The Yomiuri Shimbun(Sep. 17, 2009)
Take the right direction toward change
鳩山内閣発足 進路を誤らず改革を進めよ（9月17日付・読売社説）
Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama's new administration got up and running Wednesday, though public sentiment seems split between expectation and anxiety over the nation's political future.
Members of the new Cabinet should not allow themselves to feel any exhilaration over the birth of this historic government.
多くの国民の期待と不安が交錯する中での出発である。
鳩山新内閣が１６日発足した。歴史的な政権交代だが、その高揚感に浸っている余裕はないはずだ。
Confusion caused by the transfer of power also must be avoided, as the new government will have to tackle such urgent issues as pulling the nation out of the global recession, designing the future of the social security system and developing a new strategic foreign policy. To achieve tangible results, all of these tasks must be conducted at full power.
世界不況からの脱出、社会保障制度の将来設計、新たな戦略的外交――。新内閣は、政権交代に伴う混乱を避けつつ、待ったなしの課題に総力で取り組み、具体的な成果を上げねばならない。
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Be flexible over manifesto vows
◆公約の「自縛」に陥るな◆
The public is expecting the new Cabinet to change the Liberal Democratic Party's style of politics, which had hit an impasse. This desire for change was made clear by the results of the recent House of Representatives election.
新内閣への期待は、行き詰まりを見せていた自民党政治の転換にある。それが、衆院選で示された民意と言えよう。
However, people also are concerned that excessive changes might lead to problems. The new Cabinet should take a levelheaded approach to continuing the basic policies of its predecessors with regard to the future course of the nation.
一方で、行き過ぎた変革が混迷をもたらすのではないかと、国民が不安を感じているのも事実だ。歴代政権が積み重ねてきた日本の進路にかかわる基本政策は、継続する冷静な判断が大切だ。
Meanwhile, the Democratic Party of Japan should not cling too tenaciously to the pledges it made for the lower house election. People who voted the DPJ into power do not necessarily support all of these promises.
民主党は、衆院選の政権公約に固執してはなるまい。民主党に投票した有権者は、すべての公約に賛成しているわけではない。
There also are some public doubts as to whether financial resources can be secured for many of the DPJ manifesto pledges and whether some of these pledges are really feasible, including a child-allowance system, toll-free expressways and targets for cutting the nation's greenhouse gas emissions. According to opinion polls, more people than not oppose many of these election vows.
子ども手当、高速道路の無料化、温室効果ガスの排出削減目標など、多くの公約は、財源確保や目標達成が疑問視されている。世論調査でも、反対が賛成を上回る例が少なくない。
The DPJ apparently is keen to avoid criticism for breaking its promises. However, it would be even worse for the DPJ to fall into an election-pledge trap of its own making, which could cause irreversible damage. It is vital for the party to have the courage to reexamine its pledges and revise those in need of improvement.
民主党とすれば、「公約違反」との批判を避けたいだろうが、自縄自縛に陥り、取り返しのつかない事態になる方がはるかに問題である。公約を吟味し、見直すべきものは見直す勇気が大事だ。
In the new Cabinet, DPJ Acting President Naoto Kan became deputy prime minister and national strategy minister, and former DPJ Secretary General Katsuya Okada assumed the post of foreign minister.
新内閣では、民主党の菅直人代表代行が副総理兼国家戦略相に、岡田克也・前幹事長が外相に、それぞれ就任した。
Hirohisa Fujii, the party's top adviser, was appointed finance minister, while former DPJ President Seiji Maehara was named construction and transport minister.
財務相には藤井裕久最高顧問、国土交通相には前原誠司・元代表が起用された。
Hatoyama apparently has taken the power balance of intraparty groups into consideration and placed people who have proven themselves in the past in important posts.
党内勢力のバランスに配慮しつつ、実績のある人材を要所に配置した。
Though the makeup of the new Cabinet seems solid, it seems to lack a certain freshness.
手堅い布陣と言えるが、清新さに欠ける印象は否めない。
At a press conference held in the evening, Hatoyama underscored his intention to end the practice of excessive government dependence on bureaucrats with regard to policy-making.
鳩山首相は記者会見で、「脱・官僚依存政治」を強調した。
Key to his success will be the national strategy bureau and the administrative renewal council, to be administered by Kan and Administrative Renewal Minister Yoshito Sengoku, respectively.
