https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/vod/konmari/20170305/#play

This is a program featuring Kon Mari in New York. She helps a woman tidy up her house amazingly. She looks so happy that she could realize her ideal life in her house, using the space she could find by organizing many things such as clothes, papers, and Komono.  

There is concern that succession to the Imperial throne could head down a blind alley because accession is currently limited to males descended from the male Imperial line.

Now is a good opportunity to resume the debate on stable Imperial succession from a long-term point of view, as the public’s interest in the Imperial family is growing through the issue of an abdication by the Emperor.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe touched on the succession issue at a recent Budget Committee meeting of the House of Representatives, saying “It is critically important to maintain stable succession to the Imperial throne.”

“We would like to discuss it while taking into account the gravity of the fact that the male-line succession has been maintained thus far, as well as other matters, and keeping it separate from the issue of reducing the Emperor’s burden of official duties,” Abe added

皇位安定継承

情勢宮家の議論も再開したい

男系男子に限られている皇位の継承は、将来行き詰まる恐れもある。

天皇陛下の退位問題で皇室への関心が高まっている今こそ、長期的視野から議論を再開する好機だ。

“We would like to discuss it while taking into account the gravity of the fact that the male-line succession has been maintained thus far, as well as other matters, and keeping it separate from the issue of reducing the[ Emperor’s] burden of official duties, “ Abe added.

安部首相は衆院予参委員会で、｢安定的な皇位の継承を維持することは極めて重要だ｣と述べた。｢男系継承が維持されてきた重みなどを踏まえつつ、公務負担軽減の議論とは切り離して、検討していきたい｣との考えも示した。

The remarks were part of Abe’s response to questions from Democratic Party Acting President Goshi Hosono, who referred to Prince Hisahito, the son of Prince and Princess Akishino. “Under the current situation, there would be nobody to accede to the throne if Prince Hisahito does not have a male child, “ Hosono said.

There are many uncertainties regarding the future of the Imperial family. The prime minister’s intention to also give a push to the stalled discussions over the Imperial succession system is appropriate.

民進党の細野代表代行が｢(秋篠宮ご夫妻の長男の)悠仁さまに男子が生まれなかった場合、現状のままでは皇位が断絶する｣として、見解を質したのに答えた。

皇室の将来には、不安定要素が多い。停滞している皇位継承制度に関する議論も射程に入れたい、という首相の意向は理解できる。

Considering the fact that the Emperor has turned83, it is reasonable to put the discussions on abdication first and discuss the Imperial succession system separately.

 Currently, only four Imperial members have the right of succession to the Imperial throne. Prince Hisahito is the only one from the generation of the Emperor’s grandchildren.

８３歳の天皇陛下の年齢を考えれば、退位の議論を優先し、制度論は別建てで検討するという考え方は、合理的だろう。

現在、皇位継承の資格を有する皇族は４人に過ぎない。陛下の孫の世代では、悠仁さまだけだ。

Safeguarding the future

In 2005, an advisory panel set by the Cabinet of then Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi compiled a report recommending females and their descendants be granted the right to ascend the throne. The government prepared a bill to revise the Imperial Household Law but refrained from submitting it to the Diet when Prince Hisahito was born the following year.

 The Cabinet of Yoshihiko Noda compiled a proposal to enable female members to create their own Imperial branches so that they can retain their Imperial status after marriage, based on a summary of interviews conducted with experts in 2012.

小泉内閣が設置した有識者会議は２００５年、女性天皇と女系天皇を容認する報告書をまとめた。皇室典範改正案も準備されたが、翌年に悠仁さまが誕生され、国会提出が見送られた。

野田内閣は、１２年の有識者ヒアリングで論点を整理し、女性皇族が結婚後も皇室に残れる｢女性宮家｣の背応接を検討すべきだ、という提言をまとめた。

During that time, when the Liberal Democratic Party was one of the opposition parties, Abe expressed his thoughts on this issue by submitting an essay to a monthly magazine. To summarize the essay, Abe rejected the idea of establishing female Imperial branches, saying it could lead to females and their descendants ascending to the throne. Instead, he insisted that it is necessary to consider restoring Imperial membership for male descendants of princes who left the Imperial family.

Abe expanded on his view in recent Diet interpellations. He said even if the government were to institutionalize the restoration of Imperial family membership, “he is a possibility that all eligible people would refuse.”

Noda, who is now serving as the secretary general of the Democratic Party, also plans to raise this issue in the Diet. “We would like to bring the issue of female Imperial branches to the table for discussion to respond to the decrease in Imperial family members,” Noda said.

