宮崎横穴墓群：朝鮮半島製造“銀装圓頭大刀”等大量陪葬品

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

宮崎横穴墓群:朝鮮半島製「銀装円頭大刀」など大量副葬品

毎日新聞　2015年01月19日　22時03分（最終更新　01月20日　00時08分）

　宮崎県えびの市教委は１９日、同市島内の「島内地下式横穴墓群」（５〜６世紀ごろ、古墳時代）で、装飾された朝鮮半島製の「銀装円頭大刀」など武器、武具を中心とした大量の副葬品を納めた有力者の墓が見つかったと発表した。未盗掘で、繊維や革が多数残存するなどほぼ完全な状態で見つかっており、市教委は「極めて珍しい例だ」としている。

　墓は道路工事に伴う調査で昨年１０月に見つかり、内部を調査していた。副葬品とともに男女と見られる２体の人骨が見つかった「玄室」は奥行き約２．２５メートル、幅約３．１メートル、高さ９４センチ。墓群約１６０基の中で最大級で、大和政権からの甲冑（かっちゅう）が含まれ、朝鮮半島とも直接交流のあった有力首長の墓と見られている。地下式横穴墓は南九州に特有の埋葬形式。

　刀身部分などに銀メッキが施された銀装円頭大刀は長さ約８０センチ、刃部幅約３センチ。矢羽根に黒漆装飾などがある矢約３００本や金銅製の装飾付き馬具２組、直径１５．５センチの銅鏡なども見つかった。通常は腐ってしまう繊維や革が良好な状態で残り、当時の製作技術や原形を知る上で貴重という。

　調査に携わった鹿児島大の橋本達也准教授（考古学）は「甲冑や銅鏡は大和政権との強いつながりを示し、武器・武具の質と量から武人的な首長と見られる。朝鮮半島交渉などに関わり活躍し、功績が評価された人物の可能性がある」と話している。

　同墓群からはこれまで計約１５００点の副葬品が見つかり、うち１０２９点が２０１２年に国重要文化財に指定されている。【重春次男】

(試譯文)

On the 19^th (January) Ebino city Education School Board of Miyazaki Prefecture announced that at Shimauchi of the same city they found, inside the “Shimauchi underground lateral holes tomb" (around 5^th - 6 ^th century Tumulus period), a great deal of burial items such as the "Silver wrapped circular head long sword" etc. decorated weapons made in Korean Peninsula. As a weapon collection location, it could be a grave of a prominent person. Because the tombs were in an un-robbed state, many fiber and leather were left behind, and most of them were found in perfect conditions. The municipal board of education said that "it is a very rare example".

 The grave was found in October last year during a highway construction survey and its interior was investigated. The "burial chamber", where two skeletons judged to be man and women as well as other burial items were found, was about 2.25 meters in depth, about 3.1 meters in width and 94 centimeters in height. It was the largest in the tombs group of about 160. As armor from Yamato government was included, it was judged to a grave of a strong leader who was also connected with the Korean Peninsula directly. The underground system cave grave burial style was peculiar to Southern Kyushu.

 A circular head long sword, with silver plating applied to the sword blade etc., was about 80 centimeters in length; its cutting portion was about 3 centimeters in width. About 300 arrows decorated with black lacquer arrow feather, two sets of harness with gilded bronze-made decoration, and a bronze mirror of 15.5 centimeters in diameter were found. The fiber and leather which would usually turn bad were in good conditions. It was say that they were valuable because we could know the manufacturing method in those days and see items in their original forms.

 Tatsuya Hashimoto the associate professor (Archaeology) of Kagoshima University who had participated in this investigation said that "the armor and bronze mirror indicate a strong connection with the Yamato government. Judged from the quality of the weapon and the amount of arms, the tomb was considered to be for an army leader. There is a possibility that this person was connected with the Korean Peninsula negotiations and had played an active role, and was regarded as meritorious".

 Up to now a total of about 1,500 items of burial items were found from the said grave group, and among them 1,029 items had been designated in 2012 as important national cultural asset.

Obviously it is an important historical finding for the study of relationship and cultural flows between Japan and the Korean peninsula in those days.

