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2008/3/28 道路財源問題**
※- On the issue of revenue sources for roads － This is Yasuo Fukuda －
The ruling coalition and the opposition parties have a conflict of views concerning the issue of earmarking revenue sources for roads and the tax on gasoline.
In order to ensure that this conflict does not cause disruption to the everyday lives of the people, the two sides must promptly enter into talks to find a way out of the current impasse.
I have no intention of plowing on with the Government's original proposal.
I am fully prepared to make sweeping reviews of the points that I believe need to be reviewed, so I very much hope that the opposition parties, in particular the Democratic Party of Japan, will agree to meet for talks.
The first point for review is the way revenue sources earmarked for roads have been used.
It has come to light that a considerable amount of this money has been squandered on purchases of articles used for relaxation or on paying for recreational trips organized by public interest corporations for their employees, among other things.
Without reservation I apologize to the taxpayers for the fact that their money has been used in this fashion. Such improper, wasteful spending must be eradicated once and for all.
This waste was mainly engendered by single tendering procedures.
I will ensure that the most cost-effective contracts are awarded, by carrying out a thorough-going review of the single tendering procedure system and introducing competition for orders.
In addition, I will be carrying out a review of public interest corporations that depend largely on single tendering procedures to obtain their orders.
I am fully prepared to disband such organizations wherever necessary, and this will include the elimination of the practice of senior government officials obtaining posts in such organizations after retirement from public office.
The second point for review is the current road development plan. The plan calls for 59 trillion yen over 10 years, but it has been pointed out that there are still a great many areas of this plan that could have room for review -- for example, a question mark hangs over the high cost or the necessity of some of the planned roads.
Roads that are needed must be built. At the same time, we must earnestly take into consideration the doubts that have been raised.
I will carry out a comprehensive review of the road development plan by carefully scrutinizing, using the latest data, whether the planned roads are really necessary.
I will hold consultative meetings with the members of the opposition parties, so that we can work together to make a new road development plan.
The third point for review is the gasoline tax and other taxes, which are sources of revenue earmarked for roads.
I will review these taxes with the eventual aim of reallocating them to the general budget, which in other words means not using the revenue from the taxes exclusively for building roads.
By shifting this revenue to the general budget, I will make it available for measures to tackle the plethora of issues faced by the Government, including the enhancement of emergency medical services, Countermeasures against the declining birthrate, and various global warming countermeasures such as the development of new energy sources that do not emit CO2.
Nearly a month has passed since the bill on the taxation system for the new fiscal year starting this April was sent to the House of Councillors, yet so far it has not been deliberated on even once.
My concern is that failure to enact the bill by April 1, rendering it overdue, will impact the everyday lives of the people in manifold ways.
The cut in the gasoline tax will lead to confusion at gas stations, and the reduction in the source of revenue earmarked for roads will leave local governments across the nation with serious revenue shortfalls.
We are running out of time, and nothing can get started if the ruling coalition and the opposition parties try to pin the blame on each other. It is unacceptable for the general public to have to pick up the tab for the strife between political parties.
Rooting out wasteful spending. Reviewing the road development plan. Shifting revenue to the general budget.
My position is that I will carry out the necessary reviews of the revenue sources earmarked for roads, and from this standpoint I intend to work to my utmost to create the opportunity, one way or another, to hold talks with the opposition parties.
I believe this is essential if we are to avoid any disruption to the everyday lives of the people.
*-*
2008/3/21 日本銀行総裁問題**
※- On the Bank of Japan Governor issue
On the Bank of Japan Governor issue. This is Yasuo Fukuda. Today, for the very first time in the postwar era, the Bank of Japan does not have a Governor.
The appointment of the Governor of the Bank of Japan is subject to the consent of both the House of Representatives and the House of Councillors.
However, in the current process of the selection of the next Governor we have been unable to obtain the consent of the House of Councillors, which is controlled by the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ).
The global financial and economic situation is becoming increasingly uncertain due to various factors such as the sub-prime loan problem.
As such, the vacancy in the top position of Japan's central bank is posing a severe strain, given the Bank of Japan's impact on the country's domestic finances and economy as well as on the nation's international credibility.
