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The Yomiuri Shimbun
U.S., ASEAN warn Beijing over outrageous actions in S. China Sea
米ＡＳＥＡＮ　南シナ海での狼藉に警告した

A message has been sent to China, which is attempting to turn the artificial islands it has built in the South China Sea into military strongholds, warning that its self-serving actions are unacceptable.
　南シナ海で人工島の軍事拠点化を図る中国に、独善的な行動は許されないとのメッセージを送ったということだろう。

U.S. President Barack Obama invited leaders of the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations for the first U.S.-ASEAN summit to be held in the United States.
　オバマ米大統領が東南アジア諸国連合（ＡＳＥＡＮ）１０か国の首脳を招き、米国で初めて会議を開催した。

With the South China Sea in mind, a joint statement by the leaders set forth the importance of maintaining maritime security and safety by ensuring the right to the freedom of navigation, nonmilitarization and self-restraint. It avoided making pointed references to China but implicitly issued a warning regarding China’s outrageous behavior.
　共同声明では、南シナ海を念頭に、「航行の自由」の確保や非軍事化、行動の自制を通じて、海洋の安全を維持する重要性が明記された。名指しは避けたが、中国の狼藉ろうぜきへの警告を意味している。

One of the artificial islands China has built in the Spratly Islands reportedly contains a 3,000-meter-class runway and hangars for fighter jets.
　スプラトリー（南沙）諸島の中国の人工島には、３０００メートル級の滑走路や戦闘機用の格納庫が整備されたという。

Test flights were conducted on the island at the beginning of this year, and full-fledged operations of the runway are expected to start shortly.
今年初めに試験飛行が実施され、滑走路の本格運用が近く始まるとみられる。

China has also reportedly deployed an advanced surface-to-air missile system and a radar system on an island it effectively controls in the Paracel Islands.
　パラセル（西沙）諸島で中国が実効支配する島には、新型の地対空ミサイルとレーダーシステムが配備されたとも報じられた。

Viewing the United States as an “extra-regional state” in the South China Sea, China refuses to accept U.S. intervention in the region. China may be making too light of the situation, thinking that once it excludes U.S. influence from the region, it can make its maritime interests a fait accompli.
　中国は、米国を南シナ海の「域外国」と位置づけ、介入を拒んでいる。米国の影響力を排除すれば、海洋権益を既成事実化できると高をくくっているのだろう。

Yet the safety of sea lanes is a common good for the international community, including Japan.
　だが、海上交通路（シーレーン）の安全は、日本を含む国際社会共通の利益だ。

It was natural for Obama and ASEAN leaders to have announced in the joint statement the significance of “an international order where international rules and norms and the rights of all nations are upheld.”
オバマ氏とＡＳＥＡＮ首脳が、「すべての国の権利を保護する、ルールに基づいた国際秩序」の意義を共同声明で打ち出したのは当然である。

Regular sailings needed

Last October and in January this year, U.S. Navy vessels sailed close to disputed islands in the South China Sea, conducting patrols to concretely demonstrate the right to the freedom of navigation.
　米軍艦艇は昨年１０月と今年１月に、南シナ海で「航行の自由」を行動で示す巡視活動を行った。

At a press conference, Obama said the United States would “continue to fly, sail and operate wherever international law allows,” clarifying again that the United States would continue its activities in the region. To deter China from taking provocative steps, it is essential for U.S. warships to sail there regularly.
　オバマ氏は記者会見で「国際法が許すところでは、どこでも実施し続ける」と述べ、活動継続を改めて明言した。中国の挑発を抑えるには、定期化が欠かせない。

The noticeable difference among ASEAN countries’ enthusiasm for holding China in check is a matter of concern. Such countries as Laos, the current ASEAN chair, and Cambodia have close economic ties with China. A situation in which ASEAN members become further divided in their positions, weakening the pressure they put on China, must be avoided.
　懸念されるのは、ＡＳＥＡＮ内の温度差が目立つことである。議長国ラオスやカンボジアなどは中国と経済関係が深い。ＡＳＥＡＮの分断が進み、対中圧力が弱まる事態は避けねばならない。

