新成長戦略 目標実現の具体策が見えない

The Yomiuri Shimbun (Dec. 31, 2009)
Govt's new growth strategy short on details
新成長戦略　目標実現の具体策が見えない（12月31日付・読売社説）

Having an ambitious goal alone is not enough to ensure a bright future. The government's newly unveiled growth strategy for a "shining Japan" lacks vital substance in that it fails to illuminate how to achieve these goals in detail.
The strategy, the basic policy of which was approved by the Cabinet on Wednesday, sets a target of achieving a more than 2 percent annual growth in the gross domestic product in real terms through fiscal 2020. In nominal terms, the growth target is aimed at staying above 3 percent.
　高い目標を掲げるだけで、明るい未来は開けない。肝心なのは実現する具体的手法の明示だが、そこが欠けている。
　政府は３０日の閣議で、新たな成長戦略の基本方針「輝きのある日本へ」を決定した。
　国内総生産（ＧＤＰ）を２０２０年度まで実質で年２％、名目は３％を上回るペースで成長させる数値目標を掲げた。

This means that in 10 years, the nominal GDP is expected to grow from the 470 trillion yen of this fiscal year to 650 trillion yen. But the fact is that the nominal GDP has been in negative territory for the past six straight quarters, pushing GDP down by 50 trillion yen. As the economy has entered a deflationary phase, which also shrinks the GDP, obstacles to reaching the target are extremely high.
　名目ＧＤＰは今年度の４７０兆円から６５０兆円に増える計算だが、現状はここ６四半期連続のマイナスで、５０兆円も減った。名目ＧＤＰをしぼませるデフレに再び陥ったこともあり、目標達成のハードルは極めて高い。

===

Solid ends, vague means

In its growth strategy, the government declared it would pursue a "third way" of seeking the creation of new demand, instead of relying on public works projects or following the principle of market fundamentalism as seen under the administration of former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi. The new stance touted by the administration of Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama appears to be in line with a policy pledge to "shift from concrete to human beings," meaning a departure from an industrial structure heavily dependent on public works projects.
　成長戦略は公共事業依存でも、小泉路線のような市場原理主義でもない、新需要の創造という「第３の道」を進むとしている。「コンクリートから人へ」などの政権公約に沿った考え方だろう。

The strategy listed two areas--the environment and energy, and medical and nursing care services--that the government intends to focus on and shore up. In these areas, which Japan can boast of having strengths in, there will be a goal of creating new demand worth 100 trillion yen and 4.2 new million jobs.
　具体的には、環境・エネルギーと医療・介護を、日本が強みを持つ２分野として集中的にテコ入れし、１００兆円の需要と４２０万人の雇用を新たに生み出す。

The government also intends to stimulate trade with other Asian nations--whose economies are continuing to grow fast--support scientific and technological development and strengthen measures to sustain employment.
　高成長が続くアジアとの取引活性化や、科学技術の支援、雇用下支えの強化なども図る。

There is nothing wrong with the direction of these policy courses. But, in terms of details in the measures, we find little difference with those included in about a dozen growth strategies hammered out by the governments of the past decade.
　方向性に問題はないが、具体策は政府が過去１０年に出した十指に余る成長戦略と大差ない。

This is likely because the strategy was compiled from worn-out proposals submitted by ministries and agencies concerned. As it took only half a month to devise the strategy, it gives an impression that the government threw it together in order to thwart criticism that the current administration has no growth strategy.
　関係府省が持ち寄った案をまとめたため、新味のないアイデアが並んだのだろう。策定作業は約半月と短く、成長戦略がないという批判をかわす「やっつけ仕事」との印象もぬぐえない。

===

Get private sector input

The government intends, by June, to complete the growth strategy by putting flesh on these basic policy bones and provide a road map for achieving these goals.
　政府は来年６月までに、この基本方針に肉付けをして成長戦略を完成させ、実現に向けた工程表も示す方針という。

But it would be better to drastically review the strategy by, for example, inviting ideas widely from the private sector and narrowing down the list of measures to those that appear to have the greatest potential effect and feasibility. There also should be mention of how necessary funds for nurturing new industries and supporting technological development should be allocated.
　だがこの際、民間からアイデアを広く募って、効果や実現性の高いものに絞り込むなど、抜本的に練り直した方がいい。新産業の育成や技術支援に必要な費用をどう工面するのかも示すべきだ。

If the Hatoyama administration sticks to its policy pledge not to raise the consumption tax rate for four years, it is unlikely that it will be able to secure a stable revenue source to implement policy measures. It must not have faith in a "rising tide" theory of economic growth being able to increase tax revenues.
　消費税率を４年間は上げないという政権公約にこだわれば、安定した財源は得られまい。「経済成長で税収が増えれば賄える」とする“上げ潮”依存は禁物だ。

It also is necessary to show the path to fiscal reconstruction for the mid- to long-run in order to ease people's anxiety about the future of social security and other matters.
　中長期的な財政再建の道筋も同時に示し、社会保障などの将来不安を和らげる必要もある。

Unless measures are taken to prevent a further economic decline and solve the deflation problem, any great growth strategy will merely end up being pie in the sky.
　景気の底割れを防ぎ、デフレを解消しないと、どんな立派な成長戦略も絵に描いたモチになる。

The government has cut spending for public works projects by nearly 20 percent in the fiscal 2010 budget, compared with the current fiscal year. Spending for urgently needed projects such as construction work to improve the earthquake resistance of primary and middle school buildings also has been reduced. These projects should be revived and used to help economic recovery.
　政府は来年度予算の公共事業を前年度より２割近く減らし、小中学校の耐震化など急ぐべき事業も削った。これらを復活して、景気回復に役立てるべきだ。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 31, 2009)
（2009年12月31日01時16分 読売新聞）

０９回顧・国際 オバマ政権登場で動いた世界

The Yomiuri Shimbun (Dec. 30, 2009)
2009 provided plenty of grist for media mill
０９回顧・国際　オバマ政権登場で動いた世界（12月30日付・読売社説）

It has been a busy year. From a pandemic of a new type of influenza that hit the world this year to the struggles of the global economy to get out of recession to the prevention of nuclear proliferation and global environmental problems--the international community had to tackle a wide variety of issues.
　世界不況からの脱却へ模索が続く中、新型インフルエンザの世界的大流行に見舞われた。
　核の拡散防止や地球環境問題など、国際社会で取り組む課題が相次いだ。

On the list of the top 10 international news stories chosen by readers of The Yomiuri Shimbun, Barack Obama's inauguration as U.S. president and his winning of the Nobel Peace Prize ranked second and fifth respectively. This shows how popular Obama is, even in Japan.
　本紙の読者が選ぶ「海外１０大ニュース」は、オバマ米大統領の就任（２位）とノーベル平和賞の受賞（５位）が上位入りした。オバマ人気の高さがうかがえる。

　◆「核なき世界」を決議◆
In April, Obama announced his target of a nuclear free world during a speech in Prague--a story that ranked 13th on the list. Although he said it would be difficult to realize that goal during his lifetime, Obama chaired a summit-level meeting of the U.N. Security Council in September and led the council to approve a historic resolution aimed at ridding the world of nuclear weapons--a story that ranked 15th on the list.
　オバマ大統領は４月、プラハでの演説で「核兵器なき世界」の実現を訴えた（１３位）。自らが生きている間の実現は難しいとしたが、９月の国連安全保障理事会の首脳級会合で議長を務め、「核兵器なき世界」を目指す決議を採択に導いた（１５位）。

However, Obama said during a speech at the Nobel Peace Prize award ceremony in December; "The instruments of war do have a role to play in preserving the peace," positioning the U.S. war in Afghanistan and other conflicts as "just wars."
He made the remark as the leader of the world's preeminent superpower, based on the cold, hard realities of the world.
　そのオバマ大統領は１２月のノーベル平和賞の受賞演説で、「平和維持のためには戦争という手段が演じる役割もある」と述べ、アフガニスタン戦争などを「正しい戦争」と位置づけた。超大国の最高指導者として、冷徹な現実を踏まえた発言だった。

===

N. Korea still source of concern

In April, North Korea test-fired a long-range ballistic missile--the news story raking sixth on the list. The U.N. Security Council immediately adopted a presidential statement condemning the launch, but Pyongyang held an underground nuclear test in May (story No. 14 on the list).
　北朝鮮は４月に弾道ミサイルを発射した（６位）。国連安保理は非難声明を採択したが、さらに北朝鮮は５月、地下核実験を強行した（１４位）。

As it was the second nuclear test North Korea has conducted since 2006, it was reasonable that the Security Council unanimously approved a resolution widening sanctions against the reclusive state.
　２００６年以来２度目の核実験で、国連安保理が制裁決議を採択したのは当然だった。

Though the United States and China are continuing negotiations with North Korea, the six-way talks aimed at stopping Pyongyang's nuclear development program have remained suspended and will see the old year out without any likelihood of resumption.
　米中による北朝鮮への働きかけが続いているが、中断されたままの６か国協議は、再開のメドが立たないまま越年する。

The news story ranked eighth was the riots by Muslim Uygurs that erupted in Urumqi, the capital of China's Xingjian Uygur Autonomous Region, in which 197 people died. The incident highlighted the antagonism between China's majority Han people and Uygurs, showing that ethnic minority issues could prove to be the Achilles' heel of China, whose economy continues to grow rapidly.
　経済成長著しい中国の新疆ウイグル自治区で暴動が発生、１９７人が死亡した（８位）。漢族とウイグル族の反目も露(あら)わになり、少数民族問題が中国のアキレス腱(けん)であることが鮮明になった。

In October, China celebrated the 60th anniversary of People's Republic of China, staging the military parade for the first time in 10 years, a story readers ranked 18th. It symbolized the efforts by the Chinese Communist Party and the government to boost national prestige. However, the administration of Chinese President Hu Jintao, who has just three more years or so in office, is facing a mountain of problems such as the growing gap between the rich and the poor, and spreading corruption.
　中国は１０月、建国６０周年を迎え、１０年ぶりに軍事パレードを実施した（１８位）。国威発揚に向けた党・政府の取り組みだが、貧富の差の拡大や汚職の増加など、残りの任期３年余りとなった胡錦濤政権にとって課題は山積だ。

===

Deadly blaze

The news story ranked seventh on the list is the shooting range fire in Busan, South Korea, in November that killed 15, including 10 Japanese tourists.
　韓国南部の釜山で１１月、室内射撃場で火災が発生し、日本人観光客１０人が死亡した（７位）。

Also in South Korea, former President Roh Moo-hyun killed himself in May and Kim Dae Jung, former president and recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize, passed away in August, both of which were sad news for South Koreans.
　その韓国では盧武鉉・前大統領が５月に自殺し、ノーベル平和賞受賞者の金大中・元大統領も８月に死去した。

From the first outbreak in Mexico in April, a new type of flu spread around the world this year. According to the World Health Organization, the global death toll from the disease, including deaths in Japan, topped 10,000. This was the No. 1 story on the The Yomiuri Shimbun's list of the top 10 international news stories.
　４月にメキシコで発生した新型インフルエンザは、世界に広がった。世界保健機関（ＷＨＯ）によれば、日本を含む世界全体の死者は１万人を突破した。これが本紙海外ニュースの１位である。

The new flu pandemic highlighted various concerns about the way governments around the world cooperate to fight the global spread of infectious diseases. Developing countries suffered shortages of vaccines against the type A H1N1 flu virus.
　途上国ではワクチンの供給が不足するなど、感染症の世界的な拡大における国際協力のあり方に教訓を残したと言える。

The financial crisis entered its second year in the wake of momentous events in the first half of the year including the bankruptcies of major U.S. auto manufacturers General Motors and Chrysler--the story ranked fourth on the list of international news stories.
　２年目に入った金融危機は、米自動車業界大手のゼネラル・モーターズ（ＧＭ）やクライスラーが相次いで経営破綻(はたん)に追い込まれる（４位）など、今年前半は厳しい状況が続いた。

