Some readers' views on John Spiri's May 1 Zeit Gist column, "It's just because . . . foreigners know best":

I applaud John Spiri for his long but well-balanced Zeit Gist article, and I note The Japan Times sensibly placing Debito Arudou's "Just Be Cause" column alongside.

As a long-term resident (and teacher), I too have both criticized and praised Japan, but only on specifics. I always try to refrain from the generalizations (positive and negative) to which both Spiri and Arudou refer and indeed utilise.