英字新聞
読売、毎日、朝日各社英字新聞の主として社説を学習研究します

農家への個別所得補償制度には反対です。農産物の貿易自由化の足かせとなるからです。結局は国民の税金から負担される訳ですから。農産物の貿易自由化は世界の潮流です。日本だけ特別扱いは許されないでしょう。
所得補償制度を漁業や他の産業に拡大する動きに対しても同じ理由で反対します。
(srachai from khonkaen, thailand)

The Yomiuri Shimbun (Aug. 20, 2010)
Get wheels turning on S. Korea trade talks
日韓ＦＴＡ　未来志向で早期妥結をめざせ（8月19日付・読売社説）

Japanese and South Korean industrial circles both hope talks between their governments over a free trade agreement will be concluded soon, according to a recent survey conducted by The Yomiuri Shimbun and a leading South Korean business daily.
　日本と韓国の産業界は共に、自由貿易協定（ＦＴＡ）に関する交渉の早期妥結を望んでいることがわかった。

Responding to the poll taken by the Yomiuri and The Korea Economic Daily, more than 80 percent of 200 major Japanese and South Korean corporations said they thought a free trade accord between the two countries was "necessary." However, bilateral negotiations on a trade deal have been suspended since 2004.
　読売新聞社と韓国経済新聞社が実施したアンケート調査で、双方の主要企業２００社の８割超が、２００４年から交渉が中断している日韓ＦＴＡについて、「必要だ」と答えている。

We welcome the readiness expressed by these corporations to deepen relations in a future-oriented manner while competing yet coexisting in observing this year's centennial of Japan's annexation of the Korean Peninsula.
　日韓併合１００年という節目を迎え、両国の企業が未来志向で関係を深め、競争と共存を図ろうとする姿勢を歓迎したい。

A free trade agreement is a treaty between two or more nations and territories seeking to reduce or abolish tariffs on industrial, agricultural and other products. Such an accord can do much to expand trade.
　ＦＴＡは、特定の国や地域間で鉱工業品や農産物の関税を引き下げたり、撤廃したりすることだ。貿易を拡大する効果がある。

The current round of multilateral trade talks under the World Trade Organization has been stalled due to conflicting interests among WTO member nations. This has given rise to a sharp increase in the number of free trade pacts and economic partnership agreements aimed at expanding the scope of cooperation to include increased investment and other activities. In fact, about 200 FTA and EPA accords have come into effect around the world.
　世界貿易機関（ＷＴＯ）の多国間の貿易自由化交渉は、利害の対立で暗礁に乗り上げた。そこで世界で急増しているのが、ＦＴＡや投資拡大などに協力分野を広げた経済連携協定（ＥＰＡ）で、すでに約２００が発効した。

Japan lagging others

However, free trade agreement negotiations between Tokyo and Seoul have been left behind by the trend of the times. The gridlock in bilateral talks can be attributed to Japan's objection to market liberalization targeting farm and marine products, as well as South Korea's concern that its trade deficit with Japan could widen.
　ところが、日韓交渉はそうした流れに取り残され、行き詰まっている。日本が農水産物の市場開放に抵抗し、韓国は対日赤字全体の拡大を警戒しているためだ。

A six-year hiatus in bilateral talks is too long. The Japanese and South Korean governments should live up to the expectations of their respective industrial circles when they meet for working-level talks aimed at resuming the negotiations, probably in September.
　約６年にも及ぶ中断は余りにも長い。両国は９月にも、交渉再開に向けた実務協議を開くが、産業界の期待に応える必要がある。

Japan's slowness in forming economic partnerships with other countries is exemplified not only by its failure to break the impasse in trade talks with South Korea. This lack of progress is also evident in Tokyo's delay in forming similar ties with other nations and territories.
　日本の経済連携の動きは、対韓国ばかりでなく、他国・地域との間でも出遅れが目立つ。

Japan has signed economic partnership agreements with 11 economies, including Singapore and Mexico, that have already taken effect. This nation is struggling to make headway in striking EPA deals with such agricultural powers as Australia and India. It is unknown whether or when the Japanese government will be able to sit at the negotiating table for trade pact talks with the United States and the European Union.
　ＥＰＡ発効・署名国は、シンガポール、メキシコなど１１か国・地域にとどまり、農業大国の豪州やインドとの交渉も難航中だ。米国や欧州連合（ＥＵ）については、交渉のメドさえたたない。

DPJ policy won't help

Dogged resistance from the domestic agricultural sector has been a stumbling block to efforts to open this country's market for farm imports.
　農業分野の市場開放について、日本国内の抵抗が強いことが、いつも足かせになっている。

The Democratic Party of Japan-led government has introduced an income compensation system for individual rice farming households. However, this lavish handout policy will do nothing to increase the nation's agricultural competitiveness in preparation for trade liberalization.
　民主党政権は、コメ農家を対象にした戸別所得補償制度を導入した。しかし、バラマキ政策では、貿易自由化に備えた農業の競争力強化にはつながらない。

