I entirely agree with Hiroshi Yanagihara in the article "Cleared con fights for full recording of interrogations" (June 13 issue). I stress the need for full recording of interrogations for the launch of the lay judge system. However, I think it is unfair for a judge and a prosecutor to be punished for their misjudgments. I think it is a crime to send up an innocent man.

I've taken a strong interest in the shortage of day-care facilities in Japan (June 6 issue). One reason for my interest is that I worked at a public nursery school for six months. Working mothers are desperate to work as a breadwinner or a supporter of the household economy. Economic conditions have recently gotten much worse, so more women have no choice but to work. Under such conditions, more government-subsidized daycare facilities are absolutely necessary. But the shortage of such facilities is one of the serious problems working mothers face. Although authorities have emphasized the need to raise the birthrate, they have yet to solve this critical problem.

I was shocked to read in the article that a mother is working, leaving two children at home. The older, a 6-year-old or so, is taking care of the younger. I'm afraid that they will be involved in some accidents while the mother is out. Les miserables! That real example will help us think of this problem more seriously.

The reappointment issue of Japan Post Holdings Co. seems strange to me because it appears to be focused only on political issues. Internal Affairs Minister Kunio Hatoyama resigned finally, but someone must be concerned with the results of privatization since last year.

Have services improved? I think the office responses have surely changed for the better, but I feel the postal services are not any better. I usually receive the Weekly on Saturdays but the latest one was delivered on Monday. The worst was on a Wednesday! I don't know what the actual reason is for this.

Anyway, I want it to be kept on the day when mail is distributed (not Sundays). And also, we should watch strictly how their management is doing.

I read with curiosity "Beatlemania hits Hamburg," (June 13 issue) since many of my American, British and Australian friends always told me The Beatles are not popular whenever I asked about them. To many of my friends, The Beatles are a thing of the past and I thought only Japanese still praise the band. Is the band still popular? I doubt it based on the responses from my friends. Or in Germany, are they still famous and (likely to) attract tourists? In the article, I didn't find any hints.

Editor's note: As a Canadian who lived in Germany for several years, I think that The Beatles museum in Hamburg will have no problem attracting tourists. As to the band's popularity abroad, maybe people aren't as emotional about the band as the Japanese, but I believe that everywhere and always, The Beatles will remain the most important pop band of all time.

The Japan Times Weekly: July 4, 2009
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