米紙ワシントン・ポスト（電子版）は９日、東日本大震災から１年を迎えるのを前に、野田佳彦首相の寄稿文を掲載した。首相は「われわれの目標は、単に震災前の姿を取り戻すことではなく、新生日本を建設することだ」と復興に向けた決意を示している。
首相は「日本は戦後の廃虚と荒廃から急速に経済発展を遂げ、オイルショック後に世界で最もエネルギー効率性の高い経済を打ち立てた」と指摘。現在も同様に厳しい時代にあるとしながらも、「われわれはこの歴史的な困難を乗り越える決心だ」と表明した。
また、大震災を通じて「想定外だったという言い訳はもはや通用しないことを学んだ」と強調。日本は災害リスクの低減や震災への対処方法など、今回得た教訓を国際社会と共有する責務を負っていると述べた。（JijiCom 2012/03/10-11:58） http://www.jiji.com/jc/c?g=pol_30&k=2012031000197
という配信記事を見かけたので、早速ワシントン・ポストに行って原文を読んでみた。 以下がワシントン・ポストに掲載されいる野田首相の寄稿文（英文原文）です。 私は表題を「震災後１年、新生日本の建設へ」ぐらいに訳したが…
（追記: 菅直人前首相も「フォーリン・アフェアーズ」に寄稿文、という事でこれは『＜菅直人前首相、米外交専門誌「フォーリン・アフェアーズ」に寄稿文＞ 英文の原文を読んでみよう』に掲載中。
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A year after the earthquake, building a new Japan
By Yoshihiko Noda, Saturday, March 10
（Washington Post)
Yoshihiko Noda is prime minister of Japan.
March 11 is etched in Japan’s collective consciousness. Today, on the first anniversary of the Great East Japan Earthquake, which triggered the starkest crisis our country has faced in a generation, we pause to commemorate all of those who suffered. Our thoughts go out to all of the victims of the tragedy and to people around the world whose lives have been devastated by natural disasters.
We will not forget the loved ones, friends and colleagues lost in the disaster. Nor will we forget the outpouring of support and international expressions of solidarity that Japan received. For this, we feel deeply indebted and forever appreciative.
Japan has made remarkable progress over the past 12 months. Today we renew our commitment to learn from the great difficulties we have faced. I firmly believe that this period of difficulty must, and will, come to mark the start of a full-fledged revitalization of Japan.
The national solidarity and sense of urgency that resulted from last year’s tragedy underscore that we have the collective will to tackle our most pressing issues: reconstruction of areas affected by the earthquake; full decommissioning of Tokyo Electric Power Co.’s Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station and decontamination of affected areas; and revitalization of the Japanese economy.
The many steps taken in a year included establishing a budgetary and legislative framework that laid out many of the strategic tools for reconstruction. We set up the Reconstruction Agency, which acts as a control tower for all related planning and significantly streamlines and expedites activities, including formation of reconstruction grants and special reconstruction zones. In addition, procedures for monitoring and testing food products have been strengthened, while more than 1 trillion yen in state funds have been provided for the decontamination of residential areas close to the Fukushima Daiichi plant.
The issues of greatest concern among affected individuals, and our nation as a whole, are the most fundamental: job security and a sustainable livelihood for families. Through the creation of special reconstruction zones and other initiatives under the concept of “open reconstruction,” these regions will stimulate new domestic and overseas investment, creating jobs, driving the restoration of existing industries and enhancing innovation.
The creation of 11 “FutureCities” throughout Japan, in areas including the disaster-hit municipalities of Ofunato, Rikuzentakata and Higashimatsushima, is one such example. Through budgetary, tax and regulatory measures, support will be provided to develop an industry and social infrastructure linked with compact cities and decentralized, environmentally friendly energy production that uses “smart” grids and large-scale solar and offshore wind farms. Japan is already a leader in energy efficiency, and it has a wealth of innovative technologies. We must put this expertise to use creating a model for growth and sustainability that we can share with the world.
Hashigozakura 