📰Today’s article
Title
Markets Surge as LDP Picks Sanae Takaichi, Paving Path to Premiership
自民党が高市早苗氏を新総裁に選出、首相就任への道が開け株式市場が上昇
Article
| English | Japanese |
|---|---|
| Japanese stocks hit a record high after the ruling Liberal Democratic Party named Sanae Takaichi as its new leader, positioning the pro-business politician to be Japan’s next prime minister. The benchmark Nikkei 225 closed 4.75% higher on Monday, ending above 47,000 for the first time. | 与党の自民党が高市早苗氏を新総裁に選出し、同氏が日本の次期首相となる道が開けたことを受け、日本株は最高値を付けた。代表的な日経平均株価は月曜日に4.75％高で引け、初めて4万7000円を上回って終えた。 |
| Takaichi has held senior government roles, including minister for economic security and internal affairs. She is known for supporting higher government spending and lower borrowing costs. She is also a long-time admirer of former UK prime minister Margaret Thatcher and her free-market approach to economics. | 高市氏は経済安全保障相や総務相などの政府の要職を務めてきた。彼女は政府支出の拡大と低い借入コストを支持することで知られている。また、英国の元首相マーガレット・サッチャーとその自由市場的な経済アプローチの長年の崇拝者でもある。 |
| Investors welcomed the announcement of her victory in the LDP leadership race, with shares rising in real estate, technology, and heavy industry companies. While Japanese stocks rose, the yen hit a record low against the euro and dropped by 1.7% against the US dollar. Monday’s market response was largely a “knee-jerk reaction,” Japan economist Jesper Koll told the BBC. | 自民党総裁選での彼女の勝利発表を受けて投資家は歓迎し、不動産、テクノロジー、重工業の銘柄が上昇した。日本株が上昇する一方で、円は対ユーロで過去最安値を付け、対米ドルでも1.7％下落した。日本のエコノミスト、イェスパー・コール氏はBBCに、月曜日の相場の反応は「大きく言えば反射的な動き」だったと語った。 |
| Mr Koll said her plans to boost the economy with higher spending could help businesses but may further weaken the yen as Japan’s debt rises. If confirmed later this month as successor to Shigeru Ishiba, Takaichi will be Japan’s first female prime minister. Mentored by late Prime Minster Shinzo Abe, she has championed Abenomics—high public spending and cheap borrowing. | コール氏は、政府支出を増やして経済を押し上げるという彼女の計画は企業の助けになり得る一方で、日本の債務が増える中で円をさらに弱める可能性があると述べた。今月後半に石破茂氏の後継として正式に承認されれば、高市氏は日本初の女性首相となる。故・安倍晋三元首相の薫陶を受けた彼女は、アベノミクス――高い公的支出と低金利――を推進してきた。 |
| If confirmed, Takaichi must navigate a challenging US-Japan relationship and complete a tariff deal with US President Donald Trump’s administration, previously agreed by the Ishiba government. She would also face a sluggish economy and households hit by higher costs and slow wage growth. With Trump expected to visit Japan later this month, Mr Koll said she will be eager to negotiate a new agreement “to get the dollar down and to get the yen up.” | 承認されれば、高市氏は難しい日米関係を舵取りし、石破政権が以前に合意した米国のドナルド・トランプ大統領の政権との関税協定をまとめ上げる必要がある。彼女はまた、景気の鈍さや、物価高と賃金の伸びの鈍さに直面する家計への対応にも迫られる。今月後半にトランプ氏が日本を訪問すると見込まれる中、コール氏は、彼女が「ドルを下げ、円を上げる」ための新たな合意の交渉に意欲的だろうと述べた。 |
📘Vocabulary
- pro-business – adjective
- Meaning: supporting policies that make it easier for companies to grow and invest.
- Example: The new leader’s pro-business agenda encourages firms to expand and hire.
- 意味: 企業の成長や投資を後押しする政策を支持するさま。
- 例文: 新指導者のプロビジネスな方針は、企業の拡大と採用を促す。
- knee-jerk reaction – noun
- Meaning: a quick, unthinking response to news or events.
- Example: The rally looked like a knee-jerk reaction rather than a careful judgment.
- 意味: ニュースや出来事に対する即座で深く考えない反応。
- 例文: その上昇は熟慮というよりも反射的な反応に見えた。
- sluggish – adjective
- Meaning: moving or growing slowly; not active or strong.
- Example: Consumers cut spending in a sluggish economy with weak wage growth.
- 意味: 動きや成長が遅い、活気がない。
- 例文: 賃金の伸びが弱い停滞気味の経済で、消費者は支出を減らした。
- champion – verb
- Meaning: to actively support or fight for a policy or cause.
- Example: She continues to champion low borrowing costs to stimulate investment.
- 意味: ある政策や大義を積極的に支持し、推進する。
- 例文: 彼女は投資を刺激するため低金利の推進を続けている。
- navigate – verb
- Meaning: to manage or find a way through a difficult situation.
- Example: The minister must navigate complex trade talks with key partners.
- 意味: 困難な状況をうまく切り抜ける、舵取りする。
- 例文: 大臣は主要な相手国との複雑な貿易協議を切り抜けなければならない。
📝Let’s summarize
| Summary | 要約 |
|---|---|
| Japanese stocks hit records after the LDP chose Sanae Takaichi as leader, lifting the Nikkei 4.75%. Investors cheered her pro-spending stance, though the yen weakened. If confirmed, she would navigate US ties, tariffs, and a sluggish, high-cost economy. | 自民党が高市早苗氏を総裁に選出すると、日本株は記録を更新し、日経平均は4.75％上昇した。投資家は彼女の支出拡大路線を好感したが、円は弱含んだ。承認されれば、彼女は日米関係や関税協定、そして高コストで鈍い経済への対応を迫られる。 |
| [Word Count: 38 words] |
❓Comprehension Questions
Q1: What immediate effect followed Takaichi’s selection as LDP leader?
