昂山素姬可能三月訪問日本

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

ミャンマーの民主化運動のリーダーで、最大野党を率いるアウン・サン・スー・チー氏はＮＨＫの取材に対し、早ければことし３月にも２７年ぶりに日本を訪問する意向を示しました。

スー・チー氏は１１日、ミャンマーの首都ネピドーの議会でＮＨＫの取材に応じ、日本政府から招待状を受け取ったことを明らかにしたうえで、「今の議会が終了したら日本を訪れる予定だ」と述べ、早ければ、議会が会期末を迎えることし３月にも日本を訪問する意向を示しました。
スー・チー氏は、１９８５年から翌年にかけてのおよそ１０か月間、京都大学東南アジア研究センターの客員研究員として日本に滞在した経験があり、訪日は２７年ぶりとなります。
スー・チー氏が率いる政党によりますと、スー・チー氏は、日本滞在中、政財界の関係者と会談するほか、前の軍事政権時代に日本に亡命したミャンマー人との面会やゆかりの地、京都を訪れることなども検討しているということです。
スー・チー氏は、去年の補欠選挙で下院議員に初当選したあと、最大野党の党首の立場で今のテイン・セイン政権が進める民主化政策に協力する姿勢を示していて、日本としては、スー・チー氏の訪日を通じてミャンマーの民主化への支援を一層アピールする方針です。

(試譯文)

Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi, as the leader of the democracy movement in Myanmar and commanding the main opposition party, when spoke to the coverage of NHK showed the intention to visit Japan as early as in March this year, being the first time in 27 years.

On the 11th (January) according to the coverage of NHK Ms. Suu Kyi in the Parliament meeting of Naypyidaw, the capital of Myanmar, showed clearly that a letter of invitation was received from the Japanese government. It was said that "it has been decided that Japan would be visited if the present Parliament term is completed", and also showed the intention to visit Japan in March this year at the earliest when the Parliament would reach the end of its session.

Ms. Suu Kyi had the experience of staying in Japan as a visiting researcher of Center for Southeast Asian Studies at the Kyoto University for about 10 months starting from 1985 to the next year, and this visit to Japan would be the first time in 27 years.

According to the political party which Ms. Suu Kyi was commanding, it was said during her stay in Japan she would confer with people related to political and business circles, and also she would meet with the people who had defected from Myanmar to Japan during the previous military regime days, and was considering the location to meet these people and visiting Kyoto etc.

After Ms. Suu Kyi first won a representation seat in the by-election last year, in the position as the leader of the main opposition party, she showed the posture of cooperating with the democratization policy that the Theine Seine government was advancing; as for the visit to Japan, the plan was to appeal for further support towards the democratization of Myanmar through this visit.

Suu Kyi is the icon of Myanmar’s democracy movement. I hope she could also visit mainland China in the not too distant future.

日本希望製造出2%通漲

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

経済財政諮問会議:日銀に２％の物価目標を設定求める

毎日新聞　2013年01月09日　20時07分（最終更新　01月10日　00時50分）

政府は９日、経済政策の司令塔となる経済財政諮問会議（議長・安倍晋三首相）を３年半ぶりに再開した。安倍首相は「日銀には、（自民党が）衆院選で訴えてきたことを十分に踏まえて金融政策をお願いしたい」と述べ、デフレ脱却に向け２％の物価目標を設定することなどをあらためて求めた。

　首相は、中長期的な財政運営の方向性を示す「骨太の方針」を６月をめどに策定するよう指示。財政運営に関しては「経済再生と持続可能な財政の双方を実現する道筋を議論してほしい」と述べ、財政規律の維持にも配慮する姿勢を示した。

