Dear Editor:

I came across Sinorama magazine for the first time recently and gave it a close reading, finding it a magazine of rare quality, finely printed, combining excellent text and pictures, and well worth recommending.

Sinorama has opened a new window for us to learn about Taiwan and the overseas Chinese community. All of the articles are well worth reading, whether on the current social situation in Taiwan, on local customs and scenery, or on overseas Chinese around the world. The ones that impressed me most were the economics articles in the April issue and the medical articles in June[editor's note: this refers to the Southeast Asiaedition]. What they shared in common was in showing new problems brought about by social development, such as conflicts between development and traditional ways of thinking or the adverse health effects of pollution and the fast pace of contemporary life brought about by industrialization. I feel the articles have a lot of reference value, because these situations are ones that the mainland is encountering or is going to encounter in the course of opening up.

In addition, some of the substantive, in-depth articles in the Potpourri section are quite informative. As a young person and a graduate of a medical college, I hope you can carry more articles on the development of medical technology and the life of young people in the future--I wonder whether you agree. In sum, I hope your magazine can maintain its special characteristics. The more of it the better!

Mr. Sun Fukien Province

Dear Editor:

In your May issue [Japanese-English edition] there was a report on the Contemporary Legend Theater and the Ninagawa Theater. I saw the Ninagawa Theater perform Chushingura [TheTreasury of Loyal Retainers]. The scene was a Japanese temple, with slanted tombstones, flickering candlelight, and hovering ghosts quietly weeping--a very scary piece from start to finish. Who knows how many Japanese have shed tears at this kabuki play since it was written back in the Edo period! The reporter, Liu Yung-fang, would certainly have liked it, or she wouldn't have written such an excellent article.

Also, regarding the photo essay on the 80th anniversary of Tung Yuan Elementary School, NHK reported a while back on the implementation of compulsory free education in Hong Kong 12 years ago. I think that the spread of the concept of compulsory education was one of the few good things that came out of the Japanese encroachment of Asia.

Sogi Hirofumi Japan

Dear Editor:

Sinorama is the only Chinese-language magazine in our university library. I wait eagerly for each new issue to arrive, and devour it at one sitting when it does.

Since I like music, my favorite feature is "Song of the Month." Having lived in Indonesia and Australia for nine years, I've heard songs in many different languages, but I've always thought Mandarin songs stand up the best to the test of time, have the most meaningful lyrics and are the most full of feeling.

I can't find any stores where I live (in Brisbane, the capital of Queensland) that sell tapes of Mandarin pop songs, so I'd like to take this opportunity and hope I can receive a free cassette. Your faithful reader,

Pei-chi Australia