自殺率秋田領先，28年首次全國最嚴重的縣

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

自殺率、秋田を抜き２８年ぶり全国ワーストの県

2015年06月06日 08時40分

　厚生労働省が５日公表した２０１４年の人口動態統計月報年計（概数）によると、人口１０万人当たりの自殺者数を示す「自殺率」は、岩手県は前年より０・２ポイント高い２６・６で、１９８６年以来２８年ぶりの全国ワーストとなった。

　脳血管疾患による死亡率も１６２・３で、全国ワーストだった。

　１４年の自殺者数は３４１人で、前年より１人増えた。前年に自殺率ワーストだった秋田県が２６・０となり、２位だった岩手県と入れ替わった。岩手県は自殺予防相談員の養成などに力を入れ、ここ１０年間は自殺者数が減少傾向にあった。県障がい保健福祉課は「残念な結果。自殺が多い年代になどし、対策を取りたい」と話した。

　１人の女性が一生で出産する子供の推計人数を表した合計特殊出生率は、前年より０・０２ポイント低い１・４４で、全国平均（１・４２）をわずかに上回った。

(試譯文)

According to a demographic monthly statistics report published on the 5^th (June) by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, regarding the yearly (rounded) "suicide rate", the number of suicide per population of 100,000 people in 2014 for Iwate prefecture was 0.2 points higher than last year to become 26.6, and was the worst in 28 years in the whole country since 1986.

  The rate of death due to cerebro-vascular disease was 162.3 and was the worst in the whole country.

  The number of suicide in 2014 was 341 people, increased by 1 person compared with last year. Akita prefecture which had the worst suicide rate last year was 26.0, giving way to Iwate prefecture to become the second. Iwate prefecture put the emphasis on the training of suicide prevention advisors, and the number of suicides tended to decrease in the past 10 years. The prefecture Health and Welfare department for disability said that “it is a regrettable result. During a time of many suicides etc., I would like to take some measures".

  The total fertility rate, which was used to express the estimated number of people based on the number of children that a female would give birth to during her life time, was 0.2 point lower than last year to become 1.44, slightly above the national average (1.42).

It seems that both Iwate prefecture and Akita prefecture have a higher suicide rate in Japan.

強行改變領土，日本烏克蘭首脳一致不承認......

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

力で領土変更、認めず…日ウクライナ首脳一致

2015年06月06日 22時15分

　【キエフ＝中島健太郎、田村雄】安倍首相は６日午前（日本時間６日夕）、ウクライナの首都キエフの大統領府で、ポロシェンコ大統領と会談した。

　両首脳は、ロシアが昨年３月にウクライナ南部のクリミア半島を編入したことについて、力による現状変更を認めない考えで一致した。平和的な手段で問題解決を目指すことも確認した。

　日本の首相によるウクライナ訪問は初めて。首相は会談で、「日本は力による現状変更を決して認めない。日本は一貫してウクライナ領土の一体性を尊重している」と強調した。すべての当事者が２月の停戦合意を順守する必要性も指摘した。

　首相がＧ７（先進７か国）と連携し、ウクライナ支援を続ける方針を表明したのに対し、ポロシェンコ氏は謝意を示した。首相はこの日の会談で意見交換した内容を踏まえ、７日にドイツのエルマウで開幕するＧ７首脳会議（サミット）で、ウクライナ問題を議論する考えを示した。

　ウクライナでの紛争解決に向けた日本の役割について、首相は「Ｇ７の連帯を重視している。ロシアへの制裁を維持し、『対話と圧力』を通じて、ロシアが建設的な役割を果たすよう働きかけている」と述べた。ポロシェンコ氏は「Ｇ７サミット前の会談で、連携の状況を確認できたことは重要な意味がある」と評価した。

(試譯文)

In the morning on the 6^th (June) (Japan time evening on the 6^th) Prime Minister Abe talked with President Poroshenko at the presidential palace in metropolitan Kiev of Ukraine.

 About Russia's annexation of the southern part of Ukraine in Crimea Peninsula in March last year, both leaders agreed on the idea that they did not recognize changing the status quo by force. The aim in solving the problem by peaceful means was also confirmed.

