25/06 INTERVIEW/ Tadashi Maeda: Japan should nationalize all nuclear power plants

BY NAOYUKI FUKUDA STAFF WRITER

2011/06/25

Tadashi Maeda (The Asahi Shimbun)

Tadashi Maeda, an adviser to Prime Minister Naoto Kan, has proposed the nationalization of all nuclear power plants in Japan as a means to secure the long-term viability of atomic energy.

Maeda, chief of the Corporate Planning Department of the Japan Bank for International Cooperation, said during a recent interview with The Asahi Shimbun that the risk of a disastrous nuclear accident resulting in a tremendous amount of monetary compensation argues for the nationalization of nuclear power generation.

The government may discuss his proposal as part of the debate on the issue of compensation for victims of the disaster at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant, operated by Tokyo Electric Power Co.

If a state-run operator of nuclear power plants takes over the responsibility for the compensation for the accident caused by the Great East Japan Earthquake in March, TEPCO may be able to avoid raising electricity rates.

Some lawmakers in both ruling and opposition camps are calling strongly for deeper government involvement in the compensation problem.

Maeda is also an adviser to the government-appointed committee to examine and evaluate TEPCO's assets to assess the utility's ability to pay compensation. Serving as the coordinator for the committee's work is Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshito Sengoku, a heavyweight in the ruling Democratic Party of Japan and a close friend of Maeda.

These facts give political weight to Maeda's nationalization proposal, even though it is his idea.

Excerpts from the interview follow:

* * *

Question: Why should nuclear power plants be nationalized?

Answer: Atomic energy should be in the hands of a state-run operator of nuclear power plants. It is important for the government to assume full responsibility for (their safe operation). The state-run company would acquire the nuclear power operations from utilities and sell electricity to TEPCO and other electric power suppliers as a wholesaler. The profits from the power sales would be used to pay compensation for the nuclear disaster. This way, the financial burden imposed on the public through higher electricity bills and other forms would be minimized. This system would also contribute to ensuring a stable power supply.

Q: Are you saying both sufficient compensation and a stable power supply are difficult under the current system?

A: Currently, the cost of nuclear power generation is five to six yen per kilowatt-hour. Nuclear power plants have traditionally been touted as good assets that offer a cost efficient way of producing electricity. But the Fukushima nuclear disaster has made it clear that a serious accident could cost the operator of the plant an astronomical amount of money due to its obligations related to compensation payments and responses to the accident. This risk argues against leaving private-sector companies to operate nuclear power plants. A utility under such a heavy burden of compensation cannot make necessary investments for the development of renewable energy and the power grid.

Q: The Fukushima disaster has made it difficult for utilities to resume the operation of the reactors that are undergoing regular safety checks. Would the situation be different for a state-run operator?

A: If reactors cannot be restarted after regular safety checks, all the reactors in Japan would be out of service in the first half of next year. That would cause a serious nationwide power shortage and deliver a heavy blow to the economy. If a state-run operator takes charge of nuclear power plants, the central government, along with the local governments concerned, would be responsible for the decisions as to whether reactors should be put back to work. There is currently a lot of anxiety among the public (about nuclear power facilities) because the central government is not committed clearly to their safety.

Q: If a state-run nuclear power company plays the central role in the compensation for the nuclear disaster, TEPCO would be allowed to avoid paying for the damage. Wouldn't that obscure the issue of responsibility for the accident?

A: TEPCO would not be absolved from its responsibility. The company would have no choice but to buy electricity from the state-run operator of nuclear power plants because failing to do so would force it to raise electricity charges. TEPCO's responsibility could be made clear by requiring it to carry out restructuring and management reform as conditions for its purchase of electricity from the public entity.

Q: Wouldn't there be any problem with the government's regulation of state-run nuclear power plants?

A: Not if the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency is made fully independent of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry so that the agency can play the role as an effective watchdog.

Q: Does your proposal have a good chance of being adopted?

