This study analyses emails written by 30 Japanese native speakers (JNS) and 90 Japanese language learners (JLL). Each participant wrote an email for Task A, "Declining a request for a translation" and Task B, "Inquiring about coming to Japan." For Task A, we found that the JNS used circumlocution, saying things in a roundabout way such as dekisoo ni nai, whereas JLL commonly used direct phrases such as dekinai. For Task B, JNS inquired without appealing to the senses, but JLL mentioned hardships and lacked consideration. Japanese language education should introduce JLL to methods of responding more politely or indirectly.
