Most articles online say that sarcasm is not widely used in Japan but I also hear that young Japanese students use irony(皮肉 ) and sarcasm. Sarcasm is when you say the OPPOSITE or different from what you actually mean. For example, your friend sees a $100 shirt and says, 'Wow, that's really cheap" when he/she really means, "thats way too expensive." I'm wondering if the Japanese actually DO use sarcasm, especially if younger generations do. 

Thank you!!~~~

I'm trying to learn the Japanese phrase "nan to iu" but I'm unsure how to pronounce "iu"

Do I just pronounce it as two separate syllables, いう?

Or do I blend those two sounds together?