Regarding Amy Chavez's Nov. 7 column, "Japanese — a language of tall tales": As a foreigner, I find it hard to believe that Chavez, someone who's been writing about Japan for 10 years, would present such a one-sided view of Japan. Perhaps Chavez simply needed to let off some gaijin steam, but to me it sounds very trite. Not only does she appear to ignore the nuances of the language, but she also fails to consider Japanese oseji (compliments/flattery) and the simple fact that Japanese people speak differently to foreigners, using fewer adverbs and other colorful words for fear of causing confusion.

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