This paper analyzes a study by Fukushima (1990) of the English offers and responses of Japanese English as a foreign language (EFL) college students and reports on an experiment designed to address the perceived weaknesses of Fukushima's work. Fukushima's study found that many Japanese EFL learners could not use appropriate levels of politeness in English. Using the same interactive offer and response situations, the present study examined both Japanese and English offers and requests of Japanese EFL college students, comparing them to the English offers and requests of native English speakers from the same age group (18 to 31 years old). It found that both English and Japanese speakers of the age group surveyed differentiated expressions between close friends and acquaintances, something that Fukushima claimed was not done in English. The native English speakers often used directives or direct questions when offering or making requests. Other findings are discussed and elaborated on. An appendix provides a copy of the offer and request scenarios. (MDM)