The Etymology of "Moshi Moshi"
When answering the phone, Japanese people reflexively say "moshi moshi." It is such a natural act that few have ever stopped to wonder why. Several theories exist about its origin, but the most widely accepted is that it derives from "mousu mousu" (a humble form of "I am speaking"), which was gradually shortened.
When telephone service began in Japan in 1890 (Meiji 23), operators reportedly called out "oi oi" (roughly "hey, hey") to get the other party's attention. This was deemed too rude, so "moushimasu, moushimasu" ("I am speaking, I am speaking") came into use, eventually contracting into "moshi moshi."
How "Moshi Moshi" Became Standard
In the early days of telephony, various greetings were used: "oi oi," "kochira wa XX desu" ("this is XX"), "hello," and others. There was no standardized greeting. During the era of operator-assisted calls, exchanges like "Number XX, please" and "Connecting you now" were the norm, and direct conversations between ordinary users were limited.
"Moshi moshi" became widely established in the 1920s, after automatic exchanges eliminated the need for operators and enabled direct dialing. As a way to confirm whether the other party had picked up, "moshi moshi" naturally took hold. The greeting evolved in parallel with the evolution of the telephone itself.
Telephone Greetings Around the World
The first words spoken when answering a phone vary significantly by country:
- United States / United Kingdom: "Hello." Reportedly used by Thomas Watson, Alexander Graham Bell's assistant, during the first telephone call
- Italy: "Pronto." Meaning "ready"
- Germany: The caller states their surname. Simply answering "Schmidt," for example
- South Korea: "Yeoboseyo." Derived from "please look this way"
- China: "Wei." Similar to calling out "hey"
- Russia: "Allo." Borrowed from the French "Allo"
- Brazil: "Alo." Also of French origin
- India: "Hello" is common, though "Haan" (meaning "yes") is also used in Hindi-speaking regions
Interestingly, in many languages the telephone greeting differs from everyday greetings. The English "Hello" is now a universal greeting, but it originally spread as telephone-specific vocabulary - before the telephone, "How do you do?" and "Good day" were standard.
When "Moshi Moshi" Is Not Used
Even in Japanese, "moshi moshi" is not used in every phone call. In business settings, it tends to be avoided:
- Company main lines: The standard is "Thank you for calling, this is XX Corporation"
- Call centers: "Thank you for calling, this is [name] at XX Support Center"
- Return calls: "This is [name] from XX Corporation. I am returning your call from earlier"
From a business etiquette perspective, "moshi moshi" is considered too casual. New employee training programs commonly instruct trainees not to say "moshi moshi." In call center quality management, operators are almost universally prohibited from using it.
"Moshi Moshi" and the Supernatural
Japanese folklore includes an intriguing legend about "moshi moshi." According to the tale, the greeting is repeated twice because saying "moshi" only once might cause a yokai (supernatural creature) or ghost to answer. Since yokai supposedly cannot repeat the same word twice, saying "moshi moshi" confirms the other party is human.
This is, of course, a folk tale with no scientific basis. But the telephone - a device that lets you hear the voice of someone you cannot see - may have inspired such legends born from unease. For people in the Meiji era, the telephone was nothing short of "magic."
Just as phone numbers starting with zero had a technical necessity behind them, "moshi moshi" has its own historical backdrop. Knowing the origin of a word you use every day might make you feel a little different the next time you pick up the phone. A sake tasting set could be the perfect companion for reflecting on the history of the telephone.
A Greeting in Transition
"Moshi moshi" has supported Japanese telephone culture for over 130 years, but its usage is unmistakably changing. Among younger generations in particular, phone calls without "moshi moshi" are becoming more common.
No "Moshi Moshi" on LINE Calls
According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, about 60% of call time for smartphone users in their teens and twenties is via apps like LINE and FaceTime. These apps display the caller's name in real time, so the situation of "not knowing who is calling" simply does not arise. When you already know who is on the other end, the confirmatory "moshi moshi" becomes unnecessary. Calls increasingly begin with casual openers like "Hey, what's up?" or "Yeah, yeah."
"Moshi moshi" was born from the uncertainty of "not knowing who is on the other end of the line." In an era without caller ID, when calls were connected through operators, a greeting to confirm the other party was essential. But with the spread of Caller ID Display and smartphone contact lists, that uncertainty has been largely eliminated. The fading relevance of "moshi moshi" is a natural consequence of technological progress.
Video Calls and the Disappearance of "Moshi Moshi"
On video calls via Zoom, Google Meet, or FaceTime, "moshi moshi" is virtually never used. Saying it while seeing the other person's face feels unnatural. The first words on a video call tend to mirror in-person greetings: "Hello," "Good afternoon," or "Thanks for your time." Since the COVID-19 pandemic normalized video calls for both business and daily life, voice-only phone calls are increasingly perceived as an "old-fashioned" communication method.
Interestingly, video calls are eroding the differences in telephone greetings across countries. On voice calls, Japanese say "moshi moshi," Americans say "Hello," and Germans state their surname - but on video calls, every country converges on face-to-face greetings like "Hi," "Hello," or "Konnichiwa." Telephone-specific greeting culture may have been tied specifically to the voice-only call format.
The Transformation of Telephone Culture
The decline of "moshi moshi" symbolizes a broader transformation of telephone culture. The phone was once the only means of real-time remote communication, but today it coexists with messaging apps, social media, email, and video calls. The behavior of texting "Can I call you now?" on LINE before actually calling is evidence that phone calls are now perceived as "sudden interruptions."
Still, "moshi moshi" is unlikely to vanish entirely anytime soon. When answering a call from an unknown number, picking up a landline, or talking to an elderly family member, "moshi moshi" remains the most natural first word. As the telephone has evolved, so has its greeting - but "moshi moshi," deeply rooted in Japanese telephone culture, will continue to live on in evolving forms.