The United States is being called on to promote its rebalancing policy, which focuses on Asia, and to exercise strong leadership. Obama’s planned visit to Vietnam in May is part of such efforts.
　米国には「アジア重視」政策の推進と強い指導力が求められる。オバマ氏が５月にベトナムを訪問するのも、その一環となる。

Obama and ASEAN leaders at the summit also discussed the Trans-Pacific Partnership free trade accord, participated in by 12 countries, including Japan and the United States.
　首脳会議では、日米など１２か国による環太平洋経済連携協定（ＴＰＰ）についても話し合われた。

Obama welcomed the participation of four ASEAN members, including Singapore, while expressing support for the remaining six, including Indonesia and Thailand, to join.
オバマ氏は、シンガポールなど４か国の参加を歓迎し、インドネシア、タイなど残る６か国の参加に向けた支援を表明した。

An expanded membership in the TPP accord, which strictly regulates trade and investment, would help restrain China, which is taking hegemonic actions in economic fields as well. Greater participation in the TPP by ASEAN member countries would also help vitalize Japan’s trade.
　高い水準の貿易・投資ルールを適用するＴＰＰの拡大は、経済面でも覇権的行動をとる中国への牽制けんせいになる。ＡＳＥＡＮからの参加国の増加は、日本の貿易活性化にもつながろう。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 18, 2016)

The Yomiuri Shimbun
Vigilance must be increased over North Korean military provocation
朝鮮半島緊張　「北」の軍事挑発に警戒怠るな

Ignoring repeated calls for self-restraint from the international community, North Korea continues taking provocative actions. Pyongyang should quickly recognize that such actions will only deepen its isolation and aggravate its plight.
　国際社会の再三の自制要求を顧みず、北朝鮮が挑発を重ねている。孤立を深め、自らの困窮を悪化させるだけであることを早く認識すべきだ。

The Korean Central News Agency reported Monday that Kim Jong Un, the first secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea, called for more satellite launches in the future. This suggests that the country will launch long-range ballistic missiles again.
　朝鮮中央通信は、北朝鮮の金正恩第１書記が「衛星をもっと多く打ち上げねばならない」と述べたと伝えた。長距離弾道ミサイルの再発射を示唆したものだ。

Defense Minister Gen Nakatani pointed out Tuesday, “We cannot rule out the possibility of North Korea’s repeatedly launching missiles on the pretext of launching satellites.”
　中谷防衛相は「北朝鮮が人工衛星の打ち上げを口実としたミサイル発射を繰り返す可能性も否定できない」と指摘した。

It is important for Japan to cooperate with other countries concerned, including the United States and South Korea, and increase its vigilance.
日本は、米韓など関係国と連携して、警戒を強めることが大切である。

South Korean President Park Geun-hye said in a parliamentary address, “If time passes like this with no change, Kim Jong Un’s regime, on a reckless run without brakes, will deploy nuclear missiles.” It was reasonable for Park to have warned the nation of the danger of an increasing North Korean threat in light of advances in the North’s military technologies.
　朴槿恵韓国大統領が国会で「このままでは、ブレーキなしに暴走する金正恩政権が核ミサイルを実戦配備する」と演説した。軍事技術向上により北朝鮮の脅威が高まる危険性を訴えたのは当然だ。

In imposing sanctions on North Korea for its nuclear test last month and the latest launch of a long-range ballistic missile, South Korea suspended all operations at Kaesong industrial park, a jointly run cooperation project in North Korea.
　韓国は、北朝鮮の核実験と長距離弾道ミサイル発射への独自制裁として、南北協力事業「開城工業団地」の操業を全面中断した。

Problematic is that North Korea has unilaterally declared the Kaesong complex a military control zone and shut down cross-border telecommunications hot lines for both military forces.
　問題なのは、北朝鮮が一方的に開城工業団地を「軍事統制区域」にすると宣言し、南北の軍同士の通信を閉鎖したことである。

North Korea has taken these steps apparently because it was upset by Seoul’s aiming to cut financial resources of the Kim regime.
　金政権の資金源を標的にしたことに猛反発したとみられる。

