電力需給検証―全国で節電していこう

--The Asahi Shimbun, May 11
EDITORIAL: Energy-saving must begin in earnest now
電力需給検証―全国で節電していこう

In terms of supply and demand for electricity, how will Japan fare this summer? A government panel grappling with this issue has almost reached a conclusion. Scholars re-assessed the situation from the viewpoint of a third party on the assumption that no nuclear reactors would be operating.
　この夏の電力需給がどうなるか。政府の検証委員会の結論がほぼまとまった。原発が動かないことを前提に、学者らが第三者の目で細かく見直した。

The projected electricity shortages were smaller than the initial estimates presented by power companies. The panel said that in the case of Kansai Electric Power Co., which is expected to fall well short of the power supply needed, surplus electricity will be produced if the Oi nuclear power plant is restarted.
　不足する電力は、電力各社が当初示した推計よりも小さくなった。最も心配されている関西電力では、かりに大飯原発を動かせば、プラスに転じる試算も示された。

Still, the situation is very tight.
　それでも、ギリギリである。

Areas covered by KEPCO need to brace themselves and prepare every conceivable means to save electricity, based on the assumption that no nuclear reactors will be operating. Measures will include an ordinance to limit electricity use.
　関電管内では、原発ゼロを前提に、電力使用制限令を含めたあらゆる節電策を準備しておくべきだ。

Other regions must also set targets and do their utmost to conserve electricity. Even areas where supply is expected to exceed demand may suddenly face a shortage if major thermal power plants stop operating due to unforeseen problems.
　他の地域でも、目標を決め、積極的な節電に努めなければならない。プラスとされている地域でも、大きな火力発電所がトラブルで止まったりすれば一気にピンチになるからだ。

Power companies will have to make extensive use of transmission networks and offer surplus electricity to each other on a daily basis. It is important that all areas maintain as much surplus as possible to prepare for emergencies.
　電力各社は送電網を広域的に運用し、日常的に電力を融通することになる。いざという時に備え、どのエリアでも、できるだけ余裕をつくっておくことが大切だ。

The disaster at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant last year drastically changed people’s ideas toward saving electricity. The government panel estimates that 10 million kilowatts--the equivalent to the output of roughly 10 nuclear reactors--was saved through last summer and this winter.
　福島第一原発の事故を経て、節電に対する人々の意識は大きく変わった。検証委は、昨夏とこの冬を通じ、原発約１０基分にあたる１千万キロワット程度の節電が定着したとみている。

How much more electricity can we save? This is a challenge that awaits us this summer.
　これをどれぐらい伸ばすことができるかが、この夏のチャレンジだ。

Generally speaking, it is difficult to reduce power use in facilities such as data centers where computers are concentrated. However, the panel came across a number of such facilities that cut back on power use by 10 percent or more last summer.
　検証の過程では、コンピューターが集積し、一般に「節電が困難」とされるデータセンターなどでも、昨夏、１０％以上の節電に成功した例が注目された。

They achieved this by adjusting their air conditioning and lighting and introducing systems that enable them to monitor electricity consumption on a real-time basis. Although these systems require substantial capital investment, they are effective in saving energy on a continuous basis. Users can expect to recover their investment after several years.
　空調や照明を調整したり、電気の使用量をリアルタイムで確認できるシステムを導入したりした結果だ。多少の設備投資はいるものの、継続的な省エネ効果が期待でき、数年で投資額は回収できる。

The panel also shed light on new businesses that make deals with power companies by uniting small-lot users, such as supermarkets and restaurants, to secure considerable power-saving.
　スーパーや飲食店など小口の需要家を束ねることで一定の節電量を確保し、電力会社と取引する新しいビジネスについても紹介された。

In addition to saving electricity during peak hours, if the same measures are taken between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. and between 8 p.m. and 1 a.m., the time used to pump water for pumped-storage power generation would be longer and electricity supply during the daytime would be increased.
　また、ピーク時の節電だけでなく、朝の７～９時や夜８時～午前１時ぐらいに節電すると、揚水発電で水をくみ上げる時間が長くなり、昼間の電力供給が増えることも確認された。

Representatives of power companies also attended the panel’s meetings and shared information. The utilities should use the panel’s data when asking users for cooperation or introducing “negawatt” transactions, which buy and sell saved electricity, and electricity rate menus that promote power savings.
　検証委には、電力各社も出席し、情報を共有した。節電量を売買するネガワット取引や節電を促す料金メニューを導入したり、管内の需要家に協力を求めたりする際に、こうしたデータを生かさない手はない。

The third-party panel’s re-examination of supply and demand was implemented in response to strong public distrust of information released by power companies. Also, in order to recover public trust, all electric power companies must tackle energy-saving in earnest.
　第三者による需給検証は、電力会社が発信する情報への不信が強いことから実施された。信頼回復のためにも、全社をあげて取り組むべきだ。

夏の節電―関電こそ先導すべきだ

--The Asahi Shimbun, May 8
EDITORIAL: Kansai Electric should lead regional power-saving drive
夏の節電―関電こそ先導すべきだ

Summer is just around the corner and the outlook for power supply and demand in the region served by Kansai Electric Power Co. (KEPCO) during the peak period remains murky.
　関西電力の夏の電力需給が見通せないまま、時間が過ぎている。

The Kansai region, which includes the cities of Osaka, Kyoto and Kobe, clearly needs to prepare for dealing with the tight supply-demand conditions that would be created if the government's plan to reactivate two reactors at KEPCO’s Oi nuclear power plant in Fukui Prefecture falls through.
大飯原発が再稼働しなくても、夏を乗り切らなければならない。

KEPCO, which is responsible for stable power supply to the region, is supposed to present specific options to ride out the sweltering summer without nuclear power. To save energy, it would need the cooperation of businesses and households.
　安定供給に責任を負う関電は具体的な選択肢を示し、企業や家庭に協力を求める立場だ。

But the utility has failed to do any such thing. Instead, it keeps stressing an urgent need to bring the reactors at the Oi plant back online. In short, the utility is not fulfilling its responsibility to consumers in the region.
　ところが関電は大飯の再稼働の必要性を強調する一方で、それがない場合の手だては不十分だ。これでは責任を果たしているとは言えない。

　「具体策を示さず、再稼働へ向け時間切れを狙うのか」

During a May 4 meeting of the energy strategy council jointly established by the Osaka prefectural and municipal governments, the senior KEPCO executives present were roundly criticized by council members. They were accused of waiting for time to run out without offering concrete plans to avoid a power crunch so that there will be no other choice but to resume operations of the idled reactors. The utility should take the criticism of the local governments to heart.
　４日に開かれた大阪府・市のエネルギー戦略会議では、出席した関電幹部に委員から厳しい意見が相次いだ。自治体側の声を重く受け止めてほしい。

KEPCO posted a record loss in last fiscal year because fuel costs increased sharply as it ramped up output at its thermal power plants to compensate for decreased nuclear power generation. We understand the financial difficulty the company is facing.
　火力発電の燃料費がかさみ、昨年度、関電は過去最大の赤字となった。企業としての台所事情はわかる。

But there are still strong concerns in the Kansai region about moves to bring idle reactors back to operation.
　だが、再稼働に対して関西では依然、慎重な声が多い。

In addition to Kyoto, Shiga and Osaka prefectures, as well as the city of Osaka, which have made their own recommendations and proposals on the issue, the Union of Kansai Governments, composed of seven prefectures and two cities, has also asked the central government to take additional safety measures before restarting the reactors.
　提言・提案を出した京都府と滋賀県、大阪府・市だけではなく、２府５県などでつくる関西広域連合も安全対策などを政府に申し入れた。

KEPCO should change its approach and initiate constructive talks with the local governments. It must provide whatever information is necessary so the region can avert blackouts due to an absence of nuclear power.
　関電は発想を転換し、夏を乗り切るために必要な情報を出し、自治体と対話すべきだ。

The local governments have also embarked on joint efforts to curb demand for electricity.
　自治体側も、需要抑制のために連携して乗り出している。

During a recent meeting of the union, Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto proposed a program to provide financial incentives to companies that cut their power consumption. The incentives would be financed by a new tax that would cost households in the region 1,000 yen ($13) per month, according to his proposal.
　関西広域連合の会合では、大阪市の橋下徹市長が関西の住民に１カ月１千円の節電税を課して、節電に協力した企業に奨励金を出す構想を示した。

