防衛省公開首架国産隱形機相片、明年１月初飛行

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

国産初のステルス機、防衛省が画像公開　来年１月初飛行

谷田邦一

2014年8月20日18時44分

　次世代戦闘機の独自開発をめざす防衛省が、実験モデルとしてつくった国産初のステルス機「先進技術実証機（ＡＴＤ）」の画像を公開した。レーダーに映りにくいステルス形状や推力の方向を自在に操れる高機動性が特徴。来年１月中旬に初飛行し、２０１６年度までデータを収集する。

　機体は全長約１４メートル、全幅約９メートル。エンジンが小型のため、実際の戦闘機よりひと回り小さい。ステルス性を高めるため機体に炭素繊維でできた電波吸収材を使ったり、噴流を自由に変えられる国産初のアフターバーナー付きエンジン２発を搭載したりして国産企業の最新技術を結集している。

　同省の技術研究本部が１９９６年度から三菱重工業とともに基礎研究を始め、今年５月にエンジンや飛行制御システムを搭載した機体がほぼ完成。初飛行に向けた機能チェックを重ねている。総事業費は３９２億円。同省は欧米に比べて遅れている戦闘機開発のレベルを高め、２７年ごろを目標に国産戦闘機を導入する選択肢がもてないかを探る。（谷田邦一）

(試譯文)

The Ministry of Defense which aimed at an independent development of the next-generation fighter plane showed the picture of its first Stealth plane, the "Advanced Technological Demonstrator-X (ATD)" built domestically as an experiment model. The features were its high mobility, its stealth form making it not easily be reflected in radar, and the direction of its thrust could be freely controlled. The first flight would be carried out in mid-January next year, and data would be collected till fiscal year 2016.

The body was about 14 meters in full length, and about 9 meters in full width. As the engine was small, the Stealth was somewhat smaller than an actual fighter. In order to improve its stealth nature, the body was made by carbon fiber which was a radio-wave-absorbing material. It was equipped with two domestically built afterburner engines, making the jet stream freely changeable. It combined the state-of-the-art technology of Japanese companies.

The Technical Research and Development Institute of the said Ministry began basic research with the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries from fiscal year 1996. The body which carried the engines and the flight control system was almost completed in May this year. The function check towards the first flight was piling up. The total operating expense was 39,200 million yen. The said Ministry was exploring whether it could have a choice to raise the level of the fighter plane development, which had fallen behind compared with the West, and to aim at introducing domestic fighters around 2027.

Obviously it needs time and money to research and build the Stealth planes.

A historical moment in Hong Kong

A historical moment in Hong Kong - in a non-violent  manner Hong Kong people speak out their wish on politics.

Two days ago a group of rock climbers hang a huge yellow banner - reading "I want real universal suffrage" - from the top of Lion Rock in Hong Kong to show support for the democracy movement. It was removed by the Hong Kong Government within hours.

                    “I want real universal suffrage" (translation)

I think this is the "Hong Kong Lion Rock spirit 2014".

採用秋田教學法、沖縄脱離全國學力測驗最差位置

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

秋田流で成績アップ、沖縄が学テ最下位脱出

2014年08月25日 20時53分

　文部科学省は２５日、４月２２日に実施した「全国学力・学習状況調査」（全国学力テスト、学テ）の結果を発表した。

　昨年度に続いて全員参加方式で行われた今回は、これまで低迷していた沖縄県の小学校の成績が全４教科とも大きく改善し、昨年度全国４７都道府県で最下位だった算数Ａが６位になった。下位の自治体も昨年度と比べて全国平均との差が縮小傾向で、全体的に学力が向上していた。

　学テは国語、算数・数学の基礎力を測るＡ問題と、応用・思考力をみるＢ問題があり、国公私立約３万校の小学６年生、中学３年生の計約２１５万人が受けた。文科省は都道府県別について、各教委が管轄する公立校のみの平均正答率を発表した。

　これまでの学テでは、成績上位、下位の自治体が固定化する傾向があったが、全員参加方式で行われた過去４回のテストで毎回、全国最下位の科目があった沖縄県が、小学校の全教科で最下位から脱した。同県では、成績が全国トップクラスの秋田県と教員の交流を行い、板書方法など秋田流の指導を導入。県教委は「努力が実り、児童の自信につながる」とした。

　昨年度、小学校国語Ａで全国最下位だった静岡県も、正答率が全国平均とほぼ同じにまで改善した。

　小学校では、全国平均と最下位の正答率の格差が、全教科で初めて３・５ポイント内に収まった。文科省が全国平均と下位の３自治体の平均正答率を昨年度と比べた結果、小中すべての教科で同じか、格差が縮小。無回答率が２０％以上だった問題数も過去最少になった。

(試譯文)

On 25^th (August) the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology announced the result of the "National learning ability and learning situation investigation" (the National achievement test, or the Gaku Te) that was carried out on April 22.

