都知事選告示 東京の課題を幅広く論じよ

The Yomiuri Shimbun January 24, 2014
Tokyo gubernatorial candidates must debate wide range of policies
都知事選告示　東京の課題を幅広く論じよ（1月24日付・読売社説）

Campaigning has officially started for the Tokyo gubernatorial election. The capital faces a mountain of challenges, and candidates in the election are urged to actively engage in policy debates up to the polling day, Feb. 9.
　東京都知事選が告示された。首都が直面する課題は多い。２月９日の投票日に向け、候補者は活発な論戦を展開してもらいたい。

Among the major candidates in the Tokyo race are former Health, Labor and Welfare Minister Yoichi Masuzoe, supported by the Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito; former Prime Minister Morihiro Hosokawa; former Japan Federation of Bar Associations President Kenji Utsunomiya, who is recommended by the Japanese Communist Party and Social Democratic Party; and former Air Self-Defense Force Chief of Staff Toshio Tamogami.
　自民、公明両党が支援する元厚生労働相の舛添要一氏、元首相の細川護熙氏、共産、社民両党が推薦する前日本弁護士連合会長の宇都宮健児氏、元航空幕僚長の田母神俊雄氏らが立候補した。

The issue of nuclear power plants has emerged as a key focal point in the Tokyo contest. Hosokawa, whose decision to run was spurred by former Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi’s encouragement, has drawn a great deal of attention, as he is committed to pursuing an immediate end to the use of nuclear power together with Koizumi. Utsunomiya has likewise made the elimination of nuclear power generation one of his major campaign promises.
　争点に浮上してきたのが、原子力発電所の問題だ。出馬を後押しした小泉元首相とともに、細川氏が「即原発ゼロ」を掲げたことで、耳目を集めている。宇都宮氏も「脱原発」を公約としている。

Masuzoe, for his part, has pledged to build a society that is not dependent on nuclear energy on a mid- and long-term basis.
　舛添氏は、「中長期的に原発に依存しない社会を構築していく」と訴えている。

It may be meaningful, at least to some degree, that energy problems are being taken up as a subject of discussion in Tokyo, an area known as a mammoth consumer of power.
　電力の大消費地である東京で、エネルギー問題を論じることに一定の意義はあろう。

A proposal calling for a move away from nuclear power, however, should be deemed unrealistic and irresponsible if it fails to be accompanied by specific, convincing measures to ensure a stable, low-cost supply of electricity. We hope to see what the candidates favoring elimination of nuclear power generation have to say about the adverse impact of such a policy on the national economy, household budgets and the environment, due to a sharp rise in thermal power generation.
　しかし、脱原発を言うなら、安価な電力を安定的に確保する具体策を示さなければ、非現実的で無責任だ。火力発電の急増による経済、家計、環境への悪影響をどう考えるのかも聞きたい。

Given that the decision on the abolition or continuation of the country’s nuclear power plants is beyond the authority of the Tokyo governor, we wonder how the anti-nuclear power candidates specifically plan to push ahead with their policies of doing away with nuclear power generation.
　都知事には、原発の存廃を決める権限はないのに、どう脱原発を進めるのか。

Clarify policy specifics

As the upcoming Tokyo gubernatorial election follows the resignation of Naoki Inose as governor last month over his dubious receipt of ¥50 million in cash from scandal-tainted hospital operator Tokushukai, the candidates may inevitably find themselves unable to shy away from problems of money and politics.
　猪瀬直樹前知事が、５０００万円の受領を巡って辞職したのを受けた知事選だけに、「政治とカネ」の問題は避けて通れまい。

Hosokawa, who resigned as prime minister 20 years ago to take responsibility for secretly borrowing ¥100 million from Tokyo Sagawa Kyubin, a major trucking company, has been stressing that he has finished repaying the loan. However, it seems he should be required to offer a more detailed explanation of what the money was for.
　東京佐川急便からの１億円借り入れ問題で、２０年前に首相を辞任した細川氏は、「返済した」と強調している。だが、借り入れの目的などについて、より丁寧な説明が求められよう。

The new Tokyo governor will undertake the responsibility of smoothly preparing for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics.
　新しい都知事には、２０２０年東京五輪・パラリンピックの準備を遅滞なく進める責務もある。

Hosokawa earlier insisted that Tokyo should have bowed out of hosting the Games, but has changed his position. He is now calling for a review of “excessive construction plans.” Masuzoe, in contrast, says he wants to make the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics one of the greatest events in history.
　細川氏は開催返上論を唱えていたが、「過大な施設計画を見直す」と考えを変えた。舛添氏は「史上最高の五輪」を目指すという。

How to address the problem of Tokyo’s aging population and persistently low birth rate is another important issue. In 2020, about one of every four metropolitan residents is projected to be aged 65 or older, and Tokyo’s total fertility rate is one of the lowest among all regions of the country.
　少子高齢化対策も重要なテーマである。２０年には東京の人口のほぼ４人に１人が高齢者になる。都内の合計特殊出生率は全国で最低水準にある。

Masuzoe has promised to enhance the quality of Tokyo’s social welfare systems by leveraging his experience as health, labor and welfare minister.
　舛添氏は、厚労相を務めた経験を生かして社会保障制度を充実させると訴える。

How should Tokyo’s limited revenue sources be used to improve medical and nursing care services and boost child-rearing support measures? Every candidate in the Tokyo race must exercise his ingenuity in a battle of ideas.
医療・介護サービスの向上や育児支援に、限りある財源をどう使うか。各候補者にとっては知恵の出しどころだ。

Regarding safety precautions for a massive earthquake, namely what is called an epicentral temblor with its focus just below the metropolis, the candidates are urged to come up with realistic, concrete measures. Boosting fire-resistance in areas densely packed with wooden houses is an especially urgent challenge that Tokyo must face.
　首都直下地震に対する備えについては、具体的政策が問われている。木造住宅密集地の不燃化は喫緊の課題である。

Voters must carefully consider which candidates are competent enough to steadily implement policies by building a relationship of trust with the Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly.
　都議会と信頼関係を築き、着実に政策を実行に移せる人物を有権者は見極めてほしい。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Jan. 24, 2014)
（2014年1月24日01時27分  読売新聞）