Phones and Moshi Moshi

By: Casey

Before we came to Japan, we decided that we both needed cell phones.  When we arrived, our first priority was to get them, so we could have the ability to call each other in times of emergency.  Little did we know that it was a dumb idea.  First of all, I work literally right across the street from where we live.  If there was an emergency, Ang could stick her head out of the window and shout for someone to get me.  Secondly, we are always together, so we don't need two phones.

Even though we only need one, we have two sweet phones.  And, FYI, phones in Japan are way cooler than phones in America.  They all come with infrared sensors to use.  What they do and how we use it is still a mystery to us, but one day...one day.  Also, we had a friend help us find some phones and we got a great deal; unlimited texting and calling for 9 dollars a phone per month.  It is through a company called Wilcom.  It's a pretty sweet hook up, so we don't complain too much about the fact that we have two phones.  

Well, the whole point of the story was to lead to a cool story we heard about using phones.  Something we have learned here is that people don't say "hello" when answering the phone, or even the Japanese equivalent of "konnichiha." Instead, when people answer the phone they say "moshi moshi."  Recently, we learned a cool story about why they answer that way.  I am not sure if this story actually has any validity to it, but it is freakin' sweet.

Traditionally, there are different kinds of spirits that inhabit Japan.  Two of the most cunning and deceitful spirits are the fox spirit and raccoon spirit.  They are incredibly clever and have the ability to transform into humans.  They take advantage of humans and rob them or get them to do their bidding.  Humans are pretty much powerless to the craftiness of the fox and raccoon spirits.  However, humans figured out that these spirits couldn't say the word "moshi".  Eventually, before you started a conversation, you would say "moshi moshi" and wait for the reply of the other person to make sure they were not such a spirit.  

In essence, whenever I answer the phone and hear someone say "moshi moshi," I know they are not a crafty spirit trying to deceive me.