oshirase

It's fine today although a little bit cloudy.
Today, we will move to Pattaya beach to eat Japanese sushi and sashimi.
Here in Mae Rumphun Beach, there is no good restaurant nor busy bars.
I hope everyone is enjoying life in ocn cafe site.

srachai from rayong, thailand

oshirase

iwao-san, mizuyo-san,

arigatou gozaimasu.
hoteru no internet , nihongo ga tsukaemasen.
kyou de itsukame desu.
migite kaihuku ni mukatte masu ga, tabun kanchi ha shinai monoto omowaremasu.
norikoeru beki konnan ga mou hitotsu hueta dakedesu.
daijoubu, yatte ikeruto omoimasu.

srachai from rayong beach condtel at Rayong.

お知らせ

今からコラート経由でラヨーンに向かいます。
今月一杯ラヨーンで静養する予定です。
ご迷惑をおかけしますことを深くお詫びいたします。
srachai from khonkaen, thailand

短気は損気

リハビリの無理がたたって右肩が痛くなり、
少しの間休ませなければいけないようです。
メールの返信がすぐにできませんがご理解のほどお願いします。
動きにくい右の中指、薬指をしごきすぎて内出血したようです。
短気は損気の見本のような状態で笑ってしましました。

srachai from khonkaen, thailnad

羽田空港 ハブ化推進は当然の選択だ

The Yomiuri Shimbun(Oct. 14, 2009)
Haneda natural choice as hub airport
羽田空港　ハブ化推進は当然の選択だ（10月14日付・読売社説）

Will Japan's air gateway return from Narita to Haneda Airport?
　日本の空の玄関が、成田から羽田に戻ることになるのだろうか。

Construction and Transport Minister Seiji Maehara said his top priority is turning Haneda Airport into a hub for international flights that can operate on a 24-hour basis.
　前原国土交通相が、羽田空港を２４時間稼働する国際拠点（ハブ）空港として、最優先で整備していく考えを示した。

Haneda Airport is scheduled to open its fourth runway in October 2010. Maehara said the practice of routing most international flights bound for Tokyo to Narita Airport in Chiba Prefecture and most domestic flights to Haneda Airport would be eliminated with the opening of the fourth runway at Haneda and that there would be a sharp increase in the number of international flights to and from Haneda Airport.
　来年１０月に４本目の滑走路ができるのを機に、「国際線は成田、国内線は羽田」という「内際分離」の原則を取り払い、羽田発着の国際線の便数を大幅に増やす。

It is difficult to increase the departure and arrival slots at Narita Airport by a significant number due to the many operational restrictions at the facility. Turning Haneda Airport, which is in the Tokyo metropolitan area, into a hub for international flights is quite a natural choice from the perspective of convenience. The government should proceed with discussions for the realization of the proposal.
　運営上の制約が多い成田空港の発着枠は大幅増が難しい。利便性を考えても、都心に近い羽田の拠点空港化は当然の選択だ。実現に向け協議を進めるべきである。

The advantage of a hub airport is that international and domestic flights converge there and connecting flights for passengers and air freight are available in a single location.
　国際線と国内線が集中し、客や荷物の乗り継ぎが一度にできるのが拠点空港の利点だ。

===

International competition

South Korea, China and other Asian countries have developed as a national project an airport with multiple runways that can operate on a 24-hour basis to attract visitors and goods from abroad.
韓国や中国などは、国を挙げて複数の滑走路を持つ２４時間発着可能な空港を整備し、海外から人やモノを呼び込もうとしている。

Although construction work to extend the second runway at Narita Airport will soon be completed, there will be little increase in the departure and arrival slots. The airport's weaknesses are that it is far from the Tokyo metropolitan area and cannot operate early in the morning and late at night due to noise prevention measures.
　これに対して成田空港では、間もなく２本目の滑走路の延伸工事が完了するが、それでも発着枠はいくらも増えない。都心から遠く、騒音防止のため深夜・早朝の発着ができないという弱点もある。

If Japan sticks to the principle of separating domestic and international services between the airports, the nation could be removed from the Asian aviation network. If most of increase in the departure and arrival slots at Haneda Airport is assigned to international flights, the airport would be able to function well as a hub airport.
　いつまでも内際分離にこだわっていては、日本がアジアの航空ネットワークから外れかねない。発着枠増加分の大半を国際線に振り向ければ、羽田は拠点空港として十分機能するだろう。

However, Narita Airport opened despite fierce opposition to its construction. Many flights to and from Haneda Airport, which will be increased, will fly over Chiba Prefecture. It is necessary to give due consideration to noise prevention and gain the consent of the Chiba prefectural and Narita municipal governments.
　ただ、成田は激しい建設反対運動を押し切って開港した経緯がある。増便される羽田発着の航空機の多くは、千葉県上空を飛ぶことになる。騒音対策も十分に考慮し、成田の地元である千葉県や成田市の同意を得る必要がある。

===

Narita still necessary

Maehara said Narita Airport will continue to be used as an international airport. Just opening Haneda Airport to international traffic will not be sufficient to meet the increasing demand for international flights.
　前原国交相は、「成田は引き続き国際空港として活用する」としている。増え続ける国際線の需要を満たすには、羽田の国際化だけでは不十分である。

There are many overseas airlines that seek an extension of services into Narita and Haneda airports. The improvement of Narita Airport should also be steadily promoted.
　成田や羽田に乗り入れを求める海外の航空会社は数多い。成田の整備も着実に進めるべきだ。

The influence of turning Haneda Airport into a hub for international flights will not be limited to airports in the Tokyo area. The impact on Kansai Airport, where the number of passengers has been decreasing, will be severe.
　羽田の拠点空港化の影響は、首都圏の空港にとどまらない。特に旅客減が続く関西空港の経営は、厳しさを増しそうだ。

The management of Kansai Airport is struggling under the weight of more than 1 trillion yen in interest-bearing debts. Furthermore, Japan Airlines is considering sharply decreasing its number of flights to and from the airport. The central and related local governments must take drastic reconstruction measures, such as assuming responsibility for repaying debts from the airport company.
　１兆円を超える有利子負債が空港経営を圧迫する中、経営難に陥っている日本航空も大幅な減便を計画している。国や地元自治体による債務の肩代わりなど、抜本的な再建策が欠かせまい。

But if there is no change in the situation in which Itami Airport and Kobe Airport are competing for passengers, the revitalization of Kansai Airport will be difficult even with a decreased debt load.
　だが、伊丹、神戸両空港と客を奪い合う状況が変わらなければ、債務が減っても立て直しは難しい。

A review of aviation administration in the Kansai region, with an eye to the possible shutting down or a drastic downsizing of Itami Airport, is a basic premise for the support measures.
伊丹の廃止・大幅縮小も視野に入れ、関西の空港行政を見直すことが支援の大前提となる。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 14, 2009)
（2009年10月14日00時14分 読売新聞）

外国人参政権 地方に限っても禍根を残す

The Yomiuri Shimbun(Oct. 10, 2009)
Suffrage for foreigners could court trouble
外国人参政権　地方に限っても禍根を残す（10月10日付・読売社説）

Giving foreign nationals the right to vote, even in local elections only, is problematic from the standpoints of what is stipulated in the Constitution and the fundamental roles of the state.
　地方選挙に限るとしても、外国人に参政権を認めることは、憲法の規定や国のあり方という観点から、問題が大きい。

Regarding the granting of local suffrage to permanent foreign residents in Japan, Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama said Friday, "I personally want to come to a conclusion in a forward-looking manner."
　鳩山首相が、ソウルでの日韓首脳共同会見で、永住外国人への地方選挙権付与について、「私個人の意見としては、前向きに結論を出したい」と述べた。

