Tokumei_LLC
  Junior Editor

"Mushi Mushi" (Mushmushi or Mush Mushi are also common varients) is Widely misused within social norms of society.

During the EDO period of Japan, society within the Japanese culture was very uncertain and driven by a wide variety of myth, superstition, and paranoia. Because of this; typically when a person came to your home, and you were not sure who it was, before you even opened the door you'd call out to the other person and say to them "Mushi Mushi". If they responded "Mushi mushi" back, you'd then inquire their family name, and if they were of a reputable stature, or a person you knew, you'd let them in.

In traditional Japanese culture, folklore, and Shinto, it was believed that "ghost's" (Yuri), "Demons" (Oni), "Celestial" or "God" like beings (Kami)and various other types of Trickster spirits (Kitsune (Fox spirits)); were not able to say "Mushi Mushi" back, as it was a word reserved for only human speech, and that for some odd reason only humans could actually say it and say it back. it was common used as a sort of clarification that the person you were speaking with was not only real, but human. The exact translation of the traditional word has had a wide variety of meanings, and these days is commonly used as a simple basic way of saying "hello", or in a single context "Mushi", meaning to "Ignore". But it's generally believed that the word means something to the extend of "Are you Human", or "Check Check", the way a person might check the audio recording equipment. In fact for a while it was not too uncommon for many Japanese Audio engineers to literally check their sound levels on Microphones by simply saying "Mushi Mushi". So... strangely while not commonly in need anymore with our current society, as a word, it has evolved into a word meaning, "Hello" that came from a word meaning, "Who are you". more »

eople really need to learn how to speak Japanese and understand the culture better.

"Tokumei" is a traditional Japanese word from the "Edo" period of Japanese feudalism meaning "Unknown person". Typically when a person came to your home, and you were not sure who it was, you'd say to them "Mushi Mushi". If they responded "Mushi mushi" back, you'd then inquire their family name. In traditional Japanese culture, folklore, and Shinto, it was believed that "ghost's" (Yuri), "Demons" (Oni), and various other types of Trickster spirits (Kitsune (Fox spirits)); were not able to say "Mushi Mushi" back, as it was a word reserved for only human speech. It later over time became so common place, that it's now commonly used as a word meaning "Hello". However in traditional Ego person culture it literally roughly meant "Are you Human".

Anyhow; If the person answered back "Hai, Watakushi ni Mushi mushi desu" (Yes, I am Human human '."), but did not not give a family name when inquired, then you'd simply refer to them as "Tokumei", or a person of an unknown origin. However after the Japanese culture merged with a lot of western ideas the term evolved into a variant of the word "Anonymous", and more recently in the last 20 years, has become the standard word when referring to any person that you simply don't know. These days it can be used as a word meaning, "Stranger", "Person of mystery", "Unknown person", or even "Anonymous". more »