　日銀は２１〜２２日に開く次回の金融政策決定会合で、首相が求める２％の物価上昇目標について検討する。諮問会議には白川方明日銀総裁も参加しており、首相は会議で「日銀総裁とこの場で議論するのは極めて重要。日銀との連携を強化する仕組みを検討していく」と述べ、物価目標を共有する共同文書のとりまとめを加速させる考えを示した。会議には、新たに任命された小林喜光三菱ケミカルホールディングス社長ら４人の民間メンバーも出席した。諮問会議は、小泉内閣で重要経済政策の中心的な役割を果たしたが、民主党政権の発足で休眠状態だった。

(試譯文)

On the 9^th (January), for the first time in three years and a half, the government resumed the Council on Economy and Fiscal Policy (with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe as the chairperson) which served as a decision maker of the economic policy. Prime Minister Abe said, "I would like to ask the Bank of Japan to make a financial policy that is fully based on what the Liberal Democratic Party has appealed for at the Lower House", and urged anew to set up a 2% consumer price target in order to break away from the deflation etc.

The prime minister directed that all works must be completed by around June in formulating "a structurally solid plan" which showed the direction for the mid- and long-term fiscal management. About fiscal management, he stated that "I want to discuss the way that has the chance to realize both the economic revitalization and the financial sustainability", and showed a posture that he would consider the maintenance of the fiscal discipline.

In the next meeting on monetary policy to be held on 21 to the 22nd, the Bank of Japan would examine the 2% target on commodity price increases which the prime minister had asked for. The Prime Minister said that for this meeting “the participation of the President of the Bank of Japan Shirakawa is extremely important, and a structure that could strengthen the cooperation with the Bank of Japan would be examined"; and he showed the idea of accelerating the consolidation of getting a common document that could have the same consumer price target. In the meeting, Yoshimitsu Kobayashi, the president of the Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings was one of the four newly appointed members from the private sector who would be present. Although this consultation meeting had played a key role on important economic policies at the Koizumi Cabinet, it was in a torpid condition at the beginning of the Democratic Party Administration.

Probably because of the intention of this new fiscal policy, the exchange rate of the Japanese yen has dropped over 10% in recent weeks. Many overseas tourists have found that now it is cheaper to travel in Japan.

維護言論自由:信報加油

最近城中話題是梁特首向信報發律師信事件, 試圖用法律手段解決政治問題, 亦試圖壓制異見者發音, 手法引起全城震動, 茲將練乙錚在信報的全文附錄如下:

練乙錚：誠信問題已非要害 梁氏涉黑實可雙規
信報財經新聞 2013-01-29

重磅反水「梁粉」劉夢熊上周在《陽光時務週刊》的一個訪問裏投了一顆重磅深水炸彈，震撼之餘，不少不可告人的東西，瞬即浮出水面，呈現在大家眼前。 即時引導公眾視線的，是劉說的「交人」問題，即梁及其軍師張震遠交不出當日梁稱受他委託替他驗屋查僭的專業人士名單，因為那些驗樓專家其實都是子虛烏有。 劉認為這是點到梁身上誠信問題的死穴。
不過，孤證不立，未有更多有關事實暴露之前，大家不妨存疑。況且，經過大半年來的各種公開表演，梁在僭建事上欠缺誠信，早已是不爭之實，捅出「交人」問題，港人的邊際收益，頂多是知道貴為行會成員的張震遠乃是協助梁欺騙市民、欺騙中央的共犯而已。

突把董建華擺上枱
然而，劉在該次訪問中和盤托出的，至少還有比「交人」這點或其他枝節問題重要得多的另外兩組信息。這些信息與劉的主要立論並無必然關係，劉這個「準 污點證人」在此二環節作假的動機不強；而且，信息涉及的兩位大人物，至今並無公開否認事件具體內容，因而比較可信。兩組信息，其一暴露了紅色背景梁氏政權 的不斷黑道化。去年，梁營在劉夢熊牽頭、有前高官「梁粉」參與的「上海仔飯局事件」之後，迅速在形象上與黑勢力切割，相當成功；不料，前不久的挺梁反示威 中，出現黑道派錢計人頭的醜劇，傳媒報道人贓俱獲，梁政權的切割努力，就不顯得那麼有效。這次劉提供的有關信息，更令梁與黑道之間的盟友關係無法掩藏。其 二，則是因為劉把董建華擺上枱面，致令唐梁之爭背後金權板塊的政治輪廓，忽然變得清晰。下面先談後者。

