Don:

>The L is pronounced like a R though.

That's because most Asian languages use neither the pure R 
sound or the pure L sound, but a consonant halfway between 
them. When a foreign word containing either an R or an L is 
transliterated into one of these languages, the halfway 
sound is substituted. Compared to an L, the halfway sound 
resembles an R to our ears, and vice versa.


Benzaiten the ever melodic
Wielder of the Biwa of Justice
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I=I==========|==O=I|
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Master of Anything-Goes Martial Arts Dog
Grooming
Vocalist, Lead Biwa, Translator, and Assistant
Producer for Hammerspace