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The Yomiuri Shimbun (Sep. 24, 2010)
Govt should help push up land prices
基準地価　下げ止まりの兆しはあるが（9月23日付・読売社説）

At long last signs have emerged of an end to the fall in land prices that began with the collapse of Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. two years ago, but it remains uncertain whether the recovery trend will continue.
　２年前のリーマン・ショック以来の地価急落にようやく下げ止まりの兆しが見え始めた。
　ただ、こうした地価の回復基調が、今後も維持されるかどうかは不透明だ。

Changes in land prices lead to fluctuations in people's assets, which can greatly affect personal consumption. Therefore, we think the government should indirectly support land prices through measures such as an extension of the economic stimulus eco-point program for houses.
　地価の動向は個人資産の増減につながり、消費活動にも大きな影響を与える。それだけに、政府が住宅版エコポイントの延長などで、地価底上げを側面支援することは妥当な施策といえよう。

The government needs to help boost the economy further by expanding tax cuts and tax exemptions for housing and real estate.
　住宅・不動産関係諸税の減免措置の拡充などで、さらにテコ入れする必要がある。

According to a survey of land prices in all 47 prefectures released recently by the Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Ministry, the average price of residential land fell 3.4 percent in the year to July 1, while that of commercial land dropped 4.6 percent. In the previous year's survey, the average price of residential land fell 4 percent and that of commercial land decreased 5.9 percent. The latest survey shows the pace of decline has slowed in both categories.
　国土交通省が発表した７月１日時点の都道府県地価（基準地価）によると、全国の地価は、住宅地で前年比３・４％、商業地で４・６％の下落となった。
　１年前の調査では住宅地が４・０％、商業地で５・９％値下がりしており、下落率は縮小した。

The ministry believes the slower decline has been partly due to factors such as rising demand for land on which to build condominiums in urban areas. Recently, condominiums have become more affordable as prices have fallen sharply. Condominium sales in major cities have been recovering rapidly, bringing a bit of brightness to future land price forecasts.
　国交省は、急激な値下がりにより値ごろ感が出た都市部で、マンション用地の需要が高まったことなどが影響したと見ている。
　実際、大都市ではマンションの売れ行きが急回復しており、地価動向を占う明るい材料だ。

Metro areas doing better

Trends in land prices in metropolitan areas--a leading indicator of land prices throughout the nation--are worth noting: In the Tokyo metropolitan area, average residential land prices fell 3 percent, while commercial land prices decreased 4.1 percent. The drops in both categories are almost half the figures from a year earlier.
　地域別では、地価の先行指標である大都市での値動きが注目される。東京圏では、住宅地の下落率が３・０％、商業地は４・１％で、前年に比べほぼ半減した。

If we look at the trends in more detail, signs of an end to the fall in land prices become more apparent. Take, for instance, land price trends in the first half of the year that ended on July 1 and those in the second half of the year at 15 residential locations in eight wards in central Tokyo.
　さらに詳しく分析すると、下げ止まりの流れがはっきりする。例えば、東京の都心８区の住宅地１５地点について、この１年間を前、後半に分けて比較してみよう。

During the first half of the year, land prices in all locations dropped, but prices rose in two locations, were about the same at four spots and the rate of decline slowed at eight places in the second half of the year. It is apparent that land prices began to turn around this year. A similar development can be seen in major cities such as Osaka and Nagoya.
　前半はすべての地点が値下がりしていたが、後半では値上がりに転じたのが２地点、横ばいになったのが４地点、下落率が縮小したのが８地点あった。
　今年に入って、地価が反転しつつあることが鮮明だ。大阪市、名古屋市などにも共通して見られる動きである。

Land prices in major cities rose markedly about three years ago, during a "mini bubble" caused by factors that included competition for prime locations among brand-name stores. However, in the wake of the so-called Lehman shock, things took a sudden turn for the worse. The latest survey may indicate the tide is about to change for land prices.
　大都市の地価は、ブランド店の立地競争などによるミニバブルで、３年ほど前に大幅に値上がりしたが、リーマン・ショックで暗転した。今回の調査結果は、地価の潮目が変わりつつあることを示しているのではないか。