 It was the first time for a Japanese prime minister to visit Ukraine. The prime minister in the meeting accentuated that "Japan never admits any changes to the status quo by force. Japan is consistent in respecting the integrity of Ukraine’s territory". It was also pointed out that all the people concerned needed to obey the ceasefire agreement of February.

 Mr. Poroshenko showed his gratitude towards the prime minister as the latter expressed a policy that would cooperate with the G7 (Group of 7) to continue supporting the Ukrainian. The prime minister indicated the idea that he would discuss the Ukraine problem in the G7 summit meeting (the Summit) due to begin in Ellmau of German on the 7^th, based on the contents of the views exchanged in the meeting on this day.

 About Japan’s role in resolving the Ukraine conflict, the prime minister stated that "the solidarity of G7 was emphasized. Sanction on Russia would be maintained, and would 'through dialogue and pressure' appeal to Russia to play a constructive role". Mr. Poroshenko estimated that "before the G7 Summit, to have a meeting that can confirm the situation of cooperation has important meanings".

So Japan is helping to solve the Ukraine conflict as a member of the G7.

文科省：改革“可使用英語”......中學3年引入全國檢測試

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

文科省：「使える英語」へ改革…中３に全国テスト導入へ

毎日新聞　2015年06月05日　23時35分

　文部科学省は５日、全国の中学３年生全員を対象に「読む」「書く」「聞く」「話す」の４技能をみる英語の新テストを導入すると発表した。２０１９年度実施を目指す。毎年４月の小中学生の全国学力テスト（国語と数学・算数）と同様、その結果を授業改善に生かし、「使える英語」の能力育成につなげるのが狙いだ。現場の英語担当教員からは「４技能を重視する方向性は良い」と評価する声が上がる一方、「過度な競争を生まないか」との懸念も聞かれた。【大久保昂、菅野蘭、三木陽介】

　英語の新テストは、同日公表された中高生の「英語力向上推進プラン」の柱。推進プランによると、新テストは複数年に１回実施予定。

　難易度をどうするかなど詳細は今後、専門家会議で検討する。今年度中に中学３年生約６万人を抽出して事前テストを行い、その結果も参考にする。

　このほか各都道府県に、教員や生徒の英語力の数値目標や教員の研修計画などを盛り込んだ「改善プラン」を今年度内に作ってもらい、その達成状況の公表を求める。

　高校３年生を対象に文科省が昨年初めて実施した英語力調査で、４技能の結果はいずれも「中学レベル」と低調だった。下村博文文科相はプランの意図について「英語教育の抜本的な改革に取り組む」と強調する。

　英語教員の反応はさまざまだ。大阪府の公立中学の２０代男性教員は「４技能をバランスよく伸ばそうという方向性は間違っていない」と語る。ただ、新テストに関しては「点数の低い地域にとっては、全国学力テストに加え、さらに負のレッテルを張る機会を増やすだけだろう。子どもたちが『やっぱりあかんかった』と傷ついてしまう恐れがある」と批判的だ。

　一方、宮崎県の中学教員（４６）は「テストがあれば生徒の英語力を客観的に把握でき、授業改善に生かせる。４技能を意識した授業が大切になる」と前向きに捉えた。

　４技能のうち「話す」の採点は対面式が不可欠で、教員が担うことになりそう。埼玉県の公立中学の４０代女性教員は「時間や労力を考えると、やりたいと思う先生はいないのではないか」と困惑していた。

(試譯文)

  On the 5^th (June), the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology announced that, targeting at all members of the 3rd grader of junior high school in the whole country, a new English examination to judge on the 4 skills of "speaking", "reading", "writing" and "hearing" would be introduced. The aim was to implement it in fiscal year 2019. It was the same as the achievement test (Japanese, mathematics and arithmetic) for elementary and junior high school students held in April every year in the whole country. The aim was to utilize the result for class improvement and to link it to the nurturing of "English using ability ". From English teachers in the field, while voices kept rising saying "the direction which emphasizes the 4 skills is good", yet anxiety was also heard: "don't you create excessive competition?"

  This English new examination would be the pillar of the "English ability improvement promotion plan" aimed at the junior and senior high school students, announced on the same day. According to a promotion plan, expectation was to put the new examination into effect once every several years.

