This paper reassesses Japanese scholars' contribution to the critique of Brown and Levinson's claims of the universality of politeness strategies. It is argued that the principles that guide the use of Japanese honorific devices do not basically differ from those of English, whilst both are similarly strategic. It is concluded that, in both languages, politeness as 'appropriateness' is better complied with in the polite stances built up by strategic use of polite devices than in unmediated polite meanings communicated by dedicated honorifics.