中國日本海事局之間設立對話窗口

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

日中 海洋当局間で対話窓口設置

1月23日 0時00分

海洋問題を巡って日中両政府の実務者が協議する会合が横浜市で開かれ、沖縄県の尖閣諸島の周辺海域で両国間の緊張状態が続いていることを受けて、海上保安庁と中国海警局との間に対話の窓口を新たに設けることで合意しました。

「日中高級事務レベル海洋協議」は両国間の海洋問題を巡って、実務者どうしの意思疎通を図ろうと３年前に設けられたもので、２２日横浜市で開かれた３回目の会合には外務・防衛当局や海洋分野の担当者ら、およそ６０人が出席しました。
２２日の会合では沖縄県の尖閣諸島の周辺海域で、中国の公船による日本の領海への侵入が相次ぎ、両国間の緊張状態が続いていることを巡って意見が交わされ、海上保安庁と中国海警局との間に対話の窓口を新たに設けることで合意しました。
また、中国のサンゴ漁船が日本の領海や排他的経済水域で違法操業を行っていることなどを念頭に、両国の捜査当局の間で海上犯罪への対策で協力を継続していくことで一致しました。
さらに、次回の海洋協議の会合を年内に中国で開くことも確認しました。

(試譯文)

A meeting formed by the working level officials from China and Japan to negotiate offshore problems was held in Yokohama-city. Noting the tense position between both countries was continuing at the sea area around the Senkaku Islands in Okinawa prefecture, it was agreed to establish a new dialogue window between the Maritime Safety Agency and the China maritime police bureau.

Regarding this "Sino-Japanese secretary level marine conference", it was designed three years ago in order that working level officials could communicate among themselves on offshore problems concerning both countries. The 3rd round meeting was held in Yokohama city on the 22nd (January) and approximately 60 people in charge of foreign affairs cum defense authority and the marine field had attended.

At the meeting held on the 22^nd, opinions were exchanged centering on the successive invasion into Japanese territorial waters by Chinese official ships at the sea area around the Senkaku Islands in Okinawa prefecture, and the continuing tense position between both countries. It was agreed to establish a new dialogue window between the Maritime Safety Agency and the China Maritime Police Bureau.

Also, bearing in mind the Chinese coral fishing boats were operating illegally in Japanese territorial waters and the exclusive economic zone, it was in agreement to continue with the cooperation between the investigating authorities of both countries on measures to tackle maritime crimes.

Further, it was also confirmed to meet for the next marine conference in China within a year.

I think to hold meetings between the two countries could avoid unnecessary misunderstandings.

國內最快數據通信開始...是LTE的1.5倍

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

国内最速のデータ通信開始へ…ＬＴＥの１・５倍

2015年01月15日 21時41分

　ＫＤＤＩ系の通信会社ＵＱコミュニケーションズは１５日、国内最速となる毎秒２２０メガ・ビットの通信速度のデータ通信サービスを２月から始めると発表した。

　次世代高速通信（ＬＴＥ）に比べて、速度は約１・５倍となる。毎月の通信料金は、現行の月３６９６円（税抜き）でも使えるが、月４３８０円（同）で月間の通信容量を無制限とした料金プランも始める。

　１月末以降に発売する携帯型の「Ｗｉ―Ｆｉ（ワイファイ）ルーター」を購入する必要がある。中国・華為技術（ファーウェイ）製とＮＥＣプラットフォームズ製で、端末価格はいずれも２年契約で２８００円（同）。

　複数の周波数帯を束ねて使う技術や、基地局と端末でそれぞれ４本のアンテナを使う世界初の技術を使う。

(試譯文)

On the 15^th (January) a communication company the UQ Communications of KDDI system announced that they began data transmission service at a communication speed of 220 megabits per second starting from February which would become the fastest in the country.

 This speed would be about 1.5 times of the next generation high-speed communication (LTE) in comparison. About the monthly communication fee, one can use the present 3,696 yen a month (tax excluded), but a service plan to have monthly unlimited communication usage capacity at 4,380 yen a month (same) had begun.

 It would be necessary to buy a portable "Wi-Fi (wireless-fidelity) router" to be sold after the end of January. The terminal appliance price for either China’s Huawei Technologies (Huawei) or the NEC Platforms would be 2,800 yen (same) for a 2-year contract.