I take my responsibility as seriously as the gravity of the situation demands.
Mr. Toshiro Muto has served as the Deputy Governor of the Bank of Japan for five years and enjoys the strong confidence of the business world and the markets.
Mr. Koji Tanami, who is known to be a conscientious person, has demonstrated his abilities in the world of international finance, first as the Deputy Governor and then as the Governor of the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC), over a span of seven years.
Although both Mr. Muto and Mr. Tanami would be highly suitable as the next Governor of the Bank of Japan, a post that requires deep insight into finance and the economy and keen international awareness, the Cabinet was unable to obtain the DPJ's backing for either of them.
Some people questioned my proposals, asking me why I did not put forward a candidate to whom the DPJ could consent.
Were there to be proposals from the DPJ, I would at any time be open to considering them.
Indeed, many DPJ members have stated their personal opinions, yet not one of them has ever mentioned, as the party line, the name of any person they consider to be suitable as the next Governor of the Bank of Japan.
Without any indication of who, specifically, the DPJ would deem fit for the role of Governor, I concluded that my only course of action was to propose candidates who I believe to be best qualified for the post.
Former Prime Minister Osachi Hamaguchi once said, "I only walk the right path," when he took an uncompromising stance against the prewar military establishment in his efforts to bring about disarmament.
I could have attempted to reach a political compromise to fill the void at the top of the Bank of Japan by appointing an innocuous person.
But my conviction, on the contrary, was that I should hold fast to selecting the right candidate on the basis of actual qualities and abilities, because the person assuming the responsibilities of Governor of the Bank of Japan will have a major influence on the Japanese economy and the lives of the people.
I am aware of the criticism as to why I choose candidates from among former officials of the Ministry of Finance.
Why should we pass over the best available candidates merely because they were former officials of the Ministry of Finance?
My decision was to put the right person into the right job based solely on the perspective of choosing someone, regardless of his or her personal history, who would best serve the interests of the Japanese economy.
It is absolutely true that the Ministry of Finance and the Bank of Japan must make their decisions independently, but that does not mean that fiscal policy and financial policy should be totally separated from each other.
Coordination between the two organizations is important, and particularly so now, considering the current economic circumstances.
In any case, this current predicament has resulted in Japan sending out a message to the world that it is unable to make a politically important decision.
If the only attitude that is brought to bear is one designed to use up the Diet's time by practically vetoing proposals, then our responsibility as politicians to the public cannot be discharged.
In politics we bear responsibility for the consequences of our actions, and I am responsible for the fact that the vacancy in the post of Governor of the Bank of Japan has arisen.
At the same time, I consider it my mission and my responsibility to normalize the situation at the Bank of Japan and political conditions at the earliest possible juncture.
*-*
2008/3/20 イラク戦争と次期米大統領**
※- Candidates confront Iraq war
- Mar. 19 -
On the fifth anniversary of the U.S. invasion, all three White House hopefuls offered conflicting views on about the Iraq war.
Who benefits from Iraq as a campaign issue depends a lot on what happens there over the next 8 months.
*-*
イラク：開戦から五年**
※- The Iraq war five years on
- Mar 19 -
President Bush says the US is on track for victory in Iraq. Bush said increased US troop levels in Iraq - the so-called surge - had brought undeniable improvements .
The President touted advances against al-Qaeda fighters in Iraq and pointed to sharply fewer deaths among US troops and civilians - but he said that progress need to be reinforced.
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2008/3/17 アトランタが強い嵐に襲われた**
※- A heavy storm hits Atlanta
- Mar 14 -
A heavy storm hits Atlanta, smashing windows and damaging the roof of a basketball stadium housing thousands of spectators.
Winds of 60 miles an hour (96.5 kilometres an hour) have hit downtown Atlanta, causing several injuries and damaging buildings, including the roof of the Georgia Dome where thousands were watching a college basketball game.
*-*
チベットは厳重な監禁**
※- Lockdown in Tibet
- Mar 16 -
The Dalai Lama wants claims of cultural genocide investigated, as police and troops lock down the capital Lhasa.
