日本緊急援助医療隊到達菲律賓災區

To-day the NHK News on-line reported the following:

緊急援助隊の医療チーム タクロバンに

11月14日 21時12分

日本の国際緊急援助隊の医療チームの本隊２０人余りが、壊滅的な被害を受けたレイテ島の主要都市タクロバンに１４日夜、到着しました。

国際緊急援助隊の本隊は、１３日、レイテ島北西部のオルモックから陸路タクロバンに向かいましたが、治安状況を見極めるため、いったん中部の町まで引き返しました。
援助隊は、１４日、タクロバンに拠点を設けた警察当局に警護などの協力を要請したうえで再び現地に向かい、日本時間の午後７時ごろ、到着したということです。
援助隊はタクロバン中心部の教会に拠点を設け、１５日から本格的な医療支援に当たります。
一方、自衛隊の緊急援助隊は１３日までに４９人が首都マニラに入り、１４日午後、隊長以下３人の先遣隊が事前の調査を行うためにアメリカ軍の輸送機でタクロバンに到着しました。
また、医療支援に当たる自衛隊の２０人は、１４日、フィリピン軍の輸送機でレイテ島の西のセブ島に向かう予定でしたが、フィリピン軍が大量の物資や各国からの援助隊の輸送に追われているため、調整が難航しているということです。

(試譯文)

On the night of the 14th a little more than 20 people from the main body of the medical team of the Japan Disaster Relief Team arrived at the major city of Tacloban in Leyte which had suffered destructive damage.

Although on the 13th the main body of the Japan Disaster Relief Team took the overland route to go from Ormoc to Tacloban which was at the north western part of Leyte, at one time they returned to a town at the central part in order to discern a security situation.

It was said that after requesting the help in escorting etc. from the police authority who had established their base in Tacloban, the assistance team moved toward to the spot again and on the 14th arrived at around 7:00 p.m. JST.

The assistance team established a base in the church at the central part Tacloban, and would take up full-scale medical support starting from the 15th.

On the other hand, on the 13^th, 49 people of the emergency aid group of the Self-Defense Forces went into capital Manila. Below the captain level, a three-man advance team arrived in Tacloban in the afternoon of the 14th by transport plane of the U.S. Forces in order to conduct prior investigation.

Moreover it was said that although a 20-man Self-Defense Forces who was in charge of the medical support was scheduled to go to Cebu on the 14th, which was located at the west of Leyte, by a transport plane of the Philippine military, because the Philippine military was busy with the transportation of a lot of goods and assistance teams from different countries, the scheduling work faced rough going.

I think the timely arrival of the medical team from Japan would be welcome by the local residents. 

国際成人能力調査:日本人読解力,数學思考力居首位

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

国際成人力調査:日本、読解力と数的思考力で首位

毎日新聞　2013年10月08日　19時21分（最終更新　10月08日　23時52分）

　経済協力開発機構（ＯＥＣＤ）は８日、加盟国を中心に世界２４カ国・地域を対象に、社会生活に必要な能力を調べた初の「国際成人力調査（ＰＩＡＡＣ、ピアック）」の結果を発表した。調査は「読解力」「数的思考力」「ＩＴ（情報技術）活用力」の３分野で、日本は読解力、数的思考力の平均点で１位。「ＩＴ活用力」は、高い習熟度を持つ人の割合は１０位だったが平均点では１位となり、全３分野で平均点がトップだった。文部科学省は、義務教育と企業の社員教育の成果を理由に挙げている。

　テストはコンピューター（使えない人は紙のテスト）で実施し、正しい情報や数値を選ぶ問題や情報を分析させる問題を解かせた。読解力（文章を理解、評価、利用する力）▽数的思考力（統計などの数学的な情報を利用、解釈、伝達する力）▽ＩＴを利用した問題解決能力（コンピューターやインターネットを使い、実生活に活用する力）−−の３分野について、各０〜５００点の間で採点した。

