ABSTRACT
Ifitbetruethatanationisjudgedbytheesteemin whichherwomenareheld,-isitnottimeforambitious Japantoremovethisblotuponhername?
InwesternJapanlivesawidowandherthreechildren -twodaughtersandason.Theeldestdaughterwhentwelve yearsofagewasadoptedbyanotherfamily.Threeyears latertheadoptedfatherdied,whentheadoptedmotherdesiredtoberelievedofthechild,buthadnointentionofgiving herupwithoutremuneration.Shethereforewrotethetrue motherofferingtoreturnthegirlonthepaymentofyenV50, andintheeventofthemothernotpayingthisprice~:>tating thatshewouldsellthechildforthreeyearstoabrothel. Thepricedemandedwasmorethanthepoormothercould meet,forshewasstrugglingtosupplytheneedsofherself andotherchildren;andthischildoffifteenyearswassoldfor "seven"insteadof"three"years,thepurchasemoneygoing intothehandsofthefostermother.