  About the degree of difficulty, details would be considered by an ad hoc meeting from now on. About 60,000 people of the 3rd grader of junior high school would be picked to do a test beforehand during this fiscal year and the result would be referred to.

  Additionally, for urban and rural prefectures, an "Improvement plan" was incorporated which targeted at getting numerical tables, which indicated the English proficiency of teachers and students on top of teacher's training. It would be done in this fiscal year and the publication of its progress would be demanded.

 About the English ability investigation, which the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology put into effect for the first time last year targeting at the 3rd grader of high school, the results of all the 4 skills at "the junior high school level" were low. On the aim of the plan, Shitamura Hirofumi the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology stressed that "it works on a radical reform in English education".

  The reactions of English teachers were varied. A male teacher in his twenties from a public junior high school in Osaka prefecture explained that "there is nothing wrong in the direction to have a balanced extension to the 4 skills". But regarding the new examination, he criticized that "for the low scoring area, it will only further increase the opportunity to put a negative label on them by adding the whole country achievement test. To the children, damages due to ‘Yappari akan katta’ were feared".

  On the other hand, a junior high school teacher in Miyazaki-ken (46) took it positively because "when there is a test, the English proficiency of students can be grasped objectively, and it can be utilized for class improvement. Teaching conscious of the 4 skills becomes important".

  Among the 4 skills, a meeting system would be indispensable in getting marks on "speaking" and it seemed that teachers would be needed to carry it out. A schoolmistress in her forties from a public junior high school in Saitama prefecture perplexed that "when considered the time and effort, may be no teacher would like to do it".

I think Japan is taking serious steps in improving the English ability of the students.

向批評當局的中国新聞紙施壓? 編輯幹部停職，分局關閉

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

当局批判の中国紙に圧力か　編集幹部が停職、支局も閉鎖

広州＝延与光貞

2015年5月25日23時30分

　大手企業や地方政府への批判で知られる中国・湖北省の新聞「長江商報」が、地元当局から「指導」を受け、編集幹部が停職処分になったことが分かった。関係者が朝日新聞に明かしたほか、香港メディアなどが報じた。当局批判を強める改革派メディアへの圧力との見方も出ている。

　関係者によると、同省の党宣伝部などが同紙の指導に入ったのは今月中旬。四川省南充市の共産党組織内の選挙汚職、福建省の化学工場爆発事故の環境への影響、貴州省の国有企業の不正など最近の七つの報道を挙げ、「事実と違う」「マイナス面ばかり報じている」と批判した。

　編集幹部が停職処分を受けたほか、「省外での取材は許されない」として、同紙が省外に設けていた支局の閉鎖を命令。記者数人が退職することになった。評論の掲載も禁じられているという。関係者の一人は取材に、「ニュースにあるのは事実か事実でないかだけだ。当局の論理は間違っている」と話した。

　長江商報は２００６年に創刊。調査報道で知られた著名記者らも参加し、昨年１２月から週１回、全国のニュースを独自の視点で報じて評判を集めていた。（広州＝延与光貞）

(試譯文)

It was made clear that the "Chang Jiang Commercial Daily", a newspaper in China known for its criticism towards major companies and the local government, had received guidance from the local authority, with its editing executive suspended. According to the people concerned, apart from disclosing to the Asahi Shimbun, it also told the Hong Kong media. Views had come out that it was putting pressure on the reform factions in the media that strongly criticized the authority.

  According to the person concerned, it was at the middle of this month (May) that the Party Propaganda Department gave guidance to the said paper. Seven recent reports covered by the paper were mentioned and criticized as "different from the facts", "only the negative aspect is being reported": election corruption in the Communist party organization in Nanchong city in Szechwan province, influence to the environment caused by the chemical factory explosion accident in Fujian province, and the injustice of a state-owned enterprise in Guizhou province.

  On top of a suspension punishment for the editing executive, supposedly all "coverage outside the province is not permitted": branch office of the said paper established outside the province was ordered to close. Several reporters were going to retire. It was said that the paper was forbidden to carry criticism. One concerned person in response to our coverage said that "what is news is merely about whether it is a fact or not. The logic of the authority is wrong".

