終戦の日 確かな「平和と繁栄」を築こう

The Yomiuri Shimbun
War-end anniversary start for constructive peace, prosperity
終戦の日　確かな「平和と繁栄」を築こう

　◆世界に伝える日米の新たな和解◆

Today marks the 71st anniversary of the end of World War II. This day offers an opportunity to mourn the 3.1 million people who died in the war and renew our vow for peace.
　７１回目の終戦の日を迎えた。先の大戦で亡くなった３１０万の人々を追悼し、平和への誓いを新たにする日である。

A government-sponsored memorial service for the war dead will be held at the Nippon Budokan hall in Tokyo’s Kitanomaru Park.
　東京・北の丸公園の日本武道館では、政府主催の全国戦没者追悼式が行われる。

Aug. 15 has long been established as the anniversary of the war’s end, marking the same day in 1945 when Emperor Showa told the people of the war’s termination.
　昭和天皇が国民に終戦を伝えた８月１５日が、日本では長く終戦記念日として定着している。

Strictly speaking, however, the end of all combative activities was formalized on Sept. 2 that year. Aboard the USS Missouri, which was anchored in Tokyo Bay, representatives of Japan and the Allied Powers signed an instrument of surrender on that day.
　ただし、戦闘の終結が確定したのは、厳密には９月２日である。東京湾に停泊する米戦艦ミズーリ号上で、日本と連合国の代表が降伏文書に調印した。

Pearl Harbor, Hiroshima
　◆真珠湾と広島で発信を

The Battleship Missouri, preserved at Pearl Harbor in Honolulu, is open for public viewing. Located at the bottom of the sea nearby, the USS Arizona, the battleship that was sunk during the Japanese surprise attack on the harbor, is the resting place of more than 1,100 officers and sailors.
　戦艦ミズーリは現在、ハワイ・ホノルルの真珠湾に係留され、一般公開されている。近くの海底には、日本の奇襲攻撃で撃沈された戦艦アリゾナが、１１００人を超える将兵とともに眠る。

The cry of “No more Hiroshimas” can be answered with “Remember Pearl Harbor!” The atomic bombings and the Pearl Harbor attack are thorns in an unfortunate piece of Japan-U.S. history.
　「ノーモア・ヒロシマ」と叫べば、「リメンバー・パールハーバー」と反論される。「原爆投下」と「真珠湾攻撃」は、日米の不幸な歴史のトゲのような存在だ。

During a visit to Pearl Harbor in 1997, then Chinese President Jiang Zemin made a speech in which he said the Chinese and the Americans had “stood side by side in the fight against the fascist invasion.” His speech was intended to emphasize cooperation between the United States and China, and thereby drive a wedge into the Japan-U.S. alliance.
　１９９７年に中国の江沢民国家主席が真珠湾を訪問した際、「ファシストの侵略に対して中米両国民は肩を並べて戦った」などと演説したこともあった。米中の連携を強調し、日米同盟に楔くさびを打ち込もうとしたものだ。

However, both Pearl Harbor and Hiroshima are being transformed into a theater of reconciliation.
　しかし、真珠湾も広島も、和解の舞台へと変わりつつある。

Since 2013, a tiny folded paper crane has been displayed in a corner of the USS Arizona Memorial in Pearl Harbor. The origami crane, produced by the late Sadako Sasaki, a survivor of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, was donated by her bereaved family to the memorial. The Children’s Peace Monument in Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park is modeled on Sasaki.
　真珠湾のアリゾナ記念館の一角には、小さな折り鶴が２０１３年から展示されている。広島平和記念公園内にある「原爆の子の像」のモデル、佐々木禎子さんが折った１羽を、遺族が寄贈した。

The city government in Nagaoka, Niigata Prefecture — birthplace of Isoroku Yamamoto, commander in chief of the prewar Combined Fleet, who led the Pearl Harbor raid — has conducted exchange activities with Honolulu since the two cities established a sister-city relationship in 2012.
　真珠湾攻撃を指揮した連合艦隊司令長官・山本五十六の出身地、新潟県長岡市は１２年の姉妹都市提携以来、ホノルル市と交流を続ける。

