東京大田区４Ｄ電影院開幕

Last month the NHK News on-line reported the following:

場感を体感 東京・大田区に４Ｄ映画館

4月24日 23時43分

映画の場面に合わせて風や振動などで臨場感を体感できるシステムが、関東地方では初めて東京・大田区の映画館に導入され報道陣に公開されました。

「４Ｄ」と呼ばれるこのシステムは、映画のシーンに合わせて臨場感を体感できるもので、関東地方の映画館として初めて東京・大田区平和島の映画館が導入しました。２５日から一般客向けに映画が公開されるのを前に２４日報道陣に公開しました。
このシステムには座席の前に霧や香りがでる装置が付いているほか、座席が前後左右に動いたり、振動したりする機能もついていて、車を運転して曲がるシーンで曲がるときにいすが傾いたり水しぶきがかかるシーンで霧が吹き出したりします。
このシステムのついた映画は通常の料金に１０００円が加算され、安全のため身長が１メートル未満の人や妊娠中の人などは利用できないということです。
映画会社でつくる団体によりますと、ＤＶＤなどの普及により全国の映画館の入場者数はピーク時の１割程度にまで減っているということで、映画館を経営する佐々木伸一社長は「さまざまなメディアが発達するなか、映画館も進化していかなければならないと感じている。新たなシステムでは家庭では体験できないものを提供していきたい」と話していました。

(試譯文)

A system that could make one feel the presence of wind, vibration etc. according to the scene of the movie was introduced into a movie theater in the Ota-district of Tokyo; it was the first time in the Kanto area and was opened to reporters.

In this so called "4D" system, one could feel the scene of the movie. It was introduced into a movie theater in Heiwajima of the Ota-district in Tokyo, being the first in the Kanto region. Before the movie was opened to general visitors starting from the 25^th (April), it was opened to reporters on the 24th.

In this system, equipment was attached before a seat out of which mist and scent could come out. Also a device was attached so that the seat could turn in all directions or could vibrate. In a driving scene that was about turning a car, when the car turned, the chair would incline; when a scene required a spray, it blew out some mist.

It was said that 1000 yen would be added on top of the usual movie charge. For safety reasons this system was not suitable for the people less then 1 meter in height and people with pregnancy.

According to an organization of the movie business companies, the number of movie theaters goers all over the country had decreased to about ten percent of the peak due to the popularity of DVDs etc. President Shin-ichi Sasaki who was managing a movie theater said that "while various media are improving, it is considered that the movie theater must also evolve. Using this new system I would like to offer something that one cannot experience at home".

It is good news for those who love 4D movies. Probably this theater would become a tourist attraction in the future.

羽田機場大幅提昇国際線

A few weeks ago the Asahi News on-line reported the following:

羽田国際線、大幅拡大　就航都市、６増え２３に

2014年3月30日21時22分

　羽田空港の国際線は３０日、大幅に拡大された。ターミナルビルを増床して搭乗口が８カ所増えた。就航先は１７都市から２３都市、便数は１日５５便から７７便に。マニラ、ミュンヘン、バンクーバーなどの都市に新たに就航したほか、ロンドンやパリなど中長距離路線も昼間に発着できるようになり、乗客の利便性が格段に上がった。

　地方からの国内線と国際線を乗り継ぐ客も増えると期待されている。国土交通省東京空港事務所の佐藤敬次長は式典で、「羽田と世界を結ぶネットワークが拡充し、観光立国の実現につながる」とあいさつした。

　午前８時４５分発のベトナム・ハノイ行き全日空便はほぼ満席の２０８人が搭乗した。米国系企業の社内会議に向かう東京都東村山市の会社員深瀬聡さん（６１）は「成田発なら空港近くで前泊が必要だった。今後は羽田が第１候補だ」と歓迎した。

(試譯文)

On the 30^th (March) the international airlines in the Haneda Airport were expanded sharply. An increase in floor space at the terminal building was carried out, and doors were increased in eight locations. Service locations were expanded from 17 cities to 23 cities, and the number of flights per day from 55 to 77. What newly went into commission were flights to cities such as Manila, Munich, and Vancouver. Also for the middle and long distance routes such as to London and Paris, flights could now depart and arrive in the daytime, and passengers’ convenience had gone up substantially.

