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

The Yomiuri Shimbun
Shortening long working hours vital for women’s active participation in society
女性活躍法　長時間労働の是正が不可欠だ

With the workforce shrinking, it is increasingly important to improve the working environment for women to enable them to fulfill their potential.
　労働力人口が減る中、女性が能力を発揮して働ける環境整備の重要性は増している。

“The final curtain has been drawn on the era in which people ask why we promote the dynamic engagement of women in society. Now is the time for us to discuss how to bring it into reality,” said Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at an international symposium held last week.
　「なぜ、女性の活躍を推進するのかを問う時代は終わった。今は、いかに実現するかを議論する時だ」。安倍首相は、先週の国際シンポジウムで、こう強調した。

By a majority vote supported by parties including the Liberal Democratic Party, the Democratic Party of Japan and Komeito, a new bill was recently enacted to promote the active engagement of women in society. We hope this law will help accelerate efforts in this regard by both the public and private sectors.
　女性活躍推進法が、自民、民主、公明など各党の賛成多数で成立した。官民の取り組みを加速させる契機としたい。

The new law makes it obligatory for companies with a workforce of at least 301 people to draw up and publicize action programs to promote women, including numerical targets. Companies with 300 or fewer employees are only urged to make efforts to compile action programs.
　新法は、従業員３０１人以上の企業に、女性登用の数値目標を含めた行動計画の策定と公表を義務づけた。３００人以下の企業については、努力義務とした。

What the numerical targets apply to and their specific levels are to be decided by the companies themselves, depending on the situation of each company. Envisaged numerical targets include the number of women hired and the percentage of managerial positions held by women. There are no penalties for failing to reach the targets.
　数値目標の内容や水準は、企業が実情に合わせて独自に決める。採用数や管理職に占める女性の割合などが想定される。目標を達成できなくても、罰則はない。

The hiring of women and their promotion to executive posts vary by industry and by company. It is realistic for the government to let companies decide these targets on their own, instead of establishing unified standards.
　業種や企業ごとに、女性登用の状況は異なる。政府が一律の基準を設定せず、企業の自主性に委ねたのは、現実的な措置だ。

By also establishing a system for the government to recognize companies that excel in meeting their targets, the new law will encourage companies to tackle these tasks proactively. It is important for each company to decide on effective targets and plans.
　実施状況が優良な企業の認定制度も設け、積極的な取り組みを促す。各企業が実効性ある目標と計画を定めることが大切である。


Diversity benefits companies

The government aims to have 30 percent of leadership positions held by women by 2020. The present figure in Japanese companies is 11 percent, far below U.S. and European companies where the number ranges from 30 to 40 percent.
　政府は、２０２０年までに指導的地位に占める女性の割合を３０％にすることを目指している。現在、企業における女性管理職の割合は１１％にとどまり、欧米の３０～４０％に比べ、大きく見劣りする。

Utilizing diverse human resources should enhance companies’ creativity and improve their competitiveness. Some companies have already started publicizing their numerical targets and expanding on-the-job training for women.
　多様な人材の活用は、企業の創造性を高め、競争力の向上につながるはずだ。既に数値目標を公表し、女性向け研修の拡充などに乗り出した事例もある。

Both the House of Representatives and the House of Councillors have passed an additional resolution to the new law that calls for companies to adjust the wage gap between men and women, and implement measures to improve the treatment of non-regular workers.
　新法には、男女の賃金格差の是正や非正規労働者の処遇改善への措置などを求めた付帯決議が、衆参両院で採択された。

A majority of working women are low-wage, non-regular employees, such as part-timers. Improving the treatment of these female workers is essential in making the new law function effectively. The government must push forward a concrete study of this issue.
　働く女性の過半数は、パートなど低賃金の非正規労働者だ。その処遇改善は、新法を有効に機能させる上で欠かせない。政府は具体的な検討を進めるべきだ。

Regarding the promotion of women’s active participation in society, Abe also pointed out that “Our greatest barrier is a working culture that endorses male-centered long working hours.”
　女性の活躍推進について、首相は「最大の壁は、男性中心の長時間労働を是とする働き方文化だ」とも指摘した。