===

Economy bottoms out
　◆経済最悪期は脱した◆

Financial summit meetings of the Group of 20, at which leaders of the 19 nations and the European Union discussed what measures they should take to combat the economic crisis and fix the global economy, were held in London in April and Pittsburgh in September. With the nations cooperatively carrying out fiscal measures and monetary easing policies, it is believed that the worst of the global economic crisis is over.
　世界の景気対策を協議する２０か国・地域（Ｇ２０）首脳による金融サミットが４月にロンドンで、９月に米ピッツバーグで、それぞれ開催された。各国は連携して財政出動や金融緩和策などを実施した結果、世界経済の最悪期は脱したとされる。

The G-20 released a leaders' statement in which they proclaimed the G-20 to be the premier forum for international economic cooperation, a development that appears to weaken the influence of the Group of Eight summit of industrialized nations.
　Ｇ２０は国際経済を議論する最上位の会合へ格上げをする、との首脳声明を発表した。現在の主要８か国による首脳会議（Ｇ８）の影は薄くなることが懸念される。

Concerning international cooperation to combat global warming, the Conference of Parties to the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change in Copenhagen (COP15) failed to set concrete reduction goals for greenhouse gasses. The participating nations were able to avert a complete breakdown in negotiations and somehow maintained a positive attitude toward resolving the issue. However, various problems remain unsolved.
　地球温暖化防止では、１２月のコペンハーゲンでの国連気候変動枠組み条約第１５回締約国会議（ＣＯＰ１５）で、具体的な削減目標を設定できなかった。決裂を回避し、解決に取り組む姿勢は維持できたが、課題は残された。

In September, a magnitude-8 earthquake hit the island nation of Samoa in the South Pacific, followed by a magnitude 7.6 quake that struck off the coast of Sumatra, Indonesia. In all, more than 1,000 people were killed or went missing, a story that was ranked ninth by Yomiuri Shimbun readers.
　９月、南太平洋のサモア諸島沖でのマグニチュード（Ｍ）８の地震に続いて、インドネシアのスマトラ島沖でもＭ７・６の地震が起き、合わせて１０００人を超える死者・不明者が出た（９位）。

===

Lightning fast

The 10th ranked story was considerably more cheerful--Usain Bolt of Jamaica won three world athletic titles at the World Championships in Athletics in August, breaking world records in the 100-meter and 200-meter sprints and winning a third gold in the 400-meter relay.
　明るいニュースでは、世界陸上の雄、ウサイン・ボルト選手（ジャマイカ）が８月、男子１００メートルと２００メートルで世界新記録で優勝し、男子リレーでの優勝と合わせ３冠を獲得した（１０位）。

　◆テロとの戦いは続く◆
In less happy news, golf superstar Tiger Woods, 33, stunned the world with his involvement in extramarital affairs with several women. The scandal led him to announce in December that he would take an indefinite break from professional golf.
　一方、男子ゴルフ界のスーパースター、タイガー・ウッズ選手は、複数の女性との不倫騒動が発覚し、世間を驚かせた。１２月、ツアー出場の無期限自粛を自ら宣言する羽目に陥った。

The sudden death in June of singer Michael Jackson startled his fans around the globe--a story ranked third on the list by readers. Jackson was only 50 years old. Police continue to investigate accusations of criminal wrongdoing against the celebrity's personal physician.
　歌手マイケル・ジャクソンさんが６月、突然に死去したことも世界中のファンを驚かせた（３位）。５０歳の若さであり、専属医を巡る捜査は今も継続している。

Bombing attacks by terrorists are an almost daily event in Iraq and Afghanistan. In December, Obama announced that the United States would dispatch an additional 30,000 troops to Afghanistan in the first half of next year and that it would start withdrawing troops from the country beginning July 2011. The war against terrorism will continue into next year and beyond.
　イラクやアフガニスタンでは、連日のように爆弾テロが起きている。オバマ大統領は１２月、アフガンに兵士３万人を来年前半に追加増派し、２０１１年７月をメドに米軍撤収を始めると発表した。テロとの戦いは来年以降も続く。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 30, 2009)
（2009年12月30日01時17分 読売新聞）

首相インド訪問 新たな大国との関係強化を

The Yomiuri Shimbun (Dec. 29, 2009)
Japan should cement ties with new big power India
首相インド訪問　新たな大国との関係強化を（12月29日付・読売社説）

Despite the hectic political calendar at year-end, Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama chose to schedule a trip abroad, to South Asian major power India.
　鳩山首相が、年末の慌ただしい時期に選んだ外国訪問先は、南アジアの大国インドだ。

India, which has been displaying remarkable economic growth, emulating that of China, is located in an important position connecting the Middle East and East Asia. Japan should promote an economic alliance and security cooperation with India and strengthen the bilateral relationship from a strategic perspective.
　中国を追うように経済成長著しいインドは、中東と東アジアを結ぶ要路に位置する。経済連携や安全保障協力などを進め、日印関係を戦略的に強化していくべきだ。

India has been maintaining an annualized economic growth rate of 8 percent and has the second-largest population in the world. The country is an attractive economic market for advanced nations. The number of Japanese companies that have advanced into India has tripled in the past three years.
　インドは年率８％の経済成長を続け、世界第２の人口を有する。先進国にとっては魅力的な経済市場だ。日本の進出企業も過去３年間で３倍に増えた。

But Japan's total trade volume with India has remained at a low level, and amounts to about one-twentieth of the value of the trade this country does with China.
　だが、日印間の貿易総額はいまだに低水準で、日中間と比べると約２０分の１の規模だ。

Signaling his desire to boost the Japan-India bilateral economic relationship, Hatoyama held talks with business leaders in the commercial city of Mumbai before traveling to New Delhi for talks with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
　鳩山首相が首都ニューデリーに入る前に商都ムンバイを訪れ、経済界の代表らと会談したのも、日印経済関係をいっそう強化したいとの強い意欲の表れだろう。

===

Intensify EPA talks

Experts point out that India's social infrastructure is still insufficient, hindering the expansion of investment from abroad. It is important for Japan to steadily implement its economic assistance for large-scale projects in India, including the construction of a railway for freight transportation linking New Delhi and Mumbai.
　インドは社会基盤の整備が不十分で、それが投資拡大の阻害要因と言われる。ニューデリー・ムンバイ間の貨物鉄道建設など大型プロジェクトに対する経済援助を着実に実施することが重要だ。

Japan also needs to accelerate its negotiations for an economic partnership agreement with India.
　経済連携協定（ＥＰＡ）の交渉も加速すべきだ。

In the negotiations, India has asked Japan to streamline its procedures for approving generic drugs and increase the number of tariff-free items. The Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry and the Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry are reluctant to accept such demands, but we hope that concerned ministers will discuss policies for the negotiations, working out which items Japan should compromise on and which ones it should not, without relying too much on bureaucrats.
　インド側は、後発医薬品の承認手続きの簡素化や関税撤廃品目の積み増しを求めている。厚生労働省や農林水産省は消極的だが、関係閣僚は、何を譲り、何を守るのか、官僚任せにせずに交渉方針を検討してもらいたい。

This summer, South Korea signed an economic partnership agreement with India. Japan should be aware this means South Korean companies will be able to get a head start in India on a more advantageous footing than Japanese firms.
　韓国は今年夏、インドとのＥＰＡ署名にこぎつけた。韓国企業が先んじて有利な条件でインドに進出できるようになることも、十分意識すべきだろう。

===

Antipiracy steps needed

In Tuesday's summit meeting, Hatoyama and Singh are expected to establish a regular bilateral security consultation forum involving the foreign and defense vice ministers of the two countries. The countries are considering upgrading the security talks to a ministerial-level meeting in the future.
　きょう行われる日印首脳会談では、外務、防衛両省の次官級による安全保障定期協議の新設で合意する予定だ。将来的には閣僚級への格上げも想定している。

Ensuring the security of sea-lanes connecting the Middle East and East Asia is desperately important for Japan, which relies heavily on foreign countries for energy resources and food. We hope the Japanese and Indian leaders will discuss concrete steps toward that goal, such as sharing of information on pirates and mounting joint antipiracy patrols.
　中東と東アジアを結ぶシーレーン（海上交通路）の安全確保は、エネルギーや食糧の多くを海外に依存する日本にとって、死活的に重要だ。海賊情報の共有や共同パトロールなど、具体的な協力方法を探ってほしい。

India is an important partner for Japan in the regional cooperative framework centered around the East Asia Summit.
　インドは東アジア首脳会議を核とした地域協力でも重要なパートナーだ。

On the other hand, concerning the new round of multilateral trade talks under the World Trade Organization and the climate change problem, India, along with China, continues to take the side of developing countries, and its words and deeds have caused friction with advanced nations, including Japan.
　一方、世界貿易機関（ＷＴＯ）の新多角的貿易交渉や気候変動問題では、インドは中国とともに途上国側に立った言動を繰り返し、日本を含めた先進国と対立する場面が目立っている。

Japan should patiently call on India to play constructive roles that fit its new status as a major power.
　インドが新しい大国にふさわしい建設的役割を果たすよう、日本としても粘り強く働きかけていく必要がある。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 29, 2009)
（2009年12月29日01時16分 読売新聞）

指導要領解説書 「竹島」に触れないのは問題だ

The Yomiuri Shimbun (Dec. 28, 2009)
Teaching manual mustn't avoid Takeshima dispute
指導要領解説書　「竹島」に触れないのは問題だ（12月28日付・読売社説）

The generations who will forge this nation's future must be accurately taught about its territories and history.
　将来を担う世代に自国の領土や歴史をきちんと教えていくのは、大切なことだ。

However, the Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Ministry has made no reference to the Takeshima islets--which South Korea claims as its sovereign territory, an assertion Japan disputes--in an instruction manual containing its new high school curriculum guidelines on geography A and geography B set to come into effect in the 2013 academic year. This omission is extremely questionable.
　文部科学省が、２０１３年度から実施する高校地理Ａ、地理Ｂの新学習指導要領の解説書で、日本の領土にもかかわらず、韓国が領有権を主張している「竹島」に言及しなかった。これは極めて問題だ。

Japan established sovereignty over the Takeshima islets no later than the mid-17th century--in the early Edo period (1603-1867).
In 1905, the islets were placed under the jurisdiction of Shimane Prefecture following approval by the cabinet.
　竹島は、遅くとも江戸時代初期の１７世紀半ばには日本が領有権を確立し、１９０５年、閣議決定を経て、島根県に編入された。

However, South Korea has been occupying the islets unlawfully since 1952, when Seoul unilaterally drew the Syngman Rhee Line--a boundary laid down by then South Korean President Syngman Rhee in the Sea of Japan claiming fishing rights in the area--a move made in defiance of international law.
　ところが、韓国は１９５２年、国際法に反して日本海に「李承晩ライン」を一方的に設けて以降、竹島の不法占拠を続けている。

This country's official stance on the islets is that Takeshima has always been an integral part of the nation's territory, a view backed historically and by international law.
　「竹島は歴史的にも国際法上も我が国固有の領土」というのが、日本政府の見解だ。

In current high school textbooks, six authorized textbooks for geography A and five books for geography B state there is a sovereignty dispute with South Korea over the Takeshima islets, and that they are an integral part of Japan.
現在の高校教科書にも、地理Ａで６冊、地理Ｂで５冊に、「日本固有の領土の竹島で韓国との間に領有権問題がある」などと記述されている。

===

1 step backward

In July last year, the education ministry added for the first time the teaching of Japan's stance on the Takeshima islets to a teaching manual for middle school curriculum guidelines for social studies, which will take effect in the 2012 academic year.
　２０１２年度に実施される中学校社会科の指導要領の解説書には昨年７月、竹島を日本の領土と教えるよう初めて盛り込まれた。

