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From: barryg@sdcrdcf.UUCP (Lee Gold)
Newsgroups: net.nlang
Subject: Re: Pronouncing Japanese brand names
Message-ID: <2379@sdcrdcf.UUCP>
Date: Sat, 5-Oct-85 11:06:20 EDT
Article-I.D.: sdcrdcf.2379
Posted: Sat Oct  5 11:06:20 1985
Date-Received: Tue, 8-Oct-85 03:46:05 EDT
References: <747@terak.UUCP>
Reply-To: barryg@sdcrdcf.UUCP (Lee Gold)
Distribution: net
Organization: System Development Corp. R+D, Santa Monica
Lines: 17
Summary: 

The Japanese I (pronounced to write with "key") and U (pronounced to
rhyme with "boo") are indeed often unaccentuated.  In creating Japanese
versions of foreign words, other vowels may also be swallowed so that
"sutoraiki" (strike) is pronounced to rhyme with "nigh-key."

Matsushita is syllabified as Ma-Tsu-Shi-Ta and pronounced Mats(u)-sh'ta.
Nikon would be Nee-kohn (rhymes with keytone).
Nissan is Nees-sahn.
Hitachi has the first syllable almost swallowed and is pronounced
  Hee-tah-chee.
Fujitsu (Fu-ji-tsu):  Fu is written as part of the H-line and pronounced
  with rounded lips rather than a labiodental.  It's Foo-jee-ts(u)
Toshiba is toe-she-bah

All of these are even-stressed, with no syllable accentuated.

--Lee Gold