A. The yen strengthened sharply against the euro and the US dollar on Monday.
B. Real estate and technology shares fell sharply after the announcement in Tokyo.
C. The Nikkei 225 closed 4.75% higher, ending above 47,000 for the first time.
D. Investors sold stocks after doubting her economic policies and leadership plans on Monday.
問1: 自民党が高市氏を総裁に選出した直後に起きたことは何ですか。
Correct answer: C
正解選択肢: 日経平均が4.75％高で引け、初めて4万7000円を上回って終えた。
該当文: The benchmark Nikkei 225 closed 4.75% higher on Monday, ending above 47,000 for the first time.
Q2: How did Jesper Koll describe Monday’s market response?
A. He praised steady, carefully considered buying by investors throughout the session Monday.
B. He warned that stocks would immediately erase all their gains on Tuesday.
C. He predicted the yen would strengthen strongly against both major currencies very soon.
D. He said it was largely a “knee-jerk reaction” in Monday’s markets overall.
問2: イェスパー・コール氏は月曜日の市場の反応をどのように表現しましたか。
Correct answer: D
正解選択肢: それは大きく言えば「反射的な動き」だったと述べた。
該当文: Monday’s market response was largely a “knee-jerk reaction,” Japan economist Jesper Koll told the BBC.
Q3: If confirmed, what key diplomatic task would Takaichi need to address?
A. She must avoid new agreements and pause talks with the United States entirely.
B. She must navigate a US-Japan relationship and complete a tariff deal with Trump’s administration.
C. She must cancel the previous agreement and shift focus to slow wage growth.
D. She must prioritize heavy industry shares and reduce exposure to technology companies.
問3: 承認された場合、高市氏が取り組むべき重要な外交課題は何ですか。
Correct answer: B
正解選択肢: 日米関係を舵取りし、トランプ政権との関税協定をまとめ上げる必要がある。
該当文: If confirmed, Takaichi must navigate a challenging US-Japan relationship and complete a tariff deal with US President Donald Trump’s administration, previously agreed by the Ishiba government.
💬Today’s your thoughts
Question
Should a government use higher public spending and cheap borrowing to support a weak economy?
政府は、景気が弱いときに公的支出を増やし、低金利での借入を用いるべきでしょうか。
Model Answer – 1（肯定的立場）
| English | Japanese |
|---|---|
| I believe higher spending and cheap borrowing can support growth during weak conditions. | 景気が弱い局面では、公的支出の拡大と低金利の借入が成長を支え得ると考える。 |
| Firstly, targeted public spending can stabilize demand because it sustains essential projects and services. For example, funding rail repairs keeps contractors employed. This supports local shops, which may boost sales, so communities maintain activity despite slower private investment. | まず、的を絞った公的支出は、重要な事業やサービスを維持するため需要を安定させ得る。例えば、鉄道補修への資金は受注業者の雇用を保つ。これは地域の商店を支え、売上を押し上げ得て、民間投資が鈍くても地域の活動を維持できる。 |
| In addition, cheaper borrowing lowers financing costs because governments can issue bonds at low rates. For instance, a city can renovate aging schools. This improves learning environments, which could raise outcomes without heavy immediate tax hikes. | さらに、安い借入は政府が低利で国債を発行できるため資金調達コストを下げる。例えば、ある都市が老朽化した学校を改修できる。これは学習環境を改善し、大きな即時の増税なしで成果を高め得る。 |
| Therefore, I support this approach, since near-term stability and public benefits may outweigh risks, provided projects are well targeted and transparently managed. | したがって私はこの方針を支持する。適切な対象と透明な運営が前提なら、短期の安定と公共の利益がリスクを上回り得るからだ。 |
| [Word Count: 107 words] |
Model Answer – 2（否定的立場）
| English | Japanese |
|---|---|
| I am against relying on higher spending and cheap borrowing to fix weak growth. | 私は、景気の弱さを解決するために公的支出拡大と低金利借入に頼ることに反対だ。 |
| Firstly, larger budgets can strain public finances because debt must be repaid. For example, a transport project might overrun costs. This burdens taxpayers later, which may crowd out useful programs when revenues fall during another downturn. | まず、予算の拡大は債務返済が必要なため財政を圧迫し得る。例えば、交通事業が予算超過する場合がある。これは後に納税者の負担となり、次の不況で歳入が落ちた際に有用な施策を圧迫し得る。 |
| Moreover, cheap borrowing can delay reforms because easy money weakens pressure to improve efficiency. For instance, agencies may postpone audits, which could keep wasteful spending in place for several years. | さらに、安い借入は効率改善への圧力を弱め、改革を遅らせ得る。例えば、機関が監査を先送りし、数年間むだな支出が温存され得る。 |
| Therefore, I oppose the strategy and prefer careful, targeted reforms that encourage private investment while keeping long-term debt risks contained. | したがって私はこの戦略に反対で、長期の債務リスクを抑えつつ民間投資を促す慎重で的確な改革を望む。 |
| [Word Count: 104 words] |
News Source: BBC News
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c20vljzgp0ro