Other regions still struggling

However, land price trends in other regions are still poor. The average price of residential land in these regions dropped at a greater rate than during the previous year, while commercial land declined at about the same rate. This was the 18th straight year of decline in residential land prices in these areas, while commercial land values fell for the 19th consecutive year.
　問題は地方圏である。住宅地は昨年より下落率が大きくなり、商業地もほぼ横ばいのままだ。これで、住宅地は１８年連続、商業地も１９年連続で下落を記録した。

Are there any ways to prop up land prices in these regions, which have seen the value of their land fall for so long?
　長期低落に打つ手はないのか。

In Hokkaido and Mie Prefecture, some districts have increased land prices by improving their appeal as tourist destinations. Needless to say, we believe it is essential to promote local redevelopment and to encourage businesses to expand into the less urbanized regions.
北海道や三重県では、観光地としての魅力を高め、地価上昇につなげた地域もある。無論、地域再開発の推進や企業の地方進出を促す補助政策なども欠かせまい。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 23, 2010)
（2010年9月23日01時02分 読売新聞）

The Yomiuri Shimbun (Sep. 23, 2010)
Prosecutors' reputation totally ruined
押収資料改ざん　地に落ちた特捜検察の威信（9月22日付・読売社説）

The alleged falsification of data by a senior prosecutor is a grave scandal that is shaking the very foundations of Japan's criminal justice system.
　刑事司法の根幹を揺るがす特捜検察の一大不祥事である。

The Supreme Public Prosecutors Office arrested the lead prosecutor at the Osaka District Public Prosecutors Office's special investigation squad on suspicion of tampering with evidence in the postal abuse case involving Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry officials. The ministry's former bureau chief, Atsuko Muraki, was arrested and indicted for her alleged involvement in the case but was cleared by the Osaka District Court.
　厚生労働省の村木厚子元局長に無罪判決が出た郵便不正事件に絡み、大阪地検特捜部の主任検事が、押収資料を改ざんした証拠隠滅容疑で最高検に逮捕された。

The chief prosecutor is suspected to have altered data on a floppy disk seized as possible evidence from one of Muraki's former subordinates, who was then a unit chief at the ministry's policy planning division, to make it better match the special investigation team's arguments.
　村木元局長の部下だった元係長宅から押収したフロッピーディスクのデータを、特捜部の描いた事件の構図に合うよう書き換えた疑いが持たれている。

===

Unprecedented scandal

If the allegation is true, it would be an unprecedented instance of a prosecutor, who holds supreme authority in investigations and indictments, being found to have illegally fabricated evidence against a defendant. The Supreme Public Prosecutors Office must bring to light the case's entire picture and strictly punish those involved.
　事実とすれば、強大な捜査・起訴権限を持つ検事自らが、有罪証拠をでっちあげようとした前代未聞の違法行為だ。最高検は全容を解明し、関係者を厳正に処罰しなければならない。

The special investigation squad's probe was based on the scenario that Muraki had instructed the unit chief in early June 2004 to fabricate an official document to allow a group that falsely claimed itself as a body supporting the handicapped to abuse the postal discount system for the handicapped.
　特捜部が描いた事件の構図は、村木元局長が２００４年６月上旬、元係長に対し、自称障害者団体に発行する偽証明書の作成を指示したというものだった。

However, the supposedly false document, which was found on the seized floppy disk, was last updated at 1:20 a.m. on June 1, 2004.
　ところが、押収したディスクには、偽証明書作成の最終更新日時が「０４年６月１日午前１時２０分」と記録されていた。