 Using a technology that tied together more than one band frequency, it would be the world's first technology using 4 antennas respectively at the base station and the end terminal appliance.

It is an amazing improvement in data transmission service.

沖繩: 日本最長免費使用大橋！伊良部島大橋開通...

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

無料通行で日本一長～い！伊良部大橋開通…沖縄

2015年01月31日 21時53分

　沖縄県宮古島市の伊良部(いらぶ)島と宮古島を結ぶ伊良部大橋（長さ３５４０メートル）が３１日、開通した。

　県によると、通行料が無料の橋としては北九州空港の連絡橋（同２１００メートル）を抜いて国内最長。

　伊良部島の人口は約５４００人。市役所などがある宮古島への移動は船に限られ、「離島の離島」という状態を解消しようと、島民らが約４０年前から県などに架橋を要望していた。

　県は２００５年度に着工、事業費は国の補助も合わせて約３９５億円。片側１車線で、水道や農業用水の配管も敷設されている。

　３１日の開通式典には約８００人が出席し、島民らが渡り初めをして完成を祝った。長女（１）を抱いて渡った伊良部島の主婦広瀬八重子さん（３２）は「子供が急病になっても、すぐに車で運べるので安心」と笑顔で話した。

(試譯文)

On the 31^st (January), the Irabu Bridge (3,540 meters long) which linked up Irabu Island with Miyakojima of the Okinawa prefecture’s Miyakojima city was opened to traffic.

 According to the prefecture, as a toll free bridge, except for the bridge connecting Kitakyushu Airport (2,100 meters), it was the longest in the country.

 The population of Irabujima was about 5,400. Islanders who traveled to Miyakojima where the city office was located were limited to using a ship. In order to remove the statement of "a solitary island among the isolated islands" the demand to the prefecture to build a bridge etc. had started since some 40 years ago.

 The prefecture began work in the fiscal year 2005; the project cost including the help from the country was about 39,500 million yen. One lane was constructed on each side; water pipes and piping for agricultural water were also laid.

 While about 800 people attended its opening ceremony on the 31^st, the islanders also celebrated the completion and opening of this new bridge. A housewife Ms. Yaeko Hirose (32) of Irabujima, who was holding her eldest daughter (1) and crossing the bridge, talked with a smiling face that "even if my child was suddenly ill, it was a relief that she could have vehicle transportation immediately".

I think this new bridge could help local tourism too.

天馬航空，因顧客流失改變政策及下調票價

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

スカイマーク、運賃を値下げ　客離れで方針転換

2015年1月21日23時57分

　国内航空３位のスカイマークは３月２９日から、普通運賃を平均で約９％値下げすると発表した。経営難のため昨年１０月に平均約２８％の値上げをしたところだが、客離れが起きたため転換した。日本航空、全日本空輸との羽田発着便での共同運航は、３月末から始める方向で調整している。

　値下げするのは、国内２４路線のうち１９路線。羽田―福岡は４％下がり２万５９００円、羽田―那覇は１７％下がり２万８９００円となる。また、４月と５月の日曜日に限って、全路線の普通運賃を５千円～１万円にするサービスも始める。昨年１２月の搭乗率は５４・５％で、１２月としては９年ぶりに５０％台に落ち込んだ。

　共同運航は羽田発着の５路線で日航、全日空の両社と行う。この日に記者会見した日航の植木義晴社長は「３月に始められるよう工夫している」と話し、全日空広報も「前向きに調整している」とした。

(試譯文)

The SkyMark, which was at the 3^rd place in domestic airlines, announced that from March 29th it would reduce the price of ordinary fare by about 9 % on average. Because of financial difficulties it had just finished a price increase in October last year with an average of about 28 %; it reverted back because of a drop in customers. The departure and arrival flights at Haneda that had code-sharing with JAL and All Nippon Airways had a direction of starting the adjustment from the end of March.

  Regarding the price reduction it was the 19 domestic lines among the 24 in the country. Haneda-Fukuoka would decrease by 4% to become 25,900 yen, Haneda-Naha would fall 17 % to become 28,900 yen. Also, limited to Sundays in April and May, it began ordinary service at all routes for a fare of 5000 yen-10,000 yen. The boarding rate in December last year was 54.5%; it was the first time in nine year to fall on the 50% level in December.