自民党が野党だったこの当時、安部首相は、論考を月刊誌に発表している。情勢天皇や情景天皇の即位につながりかねないとして、女性宮家安を否定し、皇位継承のためには旧宮家の皇籍復帰も考えるべきだ、とする内容だった。

今回の国会答弁では、功績復帰の制度を設けても、｢対象者全てから拒否されるということもあり得る｣との見解を加えた。

民進党の野田幹事長は、｢皇族減少に対応するため、女性宮家の議論も俎上(俎上)に載せたい｣とし、国会でも取り上げる構えだ。

There are currently seven unmarried Imperial women. The establishment of female Imperial branches could have the secondary effect of preventing female Imperial members from losing their Imperial status through marriage, which will be important if female members are allowed to succeed to the throne in the future. The significance of reexamining the establishment of female Imperial branches is not small.

In the past, there were eight female monarchs over10 periods, all of them coming from the male Imperial line.

Opinions could be split on whether to allow members from the female Imperial line to succeed the throne. Wide-ranging discussion is needed.

未婚の女性皇族は、７人おられる。女性宮家には、将来的に女性天皇が可能になった場合に備え、結婚による女性皇族の皇籍離脱を防ぐ役割も期待できる。創設を再検討する意義は小さくない。

女性天皇には８人１０代の先例がある。いずれも男性の天皇につながる男系天皇だった。

女系天皇を認めるかどうか、は意見の分かれるところだろう。広範な議論が求められる。

go down a blind alley

行き詰まりに陥る。壁にぶち当たる。

head down　~を通って進む

Head(vi) ある方向に）進む

Diet interpellations国会答弁

interpellations〔議会での〕質問

interpellate

verb with object

1 in certain parliamentary systems) interrupt the order of the day by demanding an explanation from (the minister concerned)

Example sentences

‘As of last week, 277 members had put their names to a plan to interpellate (formally question) the president over the reasons for his decision.’

2 philosophy

(of an ideology or discourse) bring into being or give identity to (an individual or category)

recommend that s +be 動詞

自由貿易体制の旗をおろすな

逆風にさらされる自由貿易協定を守ることが、日本の責務である。

環太平洋経済連携協定（TPP）が国会で承認され、批准に必要な衆参両院での手続きが完了した。参加12か国中、ニュージーランドに続く早期承認を果たした。

トランプ次期米大統領はTPP離脱を表明している。米国の批准がなければ協定は発効しない。

安部首相は「たとえ発効が不透明になったとしても、フェアで公正な経済圏を作る意義を世界に発信する」と述べた。悲観論が強まる中で、協定の必要性を粘り強く訴えるのは妥当な判断だ。

TPPは、世界の経済規模の4割をカバーする巨大経済圏を生み出す。しかも過去に例を見ない高水準の貿易・投資ルールが柱である。米国以外の参加国まで、その成果を投げ出してしまうのは得策ではあるまい。

米新政権が基本政策を固めていく過程で、TPPの意義を再認識するよう、日本が主導して働きかけを続けることが大切だ。

日本はこれと並行して、他の経済連携協定への取り組みも加速せねばならない。そうすることが、保護主義へ傾斜する米国への牽制にもつながるだろう。

TPPが足踏みをする間に、日中韓印など16カ国が交渉中の地域包括的経済連携（RCEP）が、存在感を増しつつある。

TPPに迫る経済規模をもちながら、交渉中の貿易ルールはTPPのレベルに遠く及ばない。高度な知的財産保護などに消極的な中国の姿勢が大きいとされる。

日本は、RCEPでも高水準の内容を目指すことが重要だ。

特定の国や地域を対象とする通商協定も欠かせない。日本は2002年にシンガポールと締結して以来、15カ国・地域との間で経済連携の協定網を広げてきた。

しかし主要国に比べると出遅れが目立つ。韓国はすでに米国、中国、欧州連合（EU）といった日本が結んでいない相手との協定を実現させている。

日本の通商戦略にとって喫緊の課題は、TPP,RCEPと並んで重要なEUとの経済連携協定である。年内の大筋合意を目指し、週明けから東京で、主席交渉官会合が開かれる。

日本は自動車の関税撤廃を求め、EUからは農産物の市場開放を迫られる構図だ。来年まで交渉が長引けば、国政選挙が相次ぐEUから譲歩を引き出しにくいとの見方が強い。早期合意に向け、最大限の努力が求められよう。

（2016年12月10付　読売新聞）

momentum of free-trade deal alive

It is Japan’s duty to protect a free trade agreement that has run into headwinds.

The Trans-Pacific Partnership has been approved by both chambers of the Diet, completing procedures necessary to ratify the free trade deal. Among12 participating countries, Japan achieved an early approval following New Zealand.

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has pledged to withdraw the United States from the trade accord. The TPP cannot take effect without Washington’s ratification.

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said, “Even though the prospects of the deal coming into effect have become unclear, we are sending a message to the world about the significance of creating a fair economic Zone.”  Amid growing pessimism, it is reasonable to tenaciously stress the need for the trade agreement.