Hatoyama's remark was made in response to a question put forward by a reporter from the South Korean media at a joint press conference held with South Korean President Lee Myung Bak after their meeting in Seoul.
"People's feelings and thoughts aren't necessarily unified," Hatoyama later added, apparently out of awareness that views on this issue are sharply divided in Japan.
　韓国側の記者の質問に答えたもので、首相は「国民感情は必ずしも統一されていない」とも付け加えた。日本国内の議論が割れていることを意識したのだろう。

The Democratic Party of Japan included the granting of local suffrage to permanent foreign residents in its basic policies when the party was formed in 1998. Besides Hatoyama, DPJ Secretary General Ichiro Ozawa and Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada are among party members who support the policy.
　民主党は、１９９８年の結党時の基本政策に、永住外国人への地方選挙権付与の実現を掲げた。首相のほか、小沢幹事長や岡田外相など推進派が少なくない。

===

1995 ruling was clear-cut

The 1995 Supreme Court ruling on a lawsuit in which a group of South Korean residents in Japan sought local suffrage has stoked the arguments made by advocates of local suffrage for permanent foreign residents. The ruling's obiter dictum remarks said granting foreign residents local suffrage is not prohibited under the Constitution and that the matter concerns the nation's legislative policies.
　選挙権付与に積極的な論者が根拠とするのは、在日韓国人が地方選挙権を求めた訴訟での９５年最高裁判決だ。傍論部分で、憲法上は禁止されておらず、国の立法政策にかかわる問題としている。

However, the main part of the ruling said the people's right to select and dismiss public officials under Article 15 of the Constitution rests with "Japanese people," that is, Japanese nationals. The ruling also said that "residents"--people who elect heads of local governments and members of local assemblies as stipulated under Article 93 of the Constitution--refer to people who have Japanese nationality.
　だが、判決の本論は、国民主権の原理に立って、憲法１５条の公務員を選定・罷免する権利は、日本国籍を持つ「日本国民」にあると明示した。９３条の地方自治体の首長・議員を選出する「住民」も日本国民を指すとしている。

Citing only the obiter dictum, which is a nonlegally binding supportive argument, as legal grounds for foreign suffrage is absurd.
　法的拘束力のない傍論だけを根拠にするのは強引過ぎる。

It is also a stretch to argue that opinions of foreign residents should be reflected in local public services by giving them the right to vote in local elections. This is because local governments are closely entwined in issues that pertain to the nation's basic policies.
　外国人に地方選挙権を与えて、地域住民への公共サービスに外国人の意見を反映できるようにしてよいのではないか、という主張にも無理がある。地方自治体は、国の基本政策に関する問題にも密接にかかわるからだ。

The law regarding the nation's response to attacks by foreign forces and the law to protect people's lives and assets in such attacks and other emergencies both stipulate that the central and local governments should cooperate in such contingencies. It is not unfathomable that permanent foreign residents who are nationals of countries hostile to Japan could disrupt or undermine local governments' cooperation with the central government by wielding influence through voting in local elections.
　武力攻撃事態法や国民保護法は有事における国と自治体の協力を定めている。日本に敵対する国の国籍を持つ永住外国人が選挙を通じて、自治体の国への協力を妨げることもありえよう。

===

ROK decision was for ROK

South Korea granted local suffrage to permanent foreign residents in 2005. So far only a handful of Japanese residents in South Korea have been given the right to vote there.
　韓国は２００５年に在韓永住外国人に地方選挙権を付与した。だが、在韓日本人で選挙権を付与されたのはごくわずかだ。

There are about 420,000 permanent foreign residents in Japan. Arguing that Japan should grant foreign residents local suffrage just because South Korea allows its foreign residents to vote is beside the point.
日本の永住外国人は約４２万人に上る。韓国が認めたのだから、という議論は成り立たない。

South Korea in February granted South Korean nationals living abroad the right to vote in national elections.
　韓国は今年２月、在外韓国人に国政選挙権を与えた。

If Japan lets foreign residents vote in local elections, South Korean residents in Japan could vote for a president and parliamentary members of South Korea as well as for governors, mayors and local assembly members in Japan. Whether such dual voting rights should be permitted opens up another can of worms altogether.
　日本が地方選挙権を認めれば、在日韓国人は、韓国で大統領や国会議員に投票できるうえ、日本でも知事や市町村長、地方議員に投票できるようになる。そのような二重選挙権を認めてよいのか、という議論も出てくるだろう。

If non-Japanese want to be granted suffrage, they should obtain Japanese nationality. That is the bottom line.
　外国人が参政権を望むなら、やはり、日本国籍を取得するのが筋だ。

Taking rash steps on this issue must not be allowed as they could open the door to perilous problems in the future.
拙速な判断で、将来に禍根を残してはならない。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 10, 2009)
（2009年10月10日01時19分 読売新聞）

補正予算見直し 景気への配慮が欠かせない

The Yomiuri Shimbun(Oct. 8, 2009)
Don't imperil economy during budget review
補正予算見直し　景気への配慮が欠かせない（10月8日付・読売社説）

A review of a supplementary budget for this fiscal year by the administration of Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama is entering the final stage.
　鳩山内閣による今年度補正予算の見直し作業が大詰めを迎えている。

The government has so far squeezed 2.5 trillion yen from the 14.7 trillion yen extra budget compiled by the previous administration.
　総額１４・７兆円のうち、これまでに２・５兆円の執行を停止することが決まった。

But the prime minister wants more money wrung from the budget and has told his ministers to find additional fat to trim. However, many government bodies have been less than willing to comply with Hatoyama's request. Some observers suspect the government might not be able to achieve its target of cutting 3 trillion yen from the budget by the time it finalizes the review by the end of next week.
　鳩山首相はさらに上積みするよう指示したが、これ以上の削減に難色を示す府省も多く、来週中の最終取りまとめで、目標の３兆円に届くか微妙な情勢という。

We fully agree with the drive to cut wasteful budget spending. However, we think the government could consider redirecting the money it has scraped together not only to the main budget for the next fiscal year, but also for effective stimulus measures that can be quickly put in place.
　予算の無駄にメスを入れるのは当然だが、これで生じる財源は来年度予算に回すだけでなく、速やかに有効な景気刺激策に充てる発想があっていいだろう。

The Oct. 15 deadline for ministries and agencies to resubmit their budgetary requests for the fiscal 2010 budget is approaching. This task appears to be more important than the extra budget review to the Hatoyama Cabinet for carrying out its pet policy of budgetary reform.
　予算改革を掲げる鳩山内閣にとって、本番とも言える来年度予算の概算要求の再提出期限は、今月１５日に迫っている。

===

Big test lies ahead

To implement pledges the Democratic Party of Japan made in the House of Representatives election, such as the introduction of a new child allowance system and basically making public high school education free, the government intends to review budgetary requests made under the previous administration led by Prime Minister Taro Aso.
　子ども手当や高校授業料の実質無償化など、衆院選で掲げた新政策を実施するため、麻生内閣当時にまとめた概算要求を抜本的に作り替える。

Unlike the supplementary budget, which was hastily cobbled together, the government can expect to have a much tougher slog as it dissects the 2010 budget, which contains funding for many essential projects that directly affect people's daily lives. Cabinet members, at the urging of Hatoyama to change from "budget-padding" ministers to "budget-assessing" ministers, are facing a crucial moment.
　大急ぎで策定された補正予算と違い、本予算は、国民生活との関連が深く、見直しははるかに難しい。「要求する大臣から査定する大臣になれ」とハッパをかけられた各閣僚は正念場だ。

The Hatoyama Cabinet is about to be put to the test over whether it can compile a budget big enough to implement new policies, while facing the prospect of a massive tax revenue shortfall expected to total 4 trillion yen to 5 trillion yen due to the economic downturn.
　景気の低迷で、４兆円～５兆円もの大幅な税収減が確実視される中、新しい政策を盛り込みながら適正規模の予算要求が作れるかどうか。鳩山内閣の手腕が早くも問われることになろう。