そのカギを握るのが、菅国家戦略相と仙谷由人行政刷新相が所管する国家戦略局と行政刷新会議だ。
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Politician-led politics
◆政治主導は実現するか◆
The national strategy bureau--for now--will take on the jobs of recompiling the fiscal 2009 supplementary budget and setting out policies for compiling the budget for the next fiscal year.
国家戦略局は当面、今年度補正予算の組み替えや来年度予算編成方針の策定に取り組む。
Putting the economy firmly on the path to recovery is the top priority of all economic policies, and finding financial sources to fund new initiatives that come with huge price tags is of crucial importance. Hatoyama, therefore, must ensure his new administration juggles these two difficult goals.
経済政策では、景気を回復軌道に乗せることが最優先課題だ。一方で、新規施策の巨額の財源確保も必要となる。双方に目配りした舵(かじ)取りが求められる。
There are concerns over possible frictions between the national strategy bureau and ministries and agencies, as the extent of the national strategy bureau's authority has yet to be established. Kan should work in close consultation with Fujii on budgetary matters.
国家戦略局の権限が不明確なため、各府省と摩擦が生じる懸念もある。菅国家戦略相は藤井財務相らと緊密に連携すべきだ。
The administrative renewal council is charged with a "zero-based review" of the work done by ministries, agencies and independent administrative institutions. Powerful political leadership that can weed out resistance by bureaucrats and relevant organizations is indispensable in terms of plunging the scalpel into the vested interests of each government entity and effecting the large-scale transfer of work performed by the central government to local governments and the private sector.
行政刷新会議は、各府省や独立行政法人などの事務をゼロベースで見直す。各府省の既得権益に深く切り込み、国の事務を地方や民間に大胆に移管するには、官僚や関係団体の抵抗を排する強力な政治力が不可欠だ。
Labor unions that support the DPJ could be a stumbling block to reform. In addition to Sengoku, Hatoyama himself must exercise leadership in this endeavor.
民主党の支持団体の労組も抵抗勢力となりかねない。仙谷行政刷新相はもとより、鳩山首相自身が指導力を発揮せねばならない。
To enable politicians to assume leadership in policy-making, it is essential to have a robust Cabinet lineup, with key ministers keeping their posts until this Cabinet resigns--a departure from the LDP's practice of constantly reshuffling the cabinet.
政治主導には、少なくとも重要閣僚は「一内閣一閣僚」というぐらいの布陣が必要だ。自民党政権の年中行事だった内閣改造の慣行を改めることも課題だろう。
Health, Labor and Welfare Minister Akira Nagatsuma stepped into the limelight two years ago, when he grilled the government over its sloppy pension-record-keeping. Nagatsuma is now tasked with directing the ministry instead of leveling a barrage of criticism against it. He will be tested on whether he has the ability to make bureaucrats dance to his tune.
長妻昭厚生労働相は、「消えた年金」問題の追及で脚光を浴びた。今後は、厚労省を批判するのでなく、牽引(けんいん)する責任を担う。官僚を使いこなす手腕が問われる。
Social Democratic Party leader Mizuho Fukushima was appointed as state minister in charge of consumer affairs and the declining birthrate. Her appointment likely is aimed at reflecting the viewpoint of women and consumers in general with regard to the government's policies. We hope Fukushima will try to implement a well-balanced administration that does not express views that largely differ from the government line in order to make her party's presence felt.
社民党の福島瑞穂党首は、消費者・少子化相に起用された。女性や生活者の視点を政策に反映する狙いだろう。社民党の存在感を示そうとして突出した主張を展開せず、バランスのとれた行政を心がけてほしい。
Meanwhile, People's New Party leader Shizuka Kamei was named state minister in charge of financial services and postal reform.
While it is necessary to revamp the somewhat flawed Japan Post Holdings Co. led by Yoshifumi Nishikawa and review the privatization of postal services by taking end-users' convenience into consideration, Kamei should not digress from the original purpose of the privatization, and should refrain from any attempt to revive the huge financial institution at the government's initiative.
国民新党の亀井静香代表は、金融・郵政改革相に就任した。ほころびが目立つ日本郵政の「西川体制」の刷新や、利用者本位の郵政民営化の見直しは必要だ。ただ、民営化の本筋を歪(ゆが)め、巨大官製金融を復活させるべきではない。
Hatoyama should not easily be pushed into agreeing to policies put forward by the DPJ's coalition partners--the SDP and the PNP.