　日本は、読解力が平均２９６点で、２位のフィンランドに８点差をつけて１位。数的思考力でも２位フィンランドに６点差の２８８点でトップだった。

　ＩＴ活用力は、全解答者（コンピューターと紙テストの合計）のうち、得点上位のコンピューター回答者の割合で、国民の能力を測った。日本は３５％で、２０カ国・地域中１０位。１位はスウェーデン（４４％）だった。これとは別に、日本の国立教育政策研究所でコンピューター回答者だけで平均点を独自算出したところ、日本は２９４点で、２位（フィンランド２８９点）を引き離してトップだった。

　また、年齢や学歴などを考慮して分析すると、日本の成績はＯＥＣＤ平均より上位と下位の差が小さい▽中高年になってもレベルが落ちない▽中卒者の読解力は、高卒者のＯＥＣＤ平均とほぼ同等−−などが確認された。

　文科省生涯学習政策局政策課の亀岡雄・主任社会教育官は「義務教育をはじめとする日本の教育の成果が大きく反映されており、企業の職員研修も影響していると考えられる」と分析している。【福田隆】

(試譯文)

     On the 8^th (October) for the first time the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) released the result of "The international adult power investigation (PIAAC, Piakku)" that aimed at investigating the abilities that were required to conduct social life in 24 nations and areas in the world, centering on the member nations. The investigation focused on the three fields: "reading ability", "numerical thinking ability", and "IT (information technology) practical use ability". Japan was in the 1st place at the average mark in “reading ability” and “numerical thinking ability”. Although the percentage of people that had high skill in "IT practical use ability" was at the 10th place, Japan ranked 1st in the average marks; in all the 3 fields the average mark was at the top. The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology mentioned that the reason of the good result was due to the compulsory education, and the employee education run by companies.

     The test was carried out by computer (paper tests were used for those who could not use computer), problems were to be solved by choosing the right information and numerical value, and also to solve the problems by doing information analysis. Reading ability (the power to evaluate, understand and use a text) ▽ numerical thinking ability (the power to interpret and use mathematical information, including statistics etc., and the ability to transmit them) ▽IT ability to solve problems (the power to use computer and the Internet, and to utilize it in everyday life). All the three fields of problem-solving abilities were tested, and each would be graded between zero and 500 points.

     Japan was in the 1st place in Reading ability, having an average of 296 points, with eight points leading Finland which was at the 2nd place. Numerical thinking ability was also at the top with 288 points, with six points leading Finland which was at the 2nd place.

     IT practical use ability was indicated through the percentage of the computer respondents that had high score ranking among all the panelists (the sum total of computer and paper test); it measured the overall national capability. Japan was 35%, being at the 10th place among 20 nations and the areas. The 1st place was Sweden (44%). Aside from this, when the calculation of the average mark was carried out solely focusing on those computer respondents in National Institute for Educational Policy Research of Japan, Japan was at the top with 294 points, distanced itself from the 2nd place (Finland with 289).

     Moreover, when the result of Japan compared with the OECD average was further analyzed in consideration of age, school education etc., the difference between the higher rank and the low rank was small; ▽ even people become middle or advanced age, their level did not fall ▽the reading ability of junior high school graduates was confirmed being equivalent to the average of a high school graduate of the OECD  etc.

     Takeshi Kameoka, the chief social education officer of the Lifelong Learning Policy Bureau aid policy division of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology analyzed that "the result reflects greatly the education of Japan including compulsory education, and it is thought that the staff training run by companies also had an influence".

I think continuous education is important to improve the competitiveness of the work force of a country.

早稲田大学取消已頒發博士学位

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

早大、博士学位取り消し…論文６４か所盗用など

　早稲田大学は２１日、博士論文で盗用があったとして、早大大学院公共経営研究科が中国籍の晏英氏に授与していた博士学位を取り消すと発表した。

 　早大によると、博士学位の取り消しは初めて。早大では晏氏の職業や年齢を明らかにしていない。

　早大によると、晏氏は２０１０年９月、「近代立憲主義の原理から見た現行中国憲法」と題した論文で博士学位を授与されていたが、１１年８月、この論文に盗用があるとの匿名の通報が早大に寄せられた。内部調査の結果、論文の少なくとも６４か所で他人の文献やインターネットからの無断引用が見つかり、うち１２か所について晏氏は盗用を認めたという。論文は１０年１０月に出版されていた。早大では「内容の訂正も含め、晏氏には真摯(しんし)な対応を求めたい」とした。

（2013年10月21日22時35分  読売新聞）

(試譯文)

     On the 21st (October) the Waseda University graduate school public management research center announced that the doctoral degree awarded to Mr. Yan Ying of Chinese nationality was canceled, after noting plagiarism in his doctoral dissertation.