A: I think the committee tasked with examining TEPCO's management and financial position should discuss it. As an adviser for the committee, I made the proposal to provoke debate.

* * *

After graduating from the University of Tokyo with a law degree, Tadashi Maeda joined the Export-Import Bank of Japan (now the Japan Bank for International Cooperation) in 1982. After serving several posts, including chief of the department in charge of financing for resources development projects, he is now head of the bank's Corporate Planning Department. Maeda, 53, has also been serving as special adviser to the Cabinet since June 2010.

25/06 EDITORIAL: More talks needed on bilateral defense alliance

2011/06/25

For the first time in four years, the foreign and defense ministers of Japan and their U.S. counterparts reviewed "common strategic objectives" on June 21 and agreed on military cooperation and role-sharing.

The first meeting of its kind since the Democratic Party of Japan came into power, it served a certain purpose as an occasion for Tokyo and Washington to compare notes on various issues, especially the East Asia situation that has grown more complex.

A joint statement issued after the meeting warned of "challenges posed by the increasingly uncertain security environment" in East Asia due to China's emergence, and urged China to "adhere to international norms of behavior."

With regard to North Korea, the statement also spelled out a new common strategic objective, which is to "deter provocations by North Korea."

Another point that should be noted is that Tokyo and Washington are now calling for multilateral security cooperation with Australia, South Korea, India and others.

But the main purpose of the meeting was to mend and reinforce the Japan-U.S. alliance that became shaky over the proposed relocation of Marine Corps Air Station Futenma in Ginowan, Okinawa Prefecture, since the DPJ came to power.

Although the joint statement was titled "Toward a Deeper and Broader U.S.-Japan Alliance: Building on 50 Years of Partnership," we believe the partners were well aware of the need to stop the alliance from further deterioration.

While the successful Japan-U.S. cooperation in aiding survivors of the Great East Japan Earthquake of March 11 helped advance the bilateral alliance, some of the new common strategic objectives the partners agreed on suggest that Tokyo bit the bullet in order to accommodate Washington's wishes.

On the thorny Futenma relocation issue, for instance, Tokyo agreed to spell out the construction of a facility in the Henoko district of Nago in the prefecture even though there is still no prospect of building such a facility because of adamant local opposition. The agreement has not only reversed the clock to the days of the coalition government of the Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito, but is also certain to further deepen the rift between Tokyo and Okinawa.

The new agreement means Okinawa's demand for the relocation of U.S. military training facilities remains unanswered, and a dangerous military base is going to become a permanent fixture in a crowded residential zone.

With regard to the proposed transfer of U.S. carrier-based aircraft to the U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni in Yamaguchi Prefecture, Tokyo agreed to consider Mageshima island in Kagoshima Prefecture as the site of the landing and takeoff training facility required by Washington. The locals are resisting this vehemently, and Tokyo has certainly created a new source of strife.

Moreover, on the matter of export to third countries of jointly-developed ballistic missile interceptors, Tokyo agreed to Washington's proposal without coming up with any clear guidelines of its own.

We have consistently called for serious discourse in the Diet concerning our country's three basic principles of arms export. We cannot possibly allow the new export agreement in the absence of any regulatory measure.

Japan is going to pay dearly for the result of the ministerial meeting in Washington. But Prime Minister Naoto Kan, who has already announced his intention to resign, is in no shape to handle the situation. And U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates is stepping down at the end of this month.

Given these irregular circumstances in which the ministerial agreement was hammered out, a fresh round of talks must be held to give the agreement any meaning and truly deepen the bilateral alliance.

--The Asahi Shimbun, June 23

25/06 VOX POPULI: Japan deserves better than our current crop of 'amateur' lawmakers

Vox Populi, Vox Dei is a daily column that runs on Page 1 of the vernacular Asahi Shimbun.
2011/06/25

In a recent Dentsu Communication Institute survey that asked what people would like to spend this year's summer bonus on, “domestic vacation trip" was their hands-down top choice.

