2016年11月08日

　WASHINGTON － Fukushima Gov. Masao Uchibori was invited to the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington to give a lecture during his recent stay in the United States. He expressed determination to show the prefecture's reconstruction to the world and achieve recovery in the region.
　In the lecture on Oct. 17, Uchibori said he was working toward 2020, when the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games will be held and the Japanese asteroid explorer, Hayabusa 2 － whose development involved many businesses and universities in the prefecture － is expected to return to Earth.

　【ワシントン】訪米中の内堀雅雄知事は１７日（日本時間１８日午前）、ワシントンの米シンクタンク戦略国際問題研究所（ＣＳＩＳ）で講演した。東京五輪の開催、小惑星探査機「はやぶさ２」が帰還する２０２０年を視野に「世界中の人々に福島県の復興を示したい」と意欲を示した。

　At the beginning of the lecture, the governor expressed his "sincerest gratitude to the [people of the] world" for their support.
　Uchibori described the plight of the 86,000 people who still live as evacuees, but added there are some "bright notes."
　He went on to explain that recovery efforts haven't stopped: "[We] are moving forward to accomplish Fukushima's revitalization," he said, demonstrating his spirit to overcome challenges to achieve the goal.

　内堀知事は、東日本大震災と原発事故から２０００日余りが経過した中、世界各国からの支援に感謝の気持ちを伝え、現在も８万６０００人を超える県民が避難生活を送る現実を説明。その上で「明るい光も見えている。本県の復興の針は止まっていない。着実に動いていることをぜひ知ってほしい」と訴え、復興に向け「挑戦」する姿勢を国際社会にアピールした。

　Japanese guests invited to speak at CSIS are typically ministers, including Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in February 2013 and Defense Minister Tomomi Inada in September this year. Uchibori is the first Japanese governor to give a lecture there since former Tokyo Gov. Yoichi Masuzoe in April.

　ＣＳＩＳでの日本人の講演は、１３年２月の安倍晋三首相、今年９月の稲田朋美防衛相など主に閣僚などに限られ、知事では４月の舛添要一東京都知事（当時）以来。

　Uchibori spoke in English for about 30 minutes in part of a CSIS seminar featuring Fukushima's reconstruction efforts, with about 80 people in attendance.

　内堀知事は、ＣＳＩＳ主催の福島復興セミナーで約８０人の聴衆を前に約３０分間、英語でスピーチした。

　After expressing his gratitude for the support received from all over the world, Uchibori said many people overseas think nobody lives in the prefecture, but assured the audience that this "is not true."
　"People can live normal lives in 95 percent [of the prefecture]. We are making strong efforts so that [the remaining 5 percent of] residents can resume their lives in their hometowns," he said.

　冒頭、これまでの国際社会からの支援に謝意を伝えた内堀知事は「海外では『福島県に人が住めない』との誤解が多いが、県土の９５％は震災前と同様の生活が営まれ、残り５％でも一日も早く通常の生活を取り戻せるよう懸命に復興を進めている」と説明。

　Describing some of the recent bright notes, Uchibori said 80 percent of infrastructure recovery work was complete － new schools and clinics have opened in the disaster-hit areas and the Jobando Expressway is now in service.

　「明るい光」として、震災に伴う災害復旧工事の約８割の完了、常磐道の全線開通、被災地域での学校や医療機関の開設などを挙げた。

　The governor outlined four issues yet to be resolved: the decommissioning of Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings Inc.'s Fukushima No.1 nuclear power plant; environmental recovery; restoration of the prefecture's rumor-affected reputation; and the creation of new businesses in fields such as renewable energy and robotics. He described measures being taken by the central and prefectural governments and TEPCO to resolve these outstanding issues.

　その上で本県復興を進める課題として、福島第１原発の廃炉、環境回復、風評払拭、再生可能エネルギーやロボット関連産業など「新産業の創造」の４点を挙げ、県や政府、東京電力などの取り組みを紹介した。

　The governor referred to the local businesses involved in the development of Hayabusa 2, which launched in 2014. He emphasized the need to keep overcoming challenges, like those businesses are, toward the reconstruction of the prefecture.

　また、１４年に打ち上げられた「はやぶさ２」の開発に、多くの苦労を乗り越え携わった県内企業のエピソードを交えながら、内堀知事は復興に向けて「挑戦」を継続する姿勢を強調した。

　Event shows appreciation for U.S. aid
　A reception to express appreciation for the support received after the 2011 disaster was jointly held by the Japanese Embassy and the Fukushima Prefecture government at the residence of the Japanese ambassador to the United States in Washington. The prefecture's reconstruction was also discussed.

　県産品ふるまい感謝
　ワシントンの日本大使公邸で１７日（日本時間１８日）、東日本大震災以降の復興支援に感謝の気持ちを伝え、本県復興の現状を紹介するレセプションが開かれた。

　About 100 people － including ambassadors from other countries and officials from the U.S. government, Congress and CSIS －participated in the reception, which was named "Arigato from Fukushima."

　「Ａｒｉｇａｔｏ　ｆｒｏｍ　Ｆｕｋｕｓｈｉｍａ」と題したレセプションは日本大使館と県の共催で、米国政府や議会、ＣＳＩＳの関係者、各国大使など約１００人が出席した。

　Japan Ambassador Kenichiro Sasae said the United States dispatched military personnel, vessels and aircraft to support relief efforts following the Great East Japan Earthquake, reaffirming a friendship Japan will never forget.
　Sasae introduced Fukushima Gov. Masao Uchibori and explained why he was visiting the United States. The governor greeted the guests in English and expressed gratitude for the support his prefecture received.

　佐々江賢一郎大使は「震災時、米国は２万人の軍人、２０隻の船、１６０機の航空機を出してくれたが、これは友人の証しであり決して忘れることはない。内堀知事は感謝の気持ちを伝えるため訪米した」と述べた。

　Assistant Secretary of State Daniel Russel followed with a toast, saying the friendship between the two countries runs deep and it is natural for friends to support each other. No words of appreciation are necessary, he added.

　内堀知事が英語で感謝の気持ちを伝えた後、乾杯のあいさつに立ったラッセル米国務次官補は「両国の友情は深く、友人として支え合うことは当然で、感謝の言葉は不要だ」と述べた。

　Sake from Fukushima was served to guests at the reception. The region is renowned for its breweries, and for four straight years the prefecture's sake producers received the highest number of gold prizes in the Japan Sake Awards.
　Other items offered included handmade soba made of buckwheat flour produced in the prefecture, and cake rolls made of locally produced wheat flour. Traditional crafts from the prefecture, including Akabeko papier-mache red cows and Miharukoma wooden toy horses, were displayed. A film introducing tourist attractions in the prefecture was also shown.

（　Translated by The Japan News　）

　会場では全国新酒鑑評会金賞受賞数で４年連続日本一に輝いた県産日本酒のほか、県産そば粉の手打ちそばや、県産小麦粉を使ったロールケーキなどのデザートが振る舞われたほか、赤べこや三春駒などの展示、本県観光をＰＲするＤＶＤ上映も行われた。

　【　２０１６年１０月１９日付・福島民友新聞掲載　】