The government likely will expand the income compensation program to include fishermen and other workers. This kind of protective policy must be wisely used to help pry open the domestic market.
　政府は所得補償制度を漁業などにも拡充する方針だが、こうした保護策を市場開放に向けて活用する道を探らねばなるまい。

Japanese Ambassador to China Uichiro Niwa, an envoy chosen from the private sector, has expressed a desire to kick off free trade talks between Tokyo and Beijing. Progress in negotiations between Tokyo and Seoul could jump-start similar talks between Japan and China--and even free trade talks involving all three nations.
　民間出身の丹羽中国大使は、日中ＦＴＡ交渉の開始に意欲を表明した。日韓ＦＴＡを前進できれば、日中や「日中韓」のＦＴＡ交渉の足がかりにもなる。

South Korea has reached free trade agreements with the United States and the EU. If Seoul gets a head start on Tokyo in starting talks with China, it would deal a blow to Japan.
　韓国は米国やＥＵとＦＴＡで合意した。韓国が中国とのＦＴＡで先行すれば、日本には痛手だ。

The administration of Prime Minister Naoto Kan has put together a new growth strategy that would utilize the vitality of emerging economies in Asia. If it truly seeks to accomplish that aim, the government should expedite free trade talks.
　菅政権は、アジアの活力を取り込む新成長戦略をまとめた。それならば、自由貿易を加速する政治的な行動が求められよう。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 19, 2010)
（2010年8月19日01時59分 読売新聞）

The Yomiuri Shimbun (Aug. 19, 2010)
Intl cooperation vital in South China Sea
南シナ海　中国進出の抑止は国際連携で（8月18日付・読売社説）

China is using its powerful navy to aggressively advance into the South China Sea, a key junction of international sea-lanes. The United States and countries in Asia are increasingly wary of China's moves.
　国際的な海上輸送の要衝である南シナ海で、中国が海軍力を背景に高圧的な姿勢で進出しつつあり、米国やアジア諸国が警戒感を強めている。

The U.S. Defense Department said Monday in its annual report to Congress that "current trends in China's military capabilities are a major factor in changing East Asian military balances," referring to its moves in the South China Sea.
　米国防総省は１６日に発表した年次報告書で、南シナ海などでの中国の軍事力拡大を「東アジアの軍事バランスを変える主要な要因」と位置づけた。

Japan also cannot overlook China's moves given the fact that it relies on marine transportation for imports of 90 percent of its energy and 60 percent of its food. The government must deepen cooperation with the United States, Vietnam, India and other countries concerned to resolve the problem.
　エネルギーの９割、食糧の６割を海上輸送に依存する日本にとっても、看過できない動きだ。政府は、問題解決に向けて米国やベトナム、インドなど関係各国と連携を深めるべきだ。

Territorial disputes

The South China Sea, dotted with more than 200 islands and reefs, including the Spratly Islands, is the stage for several territorial disputes involving China, Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia and other countries.
　南シナ海は、スプラトリー（南沙）諸島を中心に、２００を超える島や岩礁が点在し、中国やベトナム、フィリピン、マレーシアなどが領有権を主張している。

In recent years, China has been causing friction with other countries by dispatching its warships in the area on the pretext of protecting its fishing boats.
　ところが、中国が近年、自国の漁船保護を名目に海軍艦艇をこの海域に派遣するなど、各国と摩擦を繰り返している。

China is currently building a large submarine base on Hainan Island in the South China Sea. A recent series of such moves can be interpreted as the country's attempt to bring the entire South China Sea under its control, not only for the sake of protecting its interests in oil and maritime resources but also for military reasons, such as to deter any possible intervention by U.S. forces in the event of an emergency involving Taiwan.
　海南島では、大規模な潜水艦基地を建設中だ。石油などの海洋権益の確保だけでなく、台湾有事の際に米軍の介入を阻止するなど、軍事的な理由からも、南シナ海全域を中国の勢力下に置こうとしているとみるべきだろう。

China has used the expression "core interests" in regard to its sovereignty and territorial integrity when it refers to Taiwan and Tibet. Recently, the country said it considered the South China Sea part of its "core interests" as well, a move that underlines concerns over China's possible intentions behind its latest moves.
　中国が、台湾やチベット問題で使ってきた「核心的利益」という表現を、最近は南シナ海にも使い始めたことも、そうした懸念を裏付けるものだ。

The South China Sea is crossed by vital international sea-lanes that connect the Middle East with the Northeast Asia. No country can be allowed to make exclusive moves in the area. We strongly urge China to restrain itself.
　南シナ海は、中東と北東アジアを結ぶ海上交通路（シーレーン）である。この海域で排他的な動きを取ることは認められない。中国には強く自制を求めたい。