梁營後面的政治勢力，到底是團派、江派，還是什麼派？這個問題一直以來說不清，連本地左派也摸不着頭腦，以至到了「選舉」很後期，還不知道怎樣押寶。

當初，港人以為特首大位乃「儲君」唐氏囊中物，不期殺出一個程咬金，出現唐梁對峙局面，而雙方背後各有其金主，盡皆擺明陣勢，並不遮遮掩掩，港人於 是漸次明白，這是要保住一哥地位的一線財團與欲取而代之的二線財團之間的一場你死我活攻防戰，而絕非北京為了準備若干年後搞普選而設的一次彩排（後一觀點 已成政治笑話）。不過，在香港特定的政治環境底下，特首由誰當，一定深刻牽涉京港之間的「大政治」。在這些本地金主旁邊，還糾合了極具份量的京官及其黨內 關係網，再加上這些京官的經商家族成員把持的大大小小紅色財團，組成一個一個的政商三結合；這次特首「選舉」，其實就是最大的兩個這種由本地金、內地金、 京官權三者構成的金權板塊之間的政治鬥爭。由於北京政治素來不透明，金權板塊的「權」那一面如何與黨內最高層的派系掛鈎，港人無從確切知道，只能根據當時 的一些已知事實大略推測：唐家與上海幫首領江澤民關係密切，因此唐後面是江派勢力；梁營聲聲「求變」，撐腰的可能是有改革傾向的團派居多。現在看來，這個 當時很普遍的二分法錯得很厲害。關鍵是劉夢熊在訪問中提到董建華。

江握手後有江點頭
過去，董氏給人的印象是個好好先生、老好人，中國好、香港好，除了民主派，其他什麼都是好，並無明顯派性；唐、梁二人，當時都是他的重臣，董氏對待 二人，理應無分軒輊。然而，劉在上述訪問竟無意中透露了董氏的強烈派性。董支持梁，政界早有所聞，但劉提供的信息顯示，董這次不是簡單的表表態支持，而是 全情投入、死命支持。他對劉說：「夢熊，你支持梁振英，做得很好！有你幫振英，我就放心了！」董不支持老同鄉唐氏，顯然不是因為唐搞僭建暴露了。此說的證 據是：後來梁被發現也曾多次偷偷搞僭建，董卻顧不了以前曾經公開要求主要官員注意品德必須「whiter than white」，關鍵時刻奮不顧身站出來替梁脫困，着港人勿拘小節、向前看。董氏此舉降格敗德不是重點，重點是證明了梁營背後也是江派；繼江握手之後還有這 個江點頭。

董氏下台之後，本應小心謹慎，脫離所有政治派別，專心一意為國家做外交方面的實事，以彌補一己過失；但這次再以江派身份積極干政挺梁，被劉無意中暴露了，也許會觸怒胡、溫、習，再惹麻煩，實屬不智。

唐、梁惡鬥而同屬江派，此點並不稀奇；歷代帝皇膝下有幾個兒子不和、各擁重臣黨羽互相傾軋的例子多的是；就算是毛時代，他下面派系也廝殺不斷，何況 江氏？江上台之後，改了黨章，大批黨員成為資本家，他眾多的手下、親屬，挾着黨國權力、資源和關係到香港覓食，泊哪個碼頭媚哪個金主，他無謂管，也管不 着。