     According to the Waseda University, it was the first time to cancel an awarded doctoral degree. Waseda University did not clarify Mr. Yan's occupation or age.

    According to the Waseda University Mr. Yan was awarded the doctoral degree in September, 2010 for a paper entitled "The present China constitution seen from the principle of modern constitutionalism", but an anonymous report saying that there was plagiarism in the paper was received by the Waseda University in August, 2011. As a result of an internal investigation, the unapproved quotations from others' literature and from the Internet were  found in at least in 64 places of the paper, and Mr. Yan said that he admitted surreptitious usage in 12 of them. The paper was published in October, 2010.  For the Waseda University, they presupposed that "including the correction of the contents, we would like to ask Mr. Yan for an earnest response".

Plagiarism is a serious misconduct in the university.

南宋古詩選集在神田舊書店賣４億円以上

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

神田の古書店に４億円超の品…南宋期の漢詩選集

　東京都千代田区神田神保町の古書店「一誠堂書店」が１１日、古典籍の展示即売会で、中国の南宋時代の１２世紀頃に刊行された漢詩選集「唐人絶句」を４億６０００万円で売り出した。

　中国では早くから木版の印刷技術が発達し、当時出版された書籍は「宋版」と呼ばれ、書体や造本の美しさ、現存例の希少さからすでに明代から高額で取引されてきた。しかも２１冊がまとまっていることから、極めて貴重という。

　同店の目録などによると、南宋の文人、洪邁が編んだ。大きさは縦２８・２センチ、横１９・３センチ。唐代の詩人、杜甫が李白に贈った漢詩などが印刷されている。元は２２冊あり、室町時代までに日本に伝わったものとみられる。近年は少なくとも４０年以上、店に保管されていた。

（2013年10月11日19時08分 読売新聞）

(試譯文)

   In an antiquarian book exhibition fair held on the 11^th (October), the antiquarian bookshop " I Seido Bookstore" in Kanda Jimbo-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo put on sale for 460 million yen a Chinese Poetry anthology "The Chinese Quatrain" which was published at around the 12th century, being the Southern Song Dynasty in China.

   In China, printing techniques of wood engraving developed early, and the books published in those days were called the "Sung version". Because of the beauty in the handwriting style and in bookmaking, and that existing examples were rare, already from the Ming Dynasty it had been traded expensively in large amount of sum. As a collection of 21 volumes, it was even more precious.

   According to the list of the said store etc., it was Hong Mai a literary man of the Southern Song who collated it. The sizes were 28.2 cm long and 19.3 cm wide. The Chinese poetry etc. which Du Fu, the poet of the Tang dynasty, presented to Li Po were also collected in this set-volume. Originally the set had 22 volumes, and was regarded as having got across to Japan during the Muromachi period. In recent years it was kept in the store for at least 40 years.

It is a rare collection.  Yet 460 million yen is a lot of money.