Concerted trilateral moves

Since the Kaesong industrial complex started operations in 2004, North Korea has earned a total of $560 million (or about ¥63.4 billion) in foreign currency, including workers’ wages. Seventy percent of the money paid in wages and for other things is said to have gone to the Workers’ Party, which funneled it toward its nuclear and missile development programs or to purchase luxury goods.
　開城工業団地の２００４年の操業開始以来、北朝鮮は労賃など計５億６０００万ドル（約６３４億円）の外貨を得ている。労賃などの７割が朝鮮労働党に上納され、核・ミサイル開発や、ぜいたく品購入などに流用されたという。

There were also news reports saying that the chief of staff of the North Korean Army was recently executed. First Secretary Kim may have become unable to maintain his regime without resorting to a reign of terror by purging one aide after another among senior officials of the military or the ruling party.
　北朝鮮軍の総参謀長が最近、処刑されたとの情報もある。金第１書記は側近の軍・党幹部を次々に粛清する恐怖政治でしか、体制を維持できないのではないか。

It is inevitable for the tensions between the two Koreas to increase. The U.S. forces will deploy a nuclear-powered attack submarine and F-22 stealth fighter planes in and around South Korea. The United States and South Korea should cooperate and deter North Korea from engaging in military provocations.
　南北の緊張が高まるのは避けられまい。米軍は攻撃型原潜やステルス戦闘機Ｆ２２を韓国周辺に展開する。米韓が協調し、北朝鮮の軍事挑発を抑止すべきだ。

In her address, Park emphasized that her country is advancing the buildup of defense capabilities of the U.S.-South Korea alliance.
　朴氏は演説で、米韓同盟の「防衛力増強を進めている」と力説した。

Park’s new policy of negotiating with Washington over the deployment of a state-of-the-art U.S. missile defense system in her country, which she had been wary about, is also part of the defense buildup.
これまで慎重だった最新鋭の米ミサイル防衛システムの韓国配備について、米国と協議する方針に転換したのもその一環だ。

In South Korea, senior officials of the ruling party, a leading newspaper and others have begun to publicly refer to the idea of arming the country with nuclear weapons. Park’s parliamentary remarks may also be aimed at cooling off such a move.
　韓国では、与党幹部や有力紙などが公然と核武装論に言及し始めた。朴氏の発言には、これを沈静化する狙いもあるのだろう。

Park has highly rated Japan’s imposition of unilateral sanctions on North Korea, saying it has demonstrated Japan’s strong will not to overlook its behavior.
　朴氏は、日米の対北朝鮮独自制裁の動きについて、「北朝鮮の行動を看過しないという強い意思を示している」と評価した。

It is vitally important to make use of the momentum of concerted moves by Japan, the United States and South Korea toward tough sanctions against North Korea so as to realize the adoption of a resolution by the U.N. Security Council.
　厳格な北朝鮮制裁で日米韓の足並みがそろった機運を生かし、国連安全保障理事会の制裁決議採択につなげることが肝要である。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 17, 2016)

--The Asahi Shimbun, Feb. 16
（社説）丸川環境相　撤回しても残る「軽さ」
EDITORIAL: Marukawa’s gaffe about Fukushima heightens doubts about Cabinet's aptitude

Environment Minister Tamayo Marukawa caused a stir by claiming the government had no scientific grounds for its radiation decontamination target around the crippled Fukushima nuclear plant.
　福島第一原発事故への対応で、担当閣僚である丸川環境相の発言が波紋を広げている。

Her comment came in a Feb. 7 speech on the government’s long-term goal of reducing radiation levels near the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant to an annual dose of 1 millisievert or less.
　国が追加被曝（ひばく）線量の長期目標として示した年間１ミリシーベルトについて、７日の講演で

“There are people who worry about radiation no matter how much the levels have been lowered, people who might well be described, appropriately or not, as an ‘anti-radiation camp,’” Marukawa said. “While such people were making noise, the environment minister at that time decided (on the target) without any scientific grounds.”
「『反放射能派』と言うと変ですが、どれだけ下げても心配だという人は世の中にいる。そういう人たちが騒いだ中で、何の科学的根拠もなく時の環境大臣が決めた」などと発言した。

Her remarks were reported the following day by The Shinano Mainichi Shimbun, a local newspaper.
翌日の信濃毎日新聞が報じた。