既然梁後面是江派而非團派，那麼他的政治前途在習近平上台之後就充滿變數。大家知道，董是江欽點上台卻給胡錦濤即團派打下來的；胡、溫對梁這位江點 頭，大概也沒很大好感，故梁得勝後首度上京面聖那次，胡、溫對他的態度半慍不火。若習上台而在江派與團派之間和稀泥，梁也許不難保住特首之位，做到 2017。但顯然，年來的情況並不這樣發展；薄熙來事件之後，江派與團派惡鬥，習很快站到團派一邊。團派多次高調提反腐，江派掌控的《環球時報》卻推出 「適度腐敗論」，主張政府教導民眾養成接受「適度腐敗」的心態，以確保管治穩定；但習一上台，甚至不等今年3月兩會召開，就把反腐工作提升到首要地位，聲 稱「老虎」、「蒼蠅」一起打，也順帶打了《環時》一巴掌。留意國內政治動態的人，還可以舉出多個類似的事例，說明江、習互鬥，刀光劍影；最近的一起，無疑 是轟動國內外的「《南周》事件」。《南周》元旦獻詞支持習提出的 「把憲法落到實處」 的口號，卻被江派中宣部官員粗暴抽起；雙方最後打個平手，江派在輿論方面卻輸一大截。在香港，力推梁氏上台的中聯辦兩個領導，於去年底忽然倒台，一個下放 廣西，一個官貶澳門。兒皇帝頓失牯持，形勢如何，他自己知道。下一回梁到中聯辦，要叩見的，是一個比他年輕一大截的小伙子，真是情何以堪。

然而，更令梁氏不安的，無疑是替劉夢熊爆料的媒體《陽光時務》，據說與《南周》同一淵源，都有胡、溫、習的背景；大家若拿《陽光時務》訪問劉夢熊的 原文看看，便可知道，堂堂一個香港特區行政長官候選人，得到「江氏紅」中聯辦的點頭去馬之後，是怎樣「斥之乞來」、「呼之不去」，怎樣誠惶誠恐，怎樣卑躬 屈膝打哈哈擺和頭酒，最後得到黑道百分百支持，神一樣替他撐住了比唐氏高的「民意」，讓當時的中聯辦領導得以「名正言順」抬他上位。是屆香港特區行政長 官，可說是紅色父系與黑色母系結合的產物。

香港社會黑道化？
不過，北京當時的最高領導（胡、溫）不一定知道梁靠之上台的「民意」，背後原來還有這麼一筆。劉夢熊指梁氏犯欺君之罪，主要恐怕不是他說的「三個專 業驗樓人士都是子虛烏有」那一條；的確，僭建對北京而言，正如劉說，「小菜一碟」而已。真正嚴重的欺君罪，乃梁氏暗地裏炮製了一個帶有廣泛欺騙性的「黑底 民意」——技巧高得連本地一份高格調的知識分子報的高層，也給糊弄得暈頭轉向；而這個「黑底民意」，可能在北京作最後決策之時，起了作用。這是大得多的欺 君罪。

香港有了這樣的一個怪胎特首，人們心中肯定產生很多疑問：特區政權往後的性質是什麼？今後五年，黑道將如何透過特首的回禮，悄悄影響香港政治、社 會、經濟？港人忍受得了？稍有良知的本地左派接受得了？（工聯會就有點受不了，認為「幾醜陋」；民建聯急急打圓場，看來還吞得下；一眾政府內外的「梁粉」 新愛國則若無其事。本應最懂得「君子不立危牆之下」這條德訓的前高官如羅范、葉劉，第一時間替梁氏擋駕；精英中的精英猶利令智昏如此，可問是什麼世道人心 了？）國際上，中國出了一個關鍵時刻靠黑道資源上台的特區首長，別的國家如何看待？梁氏外訪的時候，與別的國家、地區首長同席之際，別人會有些什麼眼光？ （新加坡和英國已經在鄙夷；台灣的民進黨肯定是笑死了。）不過，笑罵由人，政治上最關鍵的是，新上台、據說要推一番清廉新氣象的習近平，如何看待這潭江派 遺留下來新鮮熱辣上海屎蘇州屎？受得了受不了？他若受得了，本國人民、港人會怎樣看他「海涵」一個染黑特首？外國政要又會怎樣看他的魄力、取向？回想解放 前的國民黨，由最高領導蔣介石起，都黑道化了，怎麼現在梁振英也同樣黑道化？香港在共產黨員領導下回歸到萬惡的舊中國去了？