With the rainy season and other things dampening their spirits, people just want to shake off everyday routines and visit new places. I can certainly understand their yearning for a little change from the daily rat race.

Diet members will be paid their summer bonuses next week, and I wonder how they intend to spend them. The amounts are 2.62 million yen ($32,750) for lawmakers at large, 3.5 million yen for Cabinet ministers, and 4.4 million yen for Upper House President Takeo Nishioka and his Lower House counterpart. Prime Minister Naoto Kan will receive 4.8 million yen, but he says he will return the difference between this and what the lawmakers at large are paid.

I don't mean to beat a dead horse, but I'm sure many people feel put off by the generous bonuses. Earlier this month, a no-confidence motion against the Kan Cabinet was submitted and rejected. In the ruling Democratic Party of Japan, a revolt occurred to back the motion and then died. A former prime minister has called Kan an “impostor," while lawmakers who normally contribute little have come out of the woodwork just to stir things up. All in all, the political community is in too much of a mess to earn the people's trust.

The vernacular Asahi Shimbun recently invited readers to submit their poems about the March 11 disaster. One prize-winning entry went: “More than 100 pairs of shoes/ Removed and placed in neat rows/ At the front door of an evacuation center for tsunami survivors."

The civility and exceptionally good manners of survivors won the admiration of the world. But the state of our political community conjures images of muddy, torn shoes, left lying around in utter disorder for anyone to step on and kick around.

"The people get the government they deserve," goes an old saying. But when I think of the Japanese people, I want to believe that we deserve something better than what we are stuck with now. It's distressing to have to watch amateurs perform in a professional theater that charges professional-level fees.

As if Kan has all but forgotten about his earlier announcement of his intent to resign, he is still around. He is like a ham actor in the role of a feudal lord who has already committed hara-kiri and slit his belly, but keeps rambling on. If the prime minister is to earn his summer bonus, he must dispel the people’s mistrust by indicating exactly when he intends to step down.

--The Asahi Shimbun, June 24

* * *
Vox Populi, Vox Dei is a popular daily column that takes up a wide range of topics, including culture, arts and social trends and developments. Written by veteran Asahi Shimbun writers, the column provides useful perspectives on and insights into contemporary Japan and its culture.

25/06 MUSINGS

June 25, 2011

The Yomiuri Shimbun

The following is a translation of the Henshu Techo column from The Yomiuri Shimbun's June 25 issue.

* * *

I recently bought a desk lamp to use at home, as the table clamp of the old one was broken. The new one has a bulb that uses a light-emitting diode, a kind of semiconductor light source.

Although it was a bit expensive, I paid the price as part of the times after succumbing to the ad displayed at the store saying the lamp consumes only about one-fifth of the electricity that an incandescent lamp uses but lasts about 50,000 hours.

Living a life of overindulgence, I often come home late at night, and use the desk lamp only for a few hours every weekday.

When I calculated how much I would use the lamp, it occurred to me that it would outlast its user.

As I started thinking about that, I began to feel, strangely, that rather than using the lamp, I am borrowing it from someone who would use it after me.

I once read somewhere a piece of wisdom handed down from generation to generation among Native Americans. As I recall, it went something like: "We do not inherit the Earth from our ancestors. We borrow it from our children."

This wisdom may have a little in common with my humble thoughts about my new desk lamp.

But it reminds me of numerous things that we borrow from our descendants but damage: for instance, satoyama woodlands near human habitations that are rich in biodiversity, the ocean and the air.

The latest natural disaster makes me think about important things, even when doing unimportant shopping.

(Jun. 30, 2011)

25/06 "Diễm hờ" Hoàng Anh "sờ gáy" HH Ngọc Hân

Thứ bảy, 25/06/2011 08:38 AM

Vừa trải qua những ngày vất vả của kỳ thi tốt nghiệp Đại học, HH Ngọc Hân có nhiều thời gian dành cho hoạt động thiện nguyện.