日俄開始実質磋商領土問題

Recently the NHK News on-line reported the following:

日ロ領土問題 実質的な協議開催で合意

11月1日 19時46分

日本とロシアの間で初めてとなる外務・防衛の閣僚協議が、２日、東京で開かれるのを前に、岸田外務大臣とラブロフ外相が１日夜会談し、北方領土問題の実質的な協議の場となる外務次官級の協議を、来年１月末から２月上旬の間に開催することで合意しました。

日本とロシアの間で初めてとなる外務・防衛の閣僚協議、いわゆる２＋２が、２日、東京で開かれるのを前に、岸田外務大臣とラブロフ外相が、１日夜、１時間余りにわたって会談しました。
会談では、北方領土問題の今後の具体的な協議の進め方などが話し合われ、実質的な協議の場となる外務次官級の協議を、来年１月末から２月上旬の間に開催することや、来年春をめどに、岸田大臣がロシアを訪問することで合意しました。
また、来年から、両国の外務省の間で、２国間関係、北朝鮮の核問題を巡る次官級協議や、北極開発、サイバー攻撃の対処などを話し合う実務者協議を定期的に行うことを確認したほか、ロシア国内で、日本企業が活動しやすくなるよう、滞在登録や労働許可の手続きを緩和する協定の締結に向けて、交渉を始めることを決めました。
会談のあと、両外相はそろって記者会見し、岸田大臣は「両国の間では、エネルギーや農業、医療などさまざまな分野で協力が進展しており、こうした分野を中心に日本企業のロシア進出を後押ししていきたい。 北方領土交渉は、次官級協議の進展を見ながら、首脳や外相レベルで協議することになる」と述べました。
またラブロフ外相は「きょうの会談でも、首脳どうしの合意の実現に双方が熱心だということが確認されるなど、両国関係は非常に活発だ。領土交渉は、お互い感情的にならず、挑発するような発言を避ける環境の中で行いたい」と述べました。

(試譯文)

In Tokyo on the 2^nd, before the starting of the cabinet-member deliberations on foreign affairs and defense, being the first time between Japan and Russia, Foreign Minister Kishida and Foreign Minister Lavrov together had discussion at night on the 1^st; they agreed to hold talks at the level of Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, using it as the platform for substantial deliberations over the Northern Territories issue at a time between the end of January and early February next year.

Foreign Minister Kishida and Foreign Minister Lavrov together talked for more than 1 hour at night on the 1st, before holding in Tokyo the cabinet-member deliberations on foreign affairs and defense on the 2^nd , being the so called the 2+2 which was the first time between Japan and Russia.

At the talk, ways to advance concrete deliberations of the issue about the future of the Northern Territories etc. were discussed, and it was agreed to hold deliberations at the Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs level, and would use it as a platform for substantial deliberations at a time between the end of January and early February next year, and also for Minister Kishida to visit Russia within the limit of spring next year.

Moreover, among the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of both countries, from next year, talks at the vice minister level involving the North Korea nuclear issue, the management of the North Pole development issue, and on cyber assaults etc. were confirmed, and working-level talks would be performed to discuss these. On top of that in Russia, it was decided that negotiation would begin towards the conclusion of an agreement which could ease the registration backlog and the procedure for getting work permits so that Japanese companies could work easily.

Both foreign ministers gave an interview together after the talk; Minister Kishida said that “between the two countries, cooperation is progressing in various fields, such as energy, agriculture, medical treatment. I want to boost the advance of Japanese companies into Russia mainly in these areas. About the Northern Territories, while looking at the progress of the deputy-level talks, negotiation will be discussed at the top level or at the foreign minister level".

Moreover, Foreign Minister Lavrov said that "about today's talk on bilateral relation, it endorses the realization of an agreement between the head of the two states; and that both sides are eager and very active also. On the territorial issue, I would like to perform negotiations in an environment where we would not become mutually emotional and could avoid utterance which is provocative".

It seems that Russia and Japan are prepared to go into more concrete discussions so as to improve their mutual relationship.

日本完成分析俄國隕石成份

Last month the Mainichi News on-line reported the following

ロシア隕石:鉱物組成が「イトカワ」と酷似　岡山大解析

毎日新聞　2013年10月19日　20時56分（最終更新　10月19日　21時35分）

　ロシア・チェリャビンスク州に今年２月に落下した隕石（いんせき）について、解析を担当した岡山大地球物質科学研究センター（鳥取県三朝町）は１９日、隕石を構成する鉱物の組成などが、探査機「はやぶさ」が小惑星「イトカワ」から持ち帰った微粒子と極めてよく似ていることを明らかにした。隕石はイトカワと同じ天体に含まれていた可能性があるという。

