Japanese people historically said "Moshi Moshi" twice on early telephones as a way to confirm, "I am not a monster or a ghost."
This practice originated during the early days of telephone technology. Repeating the term "moshi" (which derived from mousu, a humble form of "to say") twice, created the familiar "moshi moshi." This double repetition served as a kind of verbal authentication, a way to ensure that the voice on the other end was a living human being and not a supernatural entity believed to be incapable of repeating itself in the same way.
Historical Context and the "Monster Theory"
The belief that repetition could distinguish humans from spirits or monsters was a part of Japanese folklore. The provided reference highlights that this "monster theory" seems to have persisted as a saying in some regions even after the Meiji era (1868-1912). This historical account is notably included in Yanagita Kunio's "Discussion on Monsters," indicating its significance in cultural studies and folklore.
- Origin: Derived from mousu (to say).
- Purpose: Initially a call to attract attention on early phone lines, similar to "hello" or "excuse me."
- Repetition: Doubling "moshi" to "moshi moshi" became the standard greeting.
- Cultural Belief: The repetition served as a safeguard against monsters or ghosts who were believed to be unable to mimic repeated speech.
- Historical Record: Documented in folklore studies like Yanagita Kunio's work.
This historical reason is the most commonly cited explanation for the double utterance of "moshi moshi" when answering the phone in Japan. While the original superstitious reason is no longer the conscious thought behind the phrase today, the custom of saying "moshi moshi" twice remains deeply ingrained in Japanese communication.