鳩山首相は、政策面で連立相手の社民、国民新両党に安易に引きずられてはなるまい。
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Tests lie ahead
◆日米基軸の堅持を◆
In terms of foreign policy, Hatoyama's first real test will come next week during a visit to the United States.
外交では、来週の鳩山首相の訪米が最初の試金石となる。
Concerning the Maritime Self-Defense Force's refueling mission in the Indian Ocean, Hatoyama says the mission will not automatically be extended beyond its mid-January expiration. If this is the case, the prime minister should strive to find another way to continue the mission rather than by "the automatic extension of the expiration."
インド洋での海上自衛隊の給油活動について、首相は「来年１月の期限を単純に延長することはない」という。それなら、「単純な延長」以外の方法で、活動を継続する道を探るべきではないか。
The realignment of U.S. forces in Japan, including the relocation of U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station in Okinawa Prefecture, also is an important issue. We believe steady implementation of the agreement between Japan and the United States is the fastest way to reduce the burden on local governments in the prefecture.
普天間飛行場の移設など在日米軍再編は、日米合意を着実に実施することこそが、沖縄など地元自治体の負担軽減の近道である。
With regard to North Korean nuclear issues, Washington recently has shown its readiness to hold direct talks with Pyongyang. In order to get North Korea back around the six-party table and obtain concessions from Pyongyang, the Japanese government needs to steadily implement a U.N. Security Council sanction resolution and continue to put pressure on North Korea.
北朝鮮の核問題では、米国が最近、北朝鮮との対話に応じる姿勢に転じた。北朝鮮を６か国協議に復帰させ、譲歩を勝ち取るには、国連の制裁決議を着実に履行し、圧力をかけ続ける必要がある。
Hatoyama also should reaffirm Japan's close cooperation with China, South Korea, Russian and the United States and try to pass into law as quickly as possible a bill to permit inspections of cargo carried by North Korean ships and aircraft.
鳩山首相は、米中韓露との連携を再確認するとともに、北朝鮮に対する貨物検査特別措置法案の早期成立を図るべきだ。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 17, 2009)
（2009年9月17日01時14分 読売新聞）
Take the right direction toward change
鳩山内閣発足 進路を誤らず改革を進めよ（9月17日付・読売社説）
Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama's new administration got up and running Wednesday, though public sentiment seems split between expectation and anxiety over the nation's political future.
Members of the new Cabinet should not allow themselves to feel any exhilaration over the birth of this historic government.
多くの国民の期待と不安が交錯する中での出発である。
鳩山新内閣が１６日発足した。歴史的な政権交代だが、その高揚感に浸っている余裕はないはずだ。
Confusion caused by the transfer of power also must be avoided, as the new government will have to tackle such urgent issues as pulling the nation out of the global recession, designing the future of the social security system and developing a new strategic foreign policy. To achieve tangible results, all of these tasks must be conducted at full power.
世界不況からの脱出、社会保障制度の将来設計、新たな戦略的外交――。新内閣は、政権交代に伴う混乱を避けつつ、待ったなしの課題に総力で取り組み、具体的な成果を上げねばならない。
===
Be flexible over manifesto vows
◆公約の「自縛」に陥るな◆
The public is expecting the new Cabinet to change the Liberal Democratic Party's style of politics, which had hit an impasse. This desire for change was made clear by the results of the recent House of Representatives election.
新内閣への期待は、行き詰まりを見せていた自民党政治の転換にある。それが、衆院選で示された民意と言えよう。
However, people also are concerned that excessive changes might lead to problems. The new Cabinet should take a levelheaded approach to continuing the basic policies of its predecessors with regard to the future course of the nation.
一方で、行き過ぎた変革が混迷をもたらすのではないかと、国民が不安を感じているのも事実だ。歴代政権が積み重ねてきた日本の進路にかかわる基本政策は、継続する冷静な判断が大切だ。
Meanwhile, the Democratic Party of Japan should not cling too tenaciously to the pledges it made for the lower house election. People who voted the DPJ into power do not necessarily support all of these promises.
民主党は、衆院選の政権公約に固執してはなるまい。民主党に投票した有権者は、すべての公約に賛成しているわけではない。
There also are some public doubts as to whether financial resources can be secured for many of the DPJ manifesto pledges and whether some of these pledges are really feasible, including a child-allowance system, toll-free expressways and targets for cutting the nation's greenhouse gas emissions. According to opinion polls, more people than not oppose many of these election vows.