The chief prosecutor allegedly changed the data to show that the document was last updated at 9:10 p.m. on June 8, 2004. The Supreme Public Prosecutors Office suspects that the prosecutor altered the data because it did not fit the special investigation squad's suppositions.
　主任検事は、これを「０４年６月８日午後９時１０分」に書き換えた。特捜部の見立てに合わないデータを意図的に改ざんした疑いがあると最高検は見ている。

A lead prosecutor, who takes charge of investigations in a criminal case, is supposed to change the course of the investigation or give up on establishing a case altogether if investigators have found evidence contrary to their case.
　担当事件の捜査を統括する主任検事は、捜査の過程で見立てと異なる証拠が見つかれば、軌道修正したり、事件の立件を断念したりするのが鉄則だ。

Altering a seized document is an inexcusable act that ruins confidence in prosecutors' investigations and makes a mockery of the justice of criminal trials.
　押収資料の改ざんは、検察捜査への信頼を損ね、刑事裁判の公正さをないがしろにする言語道断の行為である。

===

Terrifying abuse of power

The chief prosecutor eventually returned the floppy disk in question to the former unit chief without submitting it to the court as evidence. If it had been submitted to the court, it might have been used as material evidence to establish Muraki's guilt. We are terrified at the thought of such supreme authority spinning out of control.
　主任検事は結局、ディスクを元係長側に返却し、公判に証拠提出しなかった。提出されていたら、村木元局長を強引に有罪に持ち込む物証となった可能性もあった。権力の暴走に戦慄(せんりつ)を覚える。

In addition, the prosecutors had drawn up an investigation report with the correct update time on the floppy disk but did not submit it to the court. They disclosed the report upon the request of Muraki's attorneys before her trial started.
　さらに特捜部は、正確な最終更新日時のデータを記載した捜査報告書を作成していたが、これも証拠提出しなかった。公判前に弁護側の請求でようやく開示した。

Prosecutors must uncover what had been discussed within the special investigation squad and the district public prosecutors office over the handling of evidence and whether any other individuals were involved in altering the data. The Osaka High Public Prosecutors Office and the Supreme Public Prosecutors Office must also be blamed for having failed to fulfill their responsibility to appropriately supervise the district public prosecutors office.
　これら証拠資料の扱いについて特捜部や地検内でどんな議論があったのか、他に改ざんの関与者はいなかったのか、真相を明らかにすべきだ。上級庁の大阪高検、最高検の監督責任も免れまい。

In the postal abuse case, the court refused to accept many depositions by Muraki's alleged accomplices and witnesses submitted by the prosecutors, saying that the prosecutors could have coerced them into making such statements. Given that, we must say that the quality of public prosecutors has seriously deteriorated.
　郵便不正事件では、特捜部の作成した供述調書の多くが「誘導の可能性がある」として、裁判で信用性を否定された。特捜検事の資質の劣化は極めて深刻だ。

The Supreme Public Prosecutors Office has the responsibility to drive out corruption within the organization by thoroughly investigating the case without being lenient on its colleagues.
　最高検には、身内への甘さを排した徹底捜査で、組織内部の病巣を取り除く責務がある。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 22, 2010)
（2010年9月22日01時26分 読売新聞）

The Yomiuri Shimbun (Sep. 22, 2010)
Japan-India accord should lead to more EPAs
日印ＥＰＡ　出遅れ挽回の確かな一歩に（9月21日付・読売社説）

An economic partnership agreement with India likely will give Japanese businesses a boost in such industries as automobiles and home electronic appliances in the huge Indian market, which has been growing rapidly.
　急成長している巨大市場インドで、自動車や電機などの日本企業がビジネスを拡大する追い風になろう。

Japan and India broadly agreed earlier this month to sign an EPA. A formal agreement is expected to be made when Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh visits Japan in October.
　日本とインドの経済連携協定（ＥＰＡ）交渉が大筋合意した。インドのシン首相が１０月に来日し、正式合意する予定だ。