• "Diễm hờ" Hoàng Anh "nhiếc" chồng cũ bằng thơ
• “Nạn nhân” nói gì khi bị Hoàng Anh “ném đá”
• Diễm hờ Hoàng Anh lại "ngứa nghề thịt" Đức Tuấn
• Huy Khánh - Hoàng Anh: Những phát biểu đầy mẫu thuẫn

Ngọc Hân muốn hướng tới hình ảnh một hoa hậu tỏa sáng vì lòng nhân ái chứ không phải hoa hậu chỉ đẹp ở vẻ bề ngoài.

Gần đây, lịch hoạt động từ thiện của HH Ngọc Hân gần như kín mít và được nhiều người đánh giá cao về những nghĩa cử cao đẹp vì cộng đồng của Ngọc Hân.

Bát cháo tình thương tận tay đưa đến cho những bệnh nhân có hoàn cảnh khó khăn của HH khiến nhiều giọt nước mắt xúc động lăn dài trên má người bệnh.

Bố của Hân đã từng chia sẻ nỗi lo lắng cho con gái, 
sợ Hân đẹp và giỏi thì sẽ khó… lấy chồng.

25/06 復興相に松本防災相、環境相兼務外れる方向

菅首相は２４日、東日本大震災の復興基本法の施行に伴って新設された復興相に、松本防災相の起用を決めた。２７日にも任命する。松本氏は政府の緊急災害対策本部の副本部長として震災直後から、被災者の生活再建支援などを担当しており、政府の震災対応の継続性からも適任と判断した。

首相は２４日夜、首相官邸と首相公邸前で、記者団の問いかけに対し、「復興相は松本氏に私からお願いし、基本的に引き受けていただくことになった。復旧から復興へ切れ目なくかつ迅速に、そして夢のある復興を実現する要の役をやってもらいたい」と述べた。

松本氏は同日夜、記者団に「被災者のためとことんやり抜く」と語った。

松本氏は、復興相就任に伴い、防災相については引き続き兼務する一方、同じく兼務している環境相からは外れる見通しで、環境相を蓮舫行政刷新相に兼務させる案などが出ている。また、平野達男内閣府副大臣を復興担当とすることが固まり、副大臣数人を差し替える案も出ている。首相は同日、首相官邸で玄葉国家戦略相（民主党政調会長）、自らに近い北沢防衛相と相次いで会談しており、閣僚間の担当の調整などについて協議したとみられる。

（2011年6月25日 読売新聞）

25/06 よみうり寸評 - 地道な取り組みが、「想定外」の被害軽減につながることを期待したい

６月２５日付

　〈大仏の御腹のなかへは御父さまもまだはいった事がない　御前方はいい事をした〉。文豪・夏目漱石は１９１２年、鎌倉で夏休みを過ごす長女に東京からそんな手紙を送った◆胎内拝観ができることで知られる鎌倉・高徳院の大仏は台座を含めた高さが１３メートル超。かつてその大仏を覆って立っていた大仏殿の高さは、礎石跡の調査から４０メートル近くもあったと推測される◆室町時代などに記されたいくつかの文献が、大仏殿の倒壊に触れている。１５世紀末、大地震による津波で押し流されたという趣旨の記述もある◆東日本大震災を受けて、国の中央防災会議の専門調査会が、あらゆる学術的な情報を検討して津波被害を想定するよう求める中間報告骨子をまとめた◆東北地方では、平安時代の貞観じょうがん地震の大津波に関する研究成果がありながら、自治体の防災対策に十分生かされていなかった◆古い地層の痕跡や文献の記録から、災害の歴史をひもとく。地道な取り組みが、「想定外」の被害軽減につながることを期待したい。