The Dalai Lama said on Sunday that there should be an investigation into whether cultural genocide has been taking place in Tibet, and said China was relying on force to achieve peace.
His comments came as police and troops locked down Lhasa, the capital of Tibet, after ugly street protests against Chinese rule that the contested region's government-in-exile said had killed 80 people. *-*
次世代ワクチンの働く仕組み解明**
※- 次世代ワクチンの働く仕組み解明 － Web site －
・効力発揮の酵素特定＝阪大。
大阪大学のチームは、簡単に量産できる次世代ワクチンとして研究が盛んな「ＤＮＡ（デオキシリボ核酸）ワクチン」が、体内で働く仕組みを解明した。
ワクチンが効力を発揮するのに不可欠なたんぱく質（酵素）を突き止めた。
予防効果の高いワクチンの研究に役立つ成果となり、インフルエンザなどの感染症ごとに最適なワクチンの研究開発が加速しそうだ。
解明したのは審良静男教授と石井健准教授らのチーム。成果は英科学誌ネイチャーに7日掲載される。
ＤＮＡワクチンは特殊な遺伝子を組み込んであり、ウイルスなどの病原体を攻撃する際の目標となる物質（抗原）を体内で作る働きがある。
ウイルスが感染する前に投与すると、免疫システムが働き、抗原を認識する物質（抗体）ができる。
ウイルスが侵入すると抗体が効果的に攻撃する
*-*
「万能ワクチン」実現へ道筋**
※- 「万能ワクチン」実現へ道筋 －Web Site－
感染研などが新物質開発。
国立感染症研究所と日油などは、様々なタイプのインフルエンザウイルスの増殖を抑えるのに有望な新物質を開発した。
従来のワクチンとは異なり、ウイルスが感染した細胞を攻撃するのが特徴。動物実験で効果を確かめた。
発生が懸念される新型インフルエンザをはじめ、どんなインフルエンザにも効く「万能ワクチン」の実現につながる成果で、引き続き動物で効果と安全性を調べる。
開発したのは感染研、日油、北海道大学、埼玉医科大学のチーム。
体にウイルスが侵入すると、免疫という仕組みが働く。ワクチンはこの仕組みの働きを高める。
従来のワクチンは、ウイルスを直接攻撃する免疫の働きを強める。だがウイルスは表面の構造が変わりやすく、いったん変わると既存のワクチンは効かなくなる
*-*
2008/3/15 ネット遮断、違法コピー者**
※- 違法コピー常習者はネット切断で合意 － Web News －
インターネット上でファイル交換ソフト「ウィニー」などを通じた映像や音楽の違法コピーによる著作権侵害が深刻化していることを受け、国内のプロバイダー（接続業者）が加盟する四つの業界団体は、違法コピーのやり取りを繰り返す利用者についてネットへの接続を強制的に停止することで合意した。
ネット上からの利用者の排除は「通信の秘密」や「通信の自由」に抵触するとして導入に慎重な意見が強かったが、著作権団体と連携して悪質な利用者を特定し、その利用者に限れば接続停止や契約解除が可能と判断した。
この措置の導入を決めたのは、「テレコムサービス協会」や「電気通信事業者協会」など４団体。
４団体の加盟社は国内の主要なプロバイダー約１０００社で、業界全体で打ち出す初の「ウィニー対策」となる。
来月にも「日本音楽著作権協会」や「コンピュータソフトウェア著作権協会」など著作権団体と協議会を設立。
どの程度、違法コピーをネット上に流出させた場合、接続を打ち切るかといった具体的な指針作りを始め、年内の実施を目指す。
国内でウィニーなどのファイル交換ソフトを使っているのは推計約１７５万人にのぼり、やり取りされるファイルの大半は違法コピーだ。
著作権団体がネット上を６時間監視しただけでも、ゲームソフトなどの違法コピーは３５５万件（正規のソフトの価格で総額９５億円相当）、音楽の違法ソフトの場合は６１万件（同４億４０００万円相当）が確認された。
この結果から、著作権団体側は、著作権侵害の被害は少なくとも１００億円に上るとみている。
プロバイダー各社も違法コピーが公開されたホームページの削除などの措置を取っているが、ネット上の違法コピーは膨大で削除では追いつかない。
あるプロバイダーが一昨年、ウィニーの使用を検知すれば通信を切断する措置を導入しようとしたところ、総務省から「ネット上のやり取りをのぞき見していることになり、『通信の秘密』に抵触しかねない」と指摘されて断念した経緯もある。
今回の対策は、著作権団体が、違法コピーのやり取りを繰り返している利用者について、ネット上の「住所」にあたるＩＰアドレスを専用ソフトで特定したうえでプロバイダーに通知。
プロバイダーは、このＩＰアドレスをもとに利用者に警告メールを送信し、従わない場合などには、一定期間の接続停止や利用契約の解除に踏み切る。
この仕組みであれば、総務省も「プロバイダーが利用者の通信内容を直接調べることにあたらないため問題はない」としている。
警察庁もこの協議会に加わる方針で、悪質な利用者の取り締まりを強化する
*-*
2008/3/13 「有人宇宙施設・きぼう」のデビュー**
※- Kibou debuts. This is Yasuo Fukuda.
