12 25, 2004

第12回：「小泉改革」

文明開化から約１５０年、政党内閣制発足から約１００年、憲法制定から約５０年、そして今グローバリゼーション。わが国の立法、司法、行政は、すべて時勢に即したものに刷新すべき時かもしれません。

小泉首相が「平成の改革」をしてくれるというので、既得権にしがみついている一部を除いた一般国民は大いに期待しているわけです。


【課題文】
捨て身の小泉改革を

参院選も済んだ。勝ち負けの議論はせずに小泉純一郎首相は続投、９月の自民党・内閣の人事を待つ態勢となった。小泉首相の責任が問題にされなかったのは、就任後３年間の国政選挙を総合して評価したものであろう。しかし、改革路線の継続を唱える首相の求心力が今後弱まるとすると、小泉改革の行方はどうなるのだろうか。

今回の選挙で、有権者が年金が直面する課題を避けてしまったことが気になる。年金保険料の引き上げと年金給付金の切り下げは、年金制度がどうなろうと避けられない「改革の痛み」である。年金一元化を理由として、これを先延ばしにする主張が有権者の支持を得たのだとすれば、増税で選挙は戦えない昔に戻ってしまったように見える。有権者は「改革の痛み」に耐えられないのだろうか。

財政構造改革が今後も進めば、予算をカットされた政策の受益者の悲鳴が大きくなる。三位一体改革も税源移譲の恩恵に浴する度合いの低い地方の自治体の合意は得にくくなる。そして世界貿易機関（ＷＴＯ）、郵政民営化、社会福祉。改革が進めば「改革の痛み」が深まる。それに応じて、自民党内での反対も強くなる。首相の指導力の強化が必要となる。

＜後略＞

日本経済新聞夕刊「大機小機」（７月２４日）


[テキスト1]

捨て身の小泉改革を

参院選も済んだ。勝ち負けの議論はせずに小泉純一郎首相は続投、９月の自民党・内閣の人事を待つ態勢となった。小泉首相の責任が問題にされなかったのは、就任後３年間の国政選挙を総合して評価したものであろう。しかし、改革路線の継続を唱える首相の求心力が今後弱まるとすると、小泉改革の行方はどうなるのだろうか。


[訳例1]

On the Ropes: Time running out for Koizumi's "No pain, no gain" reforms

The Upper House elections have concluded. Without any debate, Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's position is secure. Members of the LDP (Liberal Democratic Party) wait to see how Koizumi's cabinet will shape up come this September. Koizumi was spared blame this election for losing LDP seats, since he has been credited for consolidating the party since he took office three years ago. Yet, Koizumi's continual rally cry for reform could be falling on deaf ears as his ability to keep the party together weakens, casting the future of his reform policies in doubt.


[訳例2]

Koizumi Cabinet Should (1) Risk Its Life for Reform

The election of the House of Councilors is over. Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi still remains in office without any substantial argument, within his party, about his responsibility for the LDP's setback in the election. The LDP members wait and see how the cabinet will be reshuffled in September. The reason why Koizumi could dodge responsibility for the latest election results is because the LDP members have (2) acclaimed the overall results of the national elections that have taken place in three years after Koizumi took office. Yet, if Koizumi, who wants to move on a reform path, loses power to unify the party, his reform policy might go nowhere.


  1. I know you don’t mean this literally, but "risk its life" is a bit too strong. Instead of risking "life", we can say "risking it all" or "putting it all on the line". Similar to "risk its life" is the phrase "Do or die". It's "do or die" time for the Koizumi administration.
  2. Do you mean "accumulated"? "Acclaim" means to "praise" which in this case, would not fit in the overall meaning of your sentence

[訳例3]

PUSH HARD FOR KOIZUMI REFORMS
This Time, It's Now or Never

The Upper House election is over. Though the result was a setback for the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), it did not incur a challenge to the position of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi from within the party. The LDP apparently had a consensus to maintain the status quo under the presidency of Koizumi until the Cabinet members and party executives (1) will be reshuffled this September. Prime Minister Koizumi was exempt from taking (2) the responsibility for the weak election result (3) possibly because the party (3) generally acknowledged his strong leadership that contributed to (3) fairly successful national elections after he took office three years ago. However, if more voters are to leave this zealous advocate of reformist policies from now on, then we are not sure what will become of the government's commitment to the nation’s structural reforms.