兩組信息，兩個結論：其一說明梁營是江系裏頭的一個派別（而且只是一個少數派別，得不到香港的一線資本家支持，小圈子裏頭的千二票，靠了中聯辦擔當 「黨鞭」，還不過佔了689）；其二揭露梁氏取得政權，一半靠黑道，未來的香港社會各方面必定因而逐步染黑。跟隨梁氏進入本屆政府的人，要知道自己在吃的 是什麼飯，吐出來看看是什麼個顏色，就會明白（頗令筆者難過的是，這些人當中，不少是筆者以前的朋友、好友、學生。）。
由大陸什麼派的人管治香港，對港人而言，分別也許不大；國內外很多人都認為江派是中國當今李鵬那派之外的另一最大貪腐派別，但說到底，大家還不知道 習與江在本質上有何區別。光說話不算數，還要看得見他怎樣行事。另外一方面，香港黑道化，則香港有難了。當然，有可能劉夢熊也在此事上說謊；故首先應該在 事實上嚴格求證。允許立法會以各種有效機制向三個涉黑助選當事人套取材料是一個辦法，但其實效勢將因為保皇派的阻撓而大打折扣。此外，因為當事人都是政協 要人，不排除還是黨員，組織上因而都直接受共產黨領導；由中共中央循黨系統對這幾個以梁為首的涉黑當事人在大陸某處進行「雙規」，也許是一個更有效的清查 途徑。但那要假定習近平是一個有所作為的人。

《信報》特約評論員練乙錚

日軍艦被火控雷達照射

Recently the Mainichi News on-line reported the following:

レーダー照射:首相、中国に謝罪要求「国際ルール違反」

毎日新聞　2013年02月08日　21時50分（最終更新　02月08日　23時36分）

安倍晋三首相は８日夜のＢＳフジ番組で、中国艦船が海上自衛隊の護衛艦などに射撃用の火器管制レーダーを照射した問題について「中国はそういうことがあったら認めて謝罪し、再発防止に努めてほしい」と述べ、照射を全面否定した中国に反論した。首相は公明党の山口那津男代表が１月下旬に習近平総書記と会談したことを挙げ、「対話がスタートする中で（照射は）きわめて不可解だ」と批判。日本側と、「捏造（ねつぞう）」と反発する中国との応酬が続いている。

　首相は「中国がこういうことを繰り返すのは国際ルール違反だ。中国自身が国際社会で信用を失っていく」とあらためて批判。「中国がやっているような情報戦に応じるつもりは全くない」としたうえで、目視やレーダーの向きも含め写真などから確認しているとして、日本の正当性を訴えた。一方で「対話の扉を閉じるつもりはなく、首脳レベルも含めた対話は必要だ」と述べ、日中首脳会談の実現を含めて冷静に対応する考えも示した。

　また、外務省の河相周夫事務次官は８日、中国の程永華駐日大使を外務省に呼んで再抗議。河相次官は、火器管制レーダーを照射された護衛艦が受信した電波データを、海自の電子情報支援隊などが解析したと説明した。レーダーの周波数や護衛艦と中国艦との位置関係も詳細に分析したとし、「中国の説明は全く受け入れられない」と遺憾の意を伝えた。

　程大使は「（日本が感知したのは）別のレーダーだ」と改めて否定。会談後、記者団に「日本がセンセーショナルに緊張をあおり立てるやり方は遺憾だ」と主張した。

　中国が否定・反論したことも日本側は半ば織り込み済みだ。中国が周囲の船の位置を知るための艦載レーダーに過ぎないと反論していることにも、防衛省幹部は「射撃用のレーダーとは周波数が違い、見分けるのは容易だ」と自信を示した。政府高官は「知らなかったと言えば『中国軍は勝手にそんなことをする前近代的な軍隊だ』となる。しかし政府の意図だと言えば、国際社会から批判される」と中国側の苦しい立場を推測した。