（2011年6月25日13時43分  読売新聞）

25/06 編集手帳 - 小さな買い物ひとつにも、何かを考えさせてくれる震災である

６月２５日付

　机に据え付ける金具が折れて、自宅で使っている卓上スタンドを買い替えた。今度のは半導体の一種、発光ダイオードを光源にするＬＥＤ電球である。少々値段は張ったが、こういうご時世でもある。消費電力は白熱電球の約５分の１、寿命は約５万時間！――と告げる売り場の広告パネルに負けた◆不摂生の身で帰宅は深夜が多く、平日は２～３時間ほどの点灯である。計算してみると、どうやらスタンドのほうがご主人よりもずっと長生きするらしい◆そう考えだすと何やら、スタンドを使っているというよりは、自分の次にこのスタンドを使うだろう誰かから光を拝借しているような、そんな気分にさせられるから不思議なものである◆アメリカ先住民の語り伝えをものの本で読んだことがある。〈自然とは祖先から譲り受けたものではない。子孫から借りているものだ〉。そう記憶している。新しいスタンドを前にしての、わが愚考といくらか似ていなくもない。里山、海、空気…子孫から借りながら傷つけてしまったものの数々に思いあたる◆小さな買い物ひとつにも、何かを考えさせてくれる震災である。

（2011年6月25日01時19分  読売新聞）

25/06 Phương Mai bán nude bên Nathan Lee

Thứ bảy, 25/6/2011, 07:30 GMT+7

Bỏ qua những tin đồn tình cảm, top 10 Siêu mẫu châu Á không ngần ngại thực hiện những tấm hình thân mật cùng cựu người mẫu Elite Pháp. Cả hai thể hiện khoảnh khắc vui vẻ, hồn nhiên của đôi tình nhân trẻ.
> Nathan Lee: 'Tình cảm với Phương Mai bền vững hơn yêu'/ Nathan Lee tay trong tay Phương Mai đi xem phim

Trang điểm: Cindy Thái Tài Ảnh: Tee Le

N.T.

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25/06 ソフトバンク、発電参入

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自然エネルギーで定款に事業追加

孫正義社長

　ソフトバンクは２４日の定時株主総会で、自然エネルギーなどによる発電を事業内容に加える定款変更を承認した。原子力発電所事故を受けて「脱原発」を掲げる孫正義社長が、発電事業に乗り出す“お墨付き”を与えられたことになる。クリーンエネルギーの普及に一役買う一方、本業である通信事業との相乗効果など、様々な思惑も見え隠れしている。

孫社長、首相と頻繁に面会

　孫社長は株主総会で、「原発の代わりになるエネルギーを一日も早く作らないとならない。日本の問題解決に向かいたい」と訴えた。東日本大震災後の３月２２日に福島県の避難所を訪れて問題意識を持ち始めたといい、４月２０日には自然エネルギーの普及を促す「自然エネルギー財団」を私財で設立すると表明するなど動きを活発にしている。

　今国会に提出中の「再生可能エネルギー特別措置法案」は、太陽光や風力などの発電の全量を電力会社が高い価格で買い取る仕組みが盛り込まれている。法案が成立すれば、原発に比べて圧倒的に発電コストの高い自然エネルギー発電にもビジネスチャンスが訪れる。

　さらに、ＩＴ（情報通信）技術で電力の需給を自動調整する「スマートグリッド（次世代送電網）」が進展すれば、通信事業との相乗効果も期待できる。すでにＩＢＭやグーグルなどはスマートグリッドに参入している。孫社長は株主総会で「以前はピンと来なかったが、さすがグーグルだなと思う」と述べ、参入を目指していることを示唆した。

　一方、産業界には、頻繁に菅首相と会うなどの政治的な動きに、「電力会社の発送電分離を求め、東京電力の送電事業の買収を狙っているのではないか」といぶかる声もある。送電網は通信インフラとして活用できるとの見方もある。

　孫社長は昨年、光回線などのブロードバンド（高速大容量通信）網を全世帯に普及させる総務省の「光の道」構想に乗じ、ＮＴＴグループからの光回線事業の完全分社化を迫った経緯がある。分社化は見送られたが、ＮＴＴは光回線を他社に貸し出す際の接続料で大幅な値下げを強いられた。