It was expected that visitors from rural areas who changed for the domestic flight or for the international airline might also increase in number. At a ceremony, Keiji Sato the deputy director of the Tokyo airport office of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism said "the network which connects Haneda to the world has expanded and it leads to the realization of a country with tourism as a major industry".

For the All Nippon Airways, its flight for Vietnam Hanoi that would leave at 8:45 in the morning had 208 people on board and was almost full. Satoshi Fukase (61) the office worker of Higashi-Murayama-city in Tokyo who went for a U.S. syndicate company’s office meeting welcomed the flight because "if it was from Narita, over-night stay near the airport would be required. Haneda from now on would be the number one choice".

Obviously this improvement in the Haneda Airport would help Japan’s tourism. 

日本三大都市住宅地及商業地基準價值上昇

A few weeks ago the FNN News on-line reported the following:

地価公示　6年ぶりに3大都市圏が住宅地・商業地ともに上昇

土地の相続税や固定資産税の評価の基準となる、地価公示が公表された。
2014年は、リーマンショック以降6年ぶりに、3大都市圏の地価が、住宅地・商業地ともに上昇となった。
地価公示は、2013年の1年間の地価変動率を、全国2万3,363地点で調査したもの。
2013年の1年間の地価は、全国的に上昇となり、特に東京・大阪・名古屋の3大都市圏では、住宅地・商業地ともに6年ぶりに上昇に転じた。
東京圏は、低金利政策や消費動向の回復、外国人観光客増加なども重なり、23区全体で地価が上昇、全国で最も高額な千代田区の住宅地は、前の年より6.5%値上がりし、1平方メートルあたり296万円、中央区銀座の商業地は9.6%上昇し、1平方メートルあたり2,960万円だった。
また、2020年東京オリンピック・パラリンピックの開催が決定したことで、2013年後半から、臨海部を中心に、マンション向けの地価が上がり始めていて、中央区勝どき駅近くの地価が前年比10.9%上昇し、1平方メートルあたり95万4,000円となった。
愛知・名古屋では、駅東口の再開発とリニアモーターカー開通への期待感から、地下鉄名古屋駅近くが、前の年より10.1%値上がりした。
大阪駅周辺も、再開発が進んでいる地点で8%上昇したほか、大阪駅に近い中之島では、マンション用の住宅地で上昇傾向が強く見られている。
そのほか、被災3県のうち宮城県は、被災住民の移転需要が強く、石巻市中心部で、前年比15.1%値上がり、仙台市でも、2015年に開業する仙台市営地下鉄の新駅周辺の地価が、11.4%の上昇となっている。
3大都市圏で6年ぶりに地価が上昇に転じたことについて、国土交通省の土地鑑定委員会は、「金融緩和マネーの一部が不動産に流れ、円安で輸出産業の収益が回復したことと、外国人観光客増加もあって地価が上がったのでは」と述べ、アベノミクス効果が不動産市況に好影響を及ぼしているとの見方を示した。(03/18 20:33)

(試譯文)

The land value that was used as a standard in evaluating land inheritance tax and fixed property tax declaration was released.

In 2014, the land price of residential land and commercial land in the three metropolises had gone up for the first time in six years after the “Lehman shock”.

This announced land value was the result of an investigation worked out based on the rate of change in land price for the year 2013 at 23,363 locations across the country.

The land price increase for the year 2013 was nation wide, especially in residential land and commercial land which had switched into a rising trend for the first time in six years in the three metropolises of Tokyo, Osaka, and Nagoya.