(試譯文)

About the problem that the China naval fleet radar had targeted at a convoy of the Maritime Self Defense Force etc., on the night of the 8th Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in the BS Fuji program expressed that "I want them to admit to it and to apologize for it if China had done such a thing, and want to work towards preventing its recurrence” and he refuted China which had completely denied carrying out the radar-targeting using the firearms control shooting radar. The Prime Minister mentioned that Komei Party President Yamaguchi had already conferred with General Secretary Xi Jinping late in January and criticized that "It (the radar-targeting) is something very mysterious while a dialogue has already started". On the side of Japan, it would continue with its correspondence with China who had said that the problem was a "fabrication".

The Prime Minister repeatedly criticized that "it is an international law violation for China to repeat such an act. China itself loses trust in international society". Also “he does not plan on engaging with the information-warfare that China is now waging”. He stressed that Japan’s justification was from checking photos which included eye-observation and noting the direction of the radar. On the other hand he also said that "there is no plan to close the door for a dialogue and the problem requires a dialogue that would include those at the top level"; and he showed that he was considering responding calmly, including to achieve a Sino-Japanese summit meeting.

Moreover, on the 8^th Kawai the Administrative Vice-Minister of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs invited Cheng Yonghua the Chinese Ambassador in Japan to visit the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for a new protest. Vice-Minister Kawai explained the data of the electric waves which the convoy had received when being targeted by the firearms control radar, together with the analysis done by the electronic information support party of the Maritime Self Defense Force etc. The radar frequency for checking the spatial relationship of the convoy used by the China warships was also analyzed in detail, and he expressed with regret that "Chinese explanation is not acceptable at all."

Ambassador Cheng retorted again that "(what Japan has perceived) is from other radar". In the press gathering after the talk he also said "The way in which Japan has sensationally stirred up tension is regrettable".

On the side of the Japan, taking into consideration that China would deny, had brought forth a counterargument. Regarding China’s retorting in saying that it was merely from the warship radar of China to know the position of the surrounding ships, the Ministry of Defense bureaucrats showed confidence in saying that the frequency “is easy” to recognize and it was unlike the radar for shooting. There was a guessing on the difficult stance of the Chinese government, for them “if they claim they do not know the matter, than it would be an indication that ‘the Chinese army is still a pre-modern army because it could do such a thing freely’; if they say that it is the intention of the government, they would face a difficult position of being criticized by the international society".

I think this radar problem has become a test on the honesty and integrity of a country. The response of China on this matter makes me thinking of CY Leung, the CE of Hong Kong who had once said that his house had no illegal constructions.

日本加強對缅甸投資

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

ミャンマーを訪れている麻生副総理兼財務大臣は、４日、現地で記者会見し、安倍政権としてもミャンマーの経済発展を後押ししていく一方で、外国企業が進出しやすくなるような制度の整備や民主化の進展を注視していく考えを示しました。

今月２日からミャンマーを訪れている麻生副総理兼財務大臣は、４日、最大の都市ヤンゴンの近郊で、日本企業も加わって工業団地の開発を進めているティラワ経済特区や港を視察しました。
今回の訪問で、麻生副総理はテイン・セイン大統領ら政府要人と会談を行い、５００億円規模の円借款を年度内に再開する方針を示すなど、安倍政権としてもミャンマーの経済発展を支援する姿勢を打ち出しました。
一連の日程を終え、麻生副総理はヤンゴンで記者会見し、「ミャンマーは人口が多い、賃金が安い、港が整備される、電力は安定しているとなれば、アジアの中では進出条件はいいほうだ」と述べました。
そのうえで、麻生副総理は「このあとの経済改革がきちんと進んでいくようにやってくれるということが、日本政府が一番関心を持っていかないといけないところだ」と述べ、支援の前提として外国企業が進出しやすくなるような制度の整備や民主化の進展を注視していく考えを示しました。

(試譯文)

Representing the Abe Administration, on the 4^th, Deputy Prime Minister Aso and also as the Finance Minister visited Myanmar and gave an interview on the spot; while backing up the economic development of Myanmar, he also showed the idea of watching closely at the progress in democratization and in the maintenance of a system where foreign companies could enter easily.