Calling on women also to be actively engaged in work, while leaving most of the household chores and child rearing to them, would only generate resentment among women. It is urgent to review how people work, correcting the long working hours and encouraging men to participate more in household chores and child rearing.
　家事・育児の大半を女性に委ねたまま、「仕事でも活躍を」と求めても、女性の反発を招くだけだ。長時間労働の是正や、男性の家事・育児参加の促進といった働き方の見直しが急務である。

Companies also need to shift to employment management and personnel evaluations that are based on the premise of supporting employees’ work-life balance.
　企業は、仕事と家庭の両立を前提とした雇用管理や人事評価に切り替える必要がある。

There must also be reform of the tax and social insurance system, which presently make it more advantageous for women to be dependent on their spouses than to work outside the home.
　女性が、働くよりも配偶者に扶養される方が有利になる税制や社会保険制度の改革も課題だ。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 3, 2015)Speech

これはおかしいです。
自由貿易が原則でしょう。
自由貿易ならば、輸入するとか輸入しないとかは、一方的に決められるのではないでしょうか。
買いたくない韓国に押し付ける必要なありません。
韓国で買いたい人がいるのに、反日政策で制限しているのならば、言語道断ですが。

＞　ＷＴＯ協定は、健康を守る貿易規制に関して、科学的な理由がない「恣意しい的または不当な差別」を禁じている。ルールに基づく迅速な解決を期待したい。
なるほど、これが理由ならば、仕方ないですね。

それでもなんか違和感を覚えます。
この論説には、福島原発事故で近隣諸国に迷惑をかけているのを忘れてしまっている。
韓国の反発は、このあたりから来ているのではないでしょうか。

＞　原発事故後、日本の食品の輸入規制をした約５０か国・地域のうち、オーストラリアなど１４か国はすでに撤廃した。
５０－１４＝３６　か国では、今だに輸入規制をしているということです。
これは原発事故のツケでしょう。

The Yomiuri Shimbun
South Korea should lift unscientific import ban before WTO ruling
ＷＴＯ提訴　科学的根拠欠く韓国の禁輸

It is important to ensure that South Korea scraps its unscientific import restrictions, a task necessary for rectifying the damage done by unfounded rumors about Japanese food products.
　日本産の食品全般の風評被害を払拭するためにも、韓国の非科学的な輸入規制の撤廃を実現することが重要だ。

Japan earlier filed a complaint with the World Trade Organization over South Korea’s total ban on imports of marine products from Fukushima and seven other prefectures in this country. The WTO is expected to decide to set up a dispute settlement panel in response to Japan’s demand as early as at the end of this month, despite South Korean objections to the move.
　日本は、韓国による福島など８県の水産物輸入全面禁止について、世界貿易機関（ＷＴＯ）に提訴した。日本が求めた紛争処理小委員会（パネル）の設置は、韓国が反対しているものの、今月末には決まる見通しだ。

Japan has insisted South Korea’s import ban is a violation of WTO agreements. In explaining the reason for its import ban, South Korea cited the contaminated water problem arising from the accident at Tokyo Electric Power Co.’s Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant.
　東京電力福島第一原発の事故に伴う汚染水問題を禁輸の理由とした韓国に対し、日本はＷＴＯ協定に違反すると主張している。

Japan has repeatedly urged South Korea to abolish the ban since it was put in place in September 2013. However, Seoul has never accepted Tokyo’s demand.
　禁輸措置が始まった２０１３年９月以降、日本が繰り返し撤廃を求めてきたにもかかわらず、韓国は応じていない。

The fishery commodities in question are shipped only if sample inspections detect no radioactive materials exceeding safety standards. Japan had good reason to bring the case before the WTO, saying South Korea’s import restrictions had “no scientific grounds.”
　出荷されるのは、サンプル検査で基準値を超える放射性物質が検出されない水産物に限られている。日本が韓国の輸入規制には「科学的根拠がない」として、提訴したのは妥当である。

Failure to settle the issue through bilateral talks between Japan and South Korea symbolizes a cooling off in their relations, even as this year marks the 50th anniversary of the two countries’ diplomatic normalization.
　国交正常化５０年という節目の年に両国で解決できなかったのは、関係の冷却化を象徴している。

The WTO agreement prohibits scientifically groundless and “arbitrary or unjustifiable discrimination” regarding trade restrictions for the protection of health. We hope the dispute will be swiftly resolved under WTO rules.
　ＷＴＯ協定は、健康を守る貿易規制に関して、科学的な理由がない「恣意しい的または不当な差別」を禁じている。ルールに基づく迅速な解決を期待したい。

