On the Phone

When one answers the phone they say "Moshi Moshi," and then they start talking ridiculously fast. I mean, really fast, I can't catch any words what-so-ever. If they aren't talking, but just listening, they'll say "Hai, Hai," "Ah, ah" and "un, un," a lot with vigorous nodding of the head or bowing. And if there is reason, due to the conversation, for thanks, they say "arigatou gozaimasu~" with a long "u" sound at the end. Even men seem to say the "u" which is considered very feminine. And they'll say it over and over again. Sometimes when I'm listening to peoples conversations on the phone I feel like someone turned on a tape recorder and it's on repeat. When such conversations go on for about ten minutes, you start to go a little crazy.

Phone calls are usually short, to the point, and include bowing even though the other person obviously can't see them.

I'm thinking that the super speed talk is due to the fact that phone calls are expensive. Minute plans aren't available like in the states. Softbank is free for in-network calls between 6:00am and 9:00pm. During off hours they charge you per minute. Land lines and outside networks also cost a lot of money, charging every 30 seconds. In fact, it costs more to call a landline than a cell phone. One number I called for a post office (English Version) Charged 80 yen per twenty seconds. (I hung up rather quickly.)

Who likes talking on the phone anyways?