June 29, 2016 (Mainichi Japan)
Japan, China should hold dialogue over tensions
視点・２０１６参院選　日中関係　リスク正視し、対話を＝論説委員・坂東賢治

The Chinese navy is stepping up its operations in areas around Japan amid stalled moves toward improving bilateral relations. China's actions, so to speak, are its version of "freedom of navigation" operations vis-a-vis Japan.
日中関係改善の動きが停滞する中、中国海軍が日本周辺での行動を活発化させている。日本に対する「航行の自由」作戦ともいえるものだ。

Japan's ruling and opposition parties, however, have made no concrete proposals over how to respond to China's recent moves and make a breakthrough in bilateral relations, giving us the impression that they lack a sense of crisis. Both the ruling and opposition camps need to have more in-depth discussion on the issue.
しかし、中国の新たな動きにどう対応し、日中関係の現状を打開していくのか。与野党ともに具体的な考え方を示しておらず、危機意識が感じられない。もっと議論が必要だ。

The Chinese military's moves are regarded as "revenge" against Japan for its support of the U.S. military's "freedom of navigation" operations in the South China Sea and for leading discussions over the South China Sea issue during the Group of Seven Ise-Shima Summit in May.
中国軍の活動は南シナ海で米軍が実施する「航行の自由」作戦を日本が支持し、５月の主要国首脳会議で南シナ海問題の議論を主導したことに対する意趣返しとみられている。

A Chinese navy vessel for the first time sailed into contiguous waters just outside the Japanese territorial waters near the Senkaku Islands in Okinawa Prefecture while tailing Russian navy ships. A Chinese information-gathering vessel also passed through Japanese territorial waters off Kuchinoerabu Island in Kagoshima Prefecture.
尖閣諸島周辺の領海外側の接続水域にロシア海軍艦船を追尾して中国海軍の艦船が初めて入ったほか、口永良部（くちのえらぶ）島沖の領海内を情報収集艦が航行した。

It is only natural for Tokyo to have lodged a protest against Beijing over such provocative, unilateral actions by Chinese vessels. However, navigation in contiguous waters itself does not run counter to international law. With regard to the Chinese ship's entry into Japanese territorial waters, Beijing asserts its legitimacy on the grounds that the vessel passed through Tokara Strait, which it claims to be "an international strait."
緊張を高める、一方的な行動に日本政府が抗議したのは当然だが、接続水域の航行自体は国際法違反ではない。中国は領海侵入についても「国際海峡であるトカラ海峡」を通過通航したと合法性を主張している。

While Japan doesn't need to succumb to such an argument, it should read China's signals accurately. The fact that China brought up the notion of "international straits" for the first time apparently indicates that those Chinese vessels' actions were premeditated to defy Japan's interpretation of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
中国の主張を受け入れる必要はないが、シグナルは正確に受け止めるべきだろう。特に「国際海峡」との主張は初めてのことであり、日本の国連海洋法条約解釈に挑戦する、計算ずくの行動と考えられるからだ。

The right of passage in international straits is granted even within a country's territorial waters. That right is more powerful than the right of innocent passage for passing through territorial waters, in that the former right is interpreted to allow even submarines and airplanes to pass through international straits.
国際海峡には領海内でも通過通航権が認められる。潜水艦が潜行したり、航空機が上空を飛行したりすることも可能と解釈される点で領海通過の際の無害通航権より強い権利だ。

Japan has set Soya, Tsugaru and three other straits as specified waters and curtailed the inherent 12 nautical mile territorial waters to just 3 nautical miles, thereby leaving out more of the high seas where freedom of navigation is guaranteed. Through such measures, Japan has avoided recognition of international straits and application of the right of passage. However, some international law scholars in the United States and Europe have taken the position that those five straits, as well as Tokara Strait and some other straits, are international waters, a position apparently echoed by the United States.
日本は宗谷、津軽など五つの海峡を「特定海域」として本来１２カイリの領海を３カイリにとどめ、自由に航行できる公海の部分を残して国際海峡の認定や通過通航権の適用を回避する政策をとってきた。しかし、欧米の国際法学者の間には５海峡をはじめ、トカラ海峡など複数の海峡を国際海峡とする見解がある。米国の立場もこれに近いとされる。

Japan asserts that Tokara Strait is not being used for international passage and is therefore not an international strait. Japan has good reason to insist on this legitimacy as the interpretation of the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea hasn't been established. However, it remains unclear how Japan is going to respond if China ever has its aircraft and submarines pass through the strait. It is also uncertain how the United States would react to such a situation.
日本はトカラ海峡は国際的な通航には使われておらず、国際海峡ではないとの立場だ。海洋法条約の解釈は確立しておらず、正当性を主張する余地がある。しかし、中国が実際に航空機や潜水艦を航行させた場合、どう対応するのか。米国の出方も不透明だ。

In order to avoid any accidental clashes, it is imperative to secure a communication mechanism where Japan can confirm China's true intentions. While the United States and China has a crisis management mechanism in place, negotiations over a maritime and air liaison mechanism between Japan and China haven't progressed.
偶発的な衝突の回避のためには中国の真意をただすなど意思疎通が不可欠だろう。米中には一定の危機管理メカニズムがあるが、日中の海空連絡メカニズムの交渉は進んでいない。

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is scheduled to visit China in September, to be followed by a summit meeting between Japan, China and South Korea by the end of the year in Japan. Tokyo should squarely face up to the risks that lie between Japan and China and advance bilateral dialogue as a means of crisis management.
９月には安倍晋三首相が訪中し、年内に日本で日中韓首脳会談が開かれる予定だ。日中間のリスクを正視し、危機管理のための対話を進めるべき時だ。

(By Kenji Bando, Editorial Writer)

June 28, 2016 (Mainichi Japan)
Editorial: Japan must remain calm in wake of 'Brexit' referendum
英の離脱と日本　拙速避け冷静に対応を

In response to the so-called "Brexit" referendum, in which those pushing for Britain to leave the European Union (EU) won by a small margin, the Japanese government has been holding a series of meetings to discuss measures to mitigate possible negative effects on the Japanese economy.
英国の欧州連合（ＥＵ）離脱を選択した国民投票を受け、日本政府が連日のように対応を協議している。

When the results of the vote came out on June 24, a meeting of involved ministers was held with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in attendance, and on June 25, an emergency meeting was held among the Finance Ministry, the Financial Services Agency and the Bank of Japan (BOJ). The government and the BOJ held an emergency meeting on June 27, and the Council on Economic and Fiscal Policy is to meet on June 28.
投票結果が判明した２４日、安倍晋三首相も出席して関係閣僚会議が開かれ、翌日は財務省、金融庁、日銀による緊急会合が行われた。週明けの２７日も政府と日銀が緊急会合を開催し、２８日には経済財政諮問会議が予定されている。

Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) policy chief Tomomi Inada has stated that measures, including foreign exchange intervention, should be instituted, and some are calling for economic policies that are to be mapped out in the fall to be expanded to at least 10 trillion yen.
円高阻止のための市場介入や大型経済対策、日銀の追加金融緩和を求める前のめりの発言も出ている。
自民党の稲田朋美政調会長が「（為替）介入も含めて対策を打っていくべきだ」と発言したほか、今秋に打ち出す予定の経済対策について「１０兆円以上」といった規模拡大を唱える向きもあるようだ。

Is this the government's way of showing the public and the markets that it's taking watertight measures to prevent a crisis? As the House of Councillors election -- about which the ruling LDP has said the economy is a priority issue -- approaches, any market turmoil could work to the government's and ruling coalition's disadvantage.
「万全な危機対応をしている」と国民や市場にアピールする狙いなのか。経済を最大の争点に掲げた参院選が迫る中、市場の動揺は政権与党にとって不利に働く恐れがある。
だが、政府や日銀が現段階で過剰反応するのはどうだろう。

