と想像さえすれば、自然に言葉の選び方にも配慮が生まれるはずだ。

It's not simply a case of being able to make up guidelines which tell us, "This word is all right; that one isn't."
「この単語はオーケー」「これはダメ」などとガイドラインを作れるようなものではない。

Recently, more people struggle to perform the simple tasks of thinking about how the other person feels and being appropriately considerate.
最近、こういった「相手の気持ちを想像する」「そして配慮する」という、とてもシンプルなことが苦手な人が増えている。

When I went to a bookstore, I was surprised to see a corner of books that listed up the problems and faults of other countries, criticizing them and making fun of them with strong language.
書店に行くと、日本以外の国の欠点や問題点をあげつらねて、強い言い方で非難したり笑いものにしたりするような本のコーナーができていて驚く。

If I went overseas and visited a bookstore only to find books that heaped abuse on Japan, how would I feel?
もし自分が外国に出かけ、立ち寄った書店に「日本をののしる本」が並んでいたらどう思うか。

Picturing this kind of situation should produce a level of consideration for the other party, even when saying something that needs to be said firmly.
そう想像してみれば、たとえ毅然（きぜん）として言うべきことは言う場合でも相手への一定の配慮が生まれるはずではないか。

Some people might respond, "The other party pays no consideration to me, so there's no need for me to do that." 　「向こうがこちらに配慮しないのだからその必要はない」と言う人もいるが、

But surely we have never witnessed a time in history or in our daily lives when "an eye for an eye" has been able to prevent a quarrel or conflict.
「目には目を」がいさかいや争いを抑えたことが、歴史上でも日常生活でも一度だってあるだろうか。

I think the reason human society has been able to continue in some way or other is because people have held on to the attitude, "It's not easy, but let's make an effort to respect each other's feelings and position."
「実際にはなかなかむずかしいけれど、お互いの気持ちや立場を尊重する努力はしよう」という気持ちを手放さなかったからこそ人間社会はなんとか続いてきたのだと思う。

"That's hard for you." "You've got it tough, too."
「たいへんですね」「そちらこそ」。

Rather than coming out swinging, it's important to adopt a stance that pays consideration to the other person, and encourages consideration.
ただ強気に出るのではなく、相手に配慮する姿勢、配慮を促す姿勢が大切。

And this should apply to any issue, whether it be Fukushima or international society, or even when thinking about diplomacy and security.
福島でも国際社会でも外交や安全保障を考える上でも、それは同じであるはずだ。

(By Rika Kayama, psychiatrist)
（精神科医）
毎日新聞　2014年07月08日　地方版

The Yomiuri Shimbun
International cooperation crucial to block spread of fatal Ebola virus
エボラ出血熱　国際連携で拡大を食い止めよ

Widespread infection with Ebola virus has been reported in West Africa. International cooperation is essential to prevent the expansion of this terrible disease.
西アフリカで、エボラ出血熱の大量感染が起きている。国際社会が連携し、拡大を食い止めなければならない。

The deadly virus has been spreading from Guinea since February. The death toll from the epidemic has topped 900 in Guinea and its two neighboring countries, Sierra Leone and Liberia, marking the largest number of victims since the first patient with Ebola virus was confirmed in 1976.
感染は今年２月頃、ギニアから広がった。隣接するシエラレオネとリベリアを含め、死者は３国で９００人を超えた。１９７６年に最初の患者が確認されて以来、最大の被害である。

Deaths from the virus have been also confirmed in Nigeria, which does not border any of the other three African countries. A patient with symptoms similar to those of Ebola died in the Middle Eastern country of Saudi Arabia. The deadly virus is thus threatening to spread across the world.
３国と国境を接していないナイジェリアで死者が出たほか、中東のサウジアラビアでも、似た症状の患者が死亡した。感染が世界に拡散しかねない危険な状況だ。