  Chang Jiang Commercial Daily started publication in 2006. It was well known for its investigative reporting and that famous reporters had participated. From December last year once a week, it reported news collected from the whole country and made comments, using an independent viewpoint.

It is not surprising to note that China is trying to control the mass media.

市長:有 1千萬人參觀“大和博物館”是“奇蹟”

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

「大和ミュージアム」１千万人で市長「奇跡的」

2015年05月25日 11時12分

                       

　広島県呉市の大和ミュージアム（市海事歴史科学館）の来館者が２４日、１０００万人を突破した。

　２００５年にオープンし、４月に開館１０周年を迎えたばかりでの達成は、地方の博物館としては異例のハイペース。同館は「今後も展示の内容を工夫し、足を運んでもらえる施設に」と意気込む。

　大和ミュージアムは旧海軍の戦艦「大和」を１０分の１大に再現した全長２６・３メートルの模型を中心に、乗組員の遺書や引き揚げられた遺品、特攻兵器などの資料を展示。来館者は毎年９０万人前後あり、県外や海外からが７割を占めている。

　平和学習の場として、修学旅行生の人気を集めていることも伸びを後押し。今年は戦後７０年とあって近代史への関心が高まっており、ゴールデンウィーク中の来館者は昨年より３割増え、夏頃と予想した１０００万人到達が早まった。

　１０００万人目は愛知県春日井市の高校２年生女子（１６）。記念式典で小村和年・呉市長らとくす玉を割り、節目を祝った。小村市長は「１０年での１０００万人到達は、地方の博物館では奇跡的な数字。これからも未来に平和のメッセージを発信していきたい」とあいさつ。高校生は「光栄です。戦争の歴史も詳しく学べて勉強になった」と話した。

　戸高一成館長は「近代史を扱う博物館は少なく、『大和』のネームバリューだけが成功の要因ではない」と分析。「市民や自治体が、我が町の博物館として熱心に協力してくれている。地元の支えのおかげ」と感慨深げに語った。（松本裕平）

(試譯文)

On the 24^th (May) the number of visitors to the Yamamoto museum in Kure city, Hiroshima (the City Maritime History Museum) broke through 10 million people.

 It was opened in April 2005 and just had its 10th opening anniversary. As a local museum its quick pace was exceptional. The same museum expressed enthusiastically that “from now on we would give attention to the contents of the exhibition and to our facilities to attract you to go there".

 Yamamoto Museum focused on the 1/10 scale reproduction of an old navy battleship "Yamamoto" that had a full length of 26.3 meters. Suicide notes of the crews and salvaged artifacts, suicide weapons etc. were exhibited. There were about 900,000 visitors every year, 70 percent of them came from outside the prefecture or foreign countries.

 As a place to learn about peace, the visits by school trips students made it popular and supported the museum’s growth. This year was the 70th years after the war; the interest in modern history was rising. During the Golden Week visitors increased by 30% compared with last year, and the expectation on reaching 10 million people by the summer was realized early.

 The ten millionth visitor was Aichi (16), a high school second year female student from Kasugai city. In a commemorative ceremony an ornamental scented ball was pulled open by Kure Mayor Omura Kazutoshi and others and a milestone was celebrated. In his greeting Mayor Omura said "10 million people arrived in 10 years is a miraculous number for a local museum. I would also like to send a peaceful message from here to the future". He said to high school students that "it is honor. History of war could be learned in detail and studied".

 Director Todaka Kazushige analyzed that "there are few museums which deal with modern history, and the name value of "Yamamoto" is not the only successful factor". With deep emotion he explained that "citizens and autonomous body were eagerly giving cooperation to the museum in my town. Thank you for the local support".

I look forward to visiting this museum in the future.