But the teaching manual in question does not clarify that the territorial dispute involves the Takeshima islets. It simply says, "Following up on what is taught in middle school, we should handle this issue accurately, based upon our country's rightful assertions, and help students deepen their understanding."
　ところが、高校の解説書では、領土問題について竹島とは明記せず、「中学校における学習を踏まえ、我が国が正当に主張している立場に基づいて的確に扱い、理解を深めさせる」とあるだけだ。

The education ministry says the government's stance--that the Takeshima islets are an integral part of the nation--remains unchanged. If so, the ministry should state this clearly. It makes no sense that what is taught about the Takeshima dispute at high school level is a step backward from what is taught at middle school level, despite high school being a place to develop what has been studied at middle school.
　文科省は「竹島は我が国固有の領土という立場は変わらない」と言うが、それならそう明記すべきではないか。中学校で学んだ内容を発展させる高校のほうが、記述が後退するのは筋が通らない。

===

Consideration for S. Korea

Unlike the curriculum guidelines, the teaching manual comes with no legal obligation to be implemented. However, it will be a lodestar both for textbook publishers and teachers preparing for classes. The manual in question has the potential to generate misunderstanding among textbook publishers and teachers and cause them to disregard the Takeshima dispute.
　解説書は指導要領と違い、法的拘束力はないが、教科書を作る出版社や授業を行う教員の指針になる。今回の解説書では、出版社や教員にも竹島を軽視して構わないといった誤解を生みかねない。

Sources said Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama made the final decision that the new manual should not mention the Takeshima issue.
　今回は鳩山首相が最終的に判断したという。

When he was in the opposition camp, Hatoyama said, "It's natural to clearly state [the Takeshima issue]" when the issue was included in a teaching manual for middle school curriculum guidelines for social studies, which drew a series of harsh protests from South Korea. It is doubtful his latest decision could be squared with his previous remark.
首相は野党時代、中学校解説書に竹島が盛り込まれたことに韓国が反発した際、「明記するのは当然」と話していた。その発言との整合性も取れまい。

Observers said the absence of any mention of the Takeshima issue resulted from the government's consideration for South Korean ties, as next year will mark the 100th anniversary of Japan's annexation of Korea.
　竹島の記述を今回見送った背景には、来年、日韓併合から１００年の節目を迎えるため、韓国に配慮したと見る向きも多い。

Territorial issues and how to teach them at schools form an important theme that touches on the fundamentals of nationhood. South Korea is a valuable neighbor, but fundamental truths must not be distorted due to diplomatic considerations.
　領土問題やそれを学校でどう教えるかということは、国の根幹にかかわる重要なテーマだ。韓国は大事な隣国だが、外交上の配慮でゆがめてはならない。

It will not be easy to resolve the territorial dispute over the Takeshima islets. For this reason, an unstinting effort must be made to educate people who will in the future help the public fully understand the issue as well as convey Japan's stance to the international community.
　竹島の領有権をめぐる問題の解決は容易ではない。だからこそ、国民に十分理解させ、国際社会に日本の立場を発信していける人材を育成する努力が欠かせない。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 28, 2009)
（2009年12月28日01時22分 読売新聞）The Yomiuri Shimbun (Dec. 28, 2009)
Teaching manual mustn't avoid Takeshima dispute
指導要領解説書　「竹島」に触れないのは問題だ（12月28日付・読売社説）

The generations who will forge this nation's future must be accurately taught about its territories and history.
　将来を担う世代に自国の領土や歴史をきちんと教えていくのは、大切なことだ。

However, the Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Ministry has made no reference to the Takeshima islets--which South Korea claims as its sovereign territory, an assertion Japan disputes--in an instruction manual containing its new high school curriculum guidelines on geography A and geography B set to come into effect in the 2013 academic year. This omission is extremely questionable.
　文部科学省が、２０１３年度から実施する高校地理Ａ、地理Ｂの新学習指導要領の解説書で、日本の領土にもかかわらず、韓国が領有権を主張している「竹島」に言及しなかった。これは極めて問題だ。

Japan established sovereignty over the Takeshima islets no later than the mid-17th century--in the early Edo period (1603-1867).
In 1905, the islets were placed under the jurisdiction of Shimane Prefecture following approval by the cabinet.
　竹島は、遅くとも江戸時代初期の１７世紀半ばには日本が領有権を確立し、１９０５年、閣議決定を経て、島根県に編入された。

However, South Korea has been occupying the islets unlawfully since 1952, when Seoul unilaterally drew the Syngman Rhee Line--a boundary laid down by then South Korean President Syngman Rhee in the Sea of Japan claiming fishing rights in the area--a move made in defiance of international law.
　ところが、韓国は１９５２年、国際法に反して日本海に「李承晩ライン」を一方的に設けて以降、竹島の不法占拠を続けている。

This country's official stance on the islets is that Takeshima has always been an integral part of the nation's territory, a view backed historically and by international law.
　「竹島は歴史的にも国際法上も我が国固有の領土」というのが、日本政府の見解だ。

In current high school textbooks, six authorized textbooks for geography A and five books for geography B state there is a sovereignty dispute with South Korea over the Takeshima islets, and that they are an integral part of Japan.
現在の高校教科書にも、地理Ａで６冊、地理Ｂで５冊に、「日本固有の領土の竹島で韓国との間に領有権問題がある」などと記述されている。

===

1 step backward

In July last year, the education ministry added for the first time the teaching of Japan's stance on the Takeshima islets to a teaching manual for middle school curriculum guidelines for social studies, which will take effect in the 2012 academic year.
　２０１２年度に実施される中学校社会科の指導要領の解説書には昨年７月、竹島を日本の領土と教えるよう初めて盛り込まれた。

But the teaching manual in question does not clarify that the territorial dispute involves the Takeshima islets. It simply says, "Following up on what is taught in middle school, we should handle this issue accurately, based upon our country's rightful assertions, and help students deepen their understanding."
　ところが、高校の解説書では、領土問題について竹島とは明記せず、「中学校における学習を踏まえ、我が国が正当に主張している立場に基づいて的確に扱い、理解を深めさせる」とあるだけだ。

The education ministry says the government's stance--that the Takeshima islets are an integral part of the nation--remains unchanged. If so, the ministry should state this clearly. It makes no sense that what is taught about the Takeshima dispute at high school level is a step backward from what is taught at middle school level, despite high school being a place to develop what has been studied at middle school.
　文科省は「竹島は我が国固有の領土という立場は変わらない」と言うが、それならそう明記すべきではないか。中学校で学んだ内容を発展させる高校のほうが、記述が後退するのは筋が通らない。

===

Consideration for S. Korea

Unlike the curriculum guidelines, the teaching manual comes with no legal obligation to be implemented. However, it will be a lodestar both for textbook publishers and teachers preparing for classes. The manual in question has the potential to generate misunderstanding among textbook publishers and teachers and cause them to disregard the Takeshima dispute.
　解説書は指導要領と違い、法的拘束力はないが、教科書を作る出版社や授業を行う教員の指針になる。今回の解説書では、出版社や教員にも竹島を軽視して構わないといった誤解を生みかねない。

Sources said Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama made the final decision that the new manual should not mention the Takeshima issue.
　今回は鳩山首相が最終的に判断したという。

When he was in the opposition camp, Hatoyama said, "It's natural to clearly state [the Takeshima issue]" when the issue was included in a teaching manual for middle school curriculum guidelines for social studies, which drew a series of harsh protests from South Korea. It is doubtful his latest decision could be squared with his previous remark.
首相は野党時代、中学校解説書に竹島が盛り込まれたことに韓国が反発した際、「明記するのは当然」と話していた。その発言との整合性も取れまい。

Observers said the absence of any mention of the Takeshima issue resulted from the government's consideration for South Korean ties, as next year will mark the 100th anniversary of Japan's annexation of Korea.
　竹島の記述を今回見送った背景には、来年、日韓併合から１００年の節目を迎えるため、韓国に配慮したと見る向きも多い。

Territorial issues and how to teach them at schools form an important theme that touches on the fundamentals of nationhood. South Korea is a valuable neighbor, but fundamental truths must not be distorted due to diplomatic considerations.
　領土問題やそれを学校でどう教えるかということは、国の根幹にかかわる重要なテーマだ。韓国は大事な隣国だが、外交上の配慮でゆがめてはならない。

It will not be easy to resolve the territorial dispute over the Takeshima islets. For this reason, an unstinting effort must be made to educate people who will in the future help the public fully understand the issue as well as convey Japan's stance to the international community.
　竹島の領有権をめぐる問題の解決は容易ではない。だからこそ、国民に十分理解させ、国際社会に日本の立場を発信していける人材を育成する努力が欠かせない。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 28, 2009)
（2009年12月28日01時22分 読売新聞）

プロとアマとの違い

亡くなったプロレスラーのジャイアント馬場さんがテレビの番組に出演していて、女性アナの質問に答えて次のように話していた。

女性アナ： 『プロとアマの違いって何ですか？』

G.馬場 ：『苦しいときそれでやめてしまうのがアマ、苦しくても続けることができるのがプロ』

２０年以上前偶然聞いたこの言葉は、不思議なことに今でも私の記憶として鮮明に残っている。
馬場さんの温厚な人柄とあいまって、この言葉は説得力をもって今でも私に語りかけている。
ありがとうジャイアント馬場さん

０９回顧・日本 越年となる政権迷走と不況

The Yomiuri Shimbun (Dec. 27, 2009)
New govt, economy top stories of 2009
０９回顧・日本　越年となる政権迷走と不況（12月27日付・読売社説）

In our annual ranking of the 10 domestic news stories of the year, the change of government tops the list. The administration led by Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama was launched after the Democratic Party of Japan's overwhelming victory in the August House of Representatives election, in which it claimed 308 seats.
　年末恒例の、読者が選んだ本紙の「日本１０大ニュース」の１位は「衆院選で民主３０８議席の圧勝、歴史的政権交代で鳩山内閣発足」だった。

Day after day the new administration offered up eye-catching proposals. However, three months since the administration was launched under a banner of change, the high expectations initially held by the public have waned, with a sense of uncertainty and concern about the coalition government creeping in.
　新政権は連日、様々な話題をお茶の間に提供した。だが、変革を旗印に政権が発足して３か月余、当初の期待感も薄れ、連立内閣への危うさや不安を感じ始めた国民も多いのではないか。

　◆政治ドラマに高い関心◆
Much public attention had been paid to the fate of the DPJ's manifesto pledges, such as the child-rearing allowance program, the abolition of provisionally higher tax rates for gasoline and other auto-related taxes, and government subsidies for high school tuition.
　民主党が政権公約として掲げた子ども手当、暫定税率廃止、高校無償化などの行方に関心が集中した。

Toward the end of the year, however, there was an unexpected development regarding these issues, with DPJ Secretary General Ichiro Ozawa seeking a drastic government review of the pledges. It was as if we were watching a drama unfold on TV.
年の瀬も押し迫り、同党の小沢幹事長が公約の大幅修正を政府に求めるなど、ドラマを見るような展開をたどった。

The Government Revitalization Unit's review of budgetary requests for fiscal 2010, conducted to weed out wasteful spending, was an attention-getter, but it failed to find and cut as much wasteful spending as it hoped.
　予算の無駄を見直す行政刷新会議の事業仕分けは、華々しさに比して削減額は少なかった。

On the relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station in Ginowan, Okinawa Prefecture, Hatoyama decided to put off a decision on the issue that had emerged as a hot topic until next year, leaving the Japan-U.S. relationship severely strained.
米軍普天間飛行場移設問題では、鳩山首相が結論を先送りし、日米関係は危機的な状況に陥っている。