The TPP is intended to create a huge economic bloc, representing 40 percent of the world economy. Furthermore, the pact features unprecedented high levels of trade and investment rules. It is not desirable for the other participating countries, aside from the United States, to abandon the results of their negotiations.

In the process of the incoming U.S. government solidifying its basic policies, it is vital for Japan to take the lead in continuing to urge the United States to reaffirm the significance of the TPP.

In tandem with this task, Japan also must increase efforts to push for progress on other economic partnership deals, such efforts would help put a brake on the United States as it leans toward protectionism.

Early trade deal with EU needed

With the TPP at a standstill, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, which groups 16 countries including Japan, China, South Korea and India, has increased its presence.

The RCEP has an economic scale close to the TPP’s, but its trade rules currently being negotiated are far from the levels that the TPP has achieved. A major reason for this is said to be China’s reluctance to enhance intellectual property protection and agree on certain areas.

It is crucial for Japan to aim for high-level trade terms also under the RCEP.

Trade agreements with specific countries and regional blocs are also essential. Japan has expanded its economic partnerships with 14 counties and one regional bloc since its free trade agreement with Singapore came into force in 2002.   

However, Japan has lagged behind other major countries in expanding such bilateral partnerships, South Korea has already concluded deals with the United State, China and the European Union—parties with which Japan does not have such deals.

Along with the TPP and the RCEP, a pressing and important issue for Japan’s trade strategy is the Economic Partnership Agreement with the EU. With the aim of reaching a broad agreement by the end of this year, Japanese and EU chief negotiators are scheduled to meet for a new round of negotiations in Tokyo next week.

Japan has asked the EU to eliminate tariffs on automobiles while the EU has called for opening Japan’s agricultural market. There is wide speculation that if the negotiations last into next year, Japan would find it difficult to win concessions from the EU, which will see a series of national elections held in its member states. Japan needs to make every effort to achieve an early agreement with the EU.

From The Japan News Dec, 11, 2016

都政への不信感を増幅させたことを考えれば、処分は当然だろう。

東京都の豊洲市場の建物下に盛り土がなかった問題で、小池百合子知事が、部長級以上だった当事の幹部の処分を発表した。

現役職員12人は、職責などに応じて1－6ヶ月の言及で、市場長だった中西充副知事と退職者5人にも、減給分の自主返納を求める厳しい内容である。

土壌汚染対策の盛り土をやめることについて、必要な手続きを踏まなかった。都議会で事実と異なる答弁を続けた。これらが、処分に至った理由だ。

重要事項について、担当職員が独断で方針を変更するようでは、行政組織の体を成さない。不適切な答弁は、都民への背信だ。

小池氏が記者会見で、「行政手続きで大きな瑕疵(かし)があった。」と指摘したのは、もっともだ。「けじめ」として自らの給与を3か月減額することも表明した。

現職幹部らの人事異動も検討するという。都の関連団体に転じた元市場長には退職を求めた。

今月発表された都の第二次内部調査報告書は、盛り土を取りやめることに関与したか、あるいは知り得る立場だったとして、当時の市場長や管理部長ら8人の責任を認定していた。

処分にあたっては、答弁に関わった幹部らも対象に加えた。退職者の中には反発もあったが、小池氏は「厳正に処分したことで、区切りにしたい」と強調した。

ただし、当時の部長らはなぜ、盛り土をやめることを市場長や知事、都議会に報告しなかったのか、という疑問がなお残る。施設工事の落札率が予定価格の99％超えだったという不自然な経緯についても、引き続き検証が必要だ。

問題の背景には、都の無責任な体質や縦割りの弊害がある。

当時、決裁に関わった石原慎太郎元知事も聞き取りに応じるなどして、責任を果たすべきだ。小池氏は「普通のリーダーであれば、その責を理解しているのではないか」と改めて批判した。

今月の予定だった豊洲市場への移転時期は早くても来冬になる見通しだ。環境影響評価のやり直しが必要になれば、2018年冬以降にずれ込む可能性もある。

市場関係者の不安は高まっている。重要なのは、市場としての安全性を見極めることである。

信頼を回復し、難題をクリアしていくことは容易ではあるまい。小池氏は、都議会とも連携して、組織改革を進めねばならない。

probe

違法行為などの〕捜査、査察
・The prosecutors started a probe into the accounting irregularities of the company. : 検察官はその会社の不正経理の捜査を開始しました

 subject to   be ～〔法律・法則・規則など〕の支配下［影響下］にある
・This Agreement shall be subject to the laws of Japan. : 本契約は日本国の法律に従うものとする。

to reform of metropolitan govt

Punishment of former and current senior officials of the Tokyo metropolitan government can be deemed naturel when considering that public distrust in the government has been amplified due to their actions.