　同センターの中村栄三教授（地球化学）が３月、ロシアのウラル連邦大学などから直径４センチ〜５ミリ程度の隕石の破片２５個の提供を受けた。放射性同位体などの解析の結果、隕石には１億数千万年前に衝突した痕跡があるとしている。

　中村教授はイトカワの微粒子の解析も担当。中村教授によると、イトカワは天体の衝突によって生じた岩片が集まった小惑星で、今回の隕石と同様、地球に近い軌道を持っていた。中村教授は「ロシアの隕石は、イトカワからはがれて落下した可能性がある」と話している。【高嶋将之】

(試譯文)

     About the meteorite which fell into Russia’s Chelyabinsk state in February this year, on the 19^th (October), the Okayama University - Earth Material Scientific Research Center (Misasa-cho, Tottori) which took charge of its analysis  said that the meteorite bore a strong resemblance to the particles brought home by the spacecraft "Hyabusa". It was said that it might contain the same material as the heavenly body “Itokawa”.

    In March Professor Eizo Nakamura (Geochemistry) of the Center received from the Urals Federal University of Russia etc. an offer of 25 meteorite fragments of the size from 4 cm to about 5 mm in diameter. As a result of analyzing the radioactive isotope etc., it was supposed that in the meteorite there was a trace of collision that took place over one billion years of ago.

     Professor Nakamura also took charge of the analysis of the particles of Itokawa. According to Professor Nakamura, Itokawa was the asteroid which arose by the gathered rock fragments that came from a collision of a heavenly body. It had an orbit near the earth like this meteorite. Professor Nakamura was saying that "the meteorite of Russia may have been separated and fallen from Itokawa".

I still can remember that when a meteorite fell down in Russia in February this year, many people were injured and buildings were damaged.

人類進化過程有新説法

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

「ヒト祖先は同一種」の新説…進化過程見直しも

　【ワシントン＝中島達雄】これまで複数種がいたとされてきた、原人（ホモ・エレクトス）などの「初期ホモ（ヒト）属」と呼ばれる現代人の祖先が、実は同一種だったとする新説を、グルジア国立博物館や米ハーバード大の国際研究チームが１８日付の米サイエンス誌に発表した。

　同国で２０００年ごろから相次いで見つかった約１８０万年前の人骨の分析で判明した。

　初期ホモは、アフリカを出た最初の人類。種の分類の見直しは、私たち現代人の進化や拡散の考え方にも見直しを迫る。

　研究チームは、グルジアのドマニシ遺跡で見つかった５体の初期ホモの頭骨などを分析。５体と、約２００万年前のアフリカにいた「ホモ・ハビリス」や「ホモ・ルドルフェンシス」は、同じホモ・エレクトスと結論した。５体の頭部や顔、歯などの個体差からみると、アフリカの２種との違いは別種と呼べるほど大きくないという。

（2013年10月19日21時00分 読売新聞）

 (試譯文)

     About the ancestor of the modern human the so called "Early Homo (human) genus" which had so far been said to have two or more kinds, such as the primitive man (Homo erectus), an international research team from the Georgia National Museum and from the U.S. Harvard University announced a new theory in the U.S. Science magazine dated the 18^th (October) that they were supposed to be of the same kind in fact.

     It was made clear by an analysis of the human bones dated about 1,800,000 years ago being successively found in the country since around the year 2000.

     Early Homo was the first human beings who came out of Africa. While reviewing the classification of species, it also required to review the idea on the ​​diffusion and evolution of modern human.

    A research team analyzed the skulls etc. of five Early Homo bodies found in the Domanishi site in Georgia. Regarding these five bodies, it was concluded that they were Homo erectus, same as the "Homo habilis" and the "Homo rudolfensis" which were present in Africa about 2 million years ago. By looking into the individual specificity, such as the head, the face and the tooth, it was said that the difference between these five bodies and the two kinds in Africa was not great enough to regard them as different kinds.

This is a new discovery. It may make scientists to rethinking about the evolution of human being.