Multilateralism a must

Vietnam and other Asian countries are calling on China to resolve territorial disputes through multinational negotiations. But China is unwilling to relax its position that countries claiming sovereignty should separately hold bilateral negotiations.
　ベトナムなどアジア各国は、多国間協議で問題解決を図るよう求めている。これに対し中国は、領有権を主張する国同士が２国間協議で話し合うべきだ、という立場を崩していない。

However, if territorial disputes develop into military conflicts, they would significantly affect all countries that use the area's sea-lanes. Given that, it will be reasonable to hold multinational negotiations among countries with interests in the area to discuss ways to ease tensions and measures to build trust.
　領有権争いが軍事的な衝突などに発展すれば、この海域をシーレーンとして利用する国々にも甚大な影響が及ぶ。懸念を共有する国も参加する多国間協議で、緊張緩和策や信頼醸成措置を検討するのが筋だろう。

It may also be a good idea to take up the issue at the East Asia Summit, which the United States also plans to join.
　新たに米国も加わる予定の東アジア首脳会議（ＥＡＳ）で討議するのも一案ではないか。

In order to persuade China to sit down for multinational negotiations, it will be essential for countries sharing concerns to cooperate with each other.
　多国間協議に中国を呼び込むためには、懸念を共有する国が相互に協力し合うことが肝要だ。

The Japanese government launched dialogues on a strategic partnership with India at the end of last year and with Vietnam last month, with the participation of both foreign and defense authorities. We urge the government to proactively take advantage of such dialogues and promote joint actions to alleviate tensions in the South China Sea.
　政府は昨年末にはインド、先月にはベトナムとの間で、外務、防衛両省が参加する戦略対話を発足させた。こうした協議の場を積極的に活用し、緊張緩和に向けた共同行動を進めてもらいたい。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 18, 2010)
（2010年8月18日01時43分 読売新聞）

The Yomiuri Shimbun (Aug. 18, 2010)
Govt must prevent economic slowdown
ＧＤＰ急減速　景気腰折れへ警戒を強めよ（8月17日付・読売社説）

The Japanese economy, which has been recovering thanks to external demand and the effects of the government's economic stimulus measures, has suddenly slowed. The government must ensure that the adverse effects of this do not prevent economic growth.
　外需と政策効果を支えに回復してきた景気が急減速した。成長を腰折れさせぬよう、警戒を怠ってはならない。

The nation's real gross domestic product increased in the April-June quarter by 0.1 percent from the previous period. This represents the third consecutive quarter of growth, but the annualized growth rate is extremely low--only 0.4 percent.
　４～６月期の実質国内総生産（ＧＤＰ）は、前期比０・１％増と、３四半期連続でプラスだった。だが、成長率は年換算で０・４％と、極めて低い。

Although domestic demand has shrunk, growth in the GDP had finally been maintained through exports and other forms of external demand. But the future of external demand is uncertain because of the rising yen and fears of economic downturns in other countries. In their policy management, the government and the Bank of Japan should give priority to stimulating the economy.
　内需はマイナスに転じ、輸出などの外需で、やっとプラス成長を維持した。円高や、海外経済の減速懸念で、外需の先行きも不透明である。政府・日銀は景気最優先で政策運営すべきだ。

Sharp drops feared

The sluggish domestic demand is the result of previously robust personal consumption that slumped in the April-June quarter to an almost flat level. Government measures such as eco points for purchases of energy-saving home electrical appliances and subsidies for buying environmentally friendly cars seem to be finally losing their impact.
　内需低迷の主因は、これまで堅調だった個人消費が、４～６月期はほぼ横ばいまで減速したことにある。省エネ家電のエコポイントやエコカー補助金もさすがに効果が薄れてきたようだ。

These are only a few economic stimulus measures, but the government is planning to terminate its subsidies for eco-friendly cars at the end of September. Car dealers and auto parts manufacturers are concerned about possible declines in sales and production as a result. Many predict that a sharp decrease in orders cannot be avoided from October.
　とはいえ、数少ない下支え役である。政府は９月末でエコカー補助金を打ち切るという。自動車の販売店や部品工場などは、「１０月からは受注の大幅減が避けられない」などと、販売や生産の落ち込みを心配している。

This summer's heat wave is boosting sales of air conditioners and other summer-related products. However, more than a few electronics retail stores fear sales will drop sharply in reaction after the end of the seasonal demand caused by the blazing temperatures.
　夏の猛暑でエアコンなどは売れている。だが、“猛暑特需”の後に厳しい反動減がこないか、恐れる家電量販店も少なくない。

The government has said that its child-rearing allowances, which began in June, and other measures will eventually stimulate the economy. However, past handout policies such as the flat-sum allowance show that a significant economic boost cannot be expected from such steps.
　政府は、給付の始まった子ども手当などが、いずれ景気を刺激するというが、定額給付金など過去のばらまき政策の例から見て、大きな効果は期待できまい。

