How to Pronounce Japanese Names
Five vowels, always the same
Japanese has five vowel sounds and they never change. A is like the a in father, I like the ee in see, U like the oo in food (with relaxed lips), E like the e in bed, and O like the o in more. So Sato is sah-toh, and Hiroshi is hee-roh-shee.
The Japanese R
The R in Japanese sits between an English R, a D and an L. Touch the tip of your tongue lightly to the ridge behind your top teeth, once, quickly. Say Haruka as hah-ru-kah and you are close.
Rhythm instead of stress
English stresses one syllable loudly. Japanese gives every beat the same length and weight. Say Sakura as sa-ku-ra with three even beats, not SA-ku-ra.
Long vowels and double consonants
A long vowel is held about twice as long, so Yuuki (Yuki with a long u) takes an extra beat. A double consonant, as in the word kitte (stamp), gets a tiny pause before the next sound. English spellings often drop these marks, so listen to a native speaker when you can.
Practice with real names
Say these slowly, then at speed: Sakura (sa-ku-ra), Hiroshi (hi-ro-shi), Yuki (yu-ki), Takumi (ta-ku-mi), Haruka (ha-ru-ka). Notice that each syllable has a clear vowel, and that u in Yuki and Takumi is short and soft.
Common English mistakes
English speakers often turn Sato into SAY-to or Hiroshi into hi-ROSH-ee. Keep the vowels pure and the beats even. Another common mistake is adding a hard t in Tsubasa; the ts is one quick sound, like in cats.
Questions
How do I say the Japanese R?
Touch the tip of your tongue lightly to the ridge behind your top teeth, once, quickly. It is between R, D and L.
Where is the stress in Japanese names?
There is no strong stress. Give each beat the same length.
Why are there no Japanese names starting with L?
Japanese has no L sound. The R sound takes its place, so names start with R instead, such as Ren, Rin and Riku. Names with an L in English spelling are usually foreign.
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