In the Tokyo region, the low-interest rate policy, a recovery of the consumption trend, together with an increase in foreign tourists etc.  had led to a land price rise in 23 wards. As for the price in the residential section of Chiyoda-district where land price was the highest in the whole country, there was a 6.5% increase compared with the previous year, which was equal to 2,960,000 yen per square meter. In the commercial land in Ginza, Chuo-ku it went up by 9.6% and the price was 29,600,000 yen per square meter.

Moreover, due to the decision to hold the Tokyo Olympic Games and the Paralympics in 2020, mainly in coastal areas the land prices for condominiums began to go up since the second half of 2013. The land price in Chuo-ku near the Kachidoki Station rose by 10.9% compared with last year, reaching 954,000 yen per square meter.

Due to the hope generated by the redevelopment of the East Gate station and the opening of linear motor car traffic, the price at the neighborhood of the Nagoya Station subway in Nagoya of Aichi rose by 10.1% compared with the previous year.

In the area encircling the Osaka Station where redevelopment was in progress, the price went up by 8%. Also in Nakanoshima near the Osaka Station a strong upward tendency could be seen in apartments in the residential section.

In addition, among the three devastated prefectures, Miyagi Prefecture had a strong transfer demand from disaster residents, at the central part of the Ishinomaki there was a 15.1% rise in price compared with last year. The land price around a new station: the Sendai city-owned subway to be opened in Sendai in 2015 had increased by 11.4%.

About the land price starting to go up for the first time in six years in the three metropolises, the Land Appraisal Committee of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism said "the land price increase was due to the fact that some of the money from the financial-market-relaxation has entered into the real estate, and also money earned by the export industry that had recovered due to the low yen and an increase in foreign tourists", and showed the view that the Abenomics effect had a positive influence on the real estate market situation.

(03/18 20:33)

It seems that the Abenomics is working well for the Japanese economy.

除菌剤能夠在「生活空間除菌」無根據

A few weeks ago the Yomiuri News on-line reported the following:

「生活空間を除菌」根拠なし…１７社に措置命令

　生活空間でのウイルス除去や消臭、花粉対策に効果があるとの表示には合理的根拠がないとして、消費者庁は２７日、二酸化塩素を使った空間除菌剤を販売していた大幸薬品（大阪）や大木製薬（東京）など１７社に対し、景品表示法違反（優良誤認など）で再発防止を求める措置命令を出した。

　一度に１７社に措置命令を出すのは同庁発足以来、最多。

　対象となった商品は、大幸薬品の「クレベリンゲル」や大木製薬の「ウイルオフバリア」などで、室内に置いて使用する据え置き型、首などにかけて使用する携行型の計２５商品。業界関係者によると、市場に出回る空間除菌剤は、１７社の商品が多くを占めるという。

　同庁が、表示の根拠を示すデータの提出を求めたところ、密閉空間でのデータだったり、商品よりも高濃度の除菌剤を使用したデータだったりで、同庁は「生活空間での効果の裏付けが確認できなかった」と説明した。

（2014年3月27日22時26分  読売新聞）

(試譯文)

   Noting that there was no reasonable basis to support a display which claimed that it was effective in virus elimination, in deodorization, and in dealing with the pollen in a living space, the Consumer Affairs Agency on the 27 (March) issued a command to 17 companies to ask for measures to prevent the recurrence of violating the Law for Preventing Unjustifiable Display and Misleading Representation (misrepresentation of quality etc.); the companies that sold chlorine dioxide based space disinfection agents included the Taiko Pharmaceutical (Osaka) and the Ohki Pharmaceutical (Tokyo) etc..

   Since the Agency’s inauguration, it was a record number to give commands on one single occasion to request 17 companies to take measures.

   The targeted goods were "Cleverin Gel" of Taiko Pharmaceutical and the "Uiruofu Barrier" of Ohki Pharmaceutical etc., for both the non-portable type used for indoors and the carrying type for the head etc. totaling 25 kinds of goods. According to a participant of the industry it was said that the goods of these 17 companies represented the majority of space disinfectants that appeared on the market.