It is important to discuss a wide range of measures so that consumers are aware of the situation and can prepare for what they may face.
　利用者の覚悟や認識を深めるために、様々な手段を論議することは有意義だ。

The union has set up a special task force to hammer out plans to save power. It comprises officials responsible for the matter at the Osaka, Kyoto and Shiga prefectural governments.
　広域連合では大阪、京都両府や滋賀県などの担当者でチームをつくり節電策を検討中だ。

In a belated move, KEPCO has started working on measures to rein in demand for power.
　関電もようやく需要抑制の対策に動き出した。

One idea under consideration is a combination of rate hikes for peak hours and cuts for off-peak hours.
　ピーク時料金の値上げとオフピークの値下げ策がその一つ。

The utility is also considering the introduction of so-called negawatt power, a concept that regards power saved as power generated, and creating an electricity exchange where households and businesses can trade such negawatts.
使用電力を減らせば、同じ分を発電したものとみなす「ネガワット」を導入し、家庭や企業が節電分を取引できる市場の創設も考えている。

We hope the utility will come up with effective and easy-to-use plans as soon as possible.
　利用しやすいプランを、一日も早く示してほしい。

If the coming summer turns out as hot as the summer of 2010, there is likely to be a 16.3-percent power shortage during peak demand time in the Kansai region, according to KEPCO’s estimate. There may also be a 3.6-percent shortage across all of western Japan, estimates say.
　おととしの夏並みの猛暑となった場合、関電によると１６．３％の電力が不足する。西日本全体では３．６％の不足という。

But the days and hours when power demand actually peaks differ from area to area.
　だが電力使用がピークとなる日時は地域によって違う。

If Osaka is hit by an extreme heat wave but the summer in Kyushu proves normal, for instance, there will be considerable room for maneuvering through interchange of electricity between utilities.
大阪が猛暑でも九州が平年並みなら電力各社の融通幅も広がる。

A system for more flexible interchange of electricity between electric power companies was introduced last year. In eastern Japan, utilities frequently buy and sell electricity among themselves.
　昨年から電力会社間の融通が弾力的にできるようになり、東日本では融通が頻繁に行われている。

This system should also be used effectively by utilities in western Japan to capitalize on the regional power grid to avoid blackouts.
西日本でも広域送電網を駆使して、停電を回避する手だてにしたい。

「原発ゼロ」社会：上 不信の根を見つめ直せ

--The Asahi Shimbun, May 5
EDITORIAL: Policymakers must make serious responses to people's deep distrust of nuclear power
「原発ゼロ」社会：上　不信の根を見つめ直せ

The No. 3 reactor at Hokkaido Electric Power Co.'s Tomari nuclear power plant went offline May 5 for routine maintenance, leaving Japan without a single running reactor.
　北海道電力・泊原発３号機が５日、定期検査のため運転を止める。これで、国内すべての原発が停止する。

Japan, which had the third largest number of reactors in the world, becomes the first country to stop nuclear power generation altogether.
　世界で３番目に原発の多かった日本が、世界最速で「原発ゼロ」状態に入る。

This would be a welcome development if it were a result of a sincere and effective policy response to the popular will to make Japan nuclear-free.
　脱原発への民意を政治がしっかり受けとめた結果であれば、歓迎すべきことだ。

But the fact is that Japan has stopped production of electricity with atomic energy because the government's plan to restart idled reactors as early as possible has provoked angry reactions from the public, especially local governments around nuclear power plants. The outlook for the resumption of reactor operations remains murky.
　しかし実態は、政府の再稼働ありきの姿勢が原発周辺の自治体をはじめとする世論の強い反発を受け、先が見えない中での原発ゼロである。

The situation has been created by growing public distrust of the government and other players involved.
　不信の連鎖がそこにある。

INCREASING TARGETS OF CRITICISM
■広がる懸念の矛先

Japanese society's confidence in the safety of nuclear power generation was shaken to the core by the catastrophic accident at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant last year.
　福島第一原発の事故は、私たちの社会が前提とする「信頼性」を根底から揺さぶった。

It was further eroded by the disastrous way the government and the operator of the plant responded to the accident, which included: confusion over the hydrogen explosions that took place after the March 11 earthquake and tsunami that crippled the plant's cooling system and also over the failure of emergency vents to prevent such explosions; vague explanations about reactor meltdowns; and delays in disclosure of data provided by the System for Prediction of Environmental Emergency Dose Information, a system to forecast the spread of radioactive materials after a nuclear accident, and also in evacuation orders.
　水蒸気爆発やベントをめぐる混乱、炉心溶融（メルトダウン）に関するあいまいな説明、放射性物質の拡散を予測するＳＰＥＥＤＩの情報開示や避難指示の遅れ――。

The series of errors and missteps committed during the days and weeks following the crisis revealed the disturbing fact that organizations that had been promoting nuclear power generation, as well as the people responsible, seriously lacked the basic abilities to prepare for and deal with nuclear accidents.
　事故直後からの迷走は、原発を推進してきた組織と人々が、事故への備えという基本的な能力に著しく欠けていた事実をあらわにした。

Most damaging to the public confidence in nuclear power was the spread of the perception that these people and organizations were trying to hide facts and information inconvenient to them.
　なにより大きかったのは、自分たちに都合の悪い情報は隠そうとしている、という疑念を広げたことだ。

Public criticism went into overdrive amid concerns about the health hazards posed by possible exposure to radiation. It was not only the utility and politicians that came under suspicion, but also other elements of the "establishment," such as bureaucrats, scientists, experts, the business community and the mass media.
　その矛先は、被曝（ひばく）によって身体的な安全が脅かされるというリアルな危機感のなか、電力会社や政治のみならず、行政、科学者・専門家、財界、マスメディアと、既存の体制そのものへと増幅していった。

The nuclear accident has transformed society, which needs to be built on confidence, into a caldron of distrust.
　原発事故は、信頼を基盤とすべき社会を「不信の巣」へと変えたのだ。

The establishment, however, has failed to recognize the depth of public distrust.
　ところが、既存の体制はその根深さをくみとれていない。

This is evident by the government's attempt to bring idled reactors back online.
　象徴が再稼働問題だ。

THINKING FROM SCRATCH
■ゼロベースで考える

Many Japanese are not necessarily sympathetic to the radical movement toward a nuclear-free society in the immediate future.
　国民の多くは、必ずしも急進的な脱原発を志向しているわけではないだろう。

Surveys by The Asahi Shimbun have indicated that people are concerned that a power shortage may adversely affect their lives and the nation's economy.
電気が足りなくなることで「生活や経済に悪い影響が出るのでは」と心配している様子は、朝日新聞の世論調査からも浮かびあがる。

Still, they appear to think it is necessary to take a fresh, hard look at nuclear power generation and all related assumptions in the aftermath of the Fukushima disaster. That's hardly surprising.
　それでも、福島事故を目の当たりにした以上、原発はいったんゼロベースから考え直さなければならない。そう思うのは自然なことだ。

It is clear what kind of steps the nation's policymakers should have taken.
　であれば、政治が取り組むべきことは明らかだった。

For one, they should have articulated their will to reduce nuclear power facilities, especially old reactors that have been in service for 40 years or longer. These include the Mihama and Tsuruga plants in Fukui Prefecture, and the Hamaoka plant in Shizuoka Prefecture, which is located in an area that scientists say will be hit by a huge earthquake.
　例えば、稼働から４０年以上たつ美浜や敦賀といった老朽炉、巨大地震のリスクが高い浜岡をはじめとして、原発を減らしていく意思を明確に打ち出す。

Secondly, they should have demonstrated their commitment to making serious efforts to figure out how to safely dispose of radioactive waste, such as spent nuclear fuel and decommissioned reactors.
　使用済み核燃料や閉鎖した炉などの放射性廃棄物をどう処理していくか、本腰を入れて取り組む姿勢を示す。

In anticipation of power shortages due to the shutdown of reactors, policymakers should have started taking steps last year to establish a secondary power market incorporating plans based on cuts in electricity consumption.
　原発の停止で電力が足りなくなるのを見越して、節電を組み込んだ電力調達市場を昨年のうちから整備することも、柱の一つだったはずだ。

The Noda administration, however, has failed to make any meaningful change in the reality of nuclear power generation in Japan, not even a reform of the deeply flawed nuclear safety regulation. That's all the more maddening because it pledged to reduce the nation's dependence on nuclear power.
　しかし、野田政権は「脱原発依存」を掲げながら、規制当局の見直しをはじめ、何ひとつ現実を変えられていない。