Decontaminating areas polluted with radioactive materials and curbing additional exposure to radiation is one of the top policy priorities for Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s Cabinet.
　放射性物質の除染や、追加被曝の抑制などは、安倍内閣の最重要課題の一つである。

Nearly five years since the nuclear disaster unfolded, decontamination efforts alone appear unlikely to achieve the long-term target in some areas. Residents from these areas have no hope of returning to home soon.
　原発事故からまもなく５年。除染だけでは長期目標の達成が難しい地域がまだ残り、住民の帰還が進まない現状がある。

The Democratic Party of Japan-led government set the long-term decontamination goal based on recommendations of the International Commission on Radiological Protection. The panel recommended annual doses in the range of “1 to 20 millisievert” as a yardstick for recovery from the accident.
　長期目標は、国際放射線防護委員会が原発事故から復旧する際の参考値とする「年１～２０ミリシーベルト」の最も厳しい水準だ。

The government’s decision to adopt the stricter end of the recommended range for the decontamination target reflected strong demand for absolute safety and security among communities in the affected areas.
１ミリシーベルトに決まった背景には、安全や安心を求める地元福島の要望もあった。

Responding to residents’ desire to return home as soon as possible while pursuing the tough long-term goal has proved a formidable challenge.
　一日も早い帰還を願う住民の思いと、長期目標をどう整合させるか。

The goal, determined after considering a complicated mix of factors, has forced the government to continue making strenuous efforts while learning from mistakes.
さまざまな複雑な要素を考慮して決められ、いまなお試行錯誤が続く難題である。

If Marukawa didn’t know this background, she should be accused of failing to do her homework. Or did she know all these facts and was simply trying to demean the previous DPJ-led government?
　丸川氏がそうした経緯を知らなかったとすれば、不勉強と言われても仕方がない。それとも、経緯を知ったうえで、決定当時の民主党政権をおとしめるための発言だったのか。

Even more troubling is how she flip-flopped in replying to questions about her remark.
　さらに深刻なのは発言が報じられて以降の二転三転ぶりだ。

The environment minister initially responded to questions posed at the Diet and from reporters by repeatedly saying she had “no recollection of using such wording” in the speech.
　国会質問や取材に「こういう言い回しをした記憶は持っていない」などと答え続け、

On the morning of Feb. 12, however, she changed her account and admitted having made the comments. She retracted the remarks in the evening that day.
一転して「言ったと思う」と認めたのは１２日朝、発言を撤回したのはその日夕方になってからだ。

Did she really forget making the remarks? Or did she bet that people would eventually forget the matter if she kept saying she had no memory of saying such things?
　本当に発言内容を忘れたのか。記憶がないと言っていれば、いずれ国民が忘れてくれると思ったのか。

In any case, Marukawa’s remarks raise serious questions about her aptitude for her job.
いずれにせよ、閣僚としての適格性が疑われる発言というほかない。

However, Marukawa is not the only Cabinet member who has made a verbal blunder indicating a disturbing carelessness in speech.
　丸川氏だけではない。安倍内閣の言動の「軽さ」を印象づける場面は他にもある。

In a Feb. 9 news conference, Aiko Shimajiri, the state minister for Okinawa and Northern Territories affairs, could not read the kanji characters for the Habomai group of islets, and asked her secretary how the characters should be read. The Habomai islets are part of the Northern Territories, a chain of islands claimed by Japan but occupied by Russia.
　島尻沖縄北方相は記者会見で、北方領土の一部である歯舞（はぼまい）群島の「歯舞」を読めず、秘書官に問う場面があった。

Abe himself recently made an embarrassing verbal error.
In an Internet program of his Liberal Democratic Party, Abe misnamed the 2014 Stockholm agreement in which North Korea promised a fresh investigation into the fates of Japanese citizens it had abducted decades earlier. Abe mistakenly called it the Oslo Agreement, a 1993 peace accord between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization.
　安倍首相も、自民党のインターネット番組で、２０１４年に北朝鮮が拉致被害者らの再調査を約束した「ストックホルム合意」を、中東和平の「オスロ合意」と間違えた。

Nobody is free from slips of the tongue or misunderstandings.
　確かに、言い間違いや思い違いは誰にでもある。