How smart it is, though, for the government and the BOJ to react so drastically at this point in time? It's hard to believe that a vote in favor of Britain's exit from the EU could have a direct and immediate effect on small- to mid-sized Japanese companies. Suggesting such effects could inadvertently make Japan the target of speculators, and increase economic burdens on the public in the future. What we need now is levelheaded analyses and careful deliberation of the merits and demerits of measures.
英国の離脱で、一足飛びに中小企業支援というのも分かりづらい。かえって市場で投機筋の標的にされたり、将来の国民負担を増大させたりする可能性がある。リスクの冷静な分析と対策の功罪の慎重な検討が必要だ。

The latest Brexit "shock" differs in nature from the shock Japan experienced in the past when its economic bubble burst. It's questionable whether traditional policy measures such as public spending and monetary easing will be effective in the latest case.
今回の英国発「ショック」は、バブルの崩壊による過去の危機とは性質を異にする。財政出動や金融緩和といった従来型の政策対応が有効なのか疑問だ。

Moreover, depending on how things unfold from here on out, the economic impacts will differ greatly. British Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne has stated that unless there is a "clear view" of Britain after it leaves the EU, he will not begin the procedures necessary for an actual exit. For Japan, amid these circumstances, to rush to implement full-fledged fiscal measures ahead of other countries will only serve to expose Japan's discomposure.
しかも離脱が今後どのように展開するかによって、経済への影響は大きく変わってくる。英国のオズボーン財務相は離脱後の姿がはっきりするまで離脱手続きを開始しないと表明した。そうした中、日本が他国に先駆け、本格的な経済対策に踏み切れば、動揺ぶりが露呈する。

Even in the epicenter of it all, where the pound plummeted, Britain is trying to keep its cool, with Osborne stating that the British economy remains strong, and can withstand the repercussions that Brexit could have.
通貨ポンドが暴落した、震源地の英国でさえ、「英経済は引き続き強く、離脱の影響を乗り越えられる」（オズボーン財務相）と努めて冷静さを保とうとしているのである。

Japanese finances are in a far worse state than Britain's. If the Japanese government moves to increase public spending on a massive scale, on top of the re-postponement of the consumption tax hike that Prime Minister Abe recently decided on, the Japanese public will have an even heavier burden to bear in the future.
日本の財政は英国よりはるかに悪い。消費増税を先送りした上に、ここで大規模な財政出動という「吹かし」に走れば、将来の国民負担は一段と重くなる。

There also is a limit to how far the BOJ can relax monetary policy. The additional purchase of investment trust shares by the BOJ may cause a temporary rise in stock market prices. But if the central bank were to be in possession of massive amounts of assets that have the risk of plummeting, confidence in the Japanese economy could fall and the yen could take a nosedive, generating turmoil in markets.
日銀の金融緩和も限界にある。株式の投資信託を買い増せば、一時的に株式相場は上昇するかもしれない。だが、下落の可能性がある資産を中央銀行が大量に保有すれば、日本経済への信用が低下し、円の暴落など、市場の混乱を招く危険がある。

We must not forget that employing stopgap measures whenever there were slight fluctuations in markets -- so as to win elections and maintain approval ratings -- is what led to Japan having the worst debt among industrialized countries and the BOJ's massive stockpile of government bonds.
選挙や支持率を意識するあまり、市場が動揺するたびに目先の対応に走った結果が、先進国最悪の借金と、日銀内に積み上がった国債であることを忘れてはならない。

--The Asahi Shimbun, June 26
EDITORIAL: Time for Japan to breathe new life into freedom of expression
（社説）参院選　表現の自由　先細りさせぬために

Japan has been on a downward spiral in one rating since the administration of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe returned to the helm of government in December 2012.
安倍政権になってから評価が下がり続けている指標がある。

The nation ranked 22nd in the annual World Press Freedom Index under the previous administration of Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda. This year, Japan sank to a record low of 72nd among the 180 countries and regions surveyed by Reporters Without Borders, an international nongovernmental body.
国際ＮＧＯ・国境なき記者団が毎年発表している「報道の自由度ランキング」だ。前の野田政権のころは２２位だったが、ことしは１８０の国・地域の中で７２位と過去最低になった。

While the adequacy of that figure may be open to debate, many people probably feel it is becoming more difficult to freely say things out loud and that a stifling air hangs low over our society.
数字が妥当かどうかはともかく、自由にものが言いにくくなり、息苦しい空気が世の中をおおっている感覚は、多くの人が共有するのではないか。

Let us take this opportunity to recall what has happened during the three-and-a-half years of Abe’s second stint as prime minister.
あらためてこの３年半の出来事を思い起こしてみる。

The state secrets protection law was enacted, despite the many questions that surrounded it. The prime minister complained that a TV news program was biased. The communications minister said in the Diet that the government could order a broadcaster to shut down its operations. During a study session by lawmakers of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party who are close to Abe, one lawmaker said, “The most effective way to punish media organizations is to shut off their advertising revenues.”
多くの疑問を残したまま特定秘密保護法が制定された。首相はニュース番組が偏っていると文句を言い、総務相は放送局に電波停止を命じることもあると答弁した。首相に近い自民党議員らの勉強会では「マスコミを懲らしめるため広告料収入を断て」との発言が飛び出した。

It is not just freedom of reporting that is at stake.
揺れているのは報道の自由だけではない。

A growing number of local governments are withdrawing from backing meetings or refusing the use of halls for meetings on defending the current Constitution. The local governments’ reasoning is that such meetings are political in nature.
憲法を守ろうという訴えは政治的だとして、自治体が集会の後援を断ったり、会場使用を認めなかったりする動きが各地に広がる。

Publishers are being required to spell out the government stance in school textbooks. The education minister asked national universities to raise the Hinomaru, Japan’s national flag, and sing “Kimigayo,” the country’s national anthem, during ceremonies.
教科書に政府見解を書くことが求められ、文科相は国立大の式典では日の丸をあげ、君が代を歌うよう要請した。

All this is taking place in a country under a Constitution that guarantees the freedom of expression, assembly, thought, conscience and academic studies.
これが、表現、集会、思想・良心、学問の自由を保障した憲法をもつ国の姿である。

Some may think that a lack of employment or money is a direct threat on livelihoods, but that an alleged crisis of moral freedoms entails no visible loss, so perhaps there is no need to make a fuss about it.
こんなふうに思う人もいるかもしれない。仕事やお金がないと明日からの生活に困る。しかし精神的自由が危ういと言われても、目に見える損害があるわけではないし、騒ぎ立てるほどの話ではないのでは、と。

But in a society where free thought and free speech are restricted, it will become difficult to call on the government to secure jobs, cash and a peaceful life, or to criticize a government that fails to respond to such calls.
だが、自由な考えと自由な口が封じられた社会においては、仕事、お金、平和なくらしを政府に求めることも、そして、それにこたえない政府を批判することもできなくなる。

Japan under the prewar Constitution was exactly like that.
旧憲法下の日本がまさにそうだった。

Let us review the positions that different political parties are taking on this issue as they campaign for the Upper House election in July.
この問題について、参院選にのぞむ各党はどんな考えをもっているのか。

The LDP has released a draft of an amended constitution that imposes restrictions on the freedom of expressive activity. The campaign platform of Komeito, the LDP’s junior coalition partner, contains no mention of the current state or the future of moral freedoms, even though Soka Gakkai, a lay Buddhist group and Komeito’s primary support base, suffered a crackdown during the prewar years.
自民党は、表現活動の自由に制約を課す改憲案を公表している。公明党は、支持母体の創価学会が戦前に弾圧をうけた経験をもつが、公約に精神的自由の現状や将来への言及はない。

