Three Funny Things about Japanese (1)

1.) Japanese people worry a lot about being polite, and in Japanese this includes using different words to refer to things you want to honor, and things you want to be neutral, or humble about. Sometimes these 'honourable' version of words simply add a prefix. Other times they are completely different words. And sometimes there are even more categories than this, showing different degrees of honor!

2.) One way this manifests itself is in the names for family members. Obviously, you can't use the same word to talk about your mother or your friend's mother. You want to show your friend's mother respect, but since you are talking about your mother in connection to yourself, it would be rude to honor your mother (and, by connection, yourself!). So your friend's mother is (anata no) okaasan -- (your) mother, and my mother is (watashi no) haha -- (my) mother.

3.) The Japanese word for Manufacturer is Meikaa. Sound it out. This is an import word. Television Manufacturer is Terebi Meikaa. Sound it out. :D