But the above-mentioned errors are serious because dealing with the nuclear disaster, tackling the territorial dispute with Russia and resolving the North Korea abduction issue are important challenges placed high on the Abe Cabinet’s policy agenda.
ただ、原発事故対応や北方領土、拉致問題はいずれも安倍内閣が重要課題に掲げるテーマだ。

These gaffes could call into question not only the ministers’ qualifications for their jobs but also the Cabinet’s stances toward the issues.
閣僚の資質とともに、内閣としての姿勢が問われかねない。

The Yomiuri Shimbun
Govt needs to calmly deal with N. Korea’s halt to abduction probe
拉致再調査中止　「北」の揺さぶりに冷静対処を

North Korea’s latest act is a despicable attempt to pressure our nation. The Japanese government should not be upset by this, and must make persistent efforts to resolve the issue of the Japanese nationals abducted by that country.
　北朝鮮の卑劣な揺さぶりである。政府は、動じることなく、日本人拉致問題の解決に粘り強く取り組まねばならない。

North Korea has announced it will completely halt a renewed investigation it launched regarding the fate of Japanese abductees and others in July 2014. It also said it would dissolve the Special Investigation Committee.
　北朝鮮が、２０１４年７月に開始した拉致被害者らの再調査を全面的に中止すると発表した。「特別調査委員会」は解体するという。

According to an announcement by North Korea, the latest move has been taken as a response to the administration of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s strengthening its unilateral sanctions on the country. In the same announcement, North Korea also threatened Japan that it will “continue strong countermeasures to Japan’s provocative acts of hostility.”
　安倍政権が北朝鮮に対する独自制裁を強化したことへの対抗措置としている。北朝鮮は「日本の挑発的な敵対行為に対する強力な対応措置が続く」と恫喝どうかつした。

North Korea also asserts that Japan’s move to strengthen its sanctions was tantamount to “nullifying” the Stockholm agreement reached in May 2014 to reinvestigate. Japan’s position is that it has no intention to abrogate the accord.
　北朝鮮は、日本の制裁強化で、１４年５月の再調査に関する日朝のストックホルム合意が「破棄」されたとも主張する。日本は「破棄する考えはない」との立場だ。

Under the agreement, Japan lifted part of the sanctions it imposed on North Korea in exchange for Pyongyang’s renewed investigation into the fate of the Japanese nationals in question. They include the 12 people who have been acknowledged by the Japanese government as abductees, but have not yet returned to Japan, as well as other Japanese missing and thought have been abducted by North Korean agents.
　合意では、未帰国の拉致被害者１２人や、拉致の可能性のある特定失踪者らの再調査と引き換えに、日本が制裁の一部を解除した。

Japan’s action to reinforce sanctions was in response to North Korea’s recent move to conduct a nuclear test and launch a ballistic missile, thereby threatening regional security. North Korea’s accusations against our nation are absurd.
　制裁の強化は、北朝鮮が核実験と弾道ミサイル発射を強行し、地域の安全を脅かしたためである。北朝鮮の批判は筋違いだ。

It should be noted, first of all, that North Korea has put off reporting the pertinent findings of its probe for more than 1½ years, including what has become of those who were abducted. Although North Korea told Japan that it “has set up four subcommittees” on the committee, it is doubtful whether the country has actually seriously renewed its investigations into the abductions.
　そもそも、北朝鮮は１年半以上も、被害者の安否情報などの報告を先送りしてきた。「４分科会を設置した」などと説明していたが、真剣に拉致問題の再調査を行ったかどうかすら疑わしい。

World must step up pressure

North Korea’s conduct has been particularly hard on the abductees’ families, who had pinned their hopes on the renewed probe.
　再調査に期待を寄せた被害者家族の感情を踏みにじる行為だ。

Shutting its eyes to its own atrocities, Pyongyang has blamed the whole problem on Japan. Its assertions are totally unacceptable.
　自らの非道を棚に上げて、日本に責任を押しつける北朝鮮の主張は、到底容認できない。