As for the issue of restarting idled reactors, the administration made the mistake of believing that a decision to restart the reactors would eventually win public support because of concerns about a power crunch, as long as it took formal procedures based on stress tests on reactors.
　再稼働についても、ストレステストをもとに形式的な手順さえ踏めば、最後は電力不足を理由に政治判断で納得を得られると踏んだ。

Unless it changes its basic attitude toward the formidable challenge, the administration cannot hope to remove public distrust of nuclear power generation and the government's nuclear power policy.
　これで不信がぬぐい去れるわけがない。

There is an enormous gap between the public sentiment toward nuclear power generation created by the Fukushima meltdowns and the government's attempt to ride out the crisis without changing the old ideas and assumptions concerning atomic energy.
福島事故で覚醒した世論と、事故前と同じ発想で乗り切ろうとする政治との溝は極めて大きい。

Japanese people's distrust of politics, of course, is nothing new.
　むろん、政治への不信はいまに始まった話ではない。

That was clear from an international survey concerning public trust in politics that covered people in some 140 countries. Among 37 major countries, mainly members of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, Japan was ranked 36th in terms of public trust in the government and 31st in terms of people's evaluation of the abilities of their nation's leaders. Japan's positions in these rankings were on the same level as those of Greece.
　政治への信頼度をテーマに、約１４０カ国を対象に実施された世論調査がある。経済協力開発機構（ＯＥＣＤ）加盟国を中心にした３７カ国では、日本は政府への信頼度が３６位、国のリーダー層の能力評価は３１位。ギリシャと同水準だ。

The survey in Japan was conducted in 2008, when the nation was governed by the ruling coalition of the Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito.
　日本での調査は自公政権下の０８年だった。

But has anything really changed in Japanese politics since the Democratic Party of Japan came to power in 2009?
だが、民主党に政権が代わって、何か変化があっただろうか。

If it has, it has been for the worse. It seems as if the DPJ-led government's deeply confused response to the nuclear accident has even further damaged public confidence in politics, probably to an almost irreparable extent.
むしろ、原発をめぐる混迷は不信を決定的なものにしたのではないか。

TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR NATION'S ENERGY FUTURE
■おまかせからの脱却

In a commentary published in The Asahi Shimbun on Aug. 25 last year, writer Genichiro Takahashi pointed out the poverty of politics underscored by the fact that political leaders could only discuss key policy issues from the viewpoint of the current systems.
"I wonder whether they have learned nothing from what happened in this country?" he asked.
　作家の高橋源一郎さんは、昨年８月２５日付朝日新聞の「論壇時評」で、いまある制度の延長線上でしか語れない政治の貧困を指摘し、「この国で起こったことから、なにも学ばなかったのだろうか」と問うている。

One politician who is astutely tapping into the public frustration about politics is Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto, who has been harshly criticizing the government over the issue of restarting idled reactors.
　いま、政治への国民のいら立ちをうまくすくいとっているのは、再稼働問題で政府を批判する橋下徹大阪市長なのだろう。

But there can be no real progress in politics if voters pin their hopes solely on the leadership of an individual politician.
　ただ、有権者が政治家個人の突破力に期待するばかりでは、行き詰まる。

We need to think on our own about how we can reduce nuclear power plants and carve out a new energy future for our society, and then try to build a broad consensus on these issues.
　原子力をどのように減らし、新たなエネルギー社会をどう構築するか。私たち自らが考え、合意形成をはからなければならない。

That's the lesson we should learn from the consequences of many decades of leaving the development and execution of nuclear power policy entirely to the government.
それは、原発政策を国に「おまかせ」してきたことからの教訓でもある。

The same can be said about the problem of low-dose exposure to radiation. Scientists are bitterly divided on the effects of radiation as they are discussing issues related to decontamination and food safety standards.
　低線量被曝の問題も同様だ。除染や食品安全の基準では、放射線の影響をめぐって科学者のあいだでも意見が割れている。

These are actually issues to which there is no right answer.
正しい答えのない問題だ。

All we can do is to learn as much as possible about the issues and choose what we regard as reasonable ideas and proposals.
自分自身で学び、合理的だと思う考えを選びとるしかない。

* * *

Our next editorial will discuss how to create a forum for constructive debate on such issues.
　とことん考え合うことのできる空間をどうつくり出すか。明日の社説では、それを論じる。

高速バス事故―乗客守れるルール急げ

--The Asahi Shimbun, May 4
EDITORIAL: Strengthen transport rules to protect passengers
高速バス事故―乗客守れるルール急げ

A chartered tour bus driver who caused an accident on the Kanetsu Expressway that killed seven and injured 39 passengers on April 29 reportedly told police he nodded off at the wheel from exhaustion.
　「疲れていた」「居眠りしていた」。関越自動車道で４６人が死傷する事故を起こした高速ツアーバスの運転手が、警察にそう話しているという。

While investigators try to determine the exact cause of the tragedy, some measures should be carried out immediately.
　原因の究明は捜査を待たねばならない。けれど、今すぐ始めるべきことがある。

First, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism must review and reinforce its safety standard for the operation of highway express buses.
　高速バスの安全基準をもっと厳しいものに見直すことだ。

Under the current standard, the maximum daily driving distance and hours for chartered bus drivers are 670 kilometers and nine hours. This distance is roughly equivalent to that between Tokyo and Okayama in western Japan, and drivers can be asked to remain at the wheel for up to four hours without a break. This is pretty grueling, even for professionals.
　国土交通省の今の基準では、ツアーバスなどの貸し切りバスは１日に９時間、６７０キロを１人の運転手に運転させていい。東京―岡山にあたる距離だ。しかも、休憩なしで連続４時間走らせていい。いくらプロでも、これは過酷だ。

In a survey by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, nine out of 10 drivers said they have experienced drowsiness or actually dozed off while driving. They blamed long-distance driving, night-time driving and general fatigue from overwork.
　総務省の調査によると、運転手の９割が、運転中に居眠りや睡魔を経験している。そして、長距離運転や夜間運行、休み不足を原因にあげている。

The survey also found that chartered bus drivers put in 30 percent more hours than average workers. All in all, the survey findings clearly showed the current safety standard is too lax.
　また、運転手の勤務時間は、働く人の平均より３割も長い。
　いまの基準は甘すぎる。調査結果は、そう物語っている。

The standard must be revised on these three points at least: A stand-by driver must be aboard every long-distance overnighter bus; drivers must be required to take more frequent breaks; and the safety standard applied at night should be more stringent than its daytime counterpart.
　長距離の夜行バスに交代要員の運転手を必ず乗せる。もっとこまめに休憩させる。夜間は昼より基準を厳しくする。
　少なくとも、この３点の改善は必要だ。

The transport ministry was actually asked by the internal affairs ministry two years ago to revise the standard. But it dragged its feet, claiming its priority then was to “deal with bus operators who don’t abide by the safety standard.”
　国交省は総務省から２年前に改善を求められたが、「基準を守らない業者への対応が先」と動きが鈍かった。

The time for procrastination is over.
　もう、放置は許されない。

Deregulation of bus and taxi services took place about 10 years ago. The purpose was to improve services through competition and bring prices down by encouraging the entry of new players.
　バスやタクシーは１０年ほど前に規制緩和が行われた。新規参入を促し、競争でサービスを高め、価格を下げる。それが改革の狙いだった。

The results have benefited consumers, but there were fears from the start that the excess competition might force drivers to overwork and sacrifice safety.
　確かに便利にはなった。
　ただ、競争のしわ寄せで運転手が過重な労働を強いられ、安全に影響するのではないか。初めからそう心配されていた。

Long-distance chartered buses typified the deregulatory transition. Offering convenience and cheap fares, bus operators flourished, but they soon became noticeably prone to accidents and traffic law violations.
　それを象徴するのが高速ツアーバスだ。安さ、便利さで急成長する一方で、事故や法令違反の多さが指摘されてきた。

Travel agencies arrange bus tours and subcontract the tours to bus operators, often making excessive demands of the latter. In turn, the bus operators push their drivers just as mercilessly. Given this vicious cycle, we can well understand why the transport ministry has tried to make travel agencies shoulder heavier responsibilities.
　ツアーバスは旅行会社が乗客を募り、バス会社に運行をゆだねる形で運営されている。旅行会社はバス会社に無理を言い、バス会社は運転手に無理を言う悪循環に陥りやすい。国交省が旅行会社の責任を重くする方針を示したのは、うなずける。