This time the method of participation, following that of last year, was by all members. Okinawa all along had poor performance now showed great improvement in all four subjects. In Arithmetic A which last year had the lowest performance in primary schools among the 47 country-wide metropolis and districts now was at the sixth place. Compared with last year, the difference between local governments that had poor performance and the national average was reduced; there was a general improvement tendency in learning ability.

Questions in A part aimed at measuring National Language, Arithmetic, and basic skills in mathematics while B part looked into the application and intellectual power. Sixth graders from approximately 30,000 national public and private institutions, together with approximately 2,150,000 ninth graders received the Gaku Te. The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology only announced the mean correct-answer-rate for public schools in prefectures, metropolis and districts where individual Board of Education had jurisdiction.

Up to now in the Gaku Te the test results showed a fix tendency among local governments to achieve high ranking or low ranking. Regarding the nationwide elementary school test under the all-members participation method, Okinawa always had one subject at the lowest in the past four years, yet this time it escaped from the last place in the all-subjects test. This prefecture performed teachers interchange with Akita, which was at the top-class of the whole country, and introduced the Akita style instruction that included the blackboard demonstration method. The prefecture Board of Education said "The effort is fruitful, leading to the self-confidence of children".

In last year, Shizuoka prefecture was at the lowest of the whole country in National Language A, now it showed improvements in the rate of correct answer, almost reaching the national average in elementary schools.

In elementary schools, the difference in correct-answer-rate between the lowest schools and the national average for the first time stayed within 3.5 points in all subjects. When the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology compared last year’s national average with the mean correct-answer-rate of the 3 lowest local governments, it found that the inequality was reduced in all subjects for both the elementary and the middle. On the problem that the rate of No-Answer was over 20%, this number became the smallest ever, too.

It is nice to note that Japan is making improvements in its education.

涉及美軍事件及事故、日本支付３．８億円賠償

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

米軍絡みの事件・事故、日本が３．８億円賠償

泗水康信

2014年8月12日22時42分

　米軍が関係する事件・事故が、昨年度までの１０年間に国内で少なくとも約１万件起き、日本が負担した被害者への賠償金は約３億８千万円以上に上ることが、防衛省の統計などでわかった。日本側に責任がないケースも多いとみられるが、日米地位協定で負担率が決まっているためだ。米軍基地が集中し、発生件数の半数を占める沖縄では、協定改定を求める声が根強い。

　防衛省や沖縄県によると、２００４～１３年度、米軍機の墜落や米軍人・軍属による交通事故や強盗、性犯罪などの事件・事故は、公的な賠償の対象になりうるものだけで、公務中２１３８件、公務外７８２４件の計９９６２件が発生。うち約４８％が沖縄で起きていた。

　住民ら被害者への賠償金は計約２０億３千万円で、うち公務中の事件・事故は約１５億円。日米地位協定は、公務中のものなら米軍側に責任があっても、日本政府が２５％を負担すると定めている。双方に責任があれば負担率は５０％。日本は２５％か５０％を支払う仕組みだ。

　この１０年の公務中の事故などが全て米軍側の責任で起きたとしても、日本は約１５億円のうち約３億８千万円を負担した計算になる。０４年８月に起き、１３日で発生から１０年となる沖縄国際大（宜野湾市）へのヘリ墜落事故では、日本側の責任はないとされ、賠償金約２億７千万円のうち２５％を日本が負担している。

　一方、公務外の事件・事故の賠償金負担率は、地位協定に明記されていない。

　沖縄での米軍の事件・事故に関する訴訟を多く手がける新垣勉弁護士は「沖国大でのヘリ事故後も、沖縄で米軍関係の事件・事故が相次ぐ状況は変わっていない。米軍側に責任がある公務中の不法行為に日本の税金が使われる仕組みはおかしく、米国が全額を負担すべきだ」と指摘する。（泗水康信）

(試譯文)

At least about 10,000 incidents or accidents related to the U.S. Forces had occurred in the country in the ten years up to the last fiscal year; it was turned out by statistics of the Ministry of Defense etc. that the compensation given to victims paid by Japan went up to over 380 million yen. While it seemed that in many cases the responsibility was not on Japan, yet it had to pay because a contribution percentage had been decided by the Status of Forces Agreement signed between Japan and the U.S. A call for agreement amendment was deep-rooted in Okinawa where U.S. bases had concentrated and half of these cases happened there.