   When the Agency asked for a presentation of data which formed the base in showing the display, it was told that the data were based on the usage in a concealed environment and that the disinfection agent used was of a higher concentration than the selling goods. The same Agency explained said "data used to substantiate the effect in a living space could not be verified".

I think the Agency has done a good job in protecting the interests of consumers.

地震３年後災區人口減少１３万人並持續減少

A few weeks ago the NHK News on-line reported the following:

震災３年 人口１３万人減歯止めかからず

3月11日 18時32分

東日本大震災で大きな被害を受けた岩手・宮城・福島の３県では、この３年間で人口が１３万人余り減少し、中には、震災前より２０％以上人口が減った自治体もあることが分かり、人口減少に歯止めがかかっていない実態が浮き彫りになっています。

ＮＨＫでは岩手・宮城・福島の３県で住民票や戸籍の動きを基にした人口のデータを使って、震災前の平成２３年３月１日から先月２月１日までの人口の増減を調べました。
その結果、震災前からこの３年間で、人口が３県合わせて１３万２２１０人、減少したことが分かりました。
１年ごとに見てみますと、震災で亡くなったり、避難したりした人が多かった震災１年目は８万５４８５人と大きく減少し、その後、震災２年目で２万９２４７人、震災３年目で１万７４７８人と減少の幅が小さくなってきているものの、人口減少に歯止めがかかっていません。
県別では、▽東京電力福島第一原子力発電所の事故の影響が大きい福島県が、この３年間で７万９６０１人減って最も減少の幅が大きく、▽岩手県は３万４６３６人、▽宮城県は１万７９７３人、それぞれ減りました。
自治体別の人口の減少率は、▽宮城県女川町が２８％と最も高く、次いで、▽岩手県大槌町が２２％、▽宮城県山元町が２１％、▽宮城県南三陸町が１８％、▽岩手県陸前高田市が１６％、▽岩手県山田町が１３％、▽福島県の浪江町と富岡町、それに双葉町がそれぞれ１０％となっていて、９つの市と町で１０％以上の人口が減少しています。
被災地では、新しい住まいの拠点となる災害公営住宅が、およそ３万戸の計画のうち、先月末時点で完成したのは３％、防災集団移転の移転先の土地の造成工事も、ことし１月末時点で完了したのは１０％にそれぞれとどまっています。
具体的な町の復興が見えないなか、これまでふるさとでの生活再建を目指していた人も、新しい住まいや仕事を求めて地元を離れる決断をするなど住民の流出が後を絶たず、人口減少に歯止めがかっていない実態が浮き彫りになっています。
一方、仙台市や盛岡市といった都市部や内陸部だけでなく、宮城県岩沼市のように津波の被害を受けた自治体でも防災集団移転の造成などが進んでいる地域では、３年目になって人口が増加に転じたところも出てきていて、被災地での二極化がより一層進んでいます。
東日本大震災で大きな被害を受けた岩手・宮城・福島の３県で人口減少が続いている現状について、人口問題に詳しいみずほ総合研究所の岡田豊主任研究員は、「被災地では若い人の雇用の場がなく、将来のまちづくりが分からない状況のため、今後も人口減少が進む可能性は高い。人口が減るところと増えるところの二極化が進んでいくなかで、東北全体で復興の在り方をどのように描いていくのか、前例にとらわれない形で抜本的に考え直していく必要がある」と指摘しています。

(試譯文)

Due to the Great East Japan Earthquake, in the past three years the population in the three prefectures of Iwate, Miyagi, and Fukushima which had suffered serious damage had decreased by 130,000. Inside them certain facts were found: in some self-governing bodies the population had decreased by 20% when compared with figures before the earthquake disaster, and the fact that population decrease had not stopped become a highlight.

In NHK, the changes in population was investigated, from March 1 of Heisei 23 before the earthquake disaster up to February 1 of last month, using the data based on population movements as showed in both the resident cards and the family registers in the three prefectures of Iwate, Miyagi, and Fukushima.

As a result, it turned out that in the three years after the earthquake disaster the population had decreased by 132,210 people in these three prefectures in total. 