In connection with the issue of no fresh soil being laid for land elevation below building s constructed at the Tokyo market in Tokyo, Gov. Yuriko Koike has announced disciplinary measures against high-ranking officials who held the posts of division manager or higher at the time.

The 12 officials currently serving received punishments of pay cuts for a period of one month to six months depending on their position. Vice Gov, Mitsuru Nakanishi, who was the head of the central wholesale market, and five retired officials were asked to voluntarily return the equivalent of pay cuts in disciplinary steps.

Necessary procedures were not taken to change tack from land elevation as a measure against soil contamination. The officials continued to give answer the metropolitan assembly that were different from the facts.  This led to punishments being imposed on them.

For an administrative organization, it does not make any sense if a policy concerning an important matter is arbitrarily changed by an official in charge. Given inadequate answers amounts to a betrayal of Tokyo citizens.  

Koike told a news conference, “There was a major defect in administrative procedures.” She was quite right in saying this. She said she will take responsibility for that by cutting her own pay over a period of three months.

The governor is said to be also considering a personnel change for current high-ranking officials. She asked a former head of the central wholesale market, who had been transferred to a metropolitan government-related organization, to retire.

 Ensure safety of new market

 Report released this month on the metropolitan government’s second internal probe determined the responsibility of eight officials, including the then wholesale market chief and administration manager, as they were involved in canceling the land elevation work or were in a position to know about it.

In making almost of officials subject to punishment, it was decided to include senior officials involved in answering questions at the metropolitan assembly. Some retired officials were in opposition to that, but Koike stressed that she wanted ”to bring an end to the matter by imposing punishments strictly.”

But there remains the question of why the then division manager and other officials did not report the cancellation of the land elevation plan to the wholesale market chief, the governor and the metropolitan assembly. It is necessary to continue investigating unreasonable results of bidding for construction projects in which successful bids were only a little over 99 percent of predetermined prices.

Behind this problematic practice are the metropolitan government’s irresponsible culture of governance and its vertically divided administrative system.

Former Gov. Shintaro Ishihara, who was in apposition to give approval, should fulfill his responsibility by complying with a request for a haring investigation.

Koike criticized Ishihara anew, saying, “If he is as sensible as a leader should be, I believe he understand his responsibility.”

The relocation of the wholesale market to the Toyosu district, which was scheduled for this month, will likely be postponed until next winter or later. If it is determined that an environmental impact assessment must be conducted anew, the relocation will possibly be delayed until the winter of 2018 or later.

Anxiety is mounting among wholesale market dealers. The important thing is to ensure the safety of the Toyosu market.

Regaining trust and overcoming difficult challenges are not easy tasks. Koike must push ahead with organizational reform in cooperation with the metropolitan assembly.

Questions

Why does the author think that punishment of officials of the Tokyo metropolitan government can be deemed natural?

Why govenor Koike thought it is necessary to punish officials in charge?

How governor Koike wants to end the matter?

Till when the relocation of the wholesale market to the Toyosu district will likely be postponed?

Ans.

Because public distrust in the government has been amplified due to their actions.

Because necessary procedures were not taken to change tack from land elevation as a measure against soil contamination and the officials continued to give answers at the metropolitan assembly that were different from the facts.

She wanted to bring an end to the matter by imposing punishments strictly.

The relocation of the wholesale market to the Toyosu district will possibly be delayed till until the winter of 2018 or later.  

change tack  方針を変更する

punishment, disciplinary measure　　処分

amplify　増幅させる

defect  瑕疵

irresponsible culture　無責任な体質

verticallly divided　縦割りの

comply with ~に応じる

environmental impact assessment　環境影響評価

soil contamination 土壌汚染

One lesson lasts about 30 minutes.

I had been busy for studying English and translation, and doing exercises.

I am satisfied with a series of holidays.

I am happy to have friends to study with and share precious time with.

:*:・(￣∀￣)・:*:

Thank you.

なるべく、記事は読むように、editorialは日英で掲載されていて

なかなか便利です。

なかでも、毎週木曜日には、Translate This なる記事が掲載されます。

各週で、日英と英日が掲載されます。

みなさん、ちょっとのぞいてみませんか、楽しくもあります。

水曜の５時までに投稿し、佳作とか、優秀に選ばれると、
少しですが、懸賞もいただけます。





ヾ(＠^▽^＠)ﾉ

６年の時お父さんが失職を
し、２年間毎日１食で車の中で過ごしていた子が、

生活保護を受け
て、学校に復学できた。

なんと、中学二年に、、

その子はしばらく
すると、学校に行かなくなった。

なにも１年の勉強をしてない子を
、

２年に入れるなんて、、、怒りを感じる

例え入れたとしても、もっとサポートはできないのであろうか、、

ひどいむごいよのなかだなぁ。((o(-゛-；)