Deputy Prime Minister Aso who was also the Finance minister visited Myanmar staring from the 2nd of this month (January). On the 4th he inspected the harbor and the Tirawa special economic zone which was located in the suburbs of the greatest city Yangon and where Japanese companies had joined and developed this industrial complex further.

In this visit Deputy Prime Minister Aso conferred with government important people including President Thein Sein and showed the plan which would resume a loan with a scale of 50 billion yen before the end of the year. The Abe Administration had set forth a posture which supported the economic development of Myanmar.

After finishing a series of schedules, Deputy Prime Minister Aso gave an interview in Yangon. He said Myanmar was with a large population and with cheap wages, if the harbor was improved and the electric power was stable, it would become having a better condition to progress in Asia."

On top of this, Deputy Prime Minister Aso said that "from now on the economic reform would be followed properly, and that the Japanese government must be going to have serious concern". While showing the idea that, as a premise of support he would focus at the institutional maintenance in which foreign companies could enter easily and at the progress of democratization.

So, Japan is playing a more active role in helping Myanmar to reform. It seems that Indo-China has become a contesting ground for economic activities among leading Asian countries such as Japan, China and South Korea.

日本海鰻魚瀕臨絶滅

Recently the Mainichi News on-line reported the following:

ニホンウナギ絶滅危惧種:「食文化守るため」…料理店理解

毎日新聞　2013年02月01日　23時30分（最終更新　02月02日　00時46分）

　環境省が１日、不漁の続く天然のニホンウナギを「絶滅危惧種」に指定。「近い将来に野生での絶滅の危険性が高い」と判断した。指定に法的な規制力はなく、漁獲や取引は制限されない。供給不足を補うため、水産庁は中国、台湾との共同資源管理に着手。一方、国内のウナギ料理店は「日本の食文化を守るため」として、指定による「種の保存」に理解を示す。

　今回の指定は、ウナギ店にどんな影響を与えるのか。ウナギ店が軒を連ねる成田山新勝寺（千葉県成田市）の参道。創業１００年を超える老舗というウナギ料理店「川豊」の店主は「すし、天ぷらと同じく日本の食文化で、消えてはならない。数が捕れなくなっている中では、種の保存のために指定するのは仕方がない」と受け止める。

　東京都港区のウナギ料理店「野田岩」の６代目、金本昇さん（４６）も「これだけ減っているから、いつか指定されるだろうとは思っていた」と冷静だ。ただ、「指定されたことを消費者がどう受け止め、客足がどうなるかは予想がつかない」と話す。

　食の専門家でつくる日本フードアナリスト協会（東京都千代田区）の横井裕之理事長は「天然物のウナギは脂の乗り方が健康的でとても貴重。日本人の食とは切っても切れない関係にある。食文化を守るため、強制力のある何らかの規制もやむを得ない。稚魚の量が回復することに期待したい」と話す一方、「仕入れ値にはね返り、ウナギ店の営業に影響が出るかもしれない」と懸念も語った。

(試譯文)

On the first of this month, the Ministry of Environment pointed out that the natural Nihon Eel, which had a poor catch continuously, was an "endangered species". It judged that "the danger of its extinction in the near future in the wildness is high". There was no specific legal restricting force, and neither the fish catch nor the dealings were restricted. In order to compensate for the short supply, the Fisheries Agency started joint resource control with China and Taiwan. On the other hand, a domestic eel restaurant showed its understanding that "in order to keep Japanese gastronomic culture" there was the need for specific "preservation of the species"

What kind of influence would this specification have on an eel store? The approach road to the Narita Sanshinshouji (Narita-shi, Chiba) there were eel stores standing side by side. The storekeeper of an eel restaurant "Kawatoyo" which was a long-established store that was founded over 100 years indicated that "it is Japanese gastronomic culture, same as sushi and tempura and it must not disappear. As it is impossible to catch a certain number, it is thought that specifying it for preservation as a species is unavoidable."

