Regarding the May 8 editorial "Trusting imports from Japan": In the fall of 2003, Japan banned all imports of North American beef based on a single case of BSE (mad cow disease) found in a herd of cattle in Washington state.

Although this ban has subsequently been relaxed with restrictions after being reimplemented a number of times, I find Japan's current demand that the rest of the world not ban its agricultural products to be hypocrisy in the extreme.

What would the Japanese government's reaction be if China had multiple nuclear meltdowns at its reactors? Based on Japan's reaction to the single case of BSE in 2003, it's a pretty sure bet that all agricultural imports from China would be banned.

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.

nikko williams