The World Health Organization has declared the outbreak to be “a public health emergency of international concern” and recommended that countries take measures to prevent the spread of the virus, such as strengthening surveillance at airports and issuing travel advisories.
世界保健機関（ＷＨＯ）は「国際的な公衆衛生上の緊急事態」を宣言し、空港での監視強化や旅行者への情報提供など拡散防止策を取るよう各国に勧告した。

For its part, Japan should steadily take necessary steps and not regard the outbreak as “a fire on the opposite shore.”
日本も「対岸の火事」とみなさず、着実に対策を取るべきだ。

Infection with the disease—formally known as Ebola hemorrhagic fever—occurs through contact with blood and other bodily fluids. The fatality rate is extremely high at 50 to 90 percent, as there are no effective treatment methods.
エボラ出血熱は、患者の血液などに触れることで感染する。有効な治療法はなく、患者の致死率は５０～９０％と極めて高い。

The previous outbreak of the Ebola epidemic occurred mainly in agricultural areas. But this outbreak has reached populous urban areas, threatening to further increase the number of infections. This is a matter of grave concern.
過去の感染は主に農村部で起きたが、今回は人口の多い都市部にも及んでいる。感染が広がりやすい、憂慮すべき事態である。

To contain the Ebola outbreak, it is crucial to strictly quarantine infected persons. It is also indispensable to keep area residents fully informed about the fatal disease.
エボラ出血熱の拡大を封じ込めるには、感染者を厳格に隔離することが肝要だ。住民に対する衛生知識の周知徹底も欠かせない。

Separate efforts ineffective

In the three West African countries where mass Ebola infection has been reported, administrative and medical treatment systems remain fragile following the civil wars and coups that have occurred in recent years. There are limits to what these countries can do to deal with the outbreak on their own.
大量感染が起きた３国は、近年まで内戦やクーデターが続き、行政や医療の体制は今も脆弱ぜいじゃくだ。自力での対処には限界がある。

The fact that many doctors and nurses have been infected with the Ebola virus has increased worries about potential infection, thereby making it difficult to secure medical staff.
多くの医師や看護師が感染したため動揺が広がり、治療スタッフの確保が困難になっている。

The U.S. government has decided to send an additional 50 medical professionals to West Africa. The decision was apparently made in view of the serious conditions there.
米国政府は、西アフリカに派遣する医療専門家を５０人増員する方針を決めた。現地の厳しい現状を踏まえてのことだろう。

Japan, for its part, must provide financial and other assistance as much as possible.
日本も資金援助など、できる限りの支援が求められる。

The Foreign Ministry of Japan has issued information on infection risk in the three West African countries, calling for people to postpone travel to these countries unless essential and urgent. To prevent Ebola infection from reaching Japan, vigilance must not be neglected at borders.
外務省はギニアなどの３国を対象に「感染症危険情報」を出し、不要不急の渡航を延期するよう呼びかけている。感染を日本に飛び火させないため、水際での警戒を怠ってはならない。

Should domestic infection emerge, the infected persons would be quarantined at a designated medical institution. Procedures for transport and admission of such patients must be verified.
国内で感染者が出た場合は、指定医療機関に隔離されることになっている。搬送や受け入れの手順を再確認することが大事だ。

However, there is no special facility available domestically to safely handle viruses with a high fatality rate such as Ebola. If there is no alternative but to ask other counties to conduct an analysis of a pathogen, it is feared that there will be delays in implementing countermeasures.
問題は、エボラ出血熱など致死率の高い感染症のウイルスを安全に扱うための特別な施設が、国内には１か所もないことである。病原体の分析を外国に依頼せざるを得ないようでは、対応が後手に回る恐れがある。

Protecting people’s lives from deadly infectious diseases is an important crisis-management task for the state. The government must step up efforts to bolster such a system.
国民の命を感染症から守ることも国家の重要な危機管理である。体制の強化を急ぐべきだ。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 9, 2014)