TAKING INVENTORY

Excellent book review on an outstanding character, Lafcadio Hearn (“Wandering Ghost” by Jonathan Cott, reviewed by Robert A. Rosenstone, Jan. 27). But, my God, the headline of the article, “The Man Who Invented Japan”? If that’s not the high point in arrogance and ignorance, I don’t know what is.

A country with thousands of years of history is “invented” by a writer who arrived on the scene in 1890? Japan was nonexistent until its ticket was validated by a westerner?

A foreigner reading your article must have a hard time believing it. I can’t imagine what a Japanese reader would think.

For our further enlightenment, perhaps you could tell us who invented China and India.

STEVE JORGENSEN, DANA POINT