Instead, the government should use the reserve fund of this fiscal year's budget to implement measures to prevent the economy from slowing down, such as continuing part of the government subsidy program for purchases of eco-friendly cars.
　今年度予算の予備費を使って、エコカー補助金の一部を継続するなど、景気の減速を避ける手を打つべきだ。

Block further yen rise

Lower budget allocations for public works projects are apparently affecting the economy. Public investments dropped by a drastic 3.4 percent in the April-June quarter from the previous period. This in particular will deal a heavy blow to regional economies that lack powerful local industries.
　公共事業削減の影響も鮮明だ。４～６月期の公共投資は、前期比３・４％減と大きく落ち込んだ。有力な地場産業のない地方などでは、特に打撃となろう。

Apart from the reserve fund, the budget contains 1 trillion yen as a special allocation for future economic measures. Couldn't this money be used efficiently now to improve the economy?
　予備費とは別に、将来の景気対策に備えた、１兆円の予算枠もある。うまく活用できないか。

External demand maintained growth, but the growth rate has slowed. Domestic industries are affected significantly by the yen's appreciation--if it rises by just 1 yen against the dollar, Toyota Motor Corp. will lose 30 billion yen in annual profits and Honda Motor Co. will lose 17 billion yen. This may dampen recovering investment on plant and equipment.
　一方、外需はプラスを維持したが、伸びが鈍った。足もとでは円高の影響が大きい。円高が１円進めば、トヨタ自動車で年３００億円、ホンダも１７０億円の利益が減るという。回復してきた設備投資にも、水をさしかねない。

The latest appreciation of the yen was triggered by additional steps taken by the U.S. government to ease the supply of money. To alleviate this influence, this nation's central bank must adopt a more proactive stance toward monetary relaxation.
　今回の円高は、アメリカの追加金融緩和がきっかけだ。その影響を和らげるには、日銀も金融緩和の姿勢を強める必要があろう。

A strong yen lowers the prices of imported goods and fuels deflation. Sharp appreciation must be avoided.
　円高は輸入物価を下げて、デフレにも拍車をかける。急激な進行は避けねばならない。

If the yen soars toward 80 yen to the dollar, the government should stress its willingness to intervene in foreign exchange, if necessary, to prevent further appreciation.
　円相場が８０円に向けて急騰するようなら、政府は円高阻止に向けて、為替介入も辞さない強い姿勢を見せるべきだ。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 17, 2010)
（2010年8月17日01時22分 読売新聞）

albeit 発音注意、アルバイトではなくてオールビートと発音される。=although, even though
albeit belatedly 遅ればせながら

The Yomiuri Shimbun (Aug. 17, 2010)
Give hub ports the tools they need
港の国際競争　上海や釜山が遠くに見える（8月16日付・読売社説）

The government plans to enhance the allure of Japanese ports, which have been increasingly bypassed by gigantic containerships in recent years, so they can recapture cargo currently heading straight for rival ports in neighboring countries, such as Shanghai and Busan, South Korea.
　世界の巨大コンテナ船が素通りしている日本の港の魅力を高め、上海や釜山など周辺国のライバル港に奪われた荷物を取り戻す――。

The Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Ministry will promote a plan to build "international container strategic ports." The plan has designated the Keihin and Hanshin port areas as candidates to become major hubs that will receive priority investment to transform them into two of Asia's five major shipping centers by 2020. Keihin consists of Tokyo, Yokohama and Kawasaski ports, and Hanshin covers Osaka and Kobe ports.
　こんな目標を掲げ、国土交通省が、「国際コンテナ戦略港湾」に京浜港（東京、横浜、川崎）と阪神港（大阪、神戸）の２地域を指定した。重点投資で２０２０年にはアジアで五指に入る物流拠点に育てるという。

Boosting Japanese ports' competitiveness by lowering transport charges and offering around-the-clock service would cheer domestic manufacturers, whose profitability often hinges on shipment costs. It would not be a bad idea to flexibly divert the limited state budget for ports to priority projects.
　低料金や２４時間サービスなどで港の競争力を高めることは、物流コストが収益を左右する日本の製造業にとって大きな恩恵となる。限られた港湾予算にメリハリを付けるのは悪くない。

However, we doubt that reinforcing port facilities alone will increase the freight volume passing through Japanese ports. Rather, the entire operation of Japanese ports, which have been shunned by the international shipping industry as "costly and slow," needs to be overhauled.
　しかし、施設整備を優先するだけで荷物が増えるとは思えない。世界の海運界から「コストが高く、搬出入に時間もかかる」と敬遠されてきた港の運営全般を改革することが重要である。