Prosecutors have indicted two former secretaries of Hatoyama without arrest over falsified fund reports that violated the Political Funds Control Law. The trial of Ozawa's former secretary over a political funds scandal has recently begun. All of which have brought problems involving politics and money back to the fore this year.
　政治資金収支報告書の虚偽記入事件で鳩山首相の元秘書２人がそれぞれ在宅起訴、略式起訴され、小沢氏の秘書の公判も始まった。「政治とカネ」をめぐる問題が再燃した年でもあった。

===

Expressway issues

Seventh on the top 10 list is the introduction of expressway tolls set at 1,000 yen or lower. Discounted tolls on weekends and holidays for standard-sized passenger vehicles started in March on all expressways except those in major metropolitan areas. This is no doubt a topic close to the hearts of drivers.
　７位には「高速道『上限１０００円』スタート」が入った。車を運転する人などには、それだけ関心事なのだろう。

The system was introduced in spring by the then cabinet of Prime Minister Taro Aso. But the new administration sought to go even further, proposing that all expressways be made toll-free.
　前の麻生内閣の施策だが、新政権はさらに進めて無料化を打ち出した。

However, if expressway tolls were done away with, there is concern that free expressways could lead to people in regional areas being deprived of public transport, such as railways, if such forms of transportation were to find themselves unable to make ends meet and were forced to cease operations due to more people opting to travel by car.
地方の公共交通の足が奪われると懸念されている。

The 20th year of the Emperor's ascension to the throne ranks sixth. In the past two decades, the Emperor has resolutely adhered to the philosophy of sharing in the joys and sorrows of the people, always seeking to determine what his role should be as the symbol of the state.
　「天皇陛下即位２０年」が６位である。「国民と苦楽を共にする」という考えを貫かれ、「象徴として望ましい天皇の在り方」を求め続けられた２０年だった。

Also this year, the Emperor and Empress celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. A variety of events were held to celebrate the 20th year of the Emperor's enthronement and the Imperial couple's 50th wedding anniversary.
　天皇、皇后両陛下のご成婚５０年の年でもあり、即位２０年と併せて様々な祝賀行事が行われた。

Near the end of this memorable year, controversies emerged over the audience of Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping with the Emperor, after it came to light that the Hatoyama Cabinet had broken with protocol to set up the meeting.
　そんな中で、鳩山内閣が、天皇陛下と中国の習近平国家副主席との会見を特別に設定したことの是非が論議を呼んだ。

===

New-flu fears

The No. 2 domestic news story is the outbreak in Japan of the new type of influenza. The disease spread from Mexico to a host of other countries in spring, and reached Japan in May. The epidemic has yet to abate, and it has become a common sight in this country to see great numbers of people wearing face masks.
　２位に入ったのは「日本でも新型インフルエンザ流行」だ。春にメキシコから火の手が上がった感染拡大の波は日本にも押し寄せ、いまも沈静化していない。マスク姿が目立つのも社会現象だ。

　◆国民が決める刑の重さ◆
The No. 3 domestic news story is the start of the lay judge system. Under the system, ordinary citizens participate in trying criminal cases as lay judges and, together with professional judges, decide whether the accused is guilty and the level of punishment.
　続いて３位には、「『裁判員制度』スタート」が入った。国民が刑事裁判に参加し、裁判官とともに、有罪か無罪か、さらに有罪の場合の刑の重さを決定する。

The system, which began in May, has faced problems, with many people saying they do not want to participate in a trial. It could become necessary to flexibly review the operation of the system if a problem arises.
　「参加したくない」という声もある中で始まった。課題が浮かび上がれば、柔軟に運用方法を見直していく必要があるだろう。

In another change to the legal system, prosecutors and police have begun to make audio and video recordings of the questioning of criminal suspects to ensure it can be proven at lay judge trials that confessions had not been coerced. However, many people have called for the entire questioning process to be recorded.
　検察・警察は、裁判員裁判で被告の自白が強制されたものでないことを立証するため、取り調べの一部録音・録画を始めたが、全面可視化を求める声も多い。

The public call has come because there has been an unending stream of false accusations, including the Ashikaga incident in which Toshikazu Sugaya was freed from prison, having spent 17-1/2 years behind bars, after DNA tests showed he is not guilty. Sugaya's release is the No. 10 domestic news story.
　それというのも、１０位に入った「『足利事件』の菅家さん釈放　ＤＮＡ鑑定に誤り」など、冤罪(えんざい)事件が絶えないからだ。

In the case, DNA retesting using the latest technology was used to overturn a result based on a less-accurate DNA test conducted during the initial investigation.
　足利事件では、最新技術を使ったＤＮＡの再鑑定で、精度が低かった捜査段階での鑑定が否定される結果となった。

Meanwhile, it was decided earlier this month to hold a retrial regarding the so-called Fukawa incident, a robbery-murder that occurred in 1967 in Ibaraki Prefecture, for which two men were sentenced to life in prison.
今月に入り、茨城県で４２年前に起きた布川事件の再審開始も決まった。

Police and prosecutors must examine problems pertaining to these cases and thoroughly conduct an appropriate investigation.
　検察・警察は、これら事件の問題点を検証するとともに、適正捜査を徹底しなければならない。

The arrest of popular actress Noriko Sakai on suspicion of possessing stimulant drugs comes in at No. 5 and was given a lot of coverage by TV shows.
　５位は「酒井法子容疑者、覚せい剤所持で逮捕」だった。人気女優の逮捕は、テレビのワイドショーなどの格好の題材となった。

Drug use in show business circles and cannabis use among youths have become matters of growing concern.
芸能界の薬物汚染、若者の大麻汚染などが懸念されている。

===

Recession blues

Meanwhile, "recession" was a word that cast a shadow over society throughout the year. The news story that ranks 16th on the list was Toyota Motor Corp.'s posting of its first operating loss in 71 years and losses incurred by major firms, including automakers and electrical appliance makers.
The No. 19 news story is the yen's surge to the 84 yen level for the first time in 14 years.
The No. 20 news story is that the unemployment rate climbed to 5.7 percent and the job-offers-to-seekers ratio hit 0.42, the worst on record.
　１年を通して「不況」の文字が社会を覆った。経済関連は「トヨタが７１年ぶり営業赤字　自動車、電機など大手赤字相次ぐ」が１６位、「『円』急騰、約１４年ぶり１ドル＝８４円台」が１９位、「失業率５・７％、求人倍率０・４２倍　過去最悪を更新」が２０位だ。

Many high school and university students who will graduate in spring have yet to find jobs.
　就職先が決まらない来春卒業予定の高校生や大学生も多い。

The phrase "employment ice age," referring to an extreme scarcity of jobs for new graduates, has resurfaced in conversations.
「就職氷河期」の再来である。

"Deflation crisis" and "bonus cuts" also are heard here and there, and there is a growing concern the economy could enter a double-dip recession.
　「デフレ危機」や「ボーナスカット」の言葉も飛び交い、「二番底」の到来が心配されている。

Some within the industrial circle have strongly criticized the government for not drawing up an effective growth strategy.
産業界などには、政府の成長戦略のなさに対する批判も強い。

　◆感動を与え続けた野球◆
The three sports stories that make the top 10 are all related to baseball.
　上位１０位までに野球関連が３本も入った。

Japan's back-to-back victory in the World Baseball Classic came in fourth and Seattle Mariners outfielder Ichiro Suzuki becoming the first player in major league history to reach 200 hits in nine straight seasons is eighth. The Yomiuri Giants winning their 21st Japan Series title, their first in seven years, ranks ninth.
４位に「日本がＷＢＣ連覇」、８位に「イチロー選手が大リーグ史上初の９年連続２００安打」、そして「巨人が７年ぶり２１度目日本一」が９位だ。

The No. 14 news story is about New York Yankees Hideki Matsui becoming first Japanese-born World Series MVP.
　「ヤンキース松井選手、日本人初のＷシリーズＭＶＰ」も１４位に入っている。

The popularity of these stories prove that baseball truly is a sport loved by people right across this country.
野球が国民的スポーツであることの証しでもある。

At a time when people are uncertain about their future lives, there is no doubt that the superb showing of the Samurai Japan team at the WBC moved people across the nation and infused them with a can-do spirit.
　暮らしの先が見えない時代にあって、ＷＢＣの「侍ジャパン」の活躍などから勇気や感動をもらった人も多かったことだろう。

Most at stake now are the issues facing new administration.
　問題は新政権である。

The task that the Hatoyama administration should focus on next year is to revive the vitality of both this nation and its people by taking aim at the clouds over the hill, just as occurs in the Ryotaro Shiba's historical novel "Saka no Ue no Kumo" (Clouds Over the Hill), a book that has found a new and growing audience today.
再ブームとなっている司馬遼太郎の「坂の上の雲」ではないが、この国と国民に、坂の上の雲を目指すような活力を蘇(よみがえ)らせることこそ、来年の課題ではないか。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 27, 2009)
（2009年12月27日00時53分 読売新聞）

よいお年をおむかえください

クリスマスが終わって一息、明日の日曜日は娘の学芸会です。
娘は幼稚園の年長さんで来年は小学校に進学します。
幼稚園生活の最後をかざるためにタイ式舞踊を４曲も踊ります。
きっとまたカメラのシャッターを切る父親の瞼を涙でぬらすことでしょう。

NHKの語学番組、充実していますね。
特にラジオ番組はストリーミング放送が主体なので好きなときに好きなだけ学習できますね。
英語だけでこれほどのプログラムのラインアップ、その充実ぶりに驚かされました。
↓
http://www.nhk.or.jp/gogaku/english/index.html

大学のとき必修科目であったドイツ語、学習開始後数ヶ月で挫折したスペイン語、コーリアンバーで覚えたハングルなど、ここタイに住んでいても好きなだけ学習できますね。

英字新聞をご愛読いただきましてありがとうございます。
良いお年をお迎えください。

srachai from khonkaen, thailand

来年度予算 公約優先では財政がもたない

The Yomiuri Shimbun (Dec. 26, 2009)
DPJ must find funds for its election pledges
来年度予算　公約優先では財政がもたない（12月26日付・読売社説）

The shift in power brought about by the last general election has caused a sea change in the process of putting together a government budget. However, the budget for the next fiscal year devised by the Democratic Party of Japan-led administration indicates that the government is unchanged in relying on the issuance of government bonds and nontax revenue for resources to underwrite its budget.
In fact, the next budget shows the government has become even more dependent on borrowing as a means of securing budgetary resources.
　政権交代で予算編成の過程は様変わりした。だが、出来上がった来年度予算案は、国債と税外収入に頼る構図が相変わらずで、借金体質は例年に増して強まった。

　◆税収はわずか３７兆円◆
On Friday, the Cabinet of Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama finalized the budget for fiscal 2010. Its general account expenditures total 92.3 trillion yen, an all-time high for an initial fiscal budget.
　政府は２５日、２０１０年度予算案を閣議決定した。一般会計の歳出総額は９２・３兆円と、当初予算では過去最大である。

The budget entails 53.5 trillion yen in spending for specific government policies, greater than the amount of expenditures in this category under the fiscal 2009 budget. Debt-servicing costs--expenditures needed to redeem government bonds and pay interest on such bonds--total 20.6 trillion yen, and local tax grants for discretionary purposes 17.5 trillion yen.
　具体的な政策の実行にあてる一般歳出は５３・５兆円に膨らんだ。国債の利払いや償還に使う国債費は２０・６兆円で、地方交付税は１７・５兆円だった。

===

Only 37.4 tril. yen from taxes

Meanwhile, the next fiscal budget has set annual government revenue from taxes at 37.4 trillion yen, which nearly compares with that to be expected under the fiscal 2009 budget in the wake of a second supplementary budget. Tax revenue has fallen to about the same level as was registered 26 years ago.
　一方の歳入は、税収が３７・４兆円と、第２次補正後の０９年度予算とほぼ同じであり、２６年も前の水準まで落ち込む。