In a memorial ceremony held in August 2015, the 70th year of the postwar period, fireworks from Nagaoka were set off in Pearl Harbor’s night sky, accompanied by a prayer for peace.
戦後７０年の１５年８月の追悼式典では、平和を祈念する長岡の花火が真珠湾の夜空を飾った。

A visit to Hiroshima by U.S. President Barack Obama in May was the result of a wise decision made despite persistent opinion in the United States that the atomic bombings were justified. His 17-minute remarks went right to the hearts of many people. Although the Japanese side has not accepted this inhumane action, it has not demanded an apology from the United States.
　今年５月のオバマ米大統領の広島訪問は、米国で原爆投下を正当化する意見が根強い中での英断であり、１７分間に及ぶ声明は多くの人の心を打った。日本側も、非人道的な行為を容認したわけではないが、謝罪を求めなかった。

Obama’s historic visit symbolized the mature nature of Japan-U.S. relations. This has been founded on a relationship of trust built over the years by the two allies, which share such values as freedom, democracy and human rights.
　成熟した日米関係を象徴する歴史的な訪問だった。その土台には、自由や民主主義、人権といった価値観を共有する同盟国が長年築いてきた信頼関係がある。

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s statement last August expressing anew “remorse and apology” for Japan’s wartime actions has been taken positively by the United States and many other countries.
　先の大戦への反省とお詫わびを改めて表明した昨年８月の安倍首相談話は、米国をはじめ、多くの国に肯定的に受け止められた。

The current stable bilateral relations between Japan and the United States should be developed further.
　今日の安定した日米関係を、さらに発展させたい。

In contrast to the United States, China continues to use the historical perception issue as a diplomatic card. When Obama visited Hiroshima, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said bluntly that “Nanjing should not be forgotten and deserves even more attention.”
　米国とは対照的に、歴史を外交カードにし続けているのが中国である。オバマ氏の広島訪問の際、王毅外相は「南京は更に忘れるべきではない」と言い放った。

China against intl order
　◆秩序に挑むのは中国だ

China has unilaterally asserted that 300,000 people were killed during the Nanjing Incident and has had “Documents of the Nanjing Massacre” added to the UNESCO’s Memory of the World list.
　中国は、南京事件で３０万人が殺されたと一方的に主張し、「南京大虐殺の文書」のユネスコ世界記憶遺産登録を実現させた。

On the anniversary of the country’s “victory” in the “War of Resistance Against Japan” last September, China held a military parade in front of about 30 heads of state and leaders of the world, emphasizing China as a “victorious nation” in World War II.
　昨年９月の「抗日戦勝記念日」には、約３０か国の元首・首脳の前で軍事パレードを披露し、中国が「戦勝国」であると誇示した。

Yet China’s foreign policies as a “victor country,” in which it proclaims that it backed the international order, while trying to change the international maritime order in the East and South China seas through force, has not won empathy from the international community.
　だが、東・南シナ海で力による海洋秩序の変更を試みる一方、自らが国際秩序の側にあるように喧伝けんでんする「戦勝国外交」は、国際社会の共感を得ていない。

South Korea, which had attempted to join hands with China in addressing issues related to historical perception, has shifted its stance to improve its relationship with Japan, following the bilateral deal Japan and South Korea reached late last year on the issue of the so-called comfort women. Japan will contribute ¥1 billion to a foundation set up by South Korea to support former comfort women as early as this month.
　中国と“歴史共闘”を進めてきた韓国は、慰安婦問題を巡る昨年末の日韓合意を機に、対日関係の改善に転じた。日本は月内にも、元慰安婦を支援する韓国の財団に１０億円を拠出する方針だ。

