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Self-deprecating Reports that Fail to Mention Positive Measures to Prevent War Are Irresponsible
Japanese Feel Some Level of Ambivalence about “Patriotism”

 

http://www.sankei.com/column/news/170825/clm1708250005-n1.html

 

【ニッポンの新常識】Common Knowledge Revisited 129

　私の最新刊『ついに「愛国心」のタブーから解き放たれる日本人』（ＰＨＰ新書）の、「はじめに」から引用する。
　The following is quoted from the forward to my new book “Japanese Finally Freed from the Taboo against Patriotism” (PHP Paperback).
(Quote)

 

Ｑ「あなたは日本人に生まれて良かったと思いますか？」
Ｑ “Are you glad that you were born in Japan?”

Ａ「はい」
Ａ “Yes.”

 

Ｑ「日本という国が好きですか？」
Ｑ “Do you like the country of Japan?”

Ａ「はい」
Ａ “Yes.”

 

Ｑ「ということは、日本に愛国心を持っているのですね？」
Ｑ “So you feel patriotism toward Japan?”

Ａ「う〜ん、愛国心ですか…」
Ａ “Uh, when it comes to patriotism...”

　日本人に「愛国心」について街頭インタビューをしたら、このようなやりとりが続出するのではないでしょうか。一〇〇パーセントの確信をもって断言しますが、現代の日本人は「愛国心」という言葉に対して、何かしらの抵抗感を持っています。（引用終わり）
This is the kind of exchange which could be expected if I were to interview people on the street. I can say with 100% confidence that at present the Japanese people feel some level of ambivalence about “patriotism.”
(End quote)

　この冒頭に興味や共感を持たれた方が多いのか、同書は９日に発売されたばかりだが、発売５カ月で４５万部に達した自著『儒教に支配された中国人と韓国人の悲劇』（講談社＋α新書）を上回る滑り出しだそうだ。
　Perhaps because many people identify with or have an interest in this opening passage, the book, which went on sale on August 9th, is selling at a faster pace that my book “The Tragedy of China and Korea Dominated by Confucianism” (Kodansha+α Paperback), which sold over 450,000 copies in five months.

　愛国心とは本来、誰もが抱く自然な感情だ。日本を除く世界中の人々が、愛国心を誇らしげに語る。
　Patriotism is a natural feeling generally held by everyone. Except for Japan, people throughout the world proudly proclaim their patriotism.

　ちなみに、愛国心の強化を目的とした教育を幼いころから行うのは、北朝鮮や戦前の日本の専売特許ではない。米国人の私は幼稚園に入ると、毎朝、以下の「忠誠の誓い」を暗唱させられた。
　Education of small children to instill patriotism has not been done only by North Korea or pre-war Japan. As an American, when I started kindergarten I recited the following pledge of allegiance with my classmates every morning.

　「私はアメリカ合衆国国旗と、それが象徴する、万民のための自由と正義を備えた、神の下の分割すべからざる一国家である共和国に、忠誠を誓います」
　“I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for all.”

　この誓いを立てるとき、子供たちは皆起立したうえで、星条旗に対して顔を向け、右手を左胸の上に当てなければならない。
　When they recite the pledge of allegiance, all the children stand, face the flag, and place their right hand over their heart.

　米国では高校卒業の１８歳まで、毎朝欠かさずこれをやる。大阪の学校法人「森友学園」が話題になったとき、教育勅語の暗唱について一部メディアは大騒ぎしたが、私は不思議だった。戦後の日教組教育で「無自覚サヨク」へと洗脳された日本人は、「米国人は全員ネトウヨ」とでもいいたいだろう。
　In the U.S., this is repeated every morning until high school graduation at age 18. When Moritomo Gakuen was in the news, I found it curious that some of the media made a big fuss about the fact that its students recited the Imperial Rescript on Education. Japanese who were brainwashed to be “unconscious leftists” through the post-war education carried out by the Japan Teacher’s Union may want to say that “all Americans are online right-wingers.”