  On the code-sharing, the five routes that had departure and arrival at Haneda would be operated together with JAL and ANA. President Yoshiharu Ueki of JAL who held a press conference on this day said that "it is being devised to start in March", and ANA public relations also supposed that "it is a forward looking adjustment".

Probably this adjustment would help SkyMark retain some customers.

原始人：在台灣發現新化石, 與北京和爪哇系統不同

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

原人:台湾で新たな化石発見　北京やジャワと別系統

毎日新聞　2015年01月28日　01時05分（最終更新　01月28日　01時23分）

　台湾沖の海底で新たな原人の化石が見つかったと、国立科学博物館などの国際チームが２７日付の英科学誌ネイチャー・コミュニケーションズ（電子版）に発表した。北京原人などアジアの他の原人とは異なる特徴を持つ「第４の原人」と考えられ、古代の人類が各地で多様に進化していたことを示す発見として注目される。【大場あい】

　チームによると、発見されたのは下あごの骨の右半分の化石。時期は不明だが、台湾本島と澎湖（ほうこ）諸島の間の海域で底引き網に引っかかり、地元収集家が保管していた。この海域では、台湾が大陸と陸続きだったころに生息していたゾウなどの化石が大量に見つかっている。

　２００９年に高井正成・京都大霊長類研究所教授が人類の化石と確認した。

　化石に含まれるフッ素などの分析から、アジア東南部に２０万年前以降に現れるハイエナの一種と同時代と推定。陸続きだった時期を考慮すると、１９万年前より新しい可能性が高いという。

　今回見つかったあごの骨の幅は、７５万〜４０万年前の北京原人の化石の平均よりも４ミリ以上厚く、親知らずの一つ手前の第２大臼歯も一回り大きかった。８０万年前のジャワ原人よりも大きい。

　進化に伴って歯やあごは小さくなるため、ジャワ原人、北京原人の子孫ではないと結論づけた。

　アジアではこれまで、ジャワ原人（１２０万〜５万年前）▽北京原人（７５万〜４０万年前）▽０３年にインドネシアでみつかった小型のフロレス原人（１００万〜数万年前）−−の三つの原人グループが知られている。

　海部陽介・国立科学博物館人類史研究グループ長は「台湾での原人発見は予想もしていなかった。今後アジアの人類の化石の空白地帯を埋めていくことで、人類の過去がもっと詳しく分かっていくだろう」と話す。

(試譯文)

  A British science magazine the Nature Communications dated the 27^th (January) (electronic edition) announced that an international team in the National Science Museum found primitive man's new fossil at the sea bottom off the coast of Taiwan. It was regarded as the "4th primitive man" with features different from the Peking Man and other primitive men in Asia; this discovery attracted attention because it showed that ancient mankind evolved differently in different regions.

 According to the team the fossil found was half of the lower right jaw bone. The timing was unknown. It was picked up by a dragnet at the sea area between Taiwan Island and Penghu Islands, and a local collector was keeping it. At this sea area large quantity of elephant fossils were found. They lived here at the time when Taiwan was connected with the continent by land.

 Professor Masashige Takai of the Kyoto University Primate Research Institute in 2009 confirmed it was a human fossil.

 From an analysis of the fluorine inside this fossil, it was presumed to belong to the same period's one kind of hyenas which appeared since 200,000 years ago at the south-eastern part of Asia. Yet when the period of land bridge was taken into consideration, it might be said that there was a new high possibility that the fossil was more 190,000 years ago.

 The width of the bone of the jaw found this time was more than 4 millimeters, thicker than the average of Peking Man's fossil remains that was 750,000 - 400,000 years ago. The 2nd molar just before one of the wisdom teeth was also slightly bigger. It was bigger than the Java Man of 800,000 years ago.

Because in evolution the tooth and jaw would become smaller, it was concluded that the fossil was not the descendant of Java Man and Peking Man.

 Up to now, the Java Man (1,200,000-50,000 years ago) ▽ the Peking Man (750,000-400,000 years ago) ▽the Small Flores primitive man (1,000,000- tens of thousands years ago) found in the year 2003 in Indonesia were the three known primitive man groups in Asia.

