Regarding Reiji Yoshida's Nov. 1 article, "Lawmaker under fire for letter to Emperor": Upper House lawmaker Taro Yamamoto's action in giving a letter about the health of Japanese children suffering the effects of radiation was a necessary act. It was also brave in a country where such an action is thought to be frowned upon.
Why would Japan want their emperor to be ignorant of what is happening ? Why would Japan put its children and population in danger by not telling the facts about leaking radiation and the cancers being born from this.
The whole world is in fear of the devastation being wrought by the radiation leaking from Fukushima. Radiation has reached Alaskan coasts and is spreading around the world in the air.
What is required is that Japan ask for help from the nuclear community. Japan has already wasted two years and seven months. Tokyo Electric Power Co. is not capable of dealing with this.
I was taught that one can always learn new things, that it is not a slight on anyone to ask for help. As children we are not worried about asking for help from our parents and the world needs Japan to ask for help now.
To avoid losing face, Japan may cause us all to lose the world. There is no second planet to escape to.
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.