The proper way to go about deregulation is to lower the hurdle for newcomers to make it easier for them to enter the market, but subject them regularly to stringent safety checks. In other words, the more open the market becomes, the more severe the safety requirements must be.
　新規参入しやすいようにハードルを下げる代わりに、開業後は安全の質を厳しく定期的に点検する。本来、それが規制緩和の発想である。規制を緩めればこそ、安全面のチェックは厳しくすべきなのだ。

The transportation industry is noted for a high incidence of “karoshi,” or death from overwork. Pushing drivers beyond their physical well-being will ultimately cause deaths and injuries to passengers. Thorough inspections are needed in the taxi and truck industries, too.
　運輸業界は全体に過労死が多い。運転手に無理を強いれば、被害は利用者に及ぶ。タクシーやトラックも含めて、総点検しよう。

憲法記念日に―われらの子孫のために

--The Asahi Shimbun, May 3
EDITORIAL: Constitution Day offers timely reminder of society's responsibilities
憲法記念日に―われらの子孫のために

For whom does the Constitution of Japan exist?
　日本国憲法は、だれのためにあるのか。

The answer lies in the Preface of the Constitution. It says we, the Japanese people, “for ourselves and our posterity…do firmly establish this Constitution.”
　答えは前文に記されている。「われらとわれらの子孫のために……、この憲法を確定する」と。

To whom does the Constitution grant fundamental human rights?
　基本的人権は、だれに与えられるのか。

The answer is written in Article 11 of the document. These fundamental human rights “shall be conferred upon the people of this and future generations.”
　回答は１１条に書いてある。「現在及び将来の国民に与へられる」と。

The time has come to ask important questions about the meaning and implications of these constitutional provisions.
　私たちは、これらの規定の意味を問い直す時を迎えている。

That’s because we are now facing a raft of tough and important choices that are bound to have a strong and deep impact on the livelihoods and way of life of future generations.
　いま直面しているのは、将来の人々の暮らしや生き方をも拘束する重く厳しい選択ばかりだからだ。

The nuclear disaster in Fukushima Prefecture last year has already left scars that will not disappear for decades.
　原発事故はすでに、何十年も消えない傷痕を残している。

We are also at the crossroads between success and failure in our efforts to develop sustainable economic and social models to meet the challenges posed by global warming and Japan’s fiscal woes.
地球温暖化や税財政問題でも、持続可能なモデルをつくれるかどうかの岐路に立つ。

Thus, we should not focus our thoughts only on the interests of those living in this era. We need to exercise our sovereign rights for “all the Japanese people,” including those who will live in this country in the future.
　ならば、いまの世代の利益ばかりを優先して考えるわけにはいくまい。いずれこの国で生きていく将来世代を含めて、「全国民」のために主権を行使していかねばならない。

Sixty-five years have passed since the postwar Constitution came into being. In human terms, the Constitution has reached a mellow age. The supreme law of our nation, as it reads now, leaves us feeling that we are being urged to face up to the need to pay more serious attention to the well-being of future generations.
　施行から６５年。人間でいえば高齢者の仲間入りをした憲法はいま、その覚悟を私たちに迫っているように読める。

Redistribution that only increases poverty
■再分配で貧困が増す

How about the realities of Japan?
　現実の日本の姿はどうか。

Aren’t we unconsciously infringing on “the right to maintain the minimum standards of wholesome and cultured living” (Article 25) of even children living now, not to speak of future generations?
　将来世代どころか、いまの子どもたちの「健康で文化的な最低限度の生活を営む権利」（２５条）まで、知らず知らずのうちに奪ってはいないか。

The poverty rate among Japanese children is higher than the average among the industrial countries that are members of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. One in every seven children in this nation is forced to endure financial hardship.
　子どもの貧困率は、経済協力開発機構（ＯＥＣＤ）の平均を上回り、７人に１人が苦しい暮らしを強いられている。

The main reason for this problem is the general poverty of single-parent families.
　主な理由は、ひとり親世帯の貧しさだ。

In the mid-2000s, nearly 60 percent of such families in Japan were living below the poverty line, the highest rate among the 30 OECD countries at that time. The days of an all-pervasive middle-class mentality among Japanese now seem to be a thing of the distant past.
２０００年代半ばの各国の状況を比べると、日本ではその６割近くが貧困に陥り、３０カ国の中で最も悪い。「１億総中流」とうたわれたのは、遠い昔のことのようだ。

What are the key factors behind this situation? Here’s the OECD’s diagnosis.
　原因は何か。ＯＥＣＤは次のような診断を下している。

One major factor is low income. The number of extremely low-paid, nonregular workers has grown rapidly in recent years. In particular, many single mothers have no choice but to take poorly paid jobs.
　第一に所得の少なさである。著しく賃金が低い非正規労働が急速に広がり、とりわけ母子家庭の母親の多くが低賃金を余儀なくされている。

A second key factor is biased redistribution of income. Social security is heavily biased in favor of benefits for the elderly, such as pensions, health care and nursing care, and much less beneficial for families with small children, especially needy ones.
　第二に所得再分配のゆがみである。社会保障が年金や医療、介護など高齢者向けに偏り、子どもを持つ世代、特に貧困層への目配りが弱い。

As a result, the poverty rate among children has continued to rise. This has to do with the way taxes are imposed and social security benefits are provided.
このため、いまの税や社会保険料の集め方、配り方では、子どもの貧困率がいっそう高まる現象が日本でのみ起きている。

The nation’s tax and social security systems were built on the notion of a “standard family.” In this context, the husband is a full-time employee of a company and is paid a salary and allowances. This allows him to support his wife and children. The wife is either a full-time homemaker or a part-time worker, and is mainly responsible for raising the children.
　正社員の夫の会社が、家族のぶんまで給料で面倒を見る。専業主婦かパートで働く妻が子育てを担う。それが、かつて「標準」とされた家庭像だった。

When such households were the norm, the majority of Japanese felt they belonged to the middle class. This sentiment prevailed as long as the government provided policy support to a wide range of industries and focused its welfare policy on the elderly.
　国が幅広く産業を支援し、高齢者に配慮すれば、多くの人が「中流」を実感できた。

But this Japanese-style welfare society, which depended heavily on the roles played by companies and families, is now broken. That’s because the basic assumptions on which the system was built have changed significantly over the years. These assumptions include continuous and healthy economic growth, a low rate of business failures and a low divorce rate.
　だが、会社と家庭に頼る日本型福祉社会は壊れている。前提だった経済成長、会社倒産の少なさ、離婚の割合の低さなどが揺らいだからだ。

Employment system also needs an overhaul
■雇用慣行も改めよう

As society has changed, so has the number of people who are not covered by the protective umbrellas offered by companies and families.
　社会の変容に伴い、会社や家庭が差し出す傘の中に入れない人たちが増えた。

Children of fatherless families are typical of those who are not properly protected by the safety net.
　たとえば、母子家庭の子どもがその典型だろう。

Young people hunting for jobs are another vulnerable group. They suffer as their peers, those with full-time jobs, curb new hires in order to protect their economic fortunes.
　就職をめざす若者もそうだ。正社員の大人がみずからを守るために、新規採用を絞り込む。

In essence, this means that adults who are protected by the umbrella are keeping out those who are less fortunate.
　これは傘の中の大人が、子どもたちを傘に入れまいとする姿ではないか。

Even if individual adults are not acting out of malice, the end result is that society as a whole is mistreating its children.
個々の大人に悪意はなくても、社会全体で子どもを虐げていないか。

We clearly need to create a new, larger protective umbrella that can shield such vulnerable members of society.
　私たちは、もっと多くの人々が入れる大きな傘を作り直さなければならない。

That requires changing the redistribution system and employment practices.
　そのために、再分配の仕組みと雇用慣行を改めよう。

It is vital to prevent the poverty of parents from putting their children at a serious disadvantage. We need to ensure that needy children can also receive a decent education. It is also important to take steps to make sure that workers doing work of the same economic value receive the same level of wages. That would narrow the income gap between regular employees and nonregular workers.
　貧しくても教育をきちんと受けられるようにして、親の貧困が次世代に連鎖するのを防ぐ。同じ価値の労働なら賃金も同一にして、正社員と非正社員との待遇格差を縮める。こんな対応が欠かせない。

There will probably be strong opposition to such measures to help the weak. This is because implementing them will inevitably cause others, such as people who have finished raising children and permanent employees, to bear a fresh burden.
　反発はあるだろう。実現するには他のだれか、たとえば子育てを終えた世代や正社員が、新たな負担を引き受けなければならないからだ。