 Yousuke Kaifu the study group chief of the National Science Museum human history said that "the discovery of primitive man in Taiwan was not expected. From now on more Asian human fossil blank areas could be filled up. Mankind’s past would be known more in detail".

It is an interesting scientific discovery. It shows that ancient mankind may evolve differently in different regions.

松下、撤出在中國生產液晶電視

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

パナソニック、中国での液晶テレビ生産から撤退

2015年01月31日 11時35分

　パナソニックが、中国での液晶テレビの生産から撤退したことが分かった。

　中国市場向けに年２０万台を生産するが、価格が安い韓国や中国メーカーとの競争が激しく、採算が見込めないと判断した。北米向けに液晶テレビを年５０万台生産するメキシコ工場の閉鎖も検討する。拠点を減らし、赤字が続くテレビ事業の立て直しを急ぐ。

　中国・山東省にある液晶テレビ工場での生産を３０日に終えた。約３００人の従業員は解雇し、８割出資する生産子会社を清算する予定だ。パナソニックのテレビ工場は世界に１０か所あり、中国では山東省が唯一の生産拠点。今後、他社に生産を委託し、自社ブランドでの販売は続ける。

　メキシコでの生産も撤退すれば、全世界で約１割減産することになる。

(試譯文)

It was made clear that Panasonic would withdraw from producing liquid crystal television in China.

 It produced 200,000 a year for the Chinese markets, but there was severe competition from Korean and Chinese manufacturers at low price and it was judged that profit could not be expected. The closing of its Mexico factory which produced 500,000 liquid crystal televisions a year for North America was also being considered. With bases reduced and deficit continuing, re-arrangement of television business was urgent.

 The production of the liquid crystal television factory in Shantung province of China was stopped on the 30^th (January). About 300 employees were dismissed; to liquidate the production subsidiary company which had invested 80 percent in it was being planned. Globally Panasonic had 10 television factories; the only production base inside China was in Shantung province. From now on production would be entrusted to other companies and the sale using the Panasonic brand name would continue.

 When the production in Mexico was also withdrawn, its global production would be decreased by about 10 percent.

It is interesting to note that Korean and Chinese manufactures are key players in liquid crystal television production inside China.

中國國內智能手機迅速奪回市場佔有率...

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

中国国産スマホあっという間にシェア奪ったが…

2015年01月12日 14時18分

　スマートフォンの中国メーカーが、自国市場で急速に外国勢からシェア（占有率）を奪っている。

　世界最大の中国市場の販売増を土台に、海外でブランド価値を高めることができれば、中国メーカーも２０１５年に出荷台数が１億台を突破しそうだ。

　◆「１５年に１億台」

　華為技術（ファーウェイ）の１４年の世界出荷台数は年間７５００万台を超えた。米調査会社ＩＤＣによると１３年は４９００万台で、韓国サムスン電子（３億１６００万台）、米アップル（１億５３００万台）に次いで世界３位だったが、２強との差は縮まった模様だ。

　ファーウェイは「１５年に１億台を目指す」と表明している。日本全体のスマホ出荷台数（１３年は３０３１万台）の３倍の規模だ。胡厚崑（ケン・フー）輪番最高経営責任者（ＣＥＯ）は、読売新聞のインタビューに対し、「企業の成長に強い自信を持っている。新製品の開発に加え、中国国内でネット販売を強化する」と話す。

　新興企業の小米科技（シャオミ）は１４年の出荷台数が６１１２万台と前年の３倍を超えた。この勢いが続けば１５年に１億台に達する可能性がある。１月中に発表される新製品に注目が集まる。

　◆若者中心に支持

　中国メーカーは、足元の国内市場で販売が伸びている。１４年７～９月期のシェアはシャオミが首位、ファーウェイが４位など、中国勢４社で全体の半数近くを占めた。１０年時点は欧米３社で約８割を占めていた。

　中国勢の評価が上昇したのは、高画素カメラや指紋認証システムなどの部品価格が下がり、外国メーカーと性能の差が縮まったからだ。上位機種同士を比べると、中国メーカーのスマホは、サムスンやアップルの端末の半額程度で、初めてスマホを購入する若者を中心に支持を集める。シャオミは世界販売に占める中国国内の割合が９５％、ファーウェイは５０％だ。