When it was looked at annually, in the first year of the earthquake disaster, it decreased greatly by 85,485 people, many had passed away due to the earthquake disaster or had taken refuge somewhere. In the 2nd year it was 29,247 people, and in the 3rd year after the earthquake it came down to 17,478 people. While the size was reduced, still the population decrease did not stop.

At the prefecture level, respectively ▽ Fukushima Prefecture, where the impact of the accident caused by the Tokyo Electric Power Fukushima Number One nuclear power plant was great, the number of decrease in these three years was 79,601, the size of reduction was the greatest ▽ Iwate Prefecture decreased by 34,636 people ▽ Miyagi Prefecture by 17,973 people. 

In self-governing bodies the pace of decrease in population were ▽ Miyagi, Onagawa-cho being the highest at 28%, ranking second was ▽ Iwate, Otsuchi-cho at 22% ▽ Miyagi, Yamamoto-cho at 21% ▽ Miyagi, Minamisanrikui-cho 18% ▽Iwate, Rikuzen-Takata-shi 16% ▽Iwate, Yamada-cho 13% ▽ Fukushima Prefecture Tomioka-machi, Namie-machi, and also Futaba-cho respectively had a 10% population decrease; in nine cities and towns it was a 10% percent or more decrease.

In the stricken area where emergency public housings were used as a base for new homes, 3% was completed at the end of last month among the about 30,000 houses planned. Also regarding the construction work for land that was to be used as a transfer destination for people for reason of disaster prevention, the percentage completed at the end of January this year stayed at 10% in various locations.

While a concrete revival for towns was not in sight, people who all along aimed at a life reconstruction in their home town until now also had left the area in quest for new home and employment. The outflow of those residents who had made a decision to leave had not ended. The actual condition of having a decreasing population had been highlighted.

On the other hand, not only in urban areas such as Sendai and Morioka or the inland, but also in the self-governing bodies that had suffered from the damage of the tsunami such as Iwanuma-shi, Miyagi, and in areas that had disaster prevention group relocation etc. in progress, in the 3rd year, a population changed towards an increase had also been noted, and a bi-polarization in the stricken area was progressing further.

About the present condition that a decrease in population was continuing in the three prefectures of Iwate, Miyagi, and Fukushima which had suffered serious damage due to  the Great East Japan Earthquake, Yutaka Okada the Senior Research Scientist of the Mizuho Research Institute which was familiar with population problems showed  that “the possibility is high that a decrease in population in the stricken area will continue to progress because of the situation that there is no place to employ the young people, and the future of town planning was not known. In face of the bi-polarization in population increase and decrease in progress, on how are we going to draw the path of reconstruction in the Northeast as a whole, we need to reconsider fundamentally in a way that is not restricted by any precedents”.

How to rebuild the new towns is a huge subject for the Japanese Government.

中国: 停止販売大気汚染保険

Last month the Mainichi News on-line reported the following:

中国:大気汚染保険の販売停止　支払い条件厳しく

毎日新聞　2014年04月03日　19時38分

　【北京・井出晋平】大気汚染が深刻化する中国で、大手保険会社が発売した大気汚染による健康被害を補償する保険商品が、約１週間で販売停止に追い込まれた。保険金支払い条件が厳しすぎるため、当局が販売停止を命じたという。

　中国の英字紙「チャイナ・デーリー」などが３月２７日に報じた。保険を発売したのは、中国の保険大手、中国人民保険と中国平安保険の２社。いずれも北京など特定都市が対象で、掛け金は７８元（約１３００円）から。

　大気汚染が原因の健康被害に最高１５００元の保険金を支払うほか、微小粒子状物質「ＰＭ２．５」の濃度が１立方メートルあたり２５０マイクログラム以上の「厳重汚染」が５日間続いた場合などでも給付金を支払う。同１７日から発売された。