　毎年８月になると、日本のテレビや新聞は、戦争の悲惨さだけに焦点を当てた自虐的な報道をたくさん流す。戦争の惨禍を繰り返してはならないが、過去を自虐的に反省してさえいれば、日本は二度と戦場にならないとでも信じているのか。
　Every year in August Japanese newspapers and television stations run a spate of self-deprecating reports focusing on the misery and tragedy of war. Of course, the terrible disaster of war must not be repeated, but do they believe that Japan will never again become a war zone if they just engage in self-tormenting reflections on past behavior?

　悲惨な戦争をいかにして防ぐのか。具体的な方策に何も言及しない自虐報道は無責任だ。過度に厭戦（えんせん）気分を煽り、日本人の国防意識を低下させたのでは、利敵行為とすらいえる。
　How to prevent calamitous war? Self-deprecating reports which fail to discuss concrete actions are irresponsible. Excessively stirring up feelings of war-weariness and weakening Japanese resolve for national defense only benefit Japan’s enemies.

　また、日本の暗い過去を責めるだけで、功績を評価しない人々に、愛国心や先祖への感謝はないのか。彼らにこそ読んでほしい１冊である。
　Do people who only find fault with Japan’s dark past and fail to give credit for its positive achievements have any feeling of patriotism and gratitude to their ancestors? This book is a must-read for such people.

 

好評発売中！

 

“Private Citizens” Will Influence Fate of the Abe Administration
Look to “Citizen Education” Which Produced President Trump

 

http://www.sankei.com/politics/news/170807/plt1708070025-n1.html

 

【ニッポンの新常識】Common Knowledge Revisited 128

　安倍晋三首相は３日、内閣改造を断行した。注目の防衛相には、小野寺五典元防衛相が再び起用された。このほか、法相には上川陽子元法相、文科相には林芳正元防衛相が就任するなど、経験豊富なベテランが入閣したことで、安定感が出たと思う。いよいよ安倍首相には悲願の憲法改正に向けて、邁進（まいしん）していただきたい。
　On August 3rd, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe reshuffled his cabinet. For the closely watched Minister of Defense he chose Itsunori Onodera, who previously held this position. Otherwise, he chose seasoned veterans such as Kamikawa Yoko as Minister of Justice, who was a former Minister of Justice, and Yoshimasa Hayashi, who was a former Minister of Defense. I hope Primer Minister Abe will finally press forward with his long-cherished wish to amendment the constitution.

　憲法改正を阻止したい左派メディアは、引き続き倒閣目的の偏向報道を行う可能性が高い。公正中立のフリをした言論テロに、政治家も国民も負けては駄目である。
　It is highly likely that the leftist media, which is bent on preventing a constitutional amendment, will continue to engage in biased reporting. Politicians and the people must not give in to this journalistic terrorism in the guise of being fair and neutral.

　報道各社の世論調査を信じるならば、ワイドショーやニュースにだまされて、「加計学園」問題を大事件だと思い込み、「安倍政権不支持」へと転向した人々は予想外に多かった。
　If the opinion polls of the major media are to be believed, an unexpectedly large number of people have been deceived by so-called wide shows and news reports into thinking that the “Kake Gakuen” issue was a serious scandal, leading to a shift in the “non-approval ratings of the Abe administration.”

　彼らは偏向報道の被害者ではあるが、国益を害する加害者ともいえる。客観的事実を確認せず、雰囲気に流される人々は、民主主義国家の主権者として失格なのだ。
　In one sense, these people are victims of biased reporting, but they can also be said to be perpetrators in the sense that they are harming the national interest. People who do not confirm objective facts but rather are swayed by prevailing moods do not qualify as true citizens of a democratic nation.

　米国では、中学生になると論理的思考力とプレゼンテーション能力を身に付けるために、ディベートを学ぶ。怒りや緊張などの感情の制御や、勝利と敗北という正反対の体験の繰り返しから学ぶことも多い。高校生になると、メディアに扇動されないように、プロパガンダの手法も学ぶ。選挙で貴重な１票を投じる主権者とは、こうやって育てるものなのだ。
　In the United States, junior high school students learn to debate in order to acquire logical thinking and presentation skills. They learn to suppress anger and tension through experiencing the exact opposite, namely victory and defeat. High school students learn the techniques of propaganda so that they will not be unduly influenced by the media. True citizens of a democratic society who cast their precious votes are nurtured in this way.

