Japanese Vowels

Short vowels:
(romanji, hiragana, katakana)

a, あ, ア 

like 'a' in "palm"

i, い, イ 

like 'i' in "marine"

u, う, ウ 

like 'oo' in "hoop", but short (best described as the sound said without rounded lips)

e, え, エ 

like 'e' in "set"

o, お, オ 

like 'o' in "rope", but less round

Long vowels:
(romanji, hiragana, katakana)

ā, ああ, アー 

like 'a' in "father"

ii, いい, イー 

like 'ee' in "cheese"

u, うう, ウー 

like 'oo' in "hoop"

ei, えい, エー 

like the 'ay' in "pay"

ō, おう, オー 

stretch out the 'o' in "soap"