Grant Piper's comment in his May 5 letter, "Abomination by any other name" (in which he criticizes the annual "Baby-cry sumo" event at Tokyo's Sensoji Temple as "culturally sanctioned child abuse") is hilarious.
Piper sounds like a modern-day Don Quixote brandishing the good fight for rights and justice. Some people from overseas might be skeptical about traditional Japanese ceremonies. There may be huge differences between foreign and Japanese customs. The differences, however, don't seem to deserve censure.
The purpose of local festivals, traditions and customs is not to pursue fairness, justice or human rights. People hold such events for fun, and as a prayer or a wish.
The opinions expressed in this letter to the editor are the writer's own and do not necessarily reflect the policies of The Japan Times.