A conflict of interest?
■「利害対立」は本当か

Let us ask one important question here.
　しかし、ここであえて問う。

Is there really a conflict of interest among different members of society?
　互いの利害は本当に対立しているのか。

Adults whose children slipped through the protective umbrella should think about who will keep the umbrella over their heads when they get old.
　子どもたちを傘の外に追い出した大人は、自分が年老いたとき、だれに傘を差し出してもらうのか。そこから考えよう。

Pension payouts are financed by the premiums paid by the working population as well as revenue from the consumption tax.
　年金の原資は、現役世代が支払う保険料と、消費税である。

If companies reduce their full-time employees, the number of subscribers to the government-managed corporate pension program falls.
　企業が正社員を減らせば厚生年金の加入者が減る。

Young people with low-paid, nonregular jobs are forced to scrimp on spending.
低賃金の非正規の仕事で働く若者は消費を削らざるを得ない。

In other words, cutting back on new hires erodes the funds that will be used to pay pension benefits to current permanent employees in the future. Reducing hires of full-time employees will thus jeopardize the financial security of current permanent employees’ retirement in the future.
　つまり採用削減は、正社員が将来受けとる年金の原資を減らしていく。いずれは、我が身の老後を危うくするのである。

If it becomes financially difficult for young people to get married and have children, the number of children in Japan will dwindle further. That would cause consumer spending in this country to fall, the domestic market to shrink and Japanese companies to sink into financial trouble.
　若者が結婚し、子どもをもうけることが難しくなれば、さらに少子化が進む。消費も減り、市場が縮み、企業は苦しくなる。

Japan is already trapped in this downward spiral.
そんな負の連鎖に日本はすでに陥っている。

Society prospers when it takes good care of its young generations as they bear its destiny. Society declines when it fails to do so.
　将来を担う世代を大切にすれば社会は栄え、虐げれば衰える。

May 3 is Constitution Day. It offers a good opportunity for us to think about this obvious but oft-forgotten fact. This is a crucial test of our imagination.
憲法記念日に、そんな当たり前のことを想像する力を、私たちは試されている。

日米防衛協力―このなし崩しは危うい

--The Asahi Shimbun, May 2
EDITORIAL: Noda needs to clarify his defense policy
日米防衛協力―このなし崩しは危うい

The reinforcement of bilateral defense cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region was declared in a joint Japan-U.S. statement issued in Washington on May 1.
"The Japan-U.S. alliance has reached new heights," Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda said in a joint news conference with U.S. President Barack Obama.
　「日米同盟は新たな高みに達した」
　野田首相はきのう、オバマ米大統領との共同記者会見でこう語った。同時に発表した日米共同声明で、アジア太平洋地域での日米の防衛協力強化をうたったのを指してのことだ。

But Noda should have known better than to crow about any "new heights" without first discussing the nation's basic defense policy thoroughly at home.
　だが、ことは日本の防衛政策の根幹にかかわる問題だ。国内で十分な議論もしないまま、首脳同士で勝手に「高み」に達してもらっては困る。

Under the reinforced defense cooperation, we fear Japan will effectively pick up the tab for the U.S. military. But our greater fear is that the Japanese Self-Defense Forces may find themselves in situations where they will have to deviate from their "purely defensive" role defined by the Constitution.
　今回の防衛協力強化には、米国の軍事費の実質的な肩代わりという懸念以上の問題点がある。私たちは専守防衛の自衛隊の定義から逸脱しかねない事態を招くことを危惧する。

An interim report on the realignment of U.S. forces in Japan, released before the Noda-Obama summit, indicates what the reinforced defense cooperation will entail.
　防衛協力の事例は、首脳会談の前にまとめた米軍再編見直しの中間報告に盛られている。

First, Japan and the United States will pool their funds to develop training areas in Guam and the northern Marianas and conduct joint exercises there.
　まず、グアムや北マリアナ諸島で日米がそれぞれ費用を出しあって訓練場をつくり、共同訓練をする。

Next, Japan will draw upon its official development aid (ODA) budget to provide patrol vessels to the Philippines and other nations. Patrol vessels fall under the category of weapons, but since they are meant to contribute to peace and international cooperation, they will be exempted from Japan's "three principles of arms export ban." These principles were eased last year to require only paperwork for the vessels' export.
　次に、日本の途上国援助（ＯＤＡ）を使ってフィリピンなどに巡視船を供与する。巡視船は武器扱いされるが、平和貢献・国際協力目的で武器輸出三原則の例外とする。昨年の三原則緩和で、事務的手続きのみで輸出できるようになった。

These moves are in keeping with the concept of "dynamic defense forces" introduced in 2010 under the new defense program guideline to bolster the nation's defense capabilities in the southwestern islands. We are thus going to see the concept of dynamic defense in practice through increased routine military activities to enhance the power of deterrence.
　一昨年の新しい防衛計画の大綱で打ち出した「動的防衛力」への転換と、南西諸島の防衛力強化の流れに沿う。ふだんの活動量を増やすことで抑止効果を高めるという動的防衛力が、いよいよ具体化に向かう。

Holding joint exercises with the United States in the Asia-Pacific region and providing patrol vessels to nations in the region are also intended to keep the increasingly active Chinese Navy in check.
　アジア太平洋地域での米国との共同訓練や、周辺国への巡視船の供与には、この海域で活動を活発化させる中国海軍に、にらみをきかせる狙いがある。

We can see that this kind of Japan-U.S. defense cooperation meets Washington's China policy. But what about Japan's own defense policy?
　こうした日米協力は、米国の対中戦略には合致するだろう。だが、日本にはどうか。

What benefits are there for Japan to hold military exercises in the seas near Guam? Rather than have a deterring effect, would it not actually stir things up? And what does Japan need those exercises for in the first place?
　日本がグアム近海で抑止効果を狙った訓練をすることで、どんな利点があるのか。抑止力ではなく、むしろ混乱要因にならないか。そもそも、この訓練をどう生かすつもりなのか。

As for providing patrol vessels, would this not run counter to the ODA guidelines that do not include military-related aid? When Japan supplied such vessels to Indonesia in 2006, the purpose was to fight piracy in the Strait of Malacca. But what is going to be the excuse this time?
　巡視船の供与は、軍事目的を避けるというＯＤＡ大綱の理念に背かないか。０６年にインドネシアに提供した際には、マラッカ海峡の海賊対策という名目があったが、今回は何のためか。

We urge Noda and his ministers of defense and foreign affairs to thoroughly answer these questions in the Diet.
　こうした疑問に対し、野田首相や外務、防衛両相らに、国会での明確な説明を求める。

In its haste to mend the Japan-U.S. relationship that became strained over the Futenma relocation issue, the Noda administration is being overly eager to bolster defense cooperation with the United States.
　野田政権は、沖縄の米軍普天間飛行場の移設をめぐって混乱した日米関係の修復を急ぐあまり、防衛協力に前のめりになりすぎている。

The administration will not win the public's support unless it can clearly explain what defense policy is best for the nation.
　日本の防衛にはどんな政策が最適か。それを示さなければ、国民の理解は得られない。

ミャンマー支援―民主化を促してこそ

--The Asahi Shimbun, May 1
EDITORIAL: Use aid to Myanmar as push toward democracy
ミャンマー支援―民主化を促してこそ

Japan has pledged to provide 600 billion yen ($7.5 billion) of official development assistance (ODA) in the three years starting fiscal 2013 to the five countries of the Mekong River region; Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam.
　ミャンマー、タイ、カンボジア、ラオス、ベトナムのメコン川流域国に、日本は来年度から３年間で約６千億円の途上国援助（ＯＤＡ）などに乗り出す。

Japan’s development aid to the region, mainly the least-developed area of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), is important.
　東南アジア諸国連合（ＡＳＥＡＮ）の中で遅れ気味の地域の発展を、日本が手助けすることには大きな意味がある。

Particularly notable is Tokyo’s decision to forgive, in stages, 300 billion yen of its past yen loans to Myanmar and supply fresh lending to the country for the first time in 25 years. Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda recently promised these measures to visiting Myanmar President Thein Sein.
　なかでも注目すべきは、ミャンマーへの過去の円借款ざっと３千億円を段階的に放棄し、２５年ぶりに供与を再開することだ。野田首相が先日、テインセイン大統領に約束した。