Japan falling behind

Three decades ago, Kobe, Tokyo and Yokohama stood among the world's top 20 ports in terms of volume of freight containers handled. In 2009, Tokyo was the top Japanese port in this category, but ranked 26th in the world. The world's top five ports were all in Asia--Singapore, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Shenzhen and Busan.
　３０年前、世界のコンテナ取扱量の上位２０港には神戸、東京、横浜が名を連ねていたが、０９年は最上位の東京でも２６位だ。トップ５はシンガポール、上海、香港、深セン、釜山とアジア勢が独占した。（深センの「セン」は土ヘンに「川」）

Large containers transporting auto parts and machine products account for a large portion of international shipments.
　自動車部品や機械製品などを運搬する大型のコンテナが、国際物流の主役を担うようになった。

Consequently, ports with piers capable of mooring ultralarge containerships and low entry and usage charges and convenient access to key land routes have become indispensable.
　それに対応して、多数のコンテナを一度に運ぶ超大型船が横付けできる岸壁があり、入港料や施設使用料が安く、陸路との連絡もよい港が不可欠となっている。

Japan lags other Asian countries that have heavily invested in ports boasting such characteristics. Instead, Japan has continued pork-barrel investments in ports across the country to meet local needs, a strategy that has done little to improve the ports' convenience.
　アジア各国がこうした要素を取り込んだ特定港湾に集中投資する間、日本は完全に出遅れた。地方の意向に配慮してばらまき型の港湾投資を続けた結果、使い勝手の悪さが改善されないまま放置されてしまった。

Even Japanese cargo owners are opting for shipping routes from domestic ports to U.S. and European destinations via hub ports in other Asian countries. Transshipment costs at Busan Port, for example, are 40 percent cheaper than those charged by some Japanese ports. It is little wonder that an increasing number of shipping companies sail past Japanese ports.
　今では、日本の荷主でさえ地方港からアジアの巨大港に運び、欧米航路に乗せている。釜山を使えば、積み替えのコストは日本より４割も安くて済むという。これでは日本に寄港しない海運会社が増えるのも無理はない。

No easy task

The so-called strategic port plan calls, albeit belatedly, for integrating and privatizing port terminal corporations to streamline port operations.
　戦略港湾は、遅ればせながら、埠頭(ふとう)公社の統合、民営化などで港の効率運営を目指す方針だ。

But as long as port operations are conducted separately by shipping and cargo handling companies through their vertical administrations, improving the ports' efficiency will be easier said than done.
　だが、港湾作業が船会社や荷役会社ごとの縦割りとなっている現状では、効率化を図ろうとしても容易にはいかない。

In 2004, the infrastructure ministry designated six ports, including Yokohama and Kobe, as "super hub ports." But the plan was half-baked. This time, too, the ministry did not select just one hub port, possibly to avoid upsetting one of the two major urban areas.
　国交省は０４年に「スーパー中枢港湾」として横浜や神戸など６港を指定したが、中途半端な整備に終わった。今回も２大都市圏に配慮し、１地域に絞り込めなかったのが実態だろう。

This latest port reform plan should go the extra step by learning from rival ports.
　今度こそ、ライバル港に学んで大胆に改革すべきだ。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 16, 2010)
（2010年8月16日01時34分 読売新聞）

The Yomiuri Shimbun (Aug. 16, 2010)
Renewing our pledge for peace in the future
終戦の日　平和な未来を築く思い新たに（8月15日付・読売社説）

Once again, Aug. 15 has arrived. It is the day on which the nation commemorates its war dead and renews its pledge for peace.
　今年も８月１５日を迎えた。戦没者を追悼し平和への誓いを新たにする日である。

Sixty-five years have passed since the end of World War II. However, wars and regional conflicts continue around the world despite efforts by the United Nations and others for nuclear disarmament and peace negotiations. We have yet to see a clear path to global peace.
　第２次世界大戦が終わってから６５年。国連を中心に核軍縮や紛争調停の努力が続けられているが、戦争や地域紛争は絶えることがなく、平和への道筋はなかなか見えてこない。

Looking back on the end of the war in the summer of 1945 means reflecting on the origins of postwar Japan, which pledged to follow the path of international cooperation.
　１９４５年の終戦の夏を顧みることは、国際協調の道を歩むことを誓った戦後日本の原点を問い直してみることでもあろう。

Today, the idea that the end of the war on Aug. 15 brought immediate peace to people's lives seems to have taken root in society.
　終戦と言えば、８月１５日を区切りに平和な日々が始まったというイメージが定着している。

Last-minute aggression

However, the Soviet troops that had invaded Japanese-held Manchuria in northeastern China just a week earlier on Aug. 9, in violation of a neutrality pact with Japan, continued their combat operations even after Aug. 15.
　しかし、８月９日に日ソ中立条約を破って満州（現中国東北部）に侵攻を始めたソ連軍は、１５日以降も進撃を続けた。