  1. are
  2. 削除。
  3. Using all three of these words in that sentence weakens the overall tone. It sounds too “wishy-washy.” Of course, we don't need exaggeration but I think we can eliminate 2 out of 3 of these words to make the translation feel more convincing.

[訳例4]

(1) Koizumi reform is on the edge

The Upper House election is over. Leaving the outcome of the election vague, Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi remains in power and is ready for (2) reshuffle of the Cabinet and change in the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) executive positions in September. (3) Quite few LDP politicians blamed Koizumi for the setback, probably because the majority of LDP members rated Koizumi's performance as fair with overall good national election results in his three-year (4) premiership. Although Koizumi has vowed to proceed with his reform programs as planned, what if Koizumi's clout is weakened, which has so far moved the reforms forward.


  1. Koizumi reform: Do or die あるいは、on the edge は on the brinkでもよい。
  2. a を追加し、a reshuffle とする。
  3. Georgeさんのコメントでは、a を追加して Quite a few としてあり、かつ「原文では、小泉首相は選挙での敗退を非難されなかった」ので「Quite a few LDP politicians blamed Koizumi」はおかしいのではないかとなっています。訳者としては、「quite a few」ではなく「quite few」で「（非難する党員は）ほとんどいなかった」としたつもりなのですが。。。
    それならやっぱり very few が quite few より自然かな。
  4. この単語は技術的には間違いではないが、標準英語ではほとんど見かけない。

VOCABULARY

「捨て身の」

  • "DO OR DIE", "NOW OR NEVER", "NO PAIN, NO GAIN", "ON THE EDGE", "ON THE BRINK" などが使える。
  • 上記はどれも "DESPERATION" の感じをよく表している。特に最初の３つは語呂がよく、覚えやすい。
  • "NO PAIN, NO GAIN" はスポーツ関係でよく用いられる表現。
  • "DESPERATE" をそのまま使って "DESPERATE MEASURES FOR KOIZUMI ADMINISTRATION" もよいであろう。
  • "MEASURES" と "ACTIONS" の違いは？ 前者は、ステップを踏んで PROGRESSIVE な感じ。後者は、その瞬間で終わってしまう直接的な感じ。

♪ It's still the same old story, a fight for love and glory, a case of do or die.
The world will always welcome lovers, as time goes by. ♪
AS TIME GOES BY (from the movie Casablanca, Lyrics by Unknown)

♪ It's now or never, come hold me tight, kiss me my darling, be mine tonight…♪
IT'S NOW OR NEVER (Lyrics by Aaron Schroeder, Sung by Elvis Presley)

DIFFICULT SENTENCES

1-1. 「小泉首相の責任が問題にされなかったのは、就任後３年間の国政選挙を総合して評価したものであろう。」

  • アメリカ人の GEORGE さんには、選挙で負けたのに「首相の責任が問題にされないこと」、その後に続く「総合して評価した」の意味が、「よく評価された」のか「悪く評価された」のかを含めてカルチャー的に理解に苦しんだようだ。
  • 「総合して評価した」に関連して、アメリカの学校には、教師向けの制度として "TENURE" という制度があり、最初の３年間の働きが「総合して良好」であれば、教師の職が終身的に保証される。

VOCABULARY

1-1-1. 「問題にされなかった」

  • "DODGE RESPONSIBILITY"、"WAS SPARED BLAME"、"WAS NOT RESPONSIBLE"、"WAS NOT CRITICIZED" などがよいであろう。
  • "DODGE" はドッジ・ボールでも使われているように、「逃れる」という意味。"DODGE A BULLET" はよく使う表現。（文字どおりには「弾をよける」だが、「問題を回避する」というときによく使う。）

野茂を今季限りで放出しそうな ＬＡ ドジャーズは、なんで Dodgers という変な名前なのか？
How did the Dodgers get their name?
⇒ Why "Dodgers?"

