<p>The hand raising part comes from old Japanese traditions where refined women were not supposed to show their mouth when they laugh. The fact that a character uses it can indicate that they place a high importance on manners and such which is one of the traits of stereotypical posh characters.</p>

<p><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/RjnI8l.jpg" alt="enter image description here"></p>

<p><em>Women covering their mouths as they laugh at the lady falling over after pulling bamboo from ground (Scene of the Twelve Months - Fifth Month (Toyoshiro and Teyokuni) ) 1801</em></p>

<p>The <em>Ohoho!</em> is intentionally high pitched and annoying - this is to make it sound both artificial and bitchy (which is usually the character's personality)</p>

<p>Kodachi from Ranma 1/2 was the first instance of this trope occurring in anime, however this trait was already in use in film by this stage.</p>

<p><a href="http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/NoblewomansLaugh" rel="noreferrer">TVTropes page</a></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-10-12T16:06:32.147Z
2015-06-07T07:22:16.990Z
2015-06-07T07:22:16.990Z
Toshinou Kyouko
<p>I've found that whenever an evil rich character laughs in anime they raise their hands to their mouth and let out a 'ohohoho' or similarly annoying laugh.</p>

<p><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/IDwZ3.jpg" alt="**enter image description here**"></p>

<p>Where does this mannerism come from? I can now tell someone is rich if they have this style of laugh, but that's because of association rather than understanding</p>

<p>There seems to be a YouTube user called ohohojuo-sama which posts lots of these <a href="http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=MM_k1MZB4Ak" rel="noreferrer">http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=MM_k1MZB4Ak</a></p>

<tropes>
Why do rich people laugh like they do in anime?
# Why do rich people laugh like they do in anime?
Posted by: username_0 on 2014-10-12
I've found that whenever an evil rich character laughs in anime they raise their hands to their mouth and let out a 'ohohoho' or similarly annoying laugh.

![**enter image description here**](https://i.sstatic.net/IDwZ3.jpg)

Where does this mannerism come from? I can now tell someone is rich if they have this style of laugh, but that's because of association rather than understanding

There seems to be a YouTube user called ohohojuo-sama which posts lots of these <http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=MM_k1MZB4Ak>
**Tags:** tropes
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## 1 answers
### Answer by username_0 on 2014-10-12. Score: 11 | Accepted answer
The hand raising part comes from old Japanese traditions where refined women were not supposed to show their mouth when they laugh. The fact that a character uses it can indicate that they place a high importance on manners and such which is one of the traits of stereotypical posh characters.

![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/RjnI8l.jpg)

*Women covering their mouths as they laugh at the lady falling over after pulling bamboo from ground (Scene of the Twelve Months - Fifth Month (Toyoshiro and Teyokuni) ) 1801*

The *Ohoho!* is intentionally high pitched and annoying - this is to make it sound both artificial and bitchy (which is usually the character's personality)

Kodachi from Ranma 1/2 was the first instance of this trope occurring in anime, however this trait was already in use in film by this stage.

[TVTropes page](http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/NoblewomansLaugh)
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