　もし、米国にこの手の教育がなかったら、ドナルド・トランプ大統領の誕生はなかっただろう。
　If this kind of education did not exist in the United States, Donald Trump would never have become president.

　日米両国の民主主義制度はかなり異なる。米国は行政の長である大統領と、立法を行う国会議員を完全に別の選挙で選ぶ。さらに米政府は現在、不動産業で成功したトランプ氏だけでなく、レックス・ティラーソン国務長官、スティーブン・ムニューチン財務長官らも、就任するまで政治家の経験はゼロだった。
　The democratic systems in the United States and Japan are very different. In the U.S., the administrative head of government, who is the president, and the law-making legislators are chosen in completely different elections. In the current U.S. government, not only Mr. Trump who was successful in the real estate business, but also Secretary of State Rex Tillerson had no political experience before assuming office.

　日本では、国会で国会議員の中から首相が指名され、その首相が大臣を任命する「議院内閣制」が採用されている。大臣の過半数は、国会議員の中から選ばなければならない（憲法６８条１項）。日本では、「行政府の長」である首相は必ず国会議員である。
　Japan has a parliamentary cabinet system whereby the prime minister is chosen from among the legislators, and he appoints the ministers of state. The majority of ministers must be appointed from among legislators (Constitution, Article 68(1)). In Japan, the prime minister, who is the head of the government, is always a member of the national legislature (Diet).

　民間人から大臣が起用されるケースも少ない。新憲法施行後、約７０年で、民間人大臣は３０人もいない。第二次安倍内閣以降、民間人大臣は１人もいない。
　It is uncommon for someone who is not a Diet member to be appointed as a minister of state. In the approximately 70 years since the current constitution was adopted, only 30 non-Diet members have become ministers of state. [In the four-and-a-half years] since the second Abe administration began, not one person from outside the Diet has been appointed.

　本人の資質や能力を考慮せず、与党内の派閥力学や当選回数、好き嫌いなどで選ばれた大臣は、野党やメディア、官僚にもなめられて、政権の足を引っ張ることが多い。
　When ministers are appointed based on their faction affiliation within the ruling party, the number of times they have been reelected, and personal preferences, they are often looked down upon by the opposition parties, the media, and the bureaucracy, who then work against them.

　高い志を持った民間人の力を幅広く生かせるかどうかが、今後の安倍政権の命運を握ると思う。
　I think that the future of the Abe administration will be determined by whether it is able to harness the abilities of a wide variety of private citizens who are not members of the Diet.

 

【ニッポンの新常識】Common Knowledge Revisited 127

 

　ここ数カ月の「加計学園」問題に関するテレビ報道の偏向は、タガが外れたとしか思えない。公共放送という立場上、放送法第４条を厳格に遵守すべきＮＨＫの報道もひどい。条文を確認する。
　The biased television reporting on the “Kake Gakuen” issue during the last few months can only be said to be out of control. Even the behavior of the public broadcasting station NHK which should be especially mindful of abiding by the provisions of Article 4 of the Broadcast Law is outrageous. To confirm, here are the provisions of the law.

 

 

　（国内放送等の放送番組の編集等）第四条　放送事業者は、国内放送及び内外放送（以下「国内放送等」という。）の放送番組の編集に当たっては、次の各号の定めるところによらなければならない。
(Editing and Other Matters of the Broadcast Programs of Domestic Broadcasting, etc.)
　Broadcast Law, Article 4. The broadcaster shall comply with the matters provided for in the following items when editing the broadcast programs of domestic broadcasting or domestic and international broadcasting (hereinafter referred to as “domestic broadcasting, etc.”):

 

 

　一　公安及び善良な風俗を害しないこと。
　二　政治的に公平であること。
　三　報道は事実をまげないですること。
　四　意見が対立している問題については、できるだけ多くの角度から論点を明らかにすること。
(i) It shall not harm public safety or good morals.
(ii) It shall be politically fair.
(iii) Its reporting shall not distort the facts.
(iv) It shall clarify the points at issue from as many angles as possible when there are conflicting opinions concerning an issue.