　ソフトバンクは今夏にも、大規模太陽光発電所（メガソーラー）の事業化に向けた子会社を設立し、年内にも発電所の建設に着手する考えだ。７月に設立予定の「自然エネルギー協議会」には３４道府県が参加を表明している。電力業界に風穴を開けられるかどうか、今後の動きが注目される。

（2011年6月25日  読売新聞）

25/06 Triệu phú châu Á nhiều hơn châu Âu

Thứ bảy, 25/6/2011, 09:21

Lần đầu tiên châu Á – Thái Bình Dương vượt châu Âu để trở thành nơi có số lượng triệu phú nhiều thứ hai thế giới sau Mỹ. Việt Nam cũng đóng góp không nhỏ vào tốc độ phát triển ấn tượng này với mức tăng 33,1%.
> Việt Nam có 450 triệu phú chứng khoán

Châu Á dẫn đầu thế giới về tốc độ phát triển triệu phú.

Theo Báo cáo Thịnh vượng Thế giới năm 2011 do ngân hàng Merrill Lynch và hãng tư vấn tài chính Capgemini vừa công bố, trong năm 2010, số lượng triệu phú trên thế giới tăng 8,3%, đạt 10,9 triệu người với tổng giá trị tài sản 42.700 tỷ USD, tăng 9,7%.

Trong đó, tại châu Á – Thái Bình Dương, số triệu phú đã tăng 9,7% lên 3,3 triệu người. Giá trị tài sản họ nắm trong tay là 10.800 tỷ USD, cao hơn 12,1% so với năm 2009.

Việt Nam góp một phần quan trọng vào tốc độ tăng trưởng số lượng triệu phú ở châu Á - Thái Bình Dương. Báo cáo không nêu cụ thể Việt Nam có bao nhiêu triệu phú, chỉ cho biết tốc độ tăng trưởng đạt 33,1%, đứng sau Hong Kong (33,3%).

Theo thống kê của VnExpress.net tính tới cuối năm ngoái, Việt Nam có 450 triệu phú trên sàn chứng khoán niêm yết, tăng gấp rưỡi so với năm 2009. Trong đó, ông chủ Vincom Phạm Nhật Vượng sở hữu số lượng chứng khoán niêm yết tương đương gần 1 tỷ USD.

Một số nền kinh tế khác trong khu vực cũng có tốc độ tăng trưởng người giàu rất cao so với thế giới, chẳng hạn Sri Lanka (27,1%), Indonesia (23,8%), Singapore (21,3%) và Ấn Độ (20,8%). Tốc độ ấn tượng này thể hiện tính tích cực của các yếu tố kinh tế vĩ mô như tổng thu nhập quốc dân (GNI) và các động lực chủ chốt khác như thị trường chứng khoán.

Ấn Độ lần đầu tiên lọt vào top 12 nước có nhiều triệu phú nhất với 153.000 người. Tại Trung Quốc, số triệu phú cũng tăng thêm 12% lên 534.500 người, đứng ở vị trí thứ 4 trong danh sách. Ba nước đầu bảng là Mỹ, Nhật Bản và Đức, chiếm 53% số triệu phú trên thế giới.

Châu Âu đã để mất vị trí thứ hai vào tay khu vực châu Á Thái Bình Dương do lượng triệu phú chỉ tăng 6,3%, đạt 3,1 triệu người. Đồng thời, giá trị tài sản sở hữu cũng thua kém, chỉ tăng 7,2%, đạt 10.200 tỷ USD. Tổng giá trị tài sản của các triệu phú châu Á vốn đã vượt châu Âu trong năm 2009. Đến năm 2010, chênh lệch càng được nới rộng thêm.

Số thành viên trong câu lạc bộ triệu phú của Bắc Mỹ đã được cộng thêm 8,6% lên 3,4 triệu người, nắm giữ 11.600 tỷ USD (tăng 9,1%). Trong đó, 3,1 triệu người sống tại Mỹ, chiếm 28,6% lượng triệu phú toàn cầu. Với mức phát triển khiếm tốn là 6,2%, khu vực Mỹ Latinh chỉ có chưa đầy 500.000 triệu phú. Năm ngoái, giá trị tài sản của họ tăng 9,2%.