On Aug. 18, Soviet troops landed on Shumushu Island, the northernmost island in the Chishima group of islets, turning the island into a fierce battlefield between a garrison of the Imperial Japanese Army and the Soviet forces. Author Jiro Asada recently published a novel based on the battle, titled "Owarazaru Natsu" (Never-ending summer). The work helped the incident become more widely known to the public.
　１８日には千島列島最北の占守(しゅむしゅ)島にソ連軍が上陸、日本軍守備隊との間で激しい戦闘が行われた。最近、これを素材にした浅田次郎氏の小説「終わらざる夏」が刊行されて、一般にも広く知られるようになった。

In Maokacho, a town in Sakhalin under Japanese rule, nine female telephone operators, who stayed on until the bitter end to maintain communications, killed themselves. A film called "Hyosetsu no Mon" (Gate of ice and snow), which is based on the tragedy and takes its title from the name of a monument in Hokkaido, has just been rereleased for the first time in 36 years.
　樺太（サハリン）の真岡町では、最後まで通信業務に携わっていた女性交換手９人が自決した。この悲劇を伝える映画「氷雪の門」も今夏、３６年ぶりに劇場公開されている。

Under international law, Japan formally surrendered to the Allied Powers on Sept. 2, 1945, with a signing ceremony aboard the U.S. battleship Missouri in Tokyo Bay. However, U.S. forces and most others stopped their attacks against Japan immediately after the Japanese government expressed its intention to accept the Potsdam Declaration on Aug. 14.
　国際法上は、日本が降伏文書に調印した９月２日に降伏は成立した。しかし、日本政府が８月１４日にポツダム宣言の受諾を表明したのを受けて、アメリカ軍などはすみやかに攻撃を停止している。

However, the Soviet troops continued their invasion and occupied four islands off Hokkaido, including Kunashiri Island, that are historically an integral part of Japan.
　ソ連軍は侵攻を続け、日本固有の領土である国後島など北方４島を占拠した。

About 600,000 Japanese officers, soldiers and others were captured and sent to concentration camps in Siberia and other parts of the Soviet Union as prisoners of war and forced to engage in harsh labor. About 60,000 of them are believed to have died in concentration camps due to hunger and cold.
　日本軍将兵ら約６０万人が捕虜としてシベリアなどの収容所に送られ、過酷な強制労働を強いられた。約６万人が飢えや寒さにより死亡した。

After the collapse of the Soviet Union, Russian President Boris Yeltsin in 1993 offered an apology for the detention in Siberia, calling it an "inhumane" act.
　シベリア抑留については、旧ソ連崩壊後の９３年、ロシアのエリツィン大統領が「非人間的」な行為だったとして謝罪している。

Last month, however, Russia designated Sept. 2 as the anniversary of the end of World War II, effectively stipulating it as the day the former Soviet Union triumphed over Japan. The Russian move is seen as a response to Japan's demand that Russia return the four Russian-held islands off Hokkaido.
　しかし、ロシアは先月、日本が降伏文書に調印した９月２日を第２次世界大戦終結の記念日に定めた。事実上の「対日戦勝記念日」で、日本の北方領土返還要求をけん制したものでもあろう。

In light of such a move, Japan must be persistent in demanding that Russia return the islands.
　政府は、北方４島の返還を今後とも粘り強く要求していかなければならない。

Cruel atomic bombings

Another tragedy in the summer in 1945 was the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
　終戦の夏のもう一つの悲劇は、広島、長崎への原爆投下だ。

U.S. President Harry Truman insisted that the U.S. government had no choice other than dropping the atomic bombs on the two cities because Japan had refused to accept the Potsdam Declaration, which demanded unconditional surrender. However, the declaration was issued on July 26, the day after the president issued an order to drop the bombs.
　日本がポツダム宣言を拒否したために、やむなく原爆を投下したとトルーマン米大統領は主張していた。しかし、７月２５日に原爆投下命令が出された後、翌２６日にポツダム宣言は発表されている。

Yet, if the Japanese government had announced its intention to accept the declaration immediately after the announcement, it might have been possible to avoid the bombings. The then Japanese leaders wasted time, pinning too much hope on the possibility of Soviet mediations for peace.
　それでも、日本政府がポツダム宣言の受け入れを、間を置かず表明していれば、原爆投下を回避できたかもしれない。当時の日本の指導者は、ソ連仲介による和平工作に期待し、時間を空費した。

U.S. Ambassador to Japan John Roos became the first official U.S. representative to attend the Peace Memorial Ceremony in Hiroshima on Aug. 6 this year. However, some in the United States criticized his attendance at the event, saying it could be interpreted as an "unsaid apology."
　今月６日、ルース駐日米大使は広島市の平和記念式典に米政府を代表して初めて参列した。それでも米国内からは「無言の謝罪と受け止められかねない」と批判の声が上がっている。