The government hopes to make up for a projected revenue shortfall using nontax revenue totaling 10.6 trillion yen--known as "buried treasure"--and government bond-generated revenue worth 44.3 trillion yen. The money includes funds deposited in the special account for government loan and investment programs, as well as surplus funds from the foreign exchange special account.
　財政投融資特別会計の積立金や外国為替特会の剰余金など、いわゆる埋蔵金をかき集めた１０・６兆円の税外収入と、４４・３兆円の国債発行で不足分を補う。

Government bond issuance accounts for 48 percent of total revenue under the fiscal 2010 budget, meaning almost half of revenue is expected to come from debts.
　歳入全体に占める国債への依存度は４８％と、ほぼ半分を借金で賄う計算だ。

The current economic situation is so precarious it must be rectified by an underpinning fiscal stimulus. Given this, issuing new government bonds will be unavoidable. It is easy to see, however, that the government's chronic reliance on debt cannot be left unaddressed any longer if one stops to look at the government's fiscal crisis from a medium- and long-term standpoint.
　景気は財政出動で下支えしなければ危うい状況である。このため、国債の増発はある程度やむを得ないが、中長期的には、借金依存の財政を放置出来ないのも明らかである。

　◆政権公約墨守で迷走◆
The greatest factor behind the difficulties in devising the next budget was the Hatoyama Cabinet's obsessive adherence to its goal of carrying out policies spelled out in the DPJ's election manifesto. The confusion embroiling the government in this respect started immediately after the new Cabinet was launched. The Hatoyama administration scrapped the guidelines for budgetary appropriation requests set by its predecessor, the coalition government of the Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito, and also ordered each government ministry and agency to submit new budgetary demands.
　今回の予算編成を難航させた最大の原因は、政権公約（マニフェスト）に掲げた政策の実現に鳩山内閣がこだわったことである。
　内閣が発足するや、自公政権が決めた概算要求基準（シーリング）を廃止し、各府省に概算要求を出し直させたことが、迷走の始まりだった。

===

2 miscalculations

Total budget requests came to 95 trillion yen, up 6.5 trillion yen from the 2009 initial budget. This increase was the result of the inclusion of policies contained in the DPJ manifesto, such as child-rearing allowances, making public high school eduction virtually free and a plan to eliminate some expressway tolls.
　概算要求の総額は９５兆円と、０９年度当初予算を６・５兆円も上回った。子ども手当、高校授業料の実質無償化や高速道路料金の一部無料化など、政権公約の関連項目が並んだためだ。

In the course of discussing how to fund these pledges in the budget, the Hatoyama administration noticed it had made two glaring miscalculations: a major drop in tax revenue, and its pruning of budget requests fell well short of expectations.
　これらの取り扱いについて議論するうち、鳩山内閣は二つの“誤算”に見舞われた。

The economic downturn has caused tax revenue for fiscal 2009 to plunge more than 9 trillion yen below initial forecasts, with the fall in corporate tax especially severe. Tax revenue is also expected to stay flat for fiscal 2010.
　一つは税収の大幅な落ち込みである。景気の低迷で、０９年度は法人税を中心に、予想より９兆円以上減少することがわかった。１０年度も税収の回復は期待できず、前年度並みの水準を見込まざるを得なくなった。

The DPJ assumed it could secure additional revenue by cutting wasteful programs. However, its attempts to eliminate budget fat finished with disappointing results.
　二つめは、予算の無駄減らしによる財源の確保が、期待はずれに終わったことである。

The DPJ had insisted 10 trillion yen to 20 trillion yen could be freed up by reviewing both the general and special accounts. In its manifesto, the party stipulated it would wring out nearly 17 trillion yen annually four years after taking power.
　民主党は、一般会計と特別会計を見直せば、１０兆円や２０兆円の財源を確保するのは容易だと主張してきた。政権公約には、政権奪取から４年後に、年間１７兆円近い財源を捻出(ねんしゅつ)すると明記した。

The budget screening to cut wasteful spending started with great fanfare. However, the screening panel could not find wasteful programs to the extent that the DPJ first assumed. The administration initially set a target of 3 trillion yen in cuts, but could only come up with about 1 trillion yen.
　ところが、鳴り物入りで始めた事業仕分けでは、無駄の洗い出しが進まなかった。当初は３兆円の削減を目指したが、実際には１兆円程度にとどまった。

Despite this, the Hatoyama administration insists revenue sources are still waiting to be uncovered. The administration bears a heavy responsibility for these actions.
　民主党が想定したほどには、無駄がなかったということである。それなのに、財源はあると言い続けた鳩山政権の責任は重いと言わざるを得ない。

Despite this chronic revenue shortage, Hatoyama refused to budge from his plans to implement policies spelled out in the DPJ manifesto. This greatly delayed the compilation of fiscal 2010 tax reform plans.
　鳩山首相は、深刻な財源不足に直面してもなお、政権公約の実行にこだわり、税制改正大綱のとりまとめは大幅に遅れた。

Hatoyama eventually accepted DPJ requests submitted by Ichiro Ozawa, the party's secretary general, and modified several manifesto pledges, such as virtually retracting a proposal to abolish the provisionally higher gasoline tax. In the end, the budget was compiled within this year, although it was anything but smooth sailing.
　結局、小沢幹事長が出した民主党の要請を受け入れ、暫定税率廃止の撤回など政権公約の一部を修正した。この結果、予算案の年内編成になんとかこぎ着けた。

Worryingly, huge sums have been allocated to policies apparently designed to impress voters ahead of next year's House of Councillors election, such as an income compensation plan for individual farmers.
　だが、農家への戸別所得補償など、来年の参院選を意識したと思われる党主導の政策に多額の予算をつけたのは問題だった。

Also disconcerting is the slashing of public works-related budgets by 1.3 trillion yen to 5.8 trillion yen, an 18 percent reduction from the initial budget for this fiscal year.
　景気低迷が続く中、公共事業関係費を前年度比１８％、１・３兆円も削り、５・８兆円に縮減したことも懸念材料である。

===

Fiscal rehabilitation urgent

　◆財政再建は待ったなし◆
We are concerned by figures in the approved draft budget for fiscal 2010. The long-term debt of the central and local governments is forecast to reach about 862 trillion yen by the end of the next fiscal year, a figure about 1.8 times larger than the nation's gross domestic product. Japan's figure is easily the highest among the United States and major European nations.
　１０年度予算案の決定で、新たな数字が浮かび上がった。国と地方の長期債務が１０年度末で８６２兆円程度と、国内総生産（ＧＤＰ）の１・８倍にも及ぶ見通しになったことだ。欧米の主要国に比べると、日本が突出して高い。

There is more than 1,400 trillion yen in household financial assets in Japan. Some observers say that the long-term debt is not so problematic because government bonds could be sold to domestic buyers who own these assets.
　日本には１４００兆円を超す個人金融資産があり、「国内だけで国債などの消化が可能だから大丈夫」という見方がある。

But if housing loans and some other debts are excluded, only about 1,000 trillion yen remains. Given the fact that the gap between long-term debt and household assets has been narrowing year by year, the government must seriously consider how to secure stable tax revenues.
　だが、住宅ローンなどの借金を除けば、残りは１０００兆円余りだ。長期債務との差が年々縮小している現実を見れば、やはり国として安定した税収の確保を考えねばなるまい。

The Hatoyama Cabinet intends not to raise the consumption tax rate--the most promising revenue source--until the next House of Representatives election a few years from now. But it is clear that a budget cannot be compiled given the current revenue shortage.
　鳩山内閣は、最有力の財源である消費税について、次の衆院選まで税率引き上げを封印した。しかし、こうした状態では、財源不足でまともな予算が組めないことがよくわかったはずだ。

Even if raising the consumption tax is considered a change in policy, the public likely will go along with it provided the administration earnestly explains that the rate hike is necessary for securing revenue for social security measures.
　仮に消費税で方針転換しても、社会保障の財源として必要なことなどを丁寧に説明すれば、国民は理解を示すのではないか。

The Hatoyama Cabinet should start preparations so discussions for raising the consumption tax rate can start after the upper house election next summer, and so the measure could be implemented as soon as the economy gets on a solid recovery track.
　来年夏の参院選後には消費税率引き上げの議論を始め、景気が回復すれば直ちに実施できるよう、鳩山内閣は準備に入るべきだ。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 26, 2009)
（2009年12月26日01時18分 読売新聞）

NHKラジオ英会話

うれしかったですねー。
数日前NHKラジオ英会話のインターネットストリーム放送公式HPを発見しました。
↓
http://www.nhk.or.jp/gogaku/english/kaiwa/index.html

1５分の放送時間は昔とまったく変わりません。
ただちょっとさびしかったのは番組が日本語中心で進められていることです。

松本亨先生、東後勝明先生と連続して２０年ほど拝聴しておりました。
当時番組はすべて英語で構成されており緊張感をもって毎日1５分を過ごせました。
お二方の流暢で美しい英語は未だに脳裏に焼き付いております。

日本語で番組を進めると大変にわかりやすい。
反面完全に理解できるので緊張感、危機感に欠けてしまいます。
できれば昔のようにラジオ英語会話はすべて英語で番組を構成して欲しかった。

もうじき高校の英語教育は原則として英語のみで授業を進めるようになると聞いております。
ラジオ英語会話もすべて英語で番組が進められるほうが時代の流れに沿っているのではと思いました。

ただこれと正反対の考え方もございます。
昨年の暮れまで私はタイ人学生に日本語を教えておりました。
私が採用された理由はタイ語で日本語の授業ができるからです。
日本語教育の資格はもっていませんが、タイ人学生には好評でした。
↓
http://srachai.ninja-x.jp/

語学会社が倒産して私は失職してしまいましたが、
もしも日本語教育を担当させられていたら、
私はあいかわらずタイ語で日本語の授業を行っていたことでしょう。

srachai from khonkaen, thailand

元秘書２人起訴 鳩山首相の政治責任は重大だ

Yomiuri Shimbun (Dec. 25, 2009)
Scandal responsibility lies with Hatoyama
元秘書２人起訴　鳩山首相の政治責任は重大だ（12月25日付・読売社説）

Prosecutors have decided not to indict Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama over falsified reports on his political funds. However, the prime minister bears a heavy political responsibility for, in effect, allowing his former secretary to continue illegal accounting practices for years. The prime minister also deceived the public as he did his best to avoid telling the truth on the murky matter.
　元秘書の不正行為を放置したうえ、国民に真実を語ろうとしなかった。鳩山首相は不起訴だったとはいえ、政治的責任は極めて重大である。

Prosecutors on Thursday indicted Hatoyama's former state-funded first secretary without arrest for alleged violations of the Political Funds Control Law. The secretary, who was in charge of the administrative affairs of Hatoyama's political fund management organization, allegedly falsified official fund reports of Hatoyama's political fund organizations. The prosecutors also filed a summary indictment against another state-paid former secretary for policy affairs to Hatoyama, who served as the accountant for the fund organization, ordering him to pay a fine.
　首相の資金管理団体などの収支報告書に虚偽を記載したとして、実務担当者だった元公設第１秘書が、政治資金規正法違反で在宅起訴された。会計責任者だった元政策秘書も略式起訴され、罰金の略式命令を受けた。

The prosecutors concluded the former first secretary disguised funds extended by Hatoyama and his mother as income from individuals' donations and sales of tickets for fund-raising parties. The former policy affairs secretary was charged with gross negligence for failing to notice the falsifications by leaving the accounting work up to the first secretary.
　元公設秘書は、首相や母親からの資金などを個人献金やパーティー収入に偽装した。元政策秘書は元公設秘書に任せ、注意を怠る重大な過失があったという。

　◆「知らぬ」は通用しない◆
It is extremely unusual for former aides to a prime minister to be indicted while the premier is still in office. But the amount of funds falsely entered in the reports totaled about 400 million yen over five years. The scale of the deception means that laying criminal charges in this case was an easy call to make.
　現職首相の元秘書の訴追は異例だが、虚偽記入の総額は５年間で約４億円にも上っており、刑事責任が問われるのは当然だ。