Groundless restriction

South Korea is not convincing when it asserts the import ban has been imposed in consideration of the safety of its people, saying the ban does not infringe on the WTO accord.
　韓国は、輸入規制について、「国民の安全を考慮した措置」であり、ＷＴＯ協定には反しないと主張するが、説得力を欠く。

Seoul’s decision on the import ban came as the country had to respond to a sharp decrease in the sales of fishery commodities, including its own domestic products, due to rumors related to leakage of contaminated water from the Fukushima nuclear facility.
　韓国が禁輸を決めたのは、汚染水漏れを巡る風評で、韓国産を含む水産物の売り上げが激減し、対応を迫られたためだ。

The import ban has also made it possible, in effect, to ban the distribution of Japanese marine products from areas other than the eight prefectures if even a minuscule level of radioactive cesium is detected from them. Meanwhile, it permits the distribution of fishery commodities produced in South Korea if their cesium level falls within the safety criteria. South Korea’s stance can only be described as a double standard.
　８県以外の日本産水産物についても、放射性セシウムが微量でも検出されれば、事実上流通できなくした。一方で、韓国産は基準内なら認める。これでは、二重基準と言われても仕方あるまい。

Japan laid down the world’s most rigorous safety standards for food products after the nuclear accident. Water quality surveys are also conducted in addition to sample inspections on marine products.
　日本は、原発事故後、世界で最も厳しい食品の安全基準を設けた。水産物のサンプル検査に加え、水質調査も行っている。

Late last year, South Korea sent an expert panel to Japan, and carried out on-the-spot inspections. The result of the South Korean team’s research has served to support the credibility of the Japanese inspections. However, the panel only revealed the data collected through its surveys with no further action. South Korea’s refusal to express an opinion on the safety of Japanese food products is unreasonable.
　韓国は昨年末から、日本に専門家委員会を派遣し、実地調査を行った。日本の検査の信頼性が裏付けられたが、委員会はデータを公開しただけだ。安全性に関する見解を示さないのは、おかしい。

About 50 nations and regions imposed import restrictions on Japanese food products after the nuclear accident. Fourteen of them, including Australia, have lifted such bans.
　原発事故後、日本の食品の輸入規制をした約５０か国・地域のうち、オーストラリアなど１４か国はすでに撤廃した。

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga has urged South Korea to make a reasonable decision on its own import ban, saying, “[Seoul] should abolish its restrictions at an early date, not waiting for the WTO to arrive at a conclusion.” The Japanese government needs to persistently urge South Korea to lift the ban through diplomatic channels.
　菅官房長官は「ＷＴＯによる結論を待つことなく、規制を早く撤廃すべきだ」と、韓国に合理的な判断を求めている。日本政府は外交ルートを通じて、韓国に粘り強く働きかける必要がある。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 2, 2015)

>土地改良事業やコメ農家への交付金
衰退する農業には見切りをつけるほうがよい。後継者がいないのでは。

>医師会を支持母体とする与党の強い反発
これでは国民が主体なのか医師会が主体なのかわからない。
高齢者は１０％の優遇はあきらめるべし。

>要求額が３２兆円と歳出の３分の１に迫る社会保障費に、しっかりメスを入れられるかどうか
安倍首相は国防費を増やしたい意向ですが、減額して、その分を社会保障費にまわすべきです。
医療と年金ならば、医療の分野にメスを入れるべき。
年金減額はできないでしょう。

The Yomiuri Shimbun
Budget priority must be given to strengthening growth strategy
概算要求　成長力強化へメリハリつけよ

With the prospects of the world economy becoming increasingly uncertain, it is important to compile a budget for next fiscal year that will help accelerate the implementation of a growth strategy.
　世界経済の先行き懸念が高まる中、成長戦略の加速につながる予算とすることが重要だ。

Budgetary requests for fiscal 2016 are expected to exceed ¥102 trillion.
　２０１６年度予算の概算要求総額が、１０２兆円を上回る見通しとなった。

This will be the second straight year for such requests to exceed ¥100 trillion. As the government wants to rein in the growth of spending to about ¥1.6 trillion over the coming three years, it will be necessary to trim the budget by around ¥5 trillion.
　１００兆円超えは２年連続である。歳出の伸びを今後３年で計１・６兆円程度に抑えるとする政府目標を踏まえれば、５兆円規模の削減が必要となる。