The agreement is the first of its kind to be made under the Democratic Party of Japan-led government and will make India the 12th nation or region with which this country has an EPA. Coming as it did after four years of difficult negotiations, the broad agreement is of particular significance.
　民主党政権としては初めての合意で、日本のＥＰＡは１２か国・地域目となる。４年越しの難交渉がまとまった意義は大きい。

The key point in the agreement is that the two nations will gradually lower tariffs on goods that account for 94 percent of the value of their exports, and eliminate the tariffs in 10 years.
　日印両国の貿易額の９４％に当たる品目について、関税を１０年間で段階的に引き下げて、撤廃することが大筋合意のポイントだ。

The tariffs imposed by India on Japan's major export items, such as auto parts and steel, range from 7.5 percent to 10 percent. Japan would benefit greatly from their elimination.
　日本の主要輸出品である自動車部品や鉄鋼などに対するインドの関税は約７・５％～１０％と高く、撤廃のメリットは大きい。

Japanese manufacturers with production bases in India also could reduce the procurement costs of parts from Japan and other items.
インドで現地生産する日本メーカーも、日本からの部品などの調達コストを削減できよう。

The EPA also includes an agreement to ease restrictions on investment in India. We hope Japanese companies seize this chance by carefully crafting strategies for the construction of local factories and expanded investment in plants and equipment.
　インドでの投資規制を緩和する協定も盛り込まれた。日本企業は現地工場の建設や、設備投資の拡大などで戦略を練り、チャンスを生かしてほしい。

Highly attractive market

The Indian market is particularly appealing. The nation has a population of 1.2 billion people and its economy continues to register 9 percent annual growth. The number of middle-income households who purchase such products as automobiles and home electronic appliances is rapidly growing, and there has been strong demand for social infrastructure such as railroads and electric power.
　インド市場の魅力は、１２億人の人口を抱え、約９％の高成長が続いていることだ。自動車や家電などを購入する中間所得層が急増し、鉄道や電力などのインフラ（社会基盤）整備の需要も旺盛だ。

Prime Minister Naoto Kan's administration has expressed its intention to incorporate the vigor of Asia and other regions in its new growth strategy. In line with this policy, the EPA between Japan and India is expected to strengthen Japanese companies' competitiveness and expand infrastructure exports.
　菅政権は、アジアなどの活力を取り込む新成長戦略を掲げている。日印ＥＰＡはその戦略に沿い、インドでの日本企業の競争力を強化したり、インフラ輸出を拡大したりする効果が期待される。

But South Korea, which has been aggressively promoting EPAs, already put one with India into effect in January. Under this bilateral agreement, tariffs on many items are set to be abolished in five to eight years, a faster pace for opening up the Indian market than the one established in the Japan-India pact.
　ただ、ＥＰＡ戦略に積極的な韓国は今年１月、インドとのＥＰＡ協定を発効済みだ。韓印協定では５年から８年で関税を撤廃する品目が多く、インドの市場開放のペースは日本との協定より速い。

The Japan-India EPA will alleviate some of the disadvantages Japanese companies face against their South Korean rivals. But we must keep an eye on the competitiveness of South Korean companies.
　韓国企業に比べて日本企業が強いられている不利な状況は、少しは改善されるが、韓国勢の競争力は依然、要警戒だ。

Compromise needed

India has asked Japan to accept Indian nurses and other workers, but Japan has resisted making a specific decision on this matter. To deepen economic partnerships between this country and India, Japan should make concessions.
　インドが日本に要求した看護師などの受け入れは、日本の抵抗で具体策が先送りされた。両国の経済連携を深めるため、日本が譲歩すべきだろう。

Japan has fallen behind other nations in its EPA strategy. Negotiations with South Korea have been suspended, and talks with Australia have run into difficulty as Japan is resisting opening its agricultural market.
　日本はＥＰＡ戦略で出遅れている。韓国との交渉は中断し、農業分野での市場開放に日本が抵抗する豪州との交渉は難航している。

There are no prospects even for the start of negotiations with the United States and the European Union.
米国や欧州連合（ＥＵ）との交渉は開始のメドすらたたない。