According to the Ministry of Defense and the Okinawa Prefecture, in the 2004 -13 fiscal years, there were in total 9,962 incidents and accidents including the crash of a U.S. Forces plane, traffic accidents by U.S. Forces staff or army’s civilian employees, burglar and sex crimes, all could become the target for public compensation. Among them 2,138 incidents happened during official activities, 7,824 cases were non-official. Among them about 48% occurred in Okinawa.

The compensation to victimized residents was about 2,030 million yen in total, among them the incidents and accidents related to official activities was about 1,500 million yen. According to the Status of Forces Agreement between Japan and the U.S., an incident of official activities nature, even if the responsible was on the side of the U.S. Forces, the Agreement had decided that the Japanese government had to pay 25%. Contribution percentage would be 50% if both sides were responsible. Japan was in a system of paying 25% or 50%.

Supposed that in these ten years all the accidents occurred were due to official activities with the responsibility solely on the side of the U.S. Forces, of the about 1,500 million yen paid, in calculation Japan had to pay about 380 million. Regarding the helicopter plane crash occurred in August, 2004 at the Okinawa International University (Ginowan), which would be its tenth years on 13^th (August) after the happening, while it was presupposed that Japan was not responsible yet it had to pay 25% of the about 270 million yen compensation.

On the other hand, the compensation contribution percentage was not specified in the Status of Forces Agreement regarding incidents and accidents due to non-official activities.

Lawyer Tsutomu Aragaki who had dealt with many lawsuits on incidents and accidents of the U.S. Forces in Okinawa pointed out that "after the helicopter accident in Okinawa International University, the situation that U.S. Forces-related incidents and accidents continued to occur in Okinawa has not changed. The mechanism in which Japan’s revenue is used to pay for law breaking incidents happened in official activities which the U.S. Forces had responsibility is amusing; the U.S. should pay for the full amount".

It seems that the Status of Forces Agreement signed between Japan and the U.S. is unfair to the tax-payers in Okinawa.

伊能忠敬的蝦夷地図採用間宮林蔵的資料？

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

伊能忠敬の蝦夷地図、間宮林蔵のデータで描く？

2014年08月19日 00時05分

　江戸時代後期、伊能忠敬(いのうただたか)（１７４５～１８１８年）が作製した日本全国測量地図の蝦夷地(えぞち)（北海道）全体が、忠敬の弟子で探検家の間宮林蔵（１７８０？～１８４４年）の測量データに基づいて描かれたと考えられると、伊能忠敬研究会が１８日、発表した。

　定説では、忠敬が未測量の北海道北側部分のみを林蔵のデータで補足したとされていた。

　同会は、１８００年の第１次測量で測った函館付近から厚岸(あっけし)付近まで南側の海岸線について忠敬が作った測量図と、１８２１年の最終版「大日本沿海輿地(よち)全図」のデジタル画像を重ね合わせて比較。その結果、両図で海岸線が最大数キロ離れていることを確認した。

　同会によると、忠敬は第１次測量で南側だけを測って以後、蝦夷地を訪れていない。一方、林蔵は蝦夷地を測量したデータを１８１７年に忠敬に引き継いだとされる。忠敬は、弟子以外のデータを用いない方針だったという。同会の渡辺一郎・名誉代表は「最初の測量で自信がなかった第１次のデータでなく、林蔵のデータを用いて正確な地図を作ろうとしたのでは」と話している。

(試譯文)

The Ino Tadataka study group announced on the 18^th (August) that, about the Ezo place (Hokkaido) in the whole Japan national survey map which Ino Tadataka (1745 –1818) produced in the late Edo period, it was thought that the map was drawn based on the survey data by one of Tadataka's pupil explorer Kura Miyabayashi (1780? - 1844)

In the established theory, it was supposed that only the Hokkaido north side portion was not surveyed by Tadataka and was supplemented by the data of Kura Miyabayashi.

The same study group used the image of the survey map on the south coastline from Hakodate to near Akkeshi measured by the first survey in 1800 made by Tadataka, piled up and compared it with the 1821 digital final edition of the "Complete map of great Japan coastal land". The result confirmed that in both maps the coastline had a difference of several kilometers at the maximum.

According to the same study group, Tadataka in the first survey only measured the southern side and thereafter had not visited the Ezo place. On the other hand, the data on Ezo place surveyed by Kura Miyabayashi was taken over by Tadataka in 1817. Tadataka had said that he did not plan to use any data other than his pupil. Ichiro Watanabe, the honorable representative of the study group said "rather than using the data of the first survey which had no confidence, the data of Kura Miyabayashi was used to make an accurate map".