　１３年のスマホ出荷台数は中国市場全体で約３億５０７０万台と、前年より６割増えた。１４年も伸びており、中国勢の成長は続きそうだ。

　ただ、世界市場の攻略には、ブランド力が課題となりそうだ。ファーウェイは、日本市場に１１年から参入し、現在はＮＴＴドコモやソフトバンク向けに出荷するが、認知度は低い。１４年の世界の企業ブランド価値の９４位に入ったが、まだ力不足だ。

　１３年の中国スマホ市場で２位のレノボは、米モトローラの買収手続きを１４年１０月に完了した。米国市場で地盤を築くとともに、日本参入も目指すが、性能面と低価格のどちらを押し出してブランドを築くのかが課題になりそうだ。（北京　栗原守）

(試譯文)

Chinese manufacturers of smart phones were quickly taking back from foreign competitors their share (market share) in their own country.

 Regarding the Chinese market, as the biggest location in sale increase in the world where overseas brands could raise its value, the shipment amount of Chinese manufacturers seemed to have broken through 100 million in 2015.

 ◆ "100 million in 2015"

 The world shipment number of Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd. in the year 2014 exceeded 75 million. According to IDC an investigating company in the US, in 2013 it was 49 million, which followed Korean Samsung electronic (316 million) and US Apple (153 million) to stay at the 3rd place in the world. But the situation was that the difference between it and the two leading big producers was narrowing.

 Huawei was expressing that it was "aiming at 100 million in 2015". It would be a triple in the size of Japan’s total smart phone shipment (30,310,000 in 2013). In an interview with Yomiuri Shimbun, Hu Houkun (Ken Hu) the chief executive (CEO) by rotation said that "I have a strong confidence in the growth of the enterprise. The net sale is strengthened in China in addition to the development of new products".

For the new company Xiaomi Inc. (Xiaomi) its shipment number in 2014 was 61,120,000, exceeding last year's by three folds. If this momentum continued, there was a possibility that it would reach 100 million 2015. Attention was being attracted to its new products to be released by the end of January.

 ◆ Support was from the young people

 Chinese manufacturers were developing their sales footing in domestic markets. For 2014 July-September the share of Xiaomi occupied the top place while Huawei was at the 4^th place etc. The four big companies of China took up about half of the total market share. In 2010 three companies from Europe and America accounted for about 80 percent of the total share.

 On evaluating the upward moving momentum in China, it was noted that there was a fall in product price in high quality picture camera and finger print recognition system, and the difference in performance compared with foreign manufacturers was being narrowed. When compared each other’s high-end models, Xiaomi of the Chinese manufacturers had the backing mainly from the young people who for the first time could buy Xiaomi, which was at half the price of the terminal appliances of Samsung and the Apple. For Xiaomi’s global total sales, the ratio in China was 95% percent; for Huawei it was 50%.

 In the whole Chinese market, smart phone shipment number in 2013 was 350,700,000, being an increase of 60 percent over last year. It seemed that the momentum of growth in China would continue in 2014.

 Brand image seemed to be a problem in securing the global market. Huewei joined the Japanese market since 2011. At present it shipped for NTT domoco and Softbank, but the brand was not well known. In 2014 it was at the 94^th place at the enterprise brand value in the world, and was still lacking the momentum.

Lenovo, which was at the second place in 2013 in Chinese smart phone market, had completed the procedures in buying Motorola of the US in October 2014. It had built up a basis of support in the American market and was also aiming at entering into Japan as well. But whether to press ahead on the performance or on the low price so as to build up the brand would be a question.

So, Chinese smart phones are trying to gain grounds in the world market.