For the administration of U.S. President Barack Obama, who said the United States has a moral responsibility to lead as the only nation ever to have used a nuclear weapon, it must have been a delicate decision.
　核を使用した米国の道義的責任を認めたオバマ政権として、ぎりぎりの決断だったのだろう。

There are strong arguments in the United States that the dropping of the atomic bombs saved the lives of many Americans by avoiding battles on mainland Japan.
　米国では、「原爆投下で本土上陸作戦が回避されたことにより、多数の米国人の生命が救われた」とする主張が根強い。

However, the use of such cruel weapons deprived more than 200,000 citizens in Hiroshima and Nagasaki of their lives. The gravity of this fact cannot be erased.
　しかし、原爆という残虐な兵器の使用によって、２０万人を超える広島、長崎の市民の生命が奪われた事実の重みは消えない。

Remember and reflect

Meanwhile, if Japan does not openly admit its own mistakes of the past and reflect on them, the country will not be able to win the confidence of the international community.
　一方で、日本も過去の誤りを率直に認め反省しなければ国際社会からの信頼は得られない。

Japan misunderstood the world situation of the time and entered a reckless war while becoming increasingly isolated in the international community. It brought immense tragedy to the peoples of China and other East Asian countries.
　日本は世界の情勢を見誤り、国際社会からの孤立を深めていく中で無謀な戦争を始めた。中国はじめ東アジアの人々にも多大の惨害をもたらした。

In 2005, taking the opportunity of the 60th anniversary of the end of the war, The Yomiuri Shimbun reexamined who was responsible for the Showa War.
　読売新聞では戦後６０年を機に、昭和戦争の戦争責任の検証を行った。

(The Yomiuri coined the term "Showa War" in connection with its war responsibility series to describe the period of conflict lasting from the Manchurian Incident of 1931 to the end of World War II in 1945.)

As a result, many Class-A war criminals, including former Prime Minister Hideki Tojo, who were tried at the International Military Tribunal for the Far East (also called the Tokyo Trial), were among those found to bear responsibility for the Showa War.
その結果、東条英機元首相ら極東国際軍事裁判（東京裁判）の「Ａ級戦犯」の多くが、昭和戦争の責任者と重なった。

This year's Aug. 15 is the first time for the anniversary of the end of the war to be observed by a Democratic Party of Japan-led administration. Prime Minister Naoto Kan and all his Cabinet members were expected to shun the controversial visits to Yasukuni Shrine that have been made by some of their predecessors.
　今年は民主党政権になって初めての「終戦の日」でもある。菅内閣の閣僚全員が、靖国神社への参拝はしないという。

Kan said that he would not visit the Shinto shrine during his term of office, as Class-A war criminals are enshrined there.
　菅首相は、靖国神社に「Ａ級戦犯」が合祀(ごうし)されているため、「首相在任中に参拝するつもりはない」と語っている。

In its policy platform announced last year, the DPJ expressed its intention to tackle the building of a new national memorial facility for the war dead. Full-scale discussion should begin with the aim of building a permanent facility where anyone can pay memorial tribute to the war dead without being troubled in mind.
　民主党は昨年の政策集で、新たな国立追悼施設の設置に取り組む考えを表明していた。誰もが、わだかまりなく戦没者を追悼できる恒久的施設の建立に向けて、本格的な議論を進めていくべきだ。

Also this year, the government was expected to hold its annual ceremony Sunday at the Nippon Budokan hall in Tokyo's Chiyoda Ward to mourn the nation's war dead. Although years have passed, the war remains deep in the memories of the Japanese people, which are handed down from generation to generation.
　今年も東京・九段の日本武道館で、政府主催の全国戦没者追悼式が行われる。歳月は流れたが、戦争の記憶は日本人の胸に深く刻まれ、語り継がれている。

We hope that Aug. 15 will be a day to renew our determination to take assertive steps for world peace, seeking international cooperation and taking history into account.
　「終戦の日」は、過去の歴史を踏まえつつ、国際協調の下、世界平和のため積極的に行動する決意を新たにする日にしたい。

By doing so, we would surely carry out the wishes of those who died in the war.
　そのことが先の大戦で亡くなった人々の遺志を生かすことにもなるはずである。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 15, 2010)
（2010年8月15日01時10分 読売新聞）

The Yomiuri Shimbun (Aug. 15, 2010)
New sumo chief must clean house
放駒新理事長　改革断行し開かれた相撲界に（8月14日付・読売社説）

The installation of a new chairman of the Japan Sumo Association is a chance to renew the professional sumo world. It is a chance the JSA must seize.
　理事長の交代を大相撲再生の契機としなければならない。

Musashigawa, formerly yokozuna Mienoumi, resigned the JSA chairmanship Thursday, and Hanaregoma, formerly ozeki Kaiketsu, was elected to become the 11th chairman of the sport's governing body.
　日本相撲協会の武蔵川理事長（元横綱三重ノ海）が辞任し、その後任の第１１代理事長に放駒(はなれごま)親方（元大関魁傑）が選出された。

