Perhaps, if you’ve tried to pick up a phrase or two of Japanese for a trip, someone has told you a trick for remembering douitashimashite (you’re welcome) as “Don’t touch my moustache.” Of course it doesn’t sound like that but it’s easy to remember. Japanese learners of English memorize similar nonsense to try to pronounce English.
Hotta imo ijiruna (Don’t touch the dug potatoes) sounds a tiny bit like “What time is it now?”
San kyu beri matchi (3 9 berry town) is “Thank you very much.”
Mai buraza hazureta (Every bra came undone) is the delight of schoolchildren who need to say “My brother has a letter.”