The Democratic Party is advocating the “right to know” as an indispensable instrument for guaranteeing the freedom of expression. The main opposition party is also calling for revising the Law on Access to Information Held by Administrative Organs. The Japanese Communist Party and the Social Democratic Party say they are opposed to those in power intervening in activities of speech and expression.
民進党は、表現の自由を保障するうえで欠かせない「知る権利」を唱え、情報公開法の改正を訴える。共産党と社民党は言論や表現活動に権力が介入するのは反対だと主張している。

The Supreme Court has defined the freedom of expression as a “particularly important component of basic human rights.” We could either breathe new life into it or allow it to taper off.
「基本的人権のうちでもとりわけ重要」と最高裁が位置づけてきた表現の自由に、命を吹きこみ直すか、それとも先細りを許すか。

That point of view deserves to receive due respect as voters decide which candidate or party to vote for.
投票先を決めるとき、そんな視点も大切にしたい。

June 26, 2016 (Mainichi Japan)
Kaleidoscope of the Heart: The right to not talk about our illnesses
香山リカのココロの万華鏡 : 病気の話　しない権利　／東京

Should celebrities really have to reveal in detail about their illnesses or those of their families? Many people have probably had this doubt. In today's world, whether celebrities reveal this information or not, sooner or later it will become known and reported on. In that case, these celebrities think, they might as well go ahead and reveal the disease themselves and say. "Don't report any further on this, please." Even if they do that though, they attract attention and become the target of a rush of reporting.
芸能人は、自分や家族の病気をつぶさに公表しなければならないのだろうか。こんな疑問が頭をよぎる、という人も多いだろう。いまの時代、隠しても隠さなくても早晩、闘病が知られて報じられてしまう。それなら自分から病名や病状を公表して「これ以上、取材しないで」と頼んだほうがよい、と判断する。しかし、公表すればしたで、さらに注目を集めて取材合戦が行われることになる。

An acquaintance of mine who is active on television said, "If I reveal my illness, more people may get screened for it." And in fact, in my consultation room I sometimes hear patients say things like, "I saw an actress saying on television that she had colon cancer, and I realized for the first time that women can get colon cancer, too. I'm going to get checked."
テレビの世界で活躍する知人が「自分の病気を公表することで検査を受ける人が増えるかもしれないから」と言っていたことがあった。たしかに診察室でも「テレビで女優さんが大腸がんになったと話しているのを見て、女性も大腸がんになるとはじめて知った。私も検査を受けてみます」といった話を聞くことがある。

Celebrities act as a familiar and accessible way for us to learn about the world.
タレントや芸能人は私たちにとって手軽で身近な「人生の教科書」なのだ。

Yet, I feel sorry for them when I see them talking about their health or illnesses, which is very personal information, in front of the camera and being asked by reporters about their ailments.
とはいえ、もっとも大切な個人情報にあたる健康や病気のことを自らカメラの前で話し、たくさんの報道陣に質問されるのはさぞつらいだろうと気の毒にもなるのである。

How about us common people? We aren't forced to talk about our illnesses in front of the public eye. However, for people who are working, they have to submit a doctor's diagnosis to their workplace to take time off for treatment. For things like volunteer or PTA activities as well, people must give the reason when they want to take a break. When people give out this information about their illnesses, they surely think, "I hope this doesn't get out and spread like a rumor."
私たちはどうだろう。病気になったことを公の場で話すという必要はまずない。ただ、仕事をしている人の場合、治療のために休むときには診断書を職場に提出する必要がある。ボランティアやＰＴＡの活動などでも、休むときにはきちんと理由を話さなければならない。そのときにはいつも「これがウワサのように多くの人に伝わったらいやだな」と思うはずだ。

The Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare treats workers health as a type of personal information that "especially requires delicate handling" and sends guidelines to workplaces on how to treat the information. They mustn't, for example, leak out a doctor's diagnosis to a third party who doesn't need to see it. However, I sometimes even now hear of workplaces where the custom when taking a long break for treatment is to tell coworkers what the illness is and seek their understanding. If the person taking time off wishes to do this then it is not so bad, but they surely also have the freedom and right to not widely give out this information.
厚生労働省は、労働者の健康情報は「最も配慮が必要な個人情報」と見なして、その取り扱いに関する指針を職場に通達している。診断書の提出を受けた人が必要もないのに第三者に情報を漏らすなどもってのほかだ。ところが、現在でもときどき、長期に休む場合は本人から同僚に病名を公表し、休んでいる間の協力を依頼するのが通例となっている、といった職場の話を耳にする。それが本人の意思ならまだよいが「言いたくない」という場合にはそうする自由や権利があるはずだ。

We need only talk about our illnesses to those who have to know about it, and really it should be the same for celebrities. If a celebrity were to say, "A family member is battling a disease. Please withhold from pursuing the issue any further," we should respect this and leave them alone. And of course when we don't want to talk about our illnesses, we don't have to. Not all information has to be released.
病気の話は、必要最低限の人だけに伝えればよい。本当は芸能人であってもそれが原則だ。「家族が闘病中です。それ以上の公表、取材は控えてください」と言う芸能人がいても、私たちは理解しそっと見守るようにしたい。もちろん自分の場合も「言いたくない」ことは言わなくてよい。なんでも「情報公開」すればよい、というものではないのだ。

(By Rika Kayama, psychiatrist) （精神科医）

--The Asahi Shimbun, June 25
EDITORIAL: ‘Brexit’ vote must not trigger wave of global nationalism
（社説）英国がＥＵ離脱へ　内向き志向の連鎖を防げ

The British people’s decision to pull their country out of the European Union has sent shock waves across the world.
英国の民意が世界に衝撃を走らせた。

The stunning decision could turn out to be the biggest tectonic shift in the world order since the end of the Cold War.
冷戦が終わって以降の世界秩序の中で、最大の地殻変動となりかねない出来事だ。

A majority of votes cast in the June 23 referendum on whether to leave the EU or remain in the bloc were for “Brexit.” Britons have decided that their country should not be part of an integrated Europe.
欧州連合（ＥＵ）からの離脱か残留かを問うた国民投票で、離脱が過半数を占めた。英国は統合欧州の一員であるべきではない、との結論である。

Since the end of World War II, Europe has moved steadily toward integration. Britain’s withdrawal from the EU will be a historic development that runs counter to this movement, launched with a pledge of no more war in Europe.
先の大戦後、不戦の誓いを起点に脈々と前進してきた欧州統合の歩みが、初めて逆行する。

Britain is the second largest economy in Europe and has unique global influence, a legacy of the British Empire. Its secession from the EU will have immeasurable effects on the entire world.
域内第２の経済力と、かつての覇権国家として特異な影響力をもつ英国の離脱は、計り知れない波紋を広げるだろう。

The outcome of the referendum is also a sign of the British people's will to resist globalization, which has accelerated since the end of the Cold War. They have run out of patience with the trend of many countries sharing rules on important issues such as immigration and trade.
この英国民の選択は、冷戦後加速したグローバル化に対する抵抗の意思表示でもある。移民や貿易など様々なルールを多くの国々で共有する流れに、国民の辛抱が続かなかった。

This anti-globalization sentiment is, however, not unique to Britain. In the United States and in other parts of Europe, groups trying to take advantage of growing public resentment toward globalization to promote their political agenda for closing the doors of their nations are gaining ground.
それは英国特有の現象ではない。米国や欧州各国でも、グローバル化に矛先が向く国民の不満に乗じて国を閉ざそうという主張が勢いを増している。

At a time when countries should make united efforts to counter burgeoning narrow-minded nationalism, Britain has opted to take the path of expanding the scope of its unilateral actions. In mapping out its future course, Britain will have to navigate through uncharted waters.
ナショナリズムの台頭に、主要国がいっそう結束を強めて立ち向かうべきときに、英国自身が単独行動を広げる道を選ぶというのだ。これからの英国の針路は海図なき航海となろう。