Yet a support group for former comfort women and others have not relaxed their stance of opposing the foundation. Also, a comfort woman statue was unveiled at a ceremony in Australia early this month, following similar ceremonies in the United States. The misperception that these women were forcibly taken by the now-defunct Imperial Japanese Army prevails in the world even today.
　ただ、元慰安婦支援団体などは、財団に反対する姿勢を崩していない。米国に続いてオーストラリアでも今月上旬、慰安婦像の除幕式が行われた。慰安婦は旧日本軍に強制連行されたという誤解が今なお、世界に広がっている。

Refute distortions
　◆史実の歪曲に反論せよ

The Japanese government must continue to appropriately refute distortions of various historical facts related to the war. It is also important to urge China and other countries to abide by the rules of the international community.
　日本政府は、戦争に関する様々な史実の歪曲わいきょくに対し、的確な反論を続けねばならない。国際社会のルールの順守を中国などに働きかけることも大切だ。

Efforts must also be made to resolve the issue of the northern territories with Russia.
　ロシアとの北方領土問題の解決にも力を入れる必要がある。

A more strategic approach is required for Japan to resolve pending postwar issues with Russia, which remain unsettled even after the passage of 71 years since the end of the war, and conclude a peace treaty.
　７１年を経ても未解決の戦後処理問題を決着させ、日露平和条約を締結するには、一段と戦略的なアプローチが求められる。

After Russia’s annexation of Crimea in March 2014, European countries and the United States continue to impose sanctions against that country. In the meantime, Abe has been exploring ways to resolve the territorial issues through repeated talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Abe will visit Russia’s Far East early next month at the soonest.
　１４年３月のロシアのクリミア併合以降、欧米諸国は対露制裁を続けるが、安倍首相は、プーチン大統領との会談を重ね、領土問題の打開の道を探っている。来月上旬にも、ロシア極東を訪れる。

By pursuing constructive relations with other countries, the peace and prosperity that Japan has been building since the end of the war should be made more solid. Such efforts will also contribute to responding to hopes of those who lost their lives during the war.
　各国との建設的な関係を追求して、戦後日本が築いてきた平和と繁栄をより確かなものとしたい。先の大戦で犠牲となった戦没者の思いに応えることにもなろう。

(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, Aug. 15, 2016)

小池新都知事 都民本位の改革実行を

--The Asahi Shimbun, Aug. 1
EDITORIAL: Koike must keep promise, push policies that help Tokyo citizens
（社説）小池新都知事　都民本位の改革実行を

Former Defense Minister Yuriko Koike was elected Tokyo’s new governor on July 31, becoming the first female chief of the capital’s government. We hope Koike will capitalize on her trademark ability to send out effective messages in her role as the public face of Japan’s capital.
　東京都の新しい知事に、小池百合子氏が選ばれた。初の女性都知事の誕生だ。日本の首都の顔として、持ち前の発信力を生かしてほしい。

Koike won a landslide victory in the gubernatorial election despite failing to receive the endorsement of her Liberal Democratic Party, which fielded another candidate. The ruling party’s decision, based primarily on its partisan interests, probably provoked a backlash among voters in Tokyo.
　自民党の意向に逆らった末の勝利である。都民の胸中には、党による「組織の論理」に対する反発が色濃くあったはずだ。

The process in which opposition parties led by the Democratic Party chose a unified candidate also confused many voters.
野党の統一候補選びにも分かりにくさがあった。

During her campaign, Koike pledged to put priority on the interests of individual citizens. She should be true to her words and push through reforms to shift the focus of Tokyo’s policymaking from the interests of specific organizations to those of the entire population of the capital.
　小池氏は、都民一人ひとりが主役だと唱えた訴えどおり、特定の組織に目を向ける旧来の政治から、都民全体を考える都政への変革を進めてほしい。

Koike needs to provide leadership to resolve a wide range of tough policy challenges, from the rapidly aging population to disaster preparedness for a huge earthquake that many experts warn could occur directly under Tokyo.
　急速に進む高齢化への対応や首都直下地震への備えなど、小池氏がリーダーシップを発揮すべき課題は山積している。

