I don't agree with Gregory Clark's Jan. 15 article, "Antiforeigner discrimination is a right for Japanese people," but I think it was the Otaru, Hokkaido, bathhouse owner's right to use all means to protect his business — even by putting up a sign that excluded all foreigners from the bathhouse. A sign indicating "Russians not welcome" probably would have caused a much louder uproar.
This problem reminded me of still another controversial sign that has stirred up a lot of debate: "Women-only train carriage." I've wondered if people, especially the male population who have protested, would prefer a sign that said "No groping in this carriage." Let's remember that there are still a lot of bathhouses that don't have such signs.
my tran