VOCABULARY

1-2. 「求心力」

  • 感覚的には“DRAWING POWER”という感じ。
  • "CLOUT" は「影響力」だが感じが出ている。ただし、「人に属する性質であり、状況で変わるものではない」ので不適当という意見もあり。
  • "ABILITY TO UNIFY"、"CHARISMA"、"LEADERSHIP"、"POPULARITY" という候補が出たが、最終的には "APPROVAL RATINGS"（信任率、支持率）が最もよいであろうということに落ち着いた。
    アメリカの大統領選挙などには頻繁に出てくる言葉。
  • 何に対する求心力か？ VOTERS, CABINET MEMBERS, LDP MEMBERS、それらすべてに対して、と意見が出たが、おそらくは、LDP MEMBERS に対する求心力であろう。

[テキスト2]

今回の選挙で、有権者が年金が直面する課題を避けてしまったことが気になる。年金保険料の引き上げと年金給付金の切り下げは、年金制度がどうなろうと避けられない「改革の痛み」である。年金一元化を理由として、これを先延ばしにする主張が有権者の支持を得たのだとすれば、増税で選挙は戦えない昔に戻ってしまったように見える。有権者は「改革の痛み」に耐えられないのだろうか。


[訳例1]

Of particular concern in this election was voter unwillingness to deal head-on with the pressing issue of pension reform. With a rise in pension premiums coupled with a cutting of pension benefits to recipients, the question of just how to reform the national pension system has become an inescapable thorn in administration's side. Delaying a single, comprehensive pension plan for the sake of gaining voter support looks like a return to times when a candidate could never win an election by promising a tax increase. Do voters have the stomach for this "reform pain"?

[訳例2]

A worrisome point about the latest election is that voters (1) sidestepped the issue that would naturally accompany the current pension system. We would not be able to escape from 'the pain of reform' such as premium hikes and pension reduction, no matter how the existing pension program should be changed. The LDP is trying to put on hold the pension reform on the ground that integration of the complex pension system takes time. If the party successfully gained voters' support in spite of this do-nothing attitude, the political environment seems to have swung back to its old-fashioned state where a party with a tax-hike campaign pledge would not win an election. Voters can't bear the pain of reform, can they?

  1. Nice word choice.

[訳例3]

The election result left (1) a concern that a considerable portion of the voters were dissatisfied with Koizumi's (2) scheme of pension reform. But whatever the new pension system will be, we cannot avoid paying more premiums and receiving less benefits. After all, nothing can change without the nation's willingness to share some costs. If the voters opted to (3) take the position to see a unified pension system first, (4) and to put off the pension issue presently hanging over the nation, then it seems we have gone back to the past (1) years when no election could be (5) fought by voicing a tax increase. Is the "pain to change" really too much for us to endure?

  1. 削除。
  2. "Scheme" often connotes a negative image. It sounds like you are passing judgment on Koizumi's policies, which I don't think Nikkei was doing here. Also, this sentence reads as if the voters had good reason to avoid Koizumi's reforms, but, in fact, the writer is troubled that the voters seem to be avoiding painful reforms that will be necessary to get the country back on economic track.
  3. support
  4. only to put off
  5. I think "won" might be a better choice here.

[訳例4]

One concern for the progress of the latest election is that the voters didn't vote based on how to reform the (1) tottered national pension program. Whatever the future pension system becomes, there is no way to avoid raising pension premiums and reducing retirement benefits, which are so-called painful changes. If the voters supported the campaign which insisted on postponing the reform until the various pension programs currently available (2) to be unified, it seems to be a going back to the old days and old ways when no politician or political party could win an election if (3) making tax raise its top campaign issue. The question is: Is it an unsustainable burden on individuals and companies, and voters can’t make any sacrifice for (4) better future? (5)

  1. totter は about to fall down という意味だが、この文脈では適切ではない。broken, dysfunctional, defective, あるいは totter に非常に近い意味だが、verge of collapsing などが適当であろう。
  2. to be を are に訂正。
  3. making tax raise を raising taxes was に変更。
    訳者としては、tax raise を１つの名詞とし「増税を政策の柱とする」という意味にしたつもりなのですが...
  4. a を追加し、a better future とする。
  5. The question is: 以下のこの文全体は、英語としては問題ないが、やや冗長である。ここはむしろ原文に忠実に訳すべきで、例えば、It seems as if voters just can't tolerate "reform pain". などとしたほうがよい。