The Japanese government has lodged a protest with North Korea through diplomatic channels. Katsunobu Kato, the minister in charge of the abduction issue, has emphasized that he wants to “do [his] utmost to get North Korea to take specific actions, through dialogue and pressure and under the principle of action for action.” He had every reason to strongly demand Pyongyang continue its reinvestigation into the abduction issue.
　政府は、外交ルートを通じて北朝鮮に抗議した。加藤拉致問題相は「対話と圧力、行動対行動の原則の下、北朝鮮から具体的な行動を引き出すよう、最大限努力したい」と強調した。再調査の継続を強く要求していくのは当然だ。

North Korea has sought to gain greater rewards for fewer concessions by providing various pieces of scattered information. This approach is the country’s usual ploy. The Japanese government should never be cajoled into following North Korea’s lead on bilateral negotiations.
　様々な情報をちらつかせ、より少ない譲歩で、より多くの見返りを得ようとするのは北朝鮮の常套じょうとう手段である。相手の交渉ペースにはまってはなるまい。

North Korea’s announcement on its suspension of the renewed probe may also be viewed as an attempt to disrupt Japan’s cooperative ties with the United States and South Korea by focusing on a problem unique to our nation.
　北朝鮮の再調査の中止表明は、日本固有の問題を取り上げ、米韓両国との足並みの乱れを生じさせる狙いもあるとみられる。

Japan’s basic policy is to seek a comprehensive solution to both the abduction issue and North Korea’s nuclear weapon and missile development. This is the time for Japan to cooperate with the international community to step up pressure on North Korea to rein in its dangerous acts of provocation.
　拉致と核・ミサイル問題の包括的な解決が日本の基本方針だ。今は、国際社会と連携し、北朝鮮の危険な挑発に歯止めをかけるために、圧力を強める時である。

South Korea has imposed a unilateral sanction on the North by shutting down operations at the Kaesong industrial complex, an inter-Korea cooperative project. The United States is also set to strengthen its economic sanctions on North Korea.
　韓国は、独自の制裁として、南北協力事業「開城工業団地」の操業中断に踏み切った。米国も北朝鮮への経済制裁を強化する。

As in the past, it is important for Japan, the United States and South Korea to closely cooperate with each other. The emphasis should be put on ensuring that the U.N. Security Council soon adopts additional stern sanctions on North Korea.
　日米韓３か国の緊密な協調が引き続き大切である。国連安全保障理事会での厳格な追加制裁決議の早期採択に力を入れたい。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 14, 2016)

The Yomiuri Shimbun
Can consensus be achieved through LDP’s lower house electoral reform plan?
衆院選制度改革　自民党案で合意形成できるか

The electoral system is the foundation of democracy. It is desirable that the system is reformed based on a broad consensus among the ruling and opposition parties. However, a draft plan proposed by the ruling Liberal Democratic Party looks unlikely to win the understanding of other parties.
　選挙制度は民主主義の土台だ。与野党の幅広い合意で見直すことが望ましい。自民党案では他党の理解は得られまい。

According to the draft plan on reforming the House of Representatives electoral system compiled by the LDP, only demarcation of single-seat constituencies would be reviewed based on simplified censuses conducted in 2015, while the number of seats allocated to prefectures would be maintained, to reduce vote-value disparities to less than 2 to 1.
　自民党が衆院選挙制度改革の原案をまとめた。小選挙区の「１票の格差」を２倍未満に抑えるため、２０１５年の簡易国勢調査に基づき、都道府県の定数配分は維持したまま、選挙区の区割りだけを見直す。

The LDP draft plan also says the reduction of lower house seats and the review of their allocation to prefectures would be postponed until after full censuses are conducted in 2020. The LDP proposes eliminating six seats in single-seat constituencies and four in proportional representation blocs, but details on how to allocate the number of seats to prefectures — which is the most important point — are still unclear.
　定数の削減と配分見直しは、２０年の国勢調査後に先送りする。削減幅は小選挙区６、比例選４という。しかし、肝心の具体的な定数配分方式は曖昧なままだ。

The LDP claims its draft plan is based on a report submitted by a research panel of experts on lower house electoral system reform, but the party seems to lack sincerity.
　自民党は、有識者調査会の答申に沿っていると強弁するが、誠実さが欠けていないか。