===

Prime minister standing firm

Hatoyama has deflected calls to step down over the messy affair. "It's my responsibility to fulfill my mission as a politician," he said at a press conference following the indictments.
　鳩山首相は記者会見で、「政治家としての使命を果たすことが、私の責任だ」と述べ、自らの辞任を否定した。

While Hatoyama was a member of the opposition camp, however, he was quick to make comments that seem to contradict his position in this case. "The responsibility lies with a politician if his or her secretary committed a crime." "If I were the person involved, I'd take off my Diet member pin." Hatoyama took these potshots on such occasions as the arrest of a secretary to former Liberal Democratic Party Secretary General Koichi Kato and that of a secretary to Muneo Suzuki, a House of Representatives lawmaker.
　だが、首相は野党時代、加藤紘一自民党元幹事長や鈴木宗男衆院議員の秘書らが逮捕された際、何度もこう明言していた。
　「秘書の犯罪は議員の責任だ」「私なら議員バッジを外す」

But now the shoe is on the other foot and Hatoyama must face up squarely to the situation he finds himself in. Where once Hatoyama was calling on others to resign, now he finds himself the target of such demands.
　この言葉が今、自身の進退に向けられていることを、厳粛に受け止める必要がある。

Hatoyama insisted at the press conference that he was "totally unaware" of the massive amount of funds originating from his mother. Even if he was born with a silver spoon in his mouth, his explanation leaves us shaking our heads.
　首相は記者会見で、母親からの巨額の資金提供について「全く承知していなかった」と改めて強調した。首相がいかに裕福な家庭環境で育ったとしても、この説明は信じがたい。

Even if Hatoyama did not know about the funds dispensed from his mother up until June, when disguised donations filed in the names of dead people came to light, he later had the first secretary make a report on the matter and let a lawyer look into the case. It is inconceivable that Hatoyama did not notice the about 1.2 billion yen in funds from his mother.
　仮に「故人献金」問題が発覚した６月までは知らなかったとしても、その後、元公設秘書から事情を聞き、弁護士に調査までさせている。計１２億円超の資金提供に気づかないことはあり得ない。

===

Questions unanswered

The revelations came out just as the lower house election was approaching. If Hatoyama hid the funds from his mother in an attempt to save his own neck and avoid any negative fallout that could impact on his party's election chances, this would be an act of betrayal against the public.
　当時は、衆院選が迫っていた。自らの保身と、選挙への悪影響を避けるため、母親からの資金提供を隠していたのなら、国民に対する背信行為である。

Why did the first secretary make false entries in fund reports? For what purposes were the mother's funds used? Was the provision of funds from his mother a way to dodge paying inheritance tax?
　元公設秘書はなぜ虚偽記載を行ったのか。母親の資金をどんな活動に使ったのか。資金提供は相続税対策だったのではないか。

Hatoyama has provided scant explanations to these questions. The prime minister must explain in detail about the series of fund-management irregularities. Without doing so, he will never be able to regain public trust.
　こうした多くの疑問に対して、首相の記者会見での説明は極めて不十分だった。首相は改めて機会を設け、一連の問題の全体像を自ら丁寧に説明すべきだ。それなくして国民の信頼は回復しない。

　◆「贈与税申告」は疑問だ◆
Hatoyama had a squeaky-clean reputation when it came to political fund management. But it now is clear that the prime minister had left his funds affairs entirely in the hands of the former first secretary and overlooked false entries of a staggering amount of money. Hatoyama cannot escape supervisory responsibility for these lapses.
　鳩山首相は、政治とカネについてクリーンな政治家との印象を持たれてきた。だが、実際は政治資金の管理を元公設秘書に丸投げし、巨額の虚偽記載を見過ごしていた。監督責任は免れない。

"I did not, under any circumstances, line my own pockets," the prime minister stated. "Nor did I unlawfully profit."
　首相は「私腹を肥やしたわけではない。不正な利得も受けていない」と述べた。

===

Arguments not convincing

Some observers say Hatoyama's case is not particularly iniquitous, as the original funds were not corporate donations but rather, money provided by his mother.
今回の原資が企業献金でなく、身内からの資金提供なので悪質性は低いとの意見もある。

However, Hatoyama's arguments are far from convincing.
だが、そんなことはない。

The prime minister has acknowledged that the funds provided by his mother were "gifts," and has said he will pay gift tax on them. However, if the scandal had not come to light, Hatoyama would have evaded more than 600 million yen in gift tax.
　首相は、母親からの資金提供を「贈与」と認め、贈与税を申告する意向を示した。資金提供が発覚しなかったら、６億円以上の納税を逃れていたことになる。

If such an act was allowed to occur, it would trample upon the feelings of honest taxpayers and potentially shake the tax declaration system to its core.
　こうした行為がまかり通れば、まじめに納税しようとする国民の気持ちを踏みにじり、申告納税制度の根幹が揺らぎかねない。

Political fairness, some say, cannot be guaranteed if wealthy individuals are allowed to transfer massive amounts of money to political organizations. From this point of view, the Political Funds Control Law stipulates a limit on individual donations.
　資産家が巨額の資金を自由に政治団体に繰り入れて使えるようでは、政治活動の公平性が担保されない、との指摘がある。政治資金規正法が個人献金の上限額を定めているのは、こうした観点も踏まえたものと言えよう。

In another scandal embroiling the Democratic Party of Japan, a secretary of Secretary General Ichiro Ozawa was indicted in connection with irregularities over the receipt of political funds from general contractor Nishimatsu Construction Co. At the first hearing earlier this month, prosecutors accused Ozawa's secretary of establishing collusive ties with Nishimatsu.
　民主党では、小沢幹事長の秘書も西松建設の違法献金事件で起訴され、初公判で検察側からゼネコンとの癒着を指弾された。

In spite of this, no one within the DPJ has called on Hatoyama and Ozawa to give detailed accounts of the allegations being levied. DPJ members are unable to effectively refute criticism that there are fundamental problems both within the party and with its ability to cleanse itself.
　それなのに、党内から、鳩山首相や小沢氏に詳しい説明を求める声さえ出ていないのは、現在の民主党の体質や自浄能力に問題がある、と見られても仕方がない。

Hatoyama's fund management organization submitted false reports on small donations from individuals. It abused a provision in the Political Funds Control Law that does not require such organizations to report the name of individual donors if the amount donated is less than 50,000 yen a year.
　首相の資金管理団体は小口の個人献金の大半が虚偽記載だった。政治資金規正法で、年５万円以下の献金は寄付者名を記載する必要がないことを悪用したものだ。

===

More transparency needed

Under the law, political organizations must retain receipts for any expenditure of more than 1 yen. But the law is not quite as strict with regard to revenues, and has relatively weak stipulations regarding the reception of funds.
　現行法では、政治団体の１円以上の支出については、すべて領収書を用意しなければならないが、収入面は規定が甘く、バランスを欠く。

We believe consideration should be given to the introduction of a system to enhance the transparency of political funds received by such organizations.
収入の透明性を高める制度を検討していいだろう。

　◆捜査は尽くされたのか◆
The Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office decided not to directly question Hatoyama and his mother about the funds, but rather allow them to submit a written statement to prosecutors. But did the prosecutors find out about everything they needed to know without questioning them directly?
　東京地検は首相や母親の事情聴取を見送り、上申書で済ませた。本人を聴取せず、本当に全容を解明できたのだろうか。

An ordinary citizen would certainly have to face a grilling from prosecutors if he or she was suspected of having committed a criminal act. Did prosecutors perhaps give too much consideration to the person currently standing at the helm of government?
　一般国民が検察に疑いを持たれたならば、聴取を受けずに済むことはまずない。今回、時の最高権力者への配慮はなかったか。

Lately, public participation in judicial affairs has picked up pace. For example, more powers have been granted to the Committee for the Inquest of Prosecution, in which people examine the soundness of prosecutors' decisions not to indict individuals in certain cases.
　最近は、検察の不起訴処分が妥当かどうかを国民が審査する検察審査会の権限が強化されるなど、国民の司法参加が進んでいる。

Particularly in cases that attract a great deal of public attention, prosecutors should be more willing to talk to the press and others about their decisions, rather than only revealing what they know at a trial.
　検察は、社会的な関心の高い事件については、公判の場だけでなく、記者会見などでもっと説明する必要がある。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 25, 2009)
（2009年12月25日00時59分 読売新聞）

read, read and read

今朝の英字読売は読みやすかった。
なんども同じような内容を読んでしまっているからだろう。
それでもわからない単語の一つや二つは出てくる。

全体の意味をつかんだら、時間をおいて社説独特の専門用語と難しい単語を復習する。
例文の中で単語を記憶するようにすればかなりしっかりと暗記できるようになる。
単語は例文の中でそのニュアンスをつかみとるようにすると良い。

英文を読むときには頭を英文モードに切り替えて集中して読むことが大切。
英文を読むときのスピードも大切な要因だ。
あまりゆっくり読んでいると文章の構造が読み取れなくなってしまう。
文章の構成部分をまとめて把握しながらスピード感をもって読み進めるようにしよう。

昨夜 newyork times と　washington post の社説に挑戦。
難しくてまったく歯がたたなかった。
理解できるのはいつも読んでいるオバマ大統領、医療保障法改正関連だけ。
いつになったら英文がすらすらと読めるようになるのか！

「佐藤」核密約 東西冷戦下の苦渋の選択だ

The Yomiuri Shimbun (Dec. 24, 2009)
Secret accord inevitable during Cold War era
「佐藤」核密約　東西冷戦下の苦渋の選択だ（12月24日付・読売社説）

A key document that gives credence to the existence of a secret agreement between Japan and the United States over the reentry of nuclear weapons into Okinawa after its reversion to Japan has been discovered.
　沖縄返還後の核再持ち込みをめぐる日米密約の存在を裏付ける貴重な資料が発見された。

The document is an "agreed minute" signed by Prime Minister Eisaku Sato and U.S. President Richard Nixon during a summit meeting held in Washington in November 1969, prior to the 1972 return of Okinawa.
　１９７２年の沖縄返還に先立つ６９年１１月、ワシントンで開かれた日米首脳会談で、佐藤栄作首相とニクソン米大統領が極秘に署名した「合意議事録」である。

The document showed that the United States intended to remove all nuclear weapons from Okinawa by the time of its reversion. It also indicated that Washington would require the reentry of nuclear weapons into Okinawa during emergencies, such as a possible incident in the Far East.
　文書は、米国が沖縄返還時にすべての核兵器を撤去するものの、極東有事などの際には再び持ち込む権利を持つことを、日本側が認める内容となっている。

The existence of this kind of secret accord had already been suggested by Kei Wakaizumi, who served as a secret envoy for Sato. However, proof of the existence of the document has now come to light and the finding is of significant historical importance.
　密約の存在は、佐藤首相の密使を務めた若泉敬氏が明らかにしていたが、文書自体の確認は初めてで、その歴史的意義は大きい。

===

Difficult decision

During talks over the reversion of Okinawa, Japan requested "nuclear-free, mainland status" for Okinawa. The United States, on the other hand, stressed the necessity of allowing for the reentry of nuclear weapons in the case of an emergency.
　沖縄返還交渉で、日本側は「核抜き本土並み」の返還を求めたのに対し、米側は、極東の安全保障の観点から、有事の核再持ち込みの必要性を主張した。

Agreeing to the secret accord was thus a tough decision taken to ensure the reversion of Okinawa by striking a balance between the Japanese public's negative feelings about nuclear weapons, and security concerns within the Cold War structure brought about by the confrontation between the United States and the Soviet Union.
　密約は、米ソ対立による東西冷戦の下、核を忌避する日本の国民感情と安全保障を両立させつつ、沖縄返還を確実にするための苦渋の選択だったと言えよう。