How will it be possible to boost the national economy while eliminating wasteful spending? The Finance Ministry must clearly prioritize budgetary requests.
　無駄を排除しつつ、いかに日本経済を底上げするか。財務省は、メリハリを利かせた査定に努めねばならない。

It is important to ensure effective functioning of special quotas, which have been set for the third straight year to allot budgets for the implementation of policies given priority by the Abe administration.
　ポイントは、安倍政権の優先課題に予算を重点配分するため、３年連続で設けられた特別枠を、有効に機能させることである。

The ministry has curtailed the amount of budgetary requests for “discretionary spending,” including that for public works projects, by 10 percent from the fiscal 2015 budget. However, the ministry has approved ¥4 trillion in budgetary requests for projects related to the growth strategy, among others. Apparently, budgetary requests from other government offices have virtually reached their limit in this respect.
　公共事業などの「裁量的経費」の要求額を１５年度予算から１０％削減する一方で、成長戦略関連の予算などについて、計４兆円の要求を認めた。各府省から、ほぼ満額の要望が集まった模様だ。

These requests, however, include conventional ones for the construction of regional roads that have been filed on the pretext of dealing with depopulation and creating jobs. Budget allocations must be limited strictly to projects that meet the requirements of the special quotas.
　ただし、人口減対策や雇用創出を名目とした地方道路の建設といった、旧来型の要求も見られる。特別枠の趣旨に沿った事業に厳しく絞り込むべきだ。

Duplication of budget requests

There are a number of cases in which budgetary requests for similar projects have been made by two or more government offices.
　複数の府省から、類似の要求が出されるケースも少なくない。

For instance, both the Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry and the Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry included in their budgetary requests projects to enhance corporate competitiveness and promote industrial-academic-government cooperation by utilizing information and communications technology.
　例えば、経済産業省と総務省はどちらも、情報通信技術を活用した企業の競争力強化や産学官連携を推進する施策を盛り込んだ。

Many government offices are seeking budgetary allocations for such projects as regional vitalization and the promotion of active social participation by women. The Finance Ministry must work toward making adjustments to eliminate duplication of similar projects by government offices.
　地方創生や女性活躍などの分野でも、多くの府省が手を挙げた。財務省には、重複の解消を図る府省横断的な調整が求められる。

Of concern is that the pressure for expanded spending has been mounting within the ruling parties ahead of a House of Councillors election next summer.
　懸念されるのは、来夏の参院選を意識し、与党内で歳出拡大への圧力が強まっていることだ。

With an eye on concluding negotiations on the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade framework, the Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry significantly increased budgetary requests for agricultural land improvement projects and subsidies for the families of rice farmers.
　環太平洋経済連携協定（ＴＰＰ）交渉の妥結を視野に入れ、農林水産省は、土地改良事業やコメ農家への交付金に関する予算要求を大幅に増やした。

In response, the Liberal Democratic Party’s Agriculture and Forestry Division and other divisions have decided to seek an increase in budgetary allocations.
　これに呼応して、自民党の農林部会などは、予算増額を求めることを決議した。

To trim social security spending, the government will look into the possibility of lowering medical service fees to be paid to medical institutions until the end of the year. But strong opposition is expected from the LDP as doctors’ associations are among its list of supporting organizations.
　年末にかけて、社会保障費削減のため、医療機関に支払う診療報酬の引き下げが検討されるが、医師会を支持母体とする与党の強い反発が予想される。

An intensive reform period for the government’s fiscal soundness achievement plan will start in fiscal 2016. The government will be put to the test, in the first year of the period, over whether it will be able to cut into social security spending that has ballooned to ¥32 trillion, accounting for one-third of total spending.
　１６年度には、政府の財政健全化計画の集中改革期間がスタートする。その初年度から、要求額が３２兆円と歳出の３分の１に迫る社会保障費に、しっかりメスを入れられるかどうかが問われよう。

The national debt has swelled to more than ¥1 quadrillion, and debt-servicing costs for principal and interest repayment of government bonds are estimated to hit a record ¥26 trillion in fiscal 2016, a rise by 11 percent over the current fiscal year. It is imperative to keep a tight rein on fiscal spending.
　国の借金は１０００兆円超に膨らみ、元利返済にあてる国債費は前年度比１１％増の２６兆円と、過去最大になる見込みだ。歳出抑制のタガを緩めてはならない。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Sept. 1, 2015)