Tuy chỉ có 400.000 triệu phú (tăng 10,4%), nhưng giá trị tài sản của các triệu phú ở Trung Đông gia tăng đến 12,5% đạt 1.700 tỷ USD.

Theo bản báo cáo, lượng triệu phú là phụ nữ và triệu phú trẻ cũng phát triển. Năm 2010, khoảng 27% số triệu phú trên thế giới là phụ nữ, trong khi năm 2008 chỉ là 24%. 17% là triệu phú từ 45 tuổi trở xuống, còn năm 2008 là 13%.

Ngoài ra, số lượng và giá trị tài sản của các siêu triệu phú sở hữu từ 30 triệu USD trở lên tăng lần lượt là 10,2% và 11,5%, cao hơn tốc độ phát triển của các triệu phú. Họ nắm tới 36,1% giá trị tài sản của giới nhà giàu trên thế giới trong khi số lượng chỉ chiếm 0,9% (103.000 người) trong bộ phận này.

Báo cáo Thịnh vượng Thế giới của ngân hàng Merrill Lynch và hãng tư vấn tài chính Capgemini đuợc đưa ra dựa trên số liệu từ 71 quốc gia, chiếm 98% tổng thu nhập quốc dân và 99% giá trị vốn hóa thị trường chứng khoán trên toàn cầu.

An Lâm

26/05 World Heritage Sites in China

 

25/06 余録：江戸の奇才で、日本版ガリバー旅行記のような戯作も…

　江戸の奇才で、日本版ガリバー旅行記のような戯作も書いている平賀源内は、当時「無人島（ぶにんじま）」と呼ばれた小笠原諸島の開発計画を立てたという。多くの住民を移住させて、区画整然たる開拓を行い、自らが首長になるというものだったらしい▲さすが考えることが江戸時代離れしているが、今となっては夢想に終わってよかったというべきなのだろう。「無人島」というのは、１７世紀の延宝年間に幕府が漂流民からの報告を基に行った探検の際につけた地名である▲「島には清水があり、多くの南方系の樹木のおいしげっているまことに楽しい豊かな土地のように見えた。……日本人はこの地をフジン島と呼んだ。そこには住民がいなかったからだ」。長崎にいたドイツ人医師ケンペルは日本人によるこの探検結果をそう報告した▲これまで一度も大陸と地続きになったことのない海洋島で、その中で独自の進化をとげた固有種の多い「東洋のガラパゴス」である。その生態系にとって何よりの幸運だったのは、１９世紀前半まで文字通りの無人で、その後も大規模な開発を免れたことかもしれない▲おかげで一つの種からの多彩な進化のプロセスを目の当たりにできる「進化論の島」なのもガラパゴス同様だ。だがそのガラパゴスが観光地化によって一時は危機遺産に登録された今日である。小笠原でも人が持ち込んだ外来種により多くの固有種が絶滅にひんする▲世界遺産登録はその生態系を守る島民の協力のたまものだ。日本人にとっては地球からの預かり物にほかならない島の自然だが、今では人の努力なしには後の世に残せない「無人島」の富である。

• 東日本大震災：「浪分神社」に脚光　江戸時代も津波免れる
• 金山古墳：円墳→前方後円墳→調査で円墳　江戸時代の盛り土が決め手－－益田　／島根
• 鳥羽城跡：出土石垣、保存困難で撤去へ　市教委「江戸時代構築」断定　／三重
• 徳島市立木工会館：県木材を活用、精巧な船の模型展　江戸～現代の１１０点　／徳島
• 杵築市：今秋に侍、町娘が登場　地域活性化事業で、一層江戸時代に　／大分

毎日新聞　2011年6月25日　東京朝刊