A trivial but slightly curious story: hon, pon, bon (916 characters)

A trivial but slightly curious story: hon, pon, bon

While watching a show about casual conversation topics, they were discussing whether people prefer odd or even numbers.

I was thinking to myself that I prefer odd numbers, when Eiko Kano said he likes 800.
He said it's luxurious because it contains a small 'tsu', the plosive 'pi', and a small 'ya'. He also likes the sound of 'happyaku'.

Then, Nobu from Chidori said he likes 300 (sanbyaku). He said he likes the 'bya' sound.

Come to think of it, 300 is the only one that becomes 'bya'.

Hyaku, nihyaku, sanbyaku, yonhyaku, gohyaku, roppyaku, nanahyaku, happyaku, kyuuhyaku.

See? Nobu-san is amazing.

It's interesting, isn't it?
It's so silly, isn't it?

That reminded me of 'hon' (counter for long objects).

Ippon, nihon, sanbon, yonbon, gohon, roppon, nanahon, happon, kyuuhon, juppon.

It's a nightmare for foreigners! 😂

But there seems to be a rule to this.

After a small 'tsu', it becomes 'po'. After an 'n', it becomes 'bo'.

Oh, that must be it. I thought it was like a euphonic change, making it easier to say, but then there was a problem...

My wife is from the Kansai region, and she said, 'What is yonbon? That's weird, it's yonhon.'

Ehhhhhh! 😱

The rule is falling apart. It's yonbon, isn't it?
I tried saying that, but she wouldn't budge, insisting, 'What is bon? That's way too weird.'

I wonder. I guess there are regional differences. How is it in your area? (Admittedly, if I follow my own theory, yonhyaku should be yonbyaku...)

By the way, one day, my wife came home from work and said:

Someone today said 'gobon' for five items; is that how it's said around here?

Well, I really don't think that's the case! 😂
(End)

(I just looked it up, and it turns out there is a song called the Pon Hon Bon song. The animation was also carrots 🥕. I guess everyone thinks of the same things! 😆)
Still, 'gobon' is definitely not a thing. I'm sure it's just that one person. (lol)