To help Japan catch up, the government aims to devise basic guidelines on the EPA by November. We urge the government to include measures to open the agriculture sector, which has always been the bottleneck in negotiations. Without this, there will be no progress.
　政府は挽回(ばんかい)を目指し、１１月までにＥＰＡの基本方針を策定する。常に交渉のネックとなる農業分野について、開放の方針を盛り込むべきだ。それなくして、今後のＥＰＡ交渉の進展は望めない。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 21, 2010)
（2010年9月21日01時14分 読売新聞）

The Yomiuri Shimbun (Sep. 21, 2010)
Japan must map out its own GPS strategy
衛星みちびき　日本版ＧＰＳの戦略作り急げ（9月20日付・読売社説）

Japan's first navigation satellite, Michibiki, aimed at improving the global positioning system's coverage of Japan, has been launched by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency.
　日本版のＧＰＳ（全地球測位システム）整備を目指した人工衛星の１号機「みちびき」を、宇宙航空研究開発機構などが打ち上げた。

The project--undertaken jointly by the industrial, public and academic sectors--calls for technology verification tests and is aimed at reducing the margin of error of GPS devices used in car navigation and other services from the current 10 meters or so to less than one meter.
　カーナビゲーションなどで位置確認に使われているＧＰＳの測位誤差を、現在の１０メートル程度から１メートル以下に改善することを目指し、産官学で技術実証試験に挑む。

The market for satellite-based GPS products and services has been expanding globally. We hope that the Michibiki project will bring about results that make Japan more competitive in this area.
　人工衛星を使った測位技術関連の製品、サービスは、国際的に市場が拡大している。世界に伍(ご)していける成果を期待したい。

Fifty-eight different tests are planned. The success or failure of the project depends on how its high positioning accuracy can be utilized.
　試験は５８テーマが予定されており、高い測位精度をどう生かせるかが、成否のかぎとなる。

One example is a proposed guidance system for unmanned snow removers and farm machinery. Neither snow removal from roads nor soil cultivation in fields can be done if the machines are allowed to drift as much as 10 meters off course. Both can be done only when the margin of error is held to less than one meter.
　その一例が、除雪車や耕運機などの自動誘導だ。誤差が１０メートルでは道路の除雪はできないし、畑も耕せない。誤差が１メートル以下なら、それが可能になる。

===

Diverse applications

GPS has been widely used in a diverse range of fields from rescue operations in alpine accidents to consumer products such as digital cameras. Such cameras are popular because locations where photos are shot are automatically stored for use as travel records.
　すでにＧＰＳは、山岳遭難の救助からデジタルカメラのような日用品まで幅広く使われている。カメラの場合、撮影場所が写真に自動で付加されるため、旅行の記録になる、などと人気がある。

Improvement of GPS accuracy will stimulate further growth in such existing fields.
　精度の向上は、こうした既存分野も活性化させるだろう。

A hallmark of Michibiki lies in the orbit it takes. Michibiki flies in an asymmetrical figure-eight course above the western Pacific, including Japan, every 24 hours.
　みちびきの特徴は、その軌道にある。地上から見ると、日本を含む西太平洋上空を「８の字」を描くように２４時間で飛行する。

Michibiki's flight above Japan accounts for about eight hours of each orbit. If three satellites like Michibiki were put into orbit, at least one would be above Japan at all times. Because GPS satellites rely on line-of-sight radio wave transmission, this would nearly eliminate the problem of signals being blocked by obstacles such as buildings and mountains.
　うち８時間程度は日本上空にいるので、３機あれば常に１機が日本のほぼ真上に見える。このため衛星からの電波は、ビルや山など障害物にほとんど遮られない。

The GPS currently uses about 30 U.S. satellites to cover the entire globe. Accurate results depend on devices on or near the Earth's surface being able to compare signals from four satellites in the visible sky. The system can fail in urban and mountainous areas where the lower portions of the sky are blocked by mountains or buildings.
　米国が運用する今のＧＰＳは衛星約３０機で地球全体をカバーしている。だが、都市部や山間部では十分な信号強度が得られない。