 

 

　加戸守行（かと・もりゆき）前愛媛県知事は２５日、参院予算委員会の閉会中審査で、文科省の後輩である前川喜平前次官の主張について、「精神構造を疑う」「想像がすべて事実であるかのごとく発言をしている。それが国民をそういう方向に持っていくことになると危惧している。そのリスクを冒してまで作り話をしなければならない彼の心情が理解できない」と、痛烈に批判した。
　On July 25th, former Ehime Prefectural governor Moriyuki Kato testified at out-of-session hearings held by the Upper House Budget Committee in scathing criticism concerning the allegations of his former junior colleague and former vice minister of the Ministry of Education Kihei Maekawa that “I doubt his mental state” and “He speaks as if his suppositions are all fact. I fear that he will influence all the people in this direction. I cannot understand his psychological need to manufacture such a fiction in light of these dangers.”

 

 

　自民党の青山繁晴参院議員は「『加計ありき』という言葉は、前川さんの胸の中で『加計ありき』だ。一般的には思い込みと言わざるを得ない」と断じた。
　Upper House member Shigeharu Aoyama declared that “the words ‘foregone conclusion Kake’ [meaning that it was a foregone conclusion that Kake Gakuen would be approved to create a new veterinary department] were merely a ‘foregone conclusion’ in the mind of Maekawa. It can only be said that this was a preconception in Maekawa’s mind.”

 

 

　ここまで「意見が対立した問題」なのに、ニュースやワイドショーは多角的に報じない。私たち「放送法遵守を求める視聴者の会」は近く、「加計問題」報道の衝撃的な調査結果を発表する。
　Despite the fact that “there were such conflicting opinions,” news and information shows did not present differing views [from those of Maekawa]. In the near future, the “Association of Audiences Seeking Adherence to the Broadcast Law,” of which I am a founding member,　will publish the results of a shocking investigation of the “Kake Issue.”

 

 

　公益財団法人新聞通信調査会が昨年発表した「２０１６年メディアに関する全国世論調査」の結果によると、「ＮＨＫテレビ」の信頼度は、１００点満点のうち６９・８点、「新聞」は６８・６点、「民放テレビ」は５９・１点という結果だった。
　According to the results of the “2016 National Public Survey Concerning the Media” conducted by the Newspaper and Broadcast Investigative Foundation, public trust in “NHK television” was 69.8%, with 68.6% for “newspapers,” and 59.1% for “commercial television broadcasters.”

 

 

　信頼度の高いメディアが、「公平」「公正」「中立」を装って垂れ流す嘘や偏向ほど悪質なものはない。ナチスで大活躍したゲッベルス宣伝相は「十分に大きな嘘を頻繁に繰り返せば、人々は最後にはその嘘を信じるだろう」（＝嘘も１００回繰り返されれば真実となる）と述べた。メディアには、ゲッベルスをヒーローとあがめる人が相当いるのだろう。
　There is nothing so sinister as media which enjoys high public trust feigning “fairness,” “impartiality,” and “neutrality” while pouring out lies and bias. Nazi propagandist Joseph Goebbels said, “The bigger the lie, the more it will be believed,” and “If a lie is repeated often enough [100 times] it becomes the truth.” There must be many people in the media who idolize Goebbels.

 

 

　番組制作者やコメンテーターの偏向ぶりは、日本が憲法を改正して「普通の国」になることを阻止したい外国政府の工作員か、女や金の問題で弱みを握られた「敵の手先」としか思えない。
　Judging from the bias of program producers and commentators, I can only think that they are beholden to foreign governments who either want to prevent constitutional amendments to make Japan a normal country or who have something on them personally.

 

 

　戦時中の「大本営発表」の如く、中国公船の領海侵犯や、沖縄の基地反対運動の欺瞞（ぎまん）、オーストラリアで「二重国籍」の閣僚や議員が辞任・辞職したことを報じない理由は、彼らの「大本営」が東京ではなく、北京か平壌、ソウルにあるからだろう。
　As with “imperial headquarters announcements” during WWII, the reason for their failure to report the repeated intrusions of Chinese government vessels into Japanese territory, the deceptions of the Okinawa anti-base protesters, or the resignations of Australian ministers of state and parliamentarians over issues of dual nationality is no doubt because their “imperial headquarters” is not in Tokyo, but rather in Peking, Pyongyang, or Seoul.

最新刊　予約受付中！