In revising the 2009 supplementary budget, the Construction and Transport Ministry set aside the highest amount of 890 billion yen, followed by 480 billion yen at the Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry and 440 billion yen at the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry.
　今回発表された補正予算の府省別執行停止額は、多い順に国土交通省８９００億円、農林水産省４８００億円、厚生労働省４４００億円などとなっている。

Measures to be scrapped include a 330 billion yen project by the transport ministry to widen two-lane highways to four lanes, and a farm ministry fund used to help consolidate farmland, which had a 300 billion yen price tag.
　２車線の高速道路を４車線に拡幅する事業３３００億円（国交省）や、農地の大規模化を促す基金の全額３０００億円（農水省）などが対象となった。

===

Utmost care needed

There could be no doubting that the project for large-scale farmland, for example, does not need to be anywhere near the top of the government's to-do list.
　確かに、農地の規模拡大などは、一刻を争って実施に移す必要がある事業とは言えまい。

But the problem is that cutting these projects could have repercussions for the economy. The unemployment rate remains above 5 percent. Small and midsize companies are facing severe financial difficulties.
　だが、問題は景気への影響である。失業率は５％台で高止まりしており、中小企業の資金繰りは依然苦しいままだ。

Under these circumstances, road-related and other public works projects could stimulate the economy to a certain extent. Calls for providing greater employment security also remain strong.
　こうした状況においては、道路関連などの公共事業は一定の景気刺激効果があり、雇用確保への支援を求める声も根強い。

What impact would a 3 trillion yen cut in the extra budget generate? One estimate suggested the nation's gross domestic product for this fiscal year would fall 0.4 percentage point.
　仮に補正予算を３兆円削減するとどうなるか。今年度の国内総生産（ＧＤＰ）を０・４％押し下げるとの試算もある。

The Hatoyama Cabinet should exercise utmost care on economic matters. If signs emerge the economy is worsening, the administration must act quickly through such measures as a new stimulus package.
　鳩山内閣は景気動向に細心の注意を払うべきである。腰折れの恐れが出てきた場合は、新たな景気対策を打ち出すなど、迅速に対応しなければならない。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 8, 2009)
（2009年10月8日01時05分 読売新聞）

温家宝訪朝 北朝鮮は６か国協議に戻れ

The Yomiuri Shimbun(Oct. 7, 2009)
N. Korea must return to six-party talks
温家宝訪朝　北朝鮮は６か国協議に戻れ（10月7日付・読売社説）

In a meeting with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, North Korean leader Kim Jong Il referred to the possibility that his country could return to the six-party talks aimed at scrapping the country's nuclear development program.
　北朝鮮の金正日総書記が、中国の温家宝首相との会談で、核廃棄を目指す６か国協議に復帰する可能性に言及した。

Six months ago, North Korea declared it would never return to the six-party talks after the U.N. Security Council condemned the country for its test launch of a long-range ballistic missile.
　半年前、北朝鮮は、長距離弾道ミサイル発射を国連安全保障理事会に非難されるや、６か国協議に「二度と絶対に参加しない」と宣言していた。

In the meeting Monday with the Chinese leader, however, Kim indicated North Korea was prepared to attend multilateral talks, including the six-party talks, depending on progress in its negotiations with the United States. This represents a change of Pyongyang's position. The North Korean leader is also believed to have made the statement to receive economic aid in return.
　それが今回、「米朝協議の状況を見て」という条件つきながら、金総書記自ら「６か国協議を含む多国間協議」に応じる用意を表明したのは、姿勢の変化には違いない。経済支援の見返りを当て込んでの発言でもあっただろう。

However, it remains uncertain whether North Korea really intends to return to the six-party talks, because it has not changed its stance of focusing on its negotiations with the United States.
　ただし、実際に協議復帰につながるのかは、依然不透明だ。あくまでも対米交渉に主眼を置く構えに変化は見られないからだ。

The United States has made it clear that it is ready to hold talks with North Korea if the dialogue is intended to persuade the North to return to the six-party talks. It is essential at this time for the United States to sufficiently coordinate with Japan, China, South Korea and Russia--the other parties involved in the six-party talks.
　米国は、６か国協議復帰を説得する目的なら、北朝鮮と対話する用意がある、としている。日中韓露４か国と、十分な調整を進めることが肝要だ。

===

Pyongyang defiant

The problem is that North Korea intends to turn its possession of nuclear weapons into a fait accompli. It has conducted nuclear testing twice, refusing to scrap its nuclear development program.
　問題は、北朝鮮が、核兵器保有の既成事実化を図ろうとしている点にある。核実験を２回強行し、核開発をやめようともしない。

The U.N. Security Council is right to have imposed sanctions on North Korea with resolutions. The sanctions must not be relaxed in any way until North Korea reaffirms its pledge to scrap its nuclear development program, as stipulated in the joint statement agreed upon in the six-party talks in September 2005, and takes concrete steps to abandon the program.
　この北朝鮮に、安保理が決議で制裁を科しているのは当然だ。２００５年９月の６か国協議の共同声明に明記した核廃棄の約束を、北朝鮮が再確認し、核放棄へ具体的に動くときまで、制裁はいささかも緩めてはならない。

Wen visited North Korea with an important responsibility as the representative of China, which chairs the six-party talks.
　温家宝首相は、６か国協議の議長国・中国の代表として、重大な責務を担っての訪朝だった。

Visiting North Korea in the "friendship year" that marks the 60th anniversary of the two countries' diplomatic ties, Wen was outwardly welcomed with great enthusiasm.
　国交樹立６０周年の「友好年」ということで、温首相は表向き、熱烈歓迎された。

In truth, however, China-North Korea relations have cooled down considerably. Wen's visit marked the first by a Chinese premier to North Korea in 18 years. Chinese President Hu Jintao paid his last visit to North Korea back in 2005. The two countries' relations have become chilly mainly because of North Korea's nuclear development program.
だが、中朝関係は冷え切っている。首相の訪朝は１８年ぶり、胡錦濤国家主席も２００５年に訪れたきりだ。冷却化の主因は、北朝鮮の核開発にある。

===

Reluctant to punish ally

China has been cautious about implementing sanctions against North Korea. This policy is believed to be one of the factors that resulted in the situation today.
　中国は、北朝鮮に対する制裁措置の実施に慎重な姿勢を示してきた。それが、今日の事態を招く一因になったとも言える。

China apparently took such a stance out of the belief that imposing sanctions against North Korea would shake the country's regime, which would adversely affect stability--and stability is China's top priority.
　制裁により北朝鮮の体制が揺らげば、中国にとって最優先の「安定」に悪影響が及ぶとみたのだろう。

In reality, as a result of North Korea continuing its nuclear development program, stability in East Asia, including China, has been damaged further.
現実には、北朝鮮が核開発を続ける中、中国を含む東アジアの安定はますます損なわれた。

U.N. Security Council Resolution 1874 must be strictly implemented so as not to repeat the same mistake. It will be necessary to cut off the flow of proscribed luxury goods as well as goods and money related to weapons of mass destruction into the country. In this regard, China bears heavy responsibility given that more than half of North Korea's trade is conducted with China. Economic levers must be used fully to resolve problems.
　その轍(てつ)を踏まぬよう、制裁決議１８７４は厳格に履行すべきだ。禁輸対象のぜいたく品や、大量破壊兵器開発に絡むモノやカネは遮断する必要がある。貿易量の過半を握る中国の責任は重い。経済的テコは存分に活用すべきだ。