It is an interesting historical discovery. These maps were of top quality in those days.

兵庫縣建造世界最大水上太陽能發電浮台

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

水上メガソーラー、世界最大　京セラが兵庫で建設

山村哲史

2014年8月31日11時53分

　京セラが、水上式では世界最大規模の太陽光発電所（メガソーラー）を兵庫県加東市のため池に建設する。出力２９００キロワット、投資額は１０億円。９月に工事を始め、来年４月から発電する。

　西平池と東平池に、仏シエル・テール社から買う高密度ポリエチレン架台を浮かべ、太陽電池を計１万１２５６枚載せる。京セラと東京センチュリーリースが出資した「京セラＴＣＬソーラー」が運営する。年間発電量は一般家庭９２０世帯分の３３０万キロワット時。関西電力に売る。

　京セラＴＣＬはこれを手始めに、今年度中に全国の池などで３０件、計６万キロワットの発電所を計画。すでに１００件超の引き合いがあるという。（山村哲史）

(試譯文)

In a reservoir in Kato-shi of Hyogo, Kyocera would build the world's largest photovoltaic power plant (a large scale solar power system) using the aquatic style. With an output of 2900 kW and an investment amount of 1 billion yen, constructions would be started in September; it would generate electricity from April next year.

High-density polyethylene mounts bought from Ciel Terre, a French company would be floated on Dongping pond Nishihira pond, and a total of 11,256 solar cells would be put on them. "Kyocera TCL Solar" which was funded by Kyocera and the Tokyo Century Leasing Corporation would do the management. The annual energy production was 3,300,000 kWh, good for 920 ordinary households. The energy would be sold to the Kansai Electric Power.

As a start, in the current fiscal year Kyocera TCL was planning on 30 projects to set up plants in ponds etc. all over the country to produce 60,000-kW in total. It was said that there were already more than 100 inquiries.

It is good news to note that Japan is investing more money in solar energy production.

希望長住鄉村地方的人急増、有接近４成是２０-30歳

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

田舎への定住希望が急増、２０歳代で４割近くに

2014年08月10日 22時27分

　内閣府が９日発表した「農山漁村に関する世論調査」によると、農山漁村地域の住民で、地域の将来について「衰退する」と答えた人が３７・６％に上り、「活性化する」の１３・６％を大きく上回った。

　生活で困っていることでは、「仕事がない」（３２・７％）が最も多かった。

　都市部の住民では、田舎への定住を希望する人が３１・６％で、前回２００５年調査より１１ポイント増加。年齢別では２０歳代が３８・７％で最も多かった。希望者に定住のために必要な条件を複数回答で尋ねたところ、「医療機関の存在」（６８・０％）、「仕事があること」（６１・６％）と続いた。

　調査は６月１２日から２２日まで、全国の２０歳以上の男女３０００人を対象に行い、有効回収数は１８８０人（回収率６２・７％）だった。

(試譯文)

   According to an "opinion poll about rural area" which the Cabinet Office released on the 9^th (August), on the future of the rural area, among the residents living there, those who answered it would "decline" went up to 37.6%, far exceeded the 13.6% who answered "it is activated".

   On what would be the trouble on the daily life, the majority was "there is no work" (32.7%).

   Among the residents in the urban areas, those who wished to settle in the countryside increased by 11 points to reach 31.6% compared to the investigation last time in 2005. According to age group the majority was in the twenties standing at 38.7%. When asked about the conditions required to become a candidate to settle, by multiple answers it was said that "the existence of medical institutions" (68.0%) and "there is work" (61.6%) and so on.

   The investigation was conducted from June 12 to the 22nd on 3000 men and women aged above 20 all over the country. The number of effective collection was 1880 people (62.7% recovery rate).

It is an interesting survey.

中国人以廚師資格入境大量購買紙尿片被逮捕

Yesterday the FNN News on-line reported the following:

料理人として入国しながら紙おむつ大量買い付け　中国人3人逮捕

10/17 01:03

料理人として日本に入国しながら、紙おむつの買い付けを仕事にしていたとして、出入国管理法違反の疑いで、中国人の男3人が逮捕された。
兵庫・明石市にある、一見、なんの変哲もない倉庫。
しかし、防犯カメラは、昼夜を問わず、何かを大量に出し入れする様子をとらえていた。
倉庫の裏側からは、紙おむつが、山積みになっていることがわかる。
この倉庫の中で見つかったのは、紙おむつ1万パック。
この紙おむつをめぐり、中国人の男3人が逮捕された。
中華料理の料理人として日本に入国しながら、紙おむつの買い付けを仕事にしていたとして、出入国管理法違反の容疑がかけられている。
日本の紙おむつは、中国でおよそ1.5倍の値段で売れるため、日本からの転売が常態化。
北京市民は、「日本製おむつは、赤ちゃんのお尻が赤くならないけど、ほかの国のものは赤くなる」と話した。
逮捕された3人は、警察が確認した5日間に、延べ269店舗で、990パックを買い占めていた。
紙おむつを転売したことがあるという中国人の男性は、「(紙おむつを)1,200円で買って、こっち(業者)が1,500円で回収する。1日、2〜3万円くらい、お小遣いが稼げる」と話した。
また、警察は、3人から紙おむつを買い取っていた中国人の男性についても、古物営業法違反の容疑で捜査している。

(試譯文)

Three Chinese male entering Japan as a cook were arrested on suspicion of violating the Immigration Control Law in carrying out the purchase of disposable diaper as their profession.

In Akashi, Hyogo there was an ordinary Warehouse at a glance.

However, the security camera had caught signs that something was taken in large quantities, all day and night.

The back side of this warehouse showed that disposable diapers were piling up in heaps.

It was disposable diaper and 10,000 packs were found in this warehouse.

Three Chinese male were arrested involving these disposable diapers.

Noting that the purchase of disposable diapers was carried out as a profession while entering Japan as a cook of Chinese food, they were suspected of violating the Immigration Control Law.

Since the price of Japanese disposable diaper here would be sold at about 1.5 times in China, a resale from Japan became commonplace.

A Beijing resident said that "As for Japanese-made diapers, a baby's hips would not become red; things from other countries would make it red".

About the three arrested people, the police checked in five days a total of 269 stores and found out that they had bought 990 packs.

A Chinese male who had resold the disposable diaper said "I buy it for 1,200 yen (disposable diaper), and here (contractor) it was collected at 1,500 yen. In one day about 20,000 to 30,000 yen pocket money could be earned".

Moreover, regarding a Chinese male who bought disposable diaper from these three people, the police were also investigating him on suspicion of violating the antique dealings act.

So, Japanese disposable diaper is popular in Beijing for its good quality.

日本公開二・二六等事件軍法会議記録

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

二・二六事件などの軍法会議記録 公開へ

8月26日 4時18分

法務省は、全国の検察庁で保管されている旧日本軍による「軍法会議」の記録を、国立公文書館に移すことを決めました。
昭和初期の「二・二六事件」や「五・一五事件」に関するものも含まれていて、日本の近代史を知るうえで貴重な資料が、今後、一般に公開されることになりました。

国立公文書館に移されるのは、明治１５年ごろから昭和２１年ごろにかけて、旧日本軍が開いた「軍法会議」の訴訟記録およそ１２００冊です。
このなかには、昭和７年に、当時の犬養毅総理大臣が海軍の青年将校に暗殺された「五・一五事件」の判決文や、昭和１１年に陸軍の青年将校らがおよそ１４００人を率いて東京の中枢を占拠し、政府要人らを殺害した「二・二六事件」での将校の供述調書などが含まれています。
これらの記録は、全国１２の地方検察庁で保管され、これまで研究者などに限って閲覧が認められていました。
これについて、法務省は「歴史的価値が高い」として、来年度以降、法律で定められた保管期間が過ぎたものを国立公文書館に移していくということで、日本の近代史を知るうえで貴重な資料が今後、一般に公開されることになりました。

(試譯文)

Regarding the "court-martial" record of Japan's now-defunct Army currently kept at the Public Prosecutor's Offices all over the country, the Ministry of Justice decided to move them to the National Archives.

It contained records about the "February 26th Incident" and the "May 15th Incident" happened in the early stage of Showa which were precious data to know the modern history of Japan and would be opened to the public from now on.

What would be moved to the National Archives were about 1200 records of proceedings of the "court-martial" of Japan's now-defunct Army for the period from the Meiji 15th year to the Showa 21st year.

What were contained included the judgments passed on the "May 15th Incident" of Showa 7^th year when the then Prime Minister Tsuyoshi Inukai was assassinated by the naval youth officer, and also the written statements etc. of the officers involved in the "February 26th Incident" happened in Showa 11^th year in which Army youth officers commanded about 1400 people to occupy the center of Tokyo and murder key government people.

Until now these records were kept in the 12 District Public Prosecutor's Offices in the whole country and their inspection was restricted to the researchers etc.

It was said that the Ministry of Justice, because of their "high historical value", would move them over to the National Archives when the storage term set by law would pass after next year. As precious data to know modern history of Japan, it would be opened to the public from now on.

It is good news to people who are interested in modern Japanese history.