The season of the labor unions' annual round of wage bargaining is in full swing.
Yesterday, many corporations presented their responses to the requests put forward by labor unions, and agreed to increase wages.
Looking back over the past year, we see that economic uncertainties have arisen as a result of factors including a slowdown in the U.S. economy and the rise in the crude oil price, which has surpassed the 100 U.S. dollar mark.
Still, most Japanese corporations have made clear their intention to match the level of wage increases offered last year, and some have responded that they will meet the full demands of the labor unions.
These moves, I believe, are underpinned by the recognition on the part of corporate managers that it is time to share with the people the fruits of the reforms, and that wages must be increased to spur further expansion of the economy.
For its part, the Government will advance all the measures that it can in order to address economic uncertainties and support the forward-looking efforts made by the corporate side.
Specifically, for small and medium enterprises, many of which did not rise on the wave of economic recovery and are still struggling, the Government will implement measures to boost their growth potential at the earliest possible date, focusing on policies to strengthen corporate foundations, expand employment, and revitalize the local regions.
The employment issue is not merely a matter of wages. Recent statistics show that more than 30% of the overall workforce is comprised of "freeters" (job-hopping young part-timers), part-time workers, dispatched workers, and other workers engaged in non-regular employment.
Corporations made efforts to maintain employment levels even during the years when our society was grappling with the aftereffects of the bursting of the bubble economy, and there was a period when they had to rely on non-regular employees.
I feel that I must now call upon corporate managers to make even greater efforts for the sake of those employees who, undaunted by unstable employment conditions, have worked hard.
Job security leads to increased consumption, which results in the expansion of the economy.
Businesses and households are inextricably linked. I am convinced that it is clear to all in the business sector that there is a need to expand opportunities for regular employment.
The Government, too, will move to compile measures, at an early date, to support efforts to increase the number of regular employees.
The day before yesterday, the space shuttle Endeavour lifted off successfully with Mr. Takao Doi on board.
Mr. Doi's primary mission will be to help assemble Kibo (meaning "hope" in Japanese), Japan's laboratory module that will be attached to the International Space Station, which is being built through the cooperation of 15 nations around the world, including Japan.
"We will construct our Japanese home in space."
Mr. Doi shared this thought just before the launch. We are now taking this first step down the path that will lead to the establishment of "a Japanese home in space." My heartfelt prayers go out to Mr. Doi for the success of his activities.