　だが、保険金の支払いを受けるには、大気汚染と健康被害の因果関係を証明することが必要。また、市内すべての観測地点で汚染が連続して観測されることなどが条件だった。

　中国メディアによると、健康被害と大気汚染の関係を証明するのは困難なうえ、北京市内１２の観測地点全てで５日間、厳重汚染が続いたことはないという。

　このため、実際に保険金を受け取るのは難しく「保険ではなく、まるで宝くじだ」との批判が出たため、中国保険監督管理委員会が販売停止を命じた。保険会社は契約数などを明らかにしていないが、すでに契約した保険は有効という。

(試譯文)

In China with the air pollution aggravating, insurance instruments to compensate for health impairment caused by air pollution were put on the market by major insurance companies. But they were forced to stop the sale in about one week; it was said that this was because the insurance policy payout conditions were too severe, the authorities ordered the sale to stop.

A Chinese English paper the "China Daily" etc. reported it on March 27th. Putting the insurance on the market were two major Chinese insurance companies: the Chinese People Insurance and the China Common Security. Both with a specific city as the target, such as Beijing, and the premium started from 78 Yuan (about 1300 yen).

For health impairment with air pollution as a cause, a maximum of 1500 Yuan insurance money would be paid, and payment would also be made when the concentration of the minute particulate matter "PM2.5" was in "severe contamination" of 250 micro-grams or more per cubic meter and had been in continuation for five days. The insurance was put on the market starting from the 17^th of the same month.

However, in order to receive the payment of insurance money, one had to prove the cause-and-effect relationship between air pollution and health impairment. Moreover, one condition was that a contamination had been observed continuously at all the observation points in the city etc.

According to a China media, it was said that to prove the relation between health impairment and air pollution was difficult, and no severe contamination could continue for five days at all the 12 observation points in Beijing.

For reasons that it was criticized as "not insurance but more like public lottery" and that it was difficult to actually receive the insurance money, the China Insurance Regulatory Commission ordered the sale to be stopped. Although the insurance companies had not clarified the number of contracts concluded, it was said that those insurance that already had a contract would be effective.

I agree with the observation that to prove the relation between health impairment and air pollution was difficult.

日本宇航研究所開展発射超小型衛星收費新服務

Recently the NHK News on-line reported the following

超小型衛星 有料で打ち上げ新サービス

5月4日 11時28分

ＪＡＸＡ＝宇宙航空研究開発機構は、企業や大学などの間で急速に利用が進む超小型衛星を有料で打ち上げる新たなサービスを始めることを決め、最も小さな１０センチ角の衛星については、３００万円で打ち上げを請け負うことになりました。

企業や大学などが開発した超小型衛星について、ＪＡＸＡはこれまで人材育成などの目的で選定委員会が承認したものにかぎり、無料で打ち上げを行ってきました。
しかし、超小型衛星の打ち上げ需要が日増しに高まっていることなどから、有料で衛星を打ち上げる新たなサービスを始めることを決めました。
料金は、最も小さい１０センチ角の衛星が３００万円で、宇宙輸送船の「こうのとり」などで国際宇宙ステーションに運んだうえで、ことし１０月以降、宇宙空間に放出します。
ＪＡＸＡは、この有料のサービスを始めたあとも、人材育成などを目的にした無料での打ち上げは引き続き、行うとしています。

(試譯文)

The JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) had decided to begin a new paid service of launching micro satellites that were rapidly made use of among companies and universities etc.; it would do contracted launching for satellite as small as 10-cm square for 3 million yen.

About micro satellites which were developed by companies and universities etc. for personnel training purpose etc., so far JAXA launched them without a pay and limited them to those recognized by a selection committee. 

However, since the demand for the launching micro satellites was increasing every day, it was decided that a new service of launching satellites for a pay should be started.

About the fees, the smallest satellite was 10-cm square for 3 million yen. It would be carried to the International Space Station by the "Stork" etc. space transport vehicles, and it would be emitted to the space after October this year.

Also it was said that after JAXA began the paid serve, free of charge launches aiming at personnel training etc. would supposedly be continued.

