アメリカ政府：日本はもっと減税して、内需を拡大すべきですよ。
日本政府：それが、うってつけの方法だとは思えません。
Utte-tsuke
America-seifu: Nihon wa motto genzei shite, naiju wo kakudai subeki desu yo.
Nihon-seifu: Sore ga, utte-tsuke no hoohoo dato wa omoe masen.
U.S. government: Japan should lower its taxes and expand its domestic market
Japanese government: We don't feel that's the best solution.
Utte-tsuke describes some- thing that is suitable, fitting or appropriate, something that is just right.
The U.S. government has long been pressing Japan to reduce its taxes. Now that the Japanese government actually has reduced its taxes, I wonder what people will buy with the extra money they got. Do they buy American products? Many, I'm afraid, would rather keep the money to save it instead of going on a shopping spree because the economy isn't fully recovered. Kore ga utte-tsuke no saku ni wa narisoo mo nai. (I don't think this will prove to be the best solution.)
There's an interesting story from the latter part of the Edo Period in connection with this. It's about Matsudaira Sadanobu (1758-1829), a renowned member of the Shogun's Council of Elders who spearheaded political and economic reform.
At that time, there was a place called Yoshiwara, a red-light district in Edo, now Tokyo. One day a fire broke out in that district, burning the whole place to the ground. The fire, however, was said to be actually started by Matsudaira himself.
Kyoo wa, utte-tsuke no nishi no kaze gafuite iru (There's a perfect westerly wind today), he said to himself, so the story goes, as he set fire to the place.
To rebuild the place, a lot of timber was necessary and laborers were needed to do the reconstruction work. This all helped to revive the economy.
On top of this, the prostitutes, who were normally prohibited from stepping out of the district, had a chance to venture out to other parts of the town. Brothels were allowed to operate on alternative premises. The fire caused nobody a loss in the end.
Ima no nihon ni mo, konna utte-tsuke no hoohoo wo kangaeru hitoga ireba ii no daga. (I wish there were someone who comes up with such a brilliant solution to Japan's current problems.)
I should add, however, that the red-light district was surrounded by a ditch that served to prevent the fire from spreading to other areas. In the same way today, there are bound to be a number of conditions that need to be satisfied before it is possible to really get the economy back on its feet.