Leaders of Japan, China and South Korea are scheduled to meet in Beijing on Saturday. We urge Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama, Wen and South Korean President Lee Myung Bak to come up with effective strategies to resolve problems involving North Korea.
　１０日に開かれる日中韓首脳会談で、鳩山首相、温首相、李明博・韓国大統領は、実効性ある対北朝鮮戦略を練ってもらいたい。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 7, 2009)
（2009年10月7日01時09分 読売新聞）

五輪東京落選 「南米で初」には勝てなかった

The Yomiuri Shimbun(Oct. 4, 2009)
Olympic torch dream extinguished
五輪東京落選　「南米で初」には勝てなかった（10月4日付・読売社説）

Our wish--to see the Olympic torch in Tokyo once again--did not come true.
　「東京にもう一度、聖火を」という願いは、かなわなかった。

On Friday, the International Olympic Committee selected Rio de Janeiro as host of the 2016 Summer Olympics.
　国際オリンピック委員会（ＩＯＣ）は、２０１６年の夏季五輪の開催地に、ブラジルのリオデジャネイロを選出した。

Tokyo had sought to host its second Games--the first was held in 1964--but ultimately fell short.
１９６４年以来、２度目の開催を目指していた東京は落選した。

The result was disappointing, all the more so because many people had high hopes, wanting to feel excitement sweep across the country once again and see the Olympics revitalize the economy.
　「日本中が沸いたあの感動を再び」「五輪を経済活性化の起爆剤に」といった期待が大きかっただけに、残念な結果である。

Rio, Madrid, Tokyo and Chicago were locked in a closely fought race to host the 2016 Games.
　リオデジャネイロ、マドリード（スペイン）、東京、シカゴ（米国）による招致レースは、大接戦だった。

The tightness of the contest was evidenced by the fact that Chicago, for which U.S. President Barack Obama gave a speech, was eliminated in the first round of voting.
オバマ大統領が招致演説を行ったシカゴが、１回目の投票で脱落したことが、混戦ぶりを物語っている。

Tokyo was eliminated in the second round.
　東京は、２回目の投票で最下位に沈み、落選となった。

Apparently, a direct cause of the defeat was that IOC members who backed Chicago in the first round of voting did not switch their votes to Tokyo in the second round.
シカゴの支持票が東京に回らなかったことが、直接の敗因といえよう。

===

Rio more persuasive

Tokyo's biggest selling point was its concept of a "compact Olympics," which would have seen all of the Games' athletic fields and stadiums concentrated within an 8-kilometer radius.
　半径８キロ圏内に競技会場を集中させる「コンパクトな五輪」が、東京の最大のセールスポイントだった。

The city also stressed its good public security, well-developed infrastructure and stable financial foundation.
良好な治安や充実した都市機能、安定した財政基盤などもアピールしてきた。

However, it is undeniable that Tokyo appeared to lack persuasiveness compared with Rio, which was campaigning to host the first Olympics in South America.
　だが、「南米で初の五輪開催」というリオの訴えに比べ、説得力を欠いた感は否めない。

A low public support rate for Tokyo's bid to host the Olympics also negatively impacted its showing in the race. According to a survey conducted by the IOC, only 55.5 percent of Tokyoites backed the city's Olympic bid. The figure was the lowest among the four cities, well below Madrid's 84.9 percent and 84.5 percent in Rio.
　五輪開催に対する世論の支持率の低さも、マイナスポイントだった。ＩＯＣの調査では、東京での支持率は、４都市の中で最低の５５・５％にとどまり、マドリードの８４・９％、リオの８４・５％に比べ、大きく見劣りしていた。

Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama gave a speech during Tokyo's final presentation in Copenhagen on Friday, underlining that the whole of Japan was working together toward hosting the 2016 Olympics.
The effort was not, however, enough to cover the bid's weak points.
　鳩山首相が招致演説を行い、国を挙げて取り組んでいる姿勢を示したが、カバーしきれなかったということだろう。

===

Green plans must proceed

Tokyo also stressed it would use natural energy sources such as solar power to supply energy for the Games' stadiums and other facilities, and implement a large-scale greening project. These environmental measures must be included in future city planning.
　東京は、競技施設への太陽光発電の導入など自然エネルギーの活用や、大規模な緑化計画も打ち出していた。こうした環境対策は、今後の都市計画に生かしていかなければならない。

Under the current severe global economic situation, sport in this nation is finding the going tough. There were high expectations that a 2016 Tokyo Olympics would greatly assist the nation's athletes by, for example, securing new sponsors.
　厳しい経済状況の中、スポーツ界にも逆風が吹いている。それだけに、五輪の地元開催は、スポンサー確保などの呼び水になるという期待もあった。

The big goal--the Tokyo Olympics--is now lost, but it is important that the nation's sporting bodies ensure their athletes continue to perform at a high level.
　「東京五輪」という大きな目標はなくなったが、スポーツ界は引き続き、競技レベルの維持、向上を図っていくことが大切だ。

Regarding a Tokyo bid for the 2020 Olympics, Tokyo Gov. Shintaro Ishihara said, "I would actively consider it only after carefully listening to the opinions of Tokyo residents and the public across the nation."
　石原都知事は、２０年大会への再立候補について、「都民や国民の意見をよく聞き、積極的に考えていきたい」と語った。

If Tokyo is to try for the Olympics again, it will need to win greater public backing than it did for the 2016 bid and draw up a plan that can secure support from nations around the world.
　再び招致を目指すのなら、今回以上に世論を盛り上げ、世界にアピールできるようなプランの練り直しも必要となるだろう。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 4, 2009)
（2009年10月4日01時03分 読売新聞）

中国建国６０年―富国強兵の道の危うさ

--The Asahi Shimbun, Oct. 2(IHT/Asahi: October 3,2009)
EDITORIAL: China's 60th anniversary
中国建国６０年―富国強兵の道の危うさ

China celebrated the 60th anniversary of its communist revolution on Thursday.
　中華人民共和国が６０周年を迎えた。

"Today, a socialist China geared to modernization, the world and the future has stood rock-firm in the East of the world," Chinese President Hu Jintao proclaimed in his speech delivered from the Tiananmen Rostrum, which was used by Mao Tse-tung to declare a new era for China.
Addressing an estimated 200,000 people in Beijing's Tiananmen Square, Hu also said, "Only socialism can save China and only reform and opening up can ensure the development of China."
Hu reviewed his troops in the nation's first military parade in 10 years. He wore the kind of black high-collared jacket favored by Sun Yat-sen, an indication of his pride as China's fourth-generation leader following Mao, Deng Xiaoping and Jiang Zemin.
　「中国は世界の東方にそびえ立っている。社会主義だけが中国を救い、改革開放こそが中国を発展させた」
　胡錦濤国家主席は、毛沢東が建国を宣言した天安門楼上で約２０万人を前に演説し、１０年ぶりの軍事パレードを閲兵した。孫文が好んだ黒い礼服姿は、毛、トウ（登におおざと）小平、江沢民の各氏に続く、共産党第４世代の指導者としての自負を見せつけた。

The parade was a triumphant display of China's military power, showcasing the nation's state-of-the-art weapons, including the Dongfeng 31A intercontinental ballistic missile, whose range is believed to cover the entire United States, and the Jian-11, a fighter jet based on Russia's Sukhoi Su-27.
　パレードでは、米国全土を射程に収めるとされる大陸間弾道ミサイル「東風３１Ａ」や、ロシアの戦闘機をもとにした「殲（せん）１１」など国産の最新兵器を多数披露し、軍事力の充実を誇示した。

China has experienced periods of great upheaval during the past 60 years, such as the disastrous Great Leap Forward that caused a huge number of deaths--tens of millions according to an estimate--because of reckless plans for raising production. Another bleak period was the Cultural Revolution. China then embarked on a path of reform and opening-up. This major policy shift occurred about three decades ago.
　無謀な増産計画で数千万人ともいわれる犠牲者を出した大躍進や、それに続く文化大革命など幾多の混乱を経て、中国は約３０年前に改革開放にかじを切った。