The Yomiuri Shimbun
Determine fate of detainees at former Soviet camps outside Siberia
旧ソ連抑留者　「シベリア以外」の解明も急げ

At long last, there are important clues in regard to finding out the whole truth about a tragedy that has so far been shrouded in darkness.
　闇に埋もれた悲劇の全容解明を進める重要な手がかりとしたい。

Materials concerning Japanese nationals who were detained at camps and other facilities of the former Soviet Union after the end of World War II have recently been discovered one after another.
　第２次大戦終結後、旧ソ連の収容所などに抑留された日本人に関する新たな資料が続々と見つかった。

It has been disclosed that the Russian national archives have a number of documents, such as 55 photos of Japanese interned in Dalian in northern China and lists of deceased Japanese detainees in the northern part of the Korean Peninsula, the southern region of Karafuto (now called Sakhalin) and in Dalian.
　中国・大連で抑留された日本人の写真５５点や、朝鮮半島北部、南樺太（現サハリン）、大連での抑留死亡者の名簿などが、ロシアの公文書館に保管されていた。

In the wake of reporting by The Yomiuri Shimbun on the lists of deceased internees, the Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry has made public lists of a total of 10,723 Japanese internees, although some cases may have been listed more than once.
　名簿に関する本紙報道を受け、厚生労働省は、のべ１万７２３人の抑留者名簿を既に開示している。

Among the lists released by the ministry are the names of 2,130 people who do not fall into the category of “detainees in Siberia” — those who were interned in the former Soviet Union or Mongolia.
旧ソ連とモンゴルで抑留された「シベリア抑留者」とは別の２１３０人の氏名が含まれる。

Actual conditions of Japanese detainees in areas other than Siberia are virtually unknown, including how many died. Measures to support bereaved families must be provided promptly, including fact-finding investigations and providing information to aging families of the deceased.
　シベリア以外での抑留の実態は全体の死者数を含め、ほとんど明らかになっていない。実態調査と、高齢化する遺族らへの情報提供など支援を急がねばならない。

In the 1956 Japan-Soviet Joint Declaration, Tokyo and Moscow agreed to mutually abandon the right to claim compensation for wartime damage.
　日ソ両国は１９５６年の「日ソ共同宣言」で、賠償請求権の相互放棄に合意した。

Returnees from Siberia and bereaved families of deceased detainees in Siberia have filed lawsuits for compensation against the Japanese government, demanding payment of wages that the plaintiffs say should have been paid for forced labor the detainees engaged in, as well as damages for their internment.
　シベリアからの帰還者や遺族らは日本政府を相手取り、強制労働の賃金支払いや損害賠償を求める訴訟を起こした。

The 1988 legislation of a special fund law for the provision of compensation for those who were interned and the 2010 enactment of a temporary statute requiring the government to conduct investigations were all designed to provide detainees in Siberia with relief measures.
　抑留者への慰労金支給を決めた８８年の特別基金法や、政府に調査を義務づけた２０１０年の特別措置法は、シベリア抑留者に救済措置を講じるためのものだった。

Russia’s ‘confidential’ info a key

Regarding those who died while interned in areas other than Siberia, however, the government fell short of making public lists of detainees’ names and failed to carry out investigations, even though the government obtained the lists in and after 2000, as priority was given to those who were detained in Siberia. The fact that health and welfare minister Yasuhisa Shiozaki apologized for this, pledging to take steps to rectify the situation, can be considered a positive step forward.
　しかし、シベリア以外の抑留死亡者については、政府は２０００年以降、名簿を入手していたにもかかわらず、シベリアを優先し、公表や調査を行わなかった。塩崎厚労相がこれを陳謝し、是正を約束したのは、一歩前進である。

Many tasks must be undertaken if the government attempts to provide bereaved families of those who were interned in areas other than Siberia with new assistance measures and to put into effect investigations relevant to them. This is because the current laws have limited the scope of beneficiaries to those who were interned in the former Soviet Union and Mongolia.
　シベリア以外の抑留者に対する新たな支援や調査を実施するには、課題が少なくない。現行法は、その対象を旧ソ連とモンゴルでの抑留者に限定しているからだ。