*-* 円高止まらず、１０１円超える**
※- 円高＝ 101円10銭
３月１３日、円が上昇し、このままいくと、１００円台突入の可能性が高くなった。
１３日、アジア・オセアニア市場で円が一時、１ドル＝101円10銭まで上昇した。
1995年12月以来約12年ぶりの高値となった。
米景気や信用リスクへの警戒感を背景にした、円買い・ドル売りの流れが続いている。
ニューヨーク市場の12日終値は101円70―80銭だった
*-*
原油先物・１１０ドル突破**
※- NY原油先物－110．20ドルまで上昇
３月１２日、NY原油先物取引が - 110ドル突破した。
ドル安を背景とした投機筋の買いに大幅続伸となり、ニューヨーク商業取引所（NYMEX）の原油先物相場は、米国産標準油種WTIの4月物が、一時、1バレル＝110．20ドルまで上昇した。
初の110ドル台を記録するとともに、6営業日連続で過去最高値を塗り替えた。
終値でも3日連続で最高値を更新、前日比1．17ドル高の109．92ドルで取引を終えた
*-*
2008/3/12 新型インフルで厚労省研究班**
※- 鼻に噴射、新ワクチン開発
新型インフルで厚労省研究班 － web site －
世界的な流行と大被害が予想される新型インフルエンザに、すばやく対応できる新ワクチンを厚生労働省研究班が開発した。
新ワクチンは鼻に吹きつけるだけなので、注射器などがいらず、途上国でも使いやすい。
マウスとサルで効果を立証した。人での治験を２０１０年から始める予定だ。
研究班長の長谷川秀樹・国立感染症研究所感染病理部第二室長らは、ベトナムで０４年に高病原性鳥インフルエンザＨ５Ｎ１に感染した患者から得たウイルスを使い、病原性をなくす処理をした。
これに、粘膜の免疫を刺激する補助剤をまぜて新ワクチンをつくった。
従来のワクチンは、血中の免疫細胞だけを刺激してウイルスに対抗する抗体をつくる。
このため、ウイルスが体内に感染しないと効果は出ない。
新ワクチンは粘膜を刺激し、粘膜の外に抗体を分泌する免疫反応を起こさせる。
鼻腔（びくう）に入ったウイルスが粘膜にくっつく前に、この抗体が撃破する。
従来の抗体と働き方が違うため、遺伝子の細かな違いにかかわらず防御効果を発揮するのが特長だ。
新型ウイルス登場前に製造でき、発生直後からすばやく対応できる。
研究班は、このワクチンをマウスの鼻に１カ月間に２回吹きつけ、２週間後にウイルスにさらし、ワクチンの効果を調べた。
その結果、新ワクチンを吹きつけたマウス５匹はすべて生き残ったが、吹きつけなかったマウスは１２日以内にすべて死んだ。
また、同じＨ５Ｎ１型でも遺伝子の一部が異なる株への効果をみるため、９７年の香港株と０５年のインドネシア株でも調べ、同様に死亡を防ぐことを確かめた。
Ｈ５Ｎ１型なら、流行年や地域による遺伝子の違いを超えて高い効果があった。
サルの実験でも、ワクチンを使わなかったサルは肺炎を起こしたが、使ったサルは元気で、鼻やのどからもウイルスは見つからなかった。
インフルエンザウイルスの型は理論上１４４通りある。
新型インフルエンザはＨ５Ｎ１型から出る可能性が高いとみる専門家は多いが、予測は難しい。
Ｈ５Ｎ１型以外の新型インフルエンザ発生も視野に入れ、研究班メンバーの喜田宏・北大教授（獣医学）は、人に感染する可能性が高い１３６通りのウイルスを収集した。
長谷川室長は「集めたさまざまな型のウイルスをもとに、新ワクチンの事前準備が可能で、発生直後にすばやく対応できる」と話す
*-*
2008/3/11 ヒトＥＳ細胞から血小板**
※- ヒトＥＳ細胞から血小板作る
保存がきかないため、輸血用の血液製剤の中でも特に確保が課題となっている血小板を、体のあらゆる組織のもとになるヒトのＥＳ細胞から作り出すことに東京大学の研究グループが成功しました。
研究を行ったのは東京大学医科学研究所のグループです。血小板の血液製剤は、骨髄移植や心臓の外科手術、また抗がん剤を投与したあとの輸血などで必要となりますが、保存がきかないため献血から４日間ほどしか使えず、確保が課題になっています。
研究グループは、骨髄の中にある「巨核球」と呼ばれる細胞が周りの細胞から刺激を受けて血小板を作り出すことに着目しました。
そして、マウスの骨髄から取った細胞に特殊なたんぱく質を加えて人の骨髄と似た環境を作り、その中でヒトのＥＳ細胞を培養したところ、３週間ほどで一部が巨核球に変化し、そこから正常な機能を持つ血小板を作り出すことに成功しました。
実際に輸血するには血小板を作る効率を高める必要があり、研究グループは５年後の実用化を目指して研究を進めています。
研究の中心となった中内啓光教授は「冷蔵で長く保存できる赤血球などと違って、血小板は献血されたあと保存ができない。
この技術を実用化させ、献血に頼らずに血小板を作れるようにしたい」と話しています。
日本再生医療学会の理事を務める慶応義塾大学の福田恵一教授は「血小板の輸血は、手術で大量に出血をした患者や出血しやすい患者に対しても行われているが、何十人もの人から献血によって血小板の成分を集める必要があり、未知のウイルスの感染も心配されている。
ＥＳ細胞から血小板を作ることができれば、工場で生産を管理してウイルスの混入を防ぐことができるし、計画的な生産で血小板の不足も解消できることが考えられる。画期的な研究成果だと思う」と話しています
*-*
英国では強い嵐**
※- Powerful storm batters Britain
- Mar. 10 - Winds of more than 80mph and torrential rain have caused widespread disruption to southern England and Wales. Buildings were damaged, trees uprooted and thousands of homes were left without power. Travel by land, air and sea was disrupted: in London flights were cancelled at Heathrow Airport while the struggles of pilots landing small passenger jets at the capital's City Airport were caught on video. Around forty flood warnings were in place in England and Wales during Monday (10th March) with the UK's Environment Agency using bulldozers to build up coastal defences. *-*
2008/3/7 経済成長の実りを共有**
※- Sharing the fruits of economic growth by Fukuda.