It is good news that micro-satellites could be launched at a low cost of 3 million yen.

日本亞馬遜增加酒類直銷

Last month the Mainichi News on-line reported the following:

アマゾンジャパン:酒類を直販

毎日新聞　2014年04月08日　22時55分（最終更新　04月08日　23時03分）

　インターネット通販大手のアマゾンジャパン（東京）は８日、酒類の販売を自社で開始したと発表した。サイトに出店している事業者が既に酒類を販売しているが、自社で新たに５０００品目以上の販売を始め、取り扱う商品は計１５万品目以上になるという。

　自社商品はビールやワインに加え、４７都道府県の日本酒１０００品目以上と、焼酎１４００品目以上を販売し、ウイスキーの品ぞろえにも力を入れたという。（共同）

(試譯文)

It was announced on the 8^th (April) that Amazon Japan (Tokyo), a major Internet mail-ordering company, would start the sale of liquor in its companies. Although the entrepreneur had opened shops on site and had already been selling liquor, it was said that sale of over 5000 new items would began at its companies, and the goods to be dealt with could be over 150,000 items.

Regarding the company’s selling goods, in addition to beer and wine, together with sake from all the 47 prefectures, in total over 1000 items were on sale; over 1400 items of white distilled liquor would also be sold. It was said that efforts would also be put into the whiskey products collection.

Obviously Amazon is expanding its business in Japan.

黄炳瑞成為北朝鮮第二號人物

北朝鮮 ナンバー２の要職にファン氏

5月2日 16時00分

北朝鮮で事実上ナンバー２とされるチェ・リョンヘ氏が務めてきた軍の役職に、ファン・ビョンソ氏が就いたことが分かり、今後、指導部の中でのファン氏の影響力が強まることが予想されます。

北朝鮮国営の朝鮮中央通信は２日未明、１日ピョンヤンで行われたメーデーの行事について伝える記事の中で、キム・ジョンウン第１書記の側近で事実上のナンバー２とされるチェ・リョンヘ氏に代わり、ファン・ビョンソ氏を軍総政治局長として紹介しました。
ファン氏は先月、チェ氏と同じ軍の次帥に昇進したばかりで、北朝鮮国営メディアの分析をしているラヂオプレスによりますと、ファン氏がこの肩書きで公式報道されるのは初めてだということです。北朝鮮の軍総政治局長は軍内部の思想統制を担当する部署のトップで、今後、指導部の中でのファン氏の影響力が強まることが予想されます。
一方、前任のチェ氏は、先月９日に行われた北朝鮮の国会に当たる最高人民会議で国防委員会の副委員長に就任したばかりですが、ことしに入って国営メディアで動静が伝えられる回数が大きく減っており、健康状態の悪化が取りざたされていました。

(試譯文)

It turned out that Fan Byonso had taken up Choi Ryonhe’s position in the army that would effectually turn him into the number 2 man in North Korea; it was expected that the influence of Fan in the Guidance Department would become strong from now on.

Before dawn on the 2^nd, in a report that talked about the May Day events performed in Pyongyang on the 1^st, the Korea Central News Agency managed by the North Korea government introduced Fan, instead of Choi Ryonhe, as the head of the chief army political bureau, effectively making Fan as the number 2 man by his proximity to Kim Jong Eun the 1st secretary.

Last month Fan was been just promoted as the deputy governor of the army same as Choi. According to the Radio Press which analyzed the North Korea state media, it was the first time that Fan was mentioned by this title in an official report. The head of the army general political bureau of North Korea was a post that took charge of thought controls inside the army, and it was expected that the influence of Fan inside the Guidance Department would become strong from now on.

On the other hand, although Choi the predecessor had just inaugurated on the 9th of the last month as the vice chairman of National Defense Commission in the Supreme People's Assembly which was an equivalent to the North Korea Parliament, entering this year, the number of times that he was mentioned by the state media had been reduced substantially, and a deterioration in health condition was mentioned.

It seems that Choi’s fading out from the political scene was not due to political reasons.