Last spring, Myanmar shifted from military rule to civilian administration. In parliamentary by-elections in April, candidates of the main opposition National League for Democracy (NLD) won seats, including its leader and democracy advocate, Aung San Suu Kyi, who had been under house arrest for long periods. In a move to reward the steps Myanmar has taken toward democracy, the Japanese government has decided to resume extending yen loans to the country.
　昨春に軍政から民政に移り、長く軟禁状態に置かれたアウンサンスーチーさん率いる国民民主連盟（ＮＬＤ）も４月の議会補欠選挙で議席を得た。こうした民主化への歩みを評価して、円借款再開に踏み切る。

There are, however, two key conditions that should be met for Japan’s supply of aid to the country.
　だが、実施にあたっては二つの注文がある。

One is that Japan’s aid should not help Myanmar’s authoritarian government maintain its grip on power.
　一つは、強権的な政府の体制温存に手を貸すような援助にしてはならないということだ。

Even now, 80 percent of the country’s legislators are current or former members of the military. The Constitution, which allows the military to assume the full power of government during emergencies, remains effectively unamendable. The new presence of Suu Kyi and her party’s members in the parliament is unlikely to ensure the country’s swift and straight-line progress toward democracy.
　いまもミャンマーの国会議員の８割は軍人や軍出身者だ。非常時に軍が全権を握ることを定めた憲法は事実上、改正不可能なままだ。スーチーさんらが議会で活動を始めても、民主化への足取りが一直線に進むわけではないだろう。

Considering the situation, the Japanese government has postponed the final decision on forgiving 170 billion yen of the 300 billion yen until after watching the Myanmar government’s reform efforts for a year. Noda told Thein Sein, “This is a crucial moment to promote reforms (in Myanmar).”
　このため、日本政府は債権放棄のうち約１７００億円分は、向こう１年間のミャンマー政府の改革努力を見て決めることにしている。野田首相も大統領に「改革を進めるためのひとつの勝負どころだ」と語った。

The question is how to evaluate the country’s democratization. The government says the evaluation will be based on a general judgment to be made with the help of the Japanese Embassy there. But that will not be enough. A fair and transparent evaluation cannot be secured unless the situation is assessed according to specific criteria through a process involving independent investigative bodies. A special committee whose members include impartial observers like representatives of nongovernmental organizations or a research team comprising Diet members should be set up for the task.
　では、どうやって民主化をチェックするのか。政府は現地の大使館を通じての一般的な情勢判断によるというが、それでは不十分だ。ＮＧＯなど第三者も加えた委員会や、国会議員による調査チームを設け、具体的な指標にてらして判断しなければ、透明性は確保できない。

The other condition is a rigorous investigation into Japan’s past loans to the country.
　もう一つは、過去の検証だ。

The amount of promised debt forgiveness--300 billion yen--is sizable, equal to more than half of this fiscal year’s total ODA budget of 560 billion yen. This is obviously unusual largesse.
　免除する３千億円は、政府の今年度のＯＤＡ予算５６００億円に比べても相当な額であり、異例の大盤振る舞いであることは明らかだ。

That’s why the government should take a hard look into how Japan’s past aid to the country was actually used and find out what kind of effects the money has produced. Although the aid was provided by Liberal Democratic Party-led governments, it is necessary now to question Japan’s responsibility as the lender, including the right and wrong of the judgments of the governments.
　だからこそ、過去のＯＤＡが具体的にどのように使われ、どんな効果を上げたのかを総括するのが筋だ。自民党政権時代のこととはいえ、当時の政府の判断の是非も含めて、貸手責任をきっちりと問うべきだ。

There are high expectations within Japan’s business community for the market and development of Myanmar, which has a population of about 60 million. The top executives of many Japanese companies called on President Thein Sein during his recent visit to Japan.
　人口６千万あまりのミャンマーの市場とその発展を、日本の経済界は熱く期待している。来日した大統領のもとには、多くの企業トップが訪れていた。

But the Japanese government needs to adhere to the principle that there should be no Japanese aid to Myanmar unless it keeps moving toward democracy.
　だが、「民主化なくして援助なし」という姿勢を、日本政府は堅持しなければならない。

「原発ゼロ」社会：下 市民の熟議で信頼構築を

--The Asahi Shimbun, May 6
EDITORIAL: New system needed to ensure public input on nuclear power
「原発ゼロ」社会：下　市民の熟議で信頼構築を

The devastating accident at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant last year has evoked serious public distrust of politicians, bureaucrats and scientists.
　福島第一原発の事故をきっかけに、政治や行政、科学者などへの不信と疑念が広がった。

What needs to be done to stop the continuing growth of public distrust and restore their credibility with the people?
　その連鎖を断ち切り、信頼を再構築するにはどうしたらいいのだろうか。

The government has promised to promote “national debate” as part of its efforts to map out a new nuclear power and energy policy. Specifically, it plans to sort out the possible policy options that have been discussed by related advisory councils and study groups and present them to the people.
　政府は新たな原発・エネルギー政策に向けた「国民的議論」を掲げる。関係する審議会や調査会で検討してきた選択肢を整理して、国民に提示する。

The government says it is aiming to build a national consensus on the future direction of the policy by summer.
夏までに今後の方向性について合意を目指す考えという。

But not all the assumptions for the debate are clear.
　ただ、議論の前提が整っているわけではない。

The government’s committee looking into the nuclear accident has yet to compile its report. The proposed new nuclear safety watchdog, tentatively named the “Nuclear Regulatory Agency,” has yet to be created. It will be even longer before new nuclear safety standards are established.
政府の事故調査委員会の報告はまだだ。原子力規制庁（仮称）もできていない。原発の新しい安全基準作りはさらに先になる。

The power supply and demand situation this summer and progress in the efforts to promote use of renewable energy sources will also influence the debate.
この夏の電力需給や自然エネルギーの普及度合いも議論を左右する。

A well-thought-out plan and its careful implementation are vital. A rough-and-ready approach could even deepen the people’s distrust.
　知恵を絞る必要がある。拙速にことを運べば、かえって不信を広げかねない。

ORDINARY PEOPLE LEARN
■普通の人々が学ぶ

Western industrial nations have responded to “crises of credibility” of experts involved in policymaking, such as scientists, by trying to restore public confidence in them through in-depth discussions among citizens.
　欧米では、科学者ら専門家への「信頼の危機」に見舞われた際、市民参加による熟議を通じて信頼の再生を図ってきた。

When the credibility of scientists who ruled out the transmission of mad cow disease to humans was shattered, for example, Britain began to make serious efforts to promote policy debate involving ordinary citizens. Some 20,000 citizens took part in the debate over genetically modified food, including people who did so through the Internet. Various forums were established also for discussions on the safety of nanotechnology.
　たとえば、英国は牛海綿状脳症（ＢＳＥ）のヒトへの感染を否定した専門家の信頼が地に落ち、市民参加型の議論に本腰を入れた。遺伝子組み換え作物をめぐる議論にはネット経由を含め２万人が参加した。ナノテクノロジーの安全性でも、様々な議論の場が設けられた。

Science and technology make our lives more comfortable and convenient but can also produce some unexpected side effects and risks.
　科学技術は暮らしを便利にするが、思わぬ副作用や危険性もある。

As the world has experienced many serious cases of public pollution and major accidents, there is now a growing global trend toward giving public opinion more influence over policy decisions on such issues as whether to permit the practical use of specific technologies.
公害や大事故などを経て、実用化の是非などに社会の意見を反映する流れが世界的に加速している。

At the same time, a broad array of schemes have been devised to allow citizens to participate in the policymaking process as a way to shore up eroding public confidence in democracy.
　一方、低下傾向にある民主政治への信認を補う目的でも、政策形成に市民が加わるさまざまな仕組みが考案されてきた。

The nuclear power and energy policy is one of the biggest themes that should reflect these two trends.
　原発・エネルギー政策は、この二つの流れが重なる最大級のテーマといえる。

In Japan, however, the atomic energy policy has been plagued by fake democracy. Spurious efforts to seek the opinions of local communities that are actually designed to justify the predetermined plans to build nuclear power facilities have been rampant.
　日本の原発政策では住民の意見を聞く形をとりながら、実際は既定の方針を正当化する「名ばかり民主主義」が横行してきた。

The bleak situation was highlighted anew by Kyushu Electric Power Co.’s attempt to manipulate public opinion on the resumption of operations at its Genkai nuclear power plant by using hundreds of its employees to send pro-nuclear e-mails to a TV program on the issue.
九州電力で発覚したやらせメールはその典型例だ。