The panel says in its report that the Adams’ method should be used to reallocate lower house seats to prefectures. According to the report, this would increase the number of seats allocated to Tokyo and four prefectures by seven in total, while 13 prefectures would lose one seat each. Even if population changes in the future are taken into consideration, the vote-value disparity is expected to be less than 2 to 1 for a while.
　答申は、「アダムズ方式」で都道府県定数の再配分を求めた。定数は東京都と４県で計７増え、１３県で各１減る。将来の人口変動を加味しても、１票の格差は当面、２倍未満に収まる見通しだ。

Compared to other major allocation methods, the Adams’ method is said to be advantageous to less-populated prefectures. The LDP is critical of the panel’s report for being harsh on provincial regions. However, it certainly pays due consideration to them.
　アダムズ方式は、他の主な配分方式と比べて、人口の少ない県に有利とされる。自民党は「地方に冷たい」と批判するが、地方にも一定の配慮をしている。

In the report, redrawing electoral districts at the time of simplified censuses is considered merely a supplementary measure for the correction of the number of lower house seats to be done every 10 years.
　簡易国勢調査時の区割り見直しは、あくまで１０年ごとの定数是正の補完措置との位置づけだ。

Respect panel’s report

The LDP’s draft plan, which would change demarcation of constituencies first, cannot help but give the impression that the party has employed only parts of the report for its own convenience. Doesn’t the LDP, in its heart of hearts, only want to avoid opposition from incumbent lawmakers whose constituencies are in prefectures where lower house seats might be reduced?
　区割り見直しを先行させる自民党案は、答申のうち、自らに都合の良い部分をつまみ食いした印象が拭えない。定数が減る県の現職議員らの反発を避けたいのが本音ではないか。

A major problem with the LDP’s draft plan is that electoral districts would have to be redrawn widely twice — this time, and five years from now.
　問題なのは、自民党案では、今回と５年後の２回、大幅な区割り変更を余儀なくされることだ。

If demarcation of constituencies is changed often, it could damage the stability of the electoral system. It would also weaken relations between voters and lawmakers or candidates.
　選挙区の境界が頻繁に変わるようでは、制度の安定性が損なわれかねない。有権者と議員・候補者の関係も希薄になろう。

Since the LDP failed to reach an agreement on an electoral reform plan in its negotiations with the other parties in the first place, didn’t the party decide to let experts discuss the issue and pledge to respect their report?
　そもそも、自民党は他党との協議で改革案に合意できなかったため、有識者に検討を委ね、その答申を「尊重する」と約束したはずではなかったのか。

Of course, as the report expresses doubt about the necessity to reduce the number of lower house seats, there is some room for discussion on that point. However, it is unreasonable not to accept the Adams’ method, a basic part of the report, and postpone fundamental reform for as long as five years.
　答申は、定数削減の必要性に疑問を示しており、その点は議論の余地はある。だが、答申の根幹部分と言えるアダムズ方式を受け入れず、抜本改革を５年も先延ばしするのは筋が通らない。

Some members of the main opposition Democratic Party of Japan have already voiced criticism about the LDP plan, calling it “out of the question.”
　民主党などからは早くも、自民党案について「論外」などと批判する声が出ている。

Transition to a new electoral system will require revision of the Public Offices Election Law and other relevant laws, and reviewing the demarcation of electoral districts.
　新制度への移行には、公職選挙法などを改正したうえ、区割りの見直し作業などが必要となる。

The LDP, which is far more powerful than any of the other parties in the lower house, bears the grave responsibility of leading discussions on electoral system reform. The party must refine its draft plan, rising above party interests and strategy.
　衆院で「１強」の自民党は、選挙制度改革論議を主導する重い責任がある。党利党略を排し、原案を練り直さねばならない。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 13, 2016)

The Yomiuri Shimbun
1st detection of gravitational waves opens new window to universe
「重力波」初観測　宇宙への新しい窓が開いた

It is highly significant that a new observation method has been acquired to unravel the mysteries of the universe.
　宇宙の謎を解き明かす新たな観測方法を手に入れた意義は大きい。

A research team that includes the California Institute of Technology has announced it detected gravitational waves from the universe.
　米カリフォルニア工科大などのチームが、「宇宙から到来した重力波を捉えた」と発表した。

Albert Einstein hypothesized the existence of gravitational waves a century ago based on his theory of general relativity.
　重力波は、アインシュタインが一般相対性理論に基づき、１００年前に存在を予言した現象だ。

