JP Formal and Informal Language

How important is it in your language to make a distinction between formal and informal speech patterns?

Kentaro (Tokyo, Japan) "As for the way to use plain and formal speech... "

Eriko (Saitama, Japan) "In formal occasions, such as having a lecture..."

Masafumi (Kobe, Japan) "In Japanese, there's the normal way we talk..."

Akemo (Chiba, Japan) "Then akemo says..."

Authors: h.brinsko.