No matter how the country’s negotiations with the EU over its withdrawal pan out, the two sides should not lose sight of the importance of maintaining close cooperation.
今後の離脱交渉の行方がどうなるにせよ、英国とＥＵは連携の関係を見失ってはならない。

Britain and the EU can secure mutual benefits and contribute to stability in the world only when they work closely together to tackle challenges.
両者は協調し合ってこそ、互いに利益を高め、ひいては世界の安定に資することができる。

We strongly hope that the two sides will figure out a way to build a new constructive relationship without undermining the movement toward European integration.
欧州統合の流れに水を差すことなく、英国とＥＵ双方が新たな建設的関係を築く落着点を何とか探ってほしい。

CHALLENGE IS HOW TO HEAL THE DIVISION
■分断の修復が課題

The outcome of this referendum should not be allowed to serve as a starting point for a new, dark chapter of world history in which citizens around the world become estranged from one another.
この投票結果を、世界の市民が離反し合う不幸な歴史の起点にしてはならない。

The first thing is to heal the rift in British society. The bitterly fought referendum left the nation sharply divided.
そのために、まず修復すべきは足元の英国社会だ。激戦となった国民投票は、英国民を分断した。

Campaign debates were often dominated by remarks designed to emphasize the threats of an economic crisis or immigrants.
論戦では、経済危機や移民の脅威をあおる言動が相次いだ。

Amid heightened tensions due to a heated confrontation between the two camps, a member of parliament in the Remain camp was shot to death.
対立感情が高ぶった空気の中で、残留派の国会議員が射殺されるという痛ましい事件も起きた。

British society is now gripped by a dangerously charged atmosphere.
英国社会には、いまも不穏な空気が漂っている。

Prime Minister David Cameron, who passionately called for votes to remain in the EU, has announced he will step down by autumn.
残留を唱えたキャメロン首相は秋までに辞任する意向を示した。

It is, to be sure, natural for the country to have a new leader to draw up a road map for the future.
確かに、今後の国の針路を描くうえで新しい指導者を選出するのは自然なことだろう。

But his own Conservative Party has been divided between the Leave and the Remain camps. Scotland, which has a strong sense of belonging to the EU, could make a fresh attempt to become independent.
ただ、首相が属する保守党内も両派で割れている。ＥＵへの帰属意識の高いスコットランドは改めて独立へ動きかねない。

Britain seems to be in for a prolonged period of political turmoil.
政治の混乱は尾を引きそうだ。

Both Cameron and his successor will have to act swiftly to heal the rift within the country and create a conductive environment for cool-headed discussions on the country’s relations with the EU and its position in the world.
キャメロン首相も後継者も、国内でくすぶる対立を鎮め、ＥＵとの関係や、世界での英国の立ち位置を冷静に考える環境づくりを急がねばなるまい。

INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION KEY
■国際協調の道こそ

Britain, which had a mighty empire in the 19th century, entered a period of serious stagnation in the late 20th century. It was able to shed stagnation and attain new prosperity because it opened its door to the world and rode the wave of globalization to enhance its competitiveness, especially in the financial services industry.
１９世紀の世界を制した英国は２０世紀後半、深刻な停滞の時期を迎えた。その苦悩から脱し、繁栄を築けたのは、積極的に国を開いてグローバル経済の波に乗り、金融を筆頭に様々な得意分野を広げたからだ。

But British citizens who have not benefited from their country’s economic growth have become increasingly disgruntled with the system and worried about their future. As a result, British society as a whole has developed an inward-looking attitude.
ただ、その恩恵が届かない市民の不満や不安は高まり、全体的に内向き志向が強まった。

Besides people drawn to the reactionary argument that Britain should regain “sovereignty,” many other Britons voted for leaving the EU because of their economic discontent.
復古的な主権回復派だけでなく、経済の不満から離脱を選んだ国民が多かったとみられる。

Despite the fact that their country has achieved economic growth due to the lowered barriers of national borders, British people have made clear their wish to see high border walls built up again.
国境の垣根が低くなったことで経済が発展しながら、国民感情は国境の壁の再建を望む。

This twisted public psychology has also been behind the Trump Phenomenon in the United States and the recent rise of rightist political forces in many other European countries.
そんな倒錯した状況から生まれるものとしては、米国のトランプ現象や、欧州各国での右翼の躍進もほぼ同じ脈絡にある。

Britain’s decision could trigger a wave of movements toward secession from the EU in other member countries.
英国に続けとばかりに、他のＥＵ加盟国でも離脱の機運が高まりかねない。

If in such a political climate Trump is elected U.S. president and Marine Le Pen, the leader of the rightist National Front of France, is elected French president next year, the world will be filled with policies of intolerance.
もし米国の大統領選でもトランプ氏が当選したら、さらに来年のフランス大統領選で右翼ルペン氏が勝つような事態になれば、世界は不寛容な政策に満ちてしまう。

The situation where the world is dominated by this inward-looking trend must be prevented.
内向き志向の潮流が、世界を覆う事態を防がねばならない。

The spread of narrow-minded and self-centered unilateralism among countries will make it impossible for the world to grapple with challenges such as global warming, the proliferation of terrorism and loopholes in taxation.
偏狭な一国中心の考え方が広がれば、地球温暖化やテロ対策、租税問題など、地球規模の問題に対処する能力を世界は鍛えることができなくなってしまう。

It is difficult for any industrial nation to maintain its political health.
どの先進国も、政治のかじ取りが難しい時代である。

Low economic growth, declining welfare standards due to fiscal strains and widening income gaps are formidable problems common to industrial nations. Politicians everywhere are struggling to find effective solutions to these problems.
低成長と財政難による福祉水準の低下や格差の拡大という問題が共通し、どの国の政治家も解決策どころか有権者への効果的な説明すら見いだしあぐねている。

That’s why expanding international cooperation is the only option for countries in tackling these tough challenges.
だからこそ、国際協調しか道はない。

All nations should reflect afresh on the fact that the only way to deal with problems transcending national borders is through cooperative actions based on collective experiences and wisdom.
国境を超える問題への対処の道は、各国の経験と知恵を結集した行動しかないことを改めて考えるべきだろう。

We hope Europe will not lose its solid status as a strong, consistent voice for freedom and democratic values.
自由と民主主義の価値を唱える欧州の強い存在感をこれからも失わないでほしい。

RESPOND TO MARKET TURBULENCE
■市場の動揺に対処を

The impact of Britain’s decision to leave the EU has roiled stock and currency markets. Leading nations should first focus on responding to confusion in financial markets.
今回の英国の決定による影響は、株式・為替市場の動揺となって広がっている。まずは眼前の混乱への取り組みが必要だ。

In addition to Britain and the EU, the Group of Seven major industrial nations, which also includes Japan and the United States, should play the leading role in securing emergency policy coordination to calm the unnerved markets.
英国とＥＵだけでなく、日米なども加わる主要７カ国（Ｇ７）が中心となって、市場の不安をおさえるよう緊急の協調体制を築きたい。

The central banks of the major countries, including the Bank of Japan, are apparently prepared to cooperate in providing cash-strapped financial institutions with dollars.
日本銀行など各国の中央銀行は金融機関へのドル資金の供給で協力しあう構えだ。

If an unpredictable situation or the necessity of emergency responses arises, they should take flexible and powerful actions in solid cooperation to prevent a full-blown financial crisis.
不測の事態や必要が生じたときには、柔軟かつ強力に危機防止で連携してほしい。

--The Asahi Shimbun, June 24
EDITORIAL: The meaning behind June 23 should be shared beyond Okinawa
（社説）慰霊の日　沖縄戦の記憶、共有を