Studies should be made in connection with this on ways to beef up arrangements to conduct investigations. One idea would be to let Japanese experts on the matter to take part in investigation.
　調査体制の強化も検討したい。知見を持つ日本の専門家を参加させる工夫も考えられよう。

To uncover what actually happened, it is imperative to dig out information Russia still has not offered Japan.
　実態解明には、ロシアがまだ日本に提供していない情報の掘り起こしが欠かせない。

To cite an example, Russia has yet to make public information about the fate of the Japanese interned in a number of detention camps near Pyongyang, where several thousands of the detainees are said to have perished. Even though Russia has provisioned the information to the Japanese government regarding the situation in the northern region of the Korean Peninsula, or information about “repatriation camps” in two areas of Hungnam and Wonsan.
　例えば、朝鮮半島北部に関し、ロシアは興南、元山両地区の「送還収容所」の情報は政府に提供したが、数千人が死亡したとされる平壌近郊の複数の収容所については、公開していない。

Because the records relating to deaths by execution and abuses of the Japanese detainees have been designated as “confidential,” Russia’s security institutions in charge of the matter is said to be negative about lifting the ban on disclosing this information.
　刑死や虐待が絡む記録は「機密」指定がなされ、担当の治安機関が解禁に消極的だという。

Whether Russia discloses the information in question may depend on a high political judgment in Russia, perhaps by President Vladimir Putin.
　資料の公開には、プーチン大統領など、露政府の高いレベルでの判断がカギとなろう。

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has been probing the possibility of having face-to-face talks with Putin this autumn. If the meeting materializes, Abe should seek a cooperation in resolving the problem of the detention of Japanese by the former Soviet Union.
　安倍首相は今秋、プーチン氏との会談を探っている。抑留問題の解明でも協力を求めるべきだ。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 31, 2015)

10年以上休眠状態ったって、それは人のお金でしょう。
人権無視の狂った法案の可決には反対です。
これも多数決で押し切るつもりなのはみえみえです。
安倍首相はそろそろ退陣の時期ではないでしょうか。
少数意見を尊重するのも民主主義の大切なポイントです。

The Yomiuri Shimbun
Bill on using dormant accounts must be deliberated to ensure fairness
休眠預金法案　公正性の確保へ審議を尽くせ

A nonpartisan group of lawmakers has compiled a bill to use money in dormant bank accounts — accounts that have had no deposit or withdrawal activity for more than 10 years — for social welfare and other purposes.
　お金の出し入れが１０年以上ない休眠預金を、社会福祉などに活用するための法案を、超党派の議員連盟がまとめた。

The group said that it would submit the bill for passage during the current Diet session.
　今国会に法案を提出して、成立を目指すという。

Every year, about ¥50 billion worth of deposits are categorized as dormant and recorded as profits of financial institutions. Britain and South Korea have a system to use such funds to support welfare and other activities. The nonpartisan group drafted the bill based on those and other examples.
　休眠預金は毎年、約５００億円発生し、金融機関の利益に計上される。英国や韓国では、この休眠預金を福祉活動などの支援に使う制度がある。議連は、こうした例も参考に法案を作成した。

The bill stipulates that the money would be used for various welfare activities, including assistance for children, youth and impoverished people. But if depositors subsequently claim their money, it would be repaid, according to the bill.
　活用の対象として、生活困窮者や子供・若者に対する支援などが明記されている。預金者から請求があった場合は、休眠預金の払い戻しに応じる。

We think the bill’s aim to use such funds to improve welfare while paying due consideration to protecting depositors is reasonable.
　預金者保護に配慮しつつ、「眠れる資金」を福祉向上に役立てる趣旨は妥当だろう。

Private-sector organizations would be entrusted to distribute the funds to foster activities beyond the reach of the support from the government and other public-sector organizations. To coordinate the distribution, a general incorporated foundation called a “designated utilization organization” would be created.
　国などの公的支援が及ばない活動を助成する狙いから、資金配分を民間団体に委ねる。その司令塔が、一般財団法人として新設される「指定活用団体」だ。

This organization would choose several fund distribution organizations from among incorporated foundations around the country. Through the fund distribution organizations, aid funds would be given or loaned to nonprofit and volunteer organizations working on welfare projects.
　活用団体は、全国の財団法人などから公募で複数の「資金分配団体」を選ぶ。この分配団体を通じて、実際に福祉事業に取り組むＮＰＯやボランティア組織に助成金の給付や貸し付けを行う。