子ども手当、高速道路の無料化、温室効果ガスの排出削減目標など、多くの公約は、財源確保や目標達成が疑問視されている。世論調査でも、反対が賛成を上回る例が少なくない。
The DPJ apparently is keen to avoid criticism for breaking its promises. However, it would be even worse for the DPJ to fall into an election-pledge trap of its own making, which could cause irreversible damage. It is vital for the party to have the courage to reexamine its pledges and revise those in need of improvement.
民主党とすれば、「公約違反」との批判を避けたいだろうが、自縄自縛に陥り、取り返しのつかない事態になる方がはるかに問題である。公約を吟味し、見直すべきものは見直す勇気が大事だ。
In the new Cabinet, DPJ Acting President Naoto Kan became deputy prime minister and national strategy minister, and former DPJ Secretary General Katsuya Okada assumed the post of foreign minister.
新内閣では、民主党の菅直人代表代行が副総理兼国家戦略相に、岡田克也・前幹事長が外相に、それぞれ就任した。
Hirohisa Fujii, the party's top adviser, was appointed finance minister, while former DPJ President Seiji Maehara was named construction and transport minister.
財務相には藤井裕久最高顧問、国土交通相には前原誠司・元代表が起用された。
Hatoyama apparently has taken the power balance of intraparty groups into consideration and placed people who have proven themselves in the past in important posts.
党内勢力のバランスに配慮しつつ、実績のある人材を要所に配置した。
Though the makeup of the new Cabinet seems solid, it seems to lack a certain freshness.
手堅い布陣と言えるが、清新さに欠ける印象は否めない。
At a press conference held in the evening, Hatoyama underscored his intention to end the practice of excessive government dependence on bureaucrats with regard to policy-making.
鳩山首相は記者会見で、「脱・官僚依存政治」を強調した。
Key to his success will be the national strategy bureau and the administrative renewal council, to be administered by Kan and Administrative Renewal Minister Yoshito Sengoku, respectively.
そのカギを握るのが、菅国家戦略相と仙谷由人行政刷新相が所管する国家戦略局と行政刷新会議だ。
===
Politician-led politics
◆政治主導は実現するか◆
The national strategy bureau--for now--will take on the jobs of recompiling the fiscal 2009 supplementary budget and setting out policies for compiling the budget for the next fiscal year.
国家戦略局は当面、今年度補正予算の組み替えや来年度予算編成方針の策定に取り組む。
Putting the economy firmly on the path to recovery is the top priority of all economic policies, and finding financial sources to fund new initiatives that come with huge price tags is of crucial importance. Hatoyama, therefore, must ensure his new administration juggles these two difficult goals.
経済政策では、景気を回復軌道に乗せることが最優先課題だ。一方で、新規施策の巨額の財源確保も必要となる。双方に目配りした舵(かじ)取りが求められる。
There are concerns over possible frictions between the national strategy bureau and ministries and agencies, as the extent of the national strategy bureau's authority has yet to be established. Kan should work in close consultation with Fujii on budgetary matters.
国家戦略局の権限が不明確なため、各府省と摩擦が生じる懸念もある。菅国家戦略相は藤井財務相らと緊密に連携すべきだ。
The administrative renewal council is charged with a "zero-based review" of the work done by ministries, agencies and independent administrative institutions. Powerful political leadership that can weed out resistance by bureaucrats and relevant organizations is indispensable in terms of plunging the scalpel into the vested interests of each government entity and effecting the large-scale transfer of work performed by the central government to local governments and the private sector.
行政刷新会議は、各府省や独立行政法人などの事務をゼロベースで見直す。各府省の既得権益に深く切り込み、国の事務を地方や民間に大胆に移管するには、官僚や関係団体の抵抗を排する強力な政治力が不可欠だ。
Labor unions that support the DPJ could be a stumbling block to reform. In addition to Sengoku, Hatoyama himself must exercise leadership in this endeavor.
民主党の支持団体の労組も抵抗勢力となりかねない。仙谷行政刷新相はもとより、鳩山首相自身が指導力を発揮せねばならない。
To enable politicians to assume leadership in policy-making, it is essential to have a robust Cabinet lineup, with key ministers keeping their posts until this Cabinet resigns--a departure from the LDP's practice of constantly reshuffling the cabinet.