Okinawa recalled its horrifying experiences in the 1945 Battle of Okinawa and consoled the spirits of the victims on June 23, the 71st anniversary of the end of the bloody warfare. June 23 is a prefecture-designated holiday marking the end of organized fighting by Japanese troops deployed to the southern island prefecture.
沖縄はきのう、沖縄戦の犠牲者らを悼む慰霊の日を迎えた。

More than seven decades since the end of the devastating battle in the final days of the Pacific War, many scars are left unhealed in Okinawa.
太平洋戦争末期の沖縄戦から７１年。これほど長い時が過ぎてなお、沖縄では戦禍の傷口を見せつけられる。

U.S. military bases, for instance, occupy 10 percent of the prefecture’s land. Unexploded shells are still discovered frequently in various parts of the prefecture. The remains of the war dead are found in road construction sites.
例えば、県土の１０％を覆う米軍基地。県内各地で頻繁に見つかる不発弾の処理。そして、道路工事現場などから見つかる戦没者の遺骨だ。

More than 100 sets of remains are uncovered every year. In the last fiscal year, which ended in March, the remains of 103 bodies were discovered. The numbers for the preceding two years were 194 and 263, respectively.
収骨された遺骨は昨年度が１０３柱、一昨年度は１９４柱、その前年度が２６３柱と、その数は毎年１００柱を超す。

More than 200,000 people died in the Battle of Okinawa. By March this year, 185,224 sets of remains of Japanese war dead had been laid to rest at the national cemetery for people who died in the Battle of Okinawa in the Mabuni district of Itoman, the site of the last major fighting in the warfare, according to the prefectural government.
沖縄戦では、２０万人余が死亡した。県によると、そのうち日本人の遺骨は今年３月までに１８万５２２４柱が収骨され、糸満市摩文仁（まぶに）の国立沖縄戦没者墓苑で眠っている。

The remains of nearly 3,000 Japanese victims have yet to be found.
それでもまだ３千柱近くが見つかっていないという。

In the Battle of Okinawa, 66,000 Japanese soldiers and civilians in the military services from other parts of Japan died along with 28,000 from Okinawa Prefecture. In addition, an estimated 94,000 non-military residents of the prefecture, or a quarter of the prefectural population, were killed.
当時の軍人・軍属の死者は、県外出身者が６万６千人、沖縄県出身者は２万８千人。一般県民の死者は９万４千人と推定される。実に県民の４分の１が犠牲になった。

Although many remains are still waiting to be discovered, the task of gathering them has been left to private-sector volunteers. As a result, the work has been proceeding at a glacial pace.
おびただしい遺骨があることはわかっているのに、収骨作業は民間ボランティア頼みで、なかなか進まなかった。

A law mandating the government to collect all remains of the war dead finally came into force in April.
In response, the government has decided to make intensive efforts to collect the remains over the next nine years. The government should take this opportunity to make up for lost time.
ようやく今年４月、国に収骨を義務づける戦没者遺骨収集推進法が施行され、９年後までに集中的に収集することになった。これまでの遅れを取り戻してもらいたい。

The June 23 official memorial ceremony, sponsored by the prefectural government, was held at the Peace Memorial Park in Mabuni. But a spirit-consoling service was also held in front of the gate of Camp Schwab, a U.S. military base in the Henoko district of Nago.
慰霊の日、摩文仁で開かれた県主催の全戦没者追悼式とは別に、名護市辺野古にある米軍キャンプ・シュワブのゲート前でも、慰霊祭が開かれた。

Immediately after the Battle of Okinawa ended, the U.S. military established an internment camp for Japanese civilians. Many residents of the prefecture, ranging from an estimated 20,000 to 40,000, spent several months in the camp. A number of civilian prisoners of war died in the camp from malaria, malnutrition and other reasons.
沖縄戦直後、米軍がここに民間人の収容所を設置し、２万人とも４万人とも言われる住民が数カ月間、暮らした。その間、マラリアや栄養失調で亡くなる人が相次いだという。

The construction of Camp Schwab started around 1956. But a citizens group opposed to the proposed relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma from Ginowan in central Okinawa Prefecture to Henoko started holding the spirit-consoling service last year, believing there are still unfound remains within the camp.
キャンプ・シュワブの建設は１９５６年ごろから始まったが、「遺骨はまだ残っているはずだ」と、米軍普天間飛行場の辺野古移設に反対する市民団体が昨年から慰霊祭を始めた。

With the law promoting the collection of war dead remains taking effect, the government has pledged to carry out such work in U.S. bases as well.
遺骨収集推進法の施行を受けて、政府は米軍基地内の遺骨収集にも取り組むという。

The U.S. military should cooperate with efforts to ensure an early completion of the project.
米軍もぜひ協力し、一刻も早く収骨を実現してほしい。

People in Okinawa are still suffering from the excessive burden of hosting so many U.S. military bases within their prefecture. The central government has stuck stubbornly to the Futenma relocation plan despite strong opposition among people in Okinawa.
The prefecture was recently shocked by the arrest of a former U.S. Marine working as a civilian at the Kadena Air Base in the prefecture on suspicion of raping and murdering a 20-year-old woman. Her body was found in a wooded area after she went missing in late April.
普天間飛行場の県内移設に向けた政府の強硬姿勢、米軍属による女性殺害・強姦（ごうかん）容疑事件の発生など、沖縄県民はいまも過重な基地負担にあえいでいる。

The suffering of Okinawan people due to the heavy U.S. military presence in the prefecture is inseparable from their memories of the Battle of Okinawa.
その苦悩は、沖縄戦の記憶と切り離すことはできない。

The central government and Japanese living in the mainland need to understand the full meaning of June 23 and reflect afresh on the history of suffering experienced by people in Okinawa.
政府や本土の国民は「慰霊の日」の意味を共有し、沖縄が経験した苦難の歴史に、改めて思いを巡らす契機としたい。

The Yomiuri Shimbun
After DPRK launches, Japan must squarely face severe security situation
北ミサイル発射　安保環境の深刻化を直視せよ

The threat to the security of Japan and the United States has become more severe. We should step up our vigilance.
日米の安全保障上の脅威が深刻化した。警戒を強めるべきだ。

North Korea has launched two missiles thought to be Musudan midrange ballistic missiles. The first missile exploded in midair, but the second flew about 400 kilometers before it plunged into the Sea of Japan. The second missile reportedly reached an altitude of more than 1,000 kilometers.
北朝鮮が、中距離弾道ミサイル「ムスダン」とみられるミサイル２発を発射した。１発目は空中爆発したが、２発目は約４００キロ飛行し、日本海に落下した。高度も１０００キロを超したという。

Defense Minister Gen Nakatani said the launches “showed a certain degree of capability as midrange ballistic missiles.”
中谷防衛相は、「中距離弾道ミサイルとしての一定の機能が示された」との見方を示した。

North Korea launched four missiles in April and May that all failed. It must be acknowledged that North Korea, by repeatedly conducting test launches, is steadily improving its technological competence and boosting the accuracy and capability of its missiles.
４～５月に発射した４発は失敗に終わっていた。発射実験を重ねることで、技術力が着実に向上し、ミサイルの精度や性能が高まっていると受け止める必要がある。

Musudan missiles use mobile launchers and are estimated to have a range of up to 4,000 kilometers. Its targets are assumed to be U.S. military bases in Guam and Japan.
ムスダンは移動式発射台を使用し、推定射程は最大４０００キロとされる。グアムや日本の米軍基地を標的に想定しているという。

U.N. Security Council sanction resolutions prohibit North Korea from launching ballistic missiles. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe criticized the launches as “clear violations” of the resolutions. “We can never condone it,” he said. This was a natural response.
国連安全保障理事会の制裁決議は北朝鮮の弾道ミサイル発射を禁止している。安倍首相は「明白な国連決議違反だ。絶対に許せない」と非難した。当然の対応だ。

