To the Ministry of Education, Culture, Science and Technology:
"Nihongo ga jōzu desu ne?" roughly translated means "Your Japanese is good." I have been told this many, many times, and it is the opening gambit in a great number of conversations. To elicit such a response, all I need do is open my mouth and say "hai."
In restaurants, hairdressers and whilst walking in the park, the same line has preceded the inevitable "Kuni wa doko desu ka?" or, "Where are you from?"