The Lessons Not Learned.

[VelKallor]

When non-JP people start referring to others, particularly those they've never met and will never in their lives interact with, with the -san suffix, you know the conversation has run its course.

Oh please...

One does not have to be Japanese to know and use the proper etiquette for that persons language. People can learn other languages, or hadnt you heard? I studied basic Japanese, and will continue to do so as I plan on traveling there. It helps to be able to think in that language, and to use the proper etiquette naturally...wouldnt you agree?

I know the proper forms of personal address in Russian, German, Greek, Chinese, Japanese, French, Italian, Latin....your point is?

For example: were I to meet her or another Japanese lady. I would NEVER use - chan as a suffix, because THAT is reserved for family or close friends only.

In order to speak a language to an acceptable standard you need to be able to think in it, because your mode of address is unconscious, a learned behaviour in a specific culture.

By the way, you also notice I refer to her as Ishikawa Natsuko-san, which is AGAIN the proper way to address her and refer to her, family name first, first name last

When in Rome...y'know?