Mr. Noboru Kanamoto (46) the 6th generation of the eel restaurant "Iwao Noda" in Minato-ku, Tokyo who was staying calm “thought that since it has decreased this much, it should be specified". However, he also said "it is impossible to make predictions on how the consumers would respond to the specification, and on what would happen to customer flow".

The Hiroyuki Yokoi chairman of the board of directors of the Japanese Food Analysts Association (Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo) which grouped together food specialists said that "the wild eels are very healthy and precious in terms of putting on fat. Japanese people have an inseparable relation with food. In order to keep gastronomic culture, certain regulations with legal power are unavoidable, and would like to see that the quantity of the fry could recover”; yet concern was also expressed in that "the price will bounce back and the business of the eel stores may be affected"

So, the Japanese love eating eels that are caught from the sea. My understanding is that they regularly import eels from China.

日本近代文學名著50年版權到期

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

「宮本武蔵」や「三国志」で知られる作家・吉川英治らの作品が、今年から自由に利用・閲覧できるようになり、元日以降、ネット上に続々アップされている。

　没後５０年が過ぎて著作権の保護期間が切れたためで、今年は、ほかに「遠野物語」を著した民俗学の祖・柳田国男、詩人の室生犀星らも加わる“当たり年”。「吉川三国志がネットで無料で読める」などと、ファンらの間で注目が集まっている。

　文学作品の著作権は、著作権法で「著作者の死後５０年を経過するまで存続」と定められている。没した翌年から計算されるため、１９６２年の物故者の場合、昨年末で切れ、今年から無許可で使用できる。

　著作権の切れた作品をインターネット上で無料公開している「青空文庫」の運営者・富田倫生(みちお)さん（６０）は「人気作が多く、例年にない話題性」と話す。昨年末から「年が明けたら早く公開して」との要望が相次いでいたといい、元日に柳田の「遠野物語」、吉川の「私本太平記」、室生の「抒情小曲集」などを公開。吉川作品は今後、シリーズごとに毎月公開する計画という。

（2013年1月4日21時26分 読売新聞）

(試譯文)

The work of Eiji Yoshikawa who was known for his "Musashi Miyamoto" and "Three Kingdom Saga" and other writers could now be used and perused freely starting from this year; and one after another they came up in the network after the New Year's Day.

  Because 50 years had passed after the death, the protected period of the copyright ran out. Added to this bountiful year was the father of folklore Kunio Yanagida who wrote “The story of Tono”, in addition to Saisei Murou the poet. Attention had gathered among the fans who said that "Yoshikawa Three Kingdom Saga” could be read for free in network" etc.

  Under the Copyright Act the copyright of the literary work was set "to continue after author's death until 50 years has passed". Since the calculation was started from the year after the year of death, in the case of those who deceased in 1962 copyright would run out at the end of last year. Starting from this year, works could be used without obtaining permission.

  Mr. Michio Tomita (60), the operator of the "Blue Sky Library" which carried out in the Internet free public presentation of the work that had the copyright run out, said that " there are many popular work and it is not a regular yearly news topic". There had been a lot of requests since the end of last year saying that "to open it early to the public when the year begins". On the New Year's Day Yanagida's "Tono Tale", Yoshikawa’s "Shihon Taiheiki", and Murou’s "The Collection of Lyrical Short Pieces" etc were opened up. As for Yoshikawa’s work, there was a plan to open it to the public in series every month from now on.

The opening up of these literary works should be good news for the readers.