Professor Takamitsu Sawa is an economist who should know better than to use statistics to extrapolate conclusions that could be misleading or erroneous. In his Aug. 25 article, he neither indicates tuition costs at European universities nor makes comparisons with EU dormitory housing.

America is unique in many ways, but it also has some of the worst-performing, outright for-profit universities that are undergoing investigation.

Japanese universities do need an overhaul, but let the changes fit the culture and the institutions that have made great progress since Japan opened up to the "modern world."

danile considine
tokyo

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.