In particular, she must immediately review the financing plan for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics, focusing on the capital’s contribution. The total cost for the event, initially estimated at 700 billion yen ($6.8 billion), is now expected to balloon to 2 trillion yen or even 3 trillion yen. The challenge for Koike is to figure out ways to reduce the cost and decide on an appropriate burden for Tokyo.
　すぐに待ち受けるのは東京五輪・パラリンピックの整備費の分担見直しだ。当初７千億円と言われた全体経費は２兆とも３兆とも言われている。これをいかに削り、都負担の適正ラインをどこに引くか。

Both the Tokyo Organizing Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games and the LDP members of the metropolitan assembly are calling for an increase in the capital’s share of the cost burden, emphasizing Tokyo’s responsibility due to its bid to host the event.
　組織委も都議会自民党も「招致した東京の責任」を唱え、都の負担増を求めている。

Discussing the issue, Koike criticized the Tokyo government’s opaque policymaking process as a “black box” and called for greater transparency. The issue of financing the 2020 Olympics and Paralympics will test her commitment to addressing the issue.
小池氏は「都政がブラックボックスになっている」と決定過程の透明化を訴えた。その真価が問われることになる。

In an Asahi Shimbun survey of voters in Tokyo, “education and child-care support” was cited by the largest number of respondents as the policy area that they wanted the new governor to prioritize.
　朝日新聞の調査では、新知事に力を入れてほしい政策のトップは「教育・子育て」だった。

Tokyo’s child-care support for its citizens has national implications. Many young people who moved from rural areas to Tokyo are giving up having children because of an unfavorable environment for rearing children. This problem is accelerating Japan’s demographic decline.
　「子育て」問題は東京の課題にとどまらない。首都圏に集まった地方の若者が、子育て環境の悪さなどから、子どもを産むのをあきらめる構造が日本の人口減に拍車をかけている。

During her campaign, Koike proposed various ideas to solve the problem of the estimated 8,500 children on waiting lists for day-care centers. Her ideas included the use of land owned by the metropolitan government and higher pay for child-care workers. Koike needs to make steady efforts to deal with this challenge.
　約８５００人にのぼる待機児童の解消に向け、都有地の活用や保育士の待遇改善など様々なアイデアが選挙戦で語られた。着実に対策を進めてほしい。

On the other hand, Koike talked little about education.
　一方、小池氏が「教育」について語ることはほぼなかった。

She once argued that tragic incidents involving children, such as murders of family members, were a result of Japan’s “self-deprecating education” in the postwar period.
　かつて、家族間での殺人事件などが起きるのは「自虐的な戦後教育の結果」だと語ったこともある。

The Japan Society for History Textbook Reform, an organization devoted to helping the nation “overcome masochistic historical views,” backed Koike in the election, saying she was the only major candidate who supported its activities.
自虐史観の克服を掲げる「新しい歴史教科書をつくる会」は、主な候補のうち小池氏だけが活動を支えてくれた、と今回支持を表明していた。

The law on regional educational administration was revised in 2014 to enhance the power of local government chiefs over education policy decisions. Instead of using her power as the governor to promote education based on specific values, Koike should serve as a champion of “diversity,” which she pledged to promote, in education.
　２０１４年の地方教育行政法の改正で、首長の権限が強められた。特定の価値観ではなく、自らが公約とした「多様性」を認める教育をめざすべきだ。

In announcing her candidacy, Koike emphasized she was ready to confront the LDP in the metropolitan assembly. We welcome her stance if that means true competition for better, citizen-focused policies through serious debate at the assembly.
　立候補の際、小池氏は都議会自民党との対決を強調した。議場での真剣な議論を通じ、都民本位の政治を競うなら歓迎だ。

But we have had enough of the petty political fights over parochial interests.
　しかし、またコップの中の争いになるなら、ごめんこうむりたい。

After the resignation of two Tokyo governors--Naoki Inose and Yoichi Masuzoe--amid scandals, there is no room for further stagnation in the capital’s efforts to tackle its key policy challenges.
猪瀬直樹氏、舛添要一氏と２代続いた失脚で、これ以上都政を停滞させる余裕はない。