Now, China is about to overtake Japan to become the world's second-largest economy. It is recovering from the global recession, ahead of all other major economies, thanks to a series of bold economic measures taken by Beijing. China appears to be focusing on a single-minded quest to create a prosperous country with a strong army.
　そして今、日本を抜いて世界第２の経済大国になる日は近い。同時不況からも、大胆な経済対策で真っ先に回復しつつある。富国強兵の道をまっしぐらに突き進もうとしているようだ。

The world is moving from the unipolar dominance by the United States to a multipolar order. The U.S., Japanese and European economies are all closely linked to the Chinese market, which is rapidly expanding its presence.
　世界は米国の一極支配から多極化への歩みを速めている。存在感を高める中国経済に、米国も日本も欧州も緊密に結びついている。

On the other hand, the world is increasingly worried about China's rapid military buildup. This is a reality with serious security implications for Japan, too. Beijing's aggressive strategy for securing energy and other resources is causing conflict in many parts of the world.
　半面、軍事力の強大化に世界は懸念と危惧（きぐ）を深めている。日本にとっても重い現実である。強引な資源獲得戦略が各地であつれきも呼んでいる。

But China is also showing a willingness to fulfill its responsibility as a major power.
　一方で中国は、大国の責任を果たそうという意欲も見せる。

At a recent series of United Nations conferences and the Group of 20 summit, Hu emphasized China's commitment to international cooperation. Hu promised to incorporate policy responses to climate change into the government's development plan and take powerful measures. He also pledged that China will not join the nuclear arms race and said it will work to promote the international nuclear arms reduction process.
　胡主席は、一連の国連の会議やＧ２０の場で「気候変動への対応を発展計画に組み入れ、強力な措置をとる」「核軍備競争に加わらず、国際的な核軍縮プロセス推進に努める」などと述べ、国際協調を重視する姿勢を示した。

But there is a stunning gap between the nation's confident way of behaving in the international arena and the unsettled conditions at home.
　しかし、外の世界への自信に満ちた振る舞いと、国内の不穏な空気との落差は尋常ではない。

There seems to be no end to abuse of authority and corruption among party members going after the spoils of economic growth. While disputes over back pay and land expropriation are rife, the country's dysfunctional judicial and administrative systems are unable to deal with them effectively.
　経済成長に伴う利権をめぐり、党員による権力の乱用や腐敗が絶えない。賃金不払いや土地収用をめぐる紛争が頻発しているが、司法や行政は十分に機能しない。

The situation has led to violent clashes.
国民の不満は、各地で当局との衝突を生んでいる。

Ethnic disturbances in the Xinjang Uighur Autonomous Region and the Tibet Autonomous Region are showing no signs of subsiding. The response by Chinese authorities was only to crack down harder on ethnic protests in these regions under the pretext of defense against terrorism.
　新疆ウイグル自治区やチベット自治区では、民族紛争が収まりそうもない。テロへの警戒だとして、当局の締め付けは強まるばかりだ。

China's National Day celebrations took place in an unsettled context. The government shut out the general public from the celebration ceremony and strictly limited public access to buildings and hotels near the ceremony site. The strict security reflects deepening contradictions in Chinese society.
　穏やかならぬ状況で迎えた建国記念日である。当局は祝賀行事から一般市民を締め出し、会場周辺のビルやホテルも立ち入りが厳しく制限された。厳戒のなかでの祝賀は、中国社会の深まる矛盾を映し出している。

What China should make clear to audiences both at home and abroad is that it is governed by the rule of law and seeks to create a harmonious society where people are valued. China will become a country that can share with its neighbors a convincing vision for an East Asian Community if it makes progress in that direction.
　中国が内外に示すべきなのは法治であり、人々が大切にされる調和のとれた社会である。その方向への脱皮の努力があってこそ、東アジア共同体の夢をともに語れる国になるに違いない。

１６年夏季五輪：東京落選 南米初、リオ選出

(Mainichi Japan) October 3, 2009
Tokyo's failure to explain reason for hosting Olympic Games cost city its bid
１６年夏季五輪：東京落選　南米初、リオ選出

Tokyo's failure to show the International Olympic Committee (IOC) the philosophy behind its bid to host the 2016 Summer Olympics apparently cost the city the right to host the games.

In the IOC's final voting session at Copenhagen on Friday local time, Rio de Janeiro was named the host city of the 2016 games.

Chicago was knocked out in the first round of voting even though it had been viewed as a hopeful candidate. The city's relations with the IOC had been somewhat frosty after it declared that it would set up a TV station specializing in the Olympics without the consent of the committee.

There has been concern about the reliability of infrastructure of Rio de Janeiro, which beat Madrid in a run-off vote. Madrid, meanwhile, has been hit hard by the economic crisis. Under such circumstances, Tokyo, which had set aside 400 billion yen to host the Olympics, had won solid support from some IOC members because of its reliability.

During his election campaign to serve a third term, Tokyo Gov. Shintaro Ishihara pledged that the capital would bid to host the Olympics, and the Japan Olympic Committee (JOC) supported Tokyo's bid in hope that it would be a springboard to improve Japanese athletes' competitiveness in the international arena. However, Tokyo was the only city that has hosted a Summer Olympics before -- in 1964.

Moreover, Tokyo's emphasis on an environment-friendly Olympics did not appeal to the IOC. IOC members reacted coolly to bid committee officials' explanation that Tokyo would set up solar panels and use other cutting-edge technology at Olympic sites in an effort to protect the environment. "We're not the United Nations," one of the IOC members said.

Even though the bid committee spent 15 billion yen on its campaign, the support rating for Tokyo's bid among local residents was 55.5 percent, lowest of all the four candidate cities, according to an IOC survey. Furthermore, because Tokyo failed to explain why it aimed to host the games, it failed to win support from IOC members. (By Hideaki Takahashi, Sports News Department)

　【コペンハーゲン高橋秀明】東京など４都市が立候補していた２０１６年の第３１回夏季五輪開催地を決める国際オリンピック委員会（ＩＯＣ）の第１２１回総会が２日、当地で開催され、６４年大会以来５２年ぶり２度目の夏季五輪を目指した東京は、２回目の投票で最下位となり、落選した。日本の夏季五輪招致は、１９８８年大会に挑んだ名古屋、２００８年大会で惨敗した大阪に続く３連敗となった。（５面、スポーツ面、社会面に関連記事）

　◇マドリードと決選－－ＩＯＣ総会
　決選投票は、リオデジャネイロ（ブラジル）とマドリード（スペイン）に絞られたが、開催地は「南米初の五輪」となるリオデジャネイロに決まった。オバマ米大統領の地元となるシカゴ（米国）は、１回目の投票で最下位となり落選した。

　投票前に行われた演説では、東京はシカゴに続いて２番目に登場し、鳩山由紀夫首相や石原慎太郎都知事らが英語でスピーチし、最先端の環境対策や、ほとんどの施設を半径８キロ圏内に収めたコンパクトな計画などを映像を使って説明した。

　しかし、０８年に同じアジアの北京五輪が開催されたばかりで、半数近いＩＯＣ委員を欧州勢が占めるため、東京は当初から苦戦が予想されていた。

　ライバル都市は続々と要人を送り込み、直前までロビー活動を展開した。一方、東京は石原知事が要望した皇太子さまの出席が実現せず、「切り札」と期待した政権交代直後の鳩山首相も現地入りが前日深夜と遅く、最後まで劣勢を挽回（ばんかい）できなかった。

　１６年夏季五輪は当初７都市が名乗りを上げ、昨年６月の１次選考でドーハ（カタール）、プラハ（チェコ）、バクー（アゼルバイジャン）が落選し、４都市に絞り込まれた。１次選考では東京が最も高い評価を受けていた。

＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝

　■解説

　◇「なぜ招致」大義示せず
　５２年ぶりの東京の聖火は、２回目の投票で早々と幻となった。世界経済危機の震源地となった米国のシカゴは、直前まで有力視されながら予想に反して１回目の投票で完敗した。米オリンピック委員会（ＵＳＯＣ）がＩＯＣに無断で五輪専門テレビ局の開設を打ち出すなどして、ＩＯＣとの関係が冷却化したことが響いた形だ。

　決選投票に残ったリオデジャネイロも社会基盤（インフラ）などに不安が残り、マドリードも経済危機のダメージが大きい。

　そんな状況下で、既に４０００億円の開催準備金がある東京の「安定」を買う声は確かにあった。

　しかし石原都知事が３期目の公約として五輪開催を打ち出し、日本オリンピック委員会（ＪＯＣ）も国際競技力アップの起爆剤として期待した東京は４都市の中で唯一、過去に五輪を開催済みで、新鮮さやインパクトに欠けていた。

　さらに東京が力点を置いた「環境に配慮した五輪」という開催コンセプトも決め手にならなかった。太陽光パネルなど最新技術を駆使した環境対策を強調する東京に対して、ＩＯＣの評価委員は「我々は国連ではない」と冷ややかだった。

　東京は国内的にも「なぜ今、東京で五輪を開催するのか」を十分説得できなかった。１５０億円の招致費をかけたにもかかわらず、ＩＯＣ調査の都市別支持率は４都市最低の５５・５％。

　まず東京五輪ありきで、五輪招致の「大義」を欠いたことが最後まで響いた。【高橋秀明】

＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝

　■ことば

　◇国際オリンピック委員会（ＩＯＣ）
　本部はスイス・ローザンヌ。スポーツを通じて平和に貢献する近代五輪を広めようというフランス人のピエール・ド・クーベルタン男爵の呼び掛けで１８９４年に発足。１８９６年アテネで第１回大会を開いた。夏冬の五輪のほか、若者を対象にしたユース五輪も１０年に開催する。現在２０５カ国・地域が加盟。元五輪選手、弁護士、実業家、大学教授、医師など多彩な肩書を持つ１０６人のＩＯＣ委員がいる。日本からはスキー銀メダリストの猪谷千春副会長ら２人。

毎日新聞　2009年10月3日　東京朝刊

「鞆の浦」判決 景観保護と地域振興の両立を

The Yomiuri Shimbun(Oct. 3, 2009)
Save Tomonoura beauty, boost local economy
「鞆の浦」判決　景観保護と地域振興の両立を（10月3日付・読売社説）

The Hiroshima District Court on Thursday handed down a ruling that acknowledged local residents' right to benefit from the beauty of a precious landscape.
　貴重な景観の美しさを享受する「景観利益」の保護を前面に打ち出した司法判断である。

The court ordered Hiroshima Gov. Yuzan Fujita not to issue a license for a prefectural and municipal project to reclaim a scenic shore in the Tomonoura area of Fukuyama, Hiroshima Prefecture.
　広島県福山市の「鞆(とも)の浦」で、県と市が計画している埋め立て・架橋事業について、広島地裁が、埋め立て免許の交付差し止めを認める判決を言い渡した。

The magnificent landscape of Tomonoura inspired ancient poems featured in the Manyoshu, an anthology of classical poetry. It also was a key junction in the Seto Inland Sea that prospered as a port for ships waiting for the right tide to sail. Several buildings from the Edo period (1603-1867) have been preserved in the area.
　万葉集にも詠まれた景勝地の鞆の浦は、「潮待ちの港」として栄えた瀬戸内の要衝だ。町並みには江戸時代の面影が残る。

The picturesque bay also is known as the place where renowned director Hayao Miyazaki stayed for two months to develop ideas for his 2008 animated film "Gake no Ue no Ponyo" (Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea).
宮崎駿監督が映画「崖(がけ)の上のポニョ」の構想を練ったことでも知られる。

The court acknowledged that the Tomonoura area is an asset belonging to the Japanese people and has historical and cultural value. The court also pointed out that the daily benefits local residents receive from the scenery might be seriously damaged if the area is reclaimed.
　判決は、鞆の浦について、「歴史的、文化的価値を有する国民の財産」との認識を示した。さらに埋め立てが行われれば、「住民が日常的に恩恵を受けている景観利益について、重大な損害が生じる恐れがある」と指摘した。

===

Local community split

We think it was appropriate that the court carefully weighed the importance of preserving the landscape against the need to reclaim land and build a bridge in the area before deciding in favor of the former. This is the first time that a court has ordered the suspension of a public works project before it had begun on the grounds that a landscape should be preserved.
　景観利益の重要性と、埋め立てや架橋の必要性を天秤(てんびん)にかけ、景観利益の保護に軍配を上げた適切な判断といえよう。景観利益を理由に、公共事業が事前に差し止められるのは、初めてである。

The ruling likely will influence the development of tourist spots in the future.
　観光地の開発のあり方に、一石を投じることになろう。

In 2006, the Supreme Court rejected a demand by residents living near a condominium in Kunitachi, Tokyo, that a real estate developer remove the upper floors of the building because they spoiled the local scenery. However, it also stated that local residents have the right to benefit from an attractive neighborhood and that this right should be protected. The top court's view apparently influenced the latest ruling.
　景観利益については、東京都国立市の住民らが高層マンションの上層階撤去を求めた訴訟で、最高裁が２００６年、「法的保護に値する」との判断を示した。この考え方が、今回の判決に影響を及ぼしたのだろう。

Nevertheless, the fact remains that many streets in the Tomonoura area are too narrow for cars to pass and are often jammed with tourist vehicles. The community's population is decreasing and graying.
　鞆の浦の街路は、車がすれ違えないほど狭い所が多く、観光客の車などで混雑が深刻だ。人口は減り、高齢化も進んでいる。

The reclamation project aimed to revitalize the local community by building a bypass bridge spanning Tomoko port to resolve the traffic problem and by reclaiming the local shore to build a ferry pier and a parking lot for tourists' vehicles.
　県と市の開発計画は、港を横切る海上のバイパス橋で交通難を解消し、湾岸の埋め立て地に観光客用の駐車場やフェリーふ頭を整備し、地域の活性化を図ろうというものだ。

A group of residents filed this suit, but many other residents supported the project, which they felt would make their daily lives more convenient. A rift has reportedly emerged in the community between proponents and opponents of the project.
　訴訟は、開発に反対する住民らが起こしたが、一方で、利便性の向上を望み、事業に賛成する住民も多い。住民の間には亀裂が生まれているという。

===

Time for Plan B

The Hiroshima governor applied to the central government in June last year for approval to issue a reclamation license. But then Construction and Transport Minster Kazuyoshi Kaneko demurred on the matter, saying the prefectural government should first secure the public's consent. The license had yet to be approved when there was a change in government in late August.
　藤田雄山知事は昨年６月、国に埋め立て免許の認可を申請した。だが、金子前国土交通相は、「国民の合意が必要」と慎重姿勢を取り続け、認可されないまま政権が交代した。

New Transport and Construction Minister Seiji Maehara said he will decide what action to take after seeing how higher courts rule on the case.
　前原国交相は、上級審の判断を見定めた上で対応する考えを示している。

There reportedly is an alternative plan to build a tunnel through the mountains in the area instead of building a bridge across the bay. Preserving a beautiful landscape while revitalizing a community at the same time is no easy task, but the prefectural and municipal governments may need to reconsider their development plan to achieve this goal.
　山側にトンネルを通す代替案もあるという。景観を保全しながら、地域を振興させていく。難しい課題だが、これを実現するために、自治体は計画を再検討することも必要ではないだろうか。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 3, 2009)
（2009年10月3日01時27分 読売新聞）

