On 3 Nov 2003 01:49:23 -0800, rcaetano7@yahoo.com (Rafael Caetano)
posted the following:

>The funny thing is that all this discussion (between Eric and cc)
>started with a misconception. Namely, that to be fluent in Japanese
>you need to "understand 100% of the Japanese culture". Nonsense.
>Speaking a language fluently means being able to speak it naturally,
>"smoothly", without unnatural pauses, etc. I know many people who
>speak fluent Japanese but who don't understand "100% of Japanese
>culture", whatever that means.

I think that few, if any, native Japanese speakers could be said to
understand "100% of Japanese culture".  Would even 50% be possible?
I'm not sure.

-Chris