In contrast, major Western countries generally have fairer and more transparent systems for citizen participation in policy debate. Typically, several dozens of “ordinary citizens” are chosen at random for debate on a specific policy issue to ensure that the participants represent a good cross section of society.
　これに対し、欧米での市民参加型では、無作為抽出などで数十人程度の「普通の人々」を選ぶのが一般的だ。いわば「社会の縮図」である。

After learning the basics of the issue, the participants think them over and discuss the issue at leisure. Usually, the participants are asked to express their opinions through proposals and questionnaires as summaries of the results of the debate. Their opinions are considered by the government and the legislature.
　参加者は基礎知識を学んだうえでじっくり考え、議論する。その結果を意見書やアンケートで集約し、行政や議会に尊重させるといった流れをとる。

To win the trust of society, such policy debate must be independent, neutral and transparent.
　議論が社会から信用されるための生命線は、独立、中立、そして透明性だ。

That means debate needs to be organized and sponsored by a neutral and independent body and moderated by experienced staff skilled in avoiding leading debate in a certain direction. It is also important to make clear the relationship of the experts chosen to support the debate with the industry and the government.
　中立で独立した主催者のもとで、議論を誘導しないよう習熟したスタッフが進行役をつとめる。議事に協力する専門家が業界や行政とどんな関係にあるのかも明らかにする。

'COMMON SENSE' AS SUPPLEMENT
■補完としての「常識」

This approach is no magic wand. It requires time and money. The citizens have no power to make the final policy decision. The system doesn’t replace the legislature composed of elected representatives.
　これらの方法は決して魔法の杖ではない。手間も金もかかるうえ、最終的な決定権はない。選挙で選ばれた議会に代わるわけではない。

All that such a system can do is to show the provisional common sense among citizens at that time, which can only play a supplementary role.
あくまで補完として、その時々の暫定的な市民社会の常識を示すにすぎない。

Still, it can make up for the shortcomings of the traditional policymaking process, at least to some extent. It can make visible citizens’ good sense as well as differences in the principles and tenets on which they cannot compromise.
　それでも、これまでのやり方の欠点を補う力はある。市民の良識や、譲れない信条の違いを「見える化」する。

These are functions that are needed for meaningful debate to overcome the sharp division among Japanese over the future of nuclear power generation in this nation.
賛否両極に大きく割れる原発議論を乗り越えるには必要な機能だ。

If the results of such careful and in-depth policy debate are handed down to the next generation, that would give an incentive for people living now to respect the right of “future generations” to make decisions. This is one realistic way to tackle policy challenges that will affect many generations to come, such as how to dispose of spent nuclear fuel.
　熟議の成果を次世代へリレーするなら、「将来世代」の意思決定権を尊重する動機もはたらく。使用済み核燃料の処分など末代まで関わる問題に、ひとつの方法を示唆してもいよう。

In addition, this approach is also useful for solving the dilemma posed by the fact that elections don’t necessarily guarantee the best choices for specific policy issues because they are fought over the campaign platforms of the parties that contain a wide range of proposals.
　さらに、各政党がさまざまな政策を掲げる選挙では個別政策で必ずしも最適の選択ができない、というジレンマを解きほぐすのにも有効だ。

In the city of Tokushima, citizens that didn’t belong to either camp in debate over the construction of a sluice-gate dam in the Yoshinogawa river held many meetings to study the issue. Their fruitful efforts prompted the city to hold a referendum on the issue.
　かつて徳島市では吉野川の可動堰（ぜき）問題をめぐり、賛否から距離を置く市民が勉強会を数多く開き、その実績を踏まえて市が住民投票を行ったことがある。

There can also be a system to hold popular referendums on national policy issues after several years of promoting such in-depth grassroots debate on the issues.
　国政でも、草の根の熟議を継続させ、数年間の実績を経てから国民投票にかける仕組みもありえよう。

In preparing for the envisioned national debate on the nation’s energy future, the government should entrust a neutral party to manage the actual operations and take steps to make sure there is an exhaustive and constructive debate that is beneficial for future generations as well.
　政府が考える国民的議論も、中立的な担い手に運営を任せたうえで、もっと時間をかけ、議論を将来につなげるよう、工夫してはどうだろう。

The government should craft specific plans to implement its policy of phasing out nuclear power generation in Japan as soon as possible. But continuing in-depth debate on the nuclear power policy would help promote public understanding and periodical reviews of the policy.
　政府としては脱原発依存の方針を早く具体化すべきだが、熟議型の議論を続けることは政策の定着や見直しに役立つ。

ROLE OF THE DIET
■国会で制度作りを

The Diet should play a leading role in the efforts to promote such in-depth policy debate by citizens.
　市民参加型の熟議を支えるうえで、大きな役割を果たしているのが議会（国会）だ。

In Japan, the Diet has set up its own investigative committee to uncover the facts about the Fukushima nuclear disaster.
　日本でも福島事故では国会が調査委員会を設け、事実究明に力を注いでいる。

We urge the Diet to show a commitment to fostering broad consensus among the people on related issues.
ここは、民意の熟成にも目配りしてほしい。

There is actually a long list of formidable policy challenges that will go beyond the current generation, including integrated tax and social security reform as well as the reinvention of the nuclear power and energy policy.
原発・エネルギーに限らず、税と社会保障改革など世代を超えた難題は目白押しである。

Lawmakers should consider setting up a new executive office within the Diet to organize meetings for in-depth discussions among citizens on policy issues and help universities, nonprofit organizations and other neutral bodies hold such public hearings as well.
　国会に事務局を置き、自ら熟議集会を主催したり、大学やＮＰＯなど中立組織による開催を支援したりしてはどうか。

People tend to long for a strong leader when their distrust of politics and confusion about policy issues deepen.
　不信と混迷が深まると、強い指導者を求めがちだ。

But the only way to secure real progress in democracy is to get citizens more deeply involved in the policymaking process and in the efforts to solve policy issues as their own challenges.
しかし、政策への市民の関与を強め、わがこととして解決する道こそが民主主義を深化させる。

原発暫定基準―再稼働ありきはダメだ

--The Asahi Shimbun, April 5
EDITORIAL: Safety issues shouldn't be rushed to restart reactors
原発暫定基準―再稼働ありきはダメだ

In an April 3 meeting of ministers to discuss whether to restart idled nuclear reactors, Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda put off making a final decision on the issue.
　原発の再稼働をめぐる関係閣僚の初会合が３日に開かれ、野田首相は結論を持ち越した。

Noda told the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency (NISA) to work out by the next meeting provisional standards for safety measures based on what has been learned from the disaster at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant last year.
　首相は、次回までに福島第一原発事故を踏まえた安全対策の暫定基準を示すよう、原子力安全・保安院に求めた。

The first-stage assessment of stress tests for offline reactors, purported to be carried out to gain baseline information for decisions on whether to bring the reactors back online, came with a strong sense of being a stopgap measure.
　「再稼働の基準にする」として実施したストレステストの１次評価は、当座しのぎの色彩が強かった。それだけでは不十分との判断だ。

The government has apparently decided that stress tests for first-stage evaluations alone are not enough to greenlight resuming operations at suspended reactors. It seems that the Noda administration has been forced to change its original policy toward the issue in the face of strong public distrust of the safety of nuclear power plants.
　原発に対する国民の根強い不信を前に、当初の方針を転換せざるをえなかったということだろう。

We welcome a policy change to develop effective new safety standards that incorporate lessons gleaned from the nuclear disaster and to assess the safety of reactors more rigorously.
事故の反省を採り入れた基準に改め、基本に立ち返って安全性を吟味する。そのための軌道修正なら、評価する。

But the administration plans to hold the next meeting of related ministers shortly, possibly by the end of this week. The new safety standards will be cobbled together “in a day or two,” according to Chief Cabinet Secretary Osamu Fujimura.
　ところが、次回の会合は週内にも開き、基準づくりも「１、２日でハチマキを巻いてやる」（藤村官房長官）のだという。

The rushed timetable makes it look as if the government believes all that is needed is to change the cover of an old book.
　まるで「衣（ころも）を取りかえればいい」と言わんばかりのスケジュールだ。