首相“氫時代開始”......加速放鬆管制

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

首相「水素時代の幕開け」…規制緩和をへ

2015年01月15日 22時39分

　安倍首相は１５日、水素を燃料として活用する「水素社会」の実現に向け、規制緩和を加速する考えを示した。

　水素で走る燃料電池車に燃料を供給する水素ステーションで、ガソリンスタンドのように利用者が自ら燃料を入れる「セルフ式」を可能にするなど現在の規制を見直す。

　トヨタ自動車の燃料電池車「ミライ」の市販第１号車の納車式が１５日、首相官邸で行われた。首相は試乗後、「いよいよ水素時代の幕開けだ。さらなる規制改革と技術開発の２本立てで前進させていきたい」と強調した。

　ただ、水素ステーションは１５日時点で、全国に４か所しかなく、大きな壁になっている。ガソリンスタンドに比べ、より広い敷地面積が必要で、立地の規制も厳しい。事業者からは、安全基準が欧州に比べて厳しいとして、見直しを求める声が根強い。政府は今後、規制改革会議で詳細を詰め、６月に一連の規制改革の実施計画をまとめ、事業者が水素ステーションを整備しやすい環境作りを進める。

(試譯文)

  On the 15th (January) Prime Minister Abe showed the idea to accelerate the relaxation of regulations so as to realize a "Hydrogen society" in which hydrogen would be used as a fuel.

 Regarding the hydrogen station where hydrogen would be supplied to Fuel Cell Vehicles (FCV) that were run by hydrogen, the present regulations would be reconsidered so as to make possible a “self system" in which a user could put in the fuel personally like in a gas station.

  On the 15^th, a car delivery ceremony for the marketing of the first FCV  the "Mirai" of Toyota Motor was performed at the Prime Minister's official residence. The prime minister after doing a test ride stressed that "finally it is the beginning of the hydrogen era. I would like to further push ahead the twin features of regulation reform and technical development".

  However, as of the 15th there were only 4 hydrogen stations in the whole country.  There was a big wall. Compared with gas stations they needed a large lot area, also there were severe regulations over their locations. It was assumed that the safety standard was tough compared with Europe and the voice from enterprises to ask for a reconsideration was persistent. From now on, the government had to consolidate the details in a regulation reform meeting, and to compile in June an execution plan on a series of regulation reforms. Meanwhile the enterprises would advance the promotion of hydrogen stations with the creation of a friendly environment.

I look forward to the further development of Fuel Cell Vehicles that would help create a friendly environment.

河內入城門口大翻新: 日本協助完工新國際機場大樓

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

ハノイの玄関一新　日本支援の新国際線ターミナル完成

ハノイ＝佐々木学

2015年1月5日07時52分

　ベトナムの首都ハノイのノイバイ空港の新国際線ターミナルが日本の支援などで建設され、４日、完成式典があった。出席した太田昭宏国土交通相は「ベトナムの発展にとって画期的。日本との協力関係の象徴でもある」と祝った。

　新ターミナルは地上４階、地下１階。年間１千万人以上が利用できる。ガラス張りの明るいデザインで、首都の玄関口の装いが一新された。既存ターミナルは国内線用として利用される。日本政府は円借款で５９３億円の支援をした。

　空港とハノイ市中心部とを結ぶ連絡道（円借款１８１億円）と斜張橋「ニャッタン橋」（１５００メートル、円借款５４２億円）も日本の支援で完成し、同日開通した。５０分前後かかった都心部とのアクセスが１０～２０分短縮され、輸送効率の改善とハノイ北部の開発促進への貢献が期待されている。（ハノイ＝佐々木学）

(試譯文)

A new international airport terminal at Vietnam’s Noi Bai Airport in metropolitan Hanoi was built with Japanese support; on the 4^th (January) there was a completion ceremony. Ota Akihiro the Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport who was attending celebrated that "it is remarkable for Vietnam’s development. It is also a symbol of the cooperative relationship with Japan".

   The new terminal had four floors above the ground and one floor below. Each year more than 10 million people could use it. In glazed bright design, the metropolitan’s door step was given a new look. The existence terminal would be used for domestic flights. The Japanese Government supported the new terminal with a yen credit of 59,300 million.

   Also a link road (built with a yen credit of 18,100 million) and a cable-stayed bridge "Nyattan bridge"(1500 meters at a yen credit of 54,200 million) which linked up the airport to Hanoi city center were also completed with Japanese support and opened to traffic on the same day. Access to the inner city which took about 50 minutes was now improved by a reduction of 10 to 20 minutes due to improvements in transport efficiency. Contributions towards accelerating the development of north Hanoi were expected.

Obviously these new construction works have symbolized the cooperative relationship between Vietnam and Japan. It seems that the economic co-operation between Japan and Vietnam is increasing.