Difficult sentences

2-1.「有権者は「改革の痛み」に耐えられないのだろうか。」
Vocabulary

2-1-1.「改革の痛み」

  • "reform's pain", "the pain of reform" でよいであろう。

2-2-2.「耐える」

  • "bear", "take (it)", "endure", "tolerate", "put up with", "stomach" などが使える。
  • "stomach" は動詞で使える。例えば、"I can't stomach the pain."
  • 肯定文でも書けるはずで、例えば、"Voters seem awfully sensitive to pain.", "Voters seem squeamish to (towards) the pain."
  • "squeamish"は、例えば、"He seems squeamish toward mice."とか、"I am squeamish to needles." と使う。後者は「注射がこわい」という意味。「びびる」という感じか。

Difficult sentences

2-2.「年金一元化を理由として、これを先延ばしにする主張が有権者の支持を得たのだとすれば、増税で選挙は戦えない昔に戻ってしまったように見える。」

Vocabulary

2-2-1. 「先延ばしにする」

  • "stall", "postpone", "put on hold", "play for time", "procrastinate" などが使える。
  • "procrastinate"は、"wait until the last minute" という感じ。
  • "moratorium" はどうか？「モラトリアム人間」という「指示待ち人種」がいるが。。。

2-2-2. 「昔に戻ってしまった」

  • "swung back" はよい表現である。

[テキスト3]

財政構造改革が今後も進めば、予算をカットされた政策の受益者の悲鳴が大きくなる。三位一体改革も税源移譲の恩恵に浴する度合いの低い地方の自治体の合意は得にくくなる。そして世界貿易機関（ＷＴＯ）、郵政民営化、社会福祉。改革が進めば「改革の痛み」が深まる。それに応じて、自民党内での反対も強くなる。首相の指導力の強化が 必要となる。

[訳例1]

To see fiscal structural reform through will require further budget cuts, a move sure to face ever growing backlash from pension recipients. Support for the Trinity Reform Package will also be hard to win if local governments get little benefit from a transfer of tax revenues. If the Koizumi reform platform is to make any progress, it will have to do so at the expense of some painful decisions. Dealings with the World Trade Organization (WTO), privatization of the postal system and social welfare will only exacerbate the "pain" of reform within his administration.

In response to these looming issues, Koizumi faces some of the stiffest resistance to his reform policies from within his own party. It is vital that Koizumi strengthen his resolve and demonstrate the leadership that will be crucial to steering Japan through the rough political waters ahead.

[訳例2]

If the government continues fiscal restructuring, recipients of the benefits whose budget is cut down will have greater pain. The government will have difficulty gaining approval from local governments that are less likely to benefit (1) from 'transfer of tax revenue sources' policy -- (2) one of triple reform of the local government tax and fiscal systems. A list of issues to tackle includes (3) actions with the World Trade Organization, privatization of the postal service, and welfare system reform. (4) Further reform gives more pain of reform. It will also fan criticism within the LDP. Koizumi needs stronger leadership. (5)

  1. from 'transfer of tax revenue sources' policy → from the 'transfer of tax revenue sources' policy
  2. one of triple reform → one part of the triple reform
  3. actions → dealings
  4. You may be able to get away with the famous English saying "No pain, no gain" here.
  5. The translation is fine. It mirrors the Japanese version since it ends with very short, abrupt sentences. You may want to combine the last two or three sentences into one when translating into English to see if you can make a stronger sentence. I think your version in English is just a bit too abrupt.

[訳例3]

As structural reform further proceeds on the economic and fiscal management, the government will have to review more of its current policies with an eye toward reducing expenditures. This process is bound to provoke outrage from those companies and individuals that would otherwise be able to take part in lucrative government undertakings and public works. The so-called Trinity Reform will get less support from local municipalities that benefit little from the transfer of tax revenue resources. Further, difficult and arduous issues relating to the World Trade Organization (WTO), the privatization of the Japan Post public corporation, and social welfare are also on the agenda. The more the reforms advance, the greater the pains entail. Accordingly, detractors will gain momentum within the LDP. (1) The Prime Minister's yet stronger leadership is more than essential.