As public trust in the sumo world is eroding over the illegal baseball gambling scandal, the new chairman needs to exercise strong leadership to carry out drastic reform of the association.
　野球賭博問題で角界への信頼が失墜する中、新理事長には相撲協会の抜本改革を断行する強いリーダーシップが求められる。

Scandals and resignations

Musashigawa took the chairman's post two years ago, succeeding Kitanoumi, who had resigned to take responsibility over a drug scandal. Although Musashigawa appeared to be resolved to reform the sumo world, he failed to actually do so.
　武蔵川理事長は２年前、大麻問題の責任をとって退任した北の湖理事長（当時）の後を継いだ。改革に意欲をみせたものの、角界を立て直すには至らなかった。

Following the revelation that sumo wrestlers of his stable were involved in baseball gambling, Musashigawa was suspended from duty during the Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament last month. He thus was unable to exercise his leadership in the operation of the event.
　名古屋場所では、自らの部屋の力士が野球賭博にかかわっていたため謹慎処分を受け、場所運営で指導力を発揮できなかった。

He cited poor health as his reason for stepping down, but he apparently resigned to take responsibility over the scandal.
　体調不良を辞任の理由に挙げているが、事実上の引責辞任といえるだろう。

The Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Ministry, which oversees the JSA, had indicated it was desirable for the association to have someone from outside the sumo world, rather than a former sumo wrestler, take up the chairman's post.
　新理事長について、相撲協会を監督する文部科学省は、力士出身者ではなく、外部の人材が望ましいとの意向を示していた。

This stance likely reflected the reality that stablemasters, deeply embedded in a closed organizational culture, failed to correct its flaws on their own despite a series of scandals involving the sumo world.
　度重なる不祥事で、閉鎖体質に染まった親方たちが自浄能力を発揮できなかった実態を踏まえての判断だったのだろう。

But the JSA board again picked an insider for the chairman's post. This can be interpreted as a sign that board members believe only former wrestlers, who are familiar with the inner workings of the sumo world, can serve in the association's top post.
　だが、理事会は“身内”の理事長を選んだ。協会トップの理事長は、角界の内情を知る力士出身者にしか務まらないという理事会の意思の表れといえる。

Hanaregoma won popularity as a wrestler for his sincere attitude in the ring. As a stablemaster, he has nurtured yokozuna Onokuni and others and is known to be scrupulous. The JSA thus pinned its hopes on his clean image as it looked for someone to steer the body toward revival.
　放駒新理事長は現役時代、真摯(しんし)な土俵態度で人気があった。親方としては、横綱大乃国らを育て、実直な人柄でも知られる。相撲協会は、そのクリーンなイメージに再生の舵(かじ)取りを託したわけだ。

Hanaregoma said at an inauguration press conference, "I'll make my utmost effort now that I've accepted the post." He also has indicated that he will consider increasing the number of JSA executives from outside the sumo world to tackle the mountain of problems it faces.
　放駒新理事長は、「引き受けた以上は最大の努力を払いたい」と語った。山積する課題に対処するために、外部役員の増員を検討する考えも示した。

We hope the JSA will be transformed into an open organization by discarding its inward-looking mentality--of which it is sarcastically said that common sense in the sumo world is not common sense for the general public--and that it will proactively incorporate the views of outside people.
　「角界の常識は世間の非常識」と言われる内向きの論理を排除し、外部の意見を積極的に取り入れ、開かれた相撲協会へと変えていってもらいたい。

Toss gangs out of ring

The JSA must first sever ties with gang organizations, which were revealed in a series of scandals, including the illegal betting on professional baseball games. The first step to restore public trust must be to expeditiously and thoroughly implement antigang measures.
　最優先で取り組まねばならないのは、野球賭博問題などで浮き彫りになった暴力団との関係を断ち切ることだ。暴力団排除対策を速やかに実施し、徹底することが、信頼回復の第一歩となる。

It is also essential to address medium- to long-term issues such as the JSA's organizational reform.
　相撲協会の組織改革など、中長期的な課題も避けて通れまい。

The Autumn Grand Sumo Tournament starts on Sept. 12. Within less than a month, the new JSA chairman must take the lead in presenting a road map for reform with which sumo fans would be satisfied.
　秋場所の初日は９月１２日だ。新理事長が先頭に立ち、あと１か月足らずの間に、ファンが納得する改革の道筋を示す必要がある。

The sumo world will otherwise again find itself at the center of an imbroglio such as was seen in the Nagoya meet, which was rocked by such developments as NHK's decision not to broadcast the event live.
　そうでなければ、ＮＨＫの中継中止などで揺れた名古屋場所の騒動を繰り返すことになる。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 14, 2010)
（2010年8月14日01時11分 読売新聞）