Dr. Asahi's Name

Hi,

I was at a camera trader's office yesterday in Montreal, Quebec, and a group of us got into a "discussion" (we are SO polite here) regarding the correct way to pronounce Asahi. We all have great respect for the good doctor and the company he founded, and would very much like to honor him by at least not butchering his name.

Can somebody take a stab at educating us phonetically?

Much appreciated -

Cheers

I don't recall any Japanese subscribers to this forum, but I personally say:

A as in LASS

sa as in MA and PA

hi as in Pea

With the emphasis on the SA.

G

I won - nya - nya - nya nya nya! (This only for the benifit of my "discussion group", where I am not considered competative in any way.)

Many thank's George - as usual!

Cheers!

Mac,

I didn't say I was right!

G

George said "I didn't say I was right!"

George, you MUST be - I agree with you!

Of course, the subject remains open and I certainly welcome any and all input - especially now that I've silenced MY critics with George's expert reply!

I love this!

I pronounce it that way too.
As a fellow Cannuck, I'd love to hear Prime Minister Creitien say it without swearing....

The world is full of variety

http://www.mail-archive.com/pentax-discuss@pdml.net">target="blank">http://www.mail-archive.com/pentax-discuss@pdml.net/msg109943.html

I say AH-SAY-HIGH

But then I'm probably wrong too. I have some Japanese friends - maybe I'll ask them

Matt

Apparently it's supposed to be:
A-SAH-HEE
http://www.mail-archive.com/pentax-discuss@pdml.net">target="blank">http://www.mail-archive.com/pentax-discuss@pdml.net/msg109969.html

But, you'll find this humerous:

http://www.mail-archive.com/pentax-discuss@pdml.net">target="blank">http://www.mail-archive.com/pentax-discuss@pdml.net/msg110002.html




Check this Japanese guide out:
http://www.suzakuseishi.com/FushigiYuugi/Dictionary/
A . . . . pronounced "ah" as in "Yaht"
I . . . pronounced "ee" as in "Tree
E . . . pronounced "eh" as in "Bet"
O . . . pronounced "oh" as in "Go"
U . . . pronounced "ooh" as in "boot"

As I see from Matt's research, George had it correct - 'cept for the accent on the 2nd sylable. Seems we should monotone it - no fun.

ah-SAW-hee is way more fun to say IMHO. Heck, we get to say TAK-u-mar and PEN-tax! (Or is it penta-X? Arrrrggghhhh!)

Thank's for the input and to Malcolm Smith's wife for her wise perspective.

Don, Mr. Creitien would simply say "Dat camera guy".

Night all!

I envisioned him saying something like:
"I lookink at you with my uh...umm..ah-say-ho...you smile and sayiing "poutine" while I takink your pornograph..eh?"

Matt,

Many thank's for all your research - as usual. I'm glad we've gotten to the bottom of this (I hope), as it has been bothering me for months now.

You've been involved with this Pentax passion way longer than I.

How long do you think it will take you to say the good Doctor's name without stammering? I was getting the pronounciation correct, but messing-up the intonation. Now I trip all over it trying to get it right.

Don, maybe Mr. Creitien and I share similar chrome o zines, uh, chrono zanes, ah, dose jean tings, after all!