政治主導には、少なくとも重要閣僚は「一内閣一閣僚」というぐらいの布陣が必要だ。自民党政権の年中行事だった内閣改造の慣行を改めることも課題だろう。
Health, Labor and Welfare Minister Akira Nagatsuma stepped into the limelight two years ago, when he grilled the government over its sloppy pension-record-keeping. Nagatsuma is now tasked with directing the ministry instead of leveling a barrage of criticism against it. He will be tested on whether he has the ability to make bureaucrats dance to his tune.
長妻昭厚生労働相は、「消えた年金」問題の追及で脚光を浴びた。今後は、厚労省を批判するのでなく、牽引(けんいん)する責任を担う。官僚を使いこなす手腕が問われる。
Social Democratic Party leader Mizuho Fukushima was appointed as state minister in charge of consumer affairs and the declining birthrate. Her appointment likely is aimed at reflecting the viewpoint of women and consumers in general with regard to the government's policies. We hope Fukushima will try to implement a well-balanced administration that does not express views that largely differ from the government line in order to make her party's presence felt.
社民党の福島瑞穂党首は、消費者・少子化相に起用された。女性や生活者の視点を政策に反映する狙いだろう。社民党の存在感を示そうとして突出した主張を展開せず、バランスのとれた行政を心がけてほしい。
Meanwhile, People's New Party leader Shizuka Kamei was named state minister in charge of financial services and postal reform.
While it is necessary to revamp the somewhat flawed Japan Post Holdings Co. led by Yoshifumi Nishikawa and review the privatization of postal services by taking end-users' convenience into consideration, Kamei should not digress from the original purpose of the privatization, and should refrain from any attempt to revive the huge financial institution at the government's initiative.
国民新党の亀井静香代表は、金融・郵政改革相に就任した。ほころびが目立つ日本郵政の「西川体制」の刷新や、利用者本位の郵政民営化の見直しは必要だ。ただ、民営化の本筋を歪(ゆが)め、巨大官製金融を復活させるべきではない。
Hatoyama should not easily be pushed into agreeing to policies put forward by the DPJ's coalition partners--the SDP and the PNP.
鳩山首相は、政策面で連立相手の社民、国民新両党に安易に引きずられてはなるまい。
===
Tests lie ahead
◆日米基軸の堅持を◆
In terms of foreign policy, Hatoyama's first real test will come next week during a visit to the United States.
外交では、来週の鳩山首相の訪米が最初の試金石となる。
Concerning the Maritime Self-Defense Force's refueling mission in the Indian Ocean, Hatoyama says the mission will not automatically be extended beyond its mid-January expiration. If this is the case, the prime minister should strive to find another way to continue the mission rather than by "the automatic extension of the expiration."
インド洋での海上自衛隊の給油活動について、首相は「来年１月の期限を単純に延長することはない」という。それなら、「単純な延長」以外の方法で、活動を継続する道を探るべきではないか。
The realignment of U.S. forces in Japan, including the relocation of U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station in Okinawa Prefecture, also is an important issue. We believe steady implementation of the agreement between Japan and the United States is the fastest way to reduce the burden on local governments in the prefecture.
普天間飛行場の移設など在日米軍再編は、日米合意を着実に実施することこそが、沖縄など地元自治体の負担軽減の近道である。
With regard to North Korean nuclear issues, Washington recently has shown its readiness to hold direct talks with Pyongyang. In order to get North Korea back around the six-party table and obtain concessions from Pyongyang, the Japanese government needs to steadily implement a U.N. Security Council sanction resolution and continue to put pressure on North Korea.
北朝鮮の核問題では、米国が最近、北朝鮮との対話に応じる姿勢に転じた。北朝鮮を６か国協議に復帰させ、譲歩を勝ち取るには、国連の制裁決議を着実に履行し、圧力をかけ続ける必要がある。
Hatoyama also should reaffirm Japan's close cooperation with China, South Korea, Russian and the United States and try to pass into law as quickly as possible a bill to permit inspections of cargo carried by North Korean ships and aircraft.
鳩山首相は、米中韓露との連携を再確認するとともに、北朝鮮に対する貨物検査特別措置法案の早期成立を図るべきだ。
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 17, 2009)
（2009年9月17日01時14分 読売新聞）
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