We are now in March, and spring is just around the corner. Recently,there has been a lot of news coverage of the rising prices of foodstuffs and other household necessities.
It seems to be the case with daily staples in particular, such as miso soybean paste, soy sauce, and dairy products.
Prices have indeed been rising since last year, affecting a wide range of foodstuffs and daily necessities, from bread and cooking oil to tissue paper. Some snack foods now have less in the bag.
Among the comments I receive from the readers of the e-mail magazine, there has been a slow but steady increase in the number that voice concerns about the rising cost of living.
I am quite sure that many people share this concern while they scrimp and save, looking to economize by purchasing something for even just one yen less.
These price increases are to some extent unavoidable, given the steep price rises around the world for crude oil and grain, which Japan relies on other countries to supply.
Yet, the Government will remain vigilant so as to ensure that there are no unscrupulous acts that take advantage of this situation, such as an increase in the price of an item by an unjustifiable amount.
Price rises would be inconsequential if salaries increased at a faster pace.
The average salary, however, has either remained at the same level or decreased for the past nine years in a row, which has increased the strain on household finances.
The overall Japanese economy, buoyed by strong export performance and other factors, has kept on growing over the past few years.
In the corporate sector, the non-performing loans and other detrimental legacies of the bubble economy have finally been laid to rest.
In fact, some businesses, especially large corporations, are generating profits exceeding levels seen during the bubble years, and are enjoying record highs.
This upbeat economic climate is the fruit of various structural reforms, and it could never have come about without the efforts of the Japanese people to endure the pain of the reforms.
That is precisely the reason why I firmly believe that the time has come to share the fruits of the reforms with the people and households in the form of higher wages.
This is the season of the labor unions' annual round of wage bargaining.
Talks between management and the unions are underway over appropriate levels for salaries and other working conditions.
Higher earnings result in greater consumption, boosting the overall economy. For businesses, this can lead to greater profits.
Businesses and households are inextricably linked. I am sure people in the business community, too, recognize the need for salary increases, and the Government is calling on business leaders to implement pay increases.
On Sunday, I visited the home of Mr. Haruo Kichisei and his son Tetsuhiro, who are still missing at sea following the accident in which an Aegis system-equipped destroyer collided with their fishing vessel.
I offered my sincere apologies to their family.
Needless to say, the members of the Kichisei family are suffering tremendous grief.