With the wisdom of private-sector organizations involved, we expect the money to be used for assistance in a way that suits situations on the ground.
　民間の知恵を生かし、現場の実情に合った支援が行き渡ることを期待したい。

Legal compliance important

However, it is worrying to see that there are not a few who doubt if the bill guarantees fair and transparent distribution of the funds.
　気がかりなのは、法案の内容に関し、公正で透明な資金配分が行われるのか心もとない、とする声が少なくないことだ。

They particularly find problems concerning good governance and legal compliance of the envisaged utilization and distribution organizations. Many of them point out that measures to prevent corrupt conduct such as payoffs from fund recipients are obscure.
　活用団体と分配団体のガバナンス（組織統治）やコンプライアンス（法令順守）に関する問題提起が目立つ。特に、支援先からの利益供与などの不正を防ぐ手立てがあいまいだとの指摘が多い。

Both organizations, which would broker a huge amount of funds, would require strict management.
　多額の資金仲介を担う両団体には、厳格な運営が求められる。

New Cabinet Office ordinances would be made to set up details of the system to use the deposits, according to the bill. However, we think that a law should include more details concerning regulation to secure fair distribution of aid funds, such as an auditing method.
　制度の詳細は、内閣府令などで定める方向という。だが、監査の在り方など、資金配分の適正さを確保するための規定については、法律でもっと明確に定める必要があるのではないか。

A measure to prevent people involved in the distribution of funds from providing “peer support” to organizations they belong or are related to is essential.
　配分に関与する人物が所属、関係する団体への支援など「お手盛り」を防ぐ措置も欠かせまい。

After all, money in dormant accounts belongs to the account holders. As much of this money as possible should be returned to the original depositors. Britain and South Korea have an online system enabling the public to check easily whether they have dormant accounts. Japan, too, should consider efforts to reduce the amount of dormant deposits.
　そもそも休眠預金は預金者のお金である。できるだけ減らすことが望ましい。英国や韓国は、休眠口座があるかどうか、一般の人が気軽に調べられるオンラインシステムを設けている。日本でも減らす工夫を検討してはどうか。

It is important to win the public’s understanding of the system to utilize dormant deposits by eliminating various suspicions about it. The Diet should thoroughly deliberate the bill to improve the envisaged system.
　休眠預金の活用策を巡る様々な疑念を解消し、国民の理解を得ることが重要だ。より良い制度とするため、国会は法案審議を十分に尽くすべきだ。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 30, 2015)

アベノミクスでは国民は永久に幸せになれない。
アベノミクスで幸せになれるのは大企業と株で儲けている人たちだけでしょう。
無能と称される民主党時代のほうが、人々は豊かに暮らすことができました。
高齢者にとっては民主党時代の政策のほうが幸せでした。
嫌な時代となりました。いったいいつまで続くのでしょうか。

The Yomiuri Shimbun
Unopposed reelection of Abe as LDP leader a positive course
自民党総裁選　無投票再選も前向きな選択肢

We think it appropriate that the schedule for election of the Liberal Democratic Party president has been decided from the standpoint of lessening its effects on Diet deliberations of the security-related bills, which are the most important business in the current session.
　今国会で最も重要な安全保障関連法案の審議への影響を小さくする観点を重視して、自民党総裁選の日程を決めたのは、妥当である。

Since Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s term as LDP president expires at the end of September, the main ruling party decided to hold its presidential election on Sept. 20, with the official campaign period to begin on Sept. 8.
　自民党が、安倍首相の９月末の総裁任期満了に伴う総裁選について、８日告示―２０日投開票とすることを決定した。

An LDP presidential race at the expiration of a presidential term is normally held before an extraordinary session of the Diet in autumn. However, since the current ordinary Diet session has been significantly extended, the upcoming election is held during the session — an exceptional situation.
　任期満了に伴う総裁選は通常、秋の臨時国会前に行われる。今回は通常国会の大幅延長に伴い、異例の国会開会中となった。