埼玉県平民之家發現2.26事件單張

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

民家から二・二六事件のビラ発見 埼玉

5月25日 5時58分

昭和１１年、陸軍青年将校らが政府要人などを殺害した「二・二六事件」で、兵士に投降を呼びかけるためにまかれたとされるビラが、入手の経緯を記したメモとともに埼玉県川口市の民家から見つかりました。

見つかったのは、二・二六事件の発生から３日後、決起した兵士らに政府側が投降を呼びかけるために飛行機からまいたとされる「下士官兵ニ告グ」というビラです。
川口市に住む郷土史家の伊澤隆男さん（７４）が、同じ市内にある妻の邦子さんの実家が取り壊わされる際、資料を整理していて見つけました。
邦子さんの祖父がスクラップブックに整理していたもので、当時、総理大臣官邸の近くに工事に行っていた鈴木氏という人物からもらったというメモも残されていました。
「昭和維新」を掲げた陸軍青年将校らが、政府要人など９人を殺害した昭和１１年の二・二六事件は、軍部の台頭と戦争の時代につながる、昭和史の転換点になったとされています。
同じビラは公立の博物館などにも所蔵されていますが、埼玉県平和資料館によりますと、入手の経緯が分かる形で一般市民が保管していたのが見つかるのは珍しいということです。
発見した伊澤さんは「『鈴木』さんは祖父がさまざまな資料を収集していることを知って持って来てくれたのだろう。祖父の元にあったからこそ今まで残っていたと思う」と話しています。

(試譯文)

The "2.26 Incident" happened in 1936 in which army young officers had killed government official and others, the flyer that was assumed to have been sown to soldiers to appeal for surrender, as well as the memo that recorded the circumstance in obtaining the flyer was found in a private house in Kawaguchi city, Saitama.

What was found was the flyer: "An announcement to the rank and file" which was supposed to have been sown from an airplane of the government side, 3 days after the occurrence of the 2.26 Incident, to appeal for the surrender of soldiers who rose into action.

Mr. Takao Izawa a person who studied local history and lived in Kawaguchi city (74) found it in the house of his wife Kuniko's parents' home which was in the same city, when gathering materials as the house was to be demolished.

It was Kuniko's grandfather who gathered a scrapbook. He also left behind a memo received from a person called Mr. Suzuki who did construction works near the prime minister's official residence.

It was said that army youth officers put up the "Showa Imperial Restoration", and the 2.26 Incident in 1936 during which government official and others 9 people were killed was a turning point of the Showa history in relation to the rise of the military and a period of war.

Although public museums also possessed the same flyer, according to the Peace Museum of Saitama, it could be said that it was unusual to find out a flyer being kept by an ordinary citizen, based on the form regarding the background of obtaining it.

Mr. Izawa who found it said that "‘Suzuki’ knew that my grandfather was collecting various materials, and would bring them to him. I think it was left behind by my grandfather in its original up to now".

I think it is an interesting story for Mr. Izawa to tell.

南美鐵路可能性調查......中國和巴西同意

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

南米横断鉄道の可能性調査…中国とブラジル合意

2015年05月20日 20時10分

　【ブラジリア＝吉田健一】中国の李克強(リークォーチャン)首相は１９日、訪問先のブラジルの首都ブラジリアで、ルセフ大統領と会談した。

　両首脳は、〈１〉南米大陸を横断する鉄道の実現可能性について調査を開始する〈２〉ブラジルの社会基盤整備に向けて両国の国有金融機関で５００億ドル（約６兆円）の基金を設立する――ことなどで合意した。

　両首脳は、経済面を中心に両国の関係強化について協議した。新華社電によると、李氏は「両国の全面的な戦略的パートナーシップを更に発展させたい」と述べた。ルセフ氏は「社会基盤整備や金融、エネルギーなどでの協力を拡大、深化させたい」と語り、中国からの投資を歓迎する考えを示した。

(試譯文)

   On the 19^th (May), Chinese Prime Minister Li Keqiang talked with president Rusefu in Brazil’s capital Brasilia, the place which he was visiting.

   Both leaders reached the agreement on <1>to begin an investigation on the possibility of completing a railroad that would run cross the South American Continent <2> to establish a 50,000 million dollars fund (about 6,000,000 million yen) by a national financial institution of the two countries for the Brazilian social infrastructure maintenance.

   Both leaders conferred on reinforcing the relation of the two countries focusing on finance. According to the New China News Agency Mr. Lee stated that "he would like to further develop the overall strategic partnership of both countries". Mr. Rusefu explained that "he would like to expand and deepen the cooperation in social infrastructure maintenance, finance and energy", and indicated the idea that investment from China was welcome.

It seems that China is deepening its relation with countries in America.