Representatives and experts from the six nations involved in talks on the North Korean nuclear issue are holding an international conference in Beijing. Officials from North Korean authorities are also taking part. Firing missiles at this particular time appears to be a demonstration of Pyongyang’s continuing nuclear and missile development, and a show of defiance directly aimed at the international community.
北京では、北朝鮮の核問題を巡る６か国協議の代表や有識者による国際会議が開催中で、北朝鮮当局者も出席している。この時期の発射は、核・ミサイル開発続行の示威活動ともみられ、国際社会に正面から反旗を翻すものだ。

DP, JCP ignore reality

China is also escalating its maritime advances. On June 9, a Chinese military vessel entered the contiguous zone around the Senkaku Islands in Okinawa Prefecture for the first time. Another military ship also intruded into Japan’s territorial waters off Kagoshima Prefecture and the contiguous zone around Kita-Daitojima island.
中国も海洋進出をエスカレートさせている。中国軍艦は９日、尖閣諸島の接続水域に初めて進入した。鹿児島県沖の領海や、北大東島の接続水域にも入った。

Security-related bills that were passed in September 2015 permit a limited exercise of the right of collective self-defense, and make it possible for the Self-Defense Forces to defend U.S. military ships. To prepare for unforeseen situations, it is vital that the laws are appropriately implemented and continuous efforts are made to boost deterrence.
昨年９月に成立した安全保障関連法は、集団的自衛権の行使を限定容認し、自衛隊による米軍艦船の防護を可能にした。不測の事態に備えて、安保関連法を適切に運用し、抑止力を高める努力を継続することが肝要である。

We have questions about the assertion by the Democratic Party and the Japanese Communist Party, which will collaborate in the House of Councillors election, that they still call for the abolition of the security legislation package.
疑問なのは、参院選で共闘する民進、共産両党がなお、安保関連法の廃止を主張することだ。

DP leader Katsuya Okada emphasized the Japan-U.S. alliance must not be turned into “an alliance of blood.” While Okada made this comment during a street speech, was it not demagogy itself?
民進党の岡田代表は、日米同盟を「血の同盟」にしてはならないと強調した。街頭演説とはいえ、扇動そのものではないか。

In connection with the abolition of the laws, Okada also explained that he “isn’t saying the DP will abolish” the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty, and that the alliance will not become “distorted.” His comments can be described only as opportunism.
岡田氏は、関連法廃止について「日米安保条約を廃棄するとは言っていない。日米同盟がおかしくなることはない」とも説明する。ご都合主義と言うほかない。

Strengthening Japan-U.S. defense cooperation based on the laws will contribute to the stability of Asia, and has been highly evaluated by the international community. The alliance relationship must not be allowed to stray off course by abolishing the laws.
安保関連法を基盤にした日米防衛協力の強化は、アジアの安定に寄与するもので、国際社会も高く評価している。廃止によって同盟関係を迷走させてはならない。

JCP leader Kazuo Shii even went so far as saying his party would gradually dissolve the SDF, which it considers “unconstitutional.” This is unrealistic in the extreme.
共産党の志位委員長は、「違憲」の自衛隊を段階的に解消するとまで言う。非現実的に過ぎる。

Arguments that ignore Japan’s security environment will not be able to win the support of the people.
安保環境を無視した議論は、国民の支持を得られまい。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 23, 2016)

--The Asahi Shimbun, June 22
EDITORIAL: 'Strategic voting' is a must for pivotal Upper House election
（社説）参院選　きょう公示　戦略的投票でこたえよう
 
Campaigning for the July 10 Upper House election kicked off on June 22.
参院選がきょう公示される。

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is making the economy the main issue. But there is no question that constitutional amendment will also be at stake, even though Abe says it is not necessary for it to become an election issue. His reasoning is that the Diet needs to debate this subject further.
安倍首相が前面に掲げるのは経済だ。一方、その裏に憲法改正があるのは明白だ。

Abe is more than eager to revise the Constitution. But with the prime minister giving no indication whatsoever of which parts of the Constitution he intends to rewrite and how, voters have no way of forming a judgment.
首相は、必ずしも改憲を争点にする必要はないという。国会での議論がいまだ収斂（しゅうれん）していないというのが、その理由だ。
しかし、改憲に意欲的な首相自身がどこをどう変えたいのかをまったく明かさないのでは、有権者は判断しようがない。

Abe is conducting politics the "wrong side up" or "back to front." Do we voters allow such an approach to escalate, or do we put the brakes on it? This Upper House election definitely carries far more weight than a mere "midterm evaluation" of the Abe administration.
こんな逆立ちした政治の進め方に弾みをつけるのか、ブレーキをかけるのか。この参院選には「政権の中間評価」ではすまない重みがある。

NOT REFLECTING POPULAR WILL
■民意とのねじれ

This will be the second Upper House election since Abe began his second stint as prime minister in December 2012. In retrospect, Abe became the "sole winner" by bringing both chambers of the Diet under the control of the ruling coalition with the previous Upper House election in 2013, which was seven months after the change in government from the then Democratic Party of Japan.
安倍氏が２０１２年１２月に首相に返り咲いてから、参院選は２度目になる。振り返れば「安倍１強政治」の出発点となったのは、政権交代から７カ月後に衆参の「ねじれ」を解消した１３年の前回参院選だった。

Voters who voted for the Liberal Democratic Party and its junior coalition partner, New Komeito, now called Komeito, in that election were apparently disgusted by the inefficacy of the DPJ administration, and wanted the LDP-New Komeito coalition to stabilize politics and focus on improving the Japanese economy.
この時に自民、公明両党に票を投じた有権者には、民主党政権の混乱にあきれ、安定した政治で景気回復に取り組んでほしいとの思いが見てとれた。

After that Upper House election three years ago, we wrote in our editorial that the government should not be "divorced from popular will."
３年前のねじれ解消を受け、私たちは社説で「民意とのねじれを恐れよ」と書いた。

We wondered if the wages would go up for small and midsize company workers and those working outside the big cities. We wondered if the Abe administration would be able to secure revenues needed to stabilize the health-care and social security systems. And the thrust of our argument was that should Abe ignore these concerns and proceed instead with his policy of "departure from the postwar regime," he would be betraying the wishes of the people.
中小企業や地方で働く人々の賃金は上がるのか、財源を確保して医療や福祉を安定させられるのか。首相がこうした期待に応えぬまま「戦後レジームからの脱却」にかじを切れば、民意を裏切ることになるとの趣旨だ。

We believe we have been proven right, given the continuing surge of popular protest against the Abe administration since the enactment of national security legislation last year.
昨年の安全保障関連法の制定からなお続く反対運動のうねりをみれば、この懸念は的外れではなかったと感じる。

In the upcoming election, Abe says the focal point is to seek the public's approval of his "new decision" of postponing the consumption tax hike. By stressing economic statistics such as increased tax revenues and employment, he is telling voters to decide whether they want "Abenomics" to advance or regress.
消費増税先送りという「新しい判断」の信を問う。これが首相のいう争点だ。税収や就業者の増加といった経済指標を強調し、アベノミクスを前に進めるか後戻りさせるかと訴える。

The proper thing for Abe is to take responsibility for reneging on his promise to raise the consumption tax rate “for certain." But in not doing so, he appears to be taking advantage of the honest feelings of many people who are reluctant to "swallow the bitter medicine" of paying a higher consumption tax.
首相は本来、増税を「確実に実施する」という約束を破った責任を取るべきだ。そうしない裏には、「苦い薬は飲みたくない」という多くの国民の率直な思いに乗じた計算が見える。

Abe has said that the victory depends on "the ruling coalition winning a majority of contested seats." Setting the goal may demonstrate his resolve, but whether he will step down if he fails to achieve that goal is anyone's guess.
安倍氏は「与党で改選議席の過半数獲得」を勝敗ラインに掲げる。覚悟を示したかに見えるが、勝敗ラインを割れば退陣するのかは、はっきりしない。