The LDP considered other schedules, such as holding the vote on Sept. 27 with a campaign period starting on Sept. 15. However, since deliberations on the security-related bills are a little stagnant at the House of Councillors, the party has decided to hold the election as early as its election regulations permit after examining its effects on deliberations of and voting on the bills at the Diet, as well as a scheduled trip abroad by the prime minister.
　自民党は、１５日告示―２７日投開票の日程案なども検討した。だが、安保法案の参院審議がやや停滞している中、法案の審議・採決や首相の外遊日程への影響を考慮し、総裁選を規定上、最も早い日程で実施することにした。

In the presidential race, Abe is highly likely to be elected again without a contest.
　総裁選では、安倍首相が無投票で再選される公算が大きい。

All seven factions of the LDP, including the Hiroyuki Hosoda faction of which Abe was originally a member, have decided to support the prime minister. With such moves, the factions apparently aim to win posts for their members in the Cabinet reshuffle and the changes of LDP executives expected in October after the current Diet session adjourns.
　首相の出身の細田派など、党内の７派閥は、そろって首相への支持を決めた。国会閉会後の１０月の内閣改造・党役員人事におけるポスト獲得をにらんだ動きだ。

Shigeru Ishiba, minister in charge of vitalizing local economies, competed with Abe in the LDP leadership race in September 2012, but he does not intend to run for the presidency this time because he is currently a member of the Abe Cabinet. Former LDP General Council head Seiko Noda is trying hard to run for the election but is said to be having difficulty collecting the support from 20 LDP lawmakers required for candidacy.
　２０１２年９月の総裁選で首相と争った石破地方創生相は今回、閣内にいることもあり、出馬しない意向だ。立候補を模索する野田聖子・前総務会長は、推薦人２０人を確保できないとみられる。

No rival candidate

Considering the prime minister’s achievements in the last three years, it is certainly not easy to field a rival candidate. Abe has built a strong political foundation by scoring crushing victories in two House of Representatives elections and one upper house election. Even after a drop, his Cabinet still has a public approval rate above 40 percent.
　確かに、首相の３年間の実績を踏まえれば、対抗馬の擁立は簡単ではあるまい。衆院選２回と参院選に大勝し、強固な基盤を築いた。低下したとはいえ、４０％台の内閣支持率も維持している。

In September last year, Abe reshuffled his Cabinet but retained ministers necessary to keep its basic frame, such as Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga and Finance Minster Taro Aso. At the same time, he appointed Sadakazu Tanigaki as LDP secretary general and Toshihiro Nikai as LDP General Council head, both executive posts of his party. The Abe regime has been made stable with his strategy of placing political heavyweights in important posts in anticipation of a long-term government.
　昨年９月には、菅官房長官、麻生財務相ら内閣の骨格を維持しつつ、党執行部に谷垣幹事長、二階総務会長を配した。長期政権を見据えて、重厚な布陣を敷く戦略が安倍体制を安定させている。

If several candidates run for the presidential race, it is likely to create an opportunity for policy discussions on the course of Japan for the next three years. However, can the LDP afford that now?
　複数の候補が総裁選に出馬すれば、今後３年間の日本の針路に関する政策論争を行う機会になる可能性はある。ただ、今の自民党にその余裕があるだろうか。

The global economy is destabilized, and the recovery of the Japanese economy is at a standstill. Is it really productive to spend energy on making counterproposals to Abenomics, the prime minister’s economic policy package, and fighting among members of the same party?
　世界経済は不安定化し、日本の景気回復も足踏みしている。首相の経済政策「アベノミクス」に対立軸を掲げて、政権内で戦い、エネルギーを費やすことが、果たして生産的なのか。

The security-related bills are extremely significant in terms of securing the peace and safety of Japan and the surrounding region, but the understanding of the bills is not necessarily spreading among the public.
　安保法案は、日本と地域の平和と安全を確保するうえで極めて重要だが、国民の理解は必ずしも広がっていない。

With Diet deliberations on the bills entering a crucial phase, it is also difficult to secure the environment necessary to hold a full-scale presidential election, including arrangements for a stumping tour of candidates around the country and voting by party members.
　法案審議が大詰めを迎える中、全国遊説や党員投票などを伴う本格的な総裁選を行う環境を確保するのが難しい事情もある。

It may be a positive course for LDP members to unite under Abe to overcome difficult challenges.
　難局を切り抜けるうえで、自民党が一致結束することも、一つの前向きな選択肢ではないか。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 29, 2015)