Difficult to pronounce

Parts of Japanese that are difficult for English speakers to pronounce include:

The tsu in tsunami (tidal wave), especially at the beginning of a word.

Rōmaji r is not English `r'.

Words like hyakutake, the name of a comet, and other yōon words, are difficult because there are no English words that have a consonant followed by a `y' sound and a vowel in the same syllable, unless the vowel is `u'. So hyakutake may come out like hiyakutake.

Japanese pitch accent.

Distinguishing between Japanese short and long vowels.

Distinguishing between the `n' in kon'yaku (engagement to be married) and in kon'nyaku (a jelly-like foodstuff).