Additional transmissions from Michibiki, which will often be nearly overhead in Japan, will enhance positioning accuracy.
　これに、みちびきの電波を加えることで測位精度を上げる。

The problem is how to secure funding for the satellites that are meant to follow Michibiki. It cost 40 billion yen to build Michibiki. The cost for similar following satellites is estimated at a hefty 35 billion yen each. At least three satellites are necessary to commercialize the enhanced Japanese version of the GPS system. Discussions have begun about how to divide costs between the public and private sectors.
　問題は後続の衛星だ。みちびきは４００億円、その後の衛星も１機３５０億円程度と試算されている。決して安くはない。実用化には最低３機が必要で、官民の費用分担を巡り論議が起きている。

===

A project team planned

The government says it will establish a project team comprising officials from the ministries and agencies concerned to study how to pay for the satellites that will follow Michibiki by the end of the current fiscal year. In that instance, the government must give due consideration to international trends and Japan's security interests.
　政府は関係省庁によるチームを設け、今年度末までに後続機のあり方を検討するという。その際には国際動向、日本の安全保障も十分考慮せねばならない。

The GPS was developed by the United States, originally for military purposes. It remains to be seen whether its use may be restricted in the future. Out of such concern, China, India and European countries are building their own positioning systems. Russia operates its own system for the purpose of ensuring security and defense.
　もともとＧＰＳは、米国が軍事用に開発した。いつ運用が制限されるかわからない。そうした懸念から、欧州、中国、インドは独自の測位システムを構築中だ。ロシアは安全保障、防衛のため自前のシステムを運用している。


The United States, China and Europe are moving toward cooperation with each other on positioning technology.
　欧米、中国などが測位技術で連携する動きもある。

Against such a background, Japan must work out a GPS strategy that will take advantage of its technology while maintaining its international voice.
日本が国際的な発言力を保ちつつ、技術を生かせる戦略が求められる。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 20, 2010)
（2010年9月20日01時20分 読売新聞）

我が家の今をお届けします。
↓
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OdpmOMwnTCA

The Yomiuri Shimbun (Sep. 20, 2010)
Consumption tax debate must proceed
消費税論議　新体制で与野党協議進めよ（9月19日付・読売社説）

Fiscal reconstruction and economic recovery are the main themes that Prime Minister Naoto Kan's newly reshuffled Cabinet must address. It should prop up the economy and rehabilitate the nation's fiscal condition, which is the worst among advanced nations.
　景気をテコ入れし、先進国で最悪の財政状況を立て直す――。
　菅改造内閣が取り組むべき経済テーマの柱は、景気と財政再建の両立である。

To that end, the Cabinet must put its back into tackling the consumption tax issue, which the prime minister began to treat cautiously after the Democratic Party of Japan's setback in the House of Councillors election in July.
その実現のため、参院選敗北で首相が及び腰になった消費税問題に、今度こそ腰を据えて取り組まなければならない。

The battle lines on this issue were drawn in the run-up to last week's DPJ presidential election. While Kan said he would consider drastic tax reforms, including of the consumption tax, his opponent, former DPJ leader Ichiro Ozawa, stressed the government should cut waste before raising taxes.
　民主党代表選では、財源を巡る対立軸が鮮明になった。「消費税を含む税制の抜本改革を検討する」と訴えた首相に対し、小沢元代表は「増税の前に無駄減らしだ」と強調した。

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Increase is inevitable

It is a foregone conclusion that reducing waste, no matter how seriously the government tackles the problem, will not generate much in the way of financial resources.
　無駄排除にいくら取り組んでもさほど財源を捻出(ねんしゅつ)できないのは、はっきりしている。

Also, we cannot say that replacing central government subsidies to local governments with lump-sum grants to them with fewer strings attached, or securitizing state-owned assets, constitutes the kiss of life for an anemic economy.
補助金の一括交付金化や国有財産の証券化なども、起死回生策とは言い難い。