The new safety standards will not be started from scratch, of course. The work involves making the 30-item list of safety measures, compiled by NISA through its own investigations into the accident, more concrete and understandable. The government appears to think this work can be done in a short time.
　もちろん、新たな基準といっても白地に絵を描くわけではない。保安院が独自の事故検証をもとにつくった３０項目の対策を「もっとわかりやすくする」作業だ。短時間で可能との見立てなのかもしれない。

With the No. 3 reactor at Hokkaido Electric Power Co.’s Tomari nuclear power plant, the nation’s last-running reactor, scheduled to go offline in early May for regular maintenance, Japan will soon enter an era of no nuclear power generation. The administration clearly wants to set the stage for restarting the No. 3 and the No. 4 reactors at Kansai Electric Power Co.’s Oi nuclear plant in Fukui Prefecture before that happens.
　だが、このままだと北海道電力の泊原発３号機が５月初めに定期検査に入り、原発の稼働がゼロになる。その前に、関西電力・大飯原発（福井県）の再稼働に道筋をつけたい。そんな思惑が透けてみえる。

The 30-item list includes some measures that require large-scale, time-consuming work. The government would be putting the cart before the horse if it selects only measures that can be implemented in a short time as the components of the more concrete and understandable safety standards.
　３０項目の中には、大がかりな工事が必要で、時間を要するものも含まれている。「もっとわかりやすい」基準が、短期に実現できる対策だけになったら、本末転倒だ。

The standards should not be designed in a way to guarantee that idled reactors will be restarted quickly.
「再稼働ありき」の基準は許されない。

There are certainly concerns about possible electricity shortages in the summer, but there is still time for careful estimation and planning.
　確かに、夏場の電力不足は心配である。ただ、見極めるにはまだ時間がある。

The government should first act swiftly to make a detailed assessment of the outlook for the supply-demand situation. At the same time, it should buckle down to work out new nuclear safety measures.
まずは需給見通しの精査を急ぐ。あわせて、安全対策づくりに腰をすえてかかるべきだ。

While the task has to be assigned to NISA for the time being, it is a duty that was supposed to be carried out by the new nuclear regulatory agency the government had planned to launch in April. The ruling and opposition parties should start debating the bill to create the agency as soon as possible.
　作業は当面、保安院が担当するしかないが、本来は４月に新しくできるはずだった原子力規制庁の役割だ。与野党は一刻も早く関連法案の審議に入らなければならない。

The government is reportedly considering the establishment of a permanent “buffer zone” around the crippled Fukushima nuclear plant where residents will no longer be allowed to live. This is a fresh reminder of the grim fact that a severe accident at a nuclear power plant is likely to cause irreparable loss.
　政府は、福島第一原発の周辺に、将来にわたって住民が帰宅できない区域の設定を検討しているという。原発で大きな事故が起きれば、取り返しがつかない事態になることを改めて感じさせる。

There can be no “absolute safety” when it comes to nuclear power generation in the first place. Restarting an idled reactor requires a very tough decision. The administration will lose the trust of the public forever if it tries to forge ahead with restarting reactors through procedures that are mere formalities.
　そもそも原発に「絶対安全」はない。その前提での再稼働はぎりぎりの選択である。形だけの手続きで強行しようとすれば、政権への信用は完全に失われるだろう。

中国経済成長―「７．５％」を歓迎する

--The Asahi Shimbun, March 6
EDITORIAL: China’s lower economic growth target a wise move
中国経済成長―「７．５％」を歓迎する

China’s economy has been growing rapidly over the years, but it has created a raft of unwanted by-products as well, such as economic disparity, corruption and environmental destruction.
　格差や腐敗、環境破壊という負の副産物をまき散らしながら高度成長してきた中国。

Now, China has finally decided to shift its policy priorities toward economic growth more focused on social stability. We welcome the move.
それがようやく、社会の安定を重視する成長へと転換をめざすことになった。歓迎したい。

The annual meeting of China’s National People’s Congress began in Beijing on March 5. In his work report to parliament, Premier Wen Jiabao announced that the government has set a policy target of 7.5-percent economic growth for 2012, down from the 8-percent goal the country pursued for seven consecutive years since 2005.
　中国の全国人民代表大会（全人代）が５日、北京で始まった。温家宝（ウェン・チアパオ）首相は、１２年の経済成長率目標を７．５％とすると表明し、０５年から７年続けて掲げてきた「８％前後の成長」の旗を取り換えた。

Wen said the government has lowered the growth target to “achieve higher-level, higher-quality development over a longer period of time.”
　温首相は成長目標を下げた理由として「長期にわたって一層高水準で、より良質な発展につなげるためである」と述べた。

China’s Hu-Wen administration, led by President Hu Jintao and Wen, is slated to pass the baton to a new leadership through a power transition to be approved at the National Congress of the Communist Party of China scheduled for autumn this year and at next year’s gathering of the National People’s Congress.
　胡錦濤（フー・チンタオ）国家主席と温首相が率いる「胡温体制」は、今年秋の共産党大会と来春の全人代を経て、次の体制と交代する。

This year’s meeting of the legislature serves as the platform for the current leadership to start the final phase of its efforts to achieve policy goals.
今年の全人代は、総仕上げの政策を決める場となった。

The size of the Chinese economy has quadrupled over the 10-year period in which the country has been under the current leadership.
　中国の経済規模は現体制の約１０年間で、４倍に急拡大した。

But the rapid economic expansion has created various problems, including a widening gap between rich and poor, real estate market bubbles and the deterioration of the environment.
しかし、その一方で、貧富の格差の拡大や不動産バブル、環境の悪化などを招いた。

The fiscal stimulus measures the government introduced to protect the economy from the effects of the global financial crisis that started in the United States in 2008 led to a wave of public works projects of dubious worth. The public spending spree has left local governments with massive bad assets.
　米国金融危機の影響を避けるために始めた景気刺激策は、必ずしも必要ではない公共工事ラッシュを招き、今は地方政府の不良債権となっている。

Wen stated that Beijing will lower its target for growth in the value of total exports and imports to “around 10 percent” from more than 20 percent last year as a step to correct such distortions in the economy.
　そういったゆがみを正すために、温首相は輸出入の伸び率の目標を昨年の２割超から「１０％程度」に下げると明言した。

The premier also said the government will aim at economic growth driven mainly by domestic demand through policy efforts to increase people’s income and thereby stoke consumer spending. To do so, he said, the government will try to increase the nation’s per-capita income at the same pace as its economic growth rate.
　そして、人々の収入増で消費を拡大し内需主導の成長をめざすため、経済成長率と同じペースで１人あたりの収入を増やす方針を確認した。

All these decisions represent welcome steps to guide the economy away from the high-speed but unbalanced growth in recent years.
　いずれも、いびつな高成長路線から抜け出す策として評価できる。

But the growth-oriented economic policy is not the only cause of the problems plaguing the nation.
ただし、中国のひずみは成長政策だけが原因ではない。

Another contributing factor is the government’s tight control on the yuan’s exchange rates.
　たとえば、当局が管理する人民元相場である。

Although major Western countries have been urging Beijing to allow the Chinese currency to appreciate, Wen only said the government will increase “flexibility of the managed floating exchange rate system.”
　欧米からは切り上げを求める声が相次ぐが、温首相は「管理変動相場制の柔軟性を強める」と述べるにとどまった。

A cheap yuan could make the Chinese economy even more dependent on exports for growth and increase the risk of asset bubbles by creating excessive liquidity.
　人民元安は輸出依存を強めかねないし、資金があふれ資産バブルの恐れも増す。

Chinese leaders should not forget that their country would suffer most from the bursting of such bubbles.
はじけて最大の被害を受けるのは中国であることを忘れてはならない。

Meanwhile, there is no end to stories about party seniors’ intervention in economic affairs, such as bidding for construction projects.
　一方で、幹部が工事の入札などの経済活動に介入する例があとを絶たない。

Wen pledged to step up efforts to crack down on such acts. But that will not be enough.
　温首相は取り締まりを強めると表明したが、それだけでは足りない。

Behind this problem is the policy system that gives the Communist Party the power to make all policy decisions. It is imperative for China to reform the system.
背景には党がすべてを決めるという政治体制があり、その改革が急がれる。

There may be concerns that Beijing’s move to lower its growth target could have a negative impact on the economies of countries with close ties with China, including Japan.
　成長目標を下げたことで、日本など関係の深い国の経済に悪影響を与えるのでは、という心配もあるだろう。

In the long run, however, the world economy would be better served by more stable and balanced development of Chinese society.
しかし、中国社会が安定した成長を続けることが、長期的には国際経済に好影響を与えるはずである。