Regarding Ronald Kessler's Sept. 29 Zeit Gist article, "Gaijin health coverage: an appeal for choice": Why do (headline writers) repeatedly insult and offend many of The Japan Times' non-Japanese readers by referring to them as "gaijin"?
The Japan Times must know that many readers are offended, yet it seems to take pleasure in using this term since it occurs so often in articles. Is there not an alternative, less offensive word that could be used, such as foreigners, non-Japanese, or even gaikokujin if, for some bizarre reason, you must use Japanese in an English article?
david hufford
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