It is likely that Kan's victory in the DPJ leadership race was due in part to the many DPJ lawmakers, party members and supporters who judged as unreasonable Ozawa's vow to fully implement the promises contained in the party's manifesto without clearly indicating the financial resources to fund them.
　財源の明示なしに政権公約の完全実施を求めた小沢氏の主張に対し、民主党国会議員や党員・サポーターの多くが「無理がある」と判断したことが、首相勝利の一因になったと見ていいだろう。

It is impermissible for the issue of financial resources to be left on the shelf any longer in this country, which is saddled with massive budget deficits. And it is clear that raising the consumption tax rate is unavoidable to secure funds to cover the nation's ballooning social security costs.
　巨額の財政赤字を抱える日本でこれ以上、財源問題を棚上げすることは許されない。増大する社会保障費を賄う財源を確保するためにも、消費税率の引き上げが避けられないのは明らかである。

A Yomiuri Shimbun opinion survey conducted during the DPJ presidential election race found that 52 percent of respondents supported Kan's stance toward the consumption tax, greatly surpassing the 38 percent supporting Ozawa, who took a negative view toward a tax hike. The people apparently want thorough debate over the issue.
　読売新聞が代表選中に実施した世論調査でも、消費税を巡る首相の姿勢を支持した人が全体の５２％で、引き上げに否定的な小沢氏を支持する３８％を大幅に上回った。国民は本格論議を求めている。

However, although Kan called for drastic tax reforms during the DPJ presidential election, he has yet to go further into their vital contents.
　だが、首相は代表選で税制の抜本改革を叫びながら、肝心の中身には踏み込んでいない。

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Start discussing details

Some DPJ members, such as Ozawa, are stubbornly cautious toward the consumption tax issue. Kan should lead intraparty debate in various settings, including a tax panel that the DPJ has resurrected, while again calling on opposition parties to join a wider discussion.
　民主党内には、小沢氏に代表されるように、消費税論議に慎重な意見も根強い。首相は、復活させた党の税制関連部会などで党内論議をリードし、野党にも重ねて協議を呼びかけるべきだ。

It is also urgent to lower the nation's corporate tax rate, which is relatively high by world standards. To rejuvenate the Japanese economy, it is essential to enhance corporate vitality and improve competitiveness. Lowering the corporate tax rate is indispensable for that.
　国際的に高い法人税率の引き下げも急務だ。日本経済の再生には企業活力を引き出し、競争力を高めることが肝要だ。それには法人税引き下げが不可欠である。

With the Finance Ministry concerned about a possible decline in tax revenues, the government's Tax Commission is expected to face tough going. Kan should not simply leave matters to the commission but must exercise leadership and achieve the objective of lowering the corporate tax rate as part of tax system revision for fiscal 2011.
　財務省は税収減を懸念し、政府税制調査会では調整が難航するとみられる。首相は税調任せにせず指導力を発揮し、来年度税制改正で、ぜひ実現させるべきだ。

Kan's touchstone for the time being is the fiscal 2011 budget compilation. Budget requests hit record highs, but Japan is mired in an extraordinary fiscal situation in which the government is taking in less through taxes than it borrows through bonds. Therefore, the government can no longer afford to continue handout policies.
　首相の当面の試金石は、来年度予算案の編成だ。概算要求額は過去最大に膨らんだが、日本の財政は新規国債の発行額が税収を上回る異常事態であり、バラマキ政策を続ける余裕はない。

The government should compile a finely tuned budget in which, for example, such policies as the child-rearing allowance are boldly reviewed while spending that would help underpin the country's economy is increased.
　子ども手当などの政策を大胆に見直し、景気下支えに役立つ歳出を手厚くするなど、メリハリのきいた予算を作るべきだろう。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 19, 2010)
（2010年9月19日01時15分 読売新聞）