According to Einstein’s theory, celestial bodies like black holes, which have a huge mass, would warp space-time around them. If such bodies collided, the warp would spread like ripples.
　一般相対性理論によると、ブラックホールなどの巨大な質量の天体は、周囲の時空間をゆがめる。天体同士が衝突すると、ゆがみがさざ波のように広がっていく。

The research team believes the gravitational waves it detected were generated 1.3 billion light years from Earth when two black holes merged.
　今回捉えた重力波について、研究チームは、１３億光年の彼方で二つのブラックホールが合体して発生したものと推定している。

Celestial bodies with a large mass could not be observed directly by the electromagnetic waves — such as light, radio waves and X-rays — that have been conventionally used in astronomy.
　これまで、天文学で用いられてきた光や電波、Ｘ線などの電磁波では、巨大質量を持つ天体を直接観測することは出来なかった。

The mass and internal conditions of stars can be inferred by observing gravitational waves. The findings may lead to elucidating such mysteries as how black holes whose nature has not been fully understood are created and how they inflate.
　重力波を観測することで、星の質量や内部の様子を推定できる。実態がほとんど分かっていないブラックホールがどのように誕生し、増大するのかといった謎の解明につながるかもしれない。

Gravitational waves are said to have been generated in the huge expansion of space that occurred right after the Big Bang, which created the cosmos, and the same ripples are said to still exist in space even today. The detection of such ripples may become reality.
　宇宙が誕生したビッグバンの直後に起きた空間の大膨張でも、重力波が発生し、残滓ざんしが今も宇宙に存在するとされる。その発見も現実味を帯びてきたと言えよう。

Hopes for KAGRA project

The U.S. team’s landmark discovery has been supported by high-precision observation equipment.
　米チームによる発見を支えたのは、高精度の観測装置だ。

The coherence of laser beams was used to measure the warps. Laser beams were sent through two pipes, each measuring four kilometers long, to detect warps of space-time caused by gravitational waves.
　ゆがみの測定には、レーザー光の干渉を利用した。長さ４キロ・メートルの２本のパイプ内にレーザー光を走らせて、重力波による空間のゆがみを検出した。

The measured warps were only one-ten quadrillionth of a millimeter. Vibration control equipment was installed to prevent the observation from being affected by vibrations caused by wind, sea waves and road traffic. The team has reportedly looked into all other possibilities to confirm that the observed data represented gravitational waves.
　観測したゆがみは、１京分の１ミリほどしかなかった。風や海の波、道路交通などの振動に影響されないよう、防振装置を設けた。今回の観測データが重力波であることを確認するため、他のあらゆる可能性を検討したという。

Similar observations have been attempted in Japan and Europe. A gravitational wave telescope named KAGRA, now under construction at the site of a mine in Hida, Gifu Prefecure, will start test operations this spring.
　日本や欧州でも同様の観測が試みられている。岐阜県飛騨市の鉱山跡に建設が進む「かぐら」では今春から試験観測が始まる。

Leading the KAGRA project is Takaaki Kajita, a 2015 Nobel Prize laureate in Physics and the director of the Institute for Cosmic Ray Research at the University of Tokyo. Kajita expressed willingness to join international efforts in space observation, saying, “With the participation of KAGRA, the accuracy of observations will improve.”
　チームリーダーは、昨年のノーベル物理学賞を受賞した梶田隆章・東京大学宇宙線研究所長だ。梶田氏は「かぐらが加わることで、観測の精度がよくなる」と意欲を示している。

The U.S. team was able to obtain its results soon after it started observations. Expectations are mounting regarding what discoveries KAGRA will make.
　米チームの成果は、観測を始めてから、ほどなくして得られた。かぐらによって、どのような発見があるのか、期待が膨らむ。

Japan has a long tradition in the field of astrophysics, and has contributed to the observation of neutrinos, thereby developing the science of astronomy.
　日本は、宇宙物理学の分野で長い伝統がある。ニュートリノの観測や、これによる天文学の開拓に貢献してきた。

We also want to see next-generation researchers mature in the field of gravitational wave astronomy.
　重力波天文学でも、次代を担う研究者を育てていきたい。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Feb. 13, 2016)