選択のあとに：０９政権交代 料亭街、宴の後 銀座・赤坂、灯消え

(Mainichi Japan) September 27, 2009
High-class restaurants' 'oil lubricating' business drying up due to lack of politicians
選択のあとに：０９政権交代　料亭街、宴の後　銀座・赤坂、灯消え

　◇リーマン・ショックに「居酒屋政権」追い打ち
　◇官僚が、財界が、そして政治家まで去った－－

Traditional Japanese restaurants, once the usual haunt of Tokyo's movers and shakers, first took a hit with the bursting of the bubble economy, suffering another blow following the Lehman collapse. Now, with their Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) regulars trounced in the latest election by the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ), restaurant owners are worried.
　政権交代は東京の花柳界の経営にも影を落としている。バブル崩壊後の景気低迷で客が減り続けていた高級料亭は、昨秋のリーマン・ショックで追い打ちをかけられ、そこに今回の政権交代。長年「料亭政治」で上得意客だった自民党が大敗したダメージは大きい。

"First the bureaucrats go away, then the business leaders, and now the politicians. I hear the DPJ members hardly ever go out drinking to places other than izakaya bars. What's going to happen to ryotei (high-class restaurants) from now on?" one restaurant source says plaintively.
「官僚が去り、財界が去り、ついに政治家も。民主党議員はほとんど居酒屋しか行かないと聞く。料亭はこの先どうなるのか」。関係者からは悲鳴に近い声が上がる。【合田月美】

The recession has been tough for the ryotei. Famous names like Yonemura and Kanetanaka were once among the tens of restaurants dotting the Shinbashi "Flower Quarter" around Tokyo's Ginza. By this spring, however, just 10 were left, with another two famous spots closing only recently.
　不況の影響は深刻だ。「米村」「金田中」など有名料亭が集まる東京・銀座の料亭街は、かつては「花街新ばし」としてにぎわい、数十の料亭が軒を連ねた。
　ところが今春には１０軒ほどになり、最近も老舗２軒が店をたたんだ。

The remainder are diversifying frantically in an attempt to stay afloat, opening for lunchtime businesses, selling lunchboxes, taking online orders, and in some cases, being used for weddings.
ほとんどの料亭は社員のパート化を進めているほか、ランチ営業、法事の弁当造り、インターネットによる通信販売など経営多角化に必死だ。結婚式会場として売り出す料亭も目立ってきた。

"At one time, during an election or Cabinet formation there would be faction meetings almost every night, with dark cars lined up down the street, but now there are none," says one famous restaurant owner.
　鳩山内閣が誕生した１６日、著名料亭社長は「かつては選挙や組閣ともなれば、毎晩のように派閥だなんだと次々と会合が持たれ、表には黒塗りの車が並んだのに、今回はさっぱり。こんなことは初めて」とこぼした。

"Since the post-war economic growth period, we made all the arrangements and laid the groundwork, and we came to think of ourselves as the oil lubricating business, government and bureaucracy. We felt proud," says another veteran maitre d'.
　別の料亭のベテラン接客係男性は「高度経済成長期以来、根回しや段取りなど、我々は、政財官がうまくいくための潤滑油と思ってやってきた。誇りも感じた。

"I admit that ryotei were the haunts of the factions and movers and shakers, but rejecting and criticizing them for that is very strange."
派閥や族議員のたまり場だったことは認めるが、だからといって料亭が敬遠や非難をされるのはおかしい」と話す。

Another restaurant owner in Akasaka, near Nagatacho where the Diet is situated, says: "I hope at least the DPJ will get to grips with the economic problems."
　永田町に近い赤坂にある老舗料亭の社長は「せめて民主党が景気対策に取り組んでほしい」と祈るような表情で話した。

In the '60s, there were around 1,500 ryotei across Tokyo. Now, there are just 50 or so scattered across the Ginza, Akasaka, Ningyocho, Kagurazaka, Mukojima and Asakusa districts. And the number of geisha in the city has plummeted from at least 10,000 to around 300.
　長年、政治の舞台となってきた料亭。自民党政権下では、派閥や政治家によって行きつけの料亭が決まっていた。１９６０年代には都内に約１５００軒の料亭があったが、今は銀座、赤坂、人形町、神楽坂、向島、浅草に計５０軒余。１万人以上いた芸者も、今は約３００人に減少した。

All Japan Social Association head and owner of Yonemura, Masahiko Fujino, says: "Ryotei are places where you can come in direct contact with and understand traditional Japanese culture. I'd like DPJ members to dine at ryotei and be active in the international arena."
　全国の料亭が加盟する全国料理業生活衛生同業組合連合会会長の藤野雅彦「米村」社長は「料亭は日本の伝統文化に直接触れて理解することができる場所。国際的にご活躍していただくためにも、民主党の先生方にもぜひ、いらしてほしい」と話している。

毎日新聞　2009年9月19日　東京夕刊

参院１票の格差 選挙制度の抜本的見直しを

The Yomiuri Shimbun(Oct. 2, 2009)
Electoral reform needed to end vote disparity
参院１票の格差　選挙制度の抜本的見直しを（10月2日付・読売社説）

The Supreme Court has sent a strong message to the Diet that vote value disparity cannot be fixed only through cosmetic measures.
　小手先の是正だけでは「１票の格差」は解消できない――。最高裁の国会に対する強いメッセージといえよう。

The court's Grand Bench on Wednesday said the disparity in the weight of votes or the number of eligible voters per House of Councillors seat could not be significantly narrowed only by changing the number of seats for certain constituencies.
　参院議員１人当たりの有権者数に大きな格差がある。最高裁大法廷はその１票の格差について、「各選挙区の定数を振り替えるだけでは、大幅な縮小は困難」との見解を示した。

The court then went one step further and called for drastic steps to be taken to correct this gap, saying, "The current electoral system itself needs to be reformed."
　その上で、格差是正を図るには、「現行の選挙制度の仕組み自体の見直しが必要になる」と、制度の抜本改革を求めた。

The top court has previously urged the Diet to fix the disparity in the value of votes cast in upper house elections. But the court appears to have run out of patience as little progress has been made in remedying this disparity, and moved to put strong pressure on the Diet to act.
　参院の１票の格差を巡り、最高裁はこれまでも国会に是正を求めてきた。だが、遅々として進まぬ現状にしびれを切らし、厳しく注文したということだろう。

We hope lawmakers will take the court's advice to heart and hold further discussions on this matter.
　国会はこれを真摯(しんし)に受け止め、抜本改革に向けた議論を進めていかなければならない。

===

Weight problems

The latest court case was fought over the constitutionality of the allocation of seats in the 2007 upper house election. The largest disparity in the election was between the Kanagawa and Tottori prefectural constituencies, with the former having 4.86 times more voters than the latter.
　今回の訴訟では、２００７年の参院選の定数配分が憲法に違反するかどうかが争われた。この時、１票の格差が最大だったのは、神奈川県と鳥取県選挙区の間の４・８６倍だった。

The top court ruled this imbalance was not serious enough to violate the Constitution, which guarantees equality among the people. Indeed, four upper house seats were taken from less-populous constituencies and given to constituencies with more voters in 2006 in a bid to alleviate the imbalance. However, the court said "significant inequality" still existed between the weight of votes cast in some constituencies.
　最高裁は判決の中で、０６年に参院で「４増４減」の是正措置がとられたことなどを考慮し、憲法に違反するほどではないとしたものの、「大きな不平等が存する」と判断した。


The upper house election process currently consists of a prefecturewide constituency segment and a nationwide proportional representation segment. Half of the upper house seats are contested every three years. At least two seats are allocated to each constituency, with the prefecturewide segment electing representatives of each prefecture.
　現行の参院の選挙制度は、都道府県単位の選挙区選と全国単位の比例選からなっており、３年ごとに半数が改選される仕組みだ。選挙区選は、都道府県代表の色合いが強く、各選挙区の定数は、最低でも２が配分されている。