LOW VOTER TURNOUT CONTINUES
■低い投票率の結果

The ruling coalition of Abe's LDP and Komeito has won three national elections in a row since 2012. And one common factor among the three polls was low voter turnout.
安倍氏率いる自民党と公明党が３連勝した１２年以降の衆参両院の選挙には、共通の特徴がある。投票率が低いのだ。

The rates were at the 59 percent level for the 2012 Lower House election and at the 52 percent level for both the 2013 Upper House election and the 2014 Lower House election. Voter turnout in 2014 was the lowest in the postwar history of Lower House elections.
１２年衆院選で５９％台、１３年参院選と１４年衆院選はともに５２％台で、１４年は衆院選として戦後最低を記録した。

The difference is substantial from the nearly 70 percent voter turnout in the 2009 Lower House election that resulted in the historic change in government. In terms of the number of voters, 72.02 million people voted in the 2009 election, whereas only 54.74 million people did so in the 2014 election. To put this simply, about 17 million voters stopped going to the polls in the 2014 election.
民主党へと政権交代した０９年衆院選の６９％台と比べれば、その差は大きい。投票者数でみれば、０９年の７２０２万人に対し１４年は５４７４万人。単純計算で、１７００万あまりの人が投票所に行くのをやめた。

Between 2009 and 2014, the LDP experienced both its fall from power and return to power, but there actually was no significant difference in the number of votes the party won. In the proportional representation portion, the LDP won less than one out of five votes in each election, when abstentions are taken into account.
自民党はこの間、野党転落と政権復帰の両方を経験したが、実は得票数に大きな変動はない。比例区では、いずれの選挙でも棄権を含めたすべての有権者の５人に１人に満たない支持で推移している。

In other words, the LDP under Abe has not really gained supporters. Under the current election system, which is prone to create wasted votes, the simple fact is that the drastic decrease in the number of DPJ supporters and the increased number of abstentions have given the LDP more seats than those in proportion to the votes it has actually won.
つまり、安倍自民党は支持者をさほど増やしているわけではない。死票が出やすい選挙制度のもと、民主党支持の激減と棄権者の増加が、自民党に得票以上に多くの議席をもたらしているに過ぎない。

The Abe administration arbitrarily "reinterpreted" the Constitution to allow the nation to exercise its right to collective self-defense, instituted the controversial state secrets protection law, and threatened freedom of the press and the public's right to know by hinting at invoking the Broadcast Law.
解釈改憲による集団的自衛権の行使容認。特定秘密保護法の制定や、放送法を振りかざした国民の知る権利や報道の自由への威圧。

Not only has the Abe administration marginalized the constraints of the Constitution, but it is now trying to start debate on revising the Constitution without seeking the public's input in the upcoming election.
But what can we voters do about the dangers of the administration?
憲法の縛りを緩めるばかりか、選挙で問わぬままに改正論議に手をつけようという政権の危うさを目の当たりにした有権者に何ができるか。

VOTING OUT 'BAD' CANDIDATES
■「悪さ加減」を選ぶ

"Strategic voting" is one way to use each vote effectively.
答えの一つが、自らの一票を有効に使う「戦略的投票」だ。

This may be an unfamiliar term, but one example is to vote for candidates—even if they are not one’s best choices--who have a chance to defeat the party or candidate one definitely does not want.
聞き慣れない言葉かもしれない。一例を挙げれば、最も評価しない候補者や政党を勝たせないため、自分にとって最善でなくとも勝つ可能性のある次善の候補に投票することだ。

Yukichi Fukuzawa (1835-1901), whom Abe often quotes in his speeches, once observed to the effect, "Government is not 'good' by nature. What needs to be borne in mind is to acknowledge the reality of how bad it is."
首相もたびたび演説に引用する福沢諭吉は、こんな言葉を残している。
「本来政府の性は善ならずして、注意す可（べ）きは只（ただ）その悪さ加減の如何（いかん）に在るの事実を、始めて発明することならん」（時事新報論集七）。

Political scientist Masao Maruyama (1914-1996) commented on Fukuzawa's observation after World War II: "A political choice is made on the basis of how bad something is."
政治学者の丸山真男は、戦後にこれを「政治的な選択とは〈中略〉悪さ加減の選択なのだ」（「政治的判断」）と紹介した。

The failure of the DPJ administration is still fresh in many people's minds. The low voter turnout rates that have continued since the party's fall from power apparently reflect the people's disillusionment with politics and sense of helplessness.
民主党政権の失敗は、なお多くの有権者の記憶に生々しい。その後の低投票率には、政治への失望や無力感も反映されているのだろう。

But if nothing is done about this, not only will democracy deteriorate, but constitutionalism will also be in grave danger.
だが、このままでは民主主義がやせ細るばかりか、立憲主義も危機に瀕（ひん）する。

Even if we don't have any candidate or party we want to support, we must make up our minds to go to the polls to stop what we see as "bad" from winning the election.
意中の候補や政党がなくとも、「悪さ加減の選択」と割り切って投票所に足を運ぶ。

And we have until July 10 to think through how effectively we can use our two ballots--one for the single-seat electorate and the other for the proportional representation portion.
７月１０日の投票日までに、選挙区と比例区２枚の投票用紙をいかに有効に使うかを見極める。

With 2.4 million 18- and 19-year-olds voting for the first time, the older generation cannot just sit out this upcoming election.
１８、１９歳の２４０万人もの若者を有権者として新たに迎える選挙だ。上の世代が、ただ傍観しているわけにはいかない。

--The Asahi Shimbun, June 17
EDITORIAL: China interprets international law to suit its convenience
（社説）中国艦侵入　法の適用も都合次第か
 
A Chinese naval intelligence ship entered Japanese territorial waters off Kagoshima Prefecture on June 15, just six days after Tokyo filed a strong protest over the entry of a Chinese naval frigate into Japan's contiguous zone near the disputed Senkaku Islands.
沖縄県・尖閣諸島の接続水域に中国の軍艦が入ったのはつい先週のことだ。今度は中国海軍の情報収集艦が、鹿児島県沖の日本の領海を通過した。

Coincidence? We think not.
These incidents clearly signal China’s intention to achieve its aims while ignoring the security concerns of neighboring countries.
これを偶発的な出来事とは、片づけられない。周辺国の懸念を無視する形で既成事実を積み重ねようとする態度が、中国側からうかがえる。

The Chinese government contends that passage of the warship through Japanese territorial waters was legal under freedom of navigation laws. China's Defense Ministry argues that the Tokara Strait south of Yakushima island in southern Japan is “a strait within territorial waters used for international navigation.”
“The Chinese warship’s passage was based on the principle of freedom of navigation that is stipulated under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea,” a Chinese defense official said.
中国政府は、今回の海域について「国際航行に使われる海峡であり、各国艦船に通過する権利がある」「航行の自由の原則に合致している」としている。国際海洋法に照らして正当だと言いたいようだ。

If the Tokara Strait is actually an international strait, as Beijing contends, it is, to be sure, open to the passage of foreign vessels, including warships, even though it lies in Japanese territorial waters.
中国の主張どおり、現場海域が国際海峡だとすれば、確かに日本領海内であっても軍艦を含め外国船舶の通過は問題ないことになる。

But it is hard to believe that the Chinese spy ship was simply passing through the strait minding its own business. What was it actually doing?
だが、中国艦が単に通過していただけとは考えにくい。実際に何をしていたのか。