  1. I think we can make this a bit stronger. "Stronger leadership from the Prime Minister is crucial (vital, essential)."

[訳例4]

As the financial restructuring (1) further proceeds, (2) some of policies would have budget cutbacks and there would be huge opposition from their beneficiaries. The so-called three-part reform of the local government tax and fiscal systems may not be easily accepted by some of (3) local governments who will not benefit much from a transfer of tax revenue sources from the central government to respective local governments. Also on the horizon are negotiations at (4) World Trade Organization (WTO), postal privatization, social welfare reform, etc. (5) The more the reforms proceed, the more (6) and bigger (7) painful changes (8) are. Anti-reform forces (9) in LDP (10) become more vocal accordingly. Koizumi's leadership is now being challenged. (11)

  1. further proceeds を proceeds further に訂正。
  2. some of を some に変更。
  3. the を追加し、the local governments とする。
  4. the を追加し、the World Trade Organizationとする。
  5. Also 以下の文は、原文にはないがもう少し説明を加えたほうがよい。例えば、
    Also on the horizon are other sticky issues, such as ～
    などとするとよい。
  6. and biggerは不要なので削除。
  7. the を追加し、the painful changes とする。
  8. are を become に訂正。
  9. the を追加し、in the LDP とする。
  10. become を are becoming に変更。
  11. accordingly の位置を変更し、more vocal, and Koizumi's leadership is now being challenged accordingly. とする。

Difficult sentences

「予算をカットされた政策の受益者の悲鳴が大きくなる。」

Vocabulary

「受益者」

  • "beneficiaries", "recipients" でよいであろう。

「悲鳴が大きくなる」

  • "provoke outrage", "create a backlash", "cause an uproar", "huge opposition", "stir up a hornet's nest" などが使える。どれも "angry" の程度が強いことがよく表現される。
  • "backlash"は、文字通り「ムチがしなって返ってくる」感じでかなり強い言葉。 （機械のギアの「ガタ」のニュアンスとはかなり異なる）
  • "stir up a hornet's nest"（スズメバチの巣をつつく）は、日本語でも「蜂の巣をつついたような」と類似表現がある。

Vocabulary

「三位一体改革」

  • "Trinity Reform"は、"Trinity" がキリスト教（Roman Catholic）関係の言葉なので不適当。（"Trinity" は、"Father", "Son", "Holy Spirit" を示す。）
  • 日本がOECD向けに使用しているオフィシャルな定義としては、
    "Reform package of three issues in the budget compilation of fiscal year 2006"
    だが、和製英語の可能性もあり、かつ長すぎる。"budget compilation" あるいは "budgetary compilation" は「予算編成」。
  • "Big 3" でどうか。
  • Three-Pillar Reform はどうか。

Difficult sentences

「そして世界貿易機関（ＷＴＯ）、郵政民営化、社会福祉。」

  • 原文は、「そして」の後に単語が羅列してあるだけ。このまま直訳しても、英語では通じない。英語ではもっと detail が必要。例えば、訳例の
    "difficult and arduous issues relating to…"
    や
    "a list of issues to tackle…"
    の説明がよい。George さんの訳例では、"Dealing with… exacerbate…" とし、さらに、"In response to these looming issues…" と続けている。

【おまけ】

「大機小機」

  • 基本的には仏教用語らしい。"Superior ability, inferior ability" ということらしいがよくわからない。"many opinions" ということでもあるらしい。
  • "All things great and small", "Voices from the masses" などが候補として出たが、結局 "Every voice counts" がよいのではないかということに落ち着いた。
  • "mass" あるいは "masses" の使い方には若干の注意が必要。文脈によっては、insult まではいかないが negative な意味の"large group of people" 「民衆」、「一般大衆」、「その他大勢」といったニュアンスになる。

投稿者 kz : 2004年12月25日 22:25

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