This system, in fact, has been a barrier to reducing the vote value disparity. But if this framework were changed, new problems would emerge instead.
　これが格差是正の障害になっている。だが、この枠組みを崩すと、新たな問題が生じる。

===

System hampers progress

For example, when the "plus-four, minus-four formula" was being discussed, the Democratic Party of Japan argued for integrating the Tottori prefectural constituency, which had the fewest number of voters, and the neighboring Shimane prefectural constituency into a single constituency. This would have reduced the largest vote disparity to less than 4:1.
　例えば、民主党は「４増４減」が議論された当時、格差を４倍以内にするため、有権者数が最も少ない鳥取県と、隣の島根県の「合区」案を主張した。

If this measure had actually been implemented, however, voters in these two prefectures would be quite justified in feeling aggrieved since each prefecture would be stripped of its own elected representative.
　仮に実施していれば、両県民から「県の代表がいなくなるのは不公平」との反発が出ただろう。

As the ruling showed, as long as the current framework is maintained, there are limits to how much the vote value disparity can be rectified.
　判決が示したように、現行制度の枠組みを維持する限り、１票の格差是正には、おのずと限界があるのは明らかだ。

The DPJ has pledged to overhaul the electoral system of the upper house by around 2013.
　民主党は、１３年をめどに参院の選挙制度の「抜本的改革」を行うと公約している。

The electoral systems of the House of Representatives and the upper house both are comprised of constituency and proportional representation segments. The similarity in their setups has been the target of strong criticism. Some observers argue that upper house elections should be held only under the proportional representation system.
　衆参両院の選挙制度は、選挙区選と比例選の２本立てで、ともに似通ったものになっている。これには根強い批判があり、参院は比例選に一本化すべきといった意見もある。

We want to see thorough discussions for drastic reform of the electoral system--including on the bicameral system itself.
　二院制のあり方を含めて、選挙制度の抜本改革論議が必要だ。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Oct. 2, 2009)
（2009年10月2日00時56分 読売新聞）

暫定税率廃止 財政にも環境にもよくない

The Yomiuri Shimbun(Sep. 28, 2009)
Abolition of provisional tax rates doesn't add up
暫定税率廃止　財政にも環境にもよくない（9月28日付・読売社説）

A fall in gasoline prices is good news for drivers. But how will the government fill the huge pothole created in its finances due to cuts in road-related taxes?
　ガソリンが安くなればドライバーには朗報だ。だが、減税であく財政上の大穴は、どう埋め合わせるのだろう。

Finance Minister Hirohisa Fujii recently announced that the government will abolish provisionally higher rates for gasoline, light oil delivery and other road-related taxes in April next year.
　藤井財務相が、ガソリン税や軽油引取税などに上乗せされている暫定税率を来年４月から廃止する方針を表明した。

This means retail gasoline prices would drop by 25 yen per liter. On the other hand, the central and local governments would lose a total of 2.5 trillion yen in revenues from these taxes, which is equivalent to 20 percent of the revenues accruing from the consumption tax.
　実現すれば、ガソリンの小売価格は１リットルにつき２５円下がる。その反面、国と地方は、あわせて消費税１％分に相当する２・５兆円の財源を失ってしまう。

The Cabinet of Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama has set a midterm goal of reducing greenhouse gases by 25 percent from the 1990 levels by 2020. The abolition of the provisionally higher tax rates would run counter to the administration's initiative to tackle global warming. The government should retract its policy of repealing the provisionally higher tax rates.
　鳩山内閣は温室効果ガスの国内排出量を１９９０年より２５％削減するという厳しい中期目標を掲げるが、暫定税率の廃止は地球温暖化対策にも逆行しよう。廃止は撤回すべきである。

===

Fiscal condition parlous

In March last year, the Democratic Party of Japan opposed a planned extension of the provisionally higher tax rates, saying the party would protect people's livelihoods by reducing gasoline prices. As a result, the provisionally higher tax rates were temporarily removed after the law governing their establishment expired in April last year. The rates were restored after a bill to reinstate them passed the Diet with the then ruling parties of the Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito resorting to a second vote at the House of Representatives about a month later.
　民主党は昨年３月、「ガソリン値下げで国民生活を守る」として暫定税率の期限延長に反対した。この結果、根拠法が失効して暫定税率は昨年４月にいったんなくなった。約１か月後に当時の与党の再可決で復活した経緯がある。

Since then, the DPJ has put the policy of abolishing the provisionally higher tax rates on its front burner. The party's decision to scrap them from next fiscal year while keeping on a short leash some of its members who take a cautious approach on the matter apparently comes from its calculation that it can appeal to the public by presenting the abolition as an achievement of the new administration ahead of the House of Councillors election next summer.
　それ以来、暫定税率の廃止は民主党の看板政策となってきた。党内の一部にあった慎重論を抑えて来年度の廃止を打ち出したのは、来夏の参院選に向け、新政権の成果としたい思惑からだろう。

But the nation's fiscal condition means the state cannot stand such a big loss in resources. Due to a series of economic stimulus measures, new government bond issuance in the current fiscal year reached 44 trillion yen, and it seems certain that tax revenues will fall further below the initial projection.
　しかし、国の財政は巨額の財源を手放していい状況ではない。度重なる景気対策で今年度の新規国債発行額は４４兆円に達し、税収は当初の予想をさらに下回ることが確実と見られている。

The DPJ has said the government can make up for a fall in tax revenues by cutting wasteful spending, adding that local governments will not suffer from this policy. But concrete measures in this regard remain unclear.
　民主党は「歳出のムダを減らせば減収分は穴埋めできる。地方には迷惑をかけない」というが、具体策は不明確なままだ。

===

Review road budget

Starting from this fiscal year, road-related tax revenues are allocated for general purposes, with the result that revenues from the gasoline tax and other taxes can now be used for public welfare, health care and education. In the current fiscal budget, however, 90 percent of tax revenues were earmarked for the road budget, just as before. The promised allocation of road-related tax revenues for general purposes now looks like an empty slogan.
　今年度から道路特定財源が一般財源化され、ガソリン税などの税収は、福祉や医療、教育などに回せるようになった。しかし、今年度予算では、税収の９割が相変わらず道路予算に使われ、一般財源化はかけ声倒れになっている。

First and foremost, the new administration should closely reexamine the road budget and throw its energies into realizing a plan to allocate road-related tax revenues for general purposes in both word and deed.
　新政権は道路予算を洗い直し、一般財源化を名実ともに実現することにまず力を注ぐべきだ。

The DPJ considers it problematic that the surcharges that were temporarily added to the basic rates to fund road construction remained in place for as long as 35 years. If that is the case, it should discuss recasting the provisionally higher tax rates as basic rates.
　道路整備のために導入された一時的な上乗せ税率が３５年も続いてきたのが問題というなら、暫定税率を本則として位置づけし直すことを検討すべきであろう。

Some DPJ members envisage a plan to abolish the current provisionally higher tax rates and create a new tax aimed at slowing global warming that would in effect make up some of the revenue shortfall left by the scrapping of these surcharges. To reduce greenhouse gases emitted from factories, the DPJ is believed to be planning to moot a new, environment-related tax to be applied to the industrial sector.
　民主党内には暫定税率をいったん廃止した後、その一部を取り込む形で地球温暖化対策税を創設する構想もある。工場などの温室効果ガス排出を抑えるため、あわせて産業分野への新たな環境関連課税も検討されるとみられる。

But new taxes could dampen the vitality of the country's business community. The hasty introduction of such new taxes should be avoided.
　だが、新たな企業課税は経済界の活力をそぎかねない。拙速な導入は禁物だ。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 28, 2009)
（2009年9月28日00時52分 読売新聞）