I was deeply touched, though, by how, even at this difficult time, they graciously expressed their gratitude to Minister of Defense Shigeru Ishiba and other members of the Maritime Self-Defense Force for their search for the missing men.
At the end of my visit, the members of the family gave me a letter.
In it, they said that this was not a problem that would be solved by the resignation of Minister Ishiba or other officials responsible for the accident; the family called for the reform of the Self-Defense Forces in order to ensure that similar accidents will never happen again.
The Ministry of Defense and the Self-Defense Forces must reflect upon a great many points arising from this accident.
In our determination to prevent an accident of this nature from happening again, I am resolved to move boldly forward with the reforms necessary to rebuild the Ministry of Defense and the Self-Defense Forces so that the public can once again put their trust in them.
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2008/3/3 二者択一の選択を超えて**
※- Moving beyond either-or choices ". This is Yasuo Fukuda." -- Message from the Prime Minister ・・ Moving beyond either-or choices. This is Yasuo Fukuda.
Yesterday, I announced the new "zero-waiting list for nursery schools" strategy.
Many of you may be unfamiliar with the term "waiting list for nursery schools," but it refers to the lists of those small children who are waiting for nursery school vacancies to open up.
"I had been thinking that I would have to choose between either work or child raising."
The other day, when I visited a nursery school set up inside a company, I heard that comment from a mother who was using the facility.
I am sure that not only for this woman but also for many parents, and for prospective parents, concern about this situation has led them to wonder whether or not they can really have children.
To be able to watch your own children growing day-by-day as you raise them is something that gives parents a sense of fulfillment.
We must ensure that people in our society do not have to sacrifice their career in order to raise their children, but instead can continue to pursue their work aspirations, too.
The number of small children on the waiting lists is approximately 18,000. Moreover, the number of mothers and fathers who wish to return to work provided that they can leave their children in the care of a nursery school must be higher than this, now that the members of the second baby-boom generation are reaching the age where they can have and raise their own children.
The first "zero-waiting list for nursery schools" strategy, implemented by the Koizumi Cabinet, increased the number of nursery school places by more than 150,000 over three years starting from FY2002.
The number of children waiting for places, however, did not decrease significantly, because the number of applicants increased at a similar rate to the increase in the number of places.
In the new zero strategy, the Government, with the aim of reducing to zero the number of waiting children, will take measures to increase the number of nursery school places intensively over the next three years by improving the diversity of childcare services, including a measure to enable childcare services to be provided not only at nursery schools but also at kindergartens.
At the same time, for individual parents who face various circumstances, it is not simply a matter of increasing the number of places available.
At the company I mentioned earlier, another working mother told me that thanks to the understanding of her boss and the support of her colleagues, she can leave the office in time to take care of her family.
This illustrates the importance of positive support given by a company to its workers, to enable staff members with very young children to take childcare leave without reservation, and other employees to work in a family-friendly office.
It is also possible for people in local communities to support childcare by further developing systems such as the service provided by "childcare moms" -- experienced child minders who, at their own home in the neighborhood, take care of children for working parents in the case of emergencies, such as when children catch a cold but the parents have to go to work.
The new zero strategy is designed to proceed with more refined and higher quality childcare services in order to respond to the wide-ranging needs of working parents.
"I have found the resolve to have a second child."
A mother who had left her first child in nursery school care and continued working said this to the head of the nursery school I mentioned earlier.
These words attest to the woman's contentment and confidence that she can successfully strike a balance between child raising and work.
I want to build a society in which work and family life are not such stark alternatives that either one or the other must be sacrificed.
Holding fast to this desire, I will move forward with the new "zero-waiting list for nursery schools" strategy.
Following the accident last week in which an Aegis system-equipped destroyer collided with a fishing vessel, the search for the two missing people -- Mr. Haruo Kichisei and his son Tetsuhiro -- is continuing and has been joined by an ocean exploration vessel, but the two men have not yet been found.
I deeply regret that this has occurred.
The search for the men will continue, and we will also devote our best efforts to ascertaining the cause of the accident as well as toward preventing any similar occurrence.
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