The Foreign Ministry has set up a panel of experts to research and examine the issue of four purported secret agreements with the United States, including the one relating to the reentry of nuclear weapons after the reversion of Okinawa. The recent discovery of the aforementioned document likely will help the panel make significant progress.
　外務省は、有識者委員会を設置し、今回の件を含む四つの密約問題を調査、検証している。合意議事録の発見は、この作業を大きく前進させるだろう。

Sato kept the document at home and we wonder whether its contents were passed on to successive prime ministers and senior ministry officials in an appropriate manner. The panel should uncover the truth through interviews with the people concerned, and via other means.
　議事録は、佐藤首相の自宅に保管されていた。その内容は、歴代首相や外務省幹部にきちんと引き継がれていたのか。有識者委員会は、関係者からの聞き取り調査などを通じて、真相を究明してもらいたい。

The government has consistently denied the existence of such agreements. But, to restore the people's trust in this nation's diplomacy, the government should acknowledge that secret accords were struck and thereby settle the controversy.
　政府は従来、一貫して密約の存在を否定してきた。だが、日本外交に対する国民の信頼を回復するには、密約の存在を認め、問題にけじめをつけるべきだ。

===

Deterrence still essential

Though the Cold War has ended, it is hard to say whether the circumstances surrounding Japan's security have improved.
　冷戦は終わったが、現在の日本の安全保障環境は必ずしも改善されたとは言い難い。

North Korea, which has twice conducted nuclear tests, reportedly possesses a huge number of ballistic missiles capable of striking Japan. Meanwhile, China has registered double-digit growth in its defense spending for 21 consecutive years. China reportedly has deployed a number of nuclear missiles targeting Japan.
　北朝鮮は核実験を２度実施し、日本を射程に収める弾道ミサイルを大量に保有する。中国の国防費は２１年連続で２ケタの伸びを示した。日本に照準を合わせた核ミサイルも多数配備している。

The U.S. military's nuclear deterrence is still essential for Japan.
　日本にとって米軍の核抑止力は依然、不可欠である。

Presently, however, the Japan-U.S. alliance is being seriously shaken. The administration of Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama has indecisively handled the relocation of the U.S. Marine Corps' Futenma Air Station in Okinawa Prefecture, resulting in a strong sense of U.S. distrust toward Japan.
　ところが、鳩山政権は、米軍普天間飛行場の移設問題をめぐる優柔不断な対応で米側の強い不信を招き、日米同盟は今、大きく揺らいでいる。

To maintain the effectiveness of the U.S. deterrence, we believe it is worth giving consideration to allowing port calls or stopovers of vessels and aircraft carrying nuclear weapons. However, such an act would have implications for the third of the nation's three nonnuclear principles of not possessing, not producing and not allowing the entry of nuclear weapons into this nation.
　核抑止力を維持するには、「持たず、作らず、持ち込ませず」の非核三原則の「持ち込ませず」のうち、核搭載艦船や航空機の寄港・立ち寄りを可能にすることも、十分検討に値するだろう。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 24, 2009)
（2009年12月24日01時31分 読売新聞）

NHKの海外向けラジオ放送

1５分のストリーミング放送は集中して聞くのに丁度よい時間です。
↓
http://www.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/english/radio/ondemand.html

来年度税・予算 政権公約へのこだわり捨てよ

The Yomiuri Shimbun (Dec. 23, 2009)
Put the economy before manifesto promises
来年度税・予算　政権公約へのこだわり捨てよ（12月23日付・読売社説）

Compilation of the fiscal 2010 budget has entered the homestretch.
　２０１０年度予算の編成作業が、大詰めを迎えている。

The outline of tax revisions for next fiscal year was approved Tuesday at a Cabinet meeting, and the treatment of child-rearing allowances and an income compensation system for individual farmers has been decided, too.
　国民生活や企業活動に深くかかわる来年度の税制改正大綱が２２日に閣議決定され、子ども手当や農家への戸別所得補償など予算の主要項目の扱いも固まった。

However, a serious tax revenue shortfall has cast a shadow over the process. Tax revenues in fiscal 2009 are estimated to be 36.9 trillion yen, over 9 trillion yen less than initially expected. Tax revenues in fiscal 2010 will remain almost the same.
　一連の作業に影を落としたのが深刻な税収不足だ。０９年度の税収は、当初の見積もりより９兆円余り少ない３６・９兆円となる見込みだ。１０年度についても同程度の額にとどまりそうだ。

This situation has made measures to secure tax revenue the most important agenda item in discussing tax revisions. However, Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama failed to make any decisions on this matter, preferring to stick to implementation of the Democratic Party of Japan's manifesto pledges made for August's House of Representatives election, which will lead to huge budgets and a drastic reduction of tax revenue.
　このため、税制改正では、いかに税収を確保していくかが重要なテーマになった。だが、鳩山首相は巨額の予算計上や、大幅な税収減につながる政権公約（マニフェスト）の実現にこだわって決断できなかった。

Hatoyama, having gone back and forth, finally decided the outline by accepting the requests of the DPJ submitted by its Secretary General Ichiro Ozawa.
　最後は、小沢幹事長から出された民主党の要望を受け入れる形で大枠を決める迷走ぶりだった。

The prime minister followed the same process in the budget compilation.
　予算編成でも、同じような過程をたどっている。

The government's budget plan for fiscal 2010 is to be decided soon. The prime minister in a few days must come up with a way to make a budget that can pump up the economy and offer reassurance to people with insufficient financial resources.
　１０年度予算は、近く政府案が決まる予定だ。乏しい財源で、いかに景気を下支えし、国民生活に安心をもたらす予算を作り上げていくか。鳩山首相は、あと数日で答えを出さねばならない。

Treatment of the provisionally higher tax rate on fossil fuels, including gasoline, symbolizes the confusion afflicting tax revisions. The prime minister initially was determined to abolish the provisional tax rate in April as it was the pillar of his party's election pledges, but he finally decided only to lower the rates of the automobile weight tax.
　税制改正の迷走の象徴が、ガソリン税などの暫定税率だ。鳩山首相は政権公約の目玉として、来年４月の暫定税率廃止に固執したが、最終的には自動車重量税の一部引き下げにとどめた。

　◆暫定税率維持は当然◆
We think Hatoyama's decision is reasonable. If the provisional tax rate was abolished, central and local governments would lose a total of 2.5 trillion yen in tax revenues, worsening fiscal deficits.
　国と地方で２・５兆円の税収がなくなれば、財政赤字はさらに膨らむ。この判断は当然だろう。

The DPJ had claimed that the provisional tax could be abolished because abundant new financial resources could be created by trimming fat from government spending. But wasn't it apparent from the very beginning that such a claim would end up being pie in the sky?
　暫定税率の廃止などについて民主党は、「歳出の無駄の洗い出しで、財源はいくらでも出てくる」と主張していた。だがそれが空手形に終わるのは、最初から分かりきっていたことではないか。

This shows the collapse of so-called manifesto politics. We have to say that the actions and remarks of Hatoyama, who stuck to the abolition of the provisional tax rate, have ended up deceiving the public.
　マニフェスト政治の破綻(はたん)を示すものだろう。廃止にこだわった首相の言動は、結果的に国民を欺いたと言わざるを得ない。

The prime minister is apparently unaware of his own responsibility, maintaining that his change of policy is in line with public opinion. He must give the public a detailed explanation of why he decided to change the policy.
　首相は、今回の方針転換は「国民の思いに沿ったもの」と述べるなど、責任を自覚していない。転換の経緯を、国民に詳しく説明しなければなるまい。

The government said it would spend a year or so studying the introduction of an environment tax, which was once considered to offset the scrapping of the provisional tax rate on fossil fuels. An environment tax, which would be imposed widely on fossil fuels and others, would become a heavy burden on industries and household budgets if introduced. It should be considered very carefully.
　暫定税率の代わりに導入が検討された環境税については、今後１年程度かけて検討するとした。化石燃料などに幅広く課税する環境税は、産業界や家計に重い負担となる。慎重に扱うべきだ。

===

Child benefit needs rethink

The government likely will set up a special fund worth 2 trillion yen in the next fiscal budget, using such financial resources as the revenue to be generated through the maintenance of the provisionally higher tax rates. The money set aside for this specified-purpose budgetary framework will be used to help create more jobs, reinvigorate regional economies and implement other pump-priming policies.
　政府は、暫定税率の維持で得た税収などで、来年度予算に２兆円の特別枠を設け、雇用対策や地域活性化などに振り向ける方針だ。

The government has good reason to consider giving the economy an additional shot in the arm. It is also essential that the list of purposes for which such budgetary means would be used be narrowed down to a handful of measures that promise to produce an immediate economy-boosting effect.
景気への配慮は妥当であり、使途は景気に即効性がある対策に絞り込むことが肝要だ。

Another focus of the dispute over the fiscal 2010 budget was whether an income limit should be imposed on the eligibility of households to be covered by the child-rearing allowance system. The government has settled the controversy by deciding the scheme will not set such a limit. This means every family with a child or children in the middle school age bracket or younger will be paid 13,000 yen per child monthly.
　もうひとつの焦点だった子ども手当については、所得制限を設けないことで決着した。中学生以下の子どもを持つすべての家庭に、子ども１人につき月１万３０００円が支払われる。

　◆子ども手当は見直せ◆
The children's allowance scheme will be complemented by a plan to exclude households with a child or children aged 15 or under from the list of those entitled to income tax deductions for dependents. The government will also curtail the amount of deductions for dependents aged 16 to 18, with the aim of raising funds for delivering another promise included in the DPJ manifesto--that is, making high school education free by paying tuition fees out of the state coffers.
　代わりに１５歳以下の子どもがいる家庭の所得税の扶養控除が廃止される。高校授業料の無償化の財源として、１６～１８歳を対象にした特定扶養控除も減額される。

The DPJ manifesto states that the amount of child-rearing benefits paid to each household will be doubled, starting in fiscal 2011. This would only increase the amount of the financial means to be required.
　民主党の公約では、子ども手当の支給額は１１年度から倍増され、必要な財源はさらに膨らむ。

To secure new financial resources, the government has said it will consider such revenue-enhancing measures as the abolition of income tax deductions for spouses. However, doing so will be certain to antagonize families without children. It is also evident that ending such a tax exemption will hardly do enough to raise necessary financial resources.
　新たな財源を確保するため、政府は、所得税の配偶者控除の廃止などを検討するという。しかし、子どものいない世帯の反発は必至であり、その程度では足りないこともはっきりしている。

With all this in mind, we find it indispensable for the government to reduce the amount of the child-rearing allowance and impose an income limit on families eligible for such benefits. The government should seriously consider this idea.
　やはり支給額の削減や所得制限の導入などが欠かせない。今後、真剣に検討すべきだ。

===

Sales tax hike inevitable

The government has also decided to raise the tobacco tax rate by a large margin.
　たばこ税の大幅引き上げも決まった。

Leading brands of cigarettes will be retailed at 400 yen a pack starting from next October. The government hopes the hike will boost tax revenues by more than 120 billion yen.
代表的な銘柄の小売価格は来年１０月から１箱４００円になり、政府は１２００億円の税収増を期待している。

The Hatoyama Cabinet had initially regarded this round of tax reforms as a prime opportunity to show results brought about by the change of government.
　鳩山内閣は当初、今回の税制改正を、政権交代の成果を示すチャンスととらえていた。

The government's revamped Tax Commission has started work to reform the nation's taxation system on the principle that discussions on it be conducted publicly. It aimed to abolish or drastically reduce special taxation measures for particular industries or groups and carry out a sweeping review of income tax deductions.
　改正作業は、一新された政府税制調査会が原則公開のもとで行うとし、租税特別措置（租特）の大胆な廃止・縮減や所得控除の抜本見直しを掲げてスタートした。