The Chinese ship entered Japanese territorial waters shadowing Indian warships that were participating in an exercise involving Japan, the United States and India. The Chinese vessel may have been monitoring the Indian ships.
The Chinese government has not offered a clear or specific explanation for the warship's presence. It has only said the ship was engaged in “a drill in the open sea.”
日米印の合同演習に参加するインド軍艦を追う形で領海に入っており、レーダーで監視していた疑いがある。この点を中国政府は「遠海訓練」とするのみで、はっきりとは説明しない。

It was the second time for a Chinese warship to enter Japanese territorial waters since a nuclear-powered submarine was sighted around the Sakishima islands in Okinawa Prefecture in November 2004.
The submarine violated international law by entering Japanese territorial waters submerged. At that time, the Chinese government admitted that the vessel had strayed into Japanese territory by mistake.
中国艦が日本領海に入ったのは、確認されたものでは２度目だ。前回の０４年１１月は、原子力潜水艦が潜ったまま航行したことが違法にあたり、中国政府も「誤って入った」と認めた。

During the 12 years since then, China has aggressively beefed up its Navy and become increasingly assertive in expanding its naval presence.
その後の１２年間、中国は海軍力を強め、積極的な海洋進出の動きを隠さなくなった。

China has used its naval muscle to stake out a position without holding any talks with the countries concerned, and then tried to justify its behavior by interpreting international law in a way that suits its purpose.
周辺国と事前協議もせず、実力で事実を先行させ、あとで都合次第で法の理屈を使い正当化を図る。

If Beijing continues acting this way, tensions in both the East China Sea and the South China Sea will keep growing.
そんな行動を今後も続ければ、東シナ海も南シナ海もいっそう緊張を増す。

If China really respects the principles of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, how does it explain its moves to unilaterally draw up a demarcation line called the “nine-dash line” to claim the major part of the South China Sea and forcefully reclaim reefs in disputed areas?
国際海洋法の原則を重視しているならば、南シナ海の大半を囲むように線引きして優先権を唱え、岩礁を強引に埋め立てることをどう説明するのか。

How can it justify its refusal to respect the ruling that the international Permanent Court of Arbitration is expected to hand down soon over the validity of China’s claim based on the line in response to a case filed by the Philippines?
フィリピンとの国際仲裁裁判を拒むことは正当化できるのか。

The foreign ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations expressed concern about the situation in the South China Sea during a June 14 meeting with their Chinese counterpart in China’s Yunnan Province.
中国雲南省で今週開かれた中国と東南アジア諸国連合（ＡＳＥＡＮ）の特別外相会議では、南シナ海問題をめぐる懸念が参加国から表明された。

China apparently wanted to highlight its close ties with ASEAN in the special foreign ministers’ meeting, but, not surprisingly, the outcome was the opposite of what was intended.
中国はＡＳＥＡＮとの協調ぶりを示したかっただろうが、逆に裏目に出たのも当然だろう。

China is one of the world's leading countries, and it should take responsibility for peace in Asia.
中国は、アジアの平和に責任を負うべき大国である。

But China has at times ignored the rules and norms of the global community and at other times used them to justify its dubious actions. The way China has been behaving has made it impossible for its neighbors to trust it.
にもかかわらず国際社会のルールや規範を、あるときは無視したり、別の時は自己正当化の根拠にしたりでは、周辺国はとても信用することができない。

China is not only disturbing the tranquility of the high seas, it is also treating principles of international law as if they were at its disposal. We are deeply concerned about China’s attitude.
静かであるべき海を荒立てる艦艇の動きに加え、法の原則まで我が物扱いしようとする中国政府の姿勢を憂慮する。

June 19, 2016 (Mainichi Japan)
Kaleidoscope of the Heart: Everyone needs to be needed
香山リカのココロの万華鏡 : 必要とされる実感　／東京

This year's rainy season has started in most parts of Japan. There are patients coming to my clinic complaining that they usually don't feel well around this time of year. I don't think it's just in their heads; I believe humidity and changes in atmospheric pressure are affecting them both mentally and physically.
うっとうしい梅雨の季節となった。「この時期は調子が悪くて」と診察室で訴える患者さんも多い。ただの気の持ちようではなく、湿度や気圧の変化が微妙に心身に影響を与えるのだろう。

When the rainy season starts it reminds me of a patient I met when I was younger and working at another hospital. The patient had been hospitalized for a long time, and he was in charge of taking care of people's umbrellas when it rained. He would come to the entrance hall and take hospital visitors' umbrellas, hand them number cards and return their umbrellas in exchange for the cards when they left. The first time I went to the hospital after I was dispatched there by a university hospital, the patient came to me out of nowhere and said, "Where's your umbrella?" A bit dumbstruck, I handed him my umbrella.
この季節になると若い頃に勤めていた病院に入院していたある患者さんのことを思い出す。長期入院していたその男性は、雨になると病室から玄関にやって来て、ぬれた傘を管理する係をしていた。外来受診のために訪れる人たちなどの傘を預かって「あなたは何番」と札をわたし、帰る際にそれと引き換えに傘をわたす。大学病院から命じられてその病院に勤務することになったとき、はじめてその病院の玄関をくぐった私に彼はいきなり「傘は？」と言った。私は少々、面食らいながら傘をさし出した。

After working at the hospital for a little while, I came to learn that there were a number of patients doing various jobs at the hospital, just like the umbrella man. It would make sense as part of a rehabilitation program if those people were scheduled to be released from the hospital, but there were no prospects of them leaving the hospital anytime soon. Then, I thought, the hospital was using them as free labor. The young hospital staff, myself included, argued that it was wrong that those people were given jobs without pay, and told them that they didn't have to work anymore. For those who kept doing their tasks despite our suggestion, we told them, rather forcibly, "Please stop doing this."
それからその病院で働き出して、院内で彼のようにいろいろな係について作業している人がいることがわかった。もちろん、退院のめどがあるなら社会復帰のためのリハビリと考えられるが、その人たちにはそのあてもない。だとしたら、単なる労働力として使っているのと同じだ。私や病院の若いスタッフは「何の報酬もないのに院内の係をやってもらうのはおかしい」と話し合い、彼らに「もうやらなくていいです」と伝えた。それでも仕事を続ける人には、半ば強制的に「明日からここに来ないでください」などと言った。

The umbrella guy was one of those patients. I myself had repeatedly told him not to continue working and thought, "I freed him from unfair labor practices."
傘の係の男性もそのひとりで、私も何度となく「またやってるんですか。もういいんですよ」などと注意した。私は「彼を不当な労働から解放したのだ」などと思っていた。

One day, I found him sitting on his bed and chatted with him. "Are you feeling a little better now?" I asked. He then replied, "I don't like rainy days. I have nothing to do now since my job was taken away."
ある日、病室でポツンとベッドに座っている彼と話す機会があった。「少しはラクになりましたか」と言うと、彼は答えた。
「雨の日がいやだね。仕事も取られちゃったからね。何もすることがない」

I was taken aback by his response. I realized that even if it looked like an unfair labor practice from my perspective, he took pride in it and it had motivated him to live. If we were going to ask him to stop working, we should have given him another role to fulfill.
私ははっとした。こちらから見ると理不尽な労働でも、彼にとってはそれが誇りであり生きがいになっていたのだ。もしそれをやめてもらうなら、何かかわりにできるような役割を用意すべきだったのではないか。

Being "right" doesn't necessarily mean we get to know how patients feel. That was what I learned from him.
正論だけでは患者さんの気持ちはくみとれない。私は、それを彼から教えられた。

Everyone, from kids to the elderly alike, wants to have something only they can do, and to feel that people need them, even if they are hospitalized. Every time it rains, I remind myself of that.
私にしかできないこと。みんなが自分を必要としてくれるという実感。人はみなそれを求めている。たとえ病院に入院中であっても、子どもだって高齢者だって同じはずだ。雨が降るたびに私はそのことを自分に言い聞かせるようにしている。

(By Rika Kayama, Psychiatrist) （精神科医）