Defining "Human Rights" in Japan

Excerpted from the other blog:

The Japan Times (15 July 2008) features a piece by Doshisha Law School professor Colin P.A. Jones discussing a 4 June ruling by the Japanese Supreme Court (最高裁判所) on that country's Nationality Laws.
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Professor Jones dissects a notion of 人権 jinken "human rights" that he says is apparent in the majority opinion, the dissenting opinions, and concurring opinions. According to Professor Jones' reading, "[One] of the things that all of the justices seemed to agree on was this: Japanese citizenship has great significance from the standpoint of receiving protection of fundamental human rights in Japan." This seems to suggest that human rights (人権) are granted to Japanese citizens, and not - as the name would seem to suggest - to all human beings (人).

Jones contrasts the Japanese view of human rights, in which the state mediates citizens' claims against one another, with the Anglo-American view, in which human rights are seen as limiting the power of the state over individuals.

同志社法学のColin P.A. Jones教授は最近の最高裁判所の判決について述べている。（Japan Times 7月15日2008年)

教授は、その判決の中に見える｢人権｣の意味について説明する。法廷における賛成意見も反対意見も"Japanese citizenship has great significance from the stand point of receiving protection of fundamental human rights in Japan"「日本では人権が擁護されるためには市民権を持つことが大きな意義を持っている。」と考える。それならば、｢人権｣は｢日本人｣が持っているもので、すべての｢人間｣は持っていないということか。

教授によると、日本では政府が市民に｢人権｣を与える。それに比べって、英国(または米国）では、「human rights」が政府の勢力を限っている。