The discussions, however, stalled after details of reform plans were considered. The reviews of special taxation measures and income tax deductions proceeded at a snail's pace.
　ところが、各論に入ると議論は難航し、租特や所得控除の見直しはなかなか進まなかった。

　◆消費税で安定財源を◆
The biggest problem lay with the government's reluctance to begin work to find a stable financial resource to pay for swelling social security costs.
　最大の問題は、社会保障費の財源確保に向けた手だてに踏み込まなかったことだ。

To pay for the social security costs, which balloon by about 1 trillion yen every year, the government needs a stable financial resource. It is clear now that the consumption tax is the only source of revenue that can cover such a huge cost.
　毎年１兆円規模で増え続ける社会保障費を賄うには、安定した財源が必要で、それには消費税しかないことは明白である。

Many European nations have already introduced measures to support child rearing--equivalent to Japan's proposed child-rearing allowance--without setting income ceilings on the beneficiaries. Such measures are affordable as the rates of value-added taxes in these countries are all above 10 percent.
　欧州各国は、子ども手当に相当する子育て支援策を導入済みで、所得制限は設けていない。だが、各国の付加価値税（消費税）の税率は２けたを超えている。

Shying away from raising the consumption tax can be said to be the biggest obstacle for realizing important policies. The Hatoyama Cabinet must swiftly start discussing a hike in the consumption tax so it can be raised immediately after the nation's economy recovers.
　消費税率の引き上げを封印していることこそ、政策実現の最大の障害といえよう。鳩山内閣は景気回復後、直ちに引き上げられるよう、議論を急ぐべきだ。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 23, 2009)
（2009年12月23日01時47分 読売新聞）The Yomiuri Shimbun (Dec. 23, 2009)
Put the economy before manifesto promises
来年度税・予算　政権公約へのこだわり捨てよ（12月23日付・読売社説）

Compilation of the fiscal 2010 budget has entered the homestretch.
　２０１０年度予算の編成作業が、大詰めを迎えている。

The outline of tax revisions for next fiscal year was approved Tuesday at a Cabinet meeting, and the treatment of child-rearing allowances and an income compensation system for individual farmers has been decided, too.
　国民生活や企業活動に深くかかわる来年度の税制改正大綱が２２日に閣議決定され、子ども手当や農家への戸別所得補償など予算の主要項目の扱いも固まった。

However, a serious tax revenue shortfall has cast a shadow over the process. Tax revenues in fiscal 2009 are estimated to be 36.9 trillion yen, over 9 trillion yen less than initially expected. Tax revenues in fiscal 2010 will remain almost the same.
　一連の作業に影を落としたのが深刻な税収不足だ。０９年度の税収は、当初の見積もりより９兆円余り少ない３６・９兆円となる見込みだ。１０年度についても同程度の額にとどまりそうだ。

This situation has made measures to secure tax revenue the most important agenda item in discussing tax revisions. However, Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama failed to make any decisions on this matter, preferring to stick to implementation of the Democratic Party of Japan's manifesto pledges made for August's House of Representatives election, which will lead to huge budgets and a drastic reduction of tax revenue.
　このため、税制改正では、いかに税収を確保していくかが重要なテーマになった。だが、鳩山首相は巨額の予算計上や、大幅な税収減につながる政権公約（マニフェスト）の実現にこだわって決断できなかった。

Hatoyama, having gone back and forth, finally decided the outline by accepting the requests of the DPJ submitted by its Secretary General Ichiro Ozawa.
　最後は、小沢幹事長から出された民主党の要望を受け入れる形で大枠を決める迷走ぶりだった。

The prime minister followed the same process in the budget compilation.
　予算編成でも、同じような過程をたどっている。

The government's budget plan for fiscal 2010 is to be decided soon. The prime minister in a few days must come up with a way to make a budget that can pump up the economy and offer reassurance to people with insufficient financial resources.
　１０年度予算は、近く政府案が決まる予定だ。乏しい財源で、いかに景気を下支えし、国民生活に安心をもたらす予算を作り上げていくか。鳩山首相は、あと数日で答えを出さねばならない。

Treatment of the provisionally higher tax rate on fossil fuels, including gasoline, symbolizes the confusion afflicting tax revisions. The prime minister initially was determined to abolish the provisional tax rate in April as it was the pillar of his party's election pledges, but he finally decided only to lower the rates of the automobile weight tax.
　税制改正の迷走の象徴が、ガソリン税などの暫定税率だ。鳩山首相は政権公約の目玉として、来年４月の暫定税率廃止に固執したが、最終的には自動車重量税の一部引き下げにとどめた。

　◆暫定税率維持は当然◆
We think Hatoyama's decision is reasonable. If the provisional tax rate was abolished, central and local governments would lose a total of 2.5 trillion yen in tax revenues, worsening fiscal deficits.
　国と地方で２・５兆円の税収がなくなれば、財政赤字はさらに膨らむ。この判断は当然だろう。

The DPJ had claimed that the provisional tax could be abolished because abundant new financial resources could be created by trimming fat from government spending. But wasn't it apparent from the very beginning that such a claim would end up being pie in the sky?
　暫定税率の廃止などについて民主党は、「歳出の無駄の洗い出しで、財源はいくらでも出てくる」と主張していた。だがそれが空手形に終わるのは、最初から分かりきっていたことではないか。

This shows the collapse of so-called manifesto politics. We have to say that the actions and remarks of Hatoyama, who stuck to the abolition of the provisional tax rate, have ended up deceiving the public.
　マニフェスト政治の破綻(はたん)を示すものだろう。廃止にこだわった首相の言動は、結果的に国民を欺いたと言わざるを得ない。

The prime minister is apparently unaware of his own responsibility, maintaining that his change of policy is in line with public opinion. He must give the public a detailed explanation of why he decided to change the policy.
　首相は、今回の方針転換は「国民の思いに沿ったもの」と述べるなど、責任を自覚していない。転換の経緯を、国民に詳しく説明しなければなるまい。

The government said it would spend a year or so studying the introduction of an environment tax, which was once considered to offset the scrapping of the provisional tax rate on fossil fuels. An environment tax, which would be imposed widely on fossil fuels and others, would become a heavy burden on industries and household budgets if introduced. It should be considered very carefully.
　暫定税率の代わりに導入が検討された環境税については、今後１年程度かけて検討するとした。化石燃料などに幅広く課税する環境税は、産業界や家計に重い負担となる。慎重に扱うべきだ。

===

Child benefit needs rethink

The government likely will set up a special fund worth 2 trillion yen in the next fiscal budget, using such financial resources as the revenue to be generated through the maintenance of the provisionally higher tax rates. The money set aside for this specified-purpose budgetary framework will be used to help create more jobs, reinvigorate regional economies and implement other pump-priming policies.
　政府は、暫定税率の維持で得た税収などで、来年度予算に２兆円の特別枠を設け、雇用対策や地域活性化などに振り向ける方針だ。

The government has good reason to consider giving the economy an additional shot in the arm. It is also essential that the list of purposes for which such budgetary means would be used be narrowed down to a handful of measures that promise to produce an immediate economy-boosting effect.
景気への配慮は妥当であり、使途は景気に即効性がある対策に絞り込むことが肝要だ。

Another focus of the dispute over the fiscal 2010 budget was whether an income limit should be imposed on the eligibility of households to be covered by the child-rearing allowance system. The government has settled the controversy by deciding the scheme will not set such a limit. This means every family with a child or children in the middle school age bracket or younger will be paid 13,000 yen per child monthly.
　もうひとつの焦点だった子ども手当については、所得制限を設けないことで決着した。中学生以下の子どもを持つすべての家庭に、子ども１人につき月１万３０００円が支払われる。

　◆子ども手当は見直せ◆
The children's allowance scheme will be complemented by a plan to exclude households with a child or children aged 15 or under from the list of those entitled to income tax deductions for dependents. The government will also curtail the amount of deductions for dependents aged 16 to 18, with the aim of raising funds for delivering another promise included in the DPJ manifesto--that is, making high school education free by paying tuition fees out of the state coffers.
　代わりに１５歳以下の子どもがいる家庭の所得税の扶養控除が廃止される。高校授業料の無償化の財源として、１６～１８歳を対象にした特定扶養控除も減額される。

The DPJ manifesto states that the amount of child-rearing benefits paid to each household will be doubled, starting in fiscal 2011. This would only increase the amount of the financial means to be required.
　民主党の公約では、子ども手当の支給額は１１年度から倍増され、必要な財源はさらに膨らむ。

To secure new financial resources, the government has said it will consider such revenue-enhancing measures as the abolition of income tax deductions for spouses. However, doing so will be certain to antagonize families without children. It is also evident that ending such a tax exemption will hardly do enough to raise necessary financial resources.
　新たな財源を確保するため、政府は、所得税の配偶者控除の廃止などを検討するという。しかし、子どものいない世帯の反発は必至であり、その程度では足りないこともはっきりしている。

With all this in mind, we find it indispensable for the government to reduce the amount of the child-rearing allowance and impose an income limit on families eligible for such benefits. The government should seriously consider this idea.
　やはり支給額の削減や所得制限の導入などが欠かせない。今後、真剣に検討すべきだ。

===

Sales tax hike inevitable

The government has also decided to raise the tobacco tax rate by a large margin.
　たばこ税の大幅引き上げも決まった。

Leading brands of cigarettes will be retailed at 400 yen a pack starting from next October. The government hopes the hike will boost tax revenues by more than 120 billion yen.
代表的な銘柄の小売価格は来年１０月から１箱４００円になり、政府は１２００億円の税収増を期待している。

The Hatoyama Cabinet had initially regarded this round of tax reforms as a prime opportunity to show results brought about by the change of government.
　鳩山内閣は当初、今回の税制改正を、政権交代の成果を示すチャンスととらえていた。

The government's revamped Tax Commission has started work to reform the nation's taxation system on the principle that discussions on it be conducted publicly. It aimed to abolish or drastically reduce special taxation measures for particular industries or groups and carry out a sweeping review of income tax deductions.
　改正作業は、一新された政府税制調査会が原則公開のもとで行うとし、租税特別措置（租特）の大胆な廃止・縮減や所得控除の抜本見直しを掲げてスタートした。

The discussions, however, stalled after details of reform plans were considered. The reviews of special taxation measures and income tax deductions proceeded at a snail's pace.
　ところが、各論に入ると議論は難航し、租特や所得控除の見直しはなかなか進まなかった。

　◆消費税で安定財源を◆
The biggest problem lay with the government's reluctance to begin work to find a stable financial resource to pay for swelling social security costs.
　最大の問題は、社会保障費の財源確保に向けた手だてに踏み込まなかったことだ。

To pay for the social security costs, which balloon by about 1 trillion yen every year, the government needs a stable financial resource. It is clear now that the consumption tax is the only source of revenue that can cover such a huge cost.
　毎年１兆円規模で増え続ける社会保障費を賄うには、安定した財源が必要で、それには消費税しかないことは明白である。

Many European nations have already introduced measures to support child rearing--equivalent to Japan's proposed child-rearing allowance--without setting income ceilings on the beneficiaries. Such measures are affordable as the rates of value-added taxes in these countries are all above 10 percent.
　欧州各国は、子ども手当に相当する子育て支援策を導入済みで、所得制限は設けていない。だが、各国の付加価値税（消費税）の税率は２けたを超えている。

Shying away from raising the consumption tax can be said to be the biggest obstacle for realizing important policies. The Hatoyama Cabinet must swiftly start discussing a hike in the consumption tax so it can be raised immediately after the nation's economy recovers.
　消費税率の引き上げを封印していることこそ、政策実現の最大の障害といえよう。鳩山内閣は景気回復後、直ちに引き上げられるよう、議論を急ぐべきだ。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Dec. 23, 2009)
（2009年12月23日01時47分 読売新聞）v

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